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Tijani Mustapha, media aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has faulted the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over his criticism of the State Police Bill, insisting that he failed to read the legislation before commenting on it.

Obi had criticised the Senate’s passage of the bill, describing the process as hasty and lacking due legislative procedure.

He argued that the manner in which the bill was passed had fuelled public suspicion about the political motives behind its introduction.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate also expressed concern that the legislative process appeared disorganised, noting the absence of a public hearing.

He warned that state police could easily be exploited by state governors to suppress political opponents.

“The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” Obi said.

He further argued that for state policing to become a credible solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, the law must go beyond merely allowing states to establish police forces.

According to him, it should also provide for truly independent oversight bodies, including state Police Service Commissions insulated from executive control, to ensure the police serve the public rather than political interests.

Responding in a post on X, Mustapha dismissed Obi’s concerns, stating that they demonstrated he had “clearly didn’t read the bill as passed.”

According to him, the bill already makes provision for the establishment of an independent State Police Service Commission, addressing Obi’s major concern.

“I know this because his major concern of the creation of an independent State Police Service Commission was duly addressed in the bill.

“For a man who doesn’t know the meaning of KPI, one again wonders what this individual’s mental capacities are,” Mustapha wrote.

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for national identity management.

The President assented to the legislation on Friday during a ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.

The development was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on his verified X account.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, in the State House on Friday,” Onanuga stated.

The newly enacted law is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the operations, administration, and responsibilities of the National Identity Management Commission, while enhancing the country’s identity registration and verification system.

The legislation is also expected to strengthen the management of Nigeria’s national identity database, improve coordination of identity-related services, and support the government’s broader digital governance and public service reforms.

Observers believe the Act will help reinforce the legal foundation for the issuance and management of the National Identification Number (NIN), promote more efficient identity verification processes, and improve access to government and private-sector services that rely on secure identity authentication.

Although the Presidency has yet to release the full details of the new legislation, more information on its key provisions, implementation timeline, and expected impact is anticipated in the coming days.

The signing of the NIMC Act 2026 forms part of the Tinubu administration’s ongoing efforts to modernise public institutions, strengthen digital infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of identity management across Nigeria.

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….Deporting Foreigners Won’t Solve South Africa’s Problems”

MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas has condemned rising xenophobic vi%lence and anti foreigner sentiment in South Africa, insisting that the country’s economic future is inseparable from the rest of Africa.

Speaking at the funeral of Zimbabwean born activist Thokozani Damasane, Jonas rejected claims that deporting foreigners would solve South Africa’s problems.

“Foreigners can leave tomorrow, inequality will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow, unemployment will be with us,” he said, arguing that corruption, poor governance and state failure, not immigrants, are the country’s real challenges.

He blamed the government for failing to manage immigration, secure its borders, enforce the law and deliver essential services, warning that these shortcomings have allowed some politicians to exploit public frustration by blaming foreigners for the nation’s hardships.

Jonas also criticized tribalism and ethno nationalism, describing them as colonial legacies that continue to divide Africans. He urged South Africans to reject identity politics, saying, “We must banish” ethnic divisions that fuel discrimination and vi%lence.Reflecting on Damasane’s legacy, Jonas praised him for embracing South Africa and dedicating his life to its progress.

He also recalled Damasane’s warning that worsening inequality, corruption and the betrayal of the ideals of liberation could one day push South Africans to seek opportunities abroad.

Emphasizing continental unity, Jonas declared, “South Africa is nothing without Africa, and Africa is nothing without South Africa,” stressing that the country’s growth is closely tied to the continent’s success.

He concluded by saying people should never be judged or have their legal status determined by their country of origin.