News
Sowore complains of missing bag after brief detention, narrates ordeal
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that one of his bags is missing following his detention at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Recall Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, was detained by men of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on his arrival to Nigeria on Sunday.
Narrating his ordeal with the NIS, Sowore stated that he has been on the watchlist of the Nigerian government since 1992 when he was in the university.
“Well I am back home but it was because when I left in March and also in May I did make a promise that I’ll be back, that I’m not going anywhere from Nigeria.
” So it doesn’t matter what anybody tries to do and that is why when I was informed and I got a copy of their memo that I was declared wanted, it just made me feel very proud that I was once again upgraded by Nigerian government.
“I’ve been on the watch list of Nigerian government since I was in the university in 1992, but I found out officially that I’ve been upgraded to the highest possible level.
” They have different grades. There are people who they watch just generally if you are leaving the country, they just try to figure out where you’re going, but the level that I’m on is a level in which whenever I arrive, I’m supposed to be accompanied, arrested, and detained and taken to the office of the DG of DSS. That’s the level that I am. I think it’s the highest level. It’s like the GCFR of the National Award for Troublemakers.
When I arrived, they seized my passport. The immigration guys seized my passport when I presented my passport for processing. And then after I was standing around for a while, I asked them what’s the problem? They said there is some notation on my passport, that needs clarification from Abuja. And I said who is that? Who put the, of course I knew, and they said they’re going to make all kinds of calls, and then they asked me to sit down at the place.
“I sat down beside them after a while. I went back to them and asked what’s going on and it’s been like 30 minutes at this point. And they said they’re still waiting for Abuja to clarify and then they took me to the office where I was briefly detained.
“And then I tweeted before going into that office and some, ten minutes later they came and said, it’s been resolved. You can go. So I went to try and get my bag. Of course one of my bags was missing. I hope it’s not the DSS that stole it.
“It’s missing but I’ve incidented it with the airline to look for it because the tracking on my phone from the airline shows that the bag arrived. So but like I said, I don’t want to, I hope they didn’t try to do a something stupid with my bag.”
The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has fixed today, Friday for its chairmanship primaries for the July 12 Local Government election in the state.
The LP State Chairman, Pastor Dayo Ekong, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.
Ekong said that the chairmanship primaries would be held at the various council areas.
According to her, the party will adopt the delegate-based mode (indirect) to pick its candidates
“Our councillorship primaries will hold today (Thursday) across all the wards, while the chairmanship primaries will be held on Friday in all the local government areas.
“We are committed to free, fair and transparent primary elections.
“We are confident of a good outing in the election,” the chairman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is to conduct the election in 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
NAN
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has deposed the traditional priest of Okhuoromi community, in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, over alleged unethical practices.
The monarch sacked the priest on Thursday, May 15, 2025, over cases of land grabbing, extortion, and unauthorized demolition of private properties. leveled against him.
The Oba of Benin announced the removal of Igbinovia in his palace through the Obazelu of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, to the elders of Okhuoromi, led by its Odionwere (village head), Pa. Oghagbon Edosomwan.
He directed the village head to administer the area for and on behalf of the palace.
The Oba, who opined that the Benin throne does not support acts of lawlessness and criminality under any guise, distanced the palace from the alleged sacrilege.
He assured the victims of demolished property that justice would be served in due course.
The highly revered Benin monarch added that top palace chiefs have been assigned to further investigate and assess the level of damages in the community.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has called on the National Assembly to emphasise on funding for the effective take-off of already established institutions rather than creating new ones.
Dr. Alausa stated this at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, while presenting a memorandum on Thursday in Abuja.
The public hearing featured deliberations on three bills:
“A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State (HB.1797) – to provide full-time courses and training in technology, applied sciences, arts, social sciences, humanities, and management.
“A Bill to Amend Section 3(2)(b), the Second Schedule, and Section 31 of the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (HB.1413).
“A Bill to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, to review the functions of polytechnics (HB.2114)”.
The Minister speaking against the “Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Hawul”, emphasised that the Federal Government maintains a policy of equitable distribution of federal institutions across states.
According to Alausa, no state should host more than one federal polytechnic, while every state must have at least one. Currently, all states except Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory are covered under this arrangement.
He asserted that with limited resources, government efforts should be directed at strengthening existing institutions to deliver quality education rather than spreading resources thin by establishing new ones.
Alausa stated, “the Federal Ministry of Education has expanded avenues for establishing private tertiary institutions. States and individuals are encouraged to utilise these channels to support national educational development”.
In view of prevailing funding constraints, he recommended that deliberations on the proposed Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Hawul, Borno State, be suspended.
He also urged the House to ensure that resources are dedicated to improving the quality of education for Nigerian students by consolidating support for already existing institutions.
With regards to the proposed amendments to the Federal Polytechnics Act, the minister raised no objections except for the provision seeking to include representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on the Governing Council of Polytechnics.
“While both organisations play significant roles, their core functions do not directly align with the responsibilities of a polytechnic’s governing council. NBTE serves as a regulatory body, while MAN advocates for the interests of manufacturers”, he stated.
Earlier, the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Usman Balami (PDP–Borno), defended the proposal, citing insecurity and rising unemployment in Borno as pressing reasons for establishing the institution.
He described the proposed college as a strategic response to the growing number of unemployed youth and a means to equip them with skills necessary for self-reliance and economic empowerment.
“This institution will provide diverse training programmes tailored for today’s dynamic job market. It will bridge the gap between theory and practice, producing graduates ready to meet workforce demands”, Balami said.
According to the Borno lawmaker, the college will foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and stimulate economic growth in the region by nurturing local talent and promoting a culture of self-employment.
Earlier in his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Laguda (APC–Lagos), noted a general consensus on the importance of skills acquisition in tackling unemployment.
He encouraged stakeholders to make robust contributions, assuring that the committee would carefully consider all submissions in its report.
“With the passage of these bills, Nigerians will have greater access to knowledge and skills in the arts, sciences, technology, humanities, and vocational and technical education,” Laguda said.
He also commended the leadership of the House for their support and the trust reposed in the committee to drive meaningful legislative outcomes.
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