* Idris: It’s soothing relief for Nigeria

*Abiodun hails Tinubu, urges massive support 

Olawale Ajimotokan and Linus Aleke in Abuja

State forces, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), have successfully secured the release of the remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, sources familiar with the operation, have said.

The rescue operation confirmed that all remaining victims taken during the November 21 attack had now been freed.

Armed bandits on motorcycles, on November 21, stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School around 2am, abducting no fewer than 315 students, including 12 teachers. 

The assailants, reportedly, moved systematically from dormitory to dormitory before taking their victims into nearby forests.

During the initial attack, 50 students managed to escape. Security agencies had previously secured the release of around 100 abductees on December 8, leaving a number of victims still in captivity until the latest operation.

The source, the remaining captives were freed on Friday evening in a forest located between Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas.

Security personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser oversaw the evacuation under heavy protection. 

The source added that the release followed intensive negotiations between the government and the abductors, though it remained unclear whether ransom was paid.

The abduction from St. Mary’s Catholic School was recorded as the single largest school kidnapping in Niger State to date.

Data showed that since January 2023, at least 816 pupils had been abducted in 22 separate school attacks.

However, reports on the current location of the released students were conflicting. 

Some sources indicated they were in Minna receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families, while others suggested they were in Abuja, awaiting handover to Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, who was currently in the city.

Confirming the development, Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna,

said Bago called him “a few minutes ago to confirm the release of the children and their teachers”.

He, however, said the figure of children released was not mentioned, adding that they are expected in Minna today and to be received by the governor at Government House.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the rescue of the remaining 130 children and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, was a fitting end to the year. Idris stated this in a statement last night, stressing that all the abducted pupils of the Catholic School, numbering 230, had been freed, with not a single pupil was left in captivity. 

He said the released 130 pupils had also been handed over to the Niger State government, after which they would be reunited with their families. 

Idris said, “This courageous effort by our security forces reaffirms our nation’s resolve to protect its people. The federal government empathises with the parents and guardians of the pupils for the agony the abduction has caused them, wishes them a pleasant family reunion, a good healing process, compliments of the season and a Merry Christmas.”

Ogun State Governor, and Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, expressed delight at the release of the 130 students, saying it is a sign that evil forces would not triumph over Nigeria.

Abiodun said the release of the remaining students of the school, which brought the total number of those rescued to 230, fulfilled Tinubu’s pledge to ensure the freedom of the students without any hurt, and facilitate their reunion with their parents.

Commending the president for the security measures rolled out, which he said had restored the confidence of Nigerians in their government, Abiodun said the catalogue of releases of abducted persons, including 24 from Kebbi State and 100 from a Catholic school in Niger State, as well as the Christian worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, showed that the president had capacity to face Nigeria’s challenges head on.

Abiodun, in a statement issued in Abeokuta, said it was particularly heart-warming that the students and their parents would be able to celebrate the Yuletide in warm embrace after the terrible ordeal, urging the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

He stated, “I am extremely delighted to learn that the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School Papiri community, Niger State, who were hitherto in captivity, have been released. 

“The students, their parents, Papiri community and the Government of Niger State have all been through a lot, and I rejoice with them in this moment of triumph over the forces of darkness who seized innocent students from their hostels, and their teachers from the school grounds.

“If this incident shows anything, it is the fact that the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to a safe, secure and prosperous Nigeria, and deserves our collective prayers and moral support. 

The governor added, “The president is determined to tackle the upsurge of kidnapping and terrorist attacks, and bring sanity back to our society, which will invariably restore the confidence of Nigerians and the international community in the government, and bring massive development.

“The security agencies deserve plaudits for this feat. I also urge them to ensure that the terrorists behind the attacks on innocent and law-abiding Nigerians are hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

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By Babajide Komolafe

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc. are set to formalise a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring faster and more efficient reimbursement of depositors in the event of bank failures.

The development was disclosed by NDIC Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, during a courtesy visit to the Corporation’s Abuja headquarters by the NIBSS Executive Management team led by its MD/CEO, Mr. Premier Oiwoh.

Sunday commended NIBSS for its long-standing support, particularly its role in driving digital verification processes via the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform, which facilitated seamless payment to alternate accounts of depositors of the failed Heritage Bank Limited. He described NIBSS as a “reliable partner” and said the MoU would solidify collaboration on depositor protection.

Key areas of the MoU include real-time synchronization of NDIC’s deposit registers and electronic records for swift account verification during bank resolution, expansion of disbursement channels to include Mobile Money Operators and a potential NDIC-branded mobile interface, and investment in Single Customer View (SCV) and interoperability infrastructure for instant validation.

Sunday praised NIBSS for reforming Nigeria’s payments system, mitigating financial fraud, and positioning it ahead of peers globally.

In response, Mr. Oiwoh reaffirmed NIBSS’s commitment to supporting NDIC’s mandate, emphasizing that prompt depositor reimbursement enhances public trust and financial inclusion. He noted that NIBSS is working closely with law enforcement to safeguard the nation’s payment infrastructure while lowering transaction costs and reinforcing the stability of the financial system.

The partnership is expected to strengthen NDIC’s capacity to protect depositors, enhance operational efficiency during bank resolutions, and boost confidence in Nigeria’s banking and digital payments ecosystem.

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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Police, Western Command, has activated comprehensive security measures across major port corridors in Lagos State to ensure safety and uninterrupted maritime operations during the Yuletide season.
 
The Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, Oluwatoyin Agbaminoja, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Isaac Hundeyin, said that the round-the-clock patrols on land and water had been intensified to deter criminal activities and ensure the safety of vessels, cargo and port infrastructure. 
 
Agbaminoja said the security directives were to safeguard port users, maritime stakeholders and critical national assets across all port corridors in the state during the festive period.
 
She said that security measures had been activated across Apapa Port, Tin Can and Island Port, Lekki Deep-Sea Port, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, and the marine patrol axis covering up to 12 nautical miles.
 
The commissioner stated that the strategy aims to guarantee seamless port operations amid increased human and vehicular traffic typically associated with the festive season.
 
To ensure a safe festive season, Agbaminoja said that the Command had strengthened collaboration with sister-security agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) to enable real-time response to security concerns.
 
She added that additional personnel had also been deployed to critical locations prone to human congestion and vehicular traffic during the Yuletide period, while intelligence gathering and surveillance operations have been enhanced to identify and prevent potential threats to ports’ safety and national economic assets.
 
The commissioner, therefore, urged all port users to remain vigilant, comply with security guidelines, and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest Port Police Division or the Marine Unit.
 
“The Command wishes to reassure port users, maritime stakeholders and the public of its unwavering commitment to maintaining safety, security, and order across all port corridors during the Yuletide period. The command also remains committed to ensuring that activities within the nation’s maritime domain continue smoothly and securely throughout the season and beyond,” the commissioner stated.

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Sunday Ehigiator

JEX Markets Limited, Nigeria’s energy commodities exchange and market infrastructure company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Blessing Ayemhere as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The appointment is expected to take effect from January 3, 2026.

The company in a statement yesterday, said “Dr. Ayemhere will provide strategic leadership as JEX Markets advances plans to build a transparent, liquid, and globally competitive marketplace for natural gas and other energy-related products in Nigeria.

“In his role, he will work closely with the Board, regulators, market participants, and infrastructure partners to launch trading operations, deepen liquidity, strengthen market integrity, and drive innovation across the JEX ecosystem.”

Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of JEX Markets Limited, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the selection followed a rigorous process facilitated by Global Career Company.
According to him, “Dr. Ayemhere’s depth of experience and proven leadership would strengthen the company’s capacity to deliver on its mandate of building a world-class, transparent, and efficient energy marketplace that supports Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial growth.”

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*As prices of shampoo, washing, setting soar

The adage, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’, has come to play in the lives of many Nigerians who have created one innovation or the other to save or change a lifestyle.

The old tradition of visiting the salon, washing, drying and styling of hair is fading gradually as the cost of living keeps skyrocketing and purchasing power reducing.

Economy&Lifestyle has discovered that apart from cutting hair, maintaining natural hair to save cost, many with relaxed hair have improvised various low cost means to maintain their hair styles. Some women now use detergents, liquid soap for dishes to replace hair shampoo, kerosene and canfur mixtures as relaxers among other things.Explaining the reason for such action, Mrs Theresa Kingsley, a small business owner said: “Do you know the latest price of shampoo and conditioner?

“Even the price of a relaxer is high. Before, with N150 or N200, you can get a good relaxer. The opposite is the case now. A small bottle of good shampoo goes for N3,000 to N20,000.If you buy one of N500 it will turn to water within two days.

“I decided to use detergent or liquid wash for myself and my daughter. Sometimes I use soda bar soap which cleanses my hair better compared to liquid wash.

“My daughter doesn’t visit the salon anymore because I created time to plait her hair to cut costs.I have decided to go on a low hair cut next year to save myself from all this hair drama.”

Mrs. Anita Eruwa, a tailor, mentioned a hairdresser who usually uses detergents to wash her customers hair especially when her shampoo finishes and she can’t afford another one.

“It is not the fault of the hairdresser because many people want cheap services and as such must pay dearly for any default found in such salon.

“This hairdresser charges less for retouching, washing and setting.The money she charges doesn’t add up to the increased cost of shampoo and other hair maintenance kits talk of rent.Why won’t she use detergents?”, she added.

Mr. James Dike, a hairstylist, noted that even those revamping wigs use detergents which damage expensive human hairs worth millions of Naira.“A client of mine gave a lady two human hairs to revamp. This lady used detergent to wash the wigs which cost N1.8 million.She ended up destroying the strands.

“My client arrested her but she was told to let it go because seeing the lady, she cannot pay the money.

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned a 60-unit Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Housing Estate in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The commissioning was done alongside a Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) Shopping Complex at Akobo, Ibadan, as part of sustained efforts to enhance the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu described the project as a practical demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s Soldier First philosophy. He noted decent and affordable housing as central to troop morale, operational effectiveness and post-service stability. He added that the AHOOAS scheme was designed to ensure that soldiers retire in dignity, with secure home ownership in locations of their choice.

The COAS recalled that the pilot phase of the AHOOAS project at Idu, Abuja, delivered over 400 housing units, all of which are occupied by soldiers and their families.

According to him, the success of the pilot informed the expansion of the scheme to Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Akwa Ibom and other locations nationwide, while plans are also underway to fast-track home ownership for Army Warrant Officers.

Shaibu commended the Oyo have government for its sustained support to military formations and appreciated traditional institutions for promoting peace and cooperation.

He lauded the management of PHDL for its professionalism in project delivery and acknowledged Family Homes Funds Limited for partnering with the Nigerian Army to construct 50 housing units for widows of fallen heroes.

The COAS called on other state governments to support the scheme through land allocation for future phases, emphasising that affordable housing remains a critical pillar of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PHDL, Maj-Gen Isiah Alison, disclosed that the Ibadan project comprises 60 housing units, 30 two-bedroom houses for non-commissioned soldiers and 30 three-bedroom houses for senior non-commissioned soldiers.

He stated that five per cent of the houses were allocated, free of charge to soldiers who sustained disabilities in the line of duty, while 70 per cent of the units were reserved for soldiers at highly subsidised rates.

Alison explained that houses constructed at costs of up to N30 million were sold to soldiers for as low as N7.5 million, describing the initiative as a deliberate welfare intervention rather than a commercial venture.

He added that similar housing projects were ongoing in other locations, alongside service shopping complexes designed to support small businesses and stimulate local economic activities of troops’ families.

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Uzoma Mba 

Ghana has formally escalated the protracted River Park Estate dispute in Abuja to the ECOWAS Court, marking a significant diplomatic and legal turn in a controversy that now threatens to strain bilateral relations between Accra and Abuja.

Confirming the development, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, disclosed that an official petition has been submitted to the regional bloc after earlier efforts at resolving the matter through engagement failed.

“When I became the High Commissioner, we properly briefed Accra, and that resulted in an official petition to ECOWAS,” Jamal said.

According to him, ECOWAS has since requested full documentation on the dispute, a process that Ghana is already completing.

“As I speak to you today, I have signed a letter that is supposed to send the official documentation and details,” he said. “Possibly, it will reach ECOWAS tomorrow.”

Jamal said Ghana initially exercised restraint to prevent the dispute from affecting long-standing diplomatic ties with Nigeria.

“We did not want to escalate this matter because we did not want this particular case to affect the excellent relationship between Ghana and Nigeria,” he said, describing the matter as “a simple business crisis” complicated by “intransigent positions.”

He, however, suggested that vested interests may be driving the crisis.

“What I can make out of all this is that some individuals are trying to push themselves, or push their power, to take over things that do not belong to them,” Jamal said.

The High Commissioner noted that the controversy predates his assumption of office.

“This problem started before I assumed office in Nigeria as High Commissioner,” he said, adding that he had attended several meetings where both parties presented their positions.

The diplomatic escalation follows sustained complaints by Jonah Capital, a Ghanaian investment firm, which alleges harassment, document falsification and breach of agreement by Nigerian authorities over ownership of the River Park Estate.

Speaking in an interview with Joy TV, Jonah Capital CEO, Kojo Mensah, said his company was shocked by the actions of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), dismissing claims that the firm failed to attend meetings convened by the agency.

“In fact, it came to us as a surprise. The CAC never wrote to us,” Mensah said. “They wrote a letter to the Attorney General, peddling lies that we did not turn up for the meeting.”

He countered the CAC’s position by citing video evidence posted by the CAC Commissioner himself.

“The CAC Commissioner is fond of posting videos of everything he does, so we have the video which he himself posted on his CAC Instagram, showing our lawyers being present and also the representative of the Attorney General being present for the meeting,” he stated.

Mensah maintained that Jonah Capital’s ownership of the estate is supported by extensive documentation dating back to 2012.

“The share certificates have been prepared. Transfer forms were signed by me and are sitting with the lawyers in Abuja,” he said, referencing an email dated June 27, 2012, allegedly sent by one John Tanley Johnson.

According to him, the share certificate—described as “the bedrock of the company”—was emailed on July 4, 2012, by the accountant of Adren Ogunmuirwa, with Ogunmuirwa copied in the correspondence.

“This is the share certificate they sent to us,” Mensah said. “These are some of the documents we shared with the Nigeria Police, along with a copious number of documents which established our ownership of the estate.”

He added that Jonah Capital also possesses FedEx records connected to the transmission of the documents in 2012.

On the possibility of legal action against the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mensah said no final decision had been taken, although concerns had been formally communicated.

“We have not even made the decision of whether we are going to sue the FCT Minister for the breach or alleged breach of the agreement,” he said. “They wrote to us after the FCT Minister made his pronouncement and asked us to preserve the agreement.”

He disclosed that the company had raised concerns over the termination clause of the agreement and requested further engagement.

“We wrote to the General Counsel that even though we have commenced the exercise that we have been asked to do, we have issues with the clause of termination, and we have asked for a meeting to engage,” Mensah said.

Jamal said Ghana is hopeful that the ECOWAS intervention will lead to an amicable resolution.

“We are hoping that we will be able to resolve this matter without it escalating further,” he said, confirming that the dispute is now headed to the ECOWAS Court for adjudication.

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…Works on details, as Nigerians await breakdown

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Presidency raised the 2026 Federal Government budget from the N54.46 trillion originally contained in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, to a new threshold of N58.18 trillion to accommodate the massive recruitment into the military, police and other security agencies, announced recently by President Bola Tinubu.

The Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Tanimu Yakubu, announced the figure after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, held on Friday, a few hours before the president went to present the budget to the National Assembly.

A Presidency source disclosed that the submissions of budget proposals by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Budget Office of the Federation, which usually follow Budget Call Circulars, had been concluded before the recent announcement to increase the personnel of the military and security agencies.

It was learnt that it was, therefore, necessary to increase the budget figure to make room for the financial implications of the new intakes.

Last Friday’s FEC meeting that preceded Mr. Tanimu’s announcement, as learnt, did not last for more than two hours and did not accommodate detailed discussions on the budget by members of the Council.
Mr. Yakubu was, thereafter, directed to address the State House Press to give it credence.

The source said that the president had to hurriedly present the budget to the National Assembly to show commitment to its early passage because the budget process was already late and could not wait for the details to be worked out before the presentation.

“They have to work on the details and clean it up before the Bill returns to the NASS for the process to continue with MDAs’ budget defence and the rest,” the source said.

The aggregate expenditure of N58.18 trillion in the 2026 budget proposal is six per cent higher than the 2025 budget estimate of N49.7 trillion.

This includes projected spending of government-owned enterprises, amounting to N4.98 trillion, and N1.37 trillion for grants and donor-funded projects.

The projected aggregate spending includes statutory transfers of N4.1 trillion; debt service, N15.52 trillion, including N3.388 trillion for the sinking fund to retire maturing issues of local contractors and creditors.

Personnel costs, including pension, N10.75 trillion, which includes N1.02 trillion for government-owned enterprises, are seven per cent higher than the 2025 provision, and overhead costs N2.22 trillion.

Non-oil revenues have been rising in recent years, now accounting for roughly two-thirds of total receipts, confirming a structural shift away from oil dependence.

With a revenue projection of N34.33 trillion and total expenditure of N58.18 trillion, the budget deficit will stand at N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of GDP.

Recurrent (non-debt) spending is put at N15.25 trillion, while capital expenditure totals N26.08 trillion.

Security tops sectoral allocations with N5.41 trillion, followed by Infrastructure (N3.56 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion) and health (N2.48 trillion).

Vanguard News Nigeria

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Powell Homes and Shelters Ltd has once more reinforced its reputation as a people-focused real estate brand with the presentation of two brand-new cars to its top-performing realtors during its end-of-year celebration, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, with the aim of rewarding excellence and dedication.

The vehicles were formally handed over by the company’s brand ambassador and Nollywood legend, Patience Ozokwor, also known as “Mama G,” who commended the dedication, consistency, and integrity displayed by the award recipients as well as the company.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ozokwor described Powell Homes and Shelters Ltd as a dependable real estate brand that offers peace of mind and genuine property ownership to investors.

She stated that the company’s amiable relationship with its staff, realtors, customers, and the media signifies integrity.

According to her, Powell Homes and Shelters Ltd is a brand that one can trust. “You can depend on them without worry. Any property you buy from Powell Homes and Shelters belongs to you. Everything is sorted out. All the stress people usually face when acquiring land is completely taken care of.”

She also stated that, as a public figure who has worked for decades promoting virtues and values for humanity, she associates only with brands that uphold trust and excellence, adding that Powell Homes and Shelters has consistently delivered value to both investors and partners.

“I don’t go to places where people are stressed. Powell Homes and Shelters has given me and everyone who has invested with them peace of mind.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Powell Homes and Shelters, Architect Dr. Onyekachi Emmanuel, said the company deliberately rewards excellence to motivate its realtor network and drive healthy competition.

He stated that the 2025 edition of the reward programme was particularly remarkable because the performance benchmark for winning cars was raised, yet several realtors still met the criteria within a short period.

“The essence of this event is to motivate and encourage our hardworking realtors. Beyond commissions, we also reward them with valuable gift items such as cars, refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, and others. This has been our culture for the past two years, and we do this twice a year.

“In this year’s event, what stands out is that even though we increased the stake required to win car gifts, people still qualified. If we had maintained the previous performance benchmark, we would have given out more vehicles.”

Reports also have it that the two cars presented at the event bring the total number of vehicles awarded by the company in 2025 to seven, alongside numerous other gift items including iPhones, generators, media kits, and household appliances.

Highlighting the company’s competitive edge, Dr. Onyekachi said Powell Homes and Shelters is driven by value delivery.

“For every property you buy from us, you are guaranteed value. If you compare our properties side by side with others, you will see that we offer superior quality and value,” he said.

In their various remarks, the car winners, Mrs. Njideka Chinonso and Mrs. Eze Victoria Rose, who emerged as the highest-selling realtors, expressed gratitude to the management for recognising their efforts.

They described the gesture as a major motivation, saying it had strengthened their commitment to the brand, which rewards hard work excellently.

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Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has fuelled speculation about early political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election as campaign posters surfaced across major streets in Kaduna.

Naija News reports that the posters, which prominently display Amaechi’s portrait, describe him as “the only person to be trusted” and “the only man for the job”, with accompanying messages centred on unity, equality, stability and development.

Residents reported that the posters were posted at key locations across the Kaduna metropolis, including Ahmadu Bello Way, Ali Akilu Way, and areas around the Kaduna State Government House and the Kawo Bridge axis leading towards Zaria.

The displays attracted noticeable attention, with motorists and pedestrians slowing to view them, particularly around Kawo Bridge, where early-morning traffic experienced brief disruptions.

Amaechi, who holds the traditional title of Dan Amanan Kasar Hausa of Daura, has previously served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation.

At the time of filing this report, Amaechi has yet to make any formal declaration of his presidential ambition, despite the emergence of posters that have heightened speculation about a possible return to the presidential race.

Recall that Amaechi contested the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in 2022, finishing second behind President Bola Tinubu.

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