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The University of Lincoln is joining other universities across the United Kingdom, UK, calling for the government to reconsider its decision to impose visa restrictions on international students, BBC reported.
The restrictions, introduced at the start of 2024, prevents some students from bringing their families with them to the UK.
The government said the new rules were part of measures to curb immigration.
As a result, Lincoln University said it had seen a 51% drop in allocations from international students since the changes were applied.
Student Raha Fazlollahei, from Iran, said it was “really heartbreaking” to be so far away from her family, but said it was also an opportunity to be independent.
The university, like most, said it relied on international student fee income to compensate for the freeze on home tuition fees.
It said international student applications fell from 2,995 in 2023-24 to 1,460 in 2024-25.
Nationally, Home Office figures showed the 393,125 visas that were granted in 2024 represented a 14% drop on the figures from 2023, but that it was still 46% higher than in 2019.
“Removal of the dependents visa has made the UK a less attractive study destination overall in a competitive global marketplace for student recruitment, particularly for international masters students,” the university said.
“We support sector calls for a more evidence-based approach to international students in national immigration policy, which recognises the need to manage true migration without jeopardising the economic and societal benefits of the UK’s standing as a global study destination.”
Cost implications for Nigerians
Godswill James, from Nigeria, is studying IT and said although the changes “had impacted”, there were other contributing factors, such as initial course fee deposits and the cost.
It is costing him between £25,000 and £30,000.
Fellow student Sibghatullah Karimi, from Afghanistan, believed those figures represented a “big challenge” to some countries.
He said: “The students from Asian and African countries, their currency difference is too high, so if we convert that currency, it would be in the millions.”
It is estimated one in seven at the university are international students.
The government has been contacted for comment, but has previously said international students “will always be welcome but the net migration levels seen in recent years have been completely unacceptable, and we have committed to reducing those numbers substantially”.
‘I Said To Him, Can You Please Shut Up?’ – Ezekwesili Opens Up On Altercation With Nwaebonyi At Senate
AFOLABI
A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has given her account of the altercation with the lawmaker representing Ebonyi North, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, during a Senate Ethics Committee hearing.
Naija News reports that the incident, which took place on Tuesday, occurred during a session regarding a petition filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
The altercation unfolded when Ezekwesili instructed Nwaebonyi, who also serves as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, to “shut up” during the panel hearing.
The former minister explained in an interview with Arise TV that the tension stemmed from the handling of the case, which was complicated by the presence of related ongoing court cases.
Ezekwesili shared that the Senate panel explained that the matter was “sub judice” because there were related cases pending in court.
“The petitioner had insisted that he would not proceed with his main petition until he received assurances regarding the two objections he had raised,” Ezekwesili stated.
She further explained that the panel had interpreted the petitioner’s reluctance to proceed as a lack of readiness to engage with the matter, which led to further frustrations.
According to Ezekwesili, the Senate panel suggested halting proceedings due to the related court cases, including one filed by the wife of the Senate President.
It was during this period that Nwaebonyi, speaking on behalf of the Senate President, intervened.
“He declared that since we were unwilling to provide any testimony, he was present as a representative of the Senate President, who was the respondent,” Ezekwesili recounted.
She continued, “I said to him, can you please shut up? We had just been informed that we were not allowed to speak, yet he was doing so freely without any form of equivalent treatment.
“The justification for silencing us was that we were unwilling to proceed without first addressing our objections.
“When I told him to be quiet and that remark provoked the senator, though he was already agitated. “He was already provoked, his anger stemmed from the belief that we were not taking the matter seriously.”
Ezekwesili reflected that Nwaebonyi’s reaction was an example of “indecorous behaviour” that is sometimes displayed by public officials in the country.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that he is uncertain about whether he will contest the presidency in 2027 against incumbent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu
In a forthcoming interview for the television show Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, scheduled to air today, Atiku responded to questions about his potential candidacy.
Despite previously announcing the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Atiku emphasized that a viable platform is essential before making any decisions.
Atiku, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), acknowledged the growing speculation surrounding who would lead the coalition, with figures like former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai being considered key contenders.
However, when asked if he would run for president again, Atiku replied, “I don’t know because there has to be, first of all, a viable platform, more than any other time in the political history of this country, particularly since the return of democracy.”
Atiku, who has contested the presidency six times, did not completely rule out the possibility of running in 2027.
He emphasized the country’s pressing need for experienced and credible leadership, stating, “I have not seen Nigeria in dire need of, you know, an experienced and credible leadership than this time.”
Reflecting on the political landscape, Atiku recalled the merger of opposition figures in 2014, where multiple candidates ran for president, and the eventual consensus around one candidate who was supported by all and won. He suggested that such unity could be replicated in the 2027 election.
Atiku also echoed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s concerns about the deterioration of Nigeria’s democracy, agreeing that the situation is “very dire.”
He expressed his disappointment with the country’s political leadership, noting that despite many individuals from the current generation having served as governors or senators, there has been little improvement in governance at the state level, which left him “a little bit distressed.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, busted a ponzi scheme academy and arrested 133 suspects in Abuja.
EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a press statement in Abuja, said the suspects were arrested at the Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada Area of the FCT, following actionable intelligence on the existence of the academy.
“The Academy, named Q University (a.k.a Q-Net) is in the business of recruiting gullible young Nigerians who are trained to recruit more gullible citizens into the scheme with the promise of getting unrealistic profit returns.
“The suspects are enrolled into a training codenamed: “Special Training for New Generation Billionaire” and brainwashed to believe that they would graduate into the league of billionaires. “They got into the training by obtaining a form the promoters called “Independent Representative Application Form” with promotional slogans such as: “I’m a Champion” “I’m Unstoppable”, “I’m Infinity”, among others.”
He further stated that, “The EFCC carried out the operation in collaboration with officers and men of 176 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army.”
Oyewale said items recovered from the suspects include phones, computers and other electronic gadgets; adding that they would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
THE Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, lampooned the National Assembly for backing the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State, saying the lawmakers have desecrated the 1999 Constitution.
Afenifere noted that members of the National Assembly, through their actions, have demonstrated that they lack the courage to defend the democratic rights of the people of Nigeria.
The Yoruba body stated this in a communique at the end of its National Caucus meeting held at the residence of its former leader, the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya Ogbo in Ogun State.
The communique signed by its Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Prince Justice Faloye, said the action of President Bola Tinubu in declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State and the support of the National Assembly was “an ill wind that blows the nation no good and spit on the faces of Nigerians.”
The communique reads: “Contrary to the expectation of Nigerians but in a manner consistent with its proven character, the 10th Assembly in both chambers not only joined hands with the President in further desecrating the tenuous 1999 Constitution but also demonstrated lack of courage to defend the democratic rights of the people of Nigeria.
“In clear terms, the provision of the constitution requiring the concurrence of the 2/3 majority of the members of the National Assembly on any matter, is in the absence of a national referendum, a call for legislative plebiscite in determining the issue concerned which must be demonstrated without equivocation.
“That the resort to voice votes obscuring compliance with the constitution on the required number to deal with such a matter of monumental national importance of Presidential reversal of the electoral decision of the people of Rivers State is an ill-wind that blows the nation no good and spit on the faces of Nigerians.
“Without recourse to other acts of persistent violation of their oaths of office and such others decimating the integrity, particularly of the Senate, Afenifere calls on the present leadership of the National Assembly to step aside in the interest of decency, integrity and respect for the principles of separation of powers on which fulcrum our democracy lies.
“In line with the above, Afenifere observed and holds that the recent vote of confidence on the Senate President by his colleagues is an admission of a crisis of trust on which motion the Senate President presided to the chagrins of the world.
“By these very acts, a new gambit has emerged – the crisis of Nigerian constitutionalism using which both the horizontal principle of separation of powers and the vertical principles of federalism are all undemocratically usurped by the all-powerful executive, who could do whatever he wants. This is the same way Hitler hijacked the German democracy.
“Afenifere calls on all people of goodwill to rise legitimately to restore the rule of law, ensure best democratic practice and save the Nigerian democracy. We must nip this in the pud before our hard-won democracy is destroyed.”
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the leadership of the National Assembly under the Senate President Godswill Akpabio of corruption.
Atiku made the claim during an interview with a TV journalist on the platform of ‘Untold Stories With Adesua’, where he also commented on the state of emergency declaration on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
When asked whether he was surprised about the National Assembly’s ratification of the proclamation by Tinubu, Atiku said: “I was not surprised because I know the leadership is corrupt, no apologies about that. They could do anything, and the Senate President is known to have that type of character even when he was a governor.”
The former vice president further, who is a leading Opposition Leader in the country, accused Akpabio of misconduct beyond financial corruption. “He was not only corrupt as a governor, but he was also in the habit of abusing women,” Atiku claimed.
On the prospect of forming a coalition to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 general election, Atiku drew parallels to the 2014 opposition merger that led to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
“We had a similar merger in 2014, and there were about four or three of us who ran for president. When one of us emerged, we all supported the one who emerged, and he won,” he said.
While he did not confirm his intention to run for president again, Atiku emphasised the need for experienced and credible leadership for Nigeria at this time.
“I have not seen Nigeria in more dire need of an experienced and credible leader than now,” Atiku stated.
The Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has blamed errors made on the field of play for the inability of his team to defeat Zimbabwe on Tuesday in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Naija News reports Chelle made the submission in his post-match press conference after the Eagles played out a 1-1 draw against their visitors from Zimbabwe.
He also added that it was difficult to speak further on the game because he has yet to review the game.
“We made some mistakes, we were the best team on the pitch. This is football. It is difficult for me to analyze the game right now; we will review it later,” Chelle said
The coach also avoided blaming any particular person for the frustrating draw, noting that the whole team is responsible for whatever outcome they get.
“I don’t want to blame the defenders,” he stated
With the results, Nigeria occupy the fourth position in Group C with just seven points—six adrift of table-toppers South Africa, which leaves the fate of qualification hanging in the balance.
Nigeria will need a dramatic turnaround in their remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way to stand a chance of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reiterated the need for urgent restructuring in Nigeria, emphasizing that the country’s current trajectory poses a threat to the democratic rights of citizens.
Speaking at a coalition meeting in Yola on Tuesday, which saw members from various political parties in attendance, Atiku made a passionate call for change, warning that without action, future generations would suffer the consequences.
“We need a new movement that we can use to correct things; if we do not act this time, our children will become slaves in their father’s land,” Atiku stated, stressing that the country was not moving in the right direction.
Naija News reports that the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate revealed that he would soon speak out on national issues and clarify his political stance.
He urged his supporters to remain patient and focused, promising that he would soon break his silence on the state of the nation.
“It is not yet time for me to speak on the politics of the country, but very soon I will break my silence on my political position and other things that are going on wrongly in the country,” Atiku added.
The former vice president also called on Nigerians to be vigilant and continue working towards the country’s best interests, describing the new movement as a potential savior for the nation.
Senator Ishaku Abbo, the convener of the coalition meeting, echoed Atiku’s sentiments and affirmed that the former vice president remained their political leader, irrespective of party affiliation.
“The former vice president, you are our party, you are our logo, anywhere you go we will follow you,” Abbo stated, emphasizing Atiku’s enduring influence and leadership qualities that have endeared him to many democrats, particularly during his eight years as vice president.
Abbo’s endorsement of Atiku’s leadership resonated with the attendees, who included representatives from all 21 local government areas of Adamawa State, as well as aides from the All Progressives Congress (APC), such as those supporting the 2023 governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani.
In a surprising twist, one of Senator Binani’s aides confirmed the APC candidate’s involvement in the coalition. The aide, speaking anonymously with Punch, indicated that despite Binani’s other commitments, she was aligned with the coalition and would attend future meetings.
“For you to see me here, it is very clear that my principal is among the coalition team, you see other members of the APC who are her supporters here,” the aide said, signaling a potential shift in political allegiance.
The aide also assured that Binani would be present at the next meeting.
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has said the representatives of the petitioners seeking the recall of the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central district at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines.
The commission said the address is “Okene, Kogi State,” which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. It insists that only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided, as opposed to the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.
INEC National Commissioner and chairman of its information and voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, said this at the end of the commission’s weekly meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the recall process is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, which are available on its website. He stressed that all petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday 25th March 2025. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the Commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The Commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines.
“The address given is “Okene, Kogi State”, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners,” Olumekun said.
The INEC Chief Spokesperson reiterated that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them.
He said that once the petition meets the submission requirements, as contained in INEC’s regulations, the commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each polling unit in an open process restricted to registered voters who signed the petition only.
“The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited. At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the Commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines.
“In the absence of a definite contact address, the commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.
“The commission reassures the public that it will be guided by the legal framework for recall. The public should, therefore, discountenance any speculations and insinuations in the social media,” Olumekun added.
President Bola Tinubu has felicitated veteran Fuji musician and entertainer, Adewale Ayuba on his 60th birthday on March 25, 2025.
Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, acknowledged Ayuba’s profound influence on Nigeria’s Fuji music genre, a cultural treasure that resonates with many.
The president also celebrates Ayuba’s legacy as one of the nation’s cherished musical icons.
Since his debut as a Fuji singer at 17, Ayuba has established himself as the Bonsue Fuji King.
Known affectionately as Mr. Johnson, the veteran Fuji musician has remained a vital presence on the Nigerian social scene.
The president recalled that Ayuba’s album ‘Bubble’ which was released in 1991 garnered numerous awards and topped the music charts for months.
He commended the multi-talented artist, who excels as a singer, drummer, and actor, and acknowledges Ayuba’s significant contributions to youth development through talent nurturing.
“Today, we celebrate an icon whose talent and dedication have brought joy to generations of Nigerians and Africans worldwide. Through his lyrics, Adewale Ayuba has etched his name in gold, standing as a formidable force in our cultural history. His music, rich with wisdom, reflects the vibrancy and resilience of our society,” Tinubu stated.
He wished the Fuji maestro a long life and good health as he continues to inspire the younger generation of entertainers and serves as a beacon of hope for the vibrant and creative youth.
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The Senate, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, filed by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central).
The petitioner, Mr. Zuberu Yakubu, representing the suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, accused the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions of bias and of denying him a fair hearing.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Yakubu was accompanied by his legal counsel, Dr. Abiola Akiyode, and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili. He initially refused to speak unless Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, his principal witness, was allowed entry into the National Assembly.
A heated exchange erupted during the hearing between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) and Ezekwesili after tensions escalated when Yakubu attempted to speak while the Committee chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, was addressing the panel. Yakubu was instructed to mute his microphone, prompting Ezekwesili to intervene.
Nwaebonyi, present as a witness for Akpabio, interjected, leading to a sharp verbal confrontation with the former minister.
“Compose yourself and stop making noise,” Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi.
Angered by her remark, the Senator Nwaebonyi fired back: “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
Ezekwesili responded by calling him a “hooligan,” escalating the confrontation and briefly halting the proceedings of the legislative panel.
Order was later restored, but Imasuen announced that the case was already before a court, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the dismissal of the petition, Yakubu explained that he refused to make a statement before the committee because he believed the hearing was biased.
He directly challenged the committee chairman, Senator Imasuen (LP, Edo South), for making prejudicial comments in the media before the hearing.
“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? He was quoted in the media saying the petition was ‘dead on arrival.’ This means he had already made up his mind before even hearing us. How can we expect fair treatment?” Yakubu questioned.
He also alleged that some committee members had prior affiliations with the Senate President, further compromising their impartiality.
“One of the committee members denied this today, but he had previously stated on Channels TV that he is a key witness for the Senate President. In such a situation, how can we expect a fair hearing?” he asked.
A major point of contention was the exclusion of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, whom Yakubu described as the principal witness with crucial documentary evidence.
“In my petition, I clearly stated that my witness would present her evidence personally. But she was barred from entering the National Assembly. If my key witness is denied access, how can I proceed?” he asked.
Yakubu further accused the committee of using “defensive tactics” to avoid addressing the real issues.
“The committee had already made up its mind. They are simply playing a game, using procedural excuses to justify their actions. In Nigeria today, we are not following the Constitution. If we don’t uphold the Constitution, how can we expect peace and justice?” he added.
Also speaking, Dr. Abiola Akiyode, legal counsel to the petitioner, argued that the Senate’s decision lacked consistency.
“There is nothing in Yakubu’s petition that wasn’t in Senator Natasha’s original petition. If the Senate dismissed her petition as ‘dead on arrival,’ then logically, Yakubu’s should also be dismissed. Instead, they invited him and then dismissed his case on the grounds that it was in court,” she said.
She criticised the committee’s approach, arguing that it was designed to extract additional information from the petitioner rather than conduct a fair hearing.
“If they knew the matter was already in court, why did they invite the petitioner at all? They should have simply informed him that they could not entertain it. Instead, they brought him here, only to tell him they couldn’t proceed. This shows clear bias and a disregard for constitutional principles,” she stated.
Akiyode also raised concerns over the Senate’s rules seemingly overriding the Constitution, particularly in the six-month suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“The Constitution and the Senate rules on fair hearing do not align. The Senate is acting as if it operates outside the Constitution, which is why they can suspend a senator without following due process,” she added.
Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, who attended the hearing as a witness for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, described the committee’s conduct as a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Nigerian Senate is now telling citizens that Senate rules take precedence over the Constitution in a democracy. This is deeply troubling,” she said.
Ezekwesili argued that the Senate’s internal rules should not supersede national laws.
“This was exactly what happened in Senator Natasha’s suspension. The Senate prioritized its internal rules over the Constitution. Now, they have done the same thing again, using procedural loopholes to deny justice,” she added.
She emphasized that an independent committee should be set up to hear the case fairly.
“The petitioner has made it clear—he does not trust this committee to deliver justice. The Senate should constitute a neutral panel that ensures due process is followed,” she insisted.
Ezekwesili also reiterated that barring Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from appearing as a witness further demonstrated the Senate’s bias.
“By preventing Senator Natasha from testifying, they have denied the petitioner a fair hearing. She is the principal witness, and her absence only harms the credibility of the process,” she said.
No fewer than 11 soldiers have been killed and six others including a brigade commander have sustained injuries during terrorists attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Wajiroko in Borno State.
According to military sources, the brigade commander was injured when his vehicle stepped on an Improvise Explosive (IED) enroute the location to provide support to the Base.
He said at about 2205 hours on 24 March 2025, own troops for Forward Operating Base (FOB) WAJIROKO came under BHT/ISWAP terrorists attack.
This prompted the brigade to call for air support in addition to sending re-enforcement team immediately, however, the re-enforcement team encountered IED along the way hence, a second re-enforcement led by the Commander 25 Brigade (name withheld) set out for the mission.
According to the report sighted by LEADERSHIP, the second re-enforcement team was still enroute when the Brigade Commander’s Hilux vehicle encountered IED around Damboa,”.
The resulted explosion led to death of three soldiers and three others wounded in action including the Brigade Commander.
While details of the attack were not readily available, the report said the pilot dispatched to provide air support “communicated that he can sight fire around the FOb while scores of soldiers could be seen running towards Sabon Gari, likely that the FOB had been dislodged”
The report added that the general security situation within the area of responsibility is fluid and urged troops to remain at maximum alert.
Further reports later revealed that 11 soldiers were killed in action (KIA 11), Six soldiers wounded in action (WIA 6) and four soldiers missing in action (MIA 4).
The Director Defence Media Operations Major General Markus Kangye did not respond to messages for confirmation.
LEADERSHIP recall that on January 4 2025, terrorists attacked a military base in Damboa killing six soldiers.
President Tinubu had also ordered that the incident be probed in order to prevent future occurrences.
However,just one month after the attack and probe, terrorists attacked another military base in the same Borno killing soldiers and injuring a brigadier general who was riding in a soft skin vehicle instead of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) to provide support to the troops.
In a groundbreaking medical milestone, Nigeria has become the first country in West Africa to successfully perform robotic prostate cancer surgery.
This historic achievement was led by a United Kingdom-based Consultant Urological/Robotic Surgeon, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme at The Prostate Clinic (TPC) in Lagos on Monday.
The newly established TPC is West Africa’s first super-specialised centre for robotic and laparoscopic surgery, offering advanced treatments for prostate cancer and other urological conditions.
At the heart of this medical breakthrough is the Da Vinci robotic surgical system, a state-of-the-art technology that allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with unmatched precision.
The system’s robotic arms mimic human hand movements with seven degrees of freedom, enhancing accuracy while minimising blood loss, post-operative pain, and recovery time.
Patients can be discharged within 24 hours with minimal scarring and no need for blood transfusions.
“This is a dream come true. With robotic surgery, we can save lives and provide world-class prostate cancer treatment right here in Nigeria. No man should have to travel abroad for care when we now have cutting-edge solutions at home,” Ekwueme said while addressing journalists.
Ekwueme, inspired by specialised centres in Europe, has been performing keyhole surgeries in Nigeria since 2022.
However, with TPC’s launch, Nigerians now have access to a dedicated centre of excellence for robotic surgery, eliminating the need for expensive overseas medical trips.
He emphasised that before this development, the Da Vinci system was available only in South Africa within the continent.
Nigeria has now joined the global map of countries utilising robotic-assisted surgery for prostate cancer, a milestone that places the nation at the forefront of medical innovation in West Africa.
Ekwueme highlighted the system’s advanced three-dimensional imaging, which provides surgeons with unparalleled visibility, allowing for intricate procedures while preserving crucial nerves that aid in post-surgery recovery.
Addressing affordability concerns, Ekwueme reiterated his commitment to making robotic prostate surgery accessible.
He assured that no patient would be turned away due to financial constraints, as his mission was to prevent needless deaths from prostate-related diseases in Nigeria.
Beyond prostate cancer treatment, Ekwueme outlined his expertise in performing kidney cancer surgeries, bladder cancer treatments, and procedures for benign prostate enlargement.
He also revealed plans to introduce a non-invasive treatment for enlarged prostates, a technology never before performed in Africa, with an official unveiling planned for the near future.
Ekwueme called for government and institutional partnerships to train more surgeons in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, ensuring widespread access to advanced medical care across Nigeria.
The senate has started investigating ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for allegedly breaking the federal character rules.
The move follows a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, the senator representing Enugu west on Tuesday.
The motion was titled “urgent need to address systemic abuse and ineffective implementation of the federal character principle in Nigeria’s public sector”.
“The federal character principle, entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), mandates fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the nation,” Ngwu said.
“Section 14(3) and (4) of the constitution unequivocally stipulate that ‘no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or sectional groups’ should exist within the federal government or its agencies.”
The lawmaker said some MDAs have allegedly failed to comply with the federal character principle.
He listed the defaulting agencies to include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); PENCOM; NDIC; the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA); the National Library of Nigeria (NLN); the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN); the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF); and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).
He said the senate, “regrets that against the spirit of order 96(27)(b) of the senate standing orders 2023 (as amended) and sections 62, 88, 89, 14(3)-(4) and the third schedule part I C8(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which bestows on its committee on federal character and inter-governmental affairs the power of legislative oversight in matters connected to the implementation and monitoring of the policy, it is deemed that various federal institutions, including NNPCL and its subsidiary, NUPRC, NAFDAC, NPA, PENCOM, NDIC, FUTA, NLN, SMEDAN, ECN, SMDF, NNRA have consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercise (evidence abound).”
He alleged that the agencies “have consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercises”.
Supporting the motion, Seriake Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa west, called on President Bola Tinubu to back the senate’s efforts to fix recruitment imbalances in federal agencies.
“He is the leader and chief executive of the country; he should be told that this flagrant and widespread violation must stop,” Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa state, said.
“The national assembly is taking action, and he should throw his weight behind it. When the report is ready, he should be given a copy so that we can ensure fairness for all.”
Victor Umeh, the Anambra central senator, criticised the “intentional exclusion of certain regions, especially in federal appointments and infrastructure projects”.
“No part of Nigeria should be treated as an afterthought,” Umeh said.
The senate ordered its committee on federal character and intergovernmental affairs to investigate and report back within four weeks with the representatives of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).