The Federal Government on Thursday deployed 10 electric shuttle buses and 20 electric sedans at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to boost operational efficiency.

The Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Abdullahi Ganduje, said this during the inaugural ceremony, adding that the move marked an important milestone in FAAN’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery.

He further said that the event revealed effort being made towards modernising airport operations and aligning Nigeria’s aviation sector with global best practices.

“It is my pleasure to be part of this momentous occasion marking the official deployment of electric vehicles at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“As part of this deployment, FAAN is introducing 10 electric shuttle buses and 20 electric saloon vehicles into airport operations.

“These vehicles will support airside and land side logistics, staff movement, and services, strengthening passenger coordination and efficiency across the airport,” he said.

According to him, electric vehicles offer clear operational and environmental benefits. They are cleaner, quieter and more energy-efficient, significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping FAAN minimise its ecological footprint.

The chairman added that using electrical vehicles would contribute to healthier airport environments and a more comfortable work and travel experience.

“This initiative directly supports global sustainability targets, including International Civil Aviation Organisation’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“By embracing electric mobility, FAAN is positioning Nigerian airports to remain competitive, responsible and future-ready.

The chairman commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s strong support for aviation sector reforms.

“The progress we are witnessing today reflects a clear policy direction that prioritises efficiency, sustainability, and institutional renewal,” he said.

He affirmed that the FAAN board remained committed to ensuring the programme would be effectively utilised, adequately maintained, and gradually expanded to other airports in the country.

Ganduje, who said the deployment at NAIA, would not be an end, maintaining that it would be a foundation for a more modern and resilient airport logistics system.

Speaking, FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said FAAN had secured approval to deploy 100 Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the spirit of partnership and innovation.

She said the EVs would operate as airport shuttles at both Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and NAIA.

According to her, the launch of the 10 state-of-the-art electric shuttle buses in NAIA, as first phase, is a monumental step towards greening operations and reducing carbon footprint at the nation’s airports.

“They (EVs) represent more than just transport; they symbolise cleaner air, quieter terminals, and a commitment to pioneering sustainable infrastructure in Nigerian aviation.

“This partnership is a testament to what is possible when the public and private sectors align with a shared vision.

“ FAAN has always prioritised passenger comfort, safety, and seamless airport experience, and today’s official launch of our electric shuttle buses and cabs is a further, powerful demonstration of that commitment to service towards sustainable future.”

According to her, the authority has radically improving the welfare and capacity of dedicated staff, and elevating the standard of service for every customer who passes through the airport.

“ We confronted this task with clear eyes, acknowledging the very real challenges of ageing and obsolete facilities.

“But with the unwavering support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and our dynamic Honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, we have truly caught the wind in our sails.

“We are navigating boldly and heading firmly in the right direction. A cornerstone of our strategy has been opening FAAN to innovative partnerships with the private sector. This collaborative approach has already yielded significant strides,” he said.

She said the FAAN management had determined a network of clean energy solutions across all nation`s airports in the future, from solar power to comprehensive EV infrastructure, making FAAN a leader in eco-friendly aviation management in Africa.

Kuku added that the FAAN`s “Go-Cashless Initiative“had been automating payments across all channels, boosting revenue collection efficiency, and significantly reducing revenue leakage.

She said the initiative was as about transparency, accountability, and modernising the passenger experience from the first touchpoint.

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The Senate has constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise and distil senators’ inputs on the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, as lawmakers intensify efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday, during which senators further scrutinised the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly.

Announcing the outcome of the session, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the committee was set up to synthesise lawmakers’ views and address outstanding concerns on the proposed amendments. He said the panel was “mandated to contribute, galvanise and distil the opinion of senators on the bill.”

“In no particular order, the committee will be led by Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,” Akpabio said.

Other members of the committee are Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam.

Akpabio added that the committee has a maximum of three days to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the Senate by Tuesday.

The Senate had on Wednesday stepped down consideration of the report on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, opting instead for an executive session to allow for deeper examination of the proposed legislation.

The move followed deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Simon Lalong.

Lawmakers agreed to suspend debate to give senators additional time to study the bill, citing its far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s electoral process.

Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed that the Senate must exercise due diligence before concurrence.

“This is a very important bill, especially as it is election time. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” he said.

According to the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, a clause-by-clause review indicates that the proposed amendments would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.

The committee consequently recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Earlier, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, outlined key components of the proposed amendments, describing the bill as a major step towards improving electoral credibility and safeguarding institutional independence.

He said the bill introduces stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to N5m, a two-year jail term, and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.

The proposed law also prescribes tougher penalties for result falsification and obstruction of election officials, introduces electronically generated voter identification — including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code — and mandates the electronic transmission of polling unit results.

Bamidele further disclosed that the bill recognises the voting rights of prisoners, mandates INEC to register eligible inmates, standardises delegates for indirect party primaries, and requires the release of election funds at least one year before polling day.

According to him, the reforms are aimed at guaranteeing credible, transparent and secure elections beginning with the 2027 general polls, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional requirements.

“At the end of it all, good governance, enhanced security and the welfare of our constituents shall remain our cardinal objectives,” Bamidele said.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.

The agency clarified that it did not shut down any alcohol-producing company but only prohibited the sale of alcohol in sachets and small containers, citing public health concerns.

In a statement on Thursday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the move was aimed at protecting children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, in line with a resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Agency’s public health mandate,” the statement read.

According to the agency, the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made alcohol cheap, easily accessible and easily concealable, contributing to rising cases of underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social vices.

Adeyeye noted that placing warning labels such as “Not for children” on sachets and small containers had proven ineffective due to societal realities.

“Many parents do not even know their children consume sachet alcohol because the pack size is small, cheap and easily concealed,” she said.

She revealed that reports from schools had shown disturbing trends, including a recent case in which a teacher disclosed that a student claimed he could not sit for an examination without first taking sachet alcohol.

NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturers to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.

The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and reconfigure their production lines.

“The current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” she said.

Adeyeye stressed that the ban was not punitive but protective.

“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes.

“The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”

She reiterated that only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200ml were affected, adding that NAFDAC still approved alcoholic beverages in larger pack sizes.

The renewed enforcement has sparked immediate reactions across industry, labour, and public spheres.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders, including the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB), have criticised the move as inconsistent and potentially damaging.

On January 23, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress gathered at the Lagos office of NAFDAC to protest the ban.

They warned that the enforcement would displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.

Some protesters described the policy as a serious regulatory misstep that fails to balance public health goals with economic realities—particularly in a country where low-cost sachet spirits remain popular among low-income consumers.

But NAFDAC called on manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply fully with the directive, stressing that no further extension would be granted beyond December 2025.

The agency said it would continue to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency to intensify nationwide sensitisation on the dangers of alcohol misuse.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe, wholesome and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.

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