The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

D’banj unveils Nigerian youth positively driven initiative

Following Afreximbank’s recent equity acquisition of his C.R.E.A.M Platform, global entertainer and tech entrepreneur D’banj has announced a national call to all Nigerians through the launch of the Nigerian Youth Positively Driven (NYPD) initiative. The launch took place at the UN@80 celebration in Abuja, where the Creative Alliance for Peace was also unveiled.

NYPD is a nationwide movement inviting Nigerians to document positive actions, inspiring deeds, and community impact happening around them.

Through the NYPD portal, featured individuals can win ₦1,000,000 Grant while uploaders earn ₦250,000 grant. Rewards are issued weekly, making the platform one of the largest ongoing positive-impact reward systems in the country.

After the C.R.E.A.M Platform rewards the NYPDians, the selected entries are transferred to the Creative Alliance for Peace for further amplification, development, and long-term impact execution.

A major focus of the alliance is the promotion of renewable energy solutions and sustainability projects that uplift communities across Nigeria.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

D’banj describes the initiative as a national call to redirect attention from negativity and highlight the real stories shaping Nigeria’s future.

Speaking more about the opportunity, D’banj disclosed, “When you talk about the creative industry, we all know that today, content is the biggest export that we have as a nation. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough strong alliances or platforms where the youth can effectively access support.

“Africa is the biggest when it comes to creativity, and we have not even scratched 20%. I think it is so important to come together to have that voice. We’re moving, and the movement is called Nigerian Youths Positively Driven (NYPD). With it, we have created the alliance, and we now need the youths who are positively driven to jump on it.

November 20, 2025
King’s Trust names Aigboje, wife, co-chairs of Africa advisory board

King’s Trust International (KTI) has appointed prominent businessman and financial sector reform advocate Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and his wife, lawyer and philanthropist Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, as the new co-chairs of its Africa advisory board.

The couple succeeds founding co-chairs Bernard and Genevieve Mensah, who are stepping down after six years.

KTI said the leadership transition marks a new phase in its strategy to widen partnerships and deepen the reach of its education, employability, and entrepreneurship programmes for African youth.

Since launching operations on the continent in 2016, the organisation has supported more than 30,000 young people across nine countries, recording an 83% success rate in helping participants secure employment or return to education within three months of completing its programmes.

The Africa Advisory Board was created to guide the organisation’s expansion, strengthen networks, mobilise resources, and shape initiatives that respond to the continent’s unique youth development challenges.

With more than 60% of Africa’s population under 25, KTI emphasised that tackling youth unemployment and underemployment remains central to its mission.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

Under the new leadership, the Board is expected to champion the scaling of high-impact programmes that equip young people with critical skills to gain employment or launch their own businesses.

The Aig-Imoukhuede duo brings decades of experience in financial services, public-sector reform, philanthropy, and cross-sector partnerships.

“We are honoured to take on this role at a pivotal time for Africa’s future. Our mission is to unlock the potential and creativity of Africa’s youth, nurturing a generation that will lead sustainable development across the continent.

“We look forward to collaborating with partners who share our commitment to transforming lives through education, opportunity, and innovation,” said Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede.

KTI Chief Executive Officer Will Straw paid tribute to the outgoing Co-Chairs, noting that Bernard and Genevieve have provided exceptional and visionary leadership that has been instrumental in establishing and growing KTI’s presence and impact across Africa. Their dedication over the past six years has laid a strong and lasting foundation for our work on the continent. We are delighted that they will both continue to contribute their valuable expertise as members of the Africa Advisory Board.”

Straw expressed confidence in the new leadership.

“As we look to the future, we are excited to take our impact to the next level with Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede. Their extensive experience, deep commitment, and visionary approach will be vital in scaling our programmes and achieving even greater impact for young people across Africa. Together, we will drive forward innovative solutions that empower the next generation to learn, earn, and thrive throughout the continent”, he said.

November 20, 2025
Tinubu flags off free sanitary pad distribution for 370,000 schoolgirls

Thousands of schoolgirls across Nigeria will now have access to free sanitary pads for one year, as the wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, launched the “Flow with Confidence” initiative to promote menstrual health and hygiene among young girls.

Speaking at the national launch of flow with confidence and donation of 370,000 sanitary pads to school girls across 36 states and FCT, Senator Tinubu described menstrual health as a vital issue that affects the wellbeing, dignity, and education of millions of girls across the country.

She said the initiative aims to empower and support 370,000 schoolgirls, particularly those in rural communities who struggle to afford sanitary pads through menstrual health.

“Our girls still face challenges regarding their menstrual health and hygiene,” she said. “No girl should miss school or lose confidence because of her period. Each beneficiary will receive a one-year supply of sanitary pads to help them stay in school and pursue their dreams.”

Tinubu who was represented by the wife of the Niger state Governor, Fatima Umaru Bago explained that ₦2.5 billion was expended for the procurement of the customised pads from a local manufacturing company, adding that the project also seeks to encourage local production and create jobs.

She stated that 10,000 school girls in each state will be given a year supply of sanitary pads calling on corporate organisations, government agencies, and community leaders to support and monitor the initiative to ensure it reaches the intended beneficiaries.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

“I appeal to our vice chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders to support this effort and ensure the pads are not diverted or sold. These pads are meant to empower our girls, not to be traded,” she cautioned.

With the Flow with Confidence project, the First Lady said she hopes to end this cycle by ensuring every Nigerian girl can “stay in school, study hard, support one another, and never allow shame or stigma to take away their passion and confidence.”

At the event, a symbolic presentation was made, with each girl receiving a pack containing 12 sanitary pads, representing a year’s supply. The gesture, she said, marks the beginning of wider distribution across Nigeria’s 25 local government areas, targeting over 10,000 students initially.

The Special Adviser to the Niger state Governor on Print Media who is a menstrual Hygiene Champion, Dr Aisha Wakaso appreciated the wife of the President for coming up with the Flow with confidence initiative saying that it is breathe of fresh air for schoolgirls who do not go to school during their period for the fear of being stained.

She further noted that several women suffer from period poverty as they not have ready access to money to get the sanitary pads during their periods.

“We thank you, Ma for coming out to let people know that you support us, especially those of us who have been distributing free sanitary pads to schools. It will give the school girls the confidence that period is nothing to be ashamed of when they have the wives of the President and Governor behind them. It is encouraging to know that they have you watching their back whether they are stained or not”, she said.

A talk and demonstration on menstrual hygiene was carried out by the Executive Director of succeeding against all odds, Dr Valda Martins, who explained that access to sanitary pads is crucial in keeping girls in school.

She stated that many girls in low-income communities miss classes during menstruation because they cannot afford proper menstrual products, leading to poor performance and increased dropout rates.

Several students who benefitted from the donation of the sanitary pads applauded the programme as a timely intervention that will help schoolgirls manage their menstrual cycles with dignity and confidence.

“This initiative is commendable and will benefit many young ladies who often skip school during their periods due to a lack of pads,” said Hajara Isah, a student of one of the Government Girls Secondary Schools that participated in the programme.

November 20, 2025
I lost lucrative deal after refusing to travel with company executive – Tiwa Savage

Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage has claimed that there is a pervasive nature of exploitation in the country’s music industry.

Speaking at a panel discussion organised by Entertainment Week Africa, Savage shared personal experiences of being pressured to offer s3xual favours in exchange for career opportunities.

According to Savage, she has been told to visit influential male executives to secure bookings and has lost endorsement deals for refusing to compromise her values.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

One such instance involved being asked to go on a holiday to Dubai with a company co-owner, which she declined, resulting in the loss of a lucrative endorsement opportunity.

She said, “I had been told that if I didn’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show. I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the owners of the company.

“That was when I realised that they don’t value my talent but my body, which I was only flaunting as part of branding. It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing.”

November 20, 2025
Nigerian scientist leads global effort to tackle water pollution

In a world increasingly threatened by contaminated water and chemical pollution, a young Nigerian scientist is standing at the forefront of innovation.

Motunrayo Oladele, a doctoral researcher and principal investigator at the University of Kentucky in the United States, is leading pioneering studies to make clean water accessible, affordable, and sustainable across the globe.

Oladele’s work blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science to confront one of the most persistent challenges of the 21st century, the removal of emerging pollutants that endanger both ecosystems and human health.

Her NSF-funded research focused on converting stillage, a byproduct of bioethanol production, into engineered biochar materials for soil and water remediation. The project demonstrated how agricultural and industrial residues can be transformed into sustainable adsorbents that capture and degrade harmful contaminants, providing a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution for pollution control.

Building on this success, Oladele is now pioneering the use of aerosolized microdroplet technologies, an emerging frontier in chemistry to accelerate pollutant degradation at the air-water interface. This new approach has the potential to redefine how scientists design and deploy chemical processes for cleaner water and a safer environment.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

“Water contamination is a shared global crisis, one that threatens both public health and national security,” she explains. “My goal is to design low-cost, high-efficiency systems that can clean water for communities.”

Her studies address chemicals and trace contaminants found in industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and drinking-water sources, substances increasingly classified by global agencies as emerging pollutants due to their persistence and toxicity.

The broader objective of her work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to modernize water infrastructure.

Oladele’s leadership extends far beyond the laboratory. She serves as a Coordinator for the American Chemical Society’s Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC), an elite team that organizes national symposia for the world’s largest chemistry society. In this role, she contributes to shaping scientific dialogue around sustainability, innovation, and environmental chemistry. She has also been recognized as a Student Representative for the Eastern Analytical Symposium, one of the most respected scientific meetings in North America.

Additionally, she serves as a peer reviewer for major international journals such as Springer Nature and PLOS One, including Scientific Reports (a journal published under Nature Portfolio, part of Springer Nature) and ACS Omega, where her expert evaluations help uphold rigorous global standards of scientific excellence.

Beyond research, Oladele is deeply committed to STEM outreach and mentorship. She has coordinated numerous science-education initiatives, served as a judge at regional and national science fairs across multiple U.S. states, and mentored young scholars who have gone on to win academic awards and secure graduate placements. Her outreach work exemplifies her belief that impactful science must also inspire and empower future generations.

Originally from Oyo State, Nigeria, Oladele graduated as the Best Student in Chemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, where she received multiple awards for academic excellence. Her early research on bioactive compounds and water purification earned her national recognition, setting the stage for her later achievements in the United States.

Her recent accolades include the Max Steckler Award for outstanding research performance, the People’s Choice Award and Second Place Award at the University of Kentucky’s Graduate Teaching Showcase, and the Champion of Service Award from Serve Kentucky.

She currently serves as a Lead Teaching Assistant in Organic Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, where she received the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for her exceptional instructional leadership.

“What drives me,” she said, “is the belief that environmental solutions should not stay trapped in the lab. They should reach the people who need them most, from rural communities in Nigeria to industrial cities in the U.S. My passion is to make science truly serve society by teaching, mentoring, and inspiring others to innovate for a healthier, more sustainable world.”

In her bid to become a professor and global leader in environmental chemistry, Oladele continues to push boundaries by conducting cutting-edge research, mentoring the next generation of scientists, and promoting science outreach that connects innovation to real-world impact.

Her vision is rooted in sustainability, equity, and innovation, symbolizes a new generation of Nigerian scientists making significant strides in leading global research organizations and shaping the world’s response to pollution and climate change.

November 20, 2025
Why I didn’t sentence Nnamdi Kanu to death – Justice Omotosho

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has explained why he opted for a life sentence instead of the death penalty for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was convicted of terrorism charges on Thursday.

The judge noted that the sentence for Nnamdi Kanu was the death penalty, but that he had to show mercy because of the teachings of the Holy Book.

According to him, the death penalty is gradually being abolished in many countries, while religious doctrines also advocate mercy.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

Quoting a portion of the book of Matthew, Justice Omotosho pointed out that Jesus Christ taught His followers to show mercy.

Justice Omotosho further held that Kanu’s confinement must be in a facility suitable for his status, noting that the Kuje Correctional Centre would not achieve the intended purpose of the sentence.

He ordered that the IPOB leader be placed in protective custody at any secure location in the country.

The court also ruled that Kanu must not have access to electronic devices unless under strict monitoring by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

In addition, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the transmitter used for Kanu’s broadcasts to the Federal Government, adding that other equipment linked to the case would also be confiscated if no appeal is filed.

November 20, 2025
Nicki Minaj urges fans to support Nigerian artists amid criticisms

Renowned US rapper Nicki Minaj has called on fans to be more understanding and supportive of Nigerian artistes who have come under fire for their statements and actions in recent weeks.

The criticism faced by Nigerian artistes includes accusations of arrogance and insensitivity, with some being slammed for their responses to the country’s security challenges and others for their personal remarks.

Burna Boy, for instance, sparked outrage after jokingly stating he desires “only rich fans,” while Yemi Alade faced backlash for protesting against potential American intervention in Nigeria’s insecurity issues.

Additionally, several celebrities were chastised for posting content unrelated to the tragic events in the country, including a deadly terrorist attack on a church in Kwara state and the kidnapping of school girls in Kebbi state.

Reacting to these developments, Minaj took to her social media platform to plead for compassion and wisdom in criticising Nigerian artistes.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

On her X handle, she wrote, “My darlings, let’s utilize wisdom & compassion as it relates to our Nigerian artists. There are very logical reasons for most things when we look not to judge, but to comprehend.

“That goes for every country & their artists. Let’s lift them & continue to use wisdom.”

Minaj’s appeal comes after she recently garnered commendations from Nigerians for speaking out against the alleged jihadist violence targeting Christians in the country at a United Nations event in New York, where she emphasised the need for freedom of worship and urgent action against terrorism.

November 20, 2025
What you probably didn’t know about Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Nwannekaenyi Kenny Okwu Kanu was born on 25th September 1967 in Isiama Afara Ukwu, Umuahia.

He is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which he founded in 2012. The main aim of IPOB is to restore the defunct Republic of Biafra, which existed in Nigeria’s Eastern Region during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970.

His father, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu (JP), and his mother, Ugoeze Nnenne Kanu, were traditional monarchs.

He attended Library Avenue Primary School and went to Government College, Umuahia, for his secondary education.

He studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and moved to the UK before graduating. He maintains that he is a convert to Judaism.

Kanu began his activism for the freedom of Biafra as a Radio Biafra director and anchor of Biafra awareness under Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who said while in a meeting in Kaduna, Nigeria on 12 June 2014, that he handed over Radio Biafra to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB but Kanu disappointed him.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

Radio Biafra, however, was established by the defunct Biafran government in 1967 to champion the Biafran cause.

On 18 October 2015, it was reported that Kanu had been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu has, since the beginning of his advocacy, made highly controversial comments on various occasions.

Kanu was finally arraigned on 23 November 2015 in an Abuja Magistrate Court for the first time for charges of “criminal conspiracy, intimidation and membership of an illegal organisation” by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges violate “Section 97, 97B, and 397” of Nigeria’s penal code. Chief Magistrate S. Usman had, at the last adjourned date, berated the Department of State Services (DSS) over its failure to produce Kanu in court on the two consecutive times the matter came up before the court.

Kanu, through his counsel, filed an application asking the federal authorities to transfer him from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to prison. His lawyer, Obetta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.

While in court, the Department of State Services (DSS) requested the Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court to discontinue the trial of Nnamdi Kanu under section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Idakwo further said the Department of State Services (DSS) had obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, dated 10 November, to detain the accused in its custody for 90 days.

In 2017, the federal government designated IPOB as a terrorist organization, a move that Kanu and his supporters have consistently rejected.

The IPOB leader’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, had expressed concerns about his client’s deteriorating health, citing medical reports that revealed liver and pancreatic complications, a lump under his armpit, and low potassium levels.

However, the Nigerian Medical Association’s report on Nnamdi Kanu’s health status has revealed that he is fit to continue facing the trial.

In December 2020, Kanu announced that IPOB had organized the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which was supposed to defend the South East, but the federal government regarded the formation of a non-state-sanctioned paramilitary organization as unacceptable. The situation escalated in January 2021 when the Nigerian military was repelled in an attempt to expel the ESN from Orlu, Imo.

On November 20, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu for acts of terrorism and his membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Justice James Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment. Omotosho said he ought to sentence him to death, but for his decision to show him mercy.

He was convicted of carrying out terrorist acts, issuing illegal stay-at-home orders in the southeast region for years, incitement, teaching people to make bombs to be used on government facilities, and membership in a terrorist organisation.

Kanu was convicted of all seven counts preferred against him, even though the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty to the charges.

November 20, 2025
TIMELINE: Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, trial, conviction since 2015

The case of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has witnessed a series of dramatic events over the years.

He has had a history of arrests and legal battles with the federal government.

Kanu rose from relative obscurity to public consciousness in 2009 when he started broadcasting through the London-based ‘Radio Biafra’, which was very popular among listeners in the South-East.

First apprehended in 2015 on charges of treasonable felony and terrorism, Kanu’s legal journey has been marked by dramatic twists – his bail and subsequent disappearance in 2017, a controversial re-arrest in 2021, and years of courtroom delays that have kept him in custody over the years.

The Nation takes a look at the chain of events to refresh your memory.

Here is a timeline of Kanu’s arrest, trial, and conviction:

October 14, 2015 — Kanu was arrested in Lagos and was detained for more than a year.

He was arraigned by the Federal Government on an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.

November 23, 2015 — Kanu was arraigned at the Abuja Magistrate Court for charges of “criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and membership of an illegal organisation” by the Department of State Services (DSS).

April 28, 2017 — Kanu was released from detention on bail. He was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

March 28, 2019 — Justice Binta Nyako revoked the bail that was granted to Kanu on health grounds and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

September 2017 — Kanu disappeared from public radar after his home was raided by the military.

He reportedly fled the country after the invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu near Umuahia, Abia State, during the military’s ‘Operation Python Dance II’ staged to quell agitation for the Biafra Republic in September 2017.

September 20, 2017 —The federal government obtained a court order to designate IPOB a terrorist group and to proscribe it.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

February 19, 2018 — The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Kanu be separately tried from the rest of his co-defendants.

He was facing a five-count treasonable felony charge alongside four other pro-Biafra agitators – Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, and Bright Chimezie.

November 26, 2020 — A Federal High Court in Abuja commenced Kanu’s trial, in his absence. Five prosecution witnesses were provided to testify against Kanu.

January 27, 2021 — The Federal High Court in Abuja continued the trial of Kanu. The matter was initially fixed for hearing on Nov. 26, but when it was called, both Kanu and his counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, were absent in court.

The notice was served on the federal government’s prosecution team and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the defendant’s counsel.

On June 19, 2021, he was re-arrested in Kenya and subsequently returned to Nigeria via alleged rendition.

June 29, 2021 Court remanded him in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.

July 26, 2021 — The Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered that Kanu be remanded in the Department of State Service (DSS) facility, pending the trial continuation.

April 8, 2022 – Federal High Court strikes out eight of the 15-count charge against him, finding they lacked substance.

October 13, 2022 – Court of Appeal orders his immediate release from detention and quashes the charges against him.

December 15, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Nigeria overturns the appellate court’s decision and restores the remaining seven-count terrorism charge for trial.

March 2025 – A new judge, James Omotosho, takes over the trial file. The court orders an “accelerated hearing” of the case.

May 22, 2025 – Court sets strict dates (28-29 May; 6, 16, 18, 19 June) for the Federal Government to close its case.

July 18, 2025 – Trial is adjourned to 10 October 2025 for ruling on a “no-case” submission by the defence.

October 16, 2025 – Court adjourns the trial to commence his defence on October 23 and gives him until October 30 to close his defence.

October 23, 2025 – Kanu fires defence counsel, to represent himself

October 24, 2025 – Court adjourns trial to October 27 after Kanu says he cannot proceed with his defence because his former legal team has not handed over his case file.

Oct 27, 2025 – Kanu tells the court he has reviewed the prosecution’s case and finds “no valid charge” against him, and he declines to open his defence or call witnesses. The judge orders him to file a written address on his position and also set further dates (November 4) for proceeding.

Oct 30, 2025 – Kanu files a fresh motion seeking the striking out of the terrorism-related charges, arguing there is no law under which he is being tried.

Nov 4, 2025 – In court, the judge (James Omotosho) gives Kanu one final opportunity to open his defence on November 5 or risk being deemed to have waived his right to do so. The judge again urges him to consult a criminal-law expert. Kanu reiterates his position that no valid law underpins the charges.

Nov 5, 2025 – Court orders Kanu to either open his defence or adopt a final written address, warning that failure to do so would amount to waiver of his defence rights.

Nov 6, 2025 – Court extends deadline: Kanu is given until Nov 7, 2025 to open his defence or waive his rights. He again challenges the legitimacy of the charges, saying the relevant law (Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act) has been repealed.

Nov 7, 2025 – Justice Omotosho rules that Kanu has waived his right to open his defence after the six-day period allotted for that expired. The court then fixes November 20, 2025 as the date for judgment in his terrorism case.

On the same day, Kanu files a motion challenging the competence of the charge and the court’s jurisdiction, arguing the offence is based on statutes that have been repealed. The judge holds those motions would be determined at judgment, not at this stage.

November 20 – The Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu for acts of terrorism and his membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Justice James Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment. Omotosho said he ought to sentence him to death but for his decision to show him mercy.

Kanu was convicted of all seven counts preferred against him even though the IPOB leader pleaded not-guilty to the charges.

November 20, 2025
Arewa Think Tank backs SGF, rejects ‘genocide’ label, calls for unified action

The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has declared full support for the clarifications issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on the country’s security situation, dismissing claims of a “genocide against Christians” as unfounded and dangerous.

In a statement, ATT convener Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu commended the SGF for what he described as a “clear, factual and responsible” explanation of Nigeria’s current security realities.

“Senator Akume has provided a comprehensive and fact-based clarification of Nigeria’s security landscape,” Yakubu said. “We stand firmly with the federal government in rejecting the baseless and inflammatory claim of a so-called ‘genocide against Christians.’ No credible international evidence supports such an allegation.”

Yakubu stressed that the religious-genocide narrative is not only false but capable of deepening tensions.

“The reality on the ground is that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP attack both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately. Bandit groups are driven primarily by economic motives, not religious ideology. To suggest otherwise is to undermine national unity,” he said.

The Convener also reaffirmed confidence in the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies to confront terrorism and banditry.

READ ALSO; Senate seeks fresh solutions to rising insecurity

“The ATT has full confidence in the professionalism and capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Nigeria does not require foreign troops on its soil. What is needed is a recalibrated partnership with allies like the United States, especially in areas of intelligence sharing and technological support,” he added.

Yakubu warned that recent international statements have emboldened violent groups by providing propaganda fodder.

He urged for more discreet, coordinated diplomatic engagement that prioritises civilian safety and strengthens Nigeria’s security response.

Calling for national solidarity, he appealed to citizens to shun divisive rhetoric and embrace unity.

“Nigeria is a secular nation, and our strength lies in our diversity. We join the SGF in urging a strengthened and respectful partnership with the United States, built on shared democratic values and a mutual commitment to peace,” he said.

November 20, 2025