Category: Local

Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has accused the Edo State Governor of making tribalistic and ethnically biased remarks against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Speaking live on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Okonkwo criticized the governor’s comments, saying: “If Peter Obi were a leader from Hausa land or Yoruba land, this governor would not dare make such a statement.” His remarks have stirred heated debate on social and political platforms, with analysts noting the increasing political tensions as the 2027 elections approach.

The movement for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state of the Southeast region has received overwhelming backing from at least 90 Senators in the Nigerian Senate. Among the supporters are Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and other high-ranking lawmakers. The push, championed by Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North (APC), has gained momentum following intense lobbying and advocacy. In a letter dated May 27, 2025, addressed to the Senate President and members of the upper chamber, Nwoko anchored the proposal on national development, equity, justice, and federal balance. The state creation request is contained in Senate Bill 481, which is currently under consideration as part of the constitutional amendment process. With 90 Senators already signed on, the bill has exceeded the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority (67 Senators), signaling a major step toward legislative approval. Prominent supporters include Senators Abba Moro, Adams Oshiomhole, Seriake Dickson, Orji Uzor Kalu, Victor Umeh, Gbenga Daniel, Ireti Kingibe, Simon Lalong, and Tony Nwoye, among others. Political analysts believe the growing bipartisan support makes Anioma State creation one of the most viable proposals in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review. Would you like me to write a 2-sentence summary and 3 SEO keywords for this story?

A massive fire has gutted Shril-Balaj Industrial Limited in the Olopomeji area of Ibadan, Oyo State, destroying properties worth millions of naira. The blaze, which occurred on Sunday morning, severely affected the recycling section of the factory, where large quantities of disused tyres were stored. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, engulfing the section before emergency responders could fully contain it. Despite swift intervention, significant damage had already been done by the time firefighters arrived. Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, revealed that the agency received a distress call around 7:07 am. He explained that the fire was triggered by an explosion from a running machine, which ignited nearby combustible materials. “The fire incident was caused by the explosion of a machine that set surrounding materials ablaze,” Akinwande stated. “While the recycling section and disused tyres were destroyed, our team was able to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the company.” Would you like me to create a shorter, punchy headline and a meta description (SEO-friendly) for this news post?

Tension is building in Abuja as Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), and other activists plan to stage a protest today, Monday, demanding improved welfare for officers of the Nigeria Police Force. Simultaneously, retired police officers under the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers will hold a picket at both the National Assembly complex and the Force Headquarters. Their protest is aimed at pressing for an exit from the contributory pension scheme, which they have described as unfair and discriminatory. According to the union, the government has failed to address their repeated calls for reform, forcing them to take to the streets. The chairman of the union, Mannir M. Lawal, told News360 Nigeria that members from all 36 states have gathered in Abuja for what he called the “mother of all peaceful protests.” He said, “Nothing is going to stop the protest. We have just met with the FCT Commissioner of Police. We have informed him of our intention. We just want to be removed from the contributory pension scheme. We want all our savings to be refunded to us with immediate effect.” Contrary to reports suggesting that Sowore and other activists organized the protest to tarnish the image of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Lawal clarified that the union solely planned the demonstration. “We only saw Sowore’s own on social media. We are not aware of his planned protest before today,” he said. The Nigeria Police Force, through its spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, accused certain individuals of politicizing a sensitive welfare matter and “weaponizing the legitimate grievances of retired officers for ulterior motives.” Adejobi said, “Their intent is not reform, but disruption,” alleging that these actors are twisting facts, inflaming public sentiment, and sowing distrust. He, however, reaffirmed that the police remain focused on addressing welfare issues. Meanwhile, IGP Egbetokun has directed police commissioners to ensure protesters are protected. A leaked memo seen by News360 Nigeria on Sunday night directed some officers in Abuja to remain in their barracks until further notice. In response, Sowore insisted there would be no retreat. He accused the Police Force and the administration of President Bola Tinubu of neglecting officers. “You humiliated them in service and in retirement. Now you’re scrambling, issuing statements, summoning spin doctors, locking officers in barracks, trying to explain away decades of injustice,” he wrote on social media. The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has appealed to the retirees to return to negotiations, warning that the planned protest could discredit the IGP.

At a public hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review held in Owerri for Imo and Abia states, Governors Hope Uzodimma and Alex Otti on Saturday presented differing views on the issue of state creation. Governor Uzodimma called for the creation of at least two additional states in the South-East, arguing that it would promote equity and justice for the Igbo people and address the region’s perceived marginalisation. He said the South-East, with only five states, remains underrepresented in critical national institutions compared to other zones with six or more states. “This imbalance has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity. Therefore, it’s only fair and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South-East,” Uzodimma said. He specifically proposed the creation of Anim State, which he said has oil-producing potential and would be commercially viable. He also advocated the creation of additional local government areas for the zone. Uzodimma further urged constitutional amendments to grant indigeneship rights to anyone born or resident in a state for at least 10 years. On the presidency, Uzodimma called for a rotational arrangement among the six geopolitical zones rather than the current North-South divide. He also expressed support for state police, describing the current centralised policing structure as overstretched and disconnected from local realities. “As the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, I can confirm that we support the decentralisation of the police for greater responsiveness and effectiveness. The fear that governors will misuse such a force is unfounded and frankly outdated,” Uzodimma said. Governor Otti, represented by Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, expressed reservations about creating new states, warning that it would overstretch Nigeria’s limited resources. He said proposals for 31 additional states would increase administrative costs and bloat an already oversized bureaucracy. “I respect the right of those who believe that the creation of new states would address concerns of marginalisation and exclusion of some ethnic and religious groups in the current structure. However, except we can magically find independent sources of financing, I do not share the optimism of those promoting the idea of adding new states to the current 36-state structure,” Otti said. He recommended an inclusive governance model within existing states to ensure equitable resource allocation and representation for all major clans and groups. Otti also stressed the need for economic reforms, job creation outside the civil service, and prioritising the welfare of ordinary citizens. On security, Otti supported the creation of state police, but called for clear standards on leadership, recruitment, accountability, and human rights. He also backed the creation of additional seats for women in national and state assemblies to enhance female participation in governance. Otti further urged caution on proposals to make local government councils a separate tier of government, warning against expanding an already overburdened bureaucracy. He supported making free and compulsory basic education a fundamental right of all citizens and called for strengthening internal processes within political parties to encourage active participation of women. “Our target should not be to create a perfect constitution, but build on the gains that have been made over the past 26 years since the present Constitution came into effect,” Otti said.

An Abuja High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), labeling the case as frivolous and lacking in merit. The case, instituted by the Registered Trustees of Trust Field Empowerment Initiatives, sought to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute Komolafe within 30 days over alleged irregularities in the award of oil blocks and the fixing of signature bonuses. The NUPRC and the AGF were also listed as co-defendants. In a judgment delivered on Friday, July 18, 2025, Justice H. Muazu struck out the suit, citing Section 251(1)(a) and (n) of the 1999 Constitution, which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to hear matters concerning federal revenue, oil, and natural resources. Defendants Awarded ₦9 Million Costs Legal teams representing the defendants — led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) for the AGF, Oladele Gbadeyan for Komolafe, and Chief Chiesonu Okpoko (SAN) for the NUPRC — argued that the case was an abuse of court process aimed at embarrassing the NUPRC boss. They had requested ₦100 million in damages. While the court declined the ₦100m claim, Justice Muazu awarded ₦3 million each to the three defendants, totaling ₦9 million, against the claimant. “The suit is frivolous and without merit,” the judge ruled, effectively ending what legal experts have described as a poorly grounded legal action.

The Executive Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has strongly condemned the demolition of Karsana 2 community by a developer identified as Oceanic Properties and Equilibrium Concept. During a visit to the site on Saturday morning, Maikalangu expressed anger over the destruction, vowing to seek compensation for the affected residents. He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to intervene, while also urging the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to assist in resettling displaced residents. Maikalangu said, “This is an indigenous community that has existed here for years, even before the creation of the FCT. Overnight, without any notice or compensation, they came and demolished our houses. These people are now homeless. We will not take this injustice lightly; we are heading to court, and the developer must pay for this damage.” He added that the demolition took place while most residents were away, warning that such actions could trigger insecurity. “We are indigenous people of the FCT, and we will defend our rights,” he stated. The AMAC chairman emphasized the need for proper relocation and compensation, noting that the developer’s actions were unfair and unacceptable. “We are taking this case to the Honourable Minister of the FCT and to court because our people cannot continue to suffer like this,” he declared. Speaking on behalf of the community, Dikko Jezhi, the Youth Secretary of Karsana, described the demolition as sudden and unjust. “We were at work when we got calls that our houses were being demolished by armed men. This is our ancestral land, and we have nowhere else to go,” he lamented. Jezhi warned that the continuous displacement of indigenous people could lead to unrest, calling on authorities to provide immediate alternatives and compensation. He said numerous houses, churches, and even the community chief’s palace were destroyed.

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government and the leadership of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to immediately resolve the ongoing crisis affecting dental students’ graduation and induction quota at the institution. In a statement released on Saturday, Obi expressed concern over reports of delays and disruptions in the academic progression of dental students at UNICAL. He noted that while the university’s Vice Chancellor has promised to address the situation, “no student should suffer due to what I consider a failure of leadership.” Obi recalled a similar challenge he faced as governor when the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria shut down the medical school at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University for lacking a teaching hospital. At the time, students were at risk of graduating with unrelated degrees despite years of medical training. “I refused to let those innocent students become victims,” Obi said. “I committed to building a functional teaching hospital within two years, and despite skepticism, I completed and commissioned what is now the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka in less than 18 months.” He stressed that education, particularly in critical sectors like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is too vital to be jeopardized by bureaucratic lapses or inadequate infrastructure. Obi called on the Federal Government to urgently provide financial and institutional support to UNICAL, enabling the university leadership to resolve the matter swiftly. “Our children must not continue to lose their future in Nigeria,” Obi warned. “At this critical time in our nation, we cannot afford to neglect education and healthcare, while wasting resources on areas that bring no tangible value. A New Nigeria is Possible.”