The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Aniekan Bassey, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of Nigerians living abroad.

Senator Bassey made this known on Friday when the national leadership of the Forum of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN) met with him over the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

He described the safety and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora as a national priority, stressing that no Nigerian should be subjected to violence, discrimination, or inhumane treatment because of nationality.

Senator Bassey assured the delegation that his Committee would continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions, and international partners to ensure that the rights of Nigerians abroad are protected.

The Senator noted that beyond responding to isolated incidents, there was an urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement, stronger institutional collaboration, and proactive policies aimed at preventing xenophobic attacks while promoting peaceful coexistence among African nations.

He further emphasized that his Committee remains committed to strengthening legislative oversight on issues affecting Nigerians in the diaspora, improving engagement with diaspora communities, and advocating policies that guarantee their safety, welfare, and meaningful participation in national development.

Senator Bassey commended the Forum for demonstrating patriotism by bringing the concerns of Nigerian youths and citizens abroad to the attention of the National Assembly, describing the visit as a reflection of the growing partnership between lawmakers and youth-led organizations in addressing national challenges.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Eze Onyebuchi Chukwu, expressed concern over the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, saying the development continued to threaten lives, livelihoods, and the image of Nigeria on the African continent.

He called on the Senate Committee to champion stronger legislative and diplomatic measures that would ensure the protection of Nigerians living overseas while encouraging the Federal Government to deepen bilateral engagement with South African authorities to prevent future occurrences.

The youth leader also pledged the Forum’s readiness to work closely with the Senate Committee in promoting national unity, youth inclusion, and advocacy initiatives that protect the interests of Nigerians both at home and abroad.

The meeting is expected to pave the way for broader consultations with key stakeholders and the formulation of policy recommendations aimed at addressing xenophobia, enhancing consular support, and reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of its citizens wherever they reside.
Media Unit
Office of the Senator
Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Senator Aniekan Bassey, has reaffirmed the 10th Senate’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through far-reaching legislative reforms aimed at improving the quality, accessibility, and regulation of health services across the country.
Senator Bassey made the declaration while representing the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, at the National Assembly’s Public Hearing on key healthcare bills, where he also formally declared the event open.
The public hearing brought together the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, lawmakers, healthcare professionals, regulatory agencies, and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on legislative measures expected to transform Nigeria’s health sector.
Speaking at the event, Senator Bassey emphasized that the 10th Senate remains focused on enacting people-oriented legislation that bridges the gap between policy formulation and the healthcare needs of ordinary Nigerians. He noted that improving healthcare delivery is central to the National Assembly’s legislative agenda and is essential to national development.
He explained that deliberations centered on two landmark bills designed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare architecture.
The first, the University Teaching Hospitals Act (Amendment) Bill, seeks to modernize the country’s teaching hospitals by improving clinical training, upgrading medical infrastructure, and enhancing service delivery to align with global best practices.
The second, the National Health Facilities Regulatory Agency Bill, proposes the establishment of a regulatory framework that will enforce high professional standards, improve oversight, and guarantee patient safety across public and private healthcare facilities nationwide.
According to Senator Bassey, the proposed legislation reflects the Senate’s determination to build a healthcare system that is resilient, efficient, accountable, and capable of meeting the growing needs of Nigerians.
He expressed appreciation to the President of the Senate for the confidence reposed in him to represent the leadership of the National Assembly at the important national engagement, describing Senator Akpabio’s dedication to the welfare of Nigerians as a driving force behind the ongoing legislative reforms.
Senator Bassey stressed that lawmakers have a moral and constitutional responsibility to safeguard the lives and well-being of citizens through sound legislation that strengthens public institutions and improves service delivery.
He assured Nigerians that the Senate would continue to work with the Executive, healthcare professionals, and relevant stakeholders to enact laws that promote quality healthcare, protect patients, and expand access to affordable medical services across the country.
He added that the ultimate objective is to build a professional, accessible, and sustainable healthcare system that serves every Nigerian, irrespective of social or economic status.

…Benue governor eyeing cement factory acquisition with business partners

We condemn in the strongest terms the reckless and misleading comments by the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, regarding the privatization of the Benue Cement Company (BCC) in 2006 and his desperate attempt to pin responsibility for the transaction on former Governor George Akume while casting aspersions on Alhaji Aliko Dangote with his company.

Governor Alia’s latest outburst is yet another example of a government that has become addicted to propaganda, revisionism and the politics of blame. Faced with mounting questions about his own stewardship, the governor appears determined to divert public attention by manufacturing controversies and attacking individuals whose records and contributions are already part of Nigeria’s documented history.

The facts are clear. Benue Cement Company was privatized under a Federal Government programme implemented through the Bureau of Public Enterprises. The suggestion that Senator George Akume personally sold BCC to Aliko Dangote is a distortion of history and a deliberate attempt to mislead unsuspecting members of the public. No amount of political grandstanding can alter the facts contained in official records.

It is astonishing that a governor who has access to government files and public records would choose to promote a narrative that collapses under the slightest scrutiny. This raises a disturbing question: is Governor Alia genuinely ignorant of the facts, or is he deliberately twisting them to pursue a political agenda?

Even more disturbing is the governor’s attempt to demonize one of Africa’s foremost investors and industrialists. Aliko Dangote did not seize Benue Cement Company in the dead of night. The transaction emerged from a nationally supervised privatization process that involved regulatory institutions of the Federal Government. If Governor Alia has evidence of wrongdoing, he should present it to the appropriate authorities. If he has none, he should stop maligning people to score cheap political points.

We are not surprised by Governor Alia’s utterances because credible findings suggest that his sudden agitation for a review of the 2006 sale of Benue Cement Company to Dangote has little to do with protecting the interests of Benue people. It has everything to do with advancing his personal political and business agenda.

Having allegedly amassed enormous wealth from state resources within just three years in office, the governor is now said to be eyeing Benue Cement, now Dangote Cement, as another lucrative asset to be captured for the benefit of himself and a circle of business associates, including Bauhaus Global Investment, which has emerged as the preferred contractor for major government projects in the state since Alia became governor.

The real motive behind this campaign is becoming increasingly clear. Governor Alia is reportedly nurturing a 2031 presidential ambition and understands that such a venture would require access to massive financial resources running into hundreds of billions of naira. Should he retain office beyond 2027, he reportedly intends to use every available lever of state power to position himself for that race. In that calculation, Dangote Cement is seen not as a private investment that has transformed a moribund government enterprise into a thriving business, but as a potential cash cow that can be exploited to bankroll a future presidential campaign.

Benue people must therefore look beyond the governor’s emotional rhetoric and ask hard questions. Why is a transaction that took place two decades ago suddenly attracting his attention at a time when the state is battling insecurity, a growing humanitarian crisis, failing infrastructure and widespread economic hardship? The answer may well lie in a desperate attempt to gain control of a strategic asset whose enormous financial value could serve personal political ambitions rather than the collective interests of the people of Benue State.

The people of Benue are not interested in political theatre. They are interested in security, roads, healthcare, education, agriculture, job creation and economic growth. They are interested in how hundreds of billions of naira accruing to the state are being utilized. They are interested in why communities continue to suffer attacks and displacement. These are the issues demanding the governor’s attention, not a calculated campaign to rewrite events that occurred decades ago.

We therefore challenge Governor Alia to immediately publish all documents in his possession relating to the privatization of Benue Cement Company and allow the public to judge the facts for themselves. The era when political leaders could manufacture narratives without scrutiny is over.

The governor should stop chasing shadows, stop misleading the public and stop dragging respected Nigerians into politically motivated controversies.

Signed:
Jerome Zoho
President, Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ)