FEATURES
Youths from the Niger Delta region, under the banner of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), have called on President Bola Tinubu to remove Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from office.
The group warned that failure to address their demand could negatively impact Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
In a mass demonstration on Tuesday, thousands of IYC members blocked the East/West Road for over ten hours, disrupting economic activities and vowing to continue their protests unless their demands are met.
The protest, which brought business and travel to a halt, was a direct response to what they described as insulting comments made by Wike against the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, who led the protest, told Vanguard, “The youths have come out today to say enough is enough. The FCT Minister’s uncomplimentary statements about the Ijaw Nation are unacceptable. We are here to demand that President Tinubu call him to order.”
The protests were triggered by Wike’s remarks, in which he referred to the Ijaw people as a “minority within the minorities,” a statement that IYC leaders considered highly disrespectful.
Theophilus emphasized, “We cannot allow one man to cause problems in Rivers State and disrespect the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality as if he is an emperor. Wike’s claim that the Ijaw are a ‘minority within the minorities’ is an insult taken too far.”
Naija News reports that the IYC leader also blamed Wike for the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, warning that if the situation is not addressed, President Tinubu will be held accountable for any escalation.
The East/West Road is a major economic route connecting the Niger Delta to Lagos and the Northeast, and continued protests, Theophilus stated, would severely disrupt businesses and economic activities.
“The President must understand that if he values his 2027 re-election ambition, he should act now and remove Wike to restore peace in Rivers State,” Theophilus declared.
The demonstration, which included Ijaw youths from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States, was marked by peaceful chanting and the display of banners calling for Wike’s removal. However, Theophilus warned that if no action is taken by Friday, March 21, the IYC would resume its protests.
The IYC also urged the federal government to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions and protect the economic stability of the region.
The group made it clear that their protests would continue if their demands were not met, signaling the potential for future unrest.
President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu for six months.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” he said in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.
Details later…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja.
The decision was conveyed in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled “Notice of Right of Occupancy with File No: MISC 81346 in Respect of Plot No: 243 within Central Area District, Abuja.”
Signed by the Director of Land Administration (FCT), Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the letter cited the PDP’s failure to pay annual ground rents from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, as the reason for the revocation.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
Details shortly…
[TheNation]
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to probe allegations about Standard Organisation of Nigeria’s reversal of its decision to shut down 18 companies found wanting in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, especially manufacturers of iron rods.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Edo lawmaker, Mr Billy Osawaru.
Osawaru, a member of the All Progressives Congress urged the House to ask SON to do everything possible to eliminate fake products particularly building materials from the Nigerian market and ensure only quality products find their way to markets nationwide.
Osawaru had expressed concern about the incessant occurrence of building collapse in Nigeria, a development he attributed to the use of substandard products, poor regulatory practices and poor construction processes.
Quoting statistics from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Osawaru said that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State accounting for about 56 per cent of them through 13 incidents, followed by Abuja with 4.37 per cent having recorded six collapse incidents.
He lamented that the use of substandard materials has sent numerous lives to their early grave, adding that at least, three buildings have collapsed in different states since January 2025, leading to several deaths and casualties.
“This is a clear indication that the Standard Organization of Nigeria has not done enough to prevent further occurrences.
“Study has revealed that poor quality of materials and cheap labour contributed about 53 per cent of building collapse in Nigeria with most of them being private residential buildings executed by indigenous companies and locals.
“SON allegedly reversed its decision to shut down 18 companies implicated in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rod manufacturers.
“The reversal, reportedly influenced by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has sparked criticism from different quarters, raising concern over the government’s commitment to enforcing quality standards in the construction industry.
“The alleged defaulted companies responsible for production of substandard building materials especially irons hides under the weak enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria to flood the Nigerian market with inferior products while exporting products of high quality to countries where substandard materials are not tolerated,” he said.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved to investigate the organisation and make useful recommendations on how to tackle the scourge of substandard building materials in the country.
AMIDST the heightening tension in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting behind closed doors with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also present at the meeting are the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Besides, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.Tajudeen Abbas, and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, were also spotted at the Presidential Villa.
It is unclear if the presiding officers of the National Assembly are part of the meeting with security chiefs.
Those in attendance are the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Directors General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Mr Adeola Ajayi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mohammed Mohammed.
Although the agenda of the meeting is not made public at the time of filing this report, it may not be unconnected with the security situation in the country.
Besides, the meeting is coming on the heels of is an explosion that rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.
Recall that the youth wing of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, had given the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike a 48-hour to apologize to the Ijaw nation over his recent utterances on the political crisis in Rivers State.
The ultimatum issued to the minister to apologize over his alleged attack on PANDEF and South-South leaders expired on Monday.
Nigerian actress Adebanke Adeyeye Awa, better known as Debanke is now a mother. The actress on her birthday in February had announced that she was expecting her first child.
Debanke shared a photo of herself cradling her baby bump and described her newfound blessing as the best birthday gift.
Moments ago on her official Instagram account, the Yoruba actress shared photos of herself from the hospital bed as she revealed that her newborn arrived safely into the world on January 29th.
The new mum cradled her baby in her arms, an emotional look on her face. Debanke captioned the post:
“My sunshine arrived safely into this world on 1/29/2025
Second slide: Is that moment you realize that every contraction was a gift
I’m officially a MOM!”.
The actress’s colleagues filled the comment section with congratulatory messages and prayed for the newborn.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the four tax reform bills transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the House had on Thursday last week, considered and approved the report of the House Committee on Finance which made some recommendations, particularly in controversial areas such as the Value Added Tax and inheritance tax.
While awaiting the Senate to similarly pass the bills, the proposed reforms are expected to be transmitted to the President for his assent in the days ahead.
Details shortly…
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.
The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
More details later…
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has said he would be re-elected for the second term, dismissing the opposition ahead of the November 8 governorship election in the state.
Speaking at a media chat marking his third year in office on Monday in the text sent to THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, Soludo declared that he had not seen any worthy challenger to be afraid of.
He said there is a general agreement among Anambra people that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has delivered good governance and deserves another term.
Soludo noted that while Anambra voters may back different parties in national elections, they remain loyal to APGA when it comes to governorship and local government polls.
“If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am a candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running?
“Which party is fielding a candidate? So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere, I have not heard of any,” he said.
Soludo acknowledged that people have urged him to seek a second term, but the final decision rests with his party.
“The party has to agree to it and give me the platform. For me, I applied for this job intentionally because I felt that’s my way of thanking God for His bountiful blessing—to spend the rest of my life serving and leaving this place better than I met it.
“If my party nominates me and if my employers, who are the Anambra people, graciously renew the tenure, of course, it’s a great honour and a great privilege to serve,” he added.
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Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has doubled down on her sexual harassment accusation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, insisting he flirted with her in his office at the National Assembly.
The Kogi Senator restated her accusation while speaking to the BCC.
She insisted Senate Akpabio sexually harassed her, stressing that, “I am being victimised. My suspension is a means of silencing me.”
The senator was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a fallout in the senate chamber over a change of seat.
But the suspension came after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment raising serious concerns and was widely condemned.
She revealed that the sexual harassment was unbearable and too many to count, saying, “It was episode after episode, moment after moment.
“We were at his country home. He was taking me around his house. My husband was walking behind us. He held my hand.
“He then squeezed my hands in a very suggestive way. We women know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.
“And he went, ‘Now that you’re in the senate, I’ll make an opportunity for us to come here and have a good moment’, you know, along that line.”
Asked if Akpabio ever made any advances towards her in the chamber or the senate, she said:
“There was a time when I rushed to work forgetting to wear my ring; there were about five senators there. He said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring; is this an invitation to treat?’ You know, statements like this.”
Responding to the interview, Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, countered the flesh revelation, saying there was never a time Akpabio made sexual advances towards Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He also said the senate president never made any inappropriate comments towards the female lawmaker, whether in his country home or the senate chamber.
Nwaebonyi also rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that the senate was trying to silence her.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he said.
An abandoned newborn baby was found Monday afternoon in a waste bin located at Balewa Hostel, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Balewa is among the pioneer female hostels of the university.
THE WHISTLER gathered that the live baby was wrapped in a nylon bag with a part of its face exposed to air, apparently to avoid suffocation.
A viral video of the incident showed the rescued baby surrounded by sympathisers. One of the sympathisers was heard explaining, “The baby was found by one of the cleaners.
“She was about to dispose of some waste in the bin when she observed that something was shaking in a bag inside it.
“She raised the alarm, and the baby was rescued. The baby is alive and fresh.
“The university management was alerted, and it immediately swung into action.”
Efforts to interview the Dean of Students’ Affairs did not yield results, but a source in the university who did not want to be mentioned for lack of authority said, “The baby is currently at the Medical Centre of the university.
“The dean is already handling the matter,” the source revealed.
A Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye also known as Raye, who went viral for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration has apologised for “talking down” on Lagos.
Speaking via Instagram on Monday, the Corps member acknowledged that her words may have offended Lagos residents and expressed regret over her choice of language.
She clarified that her intention was not to insult those who call Lagos home but to share her honest observation as a visitor.
She explained that the controversial remark was part of a broader initiative, a 30-day rant challenge aimed at spotlighting pressing issues in Nigeria.
She wrote, “I want to first of all state that I am sorry to the people who were born and raised in Lagos State if you feel offended by what I said. I am sorry.
“But as a visitor here, I could tell there was a difference in the atmosphere and quality of air here. If the way that I put it triggered your emotions and the love for your birth state, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to talk down on your birth state.”
She went on to explain that her initial plan was to post 20 videos addressing various societal concerns, hoping to spark dialogue by the 20th day.
However, the first video gained traction almost immediately, resonating with many Nigerians who shared her frustrations.
“When I started the 30-day rant challenge, I said I just wanted to be heard. I believed that if I got to DAY-20 people would begin to hear me and join me to speak to the government.
“My target was to make at least 20 videos complaining until I was heard. Lucky for me, I didn’t even have to get to DAY 2 because a lot of us were actually angry, and Day 1 of the challenge was enough for people to join me.
“I want better for myself. (And I hope you do too). The complaints I made are valid regardless of whatever ‘lifestyle’ you think I am living.
“I work 45+ hours a week and I should be able to afford hanging out with my friends every weekend. However, I can’t. But how many of us can actually afford to hang out with our friends? How many can afford that in reality? You spend all week working and can’t even feel alive during the weekends,” she stated.
She urged Nigerians to continue demanding better living conditions rather than getting distracted by fleeting controversies.
“I encourage all of us to ask for what we believe we deserve. I know distractions will take us again, very soon. But if we stay committed to asking for better we will get better,” she added.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, has asserted that the character of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to destroy the opposition party.
Galadima, while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Tuesday, described the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a factionalized extension of the APC.
Galadima specifically questioned how many non-APC members have defected to the party.
Galadima’s statement comes amid the recent defection of former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, from the ruling APC to the SDP.
Before his resignation, El-Rufai had become increasingly critical of the APC-led government under President Bola Tinubu.
He also cited a widening disconnect between his personal values and the party’s current direction as his reason for defecting.
The former Governor has urged notable politicians to join the SDP to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
However, Galadima insisted that the NNPP is a party of principle and will not enter into coalitions for their own sake.
He said: “The SDP is simply a factionalized branch of the APC. How many non-APC members have defected to the SDP?
“The APC’s character is to decimate the opposition. We must start opposing based on principles, even if it means standing alone. The NNPP is a party of principle and will not enter into coalitions for their own sake.”