The Senate has pledged its commitment to ensuring 35% affirmative action for women in parliament and across governance processes.

Speaking at a three-day event held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reaffirmed the legislature’s dedication to gender equality.

He vowed to push for legislative reforms aimed at eliminating obstacles hindering women’s socio-economic and political progress.

The 2025 International Women’s Day was commemorated under the theme Economic and Political Inclusion: Walk the Talk to galvanize collective action and shared ownership in advancing gender parity in the country.

Affirmative action and legislative reforms 

According to Akpabio, this commitment aligns with the country’s National Gender Policy (NGP) and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

He emphasized that lawmakers would work to remove all obstacles hindering women’s socio-economic progress and gender equality.

Call for constitutional amendments to support women 

Akpabio further explained: “We are discussing how women will have a solid stay not only in the National Assembly, but also in the country.  We will do all we can to promote gender equality in this country even if it means amending or tinkering with the 1999 Constitution. 

“Credible evidence has shown that women are better managers the world over. Sometimes, they can work harder than men. We must go back to where we have women in all spheres of life contributing to our collective progress and prosperity. 

“We must, also, decisively condemn all issues of sexual harassment that are not founded. At the 10th National Assembly, we will promote legislation that will ensure 35% affirmative action in the country,” the president of the senate assured women at the commemoration.

• Also, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s support for women’s empowerment, noting the increased budget for the Ministry of Women Affairs.

“We have made significant progress as women in this country, with women now excelling in various sectors,” she said.

• She urged women to continue working on initiatives that promote their progress and gender equality.
• In her welcome address, Ms. Tabitha Sallah, Director of Administration, Office of the Senate Leader, lauded the National Assembly for its pro-women legislations.
• She also called for swift action on the pending gender parity issues currently before both chambers.

The event was attended by the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, and the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.

[Nairametrics]

The confrontation, which lasted for hours, was triggered when FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, Afegbai Albert Igbafe, was overseeing the installation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines at the Ajantako Terminal around 2:30 PM.

How the Conflict Escalated

Customs officials, claiming they had not been informed about the equipment installation, reportedly locked the FAAN security director inside a shed.

In response, Igbafe called for reinforcements, prompting an armed FAAN security unit to arrive. The situation escalated further when Customs officers summoned reinforcements from their Ikeja barracks, creating a volatile standoff.

According to sources, Customs officials asserted control over the airport, a claim FAAN officials dismissed as “baseless”.

“The Nigerian Customs Service is merely a security agency; the airport and its operations are managed and controlled by FAAN,” a FAAN official told SaharaReporters.

The confrontation highlights a longstanding jurisdictional dispute between the two agencies, with FAAN repeatedly accusing Customs of disregarding aviation protocols.

One source emphasized that Customs’ frequent non-compliance not only disrupts airport operations but also compromises safety standards.

Adding to the tensions, Customs officials allegedly assaulted FAAN personnel who attempted to record the incident on their mobile devices. Witnesses described the attack as unprovoked and reflective of Customs’ disregard for aviation regulations.

History of Conflicts Between FAAN and Customs

This is not the first time such disputes have arisen between the two agencies:

• January 25, 2022 – FAAN and Customs clashed publicly on Twitter after FAAN accused Customs officers of forcefully accessing a restricted area at the airport.
• 2020 – Customs officials were accused of bypassing security checks to facilitate illegal cash smuggling through the tarmac. SaharaReporters previously exposed how Customs officers moved large sums of money through the airport without proper clearance.
• 2015 – Customs officers allegedly attempted to access the airport tarmac without proper accreditation and assaulted a FAAN security officer. The incident occurred while International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officials were inspecting the airport.

NAHCO Sides with Customs Over ‘Inadequate Notification’

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), which owns the NAHCO Shed, claimed that they were not informed about the installation of the ETD machines. NAHCO’s stance aligned with Customs’ claim, further justifying their actions.

“Today’s confrontation underscores the deteriorating relationship between the two agencies and raises urgent concerns about Customs’ respect for aviation protocols,” a source stated.

“These ongoing jurisdictional conflicts pose significant risks to public safety.”

[NaijaNews]

Football’s governing body FIFA will review a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the sport’s marquee event, it said on yesterday.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where the inaugural edition was staged, set to host three games.

The World Cup has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams for next year’s edition in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

“A proposal to analyse a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member in the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item near the end of the FIFA Council meeting held on March 5 2025,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.

“The idea was acknowledged as FIFA has a duty to analyse any proposal from one of its Council members.”

Earlier on Thursday, the New York Times said the proposal was made by Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay.

[Leadership]

Fares for inter and intra-state transportations have remained high across the country despite the recent reduction in the price of petrol, checks by Daily Trust have shown.

The Dangote Petrol Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had reduced their prices.

In Lagos, a litre of petrol was reduced from N925 per litre to N860 at filling stations following the cut in the ex-depot price initially by Dangote. The NNPCL also cut its price to N860.  

With the reduction in petrol price and the much promoted Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) of the federal government, it was expected that there would be an impact on transport fares. However, checks by Daily Trust show otherwise.

Oil industry players say the reduction in the pump price is still not significant, and considering other variables, it will take a long time for Nigerians to feel the impact.

Muhammed Abdullahi, who works with one of the oil marketing companies in Abuja, said only NNPC stations and others affiliated with the Dangote refinery have significantly reduced their pump price.

“And these stations are only a fraction of the thousands of filling stations in the country who are selling at almost N1,000. I believe for Nigerians to feel the impact of the reduction, majority of the filling stations have to reduce their pump price,” he said.

Situation in states

In Kano State, after the removal of fuel subsidy, commercial transporters jerked-up transport fares to all destinations following the increase in the price of fuel.

Abubakar Adamu, who claimed to have been plying the Abuja – Kano route for over a decade, said Kano to Abuja transport fare was jerked up from N5,500 to N9,000.

He said the fare from Abuja to Kano skyrocketed between N13,000 to N15,000 depending on the number of passengers in the car.

But a visit to Na’ibawa Motor Park revealed that a few drivers had reduced the fare by N1,000 for Abuja-Kano trip.

However, at ‘Yan Kaba Motor Park, Kano to Damaturu in Yobe State was N6,000 and after the fuel subsidy removal, the fare was increased to N10,000. Usman Dauda, a commercial driver operating in the motor park, said: “Many commercial operators can only reduce the transport fares after buying their fuel, because filling stations sell based on their discretion as there is no static fuel pump price.  

“You may charge N9,000 from Kano to Damaturu and on your way back, you have to charge N10,000 to balance the gap, because you probably got the fuel at a higher cost than that of Kano.”

A commuter plying the Kano-Maiduguri route said transport operators might not reduce the transport fare “because the fuel price isn’t static.”

According to him, “It is unfortunate that commuters now have to travel with extra money because the fare can change at any moment,” he said.

In Borno, when our correspondent visited the Tashar Kano Motor Park in Maiduguri, the transport fare had not changed.

One of the drivers, Aisami Isa, said they did not notice much change in the price of petrol in most filling stations in Maiduguri.

“As it is now, the transport fare from Maiduguri to Kano is: Mercedes Benz, N20, 000; Sharon bus, N12,000 and Hummer bus N9, 000,” Isa said.

 The Administration Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport  Workers (NURTW) Borno State branch, Alhaji Gana Mohammad Shuwa, said with the reduction in the price of fuel, the union was anticipating good days ahead, but most filling stations in Maiduguri, particularly independent marketers, were still selling at N1,030 to N1,040 per litre.

“We only buy at a discounted price from NNPC stations and major marketers like MRS, and Matrix selling at N980 per litre”, he said.

Also in Abuja, transporters have refused to reduce fares despite the fuel price reduction.

Residents told Daily Trust that the high transport cost had also contributed to high cost of living.

The fare for Kubwa-Berger Roundabout was N1,000 as against the N500 less two years ago; while Tipper Garage at Dutse to Apo Bridge was N1, 200 as against the N600, a year ago.

Commuters who interacted with Daily Trust at Nyanya Bus Stop said fares to the city centre and Kubwa/Zuba had remained the same despite the slight reduction in fuel prices.

Bello Yakubu, an engineer, expressed concerns that while the price of fuel had reduced, fares had remained constant.

Commercial drivers also said the high cost of vehicle parts, especially tyres, as well as servicing, were responsible for the high cost of transportation in the FCT.

They said that it cost them between N15,000 to N18,000 to service a Volkswagen Golf car, adding that a fairly used tyre which was previously sold between N6,000 to N8, 000 is now N18,000 and N23,000.

Findings by Daily Trust also revealed that prior to the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, transport fares from Zuba to Area 1 and Berger Roundabout in Abuja was N700 but since the removal of the subsidy, motorists had been charging between N1,300 and N1,500 per passenger.

In Lagos, findings also showed that despite the drastic reduction in the cost of petrol, the price of transport fare in Lagos remains unchanged.

Checks at some motor parks yesterday indicated that interstate fares remained on the high side. The fare for Lagos-Ilorin trip, which used to be N7,000, is still N13,000; while Lagos-Ibadan trip’s fare, which used to be N2,000, is N4,000 for buses and N6, 000 for cars.

Oladele Ismaila, a driver at Ojota motor parks said the reduction was insignificant. “How much was the reduction?” he asked, saying the fuel price at N860 is still on the high side.

A traveller in Kaduna, Hassan Adamu Hassan, said: “Just a few days ago, I travelled to Zaria and paid N1,700 instead of N1,300.”

Another passenger, who recently returned to Kaduna from Katsina, noted that the fare had slightly decreased from N7,500 to N6,000. However, he urged drivers to further reduce it to N4,000 in response to the lower fuel prices.

Benue/Kwara

At major motor parks in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo in Benue State, commercial drivers complained that the petrol price reduction had not significantly impacted their operational costs.

Transporters at the Wurukum Motor Park in Makurdi said petrol still cost about N1,000 per litre.

Usha Iorbee, a commercial driver, plying the Makurdi–Abuja route, said, “The price at the pump is still high. Until we see a significant drop in the cost of fuel and spare parts, we cannot reduce fares. Most of us buy fuel at N995 per litre, and we are still struggling to break even.”

In Ilorin, checks by our reporter showed that many of the petrol stations were still selling between the range of N900 and N950 per liter except NNPCL Adewole which sold for N880.

A motorist, Mr. Sulyman Malik, said: “Which price was reduced? Today, NNPCL is selling at N970, MRS N945 and Bovas N955. I have not seen any station selling lower. And even if we agree that there is some downward adjustment, how does it reflect? If we buy 50 litres at N50,000, for instance, and because of the so-called drop, I got it at N49,500, what difference does that make?

A student, Zainab Abeke, said she spends N800 daily to and from Tanke to the University of Ilorin as against the N200 it was previously.

Plateau

In Jos, at the Farin Gada Motor Park, the management of the union expressed mixed reactions over the recent fuel price reduction. While acknowledging the decrease, they described it as minimal.

Isa Ibrahim Bela, State Organising Secretary and Vice Chairman of Farin Gada Motor Park, under the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), stated, “We appreciate the reduction in fuel prices, although it’s not substantial.

“We had hoped for a more significant decrease. Nevertheless, we’ve reduced fares by N1, 000 for long-distance trips to Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, and other far-flung destinations. For shorter trips to Saminaka, Zaria, or Kaduna State, we’ve lowered fares by N500.” 

However, Muhammad Muhammad, a driver at the park, said the fuel price reduction was insignificant. He alleged that the government was attempting to instigate passengers against them.

Samson John, a passenger, traveling to Kano, welcomed the reduction. “I’m experiencing the change in transport fare first hand. I’m traveling to Kano now, and they’ve reduced the fare by N1, 000. We still urge the government to do more to reduce fuel prices.” 

However, Abduldayyanu Sabiu, who was traveling to Tudun Wada LGA in Kano State, reported no change in the fare.

“As far as I’m concerned, there’s no difference in the price. I’m paying the same amount I paid last week,” he said.

 [DailyTrust]

Elon Musk’s Mars rocket program recorded another setback on Thursday as SpaceX’s Starship exploded soon after take off.

The 400-foot Starship, powered by 33 Raptor engines, took off at 6:30 p.m. ET from SpaceX’s launchpad at its Starbase facility near Brownsville, Texas.

The ship started to spin out of control about nine minutes into the air as its engines flamed out, and mission control lost contact.

SpaceX stopped the video feed of the launch, and explained that the mega rocket “experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly.”

In a post on X, the company said the data from the flight test will be reviewed to better understand the root cause.

“As always, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship’s reliability,” the post added.

Thursday’s incident was the second consecutive failed launch, occurring weeks after an explosion dispersed pieces of a Starship vehicle into the Atlantic.

[DailyPost]

The Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will challenge in court the six-month suspension slammed on her following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements in the red chamber.

The legal counsel to the Kogi lawmaker, Victor Giwa, dismissed the Senate resolution as a violation of a court order.

Giwa spoke with The PUNCH on Thursday after the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate and walked out from the National Assembly complex.

The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition parties similarly berated the red chamber for not giving Akpoti-Uduaghan ample time to present her sexual harassment complaint against Akpabio.

“The suspension is void, it cannot even take any effect. The suspension is illegal because there is a court order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.

‘’The committee disobeyed a valid court order that was served on them, making a mockery of the chamber that is supposed to uphold the law,” Giwa said.

He argued that if Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had not sought legal intervention, the suspension might have stood.

The lawyer also expressed conviction that with a court order explicitly directing the Senate to halt disciplinary actions, the decision to suspend her was null and void.

Giwa further revealed that legal action would be taken against those responsible for violating the court’s directive.

“We are going back to court. The case is coming up in about two weeks, and we will inform the court that despite being served, including the Senate President, they still acted in violation of the order by suspending the plaintiff,” he stated.

When asked if there were plans to escalate the matter to international organizations, Giwa said, “For now, we are handling it locally. But, of course, the world is watching. The Senate must adhere to international best practices, which dictate that once a case is in court, no further action should be taken on it.”

He highlighted that the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the Senate Standing Orders, stating that every citizen had the right to seek redress in court when their civil rights are breached.

“Section 6, subsection 6 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to seek redress when their civil rights are violated. Senator Natasha has done exactly that. Her suspension is an attempt to silence her for alleging wrongdoing against the Senate President, which amounts to a breach of her right to a fair hearing,” he added.

The Senate imposed a six-month suspension on the lawmaker without pay over what it called the breach of its Standing Orders following her claim of sexual harassment, an allegation that Akpabio denied.

In an earlier interview with Arise Television on February 28, the Kogi senator, who made headlines the previous week after a public dispute with the Senate President over seating arrangements in the Senate, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her.

Her sexual harassment complaint was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, which later recommended her suspension.

The resolution of the Senate followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the committee during plenary on Thursday.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South) presented the report on the floor of the red chamber.

The report, signed by all 14 members of the committee, offered seven recommendations against the Kogi Central senator.

The committee found her guilty of all allegations against her as she did not attend the investigative hearing to defend herself.

In its recommendations, it proposed that Akpoti-Uduaghan may have the six-month suspension reduced only if she tenders a formal apology to the Senate President for her outburst during last week’s plenary session.

As part of the suspension, the legislator’s salary and security details will be withdraw and her  office locked but her legislative aides would receive their remuneration throughout the period.

Meanwhile, the Senate rejected the Imasuen-led committee’s recommendation of an apology, saying such would only be entertained at the end of the six-month suspension.

The seven-point recommendations by Imasuen read, “One, that the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of Senate standing rules, bringing the presiding officer and the entire Senate to public opprobrium.

“Two, that for the Senate to consider lifting or reducing the duration of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before reconsideration.

‘’Three, that the Senate suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan with effect from March 6, 2025, from all legislative activities.

“Four, that her office be locked up for the duration of her suspension and that she hands over all Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

“Five, that for the duration of her suspension, she must not be seen within the vicinity of the Senate or the National Assembly, including her staff.

“Six, that her salaries and allowances, including those of her legislative aides, be suspended, and that all security details assigned to her be withdrawn for the period of her suspension.

“Seven, that during her suspension, she be barred from representing herself locally and internationally as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Whip, others commend panel

In his contribution, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno; Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; and Senators Jimoh Ibrahim, Sunday Karimi, Francis Fadahunsi, Mohammed Dandutse, Cyril Fasuyi, and Adams Oshiomhole commended the committee for a job well done.

This is just as they condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s disobedience of the Senate Rules, which in their opinion, brought the law-making body into disrepute.

They called for the enforcement of the sanctions, arguing that anything short of that would lay a dangerous precedent for the parliament.

On his part, Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North) sought the protection of the aides of the embattled lawmaker as he called for the amendment of the prayer concerning them.

Kalu said, “We cannot punish the aides of Senator Natasha for an offence they did not commit. They are staff of the National Assembly and they have no other farm or means of livelihood apart from the salaries they earn from the Senate.

“As such, it would be wrong for us as a Senate to deny them and their families their salaries. I move that we should please amend that recommendation and allow them to earn their salaries.”

The Senate agreed with Kalu’s suggestion and saved the Kogi Senator’s aides from losing their salaries for six months.

In a debate featuring lawmakers elected on the platforms of different political parties, the Senate adopted all the recommendations, albeit with an amendment to prayer six, allowing the Kogi lawmaker’s aide to draw their salaries and allowances during the suspension period.

Effort by a former president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, to stop the red chamber from withdrawing the security aides of the suspended senator failed as the Senate President rejected it.

After the adoption of the report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan briefly interrupted the proceedings.

She said, “This injustice against me will not be sustained. I will fight against it.”

The Kogi politician was, thereafter, escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms personnel in the chamber.

She rebuffed efforts by journalists to speak with her as she drove away in her black Sports Utility Vehicle.

Earlier before her suspension, she had resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senator Akpabio during plenary, this time, on behalf of her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu.

After confirming there were no legal barriers, Akpabio directed her to lay the petition before the Senate.

Her petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Imasuen with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

Natasha’s husband, my close friend – Akpabio

Meanwhile, Akpabio has disclosed that he slept in a hotel located within the premises of the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State when Akpoti-Uduaghan wedded her heartthrob, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He said, “The person we are talking about here is the wife of my very good friend, or so I thought. I slept in Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana, Kogi State on the night of Senator Natasha’s wedding because the Kogi airport lights were in a poor state.”

The former governor disclosed that as the Senate President, his responsibility is to protect the institution, relying on the rules.

“The rules give me the power to give a ruling on points of order. I’m in the best position to interpret the rules of the Senate,” he added.

In the same vein, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, denied threatening Akpoti-Uduaghan during a midnight conversation with her and challenged security agencies to investigate his claims.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s colleague from Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi also apologised to Akpabio for backing her for a leadership role.

The Senate, thereafter, warned the suspended senator to stop violating the Senate Standing Rules.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Monguno, gave the warning after reporting to the Senate that the embattled lawmaker had persistently refused to stand to her feet anytime the Senate President led the procession to commence the day’s plenary in clear violation of the Senate Standing Orders 55(1).

Monguno said Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot hide under a session of the rules to air her opinions and at the same time disregard other provisions in the Standing Orders.

“Senator Natasha has been consistently and persistently in breach of this rule. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. We urge her to study the rules and comply in observance and not in breach,” Monguno said.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has continued to reverberate across the polity with the NBA, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi expressing displeasure over the handling of the case.

The Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, queried the manner in which the matter was handled.

She stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which is a build up on the dispute between her and Akpabio, might not have been the right decision to take in the interest of justice.

Stressing that in the interest of justice, she deserved fair hearing before such decision should have been taken.

She said, “To start with I will say on the suspension, we are all lawyers and would like to see fairness across board. We know the allegation is very big and he who asserts must prove so we will want her to prove the allegations and we expect fairness in it.

“I see her suspension as a kind of intimidation; you cannot be a judge in your own court. If something affects you, slide by the side and let justice take its course because we need to see fairness.

‘’We as citizens we would like to see a fair level ground for everybody. She is alleging and proving and peradventure she is unable to prove what she has alleged, she knows what would come to her. We are in a democracy, suspension is not the answer.’’

Speaking further, Muhammad noted, “The question here is: Did the committee call her before suspending her?  Did she refuse to come? Did she send a representation? If she was not called then what was the yard stick used in suspending her and if she was called and she refused to go that will be very wrong of her because she was called to prove her innocence and her refusing to honour the invite will be wrong.

‘’ Those who suspended her should know there are people out there watching and we all want justice because as far as we are concerned, the Senate is a sacred place and what is happening right now should not be happening.’’

 Professor Itsey Sagay (SAN) stated that since the matter was already before a court of law, it should have been left for the courts to decide.

‘’The matter is in court as I know and I’m surprised they didn’t leave it at that stage. I feel very sympathetic towards her because in an assembly full of men there’s a tendency towards self-defence but the men rather than looking at the matter objectively, they didn’t.

‘’I think very seriously she is at a disadvantage in that type of circle. It can never be right because everybody is saying I could be the one. My advice to her is to put the matter behind her and carry on with her life totally ignoring all those things and do her job for her people of Kogi knowing that they elected her,’’ he counselled.

 Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, believed the Senate was too hasty in their decision, saying, “My comment on the decision of the Senate is that it is hasty.”

 Like the NBA, Wale Balogun (SAN), argued that there are procedural steps that should be followed before the lawmaker was suspended.

“Legally, it is an internal affair of the legislators and they have their rules of engagement provided exercising their right and rules of engagement which they comply with as their own internal rules and regulations and then in addition to that, exercising such actions in compliance with the Constitution.

‘’For instance, was she heard? This is a fundamental constitutional provision. The Constitution requires that your internal procedure notwithstanding, should ensure that the person is invited. She should have been heard.’’

Another senior lawyer,  Lekan Ojo (SAN) also questioned the suspension stating that she has a right to cry out to the public.

“They suspended her for what? For crying to the public. But again, there are certain things in life when you get to a particular stage or you attain a particular status in life, there are ways and manners in which you must go about particular things,’’ he noted.

Atiku, PDP caution Senate leadership

The former Vice President, speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, told The PUNCH that Nigerian leaders are not creating an environment that enables women to thrive and contribute to the country’s development.

The Waziri Adamawa expressed concern over the Senate’s decision against Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it an attack on affirmative action.

He stated, “Has there been an investigation? No. So, Atiku’s position hasn’t changed. Whichever way you look at this, there is a concern. Any society that does not optimally use the assets available to it, particularly by giving women the opportunity to thrive, is failing.

 “About half of our population is women, and if we don’t deliberately create an environment conducive to promoting women’s interests—whether in politics, business, or any other human endeavour—we are underutilizing our potential.

“We’re not providing half of our population the opportunities to thrive and add value to society. With International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, it raises serious concerns. The Senate’s action of suspending Natasha for six months without conducting an investigation is an attack on affirmative action.”

Obi, who spoke through his former media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also frowned on the development.

“The situation is quite disappointing,” he lamented.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticised Akpabio for not stepping down to allow an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Osadolor described the six-month suspension imposed on Uduaghan-Akpoti as shameful.

The PDP youth leader equally dragged opposition lawmakers for failing to speak out and make their voices heard when it mattered most.

He stated, “The Senate President should have excused himself; he wasn’t truly a man of integrity. He should have stepped aside and allowed the investigation to proceed. I was deeply moved by this, and I’m sure every person of goodwill would be as well.

“Natasha could have been our sister, our wife, our daughter, or our mother. To see them all gang up and use state power and bureaucracy to silence her voice is shameful. For me, it was even more shameful for the opposition members on the floor of the Senate. They failed to speak up when it mattered.

“They were trying to stay in Akpabio’s good books. Looking at the whole situation, no one could stand up to be counted because they didn’t want to be kicked out or labelled as rebels. It’s a shame. But I believe Natasha has made her points. Though the majority will have their way, the minority will also have their day.”

The leadership of the Labour Party on called on the Nigerian Senate to reconsider the suspension of the legislator.

In a telephone interview, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, described the verdict as a disheartening and shoddy arrangement.

He said, “The suspension is draconian. The woman, I am told, was not given the opportunity to properly defend herself. That is where I and most Nigerians have issues. Don’t forget she is representing an entire senatorial zone with eight or more local governments.

“Asking her not to be in the senate for six months is undemocratic. The Labour Party stands for gender inclusivity. If the woman said that injustice was done, then they should critically look at the woman’s complaint. But unilaterally suspending her without hearing her out is injustice.

“The Labour Party does not support that. So, I think they should bring her back and revisit her case. If she says that there was an allegation of sexual harassment, at least, you should look into it and whoever is involved should clear himself of that.

 “But we discovered the person is even the judge in a matter that concerns him. Where is that done? So, I think that matter should be revisited.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, expressed shock at the outcome.

According to him, the complaint brought to the floor of the Senate should have been properly investigated before an action was taken.

“Well, should someone be suspended for raising an issue fundamental to her well-being and others? That’s one question. There’s another argument about her sitting position. When Akpabio argued about his sitting position in the past, was he also suspended?

“If a person is saying that certain thing happened to me, and you strike it out on a technicality, saying that she signed it herself or something. You haven’t even gone into the details or the merits of the matter to know whether she lied or she was right.

“Instead, you punished the person by suspending her for six months and withholding her allowances, salary and other benefits. It doesn’t seem straightforward to me. That’s all I’ll say,” he stated.

[Punch]

The world is in a mess and this is not just about Donald Trump, but a confused Europe causing disorder and then deploying falsehood and propaganda to camouflage its real intentions.

For instance, there are a lot of attacks against Trump for allegedly trying to force Ukraine to sign a mineral deal with the United States, US. This is, of course, false propaganda. The truth is that the deal was proposed and sold by Ukrainian leader  Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Biden administration in October 2024, that is over three months before Trump was sworn in! The Europeans knew this because the same deal was presented by Zelenskyy to the European Council on October 17, 2024.

This offer was part of the ‘Victory Plan’ a delusional Zelenskyy  hawked around the world, including to Pope Francis at the Vatican. 

Four months ago, the war was going very badly for Ukraine as it is now. Many parts of the  country were in ruins; it had embarked on forced conscription and 10.6 million of its populace was either internally displaced or in exile. Also, Russia had between 2023 and 2024, seized 4,168 kilometres of Ukrainian land.

Given this reality, only someone  on the verge of lunacy would claim Ukraine is about to win the war, would not talk peace, and, draw up a ‘Victory Plan’. This exactly was what Zelenskyy did. 

The ‘Victory Plan’ confirms Trump’s portrayal of Zelenskyy during the Oval Office altercation, as an unstable mind who does not want a ceasefire, does not want to negotiate an agreement, yet, has neither the men nor weapons to secure a military  victory over Russia.

The first of Zelenskyy’s  five-point ‘Victory Plan’ is for an invitation to join NATO. This, as we know, is one of the two main causes of the war. So, he wants the war to continue. His second point is for NATO to supply deadlier weapons  so he can attack  Russian territories. The third is the supply of comprehensive non-nuclear weapon which will guarantee Ukraine: “Peace through strength.”

The fourth is offering the EU, US and Canada  special agreements to exploit Ukraine’s energy, food and natural resources like lithium, gas and titanium. The fifth is for Ukrainian soldiers, after their ‘victory’ over Russia, to replace  certain military contingents of the US military stationed in Europe! Zelenskyy claimed that Ukranian soldiers are so battle hardened that they should be allowed to defend all Europe.

Zelenskyy whose five-year term as President expired on May 19, 2024, presented his crazy ‘Victory Plan’ to the Ukrainian parliament and no parliamentarian dared to oppose it as Ukrainians like Denis Kireev who cross his path can be summarily executed.

 That being the case, what stopped the EU leaders from pointing out to Zelenskyy that his plans are not the product of a rational mind. Rather, they applauded him.

They exhibited the same behaviour on Sunday, March 2, 2025 when they received him in London after Trump had bashed him. Rather than tell Zelenskyy to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations as Trump suggested, they praised  him for bravery. 

In fact, the host, United Kingdom  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer,  boasted that he is “ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air”. Despite usually exhibiting political foolishness, Zelenskyy on this occasion did not take the bait. Indeed, it would be foolish for anybody to believe that any European country would send her sons and daughters to go fight in a war that was avoidable and unnecessary.

Another silly talk by the Western European leaders is to boast that they would form a ‘Coalition of the Willing’, which, to me, simply implies  NATO minus US. This is because I do not see why any non-NATO member country would send its soldiers to go and fight in Ukraine.

Another not quite intelligible or, half intelligent idea is that announced by French President Emmanuel Macron. Rather than a straight forward ceasefire which would entail the guns going silent and an immediate cessation of hostilities, he revealed that he and Starmer want to propose a one-month truce in the war. He added that this would only be “in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure”, not on the battle field. This does not show either leader to be bright minds because it exposes them to the world as people who do not want an end to the war. It is also to ensure that Russia will not accept such a silly ceasefire knowing that it has absolute control in the air and at sea.

Starmer has his own parochial  plan for the war. He wants to sell  some 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles, LMM, worth £1.6bn to poor Ukraine. His proposal to an hapless Zelenskyy is planned to treble production at the British Thales factory in Belfast, provide 200 jobs in Northern Ireland and directly support a further 700 jobs for Britons.   

On her part, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a plan to raise $842bn. Not to rebuild Ukraine, but to “rearm” Europe and provide immediate military support to Ukraine after the United States pulled the plugs.

The EU is clearly in crisis, but it continues in its crafty ways. It had beaten into line members that tried to prevent the Ukrainian war by asking Ukraine to abide by the Minsk I and II Agreements. The Minsk Peace Talks were co-chaired  by US, France and Russia. Other participating countries included Italy, Sweden, Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, France  and Germany.

Initially, French President Emmanuel Macron whose predecessor, Francois Hollande, had signed the Agreement, tried to mediate in last minute talks, including with Putin, but was bullied into supporting Ukraine and tossing the peace agreements into the dustbin. 

But not so the then German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who insisted that Ukraine implemented the agreements in which she had been a major participant. But she was on her way out of office. To ensure Germany didn’t have a second thought about the war, the two Nord Stream pipelines between her and Russia carrying cheap gas were blown up on September 26, 2022 by some EU members.

However, despite bullying, Hungary has remained consistent, arguing that the war is unnecessary. 

 On Saturday, March 1, 2025, Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, issued a statement stating that : “Slovakia  will not support Ukraine either financially or militarily to enable it continue the war. If others  choose to do so, we will respect that.”

Zelenskyy had been used to play Ukraine like football, now, he is the ball being played in the field. He is caught between the US and most of EU. He may be taken out, not by foreigners, but by the Ukrainians themselves. May the Zelenskyy disease not happen to us.