Day: January 1, 2026

Mining Marshals arrest five over illegal mining, NSCDC impersonation in Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Mining Marshals have arrested five suspects for alleged illegal mining activities and impersonation of security personnel in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The arrests were carried out on December 27, 2025, at Kebi Mangoro, Kuje Area Council, following credible intelligence on ongoing illegal mining operations in the area. Those arrested were identified as Muhammed Aliyu (39), Abdulrahman Hashimu (32), Tahir Muhammed (43), Awaje Abduljalal (19), and Kabiru Adamu (38).   Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly operated multiple illegal mining sites within Abuja…

US not Nigeria’s saviour in fight against terrorism – MURIC declares

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said the United States should not be hailed as Nigeria’s saviour in the war against terrorism, insisting that Nigerian soldiers are capable of defeating terrorists on their own. In a New Year message issued Thursday, MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, praised the bravery of Nigerian troops while criticizing both the US and past Nigerian leaders for obstructing the fight against Boko Haram.   Professor Akintola noted that the US had previously denied Nigeria vital weapons, blocked attempts to purchase arms from…

FRSC urges motorists to drive safely, ensure crash-free new year

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appealed to motorists nationwide to prioritize road safety and drive responsibly as Nigerians usher in the New Year. The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, warned that the festive period often comes with increased vehicular movement, fatigue-induced driving, and reckless road use, all of which heighten the risk of traffic crashes. He emphasised that speed violations, drunk driving, dangerous overtaking, and wilful disregard for traffic regulations must be avoided.   In a statement signed by Olusegun Ogungbemide, Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer,…

2026 to usher in robust economic growth, President Tinubu says In New Year message

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that 2026 will mark the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth, with tangible improvements in the lives of citizens. In his New Year goodwill message, the President highlighted that despite global economic challenges, Nigeria recorded steady progress in 2025, including annualised GDP growth expected to exceed 4 per cent, declining inflation below 15 per cent, and a 48.12 per cent gain in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion, while foreign direct investment surged to $720 million…

MNJTF Commander visits Operation HADIN KAI, commissions Officers’ Transit facility in Maiduguri

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Saidu Audu, has undertaken a strategic operational assessment visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), at the Maimalari Military Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State. The visit, which took place on Tuesday, was aimed at strengthening coordination between the MNJTF and Operation HADIN KAI ahead of ongoing and future joint operations in the Lake Chad Basin. Speaking during the visit, Major General Audu said he was at the Theatre Headquarters to formally introduce…

FCT CP Dantawaye storms Karshi–Karu Mountains, tightens security net on criminal routes

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, has carried out an extensive operational assessment of the Karshi, Kurudu, Karu Bakin Uza and Karufe Hill mountain corridors as part of intensified efforts to block criminal routes and strengthen security along the FCT–Nasarawa border. The operation, conducted on December 31, 2025, targeted areas previously identified as escape routes and hibernation points for armed criminal elements exploiting the rugged terrain linking the FCT with Nasarawa State. During the visit to Karu, the police boss paid a courtesy…

Nigeria mourns as Senator Godiya Akwashiki dies at 52 in India

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has died at the age of 52 after a prolonged illness. A family source confirmed the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Nassarawa Eggon, stating that the lawmaker passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at a hospital in India where he had been receiving medical care. The source described Akwashiki’s death as a major loss to Nasarawa State, noting that his leadership style and commitment to…

Degrees Without Borders: A Vision of Educational Global Integration by Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo

Emporium Reporters

Championing Global Education Through Strategic Institutional Linkages Written: Dr. Adamu Muhammad Wakili Registrar, IHERIS University, Togo In an increasingly interconnected world, the barriers that once confined education within geographic and cultural borders are rapidly dissolving. The global landscape of learning is transforming, and at the heart of this evolution stands a visionary leader whose commitment to educational integration transcends national boundaries: Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, founder of the MAAUN Group of Universities. With a mission rooted in excellence, relevance, and international collaboration, Prof. Gwarzo has pioneered a model of higher…

Budget Office upholds integrity of Tax reforms, warns against speculation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Budget Office of the Federation has defended the integrity of Nigeria’s newly enacted Tax Reform Acts, urged citizens and political actors to rely on verified sources amid claims of post-passage alterations. In a statement personally signed by Director-General Tanimu Yakubu on Wednesday, the Office responded to concerns raised by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, stressing that the rule of law is central to a functioning democracy. Any suggestion that laws could be changed without proper legislative process, it said, would undermine public trust and constitutional governance.…