Author Archives: News All Around

By Musa Maya

The Northern Elders Progressive Group has dismissed renewed calls for the resignation of the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Matawalle, describing the criticisms as “mischievous, exaggerated, and politically driven.”

Addressing journalists on Monday, the Coordinator of the group, Yusuf Abubakar, said recent media attacks targeting the minister were part of broader political manoeuvring within the country’s public space, particularly as federal security operations continue to record gains nationwide.

Abubakar noted that some commentators were attempting to link persistent insecurity in parts of the North-West to alleged shortcomings within the Ministry of Defence. He argued that such claims ignore the complex nature of Nigeria’s security environment and the significant progress recorded under the current administration.

He stated that since assuming office, Matawalle has been instrumental to a series of reforms aimed at revamping defence operations, modernising military capabilities, and strengthening collaboration among security agencies.

According to him, the minister’s efforts in enhancing joint operations among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence services have been central to improving counterterrorism and anti-banditry missions across the country.

He cited the successful rescue of abducted schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State—coordinated under the minister’s supervision—as one of several recent proofs of improved operational synergy. Similar breakthroughs, he added, had been recorded in the North-East, where more insurgents have surrendered, and in the North-Central, where kidnapping syndicates operating along major highways in Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states have been disrupted.

In the South-South, Abubakar noted that intensified maritime patrols have curbed oil theft and secured vital national assets, while federal operations in the South-East continue to target violent criminal networks.

Focusing on the North-West, a region previously ravaged by banditry, Abubakar stated that federal military offensives had deepened under Matawalle’s watch. He pointed to coordinated airstrikes, the dismantling of bandit camps, and the cutting off of their supply routes as evidence of renewed federal commitment.

He added that the minister had also prioritised troop welfare through improved allowances, enhanced logistics, and the deployment of new surveillance technologies, including tactical drones and rapid-response vehicles.

“Many abandoned communities have been restored, farmers are gradually returning to their lands, and intelligence-sharing between local communities and security agencies has improved significantly,” he said.

Abubakar attributed rising attacks on the minister to political power tussles within the North-West, insisting that critics should focus on achievements recorded rather than politicising national security.

He commended President

Christian and Muslim leaders in the North, under the umbrella of the Interfaith Unity Forum, have commended Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari for his sustained efforts toward promoting peace, unity and sustainable development across the region.

The leaders praised the former Zamfara State Governor for convening the recently well-attended Yari Roundtable for Interreligious Harmony held in Abuja and Kaduna, which brought together prominent clerics from both faiths to chart a new course for peaceful coexistence.

In a joint message signed by the co-chairs and secretaries — Pastor Eziekel Jeremiah Garba, Sheikh Muhammad Sabiu, Sheikh Nafiu Salman and Evangelist Musa Simon — the forum said Senator Yari deserved recognition for “restoring interreligious harmony among Christians and Muslims in the North.” They noted that the platform he created was helping to rebuild trust and strengthen communal bonds.

“We have repeatedly told those who care to listen that there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence and unity,” the leaders stated. “We should never allow ourselves to be divided on the grounds of tribe or religion.”

They lamented that some political office holders were more interested in power than in uniting the people, accusing them of exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments for political gain.

The leaders, therefore, urged other politicians — especially those currently in office — to emulate Senator Yari’s bold initiative in championing dialogue and promoting peace.

“Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari has taken a commendable step to ensure that peace and unity are restored in the North. We call on all leaders to follow this example for the progress of our region and the country at large,” they added.

The Northern Forum for Good Governance has appealed to Northern Senators to support and ratify the nomination of Mr. Reno Omokri as one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees.

In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Musa Mohammed ,the group said Omokri has demonstrated “the capacity to lead and represent Nigeria effectively at any level,” adding that his nomination is a welcome development deserving of national support.

President Tinubu recently forwarded 32 ambassadorial nominees— including Omokri — to the Senate for confirmation, just days after sending an initial list of three names. However, sources within the National Assembly revealed that the Senate is currently grappling with internal disagreements, largely triggered by Omokri’s inclusion on the list.

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and a prominent social media commentator, had in the past been critical of President Tinubu, including allegations that he once referred to the President as a “drug baron.” These past comments have reportedly stirred controversy within Senate circles as lawmakers debate his suitability.

But the Northern Forum for Good Governance insists that ambassadorial appointments should be based solely on merit, competence, and the capacity to deliver, not on sentiments or past political disagreements.

“The issues of capacity and performance should be the yardstick for appointments, not flippant matters or emotional considerations,” the group stated.

The Forum urged Northern Senators to prioritize national cohesion and development by supporting Omokri’s confirmation. It argued that President Tinubu’s decision to nominate him despite previous criticisms shows statesmanship and an ability to recognize talent above personal differences.

“Tinubu must have seen a unique side of him despite his past attacks, and that is what is most important from a good leader,” the statement added.

The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominees in the coming days.

Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, since assuming office in 2023, has created a niche for, not just himself and the Commission, but for the Renewed Hope Administration under the leadership of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been commended for appointing a “round peg in a round hole” to steer the affairs of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN.

Indeed, Dr. Mustapha has not disappointed his teeming admirers and supporters alike for his innovative, exceptional leadership and managerial acumen displayed in repositioning the Commission and taking it to newer heights, not just in Nigeria but making become more respected in the global space. The achievements recorded with the space of two years brought about positive and tremendous improvements for the energy sector which also includes the introduction of the widely accepted solarization project; a vision of the Tinubu-led administration that aims to ensure steady and sustainable energy supply for all Nigerians.

It is therefore no surprise to Nigerians and stakeholders in the Energy sector when the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, honoured the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, with an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Engineering (D.Eng., Honoris Causa) during its maiden joint convocation ceremony; a celebration of academic excellence that reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation.

The award, which was presented by Governor Usman Ododo in the presence of former Governor Yahaya Bello, the University Chancellor, and the Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, recognized Dr. Abdullahi’s outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector and his pioneering work in renewable energy solutions.

Dr. Abdullahi, who was accompanied by Directors and staff of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, expressed his profound appreciation for the honour, reaffirmed his commitment to advancing technology and innovation, particularly in renewable energy, and therefore pledged to strengthen partnerships that support sustainable development across the country.

In an acceptance speech during the award ceremony of the maiden joint convocation of the Institution, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi said; “I am deeply honoured to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Engineering (D.Eng., Honoris Causa) from Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, during its maiden joint convocation ceremony. This recognition inspires me to continue advancing Nigeria’s energy sector and promoting sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation.

“I thank Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, the University Chancellor, and the Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, for this esteemed award. Together with my Directors at the Energy Commission of Nigeria, I remain committed to driving technology and innovation, particularly in renewable energy, and strengthening partnerships that create lasting impact across our nation”, he stated.

The Yari Roundtable for Inter-Religious Harmony has scheduled Thursday, December 4, for another high-level interfaith peace parley aimed at strengthening unity and understanding among Christian and Muslim stakeholders in Plateau and Kano States.

The planned dialogue follows the organisation’s recently concluded and widely commended interfaith engagement in Abuja, where religious leaders from across the North explored collaborative approaches to mitigating tensions and fostering a culture of mutual respect.

In a statement issued on Monday, the organisers said the forthcoming summit would bring together prominent Islamic and Christian clerics, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, youth representatives and key community influencers from both states.

According to the statement signed by Dr. Mohammed Kassim, the initiative seeks to consolidate ongoing conversations on peaceful coexistence, enhance inter-religious cooperation, and build sustainable frameworks for conflict prevention across northern communities.

“The Yari Roundtable has created a platform for honest dialogue, where leaders can collectively examine root causes of conflicts and articulate actionable solutions that promote lasting peace,” the statement read.

The parley is expected to review recent communal challenges and outline strategies for strengthening trust between various faith-based groups, particularly in communities that have experienced recurrent violence.

The organisers stressed that the event aligns with the Roundtable’s broader mission of promoting unity, tolerance and harmony across the North. They expressed confidence that the Plateau–Kano peace dialogue would contribute meaningfully to ongoing peacebuilding efforts and reinforce the importance of partnerships among religious bodies.

At the end of the meeting, participants are expected to issue a joint communiqué outlining resolutions and commitments to deepen interfaith collaboration and long-term peace initiatives.

By Edidiyong Ukpo

The Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has distanced himself from a circulating social media report claiming he said the Zamfara security initiative would not succeed without his involvement.

Matawalle described the report as a malicious fabrication aimed at tarnishing his reputation and undermining the Federal Government’s efforts to address the country’s security challenges.

He maintained that he never granted any interview making such a claim, explaining that he had only criticised Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, over what he described as the governor’s poor security strategy and lack of cooperation with the Federal Government.

Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, said Governor Lawal’s refusal to carry him and other key stakeholders along in efforts to combat the state’s security crisis was unacceptable, especially as the issue had become a national concern.

He faulted the governor for meeting solely with the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, without involving him, a minister from the state with responsibilities in defence matters.

“Everything should not be politicised. This is the time all hands should be on deck to tackle the security problems,” he said.

The minister further criticised the governor for directing security operatives in Zamfara to respond to threats without coordinating with Abuja, describing the move as a setback to ongoing efforts.

Matawalle said the report was a deliberate act of mischief by individuals bent on creating political tension and instability in the state.

He added that Premium Times, as a respected media organisation, should have verified the information from him or his aides before publication.

According to him, the media should not be used for political mudslinging. He stressed that as a key player in national security management, he had no reason to undermine any governor’s efforts, particularly in his home state where security challenges had worsened due to poor governance.

Matawalle reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to securing communities and ensuring that displaced residents safely return to their farms, schools and homes.

He said the All Progressives Congress was determined to solve the country’s problems and that political alliances would not distract the government. He added that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to peace, security, and socio-economic growth assured his re-election.

SIGNED
Ahmed Dan-Wudil,
Media Assistant to the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle
November 27, 2025

By Adi John

The Kaduna State Multi-Stakeholder State Action Plan (SAP) Implementation and Monitoring Committee (SMIMC) has joined the global commemoration of the 2025 International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, expressing concern over escalating insecurity across Kaduna State and the country.

Committee’s Chairperson, Saadatu Hamma, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Committee is working in partnership with the CLEEN Foundation and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

She highlighted the growing incidents of kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry, noting that these threats continue to endanger residents and expose women, girls, and vulnerable groups to heightened protection risks.

The SMIMC also referenced the recent classification of Nigeria as a “country of concern” by the United States, describing it as further evidence of the urgent need for strengthened preventive and coordinated responses to insecurity, human rights violations, and gender-based violence.

The Committee stressed that worsening insecurity has deepened the vulnerability of women and girls, exposing them to sexual and gender-based violence, displacement, disrupted education and economic activities, trauma, and exclusion from peacebuilding processes.

It reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Kaduna State Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (KADSAP), with actions focused on strengthening community early warning systems, supporting coordinated services for survivors of gender-based violence, and enhancing women’s participation in peace and security decision-making.

The SMIMC also called on government authorities to intensify security operations, urged security agencies to adopt gender-sensitive approaches, and appealed to traditional leaders to protect women and girls and speak out against violence.

Civil society, the media, women’s groups, HeforShe ambassadors and youth networks were encouraged to amplify peace messaging and support community-level resilience efforts.

The Committee believed that sustainable peace and development in Kaduna State is not achievable without the inclusion, protection, and leadership of women and girls.

By Agatha Odeh

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has reached a significant milestone in its mission to strengthen Nigeria’s defence sector, unveiling the first batch of its locally manufactured DG-103 rifles.

The upgraded version of the AK-103, produced in Kaduna, marks a critical step in reducing the country’s reliance on imports for weapons and ammunition.

Within just two months of launching production, DICON–D7G has successfully assembled nearly 1,000 units of the DG-103, with all rifles passing rigorous operational tests and meeting the high standards set by the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

This achievement underscores the company’s growing capacity to meet the country’s security needs with domestically produced equipment.

In addition to small arms, DICON–D7G is expanding its production capabilities to include drones and anti-drone systems, which are set to bolster the military’s early-warning capabilities during field operations.

The company’s CEO, Mr Osman Chennar, revealed that their long-term target is to reach an annual production capacity of 60 million rounds of ammunition, reinforcing Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in defence.

“DICON–D7G’s commitment to advancing the country’s defence industry does not stop with firearms and ammunition.

“In a bold move to further boost local production, we are on track to acquire a military jetty in Lagos by February 2026.

“This facility will house a production line, warehouses, and staff accommodation, in addition to a shipyard for servicing and maintaining naval vessels,” he said.

The acquisition is expected to enhance Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capabilities and open new avenues for exporting defence equipment across Africa.

“These developments reflect DICON–D7G’s role in Nigeria’s broader strategy to reduce foreign dependency and enhance national security.

“By investing in local production, we are not only addressing the country’s immediate defence needs but also laying the foundation for long-term security readiness,” he stressed.

In January 2024, both DICON, a Nigerian-run defence manufacturer based in Kaduna, and D7G a private, indigenous Nigerian defence technology company, formalised a strategic partnership by signing an MoU to establish DICON-D7G Nigeria Limited, a joint venture that combines DICON’s government-backed institutional mandate with D7G’s technical expertise and innovation capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic defence production.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has dismissed as “false and ridiculous” the claim by ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani paid N1 billion to bandits.
In a strongly-worded statement issued and made available to Journalists today , Senator Sani said the allegation attributed to the former governor lacked credibility and amounted to “politically motivated falsehood.”

In the statement personally signed by Senator Shehu Sani accused the former governor of establishing what he described as a “culture of appeasement to terrorists” during his administration. According to him, El-Rufai had previously admitted to engaging in “conditional cash transfers” to bandits, a claim which, he noted, led to the arrest of journalist Luka Biniyat at the time.

The former lawmaker argued that Kaduna State witnessed some of its worst security incidents under El-Rufai’s leadership, citing several high-profile attacks including the Kaduna–Abuja train attack, the Greenfield University abductions, and the kidnapping and killing of students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Bethel Baptist High School, and other institutions.

“Under his watch, bandits and terrorists operated freely like lords and kings,” Sani said, adding that large portions of Southern and Central Kaduna became “slaughterhouses where criminals operated unchallenged.” He noted that even the Kaduna airport was shut down at some point due to escalating insecurity.

Sani also referenced El-Rufai’s withdrawal of his son from a public school over safety concerns, arguing that such actions contradict the former governor’s present claims on security.

Challenging El-Rufai to present evidence of any alleged payment by the current administration, Sani said: “If he has images or videos showing cash being handed to bandits, he should make them public.”

The former senator further alleged that El-Rufai is driven by “envy” over what he described as Governor Uba Sani’s success in fostering unity between the predominantly Christian Southern Kaduna and the Muslim-majority Northern Kaduna.

He accused the former governor of presiding over an era marked by “religious and ethnic discrimination, division, persecution, torment and terror.”

While acknowledging that Kaduna, like other northern states, continues to grapple with security challenges, Senator Sani argued that Governor Uba Sani has made notable progress in “building bridges across religious divides and dismantling the structures of banditry allegedly inherited from his predecessor.”

“No sensible or responsible person conscious of history will give credence to the stream of lies that have become habitual in the life of a man in his mid-60s,” he added.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has dismissed as “false and ridiculous” the claim by ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani paid N1 billion to bandits.
In a strongly-worded statement issued and made available to Journalists today , Senator Sani said the allegation attributed to the former governor lacked credibility and amounted to “politically motivated falsehood.”

In the statement personally signed by Senator Shehu Sani accused the former governor of establishing what he described as a “culture of appeasement to terrorists” during his administration. According to him, El-Rufai had previously admitted to engaging in “conditional cash transfers” to bandits, a claim which, he noted, led to the arrest of journalist Luka Biniyat at the time.

The former lawmaker argued that Kaduna State witnessed some of its worst security incidents under El-Rufai’s leadership, citing several high-profile attacks including the Kaduna–Abuja train attack, the Greenfield University abductions, and the kidnapping and killing of students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Bethel Baptist High School, and other institutions.

“Under his watch, bandits and terrorists operated freely like lords and kings,” Sani said, adding that large portions of Southern and Central Kaduna became “slaughterhouses where criminals operated unchallenged.” He noted that even the Kaduna airport was shut down at some point due to escalating insecurity.

Sani also referenced El-Rufai’s withdrawal of his son from a public school over safety concerns, arguing that such actions contradict the former governor’s present claims on security.

Challenging El-Rufai to present evidence of any alleged payment by the current administration, Sani said: “If he has images or videos showing cash being handed to bandits, he should make them public.”

The former senator further alleged that El-Rufai is driven by “envy” over what he described as Governor Uba Sani’s success in fostering unity between the predominantly Christian Southern Kaduna and the Muslim-majority Northern Kaduna.

He accused the former governor of presiding over an era marked by “religious and ethnic discrimination, division, persecution, torment and terror.”

While acknowledging that Kaduna, like other northern states, continues to grapple with security challenges, Senator Sani argued that Governor Uba Sani has made notable progress in “building bridges across religious divides and dismantling the structures of banditry allegedly inherited from his predecessor.”

“No sensible or responsible person conscious of history will give credence to the stream of lies that have become habitual in the life of a man in his mid-60s,” he added.