Peter Obi’s anticipated presidency and Nigeria’s seemingly ineradicable culture of corruption

By Chiedu Uche Okoye
Nigeria’s underdevelopment is attributed to  the culture of corruption, which pervades the entire country. Is she not blessed with abundant human and material resources? Doesn’t she have large arable land? And is Nigeria not a country that has many waters (rivers, lakes, ponds, and rivulets), and equable weather conditions? A country that possesses the aforementioned things ought to be a developed nation-state.
But the obverse obtains in our polity. Why? Over the years, our successive political leaders have continued to deepen our egregious and despicable culture of corruption, which is the cankerworm that is destroying our country’s moral fabric and stultifying our national development. And Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, who are not occupying political offices, have embraced the culture of corruption that prevails in our country.
Consequently, every system of doing things in Nigeria has been compromised and corrupted. For example, in today’s Nigeria, educational certificates, ranging from FSLCs to university degrees, can be secured through underhand and corrupt means. And while our judges accept financial inducement so as to  pervert the course of justice, our  politicians rig electoral polls to access political power at different governmental strata.
Again, our politicians, who perceive their occupation of political offices as opportunities to become rich by dipping their hands into our collective financial tills, have caused the ruination of our national economy. They are wont to divert public funds earmarked for the execution of projects into their private bank accounts. The trial, conviction, and imprisonment of Joshua Dariye and Rev. Jolly Nyame, who are former governors in Nigeria, are proofs that corruption has been encumbering our national development. That Nigeria is hobbled by official corruption is beyond question; and it is an incontrovertible fact.
But sadly, and incredibly, too, parents, who ought to provide the moral compass for their children and wards, are socializing and initiating them into the culture of corruption. When parents hire surrogate candidates to sit such examinations as SSCE and NECO for their impressionable children, they are socializing and initiating them into the culture of corruption. Are the personalities of human beings not formed during their formative  years?
Now, Mr. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election is riding on the crest and coat tail of his possession of probity to wrest power from President Bola Tinubu. But would Mr. Peter Obi, who is believed to be incorruptible and morally upright, be able to extirpate corruption in Nigeria if he became the president of Nigeria in 2027? We have  no doubt that he is a man of probity, who is well-intentioned. But freeing Nigeria from the chokehold of corruption is an arduous task that requires the collective efforts of millions of Nigerians.
If he became the president of Nigeria in 2027, he would be surrounded by party members, who do not share his philosophy of life and political ideologies. Most of his political acolytes and supporters are hypocritical and sycophantic politicians, who are set in their evil and duplicitous ways. So Mr. Peter Obi and they would work at cross-purposes. Their working at cross-purposes would undermine his efforts at cleaning our country’s Augean stable.
But Nigeria is not past redemption. The panacea to the culture of corruption, which causes our country’s economic strangulation, technological underdevelopment, and infrastructural rot and deficit, is effecting moral regeneration among us. The agents of socialization, which are family, religion, and school, should be used in reforming  the youths’ characters.
In this regard, parents should inculcate good morals into their children instead of socializing them into the culture of corruption. They should adopt this biblical saying in raising their children: spare the rod and spoil the child. And the mosques and churches should preach messages that border on holiness, chasteness, faithfulness, honesty, perseverance, and love. Such messages would mould their personalities and transform them to morally-upright and god-fearing people.
When an army of patriotic, morally-upright, and well-adjusted young people are raised in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi, who is honest and well-intentioned, could deploy them in the arduous task of revolutionizing Nigeria and nation-building if he became the president of the country.
But without effecting moral regeneration among us so as to raise a young demographic of patriotic, morally-upright, and god-fearing Nigerians, Nigeria will remain hobbled by corruption. And economic, technological, and infrastructural development will continue to elude us. As a result, the eradication of corruption in our country will remain a mirage.

Governor Idris to commission Lead 91.1 FM Radio in Kebbi, marks 61st birthday

 

 

Arrangements have been concluded for the commissioning of the newly established LEAD 91.1 FM Radio Station in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State even as the Governor marks his 61st birthday.

The station, owned by Optimal Image Media Services under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Shuaibu Yusuf Mungadi, is scheduled to be commissioned by Comrade Governor Dr. Nasir Idris on Monday, 11th August, 2026.

This was contained in a statement by Abdullahi Idris Sadaukin Zuru, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Governor.

With the establishment of the Birnin Kebbi station, Optimal Image Media Services now operates five media outfits across the region. These include stations in Gusau, Zamfara State; Katsina; Abuja; and 3rd Eye Africa Television in Abuja, an addition of LEAD 91.1 FM that marks the organization’s continued expansion and commitment to credible broadcasting in Northern Nigeria.

LEAD 91.1 FM becomes the sixth privately owned FM radio station* in Kebbi State and is expected to provide quality programming and news coverage to a wide audience across Gwandu and Argungu Emirates in Kebbi State, as well as Yabo and Tambuwal Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.

Ahead of the commissioning, the management has completed the installation of state-of-the-art digital broadcasting equipment and facilities

In line with sustainable energy practices, the station will be powered by solar-generated sources*.

The establishment of LEAD 91.1 FM is also in direct response to Governor Nasir Idris’s consistent appeal to indigenous entrepreneurs to return home and invest in various sectors of the economy. The initiative is expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kebbi State and create employment opportunities for the people.

Members of the press, government officials, traditional rulers, and stakeholders in the media industry are expected to grace the commissioning ceremony.

Meanwhile, the statement disclosed that Governor Idris has clocked 61 years.

According to the statement, at 61, Comrade Nasir Idris( Kauran Gwandu) has proven to be a special gift and blessing to the people of Kebbi State.

From his days as an internationally recognized labour unionist, to serving our country in different capacities, and now as the democratically elected Executive Governor of Kebbi State, his commitment to transforming the socio-economic well-being of our people is clear.

As we celebrate his 61st birthday, may Allah SWT continue to grant him sound health, more courage, and abundant wisdom to continue his purposeful and impactful leadership for the people of Kebbi State beyond 2027.

Congratulations to a God-sent messiah.

PDP knocks Hamzat’s “2027 Agenda”, says it’s admission of APC’s 7-year failure in Lagos

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed the policy document unveiled by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as “nothing but a public confession of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s seven years of failure.”
The PDP was reacting to the document titled “Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat 2027 Agenda: The Plan to Organise Lagos” which was widely circulated this week.
In a statement signed by Prince Dr. Christopher Odianarewo, Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, the party said the blueprint exposes the APC’s inability to deliver on basic governance despite controlling the state since 2019.
“Dr. Obafemi Hamzat is not an opposition candidate. He is the incumbent Deputy Governor of Lagos State,” the statement read.
“If indeed he possesses such a comprehensive blueprint capable of transforming Lagos into a safe, organised, water secure, flood free, and prosperous city, Nigerians are entitled to ask: What has stopped him and his principal, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, from implementing these ideas over the last seven years?”
The PDP accused the APC of “repackaging yesterday’s failures as tomorrow’s promises,” noting that every election cycle the party unveils “glossy documents filled with attractive slogans” while daily realities remain unchanged.
The opposition party listed issues the APC agenda now promises to address but which remain unresolved:  Running water, flood control, waste management reform, organised public transportation, affordable housing, technology-driven security, and ending street harassment.
“Lagosians still endure chronic flooding after every rainfall. Residents continue to spend fortunes purchasing water because pipe borne water remains a luxury,” the PDP stated.
“Traffic congestion has worsened, environmental sanitation remains deplorable, housing remains beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.”
The party argued that instead of presenting a scorecard, the Deputy Governor has presented “another catalogue of promises that could and should have been fulfilled during his tenure in office.”
The PDP urged Lagosians to “judge political parties not by beautifully written manifestoes but by their record in office.
“Governance is not about producing attractive policy documents. Governance is about implementation, accountability, and measurable results,” the statement added.
The statement further stated, “No amount of media spin or political rebranding can conceal the truth. Lagos deserves competent, transparent, compassionate, and accountable leadership, not another chapter of recycled promises from those who have already had every opportunity to perform.”
The party concluded that “the time has come for genuine change” and that “Lagosians cannot and will not be deceived again.”

Tinubu’s undelivered confessional to real Bishops

By Ike Abonyi

“The main difference between the Church and Politics is that the Church promises heaven later, while politicians promise it before the next election” – Anonymous

 

After the July 22, 2022, fake bishops controversy that dogged President Bola Tinubu’s unveiling of his Muslim -Muslim ticket Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, in Abuja, many political watchers anxiously looked up to his first meeting with real bishops. Many envisaged such a meeting to be an intriguing confessional encounter. Why? Because the prior event had led many to expect a significant, perhaps confessional, dialogue between the President and genuine religious leaders.

Therefore as Nigerians have been awash with the controversy arising from last week’s meeting of the President and the Catholic bishops, I am driven as a journalist by intellectual curiosity and a penchant for observing societal dynamics, to capture imaginatively the humorous confession the President would have wished contained in his address to the Catholic clerics but he squandered the opportunity, as the issues of poverty and hunger dominated the cantekerous discussion, not minding that hunger had existed even before the President was born.

 

In ‘Political Musing’ this week, I therefore present to the readers, in a satirical form, an ‘undelivered’ confessional speech of the President to the bishops that couldn’t be presented because of the hunger lecture from both the host and the visitors. From the Bishops to the President, -‘ Nigeria is bleeding, and hunger is ravaging the land’, the President to the Bishops, -‘the Economy has bounced back; as for hunger, it has been there before I was born, and I am officially 74 years old. Here is the address.

 

“My Lords spiritual, Most Reverends, and Venerable Fathers in God,

 

First, let me welcome you to the Aso Rock Villa. Please, sit down. Rest your robes. I know some of you walked in here with actual ordination certificates, canonical decrees, and apostolic succession. Beautiful credentials! Truly impressive.

 

Now, I know why you requested this emergency audience. All you want to tell me today you have severally very well articulated in your various homilies on Sundays. Perhaps if Nigerians listened to you, they would not be greeting politicians on the way, but thank God you limit yourself and your views in your altar. I also noticed some of you who are friends struggling to serve two masters—your congregation and we the politicians. We understand your predicament of trying to serve two masters at the same time and hoping to satisfy them. 

 

My protocol staff harboured concerns that you might decline our modest contribution towards your travel expenses to Abuja. But I advised them to frame it as an ‘Aso Rock offertory to God, through His Lordship.’ This clarification was intended to prevent any breach of church protocol, ensuring you were treated with the utmost respect, unlike the individuals present at my Vice President’s unveiling on July 22, 2022. Regarding that event, notoriously dubbed the ‘Villa Casting Call’ or, as the media sensationalised it, the ‘Fake Bishops Incident,’ I maintain there was nothing inherently fraudulent about them. They simply operated on a different frequency than your Lordships, but they were undoubtedly attired in clerical garb at that moment.

 

 

Let us be frank with each other. As a seasoned political strategist, I believe in inclusion. When we were assembling the spiritual coalition for our grand unveiling, my team said, “Your Excellency, the ‘real’ bishops were very busy with prayer retreats and diocesan administration” for the success of the elections following tensions created by numerous litigations and uproar over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

 

So I asked a simple question: “Can we not benchmark the episcopacy?”

 

To heal this seeming rift between the Church and the State, allow me to offer the following official clarifications.

 

The controversial robes were not fake but 100% authentic. We did not skimp on fabric. The silk was imported from Rome, the cassocks were tailored in Lagos by one of the celibate tailors trained in Vatican City, and the mitres were adjusted for maximum grandeur. If the theology was a bit light, the embroidery was heavy! But because of the rush, he gave the fabrics to his apprentice. What you saw as poor finishing was an apprenticeship error. Think of it not as impersonation but as a youth empowerment initiative. We gave young and old, unemployed men a taste of high ecclesiastical office for one afternoon. Is job creation now a sin?

 

Your lordship might have seen ‘actors hired off the street,’ but for me it was a rapid-onset spiritual devotion. Some of those young men held those wooden crosses with so much vigour, I almost asked them to hear my confession right then and there.

 

“If a man puts on the suit of a pilot and sits in the cockpit, does he not fly the plane of faith in his heart? Or if an idle civilian puts on a General’s attire, does he not immediately start feeling like a war commander? Why must we discriminate against artisanal, non-licensed clergy?” Heaven cannot be angry at any joke that tries to recruit more members for it.

 

The media tried to inject bad blood between us by tweaking the whole story, but thank God, at your high spiritual level, you understood the drama.

 

My Lords, I will not say ‘I am sorry,’ because in Nigerian politics, an apology is a sign of weak coalition-building. Instead, I offer you a bipartisan resolution: henceforth, there will be real bishop verification badges.

 

Moving forward, all authentic clergy attending Villa events will be issued a special green-and-white code to distinguish you from our background extras.

 

Next time we need a spiritual audience for a photo op, we will give your dioceses the first right of refusal before we call the Nollywood extras union.

 

We are willing to donate the surplus cassocks from the event to your local parishes for drama night.

 

So, my beloved fathers, let us put this behind us. Let us break garri, share the national cake, and pray for the economy. After all, whether fake or real, the prayers all go to the same heavens—ours just came with a slightly higher production budget.

 

May the Lord bless our pipeline of spiritual manpower.”

 

You Catholic bishops and your priests remain highly respected, not because you do not marry for full, unhindered and non-distracted service. Your views, even in politics, are very highly regarded for their objectives, but I am tempted to say that your passion regarding Peter Obi’s case exposed you, as your inclination toward him is unprecedented and even biased across ethnic and geographical lines. Thank God you are not the only voters, but notwithstanding, your discipline, sincerity, and maturity on national issues, as well as your prayers for this country, remain very glaring, and I thank you for that—especially your not indulging in soothsaying and marabouts’ forecasting to confuse and derail the electorate. Your Peter Obi is popular and desired by both Christians and Muslims in the North and South, male and female, adults and youths, but they need to jump a hurdle that needs a strong iron pole that they don’t have.

Even among my challengers is one experienced war horse in politics who wants to keep running for an elusive position until he dies because you men of God and marabouts have assured him of the job even when the permutations are very glaringly unfavourable.

 

Please, on a final note, my lords, I am very much aware of the marble words of President Bill Clinton’s Spiritual Adviser and influential evangelist Tony Campolo, that “Mixing politics and religion is like mixing ice cream and manure. It doesn’t hurt the manure, but it sure ruins the ice cream.” Religion is dictating politics in Nigeria, which is sad; politicians benefit by using it, but the faith suffers.

Your lordship shouldn’t mind my numerous shortcomings; I most sincerely appreciate your prayers which is actually what is keeping this country one, I urge you never to relent and to always count on my support especially knowing that whenever a politician steps into a church, everyone looks to see if he’s reaching for his wallet or the microphone, I assure you that in my case, I will reach for both. Thanks for the visit, and God bless

 
*Abonyi, Editor-at-Large, is a public affairs analyst and wrote in from Abuja

Osun: Tinubu waging a war against the opposition, not corruption — Atiku

 

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed grave concern over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account days before the governorship election by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ADC Presidential Candidate said that such a reckless action amounts to a dangerous assault on democracy and raises serious questions about the neutrality of institutions entrusted with upholding the rule of law. He insisted that there can be no justification for such an action on the eve of a critical election.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the timing of the action is deeply troubling and capable of undermining public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.
“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election. Such an action could disrupt governance, delay salary payments, impede essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation that has no place in a democratic society.
“If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process. Anti-corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments.”
Atiku said Nigeria’s democracy depends not only on free and fair elections but also on public confidence that institutions of state act independently, professionally and without political interference.
“The selective and politically convenient deployment of state institutions diminishes public trust and weakens the democratic order. Institutions established to enforce the law must never become instruments for creating fear or conferring political advantage.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the pattern under the Tinubu administration, where opposition-controlled states appear to be the consistent targets of coercive federal actions. Coming after the prolonged denial of Osun State’s statutory local government allocations, this latest action reinforces the disturbing impression that public institutions are being weaponised to punish political opponents rather than serve the Nigerian people.”
Atiku called on the EFCC to immediately reverse the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account.
“Freezing the state’s allocation account is not merely an attack on the Osun State Government; it is a direct assault on the people of Osun State, whose salaries, essential public services and daily governance stand to suffer. The anti-corruption mandate of the EFCC must never be distorted into a political weapon against opposition governments.”
He urged all institutions involved in the conduct of the Osun governorship election to act with restraint, impartiality and fidelity to the Constitution.
“The people of Osun State alone must determine the outcome of their election. No external force or institution of government should, by action or omission, cast a shadow over the credibility of that democratic choice.
“President Tinubu is leaving no one in doubt that he is determined to win elections at all costs. Democracy cannot coexist with the systematic weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents. I therefore call on all opposition parties and every Nigerian committed to constitutional democracy to close ranks and resist this dangerous drift before it is too late.”

State Police Amendment Bill: ADC alleges constitutional breach by Reps

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the House of Representatives to recommit the proposed State Police Constitution Alteration Bill to a fresh legislative process, alleging that the current procedure adopted for its passage undermines constitutional provisions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said while it supports the establishment of state police to address Nigeria’s security challenges, it could not endorse a process that allegedly violates the Constitution.

The ADC questioned reports that the constitutional threshold required for the passage of the constitutional amendment was achieved through votes transmitted via WhatsApp by lawmakers who were absent from the chamber and by counting members who had signed the attendance register but were no longer present during voting.

 

According to the party, such allegations raise serious legal and constitutional concerns.

 

“The Constitution is not amended by convenience. It is amended through strict procedures that leave no room for improvisation,” the statement said, stressing that constitutional amendment procedures must be followed irrespective of the merits of the proposed legislation.

 

The party also expressed concern over reports that clause-by-clause consideration of the bill was curtailed during proceedings and that constitutional objections raised by some lawmakers were not adequately addressed.

 

It argued that constitutional amendments require openness, extensive debate and strict adherence to the Constitution as well as the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.

 

The ADC further contended that the current version of the State Police Bill had not been subjected to sufficient public scrutiny, despite containing what it described as significant policy reforms capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture.

 

While acknowledging that the concept of state police has featured in previous constitutional review exercises, the party maintained that the latest proposal should undergo a dedicated public consultation process before becoming law.

 

According to the ADC, the objective should not merely be to create another policing institution but to establish a framework capable of addressing the country’s worsening insecurity while safeguarding against potential political abuse.

 

The party warned that without broad public engagement, the legislation risked emerging from what it described as “the echo chamber of the ruling party” rather than benefiting from robust national debate.

 

It also cautioned against repeating the mistakes of previous laws and policies that required amendments or reversals after implementation because they were insufficiently scrutinised before passage.

 

The party urged the House of Representatives to recommit the bill to a legislative process that is constitutional, transparent and inclusive, insisting that Nigeria deserves a state police framework that enjoys public confidence because it has been thoroughly debated and strengthened before being incorporated into the Constitution. Authority.

Troops bust terrorist supply network, arrest collaborators

 

 

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have recorded fresh successes in the fight against terrorism with the arrest of four suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) collaborators, as well as the interception of 20 suspected family members of terrorists in separate operations across Borno and Yobe states.

The operations, carried out through intelligence-led missions, form part of ongoing military efforts to dismantle terrorist logistics networks, cut off supply routes and sustain pressure on insurgents operating in the North-East theatre.

 

Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Tuesday, saying the arrests followed credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of suspected terrorist support structures.

 

According to him, troops of the 159 Battalion under Sector 2 conducted a cordon-and-search operation in Geidam, Yobe State, leading to the arrest of two suspected Boko Haram collaborators believed to be involved in supplying hard drugs and other logistics items to terrorists.

 

Recovered from the suspects were a large quantity of suspected Indian hemp, several mobile phones, power banks, torchlights, knives, scissors, lighters, cigarette rolls, Pregabalin capsules, cough syrup, identity cards, ATM cards and cash amounting to ₦14,530.

 

In a separate operation in Monguno, Borno State, troops of Sector 3 Garrison, working in conjunction with the 242 Reconnaissance Battalion, arrested two suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers during a raid targeting terrorist supply channels.

 

The suspects reportedly confessed during preliminary interrogation that they had been transporting food items and other supplies to ISWAP fighters operating in Kwatan Dowoshi Village in Kukawa Local Government Area.

 

Items recovered from them included cartons and sachets of assorted biscuits, milk, sugar, sachet garri, soap, headlamps, lighters, mobile phones, an assault knife, herbal medicines, prayer beads, a charm belt and cash totaling ₦6,600.

 

Meanwhile, troops of the 222 Battalion intercepted 20 suspected family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorists during a routine patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

 

The group comprised nine women, two men, eight female minors and one male minor. Preliminary investigations revealed that they fled their settlement following intensified military offensives against terrorist enclaves in the area.

 

Military authorities said the intercepted individuals have been handed over to the 21 Military Intelligence Regiment for profiling and further action, while the arrested suspects and recovered exhibits are undergoing detailed investigation.

 

The military noted that the latest operations demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-driven counterterrorism efforts aimed at disrupting terrorist logistics and support networks. It also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations and help restore lasting peace and security across the North-East region. Authority.

State Police: FG inaugurates implementation phase, Executive Bill Sept. 3

 

 

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday formally launched the implementation phase of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, declaring that the Federal Government is preparing a comprehensive legal framework for a dual federal and state policing system ahead of the final constitutional approval for state police.

 

Speaking at the State House Press Centre in Abuja after convening the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Working Group, Gbajabiamila said the reform was designed to create a policing architecture that would bring security closer to communities while preserving national standards, national security and the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

 

He explained that although the National Assembly had made significant progress on the constitutional amendment establishing state police—with the Senate approving the proposal on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives passing the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026—the amendment would not become operational until it secured the required approval of state Houses of Assembly and the necessary implementing laws were enacted.

 

Gbajabiamila stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remained the country’s only constitutionally recognised police institution, warning against the misconception that the constitutional amendment alone was sufficient to establish state police services.

 

According to him, the National Policing Bill is intended to address critical operational issues that the constitutional amendment does not cover, including recruitment, training, funding, command structure, jurisdiction, firearms regulation, pensions, data management, complaints mechanisms, transition arrangements and cooperation between federal and state policing institutions.

 

He said President Bola Tinubu constituted the Presidential Working Group to ensure the country was fully prepared once the constitutional process was completed, adding that the group’s mandate was to produce an implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill alongside supporting legislative instruments.

 

“The constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing. However, it does not, by itself, provide the complete operating system,” Gbajabiamila said.

 

The Chief of Staff disclosed that the assignment also includes a comprehensive audit of the Police Act 2020, Police Service Commission framework and other laws affected by the reform, with recommendations expected on national policing standards, state readiness certification, human rights safeguards, independent complaints institutions, criminal intelligence systems, funding arrangements and the treatment of existing security outfits.

 

He said the Working Group comprises representatives of the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigerian Bar Association, while its secretariat would oversee research, legal drafting, policy analysis and stakeholder consultations.

 

Gbajabiamila also announced that President Tinubu had approved a multidisciplinary Policy Advisory Committee chaired by retired Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman. The committee includes members drawn from the judiciary, academia, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, state Attorneys-General, public policy experts and technology specialists.

 

According to him, the committee will provide technical oversight, review successive drafts of the bill, validate implementation proposals and ensure that the reform process maintains public confidence through independent scrutiny.

 

He revealed that the implementation programme would run for seven weeks, from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the Executive Bill package expected to be submitted to President Tinubu on September 3. Subject to presidential approval, a nationwide public consultation will follow before the legislation is transmitted to the National Assembly.

 

Gbajabiamila said the final package would include not only the proposed legislation but also explanatory memoranda, legal audit reports, implementation plans, fiscal notes, readiness frameworks, risk assessments and other supporting documents required for effective implementation.

 

He maintained that while the government supports stronger local policing, safeguards against abuse remain central to the reform.

 

“State Police cannot mean thirty-six state militias, just as national standards cannot become a disguised method of re-centralising day-to-day state policing,” he said, adding that no political office holder should be able to use state police to persecute opponents or suppress lawful political activities.

 

He further stated that no state police service would commence operations without demonstrating adequate capacity in recruitment, training, welfare, discipline, independent oversight, firearms control, data management and financial sustainability.

 

Gbajabiamila announced an open call for memoranda, position papers and practical proposals from Nigerians, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security institutions and stakeholders both within and outside the country to strengthen the proposed legislation.

 

He acknowledged public concerns over possible political abuse, uneven state capacity, funding challenges and ethnic or sectional capture of state police institutions, but insisted that these concerns underscored the need for a comprehensive National Policing Bill rather than a hurried implementation of the constitutional amendment.

 

While noting that the reform alone would not solve all of Nigeria’s security challenges, Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that the proposed dual policing framework would create a stronger Federal Police Service for national security and inter-state responsibilities alongside capable State Police Services for local security needs, all operating under common national standards.

 

He urged Nigerians to actively participate in the consultation process, describing the reform as a historic opportunity to build a policing system that is more responsive, accountable and suited to the country’s diverse security realities. Authority.

2027: Hungry, insecure Nigerians to decide election result, not Obasanjo – ADC insists

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing on personalities instead of addressing Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 general election will be determined by the daily realities faced by Nigerians rather than the opinion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the APC had become “obsessed” with its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because it could no longer defend President Bola Tinubu’s record in office.
The ADC alleged that the ruling party had seized on Obasanjo’s recent comments about Atiku as a diversionary tactic after Catholic Bishops criticised the Tinubu administration over rising poverty, insecurity and the high cost of living.
According to the party, rather than respond to the concerns raised by the bishops, the APC chose to attack both the clerics and Atiku while avoiding questions about the country’s economic and security situation.
“The APC wants the 2027 election to be about personalities because it cannot defend its performance. They want this election to be about Obasanjo’s personal opinion of Atiku based on a distant past because they cannot defend Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s record based on current performance,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that the APC had developed a pattern of attacking critics instead of responding to issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.
It maintained that whenever respected Nigerians raise concerns over deepening poverty, worsening insecurity, the rising cost of living or declining public confidence in government, the ruling party resorts to personal attacks rather than addressing the substance of the criticism.
Defending its presidential candidate, the party said Atiku’s record as Vice President during the Obasanjo administration remained a matter of public record, irrespective of the former president’s current political views.
It claimed that during the Obasanjo administration, when Atiku chaired the National Economic Council and coordinated economic planning between the federal and state governments, Nigeria experienced stronger economic growth, greater macroeconomic stability, improved investor confidence and a more affordable cost of living than exists today.
The opposition party also challenged the APC-led government to explain the continued rise in food prices, increasing poverty, unemployment, rising public debt and worsening insecurity across the country.
It questioned why economic growth had not translated into improved living standards, why government borrowing had increased significantly, and why many communities continued to face attacks from bandits, terrorists and kidnappers.
According to the ADC, these are the issues Nigerians expect the ruling party to address as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
The party maintained that the verdict at the polls would ultimately rest with Nigerians based on their personal experiences under the current administration.
“Ultimately, the election will not be decided by the opinion of any one individual. It will be decided by the lived experience of more than 200 million Nigerians who are poorer, more insecure, and more uncertain about their future than they were before the Tinubu administration took office,” the statement added.
Authority

NYSC introduces mandatory NERD clearance for corps mobilisation

 

 

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has made National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) clearance a compulsory requirement for prospective corps members seeking mobilisation for national service.

 

The directive, announced on the scheme’s official X handle on Monday, means eligible graduates who fail to obtain the clearance will not be mobilised for the next service year.

 

The development comes as the NYSC intensifies preparations for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ mobilisation exercise and tightens its verification process for prospective corps members.

 

In the advisory, the scheme urged eligible graduates to complete the clearance process ahead of time to avoid delays in their mobilisation.

“This is to inform Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) that without NERD clearance, no NYSC. Get your NERD clearance early. Avoid delays in your mobilisation,” the statement read.

 

Reinforcing the directive, the agency added: “NERD clearance is compulsory for all PCMs. No NERD clearance, No NYSC!!!”

 

Although the NYSC did not outline the procedures for obtaining the clearance, the latest requirement signals a more stringent screening process ahead of the forthcoming orientation exercise.

 

The announcement follows the recent commencement of mobilisation activities for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ service year, with the scheme urging tertiary institutions and eligible graduates to complete all necessary documentation before deployment.

 

It also comes days after the NYSC cautioned prospective corps members against travelling at night to orientation camps, advising them to break their journeys where necessary and lodge in safe locations or designated military and security formations instead of risking overnight travel.

 

The scheme said the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the credibility of its mobilisation process while enhancing the safety of corps members amid prevailing security concerns across the country. CONCLAVENG.