NIGERIA NEWS
FG deploys tactical teams as Shettima vows no mercy for terrorists
Vice President Kashim Shettima
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical security teams to Borno State to track down and apprehend those responsible for the bomb explosion at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the directive also includes intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance and joint security operations aimed at swiftly restoring calm and preventing further attacks in the area.
He added that security agencies have been placed on high alert and mandated to act decisively.
Condemning the attack in strong terms, Shettima described it as a despicable assault on innocent worshippers and a direct challenge to Nigeria’s peace and stability, stressing that the Federal Government would not tolerate any attempt to undermine public safety or national security.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to destabilise our country or threaten the lives of innocent Nigerians. Our security agencies have been directed to act decisively and ensure that those behind this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice,” the Vice President said.
Expressing confidence in the nation’s security architecture, Shettima noted that ongoing operations would not only lead to the arrest of the perpetrators but also unravel the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
He extended condolences to the Borno State Government, residents of Maiduguri, and families affected by the attack, assuring them of the Federal Government’s full support.
“We sympathise with the Government and people of Borno State, particularly families who have lost loved ones. The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will face the full weight of the law,” he added.
The Vice President reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, property and national unity, stressing that security remains a top priority anchored on constitutional responsibility.
He further stated that the Federal Government is working closely with state authorities and local security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure across the North East and other parts of the country.
- …describes him as peacemaker, true servant leader
The Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID) has felicitated with Governor Seyi Makinde on occasion of his 58th birthday.
He group described Makinde as a peacemaker, true servant leader, and a symbol of purposeful leadership.
Governor Makinde celebrates his birthday on Christmas day every year.
A statement by the convener of the group, Moses Eledan, said Makinde’s 58th birthday is a great milestone as well as represents more than a personal celebration.
He stated that the birthday of the governor is a moment to reflect on an enduring legacy anchored in compassion, selfless service, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the people.
OID highlighted the Governor’s rise from humble beginnings, noting that his life journey reflected resilience, integrity, and leadership driven by purpose.
The group commended the Makinde-led administration for transforming Oyo State through strategic infrastructure development and deliberate investments in human capital, adding that these interventions have uplifted lives and strengthened democratic governance in the Pacesetter State.
According to the group, Governor Makinde has earned wide recognition as a unifier and peacemaker, whose inclusive leadership style continues to inspire confidence within Oyo State, and beyond Nigeria.
“As he marks this milestone, we are hopeful that his new year will open greater chapters of hope for Nigeria, reinforcing a shared vision of a more united, enduring, and prosperous nation.”
The convener of the group alluded that Makinde’s selfless act, leadership, character, determination, and commitment to service qualify him to be the future president who will lead Nigeria to greater heights and a wealthy nation.
The group further wished Governor Makinde good health, peace of mind, renewed strength, and wisdom as he continues to serve the people of Oyo State and contribute to shaping Nigeria’s future.
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday railed against the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, insisting the move was forced upon the continent by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.
“I am very shocked with it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,” the Belgian told reporters in Rabat ahead of Friday’s AFCON clash between Mali and Morocco.
“To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request for any reason from Africa, but it is all instructed by the big people from (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad.”
Saintfiet, 52, has managed numerous African national teams including Gambia, who he led to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Cup of Nations.
He was appointed by Mali in August last year and on Friday will lead them out against current AFCON hosts in a key Group A game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The Cup of Nations has almost always been held at two-year intervals since the first edition in 1957 but Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe last weekend announced that the tournament would go ahead every four years after a planned 2028 tournament.
“We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history — because this is a history going back 68 years — only because of financial requests from clubs who use the load on players as the excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League with no champions,” Saintfiet said.
“If you don’t get relegated in England you almost get into Europe, it is so stupid,” he joked.
“If you want to protect players then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don’t create more competitions with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.
“Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we disrespect (Africa) by going to every four years.
“I am very sad about that –- I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe.”
Vanguard News
The post Mali coach protests AFCON’s shift to four-year cycle appeared first on Vanguard News.
* Promises N710m community support in 2026
The member representing Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, has flagged off the distribution of food items and other relief materials valued at about ₦1 billion to widows and constituents across the constituency as part of activities to mark the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Abejide said the gesture was part of his annual humanitarian intervention aimed at supporting widows and vulnerable constituents.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bashiru Abdul Mohammed, Thursday, Hon. Abejide stressed that the initiative has been sustained for about nine years.
According to him, the distribution will cover all the 34 wards and polling units across Yagba Federal Constituency to ensure that residents have food items to celebrate the festive season.
“The distribution of food items is my usual gesture. It will reach the 34 wards and all polling units across Yagba Federal Constituency so that our people can celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
“This initiative did not start today; it has been in existence for about nine years,” Abejide said.
He said the items lined up for this year’s distribution include 24,000 bags of 5kg rice, 10,000 packs of 2kg garri, 10,000 six-yard wrappers for widows, as well as salt, sugar and noodles.
Abejide said the initiative was driven by his passion for philanthropy and his commitment to showing genuine care for widows, especially during the festive period, in line with moral and religious teachings.
He also announced a review of his earlier pledge to support autonomous communities across the constituency. The lawmaker recalled that he had previously promised to support each of the 71 autonomous communities with ₦5 million but was unable to fulfil the pledge due to the demands of his governorship ambition at the time.
According to him, the pledge has now been reviewed upward, with a commitment to provide ₦10 million each to the 71 autonomous communities to support community-based projects.
“By 2026, all the autonomous communities in Yagba Federal Constituency will benefit. A total of ₦710 million will be disbursed to support community development projects,” he said.
The lawmaker, thereafter, formally flagged off the distribution exercise and urged those handling the process to ensure that the items get to all wards and polling units, particularly widows and other deserving beneficiaries across the constituency.
LASTMA announced a fatal tanker explosion involving a Mack Truck conveying diesel, which occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced a fatal tanker explosion involving a Mack Truck conveying diesel, which occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, in the vicinity of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos.
Preliminary findings from security investigations indicate that the unfortunate incident was caused by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user.
The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant.
LASTMA personnel who were actively monitoring vehicular movement within the corridor secured and cordoned off the affected stretch of the expressway to forestall secondary incidents, while immediately notifying the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ijanikin Police Division for urgent emergency response and security reinforcement.
The LASTMA operatives prevented members of the public who had converged on the scene with containers from scooping the spilt diesel. This timely intervention effectively averted a potential escalation of the tragedy before the arrival of other emergency and security agencies.
Following the successful containment of the blaze and clearance by relevant authorities, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA personnel to prevent further road mishaps along the busy transport corridor, while FRSC removed the remains of burnt bodies.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sorrow and extended condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, particularly poignant during this festive season.
He described the incident as deeply painful and entirely avoidable, reaffirming the Authority’s steadfast commitment to road safety and the sanctity of human life.
Bakare-Oki further underscored the urgent necessity for tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise heightened caution, observe prescribed speed limits and comply strictly with all traffic regulations, noting that reckless driving and speeding remain dominant factors in fatal road traffic crashes across the metropolis.
He also seized the opportunity to caution members of the public against the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping petroleum/Diesel products from accident scenes, emphasising that such conduct poses grave and far-reaching risks to both individuals and the general public.
The Presidency has denied a widely circulating report that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
It described the report as false, urging Nigerians to disregard such claims.
A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said Gbajabiamila and Okunola still retainsl their positions.
The statement read: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood circulating on social media suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
“There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely.
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has appealed to Nigerians to put their health and safety first during the festive season by making responsible choices and steering clear of drug use.
In a Christmas message shared on its X page on Thursday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), extended goodwill to Nigerians across the country and paid tribute to NDLEA officers for their continued commitment to protecting communities from drug abuse.
“Your dedication and sacrifice in protecting our communities from drug abuse are deeply appreciated,” Marwa said.
He called on members of the public to use the holiday period as an opportunity to make healthy, drug-free decisions that would safeguard their wellbeing and that of others.
“Together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria. Wishing you all a peaceful, joyous, and drug-free Christmas,” he added.
The message comes at a time of growing concern over drug use in Nigeria. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as contained in the World Drug Report 2025, the national prevalence of drug use stands at 14.4 per cent. This figure is nearly three times the global average and affects an estimated 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed that all pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, in Niger State have been successfully rescued and reunited with their families.
Naija News reports that the confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Proprietor of St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School and representative of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Bulus Yohanna.
Yohanna disclosed that a total of 230 persons were eventually verified to have been abducted during the attack on the school and later rescued through the combined efforts of the Federal Government, the Niger State Government and security agencies.
According to him, the verified figure comprised 12 staff members, 14 students and 204 pupils.
He added that all rescued children had been safely reunited with their families, stressing that no report had been received to suggest that any child or staff member remained in captivity.
The cleric explained that immediately after the abduction on November 21, an initial headcount conducted by the school showed that 315 persons were unaccounted for.
He said two days later, on November 23, about 50 of those earlier listed as missing escaped from their abductors and returned to their parents, reducing the number of unaccounted persons to 265.
“A joint verification exercise by the state government, security agencies and school authorities later revealed that not all parents were present during the exercise,” Yohanna said.
He noted that a second and final verification exercise carried out by the school authorities in collaboration with the Parents-Teachers Association showed that an additional 35 persons had either not been abducted or had escaped earlier.
“A second and final verification conducted by the school authorities in collaboration with the Parents-Teachers Association established that an additional 35 persons had either not been abducted or had escaped earlier,” he stated.
According to Yohanna, this brought the number of those confirmed to have either escaped or not been abducted to 85, reducing the verified number of abducted persons to 230.
The Diocese acknowledged that discrepancies recorded during the initial headcount were caused by the chaotic circumstances surrounding the attack.
Yohanna explained that some pupils fled into nearby bushes and could not be immediately accounted for during the first headcount, while some parents were absent during verification exercises.
He emphasised that the discrepancies were not deliberate.
“The discrepancies were not intended to mislead the public but were the result of challenges associated with a fast-evolving and emotionally charged situation,” he said.
Yohanna expressed appreciation to the Federal and Niger State governments, as well as security agencies, for their swift intervention in securing the release of the victims.
He also thanked parents, the Christian community, the media and members of the public for their prayers, patience and support throughout the ordeal.
The cleric prayed for healing and restoration for all families affected by the abduction.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kebbi State Chapter has honored the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi Mikailu Sami Gomo lll, with the “Most Loved Emir Award” for his fairness and justice in governing the emirate without discrimination.
Emir’s open-door policy, accommodation, and compassion towards multi-ethnic and religious communities were recognized as qualities worthy of emulation.
While presenting the Award at a well-attended congregation, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) kebbi state chapter, Dr Ayuba Y Kanta Yaji who is also the Anglican Bishop, Zuru Diocese stated that ” it is in acknowledgement of Your Highness’s leadership, deep connections with the people and your tireless commitment to unity, peace , Cultural preservation and community development across the Zuru Emirate.”
In his remarks, the Emir expressed gratitude and assured various ethnic and religious communities of his care and protection, stating that all residents are bonafide indigenes of Zuru emirate.
He requested prayers for peace, unity, and an end to armed banditry in Kebbi State and Nigeria.
The Emir also praised Comrade Governor, Nasir Idris as a detribalized and compassionate leader, citing the reconstruction of the Koko-Zuru federal road project.
He congratulated Christians on Christmas and prayed for their prosperity.
The event, held at the United Missionary Catholic Association, Zuru, was attended by prominent Christian leaders, including former Chief of Army Staff and Sarkin Yakin Zuru Lieutenant General Ishaya Rizi Bamaiyi.
NIGERIA NEWS
24/7 Light: Nigerian Man Spends N8 Million To Install Solar Electricity, Goes Off National Grid
- A man who is desirous of enjoying 24/7 electricity has installed solar in his house after spending a lot of money
- The man, Agba Akin said he has migrated his power supply from the Nigerian national grid to his personal solar system
- Akin stated that he spent N8 million to install the solar and was happy that he would no longer be subjected to the constant collapse of the national grid
A man known as Agba Akin has gone off the Nigerian electricity grid to install his own power supply system.
Agba Akin will now enjoy constant electricity because he has installed a solar energy at home.
A Nigerian man installed solar electricity in his house. Photo credit: X/Kynsofficial.
Source: Twitter
He posted photos of the solar energy he installed and said he acquired the first one in 2023.
According to Akin, it was the best decision he ever took as he no longer relies on the national grid which is always collapsing.
Read also
Nigerian lady gets N2 million transfer from stranger after she complained of lack of money
How much is solar electricity installation in Nigeria?
He said:
“I have just protected myself with 8.8m and you can collapse all you want in 2026. I’m no longer on you.”
Akin said he spent N8 million on the latest installation.
Nigerian man showed off solar battery he installed at home. Photo credit: X/Agba Akin.
Source: Twitter
See his post below:
Reactions as man installs solar at home
@KepoAlawode said:
“I also use solar inverter bro. There’s no way you will escape NEPA and when it collapse, you will then understand that you need National grid even if it is just 2 hours a day.”
@ScouserNigerian said:
“Best investment I made this year was installing solar in my house. Nepa don show me shege.”
@olasilver06 said:
“Just wondering if that Hithium 1KWH is gonna be free for grabs, or it’s gonna be like Santaforgot to deliver.”
@reckon_iam said:
“Two weeks you will come back here.”
@Ezeifeka_Obinna said:
“Tinubu made electricity tariff unbelievably expensive now millions of people can’t afford to pay for steady electricity supply. I like the way you’re celebrating the failure of Tinubu in power sector.”
Read also
Man shows 4-bedroom flat he built from scratch, mentions amount he budgeted: “I started with nothing
@SeyiGlobal said:
“N8.8 million Naira solar system? Na wa o! At this rate, by 2026 the national grid go dey beg people like you to come back and pay NEPA bill . “You no back rubbish” but rubbish don pursue you go solar exile!”
@RexUchendu said:
“This is the mindset of a typical Nigerian. Anything can happen to others as long as it will not affect them and their immediate family.”
@JezebelReborn
“Spent almost 2million naira on colar lithium batteries and it’s been serving me for 7months now During the day I power major appliances then evening I reduce the load And it last till the next charge the next day I have uninterrupted power 24/7 As time goes on I will add another colar lithium battery to make it 3( three ) Nah me dey tire for light self Have not used NEPA or Generator in a year now They can collapse for all I care.”
Read also
Christmas: Nigerian man treks from Asaba Airport to hotel after taxi driver charged him N30k
Man installs solar with eight batteries
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man using a solar setup that runs on eight tubular batteries shows how he supplies energy to his neighbours.
The solar expert installed a metre for each neighbour who buys energy at N200 per kWh at least from him.
Many Nigerians who thronged his comment section wanted to know how he manages his neighbours’ electricity distribution.
Source: Legit.ng
NIGERIA NEWS
“People were begging me” – Lady shares how she dealt with okada man who ran away with N800 change
A Nigerian lady living in Lagos has recounted an unusual encounter with a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an okada rider, who allegedly attempted to shortchange her.
According to her account shared on social media, she paid the rider ₦1,000 for a trip that required ₦200, expecting ₦800 in change.
Lady.
on
Instead of returning the balance, the rider reportedly rode off.
The woman said she later encountered the same rider again and confronted him publicly. During the confrontation, she drew attention to herself and the situation, which attracted passersby. Faced with public pressure, the rider reportedly returned the full ₦1,000 while pleading.
She added that she initially refused to collect the money until people around intervened and appealed to her to accept it.
The incident has since sparked reactions online, with many social media users commenting on the daily struggles and street justice often associated with life in Lagos.
She said …
“To live in Lagos, you sef go first mad. I gave bike man 1k instead of giving me 800 change he took off. I later jam him for front. He returned my 1k with pleading after I used my red handkerchief to rub his face and I shouted ‘Yes Owo de’ I even refused to collect it and people were begging me”
Watch video below …
@waltem6
Na person wey get small craze fit love for Lagos 😂😂😂 #fyp #waltem6 #lagostiktok
♬ original sound – Big T_Me🌴🎧
Six members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal party crises, factional leadership and alleged poor governance in the state.
The lawmakers formally announced their defection in separate but similarly worded letters addressed to the Speaker of the House and sighted by LEADERSHIP on Thursday.
The defectors are Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi (Gummi I Constituency), Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), Barr. Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Hon. Bashir Bello (Bungudu West), Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta (Tsafe West), and Hon. Muktar Nasir Kaura (Kaura North).
In the letters titled “Notice of Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, the lawmakers said their decision was informed by “lingering and unresolved crises” within the PDP, which they said had resulted in factional leadership at various levels of the party.
“I write to formally inform the Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of this Honourable House of my decision of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) due to lingering and unresolved crises of my party (PDP) which resulted to factional leadership,” one of the letters read.
The lawmakers said their action was in line with the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which allows lawmakers to defect in the event of a division in their party.
They also accused the PDP-led administration in the state, under Governor Dauda Lawal, of poor leadership, alleging negligence in addressing the security challenges facing Zamfara State and failure to fulfil campaign promises.
“Therefore, my decision is consonant and pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), and poor leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal ranging from negligence in the security of the state and unfulfilled promises made as his campaign manifestos,” the letters stated.
NIGERIA NEWS
Tinubu tags Trump in social media Christmas message, vows to protect Nigerian Christians
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tagged U.S. President Donald Trump in a Christmas message to Nigerian Christians, pledging to protect religious freedom amid international claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Trump and some conservative groups in the United States had accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from violence.
“On this Holy day, I wish all Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas,” Tinubu wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.
The president thanked God for the opportunity to lead the country and prayed for peace among Nigerians of different faiths.
“I thank God for the opportunity to serve as the leader of our great country, and I pray for peace in our land, especially between individuals of differing religious beliefs,” Tinubu said.
He said his administration is committed to protecting religious freedom and safeguarding all citizens from violence.
“I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence,” he added.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has visited Balogun market for an on-the-spot assessment following a fire incident at the Great Nigeria House.
In a post on X, Sanwo-Olu said he was deeply saddened by the incident and expressed sympathy with those affected.
The governor said no written report could fully capture the pain or extent of the losses recorded.
He commended firefighters, emergency responders and relevant agencies for working through the night to bring the fire under control.
Sanwo-Olu said their efforts saved lives and prevented the inferno from spreading further, adding that the state government will continue to assess the situation and provide support to affected persons.
“We will continue to assess the situation and provide support to those who have been impacted. Lagos has always shown strength in difficult moments, and I believe we will get through this together,” he wrote on X.
The Nigerian Army has called for extra vigilance at churches following a bomb blast at a mosque located within Gamboru Market in Maiduguri.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.
The official disclosed that the explosion, which occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, at a mosque within Gamboru Market while Muslim faithful were observing evening prayers, is linked to a suspected Boko Haram operative.
What the Army is saying
According to the statement, “Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist (BHT) suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and two civilians at the scene.”
Troops, in conjunction with other sister security and law enforcement agencies, the Borno State Government, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), were said to have responded to the incident by securing and cordoning off the affected area to prevent further harm and ensure public safety.
The official confirmed that casualties were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital and the Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri for prompt medical attention, while two persons were initially confirmed dead.
“A total of 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries. Regrettably, two of the injured civilians were later confirmed dead at the hospital, while two others are currently in critical condition.
“The remaining injured persons are stable and receiving appropriate medical care,” the statement partly read.
The Army warned against gathering in crowded places and called for heightened vigilance across religious centres, particularly churches.
“It is advised to avoid crowded places and maintain extra vigilance at religious centres, especially churches, during the yuletide period.
“Citizens are urged to promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security post,” the official added.
The Army maintained that troops and other security agencies have intensified surveillance and security measures within Maiduguri and the surrounding areas following the incident.
Members of the public were advised to remain calm and security-conscious, especially during the yuletide season, while residents should be on the lookout for teenagers exhibiting suspicious behaviour.
The Army commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured the public of its continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
What you should know
The Army’s press release comes hours after Vice President Kashim Shettima condemned the bomb attack.
The Vice President described the incident as a despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.
In recent months, Nigeria has experienced a rise in insecurity across several states, including the kidnapping of students, armed robberies, and attacks on communities in the North and Central regions.
These incidents have heightened public concern and highlighted the ongoing threat posed by criminal and extremist groups.
In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a national security emergency, ordering intensified operations by the Armed Forces, the Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The measures included redeploying officers from VIP duties to frontline operations, recruiting additional personnel, and deploying trained forest guards to counter armed groups in volatile areas.
The development resulted in the return of most of the abductees.
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SOURCE PAGE
By Paul Onomuakpokpo
When the German writer Franz Kafka directs his narrative genius at the civil service – after spending a princely part of his working life in it – he leaves us with a dark and tragic vision of a bureaucratic system inexorably trapped in detachment from its duty to serve the people. This is inevitable since in his reckoning, the system that Max Weber brands the “iron cage” is bereft of the capacity to even cater to the interest of its loyal devotees who have been desouled per In the Penal Colony, The Trial, and The Castle. We appropriate the above backdrop to properly situate the reform trajectory of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, who , like Kafka, spent a huge part of his working life in the civil service. But unlike Kafka, while admitting being confronted with what he has identified as bureau-pathologies which are markers of the resistance to reform, and thus the degeneration of the civil service, Olaopa does not consider it fated to a cul-de-sac. For Olaopa, what is embedded in these is an urgent summons for reform, rather than a wholesale consignment of the bureaucratic system to a mould of a machine that is insensitive to its handlers and those it is meant to serve.
Olaopa is clearly alert to the fact that although the civil service is in need of reform, it remains what is commonly referred to as the engine room for translating government’s transformative values – which receive expression through policies and programmes – to realities for the people. This quest for the transformation of the civil service has been the leitmotif of Olaopa’s professional preoccupation whether in the civil service or in academia of his post-civil service life.
Thus, whether by serendipity or a master stroke of an uncanny genius for identifying talent, President Bola Tinubu was able to recognise this throbbing reform impulse in Olaopa when he appointed him the Chairman of the FCSC and gave him the charge: Transform the Federal Civil Service Commission. This charge became two-year old on December 13, 2025. In this period, the prosecution of this charge has been manifestly expressed through the tripodal mandate of the FCSC, viz: recruitment, appointment and discipline.
Before Olaopa’ leadership of the FCSC, it was bereft of a reputation that would allow the citizens and institutions to deal with it with a measure of confidence that their trust would be creditably requited . For those who knew it, it was perceived as a haven of corruption where only those with the right connections got government jobs. Olaopa has changed all that perception . The FCSC has become a government agency that citizens can trust with their quest to be employed in the civil service. The era of jobs being paid for is gone. Under Olaopa, there is the overarching quest to bring the best and brightest to the civil service, without undermining the federal character principle. His credibility has invested his leadership with an imprimatur of believability.
Through credible promotion examinations, the career progression of the most qualified civil servants is guaranteed. Civil servants are no longer apprehensive that they need to look for millions to bribe their way to rise to the top. Olaopa has demonstrated the courage to stop the promotion of those who do not merit it no matter the pressure from different quarters. The avenues for questionable promotion examinations such as leakage and sub-standard examination questions have been blocked. This has saved the commission from wasting time, money and other resources on court cases. Those who fail no longer bother to contest the grades they have been awarded as they rest assured that the system is now credible.
Olaopa’s streak of firsts at the FCSC has received a boon with the introduction of the computer-based test ( CBT) mould for the conduct of recruitment and promotion examinations in the civil service. This novelty imposes on civil servants the salubrious necessity of computer-savviness that is reflective of technological developments in a world where those who have demurred at bracing for artificial intelligence and others are faced with the present danger of consignment to corporate and professional backwaters. It has also shrunk the space for the manipulation of examination results that impugn the credibility of the commission.
Olaopa has also robustly activated the guardrail for a credible disciplinary process. There is a deliberate process to ensure that civil servants are not unduly punished and witch-hunted. The matters of discipline are thoroughly investigated and fiercely debated by Olaopa and his federal commissioners who represent the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory before a conclusion is reached. No one is allowed to use their influence to frustrate their subordinates out of the civil service. Through a robust deployment of emotional intelligence, Olaopa has been able to forge an unequalled cordial working relationship with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation ( HOCSF ).
Indeed, Olaopa aptly captures his working relationship with the HOCSF as that of Siamese twins who operate with unequalled synergy. Unlike some agencies of government, there is no rivalry between these two agencies of the government that are responsible for the leadership of the nation’s civil service. They both adhere to their boundaries to ensure that the civil service delivers only only the best to the public. At the state level, civil servants have equally benefited immensely from Olaopa’s leadership.
Drawing from his rich experience as a former federal permanent secretary and as a professor of public administration, Olaopa has offered himself as a mentor to many managers of state civil service commissions. This finds exemplification in Olaopa’s revitalisation of the National Conference of Civil Service Commissions after an over 10-year hiatus. The last two conferences which were held in Katsina and Abia states birthed declarations that outlined the challenges that state civil service commissions need to overcome to optimise their performance.
Olaopa has also extended his mentorship to local government service commissions as he delivered the keynote address to them during their last yearly conference in Abuja. For years, the voice of the Nigerian civil service through the Federal Civil Service Commission was silent on the global stage. But within two years, Olaopa has forged alliances that have returned the voice of the civil service to the global stage. This is so especially at the continental level where under the leadership of Olaopa, Nigeria has become an active voice in the Association of the African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS). In its last meeting in Kenya, Olaopa was elected the Vice President of AAPSCOMS for West Africa.To underscore Nigeria’s influence in AAPSCOMS through Olaopa, the country has been scheduled to host the organisation in 2026 in Abuja.
Successful corporations like great nations have strategic plans that define certain directions that they would go in a given time frame. Yet the FCSC for over 70 years of its existence was bereft of such a strategic plan. But within the two years of Olaopa’s leadership , the FCSC now has a strategic plan that spells out the direction the commission would go from now till 2030.
Beyond clinking glasses at two years in the saddle, Olaopa’s achievements within this brief period are an auspicious reminder of the gains that accrue to the society when the appointment of people to public office is blind to considerations other than their suitability on account of competence and their readiness to serve. They also signal a determination to bequeath to succeeding managers of the civil service a world-class bureaucratic system that has been made to yield itself to renewal in order to effectively deliver service to the public.
*Onomuakpokpo, PhD, former Acting Editor, The Guardian, is the Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission.