The Nigerian Senate has refuted rumours of a conflict between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, which surfaced during an executive session before the Senate’s annual recess.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, addressed the issue that has been widely reported in the media, claiming there was a heated argument between the two leaders in a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

“We have noticed various media reports suggesting that the President of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, GCON, and the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, CON, clashed during an executive session meant to decide if the Senate should proceed with its annual recess,” said Senator Adaramodu.

He emphasised that these reports are entirely unfounded.

“The reports misinterpret our longstanding practices and traditions in parliaments globally, where members, regardless of their political affiliations, use parliamentary debates, questions, or interpellations to discuss every initiative before approval or authorisation.”

Senator Adaramodu pointed out that the Senate, as the country’s highest law-making body, functions similarly to other parliaments. Every bill, motion, and proposal is subjected to thorough scrutiny in the Chamber almost daily.

This process involves robust debates, during which members analyse and deliberate on every initiative in the interest of over 230 million Nigerians.

Discussions on policy issues, whether in the Chamber or committee rooms, should not be misinterpreted as conflicts among members, nor do they indicate any division in the leadership.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is set to introduce a new General Multipurpose Identity Card (GMPC) by October 2025.

Dr. Alvan Ikoku, Director, Strategic Programme Office (SPO) at NIMC, made the disclosure on Friday, at the end of a 2-day roundtable with Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) in Abuja.

Specifically, the NIMC official said the GMPC will serve as an additional identity tool, designed to improve access to public services, financial inclusion, and targeted government interventions.

“The new General Multipurpose Card is part of a broader mandate to improve service delivery. Although its launch was delayed, it was important to ensure thorough planning and execution.

“The forthcoming card is expected to feature a range of functionalities, including digital wallets for government subsidies, credit disbursement capabilities, and enhanced business and financial services integration”.

He continued “It will not only serve as an identification tool but also support government programs, particularly in areas such as agriculture, social welfare, and credit schemes”.

He explained that the process of acquiring the new card will be streamlined through partner banks and relevant government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“While NIMC will not handle mass issuance directly, the identity management component will remain entirely under the Commission’s jurisdiction” he said.

Commenting on cost implications, Ikoku assured the public that the card will be affordable, noting that the Commission’s role is to empower citizens, not profit from them.

“The new card will be available to all Nigerian citizens, while non-Nigerians residing legally in the country can obtain a NIN, with a version of the card that reflects their status.Indeed, NIMC has emphasized that the National Identification Number (NIN) will remain the primary identifier for all Nigerians, and the GMPC is being introduced in response to public demand for a physical ID card.

“With the rollout scheduled for October 2025, the Commission promises a comprehensive media campaign to educate citizens about the card’s benefits and uses” Ikoku added.

Meanwhile, Day TWO of the roundtable saw the presentation of paper titled: Infrastructural overhaul at NIMC: Implications to access to ID, Data Integrity, Privacy and Security by Mr. Shola Amurawaye.

In a separate paper by Florence Oloruntade, Director Servicom and titled: NIMC: Grievance uptake in NIN enrolment and ensuring efficient Delivery at the end, urged the media to work closely with NIMC for better education of the citizenry.

A drama ensued at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2025, as the officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) seized the international passport of suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The senator’s passport was seized at the Abuja airport while on her way to board a British Airways flight to London.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that the senator arrived at the international terminal of the airport with her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, only to be stopped by immigration officials who flagged her as a “national security risk.”

Natasha was said to have remained calm and composed throughout the ordeal, insisting that the officers have no legal authority to seize her passport.

“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” the lawmaker said.

Her husband was later seen making a series of urgent phone calls as the delay dragged on.

Minutes later, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight.