By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has commended the Federal House of Representatives for the speedy passage of the Insurance Reform Bill.

The Senate had in December 2024 passed the same bill.

NAICOM said in a statement yesterday that “This is a milestone achievement that marks yet another significant step towards transforming the insurance industry in Nigeria”.

“The Commission is enthusiastic about the prospects of the bill receiving assent from Mr.

President, which will pave the way for the implementation of its provisions.

“As the apex regulator of the insurance industry, NAICOM is committed to ensuring that the sector contributes positively to Nigeria’s financial landscape.

We believe that by the time the Insurance Reform Bill is signed into Law, it will have a profound impact on the industry, leading to improved penetration, increased public confidence, and enhanced competitiveness”, the statement added..

“We salute the leadership of the National Assembly for their efforts in passing the bill and look forward to its assent by Mr. President. We are confident that the Reform Bill will usher in a new era of growth and development for the insurance industry in Nigeria”, NAICOM said.

From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik has raised the alarm over the involvement of teenagers in the heinous crime of kidnapping and banditry activities in the state.

Speaking at the end of her working visit to the Minna old Correctional Custody centre, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik described the increasing proportion of the teenagers’ involvement in banditry activities as worrisome.

The State Chief Judge described the trends as disturbing and worrisome calling on the security agencies to step up in curtailing the ugly trend.

“You people are making travelers on the highways to be afraid, you keep on terrorising innocent travelers and residents to be in perpetual fear,” she told the teenagers at the Minna old Correctional Custody during her working visit to the centre.

According to the CJ, the under-aged involvement in armed banditry and kidnapping activities is posing a serious fear and threat to travelers and residents across the State.

“What do you use the ransome you collect from your victims for? How much do you collect so far from your victims? Why can’t you engage in meaningful ventures than kidnapping innocent victims for ransome,” she questioned.

Most of the kidnapping suspects awaiting trial at the Minna old Correctional Custody are all teenagers between the ages of eighteen and nineteen.

The activities of these teenagers, according to the Chief Judge, are a serious security threat to the country particularly in the North.

However, the CJ could not attend to their cases as their trial is still ongoing in court while those that admitted to their involvement in kidnappings were summarily convicted during the exercise.

It was observed that most of the kidnapping suspects awaiting trial are all Fulanis, mostly teenagers.

By Joel Oladele, Abuja

With the 2027 presidential race already casting shadows over Nigeria’s politics, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has signaled a potential alliance with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to strengthen opposition unity and push for good governance.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours yesterday at the Bauchi Presidential Lodge, both leaders emphasized the need to transcend party, regional and religious divisions to address critical national challenges such as poverty, insecurity and economic recovery.

This is coming a few days after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing “irreconcilable differences” with the party’s current leadership.

DAILY ASSET reported that the move, announced in a resignation letter submitted to his local ward in Kaduna State on Tuesday, signals turbulence within the APC, where el-Rufai’s past critiques of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have stoked tensions.

Amid the ongoing political realignment, Mohammed, a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Obi as the leader of the opposition and affirmed his readiness to work with him to present a credible alternative to Nigerians ahead of the next election cycle.

“We discussed state by state challenges and I feel highly appreciative of what he is doing as the leader of the opposition because whether we like it or not, he is the leader of the opposition now in Nigeria.

“I want to say at this level, not to make some of those doubting Thomases and mischievous minds to pre-empt what we are doing, that I’m ready to work with Peter Obi.

“We will make sure we come together, close ranks, bring good governance to the country, give vibrant opposition with knowledge, timelines, visions in such a manner that we will rescue and recover our country.

“Our coming together is a message and the message is going to resonate because all our colleagues, the PDP governors, are behind this kind of journey because it is a transcendental one.

“We are coming together to work together irrespective of party, region, religion or any other thing,” said Mohammed.

In his remarks, Obi said he decided to visit Mohammed to discuss Nigeria’s issues and consult him, being the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ forum and a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s politics today.

“It’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue to go on as we talk about the future of this country.

“We have to discuss issues happening in the North. I have told the governor today that the North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country.

“There is poverty in Nigeria. We have to deal with the issue of poverty and until you solve poverty, then you can talk about criminality,” he said.

He added that the country needed to invest hugely in critical areas to put people out of poverty so as to reduce criminality in the society.

Obi and Mohammed reportedly held a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours before briefing the press, signaling what could be a new phase in Nigeria’s opposition politics.