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FG knocks Canada for denying CDS visa

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has condemned the Canadian Embassy’s denial of a visa to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa.

The controversy unfolded when Gen Musa revealed that he and several senior military officers were not granted visa to attend an event in Canada meant to honour war veterans.

While some members of the delegation were granted visas, others were left stranded after their applications were denied.

Musa expressed disappointment, calling the incident a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to strengthen its sovereignty and resist being taken for granted by foreign nations.

Tunji-Ojo, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, said the action by the Canadian embassy is condemnable and shows a lack of respect for Nigeria.

“Without knowing the full facts, I think even for us it is a policy, the issue of reciprocity as I always say, has to be given due consideration.

“As much as we are not ready to dabble into the sovereignty of other nations, the issue of visas, issue of migration management is a sovereign issue.“

As much as we don’t want to dabble into that, it is not a disrespect to the Chief of Defence Staff, to me, without knowing the facts, it is disrespectful to the country, and it is disrespectful to us as a people.

If that can happen to the chief of defence staff, then I am worried for an average Nigerian.

”The Minister said that he was struggling to find justification for the action by Canada, noting that even if there are questions the embassy needed, there were diplomatic back channels in which that could have been done.

He said he was confident the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take the necessary steps to resolve the issue diplomatically and ensure mutual respect between the two nations.

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Hilda Baci Cooking World’s Largest Pot of Jollof Rice Today at Eko Hotel

Baci also disclosed she would be using 250 bags of rice to create what she hopes will become the world’s biggest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.

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Celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci is cooking what she describes as the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice at Eko Hotel and Suites today (Friday) in Lagos.

A video shared on her Instagram page on Thursday showed the moment the massive pot arrived at the venue of the record-breaking attempt in Lagos.

Another clip shared on her Snapchat story captured Hilda and her mother praying at the venue ahead of the event.

Baci announced on Wednesday that more than 20,000 people had registered to attend the event dubbed “Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci”

She emphasised that the event which kicks off at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 12, is free to attend, and that guests will “certainly not be paying for the amazing meal that I’m going to make for you.”

According to Baci, the historic attempt will feature a giant pot measuring six metres wide and six metres tall, in collaboration with seasoning and culinary brand Gino.

Baci also disclosed she would be using 250 bags of rice to create what she hopes will become the world’s biggest pot of Nigerian jollof rice

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Air Peace Port Harcourt Airport Incident: NSIB report finds crew under alcohol and drug influence

A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.

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The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-524 aircraft, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQQ, operated by Air Peace Limited.

The incident occurred on 13 July 2025 at Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an instability final approach.

The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway.

NSIB, in a statement signed by Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, said that all passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.

Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption.

A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.

These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.

The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen crew resource management (CRM) training, particularly in handling instability approaches and go-around decisions, and to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring before flight dispatch.

The full preliminary report, including detailed findings, is available for download on the NSIB website.

The report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis.

The final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.

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Terrorism: Ansaru commander Jailed 15 years

Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence but ordered that the defendant remain in DSS custody pending his trial for 31 other terrorism-related charges.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced a senior commander of the proscribed terror group Ansaru, Mahmud Usman, to 15 years in prison.

He pleaded guilty for involvement in illegal mining to finance arms procurement for terrorism and kidnappings.

The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned Usman, who admitted that proceeds from the illicit mining supported his terrorist activities.

Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence but ordered that the defendant remain in DSS custody pending his trial for 31 other terrorism-related charges.

In the Court’s filings, Usman and his associate, Abubakar Abba, were accused to have launched a deadly attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Niger State in 2022, which resulted in mass casualties.

The charges also alleged that both men received training in weapons handling, bomb-making and guerrilla tactics from camps in Nigeria and Mali.

The DSS further claims that the two commanders masterminded the July 2022 raid on Kuje prison near Abuja, which freed more than 600 inmates, including hardened extremists.

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