Politics
CSOs Tackle NASS On Insecurity
A coalition of 50 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the weekend said that arms bearing by citizens for protection as suggested by a legislator was not the best option.
The CSOs, at a news conference in Abuja, said that such acts might jeopardise the security architecture of the country as they expressed concern over the security situation .
One of the conveners of the group, Ms Abiodun Baiyewu, who is also the Executive Director, Global Rights, said in the alternative, the CSOs made some recommendations to the government.
Baiyewu said that the group also urged the government to live up to its constitutional duty of ensuring the security and welfare of all Nigerians.
“The government should review the nation’s security architecture and be more proactive in building the capacity of intelligence agencies.
“To be humane in its actions as mandated by Section 17 (2)(c) of our constitution and account for the abducted, the missing and the dead in the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing.
“Take immediate action to rescue all abducted persons.
“Conduct an independent inquiry into the immediate and remote circumstances that led to the successful bombing of the train.”
Baiyewu urged the government to also take deliberate action through responsible leadership at addressing the immediate and remote circumstances forstering terrorism and other forms of mass atrocities across the country.
She also called on all Nigerians to remain vigilant, adding that there was no better time than now for all to unite in demanding accountability from the government.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, another Convener and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said the demands are necessary in the face of escalating attacks and killings in different parts of the country, including “The brazen attack on the Kaduna Airport, the take-over of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway by terrorist groups.
“The siege on nine communities in Giwa local government area of Kaduna state which resulted in the loss of over 100 lives with an unspecified number of persons abducted from their homes during that invasion.
“The increased attacks in South-East, Imo in particular, the attack on Nnewi South LGA of Anambra and the burning of the LGA secretariat, the escalation of gang wars in Lagos and Ogun states.
“The killing of over 65 persons in Kebbi state, the attack on Kwali area council of the FCT and the abduction of a traditional ruler, the list is endless.”
Rafsanjani said that these challenges were caused by corruption and called for the need to tackle it.
Also speaking, Mr Monday Osasah, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership,Strategy and Development, said that in spite of all the security challenges, citizens holding arms was not the best option.
Osasah said that with the situation of the country the issue of state police could not be over emphasised.
“Where we are currently, state police is necessary and everyone should support the call for it.
“That was why the National Assembly called on citizens to start bearing arms.
“State policing is a necessity now in Nigeria, because there is information that our boarder is porous and people enter the country at will,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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