Day: January 13, 2026

TDF accuses Atiku of peddling falsehood over BEA scholarships, defends Tinubu’s education policy

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Democratic Front (TDF) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of spreading falsehoods in a bid to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the Federal Government’s decision on Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) foreign scholarship awards. In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammadu, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, the group alleged that Atiku relied on what it described as “unverified and misleading content” circulated by social media influencers to accuse the Tinubu administration of abandoning Nigerian students studying abroad, particularly in Morocco. According to TDF, its findings showed…

Nigeria’s Trade with UAE: Jumoke Oduwole highlights gains from historic CEPA Agreement

Emporium Reporters

Nigeria has achieved a historic milestone in its trade relations with the United Arab Emirates with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a landmark deal expected to transform economic ties between the two nations. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Nigeria’s Chief Negotiator, detailed what the agreement will mean for Nigerian businesses, investors, and professionals. Dr. Oduwole described the CEPA as a transformative instrument for Nigeria’s economic diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She explained that…

Niger Police arrests Pickpocket, Gold fraud suspects, human traffickers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has made significant strides in combating crime with the arrest of several suspects involved in theft, fraud, and human trafficking across the state. In Minna, detectives attached to the Area Command apprehended Usman Umar (35) of Dala, Kano State, at a hotel on January 6, 2026, following intelligence about suspicious activity. Items recovered from the suspect included 22 SIM cards, a Redmi phone, an Infinix phone, and an Itel button phone. Umar confessed to snatching mobile phones from unsuspecting victims, particularly in Lagos markets, and…

SSAP-SDGs mourns Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has described the death of the Akran of Badagry, His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, as a monumental loss to Badagry, Lagos State, and the nation at large. The revered monarch passed away at the age of 89. In a condolence statement issued on Tuesday by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, Princess Orelope-Adefulire said the late Akran was a distinguished traditional ruler whose reign was defined by peace,…

US delivers fresh military equipment to Nigeria, deepens security partnership

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The United States has delivered a new batch of military supplies to Nigerian security agencies, reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and other security threats across the country. The delivery was confirmed on Tuesday by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) via a post on X (formerly Twitter), which disclosed that the consignment was handed over to Nigerian authorities in Abuja. “US forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM stated. The latest…

MURIC urges Army to pay entitlements of 54 pardoned soldiers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to release the gratuities and other entitlements of the 54 soldiers who were tried over a decade ago for demanding better weapons to confront Boko Haram. In a statement issued on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, MURIC recalled that the soldiers were initially sentenced to death by a military court, a punishment later commuted to 10 years’ imprisonment. They were eventually granted a presidential pardon in 2022 and formally discharged in 2025. According to the organisation,…

US AFRICOM pledges stronger support as delegation meets NDLEA Boss Marwa

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A delegation of senior officials from the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of enhanced collaboration and sustained support in the fight against illicit drugs. The delegation, which visited NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, met with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and commended the strong and productive partnership between NDLEA and US law enforcement agencies. Leader of the delegation, Mr. Philip Esch, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Liaison to…

Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo, Turkish Envoy seek expanded visa access, boost business mobility

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey, with a focus on visa facilitation, business mobility and consular cooperation. Tunji-Ojo stated this on Tuesday while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, on a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Interior headquarters in Abuja. He described the engagement as timely and substantive, noted that the long-standing historical and cultural ties between both countries provide a strong platform for deeper collaboration. The minister said Nigeria is pursuing a smart, structured and…

Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson hosts Segun Ojumu, celebrates Journalism, Documentation and Media Evolution

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Monday, 12 January 2025, hosted media executive and author, Mr. Segun Ojumu, in his office in an engagement that underscored the importance of documentation, media evolution and journalism’s role in democratic governance. The meeting provided an avenue for professional interaction and the presentation of Mr. Ojumu’s newly published book, which documents the experiences of journalists who have covered elections in Nigeria over several decades. The publication drawn from the collective experiences of members of the Independent National…