Category: News

Nigeria Congratulates Senegal’s President Faye on Election as ECOWAS Chairman

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government of Nigeria has congratulated the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on his election as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria described President Faye’s emergence as a significant milestone for the regional bloc and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting his leadership. According to the statement, Nigeria commended the ECOWAS leadership for ensuring a seamless transition,…

NYSC Targets Africa’s Youth Economic Transformation, Expands Entrepreneurship, Digital Skills Drive

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving youth economic transformation in Africa by strengthening its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to equip young Nigerians with skills for the evolving global economy. The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known during an interactive session between the Scheme’s top management and stakeholders at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, where he stressed that the SAED programme would be repositioned to meet emerging economic realities through innovation, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion. General…

Senate Widens Safe Schools Probe, Summons TETFund, NELFUND, Others Over Education Funds

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate on Tuesday broadened the scope of its ongoing investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative by bringing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under its probe. The Red Chamber also extended by three weeks the lifespan of the ad hoc committee handling the investigation to enable it conclude its assignment. The decision followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Ad…

NHRC Launches National Working Group to Put Human Rights at Centre of Climate Action

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has inaugurated a National Working Group on Human Rights and Climate Change, declared that climate change is no longer just an environmental challenge but a human rights issue that demands urgent action. Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, said the devastating impact of climate change on lives and livelihoods required a people-centred approach to policy and action. According to Ojukwu, climate change is about families losing their homes, farmers losing their livelihoods, communities being displaced…

Tinubu Congratulates UK’s New Prime Minister, Seeks Stronger Nigeria-Britain Ties

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Rt. Honourable Andy Burnham on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, expressed confidence that Nigeria and Britain will deepen their longstanding strategic partnership under the new administration. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said President Tinubu also congratulated the Government and people of the United Kingdom for what he described as a peaceful, orderly and seamless leadership transition, noting that it reflected the strength of the…

Nigeria Urges AU to Crack Down on Illicit Funds Fueling Terrorism

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to intensify efforts to combat illicit financial flows fueling terrorism and violent extremism across the continent, warning that access to illegal funds continues to strengthen terrorist groups. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call on Tuesday while addressing the 1354th Ministerial Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, held virtually. She identified illicit financing as a major factor sustaining terrorist activities, saying it enables the recruitment of young people, procurement of sophisticated weapons, and expansion of extremist operations…

Defence Minister Debunks Resignation Rumour, Describes Report as False, Malicious

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Office of the Minister of Defence has dismissed as false and malicious reports circulating on social media claiming that the Minister, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), planning to resign from office. In a statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the ministry described the claim as a fabricated rumour designed to mislead the public, stressing that the minister has no intention of stepping down from his position. The statement said General Musa remained fully focused on his national security mandate, deeply committed…

TMV Hails UBEC for Disbursing N100bn Unaccessed Education Grants to States

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV) has commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for mobilising and disbursing N100 billion in previously unaccessed matching grants to states, describing the move as a landmark achievement in advancing basic education across Nigeria. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Chukwudi Enekwechi, and Secretary, Segun Ogedengbe, the group praised UBEC for releasing the funds despite the inability of several state governments to provide the required counterpart funding needed to access the grants. TMV said the initiative aligns with UBEC’s 2025–2031 Strategic Blueprint and reflects…

11 Arrested as Niger Police Recover Stolen Car, Cows, Toy Guns

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering a stolen vehicle, two suspected stolen cows, three toy guns, dangerous weapons, suspected cannabis and 16 ATM cards. The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a crime bulletin issued on Tuesday, stating that the arrests were made in connection with offences ranging from vehicle theft and robbery to thuggery and cattle rustling. According to the police, two suspects, Dauda Saidu, 23, of Dindare village in Kaduna State, and Hassan…

IGP Disu Orders Intelligence-Driven Policing, Reveals Arrest of 1,198 Suspects Nationwide

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has directed strategic commanders across the country to intensify intelligence-led policing, warning that evolving security threats require proactive strategies, continuous operational reviews and stronger collaboration with other security agencies. Speaking on Tuesday at the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP said the country’s security environment remains challenging despite notable successes recorded in recent months. He stressed that terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence,…