The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    The Network of Advocacy for Positive Impact Initiative (NAPII) has commended the federal government for the significant and visible reforms in the electricity sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    The organisation said the sector is experiencing meaningful transformation for the first time in years.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, NAPII Executive Director Comrade Williams Bassey acknowledged that the economic reforms introduced by the administration have placed considerable pressure on Nigerians but stressed that the measures were necessary to revive an economy that was in a critical state when President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

    He highlighted key interventions such as adjustments to petrol pump prices, the introduction of student loan schemes to ease challenges in the education sector, increased attention to national security, and the upward review of pension payments as steps that have helped stabilise important sectors of the economy.

    According to him, the electricity sector stands out as the area where the administration’s reforms have been most pronounced and impactful.

    Bassey recalled that in the past, the sector consumed hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it, despite several probes by the National Assembly.

    “Historically, the power sector was characterized by corruption, inefficiency, and repeated national grid collapses

    “Today, however, we are pleased to note that those challenges are gradually being addressed,” Bassey said.

    He explained that rather than merely criticising, the group conducted independent assessments of the sector, engaging members of the National Assembly, union leaders, and industry administrators, as well as visiting project sites to verify ongoing reforms.

    He said the group inspected five facilities within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas, including the Lugbe, Katampe, Lokogoma, and Kubwa main substations, as well as the Gwagwalada transmission line.

    The visits, Bassey said, revealed extensive upgrades, such as overhauls of transmission lines, construction of new substations, installation of modern transformers, and delivery of critical equipment, including circuit breakers and spare parts.

    “These developments reinforce the hope that national grid collapse will soon be a thing of the past,” he stated, noting that a stable electricity supply is crucial to national development and economic transformation.

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    Bassey commended President Tinubu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, for their foresight, professionalism, and effective leadership in the sector.

    He also praised the deployment of digital technologies, particularly the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, describing the transition from analogue to digital operations as a major boost to grid visibility, stability, and efficiency.

    According to him, more than 90 transformers have been installed within the FCT alone, while at least 175 new substations are being added nationwide, contributing to an increase in electricity generation and transmission to about 5,800 megawatts.

    To sustain the momentum, he urged members of the National Assembly to review budgetary allocations for the power sector and ensure the timely release of funds to support ongoing reforms.

    “As we approach 2026, we call on the Minister of Power and the management of TCN to sustain the current pace of reforms in the electricity sector,” Bassey said, specifically praising Engr. Abdulaziz for his role in tackling persistent grid collapse challenges.

  • Ekiti Police arrest 3,490 suspects in 2025

    Ekiti Police arrest 3,490 suspects in 2025

    The Ekiti State Police Command has disclosed that it arrested a total of 3,490 suspects for various criminal offences across the state in 2025.

    The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, made this known during an end-of-year parley with journalists in Ado-Ekiti.

    Eribo said that the arrests were part of the command’s sustained efforts to strengthen security through confidence-building patrols, raids on criminal hideouts, and stop-and-search operations.

    He noted that all the suspects were thoroughly investigated and prosecuted accordingly, stressing that the command’s breakthroughs and achievements contributed to the relative peace and improved safety enjoyed by residents of the state.

    The Commissioner said that crime rates in Ekiti State reduced significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, noting that murder cases dropped from 53 in 2024 to 37 in 2025, kidnapping cases reduced from 17 to 7, while rape cases declined from 41 to 31 within the period.

    He added that cultism cases fell from 12 in 2024 to 7 in 2025, house-breaking reduced from 82 to 65, armed robbery dropped from 18 to 7, defilement cases declined from 26 to 24, while attempted murder cases reduced from 26 in 2024 to 18 in 2025.

    The Commissioner also announced the promotion of some officers from the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). Those promoted include CSP Adeniran Akinwumi, CSP Ofanson Vincent, CSP Ogunleye Kehinde, and CSP Falade Sesan Reuben.

    Highlighting some of the command’s breakthroughs in 2025, Eribo said suspects identified as Adinoi Samuel, also known as Samuel Ebira, Tope Agbaje, and Godwin Anawo were arrested in Ado-Ekiti while allegedly planning attacks on banks in the state capital.

    He revealed that investigations showed Adinoi Samuel was involved in the armed robbery attack on First Bank, Ilasa-Ekiti, in 2012 and Wema Bank, Iyin-Ekiti, in 2020, adding that the suspect was among inmates who escaped during the jailbreak at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre on November 30, 2014.

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    Eribo further disclosed that a suspected kidnapper, Jeremiah Nwagh, was arrested on November 3, 2025, in Itapa-Ekiti, following credible intelligence.

    He said investigations revealed that the suspect acted as an informant to the kidnappers and aided the abduction of two workers at YSJ Farms, Oke-Ako-Ekiti, on October 23, 2025.

    The Police boss assured residents that the command would continue to improve its strategies to stay ahead of criminal elements, expressing optimism that security in 2026 would be better.

    “We shall remain proactive through visibility policing, confidence-building patrols, raids on criminal hideouts, and sustained stop-and-search operations,” he said.

  • Kaduna PAVE network urges community-led approach to tackle insecurity

    Kaduna PAVE network urges community-led approach to tackle insecurity

    The Kaduna State chapter of the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Network (PAVE Network) has warned against relying solely on military measures to address insecurity, emphasizing that sustainable peace requires evidence-based, community-driven interventions.

    Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, PAVE Network Chairperson and Coordinator, Eric John, reviewed violent extremism trends in Kaduna and the wider North-West, highlighting ongoing non-kinetic efforts to address the challenge.

    John described Kaduna’s security situation as complex, citing its strategic location, communal tensions, farmer-herder conflicts, and spillover of armed banditry from neighboring states. 

    He noted that extremist groups exploit forested areas, porous borders, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, particularly youth unemployment.

    While acknowledging current security operations, John stressed that force alone cannot defeat violent extremism. 

    “Kinetic approaches, if not complemented by prevention, dialogue, and development strategies, risk addressing symptoms rather than root causes,” he said.

    He added that PAVE Network prioritizes capacity building and dialogue across Kaduna and the North-West, engaging government institutions, security agencies, traditional leaders, women, and youth groups to co-create practical State and Local Action Plans on PCVE. These engagements, he said, allow communities to identify vulnerabilities and prevention priorities.

    John also highlighted community resilience campaigns that promote peace education, tolerance, and grassroots networks to counter extremist narratives.

    On questions about foreign military involvement and airstrikes, he urged caution, warning that speculation and misinformation could heighten tensions and erode trust between citizens and authorities.

    “We don’t want speculation. We want evidence-based approaches. Our work is about prevention from the community upward, not assumptions driven by fear or rumours,” he said.

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    He added that peace and security are collective responsibilities, calling on residents to remain vigilant, share credible information with relevant authorities and resist narratives that promote violence or division.

    The PAVE coordinator also urged the Kaduna State Government to deepen ownership of PCVE processes by embedding them into planning and budgeting frameworks, while encouraging security agencies to strengthen community engagement and uphold human rights.

    According to him, lasting peace in Kaduna and the North-West will depend not just on military strength, but on how well communities are empowered, institutions coordinated and citizens included in shaping solutions.

    “Peace and resilience are not just government responsibilities. They reflect who we are as communities,” he said.

  • CSOs slam governors over alleged diversion of FG’s palliative to citizens

    CSOs slam governors over alleged diversion of FG’s palliative to citizens

    A coalition of civil societies, operating under the banner of The Osun Masterminds (TOM), on Tuesday accused state governors of diverting federal government palliatives and cash meant to alleviate hardship.

    The group alleged that the relief materials intended for vulnerable Nigerians were being hoarded and mismanaged.

    During the monthly state-of-the-state address, TOM’s Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, called for immediate transparency and accountability in the distribution of the relief funds. 

    He also highlighted the worsening hardship in the country, urging the federal government to provide additional palliatives to ease the burden on citizens.

    “We are in support of the decision of SERAP taking legal action against the state governments with regard to the spendings of the windfalls from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. The leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recently reported that state governors pocket the larger chunks of monies meant for their citizens.

    “If we do away with this humongous corruption and wasteful spending, more and more developmental projects will be executed for the benefit of the citizens. There’s the dire need to make the state governments more accountable.”

    Also, he berated Osun State House Assembly, seeking for clarification for expending N2billion within 9 months. 

    “As of the end of Quarter 3 2025, the Osun State House of Assembly had expended over 2 billion naira. Our question then, as we ask again now, is what responsibilities could have gulped over 2 billion in 9 months?

    “Till date, the visible projects that the Assembly is undertaking have been abandoned. The Gate House project and the rehabilitation of the Assembly Quarters remain uncompleted till date.”

  • Ex-Daar Communications boss petitions IGP over alleged abduction, assault in Benin

    Ex-Daar Communications boss petitions IGP over alleged abduction, assault in Benin

    A former Managing Director of Daar Communications, Dr Pedro Obaseki, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over what he described as his unlawful abduction, brutal assault, public humiliation and unlawful detention in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki, who is a cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, alleged that he was beaten, stripped naked and paraded through the streets of Benin City by suspected thugs who branded him an Oghionba, meaning an enemy of the Oba.

    In the petition addressed to the IGP, Obaseki stated that the incident occurred at about 11:30am last Sunday while he was playing football at Uwa Primary School, Igbesanmwan Street, when a group of men, some of them armed, attacked and forcibly abducted him.

    He identified the alleged leaders of the group as Kapuepue Adun, Osayande Obakhavbaye, Osamede Nomoless Eriyo and Osamiefan, also known as Sales Guy.

    The former Daar Communications boss further claimed that his abductors repeatedly told him they were acting on the instructions of the Oba’s Palace.

    According to him, he was beaten, stripped naked, dragged publicly across major roads in Benin City, including in front of Holy Aruosa Church, paraded for about five kilometres and forcibly taken to the Oba’s Palace, where the alleged abuse continued.

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    “Thereafter, I was transported to the Oba Market Police Station, where I was detained for about five hours. During this period, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, informed me that my release was subject to clearance from the Oba.”

    He said the actions constituted grave violations of his constitutional rights under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Police Act and professional standards and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments.

    Among the demands he made were an independent investigation into the conduct of all persons involved, determination of the role of law enforcement officers and ppropriate disciplinary, criminal, and civil actions where violations were established.

  • Adeoye Temitope introduces JERCE framework, open, anonymous iReporting

    Adeoye Temitope introduces JERCE framework, open, anonymous iReporting

    Rising insecurity, delayed emergency responses, and declining trust in reporting channels have prompted Adeoye Temitope to propose a national safety initiative anchored on the Joint Emergency Response and Citizen Engagement (JERCE) framework. 

    The initiative leverages open and anonymous iReporting through the Kaci Help App (Know, Act, Care, Inform) to enhance coordination and citizen.

    Temitope explained that many Nigerians hesitate to report kidnappings, accidents, or security threats due to fears of delayed action, information leaks, or escalation, resulting in widespread underreporting and weakened early response.

    Through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force, DSS, Defence Headquarters, NSCDC, FRSC, NEMA, Fire Services, private entities, and other relevant agencies, the government can partner with FactCheck Initiative and IDC Platforms, the operators of Kaci Help, to establish a coordinated reporting system.

    The JERCE framework addresses gaps in citizen reporting by integrating emergency response and citizen engagement into a unified structure. It ensures information submitted by citizens is received, tracked, and acted upon rather than lost across fragmented systems.

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    Building on Kaci Help’s platform, citizens can report incidents publicly or anonymously, request assistance, and engage authorities through Emergency, SOS, iReport, and Consultation features. These tools allow users to trigger alerts, share information, and monitor progress with improved transparency.

    Beyond technology, JERCE proposes a national Situation Room to coordinate responses, monitor incidents in real time, and support decision-making. Using data analysis and artificial intelligence, the unit would identify patterns, prioritize incidents, and strengthen early warning capabilities across federal, state, and local levels.

    Citizens would receive updates through live chat and status tracking, a step critical to rebuilding public trust. Temitope noted that a trusted system reduces reliance on personal police escorts by addressing safety challenges systemically.

    Funding for the framework would be sustained through Kaci Help subscriptions, supporting infrastructure, responder training, system maintenance, and performance incentives without burdening government budgets.

    “With a dedicated JERCE Situation Room and structured reporting, incidents across Nigeria can be accurately tracked, counted, and addressed,” Temitope said. “This enables better analysis, transparency, and informed decision-making.”

    He concluded that modern national safety relies not only on physical response but also on communication, trust, coordination, and data, describing the JERCE framework as a necessary evolution in how Nigeria engages citizens and responds to emergencies.

  • Group calls for stronger security coordination in Zamfara, decries recent attack

    Group calls for stronger security coordination in Zamfara, decries recent attack

    The Northern Front for Peace and Accountability (NFPA) has expressed concern over the security situation in Zamfara State, calling for stronger leadership coordination and renewed efforts to address ongoing safety challenges in the state.

    In a statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday, the president of the group, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Kaura, referenced recent security incidents, including a suspected bomb explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area, which reportedly affected travellers using the route.

    Kaura said the incident had heightened public anxiety and underscored the need for improved security coordination across the state, particularly along major highways and in rural communities.

    According to the group, residents of Zamfara have continued to express concern about their safety, as attacks by armed groups have disrupted daily activities, travel, and farming in several areas.

    The NFPA noted that effective leadership during periods of insecurity requires visible engagement, clear direction, and sustained collaboration with security agencies and local stakeholders.

    The group also sought official engagements in order to prioritise the prevailing security challenges in Zamfara and to reassure residents and strengthen public confidence.

    Kaura said previous efforts to tackle insecurity in the state showed that progress was possible through political commitment, community involvement, and coordinated strategies involving state and federal authorities.

    He encouraged the current administration to review past approaches to security management in the state and adapt relevant measures that emphasise community intelligence, regular security consultations, and close cooperation with federal security institutions.

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    The group called for the convening of a security summit involving traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, and federal authorities to develop a unified and sustainable response to the challenges confronting the state.

    The NFPA also appealed to the federal government to pay close attention to developments in Zamfara, stressing the importance of timely intervention and support to prevent further deterioration of security conditions.

    As investigations continue into the Maru road incident, the group said residents across Zamfara remain concerned about their safety and are hopeful that enhanced leadership engagement and a clear security strategy will help restore stability and public confidence.

  • Group defends National Assembly over re-gazetting of Tax Reform laws

    Group defends National Assembly over re-gazetting of Tax Reform laws

    An independent accountability group has defended the leadership of the National Assembly over the re-gazetting of Nigeria’s tax reform laws, describing the move as a lawful administrative safeguard rather than a legislative lapse or procedural failure.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the Centre for Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility (CAFR) said recent public commentary alleging errors or misconduct by the legislature reflected a misunderstanding of the constitutional mechanics of lawmaking and the statutory requirements for authenticating Acts.

    The group explained that the re-gazetting of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025, and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025 followed established parliamentary and legal procedures aimed at protecting the integrity of the statute book.

    CAFR noted that under Nigerian law, particularly the Acts Authentication Act, the National Assembly is required to confirm that any law presented for official publication accurately reflects what was passed by both chambers and assented to by the president.

    According to the group, the process is a routine administrative function and does not suggest that the laws were improperly enacted or that legislative authority was undermined.

    “The re-gazetting exercise should be understood as a verification mechanism, not a confession of error. Authentication exists to ensure certainty and legal clarity, especially for laws with wide fiscal and economic implications,” the national president of CAFR, Dr Lawal Sadiq, said.

    He added that the leadership of the National Assembly acted within constitutional limits by initiating an internal review to align legislative records, assent documentation, and published texts, warning that failure to do so could expose the country to avoidable legal disputes.

    Sadiq explained that the review did not reopen debate on the substance of the tax reforms, reverse any legislative decision, or encroach on executive or judicial functions, but was limited to administrative confirmation of accuracy and completeness.

    The group stressed that tax legislation directly affects government revenue, business compliance, and citizens’ obligations, making procedural precision critical for enforceability and public confidence.

    CAFR dismissed claims that the re-gazetting process signalled institutional weakness or legislative confusion, arguing instead that it demonstrated restraint, transparency, and respect for constitutional order.

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    “In mature democracies, legislatures routinely carry out post-assent verifications, correct clerical inconsistencies, and reissue authenticated copies of laws to protect legal certainty,” Sodiq said.

    He added that the National Assembly’s decision to prioritise due process over speed demonstrated institutional responsibility, noting that credible laws depend not only on political consensus but also on procedural integrity.

    The group also warned that politicising administrative safeguards could undermine public trust in democratic institutions and distort public understanding of how laws are made.

    CAFR urged citizens and stakeholders to distinguish between substantive policy disagreements and routine legislative processes, stressing that adherence to procedure strengthens, rather than weakens, the rule of law.

    “The strength of a parliament is measured by the credibility of the laws it produces. In insisting on proper authentication and re-gazetting where necessary, the National Assembly acted in defence of legality, certainty, and democratic integrity,” Sodiq said.

    The group said the re-gazetting exercise ultimately reinforces confidence in the tax reforms and provides a firmer legal foundation for their implementation.

  • Court remands two for theft of N26m cows

    Court remands two for theft of N26m cows

    An Ogun State Magistrate Court sitting at Ijebu Ode has remanded two suspected cattle rustlers Aliyu Umaru, 20 years and Yusuf Ibrahim both aged 26 years in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Ijebu Ode.

    The Ogun State police command had on arraigned Umaru and Ibrahim before the Magistrate Court for cattle rustling.

    They are facing a two-count charge of armed robbery and stealing of ten cows estimated to worth N26m.

    Umaru and Ibrahim were alleged to have committed the crime between June 16 and 17, 2025.

    They were alleged to have stormed Tojok Heritage Farm behind Iworo Health centre, Iworo Ijebu in Ijebu Ode at about 4:30am during which the cows were allegedly stolen at gunpoint.

    The charge sheet signed by the police prosecuting counsel,  Solomon Babalola stated: “Between 16th and 17th of June, 2025 at about 0430hrs at Tojok Heritage Farm, that you Aliyu Umaru ‘m’, Yusuf Ibrahim ‘m’ and others at large behind Iworo Health center, Iworo-Ijebu in the Ijebu-ode Magisterial District did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Armed Robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6(b) and punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provision CAP RII laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

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    “That Aliyu Umaru ‘m’, Yusuf Ibrahim ‘m’ and others at large in the same time, place and date in the aforementioned Magisterial District did rob ten cows valued N26 million property one Toyin Bakare.”

    “That at the time of robbery, you were armed with offensive weapon to wit; gun and cutlass and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 16(1)(b) of the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism and and other Anti-violence and other Related Offences Laws of Ogun State 2016”.

    Trial Magistrate, Mr Orekoya however ordered that the suspects be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

    Magistrate Orekoya adjourned the matter to February 25, 2026 pending the advise from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

  • DSS arrests gang leader, killers of university don Philip Ephraim

    DSS arrests gang leader, killers of university don Philip Ephraim

    Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 27, this year arrested the alleged leader of the gang and another person, who kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim on July 13, 2023, a source said yesterday.

    The gang leader,  Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at  a medical facility in Cross River State  while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig it was gathered.

    According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the  kidnap ring since Ephraim’s killing, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.

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    The duo has confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the university don after collecting ransom payments from her family, the source said.

    ‘It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and  the much needed closure that they deserve,” the source said.

    The suspects also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalising electricity cables, with one Isaac Ekpeyong who was also arrested by the operatives, according to the source.

    Ekanem was abducted by unknown gunmen who posed as patients at her private clinic at Atimbo Road, Calabar. Her kidnapping sparked protests by the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), in a bid to prevail on the government to rescue the don, crippling the health sector for over a week,

    “This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country,” declared the source.