Tag: Reps

The House of Representatives has vowed to recover an estimated 9 billion dollars lost to illegal mining activities and to plug all revenue leakages in the nation’s solid minerals sector.

The House declared war on illegal mining in the country, while vowing to leave no stone unturned in exposing corruption in the sector.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the ad hoc committee on illegal mining, Chairman of the Committee, Sani Abdulraheem, said the task before them was a matter of national urgency, stressing that the committee will “leave no stone unturned” in exposing corruption, enforcing transparency, and ensuring that “every Naira from Nigeria’s natural resources is properly accounted for.”

He said the activities of illegal miners have not only robbed the country of billions in potential revenue but also fuelled insecurity, degraded the environment, and displaced vulnerable communities across mining regions.

“We lost approximately nine billion US dollars in just over two and a half months through illegal mining. This theft of our resources must stop. Our mission is to block revenue leakages, enforce transparency, and make sure every kobo from our natural resources contributes to national development.”

The Chairman said the committee would conduct structured oversight on the mining sector, strengthen revenue tracking mechanisms, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including ministries, agencies, private operators, and host communities, to restore accountability and sanity in the sector.

“We are here today to ensure that every Naira inherited from our rich natural resources contributes to our national economy.

“As we move forward, one of the core objectives of this committee is to block revenue leakages caused by illegal mining and associated activities, which not only steal from our national treasury but also hinder the growth of legitimate mining operations that could contribute substantially to our national revenue.

“Structured oversight will strengthen our revenue tracking mechanism and ensure that the full benefit of Nigerian mining flows directly into the government coffers. Rather than being siphoned off through illegal mining activities”.

While referencing Ajaokuta Steel Company as a symbol of Nigeria’s untapped potential, Abdulraheem expressed optimism that renewed government efforts under the current administration would revitalize the project.

“Ajaokuta stands as a glaring testament to our failure to harness our mineral wealth. But today, we see political will like never before. The appointment of an indigenous professional to lead its revival gives us hope for a stronger steel sector that will drive industrialization and job creation,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said the Corps had intensified its clampdown on illegal mining operations nationwide.

Represented by Assistant Commander Atta John Onoja, disclosed that over 500 illegal miners have been arrested, with 270 already facing trial and several convictions secured in recent weeks.

He said, “Illegal miners are no longer having their field day. Many are now running to regularize their operations,” Onoja stated. “The NSCDC, under the directive of the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Solid Minerals, remains committed to eliminating illegal mining to its barest minimum.”

While acknowledging operational challenges, Onoja called for stronger legal frameworks to ensure effective prosecution and deterrence against mining-related crimes.

He assured the lawmakers of the NSCDC’s maximum cooperation and partnership in the national effort to sanitize the sector, emphasizing that the fight against illegal mining aligns directly with the Corps’ mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

The committee ended the inaugural meeting by entering an executive session to chart its roadmap for investigations and collaboration with key stakeholders.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday dismissed claims portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as religious persecution or state-sponsored attacks on faith groups, reaffirming the nation’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion and belief.

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, the House condemned all forms of violence and persecution based on religion or belief and expressed sympathy with all victims, regardless of faith.

The House directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Information, National Orientation and Values, Police Affairs, Civil Society, and Human Rights to, within 21 days, coordinate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to lodge a formal diplomatic demarche with the sponsors of the U.S. bill and relevant congressional committees.

The committees are also mandated to engage the U.S. Mission in Nigeria and interested American lawmakers to propose a Nigeria–U.S. Joint Fact-Finding and Dialogue Mechanism on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), involving faith leaders and independent experts. Additionally, they are to invite the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to a House hearing to review the sources, methodology, and implications of its reports on Nigeria.

The House further ordered that the resolution be transmitted to the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security agencies, the leadership of the U.S. Congress (Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees), the U.S. Department of State, USCIRF, the African Union, and ECOWAS Commissions.

While presenting the motion, Kalu recalled that on September 9, 2025, a bill titled *“The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747)”* was introduced in the U.S. Senate, seeking to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky Act) and related authorities.

“Further notes that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has in recent annual reports, recommended Nigeria for CPC designation, citing persistent violations and state failures to protect against non-state actor abuses.

“The Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and bars the adoption of a State religion, and successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders, and civil society continue to undertake measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders, as reflected in the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 country chapter and prior reports.

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He argued that the insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multi-causal – driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmer-herder conflict, separatist violence, and communal disputes – affecting citizens of all faiths; international reporting attributes a significant share of fatalities to terrorist groups and criminal gangs rather than State policy or a single religious dynamic.

He expressed concern that external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.

He stressed the need to be mindful of Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the United States on counter-terrorism, human rights, democratic governance, and inter-faith dialogue, and the African Union’s emphasis on tolerance and inclusive societies.

In his contribution to the debate, Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) said the absence of ambassadors in the various countries, particularly the United States of America, makes diplomatic initiatives to address the issue difficult.

He said Nigeria cannot afford to avoid the fact that what is going on is global politics, adding that it is not just enough to say that Nigeria was being targeted for blackmail.

He said the country must put a mechanism in place to fight what is going on presently, while lamenting the absence of Ambassadors who will be equipped to handle the diplomatic angle to the issues, stressing that unless the right channels are followed, every effort being put in place right now may be in vain.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, said the US Senate has since conducted a public hearing on the bill, adding that his committee has held engagements with the US Embassy in Nigeria to let them know that the data being put out in the US was not correct.

He said he drew their attention to several. Instances to convince them that there was a religious or state-sponsored massacre in the country.

House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the county was being deliberately targeted through deliberate mischief both by Nigerians and people from other countries, adding that the nation must use all necessary channels to engage the US parliament on the matter.

He stressed that deliberate efforts were being made to undermine and rubbish all the gains made so far by the Nigerian government.

Three of the five members elect who won the August 16, 2025 bye election into the House of Representatives were on Tuesday inaugurated by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen at the resumption of plenary. 

Those inaugurated on Tuesday are Omosede Igbenedion (APC- Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo state), Joseph Bagudu (APC-Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency of Kaduna state) and Mukthar Rabiu (APC-Garki/Babura federal constituency of Jigawa state) 

Two others, Elegbeji Yetunde Ayoola (Ikenne/Remo federal constituency of Ogun state and Oyekunle Fola Sunday (Ibadan North Federal constituency of Oyo state) we’re absent. 

The seats became vacant as a result of the death of the lawmakers representing Chikun/Kajuru- Ekene Abubakar Adams, Ibadan North- Akeremi Olaide, Ikenne/Remo- Oriyomi Onanuga and Garki/Babura-Isa Dogonyaro as well as the resignation of Denis Idahosa to contest as the Deputy Governor of Edo state. 

The inauguration was witnessed by the former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuabu, Lady Cherry Igbenedion, Chairman of the North West Development Commission, Samaila Abdullahi Yakawada among others. 

The House immediately went into a executive session after the inauguration to discuss the leadership crisis in the minority caucus. 

The House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Development has reiterated commitment to accelerating the passage of a bill seeking to grant financial autonomy to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Gboyega Isiaka, stated this in Abuja while hosting a delegation from the Liberian House of Representatives, accompanied by the Statistician-General of Nigeria, Mr. Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran.

Isiaka explained that the committee’s work goes beyond routine oversight of agencies to ensuring that Nigeria’s statistical system commands public confidence, both locally and internationally.

“The Committee on National Planning and Economic Development oversees a number of agencies, including the Bureau of Statistics. Aside from ensuring adequate funding and prudent utilization of resources, we are also deeply interested in making sure that the figures and statistics coming from the Bureau are credible. In today’s world, capital flows to where investors have confidence, and reliable statistics are a major factor in building that confidence,” he said.

He added the Bureau, first established under the 1957 Act and later updated in 2007, still operates under a framework with loopholes, hence the need for reform.

“The current law came almost 50 years after the first one, but there are still gaps. That is why a new Act is being proposed. The bill has already passed First Reading at the House of Representatives. Once we resume, we will take it to Second Reading and then hold a public hearing. That is how far we have gone,” Isiaka said.

According to him, one of the key objectives of the new bill is to strengthen the independence of the NBS, particularly in the area of funding.

Isiaka noted that the law would also formally empower the NBS to serve as the official custodian of Nigeria’s statistics and to broaden its data sources.

“The Bureau has done well in drawing figures from the public sector, but the new legislation will also enable it to source data from the private sector. For that to happen, we need to make sure the agency is properly funded. We also want to guarantee that the numbers produced are aligned with federal government priorities and funding realities,” he said.

He cited the committee’s close engagement with the Bureau during the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

On the visit by the Liberian delegation, Isiaka explained that the exchange was designed to strengthen collaboration and mutual learning between both countries.

“The Liberian delegation, made up of members of Parliament and officials of their Bureau of Statistics, came to understudy what is happening in Nigeria in the areas of statistics generation, information reporting, and legislation. It is a powerful delegation, and we have both learned from each other. We identified areas of improvement and gave a commitment to continue this collaboration at the committee level, so that statistical data from both countries can continue to be credible and useful,” he said.

Leader of the Liberian delegation and Chairman of the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee of the Liberian House of Representatives, Hon. Mike Jurry, described the visit as rewarding.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Mr. Semiu Adeniran, said the NBS made presentations to the Liberian delegation on its operations, innovations, and evolving legal framework.

Adeniran added that the NBS is increasingly focused on accessing emerging data sources, particularly big data held by private organizations, in order to produce more insightful and impactful statistics.

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has cautioned against the economic risks of failing to follow due diligence in the acquisition and disposal of national assets by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

In a statement, the committee’s chairman, Ademorin Kuye, warned that AMCON’s alleged disregard for due process could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s economic recovery agenda.

Kuye noted that AMCON’s actions have drawn repeated scrutiny, leading to court reversals of some of its transactions and triggering an ongoing investigation by the National Assembly.

“The Corporation’s lack of due diligence and shoddy record-keeping, as well as scanty reconciliation of repayments of debts bought back, led to the reversal of several of its actions by the courts. One of such instances is the recent reversal of the sale of the property at 324A Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,” he said.

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He further recalled that the House Committee on Public Assets is probing AMCON’s role in the sale of the Federal Government’s 80% stake in Delta Steel Company, Aladja, which was sold by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 2006 to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (GINL).

“Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd collateralized its borrowing in two Nigerian banks with 80 of % Assets in Delta Steel. These debts went bad, and AMCON bought them.

“In 2015, AMCOM purportedly sold 100% stake to Premium Steel that could not make the initial down payment but had to resort to asset stripping to pay for Delta Steel, as the Committee uncovered in its investigation.

“This transactional footprint is noticeable on all the assets it bought back and resold, especially the juicy ones in power (Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company is already riddled with issues and legal tussles), hospitality, financial Institutions, and manufacturing sectors”, he said.

Kuye said the committee will always insist on proper scrutiny of the debt-buyback process of AMCON, adding that due diligence and accurate reconciliation are necessary to avert the impending implosion and reversal of sales by the courts, which have already started.

The statement stated that AMCON was established by an Act of the National Assembly as a stabilisation tool for the country’s financial system with the mandate to buy up non-performing loans from banks, help recapitalise the sector, and recover outstanding debts owed to financial institutions, which is essential to freeing banks from toxic assets and restoring economic confidence.

“However, the level of inappropriateness in the buyback and resale process has left a bitter taste in the mouth of economic players and policy analysts who are positing that the corporation has become an illegal conduit for using public funds to acquire choice assets for the company’s cronies over the years,” he said

“There is a need to correct some of these illegalities in AMCON processes as the country is on the right track of economic recovery to avert the backlash, as it will reflect negatively on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reposition the economy and root out corruption in government dealings.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has given the Minister of Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, 48 hours to appear before it and explain the circumstances surrounding the recent derailment of a Kaduna-bound train carrying about 618 passengers.

The committee expressed displeasure over the minister’s absence at its investigative hearing on the incident.

Chairman of the committee, Blessing Onuh, said members were shocked that the minister chose to ignore the parliament at a time Nigerians deserved answers.

Quoting a proverb, she said, “There is the saying that a toad does not run in the day time for nothing. You all know that we are on break. It is because of this issue that some of us came from Lagos just to be in this meeting. Here we are, and the Minister is not here.”

“We seriously frown at this because it is one issue that we must take seriously. We are here to investigate the recent rail derailment and the Minister is not here. This is a serious issue because our brothers and sisters were affected. We will discontinue the meeting and invite the minister to appear in person within 48 hours.

“I am surprised that the Minister is not here considering the magnitude of what we have before us. It is shocking. Since the MD of Nigeria Railways is here, I want to appeal to us to hear him out”.

A member of the committee and Deputy Spokesman of the House, Phillip Agbese said the Minister’s decision not to appear before the committee is a ear sign that he is not competent to ha dle the job he was given by the President. 

He suggested that the House report the Minister to the President, adding that the President has made, it clear that he will not tolerate any Minister or head of agency that refuse to honour invitations by the parliament. 

He said, “The action of the Minister is a clear indication that he does not care about what happen to Nigerians. I want it reported that a certain Minister lf Transport does care about the reputation of this government, the effect it would have, the neglect of the Nigerian people. We are here to investigate what happened and what has been happening and the Minister is stalling the process.

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“There is no doubt that the minister has deliberately refused to be part of this meeting because of the gravity of his inefficiency and incompetence because of the disaster he would have caused this nation. It is because of the gravity of what has happened that we are all here today. 

“The Minister has continued to treat this parliament with disdain. It is no longer time for us to allow the Minister take us for a ride. I want to move that we suspend this meeting pending when the Minister and his agencies will be able to appear before us. 

“This committee should make it clear that he is incompetent snd should not continue to occupy that office and since he does not have the competence, let that be communicated to the President. 

“I remember the President telling us that he is not ready to tolerate any Minister or head of agency that is not ready to appear before the parliament. If he fail to _appear_ before us, let us agree with Nigerians that there is no minister in that ministry”

Another member of the committee, Cyril Hart expressed displeasure that the Minister who is a former parliamentarian choose to dishonour the committee. 

Hart said, “When listened to the beautiful submisson of Hon Agree, I felt like crying. Over 618 Nigerians were almost killed which implies that perhaps, the tracks were constructed with inferior materials. 

“I listened to the fact that the Minister was once a parliamentarian and understand the function of this parliament. To stay away when Nigerians need him most is to say the least that he did not do service to Nigerians.

“MD Railways, in 2007, you contested for the House of Representatives, but did not succeed. You contested for the Senate, but did not succeed which showed your desire to be in this parliament. I think that those of us who succeeded should be accorded some respect. The last time we invited you, you were just grandstanding. You must take your work seriously.”