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APC Statewide E-Registration, Salisu Knocks LP Chieftain Over Digital Fraud Allegations
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…Renew memberships at the Odeda local government
The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Salisu Afolabi Shuib has described the APC’s statewide e-registration of members as a strength and a database to ascertain the identity of membership while preventing proliferation.
He stated this during his membership renewal at the Odeda local government, dismissing allegations of digital fraud made by Labour Party Chieftain Comrade Abayomi Arabambi.
Salisu said, “You can only tag something a digital fraud if you are required to participate in it. I think they should spend more effort to go and determine whether they still have a party and to also reconcile among themselves.”
“A party that is in power is making an effort to continue to end the mandate of the people. We are doing so, if Nigerians are doing a national population census, which is a concern Ghanaian with whether the exercise is a fraud? Okay, APC exercise is a fraud. Go and attempt to do your own.”
He maintained that the APC registration is securing Nigeria’s identity and improving security, highlighting the use of tech to verify members.
Salisu noted that the registration is based on three things: verifying Nigerians’ identities, highlighting the importance of digital infrastructure, and the APC’s strategic move.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun’s leadership, saying the exercise is transforming the political process and deepening democracy and tech.
Salisu also kick-started rethe habilitatthe rehabilitationndoned road, assuring completion in one month.
“It’s not just about fixing a road; it’s about boosting the local economy, supporting farmers, and improving learning outcomes for students.”
News
Ogun: 2026 Budget Expansion Driven by Massive Infrastructure Pipeline, Revenue Growth, Economic Reforms — Okubadejo
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The Ogun State Government has attributed the expansion of its 2026 budget to an aggressive infrastructure development pipeline, rising internally generated revenue (IGR), and sweeping economic reforms aimed at positioning the state as Nigeria’s foremost industrial and logistics hub, as the budget increased to 58%.
This was stated by the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Dapo Okubadejo, during a media parley on the breakdown of the 2026 budget, tagged “Budget of Sustainable Legacy,” held at Oke-Mosan on Tuesday. He stated that the scale of ongoing and proposed capital projects necessitated a larger fiscal framework.
Okubadejo emphasised that a major driver of the expanded budget is the development of two dry ports currently in the pipeline. One of the ports is being funded by the Federal Government, while the second is being executed through a public-private partnership arrangement with a private sector investor.
He posited that the dry ports are expected to significantly ease the movement of goods, support exports, and reduce logistics costs for more than 80 manufacturing factories operating across the state.
Okubadejo explained that the initiative aligns with Ogun’s status as Nigeria’s industrial capital, noting that improved logistics infrastructure would further accelerate industrial productivity, attract new investments, and strengthen trade competitiveness.
He added that budget growth is also linked to renewed activities around the Olokola Free Trade Zone and the proposed Olokola Deep Sea Port.
“The developments, coupled with the recent announcement of oil discovery in the area, are expected to unlock new revenue streams for the state once commercial evaluations are concluded, potentially paving the way for Ogun to attain oil-producing status”
In the transport sector, the Commissioner for Transport, Engr. Olugbenga Dairo, disclosed plans to extend the Lagos Red Line Rail and Lagos Blue Line Rail projects into Ogun State to enhance mobility.
Dairo said the rail expansion would improve commuter movement, boost daily economic activities, and further integrate Ogun into regional and national transportation networks.
He noted that road infrastructure would feature prominently in the state’s capital expenditure drive.
According to him, the administration has reconstructed and rehabilitated several strategic corridors, including the 42-kilometre interchange road linking Lagos to Abeokuta. Since its completion, the road has reportedly triggered a surge in industrial and commercial activities along the axis.
He added that other key roads connecting border towns such as Ikorodu, Ogijo, and Sagamu have been upgraded to facilitate the smooth movement of goods, services, and people.
While further explaining Okubadejo noted that improved infrastructure has encouraged increased migration into the state, fueling demand for housing and reinforcing what he described as a growing housing and power revolution across Ogun.
Speaking on state’s debt Okubadejo stressed that debt sustainability remains strong, with careful structuring of loan tenors, interest rates, and repayment schedules.
He disclosed that as of 2025, Ogun State’s domestic debt stood at approximately ₦194 billion, compared to ₦133 billion in 2019, while foreign debt levels have been affected mainly by exchange rate depreciation.
Okubadejo also highlighted pension reforms as a key component of the state’s economic restructuring, citing improved remittance consistency and the gradual transition to a fully operational contributory pension scheme.
Opinion
Safeguarding Professional Autonomy and Healthcare Equity in Nigeria: A Call for Legislative Prudence
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Nigeria’s healthcare system stands at a critical crossroads. The recent alarm raised by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) regarding proposed amendments to key health regulatory laws deserves deep reflection, responsible dialogue, and urgent national attention.
The fundamental issue at stake is not professional rivalry but the preservation of professional autonomy, healthcare equity, regulatory integrity, and optimal service delivery for over 220 million Nigerians.
The proposed legislative changes, particularly those targeting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act and allied regulatory statutes, appear to dangerously tilt toward regulatory centralization under a single professional group. This approach contradicts the global best practices of healthcare governance, which emphasize interprofessional collaboration, mutual respect, regulatory independence, and functional decentralization.
Professional Autonomy: A Pillar of Safe and Effective Healthcare
Globally, healthcare systems thrive when distinct professional groups operate within clearly defined regulatory frameworks, overseen by specialized councils.
Nigeria has long upheld this principle through statutory bodies such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and others.
Judicial precedents have consistently reaffirmed this regulatory independence. Notably, the Federal High Court judgment of October 2007 upheld the statutory powers of the PCN to regulate pharmacy practice across both public and private sectors. Similarly, the 2016 National Industrial Court ruling affirmed the autonomy and professional equality of medical laboratory scientists under the MLSCN Act. These rulings collectively establish that no single profession holds monopoly over healthcare governance.
Any attempt to override these long-standing regulatory frameworks risks eroding institutional balance, professional morale, and public trust.
Legislating Amid Judicial Consideration: A Constitutional Concern
The ongoing appeal in the matter FHC/ABJ/CS/559/2018, involving the scope of MDCN regulatory authority, raises serious constitutional red flags. Established parliamentary convention strongly discourages legislative interference in matters under active judicial consideration. Proceeding with amendments on these sensitive issues risks institutional conflict, legal contradictions, and governance instability.
Implications of the Proposed 2026 Medical Bill
The provisions of Section 42 (3) and (4) of the proposed Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2026 represent a worrying departure from global healthcare trends. In many advanced and emerging health systems, pharmacists, nurses, and community health practitioners are increasingly empowered with structured prescribing rights, particularly for preventive, chronic disease, and primary healthcare services. This shift has demonstrably reduced patient waiting times, enhanced service efficiency, expanded access, and improved health outcomes.
Restricting prescribing authority solely to medical doctors undermines Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare (PHC) revitalization agenda, contradicts task-shifting and task-sharing policies, and threatens to overload an already strained medical workforce.
Pharmacy Regulation and National Drug Security
Pharmacy practice remains one of the most sensitive domains in healthcare governance due to its direct link to drug safety, national security, and public health protection. Nigeria’s inclusion of pharmacy regulation in the Exclusive Legislative List reflects the gravity of this responsibility.
The historical evolution of pharmacy legislation from colonial ordinances to the Pharmacists Act of 1964 and subsequent PCN Acts has firmly entrenched professional autonomy as the foundation of safe medicines management. Introducing loosely defined “community interest” positions into professional regulatory councils risks politicizing technical decision-making and weakening regulatory rigor.
Healthcare Apartheid: A Dangerous Path
JOHESU’s characterization of these reforms as an attempt to establish an “apartheid-style” regulatory system may sound strong, but it reflects deep professional anxiety over systemic subordination and institutional marginalization. Healthcare thrives on collaboration, not hierarchy; mutual respect, not dominance.
Nigeria cannot afford a healthcare system fractured by professional supremacy battles. Our focus must remain on patient-centered care, universal health coverage, health workforce motivation, and system resilience.
A Call to the National Assembly
I respectfully urge the National Assembly to approach these proposed amendments with constitutional caution, professional sensitivity, and national interest at heart. Laws governing healthcare must be instruments of unity, equity, efficiency, and safety, not tools for professional dominance.
A truly sustainable health system recognizes that doctors, pharmacists, nurses, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, physiotherapists, and community health practitioners are equal partners in saving lives.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s health sector requires integration, not subjugation; collaboration, not centralization; respect, not regulatory conquest. The National Assembly must therefore reject any legislative attempt that threatens professional autonomy, judicial integrity, and healthcare harmony.
The future of Nigerian healthcare depends on balanced governance, shared responsibility, and collective commitment to national wellbeing.
Dr. Obube Olumide Abiodun, B.Pharm, MPH, MAW, FAIPH, PhD
Pharmacist | Public Health Scholar | Health Policy Advocate
Immediate Past Vice Chairman, PSN Ogun State Branch
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…Convener vows massive grassroots mobilisation for APC in 2027 general elections; commends members for dedication, steadfastness and commitment.
The Ogun State-based political movement, Omoluabi, led by its Convener, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde on Sunday paid a courtesy visit to the revered royal icon of Yorubaland, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile-Ife.
The visit was aimed at receiving royal blessings and guidance as the group prepares for the 2027 general elections. During the visit, the movement also unveiled 26 newly acquired buses to strengthen its political mobilization efforts across Ogun State.
The delegation, which included selected executive members, local government coordinators, and the State Coordinator, Hon. Olusegun Kaka, was warmly received by the monarch.
Speaking during the visit, Akintunde described the Ooni as a father figure whose leadership and character inspired the name “Omoluabi.” He noted that seeking the monarch’s blessings was a significant step in the movement’s journey toward the next political phase in Ogun State and nation at large.
“We visited our royal father whose his character has demonstrated Omoluabi in all spheres of humanity. He was part of the idea when we started, Ooni is a father to us all, therefore moving into political journey, it’s important for us to seek for his royal blessings.
“This journey we have embarked upon is aimed at supporting the second-term aspiration of our party’s national leader and President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his re-election bid. We are equally committed to supporting all our party’s candidates in Ogun State following the primaries.
“We are prepared to mobilize massively across the length and breadth of the state. The second-term race of our dear President, Asiwaju, remains our primary assignment, followed by unwavering support for all candidates who emerge in the forthcoming elections, just as we did prior to the 2023 general elections.
“This is a begining exercise for us all in the Omoluabi Political Movement in Ogun State, I appreciate our members, coordinators both the state and local governments levels, their unwavering commitment is top notch, may we continue to grow in strength and as we prepare towards the coming elections in Ogun State” – Akintunde said.
In the same vein, the State Coordinator, Hon. Olusegun Kaka, commended the convener’s vision, commitment and dedication, emphasizing that the newly branded buses would enhance grassroots mobilization and facilitate participation in the forthcoming national convention in Abuja.
In his remarks, the monarch, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, expressed joy at receiving the group and offered prayers for continued growth, unity and success in their future endeavours.
The political movement, Omoluabi has continued to distinguish itself as a fast-growing, grassroots-driven political platform committed to leadership development, community engagement and progressive governance in Ogun State.
With a strong presence across local governments and a clear mobilization structure, the group has positioned itself as a formidable force dedicated to empowering citizens and fostering inclusive political participation.
Under the leadership of Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, Omoluabi has demonstrated resilience, strategic organization and a people-centred vision aimed at sustainable development and democratic advancement.
The unveiling of the 26 buses further reflects the movement’s readiness, coordination and commitment to structured political engagement as it steadily builds momentum toward 2027.
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