News

Senate Moves to Ban Election Campaigns in 8 States Amid Rising Insecurity

Published

6 months ago

April 23, 2026

The Nigerian Senate has called for urgent and drastic steps to address worsening insecurity across parts of the country, including the possible suspension of political activities in some states ahead of future elections.

The position was made known during plenary on Wednesday after a motion raised concerns over renewed attacks and growing threats in several regions.

Raising the issue, Bauchi Central lawmaker Abdul Ningi warned that the situation on ground requires immediate and serious attention.

He said, “Mr President, we cannot continue to think that because we are in Abuja, therefore this thing (insecurity) does not affect us.”

He stressed the need for tough decisions, suggesting that authorities may have to either halt political activities nationwide or focus on the most affected areas.

According to him, “One of the things that we must do, and I want us to take this issue very seriously, is either to suspend all political activities across this country or look at the frontline states of Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and some parts of Kano.”

He added, “We need to suspend activities in these states until we are sufficiently certain that the insecurity challenges are over.”

Ningi further expressed frustration over what he described as repeated discussions without decisive outcomes. “This is because we are not dealing with this insecurity issue at all. And I am not blaming anybody. We cannot come here every time to lament,” he said.

The debate followed fresh concerns over the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, especially in the North-East. Lawmakers noted a rise in coordinated attacks on military formations and increasing threats against civilians.

In a separate resolution, the Senate urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue over 400 civilians reportedly abducted in Borno State since late March.

The motion was sponsored by Tahir Monguno and supported by other lawmakers including Ali Ndume and Kaka Lawan.

While leading the discussion, Monguno warned that the renewed attacks are reversing gains made by the military in recent years. He said the development poses a serious risk to national stability and security.

Ndume, in his contribution, raised concern about the condition of abducted victims. He disclosed that insurgents have issued threats regarding their fate if urgent steps are not taken. He called for swift intervention from both the National Assembly and the Presidency.

Also speaking, Diket Plang said continued attacks on military personnel are creating fear among citizens. He warned that the killing of security officers sends a troubling message about the country’s security situation.

Following deliberations, the Senate strongly condemned the attacks and observed a minute of silence for fallen soldiers.

Lawmakers also directed the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs to carry out a full review of affected military formations. The aim, they said, is to identify gaps in equipment, intelligence, and operational strategy.

The chamber further urged the Armed Forces to improve compliance with international humanitarian standards and properly investigate reports of civilian harm during operations.

Communities were also encouraged to support security agencies with useful and timely information, as the Senate commended troops under Operation Hadin Kai for their efforts on the frontlines.

The development comes after a disturbing video surfaced showing abducted victims held by a faction of Boko Haram. The group, identified as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, reportedly threatened against any rescue attempt.

The victims were said to have been taken during an attack on a military base in Ngoshe, in Gwoza, earlier in March. During the attack, several assets were destroyed and casualties recorded, while many civilians were taken away.

News

SSA Adeboye’s Media Aide Jide-Ojo Joins African Leaders for Sport Business Summit in Nairobi

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2026

PlateauReports

Jide-Ojo Jide Olusola, SA Media to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka, has been named among the speakers for the Year of Return Africa (YORA) Summit & Expo 2026 holding in Nairobi, Kenya.

Jide-Ojo, Founder/CEO of 247SportsNetwork Limited, publishers of Sports247.ng, will join leading African business executives, investors, innovators and industry stakeholders at the summit scheduled for October 13–14 at Broadwalk Mall, Westlands, Nairobi.

The veteran media executive, who has accumulated over 30 years of experience in the media industry, will participate in the summit’s sport business segment on October 14, bringing perspectives from sports journalism, grassroots development, strategic communications, partnerships and the commercialisation of African sport.

Jide-Ojo joins a diverse speakers’ lineup that includes Blue Mahoe Capital Chairman and CEO David Mullings, Kenya Film Commission Board Chairman Sudi Wandabusi, Capital Markets Authority Blockchain and Fintech Analyst James Hillary Obonyo, Emmppek Group Chairman Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, and B|E Strategy Founder and Chief Strategist Charles Ellison, among others.

The summit, themed “Fueling the Future: Unlocking Africa’s Entrepreneurial Potential,” will examine investment, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and opportunities within Africa’s creative economy.

A major focus of the sport business conversation will be the monetisation of Africa’s sports, media and entertainment industry, including how the continent can transform its enormous sporting talent, passionate audiences and compelling stories into sustainable commercial opportunities.

Through Sports247 and his current media role supporting the Presidency’s grassroots sports development agenda, Jide-Ojo has consistently promoted emerging athletes, grassroots competitions and initiatives aimed at creating greater visibility and opportunities within Nigeria’s sports ecosystem.

His contribution in Nairobi is expected to highlight the increasingly important role of media, digital storytelling, athlete branding, sponsorship and strategic partnerships in building commercially sustainable African sports properties.

The Nairobi platform will also provide an opportunity to share Nigeria’s grassroots sports experience while strengthening connections between sport, media, investment and business across Africa.

Following the Nairobi programme, YORA activities will continue in Kilifi, Kenya, from October 16–17.

YORA Summit & EXPO Kenya, 2026 is a three-day event including YORA Awards taking place from 12th – 17th Nairobi | Kilifi, Kenya

Business

NAIPE 11th Annual Conference Moves to 12 Noon as 28 Stakeholders Back Event

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2026

PlateauReports

About 28 insurance and pension regulators and operators have backed the upcoming 11th edition of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) Annual Conference, scheduled to hold in Lagos.

This is even as the timing of the event scheduled to hold on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, has been shifted from 9:00am to 12:00pm same day.

This is to allow Insurance operators, who will be attending Insurers Committee meeting earlier that day, conclude their meeting and attend the conference.

The national conference with a focus on the emerging market dynamics in Nigeria’s insurance and pension sectors, follows the just concluded recapitalisation exercise in the insurance sector and ongoing exercise in the pension industry.

Themed: “Post-Recapitalisation and Market Dynamics in Insurance & Pension Sectors,” the Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Asset Management Limited, Dr. Odiri Oginni, will deliver the keynote address, focusing on the insurance perspective while Mr. Oguche Aguda,
Founder and Managing Partner of HRISP Partners, will equally deliver a paper on the theme, focusing on the pension perspective.

The Group Managing Director of Custodian Investment Plc, Mr. Wole Oshin, will chair the event.

According to NAIPE, the conference is coming at a critical period for the two sectors, as insurance operators have just concluded their recapitalisation exercise, while pension operators are expected to conclude theirs in 2027.

The high level discourse will therefore examine how funds raised through recapitalisation can be strategically invested and deployed to generate stronger returns, deepen market confidence and improve service delivery to shareholders and policyholders.

Expected dignitaries include the Commissioner for Insurance & Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Omosehin; Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran; chief executives of insurance companies, broking firms, investment and securities companies and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), as well as regulators, labour unions, students and other stakeholders.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Chairperson of NAIPE, Mrs. Ebere Nwoji said, the annual gathering provides a platform for insurance and pension journalists to contribute to the development of both sectors by promoting greater public understanding of insurance and pension as instruments for financial security and protection against old-age poverty.

Nwoji expressed appreciation to operators and regulators in the two sectors for their continued support for the conference, stressing that, the benefits derived from the annual event outweigh the resources committed to organising it.

She described this year’s theme as timely, given the significant structural changes taking place in the insurance and pension industries through recapitalisation.

She noted that, the insurance industry concluded its recapitalisation exercise on July 31, 2026, while the pension industry is currently undergoing a similar process expected to be completed next year.

The NAIPE chairperson, particularly, commended the leadership of NAICOM for successfully concluding the insurance industry’s recapitalisation exercise, describing it as a major achievement for Omosehin.

According to her, the Commissioner ‘took the bull by the horns’ in breaking what she described as the longstanding cycle of inconclusive recapitalisation exercises in the insurance industry.

She also expressed optimism that the pension industry, under the leadership of Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, would achieve a seamless and successful recapitalisation exercise.

“The conference would provide operators with an opportunity to gain insights into prudent and judicious investment of the capital raised through the recapitalisation process.

“I am confident that speakers at the event would provide practical perspectives on how insurance and pension operators can deploy their strengthened capital bases to deliver superior investment returns while enhancing value for investors, shareholders and policyholders” she affirmed.

Meanwhile, NAICOM, PenCom, SanlamAllianz, Veritas Kapital and 24 others have offered their support and partnership towards the conference.

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