Legislature
WORO KILLINGS: SENATE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESCUE OF ABDUCTEES
The Senate has urged the Federal Government, through the Service Chiefs and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to intensify efforts toward the safe rescue and release of women and children abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The upper chamber also called on the Federal Government to comprehensively clear and redesign the Kainji Forest Reserve to flush out criminal elements operating within the area. It further urged the strategic establishment of security formations where necessary to prevent future attacks.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North), who informed the Senate that communities located in remote and forest-bordering areas remain highly vulnerable to attacks and require enhanced protection to prevent further loss of lives.
Contributing to the debate, other senators described the incident as tragic, noting that insecurity, armed banditry, kidnapping and abductions have become recurring challenges across the country. They called for urgent and decisive action to address the worsening security situation.
Among those who spoke were Senators Abba Moro, Adamu Aliero, Ahmed Lawan and Abdul Ningi, who stressed the need for improved intelligence gathering, security coordination and sustained military presence in affected regions.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, urged both the Federal and Kwara State governments to provide comprehensive support, adequate resources and well-structured intervention programmes for displaced families and residents of Woro Community and other affected areas.
The Senate also called on the Federal Government to fully fund and expedite the completion of the already awarded Wawa–Kaiama and Kaiama–Kishi road projects. Lawmakers noted that the poor state of the roads has made access to the communities difficult and has further worsened security challenges in the region.
Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday welcomed the Senate’s decision to reverse controversial provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill, calling it a victory for citizens driven by sustained public pressure.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the move showed the impact of civic engagement and demonstrated that Nigerians could influence legislative outcomes when united.
“The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill is a significant victory for the Nigerian people,” Abdullahi said. “It demonstrates that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose and resolve, they can successfully challenge partisan interests.”
The party said the Senate’s reversal went beyond a routine legislative change and reflected growing political awareness across the country, citing street protests and online advocacy as key factors behind the decision.
ADC accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of repeatedly undermining democratic norms, adding that the latest development showed that citizens remained the ultimate custodians of Nigeria’s democracy.
While commending Nigerians for their persistence, the party urged continued vigilance, warning that the process was not yet complete.
“Nigerians must sustain the pressure until the amended bill is fully passed, assented to by the President, properly gazetted and becomes enforceable law,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC also cautioned against last-minute amendments or technical ambiguities that could weaken the intent of the legislation, stressing that democracy required constant public engagement.
General News
FG ALLOCATES ₦10.49BN TO MARINE, BLUE ECONOMY MINISTRY FOR 2026; OYETOLA FLAGS FUNDING GAPS
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has proposed a ₦10.49 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, but the Minister, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has warned that the allocation is insufficient to meet the ministry’s critical mandate.
Oyetola presented the budget on Tuesday before a joint session of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and the House of Representatives committees on Ports and Harbours, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Shipping Services, Inland Waterways, and Ocean and Fisheries.
The proposed ₦10,499,984,667.10 budget comprises ₦8.24 billion for capital expenditure, ₦453.86 million for overhead costs, and ₦1.81 billion for personnel. The minister noted that while the funding could sustain basic operations, it falls short of supporting sectoral reforms or driving significant growth.
He explained that the ministry oversees multiple interconnected subsectors — including ports, shipping, inland waterways, fisheries, and aquaculture — which collectively account for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade by volume, contribute to food and nutrition security, and underpin national economic competitiveness.
Oyetola highlighted operational challenges faced by agencies under the ministry, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and Nigerian Shippers’ Council. While largely self-funding and contributing substantial remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, these agencies are constrained by “excessive deductions at source” by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, he said. The minister warned that these deductions have led to port congestion, rising logistics costs, delayed cargo movement, revenue losses, and inflationary pressures, describing the issue as a national economic concern.
He also flagged an apparent misplacement in the 2026 budget, where the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was listed under the Federal Ministry of Transportation instead of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, complicating oversight and policy coordination.
On inland waterways, Oyetola called for increased funding to improve safety and efficiency, noting that water transport is globally cheaper than road haulage. He said Nigeria’s reliance on road transport for over 80 per cent of freight has accelerated road deterioration and raised logistics costs.
Turning to fisheries and aquaculture, the minister said Nigeria’s annual fish demand exceeds 3.6 million metric tonnes, while domestic production is around 1.4 million metric tonnes, resulting in over $1 billion in annual imports. He added that post-harvest losses of up to 30 per cent worsen supply shortages, stressing that boosting local production could reduce import dependency and provide affordable protein to households.
Oyetola further disclosed that in 2025, the ministry’s revised capital budget of ₦3.53 billion received only ₦202.47 million, about 1.7 per cent, while overhead releases stood at 35 per cent. He said ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning aim to address these funding gaps in line with the Federal Government’s agenda to diversify the economy through the marine and blue economy.
Senator Wasiu Eshilokun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, assured that the National Assembly would carefully review the proposals, emphasizing the strategic importance of the marine and blue economy to Nigeria’s development and economic resilience.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved the Electronic Transmission of Results Bill, reversing its earlier position following intense pressure from civil society organisations and public criticism.
The bill was passed after a motion was raised under a point of order to rescind and amend a contentious provision in the earlier version. The amendment replaced the phrase “transfer of results” with “transmission of results,” a change advocates say is crucial for safeguarding the integrity of elections.
The motion was moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno.
The amendment, however, triggered a rowdy plenary session, as several senators openly opposed the motion, leading to heated exchanges on the Senate floor.
During the debate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) invoked Order 72 of the Senate Standing Rules, calling for individual voting on the motion. He later withdrew the request, allowing proceedings to continue.
Subsequently, Senator Diket Plang moved a motion that the earlier votes and proceedings be adopted and approved as amended. The motion was seconded by Senator Seriake Dickson.
After the motion was put to a voice vote, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared it passed.
Akpabio also announced that the membership of the conference committee on the bill had been expanded from nine to twelve members. He named Senator Simon Lalong as chairman of the committee, along with other members.
The Senate President expressed optimism that all outstanding issues would be resolved promptly, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to assent to the bill before the end of the month.
In a related development, Akpabio read a letter from President Tinubu seeking Senate confirmation of non-career ambassadors.
The request was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which is expected to report back to the Senate within one week.