The National Assembly has officially extended its resumption date for plenary sessions from Tuesday, 29 April to Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
The announcement was contained in a memo dated 21 April 2025 and signed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
The NASS clerk confirmed the shift and cited participation in upcoming national events as the reason for the extension.
“I am directed to inform Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public that the two Houses of the National Assembly have extended the date for the resumption of plenary sessions from Tuesday, 29th April 2025, to Tuesday, 6th May 2025,” Ogunlana stated.
According to him, the date change was to enable lawmakers to partake in the Workers’ Day celebration on 1 May and attend to pressing constituency matters.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding,” he added.
The Senate had previously adjourned plenary on 27 March, ahead of the Easter and Eid al-Fitr holidays.
The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has faulted a media report claiming that it has agreed on a concession duration for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu.
It will be recalled that Enugu Airport came under media scrutiny barely 48 hours ago after Air Peace airline suspended its flight operations to the airport due to infrastructural defects.
This suspension of flight services prompted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to immediately shut the airport, stating that it would embark on emergency runway rehabilitation.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Tunde Moshood, on Monday, Keyamo described the report as untrue.
Although the minister acknowledged that the government was considering concessions and had received proposals from various interested companies, he stated that no conclusion had been reached.
Moshood noted that many of the airports in the country are operating at a loss and have to be subsidised monthly by the government, reinforcing the need for concessions.
The statement partly reads: “Whilst it is true that the Federal Government is considering proposals for the concession of five major airports, this is a proactive measure to ensure these vital facilities can meet and maintain international standards, given the increasing financial demands of their operations. Many of our airports are presently running at a loss, so they have to be subsidised each month by the Federal Government. It is noteworthy that this initiative to concession started under previous administrations.
“At this stage, prospective concessionaires have indeed submitted various proposals, including different durations for the concessions. It is important to emphasise that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has not established any fixed duration. All submitted proposals are currently undergoing thorough evaluation and will eventually be reviewed by the ICRC before being presented to the Minister for onward conveyance to FEC for approval. We can confirm that this review process has not been concluded. However, for the sake of transparency, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, directed some months ago that the Aviation Labour Unions be included as part of the negotiating teams.
“Therefore, we must state unequivocally that the information suggesting a predetermined concession duration is false, unfounded, and intended to cause unwarranted disaffection and mistrust in this process by those with entrenched interests. ”
Amid renewed attacks and mounting death tolls, the Christians in Plateau State on Monday staged a peace walk in protest against the incessant killings ravaging communities in the state.
The peace walk, under the joint leadership of the Church Denominational Leaders Forum and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter, was also a tribute to the victims and a cry for justice.
The participants—men, women, the elderly, and youths—marched through the streets to register their anguish and frustration over the rising insecurity in the northcentral region.
READ ALSO: Three Suspected Herdsmen Arrested Over Benue Killings, Says Gov Alia
The procession covered by Channels Television showed a crowd of concerned residents with banners calling for peace and action.
The inscriptions on some of the banner read, “That they die not in vain. Stop the killings. Stop the bloodshed. Every life matters; let Plateau live. ”
Christians during the peace walk in Plateau April 15, 2025
According to the organisers, the protest was a direct response to the continuous and bloody assaults on Plateau communities, especially those killed in recent attacks on Ruwi, Hurti, and Zikke in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.
“Their death should not be in vain,” a church leader said during the march.
Plateau and neighbouring Benue State have been gripped by a fresh wave of violence in recent weeks, largely blamed on bandits.
The April 2025 attacks in Bokkos and Bassa claimed over 100 lives, marking one of the deadliest incidents since the Christmas Eve massacre in 2023, which left about 150 people dead in Bokkos alone.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Should Declare State Of Emergency On Plateau Killings – Cleric, Isa El-buba
Call For FG’s Intervention
Describing the killings as genocidal, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said the invaders, armed with sophisticated weapons, have displaced residents and taken over more than 60 communities. He emphasised the need for urgent federal intervention to halt the land-grabbing and wanton bloodshed.
In Benue State, the crisis remains equally dire. Over the weekend, suspected herders attacked communities in Ukum and Logo local government areas, leaving 56 people dead. Governor Hyacinth Alia has appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take decisive action and restore security.
The string of attacks comes at a time when Christians across the world, including in Nigeria, are celebrating Easter—a season of peace, love, and sacrifice. However, for many communities in the Middle Belt, this year’s Easter was marked by mourning.
In his Easter message from Paris, France, President Bola Tinubu condemned the killings and reassured Nigerians that his administration remains resolute in ending insecurity. “Forces of evil will never prevail over our country,” he declared. He also disclosed that he had issued firm directives to the Armed Forces and other security agencies to take decisive action.
L-R: COMBO PHOTO of President Bola Tinubu, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Governors Caleb Mutfwang and Hyacinth Alia
More Calls To Address Insecurity
Reacting to the crisis, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the Tinubu government for what he described as “utter incompetence” and a disturbing lack of empathy. “The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity… Yet, the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent,” he said.
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also decried the unrelenting violence, saying, “Enough is enough regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation. ” He urged government authorities to work closely with traditional rulers to tackle insecurity from the grassroots level.
READ ALSO: Killings: Gov Mutfwang Bans Night Grazing In Plateau, Restricts Motorcycles
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on Nigerians to use the spirit of Easter to set aside political, ethnic, and religious divisions and unite for the peace and progress of the nation. “I hope the atmosphere that permeates this season would cause them [the killers] to jettison their evil ways, turn a new leaf and embrace peace,” he said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has however, ordered Commissioners of Police across the country to enhance visibility policing, boost intelligence gathering, and intensify patrols across public spaces. He stressed the importance of protecting places of worship and recreation centres during the Easter celebrations.
President Bola Tinubu will return to Nigeria today from his work visit to France, the Presidency has said.
The President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday.
Tinubu left Nigeria on April 2, 2025, for Paris, France, on a short work visit.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu used the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.
READ ALSO: Nigeria In Dilemma, End Killings, Kukah Tells Tinubu
The President’s latest trip had been faulted by major opposition leaders who criticised him for being away despite the rising insecurity in the country, especially in Benue and Plateau states, where scores of residents have been killed in attacks on several communities.
A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had asked President Bola Tinubu to end his trip to France and address the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
Atiku questioned Tinubu’s continued stay in the European country despite the spate of killings across Nigeria.
“While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiraling into chaos. Plateau has turned into a killing field — over 100 lives lost in relentless attacks,” his spokesman, Paul Ibe, said in a statement on April 17.
Tinubu Should Declare State Of Emergency On Plateau Killings – Cleric, Isa El-buba
Similarly, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, urged Tinubu to suspend his France trip and urgently return to Nigeria to address the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today. pic. twitter. com/UVkPJDkUp8
He also said the primary duty of any government is securing the lives and property of its citizens, and one wondered why the type of retreat was going on in another country where peace had been secured by their leaders, “while blood continues to flow in our country”.
“I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entail that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country. ”
“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity across Nigeria, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states.
“I therefore urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues. That is the new Nigeria the nation seeks,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu paid a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, joining Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning his passing.
In an emotional statement, President Tinubu described the pontiff as “a humble servant of God” and “a tireless champion of the poor,” highlighting his legacy of compassion and bridge-building across faiths.
The president reflected on the symbolic timing of the Pope’s death—just after Easter—as a sacred return to his Maker and called on Nigerians and the global community to honour the Pope not just in words, but through acts of mercy, justice, and unity.
READ ALSO: World Leaders Mourn Pope Francis
(FILES) Pope Francis attends “The caress and the smile” event to meet with grandparents, elderly, grandchildren, and members of the “Fondazione Eta’ Grande” at the Paul VI Audience Hall in The Vatican, on April 27, 2024. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor,… pic. twitter. com/L5R2FJJu26
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions. His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end. In 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten.
He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home—this Earth—is a gift we must protect for future generations.
He was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity. In a time of division, he built bridges between faiths and the rich and the poor.
He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, where he consistently spoke against economic injustice and ceaselessly prayed for peace and stability in troubled regions.
His encyclicals were not only doctrinal and seminal but also timely and relevant. Through his pastoral letters, the Pope offered spiritual clarity and hope in an increasingly complex world. He charted a path of renewal for all humanity through his words and deeds.
In my 2025 Easter Message, I joined the Christian faithful in thanksgiving for the convalescing Pontiff. I was happy to watch his appearance to deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change. May the good Lord, whom he served with all his might, receive him into His eternal bosom.
As we mourn the late Pontiff, let us also celebrate his legacy. Let us honour him not with words alone but with action: by lifting those who are down, healing our communities, and defending the dignity of every person.
On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I extend condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful.
May God Almighty grant His beloved servant eternal rest.
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has died at age 88. He died on Monday at 7:35am, a day after making a much-hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday
Following the recent news concerning Pope Francis, numerous world leaders have extended their heartfelt condolences, reflecting the deep respect and admiration the pontiff commands across nations and faiths.
As the spiritual head of over a billion Catholics and a respected moral voice on the world stage, any development concerning the Pope resonates far beyond the Vatican.
READ ALSO: What Happens After The Pope Dies?
(FILES) Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he appears at the balcony to deliver his Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on December 25, 2022. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)
Iran
Iran offered condolences on Monday following the death of Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, at the age of 88.
“My colleagues have just informed me of the news… I offer my condolences to all Christians around the world,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a press briefing. Iran, a Muslim-majority country, maintains close ties with the Vatican.
Israel
Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the deceased Pope Francis on Monday as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion”.
“He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” the president said in a post on X.
Photo Combo: Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Pope Francis
United States Of America
US Vice President JD Vance said his “heart goes out” to Christians after Pope Francis died Monday.
“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” he posted on X.
“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. ”
Vance, a Catholic convert, arrived in New Delhi on Monday after meeting the pontiff in the Vatican.
The pair had a brief private meeting on Sunday, the Vatican said, on the last day of the Republican’s visit to Rome.
The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia in a Rome hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23.
His death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter’s Basilica.
U. S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance attend the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday as part of the Holy Week, at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed the late Pope Francis as a “defender” of “humanism and justice”, and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
Putin said Francis, who died on Monday, was a “wise” religious leader, “statesman” and “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice”, in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin.
“During all the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See,” Putin added.
The Kremlin leader had met the pope three times — in 2013, 2015, and 2019.
The last time they spoke was in December 2021 by telephone, Russian state media reported, weeks before Moscow launched its offensive on Ukraine.
The pope had repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine.
In 2016, he met the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, in the first-ever meeting between the heads of the two churches.
That ended with the singing of a joint 10-page declaration, seen at the time as an important milestone in relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox branches of Christianity.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday mourned the death of Pope Francis, saying the Catholic leader had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. ”
“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday paid homage to Pope Francis, saying he had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and fought for “more justice”.
Speaking during a trip to the Pacific region, Macron expressed his “most sincere condolences to Catholics the world over” after the death of Francis who, he said, had stood for a “brotherly humankind”.
Pope Francis (L) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais du Pharo in the southern port city of Marseille on September 23, 2023. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / POOL / AFP)
Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday hailed Pope Francis’s “commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable” after his death at the age of 88.
“I am sorry to hear of the death of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace,” the Socialist leader wrote on X.
Combo Photo: Pope Francis and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
Italy
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said “a great man has left us” after Pope Francis died on Monday.
“Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us,” Meloni said in a statement.
Combo Photo: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Germany
Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday expressed “great sorrow” at Pope Francis’s death, describing him as a man “guided by humility and faith”.
The pope “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation,” he said.
Ireland
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin hailed Pope Francis’s solidarity with the “poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed” after the pope died on Monday.
“Pope Francis’ long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity” said Martin, adding that he would be remembered for his “expression of pain and shame” about historic child abuses in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.
Photo Combo: Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin and Pope Francis
India
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday he was “deeply pained” by the death of Pope Francis, saying that the pontiff had served the poor and offered hope to the suffering.
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” the Hindu-nationalist leader said in a statement. “I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. ”
Photo Combo: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis
Paris
The bells at Paris’s Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
The “88 rings for 88 years of life” were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral’s bells before a noon mass in Francis’s honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office.
People walk in front of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris on December 7, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP)
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent his “deepest condolences” after the death of Pope Francis on Monday.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,” Abiy wrote in a post on X.
Photo Combo: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Pope Francis
Egypt
The death of Pope Francis on Monday “is a profound loss for the entire world, as as he was a voice of peace, love and compassion,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said.
Extending his condolences, Sisi said the late Catholic leader was an exceptional global figure who “worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue … and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict”.
Photo Combo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Pope Francis
