Category: News

By Francis Wilfred 

The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, has called for stronger collaboration among African countries to develop robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems capable of driving inclusive governance, economic growth, innovation, and improved public service delivery across the continent.

Dr. Kana made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a High-Level Continental Engagement themed, “Building African Digital Foundations Together,” organised by Galaxy Backbone Ltd in collaboration with Co-Develop, Smart Africa and MicroSave Consulting.

Addressing government representatives, development partners, digital institutions, and stakeholders from across Africa, Kana described the forum as a strategic platform for shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy and strengthening the foundations needed for sustainable development.

He said Africa’s digital transformation should go beyond merely digitising existing systems, stressing the need for a uniquely African digital future built on collaboration, inclusion, trust, and scalability.

According to him, Digital Public Infrastructure has become a critical pillar for national development and global competitiveness, noting that countries making progress in innovation, financial inclusion, healthcare, education, digital governance, and artificial intelligence are doing so on the strength of resilient digital ecosystems.

He explained that digital identity systems, interoperable payment platforms, trusted data exchange frameworks, and secure digital platforms have become indispensable national assets necessary for economic resilience and effective governance.

Kana commended Galaxy Backbone Ltd, alongside institutions such as National Identity Management Commission and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, for supporting Nigeria’s evolving Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem and advancing the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.

He welcomed ongoing efforts to develop a unified African Digital Public Infrastructure roadmap over the next three to five years, saying the framework would help countries identify common priorities, reduce implementation costs, encourage reusable digital solutions, and strengthen local innovation ecosystems.

The permanent secretary also urged African nations to move beyond discussions to practical implementation through pilot projects, shared platforms, and collaborative systems capable of supporting interoperability in areas such as digital identity, payment systems, healthcare, education, trade facilitation, and data governance.

Speaking on emerging technologies, Kana stressed that Africa’s preparedness for Artificial Intelligence would depend heavily on strong digital infrastructure.

“There can be no meaningful Artificial Intelligence ecosystem without strong digital public infrastructure,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone Ltd, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the engagement would deepen partnerships among African countries and promote resilient digital ecosystems that can drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State have rescued two middle-aged women from being lynched by an angry mob in Uyo following a swift intervention triggered by the state Commissioner for Health, Ekem Emmanuel John.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police condemned the incident, describing it as a “barbaric” act and a direct assault on human dignity and the rule of law.

The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, warned that anyone involved in mob violence, jungle justice, torture, or public assault would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

According to the police, one suspect has already been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the mob action.

The command stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at about 9:45 a.m. along Ring Road 3 in Uyo, where an irate crowd allegedly stripped the two women naked, physically assaulted them, and attempted to lynch them over allegations that had not been verified by lawful authorities.

“The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, who witnessed the horrifying scene while on his way to office, immediately took courageous and patriotic steps to save the victims by alerting the Police after observing that one of the women had already sustained severe injuries and was bleeding profusely,” the statement said.

Police operatives were subsequently deployed to the scene, where they dispersed the mob, rescued the victims, and rushed them to a medical facility for treatment.

According to the command, the women are currently receiving medical attention and responding positively to treatment.

The police further disclosed that preliminary investigations led to the arrest of Emediong Robert, a 22-year-old resident of Ikot Ekwere in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, who was allegedly inciting the mob and calling for the execution of the victims.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, has ordered a full investigation and manhunt for all individuals connected to the attack.

The police warned that the state would not tolerate acts of mob justice or unlawful violence under any guise.

“No allegation against any individual justifies public humiliation, torture, assault, or attempted murder. Every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement added.

The command also commended the intervention of the health commissioner and urged residents to avoid taking the law into their hands by reporting suspected crimes to relevant security agencies for lawful investigation and prosecution.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Some aspirants who lost in the recent senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Kaduna State have rejected the outcome of the exercise, alleging widespread irregularities and demanding fresh elections.

The aggrieved aspirants, led by Danjuma La’ah, Mike Aura, and Yusuf Bala Ikara, on Tuesday stormed the Kaduna State Council Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) alongside supporters from the state’s three senatorial zones to protest the results.

The protesters alleged that the primaries conducted on May 18 violated both APC guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to the group, the APC National Working Committee had approved direct primaries for the exercise, but local party officials allegedly substituted the process with what they described as an unauthorised delegate-based system.

They also claimed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not monitor the exercise and that ward-level polling centres and voting materials were not properly provided.

“In the purported primary election, Senator Sunday Marshall was illogically stated as the winner, where he was allocated a total of 7,534 purported votes cast by delegates,” the group alleged, questioning the credibility of the figures announced.

The aspirants cited Sections 84(2), 84(13), and 83 of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as Articles 20 and 30.3 of the APC Constitution, arguing that the conduct of the primaries breached both party rules and statutory provisions.

They called on the APC National Working Committee to cancel the exercise and conduct fresh direct primaries across Kaduna South, Kaduna North, and Kaduna Central under the supervision of the party’s national leadership.

Speaking with journalists, one of the aspirants said the group had already submitted petitions to relevant party and electoral authorities and would pursue legal action if their complaints were ignored.

“We are not against anyone. We are against a process that does not follow the law. We will remain in APC and correct this. This is our house,” the aspirant said.

The group disclosed that copies of their petitions had been forwarded to the APC National Working Committee, the party’s Appeal Committee, the Deputy National Chairman, the National Legal Adviser, the INEC Chairman, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna State.

The protesters also insisted that their action was not directed against Governor Uba Sani, but against what they described as procedural violations during the primaries.

“We’re not against anyone. We’re not against Governor Uba Sani. But we want the process to follow procedure. Once it is done properly, nobody will have an issue,” one of the aspirants added.

The aggrieved aspirants further warned that they would continue to pursue all legal and constitutional channels, including lodging complaints with the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), if the party fails to address their grievances.

As of the time of filing this report, the APC had not issued an official response to the allegations.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi

Stakeholders in the justice sector in Cross River State have called for stronger collaboration, improved funding, police reforms and full implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to ensure speedy and fair dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

The call was made during a series of advocacy engagements organised by the Human Rights Law Service, (HURILAWS) in partnership with its local partners held in Calabar recently, involving Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ministry of Justice officials, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and the Legal Aid Council.

According to the statement issued by the Project Lead, Dr. Innih Archibong and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the meetings, held in phases, were aimed at deepening awareness, strengthening capacity and fostering collaboration among critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system to enhance the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Cross River State and beyond.

Speaking during the engagements, the Project Lead, Dr. Innih Archibong, who is also the Executive Director of Liberty Now, explained that the advocacy visits were designed to build synergy among stakeholders and improve understanding of the law for effective justice delivery.

According to him, Cross River State was one of the first states in Nigeria to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, stressing that those charged with implementing the law, especially the Police, Judiciary and Correctional Services, must fully understand its provisions to prevent abuse and injustice.

Dr. Archibong lamented that despite efforts made by HURILAWS and other partners in supporting the passage and implementation of the law through research, media advocacy, workshops and publications, many suspects were still being detained without adequate opportunity to defend themselves.

He also decried poor funding and lack of modern facilities within the Police Force, warning that unresolved injustice could pose serious dangers to the society.

“Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to have been done. Injustice, if left unchecked, can lead to doom in the society,” he stated.

During a meeting with the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rashid Afegbua, the HURILAWS team advocated for continuous reforms, training and improved welfare for police personnel.

Responding, CP Afegbua appreciated the advocacy group for the visit and acknowledged the challenges confronting the Police Force.

He noted that the current security realities and provisions of the Police Act require periodic review and called for sustained training and retraining of officers, particularly junior personnel, to improve professionalism and policing standards.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that continued collaboration with HURILAWS and other stakeholders would strengthen justice administration in the state.

Calabar branch Chairman of NBA, Barrister Enome Amatey, described the pursuit of justice as a collective responsibility, adding that the NBA had continued to champion advocacy and institutional partnerships to strengthen the justice system.

He, however, identified poor funding and inadequate facilities as major obstacles affecting effective justice administration.
Corroborating the concerns, the Vice Chairman of the NBA, Mr. Triumph Paul, argued that beyond funding and logistics, the “human factor” within the Police Force remained a major challenge.

He stressed the need for proper orientation, discipline and continuous training for officers to enhance public confidence in policing.

Similarly, the NBA Secretary, Mr. Joseph Akpajo, called on the Police Service Commission to intensify orientation programmes and ensure only qualified personnel are recruited into the Force.

The advocacy team also visited the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the ACJMC and the Judiciary where the Chief Registrar, Deputy Registrar, representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Child Protection Network and civil society groups participated in discussions on reforms within the justice sector.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Archibong urged investigators to devote more time to building strong cases before arraigning suspects in court, while condemning prolonged detention and indiscriminate pre-trial detentions.

He further advocated for the democratization of the law to ensure speedy dispensation of justice and protection of the rights of suspects.

The Secretary of ACJMC, Barrister James Ibor, commended HURILAWS for its consistency in supporting the justice sector over the years, particularly in strengthening the committee’s secretariat despite funding limitations.

He noted that while pre-trial detentions had helped magistrates conduct proper investigations in some cases, there had also been significant improvements in handling confessional statements under the current law.

Barrister Ibor also advocated for improved forensic investigation tools, including fingerprint machines across communities, as well as increased funding for the Police and justice institutions.

The Chief Registrar, in her remarks, emphasized that the advocacy was not only for actors within the justice sector but for society at large.

According to her, many inmates in Correctional facilities were innocent or had accepted offences they never committed due to lack of legal representation and proper investigation.

She described inadequate funding as a major challenge and promised to brief the State Chief Judge on the need to strengthen the justice system.

The advocacy visits also extended to the Legal Aid Council, Cross River State, where the State Coordinator, Mrs. Rose Okoi, acknowledged the innovations introduced by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Mrs. Okoi noted that increased collaboration, adequate funding and improved logistics for Custodial centres would greatly enhance speedy justice delivery.

The advocacy engagement ended with a book presentation performed by Mrs. Maria Ukpayang of the Radiant Women Association, as stakeholders renewed calls for collective action towards building a more efficient and people-oriented justice system.

Earlier, Mr Yemi Ofem had introduced HURILAWS as a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, which works at intersection of human rights and justice system reforms.

HURILAWS, is funded by a German grant maker, MISEREOR E. U to deepen the project’s awareness on justice system in Nigeria and beyond.

The nation’s capital, Abuja, witnessed a massive political gathering on Tuesday as thousands of supporters under the umbrella of the Tinubu Mega Group (TMG) staged what organisers described as a “National Unity Rally” in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his re election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The rally, which attracted participants from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, brought together over 1,500 groups comprising professionals, civil society organisations, youth associations, religious leaders, artisans, traders, women groups, and grassroots mobilisers.

At the rally, the coalition formally presented what it described as the endorsement of “20 million Nigerians” for another four years of President Tinubu’s administration, insisting that ongoing economic and structural reforms must be sustained beyond 2027.

Addressing the gathering, the National Spokesperson of the Tinubu Mega Group, Tijani Ali Danjuma, said the rally represented the collective voice of Nigerians who believe in continuity, stability, and national progress.

According to him, despite prevailing economic difficulties and global challenges, the Tinubu administration has demonstrated courage and direction in tackling inherited national problems.

He highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, renewed investments in local refining, economic stabilisation efforts, improved support for state governments, social intervention programmes, and reforms targeted at strengthening local governance and attracting investments.

“The student loan programme has opened new opportunities for young Nigerians. Efforts are ongoing to strengthen the naira, improve food production, and reposition the economy for long term growth,” he stated.

Danjuma added that the massive turnout at the rally was proof that support for the President cuts across regions, sectors, and religious affiliations.

“To those spreading false narratives and attempting to create division, our answer is simple, the people have spoken. Nigerians are choosing continuity over confusion and progress over propaganda,” he declared.

Also speaking at the rally on behalf of Nigerian professionals, Dr. Tabuko Kennedy said professionals across critical sectors of the economy were backing the administration because reforms require consistency and continuity to succeed.

Representing doctors, lawyers, engineers, academics, entrepreneurs, creatives, artisans, and technocrats, Kennedy argued that abandoning ongoing reforms midway could negatively affect national development.

He maintained that President Tinubu had shown commitment toward rebuilding the economy, strengthening infrastructure, improving revenue generation, supporting local industries, and creating opportunities for Nigerian youths.

“As professionals, we understand that difficult reforms are never easy at the beginning, but we also know that abandoning reforms halfway can damage national progress,” he said.

Kennedy further declared that “there is NO VACANCY in Aso Rock in 2027,” a statement that drew loud cheers from supporters at the venue.

The Christian community was represented by Bishop Kola Oyedepo, who described the current phase of Nigeria’s development as a period requiring patience, sacrifice, wisdom, and collective responsibility.

The cleric noted that leadership often demands difficult decisions and urged Nigerians not to allow bitterness, division, or destructive politics to derail ongoing efforts aimed at repositioning the country.

According to him, reforms initiated under President Tinubu, including economic restructuring, infrastructure development, educational support through student loans, and efforts to improve local refining capacity, were necessary foundations for a stronger Nigeria.

“Every wise builder must first lay a solid foundation. Nigeria today is in the process of rebuilding and restructuring its foundation for a stronger future,” the bishop stated.
He urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country and its leaders while reiterating support for continuity in governance.

“There is NO VACANCY in Aso Rock in 2027,” he added.
Similarly, Islamic cleric Sheik Abubakar Mustapha called for patience, peace, unity, and support for national development efforts.

The Imam acknowledged the economic and social challenges facing the country, but stressed that meaningful reforms require time, perseverance, and courageous leadership.

He commended the administration’s focus on infrastructure, education support initiatives, governance reforms, and local refining projects aimed at strengthening national productivity.

“We must not allow division, hatred, or politics of bitterness to weaken our country. Instead, we must support unity, peaceful coexistence, and responsible leadership,” he said.

Mustapha also aligned with the position of the organisers, insisting that Nigerians who desire stability and sustained development understand that “there is NO VACANCY in Aso Rock in 2027.”

Observers described the rally as one of the largest political mobilisation efforts witnessed in Abuja in recent months, with participants carrying banners, placards, and campaign materials bearing inscriptions such as “20 Million Nigerians Support Tinubu,” “Continuity for National Development,” and “One Voice, One Vision, One Nigeria.”

The rally ended peacefully with prayers for national unity, economic recovery, and sustained democratic governance in Nigeria.