News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door talks with Service Chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.  The meeting, which took place at the State House in Abuja, lasted for over two hours. Major deliberation at the meeting was the current security challenges, and ongoing operations by troops and other security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect lives and property across the country.  Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa emphasised that the armed forces are making significant gains in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other security threats. He was worried over the biased reports in some sections of the media suggesting that the military is losing the war. Musa said: "Contrary to the slanted reports by the media, the terrorists and bandits are taking more casualtie...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has informed political parties that the unity and stability of Nigeria rest on the pillars of good governance, assuring that his administration will uphold the principles for posterity.  This was even as the President reiterated his firm commitment to sustaining democracy and rule of law in the country as a lasting legacy.  He gave the assurance at an inter-faith breaking of fast with members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He noted that strengthening internal democracy within political parties remains fundamental to building credible electoral institutions, processes, and systems. President Tinubu stated that direct primaries provide party members with better opportunities to participate and determine their representatives at various levels of governance. He said: "The Chairman of...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Lamido Abubakar Yuguda  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The appointment is in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. Yuguda’s nomination follows the recent appointment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Mr Bala Bello, as Special Adviser to the President on Political Economy. The President charges them to discharge their responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth, in their respective roles.    Yuguda's last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024. Briefly The former SEC DG is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy.  In 1991, he obtained a master's degree in Money, Banking and Financ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In a step toward ensuring a seamless and well-coordinated National Convention for the All Progressives Congress (APC) the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has formally inaugurated the party’s Committee on accommodation and transportation.  The strategic committee will oversee critical logistics for the forthcoming convention. While Umahi chairs the transportation component, the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, heads the accommodation arm. Both committees are designed to function as sister structures, working in close coordination to ensure that every logistical detail of the convention will be correctly handled. Held on Tuesday in Abuja, the inauguration ceremony brought together key members entrusted with the responsibility of planning and managing the movement and lodging of party leaders, delegates, and special guests expected from across the country. The committee’s mandate includes transportation logistics and movem...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja A Pan-African non-governmental organisation, Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) has finalised plans to unveil green enterprise, aimed at empowering the youth to achieve sustainable livelihoods.  Tagged GreenWorks 4 Africa forum, the inaugural ceremony is scheduled for 11 to 13 August 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.  JLA acts as a catalytic integrator of youth-led green enterprise growth as a pathway to inclusive and climate-resilient economic transformation. The landmark event is designed to accelerate green skills development and job creation across the continent. Away from the traditional conference format, the forum will adopt a case-study-driven approach that will garner policymakers, private sector leaders, and NGOs to co-create actionable solutions that will position Africa as a global leader in the green enterprise agenda. The urgency of the forum is underscored by projections from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which suggest that the gr...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Initiative for Women's Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD) has informed the government that excluding women from governance and elective position is unacceptable and negates the principle of true democratic ideals. To this end, the foundation called on the National Assembly to pass the Special Seats Bill into law in order to bridge the gender gaps in politics.  President and Founder of INWOAD, Evelyn Onyilo stated this in commemoration of the International Women's Day (IWD) celebration in Abuja.  She noted that the theme of IWD, 'Give to Gain', was focused on the power of reciprocity and support in achieving gender equality and sustainable development.  Onyilo enjoined the government and stakeholders to contribute their quota by creating more opportunities for women through donations, skills acquisition and training, advocacy and intergenerational mentorship. The INWOAD president pleaded with major stakeholders and partners t...