₦airaland Forum

The right information saves situation

The Federal Government has deployed over 700 newly trained firefighters across the country, reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property.

Speaking on Thursday at the passing-out parade of Regular Course 6 cadet officers after weeks of rigorous training in Jos, Plateau State, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the deployment marked a major boost to the nation’s emergency response capacity.

According to him, the newly deployed firefighters represent a shift towards proactive national safety by expanding operational depth, improving response time, and strengthening service delivery to protect strategic assets, critical infrastructure and communities nationwide.

“This passing-out parade will go down as the largest in the history of the Federal Fire Service. It signals a clear shift from reactive emergency response to proactive national safety, extending our operational depth, improving response time and enhancing service capacity to protect strategic assets, critical infrastructure and communities nationwide,” the minister said.

Tunji-Ojo noted that Nigeria requires more firefighters, including specialists in Emergency Medical Services, fire inspection and hazardous materials management, to meet international standards.

He stressed that safety remains a national security priority, adding that it contributes significantly to economic growth and boosts investor confidence.

The minister urged the newly inducted firefighters to be proud of their uniform while remaining humble and responsible, noting that leadership is defined by responsibility, not rank.

“You should proudly wear your uniform, but with a sense of humility and honour. I urge you to go out there and make the Federal Fire Service proud and Nigeria great,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Major-General Abdulmalik Jubril (retd.).

Also speaking at the event, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, highlighted the importance of fire safety in the state.

Piyo said the state government would continue to collaborate with the Federal Fire Service to curb fire disasters and ensure the safety of lives and property.

“As a government, we will continue to ensure the safety of the lives and property of citizens in the state,” she said.

Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Olumode Samuel Adeyemi said the Federal Government was committed to building a robust firefighting infrastructure and leveraging technology to enhance response time and prevent fire outbreaks.

Adeyemi disclosed that the newly deployed firefighters underwent months of rigorous training at the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency Training Camp in Jos, expressing confidence that they would live up to expectations.

He said the officers had been transformed from civilians into frontline uniformed personnel of the Federal Fire Service, fully qualified for immediate deployment in firefighting and rescue operations.

“You now bear the responsibility, authority and honour of the uniform entrusted with safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians. I expect you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and operational guidelines at all times in the discharge of your duties,” Adeyemi said.

https://punchng.com/fg-deploys-700-firefighters-nationwide-vows-to-protect-lives-property/

I thought everyone should know this.

Congratulations people of Ondo

The creative sector play a critical role in imaging national development

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to fully implement long-standing agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare, warning that failure could reignite industrial action.

The decision followed the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held between January 25 and 29, 2026, in Jos, Plateau State.

In a communiqué signed by its president, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, NARD acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other key stakeholders in ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis in the health sector.

The association commended the reinstatement of disengaged doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and praised the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) over outstanding 25% and 35% CONMESS arrears and accoutrement allowances.

NARD also disclosed that promotion and salary arrears had been forwarded to the relevant authorities, with assurances from the Minister of Finance that payments would be fast-tracked.

However, the doctors expressed concern over delays in circulating the directive recognising CONMESS 3 as the approved entry level for medical doctors, alongside the non-payment of professional allowances captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The association further raised alarm over persistent salary arrears across several federal health institutions and worsening industrial relations at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, calling for urgent intervention.

NARD demanded improved welfare conditions, timely release of training funds, and renewed investment in health infrastructure nationwide.

As part of its resolutions, the NEC demanded the immediate clearance of all outstanding CONMESS and accoutrement allowance arrears within two weeks, payment of promotion arrears within four weeks, and settlement of salary arrears owed to affected centres.

Despite the concerns, resident doctors association announced it would extend the suspension of its Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS) by four weeks, describing the move as a goodwill gesture to allow the government time to meet its commitments.

The association had earlier suspended a planned strike scheduled for January 12, following assurances from key stakeholders after the intervention of Vice-President Shettima.

https://chronicle.ng/resident-doctors-four-week-salaries-others/

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has responded to reports linking one of its members, Stanley Amandi, to an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Amandi, a Nollywood actor and former chairperson of the AGN Enugu State chapter, is among civilians reportedly arrested in connection with the alleged coup attempt uncovered by security agencies.

Reports of a possible coup first emerged in October 2025, after the federal government abruptly cancelled the military parade for Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, sparking widespread speculation.

At the time, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied any connection between the cancelled parade and a coup plot, insisting that the arrest of some military officers was unrelated.

However, on October 31, at least 16 military officers were arrested over the alleged plot, while two others were reportedly declared wanted.

According to a Premium Times report published on Friday, Amandi was among civilians taken into custody as far back as September 2025, before the DHQ publicly confirmed that a coup plot had been uncovered.

The report alleged that Amandi was engaged as a propagandist by the suspected coup plotters, who were said to be planning a violent takeover of government and the assassination of top public officials.

It further stated that the indicted military officers would face court-martial, while civilians allegedly involved in the plot would be tried in civil courts.

Reacting to the development, Emeka Rollas, national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, confirmed that the guild was aware of the situation involving Amandi.

Rollas said the AGN would issue an official statement on the matter in due course.

https://chronicle.ng/agn-amandi-linked-coup-plot/

Dem plenty nah only few dey talk as e dey sweet dem for body.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has sharply rebuked officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) during an unscheduled visit to the passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, declaring that delays and inefficiency amount to “wasting people’s precious time.”

In a widely shared video from the visit, as seen on BTMTV YouTube channel, the minister is seen confronting officers and questioning lapses in service delivery at the busy passport centre. Tunji-Ojo’s intervention forms part of his broader push to sanitise the passport issuance process, curb sabotage, and restore public confidence in government services.

The surprise inspection immediately sparked strong reactions online, with many Nigerians praising the minister’s hands-on leadership style and insistence on accountability.

One commenter, King Meshach, argued that officers deliberately frustrating passport applications should face disciplinary action. Jacob Obamiyi described the episode as “leadership by example,” while Ava said the minister consistently backs his words with action “for a better Nigeria.”

Several users applauded the use of unscheduled visits as a deterrent against complacency. Nwachukwu Felix noted that surprise inspections would keep officers “on their feet,” a sentiment echoed by Taiwo Olatunbosun, who said such visits ensure civil servants never know when oversight may occur.

In 2025, Tunji-Ojo also visited the Federal Fire Service and Nigerian Correctional Service offices unannounced as part of his oversight functions.

Others focused on governance and institutional reform. Funmi Niyi Banji praised the minister for setting standards through “action, integrity, and accountability,” while Temivic Adebayo said Tunji-Ojo was compelling public servants to be more responsible and responsive.

Expressions of support continued across the comments, with SirHerito describing the visit as a sign of a nation where public officials are alive to their responsibilities, and Sanni Abraham remarking that the minister’s tone showed he was “deadly serious” about reform.

Tunji-Ojo has repeatedly stated that delays in passport processing will no longer be tolerated, as the minister intensifies oversight of agencies under its supervision.

Tunji-Ojo’s latest visit appears to reinforce that performance, accountability, and service to citizens are no longer optional.

https://youtu.be/zs2Bx42bj3Q?si=KOUZuNinXyoREoXl

Time to do self employed whistle blowing job, I go blow am pass Wike. Report any officers that want spoil good things.

This is a dose of good leadership.

A combo of Minister of Defence Musa and Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo in effective data management and intelligence sharing for national security is a plus for military and paramilitary.

The kinda mindset of being calm in the midst of distraction is a great leadership asset.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has provided free medical treatment for over 1,500 elders of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, in a programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of senior party members.

The initiative, which began in December 2025, has already benefited no fewer than 2,000 elderly persons across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The programme, tagged “BTO Medicare Support for Elders,” is facilitated by a President Bola Tinubu support group, the P-BAT Mandate Elders Forum.
Most of the beneficiaries are aged 70 years and above.

The latest session of the programme was held at the residence of the group’s chairman, Chief Erastus Akeju, in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, the coordinator of the group, Chief Demola Ijabiyi, explained that the elders underwent free medical tests, including blood sugar, blood pressure, and prostate gland checks.

They were also provided with supplements, counselling sessions, and follow-up treatments by medical professionals.

Ijabiyi said, “We decided to introduce this health care programme into our meetings. Last month, we did a blood test. We checked their blood sugar. We checked their BP.

“Today, we have gone a step further by taking their blood sample to check the condition of their prostate gland to anticipate the possibility of an enlargement. When the prostate gland is enlarged, it causes a lot of discomfort and can lead to many problems.

“A lot of things that are the ailments of elderly people. So today, we are concentrating on that. But as you can see now, we also have a lecturer, a consultant gentriatrist, a specialist in the ailment of elders. Over 1500 are the beneficiaries.”

One of the beneficiaries, former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mrs Tola Awo, praised the minister for the initiative.

“This is really good because this is about the third time these people are coming. In fact, a woman was here; she never knew she was hypertensive, she was told here, she thanked her God that she came. They didn’t just test her. They gave her drugs. And she’s going to continue taking drugs.

“So I’ll tell you, you can see how the place is full. That has been the situation every time they come here. So we say thank you to God. We say thank you to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,” she stated.

https://x.com/i/status/2011875784206454843

A proof that the Nigerian immigration under interior ministry is serving the public diligently.

The fact remains that sabotage will not succeed.

Forget about Fisayo offside

PDPGuy:
That “network is down” gimmick almost always works because once people would pay any amount, all of a sudden, the network comes alive 🤦🏽‍♂️

The Harmattan is a cool, dry, and dusty northeasterly trade wind that blows from the Sahara Desert across West Africa from roughly November to March, bringing hazy skies, low humidity, and significant temperature fluctuations (cold mornings, hot afternoons).

This seasonal wind carries fine dust particles that affect health (respiratory issues, dry skin/eyes) and visibility, influencing daily life, farming, and even cultural practices in the region.

When a crow feels sick, it goes to an anthill—not to eat the ants, but to disturb them.

The crow shakes its body, fluffs up its feathers, spreads its wings, and stays still while the ants crawl all over it.

As they move through its feathers, the ants release formic acid, a natural chemical that helps eliminate bacteria, mites, and parasites hiding on the crow.

The crow knows exactly what it’s doing.

This behavior, called “anting,” is its natural way of healing itself.

Sometimes, the crow even picks up ants with its beak and rubs them onto its feathers as if they were medicine.

No veterinarian, no pills—just instinct!

I think this the ripple effect of homework and work done of Tunji-Ojo in the interior ministry.

Nigeria has scaled several points to rank 89th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, moving higher from its previous 103rd position on the global passport evaluator.

The number of destinations that a nation’s passport holder can access without a visa determines its placement in the rankings.

Henley & Partners’ research team collated travel data collected from International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the 2026 report covering 199 nations and 227 travel destinations.

Nigerian passport holders can visit 44 nations without a visa, deemed a weak capacity compared to other African countries such as

Seychelles which ranked 24th and its citizens can enter 154 nations visa-free while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa placed 48th as its citizens require no visa to enter 101 nations.

Despite the upgrade in Nigeria’s score, the West African nation still fell among the 20 worst performing passports globally with nations like Somali.

Having unrestricted access to 192 nations, the Index ranked Singapore in the first position. Japan ranked second with access to 188 countries, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland jointly placed third, each offering visa-free entry to 186 destinations.

Within Africa, Seychelles retained its 24th position, while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa 48th. Other African countries also performed fairly, with Namibia ranked 62nd, Morocco 65th and Malawi 66th. Kenya placed 68th, while Tanzania and Ghana shared the 69th position.

UK and Canada placed 7th and 8th respectively while the US placed 10th in The Index rankings.

Based on The Henley Index, Afghanistan has the world’s worst passport in 101st position, Syria placed 100th, Iraq sat on 99th position, Yemen and Pakistan ranked 98th and Somalia 97th.

https://gazettengr.com/nigeria-ranks-higher-moves-up-from-103-to-89-in-2026-henley-passport-index/

Nigeria has scaled several points to rank 89th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, moving higher from its previous 103rd position on the global passport evaluator.

The number of destinations that a nation’s passport holder can access without a visa determines its placement in the rankings.

Henley & Partners’ research team collated travel data collected from International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the 2026 report covering 199 nations and 227 travel destinations.

Nigerian passport holders can visit 44 nations without a visa, deemed a weak capacity compared to other African countries such as

Seychelles which ranked 24th and its citizens can enter 154 nations visa-free while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa placed 48th as its citizens require no visa to enter 101 nations.

Despite the upgrade in Nigeria’s score, the West African nation still fell among the 20 worst performing passports globally with nations like Somali.

Having unrestricted access to 192 nations, the Index ranked Singapore in the first position. Japan ranked second with access to 188 countries, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland jointly placed third, each offering visa-free entry to 186 destinations.

Within Africa, Seychelles retained its 24th position, while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa 48th. Other African countries also performed fairly, with Namibia ranked 62nd, Morocco 65th and Malawi 66th. Kenya placed 68th, while Tanzania and Ghana shared the 69th position.

UK and Canada placed 7th and 8th respectively while the U.S. placed 10th in The Index rankings.

Based on The Henley Index, Afghanistan has the world’s worst passport in 101st position, Syria placed 100th, Iraq sat on 99th position, Yemen and Pakistan ranked 98th and Somalia 97th.

https://gazettengr.com/nigeria-ranks-higher-moves-up-from-103-to-89-in-2026-henley-passport-index/

Nigeria has scaled several points to rank 89th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, moving higher from its previous 103rd position on the global passport evaluator.

The number of destinations that a nation’s passport holder can access without a visa determines its placement in the rankings.

Henley & Partners’ research team collated travel data collected from International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the 2026 report covering 199 nations and 227 travel destinations.

Nigerian passport holders can visit 44 nations without a visa, deemed a weak capacity compared to other African countries such as

Seychelles which ranked 24th and its citizens can enter 154 nations visa-free while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa placed 48th as its citizens require no visa to enter 101 nations.

Despite the upgrade in Nigeria’s score, the West African nation still fell among the 20 worst performing passports globally with nations like Somali.

Having unrestricted access to 192 nations, the Index ranked Singapore in the first position. Japan ranked second with access to 188 countries, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland jointly placed third, each offering visa-free entry to 186 destinations.

Within Africa, Seychelles retained its 24th position, while Mauritius ranked 27th and South Africa 48th. Other African countries also performed fairly, with Namibia ranked 62nd, Morocco 65th and Malawi 66th. Kenya placed 68th, while Tanzania and Ghana shared the 69th position.

UK and Canada placed 7th and 8th respectively while the U.S. placed 10th in The Index rankings.

Based on The Henley Index, Afghanistan has the world’s worst passport in 101st position, Syria placed 100th, Iraq sat on 99th position, Yemen and Pakistan ranked 98th and Somalia 97th.

https://share.google/nl4moaPmKeLhTr0Jw

A reason why people prefer to work in organisation that contribute to their career growth.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Raphael Ajisafe, has commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his performance in office.

Ajisafe, who is also the proprietor of a United Kingdom-based property maintenance firm, Gsafe Plumbing and Heating, said in a statement on Saturday that the minister’s achievements had brought honour to Ondo State and justified the confidence reposed in him.

“Tunji-Ojo has distinguished himself through diligence, competence, and patriotism. His performance at the Interior Ministry has shown that Ondo State can produce leaders who deliver at the national level.

“As someone who has been actively involved in politics since 1998, I believe it is important to celebrate leaders who uphold democratic values and serve the people with integrity. Tunji-Ojo has made us proud, and his achievements are worthy of commendation,” he said.

Ajisafe noted that the minister’s record in office reflected exemplary leadership and effective service delivery, saying it had projected the state positively across the country.

“My support is about encouraging excellence in leadership and promoting the interest of Ondo State and its people at both the state and federal levels.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to community empowerment, credible leadership, and sustainable development in the state and the country, urging public office holders to make excellence and accountability their guiding principles.

https://punchng.com/pdp-chieftain-lauds-tunji-ojo/

Since the ministry deals with daily services, feedbacks after been investigated should also be prioritised for further renewed hope.

Nigerians only deserves the best

Nobody should jeopardize the HMI Tunji-Ojo efforts in sustainability of the on-going reforms

Congratulations to recipients of this kind gesture

I think the group is not a civil society organisation but a hunting body who does not appreciate competence over certification, even after a reputable national organisation has debunked the fallacies.

Hon Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo came prepared to serve, he has not left any stone unturned but fashioned out solutions via officers of NIS, FFS, NCoS, NIMC and CDCFIB, innovation, and technology.

Being a youth is a huge task in Nigeria but can change the narrative with government aiding citizens development.