Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Senate will on Wednesday begin the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the South-West Development Commission, marking a significant step toward operationalising the long-awaited regional intervention agency. At its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on SWDC, led by Senator Yunus Akintunde, announced that it would screen the presidential nominees for key leadership positions, including the commission’s Chairman, Managing Director, and other board members. Akintunde assured all that the committee would not only carry out its constitutional role of confirming appointments but also deliver a robust oversight function aimed at ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability…

THE Federal Government says it is targeting to close the infrastructure gap in Nigeria through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh, stated this on Tuesday during a two-day Nigeria Private-Public Partnership Summit 2025 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The summit which has Vice President Kashim Shettima was themed ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of PPPs in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda’. Ewalefoh said under President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government has repositioned infrastructure as a key driver of inclusive growth and for promoting PPPs as a governance model…

CONFLICTING data from two top Senate officials have cast doubt over the official legislative record of the Nigerian Senate’s activities during its first two years in office. At the 2025 Democracy Day joint session of the National Assembly held last Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the upper chamber had introduced 844 bills and passed 96 between June 2023 and June 2025. However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in a separate midterm statement released Sunday, reported that the Senate introduced 983 bills and passed 108 during the same period. “No fewer than 983 bills—both executive and private members—were introduced between…

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says its circular calling on staff members for three days fasting and prayers is not part of an official policy to address food security issues in the country. The circular dated June 11, 2025, issued by Adedayo Modupe, director of the human resources management, had called on staff of the ministry to gather for collective prayers for “God’s guidance and success in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve food security”. However, according to a rebuttal statement signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the assistant information officer, the prayer session was an initiative of the Human…

THE Inspector General of Police IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered it’s monitory unit to produce Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa at the force headquarters over alleged criminal defamation as a result of Ganduje’s suspension. You may recall that in 2024, the APC exco of Ganduje ward suspended the party’s national chairman from being a member over what they described as anti-party activities and lack of payment of the party dues. This decision was alleged to be mastermineded by the Kano Governor’s spokesperson Mr. Sanusi Bature, who happened to be from the same locality. In a letter dated…

TWO years into the 10th National Assembly, eight federal constituencies remain without representation following the deaths and resignations of lawmakers. Despite constitutional provisions mandating timely bye-elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to fill these vacancies, a delay that has triggered growing frustration among civil society groups, political observers, and the affected constituents. Since the Assembly’s inauguration in June 2023, six lawmakers; five from the House of Representatives and one senator have died. Two additional seats became vacant following the resignations of lawmakers who contested and won in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, bringing the total number…

A BILL seeking the creation of a new state in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country has passed its second reading in the Senate and is now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review. Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, disclosed this development on Friday during a media parley in Abuja, where he marked his two-year milestone in the National Assembly. He revealed that the proposed state, tentatively named ANIM State will be carved out from parts of Anambra and Imo States. “It’s not a favour, it’s a matter of equity,” Izunaso declared. “Every other region in…

THE National Assembly has formally adopted June 12 as the day for the President of Nigeria to address a joint session of the legislature. The decision was taken on Thursday during a special Democracy Day sitting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where President Bola Tinubu delivered a commemorative address to lawmakers. Presiding over the joint session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the formalisation of the date following a motion raised by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. “Mr President, in the eloquent speech by the Honourable Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, he raised a motion that June 12…

THE Senate says it is considering a legislative move to institutionalise a presidential address every June 12, in recognition of the day’s historical significance. The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, stating that the Senate is hoping to prepare a bill to formalise the President’s speech to the nation on that date. “We are hoping to bring a bill soon to institutionalise the President’s address on June 12 because of its historical importance. There can’t be a better time to address the nation through the parliament than on June 12, especially…

GUNMEN have killed two drivers and burnt their truck at Ogi Junction in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. Officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Imo State chapter, told this newspaper that the incident occurred around 10:30 am on Saturday. Dahiru Musa, NURTW’s chairman in Okigwe, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that they had informed security officials, including the DPO of Okigwe LGA about the incident. Narrating the incident, the chairman said, “Suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members blocked the road and opened fire on them on Saturday. They burnt the truck, which was…

THE Federal Government has stated that the removal of the petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu ended a historic financial drain that cost Nigeria over $84bn and has helped finance 40 critical road projects across the country in two years. This was disclosed in a policy explainer published by the National Orientation Agency and titled “Two Years Later: Key Benefits of Subsidy Removal”, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday in Abuja. The document, which assessed the gains of subsidy removal since May 29, 2023, stated that the policy saved the country from imminent economic collapse and enabled the Tinubu administration…

THE national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has received no fewer than 1,230 former supporters of Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila back into the NNPP. The defectors, who hail from Albasu and Sumaila Local Government Areas in the Kano South Senatorial District, were previously aligned with the Waraka political group. Their return was formally announced during a political gathering held on Sunday, attended by key party stakeholders, community leaders, and enthusiastic supporters at Kwankwaso’s residence in Miller Road. While addressing the gathering, Kwankwaso welcomed the returnees with open arms,…

FORMER Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), on Saturday in Abuja said the Nigerian Civil War was never driven by hatred, but by a difficult necessity to preserve national unity. Speaking at the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship (CMF) of the Diocese of Abuja, held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja, Gowon emphasized the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity across faiths and ethnicities. “I remember the most difficult period of my life. It was not my choice, but I had to be there—and had to do what I had to—to keep this country together,” Gowon…

THERE has been an atmosphere of respite for over 60 private jet owners in the country, with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) suspending the clampdown on private jet owners over alleged non-payment of import duty for one month. The NCS had earlier announced the grounding of over 60 private jets flying in the country over alleged non-payment of import duty. It was gathered that the aircrafts were grounded at the international wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, over import duty evasion. According to sources, majority of the affected aircraft are foreign registered, but flying…

THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, has said that the Kano-Maradi Railway project is key to improving food security in Nigeria. Opeifa, who stated this on Saturday on Channels Television’s Sunrise, said the rail connection between Niger and the Niger Republic was important because mobility could not be removed from the food supply chain as it was at the centre of food security. “According to AU 2063, African countries are encouraged to link with landlocked countries because there is potential in those countries. By the way, from the literature I’ve read, the food security for Nigeria…

FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the death of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, who passed away at the age of 89. In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the former president extended his condolences to the family of the late jurist and to Nigerians at large, describing Uwais as a man of “distinguished career as a lawyer and a judge.” Buhari said he was pained by the loss, recalling Uwais’ service as the head of the nation’s judiciary and his unwavering commitment to justice and democracy. “He made notable contributions in…

THE Senate Committee on Public Procurement has ordered the immediate suspension of procurement processes for government agencies that have failed to honour its invitations, directing the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to enforce the directive without delay. Olajide Ipinshagba, Chairman of the Committee, who issued the order during a press briefing at the National Assembly on Thursday, expressed deep concern over what he described as a “blatant disregard for legislative authority and due process” by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He said, “It has come to our attention that several agencies and institutions have repeatedly and unapologetically flouted our…

THE Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed the need for Nigerians to stop medical tourism and for the country to also start producing drugs locally. He said this at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held in Lagos on Wednesday. Stressing the need for every Nigerian including the rich to be able to treat themselves in Nigeria when they fall sick, Dangote hinted that it is important to partner with Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation to achieve this. “What we need to do is to make sure we stop this health tourism and we should now get in…

THE Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has raised concerns over the disappearance of over ₦250 billion in public funds, as uncovered by reports from the Auditor-General of the Federation. The Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, made this known while briefing journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday. Salam said the audit reports revealed that the staggering sum remains unaccounted for across several government agencies. He also highlighted a disturbing trend of increasing financial irregularities in public institutions. According to him, the Auditor-General’s reports point to a high incidence of unauthorised virements and a growing…

THE All Progressives Congress has denied widespread reports suggesting it has granted automatic tickets to all current members of the National Assembly, labeling the information as “fake news.” In a statement released Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC urged party members and the public to disregard what it described as a “purported Breaking News Report” falsely attributed to the party. “The report is FAKE NEWS and should be disregarded in its entirety as it did not emanate from our great Party,” Morka stated. He further warned that the viral claim is of “mischievous origin” and…