Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has officially returned to the National Assembly following the unsealing of her office after a six-month suspension.

The senator arrived at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, September 23, accompanied by her supporters. This came just hours after the sergeant-at-arms unlocked her office, located at Suite 2.05 in the Senate wing.

Speaking with journalists before entering the office, Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that she had seen media reports and video footage showing the Clerk of the Senate opening her office door while her legal team was still pursuing the matter in court.

She noted, however, that she had not received any formal communication from the National Assembly regarding her reinstatement.

“As at this moment, I have not been officially communicated to. I expect an institution like the National Assembly to follow administrative procedures, with written communication,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also referenced an earlier letter from the Clerk of the Senate stating that she was not permitted to resume duties, as the decision remained under the Senate’s jurisdiction. She explained that her presence on Tuesday was to briefly occupy her office, regardless.

Her arrival at the Senate wing entrance triggered a mild commotion as her supporters attempted to follow her inside. The senator appealed for calm, urging them to respect the sanctity of the legislative premises.

Addressing the crowd, she said, “Those of you who want to come, it is your office, your right to be there, just as it is your right to be here in the people’s parliament. But I ask that you remain quiet and calm.”

She expressed gratitude to her supporters, stating, “Your voices have been heard, your actions have been loud. Nigerians are proud of you, I am proud of you, and our ancestors are proud of you. Now, I will simply walk in.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate over alleged violations of its standing rules.

However, on July 4, a Federal High Court in Abuja declared the suspension “excessive and unconstitutional,” and urged the Senate to reconsider her reinstatement.

Despite the ruling, the management of the National Assembly had maintained that her return was not possible without a new resolution by the Senate or a binding court order.

Tuesday’s resumption marks the first time Akpoti-Uduaghan accessed her office since the suspension was enforced.

The Lagos State Government has formally notified traders at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja of plans to relocate the market to Katangowa in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area. Traders have been given an 18-month timeline to complete the move, which was communicated during a stakeholders meeting held on Monday.

At the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Architect Gbolahan Oki, stated that the Katangowa site is now ready for occupation. According to him, the necessary infrastructure and amenities have been put in place to make the environment suitable for business operations.

Oki explained that the current location of Computer Village in Ikeja was originally designated as a residential area and has over time been transformed into a bustling commercial hub without formal government approval. This, he said, has created planning and regulatory challenges for the state.

He revealed that the plan to relocate the market to Katangowa has been in existence since 2006. However, progress was stalled for years due to the slow pace of development at the new site. With major construction and infrastructure now completed, he said the time has come to implement the long-delayed move.

Oki emphasized that the relocation aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to inclusive governance and citizen welfare. He assured the traders that the state government remains focused on carrying all stakeholders along throughout the transition process. He described the Katangowa site as a carefully planned 15-hectare commercial layout specifically designed to support technology-based businesses.

While acknowledging that transitions can be challenging, Oki encouraged the traders to cooperate with the government, stating that the long-term benefits of the move would outweigh the short-term disruptions. He reiterated the 18-month deadline and called on market leaders to begin preparing for the relocation.

In the meantime, the state government has warned against continued use of walkways and roadside spaces for trading activities at the current Ikeja location. Oki stressed that enforcement actions would be taken against any violators of the state’s physical planning regulations.

Further details about the Katangowa site were provided by the project coordinator, Olayinka Bello, who outlined key features of the new market, including a police post, hotel facilities, and proximity to a BRT terminal to ease transportation. She added that road construction in the area is ongoing to improve access for traders and customers alike.

Bello also highlighted the economic advantages of the relocation, noting that the new market would promote business expansion, generate employment for youth, increase internally generated revenue, and help decongest the current Computer Village environment.

Also speaking at the event, the Iyaloja of Computer Village, Chief Abisola Azeez, recalled that the decision to move the market was originally reached in 2006 during the tenure of then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria. She urged traders to honour the agreement and support the government’s relocation efforts.

The stakeholders meeting marks the beginning of what the government describes as the final phase of the long-awaited transition, aimed at transforming market operations and urban planning in the state.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, joined dignitaries across the Diplomatic Corps, Government, Corporate Nigeria, and Industries to celebrate the People’s Republic of China’s 76th anniversary at a colourful celebration held in the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, September 22.

In his keynote speech on the ‘Nigeria-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, Speaker Obasa extended heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of China on the historic milestone and toasted to stronger ties between the two nations, which share October 1st as their Independence Day.

He traced Nigeria and China’s strong and enduring partnership to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971, and commended their treatment of each other as equals and with mutual respect. According to him, the relationship between the two countries has withstood the tumults of international changes, but mutual trust has been enhanced continuously while practical cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes.

He cited a recent media report credited to the Consul General of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, who said that bilateral trade between China and Nigeria reached $15.48 billion between January and July 2025. The Speaker also referenced the renewal of a 15 billion Yuan ($2 billion) currency swap agreement, which is expected to strengthen cooperation and promote bilateral trade and investment between both countries, and streamline trade transactions by eliminating the need for US dollars as an intermediary currency.

Not forgetting also, the Speaker continued, the upgraded military partnership between the two countries, with China focusing on local arms production and military training as part of efforts to improve security in Nigeria and across Africa, which he said is already bearing fruit.

He linked these significant outcomes to the resolutions reached during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State Visit in September 2024, to China and to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), principal of which is a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which primary focus is to build a high-level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future, underpinned by strategic mutual trust and support for core interests, including sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Tinubu had a cordial and in-depth exchange on China-Nigeria relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest, Obasa recalled, adding, “The two Presidents agreed that both countries stood at a new historical starting point as significant representatives of major developing countries and emerging economies. And they resolved that their strengthened strategic cooperation will propel a new dynamic for China-Africa relations in the new era.”

Particularly, Speaker Obasa praised China’s support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which promotes economic development and improves people’s welfare, while maintaining national unity, social stability, security, and peace.

He also highlighted China’s contributions to infrastructure projects in Lagos, saying, “Lagos has witnessed remarkable growth through significant Chinese investments in the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and rail systems, which have enhanced our economic landscape and enriched our societies.”

Obasa called for continued collaboration to address global challenges like climate change and economic inequality and expressed confidence in a shared prosperous future.

In her welcome address, Yuqing, the Chinese Consul General, said that the increase in trade volume reflected the growing strength of China-Nigeria relations, describing Nigeria as China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. Yuqing corroborated Obasa’s declaration that the elevation of relations between both countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit had created broader prospects for cooperation.

According to her, collaborations in infrastructure, energy resources, trade, culture, and education continue to deepen while bringing tangible benefits to the citizens of both nations. “Nigeria and China, guided by the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and all-round cooperation, have yielded remarkable results,” she said.

Yuqing also commended the Chinese community in Nigeria for contributing to cultural exchanges, local development, and charity initiatives, urging them to remain bridge-builders in strengthening China-Nigeria friendship.