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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday announced the replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

During plenary, Akpabio named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new head of the committee, effectively ending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s tenure amid her suspension from the Senate.

Although no official reason was given for the change in leadership, the decision is believed to be linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ongoing suspension.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had earlier ordered her reinstatement, directing her to issue a formal apology to the Senate for her conduct. However, the Senate has stated that it is yet to receive a certified true copy of the court ruling, while Akpoti-Uduaghan has not tendered the required apology.

The Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo, for lacking in merit.

Ighodalo had sought to nullify the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state, alleging widespread irregularities, including over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

However, the apex court ruled that there was no justification to overturn the earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had both declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the valid winner of the election.

The court held that the appellant failed to present credible and admissible evidence to substantiate his claims

The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has emerged as a central figure in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, as both opposition leaders and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) intensify efforts to win his allegiance.

A source within the NNPP told reporters on Sunday that prominent political figures from the northern region are actively pressuring Kwankwaso to join the ADC opposition coalition.

“Kwankwaso is being pressured to join the coalition. Tinubu’s allies are also engaging with him, but it’s clear many are distancing themselves from the current administration,” the source said.

“As things stand, our leader has not made a final decision on whether to align with the coalition or the ruling party. However, his inclination appears stronger towards the coalition. The APC is no longer seen as a viable political force.”

The source added that as the 2027 election cycle approaches, Kwankwaso’s next political move will become clearer.

“Kwankwaso is currently the ‘new bride’ because Kano State is one of the country’s major voting blocs.

Both the APC and the opposition coalition understand that securing his support could mean securing Kano,” the source added.

Speaking with reporters, the NNPP Chairman in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, reiterated the party’s loyalty to Kwankwaso, saying members are prepared to follow him wherever he chooses to go.

“We are his blind followers. Wherever he takes us, we will follow. We don’t have a problem with that,” Dungurawa stated.

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his developmental reforms in Lagos State and across Nigeria.

In an open letter shared on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Dangote specifically commended President Tinubu for addressing ocean surges and flooding in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He also lauded the administration for initiating the development of a new Atlantic city and for undertaking major infrastructure projects, including the simultaneous construction of the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways.

Full content of the Letter is shared below!!

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA

AHMED TINUBU GCFR: APPRECIATION

Your Excellency, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you for your visionary leadership and farsightedness on the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project in Victoria Island, Lagos State. Through this project, a process has begun that has transformed a coastline that was once prone to incessant floods into an emerging new district with a defining skyline and a receptacle for direct investment and socioeconomic growth ever since its conception in 2008.

Asiwaju of Africa, your foresightedness is even more visible in view of the tragic incident in Kerr County, Texas, USA, where over 100 lives have sadly been lost to flash flooding. In the case of the Eko Atlantic City project spawned by you, a modern city spanning 1,000 hectares, protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea wall, protecting Victoria Island from coastal erosion, and giving birth to a dwelling constructed from new land created through sand dredging from the Atlantic Ocean.

Your Excellency, this success story, which is now being used for residential, business, and recreational purposes, is amongst your many legacies, and those of us who live in Victoria Island are much better off for it.

I applaud your exemplary intervention in ending the era of ocean surge and in continuously tackling the issue of perennial flooding affecting areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, and Karimu Kotun Street, among others.

Mr. President, you added another feat by kickstarting the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, significantly enriching the country’s stock of infrastructure while improving the national road network linking Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The latter of the two is a resurrection of a 48-year-old project, and both are being handled by a first-rate construction and civil engineering firm, Hitech Construction Company Limited.

Indeed, Your Excellency, your inspired move recalls a similar methodology in a land reclamation process in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged land was transformed into usable, dry land, primarily for agriculture and settlement. This practice, which was applied to combat flooding, is a testament to the Dutch ingenuity and perseverance in managing water resources and creating a habitable landscape in a challenging environment. The same ethos resonates in the Bar Beach project, for which I salute you!

For all of us at Dangote Industries Limited, as we commiserate with the families of those who died in the Texas flooding incident, we are also grateful for your compassionate and visionary leadership, which has provided huge, consistent support for our businesses and enabled a more prosperous nation for the collective good.

Our dear nation has also suffered significant losses in lives and property due to rising sea levels and incidents of flash flooding. In honour of your vision, the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon be announcing plans to contribute to a climate fund that will target those vulnerable parts of our country that are susceptible to this natural disaster.

Your Excellency, I pray that the Almighty Allah (S.W.T.) would continue to increase your wisdom, burnish your vision, and inspire you to greater heights of success for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Thank you very much, Asiwaju!

The Federal Government has formally set the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions at 16 years.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy on Tuesday while declaring open the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.

Dr. Alausa emphasized that the 16-year minimum age requirement is final and non-negotiable.

He also warned that any admission conducted outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal, and those involved would face prosecution.

“Let me be clear—admissions carried out outside CAPS are null and void. Heads of institutions found culpable of such malpractice will be prosecuted,” the Minister said.

The meeting was convened to determine the 2024/2025 admission guidelines and cut-off marks for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

At least 70 members of a vigilante group were killed on Monday after bandits ambushed them in Kukawa and Bunyun communities in the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Chairman of the vigilante group in Kukawa, Aliyu Baffa, confirmed the incident, stating that the attack occurred when a combined team of vigilantes from different formations in Wase LGA was on its way to locate suspected bandit hideouts.

According to Baffa, the vigilantes walked into an ambush set up by the armed bandits near Kukawa town, where they came under heavy gunfire. He said over 70 of the men were killed on the spot.

“The clash occurred just a kilometre from Kukawa, as our team headed to a known hideout inside the government reserve forest, popularly called Madam Forest, which borders Bauchi and Taraba States,” Baffa said.

He added that a mass burial was conducted for the deceased by evening, but many members remain missing and could still be in the bush.

“We have buried more than 70 in Kukawa alone, but more bodies may still be found. Our men were overwhelmed by the bandits who carried superior weapons,” he said.

In a related development, a resident of Bunyun village, Musa Ibrahim, confirmed that 10 other vigilante members were also killed in his community during the attack. He said the bandits destroyed several houses while terrorizing residents.

Nigeria’s already struggling economy may face fresh challenges following threats by former United States President Donald Trump to impose additional trade tariffs on countries aligning with the BRICS bloc.

BRICS, an informal group of emerging economies originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include six more countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, lashed out at the now 11-member group, warning of a 10 per cent tariff on all BRICS-aligned nations.

“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump stated.

Nigeria was officially admitted as the ninth BRICS partner country in January 2025, under a new membership category introduced during the 16th BRICS Summit held in October 2024.

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit. He is participating at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, based on Nigeria’s partner status — a level just below full membership.

Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, has died at the age of 90. Reports confirm that the monarch passed away in the early hours of Monday.

His death comes during the ongoing celebrations marking his 90th birthday and the first anniversary of his coronation. Oba Olakulehin ascended the throne on July 12, 2024, after receiving the staff of office from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

Further details regarding his burial and succession plans are expected to be announced by the traditional council.