By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill says 24 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing for a dual policing system.

The approval meets the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states required for the amendment to proceed.

The Working Group commended the State Houses of Assembly for their action and acknowledged the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.

This is contained in a statement issued by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the president and chairman of the Working Group, on Friday in Abuja.

“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent.”

Mr Gbajabiamila said the approval provided constitutional backing for the policing framework outlined in the Working Group’s draft National Policing Bill, 2026.

He added that the draft bills were undergoing legislative drafting, review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The bills are expected to be returned on or before October 30, after which the Working Group will give them final consideration before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu.

The Working Group urged stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system aimed at improving public safety.

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ruled that the removal and replacement of former ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, were unlawful, overturning a process that culminated in his replacement being formalised by the Council of Ministers.

Darma disclosed the outcome while briefing journalists in Abuja on the Court’s recent judgment.

He said the dispute arose after a memorandum dated 30 October 2025 by the then President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray withdrew responsibilities previously exercised by Darma and initiated steps that eventually led to his replacement.

While Darma challenged the actions before the ECOWAS Court on 3 November 2025, the Federal Republic of Nigeria subsequently recalled him and nominated a successor.

The Council of Ministers later formalised the replacement.
However, the Court found that the legal requirements for ending his mandate had not been satisfied.

According to Darma, the Court held that the memorandum triggering the process was based on adverse allegations that affected his responsibilities and was issued without giving him an effective opportunity to respond.

“The Court found that these actions were taken without prior notice or an effective opportunity for me to respond,” he said.

The Court further ruled that managerial powers vested in the President of the Commission could not be used to extinguish or transfer responsibilities assigned by Community law to another statutory office.

Darma said the Court also rejected the argument that Nigeria’s recall automatically ended his tenure as Commissioner.

“Once appointed, a Commissioner derives his mandate from Community law and not from the nominating Member State,” he quoted the Court as holding.

The Court consequently declared that his removal and replacement were unlawful, notwithstanding the subsequent actions taken to formalise the change in office.

The judgment ordered the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and accrued entitlements up to the expiration of his tenure and awarded him US$50,000 in general damages.
Because his tenure expired on 31 August 2026, the Court did not order reinstatement.

Describing the ruling as significant for regional governance, Darma said it reaffirmed that ECOWAS statutory office holders can only be removed through procedures recognised by Community law.

Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to tertiary and secondary school students from its six host communities in Benue State.

The company also presented starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish their own businesses, apply the skills acquired during the training and become financially reliant.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its community development interventions, calling on other private sector players to adopt similar initiatives to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.

Dr. Alake, who was represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Benue State, Engr. Achi Gregory, urged the company to sustain its commitment to implementing community development programmes agreed upon with its host communities.

Speaking at the official presentation ceremony, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the implementation of the Community Development Agreement underscores Dangote Cement’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources to promote entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods in its host communities.

Mr. Olayiwola, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance of the Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment programmes came against the backdrop of several other programmes recently executed by the company, which include farmers and women empowerment programmes.

The Acting Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Gboko, Engr. Arbind Singh, said: “This annual scholarship scheme for indigent students of the host communities is an indication of our company’s commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).”

Engr Singh, who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Production, Engr Tabershima Soom, said: “The Gboko Plant has already launched 150 Women Empowerment Programme and 50 Farmerss Empowerment Programme where women were provided with cash to support their businesses, and farmers were supported with farm inputs.”

The beneficiary communities for these programs are: Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue State Attorney-General, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Barr. Dooshima Orosaga, commended Dangote Cement Plc for its compliance with the Community Development Agreement (CDA), urging the beneficiaries and host communities to maximise the benefits of the company’s interventions.

Chairman of the Gboko Local Government, Hon Yina Elias said the government will continue to provide the support needed for the company to succeed, adding that the Dangote Cement Plc is an exemplary company in Corporate Social Responsibilities programmes.

In his remarks, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, commended Dangote Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant for its contributions to the community, assuring the company of the community’s continued support.

He said the community valued its mutually beneficial relationship with the company and would continue to serve as its ambassadors.

A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr Ignatius Aondohemba, expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc for the support, pledging to put the skills and resources provided to good use and build a business that would enable him to become an employer of labour.