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Category: Featured

  • Shettima to Tinubu: I won’t take my bond with you for granted

    Shettima to Tinubu: I won’t take my bond with you for granted

    • I’m grateful to First Lady, governors, other well-wishers, says VP

    • Abbas, governors, others to Shettima at 59: you’re a treasure

    • Mutfwang, Ododo, Keyamo, NCPC pour encomiums on VP

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has promised that his bond with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, built on loyalty and service, will not be taken for granted.

    In a message of gratitude yesterday in Abuja to mark his 59th birthday, the Vice President described the President’s goodwill message as profoundly touching, stressing that his feelings were mutual.

    “The bond we share, anchored in loyalty and service, is one I will never take for granted. I have watched you shoulder the burden of difficult choices at critical moments, steering our nation through turbulent waters into a harbour of stability that promises abundance,” Shettima stated.

    The Vice President lauded the President’s visionary and people-centred leadership.

    He said serving alongside President Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda has been an honour and a lifelong lesson in courage and statesmanship.

    Shettima also extended his appreciation to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her goodwill, as well as to governors, lawmakers, cabinet members, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community figures, and citizens across the country who sent prayers and kind words.

    The Vice President described the gestures as a reminder of the sacred responsibility that comes with public service.

    READ ALSO: Your governor has your money, ask him for it

    Reflecting on the goodwill messages, he said: “As I meditate on these tokens of goodwill, I am renewed in purpose and fortified in spirit. I remain convinced, as does Mr. President, that Nigeria’s greatest days are ahead of us.

    “With unity of will, clarity of vision, and fidelity to our shared aspirations, we shall overcome our trials and bequeath to coming generations a nation that is secure, prosperous, and just.”

    Also, eminent Nigerians yesterday poured encomiums on Vice President Shettima as he celebrated his 59th birthday.

    They hailed him for his dedication to national duty, humility, courage, and loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The encomiums came from House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi), as well as Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), among others.

    In a congratulatory message he sent through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas described the Vice President as an experienced and excellent politician, and a great public administrator.

    He recalled how the Vice President excelled in the private sector as a banker and during his time as governor of Borno State.

    Abbas noted that Shettima’s legislative experience as a member of the Ninth Senate before becoming the Vice President has added immense value to the Tinubu administration.

    The Speaker stressed that Shettima, as the Number Two Citizen, has continued to foster unity among ethno-religious divides, lead economic reforms, and remain a strong pillar in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Mutfwang described Shettima as a fountain of wisdom and a strategic thinker, whose compassion, humility, and generosity have continued to distinguish his leadership.

    The governor noted that throughout his illustrious career, from serving two terms as Borno State governor to representing Borno Central in the Senate, and now as Vice President of Nigeria, Shettima’s outstanding contributions have positively impacted countless lives across the nation.

    He described the Vice President as a dedicated and forthright leader who has consistently demonstrated loyalty and commitment to building a strong, productive, and resilient Nigeria.

    In a message yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, by his media aide, Ismaila Isah, Governor Ododo hailed the Vice President for his humility, courage, and deep sense of loyalty.

    The Kogi State governor noted that these virtues distinguish him among Nigeria’s leaders.

    He said: “The Vice President is a dependable leader and a true friend of Kogi.

    “He has stood by me and the people of the state in moments of celebration and in difficult times, offering strength, guidance, and support.”

    In a goodwill message posted yesterday on his official X handle, Keyamo described Shettima as “a special breed amongst his peers, a cerebral gentleman with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge”.

    The minister hailed the Vice President for being a “quality addition and invaluable asset to the Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Tinubu’s administration.

    The NCPC described Shettima as the most pilgrimage-friendly Vice President in the history of Nigeria.

    Its Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, stated this in his congratulatory message to Shettima on behalf of the commission.

    “I deeply appreciate the Vice President’s vibrancy, loyalty, partnership, and support for the President and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

    “I also  acknowledge Senator Shettima as the most pilgrimage-friendly Vice President in the history of Nigeria and  thank him for his unalloyed support for the Hajj and Christian Pilgrimage…”

    Also, a former Director of the defunct Diaspora Directorate for the Tinubu/Shettima APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council and one of the conveners of The Asiwaju Group, Prince Ade Omole, described the Vice President as a national treasure worthy of emulation.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Director of Publicity for Renewed Hope Global, Mr. Victor Okebunmi, Prince Omole described Shettima as one of Nigeria’s most dependable pillars of leadership.

    The APC chieftain applauded the Vice President’s exceptional vision, courage, and dedication to the Nigerian project.

    “Vice President Shettima remains a towering symbol of principled leadership and patriotism. Time and again, he has proven that results, resilience, and responsibility are the true measures of leadership.

    “His brilliance and loyalty to the Renewed Hope vision continue to power our collective mission.

    “As he marks this milestone, I wish him renewed strength, fresh grace, and even greater impact in helping President Tinubu to steer the Renewed Hope Agenda to full success,” Omole said.

  • Tinubu recalls NTA DG, ED News, reverses fresh appointments

    Tinubu recalls NTA DG, ED News, reverses fresh appointments

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the recall of Mr. Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), effectively reversing recent changes in the management of the state-owned broadcaster.

    Dembos, who was first appointed by President Tinubu in October 2023, briefly vacated the position following new appointments announced last week. 

    With the latest directive, he will now return to complete his three-year tenure.

    READ ALSO: Burna Boy’s mom celebrates 35 years of marriage

    Similarly, the President directed the reinstatement of Mr. Ayo Adewuyi as Executive Director of News. Adewuyi, who was appointed in 2024, is expected to continue in office until the end of his tenure in 2027.

    The President’s decision also set aside the newly announced appointments of a director-general, an executive director of news, an executive director of marketing, and a managing director of NTA Enterprises.

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, explained that the President’s directive was to ensure continuity and respect for the tenures of officials previously appointed.

  • Tinubu assures Nigerians: Revenue targets met, no borrowing needed

    Tinubu assures Nigerians: Revenue targets met, no borrowing needed

    …says non-oil revenues boosting confidence, dismisses Trump’s trade threats

    …Buhari’s political family, Speaker Abbas, Al-Makura pledge total support for 2027

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assured Nigerians that his administration had already met its 2025 revenue target well ahead of schedule, eliminating the need for borrowing to fund national expenditure. 

    Speaking while receiving members of The Buhari Organisation (TBO), the political family of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, at the State House, Abuja, the President also emphasised that Nigeria’s economic fundamentals had stabilised under his leadership.

    “Today, I can stand here before you to brag, Nigeria is not borrowing. We have met our revenue target for the year and we met it in August,” Tinubu said, drawing applause from the delegation. 

    He explained that his administration’s focus on non-oil revenue had paid off, with the sectors outside oil now driving confidence in the economy and reducing the country’s vulnerability to external shocks.

    In a direct response to recent remarks by American President Donald Trump on trade, Tinubu dismissed fears of any adverse impact, stating that Nigeria was building a stronger, more diversified economy.

    “If non-oil revenue is going where it is going, then have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side,” the President asserted. 

    He noted that his government had just signed off on a massive mechanisation programme that would see every region of the country benefit from modernised agricultural centres, training schemes, and job creation opportunities. 

    According to him, the push for food sovereignty and security remained central to his Renewed Hope Agenda, with the ultimate aim of defeating poverty by eliminating hunger.

    “The economy is stabilised; nobody is trading piece of paper for exchange rate anymore. When I took over it was N1,900 to a dollar. It’s N1,450 now. Rates are stabilising now, you don’t have to know a CBN governor to… all you have to do is export and import and create jobs for the people,” he said.

    Tinubu, in an emotional recollection, paid tribute to his late political ally, former President Muhammadu Buhari, recalling their early days of political struggle and alliance formation. 

    “You brought back the memory of the beginning of the alliance. When we sat down to fashion out which way. We disagreed to agree. We even argued on symbol. He insisted on parliament and I insisted on broom. He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said as he remembered their partnership that culminated in Buhari’s election victory in 2015.

    He thanked the delegation for their loyalty, describing their presence as a “sweet memory” and a reminder of the progressive ideals both leaders stood for. 

    “Don’t worry about the threats. When I see people like you, my determination is to work harder,” he said, assuring them that his government would remain anchored on Buhari’s values of honesty, transparency, and justice.

    The President also promised to immortalise Buhari by building a “Buhari House,” which he described as a future “house of joy and prosperity.”

    Addressing concerns about political appointments, Tinubu acknowledged the pressure from different quarters but urged patience. 

    “I couldn’t appoint everybody at once and thank you for your patience. I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that so many people are craving for. But it’s not easy stitching those names,” he explained.

    He reaffirmed that his administration’s priority remained fixing the economy, creating jobs, and bringing hope to Nigerians. 

    “First of all, we are fixing the economy, bringing hope to the people. That is what we are looking for and that is who is here,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who joined the delegation, declared the “unconditional support” of all former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the party through which Buhari made his successful bid for the presidency in alliance with Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    “Indeed, today is the very first day that the former members of CPC gathered in large number to visit our President to show support and appreciation of what he has been doing,” Abbas said.

    He emphasised that the narrative of division between the Buhari camp and the current administration was false. 

    “I’m sure from the calibre of people you see here, you will be convinced that the notion that CPC is broken or not with this administration is a lie. More than 90 percent of those who were active during the time of CPC are present,” the Speaker noted.

    Abbas praised Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s eventual electoral victory after several unsuccessful attempts, recalling the partnership formed in 2010. 

    “That support you gave, today every CPC member is proud of. Even though when people wondered if CPC will win, with the combined effort of yourself, him, and other party members, we were able to realise that dream of making him the President,” he said.

    He also commended the President for the unprecedented honour accorded Buhari at his passing. 

    “It was unprecedented in the history of Nigeria for any former leader to be accorded such kind of respect. The people you sent to the United Kingdom to pay the last respect and bring the corpse back, and the number of times that you and the First Lady went to Katsina and Kaduna, are really commendable. We appreciate all that you did and may Almighty God reward you,” Abbas added.

    The Speaker assured Tinubu that the CPC political family would not only stand with him now but would mobilise grassroots structures in every state, ward, and unit to support his administration and secure his re-election in 2027.

    Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who led the delegation, also expressed gratitude on behalf of The Buhari Organisation for the honour and dignity Tinubu accorded their late mentor. 

    “When our leader passed on, the nation grieved and mourned. At that point, you became a symbol of consolation as you presided over the entire procedure of his passage. You did not only bury Muhammadu Buhari but honoured him and ensured a befitting state burial with full military honours,” Al-Makura said.

    He described Tinubu and Buhari’s alliance as one founded on discipline, justice, and the pursuit of a united Nigeria rather than personal benefit. 

    “You were united by purpose and vision, not benefits. Together you conceptualised and built a foundation that makes the Renewed Hope Agenda a vision that is pragmatic, scientific and rewarding. This is not just a slogan but a blueprint for national restoration,” he said.

    Al-Makura pledged the group’s “full and unwavering support” for Tinubu’s administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

    “Your Excellency, while commending you and your government for your efforts in promoting peace and unity despite the challenges you met on ground, we are urging you not to relent in ensuring every part of this country is secure. Our loyalty and commitment to you and your government is irrevocable,” he affirmed.

  • Military eliminates terrorists, arrests 13, rescues 15 in nationwide crackdown

    Military eliminates terrorists, arrests 13, rescues 15 in nationwide crackdown

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed scores of terrorists and arrested 15 others in a series of coordinated operations across the country.

    A military source told The Nation late Monday night that troops also rescued 15 kidnap victims during onslaughts conducted from August 29 to 31.

    According to the source, troops recovered a large cache of high calibre weapons, ammunition, explosives, and illegally refined petroleum products.

    Providing details on the successes, the source revealed that in the Northwest zone, troops of 17 Brigade in Katsina State and 1 Brigade Combat Team in Zamfara State rescued 12 kidnap victims from terrorist captivity.

    Furthermore, troops also conducted successful rescue operations in the Northcentral and Southeast regions, with Operation Whirl Stroke troops in Nasarawa State and 34 Artillery Brigade troops in Imo State rescuing three kidnap victims during a crackdown on terrorist hideouts.

    According to the source, a combined team comprising 1 Battalion Rear of the Nigerian Army, other security forces, and local vigilantes intensified crackdowns on suspected collaborators and logistics suppliers of criminal groups in the Northwest, raiding criminal hideouts in Kebbi and Sokoto States, where they arrested six suspected members of the notorious Lakurawa terrorist group and seized their logistics items and cash.

    “In Kano and Kaduna States, troops recovered empty ammunition shells and other evidence after encounters with fleeing terrorists,” the source said. 

    “In Taraba State, three impostors posing as security personnel were apprehended and handed over to the Police for further investigation.”

    Read Also: Army neutralises 15 terrorists, rescues 30 victims in nationwide operations

    The source reported a significant success against IPOB/ESN fighters in Imo State, where troops dismantled and destroyed their sentry posts and an improvised explosive device (IED) factory, and disposed of multiple explosives found along major routes.

    “They also recovered IED detonators, CCTV cameras, and metal fragments prepared for bomb-making.”

    The source highlighted successes against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, noting that troops intercepted and destroyed large volumes of illegally refined products, arresting two suspects with over 2,500 litres of stolen petroleum products in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.

    “Similarly, in Imo State, troops discovered illegal refining sites containing more than 700 litres of crude oil and refined products, which were destroyed in line with standard procedures.”

    According to the source, troops have also intensified arms recovery efforts, “arresting two armed suspects in Delta State who were found with two locally fabricated pistols, a pump-action rifle, cartridges, and mobile phones.”

    The source stated that the rescued victims were handed over to the appropriate authorities for reunification with their families, assuring that “the Nigerian Army will continue to dismantle criminal networks nationwide, creating a safer environment to boost agricultural activities and support the Federal Government’s food security initiatives.”

  • Obi’s return to run in 2027 will kill PDP, says Wike

    Obi’s return to run in 2027 will kill PDP, says Wike

    • A comeback by him ‘can’t happen’
    • Be wary of hypocrites, minister cautions Jonathan

    There is no room for former Governor Peter Obi’s return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike said yesterday.

    According to him, those wooing the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate to run for President in 2027 on the ticket of the PDP are plotting the death of the opposition party.

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is the loudest voice among those canvassing Obi’s return, following zoning of the party’s ticket to the South.

    The idea was first broached by one-time Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana.

     Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, is also being lured with the party’s 2027 presidential ticket by some PDP leaders like former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and Governor Mohammed.

    But Wike, speaking on a television interview session, said: “Bring Obi to where? You want to kill the party even more? Obi was the one abusing the PDP, calling it rotten. Now, the same party is good enough for him to pursue his ambition?

    “Ambition can even make people go to Satan’s house. If you want to destroy this party, dare it. Let Obi come, there is nowhere he will go.”

    Wike spoke in reference to Obi, who was running mate on the PDP ticket to Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election but dumped the party thereafter to run on LP ticket in 2023.

     Obi was governor of Anambra State on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the party he pledged never to desert. But he joined the PDP to pursue his ambition of going to the federal level.

     Wike also advised former President Jonathan to be wary of deceivers, who are luring him into the race.

    Urging him to learn from the past, the former governor of Rivers State recalled that those advising Jonathan to run were the same people that truncated his re-election bid in 2015.

    Jonathan, who succeeded the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009, was elected in 2011. But he has not played any marginal role in the party since his exit from power in 2015.

    Obi lacks character, says minister

    Wike insisted that Obi’s retracing of steps to the party would herald self-destruction for the opposition party.

    The minister accused the PDP of failing to learn from the “political suicide” that led to its defeat in the 2023 general election.

    He attributed the electoral loss to the neglect of zoning and equity, recalling that he and other leaders had drawn attention to the danger of allowing a bloc zone to produce the national chairman and the presidential candidate at the same time.

    He said: “From day one, I told my colleagues, ‘PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. You cannot have the presidential candidate at the same time as the national chairman from the same zone.”

    The FCT minister accused the party leadership of arrogantly disregarding the calls for balance, which led to the party’s electoral downfall.

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    Speaking on the 2023 race, he said: “It is better now that you have stolen the presidential ticket, and again stole the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them. I have no regret for it.”

    Wike said since Obi had publicly condemned the PDP, he should forfeit the opportunity to return.

    The minister insisted that such a move, driven by mere political ambition, would obliterate the party’s remaining credibility and ideological foundation.

    Wike maintained that the only viable path for the PDP to regain national prominence is strict adherence to the principles of rotation, equity, and justice, and by ensuring that the presidency returns to the South.

    He said Obi lacks character, adding that he can never be trusted.

    Wike also said Obi’s statement that he would only rule for four years, if elected, is a ruse.

    ‘Jonathan is being deceived’

    Wike, who served under Jonathan as Minister of State for Education, said those advising him to run for the president are deceiving him.

    He urged him to be sensitive to the antics of hawks, who are trying to mislead him.

    Wike said Jonathan should not allow himself to be used by politicians, who deceived him in the past.

    He said: “I know Jonathan well. He has international respect and should maintain that. These same people weighing Jonathan down are the ones who played him in 2015. They are only trying to cause confusion in the party.”

     ‘I won’t run for president ‘

     The minister rejected insinuations that he harbored presidential ambitions ahead of 2027, saying his position had always been clear.

     Wike said: “I have integrity, I have character. The person who appointed me is there. We are saying he should run. Then, I will turn around to say I want to run? What kind of thing is that? How will my children even look at me? I will not run for president.”

    ‘Tinubu will be re-elected’

     Wike dismissed El-Rufai’s prediction that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would come third in the 2027 election, describing it as faulty and mathematically inaccurate.

    He said El-Rufai “failed in his mathematics” by predicting Tinubu’s third-place finish without identifying who would come first and second.

     Wike stressed: “He goofed. He should have completed it since he claimed Tinubu would come third. How did he arrive at who would be third without arriving at who would be first and second?”

    The minister, who exuded confidence about the President’s victory, said: “I will put a bet. Tinubu will win this election squarely.”

     He also rejected the runoff calculation, saying:  “Which runoff? With who? It is not possible.”

     The minister frowned at the country’s political culture, pointing out that candidates, who lose elections, rarely accept defeat without raising allegations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     He stressed: “Tell me which election INEC conducted that people didn’t complain about. Is there anybody who has lost an election in this country and has come out to concede, apart from Jonathan? Mention one.”

     Wike urged politicians to emulate Jonathan, who conceded defeat in 2015, stressing that Nigerians must stop making excuses after elections.

     He added: “We have this spirit of always complaining. I don’t like excuses. What I cannot achieve, I will say it is not possible. But people must also learn to concede for the sake of national interest”.

     ‘No room for criminals in FCT’

     Fielding more questions from the panel of journalists during his monthly ‘Meet the Media’ programme, he also spoke on his assignment at the FCT, Rivers State politics and the local government election held at the weekend in which the APC won 20 of the 23 seats, leaving only three for the PDP.

     He said: “Criminals don’t stay where you will locate them; they do not stay in houses where you will identify them. Criminals stay in these places where you cannot locate them.

    “We cannot say because of poverty, we should allow you to kill people, to rob them, to kidnap people. That is not allowed.”

    The minister berated landowners, who fail to develop their properties, leaving them as hideouts for criminals.

    He said: “It has infested the city, and that is why we have told people who claim the land belongs to them: Why are you not developing the land?

     “Why are you making it possible for these criminals to come and settle here and cause problems for the city, and then you say the government is not doing anything?” he queried.

    Wike, who vowed that illegal settlements would be cleared, added: “We are going to make sure that all illegal occupants anywhere will be thrown out. It is unfortunate, but there is nothing we can do about it because security is key.

     “It is paramount because any government that cannot provide security for its citizens has nothing to do.”

    The minister insisted that although poverty is a global reality, it is not an excuse for crime.

    He stressed: “There has never been a time anybody can say there is no poverty — mention the country; it’s all over the world. Go to China; go to places, there are areas where you will see poverty.

     “But that does not give you room to make people uncomfortable, to kidnap people, to rob people, or to kill people. No, we will not allow that,” he said.

    On the health sector and resident doctors’ strike threat, the minister frowned at what he described as unrealistic demands and blackmail.

    He said: “Every sector believes that everything should be 100 per cent. No government will sit back and say, ‘Look, I don’t want this sector to be functional.’ No. Based on resources, it must be tailored towards one sector as the need arises.”

    Wike, who complained that doctors frequently shift demands, said: “Today, the doctors are talking about training and retraining. Tomorrow, allowances are not being paid. Next, hospitals have no facilities.”

     Wike also said rather than engage the government constructively, unions often resort to threats.

    He said: “You wake up in the morning, and here it is, we have issued the government an ultimatum without even writing to the government. The thing is just blackmail, threats,” he said.

    Lamenting financial constraints, he said the FCT wage bill was overstretched.

    His added:  “The FCT wage bill is not more than N12 billion a month. And for over 40,000 workers, how do you manage that? What do we get from the Federation Account? Barely N10 billion. So, we fall back on our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). That is the reality”.

    He spoke on poor sanitation and abandoned hospitals, such as Utako General Hospital, saying his administration inherited litigation that stalled projects but had since resolved them.

     Wike added: “You were here when I said the Utako issue had just been resolved. The procurement process is going on. And procurement is not a one-day affair. But I told you the number of hospitals we are taking up this year.”

     Wike admitted challenges in waste management, blaming them on poorly awarded contracts.

    He said: “It would be wrong for you to say Abuja is filthy. Some parts of Abuja are filthy, yes, but not all. I found problems in waste management. Contracts were awarded to people without capacity and or equipment. But now we have got BPP approval, and we will advertise it. Sanitation cannot be handled by political patronage.”

     Wike described open grazing as a national security issue requiring careful handling.

  • NSA, Kaduna govt knock El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    NSA, Kaduna govt knock El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    • Don’t drag national security institutions into partisan conflicts

    Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai came under attacks yesterday for alleging that the governments were engaging in appeasement of bandits.

    According to him, hefty sums were being paid to the bandits to keep the peace.

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Kaduna State government chided him for making wild claims.

    He was cautioned against stoking violence in Kaduna.

    The North-Central All Progressives Congress (NC-APC) Forum also knocked the former governor.

    El-Rufai, a former APC leader, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described giving money to bandits as empowering them to prolong their evil actions.

    He also delved into the 2027 presidential race, claiming that President Tinubu would be third.

    In  separate statements, ONSA and the Kaduna State Government accused El-Rufai of politicising the security challenge in the country instead of  seeing it as a  “collective struggle.’’

    They dismissed the former governor’s allegation as not only “baseless” but provocative and manipulative.

    ONSA said in  a statement by its Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa: “The allegations by El-Rufai are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on the ground.”

    The statement clarified that neither the ONSA nor any government agency under the Tinubu administration has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

     The statement reads: “From inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.

    ‘’The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna State that once suffered untold terror but are now experiencing relative peace.”

    It also explained that the kinetic operations have led to both the capture and elimination of notorious bandits. According to ONSA, in Kaduna alone, notorious kingpins who once terrorised residents, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, were eliminated.

    The ONSA added that recently, leaders of Ansaru who had established bases in Kaduna were also apprehended.

    “For a former governor of a state in the person of El-Rufai to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel,” it said.

    It cautioned El-Rufai and all political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan conflicts, emphasising that the fight against banditry is a “collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.”

    The Kaduna State Government accused El-Rufai of plotting to destabilise the state through “provocation, manipulation and lies.”

    It claimed that the former governor was bent on dragging the state back to its “dark and violent past” after the defeat of his political allies in the August 16 by-elections.

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    The government added that el-Rufai’s recent actions, including convening an “illegal and chaotic” political meeting that degenerated into violence on August 30, were a clear attempt by him to provoke instability.”

    In the statement by its Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Suleiman Shuiabu, the  government said el-Rufai’s remarks   were “incendiary, malicious, and an insult to the sacrifices of security agencies and communities who have worked to restore peace.”

    It stated that the joint efforts of security forces and community-led peace initiatives under Governor Uba Sani have brought relative calm to troubled areas of the state.

    Like the ONSA, the government pointed out that notorious bandit leaders such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow, Janburos, Buhari and Boka had been eliminated, while Ansaru leaders who once operated in parts of Kaduna have been arrested.

    “For a former governor to deny these victories and insult the memory of fallen officers is not only shameful but dangerous,” it added.

    The government described El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of the state as one marked by “ethno-religious division, fear and exclusion.”

    “Kaduna has transitioned from the brink of collapse to a growing beacon of hope, unity, and development,” it said.

       Also, the NC-APC Forum accused the former governor “spreading propaganda and lies.”

    In a statement by its  Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the forum said: “It is necessary to state that the security situation in the country did not degenerate under the Tinubu administration, but what is not in doubt is that Mr. President has taken the challenge head-on and has made considerable progress in addressing the problem,”   said the forum.

    “The claim is baseless, as there is no record of the Tinubu administration engaging in payments to bandits and criminals.”

    “El-Rufai’s claim that insecurity has increased in parts of the North-Central is equally false. We are aware that the claim is part of the campaign of propaganda and lies that he has embarked on since missing out on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    ”We advise Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to leave the North-Central out of his lies. The North-Central is with Mr. President, and El-Rufai is engaged in a futile mission if he thinks he can come between the President and the people of the region.’’

    El-Rufai’s claim that President Tinubu would lose the 2027 poll was also got dismissed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

    El-Rufai had on the same television station programme said: “Tinubu will be third in the 2027 election. I have done my Mathematics, and I can tell you, Tinubu has no pathway to win. The worst-case scenario is that there will not be any winner in the first ballot.’’

    But Wike said on another national television programme yesterday that he could place a bet with confidence that   Tinubu would win convincingly.

    Stating that El-Rufai’s projections and calculations were flawed, the FCT minister wondered why he did not specify who would come first and second in the election.

    Wike also asserted that Peter Obi would pose no threat to Tinubu in 2027, even though he had six million votes in 2023.

    He noted that political dynamics have since changed.

  • Nigeria, Colombia target aviation, trade deals

    Nigeria, Colombia target aviation, trade deals

    Nigeria and Columbia are working towards partnership in aviation, trade and cultural exchanges.

    These are the highlights of the bilateral meeting between Colombia Vice President Francia Márquez and Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja yesterday.

    The South American who is on a three-day visit to Nigeria, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in company of Shettima after their meeting.

    The President assured the Colombia leader that he would implement the agreements that were reached at her meeting with the Vice President. 

    Mrs Márquez described Nigeria as “the land of our ancestors,” expressing delight at leading Colombia’s delegation on the landmark visit.

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    She identified aviation, visa facilitation, political consultations, cultural exchange, and trade as priority areas for partnership.

    She also highlighted Colombia’s interest in direct flights between both nations and expressed commitment to working with Nigeria to advance social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity.

    Márquez praised Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and noted that the African Union’s growing influence on the global stage would bolster cooperation between Latin America and the continent.

    The bilateral meeting was attended by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister  of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

    Tinubu told the Colombia delegation that global economic realities require nations to look beyond traditional alliances and forge new bonds of cooperation for mutual prosperity.

    The President said: “I believe the Vice President and his team have done the job. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced. I support every aspect that you have agreed on.

    “Particularly for Colombia, the agreement we entered with Brazil can easily be replicated in aviation, and our diplomatic relations can be enhanced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate that”.

    Nigeria and Brazil opened up air links and trade opportunities during Tinubu’s visit last week.

    The President urged Colombian business leaders to seize the vast investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as well as in agriculture.

    According to him, Nigeria’s young and expanding population provides not only a huge market but also a capable workforce that can drive industrialisation and economic growth.

    Shettima, who co-chaired the Nigeria–Colombia Bilateral Meeting and Business Forum, said the visit by his Colombian counterpart would help rekindle historical ties between Africa and Latin America disrupted by centuries of slavery and colonialism.

  • Finnish Court sentences Simon Ekpa to six years in prison

    Finnish Court sentences Simon Ekpa to six years in prison

    Päijät-Häme District Court on Monday slammed a six-year prison term on Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Biafra agitator. 

    Ekpa, who is based in Finland, was found guilty of terrorism-related charges.

    The long-term Lahti resident and one-time councillor in the Finnish city faced a long list of charges, including participating in a terrorist organisation and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes.

    The court ruled that Ekpa had participated in a terrorist organisation and publicly incited crimes for terrorist purposes.

    The charges relate to Ekpa’s alleged activities aimed at re-establishing an independent state in the Biafra region.

     In its verdict, the court said that Ekpa had used his significant social media following to stoke tensions in the Biafra region between August 2021 and November 2024.

    It added that Ekpa was an influential member of a Biafran separatist movement, which established armed groups aimed at bringing about Biafran independence by force.

    The District court’s ruling further noted that Ekpa had supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts in the region, and he was also found to have encouraged his followers on social media platform X to commit crimes in Nigeria.

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    Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and one-time local councillor, committed the crimes from the Finnish city, the verdict added, which gives the Finnish court jurisdiction in the case.

    Ekpa had denied all the charges in court. Born in the South-East, he moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete.

    The court on Monday also convicted him of aggravated tax fraud.

    Though the district court’s verdict is not final, meaning it can be appealed to a higher court.

  • JUST IN: ONSA slams El-Rufai over ransom payment claim

    JUST IN: ONSA slams El-Rufai over ransom payment claim

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has described as “baseless” the claim by former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the current administration engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

    The ONSA, in a statement on Monday by its Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa, said El-Rufai’s allegations “are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on ground.”

    The statement clarified that neither the ONSA nor any government agency under this administration has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals, and has consistently cautioned Nigerians against paying ransom.

    It said: “From inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror in Kaduna state but are now experiencing relative peace.”

    The ONSA stated that the kinetic operations led by gallant military and security agencies, which have resulted in the capture or elimination of notorious bandits, have been widely reported in the media, though some of these successes came at a great cost, with some of our brave officers paying the supreme price.

    According to ONSA, in Kaduna alone, notorious kingpins who once terrorised residents, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, among others, were eliminated. Recently, leaders of Ansaru who had established bases in Kaduna were also apprehended. 

    “For a former governor of a state in the person of El-Rufai to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel,” the statement said.

    The ONSA cautioned El-Rufai and all political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan conflicts, emphasizing that the fight against banditry is a “collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.”

  • Idris: Federal Govt projects spread fairly among six zones

    Idris: Federal Govt projects spread fairly among six zones

    • Northwest is major beneficiary
    • Over 1,000 primary healthcare centres rehabilitated

    The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has been fair to the six geo-political zones in the distribution of Federal Government projects, appointments and opportunities, Minister of Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, said yesterday.

    He rose in defence of the government, following insinuations of lopsidedness in projects locations.

    In a statement, he listed the projects and their value in each of the six geo-political zones.

     From the data by the minister, Northwest is the biggest beneficiary, with projects worth N5.97 trillion (over 40 per cent of approvals given by the government since Tinubu took over power in 2023).

     Others are: Southsouth (N2.41 trillion); Northcentral (N1.13 trillion); Southeast (N407 billion); Northeast (N400 billion) and Southwest (N604 billion) – excluding Lagos.

     Insisting the administration has demonstrated commitment to balanced development and inclusivity since assuming office, Idris said: “In the light of recent insinuations, half-truths and fake information being circulated, we find it expedient to make it clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been guided, at all times, by principles of fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of Federal Government projects, appointments, and opportunities in the six geopolitical zones of our country.

     “The distribution of capital projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is equitable. No region is playing a second fiddle or ignored. In addition to projects by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, all six regions have Regional Development Commissions to re-kickstart development efforts.

     “While the Coastal Highway courses through the South, the Badagry – Sokoto Highway, under construction, traverses majorly the North. This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today.”

     “Major infrastructural interventions are simultaneously ongoing across the federation – from highways and bridges to rail and power projects. The administration has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna states to the tune of N150 billion and N100 billion.

     “The metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun states form part of the government’s effort to develop Nigeria’s light rail infrastructure. Collectively, these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide.

     There is also a renewed push for rehabilitation of the Eastern corridor of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. In addition, over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated across the country, underscoring the administration’s commitment to human capital and social infrastructure.”

    Legacy road projects

     The minister listed the following as legacy road projects initiated by Tinubu. They are:

     • Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km): 175 km ongoing in Lagos, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states

     • Sokoto – Badagry Superhighway (1,068 km): 378 km ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto sections

     • Trans-Sahara Highway (465 km): 118 km ongoing in Ebonyi State

     • Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km): Being redesigned from flexible to rigid pavement for durability.

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      “Of the total length of these projects, the North accounts for 52 per cent and the South for 48 per cent”, Idris explained.

    Other major projects in the North

    •Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km     dualised, N824 billion).

    •Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, N764b).

     •BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano    (256 km dualised).

     •Zaria – Hunkuyi Road (156 km).

    •Kano Northern Bypass (49 km).

    •Kano – Maiduguri Road (100.9 km).

    •Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km).

    •Damaturu – Maiduguri Road (110 km).

     •Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km).

     •Benue – 9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m).

     • Lokoja – Okene Dualisation (86 km).

    • Kaduna – Katsina Roads (sections 1 and 2, N150 billion).

    Major projects in the Southwest

    •Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, N33 billion).

    •Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised).

    •Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (N146 billion).

    •Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (N120 billion

     Southeast

    •Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km, N202 billion via MTN Tax Credit).

    • Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, N150 billion via CBC).

    •Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km).

    •2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, N175 billion).

    •Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, N100 billion).

    Southsouth

    •Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, N156 billion).

    •Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, N76 billion).

    •East – West Road Section 2 (N186 billion).

    •Nembe – Brass Road (N150 billion).

    •Lokoja – Benin Dualisation (N167 billion).

    •2nd Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, N146 billion).

    •Bodo – Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, N200 billion).

    The minister, who listed other sectors where the administration has made impact, noted: “Beyond roads and rail, this administration has revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North with the drilling of three oil wells in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at five per cent, has received huge funding support from the government making it attain 67 per cent in a short time.

    “President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the Northwest holds the lion’s share of approvals. This proves that all regions are receiving fair consideration.

    “Equity is also evident in federal appointments. President Tinubu has appointed capable Nigerians from every part of the country, guided by competence and inclusivity rather than sectional considerations.

     “Inclusivity lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development further illustrate the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s developmental needs in a manner that benefits all sections of the country.

     “On the whole, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only kept faith with Nigerians but has proved to be a fair, pragmatic, and consequential reformer. His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that, under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.”