Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP/Kogi Central) has cried out that Nigerian immigration officers seized her passport at an airport, preventing her from travelling abroad.

Over the weekend, Akpoti-Uduaghan celebrated her second anniversary in the Senate by commissioning projects in Kogi Central.

The lawmaker went live on Instagram at the airport as she questioned immigration officials over the alleged confiscation of her passport.

In a video obtained on Tuesday, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of giving the order for her passport to be seized.

READ ALSO:Senator Natasha Reportedly Stopped At Abuja Airport

She described the action as an unlawful restriction of her movement and a gross violation of her fundamental rights.

“Hello, fellow Nigerians. I’m Senator Natasha. Having completed my second year in office, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport here, and my passport has been withheld again,” she said in the video.

“This same thing happened before when I was stopped from travelling even though I had committed no offence, and there was no court order restricting me. The last time this happened, the officer in charge told me that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he claimed that each time I go abroad, I ‘spoil the image of the country’ by granting interviews to international media.”

According to the senator, it was only after the intervention of a certain influential person that her passport was released the last time such an incident occurred.

READ ALSO:Police Alert Public On Anonymous Bomb Threats In Edo

“Godswill Akpabio has instructed the Controller General of Customs to withhold my passport. This is wrong,” the lawmaker said.

She claimed that President Bola Tinubu had instructed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to withdraw all cases in the court filed by the Federal Government against her.

My invitation to Akpabio, other colleagues procedural, not personal, Natasha clarifies
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s passport was later released by the immigration officials.

The Kogi legislator was involved in a high-profile dispute with Akpabio in February over seat reallocation in the Senate, which escalated into her six-month suspension, effective March 6, 2025.

She, however, resumed her duties on September 24, 2025.

The governor of Edo state, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed his administration’s readiness to embark on the production of essential drugs from 2026 in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The governor stated this
during an inspection of the Central Medical Stores, presently under the supervision of the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (DMA).

Represented by his Deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the governor revealed the state’s readiness to bring to life the moribund Edo Pharmaceutical Company.

The governor, who said the essence was to bring to an end medical tourism in the state, noted that facilities at the Edo pharmaceutical company and central medical stores were vandalised during the EndSARS protest in 2020.

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“The state was desirous to put the facility to good use through the production of essential drugs, which will ease medical costs in the state and even the South – South geopolitical region,” he said.

Okpebholo affirmed that the state was ready to harness the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which aims to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He said this would attract investment, increase local production of medical products, and expand the private sector.

“The Governor is passionate about the welfare of the people of Edo State. Hence, he told us to come look around and let him know where there are areas of concern and where they need immediate intervention.”

READ ALSO:Edo Deputy Gov Raises Concern Over Documentation On Radisson Hotel

Idahosa stated, “We also did inspection on those drugs that have been supplied by the state government for the use of Edo people.

“What we did at the government medical stores is to ensure that the manufacturing date and the expiration dates were intact which means those drugs are good enough for Edo people.

“We also went round the pharmaceutical company that used to produce drugs. Because of the end SARS vandalization, the place is no longer effective.

“We will bring this back to the attention of the governor and he will bring it back to use.”

READ ALSO:Edo Vows To Reclaim Looted Assets, Strengthens Public Healthcare

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole speaking after the extensive inspection, said, “The drug management company was created for a purpose, and, it is unique, based on the fact that during campaigns this administration had promised affordable and accessible healthcare.”

He revealed that the DMA is all about “having the 36 States of the federation coming together to do a pull purchase,” which he asserted leads to price crashes, even lower than the manufacturing price.

He noted that the federal medical centres and even private pharmacies will buy from the state and thus create a win-win for everyone involved, especially the downtrodden.

Oshiomhole harped on the need to take advantage of the PVAC, a presidential initiative to encourage local manufacturers, saying that “It is going to be in our 2026 annual plan, and other plans for our next financial year.”

He revealed that the state partnered with the Federal Government to revive the production of essential drugs such as Panadol, antimalarial, and all other essential drugs.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that he would support US President Donald Trump if he provides technology to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

Wike stated this on Monday while responding to questions in an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

His comment comes in the wake of the Christian genocide allegation in Nigeria made by Trump.

It will be recalled that Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over the same allegation.

READ ALSO:Trump To Receive Full Menu Of Options To Stop Nigeria Genocide – US Rep, Moore

The US President also said that he had asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians”.

Responding, Wike said, “It is not enough for me to capitalise that people are dying in Plateau, Benue and other places.

“I have said that I will support Trump in providing and supporting Nigeria with technology in the fight against terrorism. I will also support any country that wants to proffer solutions in tackling terrorism in Nigeria.”