Category Nigeria News

A Nigerian conservation NGO that was preparing to receive an African baby gorilla for later repatriation said Saturday that Turkey’s decision to keep it defies logic.

Just before Christmas, the primate was taken to a zoo in the hills outside Istanbul and taken to safety in a wooden crate at the airport in a hurry.

Turkey’s conservation authorities launched the process after a DNA test revealed Zeytin belonged to a non-native species, and Nigeria requested his repatriation.

Zeytin would not be repatriated to Nigeria, but he would be kept in a Turkish zoo, according to Turkish officials’ announcement on Friday.

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Before moving Zeytin and another young gorilla of the same subspecies to a sanctuary in central Africa, the Pandrillus Foundation in Nigeria was preparing to house them.

“We have been incredibly disappointed. What the Turkish government is doing is illogical, according to Liza Gadsby, director of the Pandrillus Foundation.

“And that’s fine if Turkey doesn’t want him to go to a gorilla sanctuary instead of Nigeria.” But they must act responsibly for this animal, she said.

She said that while they should have taken him into consideration when they first seized him, keeping him in Turkey “goes against everything” that they are supposed to be doing under the CITES or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Another gorilla was taken from Nigerian customs more than two years ago, according to The Pandrillus Foundation.

Gadsby announced that the other gorilla’s repatriation process would start on Monday.

She said, “We never intended to keep her.”

Engr. – Minister of Works By the end of November, David Umahi has requested that the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State be fully operational and ready for use.

Umahi gave the directive while conducting an inspection of federal road projects in the South-South and South-East regions, where he evaluated the level of work done by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on the 37.9-kilometer Bodo-Bonny Road project.

According to President Bola Tinubu’s approval, the project, which began on October 20, 2017, had gone through several cost reviews, starting with 120 billion, moving up to 199 billion, and finally to N280 billion.

Bodo-Bonny, a 37.9 km project, is “exactly eight years old today.” The project officially began on October 20th, 2017. As of 2017, the contract’s initial value was 120 billion, which was later increased to 198 billion and now to 280 billion. Because of his commitment to the Niger Delta people, Umahi advised “go and give them what they want.”

He claimed that given the terrain and the standard of the work being done, the cost would be around $7.4 billion per kilometer.

The route through marshy lands is “a coastal route.” It would cost more than 15 billion per kilometer if we were to complete this project right away. The Minister stated that the work was of high caliber and that the project manager’s commitment was admirable.

By the end of November, Umahi ordered that all barricades be removed so that there can be some partial traffic flow while monitoring continues until the final asphalt surfacing is finished in the spring.

Every job here must be finished by December 15th, with the exception of the five kilometers of asphalt. Before final surfacing, monitor the road through December, January, and February and open it for traffic until the end of November. The President will then commission it, he said.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed plans to put solar-powered streetlights, CCTV cameras, and trees along the embankments, noting that the improvements would be funded by the project’s contingency funds without incurring any additional costs to the government.

“This road’s security is very important. If there are reasonable emergency costs, he said, “we’ll use them to plant trees, install solar lights, install CCTV, and also set up relief stations where cars can park and we can watch security.”

Tim Nippert, Julius Berger’s project manager, praised Umahi for his assurance that the project would be finished in time.

We appreciate your sincere words. You have presented us with a significant challenge, but we won’t have to put up with it. That’s our full commitment,” Nippert said, referring to the project as a new standard for Nigerian concrete road construction.

Ndom Ndifreke, the engineer’s representative, also confirmed that the work was going well and would be finished on time.

Umahi expressed satisfaction with Reynolds Construction Company’s (RCC) work at the East-West Road’s Eleme-Onne section, explaining that the project had been converted from asphalt to reinforced concrete pavement to accommodate heavy industrial traffic.

The petrochemical plant, port, and refinery are served by this is Nigeria’s most traveled road. He claimed that we redesigned the initial $ 156 billion asphalt design to make it stronger by using reinforced concrete.

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The Minister made it clear that the Aleto Bridge and one carriageway were about to be finished, with the remaining flyovers and bridges scheduled to arrive by April of next year.

He demanded truck parks to be constructed to stop heavy vehicles from causing damage to the new road and directed the installation of solar lights and CCTVs every 30-meter interval.

Umahi also urged people to take ownership of government projects in order to prevent misuse of public infrastructure.

We must protect the roads because the President is building ones that will last 100 years. People should stop dumping garbage on medians and parking trucks on bridges. Every citizen has a role, he remarked. Leadership is not just for those in office.

The Minister further assured contractors that all NNPC-sponsored road projects, including those in the Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States, would continue to be funded without delay.

“There won’t be any issues with funding.” We’ll give the President a strategic plan by the end of this week to ensure that NNPC projects continue to be funded. He claimed that none of these initiatives should be abandoned.

In response, RCC representatives thanked the Minister for his advice and promised to finish the Eleme section on time.

Prof. Mohammed Othman has been appointed as the substantive vice Chancellor of the University, according to the Governing Council of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State.

Ali Jatau, the Governing Council’s president, made the announcement shortly after the 36th Special Meeting held at the Grand Amber Hotel and Suites in Dutse, Jigawa State.

Following the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board’s review of the appointment of a substantive VC for the university, the appointment was made after the report was submitted and taken into consideration.

The chairman claims that the selection of Prof. Othman came after a rigorous selection process that included 17 short-selected candidates for the position.

He claimed that the Search Team had identified three more candidates after the search team received 28 applications for the vacant position at the time the applications were received.

The Governing Council selected and approved the appointment of one of the 17 shortlisted applicants as vice Chancellor after the rigorous and transparent selection process that the group took part in, he said.

The new vice-chancellor, who was born on July 22, 1962, is an Ahmadu Bello Zaria alumnus and was born in the Bindawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He attended ABU Zaria from 1982 to 1983, Government Secondary School in Funtua from 1970 to 1977, and Bindawa Primary School from 1970 to 1977.

He earned his first, second, and third degrees at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1984 and 1988, 1997 and 2001, and, respectively, between 2003 and 2007.

Prof. Othman has worked in various capacities as a teacher, researcher, and administrator, from an assistant professor to professor to professor.

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He served as the Senate representative for the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and for one time served as the executive director of the organization.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the people of Nigeria were felicitated by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.

In a letter to the President, NGF Chairman Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State wrote, “This milestone is a clear testament to Your Excellency’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening governance, transparency, and institutional integrity in our nation.”

It also highlights the effects of the reform initiatives promoted by the Renewed Hope Administration, which are based on fiscal prudence, anti-corruption, and the restoration of Nigeria’s reputation internationally.

NFIU: Nigeria No Longer On the Global Financial Watch List

The country’s financial system is now back on the grey list, according to the NGF, and that this is to promote inclusive growth, responsible governance, and sustainable development at all levels of government.

The NGF continues to work with the Federal Government to consolidate these gains, maintain compliance with international benchmarks, and create a resilient economy, according to the statement.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) announced on Friday that it had officially departed from the list of countries receiving more surveillance, or “grey lists.”

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s (FATF) plenary in Paris, France in October 2025 removed Nigeria from the list.

A mentally ill woman has been freed from a Lagos State government after disturbing residents of the state’s Agege neighborhood.

Mobolaji Ogunlende, the state commissioner for youth and social development, posted a verified X handle that confirmed the development.

According to him, the woman’s rescue team members from the ministry had responded and had to be removed for medical care and rehabilitation.

Following a viral video that attracted the attention of the general public, the development occurred.

A distressed woman pleaded with the government to stop the neighborhood from being subjected to constant harassment, according to footage that went viral this week.

The woman, who was identified as residing at No. Stones were being thrown into people’s homes at 31 Adedosu Street in Agege while armed with a machete and knife.

The unidentified resident in the viral clip, which was widely shared on social media platforms, also narrated how the mentally ill patient presents a threat to the local community.

Ogunlende responded to the public’s outcry on Friday by noting that the woman had been taken to a facility.

She has been taken for care to one of our facilities.

I urge people to report any incidents that call for government intervention.

“We are unwaveringly committed to ensuring social stability in Lagos. Together, let’s make a difference, Ogunlende wrote.

He emphasized that the state government continues to promote harmony and protection of the vulnerable while maintaining peace and order in its neighborhoods.

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Residents were urged by the ministry to continue to report similar incidents via its emergency lines.

Following a public outcry on social media, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development deployed its Rescue Team to help a mentally disabled woman in Ogba, Agege.
1/2 pic. twitter.com/myUczAMytg

During the Anambra State Command’s November 8, 2025, governorship election, the Police Commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to protecting lives. &nbsp, &nbsp,

As part of his ongoing security engagements ahead of the election, CP Orutugu made the commitment by traveling to Aguata and Otuocha Area Commands to speak with security officials, officers, and personnel from the Command.

During the interactive sessions, the police public relations officer from Anambra State Police Command, Awka, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, and CP Orutugu all reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remained a purely impartial and non-partisan institution.

He emphasized that the Police are not concerned with the outcome of the election, but rather that it is about ensuring that there is no violence before, during, and after the polls.

In light of the rise in political activity, CP Orutugu instructed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical Commanders, and operational teams to demonstrate professionalism, discipline, courtesy, and firmness. He emphasized that police officers must adhere strictly to the Electoral Act, the Police Code of Conduct, and Standard Operating Procedures.

Traditional rulers, religious leaders, town union executives, youth and women’s organizations, local vigilante organizations, and other community security organizations were also a part of the Commissioner’s stakeholder engagements.

The dialogue sought to improve voter intimidation, stop electoral violence, promote peaceful civic participation, and increase local intelligence sharing.

The CP praised communities in the area for engaging in dialogue and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) over past communal clashes, while acknowledging the area’s relative calm.

He urged communities to form internal peace committees to resolve disputes involving civil rights and land-related issues, stressing that they should not be turned into criminal cases and should not be turned over to the police.

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The CP urged Anambra residents to engage in peaceful political activity while ensuring that adequate deployments, intelligence monitoring, and response units are already in place to protect the state during the election campaign.

He urged political leaders and members of the community to refrain from making uprising statements or inflammatory statements that could endanger the state’s current state of peace.