By Tony Ezike

Distinguished Senator Uche Ekwunife, CON, has been appointed as a Member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN), a recognition of her outstanding leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to science, technology, innovation, and sustainable national development.

The appointment was communicated in an official letter dated May 1, 2026, and signed by the President of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, FSESN. According to the Society, Senator Ekwunife’s wealth of experience in public service and her remarkable contributions to national development make her a worthy addition to its highest decision-making body.

As a BOT member, Senator Ekwunife will provide strategic direction and oversight, help safeguard the Society’s mission, support research and advocacy in renewable energy, promote the adoption of solar technologies, and contribute to policy decisions aimed at advancing Nigeria’s clean energy transition.

The appointment, which took effect on April 15, 2026, is for an initial two-year term, subject to the provisions of the Society’s constitution. Senator Ekwunife formally accepted the appointment on May 11, 2026, pledging to faithfully discharge her responsibilities in line with the Society’s ideals and constitutional provisions.

Established in 1980, the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria remains one of the nation’s leading professional organizations promoting solar and renewable energy through research, advocacy, policy engagement, public enlightenment, and professional collaboration.

Senator Ekwunife’s appointment is widely regarded as a testament to her impactful service as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation during the 9th National Assembly. During her tenure, she played a significant role in strengthening the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), championing legislative reforms that secured first-line charge funding for the agency from the Federation Account, thereby boosting technological innovation and industrial growth.

Her inclusion on the SESN Board of Trustees further underscores her enduring commitment to national development. Stakeholders believe her experience and leadership will strengthen the Society’s efforts to expand renewable energy access, promote sustainable energy policies, and support Nigeria’s journey toward a cleaner, greener, and more resilient energy future.

A federal high court in Abuja has remanded Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.

Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, on Thursday, ordered that Bodejo remain in the anti-graft agency’s custody pending the determination of his bail application.

The judge adjourned the matter to July 20 for ruling on the bail request.

Bodejo was arraigned on charges bordering on alleged money
laundering and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following the arraignment, Wahab Shittu, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant.

Ahmed Raji, counsel to Bodejo, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and urged the court to hear it.

Moving the application, Raji said the motion, filed on June 30, was supported by several grounds.

The senior advocate argued that the offences alleged against his client are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant bail.

Shittu opposed the application, relying on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit filed by the EFCC.

“We adopt all our processes in opposition to the application my lord,” he said.

The prosecutor argued that Bodejo had previously been “a guest at the Department of State Services (DSS) for other offences” and could commit further offences if released on bail.

Shittu also dismissed the defendant’s claim of ill health, arguing that the injury he referred to was not recent and that he did not appear to be in poor health.

He further submitted that Bodejo could interfere with witnesses if granted bail, but urged the court to impose stringent conditions should it decide otherwise.

According to the charge, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on January 21, 2022, accepted $200,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former accountant-general of Bauchi State, in a transaction that exceeded the threshold permitted by law.

The commission also alleged that he received another $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on October 26, 2022, and a further $980,000 in separate cash transactions.

The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to impose strong diplomatic measures against South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks, extrajudicial killings, and alleged systematic persecution of Nigerians and other African nationals.

The resolution was adopted after a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, who represents Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

The motion received unanimous support during plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.Gagdi condemned the repeated violence against Nigerians, noting that recent reports confirm fresh attacks on citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi.

He highlighted the killing of two Nigerians, one allegedly in police custody and another murdered outside his business premises.

Recalling Nigeria’s pivotal role in the anti-apartheid struggle, Gagdi described the current treatment of Nigerians in South Africa as “profoundly disturbing” and a betrayal of African solidarity.

He warned that continued attacks undermine pan-African unity and regional integration.Other lawmakers, including Billy Osawaru, Moshood Akiolu, Ghali Tijjani, and Adebayo Adepoju, echoed calls for decisive action.

They urged intensified diplomatic engagement, legal redress, and support for affected Nigerians, while also advocating for the summoning of South Africa’s High Commissioner in Abuja.

The House resolved to:Summon South African envoy to explain Pretoria’s position on protecting Nigerians.

Push for international investigation into the killings of Nigerians and other Africans.Engage AU and UN to ensure accountability and protection of migrants.

Review bilateral ties with South Africa, including possible suspension of cooperation.Strengthen consular services and provide reintegration support for Nigerians returning home.

An ad hoc committee will also be constituted to engage South Africa’s Parliament, government, and regional institutions, with a report expected within 21 days.

Xenophobic violence in South Africa has remained a recurring diplomatic flashpoint, with major outbreaks in 2008, 2015, and 2019 claiming lives and destroying businesses owned by foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

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Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has revealed that he refused to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers who abducted his brothers in 2019, saying he chose not to negotiate with the criminals rather than encourage the growing menace of kidnapping for ransom.

The governor said his decision was based on his conviction that paying ransom only emboldens criminal groups to continue abducting innocent people.

Lawal made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at the ARISE News and THISDAY Townhall Conference in Abuja, where he also renewed his call for the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

Recounting the ordeal, the governor said the kidnappers demanded N300 million for the release of his brothers, but he refused to negotiate or make any payment.

“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding at the time about 300 million. And I said, look, I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them.”

According to him, despite his refusal to pay, the kidnappers eventually released his brothers after they spent about three months in captivity.

Lawal maintained that his experience reinforced his belief that ransom payments only strengthen criminal networks and fuel more abductions.

“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more.”

He argued that if kidnappers realise they cannot obtain money from victims’ families or governments, they would be discouraged from engaging in the crime.

The governor stressed that his position has remained unchanged over the years, insisting that he would never negotiate with or reward criminals.

“I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens.”

Lawal made the remarks while advocating for the creation of state police, arguing that governors should have operational control over security architecture in their states if they are expected to guarantee the safety of residents.

He lamented that although governors are widely regarded as chief security officers of their states, they lack constitutional authority to direct the operations of the various security agencies.

“In as much as I was called or I’m being called the chief security officer of the states, however, I don’t have the command and control structure to determine what happens or give instructions to some of these security officers.”

According to him, the current arrangement places governors in a difficult position, as they are held responsible for insecurity despite having no direct control over the police and other security agencies operating within their states.

Lawal described security as the foundation upon which every other aspect of development depends, saying meaningful progress cannot be achieved where lives and property are not adequately protected.

“Why is it difficult for people to understand that my primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property, and I don’t have that control? How do you hold me accountable?”

The governor said establishing state police would make elected leaders more accountable to the people, as citizens would be able to directly assess the performance of their governors in maintaining law and order.

He also argued that state governments would be better positioned to recruit, fund, equip and train security personnel based on the peculiar security challenges in their respective states.

Lawal further noted that the Nigeria Police Force is constrained by inadequate funding, poor welfare and insufficient training, challenges he said have continued to affect the effectiveness and morale of officers.

Highlighting Zamfara State’s investment in security, the governor disclosed that his administration currently finances more than 30 per cent of security operations carried out within the state.

He said that over the past three years, the state government had procured more than 500 operational vehicles for security agencies to strengthen their capacity to combat banditry and other violent crimes.

Lawal also revealed that the government recently acquired and handed over 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to support ongoing security operations.

The governor added that his administration has embraced technology in the fight against insecurity through the acquisition of both surveillance and combat drones.

“We bought drones, both surveillance drones and attack drones, to be able to aid the security forces in terms of fighting these criminals in their respective areas.”

He maintained that the solution to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity lies in strengthening security institutions through improved funding, better welfare, enhanced training and modern technology rather than negotiating or paying ransom to armed groups.

Lawal’s comments come amid renewed national conversations on the creation of state police and wider security sector reforms, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing would improve accountability, enhance intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security threats across the country.

(DailyTrust)

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The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) Door-to-Door Movement
on Thursday inaugurated its national executives in Abuja, with prominent
political leaders, traditional rulers, and stakeholders urging Nigerians to
support the administration’s reform agenda.

The movement, founded by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, said the inauguration forms part of efforts to deepen grassroots mobilisation and promote civic participation across the country.

Among dignitaries at the event were Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Umar Bago of Niger; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; former Katsina governor Aminu Bello Masari; former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo; and APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.

A documentary titled ‘The Journey So Far for the Door-to-Door Movement’ was screened during the ceremony, highlighting the activities and growth of the organisation.

Addressing participants, Akpabio said difficult but necessary reforms were essential for national progress.

“Nations do not become great because they avoid difficult decisions; they become great because they confront decisions with wisdom, patience and patriotism. Lasting progress is rarely achieved without temporary sacrifice,” the senate president said.

Abbas defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms,
describing them as bold decisions taken with the country’s long-term interest
in mind.

“History will remember President Tinubu for his courage. He met a nation at a crossroads. He chose conviction over convenience: fuel subsidy removed, exchange rate unified, a new tax system built from the ground up. They were decisions taken for posterity. The road has demanded sacrifice, and we do not take that sacrifice lightly,” the speaker said.

The Ooni of Ife said the administration’s policies were repositioning the Nigerian economy, citing developments in the capital market and foreign reserves.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Bashir Makarfi of Bayero University, Kano, said reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration were beginning to yield results.

“The fact is too visible to be denied that Nigeria is undergoing a transformation under Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Speaking on the economy, Aminu Bello Masari, former governor of Katsina state, said inflationary pressures were gradually easing while investor confidence was improving.

The managing director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, described Tinubu as a symbol of purposeful leadership and urged Nigerians to remain united behind the administration.

“With unity, resilience and determination, Nigeria will get
to the promised land,” Pondi said.

President Bola Tinubu followed the inauguration live from the State House in Abuja, alongside Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser.

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Travellers in the United States who require Nigerian visas will now submit their applications directly to the Nigerian embassy and consulates after the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) disengaged its third-party visa application service provider.

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The lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has thrown his weight behind the creation of state police in Nigeria.

Oshiomole expressed his support on Thursday at Arise Television’s Town Hall on State Police.

According to him, governors cannot be held accountable as chief security officers without having operational control over policing.

He described Nigeria’s current policing structure as contradictory, stressing that governors fund security operations but lack the authority to recruit, deploy or discipline officers.

The former Edo State governor also dismissed fears that state police would be abused, insisting that misuse of power already exists under the current centralised system and should be addressed through democratic
accountability and public oversight.

“Various state governors can’t be the Chief Security Officers of their respective states without operational control over policing.

“Decentralised policing would improve security, clarify responsibility and align Nigeria’s federal system with its constitutional structure.

“Lawmakers should move from debate to its implementation,” he said.

Recall that both chambers of the National Assembly passed a bill for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he is not popular among civil servants because he has blocked avenues for the diversion of public funds.

Wike made the revelation during his monthly media chat on the state of the nation in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, some funds previously diverted by civil servants are now being channelled into productive projects, particularly road construction.

“We waste our resources on frivolities,” the minister stated. He cited the example of requests for funds to attend international conferences, such as one on land administration in America, which he refused to approve.

“How do you encourage me to sign N20 million to travel to America for a conference of one week for land administration? I won’t do that,” Wike said.

He explained that before his arrival, about 65 percent of the FCT budget went to recurrent expenditure.

He reversed this priority, directing 70 percent to capital expenditure and 30 percent to recurrent.“Some people say conferences for corruption… These are ways government funds are being diverted. I say put this money in this road here and the people will get the impact,” he added.

Wike concluded that this stance explains why he may not be liked by some civil servants. “If you ask anybody today, one Minister they won’t like is me. Why? Those money for conferences, I put the money together for roads.”

The minister has consistently emphasised fiscal discipline and infrastructure development in the FCT since assuming office.

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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asked the federal government to guarantee the safety of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

He has also asked for the release of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, warning that democracy is threatened when opposition figures are intimidated.

In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Obi had accused the federal government of deliberately frustrating his means of livelihood and targeting opposition figures.

On Tuesday, el-Rufai’s wives held a press conference in Abuja to appeal to President Bola Tinubu over the former governor’s ordeal in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku said the safety of opposition leaders is a constitutional responsibility of the Nigerian state.

“Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. An injury to one is an injury to all. When one opposition leader is intimidated, every opposition voice is diminished,” he said.

“When one citizen begins to fear because of his political beliefs, democracy itself becomes the casualty.”

‘PRESIDENCY SHOULD RESPOND WITH STATESMANSHIP NOT INSULTS’

Atiku criticised the presidency for responding to Obi’s recent comments with what he described as personal attacks instead of the restraint expected of a democratic government.

“The Presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt,” he said.

“When a citizen, particularly an opposition figure, voices concerns about the state of the nation or his personal safety, the first duty of government is to reassure through statesmanship, facts and responsible conduct—not through insults.

“Democracies are strengthened by reasoned engagement, not by invective. A government that answers every criticism with abuse projects insecurity, not confidence.”

The former vice-president said criticism should not be treated as sabotage or political competition as warfare.

“The opposition is not the enemy of Nigeria,” he said.

“Poverty is the enemy. Hunger is the enemy. Insecurity is the enemy. Corruption is the enemy. Kidnapping is the enemy. The daily bloodletting across our communities is the enemy.

“A government that devotes more energy to attacking its critics than confronting these existential challenges has confused political survival with the purpose of governance.”

Atiku said many Nigerians continued to endure severe economic hardship and worsening insecurity while victims of abduction remain in captivity.

“There are schoolchildren and teachers still waiting to be reunited with their families. There are countless innocent Nigerians languishing in the camps of kidnappers,” he said.

“These are the emergencies that deserve the full machinery of government—not endless political sparring with opposition figures.”

He urged the federal government to devote the same urgency it applies to political communication to rescuing kidnapped Nigerians and restoring public confidence in national security.

‘RELEASE El-RUFAI, UPHOLD DUE PROCESS’

Atiku also renewed his call for the immediate release of el-Rufai.

“The continued detention of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has generated widespread public concern,” he said.

“Every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court. Justice must never create the appearance of selective application.”

He urged the government to address public concerns surrounding its administration through transparency and accountability rather
than political distractions.

“Public confidence is not restored through insults or propaganda. It is restored through openness, accountability and the courage to
answer legitimate questions,” he said.

“Governments earn trust by confronting controversy with facts, strengthening institutions and demonstrating that no one is above scrutiny.”

Atiku warned that history would judge governments by how they protect citizens and uphold democratic values.

“Our elders say: ‘When the drums of injustice beat for your neighbour, do not dance, for tomorrow they may beat for you,’” he added.

“Every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, has a stake in defending the democratic space. Release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

“Bring home every abducted schoolchild, every teacher and every innocent Nigerian still languishing in the hands of kidnappers.

“Stop chasing political opponents and start confronting the crises that are bleeding our nation. History will not remember how fiercely a government fought its critics.

“It will remember whether it protected its citizens, upheld justice, rescued the vulnerable and preserved the democracy entrusted to its
care.”

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