The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Security expert backs urgent call for border fencing to bolster Nigeria’s security

    Security expert backs urgent call for border fencing to bolster Nigeria’s security

    A renowned security expert and Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Amb. Abayomi Mumuni has joined growing voices urging President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to urgently implement comprehensive border security measures, including the fencing of the nation’s porous borderlands.

    In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, the security expert warned that Nigeria’s unguarded borders are enabling terrorist infiltration and worsening insecurity.

    Recall that the new Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, had earlier this year made a similar call, stressing the urgent need to secure Nigeria’s borders. 

    He noted that the country’s porous borders greatly contribute to the influx of arms, movement of terrorists, and other serious security threats.

    Amb. Mumuni called for the installation of secure fences along Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries, equipped with transponder systems for early detection and monitoring, citing successful global examples such as the U.S.-Mexico border, Israel’s security barriers, and India’s fortified borders with Pakistan.

    According to him, Nigeria’s geographical position, sharing borders with several countries, makes it highly vulnerable to infiltration by terrorist groups. 

    Mumumi, a certified Counter Terrorism and Anti Terrorism practitioner, noted that recent events have exposed how porous these borders are and how easily they can be exploited. 

    He said the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, adding that erecting a secure fence along the borderlands, equipped with transponder technology to detect unauthorized crossings, would significantly boost the country’s ability to monitor and respond to threats. 

    This, he stressed, would go a long way in safeguarding citizens and reinforcing national stability.

    According to him, such infrastructure would greatly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to monitor and respond to external threats, thereby safeguarding national stability and the safety of citizens.

    “Investing in border security infrastructure will not only prevent cross-border terrorism but also improve the overall security situation in the country. This initiative deserves urgent attention and adequate funding as a matter of national priority,” he noted. 

    He urged the Nigerian government to prioritize the fencing of the country’s borderlands, drawing inspiration from successful examples around the world.

  • 100 youths to benefit from Pulseford scholarships in 2026

    100 youths to benefit from Pulseford scholarships in 2026

    Pulseford Business School has announced that 100 young Nigerians enrolling in its January 2026 academic session will receive a 50 per cent tuition scholarship in a fresh push to equip youth with practical skills for today’s digital economy.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Iking Ferry, said the application window closes on December 20, 2025, noting that available slots are limited. 

    He urged interested applicants to seize the opportunity, describing the scheme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future workforce.

    “Pulseford Business School is reputed for its immersive, hands-on learning model, which departs from traditional classroom teaching. The institution offers practical, industry-led training across business, digital marketing, financial literacy and other emerging fields that provide students with job-ready competencies,” he said.

    Its Sales Director, Desmond Hudal, described the scholarship initiative as “a timely and impactful contribution to the development of Nigeria’s next generation of digital and financial professionals.”

    According to him, the programme reflects the school’s commitment to giving young Nigerians access to resources that can shape their long-term economic prospects.

    “The scholarship covers half of the tuition fee for selected candidates and includes training in Digital Marketing and AI Mastery, Financial Literacy and Wealth Building, as well as Stock Market Investment for Beginners,” he said.

    He added that by easing financial constraints, the initiative aims to empower beneficiaries with essential skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and entrepreneurial economy. 

    He said it also aligns with ongoing efforts to build a technologically savvy and financially informed youth population capable of navigating today’s evolving business landscape.

  • Family announces burial plans for veteran journalist Dan Agbese

    Family announces burial plans for veteran journalist Dan Agbese

    The family of Chief Dan Agbese, celebrated journalist and co-founder of Newswatch magazine, has released the burial arrangements following his passing on Monday, November 17, 2025.

    He died at the age of 81.

    His death was confirmed in a statement issued by the Agbese family of the Ikpilogwu clan in Agila district, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “We hereby announce the passing away of our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and mentor: Chief Dan Agbese, the Awan’Otun of Agila,” the family said. “Chief Agbese transited to eternal glory this morning, Monday, November 17, 2025. He was aged 81.”

    Agbese was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential journalists, known for his sharp intellect, satirical writing style and landmark contributions to the industry.

    He served as editor of The Nigeria Standard and New Nigerian newspapers, and later became General Manager of Radio Benue, Makurdi.

    A prolific writer, he authored several books and maintained weekly columns in major national dailies, including Daily Trust and The Guardian. Until his passing, he also ran a media consultancy alongside long-time colleagues Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Soji Akinrinade.

    Read Also: Dan Agbese’s legacy: A great gain

    He is survived by his wife, Chief Rose Agbese, six children and seven grandchildren.

    Following the announcement of his passing, the family has released details of his burial programme. A celebration of life ceremony will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Whitestone Event Place, No. 3 Billingsway, Oregun, Lagos, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

    The family invited friends, associates and admirers to attend the event and join in sharing memories, stories, laughter and tributes in honour of a man described as “a wonderful person who will be greatly missed.”

  • Katsina police record 125 cases, 22 arrests, charge 108 suspects to court in November

    Katsina police record 125 cases, 22 arrests, charge 108 suspects to court in November

    The Katsina State Police Command has announced significant progress in its crime-fighting efforts, reporting 125 recorded cases, 22 arrests, and the prosecution of 108 suspects in November.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, who gave an update on the command’s activities for November 2025, said the achievements reflect renewed momentum in tackling criminal activities across the state.

    He outlined five major crime categories addressed within the month, including the arrest of seven suspects for culpable homicide and murder, seven arrested for possession of counterfeit currency, four apprehended for rape and unnatural offences, as well as 20 suspects arrested for being in possession of illicit drugs, among others.

    Items recovered and paraded include three AK-47 rifles, 24 rounds of live ammunition, an additional 183 rounds of live ammunition, four motor vehicles—one Toyota Corolla, two Golf cars, and one Peugeot—alongside 32 suspected rustled animals comprising 23 cows and nine sheep, as well as 131 sachets of illicit drugs.

    Despite the progress, DSP Aliyu said the command recognises that more work lies ahead.

    He stated: “We pledge to redouble our efforts and commit to building on these successes to make Katsina State an even safer place for all. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect and serve the community, and we call on all stakeholders to join us in this fight against crime.”

    He expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for his support, and to the state government for its cooperation, which he said has strengthened the command’s ability to curb criminal activities and maintain public safety.

  • FULL LIST: 15 new key guidelines pilgrims must note ahead of 2026 Hajj

    FULL LIST: 15 new key guidelines pilgrims must note ahead of 2026 Hajj

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has introduced a fresh set of operational directives for the 2026 Hajj, marking significant adjustments in flight arrangements, group coordination, medical compliance and data processing.

    The new guidelines, released on December 4 after a meeting with State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and accredited Hajj carriers at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, signal a push for stricter organisation and improved service delivery.

    In a statement titled “NAHCON Directs Airlines to Issue 2026 Hajj Tickets Ahead of Departure,” the Commission said the measures are designed to curb pre-arrival data errors, strengthen adherence to medical requirements and streamline the movement of pilgrims in designated groups.

    The statement, issued on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Sanda Usara, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, affirmed that the new directives will guide all stakeholders in the buildup to next year’s pilgrimage.

    Here are 15 directives to note for Hajj 2026:

    1. All Hajj carriers must issue 2026 Hajj flight tickets to pilgrims in collaboration with State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards.

    2. Pilgrims must be informed of exact departure date, time and location to reduce incorrect pre-arrival data sent to Saudi Arabia.

    Read Also: NAHCON directs airlines to issue hajj tickets ahead of pilgrims’ departure

    3. Missing a flight will carry serious consequences beginning from the 2026 Hajj exercise.

    4. Each pilgrim’s ticket will be digitally linked to their Nusuk Card, which will be placed in assigned buses in Saudi Arabia.

    5. Pilgrims cannot change groups after visa issuance and must remain with the group under which their visa was processed.

    6. Pilgrims will travel in groups of 45, remain together throughout Makkah, Madinah and Masha’ir, and return together.

    7. NAHCON must upload pilgrims’ pre-arrival data 72 hours before departure on the Nusuk Masar platform, including group lists, building and bed-space details.

    8. Any pilgrim absent at departure time will be treated as a no-show and may bear the cost of the unused seat.

    9. Saudi Arabia’s new boarding card must be issued to each pilgrim before departure, containing comprehensive travel and flight details.

    10. State boards must remit Hajj fares promptly to avoid forfeited slots, as Saudi Arabia will return excess camp booking funds.

    11. Saudi Arabia’s medical fitness requirements must be strictly enforced, with penalties for violations.

    12. Pilgrims with any of the nine disqualifying medical conditions must not travel and will bear deportation costs if they do.

    13. State Boards must use only credible, certified hospitals for issuing medical fitness certificates.

    14. Airline allocations for 2026 have been communicated but may change following technical and infrastructural reviews.

    15. The approved Hajj carriers for 2026 are Air Peace, FlyNas, Max Air and Umza Air.

  • Custom seizes petroleum products worth N181.6m in Adamawa 

    Custom seizes petroleum products worth N181.6m in Adamawa 

    The Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) under “Operation Whirlwind” has seized petroleum products worth N181.6 million in eight weeks between Nigeria and Cameroun borders.

    ACG Kolapo Oladeji, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Yola.

    He said that the seizures were made across various smuggling flashpoints of Adamawa in 55 different operations.

    “This operation is geared towards energy and food security to foster economic growth in line with the core mandates of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.

    “In line with these mandates, the Operation Whirlwind Zone ‘D’ had repositioned all its machineries across the area of its responsibilities and ensuring that the border became airtight,” he said.

    He warned the smugglers to stop such acts and solicited the continued support and cooperation of all stakeholders for the socioeconomic development of the state.

    “We will ensure that the supply chains of these economic wreckers are truncated in accordance with enabling laws.

    Read Also: Customs’  Sports Secretary  credits CGC for driving excellence in premier league

    “This fight has no doubt helped in transforming the nation’s economy and strengthening security of our borders,” he said.

    He further said that the seized petroleum products would be auctioned to public.

    Mrs Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko, Assistant Legal Adviser of the Attorney General of the Federation, described the auction as a symbol of reclaiming resources to ensure that the benefit of petroleum remained in Nigeria.

    She said that such offences attracted life imprisonment because they threatened national security.

    She urged smugglers to stop such acts.

    (NAN) 

  • Pensioners set to protest naked nationwide

    Pensioners set to protest naked nationwide

    The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria is planning a nationwide naked protest to press home its demand for payment of its members’ outstanding pension increment arrears and palliative allowances.

    The coalition’s National Chairman, Mr Mukaila Ogunbote, made this known in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

    Ogunbote is also the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NIPOST Chapter.

    He said the protest would hold on Dec. 8, except the  Federal Government would,  before then, pay arrears of N32,000 pension increment  and N25,000 palliative allowance approved in 2023.

    The Federal Ministry of Finance and  Accountant General Office are not taking us serious; so, all pensioners must come out en masse to fight for the injustice,” he said.

    According to him, the protest will take place in Abuja, Lagos and all other states.

    Read Also: PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    He said that the protest would be staged at  the offices of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate and in front of Nigeria Television Authority stations.

    He urged all chairmen and secretaries of  organisations affiliated to the coalition to mobilise their members for the protest.

    “We must show the wound that our clothes are covering.

    “The protest is continuous until we receive alert of N32,000 pension increment and N25,000 for six  months. Those who can’t come and go back should come with mats.

    “All pensioners must come out and fight for their rights,” he said. 

    (NAN)

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court strikes out Osun State’s suit over withheld LG funds

    BREAKING: Supreme Court strikes out Osun State’s suit over withheld LG funds

    • *Frowns at Fed Govt’s failure to ensure direct release of funds to LGAs

    The Supreme Court has struck out a suit filed on behalf of the Osun State Government by the state’s Attorney General to compel the Federal Government to release the allocations due to Local Governments in the state.

    In a majority judgment of six-to-one, the apex court held that the AG of Osun State lacked the locus standi (the legal right) to have filed the suit on behalf of Local Governments in Osun State who are legal entity with capacity to sue to assert their right.

    The lead majority judgment was prepared and read on Friday Justice Mohammed Idris.

    Read Also: Appeal Court affirms ruling barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    Justice Idris held that the plaintiff failed to establish that there was any cause of action capable of invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as provided under Section 232(1) of Construction.

    Justice Idris further held that from the facts of the case, the issue in dispute was about the alleged failure of the Federal Government to release funds standing to the credit of Osun State Local Governments in the Federation account, and as such, there is no dispute between Osun State and the FG to have allowed the state’s AG to approach the Supreme Court.

    While distinguishing this Osun case from that of the AG, Abia and others v. AG of the Federation, in which the Supreme Court ordered the direct payment of allocations to Local Governments across the federation, Justice Idris held that such suit over withheld Local Government funds ought to have been filed by the affected Local Governments.

    Justice Idris however frowned at the failure of the Federal Government to put in place all necessary measures to give effect to the Supreme Court ‘s judgment in AG, Abia and others v. AG of the Federation, mandating direct payment of allocations to Local Governments across the federation.

    He held that by the judgment, the Federal Government was under obligation to ensure that all funds standing to the credit of Local Governments in the federation account are sent directly to them without being withheld under any excuse.

    Justice Emmanuel Agim wrote the dissenting judgment in which he disagreed with the position of the six other Justices on the seven-member panel.

    Details shortly…

  • Nigerian Army rescues 10 abducted women in Kaduna

    Nigerian Army rescues 10 abducted women in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Peace Shield rescued 10 kidnapped women during a special operation in the early hours of Friday in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    A credible source at Army Headquarters revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    The source said the victims were abducted from their farms at Unguwan Nungu on Nov. 29, prompting Sector 5 troops to launch sustained search-and-rescue mission.

    He said the troops intercepted the kidnappers around 6.40 a.m. on Friday as they attempted to collect ransom money from relatives of the victims.

    Read Also: Senate raises alarm over silent lead poisoning in Lagos, Ogun

    According to him, the soldiers engaged the criminals with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the captives and flee.

    “The troops recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, one round of 9mm ammunition and ₦1.6 million, described as part of the ransom money.

    “The rescued women have since been debriefed and reunited with their families, while efforts are underway to track down the fleeing kidnappers,” he said.

    The source said the Nigerian Army remained committed to restoring peace and security in different parts of the country.

    He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, commended the troops and urged them to sustain the tempo against terrorists, bandits and criminal elements.

    (NAN)

  • Trump brokers peace deal between DR Congo, Rwanda in Washington

    Trump brokers peace deal between DR Congo, Rwanda in Washington

     U.S. President Donald Trump has brokered a peace deal between leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame.

    The U.S. president facilitated the signing of a peace agreement in Washington aimed at ending more than three decades of conflict in mineral-rich eastern Congo.

    The ceremony took place at the Peace Institute, recently renamed the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace.

    Trump said the United States would conclude bilateral agreements with both countries on rare earth mining, adding that major U.S. firms would be sent to the region and “everybody’s going to make a lot of money.”

    Eastern Congo’s vast deposits of strategic minerals have long fuelled the interests of foreign powers and armed groups.

    Observers had speculated that the peace deal would align with U.S. economic priorities, with Washington applying political pressure to bring the presidents of Kinshasa and Kigali together – something African regional mediation efforts had failed to achieve.

    Read Also: Marafa backs Trump’s plan to flush out terrorists in Nigeria  

    Rwandan President Kagame said previous attempts to end the conflict had faltered, but Trump had succeeded where others had not.

    Congolese President Tshisekedi tagged the agreement the beginning of a new and difficult path.

    The two leaders exchanged a few gestures and did not shake hands.

    The accord builds on a preliminary peace framework reached several months ago, committing both countries to respect territorial integrity, halt aggression, and cease support for armed groups.

    However, regional analysts say it is unclear whether the agreement will actually end the decades-long conflict.

    More important than the deal, they say, are talks in Doha that include representatives of the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, which earlier this year seized the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu in the Kivu region and set up its own administration in the controlled territories.

    (dpa/NAN)