Members of the National Assembly have said they will await the outcome of investigations by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria into Monday’s fire incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, even as the Chairman of FAAN’s Board, Abdullahi Ganduje, commended the airport management for its swift emergency response.

The lawmakers’ position followed an on-the-spot assessment by a joint delegation of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation after inspecting the extent of damage to the Terminal 1 wing of the airport.

Recall that a ravaging fire destroyed the Terminal 1 wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday. The fire triggered widespread concern among aviation stakeholders, prompting swift visits by government officials, regulators, and lawmakers to the nation’s busiest airport.

The lawmakers arrived at the airport around 3:07 pm, toured sections of the burnt facility, and subsequently proceeded to a closed-door meeting with FAAN management, led by the Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku.

Speaking shortly after the inspection, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, said the National Assembly would refrain from speculation until investigations are concluded.

He said, “You know the present government has an intention to always achieve safety first. When this happened two days ago, we resolved to come here and do an on-the-spot assessment today because yesterday was for budget defence. That is why we are here from both chambers.”

He noted that the lawmakers were encouraged by the absence of casualties despite the scale of destruction.

“We thank God that there was no loss of life, which is the most important thing, and we are happy that despite the incident, FAAN and other agencies lived up to expectations,” Buhari added.

According to him, emergency responders acted swiftly to stabilise airport operations, allowing international flights to continue with minimal disruption.

“They were able to turn things around and diverted flights, one to Malabo, Emirates to Accra. Even Emirates and Lufthansa still landed here around past 12:00 midnight. That shows that the response was high and, as a result, we are very happy.”

The senator stressed that lawmakers would not pre-empt ongoing investigations. “The takeaway from here is that the investigation is still ongoing, and we don’t want to pre-empt them, and that’s why we are not talking about sabotage or anything right now.

“We will allow them to do their internal investigations, and there is also security who will eventually tell us what happened exactly. We can’t give a report in a situation where the investigation is still ongoing.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, said the National Assembly would rely on official findings before taking further legislative action.

He stated, “Just like my senior colleague said, the investigation is ongoing, and we will wait for the same before anything can be done on this development. For the MD, she has done very well because within just three hours she was able to achieve stability; that is a very good one.”

Earlier, FAAN Board Chairman Ganduje expressed deep concern over the destruction caused by the fire, particularly the loss of critical aviation equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

He said the incident initially sent shockwaves through the aviation sector and posed a setback to ongoing industry reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“There’s no doubt when we heard about the fire outbreak at the International Airport here in Lagos, it was an issue of great concern, especially to the board members. We believe the core value of FAAN is safety,” Ganduje said while assessing the damage at the old terminal.

According to him, the incident affected multiple layers of airport safety, including personnel, passengers, and critical infrastructure.

“We decided to be here in order to see for ourselves. We have seen the damage that occurred, but at the same time, we have to congratulate the MD and her management team, especially the firefighters — over 150 of them who were around until the fire was completely quenched — but this is an unfortunate situation.”

He added that although sensitive equipment was destroyed, emergency teams prevented fatalities and ensured the airport remained operational.

“From what we have seen, the firefighters did a lot of work. We have seen that a lot of very sensitive equipment has been destroyed, but no death was recorded anyway. I think the situation is under control now, but it’s unfortunate.”

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Leaders of the opposition African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party on Thursday mounted fresh pressure on the National Assembly demanding an immediate amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, which they described as anti-democratic and skewed ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Senate, however, swiftly dismissed the agitation, advising opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi to pursue their concerns within the framework of the National Assembly.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ajuji Ahmed, said the contentious provisions must be expunged without delay.

Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties were permitted to nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or by consensus arrangements reached by party leaders.

However, the 2026 Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu on February 18 restricts parties to only direct primaries and consensus options.

In addition, the new law shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of the previous 12 months.

Ahmed stated that opposition leaders viewed certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu last week, as a deliberate move by the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine the will of the people ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reading from a prepared text, he stated, “We therefore state unequivocally that the new Electoral Act is anti-democratic, and its implementation will undermine electoral transparency and the sanctity of the ballot, which are fundamental to free, fair, and credible elections and the bedrock of participatory democracy.

“The introduction of the proviso in Section 60(3), which allows wide and undefined discretionary powers to the presiding officer, overrides and negates the purpose of introducing electronic transmission of election results from polling units. This negation is unambiguously intended to provide a blank check to those who seek to manipulate election results by delaying the electronic transmission of results from the polling units to the IREV on the pretext of network failure.

“The premise of the proviso in Section 60(3) is the unavailability or possibility of network failure. We find this premise dubious and inconsistent with reality. The immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, stated on record that the BVAS equipment, which operates offline, had worked with over a 90 per cent success rate across the nation, and in the event of network failure at the point of transmission, the transmitted results would be delivered successfully whenever the network is available.

“This position has been further confirmed most recently by the former INEC Commissioner, Festus Okoye, as widely reported, that every polling unit in Nigeria has internet access. Indeed, these statements by those who have been in a position to know provide a counterfactual to the lies that are being fed to the Nigerian people by a government that has lost respect for reason and reality.”

The opposition leader further stated that the accounts of these two principal INEC officials were strongly corroborated by data available in the public domain.

Ahmed added, “According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, as of 2023, Nigeria had achieved more than 95per cent 2G coverage, which is more than sufficient for the transmission of election results from polling units.

“By that same period, Nigeria already had more than 159 million internet subscribers and more than 220 million telephone subscribers using the 2G network. It is also noteworthy that this capacity provides 24-hour coverage of the entire country. This goes to show that denying mandatory real-time transmission of election results from polling units on the basis of lack of communication network is not supported by evidence.

“Fortunately, millions of our people who transact business daily with various financial platforms, even from the remotest parts of the country, know that the no-network argument is fraudulent and is merely part of the APC game plan to rig the election in 2027.

“Indeed, we find it quite ironic that the same APC that strongly agitated for electronic voting only a few years ago is now opposed to the use of technology for the mere transmission of results. The game at hand is very clear.”

On party primaries, the opposition leaders stated that the amendment to Section 84 of the Act, which confines political parties to direct primaries and consensus in selecting candidates, amounts to an encroachment on the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of parties in managing their internal affairs.

They further argued that the National Assembly could not rely on Section 228(b) of the Constitution as a basis to limit political parties to only two methods of nomination.

Ahmed stated, “There is nothing undemocratic about indirect primaries, which create an electoral college for the selection of candidates in an objective, transparent, and orderly manner.

“Our position, therefore, is that as political parties, we do not need legislation that prescribes which mode of party primaries political parties must adopt. In other words, the mode of nominating candidates should be strictly the internal affair of political parties.

“It is obvious that the objective of the APC government and their accomplices in the legislature is to provide the legal pretext for the corruption of the electoral system. They harbor neither plans nor intentions to conduct free and fair elections in 2027, because even in their arrogance and self-delusion, they are acutely aware of their growing unpopularity across the length and breadth of Nigeria, even with the recent gale of coerced and procured defections to their party.

“We demand that the National Assembly immediately commence a fresh amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 to remove all obnoxious provisions and ensure that the Act reflects only the will and aspiration of Nigerians for a free, fair, transparent, and credible electoral process in our country. Nothing short of this will be acceptable to Nigerians.”

Regarding the judiciary, opposition leaders stated that in recent years they have observed how the judiciary, which is supposed to safeguard democracy, has been used as a tool against it.

He stated, “The final arbiter in any democracy is the judiciary. It is therefore impossible to have real democracy without an independent and impartial judiciary. Unfortunately, we have witnessed in recent years how the very institution that is meant to protect democracy has been weaponised against democracy itself.

“We therefore wish to remind the judiciary that partisan politics is for the executive and the legislature, not the judiciary. The judiciary must stop being complicit in undermining our democracy. What we have witnessed in recent times represent strong evidence that our judiciary is in dire need of reform and the temple of justice is in need of deep cleansing.

“A situation where elections are blatantly rigged and those who participated in such criminality are quick to say ‘if you are not happy, go to court’ has done immeasurable damage to our democratic progress and it must be stopped. Electoral outcomes must be decided by the people, and not the courts. The judiciary must therefore re-discover its capacity for impartiality and neutrality and regain the intrinsic trust of citizens in its judgments.”

In his remarks, former 2023 APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi emphasised that the real challenge for the opposition was not President Tinubu, but the strategies employed by the opposition.

He stated, “Actually, Tinubu is not our problem; the opposition is the problem of the opposition. The first thing we must know is that we must separate ourselves from the government in power. I said in one of these conferences that when I was in government, (Muhammadu) Buhari wanted electoral reform. So, a few ministers went to him and convinced him not to sign — that if he signed, Russia would hack the system and impose the wrong President on us. And he refused to sign.

“Tinubu will one day shout electoral reforms. If he doesn’t shout electoral reforms, those who are supporting him will shout electoral reforms. Tinubu is not our problem, watch his government, watch his strategy to win elections. His strategy is simple; his pattern is simple. He tries something today, you are weak. He puts something bigger, you are weaker. So, we need to focus on our strategy.”

Additionally, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lamented the rising poverty rate, noting that the APC-led Federal Government had borrowed heavily without delivering any tangible results.

He stated, “We have the same view, but it is important that we repeat it as often as we can so that Nigerians know we are together. There is a need for a genuine opposition party. Those who are not here today — we are pleading that we all come together to save our dear country.

“The government we have today and that continues is the worst ever in our country. There is no governance in Nigeria. The legislature is at its worst. The judiciary is no longer the hope of the weak or the poor. Insecurity, killings, and abductions are worse than even in countries at war. Just in the past week, I mentioned killings in Zamfara on Friday, and today, even while we are speaking, over 20 already (killed) in Adamawa. It is all about the country; I just mentioned a few.

“Poverty has increased dramatically in the past two and a half years — from about 87 million to about 140 million today, the highest in any country on earth. In fact, we now have almost over 30 per cent of the world’s poor people living in Nigeria. We now have more poor people living in Nigeria, a country of about 240 million, than China and India combined.

“This government has borrowed more, according to records, than all governments since 1999, without anything to show for it. Food prices have not gone down. Actually, we have killed all our farmers because we have imported cheap goods and thrown our farmers into poverty, which will even worsen the hunger situation in Nigeria in the future.

“Manufacturers’ houses and warehouses are full without anything to show for it. So, we have a crisis, and everybody has to come together to save the country.”

On his part, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar urged that the opposition leaders’ position on the electoral process be submitted to all foreign embassies.

Atiku stated, “And again, what you must bear in mind is that the collapse of democracy in Nigeria is going to lead to the collapse of democracy in Africa because we are the largest democracy in Africa. These are some of the consequences that will definitely affect other democracies in Africa.

“So, I will call on other opposition parties that are not here to make sure that they are part of this movement for the unity of opposition parties to ensure we restore our democracy.

But a word of caution: we did this exercise in 2014 also. We came together and fought in this city because we felt democracy was faulty in 2014, only for us to end up in the same position we found ourselves in. The major challenges were insecurity, the economy, and so on and so forth. Now it is really worse.

“So, we must bear it in mind that we must make sure we restore true democracy to our country. That was what we fought for. That was what the founders of this country fought for, and what we fought for in the military. We must make sure that it is established in this country.”

Opposition leaders in attendance include National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, and chieftain of the NNPP, Buba Galadima.

Also present at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp, Abuja, were the ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, among other stakeholders.

Others include Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, among others.

Senate reacts

Meanwhile, the Senate on Thursday urged the opposition to channel their concerns through members of the National Assembly rather than heighten political tensions.

Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the agitation for another review of the law, likening it to a belated action taken after due process had been concluded.

“Electoral Act again? Do you abort a pregnancy after the naming ceremony? But no problem. If they (opposition leaders) have any grey areas, they can just make their personal proposals to their legislators and they will bring them.

“Once they bring it to the National Assembly, we will look at it,” he said.

Also weighing in, Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, maintained that the power to amend the Electoral Act rested with the National Assembly and not with individuals or pressure groups.

“Review which Electoral Act? Something that Mr President has assented to? No, it is the decision of the National Assembly to make, not an individual thing,” Kalu stated.

He cautioned opposition figures against what he described as “inflammatory rhetoric” capable of destabilising the polity.

“The opposition should stop heating up the polity. The route they are taking is not the right one. They should leave this route because it can only lead to chaos.

“If they are not comfortable with the current administration, they should change it by contesting against Mr President in 2027 and see if they can defeat him. In the meantime, they should stop heating up the polity,” he added.

The latest exchange underscores rising political tensions as parties begin early manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While the opposition is pressing for a review of the electoral framework to ensure transparency and fairness, the Senate leadership maintains that any amendments must follow constitutional procedures and be initiated formally within the legislature.

With both sides digging in, the debate over the Electoral Act is shaping up to become a defining issue in Nigeria’s pre-2027 political landscape.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday charged the newly decorated acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to make the Nigeria Police Force better than he met it, as the country grapples with banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities.

The President, who personally decorated Disu with his new rank at the State House, Abuja, said the appointment comes at “a defining moment for our nation’s security,” expressing confidence in the new police chief’s ability to restore public confidence in the Force.

“The commitment that I expect from you is for you to make it better than you met it. And I’m sure you can do it. Nigeria is challenged right now with banditry, terrorism and all sorts of criminal activities,” Tinubu stated during the decoration ceremony.

The President, who drew on his personal knowledge of Disu from his tenure as Lagos State Governor, said he believes in the dedication the new IGP exhibited while serving in Lagos.

“I know your record. I believe in the dedication that you’ve exhibited while you were in Lagos and I was the Governor of Lagos State.

“Now you assume this responsibility at a defining moment for our nation’s security,” the President said.

Tinubu outlined specific expectations for the new police chief, emphasising discipline, professionalism, and inter-agency collaboration.

“I expect you to strengthen the discipline, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police.

“Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that safety of lives and property remains your highest priority,” he charged.

Acknowledging the magnitude of the task ahead, the President assured Disu of his full support.

“It is a daunting challenge. I know you can do it.

“You have my full support as you advance the security pillars of the Renewed Hope agenda.

“You are a straightforward individual, committed and respected. You have sufficient discipline,” Tinubu stated.

The President urged the new IGP to draw from the experience of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, who attended the ceremony.

“You can draw from the experience of Kayode Egbetokun who had been there before you.

“You have been part of the thinking, and you’ve been part of the innovation.

“The challenge as you hold the baton of this leadership is the belief that you will excel and Nigeria will prevail,” he said.

Speaking to the outgoing IGP, Tinubu expressed gratitude for his service while linking his legacy to the success of his successor.

“To the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, I extend the gratitude of the entire country.

“Nigeria, we are a grateful nation to you for your dedication in service, expression of good leadership attributes within the Force.

“You have served with commitment and distinction, and Nigeria appreciates your contribution to maintaining law and order in our country,” the President said.

He added, “What you should look back and remember is this: you have not succeeded without a good successor.

“Therefore, the success of Tunji Disu as IGP, when confirmed, is part of your responsibility and the joy you should look forward to.”

Tinubu noted that Disu’s previous role as Principal Staff Officer to Egbetokun positioned him well for the new assignment.

“Having been part of your Principal Staff Officer, I have no doubt he understands the ins and outs of the operation.

“He will only improvise. He’s an operational person from what I know,” the President stated.

The decoration ceremony, which took place at 4:00 pm at the President’s office, had in attendance Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.

President Tinubu personally pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform, marking the formal transfer of leadership of Africa’s largest police force.

In his response, Disu pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him, vowing to end impunity and enforce zero tolerance to corruption within the Force.

“The President mentioning a lot of activities about me, mentioning areas I’ve worked, mentioning successes I’ve recorded as a policeman, brought emotion to me, almost brought me to tears,” Disu told State House correspondents.

He added, “I will let them know that the era of impunity is over. I will ensure that I train them and encourage them to follow human rights. I will ensure that they know that I will try to follow a regime of zero tolerance to corruption.”

The new police chief emphasised that Nigerian citizens are the ultimate bosses of the police.

“One of the first lectures I’m going to have with my men, I’m going to talk to them, let them know that the citizen, the citizen of the country, are the boss. No police anywhere in the world can succeed without the cooperation of members of the public,” Disu stated.

Egbetokun, in his remarks, expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to surpass his achievements.

“I invested in likely successors in the Nigerian Police Force, and I’m happy that one of those that I’ve invested in has been found most suitable for the job. I have so much confidence that he would surpass what I have done,” Egbetokun stated.

The decoration came barely 24 hours after Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday, citing family issues that require his undivided attention.

However, multiple Presidency sources told our correspondent that Egbetokun was asked to step down during a meeting with the President on Monday evening at the Presidential Villa.

Disu’s appointment came just 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

However, under the amended Police Act, which allows Inspectors-General of Police to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, Disu may remain in office until 2030.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.

Born on April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island, Lagos State, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and has served for over three decades across multiple operational and leadership roles.

He rose to national prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos State, where he served for six years. Under his leadership, the unit won the Best Anti-Crime Squad award in West Africa in 2016.

On August 2, 2021, he was appointed to head the Intelligence Response Team, replacing the suspended Abba Kyari.

Before his elevation to IGP, Disu was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.

Disu’s appointment will see the retirement of at least nine Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, in line with the tradition that senior officers vacate their positions when a junior colleague is appointed IGP.

Disu assumes duty

The acting Inspector-General of Police,  Disu, on Wednesday formally assumed duty following his decoration by President Tinubu earlier in the day.

The new police boss took his first salute as Inspector-General from members of the Quarter Guard and other officers at the Force Headquarters after returning from the Presidential Villa at about 4:15 p.m. He thereafter proceeded to the official handover ceremony with Egbetokun.

Egbetokun, dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and tie, attended the ceremony alongside Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.

In his remarks, Disu thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him, noting that the Nigeria Police Force possesses the capacity to address prevailing security challenges.

He said the Force is endowed with brave and professional officers whose institutional knowledge, passion and resilience have enabled the country to overcome difficult security situations.

The acting IG, however, acknowledged existing challenges within the Force, including a trust deficit with communities, outdated systems, resource gaps and instances of misconduct.

“These are truths we must confront with resolve in order to reposition the Nigeria Police as a trusted, people-oriented institution,” he said.

Disu outlined three priorities for his tenure: professionalism and modernisation; accountability and integrity; and community partnership.

On professionalism, he said the Force would embrace intelligence-led policing, forensic investigation, digital tools and evidence-based practices, adding that officers would be better trained and equipped.

Addressing accountability, he declared that impunity would not be tolerated under his leadership, stressing that disciplinary measures would apply across all ranks without exception.

He said, ”I will say this plainly, so there is no confusion: the days of impunity are over. The badge is a symbol of public trust. Anyone who treats it otherwise will face the full consequences of our disciplinary processes.

This applies at every rank, without exception, including those closest to me. I will not ask the public to trust a Service that does not first hold itself accountable. We will strengthen our internal oversight mechanisms, make our processes more transparent, and mean what we say when we speak of the rule of law.”

He also pledged to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms and promote transparency in line with the rule of law.

On community partnership, Disu said effective policing requires collaboration with the public, noting that community policing would become central to the operations of the Force.

He urged officers to uphold integrity, compassion and courage in the discharge of their duties, while assuring them of improved welfare and dignified working conditions.

The acting IG also called on Nigerians to partner with the police by reporting crimes, engaging with officers and holding the institution accountable when necessary.