Category Nigeria News

Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has called for selfless leadership in Nigeria, saying the country will not make meaningful progress until it finds leaders willing to make ultimate sacrifices for the nation.

The 48-year-old actress, in an interview on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television, said Nigeria’s challenges lie squarely with leadership, not the citizens.

Omotola, whose career spans more than three decades, argued that Nigeria needs leaders who are genuinely selfless and prepared to put national interest above personal safety or material gain.

“Until we find leaders in Nigeria who are ready to die for this country, we haven’t started.

“When you see a leader who says, ‘I am ready to die,’ someone who is willing to put his life on the line, that’s when real change begins,” she said on Sunday.



READ ALSO: My Kids Got Death Threats During #EndSARS — Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

Clarifying her position, the actress noted that her call was not an endorsement of violence but a demand for courage, conviction, and integrity in leadership.

“I’m not saying violence. It’s a mindset. You can’t be afraid, and you can’t be materialistic,” she added.

Rejecting the notion that Nigerians are to blame for the country’s struggles, she stressed that law, order, and accountability must begin from the top.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re still where we are now because we’re a very fortunate, very blessed nation. We have everything that every other nation wants, needs, and is clamouring for.

“It upsets me when I hear, ‘Oh, Nigerians are the problem, not the leaders.’ What keeps any nation sane or in order is laws and enforcement, and it starts from the top,” she stated.

‘Tribalism, Voter Suppression’

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Omotola also warned against tribal politics, describing it as destructive and unnecessary.

“I pray that tribalism will not be on the table in this election. It’s sad that people are still doing this when there are bigger issues,” she said.

The award-winning actress recounted her experience during the last general election, alleging voter suppression in her polling unit, which she said was driven by ethnic bias.

Asked if there was voter suppression, she responded, “Yes, there was, and I have proof.”

According to her, attempts to intimidate or suppress voters only deepen divisions and fuel resentment.

“You cannot suppress a human being. You’ll only make people angry and push them towards revolt. If you convince people instead, you can find ways to work together,” she said.

Emphasising her belief in national unity, Omotola described herself as a true Nigerian with cultural ties across the country.

“I schooled in the North, my husband is half Igbo, I’ve worked extensively in the East, and I’m Yoruba by birth. I love every part of this country,” she said.

The filmmaker also praised the entrepreneurial spirit in places such as Aba, arguing that Nigeria has the capacity to outperform many global economies if united and focused.

Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed that her children received death threats during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, a development she said forced her to rethink how she engages in activism.

The actress, whose career spans more than three decades, spoke on Sunday while appearing as a guest on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television.

She described the #EndSARS period as the most intense backlash she has ever faced, despite years of involvement in advocacy work.

“I am used to death threats; I have received them many times,” she said. “But I have never seen anything like what happened during #EndSARS. It was intense.”

According to the actress, the attacks became deeply personal.

“My kids started getting death threats. That was when it became weird,” she said, adding that she was actively involved in the movement at multiple levels.

“I was on the streets during #EndSARS. I was doing international advocacy. I spoke with CNN, engaged with international NGOs and embassies, and I was doing a lot of work.”

She said the situation escalated when people began physically coming to her home and workplace in search of her.

“When people started coming physically to my home and place of work to look for me, I knew I had to worry about other people and not just myself,” she said.

#EndSARS was a decentralized Nigerian social movement and series of mass protests in October 2020 against police brutality, specifically targeting the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for human rights abuses such as torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings.

The movement gained momentum after a viral video allegedly showed SARS officers killing a young man in Delta State. The Lekki Toll Gate shooting on October 20, 2020, where soldiers allegedly fired on unarmed protesters, became its defining event.

Despite the government disbanding SARS and forming a new unit (SWAT), protesters remained skeptical. They demanded justice and accountability, the release of arrested protesters, retraining of officers, and higher police salaries.

Five years later, many of these demands remain unfulfilled, and some protesters still detained.

Activism To Advocacy 

Explaining why she has often appeared reserved in her public activism, Omotola said she has always been vocal but became more cautious as her children grew older.

“I believe I have been an activist all my life. I believe I am a born activist. Even as a child, I was very vocal and always fought for people. It came very naturally to me,” she said.

However, she noted that the realities of living in Nigeria required a shift in strategy, particularly where her family was concerned.

“When my kids were younger, I didn’t care much because I could control their movement and everything about them. But when they got older, I had to restrategise.

“I can’t control where they go, I can’t protect them as much, and I don’t want my children to become victims of choices that I have made. I don’t care for my life, that is the truth, but I care for them and other people,” she said.

READ ALSO: Twitter Storm As Omotola Blasts Buhari’s Administration Over Performance

The actress, however said that it was the ENDSARS experience, “that made it clear that I needed to restrategise. Instead of physical activism, I moved fully into advocacy,” she added.

The actress has a long history of humanitarian and advocacy work, including engagements with Amnesty International, the United Nations World Food Programme, and campaigns across Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Niger Delta.

She has previously spoken about facing armed military personnel during protests earlier in her activism journey, describing such experiences as dangerous and life-threatening.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde remains one of Africa’s most influential film figures, with over 300 films to her credit.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible nationwide protests and election boycotts over what it described as confusion and contradictory positions by the Senate on amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the electronic transmission of election results.

The labour union accused the Senate of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process by failing to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” its president, Joe Ajaero, said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the NLC, the lack of clarity surrounding the Senate’s final decision threatens electoral integrity and public trust, stressing that “Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted”.

“Public records suggest the proposed amendment to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real-time was not adopted, with the existing discretionary provision retained.

“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion,” the NLC said, warning that “legislative ambiguity” at a critical period following the 2023 general elections could institutionalise doubt within the electoral system.

READ ALSO: Akpabio Clarifies Senate’s Position On Electronic Transmission Of Results

The labour body demanded that the Senate issue an “immediate, official, and unambiguous account” of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording and the rationale behind its decision.

“The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonisation process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions; any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy,” the statement added.

The NLC insisted that the amended Electoral Act must provide a clear mandate compelling INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action.

“Failure to add electronic transmission in real-time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election or total boycott of the election,” the Congress warned.“Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely,” the NLC said.

“Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need
to avoid the same confusion that trailed the new Tax Acts. The time for honest, people-focused legislation is now,” it added.

Electoral Act Amendment 

The warning follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through its third reading on February 4, 2026.

In passing the bill, the upper chamber rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have made the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

The rejected provision sought to compel presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically from polling units to the IReV portal in real time after the prescribed result forms had been duly signed and stamped.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which allows results to be transferred “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” thereby preserving INEC’s discretion on transmission and collation.

The Senate’s decision triggered public outrage and drew criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that reliance on manual collation increases the risk of manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position also differs from that of the House of Representatives, which had earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission, making it necessary for a conference committee to harmonise both versions of the bill before transmission to the President for assent.

Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Senate did not scrap electronic transmission of election results but only removed the term “real-time” to avoid legal and technical issues.

He explained that the change allows INEC flexibility to choose the most suitable method of transmission, considering network and security challenges, and reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to laws that reflect the will of Nigerians.

US President Donald Trump praised conservative Honduran counterpart Nasry Asfura after a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort, with Asfura vowing on Sunday to be Washington’s “most reliable strategic partner.”

Asfura, a businessman and former mayor of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, was sworn in last week after winning the November elections with Trump’s backing.

Trump had threatened to cut aid to Central America’s poorest country if his “friend” was defeated.

“I had a very important meeting with my friend, and the President of Honduras, Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Once I gave him my strong Endorsement, he won his Election! Tito and I share many of the same America First Values. We have a close partnership on Security.”

For his part, Asfura described his meeting at Mar-a-Lago as “productive” and said the two leaders agreed to boost investment and trade.

“Honduras is ready to grow, attract investment, and establish itself as the most reliable strategic partner of the United States in the region, with stability, security, and a clear vision of prosperity,” Asfura said in a post on X early on Sunday.

The Honduran presidency released a photo of the two leaders smiling and giving a thumbs-up.

Asfura had already met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 12, after which the two countries announced plans for a free trade deal.

READ ALSO: [VIDEO] We Worked With Nigeria To Launch Christmas Day Strikes On ISIS – Trump

His win gave Trump another ally in Latin America after conservatives campaigning heavily on crime and corruption replaced leftists in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.

Trump has been pressuring countries in Washington’s backyard to choose between close ties with Washington or Beijing.

Asfura, who succeeded left-wing leader Xiomara Castro, has said he is considering switching diplomatic ties from China to the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez in a surprise move on the eve of the Honduran election

Hernandez, from Asfura’s party, was serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. He was convicted of helping to smuggle 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.

Trump’s decision to pardon him, even as US forces were blowing up alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and tightening the noose on Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington accuses of drug trafficking, drew heavy criticism.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has announced that President Bola Tinubu will embark on a two-day state visit to Kebbi to commission projects executed by his administration.

Governor Idris revealed that the President will also attend the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, scheduled to be held from February 11 to 14.

Speaking on Sunday while receiving defectors from other political parties who joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Jega Local Government Area, Governor Idris urged citizens to welcome the President.

“I urge all citizens of Kebbi State to come out en masse to welcome Mr President. Because of his tight schedule, he may not be able to commission all the projects executed by our administration, but he will commission some historic ones,” he said.

READ ALSO: Tinubu To Meet King Charles, Pay State Visit To UK

The governor also highlighted that participants from across Nigeria and beyond are expected to attend the Argungu International Fishing Festival.

On the recent political defections, Governor Idris commended the newcomers for their foresight and assured them of equal treatment within the APC.

He further noted that his administration has executed several development projects in the Jega Local Government Area and pledged to sustain its development drive across the state.

The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, 61st edition marks the return of the festival after its postponement in 2025 to allow for infrastructural improvements.

The festival will be held at the Matan Fada River and is themed around unity, cultural heritage, and the end of the farming season.

It is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Major activities include the Grand Fishing Finale, where fishermen compete to catch the largest fish using traditional tools, as well as canoe racing, wild duck catching, skin diving, local wrestling, boxing, cultural parades, music, dance, and an expanded agricultural trade fair.

The Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB), in collaboration with the Mobile Environmental Sanitation Court, has sealed a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Hotoro and sanctioned several other facilities for breaches of environmental sanitation laws.

The enforcement exercise, carried out on Thursday, spanned key locations across the state, including government institutions, commercial centres, private establishments, and public conveniences.

Speaking during the operation, REMASAB Managing Director Muhammad Khalil said the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with sanitation regulations and protect public health.

“Environmental sanitation laws are meant to protect lives and ensure a clean and safe environment for all residents. Any individual or organisation found violating these laws will face appropriate sanctions,” Khalil stated.

READ ALSO: Kogi Govt Temporarily Closes Selected Markets, Motor Parks For Security Operations

According to REMASAB officials, a public convenience along Hotoro Road was found to be unhygienic and fined accordingly.

More significantly, the NNPC depot in Hotoro breached sanitation regulations and was immediately sealed by the Mobile Environmental Sanitation Court.

In Naibawa Quarters near Royal City, a building under construction was sealed after unlawfully depositing sand and stones on a public road, obstructing free movement and endangering road users.

The court imposed a fine on the offender. A similar violation was recorded along IBB Way, where another individual was penalised for dumping construction materials on the roadway.

Khalil urged residents to comply fully with environmental sanitation regulations to avoid penalties and contribute to a healthier environment.

“We call on all residents to take sanitation seriously. Compliance is not optional; it is a collective responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our communities,” he emphasised.

He also commended the Commissioner for Environment, Dahir Hashim, for his support and praised the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his commitment to environmental renewal and beautification across the state.