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Autonomy of LGAs is in hands of people ― Gbajabiamila
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday said that the realization of autonomy of the local government councils was dependant on the people. He stated this in Abuja on Monday at a two-day capacity training for the newly elected councillors and local government council chairmen from Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency of Delta State.
The training was organized by the House of Representatives minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. Gbajabiamila said that the autonomy of the third tier of the government rested on the people at the grassroots. He recalled that the national assembly had successfully amended the constitution to grant autonomy to the local government in the time past but was turned down by the States as they couldn’t muster the required two-third majority of the votes. “The Minority Leader of the House is here with his councilors of his local government, from his constituency to train them on leadership. “We talk about training all the time but who are we training and what are we training them for? This is leadership training for councilors and I thank Elumelu for thinking about this.
“This institute has been in the making for a long time and I believe at the end of the exercise, they would have received a lot of education on what leadership is all about. “Some people are born leaders, some learn to acquire leadership but either way, whether you’re born a leader or acquire it, you have to go do that training exercise to be able to horn your experiences and qualities you have in order to maximize your skills. “And what better place to start than with the local government councilors. As you all know, that is the bedrock of our society. “It’s not for us as legislators to do that. I’m sure you’re surprised but it’s actually for the people to address, the reason being, we have a constitutional amendment. “We will throw it to the people and they will make their decision. We did it the last time but we went back to the states and we couldn’t get the 2/3rd. “There’s a process. We followed due process. We amended it last time but 2/3rd of the States didn’t not agree with us. So it’s the people that will decide whether they want autonomy or not. “We will do what we need to do as the constitution provides”, Gbajabiamila said. Earlier in his interaction with the officials, Gbajabiamila underscored the importance of giving recourse to the principle of separation of powers, asking the newly elected councillors and Chairmen to be bold in discharging their constitutional mandates even at the risk of offending some people. “I’m just going to have a little interaction with you because a lot of things are misunderstood when it comes to local government level of government. “Many people believe and say that there are three tiers of government. Yes, there are three tiers of government. But do we understand what a tier means?
“A tier means that there are different layers. And those layers are independent and they check each other. Many people believe there is a separation of powers. “Let me ask quickly without trying to embarrass any of the Chairmen or any of the Councillors. What do you understand your role to be in government, constitutionally? “Does anybody have an answer to that? I don’t think so, but we all have a general understanding. “But many of us are not bold enough when we are actually told the specifics of what our roles are because we are beholding to whoever and I said this at the risk of respecting the powers of State Governors, the federal government, and in also balancing it on understanding the powers within these responsibilities of the local government. “So there’s something called ultra vires in law and that concept cuts across everything including governance. I as a president cannot interfere in your work, constitutionally given to you by the Constitution at the local government. “Neither can you do what the state Governor is supposed to do. “So, when we talk about separation of powers, most time people understand that concept to mean executive, judiciary and the legislature but that’s a very narrow interpretation of separation of powers. “That is the horizontal separation of powers. There are two types of separation of powers – the vertical and the horizontal. The vertical separation of powers is what concerns you. “And that is the federal, the state and the local government. It is what makes any sane society work. “We all try to model ourselves and look at America, look at Germany, look at several other countries not realizing that or understanding that they have clearly defined the roles of everybody and the people who defined this role did it for a purpose. “So when you go outside the rules that are defined and everybody jumps into everybody’s role will you get what is chaos. But how do you now realize and go back to what we talked about, leadership? “You have to be bold even sometimes at the risk of offending some people. “For some people, they argue that the local government of governance at the local government level is probably the most important in any democracy because you are the ones that are in touch with the people that matter – people at the Grassroots”, he said.
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VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
A resident of Lekki has expressed concern after spotting a group of suspected street boys moving around with machetes in the area, raising fresh fears over public safety in Lagos.
The incident, which was shared online, showed the individuals allegedly carrying cutlasses while walking through parts of the Lekki axis, a development that has sparked anxiety among residents and commuters.
According to the resident, the sighting occurred in broad daylight, prompting worries about the increasing presence of armed street gangs in Lagos communities. The individual called on authorities to urgently intervene and ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.
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The development has triggered reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern over the rising cases of youth violence, street gang activity, and insecurity in Lagos State. Some residents said such sightings have become more frequent, especially in rapidly developing urban areas.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the incident. However, security experts say visible patrols and rapid response measures are critical to preventing escalation.
Residents have been advised to remain vigilant, avoid confrontations, and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The incident adds to ongoing concerns about urban safety and the need for stronger enforcement against illegal weapons possession and street violence in Lagos.
Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
Victor Moses | Black Axe | #PastorJerryEze | Wike | Michael Eneramo | Homophobic pic.twitter.com/swzLyPwaZ7
— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 24, 2026
VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
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Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
The 72-hour ultimatum reportedly issued by Boko Haram-linked insurgents to the Nigerian government over the abduction of 416 residents in Borno State has expired without any official response, heightening fears over the fate of hundreds still in captivity.
The incident is linked to the March attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area, where armed fighters stormed villages and a nearby military position, abducting civilians and displacing several others in one of the latest mass kidnapping incidents in the North-East.
Security sources and local community representatives confirmed that 12 abducted residents have escaped captivity, with reports indicating that the breakthrough occurred during a military operation in the area. According to accounts from one of the freed victims, Nigerian troops launched an offensive that forced the insurgents to flee, creating confusion that allowed some captives to escape while others were moved deeper into the forest.

404 Abducted Residents
Community groups, including the Borno South Youth Alliance, confirmed that the escapees consist of 10 women and two men, who are now receiving support in a safer location. Despite this development, at least 404 abducted persons remain missing, with growing concern among families over their safety and condition.
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Sources say the insurgents had demanded a ₦5 billion ransom, warning that failure to comply would lead to the permanent disappearance of the captives. The group also reportedly threatened to scatter victims across multiple hideouts if any military rescue attempt was launched, complicating ongoing security operations.
While efforts continue to trace the missing persons, insecurity in the region has worsened. At least 18 farmers and firewood collectors were killed in a separate ambush on the outskirts of Gwoza, with attackers targeting civilians working on their farms ahead of the rainy season. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed the killings, describing the attack as deeply disturbing and calling for stronger protection of rural communities. Local officials warned that additional victims may still be unaccounted for.
Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have intensified counter-terrorism operations across the North-East, killing 24 insurgents in Kukareta during a separate encounter. Military authorities said the latest operations bring the total number of insurgents killed in recent days to 54, following earlier engagements around the Lake Chad region. Recovered weapons include rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled launchers, and ammunition, while two soldiers were injured and an armoured vehicle sustained damage.
The worsening security situation has drawn political reactions from lawmakers and public officials. Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi blamed the ongoing insecurity on governance failures, calling for urgent national measures focused solely on restoring peace. He warned that Nigeria risks deeper instability if security is not prioritised above political activities.
In Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited communities affected by a separate attack in Hong Local Government Area, where at least nine people were killed. He pledged continued government support and security reinforcement for affected communities.
At the federal level, the House of Representatives has called for the deployment of additional security personnel to Borno and Kaduna States, warning that continued attacks could escalate into a wider humanitarian crisis in the North-East.
Humanitarian organisations say repeated attacks, mass abductions, and ongoing military operations are worsening displacement and food insecurity across the region. They warn that rural communities remain highly vulnerable as farming activities are disrupted and access to affected areas remains limited due to insecurity.
Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
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BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested Senate approval for a $516,333,007 external loan to finance key sections of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway project, a flagship infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting national connectivity.
The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary session.
According to the President, the proposed funding will support the execution of Section 1, Phase 1a and 1b, covering about 120 kilometres of the planned 1,000km highway corridor linking Nigeria’s Northwest to the Southwest.
Tinubu explained that the highway will originate from Illela in Sokoto State and pass through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states before terminating in Badagry, Lagos State—creating a strategic economic route connecting inland production zones to coastal trade hubs.
The financing arrangement, the President noted, is structured as a syndicated loan from Deutsche Bank, backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, an arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group.
He added that the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding of ₦265.54 billion to cover land acquisition, compensation, and other ancillary infrastructure tied to the project.
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Details of the loan show a nine-year tenor, including a grace period of up to three years, with an interest rate capped at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) SOFR plus 5.3 percent annually.
Tinubu informed lawmakers that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has already approved the financing structure and urged the Senate to incorporate the loan into Nigeria’s rolling borrowing plan.
The President emphasized that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is expected to significantly enhance North-South connectivity, improve road safety, and reduce logistics and transportation costs across the country. He added that the project would strengthen trade, boost food security, and promote national cohesion by linking agricultural production zones to markets and ports.
The design also includes provisions for future development, with the central median reserved for rail integration and utility corridors, positioning the route as a multi-modal transport backbone.
Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts for further legislative scrutiny, with a report expected within one week.
Speaking in support of the project, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) described the highway as a long-awaited development, noting that it had been under consideration for over five decades.
Aliero said he had personally inspected ongoing work and expressed satisfaction with the progress, revealing that sections of the road are being constructed using both concrete and asphalt, alongside modern features such as solar-powered streetlights.
He projected that upon completion, travel time between Sokoto and Lagos could be reduced by more than 70 percent, cutting a typical 13-hour journey to about six hours.
The proposed loan forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to leverage external financing for large-scale infrastructure projects considered critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and regional integration.
BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
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