News
Tinubu urges North to fight insurgency in unison
President Bola AHmed Tinubu yesterday said he appointed Northerners into major defence positions because of their knowledge of the region.
“Our first decision was to task our brothers from the Northwest and the Northeast to rise in defence of the security of the region. “Who else can better understand the complexity of the region than the people themselves,’’ he said.
President Tinubu spoke at the opening of a two-day United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP)-sponsored Northwest Peace and Security Summit in Katsina.
He was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Some Northerners holding sensitive security posts are Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Defence (State) Bello Matawale; National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff (COAS) General Christopher Musa and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.
For insecurity in the North to abate, people of the region must rise in unison against terrorists and other criminal elements that have for over a decade denied them peace, President Tinubu said.
This position was supported by the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.
They stated that doing so would complement the strategies adopted by the government and the Armed Forces to restore peace in the region hitherto known for its tranquillity and cohesion.
The theme of the summit graced by eminent personalities like former President Muhammadu Buhari, four of the seven Northwest governors, and Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, is: “Regional cooperation for securing lives and livelihoods in Northwest Nigeria.’’
President Tinubu said even though the various strategies adopted by his administration to tackle the security challenges in the North were yielding results, the people needed to complement the success.
Tinubu, whose address at the event was titled: “Securing stability: uniting for peace in Northwest Nigeria,” reiterated his administration’s commitment to completely eradicating terrorism and other forms of crime.
Describing the summit as a communal gathering to address “the afflictions that have threatened the stability and unity” of the North, the President attributed the lingering crisis in the zone to a fractured relationship by a people “rooted in a culture and bond of shared interests and common pursuits.’’
He said: “What we are witnessing across the North is an explosion of damaged relationships, and we have come to say: enough is enough.
“I am proud to share that the strategies we have employed have begun to provide redemption. We are not slowing down until we achieve our aim.
“Beyond the economic rationale that drove the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, the formation of our great nation was inspired by the need for mutual protection.
“But, I ask, how can we achieve this sacred objective if one part is afflicted?“We have long established that whatever ails any part of this federation destabilises the other.
“So, the issue of national security in the Northwest is not a sectional agenda.
“We promised to make Nigeria safer, and this aim has been our topmost priority since we came to office over a year ago.”
Noting that the steps taken to combat the security challenges his administration inherited were mapped out even before embarking on the journey, President Tinubu observed that achieving security and peace would require that the historical injustices that have torn communities in Nigeria apart are fully addressed.
News
Eid-ul-Adha: FG declares Wednesday, Thursday public holidays
Tunji-Ojo conveyed the warm felicitations of the Federal Government to all Muslim faithful in Nigeria and throughout the diaspora, describing Eid ul Adha as a festival of deep spiritual significance rooted in the values of sacrifice, obedience to God, and compassion for one’s fellow man.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 27th May and Thursday, 28th May, 2026, as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid ul Adha.
The announcement was made by the minister of interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry of interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
The declaration, according to the statement, reflects the federal government’s respect for the faith and spiritual heritage of millions of Nigerian Muslims joining the global Islamic community in observing the sacred occasion.
Tunji-Ojo conveyed the warm felicitations of the Federal Government to all Muslim faithful in Nigeria and throughout the diaspora, describing Eid ul Adha as a festival of deep spiritual significance rooted in the values of sacrifice, obedience to God, and compassion for one’s fellow man.
The federal government urged all Nigerians to use the period for prayer and sober reflection, seeking divine guidance upon the country as it presses ahead in its pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity for every citizen.
News
Humanitarian Services: NEMA distributes relief materials to victims of terrorist attacks in 2 Niger communities
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to victims of terrorist attacks in the Allawa and Bagna communities of the Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State.
The distribution exercise was conducted at the Mutum Daya community in Shiroro local government area, in collaboration with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, where community members were also sensitised on safety precautions in respect to the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
Terrorists in April attacked Bagna, Erena, Yelwa and neighbouring communities, killing residents and vigilante members, burning houses and displacing several families forcing some of the community members to flee.
The Head of NEMA’s Minna Operations Office, Hussaini Isah, stated that the intervention aimed to provide humanitarian support and alleviate the hardship faced by vulnerable persons affected by the attacks.
Isah said the distribution was organised according to the affected communities to ensure fairness, transparency and orderly conduct.
- Abdullahi Baba-Arah. DG, Niger State Emergency Management Agency
Both the Village Head of Allawa, Ibrahim Salihu, and his Bagna counterpart, Bitrus Leo and some beneficiaries appreciated the Federal Government and NEMA for the timely intervention, saying the relief materials had restored hope to vulnerable households affected by the attacks.
Items distributed include 1,000 bags of 25 kg rice, 1,000 bags of 25 kg beans, 1,000 cartons of spaghetti, 100 cartons each of seasoning, vegetable oil, tomato paste and iodised salt.
NEMA also used the medium to advise residents to avoid farming, building houses and carrying out business activities along waterways and flood-prone areas due to the risk of severe and localised flooding predicted for 2026 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced power outage in various parts of Abuja including hotels and diplomatic buildings.
The AEDC made the announcement in its verified X handle today.
It said the blackout also affected Bolingo Hotel, Wada Maida Building, which houses the headquarters of Sudan, Egypt embassies, Envoy Hotel, the European Union embassy, among others.
The other places affected by the blackout are the National Planning Commission (NPC), the National Hospital, and the Turkish, Pakistani, and Indian embassies.
“Also, Garki Area One, Two, Three, Seven and Eight; Garki village; Garki market; Ubiaja Street; Kaltungo Street; and Lagos Street have been affected.
“Also affected are Oka Akoko Street, Treasury House, Karibu Hotel, and part of Asokoro, such as Yakubu Gowon Street.
“Similarly, Imo Government Lodges, Gado Nasko Street, Justice Sowemimo, Hassan Musa Katsina Streets, part of Jasse Martin, NIA, and TY Danjuma Street are without power supply.
“It said also affected are Lugbe, Jedo, Forte Royal, Back Of Dunamics, Customs Quarters, Aviation Village Piwoye Kapwa Ok Water, Nicomsat, Korean School and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,”.
It attributed the power outage to a technical fault.
“The technical team of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is currently working to restore the power supply.
“We regret the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding,” AEDC said.
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