Month: July 2026

Nigerian Navy Busts Hidden Fuel Depot, Recovers 87,000 Litres of Suspected Illegal Diesel in Rivers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering with the discovery of a concealed fuel storage facility and the recovery of about 87,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in the Okarki axis of Rivers State. The operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, was executed by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected oil thieves in the area. According to a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Naval Information,…

Niger Police Arrest 71 Suspected Criminals, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles in July Crackdown

Lukman Laleye Babalola

By Uthman Baba-Naseer, Minna       The Niger State Police Command has arrested 71 suspected criminals and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 AK magazines and 330 rounds of assorted ammunition during a statewide crackdown on criminal activities in July 2026. Commissioner of Police, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Dutsen Kura, Minna. The police commissioner said the Command also rescued nine kidnapped children and an abducted baby, while recovering 17 goats, four cows and other stolen items from criminal…

FG Appoints New Provosts for Federal Colleges of Agriculture to Boost Food Security

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of three substantive provosts for Federal Colleges of Agriculture as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural education and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda. The appointments, approved by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abba Kyari, followed a rigorous examination and interview conducted by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). The newly appointed provosts are Dr. Folorunsho Rasheed Oloyede for the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure; Dr. Salisu Salisu for the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa,…

Forget White-Collar Jobs, TVET Is Nigeria’s Job Lifeline, Don Tells Graduates

Emporium Reporters

By Uthman Baba-Naseer, Minna       A Professor of Industrial Technology Education at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Emmanuel Raymond, has urged Nigerian graduates to abandon the pursuit of scarce white-collar jobs and embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a sustainable pathway to employment and economic prosperity. The professor gave the charge while delivering the 131st Inaugural Lecture of the university at the 1,000-seat auditorium of the institution’s Gidan Kwano Main Campus in Niger State. Delivering a lecture titled “The Marriage Between TVET and…

ABU, NAHCON Launch Nigeria’s First MBA in Hajj Operations Management

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Ahmadu Bello University have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Nigeria’s first Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hajj Operations Management, in a major step towards professionalising Hajj and Umrah administration in the country. The agreement, signed on Friday at NAHCON headquarters in Abuja, is expected to replace traditional ad hoc operational practices with structured academic training and industry-driven expertise, while strengthening capacity development across Nigeria’s pilgrimage sector. Speaking at the signing ceremony, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,…

Dabiri-Erewa Backs Nigeria-Saudi Investment Summit to Boost Trade, Tourism

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described the forthcoming Nigeria-Saudi Diaspora Investment and Tourism Exhibition Summit as a strategic platform to strengthen economic relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia through increased investment, trade and tourism. Speaking through the Commission’s Secretary, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, at a pre-event media conference held at the NiDCOM headquarters in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa said the summit would help address misconceptions about investing in both countries while highlighting opportunities for businesses, investors and other stakeholders. The second edition…

Tinubu’s Infrastructure, Education Investments Will Drive Nigeria to $1tn Economy – APC Chairman Yilwatda

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making deliberate investments in infrastructure and human capital development to position Nigeria as a one-trillion-dollar economy. Yilwatda stated this while receiving the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, led by its Pro-Chancellor, Muhammad Audu, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman said the Federal Government’s investments…

NAF Establishes Permanent Base in Abia as Otti Hands Over 120 Hectares, Strategic Facilities

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially established its first permanent presence in Abia State following the handover of newly constructed office and residential facilities, alongside 120 hectares of land, by the Abia State Government. The development mark a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing military operations in the South-East. Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the event as historic and applauded Governor Alex Otti for his visionary leadership and commitment to prioritising security as the…

Customs Rolls Out Duty-Free Incentives for CNG, Electric Vehicle Imports

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rolled out additional guidelines for the implementation of fiscal incentives under the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, granting Import Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions on the importation of eligible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and electric vehicles. The initiative, approved by the Federal Government, is aimed at accelerating the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives, reducing transportation costs, promoting sustainable mobility, and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security. In a statement issued on Friday, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS,…

Nigeria Military Intensifies Civil-Military Projects, Expands Community Engagement Amid Security Operations

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria military has intensified its Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiatives across the country, combining kinetic operations with community development projects aimed at strengthening public trust and promoting lasting peace. Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this while presenting the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operational report for July 2026 in Abuja. He said the Armed Forces, under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, continued to implement people-centred initiatives alongside combat operations to improve relations with host communities and address the root causes…