Day: January 15, 2026

Friday Sermon: Rajab, Sha’aban And The Preparation For Ramadan! By Imam Murtadha Gusau

Emporium Reporters

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful   All praise is due to Allah, the Master of the Day of Judgment, who raised the rank of His servant and His Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) above all those who came before and after. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. May Allah send abundant peace and blessings upon him. To Proceed:   Dear…

FG sets up Two Committees to address Doctors’ workload, Residency Certification disputes

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a decisive move to address persistent industrial disputes in Nigeria’s health sector, the Federal Government has inaugurated two high-level ministerial committees to tackle excessive work hours for health workers, locum engagement practices, and the long-running controversy surrounding residency training certification and recategorisation. The committees were inaugurated in Abuja by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who said the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to health sector reforms, improved workers’ welfare, and enhanced patient safety. Speaking at the event, Dr. Salako noted…

COAS applauds Swiss support as Envoy pledges stronger Non-Kinetic Collaboration

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commended the Government of the Swiss Confederation for its sustained partnership with the Nigerian Army (NA), particularly in humanitarian assistance, peace-building and conflict-prevention initiatives. Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the commendation on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, when the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Patrick Felix Egloff, paid him a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. The COAS described Switzerland as a global leader in peace promotion and humanitarian diplomacy, recalling the Swiss Government’s role in facilitating negotiations that…

Troops neutralise seven criminals, rescue kidnapped victim in Kaduna operations

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF OPEP), have recorded fresh operational successes in Kaduna State, neutralised criminal elements, rescuing a kidnapped victim, and recovering arms, ammunition and motorcycles during coordinated operations in Kaura Local Government Area. The operations, conducted under Operation PEACE SHIELD on Tuesday, 13 January and Wednesday, 14 January 2026, targeted criminal hideouts within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), following credible intelligence reports. On Tuesday, troops of Sector 7 JTF OPEP responded to information on the kidnapping of a young girl in Kajim Village,…

MURIC Abuja hosts public lecture on Insecurity, Drug Abuse Saturday 17 …. Prof. Ishaq Akintola, NDLEA Boss, IGP, Faith Leaders to grace event

Emporium Reporters

By Fatima Abubakar, Abuja     he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Abuja Chapter, will hold a high-profile public lecture aimed at addressing insecurity and drug abuse in Nigeria, featuring key figures from the religious, security, and civil society sectors. Scheduled for Saturday, 17th January 2026, at the National Mosque Conference Hall, Central Area, Abuja, the lecture will commence at 10:00am prompt. According to a statement issued by Lukman Laleye Babalola, PRO of MURIC Abuja Chapter, the event is themed “Towards Changing the Narrative on Insecurity and Drug Abuse in Nigeria…

COAS seeks deeper Nigeria–US Military cooperation to tackle security challenges

Emporium Reporters

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for the deepening of strategic engagement between the Nigerian Army and the United States Army to effectively respond to Nigeria’s evolving and multifaceted security challenges. Lieutenant General Shaibu made the call on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, when the United States Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Semira Moore, paid him a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. The COAS commended the Government of the United States for its enduring partnership and sustained support to the Nigerian Army,…

Grace Ike prioritises NUJ FCT Secretariat upgrade, members’ welfare as FCTA chapel pays new year homage

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to upgrading the Union’s Secretariat and improving members’ welfare as key priorities for 2026. Comrade Ike made the declaration on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, while receiving a delegation of stakeholders from the FCTA Chapel of the Union, who visited her office at Utako, Abuja, to pay New Year homage. Appreciating the delegation for the gesture, which she described as a recognition of her administration’s efforts, the NUJ Chairman…

SPEED: THE SILENT SIREN OF DEATHS ON OUR ROADS By Olusegun Ogungbemide, mni, FISPON, anipr Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC

Emporium Reporters

Against the backdrop of hard data and lived realities, the analytical record of road traffic crashes between January and October 2025 when compared with the same period in 2024 tells a sobering story. Numbers may rise and fall, charts may stretch and contract, but one truth stands firm and frightening: nearly 85 percent of road traffic crashes during this period were speed-induced. Beyond the cold certainty of statistics, and behind every number, lies a human story abruptly interrupted a journey cut short, a promise broken, a family altered forever. Speed…

Budget Office debunks claims of ₦246bn salaries allocation to NEDC

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion salaries budget, describing the allegation as misleading and based on a misunderstanding of the Federal Government’s budgeting process. In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, clarified that the ₦246.77 billion reflected against the NEDC in the budget is not earmarked solely for personnel costs but represents a statutory lump-sum allocation. According to the Budget Office, such aggregate presentations are consistent…

Tinubu honours fallen heroes at AFCRD 2026 as COAS, Service Chiefs pay solemn tribute

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, led the nation in honouring Nigeria’s fallen heroes at the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) 2026 ceremony held at the National Cenotaph, Eagle Square, Abuja. The solemn event provided a moment of national reflection and gratitude for officers and men of the Armed Forces who paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of Nigeria’s peace, unity and sovereignty. President Tinubu was represented at the ceremony by the Vice…