Category Nigeria News

The Presidential Committee on the Overhaul and Revamp of Training Institutions for Security Agencies has vowed to deliver a comprehensive plan for the total rehabilitation of the nation’s security training facilities.

Chairman of the committee and Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, gave the assurance in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, where the team inspected the abandoned Nigeria Police Training School on Thursday.

The members of the committee, which includes the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Retired IG, retired IGP Usman Alkali Baba, and AIG Olatunji Disu, were accompanied on the inspection by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

READ ALSO: Police Rescue 23 Kidnap Victims In FCT, Arrest 14 Suspects

The visit, part of a nationwide assessment, follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive to urgently evaluate and restore the state of police and NSCDC training institutions.

The committee members met a disheartening sight — vandalised structures, broken classrooms and offices, and overgrown parade grounds.

Governor Mbah said the committee is working closely with consultants to prepare a detailed bill of quantities that will guide the refurbishment process across the country, adding that the team intends to drive the project through full implementation.

He said the president’s initiative reflects his resolve to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges through proper training and institution rebuilding.

“The president personally inaugurated this committee because he recognises that we are at a security crossroad. Nothing short of a total overhaul is required,” Mbah said. “You cannot train 30,000 new police personnel in such deplorable conditions.”

Also speaking, Governor Fubara described the visit as a major step toward restoring professionalism and morale within the police force.

He noted that President Tinubu’s action demonstrates genuine commitment to improving national security.

On his part, Governor Abiodun said the committee has just one month to submit its report, revealing that the members have split into two teams to cover both northern and southern training centres.

“What we have seen here in Nonwa-Tai is not different from Lagos, Jos, or Maiduguri. The president wants results — and fast,” Abiodun said. “This is clear evidence of political will.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distributing sensitive election materials to local government areas across Anambra State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The exercise, which started at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Thursday, is being conducted under tight security.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Agwu, supervised the exercise alongside the Commissioner of Police for election duty, Abayomi Shogunle, who reaffirmed that officers are fully prepared to secure both land and riverine communities during the polls.

Earlier, INEC confirmed that 2,802,790 registered voters will cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in the state’s 21 local government areas.

The commission also disclosed that elections will not hold in two polling units due to a lack of registered voters.

The election features 16 candidates, including Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the APGA, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the APC, Paul Chukwuma of the YPP, George Moghalu of the LP, and Jude Ezenwafor of the PDP among others.

Channels Television’s Taiwo Adesina the distribution of materials as seen below: 

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in two newly appointed ministers, Bernard Doro and Kingsley Ude.

The President swore them in at a brief ceremony on Thursday, inside the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, moments before he presided over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

READ ALSO: Senate Confirms Kingsley Ude From Enugu State As Minister

Doro, a pharmacist and lawyer from Plateau State, replaces former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, who recently assumed office as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The pharmacist’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate in late October.

Ude, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu State, fills the vacancy created by the exit of former Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who resigned following certificate forgery allegations.

Ude’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate earlier on Thursday after a brief screening.

Before his appointment, he served as Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

After the ceremony, the President immediately opened the FEC meeting, which commenced with a presentation by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on the state of the economy.

In attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; ministers, and senior presidential advisers.

Dental students of the University of Jos on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the institution’s permanent site to demand urgent intervention over what they described as a decade-long academic stagnation.

The students, under the umbrella of the Jos University Dental Students’ Association (JUDENSA), had earlier addressed a press conference at the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

They later marched to the university gate, where they barricaded the entrance while chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Ten Years, No Graduation,” “Save Our Future,” and “We Deserve Better”.

Speaking during the briefing, the President of JUDENSA, Johnson Bisani, said many of the students had spent 10 years in a programme designed to last six years due to the institution’s failure to secure full accreditation for its dental school.

“We have endured 10 years of prolonged emotional trauma and academic delay. This is a painful and disturbing ordeal for young Nigerians chasing their dreams in dental healthcare,” Bisani said.

Stalled Process

He explained that although the university secured the first phase of accreditation, the pre-clinical stage, in 2024 following the intervention of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the process had since stalled.

“We were promised that the clinical phase of accreditation would follow within six months. Sadly, more than a year later, nothing has happened.

“We are still waiting, and our lives are on hold,” he lamented.

The students also accused the university’s management of failing to provide clear communication or a definite timeline for resolving the issue, calling on relevant authorities to intervene.

“We appeal to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the National Assembly to come to our aid. We cannot continue to suffer from the system’s inefficiencies,” Bisani added.

The protest coincided with the opening day of the 27th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) hosted by the University of Jos, an event drawing attention from across the country.

The students, therefore, urged the management to take swift and transparent steps to secure full accreditation and allow them to complete their programme, warning that continued neglect could worsen the already dwindling number of dental professionals in the region.

The Commissioner of Police for election duty in Anambra State, Abayomi Shogunle, on Thursday, assured that security personnel are fully prepared to safeguard both land and riverine areas ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Shogunle gave the assurance as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Awka to collect sensitive election materials.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Agwu, was also present to oversee the process. Party agents, journalists, and observers were on hand, though the officials arrived later than the scheduled 10 a.m. time.

READ ALSO: Anambra Gov Poll An Opportunity For INEC To Redeem Its Image — Moghalu

The commission confirmed that 2,802,790 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in 21 local government areas.

Sixteen candidates are contesting the poll, including Governor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Paul Chukwuma (YPP), George Moghalu (LP), and Jude Ezenwafor (PDP).

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan emphasized the commission’s commitment to a credible and peaceful election, warning against vote-buying and electoral violence.

CP Shogunle noted that elections will not be held in two polling units due to a lack of registered voters.

“My task is to ensure there is adequate security across the state throughout the election period. The exception of the two polling units is because no one has registered to vote there. Otherwise, the election will go ahead in all locations as expected,” he said.

He added that all security and logistics arrangements have been finalised.

“Everything required to make this happen has been put in place. What we are witnessing today is part of that process, the distribution of electoral materials from the Central Bank to all local government areas.

“From there, they will move to the super racks, then to the racks, and by early Saturday morning, all materials will have arrived at the polling stations across the state.”

On deployment, Shogunle highlighted coordinated measures on land, waterways, and in the air.

“Shortly before this interview, a police patrol helicopter flew over us. Police boats are patrolling the waterways to ensure nothing unexpected happens.

“The elections will go ahead in all areas, including riverine communities, and we are working closely with the Nigerian Navy to achieve this,” he said.

Legal counsel to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has said that the police acted outside the law by declaring his client wanted.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, the counsel, Tope Temokun, stated that “there is no law in Nigeria that empowers the police to declare anybody wanted.”

He explained that under the law, declaring a person wanted is a legal process that must follow due procedure and be backed by a court order.

“When you are looking for somebody and cannot find him after a criminal complaint, investigation, or charge, and the person is evading arrest, that is when you can seek the order of the court,” he said.

The counsel added that “when you publish an individual as being wanted without the backing of a court order, you are not only committing a tortious act and defaming that individual, but also acting unconstitutionally. Declaring Sowore wanted in this manner is arbitrary and reflects total ignorance of the law they claim to be enforcing.”

Emphasising the constitutional rights of citizens, he said, “A Nigerian citizen has the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty as provided by the Constitution. Before you can declare a person a fugitive or outlaw, it must not stem from personal malice; it must follow due process backed by a court order.”

He further revealed that the matter is already before the court, which has granted an order restraining the Commissioner of Police from carrying out the effects of the declaration.

READ ALSO: Court Stops Police From Declaring Sowore Wanted

-Court Order-

His comments come amid the Federal High Court, Lagos, restraining the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, and other security agencies from arresting Sowore.

It also restrained them from intimidating or declaring the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) wanted.

-Wanted-

Sowore was declared wanted for allegedly plotting to disrupt public peace in the state. CP Jimoh announced this while addressing journalists in Lagos.

“I hereby, as the Commissioner of Police of the Lagos Police Command, declare Sowore wanted. “He is wanted for causing a disturbance of public peace and for acts to commit a serious felony by planning to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge,” Jimoh said.