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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad have announced the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in illegal firearms possession, gun running, kidnapping, banditry and job racketeering.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, items recovered during the operation include two automatic rifles with three magazines, an AK-47 rifle with 15 live rounds of ammunition, an FN rifle with two live rounds, one live cartridge, and nine locally fabricated pistols.
The statement added that a bayonet and two pairs of uniforms from the Nigerian Forest Security Services were seized.
The suspects arrested, according to the statement, are Umar Ibrahim, Nura Abubakar, and Mohammed Sule, who are currently being detained in Ukoso Komva Ward, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,
The Service Spokesman explained that the suspects were apprehended on their way to deliver arms to a buyer.
He added that upon interrogation, 3 of the suspects claimed that they were deceived into the crime by one Ali who is currently at large as he earlier invited them to assist him with the sales of firearms in his possession.
“They were, however, apprehended on their way to deliver it to the buyer”.
The former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has stated that President Bola Tinubu desire to give Nigeria the best is not enough in leadership.
He asserted that there must be a framework in place to bring about the change Nigerians are earnestly awaiting.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain shared his reservation on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
The ex-governor, who described the president as his elder brother, said that intentionality is critical to the success of the Nigeria project.
“He (Tinubu) is well-meaning but well-meaning is not enough in leadership; intentionality is critical to success,” he said.
Fayemi said those in power know the truth but do not act the truth “because sometimes there are many mediating factors”.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done many good things, we all must acknowledge that. He’s been bold to take on some of the most difficult decisions that previous leaders have been reluctant to take on.
“The fallout of those decisions has caused us huge cost of living crisis. Fuel subsidy removal, convergence of FX window.
“Whether you talk about student loan or other efforts at resisting insurgency, taming insecurity, tax policy reform, increase revenue into the federal coffers, some elements are there but need to come together.
“This is where effective policy framework go side by side with leadership acumen to get a change of narrative to the story. Maybe that’s the area where we need to do lots more.”
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has vowed to “down tools,” arguing that citizens are “feeding from hand to mouth” following the recent hike in telecom tariff.
Festus Osifo, the President of TUC, made this known when he appeared on Channels Television’s *
Politics Today on Thursday, blaming the hike on mismanagement of foreign exchange, which he believes the government can handle easily.
e said the TUC is not begrudging the telcos, knowing very well that the socio-economic landscape they operate in has changed dramatically, but insisted that the government has the responsibility to ensure that the economic outlook of the country is stable for businesses to thrive.
According to him, “Government has the tools and wherewithal to be able to manage the landscape to ensure that the cost of doing business goes down. And one of the ways is that exchange rate because that is the root cause of the problem.”
Asked what ultimatum they are giving to the Nigerian government, he added, “The NAC [TUC, which is like the National Working Committee] has met today. After that, we’ll have the Central Working Committee meeting, and we also have the NEC.
“So at the NEC, we’ll take the final decision. So the NAC was the one that met today.
“All we are saying is that if you allow your currency to slide, it will affect all of us.”
He added, “We are completely apolitical. For one, I don’t belong to any political party; I’ve said that severally, so we look for what is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers and Nigerians in general.
“We started shouting about this early last year; if our exchange rate is better managed, at the end you are going to see that there is no need for that increment.”
Asked if the TUC is proceeding with an industrial action, he said, “Absolutely,” adding that they will “down tools and go to the streets.”
He said the NEC of TUC has the responsibility to give a date for the strike.
DAILY POST reports that members of the Trade Union Congress are in charge of the oil sector and other sectors crucial to the running of the economy
A manufacturer, the Operations Director of Manufacturing Industry Canada, Olufemi Johnson, said what is consumed as milk in Nigeria are creamers.
Johnson made this known in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday while speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria’s dairy industry.
According to him, Nigeria’s dairy has remained stagnated due to under-investment.
“When it comes to the dairy industry, we are not anywhere in Nigeria.
“As a society, we don’t have milk, or kids don’t have milk protein. We didn’t grow with milk protein. What we called milk in Nigeria is not milk but creamers. They are not qualified to be called milk.
“There is a global standard of what is called milk. You don’t milk, milk, but bottle it,” he stated.
Experts in the have lamented the widespread of inferior milk in Nigeria.
Recall that the federal government in June 2024 launched the National Dairy Policy, 2023-2028 to drive growth in the sector
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has issued guidelines for the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to Bureaux De Change, BDC, operators.
The modalities are outlined in a statement issued by the Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN on Wednesday.
The Apex Bank stated that this is in response to its earlier authorization granting temporary access to existing BDCs to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) for the purchase of FX from authorized dealers.
The CBN noted that authorized dealers are only allowed to sell foreign exchange cash to BDCs, subject to a maximum of USD 25,000.00 per week per BDC.
The Apex Bank warned that any breach of this condition will attract appropriate sanctions.
The CBN emphasized that the selling rate by authorized dealers to BDCs shall be the prevailing day rate at the NFEM window.
According to the statement from the bank, “foreign exchange cash purchased by BDCs from authorized dealer banks shall be sold to foreign exchange end-users at a rate not exceeding a one percent margin above the buying rate.
“While the one percent margin stated above shall be applicable to all funds to be retailed by BDCs, regardless of the source of funds.”
The mother of famous Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr, has urged Nigerians to encourage their middle-aged mothers to join social media platform, TikTok.
Mrs Aderibigbe, who is known for her trendy content on TikTok, claimed that the platform helps middle-aged women mentally.
She made the claim in a video message shared via her TikTok page recently.
“I’m so grateful to be on TikTok. I’m so privileged to have you all in my life as part of me. Thanks you for your support.
“If your mum is between 40-60 years old, encourage them to be on TikTok because it helps them mentally.
“I’m on TikTok now and I can testify to it. My thinking now is different from before. Now, I’m creative in my thoughts.
“You guys can see the way I’m looking. So please, encourage your mums, let them come and teach us their experiences in life,” she said
Media
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has joined the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.
Kennedy joined Nollywood a few months after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu.
DAILY POST reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as minister in August 2023, and removed alongside four others in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024.
The 51-year-old politician has now shifted her focus to filmmaking barely four months after her removal from the cabinet.
Announcing her acting career on her X handle, the former minister shared a video of her latest project.
Kennedy who is also a lawyer and entrepreneur, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 and emerged the party’s first female presidential aspirant in 2023, before ultimately withdrawing to support Tinubu.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Columbus Irisoanga, popularly known as ‘Igbudu’ is dead.
Columbus Irisoanga’s death was announced by another veteran actress and politician, Hilda Dokubo, in a post on Instagram.
Hilda said that Irisoanga had gone to be with the Lord.
She also stated that the actor’s death is a heavy one on University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Nollywood.
“Our uncle Coli @colu_mbusirisoanga has gone to be with the lord. Ikoli eh dein na mu.
“There can’t be shortage of Angels in heaven that the few here are called home like this na! This one is heavy on Uniport Rivers state Nollywood,” she wrote.
Columbus’s death comes just a few days after another Nollywood actress, Pat Ugwu, 35, died.
Reality TV star and disc jockey, Tolani Shobajo, popularly known as Tolanibaj, has revealed that one of her best decisions was relocating to Nigeria from the United States.
In a post on her X handle, Tolanibaj revealed that the thought of her relocation didn’t make complete sense to her at the time, but she took the risk.
The reality star noted how it’s been six years since she moved to Nigeria, and she couldn’t be happier.
She wrote: “Honestly, one of the best choices I ever made in life was relocating to Nigeria. I’m grateful to God for the timing of my move. The thought of moving didn’t make complete sense to me at the time, but it just felt right, and I took the risk. It’s been six interesting years, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Tolanibaj was born on 20th October 1993 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
She rose to fame after participating in the Big Brother Naija reality show in 2020.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has raised concerns over the high rate of malnutrition in North Eastern Nigeria, revealing that 3.7 million children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.
This is according to a statement shared via email with our correspondent by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, on Thursday.
This statistic was disclosed during a high-level roundtable discussion convened by the Government of Borno State in collaboration with FAO to scale up the production and utilisation of the Tom Brown initiative.
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of federal ministries, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs, reaffirming their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.
According to the Northeast Nutrition Sector, represented by the Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, “an alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic. Investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”
The roundtable was held against the backdrop of a worsening food crisis in Nigeria, as recent Cadre Harmonisé figures indicate that 25 million Nigerians are currently food insecure—a number projected to rise to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2025.
Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, stressed the urgency of combating malnutrition, stating, “Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. It is imperative that we adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”
The FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, emphasised the broader benefits of the initiative, saying, “Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development. To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, underscored the economic potential of Tom Brown, stating, “The production and commercialization of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.”
Stakeholders at the roundtable deliberated on the challenges and opportunities in scaling up Tom Brown production, with a focus on establishing a dedicated production facility in Borno State. The meeting resulted in a draft roadmap outlining expansion efforts, including strategies to sustain the initiative.
Tom Brown, a nutrient-dense food made from locally available ingredients, has been recognized as an effective intervention in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 per cent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres.
FAO has also enhanced the product with fish protein, which has been distributed as emergency nutritional assistance to flood-affected families.
FAO and the Borno State Government have called on donors, government agencies, private sector investors, and humanitarian organizations to support the initiative.
“Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable populations across Nigeria,” the FAO statement added.
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Former President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the country’s security and economy improved significantly during his eight-year tenure.
Buhari stated this on Wednesday while receiving members of the Katsina State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists at his country home in Daura, Katsina State.
The former President stated that he inherited a bad economy and security challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party, which was in government for 16 years.
Buhari, however, asserted that his government’s strategies successfully tackled these challenges, curbing terrorism and economic hardship.
He said, “Nigeria’s security and economy improved significantly under my administration compared to what we met in 2015. Things will continue to improve in Nigeria.”
The former President also acknowledged the country’s administrative challenges, noting that only those in positions of power truly understand these obstacles.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yusuf Ibrahim-Jargaba, lauded Buhari’s efforts in tackling terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges during his tenure.
Ibrahim-Jargaba also commended the former president’s hard work, dedication, and selfless service, which he believes helped maintain the country’s unity.
VIDEO: Kemi Badenoch proposes stricter Immigration rules, 15-year wait for British citizenship
AFOLABI
British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has introduced a significant policy change, proposing that immigrants must wait at least 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship.
In her first major announcement as Conservative leader, Badenoch outlined plans to tighten the immigration system, including extending the waiting period for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years.
She also revealed that individuals who claim benefits, rely on social housing, or have criminal records would be permanently barred from settling in the UK.
She said in part, “I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something. We need to change the way our immigration system works. So I am announcing that the conservative party is going to do the following things differently: 1. If you want to stay in our country permanently and apply for indefinite leave to remain, the time you have to live here before you apply would increase from 5 years to 10 years. 2. You will have to be a net contributor with a high enough salary, especially if you want to bring family members with you. And if you have a criminal record, you are banned.
“We would increase the time you can apply for a British passport from 12 months to 5 years, meaning it will take a minimum of 15 years to start an application. If you enter this country illegally or overstay your visa, you will be banned from ever getting leave to remain or a passport,” she said in a video shared on her X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.”
Media
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Thursday proposed the creation of 31 new states in the country.
If the proposal scales through, the Nigerian state will be made up of 67 sub-national governments.
The proposal for new states was contained in a letter read during Thursday’s plenary session by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session in the absence of the Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas.
The committee chaired by Kalu proposed six new states for North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West, five in South East, four in South-South and seven in South West.
The letter read in part, “The committee proposes the creation of 31 new states. As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:
1. New state and boundaries
“An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.
2. The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area are received by the National Assembly.
“Local government advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8 (3) of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfilment of state demands.
“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja.
“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj. For further information or contact, please contact the Committee Clerk at 08069-232381.
“The committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines. This is coming from the Clerk of the Committee on Constitutional Review.”
The proposed new states are Okun, Okura and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; FCT state; Amana state from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi states and Savannah states from Borno and Muri State from Taraba.
Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano, and Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East Adada from Enugu, Orlu and Aba from the South East.
Also included are Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun state as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.
… NESG says FG Must Support Domestic Industries to Achieve a $1 Trillion Economy
Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully exporting two jet fuel cargoes to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and a leading integrated oil and gas company globally.
Saudi Aramco is the official Saudi Arabian Oil Company, which is a majority state-owned petroleum and natu
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, revealed this on Tuesday during a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), team to both Dangote Fertiliser Limited and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Dangote said exporting products to the global markets, especially Saudi Aramco, was because of his refinery’s world-class standards and advanced technologies.
“We are reaching the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and I’m pleased to announce that we’ve just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” he said.
Since its production began in 2024, the Dangote refinery has steadily increased its output, now reaching 550,000 barrels per day.
While commending Aliko Dangote for establishing the $20 billion refinery – the largest single-train refinery in the world – NESG Chairman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, stated that Nigeria needs more investments of this calibre to reach its $1 trillion economy goal.
“To achieve a $1 trillion economy, much of that must come from domestic investments. I joked during the bus ride that while others are dredging to create islands for leisure, you’ve dredged 65 million cubic tonnes of sand to create a future for the country. This refinery, fertiliser plant, petrochemical complex, and supporting infrastructure are monumental,” he said. “My hope is that God grants you the strength, courage, and health to realise your ambitions and that in your lifetime, a new Nigeria will emerge.”
Yusuf emphasised that such local industries are essential to Nigeria’s industrialisation and will help foster the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He added that the NESG would continue to advocate for an improved investment climate to attract entrepreneurs, boost development, ensure food security, and address insecurity.
He lamented that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for foreign products and stressed that the country must support its entrepreneurs to become a global player. “It’s inconceivable that a nation of over 230 million people, with an annual birth rate higher than the total population of some countries, is still dependent on imports to feed its citizens.”
Yusuf also praised Dangote’s bold vision for making Nigeria self-sufficient in several key sectors.
“The NESG is grateful, and I believe the nation is as well. This refinery represents the audacity of courage. It takes immense effort to do what you’ve done and still be standing and smiling. Thank you for inspiring us and showing that nothing is impossible. You’ve transformed Nigeria from a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter,” he said. “We’ve all read Think Big, but this is truly about thinking big. The message is clear: the private sector can bring about real change.”
Yusuf, alongside NESG board members and stakeholders, toured the refinery and fertiliser plants, lauding the level of investment, technology, and sophistication of young Nigerian engineers running world-class laboratories and central control units. He acknowledged Dangote's perseverance and success in overcoming numerous challenges.
Dangote, in his response, reiterated the importance of the private sector in national development, asserting that Nigeria’s challenges could largely be overcome by providing gainful employment to its people.
He stated that the concept of a free market should not be used as a pretext for continued import dependence, highlighting that both developed and developing nations, including the USA and China, actively protect their domestic industries to safeguard jobs and promote self-sufficiency. Dangote also cited the example of the Benin Republic, where cement imports are restricted as part of a deliberate strategy to protect local industries, despite the proximity of his Ibese plant.
“The President is a personal friend, and my Ibese plant is just 28km from Benin, yet they refuse to allow imports to protect their local industries, most of which are grinding plants,” he remarked.
He further emphasised that the government stands to gain substantially when the private sector flourishes, noting that 52 kobo (52%) of every naira Dangote Cement generates goes to the government.
Dangote also pointed out the significant challenges involved, in setting up industries in Nigeria, particularly the substantial capital investment required due to the lack of infrastructure. He stressed that investors are often forced to take on responsibilities for essential services such as power, roads, and ports – services that should be provided by the government.
President/CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Vice President (Oil & Gas), Dangote Group, Mr Devakumar Edwin; Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr Niyi Yusuf; and Board Member, NESG, Mr Frank Aigbogun, during the NESG delegation's visit to Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertilisers in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, on Tuesday, 4th February 2025.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) delegation, led by Chairman Niyi Yusuf, observing refinery operations from the world-class Central Control Unit at Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals.