FocalPoint Reports

Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) on Tuesday tackled the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over long-standing infrastructure deficit in Delta. The management of the NDDC led by its Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, had appeared before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission to defend its 2025 budget expenditure. However, Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District, used the opportunity to raise concerns over a critical road infrastructure project in Delta, which, in spite of being appropriated in the previous budget, had yet to take off. “Mr MD, when you last appeared before this committee, a matter of great importance to my constituents, and indeed Delta was raised. “I refer to the road project traversing Oko, Abala, Utchi, Okpai, Aboh, Asaba-Ase, down to Patani. This project was clearly captured in the last budget, yet to date, no tangible progress has been recorded,” he said. He emphasised the strategic and humanitarian imp...

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance,  Yakubu Adamu,  pending the ruling on his bail application. It was reported that Justice Emeka Nwite made the order shortly after Adamu and a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving the sum of ₦4.6 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, listed Adamu as the 1st defendant and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd as the 2nd defendant. The charge, dated December 19, 2025, was filed by the EFCC’s counsel, Samuel Chime, of the commission’s Legal and Prosecution Department. When the matter was called, Chime informed the court that the case was slated for arraignment and that the prosecution was ready to proceed. The defence counsel did not oppose the application. After the charges were read,...

Member representing Bomadi-Patani Federal Constituency, Nicholas Mutu, has said his new party, All Progressives Congress (APC), provides him added advantage to attract more development to his people whom he tasked to jettison pull-him-down tendency.  Mutu said the Gbaregolo-Esanma Bridge project with other Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects earlier abandoned will get funding attention of the Federal Government early 2026.  Mutu spoke to members of the Bulou Kosin-led Ijaw Journalists Association Worldwide (IJAW) who paid him a courtesy visit in Warri to commend his influence of projects across the Ijaw nation just as they tasked him to do more.  Mutu, caucus Chairman of Southern Nigerian Lawmakers in the House of  Representatives said “as opposition member for 10 years before 2025, it was challenging to continue ensuring execution of projects he influenced. Now that I am in APC as my state and Governor,  Sheriff Oborovweri, and above ...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the death of seven journalists from Gombe State who lost their lives in a fatal road traffic accident. The untimely passing of these dedicated media professionals is a devastating blow to the journalism community, not only in Gombe State but across Nigeria. They were committed practitioners who served the public with courage, integrity, and professionalism, and their loss has left an irreplaceable void in our noble profession. On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC), the entire NUJ family nationwide, and the Nigerian media community, the Union extends its heartfelt condolences to the Gombe State Council of the NUJ, the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. The NUJ shares in this moment of grief and stands in full solidarity with the bereaved families and the Gombe State media family. We pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to the souls of the departed ...

World boxing champion Anthony Joshua is recuperating in hospital following a road traffic accident that occurred along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on (insert date). The accident, which occurred around midday, involved a Toyota Lexus jeep conveying Joshua and three other passengers. Two passengers lost their lives in the incident. They were identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu (36), a Nigerian/British citizen, and Gami Sina (36), a British citizen. The Ogun State Government confirmed the incident and expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased. Upon receiving information about the accident, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, visited the hospital where Joshua was receiving treatment. He was later joined by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Both governors remained at the hospital for several hours to oversee the situation and ensure that appropriate medical care was provided. Speaking on the incident, Governor Abiodun said he immediately proceeded to the hospi...

The Labour Party (LP) has berated President Bola Tinubu for travelling to Europe on holiday at a time the country is grappling with rising insecurity, including foreign military interventions in the North. It was recalled that  Tinubu left Lagos for Europe for hs end-of-year holiday ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi ,  United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is scheduled to attend the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the trip was by invitation from the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to participate in the summit, which gathers global leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance sustainable development strategies. However, LP’s acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, in an interview with Punch, described the trip as insensitive and devoid of empathy fo...

A pastor of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel, has been reportedly abducted by suspected armed bandits in Okoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. It was learnt that the cleric was kidnapped on Saturday while heading to his farm along the Okeoffin-Okoro Gbedde axis. According to SaharaReporters, eyewitnesses said the pastor was travelling on a motorcycle with a commercial rider when they encountered the assailants. Sources in the community noted that the situation turned chaotic upon sighting the kidnappers. “When they suddenly ran into the armed men, the pastor jumped off the motorcycle. “The commercial rider managed to escape unharmed, while the pastor was abducted and taken to an unknown location, ” a source noted. As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had yet to establish contact with the pastor’s family or the church, and no ransom demand had been made. The abduction has heightened fear and anxiety among residents of Ok...

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the ongoing recalibration of the nation’s security architecture would soon yield results capable of restoring public confidence. The President gave the assurance on Friday during a meeting with a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his Lagos residence. This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu said his administration remained committed to security sector reforms, including the establishment of state and community policing to address emerging threats across the country. “The mood of the nation is peaceful, although our ungoverned spaces are so large. The challenge is real, but we will surmount it,” the president said. He called on religious leaders to support government efforts through cooperation, vigilance and prayers, noting that some security measures required time to mature. “We are very religious. We are pray...

Suspected bandits reportedly invaded the Adanla community, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, and allegedly abducted no fewer than seven persons. According to residents, the attack occured around 7 pm on Friday and threw the otherwise peaceful agrarian community into fear. Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, a community leader in Igbaja and Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, confirmed the incident to Punch on Saturday. He said the armed assailants stormed Adanla in large numbers, firing sporadically as they moved from house to house, forcing residents into submission. “At about 7:30pm, we received a report from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja, that bandits had entered the community,” Oyin-Zubair said. “We immediately swung into action by mobilising hunters and vigilantes from Igbaja to the area. We also alerted the Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, who directed his men around the axis to respond swiftly,...

-By Zik Gbemre The Portuguese and British who brought priesthood robes and beads to Nigeria to our traditional rulers don’t wear them in their temperate (cold region) but our kings in Nigeria wear them in this tropical(hot) region.  See how casual King Charles III is performing his royal duties as King of England. Our traditional rulers wear beads and robes as masquerades under hot sun.  They have a long way to free selves from mental slavery. Our people copy wrong things they see in Europe and Americas.  See how simple King Charles III the most famed king in the world is dressed for royal events. Urhobo traditional rulers should stop wearing robes like priests.  They should dress in their native attires and stop suffocating selves under scotching sun with robes covering their mouths.  I respect the dressing of Yoruba traditional rulers because they wear their Yoruba attires and with few beads.  The recent dressing of some Urhobo traditional rul...

LAGOS — GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, said his administration was commited to fair, friendly tax reform compliance. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this at the Tax Reform Summit jointly hosted by the Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the State Treasury Office. The summit was themed ‘Tax Reform Summit: The Lagos Implementation Road Map, From Reforms to Results.’ He assured stakeholders in the tax sector that the state is committed to a fair, transparent, and growth-friendly tax system that supports sustainable development and shared prosperity. Sanwo-Olu, who was the Chief Host at the summit, said: “I give kudos to our dear President Bola Tinubu for taking the steps he is taking, considering the fact that the pains are gradually giving way for the gains. We fully aligned with the ongoing tax reform agenda of our dear President. “On the contrary, it will protect small businesses, ensure that the rich fulfill their obligations to the society, blo...

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has signed the 2026 Appropriation Law, the Ekiti State Revenue Administration Law (2025), and the Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti Law (2025) into law, pledging zero tolerance for double taxation, protection against extortion, and empowerment of local governments. The 2026 budget, dubbed the “Budget of Sustainable Governance,” totals ₦415.57 billion, with 53 per cent allocated to recurrent expenditure and 47 per cent to capital projects. The laws were assented to at a formal ceremony at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, following their passage by the State House of Assembly. Governor Oyebanji described the new laws as critical to the administration’s shared prosperity agenda and transformative growth objectives. He noted that the 2026 budget was prepared after extensive consultations with stakeholders and aligns with global best practices, anchored on the six pillars of the Ekiti State Development Plan 2021–2050. The budget prioritiz...

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has signed into law the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.016 trillion, alongside six other legislations. The other laws include the Rural Access Funds Law 2025, Rural Access Road Authority Law 2025, Water Sector Law 2025, Statistics Law 2025, Harmonised Taxes and Levies Approved List for Collection Law 2025, and the Bayelsa Medical University Amendment Law 2025. According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the initial budget presented to the House of Assembly on November 13 was N998.371 billion. After consultation with ministries, departments, and agencies, the assembly approved an increase of N17.7 billion, representing a 1.77 per cent adjustment. Governor Diri assured that the government would ensure full implementation of the 2026 budget, noting that the administration successfully maintained a January-to-December budget cycle in the outgoing year. He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the state assembly f...

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has submitted a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding issues affecting some reform institutions under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, NANS Public Relations Officer Comrade Samson Adeyemi said the association acted to support the maintenance of public confidence, national stability, and institutional integrity. Adeyemi explained that the petition requests the DSS to review relevant matters and ensure that civic activities and public discourse remain peaceful and orderly. He emphasised that NANS supports the constitutional right to peaceful protest while advocating for proactive measures to maintain law and order. The association stated that its actions are guided by a commitment to democracy, peace, and constructive civic engagement. NANS expressed confidence in the professionalism of the DSS and its mandate to safeguard national security and instit...

Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sunny Ekedayen, has said that the rather ambitious appropriation figures for the 2026 fiscal cycle was not just predicated on certain economic parameters but also advised by the leadership disposition of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, especially his financial prudence and commitment to good governance.  He said that Oborevwori has left even his initial critics in awe by his forthright and consistent commitment to delivering on his promises to improve the lives of Deltans through equitable provision of infrastructure projects, human capital development.and job creation. Ekedayen made the remarks during a press conference he jointly addressed with the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu in Asaba, Delta State.  Aniagwu, said that the approvals were in line with the administration’s resolve to accelerate development and improve the quality of life of Deltans. Aniagwu, who was f...

The government of  Ghana has deported 42 Nigerians from the Ashanti Region of the country following a court ruling which convicted them of various criminal offences.  The deported Nigerians were convicted of offences including prostitution and fraud. Ghananian authorities also convicted and deported thirteen Cameroonians, three Ivorians, three Burkinabe nationals, and seven Benin nationals, bringing the total number of deportees to 68. The development was made known in a Facebook post on Thursday, December 18, 2025, by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Frank Amoakohene. Amoakohene wrote,  “A total of 42 Nigerians, 13 Cameroonians, 3 Ivorians, 3 Burkinabe nationals, and 7 Benin nationals have been deported from the Ashanti Region to their respective countries following various court rulings involving Q-Net, prostitution, and other criminal activities. “I commend the Ghana Immigration Service for its professionalism, diligence, and firm commitment to enforcing our immigration...

The former Ijaw Youth Council president and Society of Petroleum Engineers member, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has commended High Chief (Dr.) Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), for prioritizing education and expanding scholarship opportunities. Speaking at the 2nd Ijaw Media Conference organized by the Ijaw Publishers' Forum, IPF, in Warri, Delta State, on December 17, 2025, Eradiri emphasised the need for strategic educational programmes that create jobs. "We must give credit to all those who have led this programme to Otuaro. Otuaro, our own, is doing fantastic. Look at the number of people he has sent to schools, the local schools, over 3,000. He is focused on education and so we need to give him credit for it," Eradiri said. However, he added, " I think that we need to be more strategic about the kind of educational programmes that we get involved in so that we don't waste the opportunity and money we have." E...

The Edo State Government has reiterated its commitment to the safety and welfare of residents following a petrol tanker fire incident in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, which left several persons injured. In a statement signed and issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo,  Ebojele Akhere Patrick,  the state government disclosed that a high-powered delegation had been dispatched to the affected community and hospitals where victims are receiving treatment. The delegation, led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mallam Gani Audu, visited the scene of the inferno as well as Auchi General Hospital and Amazing Grace Hospital, where victims were admitted, on the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo. Audu said the governor mandated that the team immediately proceed to Auchi to sympathise with the community and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the incident. “We were given a clear mandate by the governor when we h...

The senator representing Kogi Central,  Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,  has urged President  Bola Tinubu  to ensure that the proposed ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill delivers tangible and measurable benefits to ordinary Nigerians, warning that headline figures alone cannot solve the country’s development challenges. The lawmaker spoke on Friday while reacting to President Tinubu's budget presentation to a joint sitting of the National Assembly, describing the exercise as significant but cautioning against an overemphasis on fiscal size at the expense of real outcomes. Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that while the proposed spending plan reflects the scale of Nigeria’s economic ambitions and structural problems, citizens are more concerned about how government spending translates into improvements in their daily lives. She said,  “Of all the lengthy speeches, one line by Mr President struck me deeply.  It’s not the size of the budget but the quantum of imp...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday wrote to the National Assembly seeking the approval of the lawmakers to extend the life span of the 2025 budget to March 2026. The letter dated December 18 and read at plenary on Friday by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, is also seeking permission to consolidate the capital components of the 2024 and 2025. The letter came ahead of the planned consideration of the earlier letter on the two budgets by the House, with the President saying in the letter that the new one supersedes the earlier correspondence dated December 16. He explained that the request is part of a broader Fiscal reform measure aimed at eliminating the overlap of multiple concurrently running budgets, thereby strengthening planning, execution, and accountability across government expenditure circles. The letter reads, “I hereby transmit to the House of Representatives the enclosed Appropriation (Repeal and Re-Enactment Bills), 2024 and 2025, for the consideration of the National Assemb...

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the 2026 Tax Reform Act, scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, citing concerns over content integrity, tax sovereignty and fiscal governance. The group also urged the Federal Government to withhold the presentation of the 2026 Budget until a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s fiscal framework is carried out. It was reported that Afenifere made the call in a statement jointly signed by its Leader,  HRH Oba Oladipo Olaitan,  and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, on Friday, December 19, 2025. The organisation raised the alarm over alleged discrepancies between the gazetted version of the Tax Reform Act and the version passed by the National Assembly, referencing claims earlier made by Rep. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP-Sokoto). According to Afenifere, the allegation raises serious constitutional concerns that must be independe...

The National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum,( PANDEF) Amb. Dr. Godknows Boladei lgali, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve license for Niger Delta sons and daughters who have the requirements to operate modular refineries and pay tax to the federal government as it is done in the US and the Western world. Dr. Igali who was the keynote speaker made the call on Wednesday December 17, in Warri during the second edition of the ljaw Publishers Forum (IPF), Ijaw Media Conference held at the KFT Event Centre, Effurun, stated that the operation of modular refineries was for the best interest of increasing the growth of the nation’s economy as well as to create a sense of belonging to the people that own the crude oil and gas. He said that it is important for the people to properly manage their God given resources towards the welfare of humanity rather than being destroyed in the name of illegal oil bunkering by government security agencies thereby resulting in...

The House of Representatives has approved a significant increase in campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective offices in Nigeria, as part of ongoing efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022 ahead of the 2027 general elections. It was reported that the decision was taken during Thursday’s plenary following the clause-by-clause consideration of a report on the proposed amendments to the electoral law. Under the approved changes, the maximum amount a presidential candidate can spend on electioneering campaigns was doubled from ₦5 billion, as stipulated in the existing Act, to ₦10 billion. The lawmakers also approved a substantial upward review of spending ceilings for other elective positions across the country. For governorship elections, the campaign expenditure limit was increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3bn, while senatorial candidates can now spend up to ₦500 million, up from the previous ₦100m. Similarly, the spending cap for candidates seeking election into the Hou...

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Thursday, rejected an application that sought to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to release the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Salami, SAN, from its custody. Malami, who has spent about 10 days in detention, is facing investigation over sundry accusations against him, among which are alleged financial malfeasance regarding the utilisation of recovered loot, as well as his reported links to terrorist financing. Though the former minister, who had since denied any wrongdoing, was on November 28 granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency, he was detained on December 8 after he reported for further interrogation. While he alleged that his bail was arbitrarily revoked after he attended a political rally in his home state, Kebbi, the EFCC refuted the claim, insisting he failed to perfect the bail conditions. Meantime, determined to secure his fre...

Following recent outrage over the spike in air fares, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has attributed ticket prices to high operating costs, saying fares will be cheaper if taxes and levies are removed and infrastructure is improved. AON, however, said compared to other countries, domestic travellers in Nigeria pay some of the cheapest air fares in the world, noting that despite their operating cost, they keep ticket prices relatively low. Spokesperson for the AON, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, spoke on the Morning Brief, a Channels TV Programme. Okonkwo, who dismissed claims of price gouging, also said with Yuletide, demand for flights was higher and there was a need to meet the demand. His words: “In aviation, there is a formula in which fares are determined. You have different classes. You have low, middle and so on and so forth. You might have about six classes of tickets. At the end of the day, we make a yield. “We put it all together and divide it by the number of the seats in ...

 The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rolled out a major security operation across Abuja, deploying 2,202 police officers to safeguard residents and visitors during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The move follows a directive by the Commissioner of Police,  Miller Dantawaye , who ordered heightened security at places of worship and other public locations as part of the 2025 festive season operational order. In a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the police said officers have been strategically stationed at churches, mosques, recreational and event centres, major highways, motor parks and other busy public spaces across the territory. “As we gradually transition into 2026, the FCT Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining peace, safety, and public order across the Territory,”  the statement read. “In furtherance of this mandate, the command has deployed 2,202 personnel across the FCT in li...

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on President Bola Tinubu, governors of the northern states, and the Minister of the FCT to take urgent, visible, and decisive steps to guarantee the safety of lives and property during the Christmas celebrations and beyond. In a statement issued on Thursday to mark the Yuletide season, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, expressed deep concern over the persistent security challenges confronting the country, particularly the escalating activities of bandits, terrorists, and other criminal groups across many parts of Northern Nigeria. According to the statement, these threats have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, significantly undermining the confidence of citizens, especially Christian faithful, many of whom now find it increasingly difficult to travel freely or congregate for worship during the Christmas season. “Christmas represents the c...

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over his silence regarding the death of a teenager allegedly run over by his convoy. It was reported that the PDP, in a statement on Thursday by its Director of Media and Public Communications, Wande Ajayi, alleged that the deceased, Good Emiju, was knocked down by Aiyedatiwa’s convoy at Oka-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South-West Local Government, during Aiyedatiwa’s thank-you tour of communities in the council. While expressing concern over the hurried burial of the deceased, the opposition party stated that Emiju died due to the failure of the General Hospital in Oka-Akoko to manage the situation. The PDP further demanded a transparent explanation from the state government, stressing that Aiyedatiwa’s continued silence is unacceptable, insensitive, and disrespectful to the memory of the deceased and his family. The statement added,  “According to credible accounts, the victim ...

Governor  Ahmad Aliyu  on Wednesday (today) presented a ₦758.7 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Sokoto State House of Assembly, outlining plans to consolidate security gains, expand social services and stimulate economic growth across the state. The proposal, christened the ‘Budget of Socio-Economic Expansion’, comes amid lingering security challenges, rising cost of living and increasing demand for infrastructure and public services in Sokoto State and the wider North-West region. Addressing the lawmakers during the presentation, the governor said the budget was designed through what he described as an unprecedented citizen-driven process. Aliyu explained that the 2026 budget followed extensive town hall meetings held across the three senatorial districts of Tambuwal, Tangaza and Gwadabawa, where residents from all the 23 local government areas and 244 political wards participated in the planning process. According to him, the approa...

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, says local fish production has risen from 1.1 million to 1.4 million metric tons this year, reflecting efforts to boost domestic output, reduce imports, and enhance food security. Oyetola made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the 4th Quarter 2025 Citizens/Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting of the ministry. According to Oyetola, the growth recorded in the fisheries and aquaculture subsector reflects targeted interventions by the Federal Government aimed at strengthening local capacity, improving coordination, deploying appropriate technologies, and enhancing sectoral planning. “In the area of fisheries and aquaculture, we are working deliberately and with unique agency to boost local fish production, reduce our dependence on imports, and strengthen food security. “I’m pleased to report that local fish production has increased from 1.1 million metric tons to 1.4 million metric tons so far this year.”. he stated....

The Nigeria Police Force, ahead of nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has mobilised special forces and tactical teams to ensure a violence‑free demonstration, state commands said on Tuesday. In separate interviews with Punch, police spokespersons confirmed their preparedness to tackle miscreants and political hirelings who may seek to disrupt the rallies. The NLC has maintained that it will not retract its planned nationwide protests, which were called in response to escalating insecurity and other labour issues. When asked if the union had mobilised its affiliate unions for the rallies, the NLC’s spokesperson, Benson Upah, stated,  “We are going on with the protest across the country.” He warned that any attempt to interfere with today’s National Day of Protest and Mourning could trigger a nationwide indefinite strike. Upah said the union had received intelligence suggesting that unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings might try to ...