A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, has disclosed that he was instrumental in the emergence of Yemi Osinbajo as Vice President.

Akande said he nominated Osinbajo for the position after consulting with President Bola Tinubu in 2011.

His disclosure runs contrary to widespread claims that Tinubu personally nominated Osinbajo as the running mate to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, Akande recalled that he advised Tinubu to replace Buhari’s former running mate, Tunde Bakare, with another candidate.

Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s podcast, State Affairs, Akande said: “I nominated Osinbajo for Vice President after consulting with Tinubu. I said it the way it is in my book, I said ‘Tinubu, come, in 2011 you were discussing with Buhari trying to replace Bakare with somebody, who was the person?’ He said Osinbajo, and I said I was going to recommend Osinbajo, which I did.”

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The Federal Government has introduced compulsory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking jobs in the public service.

In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, the government said the policy is part of broader efforts to curb the rising rate of drug abuse and its impact on national security and productivity.

The statement directed permanent secretaries and heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, to include drug screening as part of their recruitment processes.

According to the directive, MDAs are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with approved standards.

The government said the policy was informed by growing concerns over substance abuse, particularly among young Nigerians.

It warned that the trend poses a threat to public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency and national security.

It added that the directive underscores the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the public service from drug-related challenges and aligns with existing anti-drug initiatives, including recent policies mandating drug testing in universities and other sectors.

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Police in Akwa Ibom State have detained three masquerades after they reportedly injured several people during the Ekid Day celebration in Eket Local Government Area.

The three suspects, whose names were withheld, were presented to the media at the State Police Command headquarters in Uyo on Monday by Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammad Azare.

Victims of the incident are receiving treatment at various hospitals across the state.

CP Azare explained that the arrests followed violations of a state executive order by Governor Umo Eno, which prohibits masquerades from appearing on public streets without prior approval and police supervision.

“We are enforcing the Executive Order to ensure masquerade activities take place only in approved areas under security coverage,” he said.

2025 Police achievements

The commissioner also highlighted the Command’s performance for the year.

Officers recovered 179 firearms and 323 rounds of ammunition, while 563 suspects were arrested for various offences and charged to court.

In addition, 14 stolen vehicles were recovered and returned, 74 human trafficking victims were rescued and reunited with families, and 10 kidnapped persons were freed.

The police secured 33 convictions during the year, reinforcing their commitment to public safety.

As a Nigerian and an African, do you think the Governor did the right thing by banning masquerades from major streets and highways? 

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*Says all students abducted from the school have been rescued

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Federal Government says it has rescued all the abducted St Mary’s Catholic Primary Secondary School pupils/students and their teachers who were abducted over a month ago ago.

The National Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Center, Major General Adamu Laka (rtd), made this known in Minna on Monday while handing over newly rescued 130 children and teachers to the Niger state Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago at Government House.

“All the children have been successfully rescued. None remains in captivity,” General Laka declared, adding that all the children were rescued unhurt.

The federal government had earlier rescued 100 students.

He said the rescue operation was carried out by the office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with operatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), the police and other security operatives.

Laka appreciated the patience of Nigerians, adding that government has taken steps to ensure the safety of lives of school children and all Nigerians.

In his remarks, Governor Bago appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the security operatives in the country for their unwavering commitment that led to the rescue of the school children.

Bago also lauded Nigerians for their solidarity and prayers during the trying times and promised to celebrate Christmas with the rescued children.

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…outlines economic gains of Tinubu’s administration

….ambassadors to be deployed in 2026

From: and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja 

The Federal Government on Monday declared all armed groups operating in the country as terrorist groups.

The government said that, henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps children, attacks farmers, or terrorises communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organisation. 

It insisted that the era of ambiguous nomenclature was over.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the declaration in Abuja at a press conference, also outlined economic gains of 2025.

He said, “In the area of security, 2025 saw the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, which will, in the months ahead, translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police Force, and the deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure our forests and other vulnerable locations.

‎”We have also established, in 2025, a new national counterterrorism doctrine—anchored on four critical pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.

‎”Let me be clear about what this means: That henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, or terrorizes our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organization. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over.

The Minister also expressed President Bola Tinubu’s government’s determination to contain insecurity in the country as reflected in the 2026 budget and declaration of a State of emergency on security.

The Minister, who was beaming with smiles, also confirmed the return of the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State.

He said they were released due to the efforts of our security agencies.

He said, “It is appropriate we start this end-of-year press conference by reemphasizing the good news that came yesterday from the Office of the National Security Adviser, that the abducted 130 pupils of the St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, were released yesterday (Sunday).

“With this development, it can be confirmed that all the abducted pupils, numbering 230, have been freed. Not a single pupil is left in captivity due to the efforts of our security agencies.”

He also noted that the Federal Government empathizes with the parents of the pupils for the anguish the abduction has caused them, and wishes them a pleasant family reunion, a good healing process, Compliments of the Season, and a Merry Christmas.”

He also noted that the government has taken strong actions to ensure that no abduction of pupils ever happens in the country again.

Idris said the mission of 2026 is to raise the edifice of a secure, competitive, and prosperous Nigeria upon it.

The minister also said the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, “will in the months ahead translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police Force, and the deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure our forests and other vulnerable locations.”

The minister also highlighted that the 2026 budget’s blueprint for security is huge, with the single biggest allocation of N5.41 trillion to Defence and Security.

He said it is a direct investment in protecting lives, property, and prosperity, through modern equipment for our armed forces, a new national intelligence architecture, and a secure digital border surveillance system.”

He added, “The temporary pains of reform are yielding to permanent gains. President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria is big, his strategy unambiguous, and his resolve unshakeable. We are consolidating stability, protecting our homeland, empowering our youth, and building a nation where every citizen has the agency to thrive,” he stressed. This is the Nigeria we are building together. Nigeria, truly on the move.”

On the administration’s performance in 2025, the minister said all indices indicated an upward swing.

He noted, “Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.98% in the third quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilient and sustained expansion in the non-oil sector.

“Significantly, headline inflation has now declined for eight consecutive months, to stand at 14.45% in November 2025. Food inflation is also on a steady downward trend.

“Our external reserves have strengthened to approximately $44.56 billion, providing a robust buffer that stabilises our currency and assures international investors.

“Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, a 27.29 percent growth year-on-year.

“The most recent Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data – an important measure of business sentiment – indicates that Nigeria has now seen 12 consecutive months of expansion in economic activities.”

In the area of power, the Minister said the country recorded the highest ever daily energy of 128 370.75 mega hours nationwide.

He said, “On March 4, 2025, Nigeria recorded a maximum daily energy of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh) nationwide—the highest ever in our history.

“Also in the power sector, 2025 saw the kick-off of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), as well as the issuance of the first Bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, the single largest coordinated financial intervention in the history of our power sector.”

The nation also recorded an increase in investors‘ confidence with massively oversubscribed government-issued bonds.

“A massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance, attracting orders amounting to 400% of the target of $2.3 billion USD, demonstrating strong investor confidence in our macroeconomic reforms.”

Also, in the year under review, he said, “Nigeria exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, reflecting sustained and coordinated reforms in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes, and marking the start of a new reputational and operational chapter for our financial sector.”

President Tinubu in 2025 also approved the recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion – the biggest single boost to agriculture financing in our recent history.

The government also invested over N1.5 trillion on infrastructure.

“We committed to deploying over 1.5 trillion Naira in investments in road infrastructure in 2025 alone, the largest such commitment in our nation’s history, based on our firm belief that an economy cannot grow faster than the infrastructure that supports it. At the heart of this effort are our Four Legacy Highway Projects, engineered to connect every region and unlock new economic corridors:

*The 750-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, linking our entire southern coastline.

*The 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, bridging the North-West to the South-West.

*The 477-kilometer Trans-Saharan Highway, traversing from Calabar to the FCT.

*The 422-kilometer Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Expressway, integrating the North-Central and North-East.”

He explained that the projects are not conventional roads, “They are being built with reinforced concrete pavement designed to last 50 to 100 years, drastically cutting future maintenance costs and promoting local content. Empowering the next generation.”

The minister also outlined government programmes aimed at empowering the youth, which include: “The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has now supported over 788,000 Nigerian students with interest-free loans and stipends amounting to over 150 billion Naira.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme officially kicked off during the year, with an anchor investment in a new multi-million-dollar venture fund that will support the creative and digital entrepreneurship aspirations of young Nigerians.

“In 2025, the Federal Government launched the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), offering equity-free financing of up to ₦50 million for undergraduate innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines, across accredited tertiary institutions. With this new intervention, we are nurturing the seeds of entrepreneurship in our campuses and turning our brightest minds into job creators, not just job seekers.

“The Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme made significant progress during the year, as it built Africa’s largest digital army. A new security architecture.”

The minister also disclosed that the recently cleared Ambassadorial nominees will resume at their posts in the coming year.

The Senate last week cleared 67 ambassadorial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The president had in 2023 recalled all the country’s ambassadors.

Following the clearance by the Senate, the ambassadorial nominees will undergo orientation before their posting.

Idris disclosed at his end of year press conference in Abuja that their resumption will boost the country’s engagements at the global level.

“In 2026, our newly appointed Ambassadors will take up their posts in their countries of assignment, strengthening our bilateral relations and advancing our visibility and strategic engagements in the global community,” he said.

On the global stage, the Minister said Nigeria has become a respected global player.

Besides, he said Nigeria has been able to resolve its issues with the United States amicably through diplomatic means.

He therefore said Nigeria-US relations are not damaged.

“On the international stage, in 2025, we navigated complex international diplomacy with maturity and principle. The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been resolved through firm, respectful engagement, culminating in a strengthened partnership,” he said.

To underscore his claim, the Minister revealed that Nigeria and the U.S recently signed a five-year bilateral health agreement running into over N5 billion. 

“Just last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a five-year, $5.1B bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the United States, in which the US will provide $2.1B in grant funding, while Nigeria commits $3 billion. This has been described as the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy. It will strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, save lives, and attract investment.

“Indeed, Nigeria is no longer on the sidelines; we are a confident and strategic partner on the global stage, defending our national interests and attracting beneficial partnerships. Just last month, we regained our Category C seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, a celebrated comeback following 14 years of absence.

“Also in 2025, various Nigerians assumed significant international positions across various sectors, including Chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organisation, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme, Vice Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, and Vice President of the International Association for Ports and Harbours in Tokyo. Additionally, this year we secured hosting rights for the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026, and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, one of the largest trade gatherings on the African continent.”

In the media, information, and communications space, the minister said in 2025, Nigeria secured the hosting rights for both the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) and the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference. We made history by becoming only the second African country ever to host the WPRF, and the first ever to host both the APRA Conference and the WPRF in the same year.

“We also received official affirmation from UNESCO of the hosting right granted to Nigeria for the world’s first Media & Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, and I am delighted to note that the Institute will officially take off in the first quarter of 2026.

On the allegation of alteration of the tax act, the minister said the general public should wait for the outcome of the investigation panel set up by the National Assembly.

Idris neither denied nor confirmed the allegation as he noted that he had yet to see it.

“To be honest with you, I have not seen the two versions. All I know is that the executive has presented something to the National Assembly. It was processed, it was passed, and it was returned to the executive. What I heard is that the National Assembly members have seen some discrepancy and they have set up their own committee to look at those discrepancies.

 “I think it is important for us to wait for the National Assembly to look at this again to tell us that yes, indeed, there were discrepancies or not. 

“This is at this point an affair of the National Assembly to which I have no jurisdiction, and I have no, you know, the authority to speak about. 

“Let’s wait for this from the National Assembly, and then, if required to make further clarifications, we can. But at this point, we know that the tax document has been put forward to the National Assembly. 

“They have worked on it, and they have returned it, and it has been passed, and it has been signed into law.

“As far as the government of Nigeria is concerned, there’s only one version of that tax document.”

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The Trump administration is removing dozens of ambassadors appointed under the Biden administration as part of a broad reshuffle to align the diplomatic corps with its foreign policy priorities.

The heads of mission, mostly career diplomats, have been notified they must leave their posts by mid-January, according to the American Foreign Service Association, which represents State Department employees.

Press reports said ambassadors from 30 countries will be affected, particularly in Africa.

The recalls were first reported by Politico.

While it is customary for an administration to reshuffle ambassadors appointed to strategic posts or capitals and to appoint donors or supporters, such a sweeping change targeting career diplomats is unusual before their term ends or their successor is appointed.

The American Foreign Service Association said it had received “credible reports from our members in diplomatic posts around the world that multiple career ambassadors, appointed during the Biden administration, have been directed by phone call to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16.”

“No explanation was given for these recalls,” the association added in its post on Facebook.

“Removing senior diplomats without cause undermines US credibility abroad and sends a chilling signal to the professional Foreign Service: experience and an oath to the Constitution take a backseat to political loyalty,” it said.

A senior State Department official said Monday that changing ambassadors was “a standard process in any administration.”

“An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

The official did not confirm the details of the dismissals, or which countries were affected.

In his second term, President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio have overhauled American diplomacy to focus priorities such as combating illegal immigration, cutting foreign aid and diversity policies.

Rubio has overseen the dismissal of hundreds of personnel within the State Department, and Trump has placed loyalists as key ambassadors.

The post Trump removes dozens of career ambassadors appointed under Biden appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Operation Sweep, a special security task force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, combed motor parks and other strategic locations in the FCT to flush out criminal elements.

Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary, told journalists after the operation in Abuja on Monday that the move was to ensure a safe and secure yuletide season.

Gwary, who was represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, said that the ongoing operation would strengthen security throughout the festive season.

He explained that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has given a marching order to the security agencies under the Operation Sweep to rid the Territory of every form of criminality.

He noted that the operation had been very successful, adding that it was being sustained through continued monitoring of motor parks.

The director also said that illegal motor parks being used by “one chance” criminal elements to abduct people were being dismantled.

“Also, any place harbouring criminal elements, including shanties, was being destroyed.

“We want to tell all miscreants and criminal elements in the FCT, that the Territory will be too hot for them to operate.

“We don’t have a safe haven for criminals in FCT anymore and they should take note of that,” he said.

He added that a lot of arrests have been made, a lot of shanties dismantled, and criminal elements operating as taxi drivers dislodged.

The goal, according to him, was to ensure the safety of lives and property of every resident in the FCT during the festive season and beyond.

He said that the Administration, in partnership with security agencies, had also deployed men and officers to suspected blackspots across the city to provide tight security during the festive period.

He called on operators of motor parks and event centres to ensure that those without clear identity, especially motorists, do not operate among them.

Mr Adamu Abubakar, chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, commended the task force for helping to rid the city of ‘One Chance’ operators.

Abubakar said that the move was helping to sanitise the operation of transport workers in the FCT.

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The Osun State Police Command has arrested three men over the alleged unlawful possession of human parts, conspiracy and disrespect for a corpse in Ile-Ogbo town.

The suspects, according to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, were identified as 47-year-old Taiwo Ogunbode, 52-year-old Thomas Ogo, and 30-year-old Lateef Afeez.

The police stated on Monday that the arrests followed credible intelligence received on December 3, 2025, indicating that some individuals were in possession of human parts in Ile-Ogbo, near Iwo.

“Acting on the information, operatives from Iwo Area Command swiftly moved to the location and arrested the suspects inside a dilapidated building.

“Items recovered from the suspects included two plastic containers holding human skin, a white gown allegedly used to bury a corpse, and two dried bones suspected to be human.

“Other exhibits listed by the police were 21 pieces of teeth suspected to be human teeth, four horns wrapped with red cloth, three small nylon bags containing suspected human hair, and a small knife,” the statement said.

The police also recovered a substance suspected to be Indian hemp and a cash sum of N127,000 from the suspects.

According to the police, “the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they exhumed the human parts from a grave at a Muslim cemetery in the Gaa-Fulani area of Ile-Ogbo.

“They stated that the human parts were intended for money-making rituals. Further investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly belonged to a syndicate that specialised in exhuming corpses from cemeteries for criminal purposes.”

The statement further disclosed that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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Ogun State House of Assembly, through its Committee on Finance and Appropriations chaired by Musefiu Lamidi, has directed the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, to immediately address the indiscriminate parking of vehicles beneath the Kuto Flyover in Abeokuta and enforce compliance with traffic regulations to restore order around the Kuto Roundabout, thereby enhancing public safety and traffic flow in the area.

The committee issued the directive during the ongoing 2026 budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies, while engaging the Ministry of Transportation at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday.

The committee chairman attributed the persistent gridlock at the location to factors including driving against traffic and the indiscriminate loading and offloading of passengers by commercial vehicles, among others.

The committee also charged the Ministry of Transportation to align the development of the Gateway Airport with the state’s economic agenda, in order to ensure that the project fulfils its mandate of boosting investment, connectivity and revenue generation.

Defending the ministry’s budget proposals, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Olugbenga Dairo, disclosed that, aside from the partnership with ValueJet Airline, plans were underway to establish a state-owned airline. He further assured that the state would commence cargo flight operations and establish an aircraft maintenance and repair facility at the Gateway Airport from the next fiscal year.

Other heads of agencies under the Ministry who appeared before the House Committee to defend their budget proposals included TRACE, led by its acting commander, Elias Omonayajo; the Gateway Airport, headed by Dapo Olumide; and the Vehicle Inspection Office, led by Ademeyin Olugboyega.

Other agencies that took turns to defend their 2026 budget proposals before the House Committee were the State Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, led by its commissioner, Ademola Balogun; the Ministry of Rural Development, led by Mrs Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan; the State House of Assembly, represented by the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service, Sakiru Adebakin; the Assembly Service Commission, chaired by Suraj Adekunbi; the Auditor-General for the state, Akorede Lateef Balogun; and his local government counterpart.

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The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has introduced mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking positions in the public service.

Naija News reports that this is part of the government’s efforts to combat rising drug abuse and its impacts on national security and productivity.

A service-wide circular issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) directs Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), as well as extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, to incorporate drug screening into their recruitment processes.

MDAs are required to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests, ensuring compliance with established standards.

The policy stems from concerns over the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, particularly among Nigeria’s youth, which the government says threatens public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency, and national security.

Signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, the statement underscored the administration’s commitment to protecting the workforce from drug-related issues.

This move aligns with ongoing anti-drug initiatives, including recent policies for mandatory testing in universities and other sectors.

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