Day: October 23, 2025

Akpabio blasts PDP, says Elections more credible since 2015

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declared that Nigeria’s elections have become more transparent and credible since the party was voted out of power in 2015.   Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary as lawmakers debated the Electoral Bill 2025, Akpabio said the nation’s democracy has matured significantly through reforms and technological innovations introduced after the PDP era.   Reflecting on his time as Akwa Ibom State Governor (2007–2015) under the PDP, Akpabio admitted that elections during the party’s rule were plagued by irregularities…

Reps moves to stop arbitrary rent increases, sets 20% limit

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives has moved to curb the rising trend of arbitrary rent increases across Nigeria, proposed that future rent adjustments should not exceed 20 per cent of the existing rate, regardless of property upgrades or other factors.   This followed a motion moved by Hon. Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, on the “Need to Regulate Arbitrary Rent Increase and Protect Tenants from Exploitation.”   Lawmakers urged the Federal Government to intensify affordable housing programmes, encourage low-cost home ownership, and ease pressure on the rental market through…

EFCC recovers ₦1.17 Trillion, secures 7,503 convictions in 2 years

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of assets worth over ₦1.17 trillion and the securing of 7,503 convictions nationwide between October 2023 and September 2025. The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during a press conference to mark his second anniversary in office. Represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Olukoyede said the EFCC had made “unprecedented progress” in the fight against economic and financial crimes over the last 24 months. According to him, within…

Tinubu swears in Amupitan as INEC Chairman, charges him to uphold Electoral integrity

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a charge to serve with integrity and remain above reproach in the discharge of his duties. The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, followed the Senate’s confirmation of Amupitan’s nomination on October 16. He succeeded Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ran from 2015 to 2025.   Addressing the new INEC boss, President Tinubu said his appointment reflected confidence in his…

Niger Police smashes robbery rings, arrests escaped inmate,thuggery suspects

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its sustained onslaught against crime, smashed several armed robbery and thuggery syndicates in Suleja and Minna, arrested multiple suspects, and recovered firearms, illicit drugs, and stolen property. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said operatives of the Anti-Thuggery Unit and various divisional commands carried out a series of coordinated raids and patrols across crime-prone areas of the state between October 15 and 20, 2025. During the operations, two suspected armed robbers —…

NPF partners Meta to tackle rising Cyber threats

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating cybercrime and promoting online safety through strategic collaboration with global technology giant, Meta. This was demonstrated through the active participation of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in the Meta Two-Day Summit on Online Safety, themed “The Future of Online Safety: Combating Evolving Threats,” held recently in Abuja.   The summit brought together law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and technology partners to explore new strategies for tackling the growing complexity of cyber threats and digital crimes.   In…

Police clarify Sowore’s arrest, insist action was to uphold justice

Emporium Reporters

The Nigeria Police Force has explained the circumstances surrounding the arrest of activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, insisting that the action was in line with the law and not politically motivated.   Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement on Thursday that Sowore’s arrest followed his alleged role in leading protesters into a restricted area during a demonstration in Abuja on Monday in support of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.   “If we proceed to charge others to court while leaving the person who led them…

FG unveils BHCPF 2.0, approves ₦32.9bn to boost Primary Healthcare

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of ₦32.9 billion under a revised framework of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to strengthen access to quality primary healthcare services and enhance accountability in fund management across Nigeria.   The announcement was made on Wednesday during the 12th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) in Abuja.   Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who chaired the meeting, also launched the BHCPF 2.0 Revised Guideline, describing it…

Annang Women condemn Anti-Akpabio campaign, threaten to ostracize Patience Ibanga Akpabio

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Annang Women Advocacy Network International (AWANI) has issued a stern warning to Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, threatened to ostracize her over what they described as a “campaign of calumny” against her brother-in-law, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a statement jointly signed by Uduak Essien (President, Canada) and Mary Enang (Secretary, United Kingdom), the group accused Mrs. Patience Akpabio of maligning the Senate President through “unfounded allegations” and “reckless social media utterances,” warned that her actions had deeply offended…

FCT Police Commissioner strengthens security collaboration with Military, Paramilitary Agencies ….Visits Guards Brigade, Naval Base, NAF Camp, NSCDC Command

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Miller G. Dantawaye, has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration and intelligence sharing among security formations operating within the nation’s capital. As part of his ongoing familiarisation tour, CP Dantawaye on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, paid courtesy visits to the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya; the Commander, Naval Base Abuja, Commodore O.E. Oladipo; the Commander, 053 NAF Camp, Group Captain H.S. Ibrahim; and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, Dr. Olusola Odumosu. According…