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Senate Confirms General Musa Defence Minister As Akpabio Warns: “Trump Is Watching”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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General Christopher Musa - Defence Minister

By Adesina Soyooye

After a five-hour grilling, the Nigerian Senate unanimously confirmed the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the Minister for Defence.

Musa was dramatically brought back to service a few week after President Bola Tinubu removed him as Chief of Defence Staff to the surprise and outrage of not a few people.

However, he was nominated by the President as the Minister for Defence, and his name sent to the Senate for screening less than 24 hours after Badaru Abubakar, who not a few people felt was unfit for the position resigned citing poor health condition.

Just before the Senate took on Musa for the long grilling  – the longest by the Senate since 1999 – a Senator had urged that the retired General be allowed to take a bow and go, but he was strongly opposed by many, including the Senate President who asked that he be grilled because the world was watching and so was the President of the United States of America.

During screening, General

Musa pledged a united front against insecurity. He pledged to “give his best” to secure the nation if confirmed as Minister.

He described his nomination by President Tinubu as a “defining moment,” and  acknowledged that the job  comes with deep responsibility and a renewed commitment to confront Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

He the Senate:  “I’m grateful to present myself as nominated by Mr. President as Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Standing here, I pledge to give my best in ensuring that Nigeria is secure and safe.

He took the Senators through his long career in the military which gave him first-hand insight into the country’s security landscape.

“It gave me the privilege and understanding of the dynamics of the challenges confronting our great nation.

“From junior officer to senior level, I have served this country all through my life.

“We cannot do it alone. Nobody, no single individual can do it. We need the support of everyone, every Nigerian and everyone living in Nigeria. The enemies we are dealing with are evil forces that don’t mean this country well, and they have no respect for human life.

He reminded Nigerians that security is a collective responsibility.

“All Nigerians must put hands together to defeat the enem. Until we are deliberate and determined, knowing that we are brothers and sisters, we will give room for these criminals to continue their evil acts.”

As it concerns the regional security, Musa expressed worry over instability within the Sahel region. He noted Mali as an example of the dangers of weak security systems. Nigeria must strengthen its borders and empower its security forces to prevent similar outcomes, he warned.

“The Sahel is heating up. You can see what they are doing to Mali. We will not want such a situation to come to Nigeria.

“Our borders must be secured, and our security forces must be supported.”

The nominee expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his support during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff, and also acknowledged the National Assembly for standing by the armed forces through difficult periods.

“As a servant of this nation, we will continue to work together to ensure we secure our dear country.

“Nigeria is great. We will never be ashamed, and nobody can intimidate us.

“Everybody in the world knows Nigeria is great, and we will continue to do great.”

Two Women Win As IMSU Mgt Conducts Election Of Congregation Reps. To Governing Council

By
The Source
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Imo State University

The long-awaited election of two Congregation Representatives to the Governing Council of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri; one Academic Staff and one Non-Teaching Staff representative, as established by the Imo State University law, successfully took place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the University Auditorium.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, the election, which all participants described as the most credible, free, fair, and peaceful, had five contestants from the Academic Staff (four males and one female): Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel (female), Prof. A. O. Ejiogu (male), Prof. Okechi Dominic Azuwike (male), Associate Prof. Vitalis C. Nwulu (male), and Associate Prof. Barr. P. K. N. Enesha (male). On the Non-Teaching Staff side, only one candidate, Comrade John-Anoruo Eugenia C. (female), contested.

At the end of the closely contested election, Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel defeated her four male opponents to emerge as the winner among the Academic Staff with 199 (one hundred and ninety-nine) votes. The other Academic Staff candidates received the following votes: Prof. Okechi Dominic Azuwike, 143; Associate Prof. Barr. P. K. N. Enesha, 68; Associate Prof. Vitalis C. Nwulu, 36; and Prof. A. O. Ejiogu, 22. Meanwhile, Comrade John-Anoruo Eugenia emerged winner unopposed from the Non-Teaching Staff side with a total of 446 (four hundred and forty-six) yes votes.

Prior to the election, interested candidates were asked to pick up forms from the Registrar and return them on or before November 25, 2025. On election day, the list of eligible voters was compiled faculty by faculty, including directorates and units, to facilitate accreditation. Two ballot papers, corresponding to the Academic and Non-Teaching categories, were given to voters. Voting was conducted simultaneously with voter accreditation, allowing accredited voters to cast their ballots immediately.

Before voting commenced, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, addressed the congregation and read relevant sections of the Imo State University law. Staff members who are not part of the congregation, nominated by the Registrar, served as Presiding Officers under the supervision of the electoral committee chairman, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Onuh Martin Onuh.

Prior to accreditation and voting, each aspirant was given two minutes to address the congregation. Voting was by secret ballot, and vote counting began immediately after voting ended. The electoral chairman then announced the results and declared the winners.

Members of the Electoral Committee included: Prof. Onuh Martin Onuh (Chairman), Mr. Cajethan N. Curtis Azubuogu (Member), Mr. Fidelis Njoku (Member), Prof. Blessing Solomon-Uwakwe (Member), Engr. Dr. V. C. Igiri (Member), and Dr. Richard Uzoh (Secretary).

Many Feared Dead In Enugu Road Accident

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Accident at New Gariki Market Enugu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Several persons were on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, feared dead in a ghastly road mishap, involving multiple vehicles  near the New Garki Market Enugu , on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway.

Four long trucks, fully laden with cattle and other  goods, two Toyota Sienna vehicles, two commercial buses and several other private vehicles, were involved in the collision that also resulted in many sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

Although the actual number of dead victims were not known as  at the time of reporting, it is, however, feared that  several persons  may have lost their lives going by the number of vehicles involved ,and the extent of damage recorded

A team from the Enugu State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC , Nigerian Army , police ,and other security agencies ,assisted by traders and sympathizers were still carrying rescue operations as at  the time of  reporting.

The rescue team were seen  desperately trying to rescue several persons trapped in the debris ,as well as create way for stranded motorists to continue their journey.

The cause(s) of the fatal accident equally remained unknown.

“People were driving against traffic and  at high  speed . Before we knew what was happening, trailers vehicles collided ,and everything scattered . Motorists were driving against traffic on the newly constructed lane of the Expressway”, a trader volunteered.

As expected, the incident created an unprecedented traffic hiccups, with many motorists left stranded.

With only the reconstructed lane of the Expressway free to traffic after the collision blocked , motorists became trapped.

However the arrival and intervention of about 15 soldiers assisted in controlling traffic and  making way for stranded motorists

The authorities were  yet to react to the unfortunate incident as at press time.

Edo House of Assembly Nullifies 324 Employment Offers

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Edo State House of Assembly

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, announced the invalidation of employment letters issued to no fewer than 324 persons in the State.

The Assembly Service Commission in a statement jointly issued by Sir Ezehi Igbas and Isoken Nehi-Olotu Chairman and Secretary, respectively, described the withdrawn letters of employment as unauthorized, illegal and unlawful, a development that renders them null, void and of  no effect whatsoever.

According to the Commission, the employment offers did not follow due processes, and never emanated from appropriate channels.

This is as the Commission expressed its regret and sincere apologies  for any inconveniences caused to the affected individuals by the revocation.

The Commission, however, did not specify when and how the letters of employment were issued .

But  it is strongly believed that the employment letters may have been issued within the early months of the administration of  Governor Monday Okpebholo .

LASG To Phase Out Korope Buses From Lagos Highways

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Korope Buses in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

In a bid to have a broader strategy to modernise the public transport system and improve commuter safety in Lagos State, the State

Government has disclosed its intention to gradually withdraw Small Commercial Buses, known in local parlance as Korope from major highways in the State.

At a Stakeholders Meeting held ahead of the launch of the Lekki-Epe Bus Reform Scheme, which is set to begin operations on December 8, 2025, the decision to phase out the Korope Mini Bus was further reiterated.

The Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, and representatives of informal transport operators were at the meeting and unanimously concluded arrangements for the first phase of the initiative.

The reform is set to introduce exclusive, fully regulated bus services across major transport corridors, including Ajah–CMS (Marina)/Obalende, Ajah–Oshodi, Ajah–Berger and Ajah–Iyana Ipaja. Services will later be extended to Epe.

Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, stated that the Special Adviser on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who presided over the meeting, explained that the state’s long-term objective is to eliminate unsafe and unregulated vehicles from high-traffic routes and replace them with a more efficient, coordinated system.

He said the government aims to enhance passenger comfort, improve safety standards, and ensure better travel experiences for residents.

“We need to take a lot of bad buses off the road. The Lekki–Epe Expressway is not isolated. We are working on other major transit corridors.

“The State Government also plans to remove the small buses, known as korope, from major highways and reassign them to feeder and community routes to strengthen the First and Last Mile bus scheme,” Giwa said.

There are plans that under the new structure, the currently regulated operator on the corridor will continue stage-carriage services, while Oneness, a collaborative group of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has been approved to operate express services between Ajah, Oshodi and Berger.

All buses under the scheme will bear Lagos State’s official blue-and-white regulated colours and carry quick-response, QR, codes for verification, unique identification numbers, and Touch and Pay, TAP, stickers. Drivers will also be required to wear official Ministry of Transportation badges.

A total of 229 medium- and high-capacity buses will operate in the first phase, with fare payments strictly limited to the Cowry card electronic system.

Giwa cautioned that any transport operator or passenger involved in cash transactions on the corridor will be arrested and prosecuted.

APC Leader, Durotolu Calls For Prohibition Of Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the full implementation of the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in  the country.

In a statement to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), the APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities, Durotolu Bankole, called on all tiers of government to step up efforts toward disability inclusion, insisting that Nigeria cannot achieve real social progress while millions of persons with disabilities, (PWDs), remain excluded from essential services and opportunities.

Bankole said: “Inclusion is not charity, it is a fundamental human right. A nation that marginalises any segment of its population ultimately impoverishes itself.”

He noted that despite global progress and the UN-backed theme for this year — “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress” — Nigeria still faces significant gaps in accessibility, education, employment, transportation, and political representation.

According to him, “Rising unemployment, high costs of assistive devices, and attitudinal barriers continue to deepen vulnerability among persons with disabilities,” despite commendable government interventions, including expanded social protection programmes and educational support.

Bankole urged federal, state, and local governments to prioritise full implementation and domestication of the Disability Act, conduct accessibility audits of public facilities, develop a comprehensive 10-year National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2026–2035), and collaborate with the private sector to expand vocational training and dedicated employment opportunities for PWDs.

He added that political parties must strengthen disability directorates and enforce leadership quotas to deepen political inclusion.

Bankole also commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for “renewed attention to disability issues” and acknowledged the efforts of First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu in supporting women and children with disabilities.

He stated that within the APC, the National Working Committee, (NWC) under Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda has “set a benchmark” by institutionalising disability representation and allowing PWDs to occupy strategic party positions.

Bankole reaffirmed his personal commitment through the provision of grants, scholarships, mobility aids, medical support, and welfare packages for thousands of PWDs and their families, but stressed that “much more needs to be done to ensure no Nigerian is left behind.”

He added that inclusion must be treated as a national development priority, saying, “A nation that embraces full inclusion unlocks boundless innovation, productivity, and shared prosperity.

Indigenous People Of FCT Decry Marginalization, Demand  Ambassadorial Slot

By
Ayodele Oni
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried what they call their persistent marginalization in various appointments by the present administration of President Bola Tinubu.

They have therefore demanded for inclusion of Abuja natives in the ongoing ambassadorial nominations currently before the Senate.

The call, made in Abuja by the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, accused the Federal Government of perpetuating a long-running pattern of political exclusion, despite the territory having surrendered its ancestral land for the establishment of the nation’s capital.

The group pointed out that the omission of FCT natives from the newly constituted board of the North Central Development Commission was only the latest example of what they described as decades of marginalization.

Coordinator of the forum, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, state that the continued denial of appointments to natives has become intolerable, warning that the President’s electoral legitimacy in 2027 could be affected if the trend persists.

“Enough is enough. From ministerial appointments to board placements and diplomatic postings, we are treated as strangers in our own homeland.

“The recent NCDC board is a fresh wound on an old sore. This pattern of neglect is not just an oversight; it is an injustice that must be corrected for the sake of posterity, equity, and national cohesion,” he said.

Elder Dara reminded the administration of the political significance of the FCT, stressing that the Constitution requires a presidential candidate to secure at least 25 percent of the votes in Abuja, warning that continued neglect was deepening frustration among young natives.

“Mr. President, your path to victory in 2027 legally passes through the FCT. You cannot afford to ignore or marginalize the very people whose mandate you will require for legitimacy. Political wisdom demands that you carry the indigenous people along.

“The persistent marginalization breeds deep-seated resentment and a feeling of alienation among our youth. When a people feel they have sacrificed everything for a national project yet reap only exclusion, it sows seeds of discord and unrest.

“We are the custodians of this land, and a capital city built on the alienation of its original owners is built on a fragile foundation. This is a danger to social harmony and the unity of Nigeria.”

The forum also appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to use his political weight within the federal structure to push for justice and inclusion.

“The Minister is the political head of the FCT. His role is not just about building infrastructure, but also about building bridges and ensuring justice for all residents, especially the natives.

“We call on him to justify the confidence reposed in him by ensuring that the indigenous people of the FCT are adequately represented in the government of President Tinubu. He must be our loudest voice in the corridors of power,” he stated.

Dara stressed that the demand underlined the long-standing tensions around the FCT’s administrative structure, noting that despite hosting the federal government, the nine indigenous ethnic groups, including Gbagyi, Gwandara and Bassa, continue to lack political rights enjoyed by citizens of states.

The forum vowed to escalate the matter formally, saying petitions would be sent to the Presidency, the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission and urged the Senate to suspend confirmation of the ambassadorial nominees until the exclusion is corrected.

“We are not begging; we are demanding our rightful place at the table of the Nigerian commonwealth. The time for corrective action is now. Let justice be done, so that the peace and development of our great capital city can be secure,” he stated.

Presidency: Tinubu Has Declared “Zero-Tolerance Policy On Negotiation” With Bandits

By
James Orji
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Njiko Igbo Forum will not support Tinubu

Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala has declared that the federal government did not pay ransom or negotiate with terrorists.

According to him, the Tinubu’s administration has decided not to two the path of his predecessors whose governments negotiate with terrorists, saying doing so would amount to “financing terrorism without knowing it.”

Bwala spoke on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Wednesday amid revelations that the federal government is negotiating and paying terrorists and bandits huge sums for them to release their captives.

The magazine recalls that a bandit leader had in a recent video claimed that ransom was paid by the government before the 25 girls abducted on November 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive secondary school in Kebbi state’s Maga town, were released.

Not a few Nigerians have slammed the government of fueling banditry by allegedly paying the criminals to release their victims.

Reacting Bwala said there was  time the federal government was negotiating with the bandits, he said the situation is no longer so because doing so would meant the government is inadvertently supporting the bandits to continue perpetuate their evil act, saying the administration has “a zero tolerance’ for negotiation. .

He said: “When they said both states and the Federal Government can be in a situation where they will have to negotiate because if your duty is to preserve the life of people and citizens of Nigeria are in danger and negotiation is the only way to save them … you have to do all that you need to do to save them at that time.

“Instead of targeting those sponsoring them, ransom payments only allow terrorists to buy more weapons. The Federal Government does not, and will not, tolerate the idea of negotiation.”

Obi Decries Rising Insecurity, Leadership Insensitivity

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced deep concern over what he described as the growing disconnect between Nigeria’s suffering citizens and the country’s political leadership. Obi made the remarks while speaking with a group of young Nigerians who approached him at the Abuja airport during his trip to Lagos.

According to him, the youths expressed worry that he had not commented on the series of troubling events dominating national discourse in recent days — including the appointment of “unqualified” ambassadorial nominees, the ridicule of national institutions, the First Lady’s lavish dinners with senators amid widespread hardship, the abduction of schoolchildren, and the continued killings across the country.

Obi said he understood their frustration, describing the current national mood as one filled with “silent pain” borne by Nigerians watching their country “bleed daily.” He recalled what he termed a humiliating remark by an American president who once referred to Nigeria as a “now disgraced country,” adding that recent events sadly validate such criticism.

He condemned what he called the insensitivity of the nation’s leaders, noting that while citizens are being killed, leaders are “busy hosting dinners”; while children are being abducted, the political class is “celebrating and dancing”; and while families struggle to feed, those in power are “welcoming defectors and exchanging gifts as though Nigeria is not burning.”

“This is not governance. This is not leadership. And this is certainly not the Nigeria we deserve,” he said.

Obi stressed that nations progress only when leaders feel the pain of their citizens and uphold compassion, competence, and accountability. He warned against normalising what he described as a growing culture of mediocrity, corruption, and impunity.

Appealing to young Nigerians, Obi urged them not to lose hope or become numb to the country’s challenges, insisting that a “New Nigeria” — one that is just, secure, productive, and respected — remains possible.

“It will not happen by accident,” he said. “It will happen because people like you refuse to accept failure as our destiny.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to continue speaking out and advocating for a better Nigeria.

Shetima Explains Link With ‘Boko Haram’

By
James Orji
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Vice President Kashim Shettima has clarified a viral picture on social media which tried to link him with Boko Haram and bandits in the country.

Shettima said the photograph was being misrepresented , saying those in the picture were Fulani people made destitute by Boko Haram, that he was just trying to help them.

While speaking on Tuesday during the 2025 International Press Institute Nigeria Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, the vice president said the Fulani were chased out of their communities after the terrorists discovered that they were revealing information about them to the Nigerian military.

According to him, he decided to help them out of sympathy by building  schools for their children provide clothing and food for them, adding that his association with the displaced persons was misinterpreted.

He stressed that his traducers are only trying to destroy him using the viral picture as a weapon, he vowed not to succumb to cheap  blackmail.

.Shetima: “Very wealthy individuals became destitute overnight. Most of them became my guards in the schools the government was building across Borno State because underneath the mayhem of Boko Haram, beneath it lies the real cause, which is extreme poverty. And education provides us the greatest tool of really addressing the root causes of insurgency and banditry.

“So we were crazily massively building educational facilities and most of these Fulanis were my guards in those facilities. I took it upon myself to break the intergenerational transfer of poverty, to reach out to those Fulanis and enroll their kids to school. I was even giving them rice, beans, clothing items, just to convince them to entrust their kids to me so that I can take them to school.

“And I was not keen on mixing them with the local people because they are the poorest of the poor. I even built a school, a special school. All the classrooms were air-conditioned, were using digital education aids, we were feeding them two times per day and we were bringing buses. Buses were conveying them from their homes to the school, just to encourage the parents.

“Regularly, whenever I go on visits, I used to sit down with the parents, eat, chat, just to win their confidence. One of those pictures recently went viral, ‘Shetima dining with Bandits and Boko Haram’ in Maiduguri.

“But I have developed a thick skin to such accusations, but none of the serious media houses took those stories. So the greatest threat to our democracy and our national survival is not the mainstream media. The anarchists in social media are the greatest threat.

“I know they will come after me. That’s the price of leadership. There are serious commentators and there are mischief mongers.”

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