Category Nigeria News

The 2023 Young Progressives Party (YPP) presidential candidate, Malik Ado-Ibrahim, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to deploy Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic during the recent coup attempt.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the security consultant described the move as “a very wise and clever, well-designed political statement.”

Ado-Ibrahim added on Tuesday that the deployment was aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and reinforcing regional stability.

“It was not only a message to other African countries that think we are weak in our national defence, but also a step to save our country and its economy.

“Lagos needed protection, and the rights given to him under ECOWAS allowed him to make that decision quickly,” he said.

He argued that Tinubu acted within regional protocols.

“I think the President did the right thing. One of the premium edicts from the civil war was the country-centric circle. The countries around us must remain protected because that reinforces our democracy.

“The President going into Benin created a parallel between seeking Senate permission and knowing that ECOWAS rules allow such action. Benin sits close to the centre of Nigeria’s economy, next to Lagos. We must ensure that area is protected, and many have forgotten how close we came to destroying Lagos’s economic lifeline,” he stated.

READ ALSO: [West African Coups] What Nigeria Must Do To Achieve Political Stability — Falana

Ado-Ibrahim also expressed concerns about Nigeria’s internal security structure.

He said the country’s biggest challenge remained weak intelligence capacity.

“Our problem is not troop motivation. We have very capable soldiers. We also have credible advantages with the air force and an air superiority the enemy does not possess.

“We are lacking simple things needed to defeat these issues on the ground. Most of it lies in intelligence gathering, and the lack of it limits our ability to act as swiftly as we did in Benin over the weekend,” he said.

The remarks follow the Sunday’s coup attempt in Benin, where soldiers led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri seized the state-run television station in Cotonou and declared the removal of President Patrice Talon.

Loyalist forces, backed by Nigerian troops and an ECOWAS standby unit, crushed the uprising within hours.

Several people were killed, and at least 14 suspects were arrested, while Tigri remains on the run.

The coup plotters cited worsening security, unfair promotions, and restrictions affecting the 2026 presidential election.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that President Bola Tinubu remains steadfast in tackling security challenges in the country and is acting decisively to address the concerns.

He stated this when he received in his office at the State House Abuja the faculty and participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS).

Led by the NISS Commandant, Joseph Odama, representatives of the 78 participants were at the Presidential Villa to present the executive brief of their end-of-course report to the Vice President who received the report on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

Addressing the delegation, Shettima assured that the Tinubu administration is determined to support the security establishment in Nigeria and beyond to discharge their responsibilities to the nation.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Remains Committed To Regional Stability, Peace – Shettima

He said he was impressed with the composition of the EIMC 18, noting that the security of Africa is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders given the peculiarity of the situation.

“President Tinubu is working round the clock to address concerns in the security sector. It is absolutely essential that we fuse as one to address these issues, and all hands must be on deck to salvage the situation,” he said.

The Commandant of the NISS, Joseph Odama, told the Vice President that the 18th edition of the flagship programme, EMIC 18 commenced on February 19, 2025, pointing out that it had “been a ten-month journey of intense intellectual discovery, strategic broadening and unparalleled professional fellowship.”

Noting that this year’s team was composed of 78 distinguished participants of the rank of Deputy Directors and above, Odama said they “were meticulously drawn from the military, para-military, law enforcement agencies and strategic ministries, departments and agencies of both federal and state governments.

“In significant testament to our pan-African mandate, we were privileged to host five African countries, which had earlier been mentioned. With the graduation of the AIMC 18, the institute has proudly graduated 1,130 strategic leaders.

“These are men and women who have been rigorously equipped to think critically and act decisively, as well as proffer innovative solutions to the most complex security and developmental challenges facing our nation and the continent at large.”

The Commandant expressed the institute’s deepest appreciation to President Tinubu and the Vice President for their visionary and pragmatic leadership, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda under the President’s stewardship was already manifesting in tangible progress across the nation.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the report titled, “Non-state Actors in Security Management in Africa: Issues, Challenges and Prospects for Peace and Development” by representatives of the EIMC 18 participants.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday walked out the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, during a closed-door session.

A lawmaker in the session told Channels Television that Adedeji was ordered out after members accused him of arrogance while responding to questions.

The executive session centred on delayed releases for zonal intervention projects.

Members have complained for weeks about unpaid contractors caused by stalled budgetary disbursements.

According to the lawmaker, Finance Minister Wale Edun informed the House that the 2024 budget must be fully funded within 48 hours.

READ ALSO: FG Directs MDAs To Defer 70% Of 2025 Capital Budget To 2026

He added that the 2025 budget will be extended to April, with 30% funding to begin immediately and 20% released before December ends.

Members insisted that these commitments must be fulfilled before any further budgetary processes.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following an attempted coup there. 

The request was contained in a letter read during plenary on Tuesday.

In the letter, President Tinubu explained that the Government of Benin had urgently appealed for exceptional air support from Nigeria’s Armed Forces after soldiers attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon.

Citing Section 30 (5) of Part II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President informed lawmakers that he had consulted the National Defence Council before forwarding the request.

He noted that Senate approval was now required to authorize a regional peacekeeping mission.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Remains Committed To Regional Stability, Peace – Shettima

President Tinubu warned that Benin was facing “an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and the destruction and destabilization of democratic institutions”.

The former Lagos State governor urged the Senate to act swiftly. He added that Nigeria has a historical responsibility to support Benin under the existing Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) security frameworks.

According to the President, the crisis demands “urgent external intervention” to help restore stability and prevent further breakdown of order.

READ ALSO: Benin Arrests Dozen Soldiers Over Coup Attempt – Sources

Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

Benin Republic’s attempted coup occurred on Sunday, when some military personnel announced the removal of President Patrice Talon.

The soldiers who called themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) took to national television to announce that they had met and concluded that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.

However, the country’s military thwarted the effort and regained control.

“The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure,” sources close to Talon said. “It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well.”

The attempt follows two coups in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in as many months. Benin is bordered in the north by Niger and Burkina Faso, both of which have also experienced military takeovers.

READ ALSO: Coup Attempt ‘Foiled’, Benin Government Says

In the wake of the attempted coup, ECOWAS said it will deploy a standby force to the area.

“After consultation among members of the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, the Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the regional bloc said.

“The Regional Force shall be made up of troops from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Republic of Ghana.

The Rivers State Government has assured residents that the period of emergency rule did not derail its development agenda, insisting that its commitment to delivering infrastructure and social services remained intact despite political disruptions.

This reassurance comes as the government announced a 10-day schedule of project commissioning and flag-offs across the state.

Speaking at a joint media briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Benibo Anabraba, said the Siminalayi Fubara-led administration stayed focused throughout the political challenges and has now fully regained its stride in the initiation, execution, and completion of priority projects.

“Despite the resultant effect of the interregnum in democratic governance, this administration has taken off in earnest from where we stopped, especially in the initiation, execution, and completion of projects,” he said.

READ ALSO: Why I Dumped PDP For APC – Rivers Assembly Speaker

Anabraba noted that the government’s ability to resume its programmes seamlessly was made possible because President Bola Tinubu ensured that the administration had the opportunity to return, stabilize, and complete its mandate.

He expressed deep appreciation to the President for what he described as a fatherly intervention that protected governance continuity in the state.

“With special appreciation to the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose kindly and fatherly intervention ensured that we return to fulfill all our obligations to the people of Rivers State,” the SSG stated.

He added that the state government has outlined 10 major projects for commissioning and flag-off within the period, with additional projects to be scheduled for unveiling after the Christmas festivities.

According to him, the programme demonstrates the administration’s unwavering commitment to its social contract with the people of Rivers State.

“This activity will cut across about six Local Government Areas, including Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas,” he said.

Amnesty International has condemned the deadly attack on St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Lilu, Anambra State.

The organisation issued a statement on Monday, describing the incident as a gruesome assault by armed men.

Gunmen attacked the church early on Sunday, killing a man and abducting the Reverend’s wife.

Her body was later found murdered and partially unclothed.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns the gruesome attack by gunmen on St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Lilu community, Ihiala LGA, Anambra state, in the early hours of Sunday, 7 December 2025.

“The authorities must impartially and transparently investigate the attack and ensure that suspects are brought to justice,” Amnesty said.

READ ALSO: One Killed, Others Injured As Armed Criminals Attack Church In Anambra

The group also urged authorities to examine the lapses that allowed the attack.

It noted that the Agunechemba Security base is located within the church.

“The authorities must also investigate security lapses that enabled the attack, as the operational base for Agunechemba Security personnel deployed by the Anambra state government to Lilu is located in the church,” the organisation said.

Amnesty International stated that the killing reflects the government’s continued failure to protect citizens.

It added that thousands of Nigerians have suffered similar attacks in the past decade.

“This shocking incident underscores the authorities’ persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have killed and abducted thousands of Nigerians over the past decade.

“Whatever security measures that have been implemented by the government of President Bola Tinubu are clearly ineffective,” it added.

The group stated that armed groups have taken control of several communities since 2023.

Police Confirm Attack, Investigation

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the attack in a separate statement released on Monday.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, said the church building was partly burnt during the assault, and other properties within the premises were also destroyed.

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu condemned the incident strongly and described the attack as “heinous” and a “threat to worshippers.”

“No community should be subjected to such brutality. The command will not allow criminals to instil fear or destabilise the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain,” the commissioner said.

The police expressed sympathy to the victims’ families and the Lilu community. They assured residents that officers are working to find the attackers.

The Command said it has increased intelligence operations across the area and that security teams have been deployed and surveillance strengthened.