NEWS
House of Representatives To Hold Town Hall Meetings
The House of Representatives intends to host a series of town hall meetings to promote citizens’ involvement in its activities.
Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu shared this during a national dialogue organized by the Order Paper advocacy initiative, an NGO, in Abuja on Wednesday.
He highlighted that this approach aligns with the open parliament initiative, aiming to enable citizens to engage with the legislative processes.
Kalu emphasized that a transparent and accessible parliament is vital for a flourishing democracy.
He noted that the dialogue’s theme strongly corresponds to the participatory governance principles upheld by the 10th Assembly.
He said “Our commitment to align with the goals and ambitions of this dialogue is unwavering.
“We recognise that to achieve the lofty goals set by the Open Parliament Index (OPI), we must prioritise the standards of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the Principles of Parliamentary Openness, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) indicators for democratic parliaments.
“The adoption of these benchmarks underscores our determination to create a parliament that is not only accessible but also responsive to the needs and aspirations of our constituents.
“The 10th Assembly is committed to embracing technology and innovation to enhance transparency and participation,” he added.
Mr Kalu added: “We understand that in an era defined by rapid technological advancements, an open parliament must utilise digital tools to bridge the gap between citizens and their representatives.
“This assembly is resolute in its pursuit of leveraging technology to streamline communication, facilitate access to information, and enable meaningful engagement between citizens and their elected officials.”
He said that participatory governance was not a mere buzzword for the 10th Assembly but also the cornerstone of its legislative agenda.
“We intend to establish mechanisms that enable citizens to actively participate in the legislative process, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
“Through randomised and hybrid town hall meetings, which you will see from my office starting next year, online platforms, and collaborative policy discussions, which will commence from my office later this year in the form of a policy dialogue event, we aim to create an inclusive space where every citizen’s opinion counts.
“As the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, I am personally committed to leading the way for innovation and transformation in the realm of participatory governance and open parliament.
“I firmly believe that a parliament that is accessible, transparent, and accountable is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy,” he said.
According to Mr. Kalu, the conclusions drawn from the discussions will be submitted to the National Assembly’s leadership for potential integration into the legislative agenda.
He noted that the dialogue represents an important stride towards establishing a government that genuinely represents and serves the people.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for their intervention in the rehabilitation of major Federal roads across the state.
Okpebholo made the remarks during an inspection tour of key Federal road projects in Edo State alongside Umahi, where he commended the Federal Government’s attention to the state’s critical road infrastructure.
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The governor said residents of Edo were pleased with the intervention, urging them not to be distracted by criticisms of the Federal Government on social media.
“Edo people are happy with the President. Don’t listen to all these social media opposition. We know the President means well for Edo,” Okpebholo said.
He stressed the strategic importance of Edo State, describing it as a major gateway connecting the South-South, South-West and other parts of the country.
“Whenever there is a problem, the President always listens because Edo State is like a gateway to any part of the South, South-South and South-West. Even though we are in the North, they are the hub centre point. So anything that happens here affects every state in this country,” he said.
According to Okpebholo, President Tinubu understands Edo’s strategic position and has shown a willingness to respond to the state’s infrastructure needs.
“He doesn’t wait for anything to happen to listen to Edo State,” the governor added.
The governor also thanked Umahi for his role in the ongoing road rehabilitation projects and urged him to convey the appreciation of Edo residents to the President.
“So I want to thank you, Mr Minister of Works, and I want you to take our message back to the President that Edo people are saying thank you,” Okpebholo said.
He further pledged that the state would return to appreciate both the President and the minister after the completion of the road projects.
The inspection is part of ongoing efforts by
the Federal Government to assess and accelerate work on critical road infrastructure in Edo State, a key transportation corridor linking several parts of southern Nigeria.
The Nigerian media industry has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of Dotun Oladipo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited, publisher of Eagle Online.
Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 56.
His death was announced on the Eagle Online website on Wednesday, with the publication stating that the veteran journalist was in his “usual state of health earlier in the day before suddenly taking ill at his office.”
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The publication described his death as a “shock” to his colleagues, friends and associates.
According to report, Oladipo reportedly drove himself to an unnamed hospital hours before his death.
His death was confirmed by the President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, Danlami Nmodu, who announced the development on the guild’s WhatsApp platform.
“It has just been confirmed that Emeritus President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, died today.
“May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” Nmodu stated.
The General Secretary of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Nkanu Egbe, also confirmed the death in a statement on Wednesday.
“It is with profound sorrow that I announce the sudden death of our President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, who passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 56,” Egbe said.
Egbe described Oladipo as a dedicated leader whose journalism career spanned nearly three decades.
“Mr Oladipo led our cooperative with dedication, alongside a distinguished journalism career spanning nearly three decades. His passing is a devastating loss not only to IMPCMS but to Nigerian journalism as a whole.”
He said details of the funeral arrangements, condolence visits and interim leadership would be communicated in due course, while urging members to keep Oladipo’s family in their prayers.
Reacting to the development, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, described Oladipo as a
“complete gentleman, accomplished digital journalist and remarkable human being.”
“Dotun Oladipo has passed away. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community of digital journalists in Nigeria.
“May Dotun Oladipo rest in power!” Sowore wrote.
Oladipo was a former politics editor at PUNCH Newspapers and also worked with the Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Compass and The Sun before founding Eagle Online.
He was a former president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and was regarded as a prominent figure in Nigeria’s digital journalism industry.
Oladipo obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, in 1992.
The German Embassy in Nigeria has warned Nigerians against relying on information provided by self-styled visa agents when seeking German visas.
The embassy issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on its official X account, urging prospective visa applicants to obtain accurate information directly from official sources.
“Beware of misinformation. Save yourself the hassle & just ask us directly,” the embassy stated.
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The mission also asked Nigerians to share claims they had heard from “visa agents” in the comments, saying it would respond to some of the claims in subsequent posts.
“Tell us some of the things you’ve heard from ‘visa agents’ in the comments, and we’ll answer in upcoming posts,” it added.
The embassy further clarified that it has no partnership with visa agents.
“We do not work with any ‘visa Agents’!” the German mission stated.
It added that all relevant information concerning visa applications and procedures is freely available through its official website.
The warning comes amid the circulation of potentially misleading information about German visa requirements and application procedures.
The embassy urged Nigerians to verify visa-related information through official channels to avoid unnecessary expenses, confusion and possible fraud.
Prospective applicants seeking to travel to Germany are therefore advised to rely on information from the German Embassy and other authorised German government platforms rather than unverified claims from third-party agents.
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