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Bill to Amend NRC Act Passes Second Reading
Bu Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Senate has passed for second reading a bill to amend the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Act.
The bill’s progression followed the presentation of its general principles by the sponsor, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun), during a plenary session on Thursday.
In his lead debate, Sen. Adeola noted that the bill was first read on July 20, 2023. He explained that the bill aims to amend the NRC Act to include an insurance fee, thereby providing adequate insurance coverage for passengers and goods against any damage that may occur while transacting with the railway corporation.
Adeola highlighted the resurgence in railway transportation in Nigeria, citing the modernization of the rail system across the country.
He mentioned that passengers now board trains as an alternative to other modes of transportation on routes such as Abuja to Kaduna, Lagos to Ibadan, and more recently, Port-Harcourt to Aba.
Additionally, goods in bulk are being transported by trains on the nation’s rail tracks.
However, Adeola pointed out a critical gap in the current rail system: the lack of comprehensive insurance coverage for passengers and goods using the services of the NRC. He recalled the March 28, 2022, incident where bandits attacked a train service from Abuja to Kaduna at Katari in Kaduna State.
The train derailed, causing damage to the rail tracks and coaches, and resulting in the kidnapping of some passengers and the deaths of about eight people. He emphasized that there was no insurance coverage for the passengers as the NRC Act does not provide for such.
“It is worthy of note that most sectors of the transportation system offer some form of insurance protection,” Adeola said. “On Nigerian roads, most commercial vehicles, like buses and taxis, are required by law to carry passenger liability insurance. This insurance offers financial compensation to passengers in case of accidents, injuries, or even death.”
Adeola stressed the glaring gap in the absence of mandatory insurance for train passengers using NRC services. He argued that a robust insurance scheme would incentivize the NRC to prioritize safety measures.
“Knowing passengers and cargo are insured could lead to improved service delivery. This, in turn, could boost confidence in the railway system, potentially attracting more passengers and cargo volume for the NRC,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to support the second reading of the bill.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary session, commended the sponsor of the bill. He expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu would assent to the bill, aligning with international best practices in rail transportation when it is finally passed.
Barau consequently referred the bill to the Committee on Land Transport for further legislative inputs, with a report expected back to the plenary in four weeks.
The refinery announced the increase on Wednesday, hiking the the price from N1,200 to N1,275 per litre.
In the same way, coastal prices have gone up to N1,215 per litre.
This adjustment amid Brent crude trading at $114.80 per barrel marks a 3.15% increase.
Recall that the Brent crude has increased to $115 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose to $103 per barrel on Wednesday.
News
Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
The Nigeria Police Force has claimed that the extrajudicial killing of a handcuffed suspect by Officer Usman Nuhu in Delta State to potential spiritual forces, a statement that has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief across the country.
“I will start with the issue at hand, which is a very sad issue.
” There is no explanation for this. I don’t just get what was wrong with that policeman (Mr Nuhu),” Bright Edafe, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, said in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday.
“Police cannot attribute problems to spirituality, but that may not be far from it. Because that’s the only explanation one can give to what he did,” Edafe added.
The shocking statement comes days after a viral video sighted showed Officer Usman Nuhu executing a handcuffed suspect in broad daylight along the Warri–Sapele Expressway in Effurun, Delta State.
The victim has been identified as Mene Ogidi, a young man who had been apprehended for allegedly attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition.
In the graphic video, the handcuffed suspect was seen begging for his life, shouting, “I will talk! I will take you to the person who gave me the waybill!”
Despite his pleas, Officer Nuhu was seen taking a magazine from a fellow policeman, inserting it into his AK-47 rifle, and shooting the suspect at close range. The victim died instantly.
The police spokesperson’s suggestion of a spiritual explanation has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights activists, legal experts, and ordinary Nigerians who view it as an attempt to deflect responsibility from the officer’s actions.
Many have pointed out that the police force had already condemned the killing and transferred Officer Nuhu to Force Headquarters in Abuja to face the Force Disciplinary Committee for summary disciplinary measures and prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police had also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them that justice would be served.
However, the latest statement from the Delta Command appears to contradict the earlier stance of the Force Headquarters, raising questions about whether the police are seriously pursuing accountability or seeking supernatural excuses for extrajudicial killings.
The police have nabbed two suspected human trafficking operatives in connection with the alleged removal of the womb of a 19-year-old girl in a disturbing case of gender-based violence and organ trafficking.
Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, made the disclosure on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during the Command’s first quarter press briefing, where he outlined operational achievements from February to date.
According to a report filed on April 3, 2026, at about 5:30pm., a woman from Ekpan community in Uvwie local government area raised alarm after her teenage daughter returned home in a visibly deteriorated state of health.
The victim, who had been residing with her father in Okpaka, reportedly visited her mother in Ekpan, where concerns about her condition prompted questioning.
In her account, the 19-year-old disclosed that in September 2025, she and two friends were introduced to a woman identified as Blessing Mongo, 47, who allegedly linked them to another suspect, Esther, 32.
The suspects reportedly facilitated their movement under the pretext of travelling to Ivory Coast.
The victim alleged that shortly after arriving in Ivory Coast, she was injected with an unknown substance and subsequently taken to a hospital.
Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that her abdomen had been surgically treated.
She further claimed that she was later returned to Nigeria and abandoned in Lagos before finding her way back to Delta State.
Following the report, police operatives arrested two suspects, Blessing Mongo and Esther, while investigations commenced.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more detailed probe.
Medical examination conducted as part of the investigation reportedly confirmed that the victim’s womb had been removed without her consent, raising serious concerns over an alleged organ trafficking operation.
Police authorities confirmed that the two suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with efforts ongoing to apprehend other individuals linked to the case.
The police assured the public that justice would be pursued and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving human trafficking and exploitation.
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Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
Police nab suspects over alleged removal of 19-yr-old girl’s womb
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