Politics
FG’s inability to provide employment for unemployed youths is responsible for growing insecurity in Nigeria-NNPP Chairman
Dr Ajuji Ahmed, National Chairman, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has blamed the increasing insecurity in the country to federal government’s inability to provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
In an exclusive interview with IGNATIUS OKOROCHA,Dr. Ahmed argued that if the youths of this nation are given adequate employment by the federal government,they will desist from all forms of criminality
He speaks on other issues of national importance.
Excerpts:
Looking at the current state of insecurity in the country today, what do you think should be the panacea for restoring peace in Nigeria?
We have been facing a lot of challenges in the country starting from high rate of inflation that me and you know about, we are facing spike of insecurity in parts of the country particularly in the Northern parts of the country. We are, of course, facing the general insurgency, which results in a lack of security for everybody. We are facing economic problems, which results in mass hunger, in some cases, starvation in the country. So,the challenges are alot but I believe that with political stability in the country all these can be overcome in the cause of time with efforts and determinations on the part of the people,not just the government but also the opposition parties as well as the population at large.
Recently, a Brigadier General was brutally murdered and in addition to the kidnapping of over 300 students and teachers
Of St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state. What is really happening is that we no longer have security agencies or that they are sleeping?
I heard that there is an additional one in Nasarawa, but it is not verified yet.Well,I don’t know whether it is just a rumour or an actual fact. Therefore you can see that the entire North is under- siege.What is the bases of that , the cause, before we come to what the solution should be.The cause is lack of job opportunity, Lack of employment because today if a youth is given adequate employment that will earn him adequate means of livelihood, I don’t think he will have any reason to go into banditry. They go into banditry, not just that, but some of them have grievances that their cattles for example, have been rustled, and the government is doing nothing about it. Some of them are employed by politicians initially, and then later on, they go wayward. All these are reasons for that.
For the solution: The government should have risen up to the challenges. I do believe that we have the resources, we have the men, we have the equipment to confront banditry in all parts of the country but unfortunately we left it too long for it to spread from Borno right to Kastina, Zamfara, Sokoto and now Niger and we are talking about Kwara.
So, you can see that it is not just the North but also the Middle-Belt . The country is infested with bandits and criminals who results to violence against the people in order mostly to attract not just the attention of the Government but also to get ransom as means of livelihood for themselves.So, government should wake up to the challenges and deploy its resources. We know that the first responsibility of the government is to secure the lives and properties of its citizens. That has not been secured ,neither life has been secured nor property. And then the government can’t be said to be living up to it’s expectations of the first principle of its responsibility for which they have been elected.
What should be done is for the government to brace up, organise the security architecture, and confront the problem head-on. I believe we have the resources, we have the manpower, we have the men. Perhaps, what we need is the political will and overall determination to address the situation and I believe if given the opportunity, we will address that issue squarely in other to secure lives and properties of Nigerians which are the first obligations and responsibilities of every government.
Do you sense some level of sabotage among the security agencies in the fight against insurgency given the circumstances leading to the killing of Brig.Gen.Musa?
I don’t think there is any sabotage, I believe that what is happening generally is that the insecurity is so rampant that even a Brigadier General can be kidnapped and killed. It is very tragic, he is from Kano and if that is true, we commiserate with the people of Kano which is the major base of our party ( NNPP) and we also call upon the various arms of government responsible for security to live up to their responsibilities . Sabotage, I don’t know if there is any sabotage in this circumstance, and I don’t believe so. Anybody could have fallen victim to that kind of killing. Remember the Abuja-Kaduna corridors, sometime ago, that rout became completely unmotorable not because the road was bad but because security was not there at all and in the cause of time the government was able to secure that road and therefore could have secured also the forests where these criminals operate from. So, as I said earlier, it is a matter of political will, and I believe the country has the resources and manpower to address that issue.
The two arms of the National Assembly embarked on Security Summit sometime ago to find solutions to end banditry and terrorism in the country. Do you think that this kind of exercise is capable of bringing an end to insecurity in the country?
There are two things to that; Number one, I don’t think the legislature has any teeth to bite the insecurity that is raging in the country. They should sit down and come up with possible resolutions or solutions to end banditry or terrorism in the country. They don’t have the Executive Power, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the other security agencies have, and they are not in the control of the legislature. By the way,we have too many summits. We should have left the issue of Summit at all and go into action. That is to say, the legislature can not pick up guns and confront the bandits but rather, what they can do is to come up with credible solutions and recommend those solutions to the Executive arm for it to implement. The legislature doesn’t need to hold a Summit to solve security issues in the country. The lawmakers are only wasting the time and resources of the country in organising Summit. If you can investigate and find out how much the National Assembly spent on this Summit alone, it could have bought more arms and ammunitions for the Army to go into the forests and confront the bandits and criminals who are operating there.
Recently, we gathered that the USA government wanted to come into the country to help Nigeria out of the persistent insecurity in the country. Do you think that move would have assisted the country to come out of the situation we are in?
The situation, I think rightly or wrongly seems to compel the Americans and perhaps every other country of good will to be allowed by the situation in Nigeria but however, having said that I don’t think the solution lies in American coming to bomb areas where they think bandits are operating or where they are murdering Christians or Muslims to the extent of becoming a genocide. The genocide is against everyone, whether it is a Christian or Muslims or anybody who does not believe in the two faiths. It affects everybody. You can even say the number of people killed or the quantum of those who are killed is probably because you have more Muslims killed than Christians. The reason for the problem right now that has given rise to the Americans saying it is genocide because it is persistent, particularly in the Midle-Belt, where Christians are concentrating.
So, somebody without the knowledge of the country ‘s demography or the sensitivity to the politics of Nigeria will probably like to believe that. However, that is not the solution, the solution lies in cooperating with the government of Nigeria and understanding the root causes of the problem and how many people it affected in most part of the country or is still affecting and then drawing up credible security measures to address insecurity in our country. If I were the President of this country, I would invite the Americans in a cooperative fashion, sit down with them, they will love to sell their arms and you will love to buy their arms to fight bandits but not to surrender your sovereignty by allowing other people to come and solve your domestic problem. America is such an interesting country such that it is not their Executive that determine policies , there are groups across the country particularly concentrated in Washington DC who really determine such policies.
Recently, I heard that the security adviser, Inspector General of Police and other security chiefs went to the USA to brief the American government on the true position of things in Nigeria. I don’t think that would have been the best approach. If I were to be in the position to nominate Nigerian delegation to American,I would nominate Christian and Muslim leaders to meet with their American delegation on the situation in Nigeria. Secondly, I should understand the workings of the American system and take advantage of that in order to make an impact in the direction of their policy.
The year is running out, and we are yet to hear of the President presenting 2026 annual budget. Do you think it can still be possible this year?
You and I are not in the position to explain what is responsible for the delay. The Ministry of Finance and budget planning are in the best position to explain. Of course the presidency and the legislature should address that question. I can only guess and the guess is that you have already provided the answer to that question.
It is a delay, who is responsible for the delay, I do not know but the delay should not have occurred if they employ you as permanent secretary or as a minister, you should have devoted all your time to prepare and produce whatever responsibility under your purview to ensure that you have come up with your budget proposals months before the kick-off of the next budget.But I don’t know whether it is laxity in control of the process or laxity on the part of those who plan and recommend them to the presidency but it is sad and uncalled for ,for the budget to be delayed in this way. Meanwhile, what we can make out of this is that if the 2026 budget is delayed beyond this year then the budget of 2027 will be affected and this will affect every other thing in the country since government controls the entire economy of the country.
Therefore that delay will affect everybody, including the private sector.
By David Owei,Bayelsa
The organizers of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened the Prosperity Cup, say they are pleased with the progress of the State referees in the last few years of the tournament.
Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe gave the thumbs up while speaking at the opening ceremony of the referees refresher training programme at the Golden Tulip Resort and Apartments, Onopa, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The Director General, who was represented by the Deputy Director General of the tournament, Mr Perela Aboro, noted that the training exercise has continued to improve the capacity of the state referees, pointing out that the dream of the tournament is to see Bayelsa excel at the global stage.
According to him, the state referees are receiving international recognition as a result of the continuous investment on the umpires, urging them to discharge their duties during the tournament with utmost professionalism.
He explained that five Bayelsa-born referees are in the Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL, 12 in the Nigeria National League and five in the Nigeria Women Football League NWFL, maintaining that the quality of officiating has improved since the introduction of the refresher training.
Also speaking, Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Aye Andrew, while expressing gratitude to the organizers of the tournament for the laudable initiative, charged the referees to make good use of the opportunity,
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Football Association, BSFA, Barr Porbeni Ogun, who was represented by the secretary of the Association, Mr. Diseye Nwankwe, remarked that the refresher course was not just an event but an investment in the future of football in the State.
While commending the organizers of the tournament for the exercise, the Bayelsa State Football Association boss noted that since the commencement of the refresher training for referees, complaints of controversial officiating have reduced in the tournament.
He explained that the exploits of the state referees outside the shores of Bayelsa State was indicative of the huge steps taken by the Prosperity Cup organizers for umpires in the State to compete favourably with their peers outside the state..
Speaking in an interview shortly after the end of the theoretical session of day one of the training programme, CAF instructor and member of the NFF Referees Committee, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, emphasized that the refresher course would significantly enhance officiating standards in line with global best practices.
He appreciated the organizers for their efforts and encouraged other states to adopt similar training programmes to improve refereeing nationwide, stating that the exercise would give referees new directions when the competition begins.
Richman Otiti and Rachel Onyekwere, who participated in the training programme, acknowledged that the exercise introduced them to new laws of the game, some of which would take effect in June.
The duo expressed gratitude to the organizers for updating them with the latest officiating rules and ensuring that they remained competitive with their counterparts across Nigeria and beyond.
The theoretical session of the training programme was immediately followed by a practical session at the Government House pitch. The programme continues tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Politics
2027 Poll : Senate Makes U-turn on Election Timetable Clash with Ramadan ….. Again, Rejects ‘REAL TIME’ Electronic Transmission of election results after division ….As it reviews its earlier passage of Electoral Amendment Bill
By George Mgbeleke
To avert the clsh in Election Timetable,Senate, at its emergency plenary on Tuesday, reworked for the second time in one week, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026 , rescinding the action it earlier reached last week when it passed the bill.
The Red Chamber achieved this by readjusting the 360-day notice requirement prescribed in clause 28 to ensure that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections do not fall within the period of RAMADAN.
The upper legislative chamber also for the second time in a week, and after a call for division rejected ‘real time ‘ electronic transmission of election results ; favouring the manual mode where network fails.
Coming under ORDER 1(b) and 52(6), Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion to rescind and re-commit the Electoral Act 2022( Repeal and Enactment ) bill 2026 to the committee of the whole-asking the Senate to completely jettison every thing it had previously done on the Electoral Amenment bill 2026.
In doing so, Bamidele explained that the review had become necessary after the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC )met with both chambers of the National Assembly on ways to resolve conflict in the timing of the election and the Muslim festival of Ramadan.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had last Friday announced that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on February 20, with governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.
The timetable comes amid ongoing debate on the Electoral Act Amendment bill to allow for electronic transmission of election results in real time.
It also comes amid reactions from the Muslim community kicking strongly against INEC’s proposed election dates.
On Tuesday, the Senate was again forced into another emergency session on the knotty Electoral Act Amendment bill 2026 with Bamidele’s motion to rework the document.
The motion was quickly seconded by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Simon Lalong who explained that INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan did not deliberately fix the election dates to conflict with the Ramadan as being speculated in many quarters.
The Plateau state senator further explained that it was the immediate past INEC Chairman, MAMOOD YAKUBU, that actually set the template for the election dates from 2019 to 2031.
In trying to avert the likely conflict in the election dates and the Ramadan, SENATE said it had taken notice that the coincidence with the Muslim festival of RAMADAN “ could adversely affect voters turnout, INEC’s preparation and the overall credibility of the electoral process.
Senate further disclosed that it had uncovered
discrepancies in the Long Title and 22 separate clauses – including the controversial clause 60 that deals with transmission of election results electronically from each polling unit to INEC IREV portal in real time.
Senate had last week passed electronic transmission of election results from polling units but rejected the phrase “real time “ when it included a proviso that where network fails, then the duly signed Form EC8A by the Presiding Officer and counter-signed by party agents (where available ) shall be the primary source of election results ).
When it was time for the clause by clause consideration of the bill, Senate breezely passed clauses 1 to 59 -including clause 28 on the 360 days notice of election requirements with relative ease, slashing the period down by sixty days -from 360 to 300 days.
Trouble, however, started when lawmakers reached the contentious clause 60 with Senator Enyinnnaya Abaribe raising a Point of Order.
A long pause ensued and unable to resolve-senate went into a closed session that lasted almost an hour.
When the doors eventually reopened, the arguments continued even more forcefully with Senator Abaribe calling for DIVISION on the proviso in clause 60(3) that permits manual transmission of election results where network fails.
Abaribe eventually had the chance to call for the DIVISION after intervention from the Senate leader that it was within his privilege to do so.
To the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the beauty of democracy is in full action as he quickly moderated the votes -asking Senators to signify where they belong by standing up and raising up their hands in support of the proviso or against it.
At the end of voting , 55 senators, including the Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olalere
voted to retain the proviso to allow manual transmission where the network fails.
It was a crushing defeat for Abaribe and 14 others mainly from the opposition, who insisted on MANDATORY electronic transmission of election results in “real time”.
Akpabio believed those who voted for the proviso for manual transmission had just saved Nigeria’s democracy even as he hailed Abaribe and others with him for standing their grounds.
With this development, SENATE has for the second time in one week, effectively rejected “real time” transmission of election results, retaining its earlier position that where network fails, then the signed Form EC8A (MANUAL transmission ) becomes the primary source of election results.
Having achieved its objective for meeting on Tuesday, the Red Chamber adjourned plenary till Tuesday, February 24,2027
Politics
Rowdy session in House of Reps as members disagree over some clauses in Electoral Act amendment Bill
A cross section of members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday flared up at the emergency plenary after the Speaker Abbas Tajudeen ruled on a motion to rescind the decision on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for further reconsideration.
The motion which was moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive (APC-Delta) was pursuant to Order 9, Rule 1 (6) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the problem started when the speaker put the motion to a voice vote and ruled in favour of the ayes.
Some members who were dissatisfied, revolted in loud voices, and to prevent the rowdy session from further degenerating, Tajudeen directed that the Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo) moved a motion for the house to proceed into a closed-door session.
Earlier before the rowdy session, Rep. Francis Waive (APC-Delta) recalled that on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by the house.
Waive said that the house recognises the need to ensure electoral timelines and statutory provisions to promote maximum participation, fairness, inclusivity, administrative efficiency, and public confidence in the electoral system.
He said that the House is desirous of correcting identified inconsistencies and unintended consequences through appropriate legislative action in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral framework.
The lawmaker said that the assembly did set up a Technical Committee to harmonise the positions of the House and the Senate as well as address the identified anomalies in the bill.
He said that the committee consisted of the leadership of both Chambers of the National Assembly, members of the Conference Committee, the Clerks of both chambers and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services of the National Assembly.
As at the time of filing this report at about 12:47 pm, the house was still behind closed doors.
Prosperity Cup Draws and Jersey Presentation Get Underway on Thursday, Feb 19 Organizers of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup, have scheduled Thursday, February 19, 2026 for the official draws and presentation of jerseys ahead of the season eight of the tournament. This was contained in a statement signed by the Tournament Director, Mr. Ebi Avi in preparation for the commencement of the spectacle. According to him, the event will take place at 7.30a.m., at the Samson Siasia Stadium Yenagoa, immediately after the weekly Prosperity Walk, pointing out that the exercise would be colourful as Bayelsa celebrates it’s 30th anniversary. According to the statement, the ceremonial draws will be performed by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, while the conduct of the rest of the draws will continue at the Prosperity Cup Secretariat, Golden Tulip Resort, Onopa. The statement further explained that all participating teams are expected to send representatives to witness the exercise, stating that the ceremonial presentation of the jersey to the governor will be the highlight of the occasion. Mr. Avi noted that the governor is also expected to perform the ceremonial presentation of jerseys to a team each in the eight LGAs, urging members of the public, stakeholders, and enthusiasts to be part of the grand ceremony.
By David Owei,Bayelsa Organizers of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity...
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Police identify corpse of 30 years old man beheaded by suspected cultists …launch manhunt for suspects
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2027 Poll : Senate Makes U-turn on Election Timetable Clash with Ramadan ….. Again, Rejects ‘REAL TIME’ Electronic Transmission of election results after division ….As it reviews its earlier passage of Electoral Amendment Bill
By George Mgbeleke To avert the clsh in Election Timetable,Senate, at its emergency plenary on Tuesday, reworked for the second...
Rowdy session in House of Reps as members disagree over some clauses in Electoral Act amendment Bill
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