Staff of Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday locked out lawmakers from the state assembly complex.

The lawmakers who were billed to sit were stopped from holding plenary sessions by the protesting staff.

The staff said they were protesting to push for the financial autonomy of the legislative arm of the state.

As early as 7am, the protesters gathered at the gate of the assembly complex, shutting the gate and refusing workers, lawmakers and others access to the complex.

.ng gathered that the protest was a nationwide activity by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).

The Chairman of PASAN, Anambra State branch, Abraham Okoye, said: “The protest is not to witch-hunt any state government but aimed at pressing home our demand for full financial autonomy of the legislative arm.”

As of the time of filing this report, the executives of PASAN, some principal officers of the assembly, as well as some representatives of the executive arm of government entered into a closed-door meeting to iron out issues.

The Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, has put precautionary measures in place against future attacks on commercial banks in Benue State.

The development followed the attack on some banks in Otukpo town, Benue State, by armed robbers on Friday, October 20, 2023.

The CBN took the measures at an emergency meeting with the management of the affected banks in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the CBN, among other decisions, directed that “all banks and her branches across the state with immediate effect [sic] commence her business operations from 8am-2pm, Monday to Friday till January 30, 2024, when a review of the security situation will be carried out at the Bankers Committee for amendment accordingly”.

The communiqué further stated that the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) support be increased to two hundred thousand naira (N200,000.00) for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) while CBN is increased to five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00).

“Each bank is mandated to make its payment on or before October 27, 2023,” the communique directed.

The Federal Government says it remains unwavering in its commitment to reforming the country’s education sector.

President Bola Tinubu made this known in Lokoja in an address at the sixth and seventh combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State.

The President said he believed that financial autonomy and strategic partnership with the private sector was key towards achieving the needed reformation of the education sector as well as eradicating distrust caused by strikes among tertiary institutions workers .

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Special Duties, Zaphaniah Jisalo, noted that his administration was inspired by the visions of the Federal University, Lokoja to become one of the top ten institutions in Africa with a mission to train employable graduates.

He lauded the management of the University for their efforts at ensuring a steady growth of the institution, noting that it had progressed from eleven programmes to fifty three programmes across all faculties.

In his address at the occasion, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, said he had dedicated thirty percent of the budget to education in view of its important role in the development of an egalitarian society.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, the governor explained that Kogi State University of Science and Technology, Osara and Kogi State University, Kabba, were established to address the university education needs of the people of the state.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, disclosed that a total of 2738 students graduated with 61 of them bagging first class degrees.

Akinwumi said some land mark achievements were recorded in the areas of infrastructure, noting that the absence of critical infrastructure and essential services remained a major challenge to the growth of the university.

The vice chancellor therefore solicited the assistance of the Federal Government to develop the campus to make it conducive for work, teaching, learning and research.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Oba of Benin, His Highness Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, on his 70th birthday.

Buhari in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, described the Oba as “a king among kings”.

The former President said Oba Ewuare II “continues as a source of inspiration to the country for his remarkable tenacity in the preservation of the cherished cultural values and traditions of the Benin Kingdom”.

“He is the ultimate Oba,” the former President noted, urging the media and the recorders of modern history to focus on Oba Ewuare II as a champion of good conduct and guardian of the cherished values and traditions of his people.

“Long Live the Oba, Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Buhari added.

The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, on Friday said President Bola Tinubu had assured him of the protection of the interests of the Itsekiri people.

Emami disclosed this in a chat with newsmen at his residence at Ubeji Community in Delta State during the celebration of his 6th anniversary as Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom.

He said the few times he had to discuss with the President about the ports in Koko and Warri as well as the roads and developments in Itsekiri land, Tinubu assured him that all will be addressed squarely.

“You know my own boss. My father and the father of the nation,the President of the federal republic of Nigeria. He just assumed office and there are a lot of issues in the office that he is tackling.

“But the few minutes I had to spend with him, I did not discuss my own personal interests. The issues I discussed had to do with the interests of Itsekiri nation and he had assured he will look into it.

“So, as it concerns Itsekiri, I don’t deviate.”

Emami added that he does not want to be a minister or board member under the Tinubu administration.

“I don’t want to be a minister. Neither do I want to be a board member.”

He vowed to continue to pursue the interests of the Itsekiri at the federal level.

“If I go there, first, it has to be the interests of Itsekiri. How it affects our ports, how it affects the road, how it affects the development of the Itsekiri people and the environment.”

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, wants the Federal Government to allow individuals to buy and own weapons such as AK-47 rifles and RPGs for self-defence.

The governor, who spoke on Friday during a media chat in Abuja, argued that if the bandits wreaking havoc across the country could have access to the market to purchase weapons, individuals should be allowed to own theirs.

According to him: “If a bandit can go to the market and buy AK-47, RPG, and all of those weapons, what about the people that want to protect themselves? They, too, should be equally allowed to do so.

“These people are holding it illegally; we are trying to hold it legally. Why can’t the government allow the people to hold this thing and equally confront the challenges?

“Negotiation with bandits is a no-go area from my perspective, but I said if I am at the point of advantage―if the bandits come out and say, ‘Look, we are dropping arms, let us sit down and talk’―we could reintegrate them back into society.”

He said further: “We governors are so-called chief security officers of our states, but we don’t have the authority to command the military, police, or civil defence. They receive orders from above.

“In our efforts, we have come up with the intelligence unit within the Katsina Community Watch Corps. This intelligence unit, even the corps members don’t know them. The reason for setting it up is to check the excesses of the Watch Corps and also to gather information.”

Following the spate of security crises in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday threatened to shut down illegal motor parks across the territory.

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, made this known during a chat with journalists in his office while reacting to the activities of ‘one-chance’ robbers in the capital city.

.ng reports that there has been a series of reported cases of ‘one-chance’ robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the territory.

The security situation has instilled fear in some residents as the criminal elements who disguise themselves as commercial vehicle operators to rob or kidnap unsuspecting victims continue their attacks.

Speaking on steps taken so far to address the security crisis, the minister said a joint task force on cross-border crimes was set up last week to tackle the security menace called ‘one-chance’ robbery.

“We’re getting a lot of reports about kidnappings here, about one-chance there,” Wike said.

“In most cases, we don’t even let the public know what has been done. I can tell you the security agencies have done quite a lot. If not, by now, the FCT would have been a different thing.

“One of the areas we identified is that the FCT is at the centre – we have Niger State, we have Kogi State, we have Nasarawa State, we have Kaduna State. And if you check these four states, these four states are states that experience banditry and kidnapping from time to time.

“And we discovered that most of the areas that they (criminals) stay are shanties and uncompleted buildings, and that is why we say we cannot allow these uncompleted buildings where criminals have made their place of abode.

“Bring down all these uncompleted buildings which have turned to shanties and they will have nowhere to hide.”

“Just last week, we set up a task force on those states that we have borders with and one-chance. Joint security task force including the SSS, the police, the army, the navy, and they have identified the way they will operate.

“To tell you that we are concerned. That is why we have to set up this joint task force for one-chance and border control.

“Again, you see a lot of illegal motor parks. When we come up with a policy that we can’t allow these illegal motor parks, people will come up to say the economy is hard, things are tough but nobody wants to look at it from the security implication.

“We are also planning to shut down some of these illegal motor parks.”

A former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu has said he paid back in thousand folds, the £500 given to him by Bola Tinubu during his exile days.

Momodu was reacting to the various versions of his interview, where he had allegedly vowed to always support Tinubu.

“The APC goons will never get tired of circulating their own version of the interview I granted @chudeity a few years ago,” he said on X on Tuesday.

“They are so obsessed with the part I said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave me 500 pounds in London during our exile years, as if that means I must become a perpetual slave because of that well appreciated support.

“Truth is, I repaid that favour a thousand fold, in ways I’m not willing to divulge, but the commonest being free and regular publicity on Ovation platforms running into thousands of dollars. It is called ‘adding value…’

“Nowhere did I say I will give unconditional support to Tinubu,” he said while sharing the full video of the interview.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied the report that it relieved its candidate for the Imo State gubernatorial election, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, of his position as National Secretary of the party.

Reports earlier emerged that Anyanwu, popularly known as “Sam Daddy“ was removed as the party’s national secretary to enable him to focus on his governorship race.

In a statement issued on Friday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party said Anyanwu’s office remains intact.

According to the statement, the NWC described the report as false, stressing that it “did not at any time relieve or contemplate to relieve Anyanwu of his position”.

The statement reads partly, “The NWC states and cautions that no matter how strongly an individual or group feels about an issue, resorting to fabrications, lies and claiming a non-existent decision by the NWC is highly condemnable.

“The PDP urges Nigerians, particularly our teeming members and supporters in Imo State, to disregard the said false claims as Senator Anyanwu remains the National Secretary and Candidate of our Party in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

“The NWC charges the PDP in Imo State to remain united, focused, alert, and continue to resist the antics of suppressive forces which are bent on distracting our party in the march to victory on November 11, 2023”.

Former minister, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, has died aged 76.

Yusuf, a former Senator from 1999-2007, died in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Kano after a brief illness.

A family member, Alhaji Hussani Dalhatu, confirmed his death to newsmen.

He said the late Sardauna of Dutse’s funeral prayer would take place after Jumu’at prayer at the Emir of Kano’s palace.

Yusuf was born in Gwaram, Jigawa State, in 1947. He was Minister of Interior in 1981 and Minister of Commerce in 1982.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed an immediate Action Plan to halt the impending flood crisis nationwide.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, made the charge during an emergency meeting at Aso Villa in Abuja.

The President set up a committee to be headed by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, with a 7-day timeline to deliver a report.

“Based on the submissions by the DG of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, the situation is not that terrible, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The submissions by the other relevant stakeholders are equally poignant, and we can’t afford to take chances.

“Though the situation is not as bad as we might think, we need to set up a committee so that the report of the Presidential Committee and the 2022 Federal Executive Council – approved broad preparedness plan should be harmonised and implemented immediately,” the Vice President stated.

Shettima noted that a feasible roadmap would address the flood crisis in Nigeria, adding that responsibilities would be shouldered by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Federal Government.

He stated: “I deliberately invited the NEDC and NDDC so that whatever resources that NEMA has, they have to be released to the states so that they can start making preparations for any eventuality.

“Based on the Presidential directive, I will meet with the NEDC and NDDC chief executives for states under their coverage. There should be interventions from them.

“For NEDC, they can take care of Taraba, Bauchi and Adamawa. For NDDC, they can take care of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River. For states like Ebonyi, Kogi and Benue, we will mobilise from our savings and deploy the same to assist them. We have to share responsibilities and hence the immediate need for implementing the roadmap.”

The development comes days after the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued a flood alert to Nigerians in nine states- Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

The Police, on Tuesday, arraigned a 20-year-old man, Adeleke Temitope, before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court for allegedly abducting a 15-year-old girl.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a charge of unlawful abduction.

The prosecutor, Insp Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 30 in Ikere-Ekiti.

Adeniyi said the defendant unlawfully abducted one Adeyemi Ayomide, a 15-year-old girl, against her will.

The offence, according to him, contravenes Section 275 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the file and assemble his witnesses.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

His counsel, Mr Benjamin Aladesuyi, urged the court to grant his client bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Dolapo Babalogbon, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case till Nov.22 for hearing.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday attended the graduation and passing out ceremony of 1,456 members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps, Batch 1.

The event coincided with the commissioning of 40 new buses for the transportation of students and teachers to schools in the state.

It would be recalled that Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who assumed office on 29 May 2023, initiated the recruitment of 2,400 youths into the Community Watch Corps to address the growing concerns of terrorism and criminal activities in the state.

The governor said the graduates will join forces with traditional security forces to combat banditry and other forms of criminality that have plagued the state.

He also emphasized that the new graduates will focus on bolstering security in frontline local governments and confront terrorists in their hideouts to put an end to their menace across Katsina.

Ahead of the graduation, Radda’s administration released a total of N560 million for the purchase of security equipment for the corps.

The graduation and passing out ceremony was graced by governors and representatives of six Northwest states – Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano – as well as Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.



Buhari was the chairman of the occasion, while the governors were special guests of honour.