Day: March 31, 2026

Operation SAFE CORRIDOR Shrinks Insurgency Recruitment Pipeline — Coordinator

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Coordinator of Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, has described the initiative as a non-kinetic, peace-building programme designed to deradicalise and reintegrate low-risk former insurgents into society, rather than a physical location. Speaking during the end-of-month media briefing by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Ali explained that Operation SAFE CORRIDOR was established around 2015–2016 at the peak of insurgency to address the growing number of individuals willing to surrender. According to him, many of those classified as “low-risk” were victims of…

Nigeria Commends Establishment of World Data Organization in Beijing

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria has welcomed the establishment of the World Data Organization (WDO), describing it as a significant step toward strengthening global data cooperation and governance. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, made this known while addressing journalists at the Inaugural Assembly of the World Data Organization held on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the International Conference Centre in Beijing, China. Ebienfa emphasized the importance of a secure, transparent, and rule-based global data system, noting that the creation of the WDO to drive this process is a…

JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Mock Results, Delists 20 CBT Centres Over Technical Glitches

Emporium Reporters

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, 2026. According to JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, candidates can check their results by sending “MOCKRESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number registered for the examination. A total of 224,597 candidates registered for the exercise, while 152,586 successfully sat for the test across 989 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. The board disclosed that over 20 CBT centres were delisted due to…

APC Not a Coalition but a Unified Force, Says Abdullahi Ganduje

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has declared that the ruling party has evolved beyond a coalition into a fully integrated and cohesive political force. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex, Ganduje said the APC’s internal unity and successful integration of members from diverse political backgrounds have strengthened its position in Nigeria’s political landscape. “We are not a mixture, we are now a compound,” he stated, emphasized that the party has moved past its formative stage into a stable and unified…

Plateau Killings: Speaker Abbas Urges Reflection, Decisive Action

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has condemned the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the attack as gruesome and heinous. In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker expressed deep sympathy to the affected community following the deadly assault by suspected terrorists, which left scores dead, many injured, and properties destroyed. Speaker Abbas called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take decisive action to curb…

Senate Orders INEC to Restore Benue Constituencies Ahead of 2027 Elections

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately restore three state constituencies in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections, in compliance with a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment. The constituencies affected are Ukum II, Konshisha II (Shangev–Tiev), and Gboko East I. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, who raised concern over INEC’s failure to implement the appellate court ruling delivered on December 5, 2025, in Makurdi. Presenting the motion,…

Step Up Nigeria, Partners Launch 2026 Whistleblower Art Competition to Mobilise Youths Against Corruption

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A new initiative aimed at promoting whistleblowing and strengthening protection for whistleblowers has been launched by Step Up Nigeria in partnership with Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa. The initiative, tagged the 2026 World Whistleblower Day Art and Media Competition, is designed to amplify youth voices and encourage active participation in the fight against corruption through creative expression. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Programmes at Step Up Nigeria, Oluwaferanmi Iyanda, described the competition as a platform for young Nigerians to channel their creativity into promoting…

NITDA, NIPPS Deepen Collaboration on Digital Economy, Spotlight Orange Economy Potential

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has hosted the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, alongside participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between key strategic institutions and Nigeria’s digital transformation ecosystem. The engagement followed the Strategic Institutions Study Tour, during which Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnership at NITDA, delivered a presentation on behalf of the agency’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi. His presentation underscored the growing…

CSO Calls for Coordinated Security Ahead of 2026 Hajj Airlift

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A civil society organisation, Independent Hajj Reporters, has urged state governments to strengthen and harmonise security arrangements for intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj operations. The group’s National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, who signed the statement made available to journalists on Monday, said the appeal had become necessary as pre-airlift activities commence across the country. According to him, there is an urgent need for proactive measures to forestall potential security threats during the period. He emphasised the importance of closely monitoring the movement of pilgrims from their homes to orientation…

IGP Disu, DSS Boss Reaffirm Strong Security Partnership in Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in strengthening national security. IGP Disu made this known during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Department of State Services at its headquarters in Abuja, where both security chiefs emphasized the importance of synergy in tackling emerging security challenges across the country. Describing the DSS as an “indispensable yet often unseen partner,” the IGP noted that no major security operation could be…