Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has congratulated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Bago, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Tuesday, said clocking 60 was a milestone that calls for celebration.
“60 years is a milestone; it is a diamond jubilee, a significant age that marks a life well lived, and this calls for celebration,” the governor was quoted as saying.
He described Abbas as “a calm, humble, passionate and intelligent lawmaker who has been making significant contributions to the National Assembly from 2011 to date.”
The governor commended the Speaker for providing exemplary leadership in the House, saying “it is a testament to his experience, competence, and commitment to fostering vibrant legislatures.”
He added, “The leadership of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives has been characterised by peace and unity regardless of party affiliations for the common good of the people.”
Bago prayed that God would grant Abbas more years, sound health, and wisdom as he continues to lead the Green Chamber.
Canada on Monday declared India’s Bishnoi gang a “terrorist entity,” targeting a group linked to a murder that triggered a breakdown in relations between Ottawa and New Delhi last year.
Canada has accused the notorious syndicate — known for assassinations and extortion in India — of possible involvement in the murder of prominent Sikh activist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver.
Nijjar, who had advocated for a separate Sikh state carved out of India, was shot dead in a parking lot in 2023.
Following the incident, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have alleged that members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government worked with the “Bishnoi Group” to target Sikh activists in Canada.
India furiously rejected those charges, sparking a diplomatic fallout that saw both countries expel top diplomats.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Monday’s terrorism designation gave Ottawa “more powerful and effective tools to confront” the Bishnoi group.
A statement from his office called the Bishnoi gang “a transnational criminal organization operating primarily out of India, with a presence in Canada, that generates terror through extortion and intimidation.”
The move comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office in March, seeks to repair ties with India that collapsed under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
Carney has courted India as part of an effort to deepen Canada’s trade ties in Asia, which the prime minister says is essential to offset the impact of the trade war with the United States.
Carney met one-on-one with Modi at the Canada-hosted G7 meeting in June, stressing “the significant commercial links between Canada and India.”
The Ambode Comeback Crusaders has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to consider former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
In an open letter dated September 28 and addressed to the APC National Chairman and Lagos State Chairman, the group’s convener, Abiodun Fashola, described Ambode as a proven leader whose first term in office from 2015 to 2019 delivered “exemplary leadership” in infrastructure, public transportation, and healthcare.
The letter argued that Ambode’s financial expertise strengthened Lagos as a leading economic hub, while his inclusive approach to governance positioned him as “a leader who listens to stakeholders and the populace.”
“As you deliberate on candidates for the upcoming elections, I urge you to consider the broader implications of Ambode’s second term. His proven track record and vision for the future align seamlessly with APC’s commitment to progress and development,” the letter read in part.
The group maintained that bringing back Ambode would “propel Lagos into a new era of prosperity and innovation” while reinforcing APC’s image as a party of progress.
The letter was copied to President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other stakeholders in the state.
Ambode, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, succeeded Babatunde Fashola as governor in 2015 but was denied a second-term ticket in 2019 after losing the APC primary to Sanwo-Olu.
Nepal has imposed travel bans on ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli and four former senior officials as part of an investigation into deadly unrest earlier this month, the interior minister said Monday.
Youth-led protests that began on September 8 over a brief social media ban, economic hardship and corruption quickly morphed into nationwide fury after a deadly crackdown.
Two days of violence left at least 73 people dead, the parliament and government offices were burned down, and forced the government’s collapse.
In addition to Oli, travel bans have been placed on former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, former head of the National Investigation Department security agency, Hutaraj Thapa, and two other senior bureaucrats.
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who is leading the Himalayan nation until elections in March 2026, set up a commission to probe the violence.
The restrictions were recommended Sunday by the commission.
Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal told AFP on Monday that the ban is “already in effect.”
Commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma said in a statement on Sunday that the five men must obtain permission to even leave the Kathmandu Valley as they “may need to appear for investigation at any time”.
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) estimates the private sector, including automobile, hotel and retail industries, endured losses worth $600 million.
Former prime minister Oli has blamed “infiltrators” for inciting bloodshed and alleges rifles used in the protests came from another source.
The Ogun State Government has berated Senator Gbenga Daniel over his criticism of Governor Dapo Abiodun following a stop-work order on the ongoing rehabilitation of the 260-metre Paddy Arikawe Oye-Igbimo Road in Sagamu.
The government described the senator’s comments as “reckless and misleading,” accusing him of deliberately distorting facts and inciting the public with false claims.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, the state government said Daniel thrives on stirring controversy instead of respecting due process.
“Only a mind bent on mischief will describe adherence to due process as obstruction.
“The same contractor has since accepted the government’s recommendations, which makes Daniel’s claims even more misleading,” Akinmade stated.
The state government argued that Daniel remains the only federal lawmaker in Ogun State constantly embroiled in disputes over constituency projects.
“It is ironic that Senator Daniel, who spent years undermining state institutions while in power, now pretends to seek collaboration.
“A genuine statesman would comply with established processes rather than attempt to impose shoddy and unsafe engineering works on the people,” Akinmade said.
The state government further recalled what he described as Daniel’s history of disregard for the law, including a previous standoff over property verification in Sagamu.
“Daniel, who is currently under suspension by his party’s state executive, has made it a pastime to attack the government at every turn.
“He complains about roads, yet how many did he construct as governor? Meanwhile, the present administration has built over 1,000 kilometers of roads across the state,” the aide added.
He concluded that while the senator may continue his “media war,” the Abiodun administration would not compromise the rule of law.
“Daniel may continue to play to the gallery, but we will never endanger the public simply to satisfy the whims of a single individual,” Akinmade stressed.
PUNCH Online had reported that the face-off follows a September 17 letter by the Ogun Ministry of Works directing contractor Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited to stop work on the road project for failing to obtain the requisite approvals.
Daniel’s camp, however, accused the state government of sabotage.
His media aide, Steve Oliyide, described the stop-work order as “counterproductive and premeditated acts to deny the people of the state from enjoying the fruits of good governance under President Tinubu.”
“This is not the first project the state government has stopped. The Sagamu-Aiyepe road already has a budgetary approval, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and no sooner than the contractors were mobilised to site than the Ogun State government moved in,” Oliyide said.
He also cited similar clashes over projects in Ijebu Ode, alleging a deliberate attempt by the Abiodun administration to frustrate federal interventions in Ogun East.
“If the state government continues like this, they are just deliberately sabotaging the efforts of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards impacting the lives of the people positively.
“It is a sabotage of the Federal Government’s efforts and an attempt to portray the President in a bad light before the people,” Oliyide added.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The event is slated for October 2, 2025, at the Peacock Hall, Lagos.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has clarified his congratulatory message to the newly crowned Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, after facing backlash on social media.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that Obi had, in his goodwill message on Saturday, referred to the monarch as “my dear elder brother,” a phrase many saw as disrespectful to Yoruba traditional institutions.
The former Anambra governor’s choice of words drew criticism from several quarters, which was described as a breach of cultural protocol.
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, faulted Obi’s address, saying it demonstrated “lack of cultural sensitivity and diplomatic polish.”
He argued that royal fathers should be accorded full respect in both private and public communications.
Similarly, media aide to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Lere Olayinka, described Obi’s expression as evidence of “cultural ignorance and political arrogance,” noting that beyond protocol, the Olubadan was far older than Obi and deserved to be addressed with the full weight of his traditional authority.
The backlash sparked debates on social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on whether Obi’s style of informal endearment was appropriate when addressing a revered monarch.
However, responding in a post via his official X handle on Sunday, Obi clarified that his words were never intended to slight the throne, stressing that his message was borne out of goodwill.
“Certainly, no disrespect intended in my goodwill message to His Royal Majesty. I felicitated with my dear elder brother, the newly crowned, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.”
He explained that he often uses the expression “my dear elder brother” to address individuals close to him and for whom he has tremendous respect, citing his frequent affectionate references to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, in similar terms.
“I have read the concerns of those aggrieved by what they considered improper addressing. I respect protocol and authority, and I try, as much as possible, to adhere to them. However, those who follow me would have noticed that I often prefer to use the expression ‘my dear elder brother’ when addressing individuals especially close to me,” he noted.
“In matters of wrongdoing, motive is important. I assure all that my words were borne out of untrammelled goodwill,” Obi added.
Obi’s clarification comes as part of the growing national attention around the coronation of Oba Ladoja as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, which has drawn congratulatory messages from leaders across political and cultural spheres.
Voters in Switzerland will head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to introduce a nationwide system of electronic identity cards.
This marks the second national referendum on the issue, following a 2021 rejection driven by concerns over data privacy and discomfort with the proposed system being managed largely by private companies.
According to the BBC, under the revised proposal, the new system would remain entirely optional and in public hands, with the data on the electronic IDs stored on users’ smartphones rather than centrally.
It comes as the UK government this week announced plans to introduce its own digital ID as part of efforts to curb the number of illegal migrants living and working in the country.
The proposed British digital ID would have fewer intended uses, but it has still raised concerns about privacy and data security.
Switzerland’s plan has already been approved by both its houses of Parliament, and the Swiss government recommends a “yes” vote.
Citizens can still choose to rely on a physical national identity card, which has been standard in Switzerland for decades.
To ease privacy concerns, a particular authority seeking information on a person – such as proof of age or nationality, for example – will only be able to check for those specific details.
Supporters say the system will make life much easier for everyone, allowing a range of bureaucratic procedures – from getting a telephone contract to proving you’re old enough to buy a bottle of wine – to happen quickly online.
But Switzerland has a long tradition of protecting its citizens’ privacy. The banking secrecy laws, now much diluted, were designed to shield an individual’s personal finances from the prying eyes of the state.
For years, Google Street View was controversial in Switzerland – and even today, following a ruling by the Swiss Federal Court, images taken close to schools, women’s refuges, hospitals, or prisons must be automatically blurred before going online.
There are also far fewer CCTV cameras in Switzerland than in many of its European neighbours.
Opponents of digital ID cards, who gathered enough signatures to force another referendum on the issue, argue that this measure could still undermine individual privacy.
They also fear that, despite the new restrictions on how data is collected and stored, it could still be used to track people and for marketing purposes.
The latest opinion polls, however, show that this time, voters may be ready to give electronic IDs a chance.
They have already had experience with the government’s COVID ID, which was used during the pandemic to show vaccination status and was mandatory to enter restaurants and bars.
Initial scepticism turned to satisfaction when people realised it allowed them, finally, to get out and about again.
As for the concerns about marketing of personal data, most Swiss have smartphones and are keen users of social media.
Ukraine said Sunday that Russia pounded the country with “hundreds” of drones and missiles overnight, wounding at least 10 people, as neighbouring Poland scrambled jets to secure its airspace.
The attacks came after Russia warned NATO against taking sterner action in response to alleged incursions into airspace covered by the military alliance.
They also followed the revelation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv had received a US-made Patriot air defence system from Israel for use against Russian assaults.
“Russia launched another massive air attack on Ukrainian cities while people were sleeping,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on X.
“Again, hundreds of drones and missiles, destroying residential buildings and causing civilian casualties,” he said.
He posted footage of flames bursting from the windows of a multi-storey apartment block, which Sybiga said was as a result of the attack.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that the Ukrainian capital was under a “massive” assault and urged people to stay in shelters.
He said at least six people had been wounded “as a result of the enemy’s attack”, five of whom were treated in hospital and one at the scene.
The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said Russian strikes there had wounded at least four people.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, accused Moscow of waging a “war against civilians”.
“There will be a response to these actions. But the West’s economic blows against Russia must also be stronger,” Yermak said.
Poland’s armed forces said on X that they had scrambled fighter jets in its airspace and put ground-based air defence systems on high alert in response to the Russian strikes in Ukraine.
The moves were preventive and aimed at securing Polish airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas close to Ukraine, the forces said.
– ‘They will regret it’ –
In recent weeks, several European countries have accused Russia of violating their airspace with drones and fighter jets, in what NATO has viewed as a test of its resolve.
Russia has denied that it is responsible for the incursions or that it plans to attack any NATO nation.
Speaking during an address at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response”.
Speaking later to reporters, Lavrov said that if any country downs objects still within Russian airspace, “they will very much regret it”.
After returning from his own trip to New York, where he also addressed the UN, Zelensky told reporters that “the Israeli (Patriot) system is operating in Ukraine”, adding that Kyiv would receive two more this autumn.
While initially neutral in the conflict, Israel’s ties with Moscow have cooled as Russia has drifted closer to Iran and condemned Israel’s war in Gaza.
Kyiv and Moscow also said on Saturday that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — had been off the grid for four days, stoking fears of a potential nuclear incident.
The Nasarawa State Government has issued a stern warning to the management of the abattoir in the Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, threatening to shut it down if the facility’s poor sanitation conditions are not improved within a space of one month.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, gave the warning on Saturday while briefing journalists shortly after the September sanitation exercise in Akwanga.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hussaini Babayayi, noted that the abattoir’s unhygienic practices pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of residents.
She explained that the team from the ministry had inspected the facility during the monthly sanitation exercise and discovered the poor state of the abattoir.
Elayo, therefore, emphasised the need for strict adherence to sanitation laws, assuring that the ministry would closely monitor the abattoir’s activities from now to the end of October to ensure cleanliness and compliance with the sanitation guidelines of the state.
She added, “Most of our brothers and sisters staying here in Akwanga are getting their meat from this abattoir, but the place is not hygienic. It could affect our people’s health.
“The government would do something immediately to ensure the safety of our citizens in Akwanga because the place is not proper for slaughtering animals.
“However, if we do not see any changes from the managers of the abattoir, and nothing changes between now and next month, I assure you that the abattoir will be shut down.”
On the September sanitation exercise, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of Akwanga and appealed for more cooperation to keep the state clean.
She further lamented that many commercial motorcyclists and vehicle owners continued their usual activities during the sanitation hours, warning that stricter measures would be taken against them in subsequent months if they failed to comply.
Responding, the Deputy Chairman of Akwanga LGA, Basau Ibrahim-Shaibu, admitted that the level of compliance was poor in the towns because the local government had shifted its attention to the rural communities.
On the state of the abattoir, the Deputy Chairman said that the state government had already begun the construction of a modern abattoir on the outskirts of Akwanga.
He, however, promised that the local government would take immediate action to ensure that the abattoir is kept clean, adding that strict adherence to the state’s sanitation laws to guard against the spread of diseases would henceforth be observed.
It can be recalled that on August 30, PUNCH Online reported that the Nasarawa State Government warned that it would shut down the Lafia Modern Abattoir following the facility’s poor sanitary conditions. Elayo expressed disappointment over the unhygienic state of the abattoir and cautioned that the government would no longer tolerate such practices.
