General
Reps to Discuss Buhari’s Refusal to Sign Electoral Act in January
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has said when the parliament resumes next year, the presidential decline of assent to the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2021 would be discussed.
Mr Gbajabiamila said this on Tuesday when the lower chamber of the National Assembly held its last plenary for 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari had refused to sign the electoral bill into law, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as reasons.
After reading a letter from Mr Buhari on why he refused to sign the act, the Speaker informed his colleagues that the short notice made it impossible to deliberate the issue before going for the Christmas and New Year break.
“As it is now, that bill has not received presidential assent, and it falls to parliament to decide the best way forward. When we return in the new year, we will resume our efforts to reform the electoral system in our country. And we will do it together.
“That is what the Nigerian people expect of us, and we will do our duty for God and country. As long as this one breathes, it will survive. When we return, we will address it,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker, who commended members for the efforts they made to ensure the passage of the bill, also recalled other reform initiatives by the House in 2021, including further interventions in the COVID-19 pandemic, proposals to tackle insecurity and enhancing the capacities of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps to deliver on their mandate.
He said in 2022, the House would sustain its commitment to serve the nation, adding that unlike in the past, politics and preparations for the next elections would not distract members from their duty.
Mr Gbajabiamila reminded lawmakers of the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House, which he said must be followed through to its conclusion.
“In the past, election years have witnessed a decline in governance activities as political pursuits cloud the calendar. That will not be the case this time around.
“As you are aware, we have a legislative agenda in this 9th House of Representatives, which we tagged Our Contract with Nigerians. I expect that we will do everything within our power to keep the commitments we made in that document. So that when we appear before our various constituencies, we can stand tall in the knowledge that despite challenges and difficulties, we did what we promised to do, and given a chance again, will do even more,” he said.
Specifically, on COVID-19, Mr Gbajabiamila said vaccination was the way to go, else the country faced the risk of being denied access to participation in cross-national engagements in the in-coming year.
The Speaker recalled that evidently, the virus would not go away soon, a reason the House foresaw the future in 2020 by introducing the infectious diseases bill, which was later marred by controversies.
“At that time, our good faith efforts were wilfully mischaracterised by individuals who saw the moment as an opportunity to score cheap political points. Today, the whole world is grappling with the issues we sought to identify and address then.
“There are many lessons to be learned from that experience. Most paramount of them all, is that public policy is serious business and the welfare of the Nigerian people must never be surrendered on the altar of cheap populism or the pursuit of short term political advantage,” he said.
Mr Gbajabiamila disclosed the plan of the legislature to consider the merging of many Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government with overlapping functions, to help address the increasing inadequacy of budgeting as well as scrapping the envelope system.
The Speaker paid glowing tributes to the personnel of Nigerian security agencies and other Nigerians working in very difficult situations to keep Nigeria safe and together at the risk of sacrificing their own lives.
“I honour their service and sacrifice, and I ask you to join me in doing the same. I also celebrate all Nigerians who, despite challenges, still believe in the promise of Nigeria. And who acting in that belief, continue investing in Nigeria and innovating here.
“I want to assure you that you have the gratitude of the 9th House, and more importantly, our support in every way required,” he said.
Before adjourning the plenary till 2022, the House of Representatives passed the 2022 budget of N17.126 trillion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has commenced moves to harmonise regulatory processes with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) as part of efforts to strengthen radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the cost of doing business in the upstream petroleum sector.
The initiative emerged from a recent meeting between the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NNRA, Mr Yau Idris, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications and Media at the NUPRC, Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, on Sunday, the collaboration is expected to address overlapping regulatory requirements, close existing gaps in oversight, and create a more efficient compliance framework for operators in the industry.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is partnering with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in order to enforce radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the overall cost of operations.”
The latest partnership comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to boost investment in the petroleum sector, increase production, and enhance operational efficiency following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
While the NUPRC regulates the technical, commercial, and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, the NNRA is responsible for regulating the possession, use, transportation, and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment across the country.
Speaking during the meeting, Mrs Eyesan stressed the need for greater collaboration among regulators to eliminate duplication and improve the investment climate in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
She noted that excessive regulatory requirements often translate into additional costs for operators, ultimately affecting the competitiveness of the industry.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations, and when you have a multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally will come with its own fees and charges,” the NUPRC boss said.
Mrs Eyesan nominated senior officials from the commission who will work closely with the NNRA on the task ahead.
“We have identified critical areas on both sides, and we believe that, as we collaborate, we can close existing gaps,” she said.
On his part, Mr Idris said the cooperation of the NUPRC was crucial because the upstream petroleum industry remains one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria.
According to him, radioactive technologies are widely deployed in well logging, industrial radiography, and nuclear gauging activities that support oil and gas exploration and production.
He explained that the partnership would enable both agencies to share information and simplify compliance procedures for operators.
“The goal is a single-window approach, where both agencies share information rather than requiring operators to submit the same data twice,” he said.
Mr Idris further stated that, since oil and gas extraction often brings Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) to the surface, the NNRA seeks the assistance of the commission to ensure that operators conduct radiological impact assessments as part of their broader Environmental Impact Assessments, while NORM management protocols are incorporated into the NUPRC’s environmental guidelines for the upstream sector.
The two agencies also agreed to deepen collaboration in training, capacity building, and knowledge sharing on radiation protection and safe operational practices.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Army on Sunday said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force in the North-east, have rescued 360 abducted persons from a Boko Haram camp in the Mandara mountain axis of Gwoza, Borno State.
Recall that Boko Haram insurgents abducted 416 people, including minors, when they invaded Ngoshe in March.
Following the raid, the group released a video filmed inside Ngoshe in which a commander boasted that it would hold the community through Ramadan and observe Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the Ngoshe Central Mosque. It sent a series of other videos in the next couple of weeks after that.
Then, in another video released on April 19, a Boko Haram commander identified as Mallam Abu issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a N5 billion ransom and warned against any military rescue attempt.
On May 17, the captives appeared in another video, lamenting their ordeal in the mountainous terrain and pleading for help from government authorities.
In a statement on Sunday, the acting spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Mr Haruna Sani, said the rescue mission was the result of weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational planning.
According to him, the operation was launched after security agencies received credible intelligence pinpointing the location of the hostages and identifying an insurgent support network sustaining the camp.
He said military intelligence personnel subsequently combined human intelligence, signals intelligence, and surveillance operations using unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols to map the area, monitor insurgent activities and assess the condition of the captives.
Mr Sani, a lieutenant colonel, said a breakthrough came after intelligence operatives successfully penetrated the terrorist network, providing detailed information on the exact location of the abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders and planned movement routes.
He added that coordinated information and psychological operations also created confusion within the insurgents’ ranks, weakening their command structure ahead of the assault.
Acting on the intelligence, troops launched a multi-axis operation under the cover of darkness, isolating the objective area and blocking potential escape routes.
“The operation achieved complete tactical surprise, overwhelming the terrorists before an organised response could be mounted,” he said.
The army spokesperson said several insurgents fled into the surrounding mountainous terrain while others surrendered as troops advanced on the enclave.
Following the assault, soldiers secured and evacuated the hostages, who were subjected to medical screening before being moved to safe locations for treatment and humanitarian assistance.
However, Mr Sani disclosed that two infants died from exhaustion caused by the difficult terrain and the harsh conditions they endured during their captivity.
He described the rescue as one of the most significant hostage recovery operations conducted in the North-east in recent times and a major setback for the terrorist group.
Mr Sani said the military high command commended the troops involved in the mission, noting that the success demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the growing coordination among security agencies.
He added that the high command also assured the public that follow-up clearance operations are ongoing to track down fleeing insurgents, dismantle remaining support networks and prevent future abductions in the region.
By Dipo Olowookere
The younger sister of the former Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, has been rescued by officials of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The woman was freed from her kidnappers along with her twin sons, Peter and Paul, on Saturday evening.
They were abducted on Wednesday morning while the former employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was taking her children to school in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred at about 7:30 am on June 3, 2026, throwing residents of the area into panic. The 43-year-old mother was taken from her vehicle by the gunmen and driven away with her 12-year-old twin sons.
This evening, in an operation by security operatives, the victims were rescued, while two of the suspected kidnappers were fatally shot in a gun duel, and two firearms were recovered from the gang.
The police are now combing the area where the rescue operation took place to apprehend some of the fleeing kidnappers, who are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.
The news of the rescue of the kidnapped victims has thrown the family of the former Minister into a frenzy.
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