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Show Of Shame -Full Speech Of Saraki’s World Press Conference On NASS Invasion By DSS

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Below is Saraki’s full speech:

It is a matter of record that yesterday, lawmakers and staff of the National Assembly were prevented from entering the National Assembly Complex by heavily armed security agents of the Department of State Services (DSS). All entries to the Complex were blocked. The National Assembly, the seat of democracy in Nigeria, was under lockdown. Senators and Members of the House of Representatives were prevented from gaining access.

2. The ensuring standoff was a show of shame that played itself out over several hours in full view of the country. In no circumstances should this have happened. And we as a nation reaped the bitter fruits instantaneously, as evident in media images relayed around the world, images that shame us as a democratic nation. The siege was also an act of cowardice by those seeking to carry out an illegal impeachment of the leadership of the Senate in flagrant disregard of the law. People who seek control at all costs, by whatever means, never minding the injury to democratic norms.

3. I have to say that this is not about me – Abubakar Bukola Saraki as an individual. It is not about Ike Ekweremadu, nor is it about Yakubu Dogara. I am speaking for my colleagues when I say that this is about the soul of Nigeria, what we represent as a country, and our standing in the comity of nations. This is a country where so much is expected of us, so many rungs of the ladder that we are supposed to have ascended as a nation. Instead we are wallowing in impunity and illegal show of force, all of which slowpoke our progress.

4. This is most disheartening. I don’t get any joy in saying: I said so. I don’t. However, some of you may recall that about two years ago, I stated that there was a government within this government, to a purpose that was not in the interest of what the people voted for. I said it then, and now we are beginning to see the manifestations of that government within a government. It beats one’s imagination how the head of an agency could have authorized the brazen assault on the legislature that we saw yesterday. Despite the threat to our lives, we shall continue to fight impunity and injustice in this country.

5. Happily, by the actions that Nigerians took yesterday, they demonstrated our strong resolve as a nation not to give ground to oppression. The legislature, more than any other institution in this country, more than any other arm of government, represents the will of the people. We are elected by the people, and an assault on the legislature is an assault on the people of Nigeria. The forcible shutdown of the legislature was an unconscionable assault on a national institution, and thanks to all your efforts, the aggressors have been put to shame.

6. The resistance mounted by staff of the National Assembly, my colleagues in both chambers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who refused to leave the entrance of this Complex until the siege was broken, strengthens my faith in the people of this country. The rain fell, the sun rose, but Nigerians stood their ground in defence of democracy. With the strength of will demonstrated by everyone against unwarranted and unconstitutional militaristic might, the siege could not stand.

7. By this, we have shown that Nigerians can resist government within government in whatever guise, and this is humbling for me. Those who sought to attack the National Assembly under my leadership for their selfish ends have only affirmed my belief in this country. They attempted to execute an illegal impeachment of the leadership of the Senate without the backing of the law, but they faltered. I am confident that, together, we shall always defeat acts of unconstitutionality. The rule of law shall always prevail.

8. I want to thank Nigerians, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives and National Assembly Staff, for standing up to be counted for democracy during yesterday’s siege. I thank the thousands who monitored the situa

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BREAKING: Malami Tells Court He Earned ₦12bn+ Legitimately, Seeks Release of Seized Properties

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Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has disclosed details of his earnings while asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim order authorising the seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.
Malami made the disclosure through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), in a motion on notice filed before the court. The application seeks to vacate an interim forfeiture order affecting three of the 57 properties currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court filing, Malami stated that he had fully and transparently declared his sources of income in his asset declaration submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The document outlined multiple income streams, including:
₦374.63 million earned from salaries, estacodes, severance allowances, and related entitlements.
₦574.07 million generated from the disposal of personal assets.
₦10.01 billion recorded as turnover from private business ventures.
₦2.52 billion issued as loans to various businesses.
₦958 million received as traditional gifts from personal friends.
₦509.88 million realised from the launch and public presentation of his book titled “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice: Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector – My Travails and Triumphs.”
Malami’s legal team argued that the declared earnings sufficiently explain the source of funds used to acquire the properties in question, urging the court to lift the interim seizure order.
The matter remains pending before the Federal High Court as the EFCC continues its forfeiture proceedings.

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MAN Urges Federal Government to Stop NAFDAC’s Sachet Alcohol Ban, Warns of ₦1.9 Trillion Loss

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The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government to restrain the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control from proceeding with its ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles, warning of catastrophic economic consequences.

In a statement issued by Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir, MAN described NAFDAC’s renewed enforcement action as detrimental to indigenous industrial operators and fundamentally inconsistent with earlier government directives.

The manufacturers’ body emphasized that NAFDAC’s recent move directly contradicts the House of Representatives resolution dated March 14, 2024, which specifically restrained the agency from implementing the punitive ban following comprehensive stakeholder consultations through a public hearing.

“Rather than abiding by the generally agreed resolution, NAFDAC bided its time and chose to rely on a resolution of the Senate that was devoid of the usual stakeholders’ engagement,” Ajayi-Kadir stated, noting that operators now face confusion over conflicting directives from different arms of government.

MAN warned that enforcing the ban would devastate Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threatening over ₦1.9 trillion in existing investments and triggering the retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct employees alongside approximately five million workers in the indirect value chain.

The association cautioned that the restriction would paradoxically undermine public health by creating market opportunities for illicit, substandard and unregulated products beyond the control of regulatory authorities.

“This is counterproductive as it will open up the market for illicit, sub-standard, and unregulated products. It will lead to an influx of imported alternatives, mostly smuggled. It will deny the government of revenues collectable from the companies,” Ajayi-Kadir declared.

The manufacturers’ group emphasized that alcohol served in sachets by local producers is manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory agencies including NAFDAC itself, making the ban particularly contradictory.

MAN also challenged the untested assertion that sachet alcohol drives underage consumption, citing credible and empirical research that contradicts this claim. The industry has independently invested over ₦1 billion in nationwide media campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage abuse.

The association stressed that banning certified products would deny adult consumers with limited budgets access to regulated alcoholic beverages while simultaneously depriving the government of substantial tax revenues.

Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees have joined MAN in opposing the ban, demanding that NAFDAC provide empirical evidence that sachet alcoholic beverages are being consumed by children.

Labor unions have called for the suspension of NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, accusing her of siding with multinational companies to undermine local manufacturers.

However, NAFDAC has maintained its position, with Adeyeye insisting that enforcement is backed by law following the Senate’s unanimous resolution setting a December 2025 deadline that has now passed.

The NAFDAC chief argued that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets has made such products easily accessible, affordable and concealable, contributing to widespread misuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers.

“This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities,” Adeyeye stated, describing the ban as protective rather than punitive.

In contrast, civil society organization Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking injunctive orders to prevent the Federal Government from interfering with NAFDAC’s statutory powers to enforce the ban.

SERAP argues that continued circulation of sachet alcohol violates the National Health Act 2014, the NAFDAC Act and international commitments under the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol.

The legal and economic battle over sachet alcohol highlights deeper tensions between public health regulation, economic survival and stakeholder consultation in Nigeria’s policymaking process, with no clear resolution in sight as multiple court cases and regulatory actions unfold simultaneously.

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Shettima: Tinubu’s Reforms Rebuilding Nigeria’s Global Credibility, Restoring International Confidence

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are successfully rebuilding Nigeria’s international reputation and restoring global investor confidence that had eroded over years of policy inconsistency.

Speaking at the formal opening of Nigeria House during the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Shettima emphasized that the establishment of the country’s first sovereign pavilion at the prestigious gathering represents concrete evidence of Nigeria’s renewed seriousness about engaging the global economy.

“Nigeria House is a response to the lapses of the past. It reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all, it advertises both our readiness and our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose and place,” the Vice President stated.

Shettima explained that the tangible benefits of the Tinubu administration’s challenging but necessary reforms are beginning to materialize, pointing to macroeconomic indicators that demonstrate fundamental improvement in Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s economy expanded by approximately 3.9 percent in 2025, marking the fastest growth rate recorded in over a decade, driven primarily by a resilient non-oil sector that now accounts for roughly 96 percent of gross domestic product.

“Services, agriculture, finance, and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now make up nearly three-quarters of government collections, marking a structural shift away from oil dependence,” Shettima noted, adding that this diversification strategy positions Nigeria for sustainable long-term prosperity.

The Vice President revealed that inflation, which stood above 30 percent in late 2024, eased significantly by the conclusion of 2025, while external buffers improved with foreign reserves rising above 45 billion dollars and greater stability emerging in the foreign exchange market.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s decision to open up to the world more deliberately comes at a critical turning point in the country’s economic journey, with reform dividends becoming increasingly visible across multiple sectors.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole reinforced Shettima’s assessment, stating that Nigeria under the current administration is rebuilding trust, restoring credibility and positioning itself as a global center for wealth creation and strategic partnership.

The minister applauded the Vice President’s support in realizing the historic vision for Nigeria House Davos, describing the project as a demonstration of strong public-private partnership that reflects the rejuvenation of Nigeria’s economy and showcases national pride.

At a separate engagement, Shettima told participants at a high-level panel discussion titled “When Food Becomes Security” that Nigeria, renowned as the African giant, has awakened from its slumber under Tinubu’s dynamic and purposeful leadership.

The Vice President expressed optimism that with ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda reforms, the coming months will witness greater climate adaptation moving from pilot projects to reality, as well as a boom in intra-African trade far beyond the current 10.7 percent baseline.

Speaking at the inaugural convocation ceremony of the Professionals’ Certification Programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima revealed that foreigners now choose to participate in professional training courses in Nigeria, citing this trend as evidence that global confidence in the country is being restored.

“The ongoing reforms of President Tinubu’s administration are beginning to restore the confidence of the global community in Nigeria,” the Vice President stated, emphasizing that transparent procurement practices and institutional strengthening form critical pillars of the reform agenda.

Nigeria House Davos, according to Shettima, represents a deliberate action to consolidate the gains of Tinubu’s economic transformation efforts through high-level engagements targeted at attracting investments in the country’s non-oil sector.

The Vice President stressed that while government can open doors, create frameworks and de-risk environments, only private enterprise can animate growth, scale opportunity and translate policy into productivity, calling on the private sector to drive Nigeria’s economic renaissance.

Upon returning to Abuja from his week-long diplomatic and economic mission that included stops in Guinea-Conakry and Switzerland, Shettima declared that Nigeria has reclaimed a frontline seat in global and regional policy conversations.

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