The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Reps, experts back MATAN’s Automated food security initiative
- …say scheme can solve 90% of Nigeria’s food crisis
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Haruna Gowon, has expressed strong support for the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria’s Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative (AMFSI), describing the scheme as a major solution capable of tackling 90 percent of the country’s food crisis.

Hon. Gowon, who represents Bassa/Dekina Federal Constituency in Kogi state, made this known in a keynote address at the close of the association’s three-day national programme on Friday.

He said the National Assembly attaches great importance to food security and is ready to support the new MATAN initiative at all levels.

According to him, food security remains “more important than any other security,” as it promotes physical and mental health, reduces health risks, supports development, prevents malnutrition, boosts productivity, reduces poverty, and strengthens social stability and environmental resilience.

“When food security is available, the value of the naira will increase and the dollar will naturally drop. A hungry man is an angry man. Food security will increase our security,” he said.

Hon. Gowon added that the current security challenges on Nigerian roads are closely linked to the food crisis, stressing that improved food availability would help curb the negative forces working against the country.

He urged the association to put all efforts into the initiative, assuring them of the National Assembly’s commitment.

“We at the NASS will support you with legislations that will make it easy. It is a national assignment. NASS is behind you. With this initiative, our constituents’ needs can be addressed directly,” he stated.

Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

Delivering the remarks of the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. J.K. Kachikwu (PhD), Senior Consultant to the committee, Mr. Chrisland Onyemechara, also reaffirmed the House’s full backing. He said the support would extend across all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.

Onyemechara maintained that the MATAN initiative has the potential to resolve 90 percent of Nigeria’s food security challenges.

“When we examine the key elements of food security, four areas consistently stand out: the environment, partnership, advocacy and innovation.

“Today’s event brings these pillars together in one forum where all stakeholders can engage constructively.

“If properly harnessed, these coordinated efforts can address nearly 90 percent of Nigeria’s food security challenges.

“If we strengthen our systems from the ground up, we will significantly improve national productivity and food access. Ultimately, good governance, strong institutions and effective coordination will determine how well we can address hunger and malnutrition in our country.”

Speaking earlier Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, the Group National President of MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria during the group’s National Flag-off of Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative (AMFSI) in Lagos on Friday, he stressed that the initiative is set to cater for over 40 million Nigerians with direct food access.

Johnson said that the group had spent years developing a ground-up digital food security system designed to connect every Nigerian community to an efficient food bank network.

Adding that at the heart of the project was a new digital identity platform, Virtual Digital Identity (VDI), which would eliminate long-standing bottlenecks that had hampered food support systems in the past.

He said that the VDI platform, alongside MATAN’s automated food security system, would ensure that individuals in every community could be digitally captured and connected to local food banks and community kitchens.

Johnson said that the project was not another political promise but a fully developed private-sector-driven system built on digitalisation, community participation and nationwide collaboration.

“For decades, we have heard promises about food security, but nobody has built a structure around the people themselves.

“That is what we are doing, creating a system rooted in the heart of the people.

“It is not about talking without action. We have the platform ready; we have tested it. We have presented it to the relevant authorities, including the Office of the President,” he said.

Johnson said that discussions already held with local and international investors who had signaled readiness to support implementation, while government at federal, state and local levels will play supervisory and enabling roles.

According to him, once the system becomes operational, food access will be decentralised to the smallest units across the country.

“With a digital identity, you can wake up in the morning and see your community food bank or food kitchen in your neighbourhood. Nobody should fear hunger again,” he said.

Johnson described the launch as the second phase of MATAN’s broader food security vision, following the successful rollout of earlier advocacy and policy engagements.

He expressed confidence that the initiative, once fully implemented, would resolve Nigeria’s food insecurity challenges and set a model for community-driven interventions across Africa.

According to Chief Charles Igwenagu, South East General Secretary of the group, this is highly needed because it is about bringing life to the nation.

Also, Dr Felix Osakwe, Group National Secretary of the association, said that the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.

Osakwe said that members of the House of Representatives present at the event had expressed readiness to collaborate.

He, however, urged all Nigerians to support the initiative in order to tackle the problem of food insecurity properly.
November 30, 2025
Leaders must develop patience to listen, wisdom to unite, strength to make principled decisions -Gbajabiamila

Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that future leaders of the country must develop patience to listen, significant wisdom to unite and strength to make principled decisions even they are difficult.

He said that such requirements were necessary for any intending leader to make impact in a diverse country like Nigeria with its complexity, plurality, and beauty.

Gbajabiamila made the submission during the graduation ceremony of Cohort 4 of Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) held at the Secretariat of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) in Abuja on Saturday.

The Chief of Staff, who founded the Initiative during his time as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that LMI has continued to uphold the values for which it was established.

He said: “A lesson I hope the LMI fellowship programme has engraved in your minds is that leadership is first a matter of character before it is a matter of competence. A person’s brilliance may open the door, but it is their integrity that keeps them in the room.

“In a diverse country like ours—with its complexity, plurality, and beauty—anyone who wishes to lead must develop the patience to listen, the wisdom to unite, and the strength to make principled decisions even when they are difficult.

“That is why we are very deliberate about diversity and inclusion at LMI from the very beginning. In the LMI design, we were intentional in creating cohorts that learn together, debate together, laugh together, work together, and quite importantly, grow together. That my dear fellows-in-training is the true spirit of our LMI. And when you leave this hall today, I urge you to carry that spirit with you. This is the spirit that will build the nation of our dreams.

“Let me emphasise that today is not an ‘end’. It is only a point of departure. From here, you step into the world with a deeper sense of purpose. From here, you join the family of 167 LMI Fellows and ambassadors of all the values we held dear.”

Speaker of the Ghanian Parliament and chairman of CoSPAL, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford-Bagbin said that Africa must be diligent in nurturing its leaders to make the desired impact.

Read Also: Gbajabiamila hails military, unveils 1,200-seater auditorium at Lagos Army Barracks

“If we desire a country and a continent that is stable, prosperous and democratic, then we must nurture and mentor leaders with the integrity, competence and vision required for the 21st Century.

“I recall an African proverb which says that: ‘the child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.’ This is a reminder that when young people yearn to lead, we owe a responsibility to train, guide and equip them for the task ahead.

“That is the vision and foresight that has been demonstrated by my brother and bosom friend, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila through the establishment of the LMI as one of his numerous legacy projects as the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives of the Federal Republic Nigeria,” he said.

Chairman of LMI Planning Advisory Committee and Secretary-General of CoSPAL, Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole said that LMI has continued to live up to its objectives, applauding Gbajabiamila for his vision.

“Before these 50 exceptional young Nigerians sitting before us, the LMI had graduated 167 Fellows across three cohorts 2022, 2023 and 2024. Our LMI Fellows are now serving in the public sector with distinction – the State House; Office of the Speaker, across the National Assembly, and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund; Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“The LMI has, from inception, been intentional about representing Nigeria in all its diversity. And every year, we strengthened that commitment by ensuring as much gender and ethnic balance and also Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are fully included—reminding us that leadership must always be inclusive, equitable and truly reflective of the society we aim to serve, and the best form of leadership is by example.

“I would also like to add that beyond the formal residential training sessions here in Abuja, the LMI has nurtured a vibrant and self-sustaining alumni community—one that continues to exemplify the programme’s values long after graduation,” he said.

The Director of the Initiative, Solape Sonuga in her remarks said that students have acquired requisite leadership skills to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

“His (Gbajabiamila) belief in young people, his commitment to institutional strengthening, and his relentless drive for excellence are the pillars upon which this programme stands. Sir, we are grateful for your continued support and guidance.

“You (participants) came in as individuals with passion, and you are leaving as a community of emerging leaders equipped with the knowledge, networks, and clarity needed to shape the future of governance in Nigeria and beyond. Watching your growth has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this programme,”she said.

The highlight of the event was the commissioning of the CosPAL Secretariat which houses the Initiative in Abuja.

November 30, 2025
Genocide claim: President Trump, Ribadu’s Team and the Saudi Prince
- Yushau A. Shuaib
When U.S. President Donald Trump recently renewed his fixation with what he described as “Christian genocide” in Nigeria—going as far as calling the country a “disgraced nation”—I couldn’t help but laugh. Not because Nigeria’s security challenges are trivial, but because Trump’s history of loud, reckless, and contradictory outbursts makes it difficult for any serious observer to take him at face value.

This is the same Trump who, during his first tenure, described Nigeria among African “shithole countries” and labelled then-President Muhammadu Buhari as “lifeless.” He once confronted Buhari with the question, “Why are you killing Christians?”, despite being widely known for superficial engagement with facts. No American leader in modern times has displayed Trump’s blend of theatrical tantrums, political sensationalism, and Hollywood-style dramatics.

Trump’s behaviour is often stranger than fiction. Before the New York mayoral election, he repeatedly attacked Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim politician of South Asian descent born in Uganda, Africa, calling him a “communist” and threatening to punish New York City if he won. Trump vowed to slash federal funding, deploy the National Guard, and even suggested arresting him over immigration disagreements. Yet despite Trump’s intimidation, Mamdani won—proof that Trump’s political threats often collapse under their own emptiness.

His track record is replete with contradictions. He loudly condemns alleged “Islamists” in Nigeria yet openly courted controversial figures abroad—including a former “terrorist leader” turned Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa—meeting him both in Saudi Arabia and at the White House. Despite presenting himself as a defender of persecuted Christians, Trump’s positions are dictated more by political theatre and personal interests than principle.

He once peddled a fabricated narrative of “white genocide” in South Africa, later dismissed by experts as propaganda. For someone whose policies contributed to the Gaza Genocide against Palestinians and whose rhetoric often inflames divisions, it is astonishing that some Nigerians still treat his statements as gospel truth.

Yet, certain political actors and ethnic propagandists celebrated Trump’s threat to “invade Nigeria,” as though foreign military intervention were a badge of honour. Thankfully, prominent Christian voices—especially officials from the Middle Belt, including Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, as well as vocal public commentators from Southern Nigeria such as Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri—firmly rejected the genocide narrative, affirming that violence in Nigeria affects Muslims and Christians alike.

Read Also: Play-Offs: NFF tips Super Eagles to subdue Panthers after pay dispute

Ironically, when Muslims attempted to counter the propaganda, some were accused of never condemning terrorism. But truth is not built on emotion. As a Muslim my writings over two decades—including 2003’s “Sharia: Between Civilisation and Belief,” 2006’s “Killing in the Name of the Devil,” 2012’s “Boko Haram and Political Elites in Northern Nigeria,” and 2018’s “Still on Murderous Fulani Kidnappers,” among others—demonstrate consistent condemnation of all violent crimes, irrespective of perpetrators’ religion or region. My blog further archives these personal opinion articles. Not everyone is a hypocrite. Some of us speak from conviction, not convenience.

Security as well as investigative media reports reveal that the so-called “Christian genocide” narrative was constructed mainly by disgruntled Middle Belt activists, IPOB sympathisers, and foreign lobby groups disguised as NGOs. While some Christian communities document every casualty, Muslim communities—who have suffered the brunt of Boko Haram, banditry and state violence such as the 2016 Zaria Shiite massacre—rarely do so. Terrorists have ravaged entire Muslim-majority towns in the North, but their tragedies lack global amplification because they do not fit a convenient foreign narrative.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted maturely by dispatching a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to engage U.S. authorities. Observers noted that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye —all Christians—were on that delegation. If there were a coordinated genocide against Christians, would these respected top security chiefs be complicit?

After every engagement involving Nigeria’s delegation—including Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, —with American authorities, deeply irresponsible official statements followed. Freshman U.S. Congressman Riley Moore mentioned “Christians” eight times without acknowledging Muslims who are also terrorism victims. Similarly, U.S. Secretary of Defence/War Pete Hegseth’s office emphasised “protection of Christians” and “stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria.”

What about other Nigerians who suffer the same violence? What is the agenda behind this selective framing? Are Muslims and other communities expected to remain silent in the face of such reckless rhetoric? This one-sided narrative sends a troubling message—as though Muslim lives do not matter in the scheme to undermine Nigeria. Even more unfortunate is that some Nigerians are celebrating this distortion, as if the rest of us are no longer their brothers and sisters in nationhood.

Meanwhile, as Ribadu’s delegation sought to clarify Nigeria’s secular stance in the USA, Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. He approved a major defence pact, facilitated F-35 jet sales, and celebrated investment commitments worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia—the spiritual heart of global Islam—was also designated a major U.S. ally, while Nigeria was labelled a “country of concern.” Trump’s selective morality is guided not by religious solidarity but by strategic and financial interests.

This makes one thing clear: Nigeria must resist being drawn into emotional propaganda. Americans, as responsible people, will never sanction the invasion of Nigeria over flimsy and concocted excuses as if we are a banana republic. Trump’s threats are mere bluster. The real danger lies in foreign-funded lobbyists—both locally and internationally—driving the genocide narrative. Once Nigeria ceases to trend, they will shift their campaign elsewhere.

It would not be surprising if, realising that Trump is not coming, the so-called Christian genocide claimants may turn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with claims that Jews are persecuted in Nigeria. Such a scenario would be absurd, yet not impossible—even though the most vocal self-proclaimed “Nigerian Jew” is currently serving a terrorism sentence in Sokoto.

Nigeria’s security crises are real but not religious genocide. They stem from criminality, governance failures, climate pressure and economic distress—not state persecution. Nigeria must confront these challenges honestly, rejecting foreign labels designed to fracture our unity.

The question remains: Is Trump protecting Nigerian Christians—or his own political and business interests, often in competition with China?

_Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of “An Encounter with the Spymaster._

_Email: yashuaib@yashuaib.com_
November 30, 2025
IPRA endorses national spokespersons awards as FG, NUJ commend PRNigeria Fellowship

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) has endorsed Nigeria’s National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards).

Also, the Federal Government and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) commended the PRNigeria Young Communications Fellowship for equipping graduates with cutting-edge skills in journalism, public relations, and artificial intelligence.

The endorsements and commendations were announced over the weekend during the fellowship’s closing ceremony at the PRNigeria Centre in Abuja.

Speaking, Yushau Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), revealed that the IPRA, in a correspondence by its Secretary General, Philip Sheppard, had granted the NSAwards Conference Status. This designation provides global recognition for the annual event, which celebrates organisations and individuals who demonstrate excellence in public communication through creativity and innovation.

Both the NSAwards and the PRNigeria Fellowship are organised annually by IMPR, publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential. The firm has established itself as a leading strategic communication agency, ranking as the Most Creative PR Agency Worldwide in 2020 and winning multiple SABRE Africa and IPRA Golden World Awards.

Read Also: Play-Offs: NFF tips Super Eagles to subdue Panthers after pay dispute

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, praised IMPR’s commitment to strategic communication and developing the next generation of communication professionals through the fellowship programme.

“We are not surprised that IMPR is one of the most outstanding strategic communication outfits that adhere to the ethics of the profession through its platforms, initiatives, including the annual fellowship for young Nigerians.

“In fact, this capacity-building initiative offers not only an opportunity to mentor, train, and empower young graduates, but also provides a rich reservoir of future talents who will nourish our industry,” Ali said.

The Minister’s representative cautioned fellows to remain discerning in an environment “rife with fake news,” particularly given the prevalence of AI-generated content.

NUJ President Comrade Alhassan Adamu Yahya pledged the Union’s support for IMPR’s initiatives, including the fellowship and the National Spokespersons Awards. He urged fellows to prioritise national security and ethical standards in their work.

Ja’afar Ja’afar, CEO of Daily Nigerian, warned the young graduates about the emerging threat of deepfakes and AI manipulation. He emphasised that professional contacts “make the journalist and journalism,” and advised investigative journalists to use the Freedom of Information Act responsibly, focusing on accountability rather than humiliation.

The fellowship is hosted annually at PRNigeria Centres in Abuja, Kano, and Ilorin. At the Abuja ceremony, Humaid Rabiu Shehu and Oyeyemi Abolade were recognised as Team Leader and Best Fellow, respectively, of the 2025 Abuja cohort.

The IMPR is also the host of annual Security and Emergency Management Awards (SAEMA), Arewa Stars Awards (ASA), Spokespersons Communication Awards (SCA) and the Economic Confidential Lecture.

November 30, 2025
EPL: Isak, Gakpo fire Liverpool past West Ham

Second-half strikes from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo handed Liverpool a 2–0 victory over West Ham United in Sunday’s Premier League encounter.

Isak, who arrived from Newcastle United in the summer, registered his first league goals for the club, helping the Reds snap a run of three straight defeats.

The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Isak calmly finished a low delivery from the left. West Ham’s task became even harder six minutes from time as Lucas Paquetá was sent off for dissent, leaving the hosts to finish the match with 10 men.

Read Also: UCL: Isak set for Liverpool debut against Atletico

Liverpool took full advantage in stoppage time, with Gakpo chesting down a cross before drilling home to seal the points in the 92nd minute.

The win lifts Arne Slot’s side to eighth place on 21 points.

Elsewhere, at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest were unable to replicate last week’s impressive showing at Anfield, falling 2–0 to Brighton. Nigerian duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi missed out through injury.

November 30, 2025
Pantami, Mujaddadi Foundations to train Bauchi youths in AI, cybersecurity

The Professor Isa Pantami Foundation (PIP Foundation) has announced a partnership with the Mujaddadi Care Foundation to launch a new skills-development programme that will train 200 youths from Bauchi State in mobile phone repairs, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity this December.

The collaborative initiative aims to empower young people with practical, future-oriented skills that enhance self-reliance and competitiveness in the digital world.

The Mujaddadi Care Foundation is a community-based initiative founded by Senator Shehu Buba Umar, dedicated to compassion-driven social upliftment, empowerment, and care programmes.

The training programme is part of the PIP Foundation’s wider commitment to training 10,000 youths across Gombe and neighboring states in the North East.

Read Also: Play-Offs: NFF tips Super Eagles to subdue Panthers after pay dispute

Participants will be provided with start-up kits and post-training support to help them establish their own small-scale enterprises, strengthening job creation efforts and closing the region’s widening skills gap.

Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Isa Pantami, reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to building a skilled, technologically-driven workforce. He stated that the program is a contribution to grooming a society where skills take center stage, boosting productivity as seen in nations like Japan, China, and India.

The joint effort follows the organization’s earlier success in August 2025, where an initial group of 250 young people from Gombe State were trained in the same fields and empowered with professional toolkits to start generating income.

A beneficiary, Ibrahim Khalil, noted that the training enabled him to perform basic repairs in his neighborhood, which now fetches him income. Interested participants can find more details on the application process via the Foundation’s website.

November 30, 2025
PDP abandoned me in time of need – Olisa Metuh
- …pledges support to Tinubu
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Sunday claimed that the party he dedicated years of service to and endured ten months in prison for turned its back on him during his time of need.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service to mark his 60th birthday, Metuh said only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, reached out to him during what he described as the worst period of his life.

Metuh expressed disappointment that the PDP, which he had labored for, failed to offer support during his trials. Despite this, he pledged to assist President Tinubu’s administration in any way he can, emphasizing his readiness to contribute positively to the government.

He said, “My trial was one of the worst things that happened to me. The day I was convicted I celebrated. There has also been good times and God has brought good people close to me. People that have shown me love and care. One of the people that has shown me love is the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

“All my life I gave it to PDP. Fashola was my classmate in law school, he would call me to come and take land in Ikoyi, Lagos and I will say how can I take land from APC, I was very dedicated to the PDP. I cannot when I am PDP.

“When we lost election and the President now wanted APC to have the Senate President and Speaker, he called several times. He kept on saying he wanted to work with me and I refused.

“When I had problems I did not see my party, I did not see the people I suffered for. I did not see my party. I was in the court, with my family. But in the midst of that, somebody who I criticized so much reached out to me.

“President Tinubu was the head of the opposition then, every week we must find something to criticise him with. In the middle of my problem, he sent the Speaker of the thenq House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to come and see me.

“He reached out to me, he comforted me and he did a lot of things for me then and this was someone who was my political enemy. So I say today, that it is really not were you sow that you will reap, it is where God said you will reap that you will reap.

Read Also: PDP’s gaffe-prone factional chairman

“Politically I am now active and anywhere the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma goes, there I shall go too.”

While admitting that Nigeria was facing some challenges, Metuh promised to contribute his own quota to grow the nation’s democracy, saying, “I am trying to make sure that I assist the government at the centre, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deliver the goods, the dividends of democracy.

“I have seen the steps, I have seen the challenges, and as a patriotic Nigerian, I want to join hands in resolving those challenges. I wish PDP well, I gave my life to PDP. But I have moved on, and I wish them well.”

The former PDP spokesman said he believed there are a lot of credible people in the opposition, who will make sure Nigeria does not become one party state.

“There are a lot of credible citizens, Atiku Abubakar is a very credible person. Peter Obi is a very credible person. David Mark is very credible. There are a lot of people,” he said.

Metuh said he was invited several times by President Tinubu to join the ruling party but declined, adding, “It took me a long time to get involved in politics. I’ve been called several times. The president wanted to work with me. Even in 2015, when we lost the election, I didn’t bother. He reached out to me again.

“When I left politics in 2022, he called me to come into his party. And I refused. After he won the election, I went to see him. He called me to enter the party that he needed me. He needed the kind of things that we could do. I refused because I stopped politics.

“Now that I’m in politics, I want to help. Maybe I could be a good voice on this side. To ensure that the polity is good. Like I explained to you, we need space in our democracy. BBWe need to grow it. We need vibrant opposition. We need people to express their views. We need to do all sorts.”

The thanksgiving service was attended by y Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, former governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States, Okezie Ikpeazu, Sam Egwu and Ikedi Ohakim, as well as Senator Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha was also present among others.
November 30, 2025
Troops rescue seven kidnap victims in Kano

Troops of Operation MESA under the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued seven kidnap victims during a late-night operation in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

However, four of the kidnap victims remain unaccounted for.

Although, efforts have continued to locate them, the army said.

Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Babatunde Zubairu, in a statement, said the incident occurred on 29 November 2025 at about 11:00 p.m. after troops received a distress call from Yankamaye Cikin Gari village over bandits’ activities.

“The troops, operating alongside personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police, swiftly moved to the scene, made contact with the bandits, and rescued seven abductees.

Read Also: Barau urges security agencies to prevent bandits’ incursion into two Kano LGAs

“However, a 60-year-old woman was reportedly killed by the bandits before the arrival of security forces.

“Following the initial engagement, troops pursued the fleeing bandits along their withdrawal route toward Rimaye, engaging them with heavy gunfire, which enabled the successful rescue operation,” he said.

The bandits were said to have escaped toward Kankia Local Government Area in Katsina State, with security forces intensifying efforts to track their movement.

The Commander of 3 Brigade commended the troops for their bravery and quick response, urging the public to continue supporting ongoing operations with timely and credible information.

November 30, 2025
Protection: VIPs turn to Correctional Service, NSCDC, private security firms
- Police disown viral memo on withdrawal of officers
There is an upswing demand for the services of private security firms and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the wake of this week’s presidential order for the withdrawal of police escorts attached to very important personalities.

President Bola Tinubu issued the order on Sunday as part of the broader effort to boost police presence in communities where security is currently deemed inadequate.

Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun said on Thursday that 11,566 such police escorts have already been recalled.

Investigation by our correspondents across the country shows that the affected VIPs are now turning to private security firms and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their personal protection and that of their families.

The NSCDC, which is currently about 60,000 strong has as its basic responsibilities protection of lives, safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, prevention of crimes, and supporting civil authorities in times of emergency.

At the national headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja yesterday, The Nation gathered that telephone calls and other forms of discreet inquiries were being made to officers in the senior cadre by anxious VIPs requiring fresh or additional armed NSCDC personnel to serve as their escorts.

“As we speak today, they have started making moves to request for NSCDC personnel but we lack the manpower to serve these elites. Our last recruitment was 5,000 and the one we are about to do now is 10,000, but note that the less than 100, 000 that we have are spread all over the country because of challenges around mining activities, pipeline safety and so on.

“And for special duties like the 2025 Abuja Independence Day celebration, about 4,500 were deployed while events like the 2025 Anambra governorship election alone require 10, 000 personnel,” an NSCDC source stated.

A source in the organistion said yesterday in Enugu that applications for the services of their personnel have been on a massive rise in the last few days.

States and communities have also been taking actions of their own to complement initiatives of the federal government.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday gave the nod for the recruitment of 500 personnel by the State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps.

This comes on the heels of Wednesday’s meeting of Southern governors in Iperu-Remo,Ogun State where they insisted that state police is non-negotiable if Nigeria desires to effectively tackle banditry.

On the same day, President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency and threw his weight behind the establishment of state police.

NSCDC to work out modalities – Minister

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said in Abuja on Thursday that following the order to the para-military institutions under the ministry to enhance security situations in Nigeria, the ministry would do its outmost best.

Tunji-Ojo, who toured the upgrade of the training facilities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abuja Command at Wuse, and the Federal Fire Service Headquarters for Abuja Command, said President Tinubu directives would be carried out to the letter.

The Minister said the para-military under the Ministry have the capability and capacity to enhance the security situation in the country.

On the directives of the President on withdrawal of policemen from VIPs in the country, sources at the headquarters of the NSCDC said the agency was awaiting further instructions from higher authorities.

Read Also: UNODC partners NSCDC to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against illegal mining

A source who preferred not to be named said the NSCDC has the capability and capacity to provide the needed support, especially at this period, but pointed out that the details have to be worked out.

Spokesman for NSCDC in Nasarawa State, Mr Jerry Victor confirmed to The Nation the command’s receipt of many applications for security personnel since the President’s directive.

“The command is flooded with applications from VIPs requesting that our personnel be posted to them, some to their houses. Every day, we get calls and applications for our services,” he said.

A source in a private security organisation in the state said: “Yes, there is a high demand for our services.”

But the source said the company does not currently have enough personnel to meet demand.

Police escorts have been withdrawn from former and serving lawmakers in Nasarawa State.

The only politician of note who still has police escorts in the state is APC governorship aspirant Mohammed Adamu, and that is because of his status as a retired Inspector General of Police.

A former federal lawmaker in the state said he has not left his Abuja residence since the withdrawal of his police escort and won’t do so until he secures a private security arrangement.

The politician who does not want his name in print said:”It’s not possible for me to go out like that.

“I can’t even try it. I have cancelled all meetings and political engagements until my alternative security arrangement is concluded.

“I have applied to the Nasarawa State Command of the NSCDC and a private security outfit in Lafia to give me some security men to guard my house in Lafia.

“It’s not easy for someone like me to go out without security cover, but I think the President’s directive is understood in view of the general security situation across the country. It’s in the interest of the whole country, so I wholeheartedly welcome it.”

Findings across Enugu on Friday showed that many of those affected by the withdrawal have quickly resorted to hiring armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service to fill the gap left by the police.

A senior political aide who requested anonymity told our reporter that the sudden withdrawal had left many VIPs exposed.

“Most of my principals no longer move with police escorts. They are now relying on Civil Defence and even Correctional Service operatives. These agencies allow their armed personnel to be hired legitimately, so that’s what many are using now,” he said.

Ndume backs Tinubu’s order on VIP police withdrawal, seeks extension to National Assembly

Former leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South), has thrown his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from Very Important Persons (VIPs), insisting that the measure must be extended to members of the National Assembly.

Ndume, speaking on ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television on Thursday evening, said the number of police personnel currently deployed to the National Assembly was excessive and unjustifiable at a time the country is battling heightened insecurity.

He described as “insulting” the growing trend of VIPs securing law enforcement officers not just for themselves, but for their spouses and children.

“I thought today I would not see so many police in the National Assembly, but there are still crowded police in the National Assembly,” he lamented.

“Some of our colleagues, some ministers have police attached to their wives. What is their business with that? They have police attached to their children.”

The senator recalled cases where children of prominent individuals move around Abuja in convoys, while ordinary Nigerians lack protection from violent crimes.

Ndume narrated how he once visited the residence of a junior colleague and met more than 10 police officers assigned to him, pointing out that the situation had become so alarming that some lawmakers move with security arrangements resembling presidential convoys.

The lawmaker argued that if security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was strengthened, VIPs—including President Tinubu—would not require heavy convoys.

“Secure Abuja, and the President can even drive out himself,” he said.

“When you secure personalities and neglect common people, the result is insecurity. In other countries, citizens move freely at night because their cities are secure.”

When reminded that the withdrawal directive could apply to him as well, Ndume stated that he only maintains one police orderly, having declined an earlier offer of three officers.

“One of the top security agencies felt my life was at risk and attached three policemen to me, but I refused. I insisted on having only an orderly,” he said, noting that his preference was based more on accountability than protection.

Presidential order: Our elites deserve no pity” – Ex-DMI Officer

Nigerian elites whose prolonged indifference, inadequate concern and unjustified benefits from security votes may have facilitated Nigeria’s current security situation do not deserve to be pitied in an effective implementation of President Tinubu’s order for the withdrawal of police officers, a former military officer who served in the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Captain Umar Babangida Aliyu (rtd), said.

Speaking with The Nation, Aliyu, who now works as a security consultant and business risk expert said that while the President’s decision has several complex implications for VIPs, even as it serves to refocus police attention, a rigorous implementation of the order without any room for shortcuts or illegal police duties will help Nigeria move forward towards tackling insecurity with more seriousness.

Captain U. B, Aliyu (rtd), a member of the 40th Nigerian Army Regular Course which has produced service chiefs and a National Security Adviser, emphasised that Nigeria’s VIPs do not deserve to be pitied over the withdrawal of their police escorts.

Said Aliyu: “Honestly, I really don’t sympathise with them. The politicians and other are victims of their own folly; they are all well-travelled, some with residential property and citizenship abroad, and they know what obtains in other countries in terms of private and societal security wise but come back home and do nothing whatsoever to replicate the good things they see and partake of abroad.

“Let them enjoy the new status quo. Hopefully, it will reset their priority as to security and insecurity here in Nigeria. It is not as if the Police were on top of their game when they were at it anyway. Even with police protection, we have seen VIPs attacked.”

The Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun told reporters in Abuja yesterday that the recall of police officers from VIP duties was neither punitive nor political but aimed at refocusing police efforts and resources on critical areas such as intelligence-led operations and rapid response capacities in rural and urban areas, worried elites.

Police disown memo on ‘withdrawal of officers’ from Atiku, Wike

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), responding yesterday to a report that they had withdrawn officers attached to some high-profile individuals, said no such decision was taken.

The report had claimed that a Mobile Force, 50 Squadron in Kubwa, Abuja, issued urgent instructions for personnel assigned to VIPs , including former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); former first lady Aisha Buhari; Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN); and Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, to return to base by Thursday, November 27.

The report quoted a memo, allegedly signed by CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, administrative officer of 50PMF Kubwa, as saying that officers attached to 20 VIPs should return to base and that attendance would be taken from the nominal roll.

In addition, it claimed that officers attached to VIPs across SPU Base 16 in Lagos were also expected back by the close of business on November 24 and attend a lecture parade the following day.
November 29, 2025
First Lady urges passage of Gender Parity Bill as she hosts NASS to dinner
- We stand firm behind the President, won’t fail women – Akpabio
- Women are anchors of community resilience – Abbas
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday evening hosted members of the National Assembly to a special dinner at the State House Banquet Hall, where she made a renewed and passionate appeal for the passage of the Gender Parity Bill, also known as the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, currently before the legislature.

The event, attended by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who represented the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF); lawmakers from both chambers; and senior government officials, provided what the First Lady described as “a moment for dialogue and reflection” on Nigeria’s democratic future and the centrality of women’s participation.

In her address, Senator Tinubu said the bill, seeking constitutionally guaranteed seats for women in federal and state legislatures, offered a historic opportunity for Nigeria to reposition its democracy and strengthen national development.

“I have watched with keenness in recent months as various interest groups across our beloved nation, and even international bodies, have gathered momentum in support of this particular bill.

“Is this bill indeed possible to scale through? Yes—if not today, someday. But if we do this now, the 10th Assembly will go down in the history of our legislature as the set that stood for women when it counted the most,” she said.

Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

The First Lady urged lawmakers to seize the moment to “take care of our girls and boys,” noting that the current challenges facing millions of children, especially the girl child and vulnerable boys in the Almajiri system, underscore the need for inclusive reforms.

“In the past few days, our nation has faced a lot of assault, especially as it concerns the future of the education of the girl child. The boys, on the other hand, through the Almajiri system, are deprived of basic necessities…

“This deprivation opens them up to be lured into the wrong hands. This is why we must prioritise reforms that restore dignity and provide safe learning environments,” she stated.

Senator Tinubu stressed that affirmative measures have improved governance quality in several countries, adding that Nigeria must not be left behind.

“Everyone, male or female, should be given the opportunity to contribute to our shared humanity,” she said.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the First Lady for what he called “an unprecedented initiative,” affirming that the National Assembly remains committed to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in stabilising the country and advancing inclusive governance.

“We are very determined as a National Assembly to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overcome the current enemy action in Nigeria,” Akpabio said, referring to recent nationwide insecurity.

He disclosed that he had written to two U.S. congressmen earlier in the day to correct what he described as “a false narrative” suggesting religious persecution in Nigeria.

“The bullets being sprayed have no religion written on them. Muslims are being killed, Christians are being killed… We are united behind this administration to rid this country of insidious elements,” he said.

Akpabio also announced that the Senate had resolved to designate kidnapping as a terrorist act carrying the death penalty with no option of fine or judicial discretion.

On the Gender Parity Bill, the Senate President pledged support, saying, “We will not want you to invite us only when women have a particular interest. Invite us always. Mummy, we are grateful.”

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas commended the First Lady’s “consistent commitment to the well-being of our nation,” noting that her advocacy has given the Women, Peace and Security agenda strong national visibility.

He revealed that the House recently dedicated an entire week of plenary sessions to national security for the first time in Nigeria’s legislative history, with members expressing overwhelming support for President Tinubu’s security reforms.

On the Reserved Seats Bill, Abbas offered a robust defence: “Women constitute almost half of our population but remain severely underrepresented in parliament. This weakens our democracy and undermines national security.”
November 29, 2025