Author: Lawan

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has charged politicians not to politicise the May 15 abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire local government area of Oyo State. He said any political actor with evidence that could assist security agencies to crack the case should approach them instead of blaming opponents without proof. Falana stated this as a guest on Politics Today programme on Channels TV. He faulted a minister and a former governor whom he said were “currently inciting people in Oyo State by politicising the tragedy of our people”. “How can anybody in their right sense say, ‘I know…

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has said conversations around Artificial Intelligence (AI) are no longer about the future, noting that the technology is already reshaping the operations of security agencies globally. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Anthony Placid, in Abuja yesterday, said the IGP made the remarks at the closing of the second AI-POL Leadership Dialogue Workshop. Placid said the workshop, themed: ‘Advancing Innovation, Governance and the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Law Enforcement,’ was organised for law enforcement leaders, technology experts and international partners. “The IGP reflected on the depth of engagement at…

Minority Leader: Reps in rowdy session as members clash over forgery allegation The House of Representatives plenary was rowdy, yesterday, following allegations by the Deputy spokesman, Philip Agbese, that his signature was forged in a list by opposition lawmakers nominating Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere as minority leader. Agbese, who spoke under matters of privilege, said there were also reports circulating online alleging that members got $50,000 to make the endorsement.Opposition lawmakers, in a document signed by 61 minority parties members, on Wednesday , nominated Ugochinyere as replacement for the former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, whose resignation was announced at Tuesday’s plenary. However,…

Security was visibly heightened across access routes to Aso Rock Presidential Villa, yesterday as a combined deployment of anti-riot police, military personnel and other security agencies restricted access at the main gates of the State House and the entire Three-Arms Zone. Entry to the premises was restricted to only holders of State House identification, while the stern-looking security personnel turned back others who attempted to approach the gates. The tightened security measures as early as 8 a.m was noted when all vehicle entry points to the seat of power were subjected to thorough screening. The lockdown caused significant traffic disruptions…

11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, have concluded the 11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue in Beijing. Wang, a Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, while speaking during the dialogue, said that at the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, successfully visited China, and the leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on building a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang also said the new positioning reflected the historical logic of bilateral relations between China…

The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi and former Education Minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili, have appealed to Nigerians to stop directing their anger at the General Superintendent of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over the country’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship. In a post published on his X (formerly Twitter) handle yesterday, Obi compared the attacks on Pastor Adeboye and the wave of ethnic and religious tensions that he said nearly derailed Nigeria’s 2023 electoral process, particularly in Lagos State.Obi recalled that in the days following the 2023 presidential election and…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it would not hesitate to call for a nationwide industrial action to support the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the ongoing strike against kidnapping of students and teachers in Oyo State should governments at all levels fail to address the crisis decisively. In a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, NLC expressed solidarity with teachers across the country, describing the industrial action as a courageous response to the repeated abduction of teachers, students and pupils by criminal elements.“We will not hesitate to do a solidarity action with the teachers or any…

•Minister says students adapting well to digital exams, but infrastructure gaps remain The Federal Government has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CBT-WASSCE), saying the exercise was largely successful as authorities consider a nationwide transition to digital examinations. Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, gave the assessment yesterday after monitoring the CBT and paper-and-pencil examination centres at the Government Secondary School, Garki and Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, Abuja. She said the exercise had progressed smoothly in centres visited, with students demonstrating confidence in using the computer-based platform…

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm over the worsening insecurity in the country, warning that no one is safe under the President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Reacting to the kidnap of the sister and twin nephews of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, Atiku implored the government to jettison its reactive approach to security issues. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, charged the Tinubu administration to implement a comprehensive, intelligence-driven strategy capable of dismantling kidnapping syndicates and securing…

INEC 87% ready for Enugu North by-election –REC The Independent National Electoral Commission said it is over 87 percent prepared for the forthcoming Enugu North Senatorial District by-election in Enugu State. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Enugu, yesterday. INEC had scheduled June 20 for the by-election, while it announced and published the notice and timetable for the exercise on May 21. Chukwu said non-sensitive materials had been sorted and were ready to be moved to the commission’s six local government area…