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10th NASS To Provide Legislative Support For Crucial Sector – Speaker

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11 months ago

July 30, 2025

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By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has reiterated the commitment of 10th National Assembly to provide legislative backing for sectors that are crucial to the sustainability and advancement of the nation’s economy.

Speaker Abbas who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Public petition, Rep. Bitrus La’ori, gave the assurance at a public hearing on “A Bill for and Act to amend the the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act, No. 35, 2022 and for related matters organised by the Joint Committee of Special Duties and Aviation on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the Speaker, the public hearing was fundamental to the collective efforts in updating the legal framework that governs safety investigations across Nigeria’s transportation sectors and reflects the openness of the legislative process and underscores the vital role that public input plays in shaping the laws that serve the people.

He assured that the House stands fully prepared to provide the necessary legislative backing to sectors that are crucial to the sustainability and advancement of our national economy, and that aviation, alongside land and maritime transport, forms the backbone of any thriving modern society.

Abbas further stated that these sectors not only facilitate commerce and communication, but “embody our national image and readiness to engage in regional and global partnerships

“The Bill under consideration today seeks to enhance the powers and operational reach of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau. The objective is to strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to address safety-related issues in a more holistic manner beyond aviation and to include land and marine sectors as well”, he said.

Speaker Abbas explained that the hearing was a deliberate legislative step to modernise the Bureau’s functions in line with Nigeria’s evolving transport architecture and safety obligations as it represents a strategic opportunity for all stakeholders, government institutions, industry professionals, operators, safety investigators, and members of the public to contribute their views on how to improve the legal instrument establishing the Bureau.

According to him, the goal is to produce a law that not only meets current demands but is also flexible enough to accommodate emerging safety challenges in the years ahead. It is important that the input from this forum is clear, constructive, and relevant, because it will ultimately shape how the House proceeds with legislative action on the Bill.

He said the proposed amendment to the NSIB Act is not just a conventional legislative exercise. It is a national response to the reality that safety systems must be proactive, not reactive.

“Incidents in transportation, whether minor or tragic should always trigger institutional learning and policy advancement. This is why the Bureau must be equipped with a broader mandate and stronger tools to carry out its role effectively. The ability to investigate incidents across multiple modes of transport will ensure greater coherence in safety management and better coordination in emergency response.

“Beyond improving institutional effectiveness, the Bill also seeks to bring Nigeria’s safety investigation procedures closer to international best practices. As air, road, and marine travel continue to rise in volume and complexity, we must be confident that our investigative frameworks are not lagging behind global standards.

“A safe transport system is a sign of a responsible state. It reassures citizens, boosts investor confidence, and upholds our obligations under various international aviation and maritime agreements”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman House Committee on Special Duties, Rep. Fred Agbedi said the public hearing was more than a legislative obligation, but a vital opportunity for dialogue, partnership, and progress and the promise of strengthening the NSIB’s capacity to investigate, prevent, and respond more effectively to incidents across Aviation, Land transportation, Marine Sector and beyond.

He said “we are here today because we care about the safety of Nigerians – in the air, on land, at sea, and across our entire transport infrastructure. We are also here because we believe in inclusive governance and the value of public input in shaping laws that affect us all.

“Your voices – as experts, industry operators, civil society actors, and concerned citizens are crucial. The success of this process depends on your frank contributions and informed perspectives”.

Sponsor of the bill, Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade said the effectiveness of the NSIB has been hindered by its current placement under the Ministry of Aviation , adding that “limitation undermines the bureau’s ability to fulfil its mandate due to institutional bottlenecks, lack of independence, and fragmented inter-agency coordination across Nigeria’s transport regulatory ecosystem”.

He explained: “Globally, leading accident investigation bodies, such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, operate as autonomous agencies, directly reporting to the highest level of government. This structure ensures independence, credibility, and efficiency in accident investigation processes”.

He listed the challenges facing the agency as currently placed to include lack of independence which he said raises concerns about impartiality and operational autonomy, which are critical for conducting credible investigations, conflict of mandates with several agencies such as FRSC, NCAA, NIMASA, NIWA, and NRC, operate under different ministries and attempt to perform accident investigation roles alongside their regulatory functions. This overlap leads to inefficiencies and conflicts with the NSIB’s mandate.

He said further that the agency is also suffering from limited access to decision making required to swiftly resolve interagency conflict and implementing safety recommendations, adding that international bodies prefer independent investigative agencies.

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NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days

Published

4 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.

A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.

This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.

This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.

Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.

With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.

The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.

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Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC

Published

4 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.

According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.

INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.

“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.

“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.

Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.

Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.

The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.

INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.

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Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun

Published

5 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.

They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.

The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.