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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that Nigeria is in urgent need of a Constitution that not only allows democracy but actively strengthens and enables it.

Kalu stated this on Monday during a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review.

Also speaking at the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said that the growing call for state policing across the country should not be seen as rebellion, but cautioned that in pursuing safety, Nigerians must not sacrifice their freedom.

Kalu lamented that the cooperative democracy envisioned twenty-six years ago has yet to fully materialise, adding that the country must now confront tough questions about its constitutional framework.

‘We must ask ourselves: Is our Constitution still fit for purpose? Does it reflect the Nigeria we are today, or is it still anchored to the Nigeria of a bygone era?’ he said.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) used the occasion to call for the restoration of direct constitutional funding for political parties to ensure a level playing field during elections.

However, the meeting witnessed the absence of several top party leaders, including the National Chairmen and Secretaries of major political parties such as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Labour Party, though their women leaders were in attendance.

Kalu said, ‘Twenty-six years ago, Nigeria returned to democratic governance under the 1999 Constitution. It was a moment of great expectation. After decades of military rule, we dared to believe that a new era of freedom, justice, and prosperity was finally within reach.

‘The Constitution we adopted was meant to be the bedrock of a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where power belonged to the people, where rights were guaranteed, and where institutions served the common good. Twenty-six years on, has this promise been fulfilled? Yes, Nigeria today is more democratic than ever before. We have conducted seven successive general elections.

‘Power has changed hands peacefully between parties. Our civil society is vibrant. Our media is free. Our judiciary, though tested, remains independent. On the one hand, our democracy has deepened. Political parties like yours have become the primary vehicles through which Nigerians participate in governance.

‘Millions cast their votes in every election cycle, believing, rightly, that their choices matter. On the other hand, too many Nigerians feel left behind. Women remain severely underrepresented in our political structures, despite constituting half our population. Our local governments, the closest tier of government to the people, remain weak and financially dependent.

‘Electoral disputes drag on for years, creating uncertainty and undermining public confidence. The cooperative democracy we imagined twenty-six years ago has not fully materialized. Instead, we find ourselves in a moment of reckoning. A moment where we must ask: is our Constitution still fit for purpose? Does it reflect the Nigeria we are today, or is it anchored to the Nigeria of a bygone era?

‘As leaders of Nigeria’s political parties, you face this question every day. You see the gaps. You feel the frustrations. You hear the voices of ordinary Nigerians demanding more from their democracy. And that is precisely why you are here today.

‘Political parties are not just participants in our democracy; you are its backbone. You recruit candidates. You mobilize voters. You articulate competing visions for our nation’s future. You are the bridge between government and the governed. If constitutional amendments are to be legitimate, they must have your buy-in.

‘If they are to be effective, they must address the challenges you face on the ground. If they are to endure, they must reflect a broad consensus that transcends party lines. This is why we have invited you here today: not as adversaries, but as partners in nation-building.

‘Let me be clear about what is at stake. Before us are critical amendment bills that will define the trajectory of our democracy for the next generation.

‘These are not abstract legal propositions. These are reforms that go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy. And they require your input. We recognize that your parties represent diverse ideologies and constituencies.

‘You will not agree on everything. That is the beauty of democracy. But I am asking you today to focus on what unites us, not what divides us. We all want a Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and credible. We all want a Nigeria where women have an equal seat at the table.

‘We all want a Nigeria where local governments work, where federalism is real, and where our Constitution commands the respect and allegiance of every citizen. These are not partisan issues. These are Nigerian issues. The world is changing. So must we.

‘In the last twenty-six years, Nigeria’s democracy has relied on the goodwill of a few committed leaders to survive. But goodwill alone is not enough. We need strong institutions. We need clear rules. We need a Constitution that does not just permit democracy, but actively enables it. This is our moment to get it right.

‘The committee has worked tirelessly to ensure this process is inclusive. We have consulted widely. We have listened carefully. But the final word does not rest with us alone’.

‘A constitution is not just a legal document. It is a social contract. It is a promise we make to each other about the kind of country we want to build. And that promise must be one we all believe in. Our values do not change. Nigeria will remain a democracy. But to sustain our democracy in a changing world, we must change the way it operates.

‘We must give women their rightful place in governance. We must empower local governments to serve their people. We must make our elections credible and our courts efficient. This is the work before us, and it is work we cannot do without you’.

Represented by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the Senate President assured that the National Assembly will work with the Executive and other stakeholders to give Nigerians the Constitution it deserves.

Akpabio said, ‘We are here because we share one belief – which our Constitution must live, breathe, and grow with the times’, and commended the House Committee on Constitution Review for their efforts, describing them as true patriots.

He said, ‘You have called the nation to reflection, not reaction; to reform, not rhetoric. This engagement with political parties is not routine – it is historic. It says to the world that Nigeria’s democracy is alive and still learning, still listening, leading.

‘We are gathered to examine the heartbeats of our Republic – justice, security, inclusion, and accountability. The issues before us, judicial and electoral reforms, local government autonomy, special seats for women, state policing, and human rights, are not items on a checklist; they are the pillars of a nation still under construction.

‘Each one of them speaks to a larger question: how do we make democracy not only endure but deliver?

‘An election is not a ceremony; it is the soul of democracy. And justice is not a luxury; it is the backbone of peace. When elections fail, trust dies. When justice delays, faith decays. That is why we must renew both our ballots and our benches.

‘We must strengthen INEC, shield our courts from corruption, and restore the people’s confidence in their institutions. In India, reforms made voting accessible even in the remotest villages. In South Africa, the Constitution enshrines judicial independence as sacred. We can do the same – not by copying others, but by perfecting ourselves.

‘True federalism begins at the grassroots. If the government does not work in the village, it has failed in the capital. We must free our local governments from the chains of dependency. Development must have a human face – and that face must be visible in every ward, every street, every home.

‘What of the women of Nigeria- the pillars of every family, the architects of every community? A democracy that sidelines its women weakens itself.

‘Across the world, the evidence is clear: in Rwanda, women lead more than sixty percent of parliament; in Finland, women shape policy and governance with distinction. Where women rise, nations thrive. It is time for Nigeria to move from the language of sympathy to the policy of inclusion.

‘Security, too, must evolve. It must be local before it can be national. A nation as vast as ours cannot be protected from a single command post. The call for state policing is not rebellion; it is realism. In the United States, in India, and even in Brazil, local policing works side by side with national forces – coordinated, not conflicting. But in seeking safety, we must not sacrifice freedom.

‘The hand that guards must not gag. The shield of the state must never become a sword against its citizens’.

The Senate President assured that the National Assembly stands ready to collaborate with the Executive and all stakeholders in reforming the nation’s laws.

He said further that it is the responsibility of the lawmakers ‘not to preserve power, but to protect the people. Our mission is not to obstruct, but to construct – laws that heal, not harden; reforms that renew, not rupture. This review process is proof that democracy is not a monument; it is a movement. Each generation must refine it, renew it, and make it better than they found it’.

He argued, ‘The Constitution is not a piece of paper; it is the promise of a people. Let us therefore rise above party lines and regional divides. Let us remember that the strength of Nigeria lies not in her oil or land, but in her people and in their will to build together.

While addressing the House Committee, the Senate President said, ‘You remind us that democracy is not self-sustaining – it must be constantly defended and deliberately deepened.

‘If we do this – if we stay true to the ideals of justice, inclusion, and accountability – then future generations will say of us: here were leaders who did not merely speak of change, but made it. Here were men and women who did not merely amend the Constitution, but renewed the nation’.

Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, the umbrella body of political parties in the country, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, said issues of Judicial and Electoral Reforms, Local Government Reforms, Special Seats for Women, State Policing and Human Rights and Justice are part of broader issues for consideration in the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments.

He said, ‘As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC has been at the vanguard for Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments with a view to consolidating, deepening, and strengthening the nation’s democracy. This is imperative after flaws were witnessed in each election cycle.

‘As the platform that produces all elected public officers, IPAC is committed to ensuring that the electoral process is fair, transparent, and inclusive, and all political parties are given a level playing field in electoral contests.

‘We believe that a revised Electoral Act and Constitution amendments preceding the 2027 general election will address identified concerns as well as significantly enhance the credibility and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, promote political stability, and strengthen democratic governance.’

Dantalle called for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and vesting the responsibility of conducting all 774 Local Government elections on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said, ‘IPAC has been championing Local Government autonomy. Politics is local, citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics that guarantee free, fair, and credible Local Government elections.’

They are also advocating ‘the removal of the power to appoint the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Commission Secretary and National Commissioners from the executive to promote the independence of the Commission.

‘Setting up of an Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) composed of representatives from all registered Political Parties and Civil Society Organizations, the National Judicial Council, and a Committee of the National Assembly to be appointed by both the majority and minority arms of the Senate and House of

Representatives, thereby ensuring that all parties have representatives in the Independent Appointment Committee.

‘Restoration of funding of political parties in Nigeria to provide a level playing ground for all political parties. The amendment should provide a mechanism to ensure that political parties maintain transparent financial records and accounting practices.

‘IPAC supports the bill as proposed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. When a section of society is under-represented in policy discussions, they feel marginalised’.

Also, IPAC is throwing its weight behind the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission to try electoral offenders. This will help to curb electoral offences, including vote buying and selling, violence, ballot snatching, and falsification of results’.

While recognising the role of the Judiciary in the sustenance of democracy, Dantalle said the body was of the view that any seat vacated due to decamping, resignation, or death should be filled by the original winning political party through a replacement process, rather than a very expensive, torturous election.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has dismissed recent reports questioning his academic credentials, affirming that he duly graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1985.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the Minister in Abuja, Dr. Robert Ngwu reaffirmed that Chief Nnaji is a proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, having obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division in July 1985.

Ngwu, who described the controversy as a case of political desperation disguised as academic inquiry, said official records from UNN, including its 1985 Convocation Brochure and the University’s registry, confirmed the Minister’s academic history beyond any doubt.

According to Dr. Ngwu, the only valid and authentic communication issued by the University regarding the Minister’s academic record is the letter dated December 21, 2023, signed by Mrs. I.A.S. Onyeador on behalf of the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Ngozi Nnebedum.

That letter, he said, explicitly confirmed that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.

‘This remains the official position of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka properly stamped, duly issued, and still valid,’ Ngwu emphasised.

The Ministry’s spokesperson expressed shock that nearly two years after the University’s official confirmation, another letter emerged in May 2025, purportedly denying the existence of the Minister’s records.

He questioned the timing and motive of the new claim, noting that it coincided with the emergence of two card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Acting Vice Chancellor and later substantive Vice Chancellor of the University.

‘The question every well-meaning Nigerian should ask is: what changed between December 2023 and May 2025 apart from the change in leadership at the University? Ngwu asked.

Ngwu disclosed that upon learning of alleged attempts within the University to tamper with his academic file, Chief Nnaji sought redress at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, presided over by Hon. Justice H.J. Yilwa.

On September 22, 2025, the court reportedly issued protective orders restraining the University’s management from altering the Minister’s records and mandating the immediate release of his academic transcript. The court also directed relevant supervisory authorities to ensure full compliance.

‘These are not speculative claims, Ngwu said. They are certified orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which should have settled the matter once and for all.’

He, however, lamented that instead of complying with the court’s directives, the Vice Chancellor, a lawyer by training allegedly resorted to cyberbullying and politically motivated media campaigns against the Minister.

Ngwu alleged that the controversy was fueled by a coordinated attempt to tarnish the image of a reputable public servant for political gain.

He blamed a Governor of being behind the whole thing.

The governor, he claimed , wanted to remove him as the APC leader in the state to enhance his (governor’s) second term ambition.

‘It is no coincidence that the so-called exposés are being driven by partisan actors and amplified by certain media outlets like Premium Times,’ he said.

‘This is a deliberate campaign to weaponize institutions and discredit a serving Minister committed to national innovation and development.’

The minister said, ‘It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity-it is about political desperation, disguised as academic inquiry. The timing, the sources, the false documents, and the paid narratives all point to a coordinated campaign to drag a reputable public servant into the mud of partisan politics.

‘The university of Nigeria Nsukka must uphold its proud motto of restoring the dignity of man. It must regain its integrity by distancing itself from political manipulation and reaffirming the authenticity of its own official record. This is not about one man’s record-it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour, and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics.’

Despite the controversy, the Ministry said Chief Nnaji remains focused on his mandate to advance innovation, strengthen Nigeria’s science and technology ecosystem, and drive research-based industrial growth.

‘The Honourable Minister will not be distracted by falsehoods or propaganda,’ Ngwu assured. He will continue to serve with integrity, dedication, and focus.’

Reiterating the government’s stance, Ngwu stated:Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1985.

‘The University officially confirmed this in writing on December 21, 2023. His name and academic details are documented in UNN’s 1985 Convocation Brochure, which remains in the University’s permanent archives.Any document or statement to the contrary is false, malicious, and politically motivated.

‘We call on the University of Nigeria to uphold its proud motto to restore the dignity of man. It must reclaim its integrity by distancing itself from political manipulation and reaffirming the authenticity of its own official record.

‘This is not just about one man’s academic record it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour, and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics. The truth is simple, the record is clear, and the law is now on the side of justice’.

Ngwu noted that the Ministry has full confidence in the Nigerian judiciary to uphold the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Abia Best Interest Association (ABIA), has called on the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to ensure transparency and accountability from Abia state governor, Alex Otti, over what it described as ‘massive revenue inflow’ to the state.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the group’s convener, Hon. Eze Chikamnayo, criticised Obi for constantly faulting the federal government while allegedly ignoring governance issues in the only state controlled by his party.

Chikamnayo accused the Otti administration of operating a system ‘marked by corruption, impunity, and lack of transparency,’ saying it contradicted the values Obi often preaches.

‘If we talk about accountability at the federal level and refuse to talk about it at the state and local government levels, we make ourselves hypocrites and undermine the essence of good governance in Nigeria,’ he said.

‘We have a message for Mr. Peter Obi. He is galivanting to Indonesia, going to India, and even going to Egypt to look for a model on how Nigeria should be governed. I say to him: Stop this hypocrisy. You don’t need to go abroad. Go to Abia State – the only Labour Party state in Nigeria – and ask Mr. Alex Otti how the N54 billion meant for education was taken for Smart Schools, yet no single school is to be found,’ Chikamnayo added.

Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, the APC group also cautioned Governor Otti against plans to defect to the APC, saying he would not be welcomed and would face defeat from ‘competent and loyal members’ of the party in the state.

He said, ‘We will not welcome Mr. Alex Otti with his excess baggage, and with his corruption, and with his lack of transparency, and with his lack of accountability to the APC at the state.

‘Anybody who is thinking that he is going to cooperate with Mr. Alex Otti continued his era of complete intimidation, his era of complete impunity, his era of complete anarchy in Abia State by joining APC through the backdoor, such a person is day-dreaming

‘Abia State APC has in its kitty competent men who are capable of joining hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda are made available to the people of Abia State, both at the state and the local government levels.

‘So, we are set to replace Mr. Alex Otti in 2027 with the APC government that will make sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda is spread to the grassroots in Abia State.’

Dismissing the propaganda that the incumbent is unbeatable, Chikamnayo said, ‘People who are saying that Alex Otti is not beatable are building castles in the air. Mr Alex Otti knows within his heart that he is completely using the machinery of media propaganda and manipulation to build an image that doesn’t exist.

‘The reality in Abia state today is that civil servants are being repressed, the reality on the ground in Abia state today is that there are phantom projects that used to siphon billions of Abia money without accountability and transparency.

‘The reality in Abia state today is that Abians are yearning for liberation, and that liberation must come to pass in 2027. Alex Otti will be roundly defeated in 2027 because Abia people are tired of his rule that has become a rule of tyranny and a complete rule of confusion.’

Former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has dismissed a report alleging that he has been appointed to lead the Southwest consultation team for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The report, published by a national daily, not The Nation, claimed that Mimiko was chosen to head consultations in preparation for a possible political comeback by Jonathan and that the recommendation came from former Osun State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.

While Jonathan has not publicly declared any intention to contest in 2027, speculation has been mounting about his possible return to Aso Rock after losing his re-election bid to the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

However, in a statement issued on Monday through his spokesperson, Mr. Eniola Akinsola, and obtained by The Nation, Mimiko described the publication as ‘falsehood’ and ‘a concocted rumour dressed in news.’

‘The falsehood in the report is obvious from the get-go. It is just the work of a journalist flying with concocted rumour dressed as news,’ the statement read.

‘The Mimiko that I know respects former President Jonathan but has neither been reached nor appointed for a campaign that is still the subject – and may well end as a subject – of fanciful speculation. I am sure he is also not job-hunting,’ Akinsola added.

The statement further noted that as the 2027 elections draw closer, politically motivated stories of this nature are likely to emerge, especially about figures like Mimiko who have ‘chosen to remain low for now.’

Last week, former Minister of Information and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana, had stirred controversy after declaring that Jonathan would contest the 2027 election, saying Nigerians were yearning for his return.

‘I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as president again,’ he said.

But in a swift reaction, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Gana’s claim as ‘an absurdity.’

‘However, we should caution former president Jonathan to be wary of the PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders. Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch,’ Onanuga warned.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, has described the rising number of global road traffic crashes as a ‘silent pandemic,’ calling for urgent collective action to curb the devastating loss of lives.

Speaking during a visit to the National Headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja, Todt expressed deep concern over the alarming statistics, revealing that more than 1.2 million people die annually in road crashes worldwide, while millions more sustain life-altering injuries.

‘The scale of road traffic crashes across the globe is nothing short of catastrophic. This is a silent pandemic that continues to claim lives daily, and unless governments, institutions, and individuals take decisive action, the numbers will only rise,’ Todt warned.

He emphasised the need for Nigeria and other nations to adopt the Safe System Approach, which focuses on education, strict enforcement of traffic laws, safer roads and vehicles, and improved post-crash care.

The UN envoy also called for a change in road use culture among motorists, noting that widespread disregard for traffic regulations remains a major cause of preventable deaths and injuries.

Todt commended the FRSC and its Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, for their proactive engagement in global road safety efforts, describing Nigeria’s role as vital to achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

He, however, urged stakeholders – from policymakers and transport unions to individual drivers – to intensify efforts in reducing road carnage and promoting safer mobility.

In response, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling road traffic deaths and injuries, noting that the FRSC’s unique combination of legislation, enforcement, and public education has positioned it as a model agency globally.

He lauded the federal government’s continued support and assured that the FRSC would strengthen collaboration with local and international partners to ensure safer roads for all Nigerians.

Entertainer and socialite Idowu Adeyemi, popularly known as Yhemo Lee, has promised to throw a club party in honour of Imisi, the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10.

Imisi clinched the show’s grand prize during Sunday’s finale, defeating fellow contestants Dede, Koyin, Sultana, Kola, Jason Jae, Mensan, Kaybobo, and Isabella.

Following her victory, a fan took to Snapchat to hail Yhemo Lee for accurately predicting Imisi’s win, calling him a ‘prophet’ and asking him to speak blessings into his life.

The fan wrote, ‘Be like you go be prophet o, you said Imisi is your winner and she won BBN 10/10. Say good things about my life, too.’

In response, Yhemo Lee revealed his plans to celebrate Imisi’s success, writing on Snapchat: ‘I’m going to host her go club once she’s home. Imisi money.’

His post has since gone viral, with fans applauding his excitement and support for the newly crowned BBNaija champion.

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Kuture, has shared why he was especially thrilled by Imisi’s victory in Season 10 of the reality show.

In a video, Kuture expressed genuine happiness over her win, saying many contestants in the house were ‘fake’ and often judged others based on their financial status.

‘I was very happy Imisi won. Most of these housemates are fake and rate you according to wetin deh your pocket, but God no be man,’ he said.

Imisi secured 42.8% of the total votes, making her the fourth female and second-youngest winner in the history of the Big Brother Naija franchise.

The 23-year-old actress and fashion designer was announced as the Season 10 ’10/10′ champion on Sunday, October 5, 2025, by show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Thousands of Nigerians under the banner of Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP) on Monday shut down Kaduna city in a massive protest, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action against those sabotaging efforts to achieve local refining of petroleum products.

The protesters, who gathered at Murtala Mohammed Square before marching through major streets, accused a powerful oil cartel of frustrating Nigeria’s economic progress by undermining local refinery initiatives, particularly the operations of the Dangote Refinery.

Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Support Local Refining,’ ‘Crush Economic Saboteurs,’ and ‘Protect Dangote Refinery,’ the demonstrators said their struggle was aimed at freeing Nigeria from decades of economic manipulation.

Two leaders of the group, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta and Comrade Dahiru Umar Maishanu, said the call on President Tinubu was necessary to rescue the nation from a cartel that profits from importation and artificial fuel scarcity at the expense of national development.

‘This is not about Dangote alone; it’s about Nigeria’s economic survival,’ Ude-Umanta declared. ‘Mr. President must rise to the occasion and stamp his feet. He must crush those sabotaging our march toward self-reliance in refining.’

According to him, the protest – themed ‘National Unity Against Sabotage: Reclaiming Our Petroleum Sector for the People’ – was part of a nationwide campaign to defend local refining from ‘economic terrorists’ determined to keep Nigeria dependent on fuel importation.

Ude-Umanta also accused some oil unions and importers of colluding with foreign interests to frustrate the Dangote Refinery project, warning that failure to act decisively could discourage future investors.

‘If they succeed in killing the Dangote Refinery, no investor will ever bring money here again,’ he warned.

He further described the recent actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as ‘economic terrorism,’ alleging that the union’s disruption of refinery operations was part of a larger plot to destabilise Nigeria’s push for local refining.

‘What PENGASSAN did was not unionism-it was sabotage,’ he said. ‘The Federal Government should have arrested their leadership to deter others. No one should hide under the guise of labour activism to commit crimes against the economy.’

He urged President Tinubu, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum Resources, to ensure that local refineries such as Dangote’s are given crude oil at the same price sold to foreign refineries to sustain their operations and boost investor confidence.

On his part, Maishanu said the protest was a patriotic call to end decades of economic enslavement. ‘How can importers compete with producers? They are scared because local refining will expose their fraud and end their control over fuel pricing,’ he said.

He alleged that the cartel was deliberately blocking the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (Jet A1) from local producers to maintain inflated market prices. ‘They are punishing Nigerians to protect their greed,’ he added.

The group commended Dangote Refinery for its impact on the domestic fuel market, noting that prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) have already begun to drop. ‘Nigerians are beginning to breathe fresh air from this refining revolution,’ Maishanu said.

He urged the President to remain firm in his economic reform agenda, saying the refinery’s success was a test of his commitment to national industrial revival. ‘This is the time to prove that local investors matter,’ he stressed.

The rally, which ended peacefully, echoed with chants of ‘Long live Dangote Refinery! Long live Nigeria!’ as protesters vowed continued nationwide mobilisation until, in their words, ‘every saboteur of Nigeria’s economic progress is crushed.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate reduction in the 2026 Hajj fare to reflect the recent appreciation of the naira against the dollar, a major determinant of pilgrimage costs.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who conveyed the President’s directive on Monday during a meeting with the management and board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, gave the commission two days to produce a new, affordable fare structure.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said the directive was necessary to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims benefit directly from the positive effects of the ongoing economic reforms, particularly the strengthened value of the naira.

Shettima called for closer collaboration among NAHCON, state governments, and other relevant agencies to harmonise the revised fares and ensure smooth coordination of the 2026 pilgrimage.

He also emphasised the need for prompt payments and remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to guarantee a seamless Hajj operation.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, said the meeting was convened to finalise preparations for the 2026 Hajj and review the cost structure in light of the improved exchange rate.

‘Rates have continued to improve steadily with the appreciation of the naira, based on the effects of government reforms. If pilgrims paid ?8.5 million to ?8.6 million last year due to a weaker exchange rate, the improvement in the economy should now reflect in the new fares. The Vice President made it clear that the benefits of the stronger naira must be passed on to the pilgrims’, Hadeija explained.

In his remarks, the Secretary of NAHCON, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, welcomed the President’s directive, saying it would make the spiritual journey more accessible to Nigerian Muslims.

‘It is a welcome development. The lower the Hajj fare, the better for Muslim faithful intending to perform Hajj. As directed by the Vice President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to reduce the cost to the barest minimum and make it affordable for every Muslim,’ he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Deputy Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executives of Pilgrims Boards, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro, commended the President and Vice President for their intervention.

‘We are very happy because the President and the Vice President have already intervened. We thank God for what they have done, which will bring down the cost of Hajj fare. We are delighted’, Yaro said.

It was a moment of fun, relaxation and sober reflection when Rotary International District 9111celebrated its members who are 70 years and above and must have spent 40 years in the group.

The event, which held at the Rotary Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, was attended by over 50 elders of the global organisation.

They included the Doyen of District Governors, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; immediate past District (9111) Governors (PDG), Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole; Dr. Wole Kukoyi; Patrick Ikheloa; and Bola Ogunbade, Dr. Deinde Shoga.

Others were Dr Olatunde Ishola Aluko; Idowu Akomolafe; past president Olaniran Faforowa and Sola Benson, a past assistant governor.

Fafowora, who was chairman of the event entitled: Elders’ HangOut, said their objective was to celebrate the elders who he described as ‘champions of service to humanity’.

He said the programme was the second edition, and it was unique because of the new items they introduced to spice it such as the networking session.

DG Henry Akinyele also noted the special nature of the programme, saying it was the first being held by him since he assumed office. He said it was important that the elders were honoured as most programmes of Rotary were only focused on the youth, adding that without them, they would not be where they were.

Akinyele was happy that many of the elders were still active and apart from their financial commitment, attending meetings.

He urged them to avail the youth of their wisdom and experiences. He also urged them to attend the upcoming Endowment dinner dance in honour of Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi and sought their support for increased membership, commitment to The Rotary Foundation and Construction of the Rotary Peace Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State as well as their yearly conference to Abeokuta in May, next year, promising to provide transport for them.

Aluko, who was the chairman of the occasion, tasked Rotarians on humanness, saying: ‘Let the humanity in us control our actions to our fellow brothers and sisters.’ He decried the decadence in society, asking: ‘Where is the humanity in us?’ He challenged them on upholding the Rotary’s motto

Adelusi-Adeluyi tasked his agemates on good eldership. He said it is not how many houses one built but the number of lives he touched. ‘It is not how many years you live, but what you put into it. Try to share and care. He who gives gains. Giving can never be too much, especially if it is for a good cause,’ he counselled the oldies.

The speakers, Dr. Shoga, spoke on the benefits of taking an endowment in Rotary while Dr Olufemi Adebari Oloyede of OOU gave tips on how to avoid or manage memory loss, saying as one grows old, we are likely to experience memory loss.

Aluko, Adelusi-Adeluyi, and Olawale-Cole were among those who received awards at the ceremony.