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  • Tinubu’s Türkiye visit demonstrates resolve to end insecurity — Musa

    Tinubu’s Türkiye visit demonstrates resolve to end insecurity — Musa

    The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s engagement with his Turkish counterpart, which culminated in the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including one on defence, reflects the President’s commitment to decisively confront Nigeria’s security challenges.

    “This administration is committed to equipping the Armed Forces with the right capabilities, partnerships, and technologies required to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other threats to our national stability,” the Minister said. 

    “Our engagements in Türkiye are practical steps toward strengthening our operational effectiveness and self-reliance.”

    Tinubu’s strategic visit to Turkiye, which commenced in January 2026, is seen by defence experts as underscoring his resolve to proactively strengthen Nigeria’s defence posture, deepen international partnerships, and accelerate defence modernisation in line with the evolving security environment.

    According to the Defence Minister, Tinubu’s engagement in Turkiye represents concrete measures aimed at enhancing our institutional capability and independence.

    “Our engagements in Türkiye are practical steps toward strengthening our operational effectiveness and self-reliance,” he said.

    During the visit, the Defence Minister and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, toured key pillars of Türkiye’s defence industry, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and HAVELSAN, and also held several high-level bilateral defence meetings.

    According to a statement by the Director Information and Public Relations of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Thursday, the engagements enabled the NAF to “review existing procurement arrangements focusing on optimising the procurement programmes, enhancing sustainment and maintenance support, expanding training opportunities, advancing research and development, and deepening indigenous capacity building for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

    According to Ejodame, the visit holds direct operational benefits to enhance NAF ongoing operational efforts, particularly in the fight against terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and other asymmetric threats.

    He said: “The engagements are expected to further enhance intelligence, surveillance, precision engagement, and close air support capabilities critical to joint operations across theatres. These outcomes align squarely with the CAS’s mission objective of building a more agile, lethal, and technology-driven air force.”

    According to the NAF’s spokesperson, the CAS reaffirmed the NAF’s unwavering commitment to national security.

    “The Nigerian Air Force remains resolute in delivering smarter air power for safer communities. This strategic engagement reinforces our capacity to support ground forces more effectively, dominate the air domain, and decisively degrade threats confronting our nation,” he quoted the Air Marshal Aneke as saying.

  • Edo chairman impeached, booed out of office

    Edo chairman impeached, booed out of office

    Chairman of Akoko-Edo local government, Hon Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, has been impeached.

    Oshionogue was impeached in a letter signed by seven Councillors.

    He was impeached few hours after  lawmakers in the Edo House of Assembly failed to hold a peace meeting between him and the seven Councillors.

    It was gathered the Chairman was removed following attempts by three of the Councillors that did not attend the meeting to remove the seven Councillors.

    Sources said the seats of the three Councillors were declared vacant.

    It was learnt that the seven Councillors rushed to Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government and issued the impeachment letter.

    Read Also: Edo to build 25 CBT centres

    The letter of impeachment reads: “We, the undersigned members of Akoko Edo Local Government Area Legislative Arm hereby impeach you as the acting Local Government Council Chairman with effect from today the 28th January, 2026.

    “This decision is as a result of your abuse of office, high handedness, embezzlements of Council funds, anti-party activities, financial recklessness, forgery and constant disobedient to constituted authorities”.

    A viral video showed moments the impeached Chairman was booed out of office.

    Commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, did not pick calls by our correspondent on the development. 

  • Oyebamiji receives PDP defectors into APC, says Accord Party sinking

    Oyebamiji receives PDP defectors into APC, says Accord Party sinking

    The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the party. 

    He also declared the Accord Party to which Governor, Ademola Adeleke belongs is fast losing relevance and sinking in the State.

    The APC candidate spoke during a meeting with PDP defectors conveyed by founder of Ajisope Development Initiative, Abdulkabir Adeoye.

    He urged members of the ruling party to join his guber ambition for better governance. 

    He dispelled  claims by Adeleke that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu advised him to join Accord Party, saying, “we must not give room for lies and rigging plots by the party.”

    He said: “There is no way for those who are still in Accord Party. Tell them to come and join us. The President did not tell anybody to go to Accord Party as they are saying around.”

    He advised members of Ajisope initiative to go and work in their units and make sure they deliver them, saying “it is operation win your unit. Let us go and work in our unit. Try to win your unit. Immediately we win the election, we should know that joy has come.”

    Read Also: Oyetola, Oyebamiji and the Osun guber equation

    Oyebamiji, who also disputed claims that he plans to reduce workers salary, stated that no reasonable person will try that. 

    He also faulted claims that he released a blueprint that is not favourable to the people of Osun, saying lies can not save the present government from being sent packing on August 8.

    The founder Ajisope Development Initiative, Adeoye condemned the style of governance by the present administration in the state, describing it as a government by the Ede and for the Ede.

    “We are confident that APC is winning the coming election. The present government does not want to know that other towns exist except their hometown, Ede. The road that leads to my hometown, Oba, is in a dilapidated condition. Let them know that we are tired of this government of Ede, by Ede, and for Ede.”

    The leader of the defectors, Hon. Raji Kareem, explained that the initiative has gathered defectors from different political parties, while artisans and professional bodies have also joined the initiative.

    He lamented unequal treatment in the PDP, vowing that he would use his influence to see to the emergence of Oyebamiji in the August 8 governorship election.

  • Burna Boy reveals posthumous reconciliation with AKA

    Burna Boy reveals posthumous reconciliation with AKA

    Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy has claimed he resolved a feud with South African rapper AKA before his tragic death.

    In a posthumous birthday message on Instagram, Burna Boy expressed regret that the duo never got to collaborate or execute their plans.

    The feud between Burna Boy and AKA began in 2019 after AKA reportedly encouraged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, prompting Burna Boy to threaten to deal with him if they ever met.

    Read Also: Why Davido can win governorship election over Burna Boy – Seyi Sodimu

    Burna Boy wrote, “Happy birthday Supa Mega. We fell out over bullsh*t even though we squashed it over Twitter DMs nobody knew about, we never got the chance to really link up and do what we were supposed to do. I will regret that until I see you again. Until then, R.I.P Mega.”

    AKA was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban on February 10, 2023 with trial into his murder ongoing.

  • Why I’m Trump’s number one fan – Nicki Minaj

    Why I’m Trump’s number one fan – Nicki Minaj

    Global rapper Nicki Minaj has declared herself Donald Trump’s “number one fan”, stating that criticism of him only strengthens her support.

    She made this declaration at the Trump Accounts Summit, where she also announced support for the “Trump Accounts” initiative, which provides trust funds for children.

    Minaj, who wore a furry white coat, said: “I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all.

    Read Also: Trump warns Iraq not to reinstate al-Maliki as Prime Minister

    “It actually motivates me to support him more. He has a lot of force behind him and God is protecting him. Amen,” she added.

    Trump, who had earlier joked about growing his nails to emulate Minaj’s style, held her hand as she spoke.

    Minaj has pledged to contribute $150,000 to $300,000 to the Trump Accounts program, which aims to provide financial support to children.

    In November she made a surprise appearance at the United Nations to call for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria, an allegation by the Trump administration which the Nigerian government denied.

  • FULL LIST: Clubs with direct qualifications for Champions League Round of 16

    FULL LIST: Clubs with direct qualifications for Champions League Round of 16

    The eight teams that have secured automatic qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League have been confirmed following the conclusion of the league phase on Wednesday night.

    Under the new Champions League format, the top eight teams in the league standings advance directly to the Round of 16, while clubs that finished between ninth and 24th will contest a two-legged knockout phase play-off to determine the remaining last-16 places.

    Five English clubs made the cut, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all finishing in the top eight.

    Barcelona and Sporting CP also secured automatic qualification, joining Bayern Munich, who, alongside Arsenal, had already confirmed their place in the last 16 before the final round of matches.

    Read Also: Champions League: Full list of teams for knockout phase play-offs

    Meanwhile, reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will have to go through the knockout phase play-offs once again. Real Madrid, the competition’s most successful club with 15 titles, also missed out on automatic qualification after suffering a 4–2 defeat to Benfica.

    Here are teams qualified directly for the Round of 16:

    1. Arsenal

    2. Bayern Munich

    3. Liverpool

    4. Manchester City

    5. Chelsea

    6. Tottenham Hotspur

    7. Barcelona

    8. Sporting CP

  • Champions League: Full list of teams for knockout phase play-offs

    Champions League: Full list of teams for knockout phase play-offs

    Several high-profile clubs will compete in the knockout phase play-offs for a place in the Round of 16 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League after missing out on automatic qualification from the league phase.

    Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will once again have to navigate the knockout phase play-offs to stay in the competition. 

    Real Madrid, the most successful club in Champions League history with 15 titles, also missed out on direct qualification following a 4–2 defeat to Benfica in their final league-phase fixture.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Clubs with direct qualifications for Champions League Round of 16

    Under the new Champions League format, teams finishing outside the top eight must compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off, with the winners advancing to the last 16.

    Teams confirmed for the knockout phase play-offs:

    1. Atalanta

    2. Atlético de Madrid

    3. Borussia Dortmund

    4. Benfica

    5. Bodø/Glimt

    6. Club Brugge

    7. Galatasaray

    8. Inter Milan

    9. Juventus

    10. Bayer Leverkusen

    11. Monaco

    12. Newcastle United

    13. Olympiacos

    14. Paris Saint-Germain

    15. Qarabağ

    16. Real Madrid

  • Nigeria’s influence set to grow in coming decades — UK’s High Commissioner

    Nigeria’s influence set to grow in coming decades — UK’s High Commissioner

    Nigeria’s importance and global influence will continue to grow significantly in the coming decades, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, has said, underscoring why peace, resilience and institutional stability remain central to the United Kingdom’s partnership with Africa’s most populous nation.

    Montgomery made the assertion in Abuja at the inaugural Annual Learning and Adaptation Event of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, where senior government officials, security agencies, development partners and civil society leaders gathered to review strategies for reducing violence and strengthening climate resilience across northern Nigeria.

    According to the British envoy, Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population and strategic weight mean its role on the global stage will only deepen over time, a reality that informed the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership signed in 2024.

    Read Also: Tinubu posts ambassadors to U.S., France, High Commissioner to UK

    “Nigeria is one of our important diplomatic partners. The judgment that we make, and our ministers make, is that Nigeria’s influence will only grow. If it grows very fast, and you’re becoming a bigger population, the importance and influence of Nigeria is going to grow in the decades ahead,” Montgomery said.

    He described peace and resilience as issues that are “absolutely central” to the partnership between both countries, stressing that recent events and international discourse around Nigeria make sustained investment in stability both timely and necessary.

    The two-day SPRiNG forum brought together key actors to assess evidence-based approaches to conflict prevention, institutionalise peace mechanisms and adapt responses to evolving security and climate change dynamics in the region. 

    The programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    Montgomery explained that the UK-Nigeria security and defence dialogue spans both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, emphasising institutional support to federal agencies, community-based initiatives, law enforcement cooperation and grassroots resilience.

    “It’s about providing institutional support to the official agencies of the federal government of Nigeria. It’s about building community-based initiatives, law enforcement, and community resilience,” he said, adding that SPRiNG offers “a vehicle, a platform” for catalytic partnerships that promote long-term stability.

    The event also featured remarks from a representative of the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major General A.G. Laka, while the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, formally declared the forum open through a representative, highlighting the role of strategic communication and inter-agency collaboration in national stability.

    Representatives of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, and the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, drew attention to the links between gender inclusion, agropastoral livelihoods and security, noting that social and economic policies remain critical to peacebuilding outcomes.

    In a context-setting presentation, SPRiNG Team Leader, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, said the programme’s impact is rooted in its evidence-driven and adaptive management model, stressing that conflict dynamics require solutions that are both flexible and preventive.

    “Conflict is dynamic; our solutions must be too. Today was about validating the evidence and impacts of our intervention, learning from what, where and how we are making progress, and ensuring that our support to government and civil society partners is not just reactive, but structurally preventive,” Ukiwo said.

    A high-level panel moderated by Kemi Okenyedo examined progress and emerging opportunities in strengthening peace and resilience. 

    Panelists included the Director-General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Ms. Josephine Habba; the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security, Kaduna State, Dr. Sulaiman Shuaibu; and Ms. Lantana Abdullahi of WOPPI, who called for the formal inclusion of women in peace and security architectures.

    The forum ended with a Project Fair, allowing stakeholders to engage directly with beneficiaries and implementing partners and to assess the tangible “peace dividend” being delivered to communities in Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau states.

    The SPRiNG Programme is a four-year initiative running from 2024 to 2028, implemented by Tetra Tech International Development in partnership with Nextier SPD, the Centre for Democracy and Development and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. 

    It seeks to strengthen institutional capacity for conflict management, boost public confidence in key institutions and create stronger incentives for peace across Nigeria.

  • Army, police rescue eight kidnap victims in Kaduna forest

    Army, police rescue eight kidnap victims in Kaduna forest

    Troops of Sector 7, Operation Safe Haven (OPEP), in collaboration with the Zango Kataf Police Area Command, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Forest Guards and local hunters, have rescued eight kidnapped victims at Badurum Kasa Forest in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    A security source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the operation followed actionable intelligence on the kidnappers’ hideout.

    The source said the combined team mobilised to the area at about 4:23 p.m. on Wednesday and made contact with the criminals at about 5:59 p.m., forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into the surrounding bushes.

    Read Also: Tantita constructs facilities for Army, reaffirms commitment to collaboration

    “All eight victims were rescued unharmed and have been reunited with their families,” the source said.

    Those rescued include Mrs Rashida Musa (19), Mrs Hafsat Nuhu (18), Mr Zakari Saleh (52), Miss Hasiya Yahaya (13), Mr Ahmed Yahaya (14), Mr Ibrahim Saiba (11), Miss Salma Yahaya (14) and Mr Sophan Idris (18).

    The source added that follow-up exploitation and pursuit of the fleeing suspects were ongoing to apprehend those responsible and dismantle the criminal network.

    (NAN) 

  • Ex-perm secs commend Governor Lawal over capital projects 

    Ex-perm secs commend Governor Lawal over capital projects 

    The Association of Zamfara State Retired Permanent Secretaries has commended the Zamfara State government’s impactful projects under Governor Dauda Lawal. 

    The governor received an award of honour from the association at the Government House Conference Hall, Gusau. 

    A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the association highlighted the state government’s key achievements as the main reason for the honour. 

    The statement added that Governor Lawal, in his speech, expressed gratitude to the Zamfara Retired Permanent Secretaries Association for considering him worthy of the award of honour. 

    The governor said there is no greater honour than an award from an association of senior citizens who have served the state diligently.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt set to reclaim ungoverned spaces with re-engagement of military retirees

    “I was informed about the plan to host me at a grand dinner, but time did not permit it. It was not deliberate; it was due to the tight schedule at my office.

    “Everywhere, people are following what my government is doing. Like I always say, we are very transparent and accountable. 

    “I came into office with a clear agenda. My six-point manifesto puts security first. We are achieving a lot across all six areas that I pledged to address during the campaign. 

    “We have to do what we are doing to open up the state for investors. Insha Allah, in the next few months, our international airport will be ready. 

    “There is no local government in Zamfara where I haven’t invested over 20 billion naira in projects. Visit the local governments to see the ongoing work. We are accomplishing a lot. We are seeing steady improvements in the state’s security. Additionally, our internally generated revenue has risen from 80 million to over five billion naira.” 

    Earlier, Muhammad Bello Umar, Chairman of the Zamfara State Retired Permanent Secretaries Association, said the honour is to commend Governor Lawal for the notable achievements of his administration since it began in 2023. 

    He said, “Right from the very beginning, he showed enthusiasm and dedication by introducing a six-point agenda. As senior citizens who have served under multiple administrations, we want to affirm that this administration has exceeded expectations and distinguished itself in workers’ welfare, education, health, and other infrastructural improvements.

    “At our Annual General Meeting, when you were barely 6 months in office, we requested payment of outstanding gratuities, which this government obliged and settled. All pending payments, totalling over 13 billion, were paid. Thank you for that. 

    “The history of Zamfara will remember you with honour. I appreciate your generosity towards our members, especially during medical emergencies.”