The Nigerian Army has rescued at least 386 individuals, predominantly women and children, from Sambisa Forest, a decade after their abduction. This was disclosed by Brigadier General AGL Haruna, the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division, during a press briefing at the outskirts of Sambisa Forest in Konduga Local Government Area. The rescue operation, named “Operation Desert Sanity 111,” aimed to eliminate the remnants of terrorist groups in the Sambisa Forest and provide an opportunity for those willing to surrender. Brigadier General Haruna noted the operation’s success in encouraging surrenders and rescuing civilians. “Our effort is to…
Author: Editor Francis
The Federal Government’s decision to allocate N90 billion to subsidize the 2024 Hajj has sparked significant criticism, especially in light of the mere N50 billion earmarked for the student loan scheme in the 2024 budget. Education and legal experts have condemned the move as a severe misplacement of priorities. Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, announced the subsidy during the flag-off of the inaugural airlift for the 2024 Hajj at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi. Shettima emphasized the president’s commitment to easing the economic burden on pilgrims, urging them to pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity,…
In response to the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) recent ultimatum, the Federal Government has announced the members of the governing councils for 111 tertiary institutions across Nigeria. This includes universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. ASUU had criticized the government’s decision to dissolve existing governing councils, demanding their reinstatement and the implementation of other union requests. ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, emphasized that the union’s demands extend beyond the reinstatement of governing councils and include various unresolved issues. Prominent figures on the newly unveiled list include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega; Senior…
The Federal Government has announced a multi-year Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP) aimed at revamping school infrastructure, modernising curricula, and integrating virtual learning technologies. This significant initiative was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement on Saturday. Titled ‘FG moves to overhaul school infrastructure, launches N’East initiative,’ the statement highlighted the programme’s launch in Bauchi State by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The initiative is designed to bridge the educational divide, starting with the North-East region, and is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to address the…
A conflict erupted at Banex, a telecommunications gadgets market in Abuja, on Saturday involving suspected thugs and soldiers. A viral video shared on X and seen by The Nation shows civilians assaulting soldiers during the altercation. As of the time of reporting, both the Defence Headquarters and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army have not commented on the incident. SP Josephine Adeh of the FCT Police Command confirmed that Commissioner of Police Benett Igweh has dispatched officers from the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene. “The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh stated. Further…
The Federal Government has emphasized the economic benefits of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), noting that converting one million vehicles to CNG could save the country approximately $2.5 billion annually. Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), highlighted this during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Oluwagbemi outlined the government’s push for CNG as a solution to pollution, environmental degradation, and economic hardship. He emphasized Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources, which remain underutilized, stressing that CNG is cleaner, cheaper, and capable of reducing transportation costs. “The government’s initiative is crucial for national…
The proposed mass wedding of 100 orphaned girls in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State has attracted more attention than was intended. A move that began as a simple intention to help girls whose parents were killed by bandits has metamorphosed into a full fledged verbal war tinted with religious connotations. The invitation card announcing that the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, would be giving the hands of 100 orphans in marriage was first sighted on the social media platform, Facebook. According to the information contained in the invite, the mass wedding would be done alongside…
Following her initial confrontation with Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, and traditional institutions over plans to marry off 100 orphaned girls, Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has announced a collaborative effort with state stakeholders to support the would-be brides. Despite this cooperation, the minister has decided not to withdraw the lawsuit she filed to halt the mass marriage. In a press briefing held in Abuja, Kennedy-Ohanenye confirmed that she, alongside His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Muazu, the Emir of Kontagora, and the Speaker, reached a consensus on empowering the girls in various ways. Expressing…
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the dismissal of two officers involved in a street fight that went viral on social media in 2020. Police Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed this on Friday while addressing the incident. Adejobi revealed that following an investigation, it was confirmed that the altercation occurred in 2020. The behavior exhibited by the officers during the public altercation, which required intervention from bystanders, was deemed unacceptable and unbecoming of law enforcement officers. “The Nigeria Police Force is aware of a video circulating on social media platforms depicting a street fight involving two police officers.…
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, announced on Friday that she has withdrawn her legal action regarding the planned marriages of 100 orphaned girls in Niger State. An agreement has been reached with His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Muazu, Emir of Kontagora, and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly to empower the girls through education and vocational training. During a press briefing in Abuja, Ohanenye explained that while arranging marriages is one aspect, ensuring the prospective husbands can adequately care for the women is a critical issue. This concern initially prompted her to seek a court…
Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), testified today before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Her testimony focused on the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for EXIM, highlighting the agency’s recent achievements and future goals. Chairman Coons and Ranking Member Graham led the session, during which Lewis expressed gratitude for the committee’s support in passing EXIM’s historic seven-year reauthorization in 2019. She emphasized EXIM’s critical role in supporting U.S. jobs by financing exports, particularly in cases where private sector financing is unavailable or when leveling…
The United States has announced the unveiling of an Air Transport Agreement with Nigeria. The Public Diplomacy Department of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, said the agreement had provisionally been applied since 2000. The bilateral agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship between the two countries. The mission said that the agreement was consistent with the U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy with commitments to high standards of aviation safety and security. “This agreement with Nigeria is a step forward in liberalising the international civil aviation sector in Africa. “It further expands our…