Category Nigeria News

Former President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has called on Nigerians to show utmost respect for the country’s armed forces, following the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, Lawan commended the armed forces for their sacrifices and commitment to national security.

Lawan said Nigerians, regardless of social or political status, must recognise the selflessness of the military.

“Let me commend our armed forces and other security agencies for doing so much for us, to protect our lives and property.

“They deserve our respect. They deserve our support at all times. This administration is giving a lot of funds to the armed forces and other security agencies, and I believe the next thing is to insist on getting returns from the investments we make,” he said.

READ ALSO: ‘I Can’t Sit In Office While Govt Officials Are Attacked’, Wike Defends Clash With Naval Officer

He praised the military’s dedication and urged citizens to appreciate their efforts in safeguarding national unity.

“But Nigerians, regardless of our status, must respect our armed forces. I have worked closely with them. They are doing a very good job. We need to give them a pat on the back and continue to support them,” Lawan said.

Lawan’s remarks come amid controversy surrounding a confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja’s Gaduwa District.

The altercation, which was captured on video, quickly went viral, showing Wike exchanging words with military personnel guarding a site allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.

FCT officials had reportedly gone to halt an unauthorised construction when soldiers blocked them from entering the site. The minister, who later arrived, accused the officers of impunity and misuse of power.

Wike Defends Action

Addressing the incident on Thursday, Wike said he intervened because government officials were assaulted during a lawful operation. He described the deployment of soldiers by a retired officer as “an abuse of authority.”

“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” he asked.

Wike stressed that no one was above the law, warning against the use of security personnel for personal gain.

“You have no document. We cannot continue to act in impunity. You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those they can intimidate,” he told the officer.

The minister insisted that the FCT Administration had no record of legal allocation for the disputed land.

“It’s really unfortunate. I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position, seeing that he has a problem, cannot approach my office. Simply because he is a military man, they could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those kinds of people who will succumb to blackmail,” Wike said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has reacted the incident, stating that any officer on “lawful duty” would be protected.

The Senate has passed a bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Revenue and Fiscal Management, a proposed legislation which is a major step toward addressing Nigeria’s chronic dependence on debt to finance its annual budgets and the country’s weak revenue mobilisation framework.

Presenting the lead debate, Senator Adamu Aliero, noted that Nigeria’s fiscal challenges, marked by persistent revenue shortfalls, leakages and inefficiencies have been compounded by inadequate capacity in revenue forecasting and fiscal governance.

READ ALSO: Senate Moves To Ban Child Soldiers As Armed Forces Bill Passes Second Reading

The Bill, titled a Bill for an Act to establish the Chartered Institute of Revenue and Fiscal Management of Nigeria (CIRFMAN), a professional body dedicated to the advancement of Nigeria’s revenue administration, promote fiscal discipline and ensure greater efficiency, investor confidence, transparency and accountability in public financial management.

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested three suspected child traffickers and rescued seventeen underage children in Zaria Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, in a statement, said the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence on the suspicious movement of some children under the Danmagaji Flyover in Zaria.

He explained that police detectives from the Danmagaji Division swiftly swung into action, leading to the rescue of seventeen children of various ages who were allegedly being prepared for trafficking to Abuja and other parts of the country and beyond.

The police identified the three members of the syndicate as Musa Shuaibu from Katsina State, Sani Mamman, also from Katsina, and Mubarak Ismail from Kano State, who were arrested in connection with the crime.

READ ALSO: Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner In Taraba, Recover AK-47 Rifle

According to the PPRO, the suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to having brought the children from different locations and were in the process of transporting them to Abuja and beyond before their arrest.

He added that all the rescued children are in good health and currently under the care and protection of the Police Command, while efforts are ongoing to locate and reunite them with their parents or guardians.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the operatives of the Danmagaji Division for their swift and decisive action, reiterating the Command’s zero tolerance for child trafficking and exploitation.

He also advised parents not to allow themselves to be deceived or lured by syndicates promising their children a “greener posture” in the cities.

The Commissioner assured that the suspects would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted upon completion of the investigation.

The National Defence College (NDC) of Nigeria has assured President Bola Tinubu that it will continue researching emerging security challenges in the country and present its strategic findings to the government.

The Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, gave the assurance when the president hosted participants of NDC Course 33 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

The participants included 25 from the Nigerian Army, 16 from the Navy, 12 from the Air Force, five from the Police, 18 from ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), and 23 international officers from countries including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, and Brazil.

In a briefing to the president on the major activities of Course 33, Rear Admiral Ahmed said the participants were trained on “Strengthening Institutions for National Security and Development in Nigeria” and tasked with researching “Harnessing Indigenous Manufacturing for Enhanced National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria by 2040.”

READ ALSO: Police Rescue 17 Minors, Arrest Three Suspected Traffickers In Kaduna

According to him, the topic aligns with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his drive to diversify the economy, boost local production, and enhance national security.

Rear Admiral Ahmed also sought the president’s intervention to complete the college’s permanent site along the Abuja Airport Road, describing it as a strategic national project that has remained unfinished since 2010.

“The college currently operates from its temporary site in the Central Business District due to the non-completion of its permanent site. We respectfully seek Your Excellency’s kind intervention to complete this strategic national institution to allow participants to dedicate more time to study and professional development,” he said.

The Commandant commended President Tinubu for hosting the delegation despite his busy schedule managing state affairs.

Rear Admiral Ahmed explained that the National Defence College, established in 1993 and originally known as the National War College, is Nigeria’s top military institution for professional and strategic leadership training.

He added that the college prepares senior officers from the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and key ministries, departments, and agencies for higher responsibilities in national security and policy formulation.

In continuation of ongoing operations across Taraba, codenamed Operation Lafiya Nakowa, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army / Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have apprehended a gunrunner in Gassol Local Government Area of the state.

The troops, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a raid operation at Shagada Village under Namnai Ward in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, which led to the arrest of a suspected gun-runner identified as Abdulmudallabi Audu, aged 25, who was found in possession of arms and ammunition.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Two Suspected Gunrunners, Recover Eight Guns In Kaduna

Items recovered from the suspect include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, fifty-three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition

A statement from the 6 Brigade Nigeria Army, Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, says the suspect and the recovered exhibits are currently in the custody of 6 Brigade Headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution.

READ ALSO: Suspected Gunrunner Nabbed, Submachine Gun Recovered In Taraba

Following the operation, the Commander, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism, and swift response to actionable intelligence.

Uwa reiterated the brigade’s commitment to sustaining aggressive operations across Taraba State to ensure peace, security, and the protection of law-abiding citizens within the North-East and adjoining regions.

Senator Ned Nwoko has dismissed claims suggesting he married Regina Daniels when she was 17 years old. 

The lawmaker, who took to social media on Thursday morning, described the claims as “entirely untrue and misleading”.

“For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21 years old,” Senator Nwoko posted on his X handle, attaching the Nollywood actress’s voter card to buttress his argument.

“I further asked if she had any documents to support this, and she presented her INEC voter’s card, which clearly shows that she was born on October 10th, 1998. I informed her that I would keep this document in my possession, and I have done so since that day.”

It has come to my attention that false claims are being circulated by Regina, suggesting that I married her when she was 17 years old. These claims are entirely untrue and misleading.

For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21… pic.twitter.com/zlfaGjTdFo

According to him, since their marriage took place six years ago, Daniels is 27 years old, and he asked the public to ignore any suggestion to the contrary.

“According to all verifiable records, our marriage took place six years ago, which means Regina is 27 years old today. Any suggestion that I married her at 17 is false and should not be accepted by the public,” the Delta North lawmaker said.