News
Today in Plenary: Senate proceedings for Thursday [complete update]
[Please read the Senate proceedings from bottom up]
Gavel bangs!
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki puts the question and Plenary is adjourned to Tuesday 6th of December, 2016.
Senate Leader now moves that other content of the Order Paper be stepped down to another Legislative day. And Minority leader seconds.
SP Bukola Saraki reads a letter from the National Planning Economic Affairs and make other announcements.
”I want to appeal to you, to study the INEC Bill report very well so that we can contribute effectively when we recommence” – Bukola Saraki
”I think we should expect this kind of debate because this is one of the most important bill we’re going to be considering- Bukola Saraki
Senator Kabiru Gaya Leads the debates for a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the… http://fb.me/2AXT6rTjO
SP, Bukola Saraki appreciates his colleagues for their contributions to the INEC Bill
The INEC Bill amendment Act has been stepped down to another Legislative day for further deliberation.
Senate now reverts to Plenary to report progress reached at the Committee of the whole.
Senator Ibrahim Gobir Leads the Debate for a Bill for an Act to establish the chartered Institute of Fraud… http://fb.me/5liXOW9eC
INEC Bill: SP, Bukola Saraki puts the question after an exhaustive debate and the “Aye’s” have it on the amendment on clause 11of INEC Act.
“In the case of the Commission, there is a record of accreditation directly from the smart card or any technological devices used by the Commission in that polling Unit for accreditation of votes.
INEC Amendment 11: “The result of an election in a polling Unit shall be declared invalid, null and void either by the Commission or Tribunal or Court, as the case may be.
b. “If we resort to manual voting, wouldn’t it open the margin for election rigging?
Senator Abubakar Kyari now rises to respond.
SP Bukola Saraki asks:
a. “If the card reader fails to work properly do we cancel elections?
SP Bukola Saraki seeks further clarification on the INEC Bill from the Chairman on INEC.
Senators take their time to contribute to the INEC Bill.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege says once the card reader fails, it should be replaced by INEC instead of issuing incident form to avoid rigging
SP. Bukola Saraki speaks on the importance of the INEC Bill and urged his colleagues to contribute meaningfully to its Success.
Senate resolves to the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the Report of the INEC Committee
2. Report of the Committee on INEC. INEC Act No. 6 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2016. By Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno North)
Senator Ibn Na’Allah reacts to the Committee reports and says “We run a bicameral legislature, the Chairman should come from the Senate while the Vice Chairman should come from the House of Representatives”.
1. Conference Committee Report. A report on a Bill for an Act to amend the National Lottery Act 2015.By Sen. Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central)
Senate now moves for the Consideration of Reports
The reports are laid.
b. Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority. By Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki
4. Report of the Committee on Trade and Investment.
a. Corporate Affairs Commission….
3. Report of the Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy. 2016 Budget of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). By Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe
2. Report of the Committee on Customs and Excise. 2016 Budget of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). By Sen. Hope Uzodinma
1. Report of the Committee on Privatization. 2016 Budget of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE). By Sen. Murray Bruce
Senate now moves to the Presentation of Reports.
3. Federal College of Forestry, Toungo (Est., etc) Bill, 2016 (SB. 320) By Sen. Ahmed Abubakar
The bills are passed for First Reading.
2. Alvan Ikoku University of Education Owerri (Est., etc) Bill, 2016 (SB.) – By Sen. Samuel Anyanwu
1. Federal University of Education Kano (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2016 (SB.) – By Sen. Jibrin Barau
Senate now moves to the Presentation of Bills.
DSP, Ike Ekweremadu rises to lay his petitions from a group of young Nigerians on the termination of their appointment by the Civil Service Commission and non payment of their salary.
“There’s no issue whatsoever, and I must commend Sen. Akpabio and Ike Ekweremadu for their patriotism & leadership prowess” – Sen. Na’Allah
Senator Ibn Na’Allah rises to give a report on the outcome of the meeting with the PDP caucus who staged a walkout yesterday during plenary.
SP. Bukola Saraki announces the presence of Kingscare School Lugbe Abuja, who were there to observe plenary.
SP Bukola Saraki reads a letter from the Chairman Rules & Business on notification and forwarding of BILLS to Senators email.
Senator Hunkuyi Suleiman moves for the approval of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday 30th November 2016 and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege seconds.
Senate President Bukola Saraki takes the Official Prayers.
Welcome to a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
——
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News
‘Gate of Hell’ Will Open on Gaza’– Israeli Defence Issues Finally Warning to Hamas

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a fierce warning to Hamas, declaring that Gaza City will face complete destruction if the militant group refuses to accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war.
Katz, in a statement shared on social media on Friday, August 22, 2025, used sharp words to describe Israel’s next steps.
He said the “gates of hell” would open on Hamas if it failed to disarm and release all hostages.
“Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza until they agree to Israel’s conditions,” Katz wrote.
He added that if Hamas refused, Gaza City would suffer the same fate as Rafah and Beit Hanoun, two cities previously flattened by Israeli offensives.
His comments mark one of Israel’s strongest warnings since the escalation of the conflict.
The minister’s remarks came only hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that negotiations had been ordered to free the hostages held in Gaza.
Netanyahu explained in a video address that Israel’s military operation in Gaza City would not stop during talks. “Defeating Hamas and releasing our hostages go hand in hand,” he said.
The prime minister also confirmed the mobilisation of 60,000 reservists to join the offensive.
Meanwhile, mediators have been waiting for Israel’s response to a ceasefire plan that Hamas accepted earlier in the week.
The proposal suggests a phased release of hostages, but Israel insists that only a deal ensuring the release of all captives at once will be accepted.
Israel’s hardened stance has sparked growing concern worldwide.
International leaders have cautioned that an expanded assault on Gaza City could worsen the humanitarian disaster already unfolding in the region.
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 62,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began.
The United Nations considers these figures credible.
The war was triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which left 1,219 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians.
Since then, the conflict has intensified, with both sides showing little sign of compromise.
With Katz’s threat to turn Gaza City into rubble if demands are not met, the conflict appears to be entering an even deadlier stage.
The international community continues to press for a ceasefire, but Israel’s leadership insists that victory over Hamas and the release of all hostages remain its top priorities.
Health
NAFDAC Raises Alarm as Fake Cowbell Milk Floods Nigerian Markets

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the circulation of fake Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachets in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 22, 2025, the agency explained that the counterfeit milk is packaged to look like the discontinued Cowbell “Our Milk,” but it is unauthorised and unsafe for consumption.
NAFDAC clarified that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the authentic manufacturer, stopped producing Cowbell “Our Milk” in September 2023.
The product was replaced with Cowbell “Our Creamy Goodness.” Despite this, fake versions of the old product have found their way into Nigerian markets.

Picture of Fake cowbell milk.
The counterfeit sachets bear the brand name, NAFDAC registration number, and familiar packaging design, making them difficult for unsuspecting buyers to identify as fake.
Health Dangers of Fake Cowbell Milk
NAFDAC warned that the consumption of these counterfeit products poses serious health risks.
Fake milk could contain toxic chemicals, harmful additives, or diluted ingredients that endanger human health.
Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Possible dangers include:
- Foodborne illnesses
- Allergic reactions
- Organ damage
- Long-term health complications
- In extreme cases, death
Counterfeit Product Details
- Product Name: Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet
- Purported Manufacturer: Promasidor Nigeria Ltd
- Production Date: 04/2025
- Expiry Date: 12/2028

Picture of original cowbell milk.
NAFDAC Issues Strong Warning
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing the counterfeit milk.
Healthcare professionals, distributors, and consumers have been advised to report suspicious sales of substandard or fake products immediately.
Reports can be made through:
The nearest NAFDAC office
Toll-free line: 0800-162-3322
Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC also called on traders and retailers to stop selling the fake sachets.
The agency assured the public that strict enforcement measures are being taken to remove the counterfeit products from circulation.
This is not the first time Nigerians have faced risks from fake food and beverages.
Experts warn that counterfeit consumables are becoming more sophisticated, often making them difficult to spot.
Consumers are advised to always check product details, expiry dates, and packaging changes announced by manufacturers.
By highlighting the dangers and raising awareness, NAFDAC says it hopes to protect Nigerians from avoidable health crises linked to fake milk products
Africa
‘Misplaced Priority’: Peter Obi Blasts FG’s ₦142bn Bus Terminal Project

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria, describing it as a reckless misplacement of priorities.
Obi issued a statement on Friday, August 22, via his Official X formerly Twitter platform, warning that the project reflects poor leadership and lack of focus in managing Nigeria’s limited resources. He titled his statement, “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals.”
According to him, the true test of leadership is how scarce resources are prioritized.
He stressed that investing such a huge amount in bus terminals while critical sectors like healthcare suffer shows a government that is out of touch with citizens’ realities.
Obi said: “The difference between success and failure in any nation is how leaders prioritise resources.
The decision to spend ₦142 billion on six bus terminals exposes a lack of competence and vision. It is a clear sign of poor leadership.”
The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the funds for the construction of one modern bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The government described it as part of efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and improve mobility nationwide.
But Obi strongly disagreed. He compared the allocation to healthcare funding, pointing out that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres in Nigeria is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.
“This is disturbing,” Obi continued, “because health remains one of the most critical sectors of development. Yet it is underfunded and deteriorating rapidly.
The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million Nigerians live with mental health conditions.
This is a tragic irony. How can the government ignore this crisis and focus on bus terminals?”
He argued that the health sector, alongside education and poverty reduction programs, deserves priority attention.
Obi insisted that until government spending reflects the real needs of Nigerians, the country will remain trapped in poor governance.
Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to express anger, echoing Obi’s concerns. Critics argue that the decision proves the Federal Government is disconnected from the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.
For Obi, the ₦142 billion project is not just a case of wrong timing.
He sees it as a clear example of governance failure and misplaced priorities.
News
Why I’ll never encourage my son to visit Nigeria — Taribo West

Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has strongly criticized the treatment of Nigerian football legends, vowing never to encourage his son to set foot in Nigeria due to the neglect shown to the country’s sports heroes after their deaths.
Speaking passionately during the burial ceremony of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, in a video shared by News Central on Friday, the former Inter Milan star expressed his deep disappointment with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning Rufai’s family during their time of need.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association, and yet they drop the entire burden on the family,”West lamented.
He revealed how deeply Rufai’s passing affected him, saying: “My mother passed on, I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands, I never shed tears. But when Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples all over my body. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”
West didn’t hold back in recalling similar neglect faced by other late football icons like Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.
He condemned the consistent abandonment of ex-players who had sacrificed so much for the country, stating that such treatment discourages him from allowing his children to represent Nigeria in football.
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family”, he said.
The former defender also highlighted the financial struggles faced by Rufai’s family, revealing that they had to solicit funds from friends and well-wishers just to cover burial costs.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness”, he exclaimed, visibly frustrated.
Peter Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,”was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the nation’s victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations campaign and its debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
He passed away in July 2025, leaving behind a legacy that has reignited conversations about the lack of support and respect for retired athletes in Nigeria.
News
Hardship: Man commits suicide in Imo

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on Friday morning in Amakpu Okuku community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, as residents discovered the lifeless body of a man in his 50s, identified simply as Odomma, who reportedly died by suicide.
The father of four, who earned a living selling water in jerry cans and buckets, had been battling severe financial hardship, leaving him unable to adequately provide for his family.
Odomma’s body was found hanging in an unfinished building near his home, a grim discovery that shook the community as locals went about their daily routines.
According to residents, Odomma had expressed frustration about his struggles months earlier, threatening to end his life due to the alleged neglect by his wife and children, who reportedly stopped providing him with food because he couldn’t support the household.
A community member, Ikenna, shared insights into Odomma’s despair, saying:
“He said if the situation continued, he would take his life to end the misery. We advised him to report the matter to the village head for settlement. Sadly, he chose this path. Just see how this man ended his life because of money. He could have sold his GP tank or generator to get food, but he decided to take his life. Now others will gather to eat, and he won’t be part of it.”
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as dozens of residents rushed to the unfinished building, some capturing videos of the lifeless body on their phones.
Known for his affordable water sales, with prices starting from ₦100, Odomma was regarded as a hardworking man, though visibly depressed in recent months.
Efforts to confirm the incident with the Imo State Police were inconclusive. Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye initially promised to verify the details with the Divisional Police Officer in Owerri West but could not be reached for further updates as of the time of this report.
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