Civil society groups in Nigeria have criticized a call by Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the return of police security personnel to members of the National Assembly and other senior public officials.

The criticism followed Mr. Akpabio’s appeal to President Bola Tinubu to review his recent directive withdrawing police operatives attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs). The president said the move was intended to redeploy officers to tackle wider security challenges across the country.

Speaking during President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2026 budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, Mr. Akpabio warned that the decision had exposed federal lawmakers to security risks. He said some legislators feared they might be unable to return safely to their constituencies following the withdrawal of their police escorts.

“Some of the National Assembly members said I should let you know that they may not be able to go home today,” Mr. Akpabio told the president, while appealing for a review of the policy.

However, a coalition of civil society groups operating under the Support For Civil Society Organizations Initiative rejected the request, describing it as a misplaced priority and inconsistent with global democratic practice.

“In other democracies, legislators do not deploy large numbers of armed police officers while the wider population remains vulnerable to attacks,” the group said in a statement.

The group’s leader, Chief ‘Aare’ Oluwasegun Oyedijo, said public office holders should not be insulated from the realities faced by ordinary citizens.

According to the coalition, leaders who deliver on their mandates should not fear the people they represent or require special security arrangements. It argued that good governance and accountability, rather than armed protection, are what earn public trust.

The group said the withdrawal of police escorts could help reduce the growing gap between elected officials and their constituents, encouraging closer engagement and more effective representation. It also criticized what it described as the excessive use of state security resources to protect politicians, saying this had contributed to a culture of privilege and abuse of power.

The coalition added that the Nigeria Police Force should prioritize the protection of communities and public safety, rather than serving as personal guards for political office holders.

“We are not calling for a breakdown of law and order,” the statement said. “Leaders who serve well do not need to hide behind armed security. This step will strengthen democracy and compel the delivery of real dividends of governance.”

President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs on 23 November, directing that those requiring armed protection should instead apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The government says the policy is part of broader efforts to improve national security amid rising crime and limited policing resources.

During the same session, Mr. Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they were beginning to yield results despite the hardship experienced by many Nigerians. He assured the president of the National Assembly of support for the reform agenda and the proposed 2026 budget.

thepressradio.com

Burkina Faso has declared that all African nationals will no longer need to pay a visa fee, marking a significant step toward regional integration. Visa payments will no longer be necessary for nationals of any African nation visiting Burkina Faso, as of right now.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad for Burkina Faso, Mahmadou Sana, made the announcement and said:

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees.”

The goal of this resolution is to improve cultural, diplomatic, and economic relations within the African continent. Burkina Faso wants to promote travel, trade, and cross-border cooperation by lowering financial barriers.

Additionally, the action supports Agenda 2063 of the African Union, which aims to encourage the free flow of people, products, and services around the continent. Businesses and travel companies have embraced the news, expecting more reservations and business prospects.

All things considered, the ruling presents Burkina Faso as a friendly and forward-thinking country dedicated to regional unification and promoting intra-African trade and travel.

Contrary to an earlier announcement that the spillage of the Bagre Dam would take place on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, authorities in Burkina Faso have rescheduled the exercise to Monday, August 25, 2025.

The decision follows a rapid rise in water levels that has exceeded initial projections.

In a statement, SONABEL, the agency managing the Bagre and Kompienga dams, explained that the speed of the water rise had surpassed their estimates, forcing them to open the floodgates earlier than planned.

As of Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Bagre Dam recorded an elevation of 234.27 metres with a filling rate of 90.24 per cent, just 0.73 metres below its maximum retention level.

Similarly, the Kompienga Dam stood at 177.90 metres with a filling rate of 79.36 per cent, leaving only 2.10 metres before reaching its normal retention capacity.

SONABEL stated:

🚨 Early Opening of Bagré Dam Valves 🚨
“SONABEL informs the coastal populations of the hydroelectric dam of Bagré that, following the heavy rainfall recorded in recent days, the water level of the hold has reached a critical threshold and requires a faster evacuation of the surplus.

“Consequently, SONABEL will open the valves of the dam flood evacuator from Monday, August 25, 2025 from 08 o’clock, instead of Wednesday, August 27, as initially announced.

“SONABEL therefore invites the coastal populations living downstream of the dam to remain vigilant and to take all necessary precautions against the risks of flooding that may result from this measure.

“SONABEL, together at the service of a great ambition!”

The announcement serves as an early warning to communities along the White Volta Basin in both Burkina Faso and Northern Ghana, which often experience flooding following spillage from the Bagré Dam.

graphic.com.gh