The Senate on Thursday called for a thorough investigation into the entire contract and execution agreements of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway line, 10 years after it began full commercial operations.

Worried about the deplorable condition of both the railway line and the attendant poor service delivery by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Senate resuscitated its Ad-hoc Committee set up last November but was hampered by a lack of funds to commence the probe of the national asset.

One train ride from Abuja to Kaduna last week by Senator Abdul Ningi -who represents Bauchi Central was all it took to reveal -the deplorable state of Nigeria’s rail transport network-especially the tracks linking the Northern corridors.

Coming on Order 42-, NINGI laments how a journey that should have taken an hour at most took over three hours on a worn-out, second-hand train.

“A Nigerian tragedy”-that’s how the PDP Bauchi Senator refers to the situation as he recounts how the Abuja -Kaduna train service has diminished in quality -from transporting 10,000 passengers daily when it first started to running a single shuttle of less than a thousand passengers a day.

Ningi’s further laments how the revenue from the train service has dwindled over time and called on the Senate to treat the issue as “a national emergency”.

The Abuja-Kaduna railway line was completed in 2015 as the first phase of the Nigerian railway modernization project.

Constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Abuja-Kaduna railway was largely funded by project-tied loans obtained from China.

But over the years -, the Abuja-Kaduna rail route has been at the receiving end of poor maintenance, vandalism, bandit attacks and derailments-with the most recent incident in last August in ASHAM.

Chairman Senate Committee on Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero backs the motion ; calling for a concerted effort to fix the “eyesore ‘ the Abuja -Kaduna rail line has become.

In his contribution, President of the Senate, Godswill AKPABIO questions the entire contract agreement and execution of the rail project and calls for a thorough investigation into every single KOBO spent.

Displeased by the “sorry state” of the entire train facilities; AKPABIO took a swipe at the sluggish nature of the Chinese trains when he said “bicycle-even keke is faster than Abuja-Kaduna train.

The Senate subsequently revived its ad hoc committee set up since last November to investigate the matter but was hampered by a paucity of funds.

The probe panel headed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole was formally inaugurated at plenary on Thursday and given six weeks to complete the assignment.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has strongly criticized the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for resuming enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles, calling it a “serious regulatory misstep” that threatens jobs, investments, and Nigeria’s regulatory credibility.

In a statement signed by NECA Director General Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, the employers’ body highlighted that the ongoing crackdown contradicts a December 15, 2025, directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) suspending all enforcement actions pending further consultations.

It also disregards a March 14, 2024, resolution by the House of Representatives urging restraint and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

NECA emphasized that the enforcement is already disrupting legitimate businesses, jeopardizing thousands of jobs across the wines and spirits value chain—including manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail, and agriculture—and eroding investor confidence amid economic challenges such as high operating costs and currency pressures.

While affirming strong support for protecting minors, removing unsafe products, and advancing public health, NECA argued that the current blanket approach is flawed.

It disproportionately affects compliant, NAFDAC-registered manufacturers whose products underwent rigorous testing, registration, and revalidation processes. These products comply with international alcohol-by-volume (ABV) standards for spirits, with clear labeling and warnings restricting consumption to adults over 18.

Oyerinde stressed that underage access stems from enforcement gaps at the retail level—such as weak age verification and monitoring—rather than packaging formats. He advocated for smarter, evidence-based measures, including stricter retailer licensing, compliance checks, public education on responsible drinking, and intensified crackdowns on illicit narcotics and unregistered substances, which pose greater dangers to youth.

The statement noted that sachet and small-pack formats address affordability for low-income adult consumers in Nigeria’s economy, where daily small purchases are common.

Banning them risks shifting demand to unregulated, informal alternatives, potentially worsening public health risks while shrinking the formal economy and government revenue.

NECA also addressed environmental concerns over plastic waste, suggesting they be tackled through broader waste management, recycling, and extended producer responsibility policies across industries, rather than selective product bans that conflate environmental issues with product safety.

The association rejected any notion of opposing regulation, instead calling for science-driven, proportionate, and rule-of-law-based policies. It demanded an immediate suspension of enforcement in line with the SGF’s directive and a return to structured dialogue involving regulators, industry, public health experts, and consumers to develop balanced solutions.

“Nigeria deserves regulation that safeguards public health while preserving livelihoods, investment, and respect for due process,” Oyerinde concluded.

“Policies ignoring science, economic realities, and regulatory coherence risk causing more harm than good.

“NECA, established in 1957, serves as the umbrella body for organized private-sector employers in Nigeria, advocating for policies that foster a harmonious business environment, productivity, and prosperity.

• Photo of Otunba Adekunle Ojora

The Head of Ojora Royal Family of Lagos, on Wednesday announced the death of Otunba Adekunle Ojora at the age of 93.

He is survived by his wife, Erelu Ojuolape, and children, including, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Ojora Family by Prince Adewale Taorid Ojora, stated that Otunba Ojora who was born on June 13th 1932, died on January the 28th 2026.

Widely celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most influential corporate leaders of the post-independence era,

Otunba Adekunle Ojora carved an exceptional legacy that spanned journalism, public service, politics, and big-ticket corporate governance.

He was Chairman of the Board of AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until its acquisition by Unipetrol in 2002.

Ojora’s professional journey began in the early 1950s at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after studying journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic, London.

He rose to the position of assistant editor, and later returned to Nigeria in 1955 to join the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as a reporter.

He later moved to Ibadan, where he served as an information officer in the office of the then regional premier.In 1961, he transitioned into the corporate world, joining the United African Company (UAC) as Public Relations Manager and becoming an Executive Director in 1962.

His interest in commerce and enterprise deepened in the years that followed, marking the start of a lifelong influence in Nigerian boardrooms.

Following the military coup that ended the First Republic, Otunba Ojora was nominated to the Lagos City Council in 1966.

In 1967, he held two key appointments: Managing Director of WEMABOD, a regional property and investment company, and Chairman of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, succeeding Chief Kola Balogun.

After he left WEMABOD, he expanded his footprint as a major investor and entrepreneur.

Ojora held significant interests in AGIP Petroleum Marketing, NCR Nigeria, and founded several private firms, including Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders, and Lagos Investments, a holding company. In the wake of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act.

He acquired equity stakes in numerous foreign companies operating in Nigeria, including Bowring Group, Inchcape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers, and Seven-Up.

Beyond the boardroom, Otunba Ojora was deeply rooted in tradition. He was the Otunba of Lagos, Lisa of Ife and Olori Omo Oba of Lagos.