NIGERIA NEWS
Presidency condemns Borno bomb attack, assures swift action against perpetrators
Vice President Kashim Shettima has condemned the bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, that claimed about five lives and left several others injured on the eve of Christmas.
He described the incident as a despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.
The condemnation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications.
Shettima assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is taking immediate steps to apprehend those responsible and strengthen security in the region.
What the Presidency is saying
The Vice President emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate intensification of security operations in Borno State.
He noted that additional tactical teams have been deployed to the area to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.
Shettima stressed that the Federal Government would not tolerate any attempt to undermine national peace and security. He extended condolences to the Government of Borno State, residents, and families who lost loved ones, assuring that those responsible would face the full weight of the law.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation. Our security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately,” VP Shettima said.
He added, “We sympathize with the Government of Borno State, residents, and families who have lost their loved ones in this attack. The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will face the full weight of the law.”
The Vice President expressed confidence that the current security framework would not only apprehend the perpetrators but also unravel the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
He also noted that the Federal Government is working closely with state authorities and local security agencies to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure across the North East and other regions.
Backstory
At least five people were killed when a bomb exploded inside a crowded mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on the eve of Christmas. Around 35 others were reported injured in the blast, which occurred during evening prayers.
Unverified footage circulating on social media shows scenes of chaos, with people moving through the dusty market area in the aftermath of the explosion.
No group has claimed responsibility, but armed terror groups in the region have previously targeted mosques and other crowded locations using suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Maiduguri has long been a focal point of the insurgency led by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Since 2009, the groups have carried out campaigns in Borno State with the aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate.
What you should know
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, Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Following the designation and its rejection, the United States and Nigeria agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate a new phase of defense and security cooperation, after high-level engagements between both countries in Washington, D.C.
Follow us for Breaking News and Market Intelligence.
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.
Gov. Abbar Yusuf of Kano State has extended warm felicitations to the Christian community in Kano State and across Nigeria on the celebration of Christmas 2025.
He described the season as a period of love, sacrifice, unity, and peaceful coexistence.
In a statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, on Thursday, Yusuf said Christmas offered an important opportunity for reflection on the enduring values of peace, tolerance, compassion, and selfless service to humanity.
He urged Christians in the state to use the festive period to canvass for peace, unity, and collective progress.
While calling on all the residents to live together in mutual respect and understanding, Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of all the citizens
According to him, this is with a view to ensuring an atmosphere where everyone can freely practice their faith in peace.
Yusuf wished the Christians a joyful Christmas celebration even as he prayed for a peaceful and prosperous New Year for all residents of the state.
He also advised motorists to strictly observe traffic rules throughout the festive period and beyond to ensure safety on the roads.
(NAN)
Organisers at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco are allowing supporters in for free after kick-off in matches where stadiums are not full, a Confederation of African Football source told AFP.
The Group F game between Cameroon and Gabon on Wednesday in Agadir kicked off in front of almost empty stands but the ground filled up significantly over the course of the first half despite incessant rain.
The official attendance was later announced as 35,200 inside a venue which can hold over 45,000.
There have been similar scenes at numerous matches across the opening days of the competition, even leading to confusion over the attendance figures themselves.
The crowd at Tuesday’s Group D encounter between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin at Rabat’s Al Medina Stadium — which filled up considerably over the course of the game — was initially announced as 6,703 before later being corrected to 13,073.
The CAF source indicated that organisers, in agreement with African football’s governing body, were opening stands around 20 minutes into games to allow fans gathered outside to enter without paying.
Filling stadiums is an important issue for Cup of Nations organisers in Morocco, for which a successful hosting of the tournament is key as it builds towards the 2030 World Cup to be jointly held in the North African country, Spain and Portugal.
CAF’s official ticketing platform on Thursday showed seats available for almost all remaining group matches for prices starting at 100 dirhams ($10.96).
The only matches shown as sell-outs were hosts Morocco’s games against Mali on Friday and Zambia on Monday, as well as Algeria against Burkina Faso on Sunday and Algeria versus Equatorial Guinea next Wednesday.
Vanguard News
The post AFCON: Organiser allowing fans in for free to fill empty stands – CAF appeared first on Vanguard News.
The Nigeria Police Force has rejected allegations linking the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to the alleged wrongful arrest of a journalist, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading.
In a statement on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hudeyin, said at no time did the IGP authorise, direct or condone the arrest, harassment or intimidation of any journalist.
Hudeyin said the IGP acted swiftly after being formally notified of the incident by the President of the International Press Institute, Musikilu Mojeed.
He explained that Egbetokun immediately ordered the journalist’s release and directed the Force Monitoring Unit to commence an investigation into the officers’ conduct.
According to him, clear instructions were issued that any officer found culpable would be sanctioned in line with extant laws and disciplinary procedures, adding that the IPI was duly informed of the steps taken.
Hundeyin faulted suggestions of institutional hostility to press freedom, insisting that misconduct by individual officers should not be attributed to the leadership or used to malign the institution.
He noted that while the police have over 300,000 personnel nationwide and most officers discharge their duties professionally, isolated cases of misconduct may occur and are always investigated through due process.
He also disclosed that the IPI’s petition was referred to the Force Monitoring Unit, but claimed the institute declined repeated invitations to appear before the unit to harmonise its statements.
Describing the IPI’s decision to suspend engagement with the Force as disproportionate, the police spokesperson said it was contradictory to obstruct investigations while alleging inaction.
He stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to constitutional policing, media freedom and professional accountability, while resisting what it called unsubstantiated attempts to undermine its leadership.
In other news, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 22 suspects and recovered firearms, vehicles, motorcycles and illicit drugs during a series of intelligence-led operations across several states.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that operatives of the Special Tactical Squad carried out the arrests.
Hundeyin said the suspects were linked to offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry to cattle rustling, car snatching, economic sabotage, impersonation and drug trafficking.
He added that six firearms were recovered during the operations, including one LAR rifle, one pump-action gun, AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, an SMG rifle, and two live rounds of ammunition.
According to him, 45 other exhibits were also seized, including vehicles, motorcycles, and illicit drugs suspected of being used to commit crimes.
President of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Rev. Job Ayuba Bagat, has expressed gratitude to God for keeping Nigeria as a united entity, in spite of the economic hardship, insecurity, political uncertainty, social tension, and moral decline that characterized 2025.
In his Christmas message to the nation, Bagat said, “As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember that Christ is still found by those who seek Him sincerely, not in noise or material abundance, but in humility, obedience, holiness, and love.”
He thanked the Almighty father for keeping the country together despite daunting challenges in Nigeria, saying that he has seen the hand of protection, provision and unity in the country.
As the country steps into the year 2026, he said that God is calling on all Nigerians to deepen spiritual alertness and faithfulness to shame the plans of those planning evil in the country, believing that the Almighty father will protect and guide the leaders in the land in the path of righteous in order to prosper the country.
He stated that as families face rising costs of living, young people confront uncertainty, and as communities long for peace and justice, the Church must shine brighter than ever, stressing that the church is called to be a beacon of hope, a people who seek God diligently and remain spiritually awake.
He charged Nigerians, “Let us not lose heart. The same God who has kept us thus far will carry us forward. The darkness of our times cannot overcome the light of Christ shining through His Church.”
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of additional tactical security teams to Maiduguri, Borno State, following a deadly bomb explosion at a mosque in the Gamboru Market area of the city.
Naija News reports that the attack, which occurred on Wednesday, claimed five lives and left several others injured.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the Federal Government strongly condemned the incident, describing it as “a despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.”
The Vice-President disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed an immediate intensification of security operations across Borno State in response to the attack.
According to him, the Federal Government is already working closely with the Borno State Government, security agencies and local authorities to track down those behind the bombing and prevent further attacks.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation,” Shettima said.
“Our security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately.”
Shettima said beyond Borno State, security measures were also being strengthened across the North-East and other parts of the country to safeguard vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure.
He expressed confidence in the nation’s security architecture, saying it would not only apprehend the perpetrators but also uncover the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Vice-President commiserated with the Borno State Government, residents of Maiduguri and families of those who lost their lives in the attack.
“We sympathise with the Government of Borno, residents and families who lost their loved ones in this attack,” he said.
“The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will face the full weight of the law.”
Reaffirming the administration’s resolve to tackle terrorism, Shettima assured Nigerians that national security remains a top priority for the Tinubu-led government.
“Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, this administration has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the security, unity and stability of our nation,” he said.
“This commitment remains steadfast under God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will continue to provide our security agencies with all necessary resources and support to decisively defeat terrorism in all its forms.”
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reiterated the party’s strong desire for a united and all-inclusive Nigeria, irrespective of tribe or religion.
The party also noted that it would continue to uphold the County’s constitution and well-being of its citizens in a bid to achieve the Nigeria of its dream.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, in a Christmas and New Year message, he noted that in the spirit of Yuletide, Nigerians should all embrace peace and oneness, adding that despite the seemingly political divide, Nigerians are first of all Nigerians before the advent of political party affiliations .
“As we reflect on the significance of Christmas and the values it represents – love, kindness, and selflessness – we urge all Nigerians to emulate these virtues in their interactions with one another. May this festive period bring us closer to our shared aspirations for a better Nigeria”
“As we count down to a new year, APGA remains committed to the ideals of our great party and the welfare of our people”
“We reaffirm our dedication to working tirelessly towards a Nigeria that is truly inclusive, prosperous, and just for all”
“On behalf of the National Working Committee of APGA, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. May the coming year bring us joy, good health, and abundant blessings,” he said.
Please follow and like us:
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has joined Christians all over to celebrate Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus, quipping in his message that Nigerians should support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do more for the country.
In the statement he personally signed, he also asked Nigerians to show love, joy, charity and hope as these are the virtues of Jesus Christ.
Umahi gave hope that with President Tinubu Nigeria’s situation would definitely change and improve.
He said in his message, “It is my tremendous honour to join Christians all over the world in celebrating this year’s Christmas Day, which is the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“Indeed, this commemorative celebration offers a great opportunity for self-reflection on the solid clout of that glorious morning when Jesus was born and the purpose of His birth, which is to make His love available to all mankind and restore our intimate relationships with God Almighty.
“We are called by this commemoration to imitate His virtues of love, charity, faith, and hope and to share the values we learnt from His birth with warmth and tenderness.
“As a people, we are called to the significance of Christmas as it is on the existential path to our collective peace; we are called to build a deeper connection with God through an attitude of love, gratitude and recognition which resonates in the habits that honour our relationships and diversities.
“Great and mighty things are being done by President Tinubu’s administration to secure a new order in our developmental trajectory and bequeath a stronger and better future for Nigeria that is bound by limitless opportunities, inclusive of the works sector, which he is turning around in the most magnificent manner.
“For this, we publicly express our gratitude to Mr President for his developmental initiatives, which are bold and visionary.
“I urge all Nigerians to remain steadfast in encouraging and supporting the tenets of the Christmas festival, which is a sense of community, love, compassion, and goodwill towards all.
“I would like to use this medium to convey my season’s greetings and best wishes to the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works, who have, through positive attitudes, discipline, and dedication, created a supportive work environment for us to achieve set goals in accordance with the Renewed Hope agenda on road infrastructure development.
“May they feel my gratitude and the bonds of my love in this season and always.
“As we celebrate God’s love through the birth of our Lord Jesus and the hope He brings to the world, may the spirit of Christmas fill the hearts of all Nigerians with joy and may the holiday be merry, bright and eventful. Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards and best wishes always.”
Please follow and like us:
Six serving People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Announcing ther defection, the lawmakers cited disregard and disrespect to the nation’s constitution by the state legislature as some of the major reasons for abandoning the PDP.
The members jointly made their decision known on Wednesday, December 4, while sitting in Gusau, the state capital, after deliberations on the poor management of the legislative arm, which they said has since compromised its duties by serving as an extension of the governor’s office and a rubber stamp to Governor Dauda Lawal.
The members who tendered their separate letters before the factional Speaker, Honourable Bashar Aliyu Gummi, said, having been illegally suspended for about two years now, which has also silenced their constituents as elected members, they have since formed a parallel House of Assembly and have been challenging the illegalities of both the so-called government-recognised faction and the executive.
The defected lawmakers include the factional Speaker, Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi, member representing Gummi 1, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru, member representing Maru North, Barr Bashir Abubakar Masama, Member representing Bukkuyum North, Hon. Bashir Bello, member representing Bungudu West, Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta, member representing Tsafe West and Hon. Muktar Nasir Kaura, Member representing Kaura North.
They claimed that without them, the present faction of the legislature working with the Governor has been making decisions and passing laws without forming the required quorum, and therefore, such laws are null and void.
They urged the National Assembly to investigate their case and take the right steps towards ensuring that order and the rule of law are fully adhered to in the state legislature.
On their decision to join the opposition APC in the state, the lawmakers cited justice, fair play, harmony and inclusiveness as what attracted them so that they can return and work for the growth and development of the state and the welfare of their constituents.
After reading all the defection letters by the Speaker Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi, said “Following the receipt of defection letters from the Six Hon. Members including myself, I wish to formally congratulate everyone of us for joining the Progressives in the country that is the All Progressives Congress APC, may the decision be the beginning of success and development of our dear state and Nigeria at large.”
” I consider this bold decision a wise one that will promote the political stability of our dear nation into a more prosperous one ”
“However, our collective decision to dump our former party (PDP) and join the APC marks a new political era in Zamfara state, where members of the ruling party defect to the opposition, which has changed the tradition.
“PDP is dead, it is only waiting for burial arrangements in the country because the current leadership is derailed from the party manifestos and the purpose for which its founding members put in place, where today, the party is battling with a protracted internal crisis that has already destroyed it at all levels.
“We cannot therefore trade our good reputation and political career to this collateral failure caused by selfish individuals, and so we have exited in order to move forward.
“Incidentally, we all observed in our separate letters of defection from the PDP, our concern over Governor Dauda Lawal’s nonchalance to the issue of insecurity in the state as he perpetually busies and is engulfed in his fight against Hon Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, against the backdrop that he (Dauda) perpetuates himself as Governor beyond 2027.
“All these are taking place at a time when the PDP is in disarray and confused over who is its leader at the National level, thus it is in pursuit of our fundamental right to the provisions of Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that we take the decision to evade the PDP”, he further explained.
Please follow and like us:
Seven persons have been confirmed injured and hospitalised following a fire outbreak at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
The blaze, which erupted at about 5p.m. on Christmas Eve, spread beyond the high-rise structure, affecting nearby buildings including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria complex, Oluwole Plaza, a mosque and several adjoining properties.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, confirmed the development in an update issued on Christmas Day by its spokesperson, Nosa Okunbor.
According to preliminary findings, the fire originated from the fourth floor of the building before rapidly spreading to other levels, prompting emergency authorities to issue an immediate evacuation advisory to residents and traders within the vicinity.
Providing a situation update on Thursday, Okunbor disclosed that although the fire had been brought under control, seven adult males sustained varying degrees of burn injuries and were subsequently hospitalised.
“Seven adult males suffered varying degrees of burn injuries as a result of the inferno and were attended to by the agency’s paramedics before being taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention,” he said.
He added that five other individuals who suffered from smoke inhalation were treated on-site by emergency responders.
“The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished,” Okunbor stated.
He further confirmed that emergency teams had successfully put out the fire at the Radio Nigeria building opposite the affected high-rise.
“The seven-storey Radio Nigeria building opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House has been safely extinguished by emergency responders, and dampening-down operations are ongoing,” he said.
According to LASEMA, ongoing dampening efforts are aimed at preventing any possible re-ignition as safety assessments continue in the affected area.
The authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have insisted that the university has appointed the renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a visiting professor.
The university restated its position in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.
Appointment and refutal
In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for UNN, Agha Inya, announced that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, had signed a letter dated 18 December, appointing Ms Adiche, a graduate of the university, as a visiting professor.
The statement said that Mr Ortuanya, a professor, also appointed African Development Bank executive Kevin Urama and a professor from the University of Chicago, James Robinson, as visiting professors.
It stated that the letters of appointment outlined the roles and expectations of visiting professors, including teaching engagements, research collaboration, mentorship, and strategic academic interactions.
However, a report by TheCable quoted Omawumi Ogbe, identified as Ms Adichie’s media aide, as dismissing the report of the appointment as “false”.
“It has come to our attention that several news outlets are reporting that Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been appointed as a Visiting Professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and we wish to state categorically that this information is entirely false,” TheCable quoted Ms Ogbe as saying.
“Ms Adichie has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the university regarding a professorship.
“The reports claiming that official letters were signed and dated 18 December 2025 are inaccurate.”
Ms Adichie studied medicine at UNN for about a year and a half, before moving to the United States for further education.
UNN speaks
When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday morning, Mr Inya insisted that the appointment was true.
“The appointment was made. If she was not appointed, we wouldn’t have issued that statement,” he said.
The UNN spokesperson told this newspaper that Ms Adiche has the option of accepting or rejecting the appointment.
“It is up to her to accept or decline the appointment. But to deny that the appointment was not made is not true,” he maintained.
PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Inya if Ms Adichie had accepted or declined the appointment.
“She will write to the university (to indicate such a decision). That’s how it works,” he responded.
Mr Inya suggested that the university forwarded the appointment letter to Ms Adiche’s email before sending a hardcopy version of the letter through a courier.
READ ALSO: UNN appoints Chimamanda Adichie as visiting professor
Asked if Ms Adichie had acknowledged receipt of the letter, the UNN spokesperson said he was not aware of that.
He also suggested that Ms Ogbe is a third party and might be unaware of the appointment.
PREMIUM TIMES checked Ms Adiche’s personal social media accounts, particularly X and Facebook, but did not see her reaction to the UNN appointment.
From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Oliver Ali-Aba, has urged people of the world to give credit to God for his unconditional love for humanity.
The Prelate made the disclosure while speaking to Journalists about Christmas at the headquarters of the church in Lagos Island on Sunday, December 25, 2025, adding , “We have to give credit to God for his unconditional love to humanity, and that has led us to have this day today.”
Responding to question on the economic hardship in the country, the great man of God said, “I want to say, this day a saviour has been born, and that settles human economy. The Labour we would have laboured for, someone came and bear the cross and that is in the person of Jesus Christ whom we are celebrating his birthday today.
“And I strongly believe that God loves Nigeria, because he decided to give us his son Jesus Christ like it is written in John Chapter 3:16 which says that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life, so I am trusting and believing God, we would all cross to 2026, and head will not roll.
“And when it comes to human economy, the lord will settle it for us. It’s a matter of waiting patiently for the lord. If the lord did it for the people of old, he will still do it. So I am not bothered about what they are saying today about economy, God will fix this nation for us, all we need to do is to make ourselves available for God to use us. As Jesus Christ came as an example for one’s readiness to make a difference. The world was corrupt just like the bible made us to understand, and the first Adam sinned, and God saw that the first Adam cannot liberate himself or bring himself back, you know when a child and a father are in disagreement, there must be an intermediary, somebody must come in to reconcile the son and the father, in this case man has sinned and have been far away from God, and God thought it wise because it is going to reconcile us to himself, you know, the devil will smile that he has conquered the world and that is why Jesus Christ came and so we Christians are happy that we have a saviour, saviour of the world, in the person of Jesus Christ who we are celebrating his birthday today,”
He said Nigerians should be patient with the leadership of the country and that the country belongs to all Nigerians and must join hand to build it. “The president is doing his best, like I used to say, this nation is our nation. Not just for Baba Tinubu, it is for all of us. And for us to fix this nation we must join hand together, and being patient with the leadership. Some people would ask when will this patient come to an end? It is in the hand of God, God will help us to go through.
“We have been going through this type of economic recession at one point or the other, not only in Nigeria, about two months ago, the whole America, they say, shut down, the shutdown lasted for almost two months, and was described by Journalists as the longest shutdown America has ever experienced. If a whole America can face such a reality then you should expect Nigeria, in our struggling, to be there as a growing nation, you can expect all these stress, but stress must come so that man can have testimonies.
“But at the end, I have the assurance to tell you that in no distant time, Nigeria will give testimonies,” Prelate Ali-Aba said.
NIGERIA NEWS
Man Celebrates 3rd Wedding Anniversary, Mentions How Many Wives He Would Marry Again, People React
A Nigerian man shared a Facebook post to celebrate his third wedding anniversary. He shared how many more wives he would love to marry, sparking mixed reactions.
SOURCE PAGE
A shocking scene played out after two luxury cars bashed into a new tricycle (a.k.a Keke, Maduuwau).
The video was spotted trending on the social networking site, X (FKA Twitter).
Accident.
Although it wasn’t revealed what had transpired or how the vehicles had collided, the video had depicted the keke in between the cars.
Onlookers had gathered to look at the unusual scene, with many pointing at the wrecked tricycle.
The caption attached to the video reveals the owner of the keke lamenting that he had only bought the vehicle recently.
“Keke way I just buy” he lamented.
Check out reactions below …
@Cleverlydey4u said: “Which kind scenario be this 😳”
@FindingKan remarked: “The Keke man must have been a very sweet and kind hearted man.
See how dem kiss am from both left and right🥹”
@Smithnuvie said: “How, so if we remove the keke, both cars would still have collided with each other. 😂, Nigeria dey amaze me everyday”
@Amaebo3 wrote: “Keke never vex you for road
Nah why you dey pity this one”
Watch video below …
How manage??? They wn suffocate the keke 💔 pic.twitter.com/TVwIm1acMC
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) December 25, 2025
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians to uphold unity, compassion and resilience as they celebrate Christmas amid economic and security challenges in the country.
In a Christmas message issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party acknowledged that many Nigerians are observing the festive season under harsh conditions marked by rising food prices, insecurity and uncertainty about the nation’s future.
“While we are mindful that too many Nigerians are doing so under difficult circumstances, amidst rising food costs, persistent insecurity, and a deep and disturbing doubt about the future of our nation, we believe that, as we prepare to enter the new year, this season of love and compassion calls us to still celebrate,” the statement read.
The ADC said Nigeria’s strength lies in the resilience and solidarity of its people across religious and ethnic lines.
According to the party, “Nigeria’s greatest strength lies in its people, in our collective resilience, our enduring compassion, and our consistent commitment to one another across faiths and communities.”
The party also called on Nigerians to remember victims of the Christmas Eve bombing at a mosque in Borno State, urging prayers for affected families and communities. It described the attack as “a poignant reminder that the situation in our country threatens us all, regardless of the language we speak or how we worship God.”
The ADC further appealed for prayers and appreciation for Nigerians who continue to serve the country during the festive period, particularly security personnel and health workers. The party noted that these workers “cannot spend Christmas with their families because they must remain on duty while the rest of us celebrate.”
In addition, the party called for prayers for the nation, urging divine intervention to end suffering and provide the country with compassionate leadership. “We must pray to God to end the suffering in our land and give our beloved country a leadership that is anchored in conscience, empathy and love of the people,” the statement said.
The ADC also wished all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.