₦airaland Forum

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday pushed back against public criticism of the National Assembly’s cooperation with the Executive, insisting that collaboration—not confrontation—between arms of government is essential for national progress.

The former Akwa Ibom State governor made the clarification after President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint sitting of the National Assembly.

In his welcome address, Akpabio acknowledged widespread scepticism about the legislature’s posture but argued that nations thrive when institutions work in concert under the Constitution.

“Many in our country view the patriotic collaborative work between the National Assembly and the Executive arm as a sell-out by the parliament.

“But history is unambiguous on one enduring lesson: nations advance when the Executive and the Legislature work in concert, and they falter when the two become locked in hostility,” he said.

Addressing lawmakers, diplomats, and senior government officials, the Senate President framed the 2026 budget presentation as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, warning that prolonged executive–legislative rivalry has historically undermined governance across civilisations.

“It is pertinent to note that history has often distilled its lessons into simple truths. One of them is this: great nations are not built by perfect conditions, but by leaders who make hard choices together,” he added.

He cited examples ranging from the decline of the Roman Republic to budgetary standoffs in the United States to illustrate the costs of institutional conflict.

“Across history and continents, the pattern remains consistent: when the organs of state treat each other as adversaries, the nation pays the price. But when they act as partners under the Constitution, stability deepens, reforms take root, and progress becomes possible,” he said.

Akpabio described national budgets as mirrors of a country’s values and priorities, stressing that the 2026 Appropriation Bill should be viewed beyond numbers.

“Budgets tell a story. Show me a nation’s budget, and I will tell you its priorities, its fears, and its hopes.

“The 2026 Appropriation Bill you are about to present is, therefore, far more than a compilation of figures. It should be a statement of intent—a reflection of priorities, a record of difficult choices, and a roadmap for the next phase of Nigeria’s national renewal,” he said.

Placing the budget against Nigeria’s current realities, the Senate President acknowledged pressures on households and businesses, the anxieties of young people, and persistent insecurity across parts of the country.

“Families have felt the strain of rising costs. Businesses have adjusted to a changing economic environment. Insecurity has tested our collective resolve and reminded us that peace is not a gift we inherit, but a responsibility we must constantly defend,” he added.

Still, he struck an optimistic tone, insisting that Nigeria’s history is defined by resilience rather than retreat.

He said, “Yet history teaches us something enduring: Nigeria does not retreat in the face of difficulty—we confront it… From one generation to the next, this nation has survived storms not by surrendering to despair, but by standing together, reforming what must be reformed, and renewing our commitment to justice, inclusivity, and progress.”

Akpabio defended the reform trajectory of the Tinubu administration, particularly the 2025 budget, which he said required political courage to tackle long-delayed structural weaknesses.

According to him, the reforms are beginning to yield results.

“As a result, we are now witnesses to measurable gains. Government revenues are improving. Public finance is being managed with greater discipline and transparency… Nigeria is regaining confidence—within its borders and in the eyes of the international community,” he said.

Highlighting the role of the 10th Senate, Akpabio said the upper chamber had recorded one of the highest legislative outputs in Nigeria’s history over the past year, passing bills across security, economic reform, governance, judicial administration, elections, infrastructure, and social protection.

However, he cautioned that legislative success must translate into improved living conditions for citizens, noting that insecurity and unemployment remain pressing challenges.

Akpabio also commended Tinubu for Nigeria’s swift response to threats against democracy in the Republic of Benin.

In closing, the Senate President employed the metaphor of the baobab tree to underscore the long-term nature of reform and budgeting, urging unity of purpose between institutions.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on all its members nationwide to patronise the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, noting that the refinery already offers the best affordable price for all marketers, even as free delivery commences in January 2026.

The association also expressed delight over a recent agreement by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to begin the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) – also known as petroleum – products directly to registered IPMAN members, in a statement signed and issued by the IPMAN National President Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima.

At[b] a press conference held in Abuja yesterday on recent happenings in the oil & gas sector, IPMAN also applauded the support of the Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote towards the Federal Government, which it noted has become evident in the regular reduction of the petroleum pump price.
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According to Shettima, “the association has the highest percentage of the supply chain of the PMS downstream sector, controlling over 80% of the PMS retail market. We therefore declare that there will be no gap or scarcity in PMS supply to Nigerians.

“We are also excited at the recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of PMS products directly to registered IPMAN members, and its free delivery to our filling stations anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria which will commence in January 2026.

“This will again, certainly lead to further decrease in the pump price of the products at our filing stations. Therefore, I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable prize for all marketers today”, the statement added.

The IPMAN boss noted that “At IPMAN we have no doubt as to the viability of the oil and gas policies being initiated by the Federal Government, and we have ceaselessly called and sought for enhanced cooperation across all levels of governance in the oil and gas sector. Hence our repeated persuasion to always partner the Dangote refinery, to ensure the steady availability of PMS products.

“The focus of the Dangote & IPMAN partnership, has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians. And of course, this blooming partnership would never have been possible without the pragmatic leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his sound judgment in readjusting the leadership of the NMDPRA and the NUPRC.

Our position has always been to deepen domestic refining in order to eradicate imports of petroleum products. Continuous import is NOT an acceptable parallel business model, because issuing import licenses recklessly distorts market dynamics, drains foreign exchange, enthrones poverty, destroys jobs, and scares potential investors away,” Shettima added.

The association congratulated the new heads of the oil & gas regulatory bodies, and reminded them of the long outstanding bridging claims owed its members totalling over N190 billion. “We specifically call on the NMPDRA new leadership to immediately make this debt a cause for serious concern as he assumes his new position”, the statement added.

Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, revealed that he celebrated the resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed and Mr. Gbenga Komolafe from Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory leadership, and described their exit as necessary for Nigeria’s economic survival.

Senator representing Taraba South, David Jimkuta, aligned with Oshiomhole during the session to join him in the drinking spree while posing pointed questions to the nominees amid prevailing perceptions.

The senators spoke on Thursday during the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The Joint Committee on Upstream, Midstream, Downstream, and Gas conducted the legislative assignment.

President Tinubu forwarded the names of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the NMDPRA to the Senate for confirmation.

The appointments followed the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed (former NMDPRA chief) and Mr. Gbenga Komolafe (former NUPRC chief), both appointed in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act.

The shake-up came after a public dispute between Mr. Ahmed and Dangote Group President Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who accused the NMDPRA of frustrating domestic refining through the issuance of petroleum import licences and alleged personal corruption.

During the screening, Oshiomhole criticised what he called the “shameful policy choices” of the outgoing leadership.

“I celebrated it last night,” Oshiomhole said bluntly. “It needed to be done. And I’m still going to drink tonight because of their removal.”

While acknowledging the professional qualifications of one of the nominees, Mohammed, the former labour leader, said the real issue was not competence but policy direction.

“Looking at your CV, you are qualified. But the issue for me is not qualification. It is your policy choices,” he said. “Everywhere in the world, nation-states deliberately protect local industries, not because they like the owners, but because they want to create jobs.”

Oshiomhole warned that job creation would not come from sympathy for the unemployed but from deliberate support for labour-intensive industries such as refineries.

“Jobs will not be achieved by weeping for the jobless. It is by supporting businesses, particularly manufacturers like refineries,” he said.

He lamented that despite the issuance of multiple refinery licences over the years—including large, mid-sized, and modular refineries—policies under the previous leadership had undermined local refining and encouraged importation.

According to him, assets were “deliberately stifled” under the watch of the former regulators, a development he said ran contrary to Nigeria’s national interest.

“Anyone who is opposed to jobs being created in Nigeria, who prefers importation, importing products here and exporting our wealth abroad, has no business managing this sector,” Oshiomhole said.

The senator urged the new nominees to be guided by national interest rather than commercial convenience, stressing that the petroleum sector must work for Nigerian workers, engineers, and families whose livelihoods depend on local refining.

“Be guided by what is good for Nigeria, not by the interests of refinery owners alone,” he said. “The people who work there are our brothers, our sisters, our children.”

Oshiomhole commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as decisive action in removing the former officials, saying the decision had renewed hope among Nigerians who depend on the sector for jobs and economic stability.

Jimkuta asked: “I want you to tell us here clearly: what are you going to tell my children? What will you do differently? What exactly is your criticism of the existing system, and how do you intend to correct the attitude and impressions Nigerians have formed?”

The author of From Soldier to Statesman, Charles Omole, has said that there are five cabals within the government of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST on Thursday, Omole said the first cabal is headed by the President himself.

According to him, others include the Femi Gbajabiamila–Wike group, the Seyi Tinubu group and the First Lady, Remi Tinubu group.

“President will always have people around him. But you need to put systems in place to avoid state capture or presidential capture because, for example, the current government have, from what I can see, at least five cabals within the presidency.

“And the interesting thing about one of the cabals actually is headed by the president himself, based on my own analysis.

“So, in this current administration, at least there are five groups. There is the Chief of Staff group headed by Femi Gbajabiamila. And by that I mean not just him but there are people in that circle like the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the National Security Adviser, NSA Nuhu Ribadu.

“Secondly, you have the Seyi Tinubu’s group consisting of those he helped get some government appointments and all that. And of course, you have the First Lady’s group, Remi Tinubu,” he said.

By Dayo Oyewo



A 26-year-old woman, identified simply as Misturah, has been arrested for allegedly staging her own abduction and extorting N2.5m from her husband under the guise of a kidnapping, PUNCH Metro has learnt.

It was gathered that the incident was reported to the police on November 24 when a lawyer, Hamzat (surname withheld), contacted the police to report that his brother’s wife had been kidnapped by unknown armed men.

A source in the Lagos State Police Command, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday in confidence, said the supposed abductors demanded a ransom of N10m for Misturah’s release.

According to the source, the amount was later reduced to N3m during negotiations, after which a sum of N2.5m was eventually paid.

“Following the report of her supposed kidnapping, the command registered the incident for investigation.

“During ransom negotiations, the kidnappers reduced their demand to N3m. Subsequently, a sum of N2.5m was paid; however, the kidnappers initially refused to release the hostage.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, a team of police officers was deployed to track and rescue the victim.

“Before operatives could locate the suspected criminals’ hideout, the complainant contacted the squad and reported that the victim had been released and reunited with her family,” the source narrated.

The police source further stated that Misturah was subsequently invited to the command headquarters the following day, where she was debriefed and her statement recorded.

In her account, she reportedly claimed she was kidnapped by six armed men who arrived in a silver Toyota Venza and took her to an undisclosed location.

She also alleged that her iPhone 12 Pro Max was seized and that she was released only after the payment of N2.5m.

She further told detectives that the ransom money was first paid into her bank account before it was handed over to the kidnappers, insisting that the entire sum was delivered to them.

The police source, however, noted that further investigation raised suspicions, leading to the arrest of a 30-year-old man, identified simply as Daniel, on December 3, in Ede, Osun State.

The source said, “A SIM card used to register the WhatsApp account through which ransom negotiations were conducted was recovered from Adedamola.

“During interrogation, he stated that Misturah was an online acquaintance of about two years and that she requested the use of his SIM card to register a WhatsApp account.

“He stated that during the registration process, a one-time password was sent to him, which he forwarded to Misturah, enabling her to activate the WhatsApp account.

“He further stated that she informed him that the phone number would be used to resolve some personal issues.

“He claimed that after she concluded her use of the number, she deactivated the WhatsApp account and later informed him.

“However, he later began receiving multiple messages on the same line, which eventually caused WhatsApp to log him out of his own account.

“Upon contacting Misturah, she told him that she had used the account to settle issues between herself and her husband, one Ridwan, who is based in South Africa.”

Confronted with Daniel’s confession after a police invitation, Misturah was said to have admitted to faking her kidnapping to extort money from her husband.

PUNCH Metro further gathered that findings also led to the recovery of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which she earlier claimed was with the kidnappers.

“The phone was recovered from one Yusuf Sodiq, 34, to whom she allegedly sold it for N380,000. She warned the buyer not to insert any SIM card into the device until a later time,” the source added.

When contacted on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the state police command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident.

“Investigations are ongoing, and appropriate charges will be filed at the conclusion of the probe,” she said.

The incident is the latest in a growing number of self-orchestrated abduction cases uncovered by law enforcement.

PUNCH Metro reported in April 2023 that the command arrested a couple for planning a self-kidnapping.

The couple, who admitted to the crime, said they planned the self-kidnap with the hope of raising N5m to buy back their house in the Badagry area of Lagos State.

By Channels Television


The Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, is facing intensifying scrutiny following moves to pay more than ₦200 billion in outstanding bridging claims to oil marketers, according to a press statement sent to Channels Television by the Dangote Group on Wednesday.

According to the statement, quoting industry sources, the company said the planned payment of the claims, which reportedly covered legacy obligations for 2023, 2024, and 2025, has allegedly raised serious concerns among economists and sector analysts, particularly over the absence of verifiable data to justify a significant portion of the claims.

Bridging claims are government payments made to oil marketers to compensate for the cost of transporting petroleum products from depots to various parts of the country, enabling uniform pump prices nationwide.

The statement noted that industry analysts say the benefit was rarely enjoyed by Nigerians, as petroleum products are sold at a higher rate in most parts of the country.

“In several instances, marketers submit bridging claims that do not correspond with the levies paid per litre, with discrepancies of up to 47 per cent. The current move to settle approximately N250 billion in legacy bridging claims, despite the regulator’s inability to provide empirical data to substantiate as much as 47 per cent of those claims against verified levies paid by depot owners and importers, strongly suggests the presence of irregular and potentially sinister practices.

“It is therefore imperative for the Auditor-General of the Federation to immediately halt the processing of all bridging claims until a comprehensive investigation and forensic audit are conducted to ensure that claims approved by the regulator accurately align with levies paid per litre,” the statement quoted a senior industry source.

The developments come amid a corruption petition filed by the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and unlawful diversion of public funds by the NMDPRA chief.

The anti-graft agency has since confirmed receipt of the petition and announced that investigations have commenced.

In the petition dated Tuesday and submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote urged the ICPC to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Farouk for allegedly living far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant.

According to the petition, received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), Farouk allegedly spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland, purportedly paid upfront for six years, without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.

“That Engr Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, in doing so, enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars.

“That Engr Farouk Ahmed spent without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over 7 million dollars of public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront,” the petition read.

Dangote named the four children, the Swiss schools they attend, and the specific amounts allegedly paid for each, to enable the ICPC to independently verify the claims.

The oil magnate further alleged that Farouk used the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests, actions he said have fuelled public outrage and recent protests by various groups.

According to Dangote, Farouk has spent his entire adult working life in the Nigerian public sector and could not, based on his legitimate earnings, have accumulated funds close to the alleged $7 million used to finance his children’s education abroad.

“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote stated.

He added that upon successful prosecution, if found guilty, the offence attracts a prison term of five years without an option of a fine.

Dangote expressed confidence in the capacity of the ICPC, working alongside other anti-corruption agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and ensure accountability once a prima facie case is established.

He urged the Commission to act decisively, stressing that the matter is already in the public domain and that firm action would help safeguard the image of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He also pledged to provide documentary evidence to substantiate his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office, and impunity against the NMDPRA chief.

Meanwhile, the ICPC has confirmed receipt of the petition and assured the public that it will be investigated. The Commission’s spokesperson, John Okor Odey, acknowledged the petition in a statement.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday 16th December, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated,” he said.

Allegation Against Me ‘Wild And Spurious’
Ahmed has described the corruption allegations levelled against him by Dangote as “wild and spurious”.

Ahmed, in a disclaimer issued and signed by him, noted that he would rather wait to defend himself in the presence of a formal investigative body, rather than engage in public “brickbat” with the entrepreneur.

“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person.

“I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me.

“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.

“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and to clear my name”, Ahmed’s statement read.

Fatima Buhari, daughter of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that her father once believed his office in the Presidential Villa was being secretly monitored, forcing them to communicate by writing notes instead of speaking aloud.

The revelation is contained in a new book, ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’, written by Dr Charles Omole, director general of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR) and presented in Abuja.

According to Fatima, there were moments when Buhari feared that conversations in his office were being listened to, prompting unusual precautions between father and daughter.

She recalled that during one quiet meeting, Buhari avoided speaking and instead made gestures, signalling that they should write their messages on paper.

“He touched his cheek, like he had a toothache, and signalled that we shouldn’t talk,” she said. “We wrote notes to each other, like spies in a film.”

Fatima said the former President believed there were listening devices in his office at the Villa and warned her to be cautious, explaining that he, too, was careful.

The book describes the experience not as drama, but as a coping mechanism in an environment where trust was strained and privacy uncertain.

More troubling, according to the account, was Buhari’s apparent resignation to the situation, despite being Commander-in-Chief.

Fatima questioned what influence those suspected of planting the devices — often referred to as “the cabal” — may have wielded over her father, especially as the alleged surveillance was said to have taken place within the highly secured Presidential Villa.

The book further notes that some security chiefs who served under Buhari later confirmed that strange objects were regularly discovered in the President’s office and bedroom during routine security sweeps, although how such items entered those restricted areas remained unclear.

Fatima described the atmosphere around the Villa as deeply unsettling, at times bordering on what she termed “diabolical.”

“We’re Africans. We know supernatural powers,” she said, declining to give details of certain incidents, adding that some matters were best left to divine judgment.

The book explains that Buhari’s personal disposition played a role in how he handled such situations. According to Fatima, age and faith had softened him, making him more reluctant to confront or publicly disgrace those close to him, even when trust was strained.

“He understands people’s histories — their parents, their families — and he doesn’t want to destroy hope,” she said.

She added that once Buhari trusted someone, it was difficult for him to withdraw that trust without overwhelming proof, preferring quiet corrections and warnings rather than sackings or public humiliation.

Fatima also disclosed that she lived in constant fear for her father’s safety, saying there were times when she believed attempts were made to harm him.

“There were attempts. Harm was done, but his time was not yet,” she said, without giving details.

As part of measures to manage perceived threats, she said Buhari sometimes publicly reprimanded her to create the impression of distance, even though he would later reach out privately to reassure her and her children.

“I cried in front of them,” she said, “but deep inside, he would call me and the kids.”

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday night, met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with the hope of shelving a nationwide NLC protest scheduled for today.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, led the labour leaders to the meeting on Tuesday night at the State House, Abuja.

When asked by reporters after the meeting if the protest would still proceed as scheduled, Mr Ajaero did not provide a direct response.

“If I’m insisting (on proceeding with the strike), I’m not insisting. I will communicate to you. It is not an organisation that one person rules. Let’s go back now. You have a meeting of labour and the governor’s forum. We’ll go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr President said to us, and move forward from there,” the NLC leader said.

He said the NLC leadership would meet early on Wednesday to take a decision.

“We came for consultation with the president, and we are finished. So, we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” he said.

The NLC is expected to announce early on Wednesday if the protest would proceed or not.

The meeting was also attended by the chairman of the APC governors’ forum, Hope Uzodimma; Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said a statement circulating in his name, responding to recent allegations by Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, did not emanate from him.

Mr Ahmed, in a disclaimer sent to PREMIUM TIMES early on Wednesday, explained that while he is aware of the “wild and spurious allegations” made against him and his family and the frenzy it has generated, he has chosen not to engage in public brickbat.

He said he is thankful that the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution, adding that he believes that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and clear his name.

“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me.

“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.

“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and to clear my name,” Mr Ahmed said.


The allegations

On Sunday, Mr Dangote accused Mr Ahmed of economic sabotage, which he said is undermining domestic refining in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, he accused the leadership of the NMDPRA of colluding with international traders and oil importers to frustrate local refining through the continued issuance of import licences for petroleum products.

Mr Dangote claimed that Mr Ahmed was living beyond his legitimate means, adding that four of his children attend secondary schools in Switzerland at costs running into several million of dollars. He said such expenditure raised serious questions about potential conflict of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.

On Monday, he expanded his allegations, accusing Mr Ahmed of corruption and misappropriation of public funds, and providing estimated figures for his children’s education abroad.

According to him, Mr Ahmed spent about $5 million on secondary education and upkeep over six years, and an additional $2 million on tertiary education, including $210,000 for Faisal Farouk’s 2025 Harvard MBA.

On Tuesday, Mr Dangote submitted a petition to the anti-graft agency, ICPC, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), calling for Mr Farouk’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution for allegedly living above his means as a public officer.

The petition, addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman Musa Aliyu, alleged that Mr Ahmed “spent without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland. It provided the children’s names, schools, and specific amounts for verification.

Mr Dangote further accused Mr Ahmed of using his position to embezzle public funds, prompting protests from civil society groups.

He cited section 19 of the ICPC Act, which empowers the commission to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, noting that a successful prosecution could result in a five-year jail term without an option of fine.

He urged the ICPC to act decisively, stressing that he remained available to provide evidence supporting his claims.

By Winifred Austin


A young man from Plateau State identified simply as Nengak, has been reportedly beaten to death by a mob in Lagos State after he was caught “sleeping” with the wife of his employer.

According to reports sent to DAILY POST by one Bitrus Idi who claims to be a close friend of the deceased, Nengak worked as a security man for a family in the highbrow Victoria Garden City in Lagos.

Idi said Nengak who was in his early 20s, was more like a general servant who did everything in the house including cooking, washing cars and taking the couple’s children to school.

Idi said from what he gathered, the man of the house was hardly at home as he was always travelling outside the country

“Being a handsome, strong and hardworking young guy, his master’s wife had a crush on him and began inviting him for other duties outside what he was employed to do,” Idi said.

Idi said the affair had been going on for months before the man of the house discovered through a CCTV camera he set up after getting rumours that his wife was sleeping with their houseboy.

“On the day Nengak was beaten to death, the man had pretended that he was traveling outside Lagos. Unknown to Nengak, the man had installed CCTV and had gotten enough evidence.

“So that day, he told the wife he was traveling but had invited area boys to hang around the house. As usual, the madam called Nengak to their master bedroom and it was in the process that the man and his gang bust in and caught them red handed.

“They beat Nengak to death and till now, the case is still to be filed as we have nobody to fight for him. Nengak’s corpse is still in the mortuary and the police have said we must pay for autopsy and other things,” Idi said.

Ruth Nwokwu by Ruth Nwokwu


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram insurgency has dragged longer than the country’s 1967–1970 Civil War.

Obasanjo made the remark on Sunday during the Toyin Falola Interviews conversation, which was live-streamed on social media and featured other panelists including Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, and former Deputy Central Bank Governor, Kingsley Moghalu.

Speaking on Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, the former president stressed that ending insurgency requires a strategic mix of specialised training, modern equipment, reliable intelligence, and advanced technology.

Obasanjo said there was nothing wrong with Nigerian military personnel receiving training from countries that have successfully tackled insurgency, citing Colombia as an example.

“There are four important items and I hope that those who are in charge — military, executive and legislature — know what they are doing,” Obasanjo said.

According to him, conventional military training is not sufficient to deal with insurgents who operate as fleeting targets or blend with civilian populations, insisting that specialised training was necessary.

He also warned that the wrong approach to procurement and intelligence sharing could undermine the fight, stating that military equipment purchasing should not be left solely to the armed forces.

“The whole thing is an industry. It is an industry,” he said.

Drawing from his experience handling the Niger Delta militancy, Obasanjo said he would not rule out the possibility of collusion between security personnel and insurgents.

“Civil war lasted for 30 months. Although we thought it would last for six months. But this fight against insurgents and criminals has lasted for almost 15 years,” he stated.

Obasanjo also revealed that he visited Maiduguri in 2011 to understand the origin, grievances and leadership structure of Boko Haram.

He disclosed that the insurgents initially refused to negotiate with the Federal Government but later agreed to a 21-day ceasefire for dialogue, which reportedly failed after the government did not adequately reach out to their leaders.

By Daily Trust


Nigeria played a major role to restore democratic order in neighbouring Benin Republic, the presidency has confirmed.

A group of soldiers had appeared on Benin’s state television, announcing the dissolution of the government, on Sunday.

The mutineers seized the National TV after but failed to enter President Patrice Talon’s residence, which was under heavy military protection.

They declared the removal of President Talon, who has led the country since 2016, along with the suspension of all state institutions.
Identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), they said the committee had met and resolved that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.

The soldiers, who announced a suspension of the constitution and closure of all land borders and the country’s airspace, said Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.

The whereabouts of President Talon was unclear at the time of the announcement.
However, the government later announced that the coup had been foiled.

Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, announced that the country’s armed forces had regained control.

In a statement on Sunday night, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, said President Bola Tinubu had commended Nigeria’s Armed Forces for protecting democracy in Benin Republic.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the gallantry of Nigeria’s military on Sunday for responding swiftly to the request by the Government of Benin Republic to save its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn today.”

“Acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.

“The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”

“In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.

“The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests had been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.

By Tunde Oso (with agency reports)


Nigeria has withdrawn the fighter aircraft it deployed to the Benin Republic after authorities assessed that the security situation in the neighbouring country had stabilised following Sunday’s attempted military coup.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the aircraft, initially deployed from Lagos for surveillance and regional monitoring, were ordered to return to base in the afternoon after updated intelligence indicated that the situation was under control and posed “no immediate threat to Nigeria’s territorial security.”

The attempted coup targeted the democratic government of President Patrice Talon and was decisively thwarted on Sunday. Mutineers, dressed in military uniforms, launched an early morning operation to seize power, beginning with an assault on the presidential residence in Cotonou. The attack was repelled, and failing to capture the president, the rebels seized the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), taking control of the national broadcast signal.

The crisis escalated rapidly, but loyalist forces, including the National Guard, responded swiftly, surrounding the television station and isolating the mutineers. By late Sunday, security forces had secured key government installations and regained full control of the capital.

“The situation is under control. The National Guard has everything surrounded,” a senior security official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. Local media reports indicated that the mutineers remained barricaded inside the television station as of Sunday evening, with negotiations underway to secure their peaceful surrender.

President Patrice Talon, reportedly safe at an undisclosed location, has yet to make a public statement. There were no immediate reports of widespread violence or casualties, and Cotonou’s streets were described as tense but calm following the initial alarms.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed on his verified X page that the coup had failed. “Mutineers in military uniform who attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon’s democratic government have failed. They seized the National TV after failing to enter the presidential residence,” he said.

Onanuga added that Colonel Pascal Tigri, the leader of the mutineers, is on the run, while several members of the group have been arrested.

Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, appeared on national television to confirm that the coup had been thwarted. “Early on Sunday, 7 December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions. The Beninese armed forces and their leadership remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control and foil the attempt,” he said.

The government urged citizens to continue their activities as normal, reassuring the public that the situation was under firm control.

by Daniel Nnamani


Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, says President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are beginning to yield results despite the pains experienced by citizens.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-West stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Uzodimma likened Nigeria to “a barren woman” before Tinubu assumed office.

He said the president introduced the “fertility drugs” required to restore economic productivity and set the country on a path of sustainable growth.

“Nigeria was like a barren woman looking for a child before President Bola Tinubu came,” Uzodimma said.

“He introduced the fertility drugs needed. Yes, they came with pains, but we are seeing results. We are not after excuses. We are interested in results.”

The governor spoke shortly after the two-day meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) held in Lagos, where party leaders reviewed the state of the nation, ongoing reforms, and the rising wave of insecurity.

Uzodimma, who conveyed the collective position of the APC governors, expressed appreciation to Nigerians for what he described as their “resilience” amid economic hardship arising from the policy shifts introduced by the federal government.

“We thank you for your resilience in admitting the difficulties from the reforms. A more united and prosperous Nigeria is what we need,” he said.

Addressing the recent surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks across parts of the country, the governor insisted that Nigeria would ultimately defeat insurgents and bandits.

He questioned the sources of funding for criminal groups, saying the fight against insecurity requires unity and political will.

“God made Tinubu possible. Of late we have seen the level of insecurity and banditry increase. Who are the people funding these criminalities? Progressive governors are united. Nigeria must win,” Uzodimma said.

Speaking on his role as national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, the governor said the movement is designed to take the message of the administration’s policies to communities across the country.

He said the ambassadors will operate across four levels — zonal, state, local government and ward — aligning directly with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme.

Uzodimma said one of the key targets of the new structure is to ensure the establishment of at least 1,000 active businesses in every ward, leveraging the significant fiscal boost states are now receiving.

“FAAC has tripled to states,” he said, referencing the Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements.

“With the Renewed Hope Ambassadors aligned with the Ward Development Programme, we will ensure that we have 1,000 active businesses in every ward in Nigeria,” the governor added.

The meeting brought together governors, party leaders and stakeholders from the south-west, with discussions centred on deepening party mobilisation, strengthening security collaboration and reinforcing public confidence in the administration’s policy direction.

Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) are not required for strictly personal bank accounts under Nigeria’s new tax reforms; they become mandatory only if the account is used for business transactions, the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has clarified.

Chairman of the tax reforms committee, Taiwo Oyedele, who made this known, advised bank customers to conduct a self-assessment, noting that authorities will be able to detect such use via Bank Verification Number (BVN) patterns.

Speaking during a session with the management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper in Abuja at the weekend, Oyedele said that individuals using personal bank accounts for business transactions must now obtain a TIN, adding that tax authorities leveraging BVN data can detect evasion patterns such as multiple random inflows from customers and outflows to suppliers.

“You need a tax ID for your bank account if that bank account is used for business transactions. If you are not using your account for business, you don’t need to attach your tax ID. If you don’t get your tax ID, the authorities will know.”

According to him, this requirement is rooted in the 2020 Finance Act, effective from 13 January 2020, and gains teeth through new digital intelligence that allows authorities to identify business activity in unregistered personal accounts — including those of spouses or children used to hide income — ensuring compliant taxpayers are not disadvantaged.

Oyedele stressed self-compliance: “You need a tax ID for your bank account if that bank account is used for business… If you know that you are using it for business, get a tax ID. If you don’t get a tax ID, because we have your BVN, we can find out,” he warned, adding that flagged accounts trigger unfriendly tax enforcement.

“So, different random people will be paying into the account. You would also be paying different random people, maybe your suppliers. When the system detects that pattern, the authorities will know that this is a business account, and the tax man will come to you — and it will not be friendly at that point, because it means you yourself have not been honest.”

He noted that some banks already enforce this proactively.

The measure, he explained, will combat evasion where individuals funnel business revenue into personal accounts to dodge taxes, undermining progressivity that exempts low earners (up to N100,000 monthly from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) starting January 2026) while targeting higher incomes fairly.

“If we agree that poor people should not pay, let them not pay… Don’t allow rich people to hide, because the system will collapse,” he said.

Oyedele lamented the high level of misinformation surrounding the new tax regime, scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2026.

“If you go on the street now and ask any young person, they will tell you there’s a 30 per cent tax in the capital market, because that’s what they’ve been told,” he said.

He highlighted significant reforms targeting the capital market aimed at boosting participation and attracting investments. These reforms exempt portfolios and sales under N150 million — which covers about 99 per cent of investors — from capital gains tax, encouraging small and medium investors to stay engaged in the market without tax burdens.

He further explained that if an investor’s portfolio or share sales in a year do not exceed N150 million, they are exempt from capital gains tax, thus providing relief to the vast majority of retail investors.
Additionally, reinvestments made by foreign investors are also exempt, fostering a culture of long-term investment rather than short-term speculative trading.

Bonus shares received by shareholders no longer attract withholding tax, while stamp duties on share transfers have been removed, further reducing transaction costs and encouraging trading activity.

He said these investor-friendly reforms have yielded tangible results, with foreign portfolio inflows into the Nigerian capital market reaching N2.1 trillion as of October 2025.

Oyedele noted that foreign investors had previously exited the market around 2022 but have begun to return in significant numbers due to these positive changes, reflecting growing confidence.
Despite these gains, he observed that the average age of investors remains 45, implying that younger Nigerians — who are currently heavily invested in volatile cryptocurrencies and stablecoins totalling about $60 billion — are missing out.

Oyedele urged youths to shift from crypto to equities in the capital market, citing superior 50 per cent dollar returns and tax exemptions now available.

He called this capital market shift a crucial pathway for financial growth and wealth creation for younger Nigerians.

“Young people, leave crypto. This is where to make more money. It is tax-exempt and the returns are better. If you can even clean just $20 billion of that virtual currency into the capital market, it will change our story.”

Oyedele detailed how Nigeria inherited a dire economic situation in May 2023 upon President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration, teetering on collapse with foreign reserves below $4 billion, over $7 billion owed on FX forward contracts, international cards unable to process even $20 subscriptions, and airlines such as Emirates halting flights due to repatriation issues.

Oil theft , he stated, had decimated onshore and shallow-water production by 80 per cent, dropping output below 1 million barrels per day, while NNPC subsidies exhausted equity crude, royalties, petroleum profits, and future production as collateral, leaving just 00,000 barrels unencumbered and risking fuel shortages by late 2023.

He said government revenue was under 10 per cent of GDP, with 7 per cent consumed by debt servicing, forcing N22.7 trillion in money printing plus N7 trillion interest — totalling N30 trillion — which ignited the inflation crisis.

According to him, reforms including FX flotation, PMS subsidy removal, and tax overhauls reversed the trajectory, achieving over $7 billion trade surpluses, with the CBN becoming a net forex buyer for 10 months, restoring card limits up to $6,000, and oil production at 1.7 million barrels per day (including condensate) with theft reduced to 5 per cent.

He further stated that the new tax laws introduce progressivity, exempting earners up to N100,000 monthly from PAYE entirely, reducing it for the N100,000–N1.8 million brackets (covering 98 per cent of Nigerians), with marginal increases only for higher incomes — addressing the pre-reform skew where 96 per cent of personal income tax came from formal corporates.

Essentials such as food, health, education, transport and rent will become zero-rated, allowing full VAT refunds on production costs to combat cost-push inflation:

“From January, this bottle of water becomes zero-rated… any VAT that you have incurred yourself to produce the water will be refunded — 100 per cent refund.”

He said businesses will gain from a 25 per cent Company Income Tax (CIT) reduction, with input VAT credits now extended to services.

“As LEADERSHIP, you have vehicles… your camera… even when you buy airtime on your phone now, from January next year, you can claim it back, because you use your phone for your business.”

Oyedele advised: “From January, you need to keep a proper record, because nobody gives you VAT credit because you said, ‘give me ID’. You have to provide documentation… So your finance people should be very, very busy now.”

He listed additional relief to include cash-basis VAT/withholding tax remittance (bad debts exempt until paid), 30-day refunds after netting input against output (with 200 per cent penalties for false claims), no minimum tax unless profitable, and harmonised single-digit taxes and levies.

By : Guardian


Nigerian rapper and activist, Eedris Abdulkareem, has announced that his Facebook and Instagram pages have been taken down.

The activist said it happened shortly after he released his new track, open letter to Donald Trump.

He said on Sunday that he has been unable to log into both accounts since the song came out.

Checks also showed that the pages could no longer be opened.

The rapper, known for his strong views on politics and governance, did not state how long the suspension might last or whether Meta gave him any notice.

Open Letter to Donald Trump, released in November 2025 under Lakreem Entertainment, takes aim at corruption, insecurity and poor leadership in Nigeria.

Though framed as a message to the U.S. president, the song focuses on Nigeria’s leaders.

President Trump’s parable: The war of interest
Abdulkareem called out those in power for living well while citizens face hardship.

He also pointed to the rise in kidnappings, killings and other crimes that leave many people unsafe and worried.

By mentioning Trump, the rapper tried to draw global attention to Nigeria’s problems, hoping the world will look closer at what ordinary citizens are facing.

The song continues his long track record of using music to question those in authority, much like his earlier hit Jaga Jaga, which attacked corruption and poor governance.

In April 2025, the National Broadcasting Commission ordered radio and TV stations not to air his song Tell Your Papa, saying it contained content that went against broadcast rules.

Before that, in 2004, Jaga Jaga was banned during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of 1,095 properties across Abuja after owners failed to settle ground rent, land use conversion charges, or Certificate of Occupancy fees within a 14-day grace period that expired on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.

The action was disclosed in a statement issued at the weekend by the Department of Land Administration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

According to the FCTA, 835 of the affected properties were listed for ground rent default, while 260 fell under land use contravention payment defaults. The publication also detailed file numbers, plot numbers, cadastral zones, districts, amounts owed, and revocation dates.

The statement said the enforcement commenced after “several notices in national dailies, online platforms and television stations” urging defaulters to clear outstanding liabilities. It added that failure to comply “contravenes the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act and also the terms and conditions of the grants of the respective Rights of Occupancy.”

The list includes properties linked to federal and state governments, government institutions, private companies, and notable public figures. Former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma; former First Lady, Patience Jonathan; former Senate President, David Mark; former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido; Senator Ali Ndume; former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi; Tony Anenih; and former Minister of Petroleum, Alison Madueke, were among those named.

Former governors whose properties appeared on the list include Abdullahi Ganduje, Adeniyi Adebayo, Donald Duke, Aliyu Wamakko, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ayodele Fayose, and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Others listed include Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh; Aminu Alhassan Dantata; Bashir Tofa; Audu Abubakar; Jimoh Ibrahim; Ado Abdullahi Bayero; Ghali Umar Na’abba; Olu Agunloye; Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; Iyabo Obasanjo; and Babatunde Idiagbon.

Institutions affected include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Navy, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the governments of Kaduna, Oyo and Borno States.

Corporate organisations listed include BUA International Limited, First Bank, Standard Trust Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, Union Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

The FCTA said the revocation process will continue in line with statutory powers under the Land Use Act

by Abdulsalam Abdullah


Tunde Bakare, founder of Citadel Global Community Church, has criticised the national assembly for “busying itself with politicking” while the US congress convened a hearing on the country’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking on Sunday during his state of the nation address in Lagos, Bakare said elected representatives have failed to take charge at a time citizens needed them most.

He spoke on the heels of the redesignation of Nigeria by US President Donald Trump as a ‘country of particular concern’ and the recent congressional hearing on November 20 about the rising insecurity in the country.

The cleric criticised the national assembly for lacking initiative and allowing foreign legislators to lead discussions on Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

“It is a shame on our national assembly that it took the United States Congress, not the representatives elected by Nigerians, to convene a hearing on the lived experiences of citizens suffering under insecurity, while those in Abuja were busy with politicking, posturing for political relevance, and defecting from one political party to another in their desperate manoeuvres to secure their seats ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Bakare said comments made by Trump were “the most despicable language ever used by a world leader” in describing Nigeria as a “now-disgraced country”.

He said the government’s sudden “flurry of activity after Trump’s remarks” exposed its earlier lack of urgency.

The cleric accused political leaders of “burying their heads in the sand like ostriches, preoccupied with the politics of chaos and paying little attention to the work of governance”.

He said the ruling class had ignored the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians and paid “little attention to the real work of governance.”

The former presidential aspirant added that it was “a stain on the Nigerian government” that external pressure was needed before officials acted.

Bakare said Nigeria had suffered its “most humiliating international public image since the Abacha era”, blaming the situation on years of poor leadership and the refusal to confront deep national problems.

He lamented the surge in attacks and kidnappings, adding that “terrorists and bandits now dare the Nigerian state with impunity.”

Bakare also urged President Bola Tinubu to issue a public apology to communities ravaged by insecurity, saying preliminary steps were insufficient to rebuild trust.

He welcomed early interventions but warned that stronger, systemic measures are necessary to restore citizens’ confidence.

Bakare proposed a victims and survivors register, a national apology within three months, and interim compensation, arguing that accountability is essential to ending the violence..

By Daily Trust

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded withdrawal of the ambassadorial list sent to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it is populated by people with “integrity deficit”.

The party also asked President Tinubu to renominate only Nigerians with “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments”.

Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the party, said this in a statement on Saturday.

“This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities. This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”

“While most Nigerians are seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.

“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.

“That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the paucity of excellent people within his reach.”

The party expressed shock over the inclusion of the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on the list.

Ememobong alleged that the appointment could serve as a means to induce incumbent INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, to deliver flawed election.

“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.”

“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.

“To this end, we demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”

“This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities.”

While describing the list as a sad commentary on the country’s history of diplomatic representation; PDP said” it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”

The opposition party said most Nigerians are “seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.

“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.”

PDP also said, that it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the “paucity of excellent people within his reach.

“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.

“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.”

To this end, PDP is demanding that President Bola Tinubu “withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”

Senator Ali Ndume has criticised what he described as the excessive use of security convoys by top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, warning that the practice leaves ordinary citizens exposed and vulnerable.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Thursday, Ndume said many public office holders move with security details that are unnecessarily large, even when their positions do not warrant such heavy protection.

He recalled visiting the residence of a colleague and finding “more than 10 policemen” attached to him, despite the lawmaker being junior to him in the National Assembly.

Ndume further argued that the presidential convoy itself is excessively large, stressing that security efforts should be focused on protecting the overall environment rather than individual personalities.

He said: “I went to one of my colleagues’ house for dinner. And I saw more than 10 policemen. He is even my junior in the National Assembly. Some of them, if you see them coming, you will pull back thinking that maybe it’s the President or the Vice President that is coming.

“You can see even the president, the convoy that the president goes about with is too much. Secure the place and when the president goes, you withdraw. Secure Abuja and the president can even drive out, you know, himself.

“But when you secure personalities, and this is what is happening in Nigeria, then others, common people, as we call them, become vulnerable, and we don’t care. So if you secure Abuja, then you can drive at night. And let me tell you, this is what is happening in most countries”.

DAILY POST reports that the lawmaker’s comments come just days after President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties.

In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the directive was aimed at redeploying police manpower to core law enforcement responsibilities.

Stephen Angbulu and Adeyinka Adedipe


President Bola Tinubu has called on herders to end open grazing, surrender all illegal weapons, and transition to ranching as part of a new national strategy to resolve the long-standing farmer–herder conflict.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President said the Federal Government is prioritising sustainable solutions to the violent confrontations between herders and farming communities, clashes that have fueled instability across several northern and central states.

The admonition comes amid a surge in school kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and other parts of the country in the past week, as well as ongoing farmer–herder violence in the North Central region that has left scores dead in recent months.

“Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” Tinubu said.

He urged all herder associations to seize the opportunity, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons.

The President also called on mosques and churches, especially in vulnerable areas, to coordinate with security agencies to ensure protection during prayers and gatherings.

Highlighting the creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a key part of the administration’s long-term plan, Tinubu urged herder associations to collaborate with the ministry, modernise livestock production, and embrace ranch-based operations.

He noted that farmer–herder clashes have consistently fuelled insecurity, from land disputes to deadly confrontations, particularly in the Middle Belt.

The new livestock policy, he said, aims to protect both farmers and herders while easing land-use tensions.

To support this transition, Tinubu added that the Federal Government, in partnership with state governments, will provide frameworks for ranch establishment and implement measures to curb illegal arms circulation.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government announced on Wednesday that it had intensified security across the state following threats from a self-proclaimed bandit in the Edo Central Senatorial District.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government assured residents of adequate protection.

The governor convened a high-level security meeting in response to a viral video showing the alleged bandit threatening communities around Ekpoma and adjoining areas.

The Edo State Special Security Squad recently arrested two suspected kidnappers, Anthony Fedigha Ebimienwei and Luke Disemoh, in the Egbai Community, Ovia North-East LGA, following “high-level, intelligence-driven surveillance.”

The state government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative, warning against spreading misinformation or unverified content. Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, commuters, and investors.

It was a day of lamentations in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers expressed deep sorrows over the rising insecurity across the country.

The House dedicated the plenary session to deliberate on the state of national security with a view to identifying the causes, effects and proffering solutions which would be conveyed via resolutions to the executive at the end of the exercise on Wednesday.

The special plenary, observed by officials from the United States Embassy, Speaker of the Parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Lanien Blanchette, along with members of Parliament and cabinet ministers, featured presentations from security related committees and regional caucuses leaders in the House.

In his opening address, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, declared that the events of the past week revealed a deeply troubling escalation in violence across several states.

He said the various attacks are not only coordinated but designed to destabilise the country, aiming to create the impression that violent groups can act without restraint, albeit focusing on soft and vulnerable targets.

“Their purpose is to instill fear, weaken public confidence, and give the illusion of being everywhere at once. Nigeria must reject this tactic. We must resist fear and stand firm against those who rely on cruelty and spectacle to advance their evil ideologies.

“The last few weeks have been difficult for our country. Communities have suffered severe attacks, including killings and multiple abductions targeting civilians, security personnel and other vulnerable groups. These incidents occurred in rapid succession and affected different parts of the country, underscoring the scale and coordination of the threat we face.

“The attack in Kebbi State shocked the nation. The abduction of students in Niger State caused deep distress. The kidnapping of worshippers in Kwara State brought fear to many communities. Families are grieving. Citizens are anxious. These incidents remind us of the scale of the threat we face and the seriousness of the work before us,”he said.

The speaker enjoined Nigerians to remain undaunted by the recent activities of terrorists and bandits but remain united in tackling the security challenges.

Speaker Abbas stated that the decision of the House to suspend all other matters to focus on national security was neither symbolic nor procedural but “reflects the seriousness of the moment and our duty to speak for our constituents.”

The speaker, while alluding to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by the United States (U.S), said the government of Nigeria does not and will never support or sponsor violence against its own citizens.

Abbas declared that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains non-negotiable, yet partnership, especially when extended in good faith, can allow both countries to face shared threats with greater clarity and purpose.

“We conveyed our resolutions to the United States Congress, the Department of State and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

“It is true that in some communities, Christians have been targeted, just as Muslim communities have suffered similar attacks in others. These acts have been carried out by violent groups pursuing their own agendas. They do not reflect the policy or practice of the Nigerian state.

“Terrorism, banditry, communal clashes and extremist violence have brought suffering to Nigerians of all faiths. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and every institution of government remains committed to protecting that right.”

Also speaking, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu acknowledged the security challenges affecting the country and said the solution to them requires structural legislative reform, not merely reactive military responses.

Kalu observed that the Nigerian police is constrained by centralised command, inadequate funding and lack of accountability, hence the need to move the force from exclusive to concurrent list.

He said despite strong anti-kidnapping laws like life imprisonment, death penalty for kidnapping, the practice continues because it is alleged that government entities negotiate with bandits and pay ransom.

Kalu called for legal prohibition of ransom negotiation and mandating criminal justice process over amnesty programmes.

He stressed the need for a legislation to provide criminal penalties for government officials who negotiate ransom or authorise unstructured amnesty deals.

In a presentation, the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere said the country faces multifaceted security threats across the country with displacement of families and communities while mortalities remain high, reaching up to 9,500 in 2024.

While noting that the global terrorism index places Nigeria as the sixth most impacted country globally by terrorism, he said the report showed that the country had over 24,000 violent incidents between December 2023 and November 2024.

The House leader said, the legislature has equally responded to the issue of insecurity, with countless motions and bills to restructure the police force, to amend the Nigeria Army Act, and so on and so forth.

The House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda also noted that insecurity is ravaging the entire country but the government was not doing enough to arrest the situation.

Chinda said the House must immediately come up with a bill to establish the National Border Patrol Force to secure the nation’s borders to reduce the influx of criminal elements while using the opportunity of the ongoing constitutional amendment to establish community or state police.

In his remarks, leader of the northern regional caucus, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC, Kano) expressed deep worry over the issue of insecurity all over the country, calling for a legislative emergency by shutting down the House.

Doguwa also said the APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu was not doing enough on addressing security challenges.

“…I want to say that yes, the government is doing its best. The security agencies are doing their best. But I want to say with every sense of responsibility and without any fear of equivocation that their best is not good enough. It is not good enough because Nigeria today, Mr Speaker, it is horrific. Mr Speaker, our security situation is tragic. Mr Speaker, the security situation, especially in the north where I come from, is devastating.

“Mr Speaker, our situation in Nigeria today in the area of security is unspeakable. It is unspeakable because our people are left ravaged in serious tension, fear and desperation, all because we are lacking and reneging in our institutional and collective responsibility as a government,”he added.

Similarly, leader of the South South caucus, Hon.Victor Nwokolo, agreed that the security architecture of the country has failed in its entirety.

“What my brother Doguwa said is happening in the north, exactly is happening in the south. There is no part of southern Nigeria that you can said is safe. Outside Lagos, every other state troubled in the south,”he said.

Nwokolo proposed funding community vigilantes directly from local government allocations and involving the private sector in key road repairs to curb highway abductions.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) says it has received “disturbing reports” of delayed or withheld security responses on attacks in several predominantly Christian communities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the clerics condemned the security situation in the country and addressed the allegations of a Christian “genocide” — a label the federal government has repeatedly rejected.

The bishops said the label stemmed from a “prolonged” attack on members of the faith.

“It is a matter of grave concern that several predominantly Christian communities, particularly in the Northern and middle belt regions of the country, have come under repeated and brutal attacks, resulting in heavy casualties and the tragic loss of many Christian lives,” the statement reads.

“In some instances, there have been disturbing reports of delayed or withheld security responses, giving the impression of possible collusion or a lack of will to act.

“The near-total destruction and occupation of some communities, and the continued attacks on displaced persons even in camps, have deepened the people’s sense of abandonment and despair. Such prolonged unbearable conditions have given credence to allegations of ‘genocide’ in some quarters.

“Yet, mindful of the sacred dignity and inestimable worth of every human life, we are equally deeply concerned that Muslims and many other innocent citizens of diverse ethnic backgrounds have also been victims of this same cruelty that continues to desecrate our common humanity.”

The bishops urged the government to investigate the reports of delayed or withheld security responses in the affected communities to rebuild public trust.

They also asked the federal government to bring the perpetrators of the recent kidnaps across Kebbi, Kwara, Borno, and Niger to justice.

by Jerrywright Ukwu


Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, says non-kinetic approach was deployed in securing the release of the 38 worshippers.

The victims were abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of Kwara on November 18.

On November 21, Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), briefed the president on the security crisis enveloping the nation.

On November 23, Tinubu announced that all the abductees had been released.

“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued,” the president announced in a statement.

“I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.

“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”

The presidency and the military have been mum on how the captives were set free or if any ransom was paid.

‘SECURITY AGENCIES HAVE A WAY OF TRACKING THESE PEOPLE’

Speaking on ‘Prime Time’, an Arise Television programme, on Monday, Onanuga said the release was thanks to the DSS and the military.

He added that the gunmen knew that if they did not cooperate, they were going to be “pummelled”.

“After the incident, the DSS and the military were involved in the rescue effort. They got in contact with the bandits to release the captives unharmed,” the president’s spokesperson said.

“On Sunday, they were able to get them out unharmed. They do have a way of tracking these people.

“The security agencies have a way of contacting these people. They (bandits) know the consequences of not acquiescing to government demands. They know they could be pummelled.”

Onanuga added that a kinetic approach would have been counter-productive because terrorists often use abductees as “human shields” which could result in “collateral damage”.

“Attacking their base could be risky because you can kill the civilians,” he added.

The presidential aide also said the military will decide “the next line of action” on the kidnappers.

Kaduna-based Islamic, cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has disclosed that his priority in Nigeria’s worsening security crisis is addressing those perpetrating violence rather than focusing first on their victims.

According to the Islamic cleric, the only way to stop the ongoing cycle of killings is to confront the attackers directly and deprive them of the means to inflict further harm.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi drew a medical analogy to explain his approach, he argued that in any emergency, the first step is to prevent further damage, not to begin treating those already hurt.

“When you have an emergency, you can only be concerned about stopping the bleeding, not even the fracture, maintaining the cardiovascular potency,” he said.

“I am so much concerned about those who are injuring people. Imagine a mad man in the market in the night who has stabbed so many people—my approach is to get that knife from the man, not the people who are injured.”

Gumi emphasised that his focus does not imply disregard for victims, but rather a strategic attempt to end the violence more effectively.

He said he is not positioned to provide direct support to victims, insisting that existing government agencies have the responsibility and capacity to do so.

“I am not an authority and I cannot take care of everybody. My concern is that blood should stop flowing,” he stated.

The cleric pushed back against criticism that his methods prioritise the welfare of armed groups over their victims, insisting that the state possesses adequate structures to respond to those affected.

“Some people say we have neglected the victims. We have not neglected the victims,” he said.

“The victims have an emergency agency that can take care of them, we have state governors, we have everything to take care of them.”

According to Gumi, the real challenge is how to rehabilitate those he describes as “outlaws” by applying psychological and social engagement strategies that would pull them away from violent lifestyles.

He argued that the perpetrators are known to communities and authorities, and that meaningful dialogue could redirect them.

“But these people that are outlaw, how do we use psychology and social interaction to deviate them from this evil they have fallen into? We know them for a very long time,” he said.

Gumi said his stance is informed by years of firsthand encounters with bandits, insisting that the government also recognises that his approach could work but is held back by political disagreements.

“I have seen this firsthand. This is what will work and government and people have understood that but I think for political reason, they cannot come together and implement it,” he said.

The cleric compared the banditry crisis to an untreated illness, insisting that authorities must examine its root causes before any lasting solution can emerge.

“If you want to cure a disease, you have to go back and see the psychologist — what caused the disease,” he added.

Sheikh Gumi has, for years, maintained that negotiation, rehabilitation and reintegration are more effective in addressing banditry than purely military actions.

He has repeatedly met directly with armed bandit leaders and urged the government to embrace structured dialogue.

He argues that many armed groups are products of neglect, poverty, and cycles of revenge, and that addressing these root causes is essential for achieving lasting peace.

We shall never forget and forgive Peter Obi for supporting a foreign invasion of Nigeria.

By : Azeez Kareem


President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has told opposition figure Peter Obi that the government will not forgive him for remarks interpreted as welcoming possible United States military action in Nigeria.

Onanuga made the comments in a quoted X post, referring to a video in which Obi is heard welcoming Trump’s invasion threat.

“If Donald Trump said he will invade Nigeria, I will welcome it with open arms because security is my priority.”

Onanuga accused the former Labour Party candidate of showing disregard for national sovereignty.

The footage resurfaced following a 1 November 2025 post by US president Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he directed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over what he described as Christian genocide.

Trump cited attacks attributed to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and armed herder groups, and said the United States will not allow the violence to continue.

However Nigeria had rejected Trump’s claims.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said attacks in Nigeria affect citizens of all faiths and are not condoned by the state.

Tinubu, speaking during a defence briefing in Abuja, pointed to the appointment of a Christian as chief of defence staff and said his administration was maintaining contact with religious leaders to reinforce inter-faith stability.

Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said Nigeria would accept assistance from the United States only in a form that respects the country’s territorial integrity.

The recorded video was made on 23 November. Obi said security would be his number one priority if in office and interpreted the US position as an opportunity for cooperation against armed groups rather than an endorsement of foreign intervention.

The Guardian reported On 4 November, that Obi issued a statement urging Abuja and Washington to maintain constructive diplomatic engagement.

He criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, citing figures from international rights organisations estimating that more than 10,000 people have been killed since May 2023.

He said Nigeria was experiencing an unprecedented level of insecurity and called for cooperation among political actors.

Recently in Kwara, armed men killed multiple residents in an assault, while schools in parts of the north remain closed due to persistent banditry. Local education officials warn that millions of children remain out of school as a result.

Relations between Abuja and Washington have also been strained by the US designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious-freedom violations.

Tinubu’s administration last week sent a delegation to Washington for consultations aimed at easing tensions.

A newlywed groom identified as Dan Gaske Mai Masara, has been allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, less than a week after their wedding in Tashar Aibo, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The couple had tied the knot on Thursday, November 18, 2025 but the marital bliss was cut short on Sunday afternoon when the incident occurred.

Neighbours told reporters that the wife allegedly attacked the new groom with a knife while he was asleep, inflicting a fatal wound to his neck.

The motive behind the stabbing has not been disclosed as authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

by Muhammad Ali


Four vigilantes have been killed and four soldiers declared missing after terrorists attacked a military base in Mayenti, a town in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack occurred a day after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) posted a video of the execution of Samaila Uba, a Nigerian Army brigadier-general.

On Monday night, security sources told our reporter that ISWAP fighters rode on motorcycles into Mayenti in an attempt to overrun the facility.

The town, located near Dara Jamal—the scene of a massacre that claimed over 60 lives in September—is a hotspot of terrorist activities.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled the insurgents, killing several terrorists. However, four civilian joint task force members were also confirmed dead after the battle.

While retreating, the ISWAP terrorists burned two trucks belonging to the Borno State Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Resettlement and killed four labourers.

The assault came hours after the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, left Borno, and shortly after the release of the video of Mr Uba’s killing.

The general, who had escaped a terrorist ambush on Saturday, lost contact with his troops while awaiting a rescue mission. Unfortunately, the terrorists found and killed him.


Concerns over rising insecurity

The twin attacks have sparked new concerns over Nigeria’s capacity to confront the insurgency, particularly following American President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the security situation in the country.

Citizens have voiced outrage over the brigadier-general’s death and are demanding decisive action to eliminate terrorists across the North-east and the country.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum had urged the federal government to procure more drones and adopt technology-driven surveillance to fight the insurgents.

He similarly challenged the military to run coordinated attacks on the insurgents when he received the new Chief of Air Staff last Monday.

He called for a coordinated military approach involving the Air Force, Navy, and Army that targets the Lake Chad area, especially Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains.

He similarly called on the federal government to increase funding for the military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, and urged Nigerians to unite in ending the insurgency.

Governor Zulum spoke shortly after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the renewed insecurity, especially the killing of the Brigadier General, as a serious security threat.

He asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the necessary steps or resign, stressing that Nigeria cannot continue on its current path.

The renewed attacks came weeks after the appointment of new service chiefs.

Military speaks on renewed commitment
During his visit to Borno, just a week after a similar visit by the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, Mr Aneke, assured the governor that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to improving air-ground coordination, strengthening intelligence operations, and protecting civilians while combating terrorism.

He reaffirmed the force’s dedication to working with the state government and other security agencies to achieve lasting peace and stability in Borno State.

Sani Uba, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, North-east Operation Hadin Kai, did not respond to calls or reply to a message sent to his mobile number.

by Ejike Ejike


Indications have emerged of how security operatives allegedly ignored credible intelligence by the Department of State Services (DSS), which could have prevented the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu local government area of Kebbi State.

This is even as Kebbi State governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, on Monday night, fumed over what he described as failure to act on credible intelligence from the DSS.

Recall that suspected gunmen had in the wee hours of Monday attacked the school, reportedly shooting dead the vice principal and kidnapping 25 female students. Three of the students, however, managed to escape from their abductors.

Security sources, who spoke to LEADERSHIP on Tuesday, said that Governor Idris, who arrived at the school at about 6.45pm on Monday, accused unnamed security agencies of sabotaging security efforts made by his administration.

“This is clear sabotage. We got credible intelligence from the DSS (Department of State Services) that this school was likely to be attacked. DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. And the decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students,” said the governor.

The governor said the he took the DSS report seriously, bearing in mind that the failure to dutifully use a similar intelligence led to the December 2020 kidnap of over 300 pupils of a school in Kankara, Katsina State.

The governor lamented that deployments were made to secure the school. The heavily-armed security men spent time taking photographs with the students, only to abandon them 30 minutes before the attack.

Meanwhile, the governor, who was accompanied by security chiefs in the state, announced the setting up of a special investigation panel to unravel how, despite the DSS intelligence, and efforts by the state government, the kidnappers still struck.

The DSS state director of Kebbi State will head the panel, which will also oversee the safe return of the kidnapped students.

One of the teachers who managed to escape had told journalists that given the several armed uniformed men who were deployed to the school on Sunday, and who spent considerable time interfacing with the students and teachers, teaching them emergency drills, he was shocked at the sad turn of events.

“The heavily-armed security men spent the entire night guarding the school. Sadly, for yet-to-be determined reasons, they reportedly left the school before dawn. About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck, abducting the students,” the teacher had stated.

“I believe it was the accuracy and credibility of the intelligence supplied by the DSS on the school that made Governor Idris appoint their director to head the special committee he set up.

“The good news is that there is sufficient reason to believe that the girls were kidnapped, not killed. With ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments, we are hopeful that they will all be rescued,” he declared.

By : Lawrence Njoku


UNITED States (U.S.) lawmaker, Riley Moore, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s denial of the targeted killing of Christians as “completely false”.

Moore said Tinubu’s denial was to “protect his interests,” adding that Nigeria’s political leaders were “complicit” in the killing of Christians.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Moore noted Tinubu’s statement, claiming that the “characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality” as incorrect.

Meanwhile, the Congress will, on Thursday, debate the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

This was as International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule (Intersociety) raised fresh claims 99 Christians were, again, killed in Nigeria in 14 days.

“Unfortunately, that is completely false. There are states in Nigeria that have blasphemy laws. People are facing the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam,” the U.S. lawmaker said. “I know President Tinubu is in a difficult position, and trying to protect his interests there in the country. But they are complicit in this to some degree or another for a statement like this.”

Moore cited the case of an Adamawa Christian farmer, Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death for defending himself against a killer herdsman.

“There is serious persecution in Nigeria,” Moore said.

CONGRESS is set to convene a hearing on Thursday to examine allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to redesignate the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

The session will be led by Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and a vocal advocate for stronger U.S. action on reported religious violence in Nigeria.

Smith previously introduced a congressional resolution naming the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as responsible actors in several attacks. The resolution recommends visa bans and asset freezes against members of the groups.

It also called on White House to classify “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in states such as Benue and Plateau under the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) framework established by the International Religious Freedom Act.

Witnesses scheduled to testify include Jonathan Pratt, senior bureau official at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, and Jacob McGee, deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour.

A second panel is expected to feature Nina Shea, senior fellow and director at the Centre for Religious Freedom; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese; and Oge Onubogu, director and senior fellow for the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

INTERSOCIETY alleged in a statement yesterday that 99 Christians were killed within the last 14 days.

It stated that the killing occurred between October 28 and November 11, adding that 114 others were kidnapped by the group that carried out the action, called Jihadist militants.

The report was signed by the Head, Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and two human rights lawyers, Joy Igboeli and Ogochukwu Obi.

Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents the Kano South Senatorial District in the Senate, has tied the knot with his new bride, Hindatu Adda’u Isah, an officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The marriage ceremony, which was held on Monday in Kano, quickly attracted public interest after images of the couple began circulating widely on social media, prompting an outpouring of goodwill from his constituents and supporters.

Senator Kawu Sumaila was represented at the ceremony by Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi, a.k.a. A.A. Rano and Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, the member representing Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives.

The wedding was conducted in accordance with Islamic rites, and more details were expected as celebrations continued.

by Jeremy

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has advised Nigerians who have paid ransom to kidnappers to drag the Federal Government to court and demand a refund, insisting that the state had failed in its constitutional duty to protect them.

Falana, who spoke at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, argued that the persistent rise in kidnapping across the country amounted to a breach of the government’s obligation to safeguard lives as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He faulted what he described as a “class-based response” to abductions, noting that authorities act swiftly when high-ranking individuals were kidnapped but left ordinary citizens at the mercy of criminals.

According to him, seeking a refund through the courts will not only enforce victims’ rights but also pressure the government to strengthen security measures.

Meanwhile, new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024 estimated over 2.2 million kidnapping incidents during the period, with an average of N2.7 million paid per victim.

Security analysts warned that kidnapping has now become a thriving criminal enterprise, demanding urgent and coordinated government action.