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KWEPA warns Kwara residents to stop dumping refuse in drainages to avoid flooding and cholera, urges proper waste disposal as rainy season begins.

KWEPA Cautions Kwara Residents Against Refuse Dumping in Drainages to Prevent Flooding

KWEPA Warns Residents Against Dumping Refuse in Drainages As the rainy season sets in, the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) has issued a stern warning to residents to stop dumping refuse in drainages to avoid flooding and potential health crises.

The warning was delivered by the Acting General Manager of KWEPA, Hajia Idayat Folorunsho, during a recent inspection and public sensitization tour across major streets and communities in Ilorin. She was represented by the Head of Waste Management Department, Mrs. Tajudeen Fasilat Feyisayo.

Folorunsho emphasized that improper waste disposal obstructs the free flow of water in drainages, increasing the risk of floods, which can destroy lives and property.

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“This is part of our routine efforts to educate the public, especially now that the rains have started,” she said. “Dumping waste in drainage channels blocks water flow and leads to avoidable disasters.”

She also highlighted the urgent need for residents to build proper toilet facilities, noting that any building found without a toilet will be sealed. This move, she explained, aims to curb the spread of cholera and other sanitation-related diseases.

KWEPA reiterated its commitment to ending open defecation and ensuring cleaner, safer communities across the state.

The agency urged residents to register with licensed waste collectors for efficient waste removal and to use sanitary bins and waste nylons for disposal.

“When drainages are clogged, water will always force its way through, often with damaging consequences. Proper waste management is everyone’s responsibility,” she added.

FBI, CIA, DEA, and others must release documents on Tinubu’s alleged 1990s drug case by May 2, 2025, per U.S. federal court order.

U.S. Agencies Ordered to Release Tinubu Drug Case Files by May 2 — Court

FBI, CIA, DEA, IRS to Release Tinubu Investigation Reports on May 2 Multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI, CIA, DEA, IRS, and U.S. Department of State, have been ordered by a federal court to release investigation records related to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 2, 2025.

The order was issued by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Aaron Greenspan, an American transparency advocate.

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At the center of the case is an alleged 1990s drug trafficking investigation involving Tinubu and three other individuals: Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Akande, and Abiodun Agbele. The agencies are accused of unlawfully withholding documents tied to the case.

Judge Howell ruled that the agencies’ argument for withholding the files was “neither logical nor plausible,” mandating their disclosure in compliance with FOIA.

Greenspan had submitted 12 FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023 to various U.S. agencies, demanding the release of any existing criminal or investigative records tied to the Nigerian president. According to court documents, only the CIA was not required to submit disclosures at this time, due to pending jurisdictional clarifications.

All other agencies including the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices must now jointly file their reports and any unresolved legal positions by Friday, May 2.

The development has stirred renewed political interest both in Nigeria and abroad, as questions surrounding Tinubu’s past in the U.S. continue to attract public scrutiny.

CJN Kekere-Ekun calls for stricter legal action against DisCos over 112 electricity deaths in 2024, urging judiciary to enforce safety standards.

CJN: DisCos Must Be Held Accountable for 112 Electricity-Related Deaths in 2024

CJN Demands Accountability from DisCos Over 112 Electricity Deaths in 2024 the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the judiciary to hold electricity distribution companies (DisCos) accountable for the 112 lives lost and 95 injuries recorded in 2024 due to electricity-related incidents.

Justice Kekere-Ekun made this call during the opening session of the 2025 National Seminar on Regulations in the Electricity Power Sector for Judicial Officers. The event, jointly organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), focused on the legal responsibilities of power sector operators and the urgent need for improved safety compliance.

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Citing data from NERC, the CJN noted that although fatalities slightly decreased from the 115 recorded in 2023, the figure remains alarmingly high. Many of the accidents, she said, stemmed from vandalism, snapped wires, illegal connections, and unsafe working conditions—all exacerbated by DisCos’ negligence.

“The judiciary must take a firm stance. Operators who fail to follow safety protocols must face consequences. Justice must be served for victims and their families,” she declared.

Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized that NERC must also operate transparently and within its legal mandate. While the commission has powers to set tariffs, issue regulations, and resolve disputes, these powers are not above judicial review. She urged judges to critically assess delegated legislation to safeguard public interest and the rule of law.

Speaking at the seminar, NERC Vice Chairman Dr. Musiliu Oseni highlighted how judicial decisions directly impact investor confidence and regulatory stability. He cited landmark cases like the 2015 Manufacturers Association of Nigeria case and the 2016 Toluwai judgment, which temporarily halted regulatory functions until a Court of Appeal ruling in 2019 restored NERC’s authority.

“Inconsistent judicial interpretation has had a chilling effect on investments. A stable legal framework is critical for a thriving power sector,” Oseni said.

Also addressing the seminar, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, described electricity as fundamental to Nigeria’s socio-economic progress. He stressed the importance of judicial engagement and legislative reform in navigating the evolving complexities of the electricity sector.

“The law must evolve to reflect the sector’s realities. Our legal institutions must adapt to effectively regulate and protect the public,” Fagbemi concluded.

The seminar urged deeper collaboration between the judiciary and regulators to ensure that safety, compliance, and justice remain central pillars of Nigeria’s electricity reforms.

INEC proposes replacing PVCs with downloadable voter cards and seeks power to appoint state electoral heads, ahead of 2027 elections.

INEC Moves to Replace PVCs with Downloadable Voter Cards, Seeks Power to Appoint State Officials

INEC Proposes Replacing PVCs with Downloadable Voter Cards, Seeks Power to Appoint State Electoral Officials Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a major shake-up to Nigeria’s electoral system including replacing the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with electronically downloadable voter cards.

The commission also wants constitutional amendments that would strip the President of the power to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), instead giving that authority to INEC itself.

These proposals were disclosed by Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, during a presentation at a retreat in Lagos with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters.

Kuna explained that these reforms are designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s electoral process.

“INEC is proposing to introduce downloadable voter cards to replace the current PVCs,” he said. “We are also seeking to amend existing laws so that the commission can directly appoint the heads of its state offices, who will now be known as State Directors of Elections.”

Currently, Resident Electoral Commissioners appointed by the President oversee the conduct of elections at the state level. They manage logistics, supervise ad hoc staff, and ensure the integrity of results. However, INEC believes these responsibilities should be directly under its internal oversight.

To this end, INEC is proposing changes to:

Section 14 (3), Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, and

Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022,

These amendments would enable the commission to appoint and discipline the heads of its state and FCT offices.

Kuna clarified that the proposed State Directors of Elections would take over the functions currently handled by RECs, aligning with a new internal structure aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence.

At present, the 1999 Constitution grants the President the exclusive power to appoint RECs, subject to Senate confirmation, and only the President can remove them a process that requires a two-thirds Senate majority.

INEC’s reform package is part of a broader agenda to prepare for the 2027 elections, with additional proposals for early voting, diaspora participation, and the introduction of digital solutions to streamline voter access and electoral processes.

El-Rufai brands APC and PDP as godfather-infested and backs the SDP as Nigeria’s only hope for credible leadership and political revival.

SDP Is Nigeria’s Only Hope — El-Rufai Slams APC, PDP Over Godfather Politics

SDP Is Nigeria’s Only Hope El-Rufai Slams APC, PDP Over Godfather Politics Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that Nigeria’s two dominant parties the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are no longer viable options for the country’s future, describing them as deeply “godfather-infested” and politically dysfunctional.

El-Rufai made the remarks during a visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace in Kano on Monday. He used the occasion to promote the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the most credible political platform to rescue Nigeria from its current governance crisis.

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“After joining the SDP, it was important to come and engage with stakeholders here. Kano is critical to any serious political movement because of its consistently high voter turnout,” El-Rufai told journalists.

A founding member of the APC, El-Rufai said his new political mission is to rally reform-minded Nigerians around the SDP, a party he believes has the capacity and integrity to deliver on good governance.

“Twelve years ago, we merged three major parties to form the APC and successfully unseated an incumbent. But the mission now is different we are aligning disillusioned members across political lines under the SDP, which has the best pedigree for the task ahead,” he said.

According to El-Rufai, both the APC and PDP have been hijacked by entrenched political godfathers, leaving them incapable of internal reform or delivering real change.

“We saw godfatherism destroy the PDP, and it is now wrecking the APC from within. Nigerians need a party founded on justice, internal democracy, and a commitment to public service. The SDP offers that alternative,” he stressed.

El-Rufai reaffirmed his dedication to rebuilding Nigeria’s political future on principles of fairness, accountability, and inclusive governance, and praised Emir Sanusi for his consistent advocacy for national development.

“The SDP is not just another party; it’s a movement to restore dignity and responsibility in leadership,” he concluded.