Yobe State has emerged as the overall winner of Nigeria’s Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge, outperforming other states in an independently verified assessment.

The assessment measures governance, financing, service delivery and accountability within PHC systems.

The award was announced at the PHC Leadership Challenge Awards and Gala Night organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and development partners, including the Gates Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The annual challenge, which rewards measurable improvements in state-level PHC performance, aims to strengthen accountability, peer learning and sustained political commitment to PHC reforms across Nigeria.

How states were assessed

The PHC Leadership Challenge is built on a Performance Monitoring Framework (PMF) jointly developed by health sector stakeholders and endorsed by all states through their commissioners for health and heads of state PHC agencies.

The framework tracks progress across key domains aligned with the Seattle Declaration commitments signed by governors in 2019, including governance and leadership, financing, quality of care, human resources for health, data use, evidence and sustainability.

Presentation of award to yobe state by the Minister of Health, Pate

The verified findings were reviewed by an Independent Judging Panel (IJP), comprising public health experts, academics, civil society representatives, traditional and religious leaders, and media professionals, before final endorsement by the PHC Leadership Challenge Steering Committee.

The steering committee is chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Pate, with membership drawn from the NGF, NPHCDA and key development partners.

Standout performances

During the presentation, Yobe State was said to have delivered an “exceptional and well-balanced performance” across governance, quality of care, service delivery coordination and data integrity, earning it the national overall prize of $700,000.

The state also clinched the best-performing award in the North-East, securing an additional $500,000, after leading in indicators such as patient satisfaction, availability of essential commodities and effective PHC coordination mechanisms.

Gombe State emerged as first runner-up in the North-East, winning $400,000 for strong results in human resources for health.

Across other zones, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Abia, Bayelsa and Osun states emerged as best performers, while Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra, Bayelsa and Ogun picked up first runner-up prizes.

All best-performing zonal states received $500,000, while runners-up earned $400,000 each.

In total, 13 awards worth $6.1 million were presented under the challenge.

The judging panel noted that at least 20 states recorded measurable improvements in health reforms, though performance remained uneven, particularly in leadership engagement and governance.

‘Progress visible, gaps remain’

Speaking at the event, the Gates Foundation said Nigeria had recorded notable gains in PHC outcomes but warned that progress remained fragile without sustained leadership.

In remarks delivered by Uche Anowu on behalf of the Deputy Director for Health Systems Strengthening at the foundation, Nkata Chuku, the organisation highlighted improvements in routine immunisation, maternal health services and malaria interventions.

Presentation of award to yobe with a dummy check

Mr Chuku noted that the National routine immunisation coverage has risen to the high 60 per cent range, with several states exceeding 75 per cent, compared to the low 60s in 2022.

He added that more than 500,000 zero-dose children were reached between July 2024 and October 2025 through targeted immunisation campaigns.

Also, skilled birth attendance and antenatal care coverage have improved, while integrated vaccination campaigns have expanded access to malaria prevention tools.

However, challenges persist, including insecurity in parts of the North-east and North-west, nutrition risks in conflict-affected areas and inconsistent data reporting.

He disclosed that the Gates Foundation has invested $27 million in the PHC Challenge Fund over the past four years, with 70 per cent dedicated to performance-based awards.

“The Challenge Fund is a tool. Your leadership is the engine that will deliver lasting change for every Nigerian family,” he said.

Governors reaffirm commitment

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the challenge has become a national accountability mechanism for health sector reform.

Mr AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Governor of Nassarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, said the initiative demonstrates that “measurable and dramatic change is possible” when political leadership is combined with sustained investment and peer accountability.

“We are not just celebrating awards tonight, but the institutionalisation of a national tradition that reinforces leadership responsibility for primary healthcare,” he said.

READ ALSO: Investing $100 per person in PHC can prevent 90% of child deaths – Gates Foundation

He noted that states have increased domestic health funding in recent years, with a growing share directed to primary healthcare, leading to improvements in infrastructure, staffing and service delivery.

He commended state commissioners for health, PHC agency heads and development partners for driving reforms aligned with Nigeria’s health sector renewal priorities.

Minister urges long term investment

During his address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described health investment as both a social and economic imperative, urging states to sustain reforms through smarter resource allocation, transparency and long-term planning.

Mr Pate said recent reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) have strengthened collaboration between federal, state and local governments, while improving transparency and efficiency in health spending.

“Health is a fundamental aspiration of every human being. Investing in health is investing in the present and the future of the country,” he said.

According to him, investments in PHC are beginning to translate into better maternal, child and infectious disease outcomes, but sustaining the gains will require long-term commitment.

He said the government had increased health sector investments and prioritised affordability, access to essential medicines, workforce expansion and transparency in resource allocation.

He noted that the next phase of reforms would focus on smarter resource allocation, workforce development and system-wide transparency to ensure that investments translate into improved outcomes for citizens.

He described the PHC Leadership Challenge as a key accountability mechanism that encourages states to prioritise health while fostering peer learning and competition.

“This is not just about celebrating achievements, but about sustaining progress and building a health system that delivers for Nigerians today and in the future,” he said.

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December 13, 2025December 13, 2025

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By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka

The upcoming ASPOF end of year event in Abuja will spotlight critical concerns facing Anambra State, with officials set to dissect ongoing security challenges and outline key post election priorities for the state’s development.

In a recent press release, Chief Coleman Uba, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organization says members will gather for the organization’s 2025 end‑of‑year party on Tuesday, December the 16th, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Anambra State Liaison Office, 19 T. Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

According to him, the meeting will focus on security challenges in Anambra State and post‑successful election issues, urging all members to prioritize attendance despite busy schedules.

The agenda for the event, he reiterates highlights security in Anambra State as a primary concern, alongside post‑election matters that require government attention.

Hear him: “Top among the agenda of the ASPOF end‑of‑year 2025 party include security in Anambra State, post successful election issues, so as to look at the issues we expect the government to focus on, and other matters,” even as he emphasizes the importance of discussing those critical topics.

In addition to the formal agenda, the meeting offers members a chance to visit the liaison office for the first time, fostering greater engagement.

“Some of our members have never visited our liaison office, please this offers you the opportunity to do so. Let’s come and discuss and, as we do so, may God reward us for honouring this invitation in Jesus’ name,” the PRO prayed.

The notice underscores that active participation is essential for ASPOF to achieve its objectives. “It is good to be active on our WhatsApp platform but much better if we attend our meetings. Some members have not attended one meeting in more than two years and some even in more than five years. This attitude will hardly make ASPOF achieve the objectives for which it was established,” the PRO said worriedly.

Members are reminded that details of the meeting will be shared shortly, and God will reward us for honouring this invitation in Jesus’s name, amen. The event aims to strengthen unity, discuss strategic security initiatives in Anambra (including community‑based vigilante groups like Agunechemba), and outline post‑election priorities for the incoming government.

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• A Nigerian man has sent a message to a popular pastor after he watched a video showing the moment the pastor arrived at an event
• He spoke about what the pastor did and what some people are saying about him online, including a lady he was seen with
• The young individual told the pastor to stop fueling dating talks and mentioned what the pastor did that made people talk

A Nigerian man has shared his opinion regarding the controversy surrounding a popular pastor, Apostle Joshua Selman, and a member of his church, Sandra Areh.

He took to his social media page to blame him and accuse him of causing controversy online about the said lady due to the statement he used when he attended her birthday party.

Nigerian man reacts to pastor’s appearance with lady at recent event. Photo Source: Facebook/Robinson Benjamin Sunday
Source: Facebook

Man speaks out about viral video

He mentioned that the statement used by the pastor was interpreted by many, and if he hadn’t used it, many people wouldn’t have been speculating that he was dating her.

Read also

“I was so confused”: Lady figures out the marital status of Apostle Joshua Selman, post trends

The young man, Robinson Benjamin Sunday, stated that the apostle is the one sending the wrong signal.

His statement read:

“With utmost respect, Apostle Selman is the only one sending wrong signals and igniting the flame and putting fuel in the fire himself. If you’ve been exclusively calling a sister your love for years, and close people around you call her MAMA when she isn’t openly married or doesn’t have a child, is it normal to you? Stop the hypocrisy, abeg.”Nigerian man tells pastor to stop fuelling dating talks online. Photo Source: Facebook/Robinson Benjamin Sunday
Source: Facebook

Speaking about the pastor, he added:

“What an ironical congregation of Christian members in his church, looking up to a Pastor rather than the inherent God of praise and worship that does wonders.”

Reactions as man speaks about Apostle Selman

Mrseth Cuisine added:

“Is the last sentence necessary maybe you should read it as an audience instead of an author.”

Aaron Charis stressed:

Read also

“Attached to single pastor?” Lady challenges Apostle Selman to prove he is not dating Sandra Areh

“No be your fault as you get phone plus plus Facebook free Mode na wetin dey cause all this kind things. You just combined words that don’t even make any sense, attached a picture of people who’s height you’re no where close to reaching spitting rubbish. Make I no vex for you ooo.”

Pst Mikekeys wrote:

“This why youth die early you talk without respect because you are on free mode abi.”

Victor Yahaya noted:

“Where dis one comot from……abeg when dem release u fom dat mental health center wey we carry u go keep?”

Tosin said:

“Eph.6.1 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Eph.6.2 – “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: Eph.6.3 – “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” The way you’re going I just hope just as @PST Mikekeys said in his comments “the reason why youth die untimely” I hope we won’t find in years to come and not see you because you’ve tarnished all the grace that should rub on you. I don’t know how a young man like you doesn’t have a mind of his own. Many year ago you were not like this. Retrace your step and don’t curse the grace you might need later.”

Read also

US-based lady rethinks following Joshua Selman’s prayers, criticises preacher: “Deficient character”

Read the post below:

A similar story, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man shared his thoughts after a video of Apostle Joshua Selman and Sandra Areh surfaced online. He speculated about the possibility of marriage between the two.

Lady questions Apostle Selman’s marital status

Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that a young Nigerian lady shared her thoughts after watching a trending video of Apostle Joshua Selman at Sandra Areh’s birthday.

She questioned the pastor’s marital status and asked whether he is married, single, or in a private relationship. The lady, Hanny Izi, said the way Apostle Selman interacted with Sandra Areh in the video caused confusion among viewers.

Source: Legit.ng

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Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike as the “naked wire” of Rivers politics.

Akawor, who is the ex-Director-General of Nyesom Wike’s 2015 governorship campaign, said Wike’s feat had shown that President Bola Tinubu picked the right product from the PDP to work with.

He disclosed this while leading the
Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and members of the state House of Assembly to celebrate with Wike on his 58th birthday.

Wike, who clocked 58 on Friday, had his residence in Abuja flooded with friends and associates who came to felicitate with him.

Speaking last night, Ambassador Akawor while eulogizing Wike made reference to Psalm 90 verse 12, where “the Lord teach us to number our days.”

He said: “Your excellency, on behalf of the zonal Coordinators of the Renewed Hope, the 23 Coordinators, 319 Coordinators at the Ward level, and the 6,866 unit leaders of Rivers State. Here you have all the local government Chairmen of Rivers State and all the Assembly members are here with you this night.

“We will always pray for you, you have showcased this government and Mr President that he made the right choice, that he looked for the right product from the Peoples Democratic Party and you have not failed him.

“You will continue to sore high and of course, it’s only the tree that has the right fruits that the children will stone.

“The truth is that stones will come but we know you. As the naked wire of Rivers politics, you will struggle and get over it, we wish you good luck.”

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The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared that not even $1 billion could tempt him into politics.

According to Politics Nigeria, he made the statement during the impartation service of the church’s annual convocation, Shiloh 2025.

Bishop Oyedepo urged church members to focus on their divine callings, stressing that it is within their God-given purpose that they can “rule their world” and be enlisted in God’s end-time army.

He said, “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come? Partisan politics is off my calling. Even if you offered me $1 billion, I would not join politics because it is not my course.”

The bishop highlighted the urgency of the times, noting the world’s desperate need for divine intervention.

“The world is groaning in darkness, but as stated in Romans 8:19, it is waiting for the earnest manifestations of the children of God. The army of God is about to rise to provide solutions to national crises in the manner of Joseph and Daniel. It is a day of what eyes have not seen and ears have not heard,” he added.

His message encouraged believers to remain steadfast in their God-given purposes rather than being distracted by worldly pursuits. By focusing on their calling, he stressed, Christians can positively influence their communities and nations, following the example of biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel.

Shiloh 2025 began on December 9 and will conclude on December 14, 2025, at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State. The event brings together worshippers for spiritual teachings, impartation, and fellowship.

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A young Nigerian lady has gone viral after sharing her joy online after marrying an Oyinbo man she met on a dating site.

Marriage Celebration Goes Viral

The bride, identified on TikTok as @krizzbialomazur, revealed that she met her husband on the dating platform Afrointroduction.

She described how their connection on the site eventually led to marriage, encouraging others to explore online dating opportunities.

Traditional Wedding in Style

Sharing a video from their traditional wedding, the couple appeared in matching native attire, celebrating their union in style.

The clip quickly gained attention on TikTok, amassing over 66,000 views at the time of reporting.

Advice for Young Women

Reflecting on her experience, the bride encouraged young women to be open to meeting people online.

She highlighted the importance of giving potential partners a chance, suggesting that online dating can lead to meaningful relationships.

She added that she is in her early 20s, while her husband is 23.

Netizens React

Her post received mixed reactions from social media users. Many praised her for sharing her story, while others expressed curiosity about the platform where she met her husband.

In the comments, she wrote: “We met on Afrointroduction.”

See below;

@krizzbialomazur

First, download the dating site baby girl🧏🏽‍♀️😇 #fyp #viral #interracialcouple #bwwm

♬ original sound – 𝒶𝓂𝒶𝒾 🌀☀️

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• EllahLakes has transformed from a single-crop, single-location operation into a multi-asset, multi-crop agro-industrial platform spanning over 30,000 hectares across multiple states, leveraging diversification and mechanisation to ensure year-round production and revenue stability.
• The N235 billion capital raise will fund the acquisition of Agro-Allied Resources & Processing Nigeria Limited, expand processing capacity, upgrade mechanisation, improve storage and logistics infrastructure, and integrate digital farm management systems to boost efficiency and scalability.
• Immediate priorities include operational audits, harmonisation of farming practices, rapid infrastructure upgrades, and integration of new assets into existing supply chains, positioning Ellah Lakes as a fully integrated agro-industrial leader with predictable cash flows and competitive advantage.

Could you briefly walk us through the Company’s operational journey? How has Ellah Lakes strategically built and consolidated its core asset base to reach this transformative stage? 

Ellah Lakes’ journey has been defined by a deliberate transformation from a single-crop, single-location operation into a multi-asset, multi-crop agro-industrial platform operating across several states. Over the past few years, we consolidated strategic agricultural assets, diversified into complementary crops, and invested heavily in land development, mechanisation, and processing capacity.

A part of our evolution is the balance between short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. Our piggery operation now provides high-margin, rapid-turnover cash flow, while our plantation assets form the long-term backbone of the business as they mature into full commercial production.

We have now entered a momentum phase where these assets are being industrialised through upgraded mills, mechanised cultivation, and integrated logistics, allowing us to shift from simply holding land to generating consistent, scalable output. This is the transformative stage Ellah Lakes is positioned for today, supported by disciplined investment and a clear growth strategy.

Ellah Lakes will control over 30,000 hectares of land. How does this vast, multi-regional operational scale spanning various states and multiple crops translate directly into a measurable competitive advantage? 

Ellah Lakes’ control of over 30,000 hectares across multiple states gives the Company a structural advantage that goes beyond scale. The geographical spread provides natural risk diversification, and different climatic zones, soil conditions, and regional dynamics ensure that production is not dependent on a single location. This makes the output more stable and predictable year-round.

The multi-state footprint also supports a diversified crop and livestock portfolio, allowing Ellah Lakes to operate on staggered production cycles. This translates to continuous operations and steady revenue, instead of relying on a single harvest season. In addition, operating at this size enables the Company to deploy large-scale mechanisation, integrated processing, and more efficient logistics.

Could you detail the specific physical infrastructure and equipment being commissioned or acquired with the N235 billion? 

The N235 billion capital raise is intended to strengthen Ellah Lakes’ operational platform and accelerate its transition into a fully integrated agro-industrial business. Upon successful completion of the offer, a significant portion of the proceeds will fund the acquisition of Agro-Allied Resources & Processing Nigeria Limited (ARPN), an integrated agribusiness with valuable oil palm and cassava assets that will immediately expand the Company’s land bank, processing capacity, and multi-crop output.

The remaining funds will be deployed towards essential operational upgrades, including land development, mechanisation, processing facility enhancements, and improvements to storage and logistics infrastructure. A portion will also support working capital and technology systems that improve efficiency, yield monitoring, and overall farm management.

The core aim is operational efficiency. Can you quantify the expected improvement in key operational metrics and the overall gains that the new investment in mechanisation and technology will deliver?

The capital deployment is focused on delivering meaningful operational improvements across Ellah Lakes’ integrated agribusiness platform.  We expect the investment to drive significant enhancements in crop yields, production efficiency, and processing throughput once fully implemented. Mechanisation, improved agricultural practices, and upgraded post-harvest infrastructure will collectively strengthen margins, stabilise output, and support consistent, year-round production. As the acquisition is completed and we take possession of the new assets, we will provide more detailed updates on the quantifiable impact of these initiatives.

The integration of assets like ARPN is critical. What are the immediate operational priorities for integrating these new assets, and how are you ensuring a smooth transition that makes them immediately profitable and accretive to the revenue base? 

The integration of the ARPN assets is being treated as an accelerated operational priority, with a clear focus on making the assets productive, profitable, and immediately accretive to our revenue base. Our approach centres on three core pillars: operational stabilisation, infrastructure optimisation, and rapid commercial activation.

First, we are conducting a detailed technical and operational audit of the acquired assets to confirm land readiness, crop condition, existing infrastructure, and immediate rehabilitation needs. This enables us to prioritise interventions that accelerate production, including land clearing, preparation, and the restoration of essential utilities and access routes.

Second, we are harmonising the ARPN operations with our existing systems by aligning farming practices, mechanisation standards, workforce structures, and reporting processes. This ensures that all assets operate under one unified operational playbook, improving efficiency and reducing early-stage transition risks.

Third, we are executing rapid upgrades that make the assets cash-generating in the shortest possible time. This includes deploying mechanised cultivation equipment, initiating high-yield crop cycles, and integrating the output into our processing and commercial channels.

We are also leveraging our existing procurement, supply chain, and market relationships so that production from ARPN moves directly into established revenue streams without delay. Collectively, these steps ensure a smooth transition while positioning the newly integrated assets to begin contributing meaningfully to production volumes, cost efficiencies, and overall earnings within the current cycle.

From an operational standpoint, how does having diversified production cycles and inputs actively de-risk the Company’s annual output and revenue stream against regional weather or commodity price volatility? 

Diversification is a central element of Ellah Lakes’ risk-management strategy. The Company’s tiered model, combining short-term cash from livestock, mid-term returns from cassava, and long-term gains from oil palm, is proving effective in sustaining growth while de-risking the business during scale-up.

Adverse weather conditions in one region can be offset by stable production in others, ensuring that overall output remains resilient. Similarly, fluctuations in the market price of a particular commodity have a limited effect on total revenue, as earnings from other crops help balance overall financial performance. In addition, operating multiple production cycles throughout the year allows for the efficient use of labour, machinery, and infrastructure, further enhancing operational stability. Together, these factors create a more predictable cash flow profile, supporting consistent revenue generation and protecting shareholder value.

For investors tracking the deployment, what are the critical physical, non-financial completion milestones you are focusing on for the next 12 to 18 months? 

We focus on physical, operational, and capacity-building milestones that directly translate into increased productivity. These include the completion of land clearing and preparation across key hectares, the installation and commissioning of new processing mills, and the full deployment of our mechanisation fleet across all operating sites. We are also focused on expanding internal road networks and logistics routes to ensure efficient movement of materials, as well as developing storage infrastructure at strategic locations to support operational continuity.

Equally important is the integration and harmonisation of all newly acquired assets, alongside the implementation of digital farm and supply-chain management systems. Collectively, these milestones provide tangible measures of progress and underscore our readiness to scale production efficiently, ensuring sustained operational growth and value creation for investors.

How will the capital raise enhance Ellah Lakes’ internal logistics and supply chain capabilities? What improvements will be made to transport and storage infrastructure to eliminate bottlenecks and solidify control over the finished product? 

The capital raise will enable Ellah Lakes to establish a self-reliant and highly efficient internal logistics and supply chain system, giving the Company greater control over the movement of products and the speed at which they reach markets. Planned improvements include the development of strategically located storage hubs and agricultural warehouses across operating states, and the installation of cold-chain and climate-controlled storage for perishable goods. In addition, road access within farms will be enhanced to accelerate the evacuation of produce, while integrated technology systems will provide end-to-end tracking and management of the supply chain. These upgrades will minimise operational bottlenecks, reduce post-harvest losses, and create a more predictable and efficient product flow, ultimately supporting cost optimisation and improving margins.

Looking ahead, what is the single most critical operational transformation that this N235 billion will enable, and how does this transformation guarantee Ellah Lakes’ positioning as an agro-industrial leader in the region? 

The most critical operational transformation enabled by this N235 billion capital raise is Ellah Lakes’ evolution from a land-holding agribusiness into a fully integrated agro-industrial platform, featuring mechanised, industrial-scale production and processing capabilities.

This transformation allows the Company to produce consistently at scale while maintaining control over the entire value chain, from cultivation through to processing. It also ensures the delivery of high-quality outputs to industrial customers and supports the generation of diversified, predictable, and scalable revenue streams. By building industrial capacity rather than simply expanding agricultural land, Ellah Lakes establishes a sustainable competitive advantage and strengthens its position as a leading indigenous agro-industrial operator in West Africa.

Visit—https://bit.ly/EllahLakesNGX to buy Ellah Lakes shares directly via the NGX portal

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Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has explained that criminal networks, including bandits involved in kidnappings, use sophisticated communication technology that makes them difficult to track through conventional SIM registration systems.

He said the calls made to victims’ families do not rely on standard mobile towers, challenging assumptions about unregistered or fraudulently registered SIM cards.

Speaking on the intersection between digital regulation and national security, Tijani dismissed claims that large numbers of unregistered SIMs remain active despite the National Identification Number linkage policy.

He noted that telecom operators had conducted a nationwide clean-up exercise to eliminate improperly registered lines from the system.

Beyond conventional mobile networks

He added, “It’s more technical than that communication. There was a special kind of technology that they were using to call. They weren’t using the normal towers. They bounced calls off multiple towers when they leave,” explaining why tracking the origin of such calls remains difficult.

Government response and satellite investment

Tijani said this technical reality partly explains why bandits prefer operating in remote and unconnected areas, where conventional network infrastructure is weak or absent.

He added that the technology being used does not depend solely on Nigeria’s standard mobile tower architecture.

The minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved increased investment in telecommunications towers in hard-to-reach areas after security agencies identified gaps in coverage exploited by criminals.

These investments aim to limit the advantage bandits gain from operating outside network reach.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government is upgrading Nigeria’s existing communication satellites to strengthen surveillance and connectivity.

Tijani said satellite coverage would serve as a backup where terrestrial towers fail.

The minister emphasised that addressing technologically driven crime requires coordinated investment across digital infrastructure, security intelligence, and innovation, rather than reliance on SIM registration alone.

Watch the video below…

“Band!ts use a special kind of technology to call v!ctim’s family” — Nigeria’s minister of comm. Innovation & digital economy, Bosun Tijani explains why it’s difficult to track band!ts and other crim!nal networks. pic.twitter.com/qne0gHwGJH

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) December 13, 2025

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By Mobolaji Sanusi

“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” ——Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Y2025 is approaching its end. In precisely five months’ time, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be clocking three years in the saddle. Today’s not a time for passing a verdict on the president’s administration. That’ll come later, but today’s a day to look at the president’s most recent appointment of a new minister of defence in view of the exacerbating insecurity in the land. Also, the need to look at how to forestall or deescalate foreign intrusion in the nation’s internal affairs.

Tinubu, as governor of Lagos State, was known more by the catchphrase: ‘Talent Hunter.’ And as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria with several federal appointments in his kitty, many believe the jury is still out on that catchphrase.

So far, the president has made appointments that have elicited mixed reactions from the Nigerian public since August 2023, when the first set of ministerial appointments of his administration were announced. However, never in the almost three years of this administration’s existence has any of the president’s appointments been widely celebrated as the president’s recent appointment of General Christopher Musa (rtd), as the country’s new Minister of Defence. Why this is so may not be unconnected with the ineptitude with which Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, minister of defence until few weeks back and his currently serving junior minister, Bello Matawalle, mishandled the recent spate of insecurity in the country. Clearly, these two appointments put to task the catchphrase of the president as a talent hunter.

No wonder that Nigerians, almost in unison, applauded the appointment of General Musa, whom the president, weeks ago sent on compulsory retirement from his erstwhile post of Chief of Defence Staff, alongside other Service Chiefs of his epoch.

Musa truly possesses a salutary profile. But despite this, he has an Herculean task ahead of him as the country’s man-of-the-moment because Nigerians truly look up to him to rescue them from amongst others, the pangs of banditry, the criminality of kidnappers and also the barbarity of armed miscreants disturbing ceaselessly, the spirit of Nigerians.

Questions: Can the retired but obviously not tired General Musa deliver Nigeria from the menace of insecurity that has become a routine recurrence in the country? Won’t the burden of expectations from Nigerians be too deafening for the new Defence Minister to bear? Being a significant part of our rotten system that created and nursed him to hierarchical recognition, will he be able to muster the requisite political will to quash our systemic monsters that might stand between him and his plans for ridding the country of insecurity? Can he stop the endemic corruption and systemic compromise that the unnamed architects of the ongoing insecurity have been inflicting on the country?

How’s Musa going to deal with the unimpressive military hardware on ground and the debilitating welfare of our military personnel, especially those on the battlefields that did not positively speak to the billions of dollars officially claimed to have over several decades allegedly spent in tackling insecurity in the country?

This military general, being a creation of this system, presumably knows what he wants to do and how. During his screening appearance before the National Assembly, he spoke smoothly and with confidence. But there is a clear distinction between talk, considered to be cheap, and implementation of the desired action necessary to bring about expected results to quell ongoing insecurity in the country.

Now is the time for Musa to walk his talk. Franz Kafka once stated that a wise man “starts with what is right than what is acceptable.” This statement should be Musa’s watchword if he intends to achieve anything meaningful as the country’s Defence Minister. Those currently responsible for the rotten state of affairs in the country will surely want him to do what is acceptable to them but to achieve anything tangible for self and country, he needs to depart from acceptable norms and take a detour to the pathways of what is right.

Yours sincerely can vividly recollect that while he was still in active military service, one or two of his video clips surfaced on the social media where he was seen lecturing his audience on what the country needs to do to win its current intractable insecurity conundrum. He should not detract from his position in those videos but stick to what he thinks should be done to effectively tackle insecurity in the country.

He was shown, in one of the videos, strongly advocating for the building of comprehensive border perimeter fences with neighbours like Niger Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Benin Republic so as to curb the infiltration and illegal crossings of insurgents into the country. He made comparative allusions to countries with similar issues that largely resolved their insecurity problems through perimeter fencing of their borders. He alluded to Pakistan that walled its borders with Afghanistan while Saudi Arabia equally walled its borders with Iraq. Musa wondered why the country was delaying in embracing this option months ago. But now that he’s now the country’s defence minister, he should make the achievement of this good idea one of his main critical priorities.

General Musa also advocated for the deployment of drones, cameras, and transponders, which he considered necessary security tools for effective border surveillance and intelligence gathering. It is sad that our country is yet to fully key into daily deployments of modern technology in combating its insecurity despite the vast resources at its firm disposal. Yet, it is still not too late if, as our new defence minister, Musa can forthwith make this happen.

The new defence minister should be focused and not be deterred by hypocritical commentators that see everything from the prisms of costs in a resource-endowed country like ours while downplaying such projects’ benefits to the security wellbeing of Nigerians. This geographical entity must be secure before there can be a government in place and even a country called Nigeria.

Musa should always ask himself about the desirability or otherwise of any project that comes to his mind. Once he is convinced that such project is really necessary for national security, he should pursue them no matter the cost outlay because a country that was recently reported to have spent a huge amount of N17.5trillion on pipelines monitoring in twelve months should be willing and ready to construct perimeter fence to protect its territory from infiltration by rampaging, mostly, Fulani herdsmen aggressors and Boko Haram/ISWAP criminal elements.

Another important battle General Musa must be prepared to wage and possibly win is that of the federal bureaucracy. Generally, bureaucracy creates a structure of rules/regulations deliberately designed to control governmental decisions. But these rules/regulations have grown to become avoidable bottlenecks of suffocating red tapism, loss of freedom to initiate, inefficiency, and sadly detachment from contemporary societal reality.

For Musa to meet up with the expectations of Nigerians, he must immediately commence how he truly plans to waltz through this government contraption called bureaucracy that is renowned for its frustrating procedures that stifle individual action and prompt problem-solving techniques. This new defence minister, that is once used to a ‘command and obey’ structure as a military general, needs a survival technique to manoeuvre the country’s bureaucracy.

More importantly, the president has removed Badaru from the defence ministry. Matawalle should also go for Musa to succeed? The allegations of insecurity misgivings heaped on Matawalle’s head by his successor as Zamfara state governor deserves the president’s revisit.

Musa truly projects an image of a fine gentleman but whether he’s President Tinubu’s best ministerial appointment so far stands to be seen in view of his also being a creation of the rotten system that spends trillions of naira on insecurity without commensurate results to show for such budgetary spendings. Time shall tell if he possesses the political will to stop the ongoing bleeding insecurity by weeding out dead woods on his paths to restoring Nigeria’s lost peace. He no doubts will need an unimpeded presidential support to deal with the unnamed power-bloc behind the country’s insecurity quagmire.

Again, time shall tell if Musa is indeed the president’s best ministerial appointee. He needs courage, confidence, undiluted determination, and presidential support to do and succeed in this insecurity extermination assignment of his.

Musa’s greatest challenge lies more in the fact that our society, as it stands today, values its privileges more than its principles. And in Dwight D. Eisenhower’s observation, any society like ours that “values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” Yours sincerely pray for Musa to survive this rotten system within which most Nigerians expect him to perform wonders.

•Sanusi, former MD/CEO of Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, is currently the managing partner at AMS RELIABLE SOLICITORS.

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), says it has commenced an expanded investigation into pricing templates behind high ticket rates charge by some airlines on some domestic routes.

A statement issued by Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, the Director, Corporate Affairs of the Commission in Abuja on Friday, said the investigation was to establish possible violations of the provisions of the law.

Ijagwu said that concerns had been expressed widely in the past few days over what appeared to be coordinated manipulation or exploitation in the pricing of airline tickets by some airlines on certain routes.

He said the routes where concerns had been raised included the South-East and South-South, as the festive season began.

According to him, the ongoing investigation targets operators on the identified routes.

He said the Commission would apply appropriate enforcement measures where evidence showed any violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

Ijagwu explained that Air Peace, had instituted a court action seeking to restrain the Commission from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the commencement of an investigation into its pricing model after widespread complaints from members of the public.

He said the ongoing inquiry was without prejudice to the case instituted against the Commission by Air Peace.

The director quoted Mr Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, as saying “the Commission would not hesitate to act where evidence showed that consumers welfare or market competitiveness were being undermined.

”For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board but the FCCPAct 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers.

”When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise.

”Given the arbitrary spike in airfares, the Commission is extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for the increases reported by consumers, and any practices that could undermine fair competition.

”Where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, FCCPC will apply appropriate enforcement measures,” Bello said.

Bello said the Commission would continue to provide updates on the ongoing investigations in the aviation industry.

The post FG begins expanded investigations to determine exploitation in airfare price appeared first on Vanguard News.

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