A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has advised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, not to succumb to any form of intimidation while discharging his duties.

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, (PCC), made this statement while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo.

He urged the INEC boss to demonstrate a high level of courage and integrity in the face of intimidation from politicians, especially opposition parties, ahead of the off-cycle and general elections.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, also advised Amupitan not to disappoint Nigerians and to resist all forms of undue pressure from politicians, especially opposition, who may seek to blackmail the Commission to discredit valid electoral process.

According to him, the commission, under Amupitan’s leadership, must act in line with the established rules and regulations, as well as, acceptable standards of practice to avoid committing errors in the face of pressure from politicians.

“All eyes are on the new INEC boss, and I want to advise him to stay focused and resist all forms of pressure that could undermine the integrity of the Commission.

“Amupitan must ignore all forms of negative criticism and ensure he abides by the laid-down rules and regulations for the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

“Those who lost elections will continue to undermine the efforts of the Commission towards conducting a credible elections in the country for their own personal gain, but the INEC boss must fear no one. He must apply the rules without favour,” he said.

Oyintiloye also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Amupitan for the noble job, saying his choice could not have been a mistake.

The APC chieftain said that Amupitan’s appointment shows that he is a man of integrity and honour with capacity to sanitise the country’s electoral process.

He noted that the Anambra governorship election in November and the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun would be a litmus test for Amupitan.

Police detectives from Agbor Area Command have arrested a twenty year old herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye and his elder step-brother over the alleged abduction and murder of a suspected internet fraudster, Friday Liberty, aged 22 years in his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The herbalist was arrested at his shrine on 23rd October 2025. He and his suspected accomplice are currently in police custody.

The Police also recovered the corpse of the deceased from the suspect’s shrine and deposited same in the mortuary.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement sent to newsmen in Warri.

The statement said, “It was a case of the hunter becoming the hunted, when on the 30th of September 2025, Mr Friday Liberty, aged 22 years old, visited his herbalist, whom he had known for some time now, but this time, he never returned. The family, who initially didn’t know what had happened to their brother, started looking for him.”

“The girlfriend of the deceased then informed the family that she heard a conversation about the said Friday liberty and a certain herbalist, and advised that they should reach out to the said herbalist.

“The family contacted the herbalist, who denied seeing him but promised to do some spiritual incantations so their brother could return alive.

“Having spent money on the herbalist, and the result was not forthcoming, they then reported the matter at the Agbor Area command via a petition on 14th October 2025.

“And this decision proved to be the turning point in the case as the area command detectives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation.

“During the course of the investigation, the detectives uncovered the last person whom Friday Liberty contacted, and found out it was the same herbalist who denied knowing his whereabouts. Surveillance was laid around his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East LGA, for days, until he was arrested on 23rd October 2025, in his shrine while hiding inside a refrigerator.

“Upon his arrest, the herbalist Amechi Okwuokenye, aged 20 years, confessed that both he and his brother Smart Okwuokenye, aged 26years, kidnapped the victim liberty Friday and the motorcycle rider identified as Isioma Ugbeje, who carried him to the shrine.

“They further stated that Friday Liberty has been his long-time customer who frequently visits him to hypnotise clients so they could give him money easily( in his words, ‘to tie clients ‘).

“The herbalist said his elder brother approached him that he needed money and advised him to lure any of his clients so they could kidnap him and ask for ransom, and the unlucky person they could lure was Liberty Friday.

“They kidnapped him and the Okada Rider and demanded a ransom of N10,000,000. When they noticed that the plan was not working, they murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soak away pit by the shrine.”

SP Edafe stated that the suspects were in custody, and the remains of the victims have been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”

He added that, “The commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda assures the public that the command will ensure that justice is served in this case.”

The House of Representatives has invited critical stakeholders including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Federal Ministries of Health and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to submit memoranda ahead of its probe into the prevalence in the use, trafficking and regulation of illicit drugs across the country.

Also invited for the submission of input are “Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of MAN, PMG-MAN, Major pharmaceutical companies (Emzor, Fidson, May and Baker, Juhel, Dana), Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, International Distillers Limited and Tobacco industry representatives.”

Others include law enforcement agencies including “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Medical Association.

The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Nigerian Bar Association, Civil Society Network on Substance Abuse and the National Youth Council of Nigeria are expected to make input.

The Committee also invited development partners comprising the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Health Organisation, United Nations Development Programme, US Agency for International Development and the United Nations Children’s Fund are also billed to submit memoranda to the Committee.

Recall that the House had earlier constituted an Ad-hoc Committee to probe the prevalence, regulation and impact of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, illicit trafficking and related crimes across the country.

The panel chaired by the member representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe was constituted following the adoption of a motion to probe the prevalence of drug abuse by Nigerians nationwide.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Adelegbe said the Committee is charged with the mandate of examining the root causes, identifying institutional weaknesses, regulatory and enforcement gaps and developing practical solutions to combat drug use and trafficking.

The Committee is also expected to come up with recommendations aimed at strengthening national drug control mechanisms, promoting public health and protecting citizens from substance-related harms.

“In view of the mandate and the urgency attached to it, the committee has resolved to interface with relevant stakeholders and other Nigerians with a view to identifying the causes and proffering a solution,” the statement read in part.

He urged Nigerians to submit memoranda to the committee “Addressing concerns, recommendations and proposed interventions on the subject matter,” to guide the panel draft its report for submission to the House for further legislative action.

The Dangote Refinery has announced the expansion of the facility from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million bpd.

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, made the announcement at a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday.

Flanked by his friend, the Chairman of First Bank, Mr Femi Otedola, Dangote said this would make the refinery the largest in the world.

According to him, the construction work for the expansion is expected to begin without further delay.  “We are expanding the Dangote Petroleum Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.

“Upon completion, this will make it the largest refinery in the world, surpassing the Jamnagar Refinery in India,” he said.

He added that 65,000 workers would be needed for the construction exercise, and 85 per cent would be Nigerians.

Dangote added that the refinery would also ramp up its power generation from 500MW to 1,000 MW. He also stated that the refinery would produce Euro 6 standard, up from the current Euro 5 spec.Dangote noted that the refinery would be listed on the stock exchange in 2026, giving Nigerians the opportunity to be shareholders

The billionaire businessman appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support.

“The expansion is expected to be completed in three years”, he said.

Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives joint committee has approved the creation of six additional states in the country.

This was one of the key resolutions reached at the end of the two-day retreat, co-chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, in Lagos.

The committee considered 55 requests for state creation on Saturday and unanimously resolved that six additional states be created in the country.

They considered a total of 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation requests during the retreat.

“We have been in this process for the past two years, engaging our constituents, critical stakeholders, institutions, civil society organisations and interest groups in town hall meetings, interactive sessions and public hearings, harvesting and synthesising views and perspectives which has ultimately culminated in what we have here today – 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments and 278 local government creation requests,” Senator Barau was quoted in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.

Accordingly, if the recommendation comes through, it would increase the number of states in the country from 36 to 42.

The resolution means that there would be the creation of one additional state in each of the six geopolitical zones: North West, North East, North Central, South West, South South and South East.

With the approval, South South will now have seven states, South West seven, South East six, North West eight, North East seven and North Central seven.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike, giving the Federal Government a one-month window to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and address other unresolved issues affecting the nation’s university system.

President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, where he explained that the suspension followed fruitful engagements with the Federal Government and key interventions from the National Assembly.

Piwuna recalled that ASUU had declared the warning strike on October 13, 2025, after what he described as the government’s failure to respond to several appeals to address the lingering renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other welfare-related concerns of university lecturers.

He said, “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. The government had ignored our repeated overtures to address issues critical to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities.”

The ASUU president revealed that following the commencement of the strike, the Federal Government re-engaged the union through a team led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which met with ASUU representatives on October 16 and 18, to discuss the government’s response to the draft renegotiated agreement.

According to him, although the meetings did not fully resolve all issues, the union recognised that significant progress had been made compared to the pre-strike period.

He said, “We have not achieved all our objectives, but we are certainly not where we were before the strike began. This shows that had the government responded earlier, there would have been no need for the action.”

Piwuna also commended the intervention of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose mediation, he said, had rekindled hope for a lasting resolution.

He stated that the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, after an emergency meeting held from October 21–22, 2025, reviewed the situation and concluded that the warning strike had achieved part of its purpose, particularly in compelling the government to return to the negotiation table.

“While noting that more work remains to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagement,” Piwuna announced.

He explained that the decision was taken in deference to students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other well-meaning Nigerians who had shown solidarity and mediated in the dispute.

ASUU, however, warned that should the government fail to resolve the outstanding issues within the one-month window, the union would be left with no option but to resume strike action without further notice.

“The struggle continues,” Piwuna declared, calling on patriotic Nigerians to prevail on the government to honour its commitments to guarantee industrial harmony and ensure stability in the academic calendar.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, yesterday commenced a two-day media training on ethical journalism and child rights reporting for journalists drawn from the South-East, South-South, and North-Central regions of Nigeria.

The training, funded by UNICEF, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of media practitioners to report children’s issues with sensitivity, fairness, and respect for human dignity. It also sought  to promote responsible storytelling that safeguards the identities and rights of children.

Falayi Temitoye, Assistant Director and Head of the Child Rights Information Bureau, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Chinasa Ogbodo, stressed the importance of ethical journalism in shaping public attitudes toward children.

“It is a real pleasure to welcome you all to this important training on ethical and child rights reporting,” Temitoye said. “The media holds immense power, the power to inform, inspire, and hold institutions accountable. But with that power comes the responsibility to report with integrity, sensitivity, and respect for human dignity.”

She urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting on children, noting that “every image, every word, and every frame we publish can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety, and future.” Temitoye commended UNICEF for its continued partnership with the ministry and encouraged participants to make the most of the training sessions.

Anselm Audu, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer in Port Harcourt, in his keynote address, highlighted the crucial role of ethical journalism in protecting vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.

“The media has the power to amplify the voices of children and draw attention to the issues affecting their well-being,” Audu said. “But that same power must be used responsibly.”

He added that ethical journalism fosters trust, prevents harm, and promotes peace. “Ethical reporting is the antidote to misinformation and hate speech,” he noted. “It helps to calm tempers, promote dialogue, and build peace, especially during times of social tension.”

Susan Akila, UNICEF Nigeria’s Communications Specialist and Acting Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Partnership, reaffirmed the agency’s strong collaboration with the media.

“We do not take our media partners for granted because you are the foot soldiers,” she said. “Children do not have a voice, and journalists are in the best position to speak for them responsibly.”

The two-day workshop featured  interactive discussions, case studies, and practical sessions designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of ethical standards in reporting on children and to strengthen their commitment to child-sensitive journalism across media platforms.

After nine long months of uncertainty and heartbreak, two missing children — Sunday Aliya (14) and Ebenezer Emmanuel (12) — have finally been rescued by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, bringing an emotional end to a harrowing ordeal that spanned several states across Nigeria.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the rescue followed a painstaking, intelligence-driven investigation led by officers of the upState Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Gender Section, who refused to give up despite the passage of time.

The case was first reported at the Fegge Police Station on January 18, 2025, when the boys’ guardian raised the alarm that the children, who had gone to fetch water at a nearby borehole, never returned home. The matter was later transferred to the SCID in Awka for a more comprehensive investigation.

Acting on credible intelligence, detectives tracked down and arrested a key suspect, identified as Yusuf, in Katsina State. During interrogation, the suspect provided vital information that led to a breakthrough in the investigation.

“The suspect’s confession guided operatives to Umunede, Delta State, where one of the victims, Sunday Aliya, was found. Further leads led to the rescue of the second child, Ebenezer Emmanuel, in Benin City, Edo State,” the statement said.

Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc, mnips, PhD, commended the officers for their perseverance, professionalism, and relentless pursuit of justice. He assured the public that the command remains committed to following every lead, no matter how long it takes, to ensure that every missing person is found and every crime thoroughly investigated.

“This operation is a testament to our unwavering resolve. We will never give up on any case, no matter how long it takes. Every child matters, and every family deserves closure,” CP Orutugu stated.

He also expressed gratitude to members of the public whose cooperation and information greatly aided the rescue mission, urging continued community support for effective policing in the state.

Meanwhile, the police have contacted the children’s parents, who reside in Ilorin, Kwara State, and arrangements are underway for their formal reunification.

The successful rescue has drawn emotional reactions from residents and human rights advocates, many describing it as “a story of hope, resilience, and the power of determined policing.”

The House of Representatives has commenced investigations into the alleged non-repatriation of Nigeria’s crude oil export proceeds estimated at over $850 billion between 1996 and 2014.

Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and Non-Repatriation of Crude Oil Proceeds, Hon ‘Seyi Sowunmi, disclosed this yesterday during the Committee’s inaugural press briefing at the National Assembly, Abuja.

He said recent allegations suggest a significant breakdown in compliance with the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act, with operators in the oil and gas sector reportedly failing to repatriate between 40 and 45 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil export proceeds, contrary to the law, which mandates full repatriation of export earnings within 90 days for oil exports and 180 days for non-oil exports.

Sowunmi also expressed concern over the “worrisome disparity” in export-earnings data reported by government agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Department of Petroleum Resources (now NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as well as inconsistencies between Nigerian data and that of international bodies like OPEC.

He added that non-oil exports, especially those involving solid minerals and other commodities, have also been marked by “high non-compliant export earnings reports.”

According to him, the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act (CAP P26, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) established the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) to prevent capital flight, ensure accurate export valuation, and safeguard Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Before the Act was enacted in 1996, he said, the country suffered from “endemic leakages in the form of under-valuation, delayed invoicing, price manipulation, illegal swaps, and deliberate over-loading.”

The Committee, he explained, will probe the exact volume and value of unrepatriated export proceeds from oil, gas, and non-oil sectors since 1996, determine why government agencies produce conflicting export data, and engage experts for a forensic reconciliation of export-proceeds accounts. It will also investigate the management and utilization of funds under the NESS.

“This Committee will be guided strictly by evidence, not speculation. Our work will be document-based, data-driven, transparent, and verifiable,” Sowunmi said. “Our aim is simple: Nigeria must receive, in full and promptly, every dollar legally due from its exports.”

He assured that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas is fully committed to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by plugging revenue leakages and recovering lost funds for the Federation Account.

Sowunmi further announced the Committee will actively utilise existing whistleblowing channels, promising confidentiality and possible financial rewards for individuals who provide credible information.

“The Committee will actively utilize existing whistleblowing channels, guaranteeing confidentiality and possible rewards for credible information from industry staff, inspection agents, bankers, and concerned citizens,” he stated, adding that this step was crucial to encourage transparency and expose fraudulent practices within the export value chain.

He called for the cooperation of all stakeholders—including oil operators, regulators, financial institutions, and exporters, emphasizing that the investigation is a “whole-of-system exercise.”

“Operators must supply shipment-to-receipt trails; regulators must reconcile production, certification, and FX returns; and financial institutions must provide account-level evidence of repatriation within time. Where breaches are discovered, appropriate civil and criminal sanctions shall be applied,” he warned.

Sowunmi described the Committee’s task as non-partisan, stressing that it is aimed purely at safeguarding the nation’s economic integrity.

“Our measure of success is not publicity, but verifiable financial recovery to the Federation Account,” he said. “This inquiry is non-partisan; it is about protecting and strengthening our economy in the interest of our great nation, Nigeria.”

He acknowledged the crucial role of the media in the Committee’s work, urging journalists to ensure accurate, evidence-based reporting and to avoid speculation. The Committee, he said, would provide periodic factual updates and publish non-sensitive documents when necessary.

“Members of the press are critical partners in ensuring accurate, evidence-based reporting. We urge the media to focus on verifiable progress and avoid premature figures that could mislead the public,” he said.

Sowunmi called for collective support from Nigerians, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are central to the Committee’s work.

…Urges SKILL-UP beneficiaries to use tools properly

The newly inaugurated Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Imo State who is also the Chairman of the Imo State Law Reform Commission (LRC), Hon. Barrister Paul Obinatu has paid a familiarization visit to the Imo State Law Commission office pleading that he would do everything to ensure the success of the commission.

The visit marked his formal assumption of office as the Chairman of the Commission to oversee the Commission’s critical mandates.

The core mandate of the Law Reform Commission is the comprehensive revision and reformation of the extant Laws of Eastern Nigeria of 1963 which laws is still in applicable only in Imo State.

The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice disclosed his determination to ensure the success of this vital law reform project and called for all hands to be on the deck.

He insisted that his determination is to make the Justice system more perfect in line with the vision and mission of the governor of the state.

The Attorney General who also used the avenue to address workers that had just concluded and received digital tools at the recent SKILLUPIMO programme from HE Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma at the ultra modern Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Center challenged them to put into proper use the skills acquired and tools handed over to them.

He admonished and encouraged them, urging them to utilize their new resources to impart efficiency charging the beneficiaries to “make good use of your laptops for the betterment of the Commission.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Barr. E. C Aguta promised to present to the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the draft Bills on the Revised Laws of Imo State adapted from the extant Laws of the State within two weeks time.

Barr. Aguta expressed profound gratitude to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for his prompt visit and demonstrated commitment to the Commission’s mandate, saying that this has reinforced the staff’s readiness to achieve a new era of legal and digital excellence.

He equally presented a customized law reform face cap and T – Shirt to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

The Senate Yesterday stepped down a bill proposing a five-year jail term for anyone who supplies drugs or instruments used to procure abortion, following confusion over the bill’s language and intent.

This was disclosed in a clip by NASS TV, from the Tuesday session.

The decision came after the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, moved that the proposed legislation be referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further examination and report within two weeks.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) seconded the motion, describing the bill, titled Supplying Drugs or Instruments to Procure Abortion, as “unclear and potentially misleading.” He warned that the current phrasing could criminalise legitimate medical prescriptions if not properly defined.

“In view of the confusion generated by the title and the interpretation that anyone taking or supplying any drug at all could face five years imprisonment, it is only fair that this bill be stepped down for clearer legal interpretation,” Kalu said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, upheld the motion and ruled that the bill be suspended for further legal scrutiny.

“The Deputy Senate President has proposed a motion that we step down further consideration of this bill and refer it to our Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters to get back to us in two weeks. “Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a strong leader and member of this Assembly, has seconded it,” Akpabio said before calling a voice vote.

However, shortly after the decision, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) sought permission to speak, arguing that the subject directly affected women and required a more sensitive discussion.

“Mr President, please may I speak? I am a woman, and abortion has to do with women,” she said.

Her request was, however, opposed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), who cautioned that reopening debate after a resolution would violate parliamentary procedure.

“Once the gavel has been dropped, the rule is clear, no further discussion. If we start granting exceptions, then we will have no rules,” Oshiomhole said.

Akpabio sustained the objection, citing Rule 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, which bars reconsideration of any matter already concluded unless through a formal motion for rescission.

He ruled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan out of order and reaffirmed that the bill had been stepped down “in totality” pending the committee’s findings.

The bill, which has sparked debates among lawmakers and the public, will now undergo further consultations and legal review before any fresh consideration by the Senate.

The House of Representatives has constituted an ad hoc committee, chaired by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to mediate in the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance jointly sponsored by Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki, titled “The Need to Protect Strategic Private Investments from Adversarial Unionism,” during Yesterday plenary.

Moving the motion, Doguwa expressed concern over the recent face-off between PENGASSAN and the management of the Dangote Refinery located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos. The industrial action, he said, disrupted operations at the $20 billion facility, the largest single-train refinery in the world.

According to Doguwa, the strike resulted in a temporary disruption of crude oil production, with an estimated daily loss of 200,000 barrels over three days. He added that the situation aggravated the fuel supply crisis nationwide, leading to scarcity and long queues at filling stations across several states, thereby inflicting hardship on Nigerians.

He said, “Dangote Refinery represents a strategic private investment of immense national importance, with the capacity to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on fuel importation, create jobs, and save foreign exchange.

“We are aware that the Dangote Refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone and therefore falls under the regulatory framework of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, particularly Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act, which clearly states that ‘Employment in the free zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to the provisions of any enactments relating to employment matters.’

“The House is concerned that actions by labour unions that disregard the legal protections conferred on Free Zones under the NEPZA Act not only constitute a breach of law but also create a hostile investment environment that may deter future local and foreign investors.

“We are worried that if private investments of strategic national importance are continually subjected to unlawful disruptions by adversarial unionism, Nigeria risks not only the failure of key economic assets but also the erosion of investor confidence necessary for national growth and development.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged its leadership to broker peace between the two parties in the interest of the nation.

…Over 40 injured

At least 30 people have allegedly lost their lives and around 40 sustained various degrees of injuries in a tanker explosion.

It was gathered the incident occurred yesterday morning in Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in Katcha local government area.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims were scooping petroleum products from the overturned tanker when it exploded, and left some bodies burnt beyond recognition.

They stated that those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in the area for treatment.

Confirming the incident, Farouk Mohammed Kawo, Niger State Chairman of Tanker Drivers and NUPENG stated that the tanker was transporting petroleum products from Lagos to the North.

Kawo lamented that over 30 tanker trailers have been involved in accidents in the same area this October alone.

He also decried the community’s habit of scooping oil from accident-prone vehicles, while citing a recent incident where a groundnut oil tanker overturned and its contents were scooped by residents.

The chairman appealed to Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s administration to urgently grade the affected road to prevent further loss of lives and property.

He then emphasized the need for government’s intervention to address the recurring accidents on roads in the state.

Efforts to reach the state Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, for confirmation failed as at the time of filing this report.

The Borno State Police Command has begun investigation into a viral publication circulating on various social media platforms of a young woman who allegedly took her own life due to forced marriage in Gubio local government area of the State.

The woman was alleged to have taken her own life after the father forced her to marry one of his friends.

In a statement to journalists yesterday in Maiduguri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said the Command wished to inform the general public that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has ordered a discreet investigation into the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the said viral report.

Daso said the Command was committed to establishing the true facts of the matter and, therefore, called on individuals with credible and verifiable information to come forward and assist the Police in the ongoing investigation.

He said, “The attention of the Command has been drawn to a viral publication circulating on various social media platforms, alleging that a young woman in Gubio local government area took her own life after being forced by her father to marry one of his friends.

“The Command wishes to inform the general public that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, has ordered a discreet investigation into the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the said report.

“The Command is committed to establishing the true facts of the matter and therefore calls on individuals with credible and verifiable information to come forward and assist the Police in the ongoing investigation.”

He further advised members of the public to exercise caution and restraint in sharing unverified information, especially on sensitive matters that may cause panic, emotional distress, or misrepresentation of facts.

The PPRO said while the Command remained dedicated to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of all citizens, it also warned that spreading false or misleading information is punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

“The Borno State Police Command assures residents of its unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order, promoting accountability, and ensuring that justice and truth prevail,” the statement added.

However, local child protection volunteer Bukar Fantami Gubio has urged human rights organisations, law enforcement agencies, and relevant authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure that justice was served.

Gubio emphasised the need to protect young women’s rights, freedom, and dignity against all forms of abuse and coercion, highlighting that forced marriages are a significant violation of human rights.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the State, with community members and activists calling for urgent action to prevent similar cases.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a 14-day notice of termination to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over the company’s poor handling of the Aba-bound section of the Aba–Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.

He also ordered that the project be descoped and re-awarded to a more competent indigenous contractor.

The minister expressed disappointment that the CCECC had repeatedly failed to comply with the new construction codes and regulations, despite several warnings and reminders.

Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the project, Umahi faulted the firm’s substandard work, particularly on the Port Harcourt-bound lane, which he said had deteriorated barely two years after completion.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Orji, in Abuja.

Umahi said that “if you get to the Port Harcourt end, which they did about two years ago, the entire road has almost totally failed. We have been writing to them to maintain this road.

“They have refused, and so I have to take responsibility and make decisions. Number one, the Port Harcourt-bound lane is descoped, it will no longer be handled by CCECC.

“I will direct the Ministry of Works to scout for qualified indigenous contractors to take over the Port Harcourt-bound section. They should be ready to mobilize immediately while we sort out funding.

“Number two, for the section currently handled by CCECC, they should be issued a 14-day notice of termination. If, after 14 days, they fail to mill out and replace the defective binder, the job will be terminated.”

He emphasized that the contractor must commit in writing to rectify the defects at its own cost, even if the work resumes during the dry season.

“Even if they are going to do it during the dry season, they must maintain the sections already done and provide written assurance that they will mill out the binder layer, which we have paid for, and replace it properly,” Umahi added.

However, the Minister, commended Arab Contractors O.A.O. Nigeria Limited for their quality work on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway, describing the project as one nearing completion and meeting the ministry’s standards.

Umahi also acknowledged the challenges of inherited road projects nationwide and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support in revamping Nigeria’s road infrastructure sector.