President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of Muttaqha Rabe Darma as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Akpabio, who read the communication from President Tinubu, thereafter referred it to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action, with a directive to report back as soon as practicable.

Recall that President Tinubu had on Tuesday sacked Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy alongside Ahmed Muda Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

In a separate correspondence, President Tinubu also sought the Senate’s approval for the appointment of Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Akpabio subsequently referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, which is expected to report back within one week.

Additionally, the President requested confirmation for the reappointment of Barrister Benedict Umeno as a member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, representing the South-East, for a second term in office. This request was referred to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, also with a one-week deadline to present its report.

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The management of Wisdom Gate International School, Eligbolo, near Port Harcourt, where a two-year-old pupil died, has appealed to the Rivers State Government to reconsider the suspension of its academic activities.

Also, some stakeholders appealed to the government and the parents of the pupil, Wynnie Akakue, who died from injuries after a bookshelf fell on her while she was asleep in the classroom, for intervention and understanding amid the unfortunate incident and grief.

Recall that following the ill-fated March 17 incident, the parents of the deceased, Dr Iasuaka Akakue and Mrs Chinyere Akakue, cried foul and accused the school of a cover-up while insisting on justice for their daughter.

Following the public outcry, the Rivers State Government ordered the suspension of Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Elimgbo.

The state Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, said in a statement that the school would remain shut and barred from resuming activities until all issues surrounding the incident are fully addressed and resolved.

But speaking to newsmen, some parents of pupils said the continued closure of the school was already taking a toll on them, adding that it is negatively affecting their children and putting teachers out of jobs.

The proprietress of the school, Toyon Obikoya, said the suspension of academic activities came as a shock to them but pleaded with the government and the parents of the late pupil, who was in their care when the incident occurred, for mercy and understanding.

She stated, “The children in Wisdom Gate International School are our children. We see that our commissioner is a father; he is our grandfather in this institution. That’s why we are calling on him. He has done the right thing by suspending activities for now.

“But we are telling him that he should please show us mercy because other children’s education is equally at stake. The parents are calling, but because we are a law-abiding institution, we can’t do otherwise.

“But these children, where do we take them to? The period they were writing exams was when this incident happened, and so we had to close the school. We are crying out for people to please intercede and see all children as theirs.”

Obikoya reiterated that the school remains saddened by the incident and is extending its sincere empathy to the parents of the pupil, adding that the management has made efforts to reach the family.

“The family demanded that we speak to them through their lawyer, and knowing this, we moved to his hometown in Tai, Ogoni Kingdom, to reach the bishop of the Anglican Diocese, who led us to the grandparents of our dear pupil. We reported the incident and shared our sincere empathy with the family before leaving.

“Afterwards, the management of the school also travelled to Etche to see the bishop. We did all of these to see how we could reach the family, not to intimidate or show pomposity.”

The proprietress also said the matter has been taken to court, pointing out that the school is a law-abiding entity and will not obstruct any investigation.

One of the parents, simply identified as Cynthia, described the incident as heartbreaking, saying, “It’s really heartbreaking. I’ve lost a child, so I understand the pain the parents are going through.

“There is nothing we can do to bring back the child, but we are pleading for empathy and a little compassion because, as parents, it’s really difficult for us. Wisdom Gate has been good academically and morally.

“Please have mercy on behalf of my co-parents. It’s difficult for us. We are confused. Most of us are not sleeping well. Like me, my blood pressure is rising.”

While sharing in their grief, the parents also raised concerns about the continued closure of the school and appealed to the state government to consider the impact on other pupils.

“It’s a pathetic case. Putting myself in the parents’ shoes, of course, I may have done worse. I don’t even know which way to turn. Changing schools for my daughter right now is costing me a lot. It is very expensive, but we are not trying to monetise their pain.

“But we are pleading for the teachers here who will be out of jobs. Closing the school is going to put us in a very big problem. I’m not saying they shouldn’t do what they want to do, but we are asking for mercy at this time,” another parent said while fighting back tears.

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Four members of the house of representatives from Kano have defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the African Democratic
Congress (ADC).

The lawmakers are Sani Wakili (Minjibir/Ungogo federal
constituency), Muktar Zakari (Tarauni federal constituency), Umar Datti
(Kura/Madobi/Garun Mallam federal constituency), and Abdulhakeem Ado
(Wudil/Garko federal constituency).

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read the defection notices during plenary on Wednesday.

More to follow…

Aprokorepublic

Abia State Governor Alex Otti on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for 1,200 housing units in Umuahia under the Federal Housing Authority’s Renewed Hope Housing Project.

The partnership with the Federal Government makes Abia the first state in the South East and one of the first five nationwide to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s housing initiative.

Otti thanked President Tinubu for approving the project and praised FHA MD/CEO Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo and his team for their commitment. “Together, we are expanding access to affordable housing and improving the welfare of our people,” he said.

The governor noted that verified landowners in the host communities were compensated before work began. Of about 900 claimants, over 800 have been fully paid, while the remainder were urged to resolve bank or ownership issues to access funds already deposited for them.

Otti added that his administration remains focused on people-oriented projects that uplift lives, beyond politics, ethnicity, or religion. “The welfare of Abians will continue to be our priority,” he said.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has stated that there is no evidence of widespread COVID-19 transmission in Cross River State, despite the recent detection of a single case.

The Cross River State Government had earlier announced the discovery of a new COVID-19 case in the state.

According to the State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, the index case is a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

The individual arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and subsequently developed symptoms.The NCDC’s clarification aims to calm public concerns and confirm that the case appears isolated and imported, with no indication of community spread in the state.

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The Lagos state government has unveiled a set of cybersecurity guidelines aimed at strengthening digital safety for businesses, public institutions, and residents.

In a statement on Monday, Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the framework is part of the state’s efforts to position Lagos as a smart, secure, and globally competitive digital hub.

Some of the guidelines are self-assess, such as identifying your current vulnerabilities across devices, accounts and data; apply controls, which is implementation of foundational security controls (MFA, backups, and patching); train your team by building awareness through quarterly phishing simulations and sessions; and stay compliant by reporting incidents, protecting data and collaborating with state initiatives.

The full guidelines are available at
lagosstate.gov.ng/cybersecguide.

According to the statement, the guidelines are aligned with key national frameworks, including the Cybercrime Act (2024), the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023), and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy
(2021).

“As Africa’s fastest growing technology ecosystem—home to thousands of enterprises—Lagos faces increasing exposure to cyber risks,” the
statement said.

“The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) estimates that Nigeria loses over $500 million (approximately ₦250 billion) annually to cybercrime, underscoring the urgency for stronger, coordinated security measures.

“The guidelines note that while Lagos is rapidly evolving into a SMART City, this progress brings heightened vulnerability to cyber threats.

“The newly issued guidelines, available at lagosstate.gov.ng/cybersecguide, outline clear, practical, and scalable
cybersecurity best practices for small businesses, medium and large enterprises, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).”

Speaking on the development, the government reiterated its commitment to building a secure digital environment that supports innovation, attracts investment, and strengthens public trust.

The government also commended the Lagos State Cybersecurity
Advisory Council, chaired by Fene Osakwe, for its role in developing the
framework.

The Lagos state government further acknowledged Tubosun Alake, commissioner for innovation, science and technology, for driving the
initiative.

According to the government, the guidelines further strengthen Lagos state’s leadership in advancing digital trust and building a resilient, future-ready digital economy.

“The release of these guidelines underscores Lagos State’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding digital assets, enhancing publicprivate collaboration, and ensuring that every organisation—from sole proprietorships to multinational corporations—can operate confidently in a secure digital environment,” the statement added.

“As the document highlights, A cybersecure Lagos is essential for sustaining its position as one of the most dynamic and globally competitive tech hubs of the 21st century.”

The state government said it will continue to update the guidelines to address emerging threats and evolving technologies, ensuring cybersecurity remains central to its digital transformation agenda.

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The Nigerian government has imposed a ban on 17 goods imported into the country, including bagged cement, frozen poultry, sugar drinks, detergents, soaps, and others.

This was contained in a circular signed by Wale Edun, dated April 1, 2026.

The affected goods, mainly from non-ECOWAS countries, are part of 17 items listed on a revised import prohibition list.

The decision is part of Nigeria’s 2026 fiscal measures and tariff amendments affecting 127 items.

See the full list of 17 prohibited items:

1. Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry
2. Pork and beef, including tongues, livers, and shoulders of
   bovine animals
3. Bird eggs (excluding hatching eggs for breeding and
   research)
4. Refined vegetable oil (excluding linseed, castor, olive oil,
   and hydrogenated fats) and crude vegetable oil.
5. Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form
   with added flavoring or coloring.
6. Cocoa butter, powder, cakes, and cocoa fat and oil.
7. Tomatoes—whole, in pieces, as paste, or as concentrates.
8. Sugared or flavored water, mineral water, and non-alcoholic
   beverages.
9. Bagged cement.
10. Medicaments (medicines).
11. Waste pharmaceuticals.
12. NPK mineral or chemical fertilizers.
13. Soaps and detergents.
14. Corrugated paper, cartons, boxes, and cases.
15. Hollow glass bottles exceeding 150 ml capacity.
16. Flat-rolled iron or steel products, 600mm or wider, clad or
    coated—corrugated.
17. Ballpoint pens and refills

Aprokorepublic

President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.

This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, citing a memo signed by SGF George Akume.

According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, while Dr. Muttaqha Darma is the Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

The outgoing ministers have been directed to complete handover processes to their successors on or before April 23, 2026.

Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes are aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery in key sectors under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy
in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to
Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.

He added that President Tinubu acted in line with Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The President also appreciated the outgoing ministers for their service and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Aprokorepublic

By Ejike Agbata 

All is set for the 16th convocation ceremony of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, with a total of 3,355 students expected to receive first degrees.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, disclosed this during a press conference held at the Vice Chancellor’s conference room, outlining activities lined up for the ceremony scheduled to commence on April 22.

She revealed that the convocation will feature a Founder’s Day Lecture titled “Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future: Beyond Rhetorics,” to be delivered by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, at the ETF Auditorium.

According to her, the convocation lecture, themed “Building Innovative Minds and Bridges for Shared Prosperity,” will be delivered by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria.

Other activities include an interdenominational service and interactive sessions with students aimed at engaging them and assessing their welfare.

Prof. Omenugha described this year’s convocation as a “diplomatic edition,” noting that the university is strengthening partnerships with institutions within and outside Nigeria to boost its global relevance and visibility.

She commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his support to the institution, particularly in infrastructure development and the renovation of the university’s substation.

The Vice Chancellor expressed optimism about the future of the institution, stating her goal to position COOU among the top 10 universities in Nigeria by 2027.