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National Assembly Power Trio: Akpabio, Barau, Abbas Set For Possible Continuity.
There are indications that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas may retain their leadership positions if they are re-elected into the 11th National Assembly.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
It was gathered that President Bola Tinubu has reportedly assured the presiding officers of continuity in their roles.
Sources who spoke to The Nation said this assurance influenced Speaker Abbas’s decision to withdraw from the Kaduna North senatorial race in favour of former Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero.
A Presidency source stated that the President is not planning any major changes to his key leadership team in the National Assembly.
According to the source, “The President has no plan to change his core team. These principal officers may retain their positions in the next Assembly.”
The source added that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is excluded from the arrangement as he is reportedly preparing to contest for a governorship position.
He further advised aspiring lawmakers to engage in wide consultations before making political decisions about National Assembly seats.
Meanwhile, several senators across different political parties are also seeking re-election ahead of the 11th Assembly.
Those involved include lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress, African Democratic Congress, Labour Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Some of the notable names seeking return include Senators from Lagos, Gombe, Kebbi, Delta, Benue, Ekiti, Yobe, and Borno States.
Pharmacists under the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) have warned that it is highly risky for Nigeria to depend on imported drugs for about 70 per cent of its medicine needs.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The association described the situation as troubling and urged the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently support local pharmaceutical production. According to them, boosting domestic drug manufacturing will reduce reliance on imports and help position Nigeria as a leading pharmaceutical hub in Africa.
The National Chairman of NAIP, Pharmacist Bankole Ezebuilo, made the remarks at the 29th Annual National Conference and Training held in Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme “Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry.”
The event had in attendance key stakeholders, including Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru; Commissioner for Social Welfare, Dr Mariam Nana Fatima Imam; Commissioner for Communication, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju; and the Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Abdulraheem Abdulmalik.
Also present were past Presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), including Mohammed Yaro Budah, Azubike Okwor, Olumide Akintayo, Ahmed Iyakassai, and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, as well as the current PSN President, Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim (represented by Gafar Lanre Madehin), and the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed.
In a statement issued after the conference, Ezebuilo stressed that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medicines has placed the country at a critical crossroads.
He warned that a nation unable to produce its own medicines is effectively “negotiating with its health,” adding that such a situation is dangerous for both healthcare stability and economic sustainability.
Ezebuilo called for a shift toward pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production and urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
He said: “No nation can outsource its health security. Nigeria currently imports more than 70 per cent of its medicines, a situation dangerous to national healthcare stability and economic sustainability.
“Nigeria is now at a critical crossroads where it must choose between continued dependence on imported medicines or the pursuit of pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production.
“The Federal Government should declare a national emergency on pharmaceutical manufacturing and implement policies capable of transforming Nigeria into the definitive pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa.
“A nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health, and negotiation is not where you want to be when lives are at stake.”
The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that its troops set houses on fire during a two-month operation in Odonget community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The military presence in the community began on March 12, 2026, when personnel from the 13 Brigade, Calabar, and 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, Ikom, were deployed following distress calls linked to suspected illegal mining activities. The miners had accused local youths of attacking them over alleged refusal to pay a ₦1,000 toll.
However, after the deployment, residents accused the soldiers of destroying over 50 houses, including stalls, shrines, and community halls. Reports also claimed that more than 200 people were displaced, while others were allegedly beaten or killed.
As displaced villagers gradually return from hiding in nearby bushes and communities, they are calling for compensation for destroyed properties and alleged killings.
Reacting to the accusations, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Yemi Sokoya, dismissed the claims, insisting that no houses were burnt by soldiers.
He challenged residents to provide evidence supporting their allegations and suggested that rival communities, long involved in local conflicts, may be responsible for the destruction.
According to him, troops responded to a distress call in Odonget but were ambushed by local youths during the operation, leading to the death of one soldier.
He explained that during a cordon-and-search operation, troops discovered arms and ammunition allegedly hidden within the community.
Sokoya maintained that the Army operates to protect lives and property and could not have engaged in burning houses, either intentionally or accidentally, as alleged.
He added that senior commanders of both the 13 Brigade and 245 Battalion were present during the operation, stressing that those making the accusations should provide photographic or video evidence to support their claims.
He also noted that the area has a history of communal conflict, particularly between Odonget (part of Ochon) and neighbouring Alesi, suggesting that such tensions could have been exploited by others during the crisis.
Earlier military accounts of the operation indicated that four people were killed during the engagement, while the Army reported losing one soldier.
The Presidency has stated that Nigeria is heading in the right direction, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms are beginning to yield results.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was disclosed on Saturday in Kaduna State by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, during the Northern Stakeholders Town Hall engagement.
Dare described the administration’s reforms as tough but necessary steps designed to prevent economic collapse and reposition the country for long-term growth.
He noted that key policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms were essential to restoring fiscal stability and boosting investor confidence.
According to him, although Nigerians initially experienced hardship, the reforms are already producing positive outcomes.
“Tinubu’s reforms are working and Nigeria is moving in the right direction,” he said.
Participants at the forum also called for policy continuity, stressing that sustained implementation of government reforms is crucial for economic stability and national development, with several stakeholders expressing support for President Tinubu’s re-election to ensure consistency.
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