Category: Daily Trust

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, has stated that some influencers that engage in criminal activities are behind the misinformation on Nigeria’s security situation.

The minister who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday said the security situation in the country is not targeted at a particular ethnic or religious minority.

He added that the challenge of accessing some of the areas affected by insecurity makes it hard for security agencies to ward off such attacks.

Idris said, ‘We can say that, for example, the Nigerian government has been able to have a correlation between some of these lobbies operating especially in the United States of America and the activities here.’

‘We have seen, and it’s a matter of public record, if you go to the records of the United States, there is what is called the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Some of the influencers of these criminal activities have direct relationship with lobbies in the U.S. who have direct relationship with some of the people who are shouting about this issue outside this country. It is a matter of public record. ‘Sometimes you hear these arguments about the minorities being attacked. The policing system and the security agencies will not in any way, because someone is in the minority, say he’s not going to be provided security or he’s not going to be protected by the security agencies. Nigerian security is formed in such a way that they should be able to respond to any threat wherever it may be, whichever community that they belong to.

‘But of course, sometimes access to some of the infrastructure leading to some of these communities make it sometimes a bit difficult to reach there on time or when this crime is committed. And the government is looking seriously into that to improve on that. And that is why there is massive investment in the infrastructure you see going around the country to also make it easy and smooth for the security agencies to operate.’

He added that the government was making all efforts to bring back community policing to complement the efforts of the Nigerian security agencies.

When asked on whether the lack of appointment of ambassadors is responsible to the President Donald Trump’s insistence on Christian genocide in the country, he said it is not, as the federal government has a cordial relation with the US.

He added, ‘We know that ambassadors play a great role in enhancing a country’s image wherever they are. But we don’t want to say it is because there is the absence of ambassadors because the Nigerian government has been relating with the American counterparts and other nations to ensure that there is greater collaboration. But let me also add that the president is working hard on this ambassador matter.’

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, David Alake, said politicians who lost elections in the elections are also pushing the narrative of Christian genocide in the US.

He added that there is a letter written by Nigerians applauding Trump for labelling Nigeria as a country of concern.

He warned that if there is an escalation in the security situation in the country nobody knows who will be affected.

He also accused them of amplifying the activities of separatist groups in the name of losing elections which he said showed they do not have goodwill towards the country.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), on Tuesday said the United States may be positioning itself to establish a military base in Nigeria.

He stressed that the recent narratives by some foreign actors, including United States politicians and religious leaders, about alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria may be linked to external interests.

Dambazau, also a former Minister of Interior, made the claims in Abuja when he spoke at the 7th Annual lecture organised by the Just Friends Club of Nigeria.

He said the United States previously operated military bases in Niger Republic for more than a decade without preventing insecurity in the country.

He said, ‘In the more than ten years of US presence in Niger, where it maintained two military bases, what did the US do to prevent the growth of security challenges?

‘It is also on record that at the initial second coming of the Trump administration, US congressmen accused USAID of terrorism financing in Africa. I think the US is looking for an opportunity to establish an alternative base in Nigeria, a country known to protect only its interests by any means possible, including the use of force.

‘Unfortunately, they have willing partners in Nigeria. It is clear that there is a lack of national cohesion in facing a common enemy to address terrorism and criminal violence in the country.’

The former army chief said insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria are part of broader regional insecurity, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, and not targeted at a single religious group.

According to him, both Muslims and Christians have been victims of attacks

He listed past attacks in the North – including the killing of worshippers in mosques, assassinations of Islamic clerics and attacks on traditional rulers – to say that terrorism in Nigeria affects people of all faiths.

He called for national cohesion in responding to insecurity and warned against allowing external actors to exploit Nigeria’s internal divisions.

Keystone Bank Limited has been rated as the best bank in MSME Finance.

At the ceremony held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Lagos, the bank was named MSME Finance Bank of the Year, while its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hassan Imam, emerged as CEO of the Year.

The event, organized under the Africa Global Economic Forum, was held in partnership with Proshare and the Office of the Vice President on MSMEs and Job Creation, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the organisers, Keystone Bank and its Chief Executive Officer were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s MSME sector through innovative financial solutions, inclusive banking practices, and unwavering support for entrepreneurship and job creation across the country.

While receiving the awards on behalf of the bank, Mr. Imam expressed gratitude to the organisers and dedicated the recognition to the entire Keystone Bank team, describing it as a testament to the bank’s shared vision and commitment to excellence.

According to him ‘These awards are a reflection of our collective dedication to building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

‘At Keystone Bank, we believe that empowering MSMEs is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential. Our focus has always been on providing practical financial tools, advisory services, and digital platforms that help small businesses thrive.

‘We will continue to develop tailored financial products and value-added services designed to strengthen the backbone of the Nigerian economy, its small and medium enterprises. Our mission is to enable every entrepreneur, no matter their size or location, to access the financial support and opportunities they need to grow and succeed,’ the bank’s chief said.

The event brought together leading voices and key stakeholders across Nigeria’s MSME and financial ecosystem to celebrate excellence, innovation and impact within the sector.

Other senior executives of the bank who attended the event include Abubakar Usman Bello, Executive Director, North and Public Sector; Helen Maiyegun, Directorate Head, Lagos and West; Ntomchukwu Emmanuel, Directorate Head, Lagos Mainland; and Olayemi Sule, Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking.

The recent petrol tanker explosion that occurred along the Agaie-Bida road, once again, re-echoed the agony which many communities along all the failed sections of federal highways in the country have, over the years, continued to suffer. This latest incident, which was largely a consequence of the terrible state of the road, further exposed the government’s attitude to human life.

More than 40 people including children and women died in the petrol tanker explosion that occurred on Tuesday October 21, 2025 at Essa village along the Agaie-Bida road in Niger State. No fewer than 40 others were also injured in the incident.

It would be recalled that two separate tanker explosions occurred on March 22, 2025 in Niger State. One was along the Badeggi-Agaie road, and the second in Kontagora. Before then, 58 lives were also lost on September 8, 2024 in an explosion on the same Agaie-Bida road. A worse tragedy occurred on January 18, 2025 along Abuja-Kaduna highway at Dikko Junction in Niger State when a petroleum laden tanker carrying 60,000 litres of petroleum product exploded. The disaster claimed 105 lives, injured several others, and destroyed property worth millions of naira. Available data from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency showed that tanker explosions across Niger State, especially on the Agaie-Bida road have claimed no fewer than 194 lives between August 2024 and October 2025.

More than 80 per cent of petrol tanker accidents that lead to disastrous explosions are said to be caused by the appalling condition of roads, in addition to the desperation of some people who rush to the scene to scoop for fuel. Many times, accidents occur when motorists are forced to swerve in order to avoid the deep potholes on these roads.

While we urge relevant government institutions to enforce the law on 45, 000 litres of petroleum product as maximum load for petrol tankers, we similarly encourage the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and local leaders to intensify community-based sensitisation, particularly in rural and high-risk areas, to educate residents against scooping fuel from the crash sites of petrol tankers.

Again, the critical state of many Nigerian roads account for the steady rise in the breakdown of vehicles on the roads. After every trip, long or short, transporters and private vehicle owners are left with the burden of replacing bent rims, damaged shock absorbers, or burst tyres.

There’s no geo-political zone where long distances of federal roads are not in a bad shape. From the North to South, and from the West to East, many roads have become unmotorable, and unsafe. Erosion has, in many instances, washed away the surface of most parts of the roads. Commuters spend two or more hours travelling over a distance that should ordinarily not last more than 30 minutes.

Travellers spend hours in traffic gridlocks often caused by broken down vehicles. Traffic is usually blocked, sometimes for as many as five days, when a truck or trailer gets stuck in the mucky sections of the failed road. The roads become more difficult to navigate at night especially where signages do not exist.

Aside of increased rate of accidents, the deplorable state of federal roads dissuades investors, inflates cost of transportation, and by extension, cost of food items. It has also slowed down economic activities in many communities as some of the failed sections of federal roads especially the Agaie-Bida highway is a national economic lifeline whose neglect has cost more lives and resources than the price of its repair. The roads have equally become a source of insecurity as kidnappers have turned the bad portions on the roads into an indispensable hub for their criminal activities.

Speaking during his recent inspection visit of the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Tuesday October 28, 2025, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi blamed the failed roads on construction model; adding that ‘the administration of President Bola Tinubu is not just constructing, but building roads.’

However, we believe that it makes no sense to embark on projects that do not impact directly on the life of most Nigerians to the detriment of life-threatening roads. Even though not a bad idea in an ideal situation, the building of coastal roads, ostensible legacy projects of the current administration, should not be a priority in the context of the existing failed roads. This is even as the job of a minister of works is not just about building new roads. The fixing of dilapidated roads is also part of his mandate.

Daily Trust calls on the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency on federal roads. This emergency should consider exploring the tax credit scheme to fund the fixing of these roads, considering how it once worked favourably. The long abandoned intervention model where states repair federal roads and thereafter get reimbursed should also be reconsidered. Roads are critical to national economy. Repair all the failed roads.

The Senate on Wednesday suspended the confirmation of Kingsley Udeh (SAN) as minister following the absence of a mandatory security clearance.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, announced that the confirmation could not hold until the chamber received the required security report on the nominee.

‘The confirmation of the minister-nominee would have been next on the list, but we need security clearance,’ Akpabio told his colleagues.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Tuesday, requested the Senate to confirm Udeh, from Enugu State, as minister. The request was contained in a letter read by Akpabio during plenary.

The President said the nomination was made in line with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers him to appoint ministers subject to Senate confirmation.

Udeh’s nomination followed the resignation of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down last month amid controversy over his academic credentials – including questions surrounding a degree allegedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Nnaji, the only cabinet member from Enugu State, resigned after mounting public pressure and calls for his replacement, leaving the state without representation in the Federal Executive Council.

After reading the President’s letter on Tuesday, Akpabio referred Udeh’s nomination to the Committee of the Whole for screening and further legislative action.

However, when the matter came up on the Order Paper on Wednesday, Akpabio announced that the confirmation would not proceed due to the pending clearance.

He hinted, however, that one of the senators had informed him that the nominee was already on his way to the National Assembly with the security clearance letter.

But Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) cautioned against compromising institutional procedures, insisting that the Senate must not act outside established norms.

‘This is an institution. I have nothing against the young man; I know him. But let’s respect this institution. You can’t wait for the nominee because he’s coming with a security clearance letter. No, that’s not done,’ Ningi said.

In response, Akpabio clarified that the Senate had no intention of waiting indefinitely, saying, ‘I don’t even have any intention of waiting for anybody because after screening them, you don’t see them again.’

The Senate President then directed the Senate Leader to move a motion for a closed-door session to deliberate on ‘national issues.’ The motion was seconded, and the lawmakers subsequently dissolved into an executive session.

Hours after Daily Trust did an exclusive report over Agege Local Government Council where the Vice-Chairman Ganiyu Obasa has been acting almost immediately after the chairman, Tunde Azeez, was sworn in, the ailing Chairman has tendered his resignation.

This has paved the way for Obasa, the son of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to take over as the incumbent Chairman.

The opposition in Lagos had criticised what it called a ‘carefully scripted succession’ in Agege Local Government after Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, assumed office as acting chairman.

Obasa, who served as vice chairman, stepped in after the council chairman, Hon. Tunde Azeez, went on medical leave barely a month after his swearing in on July 26, 2025.

His takeover has stirred controversy among opposition parties, which claim it reflects a pre-arranged political plan.

Recall that the move to make Obasa’s son as the APC candidate during the July 12 local government election was opposed by some stakeholders in the local government.

Following the opposition, Hon. Tunde Azeez was nominated while the young Obasa emerged as the Vice-Chairmanship candidate.

Barely a month after the swearing in, the Chairman who was even visibly absent during the electioneering campaign wrote a letter to the legislative house to proceed on medical leave.

Some opposition leaders who spoke with Daily Trust said making Obasa’s son the Vice-Chairman was a carefully scripted political arrangement following the outcry that trailed his candidacy as the party’s flag bearer.

However, Hon. Azeez tendered his resignation, paving the way for Obasa’s son to take over.

Confirming the development, Rotimi Sulaiman, an APC Chieftain, said his principal resigned to take care of his health.

He said, ‘Hon. Tunde Azeez has been long sick and his decision to resign and devote his attention to his health rather than being weighed down by the responsibility of that office is the wise decision any sane person should take.

‘The beneficiary of that excellent decision, Abdulganiyu Vinod Obasa is a visionary young man who in the last few months of Azeez’s absence has demonstrated uncommon capacity. I think Agege is lucky to have both guys.’

The board and management of PANA Holdings have announced a series of strategic appointments to its leadership team.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of PANA Holdings, Dr. Daere Akobo, the company has approved the appointments of Daisy Maduagwu as Executive Director, Global Business Services, Adetoke George-Toyon as Group Chief Operating Officer and Chukwuemeka Igilar as the Vice President, PE Energy. The appointments of the trio take immediate effect, it said.

Daisy Maduagwu started her career at PE Energy, a subsidiary of PANA Holdings, in 2010 as an Inside Sales Specialist, rose through the ranks to Strategic Sourcing Lead, Deputy Managing Director, and later Vice President.

With over 15 years of C-suite experience in driving business excellence, operational transformation, and enterprise-wide performance, she has shown exceptional leadership by scaling organizational capabilities, professionalizing operations, and strengthening market leadership through process maturity and governance excellence in core areas such as strategic sourcing, general procurement, contracting, and complex negotiations that deliver measurable value creation.

Daisy holds a master’s degree in supply chain management and a bachelor’s degree in economics and educational management.

Adetoke George-Toyon brings over 15 years of executive-level experience. She has consistently delivered transformational outcomes, unlocking value through innovative deal structuring, asset monetization, joint venture governance, and portfolio optimization.

As the Group Chief Operating Officer, she brings a unique blend of commercial acumen, operational excellence, and people-centered leadership to drive innovation, growth, and long-term value creation across the Group’s diverse portfolio.

As Vice President, PE Energy, Chukwuemeka Igilar is expected to provide strategic and operational leadership, driving innovation, collaboration, and business growth across teams. With over 13 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, his leadership philosophy is rooted in excellence, sustainable performance, and empowering others to achieve their full potential.

Igilar joined the company as a Technical Sales Engineer in 2012, has grown to his current position through progressive roles. As a technical sales engineer, he has developed deep expertise in understanding complex engineering systems and aligning them with client requirements.

Troops of the Nigerian military, with support from Nigerien forces and the Air Force, have repelled a Boko Haram attack on Malam Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security and local sources confirmed that the attempted assault occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

A top military source told Daily Trust that the terrorists launched the attack using armed drones and mortars, injuring some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and soldiers.

‘The attack was defeated by the gallant troops supported by Nigerien fighter ground-attack platforms,’ the source said.

He disclosed that at least six terrorists were neutralised, while troops recovered five AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, 258 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five RPG bombs, four armed drone bombs, five hand grenades, two bandoliers, and one Android phone.

The source added that several other terrorist corpses were evacuated by their fleeing comrades as they retreated in disarray through the waterways of the Tumbuns.

‘The Nigerien Air Force later conducted follow-up strikes on the retreating terrorists, neutralising additional scores of the miscreants,’ he said.

According to him, the morale of troops remains high, while the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has deployed platforms to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support and to evacuate the wounded, all of whom are reported to be in stable condition.

‘Exploitation of the waterways continues by the resilient troops,’ the source added.

Members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding payment of debts allegedly owed them by the federal government.

The protesters, led by the association’s national president, Jackson Ifeanyi Nwoss, carried banners and placards calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to release funds for executed constituency and federal projects.

The contractors, who converged in large numbers at the National Assembly main gate around 10 a.m., caused a heavy traffic gridlock that forced security operatives to lock down the complex’s main entrance. Staff and visitors were later diverted to the back gate, which also became congested, with vehicles barred from entering the premises.

Speaking during the protest, Nwoss accused the federal government of insincerity and neglect, saying many contractors have been pushed into debt and poverty despite completing projects across the country. He vowed that the protest would continue until December 31 if the government failed to release their payments, warning that the group would occupy strategic public offices nationwide.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has reversed its earlier decision to suspend plenary for one week over protests by unpaid indigenous contractors that blocked access to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The House initially adjourned sittings to allow its leadership to engage the executive and resolve the payment issue. However, following ‘positive developments’ from government interventions, the House spokesperson announced that plenary will resume on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Clerk Dr. Yahaya Danzaria said the early resumption would enable the leadership to brief members on progress made in addressing the contractors’ grievances and other matters of national importance.

OXYTANE Africa Investment Limited has expressed readiness to partner with the Federal Government to achieve Nigeria’s $3 billion annual carbon market target following the approval of the national carbon market framework and activation of the climate change fund.

The firm’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tamarankro Jjuliano Obriki, who disclosed this restated its commitment to helping the country reduce its carbon footprint and strengthen its environmental sustainability efforts.

He said the firm is already working with the National Environmental Safety and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to reduce industrial emissions through its tested solutions.

He added that it is also partnering with NNPC Retail Limited for nationwide distribution of the company’s fuel additive product.

He lauded President Tinubu for demonstrating leadership and commitment to the Paris Agreement by approving the national carbon market framework, describing the move as a major milestone toward decarbonizing Nigeria’s energy sector.

‘Nigeria remains 95 percent dependent on hydrocarbon-refined fuels like most developing nations, so it is imperative that certified emissions reductions are collated and traded as carbon credits to protect the environment and save lives,’ Obriki said.