News

Crisis Hits Senate, Chief Whip Storms Out Of Session

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2023

The crisis of confidence among Senators came to a head, on Tuesday, as the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, stormed out during plenary to protest the refusal of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to address alleged procedural errors.

In order to prevent the situation from degenerating further, Akpabio requested that his colleagues meet behind closed doors for further discussion.

Trouble started minutes after the commencement of the day’s session when the Chief Whip , Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South ) , raised a point of order to draw the Senate President’s attention to alleged presedurial errors committed by him which were yet to be corrected.

Specifically, Ndume , referenced a motion on the need for re – opening of Nigeria – Niger Border which was moved by Senator Summaila Kawu ( NNPP Kano South ), which Akpabio allowed to be debated without first having the official title of the motion read as was the normal procedure.

Ndume, relying on Order order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested that the Senate President should allow for the correction of any error made or observed during plenary .

He said, “This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guided by laws , rules and procedures . If in the course of proceedings at any session, errors are observed , they must be corrected before forging ahead with such proceedings…”

He had hardly completed expressing his thoughts when Akpabio interrupted by noting that, since he had ruled on issues raised , it can not be revisited. He subsequently ruled Ndume out of order.

Undaunted, another Senator, Sunday Karimi ( APC Kogi West ) , rose in defence of Ndume’s point of order by raising another point of order; but was equally ruled out of order by the Senate President.

In an attempt to douse the tension, which was reaching feverish pitch at this point , the Deputy President of the Senate , Jibrin Barau quickly raised order 16 , which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator seeking to correct or review an earlier decision taken.

Akpabio sustained this order. This infuriated Ndume, who equally raised another point of order, specifically order 54 to seek for correction of the perceived error.

Again, Akpabio ruled him out of order without allowing him exhaust his line of thought.

At this point, Ndume had had enough, he picked his documents and a few other belongings and stormed out of the Senate Chamber.

His action which was obviously unexpected led the Senate into resolving to go into a closed session.

Incidentally, Ndume was the campaign manager for Akpabio during the race for Senate President in June.

This is happening at a time Senators are preparing to leave for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital for retreat which begins on Wednesday.

Tension has been building up long before the Senate resumed from its long vacation in September.

There were speculations about moves to impeach the Seanate President and change the leadership.

This prompted the Senate Presodent’s Media Office to issue a statement dismissing the speculation as a figment of the imagination of the authors.

However, Senator Elijah Abbo, who was recently sacked by the judgement of an Appeal Court, issued a statement on behalf
of the powerful Northern Senators accusing Akpabio’s office of trying to pit them against President Bola Tinubu.

He, in fact, accused the Senate President’s Office of being the brains behind the alleged move against the Senate leadership.

There are momurs among Senators that Akpabio has been engaged in a series of gaffes which was allegedly adversely affecting the image of the Upper Chamber.

First, an announcement that money was as sent to their individual accounts for “the holidays,” then his “uncomfortable joke” about letting the poor breath.

VANGUARD

News

NiMet Predicts Three-day Sunshine, Cloudiness From Monday

Published

7 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.‎

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja envisaged sunny skies over the entire northern region throughout the forecast period on Monday.‎

It envisaged ‎sunny skies with patches of clouds over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, ‎cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals is anticipated over the region with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River during the afternoon to evening hours,” it said‎According to NiMet, dust haze is anticipated over Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and Yobe on Tuesday throughout the forecast period.‎It anticipated sunny skies with cloud patches over the entire central region.

“For ‎southern region, ‎cloudy skies are expected over the region with slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of ‎Cross River during morning hours.‎” Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day,” it said.‎

The agency predicted dust haze over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.‎NiMet anticipated a sunny and hazy atmosphere over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, cloudy atmosphere are over the region in the morning hours.‎

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers ” it said.

NiMet urged the public to drive under the rain with caution and to take necessary precautions as ‎dust particles would be in suspension over the northern region.

NiMet advised people with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather ‎conditions.

‎”Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.‎” Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet – visit our website – www.nimet.gov.ng.

News

MOWAA: Why I Will Not Appear Before Edo Assembly Panel — Obaseki

Published

55 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has given reasons he would not appear before the Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate funding and ownership of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The Edo Assembly set up the panel following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo that the Assembly should probe funding and ownership of the projects.

Amongst what the governor requested the Assembly to investigate is the state government’s N3.8bn investment in the MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Hotel.

Former Governor Obaseki is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Thursday, December 4th, 2025.

The Committee, had in a letter signed by its Secretary, Bekisu Oshone Wilson, said attendance by Obaseki and others were required as part of the committee’s investigation.

Obaseki, who spoke through his media adviser, Crusoe Osagie, said it was offensive and laughable for the Assembly to invite him over a matter that was already in court.

He said the Edo Assembly should learn to know how the law works.

The former Edo Governor said he could not be subjected to answering separately on the same issue.

“It is subjudice for the former Governor to appear before the Edo Assembly in a matter already in court.

“Why subject him to another round of questioning on the same issues?”

Management of MOWAA had also refused to appear before the Edo Assembly Ad Hoc Committee.

Its Counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, said the Assembly could only make recommendations but that the Court would make the final decision on the issues.

News

FULL LIST: Approved Physical Verification Centres For CDCFIB 2025 Screening

Published

2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) who hav now closed portal, extended application deadline, Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) who important update to applicants, Civil Defense, Immigration, Correctional and Fire Service personnel as jobs opening on CDCFIB recruitment portal,

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has officially released the comprehensive list of physical verification centres for the 2025 recruitment exercise.

Contents
ABIA
ADAMAWA
AKWA IBOM
ANAMBRA
BAUCHI
BAYELSA
BENUE
BORNO
CROSS RIVER STATE
DELTA STATE
EBONYI
ENUGU
EDO
EKITI
GOMBE
IMO
JIGAWA
KADUNA (Two Approved Centres)
KANO (Two Approved Centres)
KATSINA
KEBBI
KOGI
KWARA
LAGOS (Three Approved Centres)
NASARAWA
NIGER
OGUN
ONDO
OSUN
OYO
PLATEAU
RIVERS
SOKOTO
TARABA
YOBE
ZAMFARA
FCT (Four Approved Centres)
This development is important for all shortlisted applicants under the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The physical verification stage remains one of the most decisive phases of the recruitment process. It is where the board confirms each applicant’s identity, validates documents, and verifies physical fitness before allowing candidates to progress to the final stage of selection.

Full List of Official CDCFIB Physical Verification Centres Nationwide
Below is the full and verified list of approved centres for the 2025 CDCFIB screening exercise across Nigeria in all 36 states.

This list includes centres for all four services:

ABIA
NCoS State Command, Along Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, Mgbarakuma Ubakala, Umuahia

ADAMAWA
NIS State Command, Adamawa

AKWA IBOM
NCoS State Command, Plot 11 Block C Attan Offot, Uyo

ANAMBRA
NCoS State Command, Federal Secretariat Complex, Awka

BAUCHI
NCoS Zonal Office, Bauchi

BAYELSA
NCoS State Command, Capt. Amangala Street, Ovom, Yenagoa

BENUE
NIS State Command, Makurdi

BORNO
NCoS State Command, Baga Road, Maiduguri

CROSS RIVER STATE
NCoS State Command, Murtala Muhammed Highway, 11/11 Bus Stop, Calabar.

DELTA STATE
NCoS State Command, Km 6 Asaba–Benin Expressway, Asaba

EBONYI
NCoS State Command, No. 21 Nnorom Street, Mile 50, Abakaliki

ENUGU
Correctional Training Service, Enugu

EDO
NCoS State Command, Reservation Road, Off Sapele Road, Benin City

EKITI
NCoS State Command, Fayose Estate, Off Ado Road, Ado Ekiti

GOMBE
NIS State Command, Gombe

IMO
Correctional Armed Squad Training School, Onitsha Road, By Assumpta Press Junction, Irete–Owerri

JIGAWA
NCoS State Command, Along Takur Site, Dutse

KADUNA (Two Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Correctional Service Staff College, Barnawa
Centre 2: Correctional Training School, Independence Way

KANO (Two Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Immigration Training School, Kano
Centre 2: NCoS State Command, No. 1 Mission Road, Bompai, Nasarawa

KATSINA
NCoS State Command, Room 41, Dandagoro, Near Mega Filling Station, Federal Secretariat

KEBBI
Correctional Training College, Birnin Kebbi

KOGI
NIS State Command, Lokoja

KWARA
NCoS State Command, Behind Old Herald Newspapers Office, Flower Garden Area, Ilorin

LAGOS (Three Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Correctional Training College, Kirikiri, Apapa
Centre 2: NIS Zonal Headquarters, Old Secretariat Road, GRA–Ikeja
Centre 3: Federal Fire Service Training School, Western Avenue, Ojuelegba

NASARAWA
NIS State Command, Nasarawa

NIGER
NSCDC Zonal Office, Old State Secretariat Complex, Minna

OGUN
NSCDC College of Security Management, Abeokuta

ONDO
NCoS State Command, Opposite NDELA Office, Alagbaka, Akure

OSUN
NCoS State Command, Adjacent Osun State House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo

OYO
NCoS State Command, Opp. State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan

PLATEAU
Civil Defence Command and Staff College, Jos

RIVERS
Immigration Training School, Ahoada

SOKOTO
Immigration Command and Staff College, Sokoto

TARABA
NCoS State Command, Off Specialist Hospital Road, Jalingo

YOBE
NSCDC State Command, Federal Secretariat Complex, Damaturu

ZAMFARA
NCoS State Command, Temporary Office Malam Yahaya, Federal Secretariat Complex, Gusau

FCT (Four Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau Hall, NCoS HQ, Airport Road
Centre 2: Mohammad Babandede Conference Hall, NIS HQ, Airport Road
Centre 3: FFS FCT Command, Kubwa Metropolitan Fire Station
Centre 4: Dr. Ade Abolurin Auditorium, NSCDC Headquarters, Airport Road