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We were not elected to fight executive – Akpabio

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Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that lawmakers were not elected to engage in confrontation with the Executive but to work in partnership for the progress of Nigeria.

Akpabio made the remarks in a feature documentary set to mark two years of the Bola Tinubu administration.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Akpabio insisted that legislators were elected to make laws that advance the nation’s interest, not to act as political antagonists.

“When elected into the National Assembly, whether in the Senate or the House of Representatives, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves. It’s not a boxing tournament. You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President explained that the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive arm over the past two years has been made possible by a shared vision for Nigeria’s development.

“If you spend all your energy fighting the Executive, who will work for Nigeria?” he asked.

He noted that the current administration is unprecedented in Nigerian history, with a President, Vice President, and First Lady who are all former senators, a factor he said has strengthened mutual understanding between both arms of government.

Highlighting legislative priorities, Akpabio revealed that the National Assembly is working on a law to compel ministries, departments and agencies to prioritise the purchase of locally assembled vehicles over foreign ones.

“We have started the bill for enacting legislation to enable us first purchase automobiles from Nigerian companies before thinking of importing them,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to vehicle imports and other goods that could easily be produced within the country.

He blamed the collapse of key sectors like the textile, cotton, groundnut, and palm oil industries on the country’s overreliance on imports, noting that other countries like Malaysia have succeeded economically by leveraging resources such as palm oil.

“Over 50 textile companies have left Nigeria. The cotton industry collapsed. The groundnut industry collapsed. The palm oil industry collapsed. Look at countries like Malaysia that have leveraged palm oil to boost their economies,” he said.

Akpabio praised the Tinubu administration’s “Nigeria First” policy and described it as a “fantastic” initiative that deserves full legislative support.

He disclosed that consultations are ongoing with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council to draft laws aimed at boosting local production.


“We are going to make laws and produce bills that ensure almost every item we consume that can be produced in Nigeria is produced in Nigeria.

“Taking Nigeria First means bringing industries back to the country to serve our population of over 200 million,” he said.

The Senate President also called for more support for local entrepreneurs, adding that Nigeria’s large consumer base makes small-scale businesses potentially profitable.

“Even if you produce vinegar and bag it well, it will fly. If you produce bread, you will be a millionaire considering the kind of population that we have,” Akpabio stated.

Akpabio pushed back against criticisms that the legislature under his leadership has acted merely as a rubber stamp for the Executive.

He said the Senate has, on occasion, rejected some of Tinubu’s nominees and amended proposals that did not align with public interest.

“People forget that we have made enemies by rejecting some of the nominees that the President sent to us. It’s not everything the President brings that he takes back the same way,” he said.

He added that the National Assembly scrutinises every bill from the Executive and works to ensure each one meets the realities and needs of Nigerians.

“Our job is to make sure we cross the T’s and dot the I’s to assist the President in having the best for the Nigerian population,” he said.

Akpabio assured all that the 10th National Assembly will continue to prioritise legislation that improves the quality of life of citizens and supports the President’s reform agenda.

“This government is not a government of theory; it’s a government of action. So, for us in the National Assembly, we are very focused on pro-people legislation,” he said.

He cited landmark bills such as the Student Loan Act, Tax Reform Bills, and the Minimum Wage Bill as examples of the Assembly’s achievements so far.

“We have done quite a lot in just two years. I assure Nigerians that more people-focused laws are coming: laws that will reduce hardship, open the economy, and empower young people,” Akpabio said.

He added, “From the perspective of the National Assembly, we have scrutinised almost every bill that the President has brought. We have aligned it with the Nigerian people’s realities and needs and supported it by ensuring they are speedily passed.

“We don’t waste time on anything that will enhance the living standard of Nigerians.”

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Ondo female student forced into sex-for-grades by HOD — NANS

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has alleged that a female student of a tertiary institution in Ondo State was coerced into a sex-for-grades ordeal by her Head of Department after repeatedly failing a compulsory course needed for her graduation.

The President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled, “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice.”

According to Akinteye, the student had only one outstanding course preventing her from graduating with her colleagues and returned to the institution to retake the examination.

He said the student was informed that she had failed the course again and subsequently approached the lecturer, who also served as the Head of Department, to seek clarification on why she was unable to pass.

According to the NANS president, the student alleged that the lecturer told her she could never pass the course and, after several encounters, demanded a sexual favour in exchange for awarding her a passing grade.

“She further alleged that, after several encounters, the lecturer demanded that she perform a sexual act on him in his office in exchange for a passing grade,” the statement partly read

Akinteye said the student claimed she felt trapped and believed she had no option if she wanted to graduate.


“Feeling trapped and believing she had no other option if she wanted to graduate, she said she complied and she gave the him BLOW JOB as demanded by him,” he stated.

According to him, the student believed the incident would end there, but the lecturer allegedly continued contacting her about a week later.

He alleged that the lecturer repeatedly called the student and invited her to his residence, implying that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before she could finally be cleared.

“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” Akinteye said.

The NANS president explained that although he initially intended to escalate the matter publicly, the student pleaded with him not to do so because she feared further victimisation and only wanted to graduate without additional harassment.

He said he subsequently contacted relevant authorities within the institution and was informed within three hours that the student had been cleared.

“While I am relieved that she was able to complete her academic process, I am deeply saddened that she was too afraid to publicly identify herself or the lecturer involved.


“This reflects the fear, intimidation and stigma that many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he said.

Akinteye described the incident as part of a wider problem of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions, noting that many similar cases remain unreported because victims fear retaliation, embarrassment and victimisation.

“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success. Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education,” he added.

He urged female students experiencing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report such incidents to the National Director of Gender of NANS, assuring them that complaints would be handled professionally, confidentially and with the seriousness they deserve.

“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve. Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse,” he said.

The NANS president, however, did not disclose the name of the institution, the lecturer or the student involved.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the institution were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as NANS did not identify the school in its statement.

Credit: Punch

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Lagos queries LAGESC officer caught on camera collecting ₦20,000 bribe

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The Lagos State Government has issued a query to an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps over allegations of corruption after a viral video purportedly showed him receiving a ₦20,000 bribe from a suspected environmental offender.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, describing the officer’s alleged conduct as unacceptable and contrary to the ethics and core values of the agency.

According to Wahab, the officer has been formally queried, while a Personnel Management Board will be constituted to investigate the incident in line with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

“My attention has been drawn to a viral video allegedly showing an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps receiving a bribe from a lawbreaker. Such conduct is unacceptable and runs contrary to the rules, ethics, and core values of the Agency,” Wahab wrote.

“Consequently, we have immediately issued the officer a query, and this will be followed by the constitution of a Personnel Management Board (PMB) to investigate the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.”

The commissioner reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, warning that any officer found guilty of misconduct would face appropriate disciplinary measures.

“The Lagos State Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and any form of misconduct within its public service. Any officer found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary measures as stipulated by the relevant regulations,” he said.

Wahab also warned members of the public against attempting to bribe government officials, stressing that both giving and receiving bribes are criminal offences.

“I also wish to remind Lagosians that offering a bribe is as unlawful as receiving one. We urge everyone to obey the law and refrain from attempting to compromise enforcement officers.

“Together, we can uphold integrity, strengthen public trust, and build a more accountable and responsible society,” he added.

In the query letter attached to the commissioner’s post, the officer was accused of collecting ₦20,000 from an offender, an act that was allegedly captured on video and circulated on social media.

The letter, referenced MOE/LAGESC/431/56 and dated July 10, 2026, stated that the footage was viewed by the Lagos State Governor.

“You were alleged to have collected the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) from an offender. This act was recorded and posted on social media, where it was viewed by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State,” the letter read.

It described the alleged conduct as corruption and extortion, adding that it constituted serious misconduct under the Public Service Rules.

The officer was directed to submit a written explanation within 48 hours stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

“Your representation (if any) must reach the undersigned officer within 48 hours of receipt of this letter. Failure to submit your response within the stipulated time limit will result in disciplinary action being taken against you,” the letter added.

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Obi Deserves Protection From Federal Government, Not Ridicule — Kwankwaso

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The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Thursday criticised the federal government’s handling of concerns raised by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urging the authorities to uphold justice, fairness and the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Thursday,

Kwankwaso said Obi deserved state protection after expressing fears about his safety, while El-Rufai should be accorded due process and a fair trial in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

Reacting to Obi’s recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, in which the former Anambra State governor expressed concerns about his safety and alleged that his role as an opposition leader had negatively affected his businesses, Kwankwaso faulted the federal government’s response.

“Let me state clearly: like every Nigerian, our presidential candidate and all of us deserve the full protection of the state, not ridicule for raising legitimate concerns,” he said.

He added, “A government entrusted with protecting citizens should not dismiss or mock credible calls for help from any individual, including Mr. Peter Obi.”

Kwankwaso also expressed concern over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying he was disturbed after watching the former governor’s wives publicly speak about the family’s ordeal.


“Regardless of political affiliation, Malam El-Rufai, like every Nigerian, is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court,” he said.

He argued that the delay in granting El-Rufai bail under what he described as “stringent and unreasonable conditions” was troubling, insisting that, as an unconvicted citizen, the former governor deserved “a fair and expeditious trial” while his health and that of his family should be protected.

Kwankwaso urged the federal government to handle both matters with “transparency, accountability and justice,” warning against using state institutions to settle political scores.

“These issues must not be weaponised to settle political scores. For our democracy to truly thrive, every citizen, young or old, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion, must receive equal and equitable treatment under the law from the government that exists to protect us all,” he stated.

Obi had, during an interview on With Chude, alleged that the current administration was frustrating his activities and expressed fears that he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election. He also claimed that his businesses had suffered because of his role in the opposition.

His remarks drew a sharp response from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which dismissed the claims as “hallucination” and suggested that the former presidential candidate should undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Kwankwaso’s statement also comes amid growing concerns over El-Rufai’s detention. On Wednesday, one of the former governor’s wives, Asiya El-Rufai, alleged during an interview on ARISE News that the arrest of El-Rufai’s longtime physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, amounted to the “weaponisation” of healthcare, warning that such actions could discourage medical professionals from carrying out their duties without fear.

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