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Insecurity: Reps Minority Caucus Worried Over Spate Of kidnappings On Highway

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…urge President Tinubu to wake up to responsibility of protecting lives 
 
… says abducted medical students in Benue must not be left with criminals
 
By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed worries over the increasing spate of insecurity in the country, urging President Bola Tinubu to “wake up” to his responsibilities of protecting lives and families, and declare a state of emergency in the security sector.
 
 
Minority Leader of the House and Leader of the Caucus, Rep. Kingsley Chinda in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the “frequent” abductions of travellers on the highways have become worrisome.
 
Rep. Chinda highlighted series of recent kidnapping of commuters, and said the 29 medical students taken away by gunmen in Benue while travelling for a conference threatens the future of education and healthcare in the country.
 
The caucus also condemned the kidnap of Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa district in Sokoto, Isa Muhammad Bawa and his son, and  described it as an affront to traditional institutions.
 
The caucus further stated that the killing of Tanimu Kunbiya, the Gara of Chanchanji, and his son Yusuf, in Taraba state, shows a total breakdown of security in the nation.
 
The statement reads: “These young men and women, dedicated to pursuing knowledge and bettering the lives of their fellow Nigerians, must not be left to suffer in the hands of criminals.
 
“The alarming rate in which criminals have seized our nation by the jugular, casting doubts on the capacity of the nation-state to defend itself and protect citizens calls for serious concerns.
 
“No section of our country appears safe for citizens to live their lives, uplift their wellbeing, and contribute to the growth and progress of our country.
 
“In particular, our interstate highway systems, which serve not only as the backbone of our transportation system but as the commerce corridors through which commercial entities and citizens move their goods and services, providing businesses lifelines, have become deathtraps and the staging posts of kidnappers, extortionists and criminal elements of the dark underworld. 
 
“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, gravely worried about the prevailing conditions of our interstate highways and the general state of insecurity in our country, expresses its deep concern and outright condemnation of the recent kidnappings that have further highlighted the alarming state of insecurity in our nation.
 
“Furthermore, the kidnapping of the Anambra State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Patrick Mba, and his wife on the highway in Kogi State, who was released yesterday by his abductors, underscores the terrifying reality that no one is safe, not even those who have dedicated their lives to public service.
 
“These incidents are not isolated; they represent a broader, more concerning trend of increasing lawlessness and insecurity in our country.
 
“The frequency and audacity of these attacks suggest a complete breakdown in our security architecture, and this cannot be allowed to continue while we pretend or console ourselves with the conclusion that the situation is improving.”
 
‘SECURITY AGENCIES SHOULD ACT SWIFTLY’
 
The lawmakers therefore called on security agencies, including the police, and Department of State Services (DSS) to “change their tactics of engagement and act swiftly and decisively”.
 
“It is imperative and indeed an unconditional demand that the kidnapped citizens are rescued unharmed, and the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice. 
 
“The government must prioritize the safety of all Nigerians. We cannot allow our nation to slide into anarchy, where criminals operate with impunity, and the citizens live in constant fear. The time for rhetoric is over; now is the time for action.
 
“As leaders, we must take responsibility and work collaboratively to restore peace and security across Nigeria. The Minority Caucus urges the government to invest in intelligence gathering, improve coordination among security agencies, and implement community-based security strategies that involve local leaders and stakeholders”, the caucus added.
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FG announces April deadline for completion of East-West Road

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The Federal Government has directed the contractor handling the Eleme section of the East-West Road to expedite drainage work to meet the April deadline for completion.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the directive during an inspection of the ongoing 15km road upgrade from Eleme Junction to Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

While commending Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited for the quality of work done, Umahi insisted that the drainage must be prioritised to ensure timely completion.

“RCC has done very well. The work completed in the past two months is more than what was done since the project started. However, the project slowed down significantly when the site manager went on leave. I’m happy to see him back and satisfied with the quality of work RCC is delivering,” Umahi stated.

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He emphasised the need to test existing road shoulders before excavation, warning against unnecessary digging for financial gains.

“The existing shoulder has to be tested throughout. I don’t want them digging up areas filled with sharp sand and stone base just to increase costs. If they don’t test it and request approval for any section they dig, they won’t get paid,” he warned.

Umahi also observed that drainage construction had either stopped or slowed significantly, urging the contractor to redesign and precast drainage systems for quicker installation, even during the rainy season.

“I’m happy with the project’s progress, and I believe they will complete the carriageway by the end of April. However, if drainage work is not completed, the project remains unfinished. They must accelerate drainage work to ensure we clear this carriageway by April,” he stated.

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The minister further directed that any section of the road that has remained untouched for 21 days after concrete casting should be opened to commuters to ease traffic congestion.

“Anywhere that has stayed 21 days since concrete was cast should be opened to road users, starting today. This concrete technology will ensure the road lasts between 50 and 100 years without maintenance or reconstruction. It is a signature project of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

Umahi also inspected the rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway, Section IV (Aba–Port Harcourt), which is being handled by the Chinese Construction Engineering Company.

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Reasons behind extreme heat conditions in FCT, Niger, Kogi – NiMet

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has given reasons for the high temperatures residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Kogi and few other states are currently experiencing.

The current maximum temperature in the listed states is 40°C and the minimum is 23°C.

The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released last month by the agency shows that most of the northern and central states would record day-time temperatures ranging between 37°C and 40°C, while parts of Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Plateau states in the North as well as Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, part of Cross River and Delta states in the South are expected to record temperatures ranging between 34°C and 37°C this month.

The agency attributed the high temperatures to climate change and advised Nigerians to embrace a lifestyle switch.

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Residents of the states experiencing high temperatures are advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight between noon and 3 p.m.

There are also indications that this year may be hotter than last year, which was described as the hottest year.

NiMet’s Director of Weather Services, Prof. Vincent Weli, announced this while speaking on phone with The Nation yesterday. He said: “Everything is embedded in the climate change theory. Every experience we are having now is a result of climate change. The hotness, in general, is because of climate change.

“Abuja, Lokoja, and Minna are located within the same ecological zone and these towns share the same weather pattern. Whatever happens to Lokoja will affect Minna and Abuja because they are in the same route of the flow of wind and also lie within the same climatic zone. Also, these towns have the same vegetation pattern.

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“So, since they are within the same climatic belt, everything that affects Minna and the FCT will affect Lokoja accordingly. The heat is affecting everywhere, not just these towns mentioned. We said last year was the hottest in the history of the earth but this year already is trying to beat it to become the hottest.

“So, as the year increases, it’s obvious that we are going to have higher temperatures. I don’t know where we are headed with this trend, but something needs to be done to reverse the trend.”

To make the best of the situation, Prof. Weli said: “What can reverse the trend is for us to encourage every activity of man that will reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, such as the use of electric cars, solar power and planting of trees.

“These will be other sources of energy other than the use of diesel and petrol and other hydrocarbon compounds that we use as sources of power. Also, we should plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The more we plant trees, the more we reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the more we increase the oxygen.”

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The NiMet director urged residents of the affected states with high temperatures to take necessary action to overcome the hot weather.

He said: “In order not to experience what we call heat stroke, people should drink more water often, keep themselves off the direct impact of sunlight between 12 p.m (noon) and 3 p.m. If people do not expose their bodies to the direct impact of sunlight, it will reduce water loss from the system.

“So, people should drink more water than necessary. Otherwise, their systems will be dehydrated, and that will cause secondary health issues.”

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JAMB begins sales of  2025 direct entry forms March 12

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Registration for this year’s Direct Entry (DE) form will begin tomorrow, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said.

The board said the registration process is crucial for those who possess degrees, diplomas, or A-Level certificates and wish to advance their education at their preferred universities.

JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said the announcement for the commencement of the DE sales followed the successful conclusion of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application sales, which ended on Saturday, March 8.

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“During this period, JAMB recorded a total of 2,030,627 registrations for the 2025 UTME, along with 200,115 for the Mock-UTME and 630 applications for the trial mock,” the statement said.

It added: “JAMB has emphasised the importance of adhering to all entry requirements, warning that serious penalties will be imposed on applications containing false declarations. A special committee will verify all submitted Advanced A-Level Qualifications, and any fraudulent results will lead to prosecution. Additionally, institutions are encouraged to directly verify certificates before considering admissions.

“Registration can only be done at JAMB Professional Registration Centres (PRC).”

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