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20m out-of-sch kids potential bandits – Akpabio cries out
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has
said there are are no fewer than 20 million out-of-school kids in the country, describing them as potential bandits.
Akpabio declared this during plenary on Wednesday while contributing to a debate on the compelling need to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The debate followed a report of the senate committee on education (primary and secondary) presented by its chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central) during plenary.
Akpabio said the menace of out-of-school children portends danger to the security of the country.
“20 million out-of-school children is timebomb for any country. They are potential bandits; they are a major danger. So this is a major issue. This is the cause of insecurity in the country,” Akpabio said.
The Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also said, “It is a serious problem. If we leave unattended to, it is a kind of timebomb, and once it explodes, it will consume us, particularly the Northern part of this country.
“The number of children roaming our streets without going to school needs our attention. It is a serious problem. It is a problem that the solution is beyond the federal government alone or any tier of government. The re-orientation has to commence immediately so that parents should know that they need to do that.”
In his contribution, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to compel state governors to address the issue of out-of-school children in their states sequel to the huge funds being allocated to them.
Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) asked state governors to hold a roundtable discussion and advance measures to tackle the issue.
Senator Sani Bello (Niger North) lamented that some children in Niger State had died because they were bitten by snakes in the bushes following lack of toilet facilities in their schools.
He said his administration had spent billions of Naira in building better schools across the state, when he was governor.
After an extensive debate on the issue, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), moved a motion for a national summit on the issue.
The motion was seconded by the deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the national summit would deliberate and iron out issues related to out of school children to ensure the security of the country.
Akpabio said the summit would have various stakeholders including representatives of the federal, state and local governments, civil society organisations and many others in attendance.
Iran has carried out the execution of two individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, according to an official statement from the country’s judiciary.
Authorities said the two men were convicted on charges of espionage linked to Mossad, and were found guilty of working with what officials described as a hostile intelligence network operating within Iran.
According to the judiciary, the suspects had been under investigation for activities considered detrimental to national security.
Their death sentences were subsequently upheld by the country’s Supreme Court prior to being enforced.
The executions were confirmed on April 20, 2026, although officials did not provide specific details regarding the exact time or location.
Iranian authorities stated that the case is part of ongoing efforts to counter and dismantle foreign intelligence operations within its borders.
There has been no independent confirmation of the allegations, and Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate response.
The incident reflects the persistent strain in relations between the two countries, with Iran frequently reporting the uncovering of alleged espionage networks tied to Israeli operatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area in Ogun State.
President Tinubu also approved a special take-off grant of N15billion for the college.
The President’s approval was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, particularly with respect to the expansion of the Police Academy based in Wudil, Kano state, into multiple campuses across the country.
The intervention fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation to finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets.
A high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommended the siting of the new campus in Erinja.
The meeting considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force, which is currently recruiting more men.
President Tinubu believes the expansion will strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education and national security.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), South West Zone, has disowned a press conference purportedly held in Ibadan on Monday, which claimed that the zone had condemned the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, declared support for Governor Makinde of Oyo State and loyalty to a Turaki-led National Working Committee.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Oyeniyi, described the event as the work of organised impostors who do not represent the party at any level.
“The Zonal Chairman, Engr. Deji Doherty, was away in Abuja attending the 108th meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party and no zonal officials held any press conference. The claim of an Ibadan press conference is therefore a barefaced lie,” Oyeniyi said.
The statement said those behind the Ibadan gathering do not speak for the party, hold no mandate, and are not recognised by any organ of the PDP from ward to national level.
Oyeniyi further said the illegality of the group was very pronounced, noting that they do not even have a Zonal Vice Chairman, which is very significant for any structure claiming to speak for the PDP South West.
“These are the ones whose agenda was to destabilise the party but they failed. Looking at them, one could see that their group is now a psychiatric ward with no staff. Destabilising elements always end up as wanderers. Karma never forgets, and wickedness by default carries consequences too,” the statement read.
According to Oyeniyi, “these ones slung toboggan, and now the stones are expectedly raining on them, and their current noise and theatrics will not substitute for acceptance by party members or the public.”
The PDP South West said its loyalty to the Abdulrahman-led National Working Committee and the National Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Wike remains unalloyed and also advised the impostors to retrace their steps and rejoin the party through the proper channels, rather than constituting themselves into a nuisance, as no amount of media stunts or paid propaganda will confer any legitimacy on illegitimacy.
He urged the general public, party faithful, and the media to disregard the publication, stating that official communications of the PDP South West Zone would continue to come only through recognised party channels in the zone under the leadership of Engr. Deji Doherty.
Iran executes two men over spying for Israel
Tinubu approves N15bn take off grant for new police academy
PDP South West Disowns Ibadan Press Conference, Calls Organisers Criminal Impostors
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