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  • Why Nigerians should support Tinubu, by Ndume

    Why Nigerians should support Tinubu, by Ndume

    • ‘Nigerians must unite behind him’

    Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has urged Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    he described the President as a capable, listening and visionary leader who deserves collective support to deliver on his mandate.

    Speaking on Sunday night at the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja, Ndume, who received the award for “Most Outstanding Legislator and Advocate of National Unity,” said the nation must close ranks and give the President the solidarity required to overcome prevailing national challenges.

    The former Senate Leader expressed concern over the increasing wave of defections from opposition parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the ruling party risks internal strain if it continues to admit political actors who contribute little or nothing to its development.

    He stressed that the broader national task before President Tinubu makes unity of purpose more important than intra-party differences.

    Read Also: Ndume urges Tinubu to engage US over Trump’s ‘Country of Concern’ tag on Nigeria

    “I have warned that the APC is becoming overloaded. And when you overload a ship, especially with empty cargo, it risks capsizing,” Ndume said.

    “But beyond party politics, what Nigeria needs now is unity. Charity begins at home. Let us stand together behind our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With unity, we can move this country forward.”

    The Borno South lawmaker said many of those defecting to the APC add no meaningful value after joining bthe ruling party.

    He likened the situation to “a pastor who leaves his church and immediately wants to become the pastor in charge of the new church”. Such a development, he said, naturally breeds confusion.

    Ndume insisted that despite his occasional criticisms of the current administration, his commitment to Nigeria’s progress and confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership remained firm.

    “I call Asiwaju a leader because he listens,” Ndume said. “Some may wonder why I speak frankly at times. It is because I fear people may think we are failing when in truth we have a leader who is genuinely committed. No one man can be the captain, the goalkeeper, and a striker at the same time. The President needs capable hands around him.”

    The Borno South senator emphasised the need to remove incompetent officials he described as “kakistocrats and kleptocrats” from any arm of government.

    He argued that only a united and efficient team can support President Tinubu’s reform agenda.

    The wife of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dame Uche Azikiwe, praised the organisers of the annual lecture and urged current political leaders to emulate the patriotism and selflessness of First Republic statesmen, like Zik himself, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Ahmadu Bello.

    “They are long gone but their legacies live on,” she said. “They were selfless leaders, not driven by personal interest. I am always happy when people remember Zik for his contributions to Nigeria’s unity.”

    Build into LEAD

    Oyetola to Iragbiji residents: support President’s development agenda

    By Oluwakemi Dauda

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the people of Iragbiji in Osun State and other Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

    The minister described the ongoing developmental strides of the Federal Government as “a generational blessing that must be protected and maximised”.

    Oyetola spoke at the 34th Iragbiji Day celebration, an event that assembled dignitaries, including the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi (Odundun IV), other eminent monarchs from across Osun State, captains of industry, and thousands of sons and daughters of the ancient town.

    The event celebrates the community’s cultural heritage and developmental milestones.

    Oyetola, a former Osun State governor, noted that Iragbiji was witnessing an unprecedented transformation under President Tinubu.

    The minister alluded to the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies at Iragbiji (FUADSI) and the approval of the School of Fisheries to be sited in the community.

    “These two monumental institutions represent a generational blessing — a legacy that will change the face of Iragbiji forever,” Oyetola said.

    According to him, the university will stimulate growth in education, drive innovation, expand employment opportunities, and attract national and international partnerships.

    The minister added that the School of Fisheries aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s emerging Blue Economy framework, explaining that it would empower young people with practical skills in aquaculture, marine sciences, and sustainable environmental management.

    He urged the community to view the institutions not merely as government projects but as “living legacies that will shape the destiny of our children and generations yet unborn”.

    Rallying the community’s support for President Tinubu, Oyetola said the President’s fairness and inclusivity in national development deserved reciprocal commitment from the citizens.

    “I call on every son and daughter of Iragbiji to embrace these projects wholeheartedly and to continue to support President Tinubu’s administration. By supporting his policies, we support progress, we support unity, and we secure a better future for ourselves and for our children,” he said.

    The minister praised Oba Olabomi for the peace, progress, and unity that Iragbiji has enjoyed under his reign.

    He described the monarch as a leader whose wisdom has continued to guide the town towards prosperity.

  • Tuggar: structural weakness behind unconstitutional changes of govts in Africa changes of govt, others

    Tuggar: structural weakness behind unconstitutional changes of govts in Africa changes of govt, others

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, yesterday launched the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), an initiative that aims to deepen the democratic process in Africa.

    Tuggar blamed the recent unconstitutional change of governments in some African states on structural weaknesses.

    The minister noted that democracy was gradually sliding and that the situation was affecting the 2063 target of silencing the gun in Africa.

    He described the RPD, which is the brainchild of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the solution to addressing the democratic challenges.

    Tuggar spoke at the signing ceremony of the RPD, organised by his ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Abuja.

    He said: “At the root of many of Africa’s governance challenges lies the uncritical transplantation of governance models and values that do not adequately reflect our cultural contexts, our social norms, or our historical experiences. This incongruity generates friction and that friction all too often manifests as democratic stagnation, institutional fragility, or, indeed, flagrant abuses of power.

    “It is in direct response to these circumstances that the RPD was conceived. The RPD rests on a simple, yet powerful proposition: that democracy flourishes most sustainably when it is rooted in African values and attuned to local peculiarities, whilst drawing judiciously from global best practices. Such carefully calibrated synthesis is indispensable, if democracy is to enjoy genuine ownership, legitimacy, and long-term durability among our people. The variable geometry of democracy, its different forms and speeds need to be taken into account.”

    Tuggar noted that democratic governance in Africa “is confronted by sobering and deeply complex challenges despite efforts embodied in mechanisms such as the African Union’s Peer Review Mechanism, and other numerous national reforms”.

    Read Also: Ndume urges Tinubu to engage US over Trump’s ‘Country of Concern’ tag on Nigeria

    He added: “Too often, these structural weaknesses culminate in unconstitutional changes of government or protracted political instability; conditions which, in turn, fuel insecurity and violence.”

    The minister argued that “these troubling developments stand in stark contrast to the noble aspirations of Agenda 2063, most notably the collective ambition to silence the guns on our continent”.

    He explained that the current wave of protests was not about Africa or its youths but about disconnection.

    Citing the recent distortions in reporting, especially in the Western media, where there is manipulation of social media algorithms, Tuggar said: “I make bold to assert that it is not an African problem, a youth problem or even a democracy problem. It is a problem of how to match expectations to capacity and delivery, further exacerbated by the rapid speed of social media.”

    The minister insisted that “RPD can help in tackling the Gordian Knot of misinformation and disinformation in our region”.

    The representative of UN Coordinator in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Atafua, said: “Today’s milestone signals that Nigeria is not only shaping the regional democratic landscape, but also charting a path for Africa-led, Africa-owned transformation. The Regional Partnership for Democracy is not merely a programme. It is a compact of values.

    “It is Africa-led, regionally anchored, and globally significant, grounded in our belief that the access to Africa’s darkness challenges lies within Africa itself.

    “Through its four pillars, the Regional Partnership for Democracy will, first of all, strengthen democratic institutions and public accountability. Number two, broaden inclusive citizen participation, especially for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

    “Number three: promote credible and transparent electoral systems. And finally, foster regional cooperation and peer learning so that democracy delivers for the people of West Africa. The RPD is designed to serve as a catalyst platform, transforming democratic ideals into practical tools, strengthening systems that deliver, and building confidence among citizens that darkness can be inclusive, can be predictable, and can be just.

    “Across West Africa, Excellencies, we are witnessing powerful examples of democratic consolidation and leadership that inspire confidence in our shared future. From Liberia’s electoral conduct to Ghana’s enduring democratic stability to Senegal’s recent democratic milestones and Nigeria’s own record of successive peaceful transitions, West Africa continues to demonstrate that democracy remains alive, democracy remains resilient, and democracy remains capable of renewal.

    “The Regional Partnership for Democracy builds on these gains, enhances the region’s collective courage, leadership, and experience to scale what is working, deepen institutional reforms, and accelerate a continental pathway where democracy becomes not only an aspiration, but a lived reality delivering development, peace, and opportunity.

    “To realise this vision, we must build a vibrant consortium of partners within the West African region and amongst friends of West Africa to mobilise the resources and expertise needed to power implementation.

    “For our part, UNDP, together with our UN family, will work with the governments, development partners, civil society, private sector, amongst others, to mobilise financing and technical expertise for this transformative agenda as we continue to catalyse an integrated and accelerated implementation process.

    “We will also ensure that the implementation of this programme is grounded in global best practice, strong fiduciary standards, and the highest level of accountability.

    “So, excellences, how do we move from vision to action? Let me say a few words. The signing we witnessed today is not a conclusion, but a beginning.

    “A movement to build public trust, reaffirm constitutionalism, and make democracy deliver tangible benefits to our citizens. At its core, this movement is about people, citizens who vote, organise, and dream of a government that listens and serves. They are at the heart of democracy, and their participation is our greatest measure of success.

    “The Regional Partnership for Democracy will be implemented not from Abuja alone, but across West African capitals, institutions, and communities, ensuring true regional ownership and shared responsibility for results…”

  • Abbas, ministry back increased recruitment of women into police

    Abbas, ministry back increased recruitment of women into police

    House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has said the National Assembly is poised to address the challenges women face in their efforts to join the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Speaker and the Ministry of Police Affairs said it has become imperative to amend the Police Act so that more women could be recruited into the force.

    They noted that having  more women in the force would fast-track the dispensation of justice.

    Speaking at a public hearing on a Bill to amend the Police Act, 2020, and provide for 15 per cent recruitment of women into the police force, the Speaker said the proposed law mandates the Nigeria Police Force to establish and maintain a gender-responsive compliance programme that addresses key aspects of policing, such as recruitment, training, posting, discipline, and career progression.

    Additionally, he said the Bill provides for the creation of a monitoring unit to keep accurate record of the integration process and ensure adherence to these provisions.

    Abbas noted that the Bill speaks to justice, fairness, and the recognition that effective policing must draw strength from diversity.

    Read Also: Inflation eases further on declining food prices

    He said: “For too long, the Nigeria Police Force has operated with a disproportionately low representation of women, particularly in its leadership structure.

    “This has not only limited opportunities for many capable women but also deprived the institution of the unique perspective and empathy that female officers bring to law enforcement and community relations.

    “By increasing the participation of women in the force, we are not merely advancing the cause of gender equality; we are enhancing professionalism, deepening accountability, and improving the overall quality of policing in Nigeria.

    “Research consistently shows that police institutions with stronger female representation record fewer incidents of excessive force, handle cases of gender-based violence more effectively, and generally enjoy greater public trust.

    “This amendment, therefore, aligns with the spirit and intent of our Constitution, as well as Nigeria’s international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, which emphasises gender equality and women’s empowerment.

    “It also reinforces our constitutional mandate as legislators to ensure that public institutions embody the principles of equity, justice, and good governance.

    “However, it is obvious that legislation alone will not lead to the achievement of these goals. A way must be found to enforce implementation and sustained monitoring. To this end, this Bill provides for the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Nigeria Police Force to maintain records and assess compliance with gender-responsive policies.

    “This will ensure that our good intentions are translated into measurable action and tangible results.

    “Our goal is having a police force that mirrors the diversity of our nation, upholds fairness, and delivers justice without bias or discrimination.”

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Makki Yalleman, averred that the proposed amendment seeks to increase the recruitment of women into the force by at least 15 per cent and ensure a gender-friendly ambience for women to thrive in the system.

    Yalleman noted that having more women in the force would enhance the effectiveness of the law enforcement agencies in addressing crimes that affect women disproportionately, such as domestic violence and sexual assault.

    The lawmaker said women officers are often better equipped to handle these sensitive cases, providing a safe and supportive environment for victims to report incidents.

    He added that increasing the number of women in the NPF would help to promote a culture of inclusivity and diversity within the system, thus helping to set an example for ladies.

    Yalleman said this would show them that they too can pursue careers in law enforcement and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities and across the country.

    He said: “We are aware that certain societal and cultural biases act as barriers to entry into the Force for women. This can be corrected through targeted outreach programmes and mentorship initiatives that will portray the Force in a good light. 

    “This amendment will prioritise the recruitment, promotion, and creation of friendly working environment for women. it will provide training schemes for women that will equip them with the requisite skills and knowledge they need to excel in the job.”

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. Anyma Ogbonnaya Nlia, announced the ministry’s support for the Bill.

    He said it would help to address a lot of issues that affect women recruitment into the police force.

    Represented by an officer from the ministry’s Legal Unit, Okorie Kalu, the permanent secretary noted that the proposed law would require the NPF to provide and maintain a genuine responsive compliance programme in the recruitment, training, marital status, posting, and discipline of police officers.

    He said the proposed law would also ensure the establishment of a unit that would monitor and maintain the records of gender response compliance programme and for related matters.

    Nlia sought the amendment of Section 9, subsection 1F of the Police Act 2020 by inserting provisions that would address gender historical gaps and discriminatory provisions affecting women in the police force.

    The permanent secretary described the proposed amendment as a step towards revolutionising the NPF, adding that the ministry had no objection to the amendment.

    He said: “The ministry has begun the process of making regulations to address gender issues in police force, particularly in the aspect of elimination of gender-based enlistment criteria, such as restrictions on marital status and pregnancy, removal of discriminatory duties assignment, duty assignment and dress code limitations.

    “Integration of the NPF gender policy to ensure routine compliance; introduction of maternity leave, religious accommodation, and equitable posting policies; establishment of grievance and complaint mechanisms with oversight; reorganisation of the IGP’s office to include human rights, internal affairs, and women and Children’s Protection Centre.

    “The amendment of the principal Act to include gender responsive provisions will be a life wire for the intended regulations to flow and be implemented seamlessly.”

  • Speaker, 16 other Taraba lawmakers dump PDP for APC

    Speaker, 16 other Taraba lawmakers dump PDP for APC

    • Ex-Kogi Governor Idris Wada, others join ruling party

    All the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Taraba State House of Assembly have resigned from the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaker John Kizito Bonzina announced the mass defections yesterday during plenary.

    Bonzina read the letters submitted by the lawmakers, each indicating their intention to leave the PDP and cross over to the APC.

    According to the Speaker, the defections fall under Section 109 of the Constitution, which allows lawmakers to switch parties in the event of divisions within their party.

    In their letters, the lawmakers cited a lingering leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level, claiming the existence of two rival factions.

    They said the situation had thrown the party into confusion and made continued membership untenable.

    The defectors, who confirmed their decisions after the plenary, said the unresolved internal wrangling that once elevated the party’s profile had weakened it.

    The defectors said they had consulted their constituencies before dumping the PDP.

    Jethro Yakubu, representing Wukari I, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, explained that the defections became necessary as the crisis threatening the PDP “has the potential to expunge the party from the country”.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Taraba Assembly speaker, 15 others defect to APC from PDP

    Also, Musa Chul representing Gassol I Constituency, and Nelson Len, representing Nguroje Constituency, stated that remaining in the PDP would jeopardise their political future.

    He said the PDP crisis prompted the defections while their supporters also endorsed the decision to join the APC..

    With their defections, the APC has absolute majority in the 24-member House of Assembly.

    Also, Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, welcomed former Governor Idris Wada to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Shettima said he was in the state to formally welcome Wada and other defectors to the APC on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Besudes Wada, who was a PDP governor, other defectors were mainly from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The Vice President, who arrived the Muhammadu Buhari Complex in Lokoja, the venue of the event at 4.40 p.m, handed over the APC flag and its symbol (the broom) to Wada and other defectors.

    He told the new party members to see the APC as one family where members are allowed to grow.

    Governor Ahmed Ododo, who introduced the new APC members to the Vice President, said they were good leaders who would also contribute positively to the further growth of the party.

    Ododo said the formal declaration of the new party members had shown that Kogi State belongs to the APC.

    The governor also said President Tinubu had demonstrated his love for the development of Kogi through various Federal Government’s projects being executed in the state.

    He said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is my father and I am proud to be his son. He is a true leader who has consistently shown me how to be a good leader. He is a committed democrat and I am sure Nigeria will be great again under his leadership.”

    Party leaders at the event included former Governor Yahaya Bello, all members of the state House of Assembly and APC state executives.

  • BEA scheme: Parents send SOS to Fed Govt

    BEA scheme: Parents send SOS to Fed Govt

    • ‘Students’ lives at risk over delay in payment of stipends’

    Parents and guardians of Nigerian students studying abroad, under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Scheme, have issued a passionate plea to the Federal Government to urgently rescue their children.

    They warned that more lives may be at risk following prolonged delays in the payment of stipends to the affected students.

    The parents, under the Forum of Parents/Guardians of Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (FPGBEA), said BEA students in Algeria, Morocco, Hungary, Venezuela, Russia, China, and other partner countries were enduring “unimaginable hardship” due to the government’s inability to fulfill its financial obligations for nearly three years.

    They addressed reporters in Abuja on the plight of the students and presented a formal letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

    Speaking on behalf of the parents, Mr. Abang Matthew said the BEA scheme had become a “punishment for being brilliant” and that many scholars were starving, homeless and mentally distressed.

    “These children of this nation left home with dreams, with hope, and with the promise that their government would support their education abroad,” he said. “But today, we are gathered here not in joy, not in celebration, but in deep sorrow and desperation. Because the Nigerian government has failed our children.”

    According to him, the failure to pay outstanding stipends has pushed students into extreme conditions that have directly resulted in loss of life.

    “Let the nation hear this clearly: we have lost one of our own,” Matthew said.

    The distraught parent confirmed the death of Bashir Malami Gwandu, a Nigerian BEA scholar in Morocco, describing it as “a stain on our national conscience”.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Taraba Assembly speaker, 15 others defect to APC from PDP

    According to the parents, the student died because he could not access timely medical care due to the long-standing non-payment of his allowance.

    “His passing was preventable,” Matthew said. “He died because he could not access the medical care he urgently needed because the government that sent him abroad failed to send the stipend that would have kept him alive.”

    The forum said scholars have received no stipends at all in 2025, survived severe shortfalls in 2023 and 2024, as well as endured unilateral reductions of monthly payments from $500 to $220 last year.

    The parents recalled that in 2023 alone, “students suffered a shortage of approximately two months of payments, plus four additional months in arrears that remain unsettled”.

    They added that many students were hungry, sick, depressed and “living in foreign countries with rising inflation and strict immigration policies”.

    He added: “They are simply asking for what the Government of Nigeria promised them, budgeted for, and publicly announced.”

    The distraught parents said families in Nigeria were drowning in debt, pushing them to borrowing, selling assets and taking loans to keep their children alive abroad.

    “This is not a scholarship anymore,” Matthew said. “It has become a sentence for being patriotic enough to accept a government-sponsored award.”

    The forum said all appeals to government agencies had gone unanswered.

    According to the parents, they and students have written letters, sent emails, visited ministries, appealed through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCom), contacted the Ministry of Education and the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), reached out to the Ministry of Finance, and “pleaded with the National Assembly,” with no positive response.

    They presented five key demands to the Federal Government: the immediate payment of all outstanding arrears totalling 16 months; settlement of an additional eight months of accumulated shortfalls; restoration of the original $500 monthly stipend; creation of a transparent and reliable stipend payment system; provision of accommodation allowances for students in countries where host governments do not cover housing; and a functional welfare monitoring mechanism to prevent further tragedies.

    In their letter to Mr. Wale Edun, signed by the Chairman of the forum, Prince Ponfa A. Wuyep, and the Secretary, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed, the parents warned that the hardship caused by the non-payment is “almost at the point of embarrassment to the scholars, their parents/guardians and to a very large extent to our country too”.

    They said the students, who are barred from taking up jobs abroad, now face “constant threats of eviction” and can no longer afford basic necessities.

    “The human cost of this neglect is incalculable,” the letter stated.

  • Malami joins Kebbi governorship race

    Malami joins Kebbi governorship race

    A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.

    His declaration has set the stage for what is expected to be a high-stakes political battle in the Northwestern state.

    Malami made the announcement during an interview with DCL Hausa.

    The former minister said he had reached a firm decision to run and was confident of widespread support across the state.

    “INEC guidelines do not allow mobilisation at this stage, but when the time comes, you will see that we have the support of the people of Kebbi State,” he said. “I have agreed to contest, and there is no retreat. God willing, we are going to win because we have people who believe in us, and we will not let them down.”

    Read Also: Inflation eases further on declining food prices

    The former minister, who resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticised the ruling party for what he called the worsening hardship in the country, especially in the North.

    Malami said insecurity had forced many farmers in Kebbi to abandon their farmlands, crippling agricultural production and leading to the closure of long-standing rice mills. He blamed the situation on “negligence” by both state and federal authorities and on “bad policies” he claimed favour foreign companies over local producers.

    “Rice mills that operated actively for 20 years have shut down,” he lamented. “My ambition is to salvage Kebbi State from insecurity, restore and revive farming, and protect the interests of the people,” Malami said.

  • Tinubu orders manhunt for abductors, rescue of 25 pupils

    Tinubu orders manhunt for abductors, rescue of 25 pupils

    • Vice principal killed during dawn attack on Kebbi girls’ school
    • We’ll bring them back, says governor

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday ordered security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the 25 female students abducted during an attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSSS), Maga, in Kebbi State.

    Gunmen invaded the school in the early hours of Sunday, killing Vice Principal Malam Hassan Makuku.

    They whisked away the schoolgirls.

    Makuku was shot while attempting to shield the pupils.

    The attack, which occurred in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, threw the community into deep mourning.

    Residents have continued to offer prayers for Makuku, praising his courage and sacrifice.

    Kebbi Police spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said security operatives had launched a manhunt for the attackers.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the President’s directive for a high-level rescue operation.

    “President Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State,” he said in a statement.

    “Security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the pupils, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.”

    The minister assured that the Federal Government would not relent until the girls are safely reunited with their families.

    He also said the country is strengthening cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to secure its borders and dismantle terrorist networks.

    He added that the government was “recalibrating the nation’s military, policing and intelligence capabilities to prevent attacks and respond more rapidly to threats.”

    Read Also: Matawalle delivers Tinubu’s message to troops in Zamfara

    Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle condemned the attack.

    He described it as unacceptable and called on all security agencies to act urgently and in concert to locate and secure the safe release of the abducted pupils.

    He said: “President Tinubu has directed that the state’s security apparatus swing into immediate action to ensure the abducted students are released unharmed.

    “Residents should remain calm and go about their business while government and security agencies address the situation.”

    Mattawalle condoled with the family of the late vice principal and with all families affected by the attack.

    “I pray to Allah to grant him mercy, a peaceful resting place, and to console his family and loved ones over this painful and unjust loss,” the minister added.

    Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, assured parents of the schoolgirls that efforts were underway to rescue their children.

    The governor spoke after visiting Maga, where he met with security agencies, traditional rulers, and parents.

    “The unfortunate thing has already happened. They have abducted our children. We came here, we saw things for ourselves, and we met the parents whose children were taken.

    “We gave them confidence, and we gave them our word that we will do everything possible to ensure that their children are rescued.

    “We also assured them to remain confident, and that security agencies will do everything necessary.

    “That is the essence of our coming to Maga, to see the people and give them confidence and words of encouragement.”

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the killings and abductions.

    He said he was “devastated” by the attack.

    Atiku urged the Federal Government to overhaul its security architecture and deploy more personnel to vulnerable communities.

    Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, prayed for the safe return of the pupils.

    He stated on X: “My heart is heavy in faraway Monaco as I receive the heartbreaking news from Kebbi State about the attack on Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, which led to the abduction of several young female students and the killing of a staff member.

    “My deepest sympathies go to the government and people of Kebbi State, the parents and families of the abducted girls, and all those affected by this tragedy.”

    The mass abduction of school children first occurred in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014, when more than a hundred schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    There were other abductions of schoolchildren in attacks on schools in Yobe, Kaduna and Katsina states.

  • Factions head for showdown at PDP secretariat

    Factions head for showdown at PDP secretariat

    • Different camps plan meetings for national secretariat
    • Turaki: Wike, Anyanwu, others remain expelled

    All indications point to a major showdown at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Abuja today.

    The newly elected national leadership, led by Alhaji Taminu Turaki, yesterday vowed to face off with the Muhammed Abdulrahman-led faction.

    Both camps announced high-level meetings today at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat.

    The faction led by Abdulrahman, believed to be loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, scheduled emergency meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) for today while the Turaki faction plans an inaugural meeting.

    They are billed at the same venue at almost the same time.

    Turaki met with the FCT Commissioner of Police yesterday, accompanied by other party leaders.

    He said his team was prepared to confront anyone attempting to disrupt their gathering.

    Turaki described members of the opposing camp as “no longer members of the PDP,” insisting their expulsion at the Ibadan convention remains binding.

    According to him, the newly-elected NWC was willing to “lay down their lives” to defend the party’s mandate and Nigeria’s democracy.

    He said the outgoing leadership was, by the party’s earlier timetable, expected to hand over between December 1 and December 8, since the Damagum-led tenure officially ends on December 8.

    He told reporters: “We came to interface with the Commissioner of Police regarding our meeting tomorrow. We are holding our inaugural National Working Committee meeting of the PDP.

    “At this meeting, we have invited our stakeholders, founding fathers, governors, National Assembly members, Board of Trustees members, state chairmen and other critical stakeholders.

    “As law-abiding citizens, we came to notify the police ahead of the meeting. This is our first gathering since the Ibadan national convention.”

    Turaki dismissed the parallel NEC and BoT notices issued by the Anyanwu faction, insisting that those behind the notices have been expelled.

    “Next to God in the management of a political party is the National Convention. Its decision overrides all others. Our National Convention has made a decision to expel these elements. They are no longer members of our party,” he said.

    He said the police had been alerted to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

    Read Also: Wike loyalists convene PDP NEC, BoT meetings as battle for party control intensifies

    “This democracy that our forefathers sacrificed their lives for, we are ready to also give our lives to sustain it,” Turaki declared.

    He said the new leadership would access the national secretariat today with or without assistance from the police.

    “Anybody occupying our offices without our consent is an interloper.

    “We will go there, open the offices and begin to perform the functions for which we were elected,” he said.

    Turaki added that the Commissioner of Police assured them of protection.

    “We shall be there at 10 a.m. I will lead from the front. We expect the police to provide the protection we are entitled to under the law.”

    The notice by the Abdulrahman-led faction, signed by the “expelled” National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, said the BoT meeting would be held at 11 a.m. while the NEC meets at 2 p.m., both at Wadata Plaza.

    The Ibadan convention, where Wike, Anyanwu and others were expelled, was held despite conflicting orders on its validity.

    On October 11, Justice James Omotosho ordered the maintenance of the status quo in a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, filed by Austine Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman in Imo State); Amah Abraham Nnanna (PDP Chairman, Abia State) and Turnah George, Secretary, PDP Southsouth).

    In a judgment on October 31, Justice Omotosho ordered that preparations for the convention be put on hold pending when the PDP would comply with the provisions of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The judge restrained INEC from monitoring the convention until the PDP complies with the relevant laws in relation to the holding of a convention.

    On November 5, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the High Court of Oyo State issued an ex-parte order, granting permission to the PDP to proceed with its planned convention.

    On November 11, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order of interim injunction stopping the PDP from proceeding with plans for the convention.

    The order, which was to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit, was issued in a suit filed by former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who claimed to have been prevented from obtaining form to contest the party’s chairman position.

    On November 13, Justice Akintola extended his earlier order, granting permission to the PDP to proceed with the convention.

    On November 14, Justice Lifu delivered judgment in the suit by Lamido and ordered the PDP not to hold the convention without Lamido’s being allowed to contest the chairmanship position.

    How Wike, others were expelled

    Also yesterday, fresh details emerged on how Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other key party leaders coordinated the expulsion of Wike, Anyanwu and others during Saturday’s national convention.

    Sources told our reporter that both Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who chaired the convention planning committee, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Maftwang were deliberately kept in the dark about the plan to expel Wike and his allies.

    “Fintiri is Wike’s friend. They feared he could have sabotaged the plan or even withdrawn from the convention if he was informed,” a source said.

    The source said the motion for expulsion, moved by Chief Bode George, shocked both governors.

    “They immediately dissociated themselves because they knew nothing about it until the motion was made.”

    The source described the convention as a “carefully choreographed operation” designed to outwit Wike’s supporters and ensure the party charted a new direction.

  • Declining inflation raises hope of lower interest rate

    Declining inflation raises hope of lower interest rate

    • CPI drops to 16.05%

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday reported that headline inflation recorded a sharp decline of 196 basis points to 16.05 per cent in October, strengthening the clamour for further reduction in the national benchmark interest rate.

    In its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report, NBS indicated that the composite inflation rate dropped from 18.02 per cent in September to 16.05 per cent in October, the seventh consecutive decline in a sustained disinflationary trend that started since April.

    The report showed that the decline in headline inflation was driven by broad-based improvements in prices of food items, energy and logistics among others.

    Food inflation rate dropped by 375 basis points from 16.87 per cent in September to 13.12 per cent in October. Core inflation, which excludes prices of volatile agricultural products and energy, declined by 84 basis points from 19.53 per cent in September to 18.69 per cent in October.

    Experts yesterday said they expected the disinflationary trend to continue, despite traditional uptick in food purchases and other activities during the December festive period and the gradual ending of the harvest period.

    Experts said the sustained improvement in the average pricing environment should provide a steady basis for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cut interest rate.   

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the apex bank had in September signaled a reflective monetary easing, cutting the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points from 27.50 per cent to 27.00 per cent. It was the first rate cut in five years, since September 2020.

    The MPC is scheduled to meet next week to review the macroeconomic outlook and decide on relevant monetary policy tools.

    Read Also: Inflation eases further on declining food prices

    Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf described the October disinflation as “one of the strongest single-month disinflation this year”.

    He said the sustained disinflation was due to base effects, exchange rate stability, and improving macroeconomic fundamentals.

    He said: “Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment continued to stabilize in October, reflecting a sharp deceleration in the inflation rate. The persistent downward trend is indicative of improving policy coordination in monetary, fiscal, and exchange rate management. The magnitude of the October decline exceeded expectations, signaling stronger confidence in the ongoing reform agenda”.

    He however noted that several unresolved structural constraints have continued to limit the speed at which disinflation translates into real price.

    According to him, persistently high lending rates and limited access to affordable credit increase production costs across value chains.

    He called for a combination of monetary, fiscal, and structural policies to consolidate the gains of disinflation and ensure real welfare benefits for citizens.

    “The sharp moderation in Nigeria’s October inflation rate represents a significant win for macroeconomic stability. However, the full welfare benefits are yet to be sufficiently felt by households due to persistent structural constraints—especially in food supply, transportation, energy, housing, and essential services.

    “To ensure that disinflation translates into real cost-of-living relief, Nigeria must undertake deliberate and sustained reforms across critical sectors. With coordinated monetary, fiscal, and structural policies, the current trajectory can be strengthened, broadened, and sustained,” Yusuf said.

    Analysts at Cordros Capital said they expected headline inflation to continue moderating on an annual basis, with favourable base effects remaining a key driver of the disinflation trend.

    “However, on a month-on-month basis, consumer prices may edge higher in November, reflecting stronger seasonal demand. In particular, increased stockpiling by households and retailers ahead of the December festive period is likely to lift demand for food and other consumer goods, pushing up prices in key categories such as food, transport and hospitality. This seasonal price pressure is expected to result in a modest increase in the monthly inflation rate, even as the annual rate continues to ease,” Cordros Capital stated.

    SCM Capital stated that forex stability would continue to support the disinflationary trend.

    “Nigeria’s headline inflation is expected to ease in November, supported by forex stability that has reduced pass-through pressures on imported goods. The reopening of the borders, alongside lower input costs and improved domestic supply conditions, is projected ease food and non-food cost pressures,” SCM Capital stated.

  • Fed Govt expands health fellow recruitment

    Fed Govt expands health fellow recruitment

    The Federal Government has announced the commencement of a fresh mass recruitment of National Health Fellows.

    This aims at expanding the programme after the successful deployment of 774 fellows earlier this year to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country.

    The expansion follows what the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, described as the fellows’ visible impact in improving transparency, strengthening accountability, and supporting the revitalisation of Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

    Pate, who announced this yesterday on his X handle, said: “Earlier this year, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, @officialABAT, we launched the National Health Fellows Program #NHF, a bold step towards building the next generation of healthcare leaders in Nigeria.

    “From over 360,000 applications nationwide, 774 outstanding young Nigerians were meritoriously selected, and their collective impact has been remarkable across the 774 local government areas @AlgonNationalHQ in Nigeria.”

    Pate announced that applications for the second cohort opened on November 1 and closes on November 30.

    The minister urged young Nigerians from all disciplines to seize the opportunity.

    He said: “For details of the application process, visit healthfellows.ng.”

    The expansion comes months after President Tinubu approved automatic employment for all 774 pioneer fellows in March

    Read Also: Wike loyalists convene PDP NEC, BoT meetings as battle for party control intensifies

    According to Pate, the fellows are tasked with reinforcing accountability in PHCs; they will serve as oversight officers for the planned construction of 8,800 new primary healthcare facilities across the country.

    Their role, the minister said, “is crucial in ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility within their domains of responsibility”.

    He added: “There will be a state-level, multi-screening exercise in each local government area of the federation.

    “The successful applicants, who are selected as fellows, will serve as accountability officers who oversee the ongoing construction of 8,800 new primary health facilities nationwide over the next few years while ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility.”

    The programme targets young Nigerians from all 774 local government areas, supporting government efforts to reduce unemployment while accelerating health sector reforms, he added.

    Pate explained that the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader Four-Point Agenda to overhaul healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

    Since 2023, more than ₦100 billion has been disbursed to PHCs nationwide under the revitalised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

    This includes ₦50 billion released in the first quarter of 2025 and ₦32.9 billion approved in October 2025.

    The funds are intended to modernise infrastructure, provide essential medicines, support operations and expand access to quality primary healthcare.

    The minister described the National Health Fellows initiative as central to ongoing reforms.

    “This is a Nigerian renaissance in full motion and in real time,” he said.

    The minister urged qualified Nigerians to submit their applications as soon as the portal opens.