The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has assured his supporters that he will contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.
Obi made this known while addressing some of his supporters in a viral video circulating on social media on Saturday.
Asked which party he intends to contest the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
The former Anambra State governor also blamed the crisis in political parties on the Nigerian government.
He said this while answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the party’s crisis.
He said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.
“We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the President. I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.
“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.
“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
Obi charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count, because even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about whether the people’s votes count rests with voters.
The former governor also appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.
The ex-presidential candidate also stated that there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.
Obi said that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s.
A coalition of civil society organisations has condemned the abduction and brutal killing of a four-year-old boy, Ayman Abubakar, in Sokoto State, demanding swift justice and urgent action to safeguard children across the state.
In a joint statement, the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, the Child Protection Network, and the Sokoto Response Team on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence/Child Protection described the incident as “a horrific violation of a child’s rights and a tragic reminder of the growing dangers facing Nigerian children.”
Speaking at a press conference held at the American Corner in Sokoto on Saturday, leaders of the coalition—(NACTAL National President) Abdulganiyu Abubakar, (CPN State Coordinator) Usman Ahmad Suka, and (Chairman, SGBV/CP Response Team) Rabiu Bello Gandi — extended their condolences to the bereaved family and demanded immediate action.
The statement reads, “We stand in solidarity with the family and with every Nigerian parent grieving a child lost to violence.
“No parent should ever have to endure such a brutal loss.”
The groups commended the Sokoto State Police Command for reopening investigations and urged the authorities to act with urgency and transparency.
They listed four key demands, which include a “thorough and transparent investigation of circumstances surrounding Ayman’s disappearance and murder.
“Arrest and prosecution, regular public updates, strengthening child protection systems and urgent reinforcement of safety measures in schools, mosques, churches, and communities.”
The organisations further called on the Sokoto State Government, traditional rulers, security agencies, and stakeholders to collaborate to ensure justice is not only served but seen to be served.
“The safety of every Nigerian child must become a national priority.
“We will continue to follow this case closely. Justice for Ayman is justice for all,” the civil society groups affirmed.
In a voice filled with grief, Ayman’s father, Dr. Abubakar, appealed to the public and the media for support in the quest for justice.
“We cannot bring him back, but we can ensure that those responsible face the law. I call on civil society and the press to amplify this cause,” he said.
Recounting the ordeal, the father said, “Ayman vanished on March 29, the eve of Sallah, after attending prayers at a nearby mosque.
According to the father, he was last seen playing with a neighbour’s child, who later claimed that some men took Ayman away in a car.
After over seven weeks of intense searching, the child’s body was discovered on Thursday, May 15.
According to Abubakar, the witness also identified the car allegedly used in the abduction.
It is understood that the case remains under active investigation. Multiple suspects are reportedly in custody, and an autopsy report is expected to be submitted to the police in the coming days.
No fewer than five foreigners have been arrested by troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Plateau State.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the arrested individuals include three foreign Fulani migrants and two Chadians.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye did not specify the exact offence committed by the foreigners but stated that they claimed to be working with an international company.
Kangye said they were arrested between May 15 and 20, 2025.
“Troops arrested 3 foreign Fulani migrants and 2 Chadians who claimed to be working with an international company in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. The suspects were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he said.
The PUNCH reports that the DHQ had earlier in May linked foreign herders to the recent clashes in Plateau and Benue states.
Highlighting troops’ successes across the various theatres of operations, Kangye said troops within the period arrested 28 other terrorists, logistics suppliers and other criminal elements, adding that troops also rescued 47 hostages within the same period.
Kangye noted that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over N533,509,520.00 during the week under review.
“Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over N533,509,520.00 only during the week under review. The breakdown indicates: 550,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 13,710 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 350 litres of DPK. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 45 crude oil cooking ovens, 30 dugout pits, 16 boats, 37 storage tanks, 11 drums and 18 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 4 vehicles. Furthermore, 51 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered, ” he said.
He stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained focused on its determination to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other criminalities in the country in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
“Troops of AFN under the leadership of Gen CG Musa are determined, poised and not resting on their oars as the AFN is not negotiating its resolve to restore peace to the troubled region while taking care of troops’ welfare, most importantly, ” Kangye said.
Users of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, are grappling with a widespread outage, leaving both the website and app inaccessible.
The Elon Musk-owned social network began experiencing issues around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.
According to DownDetector.co.uk, user complaints surged from just 66 to over 11,000 within minutes, peaking at 1:39 p.m.
This marks the second major disruption in a matter of days. On Thursday evening, May 22, millions were affected by another outage that disrupted key features, including direct messages, login pages, and access to various parts of the platform across both mobile and desktop.
A former Senate Leader and lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing several Northerners to key positions within federal agencies, calling it a step towards inclusive governance.
In a statement personally signed and issued in Abuja on Saturday, Ndume praised the President for responding to earlier concerns over regional imbalance in government appointments.
His comments followed Friday’s announcement of 12 new appointments from the region into strategic national positions.
Among the new appointees are Yazid Shehu Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Hamza Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Abubakar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director of Operations at NAIC, and Sama’ila Audu (Katsina) as Executive Director of Administration at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Others include Prof. Musa Tafsiri (Kebbi) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, and Isa Aremu (Kwara) as Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.
Ndume, who had previously criticised the administration for marginalising the North in appointments, referenced Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates fair representation of Nigeria’s diverse regions. He had earlier warned that any continued imbalance could deepen discontent and foster opposition against the administration.
However, in his latest statement, the senator commended Tinubu’s response, describing the recent appointments as a reflection of the President’s openness to feedback and commitment to national unity.
“President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticism. I have known him to be a fair-minded, cosmopolitan person. No one is infallible,” Ndume said.
He continued, “When our leaders in the North, including myself, expressed concern over the lopsided nature of previous appointments, it wasn’t to attack but to highlight an important constitutional issue. This move by the President shows his ability to listen and adapt.”
Ndume emphasised that while he remains committed to holding the government accountable, he supports President Tinubu’s broader vision for Nigeria and believes in his capacity to deliver on democratic promises.
He congratulated the new appointees and urged them to justify the trust placed in them, warning that the expectations of Nigerians remain high.
Ndume pledged his continued loyalty to the President, reiterating that his criticisms would always be guided by patriotism and the national interest.
The Gombe State Government has taken a firm stance in defence of a 14-year-old girl who fled a forced marriage in Taraba State.
According to the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, the minor’s husband has initiated legal action against her for refusing to return.
She made this disclosure on Friday while presenting relief items to the minor at the ministry.
Some of the items include bags of rice, maize, packs of sugar, macaroni, insecticide-treated nets, wrappers and stoves, among others.
Iganus said, “The Gombe state government is standing firm against all forms of child rights violations, including forced and underage marriages, rape, and all Gender-Based Violence.
“We have mobilised a legal team to ensure that this child is protected and allowed to study because that is what she wants.”
The commissioner disclosed that the girl’s husband, who already has two wives, allegedly subjected her to physical and emotional abuse adding, “The man used to invite some people into the room to help him tie her up on the bed and rape her without her consent.”
She added, “You can see the scars on both her wrists. We will not allow that to continue. “We are going to Taraba to defend her and ensure that the girl is protected by challenging any proceedings that violate her rights.”
Gombe State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus (right) with other government officials.
Iganus, while extending similar palliatives in the Aso area, where mentally challenged girls were continuously raped and Jauro Abare Zirin Gaza, where a two-year-old girl was raped by her stepfather, emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of its citizens, especially minors subjected to abuse.
“The Gombe State Governor and the First Lady are not taking violence against women and girls for granted. Their actions demonstrate this administration’s dedication to combating child rights violations and promoting the well-being of citizens,” she added.
The 14-year-old girl, who was forced into marriage against her will, while narrating her ordeal, added, “Barely one month after I got there, my grandfather connived with my parents and arranged the marriage against my will. He started beating me and tying me down on the bed before raping me, sometimes, he will call some people to help him hold my hands and tie me.”
She lauded the government for providing her with food, shelter, and other essential support, expressing gratitude for the government’s intervention.
“The government has supported me and my relatives with foodstuffs, sleeping material, and other interventions, including money, and they have promised to support me to continue my education, which was stopped after primary school,” she said.
The Federal Government has trained 535 Nigerian youths in welding, fabrication, and metallurgy as part of its plan to reposition the country’s steel and metal sector for economic transformation.
The capacity-building initiative, tagged Bootcamp Training on Welding and Fabrication; Industrial Foundry and Metallurgy, and Instrumentation, Control and Mechanical Maintenance, ended on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha, Anambra State.
In a statement signed by the ministry on Saturday, the training was to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge to enable contribute positively to the steel and metal sector.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, who presided over the closing ceremony, said the boot camp represented a significant step in the Federal Government’s strategic effort to revive the steel industry and equip young Nigerians with the skills required to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
“This boot camp was not just about skills acquisition and equipment empowerment; it was about character development, discipline, and cultivating a mindset geared towards innovation, entrepreneurship, and national service,” Audu said.
He described the training as part of the administration’s broader plan to build a pipeline of skilled, patriotic professionals who will champion the growth of the emerging metallurgical and steel sectors in Nigeria.
Reeling out the achievements of the ministry under his watch, the minister restated the administration’s commitment to building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, as envisioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the foundation of a self-reliant, industrialised Nigeria would be laid through investment in human capital and technical capacity.
“The success of this bootcamp is a testament to our commitment to youth empowerment through technical and vocational education. By investing in our youths, we are investing in the future of Nigeria,” he added.
Audu also lauded the facilitators from the ministry, as well as the management and instructors of MTI, for ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme.
He urged the graduating participants to act as ambassadors of the new industrial era and carry forward the values of diligence, excellence, and patriotism.
“As you receive your starter packs today, let them symbolise not an end, but a new beginning, the beginning of your journey into productivity, creativity, and national impact,” the minister charged the trainees.
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Industry, Christine Udechukwu, hailed the federal initiative, describing it as timely and impactful in addressing youth unemployment and promoting wealth creation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, represented by Chief Etiebat Nwachukwu, advocated for the bootcamp to become an annual intervention programme with full legislative backing.
“This training is a laudable step towards continuous youth development and aligns with the Federal Government’s progressive agenda,” Ndubueze said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, emphasised that the boot camp was conceived not just as a training event but as a transformative platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent within Nigeria’s metals and steel value chain.
He shared the story of a young man from Northern Nigeria who started with a single welding machine and grew a thriving business that now employs over 150 people and exports to three West African countries.
The story, he said, was intended to inspire the graduates to dream big and aim higher.
Director of the Metallurgical Inspectorate Department, Engr. Frederick Ewa, in his remarks, noted that the boot camp attracted 258,833 applications from across Nigeria.
Out of these, 700 youths were selected through a rigorous, merit-based process and trained in four intensive batches at MTI, which he described as a “citadel of excellence in metallurgical education and practice.”
“The initiative is more than a training programme — it is a movement, a clarion call to action. We are investing in Nigeria’s most valuable resource: its youth,” Ewa said.
Representing the graduating trainees, General Course Representative, Esemuede Omoruyi, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and pledged that the beneficiaries would be worthy stewards of the skills they had acquired.
“We will not let this opportunity go to waste. We are committed to becoming dynamic contributors to a skilled, innovative and industrious Nigeria,” he said.
The boot camp forms part of the ministry’s broader strategy to build a sustainable workforce that will drive the growth of Nigeria’s metallurgical and steel sectors, both seen as pivotal to achieving long-term industrial development and economic prosperity.
The Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, attributed the growth to transformative reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A statement issued on Saturday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Adeniyi made the revelation in an upcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second anniversary.
Adeniyi highlighted that the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and a renewed culture of accountability across Customs commands.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher import volumes. Imports have dropped due to foreign exchange constraints. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” he said.
The CG disclosed that the Service is preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project, adding that a $3.2 billion initiative will digitise cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“We’re laying the foundation to move from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service.
“The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we project it will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” he said.
Adeniyi added that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator Programme is now onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.
“It’s about trust and efficiency. If you’re compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally,” he said
The Customs CG confirmed that the Service has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.
He said over ₦64 billion was recovered from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months, and major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled.
He said the new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police have also yielded positive results.
“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real-time. Once systemic leakages are now being plugged,” Adeniyi said.
To ease trade and reduce business costs, Adeniyi disclosed that NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window, stressing that the digital portal will integrate all government agencies involved in cargo clearance.
The CG added that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
“Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the Single Window, you’ll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs,” he said.
The Comptroller-General said the agency has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government’s push for non-oil exports.
“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38%. We’re targeting even more in 2025,” he said.
Adeniyi stated that the Customs Service is also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.
“Customs is no longer just about physical inspection. We are becoming an intelligence-led organisation, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards.
“The President gave us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves,” Adeniyi said.
A member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Mr Ngozi Okolie, has dumped the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress.
Okolie, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, defeated Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections.
Addressing journalists on Friday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the lawmaker cited unresolved internal crises within the LP as his reason for leaving the party.
He said, “A lot of people are resigning from their party and moving to APC and I, today, decided to resign from the Labour Party. I am no longer a member of the Labour Party.
“I am moving to the APC and you know the traditional rulers in Delta have endorsed the president. The state governor has moved to the APC. The PDP has moved to the APC but I think it would be to the advantage of my constituency to actually join them there too.
“To be honest, I think that the Labour Party for now is very disorganised, we don’t have any head way, no directions and the lingering problem that is actually drawing us back. So, staying in party that is not organised would actually not make me progress in the National Assembly.
“So, I felt that if I resign from the Labour Party, seek another party that will help me at least attract projects to my community and constituency. So best for me instead of waiting for the Labour Party’s problem to be solved which is unending.
“I have discussed with traditional rulers, discussed with some people in my constituency, of course, I couldn’t reach out to everybody and that is the sense of addressing you because I know you can reach out to alot of more people.”
Speaking further, the lawmaker said, “I have reached out to the party, some are for it, some are against it but there comes a time that you really have to weigh the options that are available to you and just make the decision you think is right at that point.”
The lawmaker asserted that two years remaining in his tenure would be best in joining the APC for the interest of his constituency, noting that he had consulted governor Sheriff Oborevwori before taking the decision.
