Category Nigeria News

Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, has criticised the inconsistent laws governing local government elections and warned that the current situation is putting strain on democratic rule.

He accused state governors of using local governments as political extensions, claiming that they frequently use them as extensions of their authority. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Itodo stated on The Morning Brief on Channels Television that “the governors view local government as a tool for control.” They can use that power to gain political influence and control of state affairs.

It is said that “when they have control over the local government structure, it significantly affects their electoral success” as well as give them the opportunity to control the state’s resources.

He backed earlier remarks made by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who had criticized state electoral bodies for conducting elections that weren’t properly organized.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman consistently made the point, according to Itodo, and it supports the state’s opinion of conduct and the quality of the election.

The National Assembly proposed binding local elections in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Electoral Act, which regulates national elections, according to Itodo, claiming that these structural issues were a part of the national assembly’s decision.

He claims that irregularities, manipulation, and what he refers to as “local election banditry” are frequently the result of local elections.

He reacted to the constitutionality of election commissions appointed by unelected sole administrators, saying, “I don’t think this passes the legality or constitutional test.” This will likely be upheld in court, I hope.

He warned that civic disengagement would only only make things worse for the electoral process, even if it was legitimate.

In a coordinated operation at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday evening received 139 Nigerian migrants who had left Agadez, Niger Republic.

22 adult males, 52 adult females, 33 male children, and 32 female children made up the returnees, who arrived on a Sky Mali flight at 7:57 p.m. Representatives from other relevant organizations also received them from NEMA’s Kano Operations Office.

A NEMA official reiterated the organization’s commitment to Nigerian citizens’ safe and dignified return during a press conference at the airport.

The official, who requested anonymity, stated that “Today’s exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to support compatriots who find themselves stranded abroad.”

The returnees were transported to Badala Hotel for temporary accommodation after being documented at the airport, where profiling and other support activities were carried out the following day.

One of the returnees, Amina Lawal, expressed her relief at being safely returned home. Although the journey was challenging, we appreciate the warm welcome from the NEMA and the Nigerian government.

NEMA officials reiterated the organization’s commitment to the welfare and reintegration of returnees and described the reception exercise as “well-coordinated and successfully conducted.”

The official continued, “We will work with our partners to ensure that these returnees’ communities receive the necessary support,” the official continued.

Also read: NEMA Repatriates 104 Nigerians from Algeria

Migration Issues and Porous Borders

The Niger Republic’s northern borders are notoriously porous, facilitating frequent and largely unregulated cross-border travel. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states bordering the Benin Republic, as well as Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno states sharing borders with Niger, as well as Borno bordering Chad.

Lucky Irabor, a former chief of the defense staff (CDS), revealed in 2022 that of the 261 approved by the Federal Government, 137 were unprotected borders alone.

“Nigeria has approximately 364 approved international border points, with approximately 261 in the North-East and North-West regions. Only 124 of these are manned, with the rest 137 manned by security agencies, according to Irabor.

The current CDS, Christopher Musa, advocated for the fencing of the country’s borders during a media briefing at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja in June 2025.

Many Nigerians, however, see border fencing as a gimmick, especially for a nation that struggles with high debts, high incomes, and widespread corruption.

Sani Shinkafi, a former member of the Zamfara State Bandits Persecution Committee, described the state’s failures in killing 35 kidnap victims as a failure of the government and the security apparatus.

Shinkafi also referred to the killing as being cruel and deeply disheartening in a statement on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said. Because the military camp was so close to their camp, he claimed, there was a failure of the government and a failure of the security apparatus in terms of not using some technological means to rescue the kidnapping victims.

“The distance between the military personnel’ camps and the camps of the armed bandits is not greater than three kilometers. He continued, “I got the information from a trustworthy source.”

Read more about Bandits’ killing of 38 hostages in Zamfara after collecting a 50m ransom

The victims were among 53 people taken from the Banga community in February, according to Shinkafi, who is also a security analyst.

Each of the abductees’ families had demanded $1 million.

The bandits at their hideout gave the remaining 35 victims four jerrycans of fuel and 18 Android phones, each costing more than N100,000, to the bandits, despite the community raising additional funds.

He disclosed that community members were stopped by army officers stationed nearby as they were delivering the ransom and items because they had not been given an order to assist.

He claimed that the tragic outcome may have been caused by the inaction’s resistance.

He referred to the bandits as “betrayers,” claiming that they had lied and were corrupt after breaking previous peace agreements and promises.

He claimed that only five victims had been released to the community, and that a baby had been delivered while in captivity, and that the mother had cardiac arrest after the child’s death.

He claimed that two more women gave birth while the bandits were in charge.

Shinkafi criticized the Federal Government’s and Nigeria’s security institutions’ disregard for their obligations and criticized their lack of empathy. Zamfara State Governments had done their part by working with the DSS and deploying military personnel who had previously been involved in the Boko Haram conflict.

He claimed victory was still possible if the Federal Government properly deployed its military forces, noting that some of the bandits’ lieutenants were killed by the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).

He continued, “Armed banditry is not new in Zamfara,” adding that the crisis had persisted for more than ten years due to the country’s severely underfunded and ill-equipped security agencies, as well as poverty, corruption, and high unemployment, poverty, corruption, and weak judicial system.

He emphasized the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, including deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

He also emphasized the value of receiving accurate instruction on how to handle weapons.

When questioned about the role of the state government, he claimed that because of the state’s constitutional restrictions, troops could not be deployed by the state.

The Katsina State High Court 9, headed by Justice I. Mashi, has sentenced two men to death for the murder of Rabe Nasir, a former commissioner of science and technology.

According to reports, Nasir was killed by hired assassins on December 8, 2021, at his residence in Katsina State’s Fatima Shema Housing Estate.

The former commissioner was poisoned by Tasi’u Rabi’u and Shamsu Lawal, who was the deceased’s former guard, after they failed to steal from him.

Due to medical examination revealing poison in the deceased’s body, police evidence revealed that he had been poisoned.

The court also sentenced another former guard, Sani Sa’adu, to five years in prison for omitting the truth about the murder, in addition to the two convicts’ death sentences.

Additionally, the court found Gift Bako guilty of the crime despite the lack of conclusive evidence.

Her lawyer praised the court’s decision, stating that it was based on the truth.

Meanwhile, both the defense and prosecution attorneys pleased with the outcome of the trial.

Ahmad Kankia, the convicts’ attorney, pleaded for leniency, citing the fact that they had dependents and families.

The prosecution’s attorney, however, claimed that the verdict was fair and that justice had been rendered and that it was in line with the law.

After the court’s decision, it was discovered that the prisoners’ security personnel reportedly shook them in the face.

After her acquittal, Gift Bako’s family and attorneys saw both smiles and relief.

During the 2021 administration of former governor Aminu Masari, Nasir held the position of Commissioner for Science and Technology in Katsina State.

Prior to joining the Department of State Services, he had previously served as an officer in the House of Representatives for Mani and Bindawa Federal Constituency in 2003.

In December of this year, he was killed when he returned to his Katsina home, where the police immediately launched an investigation and detained a suspect in connection with the crime.

The Benue State Executive Council has been disbanded, according to the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia.

Moses Atagher, a former two-term attorney general of the state and justice commissioner, was also appointed as the new chief of staff.

Atagher, a seasoned administrator, was also a former acting managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, according to a statement released by the governor’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, on Wednesday.

Read more recently: Benue Killings: Alia Calls For Establishment Of State Police, Intervention Fund, and More.

His appointment comes into effect right away, according to a statement.

At the conclusion of the Benue State Executive Council’s 12th meeting (2025), the governor made the announcement.

He (Alia) thanks all the former commissioners who have served under his watch for two years. They are only acting as a bridge between the system and the party, allowing candidates to be chosen to contribute their quota.

The governor stated that the dissolution only affects commissioners, aside from the Chief of Staff.

Bemsen Mnyim applauds the governor for giving the dissolved commissioners the opportunity to serve the state by expressing his gratitude to the governor.

Everywhere you are called to serve is a school, he says, “at every stage of life.” Working with you has taught us a lot. “

As the West African nation recovers from a severe economic crisis, Ghana’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 3% on Wednesday as a result of easeling inflationary pressures.

The Bank of Ghana announced a benchmark rate reduction of 28% to 25%, the first rate reduction in more than a year, as the cedi currency’s value recovered against the dollar.

Johnson Pandit Asiama, the bank’s governor, said, “We continue to support our price stability commitment while establishing the conditions for sustainable growth.”

UPDATED: MPC Retains Interest Rate At 27.5%

In Ghana, the country’s main producer of cocoa and gold, inflation eased in June to 13.7 percent, the sixth monthly decline in a row.

Since the beginning of 2025, the cedi has increased by more than 40% against the US dollar, thanks to stronger external buffers, waning exports, and growing investor confidence.

The government has made progress in its economic reforms and debt restructuring since January when President John Mahama took the oath of office amid economic unrest, according to the International Monetary Fund earlier this month.

Food inflation decreased as well, but overall inflation remained above average in July, at 16.3%.

Despite the advancement, many regular Ghanaians are still in need of assistance as living expenses continue to rise.

The cost of making a pot of jollof rice, a West African staple of rice, vegetables, and meat, has increased from 278 cedis in January 2023 to 420 cedis ($26 to $40), according to a “Jollof Index” from SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.