Category: Daily Trust

The Arewa Political Action Group (APAG), Southern States Chapter, on Friday declared that worsening insecurity has become Nigeria’s greatest threat, accusing the Federal Government of failing to protect citizens.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the group’s National Chairman, Comrade Mahmoud Alhassan Zamfara, said fear generated by kidnappings, killings and violent attacks had become more damaging to the country than inflation, unemployment or corruption.

‘The greatest threat to Nigeria today is no longer inflation. It is no longer unemployment. It is no longer even corruption. The greatest threat to Nigeria today is fear.

‘Because a nation whose citizens are afraid to travel, afraid to farm, afraid to send their children to school, afraid to worship in their churches and mosques, and afraid to invest – that nation is slowly suffocating its own economy and dismantling its own future,’ he said.

He said insecurity had evolved into a national emergency with devastating consequences for economic growth, food production, education and investment.

‘Every kidnapping is not merely a security failure. It is an economic catastrophe. It is an educational crisis. It is an agricultural disaster. It is an investment deterrent. It is a national development emergency,’ he said.

According to him, farmers are abandoning their lands, businesses are relocating, professionals are leaving the country and investors are increasingly reluctant to commit resources because of security concerns.

Zamfara described the situation in Northern Nigeria as particularly alarming, alleging that communities across the region had been devastated by insecurity and economic hardship.

‘Under the present administration, Northern Nigeria faces what can only be described as systemic intimidation and security deterioration

‘Our homes are no longer safe. Thousands of schools stand abandoned. Our communities have been hollowed out,’ he said.

He claimed that thousands of young Northerners had fled their ancestral homes and farmlands in search of survival elsewhere.

‘The human cost is devastating. Thousands of our youths have fled their ancestral homes and farmlands, migrating southward merely to survive from day to day,’ he said.

Against that backdrop, Zamfara announced that the group had severed ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying its members could no longer support a party they believe has failed to address Nigeria’s mounting challenges.

‘For the record, our total registered membership stands at six hundred and ninety-six thousand, nine hundred and forty-seven. We have resolved to dissociate ourselves entirely from a party that has failed to deliver meaningful progress for our nation and for the North in particular,’ he said.

The group also adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its preferred political platform.

‘We have chosen a new path. The Arewa Political Action Group has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress as the political vehicle to rescue our nation and our region,’ he declared.

Explaining the decision, Zamfara said the country requires leadership capable of restoring security and rebuilding public confidence.

‘We refuse to remain silent. We refuse to be complicit in the normalization of failure,’ he said.

‘Nigeria deserves leadership that prioritizes safety over propaganda, prosperity over partisanship, and competent governance over empty promises.’

Calling on Nigerians to look beyond party loyalties, he urged citizens across the country to unite in pursuit of national renewal.

‘We call upon all citizens of conscience – North and South – to rise above fear, place the survival and dignity of our nation above partisan loyalty, and choose a future of security, prosperity and justice,’ he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has said he would defeat the APC candidate and current governor Biodun Oyebanji in the June 20 Governorship poll in the state.

Oluyede, said the people are yearning for positive change in Ekiti, insisting that the governor’s performance does not justify the current reality in the state.

Oluyede spoke during an interactive session with newsmen at his country home, Ikere-Ekiti where he condemned Fayose’s support to the government in the state.

He said the political weight would not influence the outcome of the forthcoming governorship election.

The PDP candidate acknowledged Fayose’s right to support any candidate of his choice, maintained that the former governor had made wrong political judgment by throwing his weight behind the incumbent administration.

He said the present government has fallen below expectations in critical areas such as security and infrastructure.

Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a specialised centre for the preparation of candidates for international medical licensing examinations, in a move aimed at expanding global opportunities for Nigerian healthcare professionals.

The centre will focus on training candidates for the NCLEX-RN and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2, positioning participants for employment in the United States and other international healthcare systems.

Speaking on the development, Eromosele said the centre would run a structured six-month intensive programme designed to equip medical doctors, nurses and other qualified candidates with the knowledge, clinical reasoning and examination strategies required to succeed in international licensing examinations.

The initiative follows the university’s recent engagement with global partners, including a visit to Meharry Medical College in Tennessee, United States, where discussions were held with key stakeholders on advancing medical training and strengthening international collaboration.

As part of the agreement, US-based medical education consultant, Dr Elochukwu Jude Ezekakpu, will serve as Educational Consultant and Programme Director, providing instructional leadership and overseeing the design and implementation of the training curriculum.

The university said the centre is intended to close a longstanding gap in the preparation of Nigerian medical graduates, many of whom face challenges passing international qualifying examinations due to the absence of structured and targeted training.

Although some of these examinations are conducted outside Nigeria, including in Ghana, candidates often lack the practical application skills and test-taking techniques required for success. The new centre will address this by combining theoretical instruction with practical, competency-based training, mentorship and performance tracking.

According to the university, the programme will be open not only to its students but also to practising healthcare professionals across Nigeria and the wider West African region.

‘This is about building a globally competitive healthcare workforce. We are not just training for local relevance, but preparing our professionals to meet international standards and secure opportunities anywhere in the world,’ Eromosele said.

The institution noted that the centre would strengthen its academic offerings, improve graduate outcomes and increase success rates in international licensing examinations.

Beyond training, the university-approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to offer medical sciences and already maintaining a partnership with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH)-is positioning itself as a hub for international healthcare education.

It added that the model builds on the experience of its parent company, Mudiame International Limited, in technical training within the oil and gas sector, where it has developed skilled professionals now working both locally and internationally.

The NCLEX and USMLE centre, which was launched this week, signals the commencement of the programme.

Eromosele said the initiative would contribute to the growing trend of exporting skilled medical labour, as Nigerian healthcare professionals increasingly seek better opportunities abroad.

‘Currently, one of the major challenges facing Nigerian and African medical graduates is the difficulty in passing international qualifying exams. Many candidates struggle due to inadequate preparation. This gap is what the new training centre seeks to address,’ he said.

Ezekakpu, who will lead the programme, is a physician-educator with extensive experience in medical education, clinical skills training, simulation-based learning, curriculum development and preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). He also specialises in academic advising and personalised learning plans for healthcare students, with a background that includes faculty appointments in clinical education and simulation training, where he has mentored healthcare professionals and prepared candidates for high-stakes international examinations.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) said they have rescued six travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Hawan Kibo-Rafin Sanyin Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The troops also said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue the driver of the vehicle who is still missing.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when suspected kidnappers reportedly intercepted a vehicle conveying passengers from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Jos, Plateau State.

Confirming the incident, the Media Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Captain Polycarp Oteh, said troops of Sector 6 Operation Enduring Peace responded swiftly to a distress call and successfully rescued the six of the abducted victims.

He said efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victim.

‘At the early hours of today, troops of Sector 6 Operation Enduring Peace responded to a distress call on a kidnapping incident and swiftly mobilised, successfully rescuing six out of the kidnapped victims.

‘Deliberate effort is currently ongoing to rescue the driver. There is no cause for alarm. Troops are on top of the situation,’ he said.

Our correspdent gathered that upon arrival at the scene, the troops discovered an ash-coloured Honda vehicle abandoned by the roadside, with its occupants missing and the troops immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bushes and succeeded in rescuing six victims.

A civil society group, Concerned Nigerians for Peace, Security and National Unity, has announced plans to stage a peaceful road walk in Abuja on Monday to mobilise support for collective action against insecurity and promote national unity.

The group said the security situation across the country requires all Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations, to unite in confronting the challenges posed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes as its global standard, insecurity should be everyone business

In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Isah Abubakar , on Thursday and made available to journalists in Abuja, the group stressed that security should not be left to government alone, insisting that every citizen has a role to play in safeguarding the nation.

Abubakar said the planned road walk would serve as a platform to draw national attention to the urgent need for collaboration among citizens, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious organisations and political actors in addressing the country’s security concerns.

He noted that insecurity had evolved over the years from the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the North-East to widespread incidents of banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and other criminal activities affecting several parts of the federation.

‘What began as the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the North-East during previous administrations gradually expanded to include banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts and other violent crimes across several regions of the federation,’ he said.

According to him, insecurity is no longer confined to any particular state, region, religion or political party, as citizens across the country continue to grapple with different forms of security threats.

‘The reality is that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping do not discriminate. Their victims cut across political parties, religious groups, ethnic backgrounds and social classes,’ he added.

The group called on leaders across political parties to put aside partisan interests and work together towards a common national agenda aimed at defeating insecurity.

It also urged former Heads of State, former military leaders, serving political office holders and other stakeholders to contribute ideas, experience and strategic solutions capable of addressing the nation’s security challenges.

Abubakar further appealed to religious leaders to intensify efforts in preaching peace, tolerance and respect for human life while speaking strongly against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and violent extremism.

He said communities must remain vigilant and support lawful measures designed to identify and isolate criminal elements operating within society.

The group also encouraged Nigerians to participate in peaceful advocacy campaigns, awareness programmes and lawful demonstrations aimed at sustaining national conversations on security and public safety.

‘The time has come for all Nigerians to speak with one voice against insecurity. This is not a fight for any government, political party or individual. It is a fight for our collective future, national stability and the protection of innocent citizens,’ Abubakar stated.

He warned against attempts to politicise insecurity for partisan advantage, saying the safety and survival of the nation should take precedence over political differences.

‘At a time when criminal elements are threatening the peace and stability of the country, Nigerians must come together to support efforts aimed at restoring security and protecting innocent lives.

‘Security is everybody’s business. While government agencies and security forces have a constitutional responsibility to maintain law and order, citizens, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations also have critical roles to play.

‘No government alone can successfully defeat insecurity without the active cooperation and support of the people,’ he said.

GX Media House, a full-service branding, design, and communications agency headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, has successfully delivered the inaugural training programme for the IPAWAS (Investment Promotion Agencies West Africa Secretariat) digital investment platform, marking a significant milestone in West Africa’s regional investment promotion infrastructure.

The intensive three-day training, held from 11 to 13 May 2026, brought together Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) officers from ten ECOWAS member states: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria.

Representatives from ECOWAS participated as the IPAWAS Headquarters throughout the programme.

A Platform Built for West Africa’s Investment Future

The IPAWAS platform is the first operational digital investment promotion infrastructure in the history of the IPAWAS institution, a unified, professional system that presents West Africa’s investment opportunities to global investors, facilitates real-time investor inquiries, and enables regional coordination across twelve ECOWAS member states.

GX Media House led the conceptualisation, design, and development of the IPAWAS platform in close partnership with senior directors from ECOWAS, incorporating structured reviews with senior directors from member IPA agencies at key development milestones, and receiving final sign-off from the heads of those agencies before delivery. GX was also responsible for the design and delivery of the full training programme.

The three-day curriculum covered 19 sessions across 17 hours of instruction, equipping IPA officers with end-to-end capabilities including account management, investment opportunity listing, investor inquiry management, team administration, analytics and reporting, and platform governance.

‘This training represents more than a software handover,’ said Folahan Johnson, GX Founder and Chief Executive. ‘We handed over a functioning institutional backbone, one that positions West Africa’s investment agencies to engage global capital markets with the same professionalism and digital presence as any leading investment region in the world.’

A Historic Handover

The programme concluded on Wednesday, 13 May, with a formal handover ceremony in which GX Media House officially transferred operational control of the IPAWAS platform to the IPAWAS Secretariat and its member states. Participating IPA officers departed the training having created real, live investment opportunity listings on the platform, not simulations, with content immediately visible to global investors.

The IPAWAS platform features a public-facing investor portal with filterable investment opportunities by country, sector, and project stage; full country profiles for each member state; an investor inquiry management system; a Knowledge Hub; and an analytics dashboard for both country-level and platform-wide performance monitoring.

GX Media House is a full-service branding, design, and communications agency based in Abuja, Nigeria. The agency delivers integrated communications strategy, digital platform development, content production, and training programmes for corporate, government, and regional institutional clients across Africa.

On Friday, 15 May 2026, Nigeria witnessed something unprecedented: coordinated school abductions carried out simultaneously in the Southwest and the Northeast. It was a dark day that reopened old wounds and stirred new fears, as non-state actors executed highly organised operations with alarming precision.

In Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, armed terrorists stormed multiple schools, abducting 46 students and teachers and killing one teacher in the process. Even more horrifying were reports that one of the victims was brutally executed to send a chilling message to authorities and the community. Predictably, the incident triggered protests and revived a social media movement reminiscent of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

But the Oyo attack was not an isolated tragedy. On the same day, terrorists abducted 42 schoolchildren from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira Uba, Borno State. In a single day, more than 80 Nigerian children and their teachers were taken from their classrooms. Weeks later, many remain in captivity.

As the nation entered June, while rescue efforts were still underway in the Southwest and Northeast, bandits in Northwest launched fresh attacks in Zamfara, abducting students from a polytechnic along with several residents of nearby communities. And in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, unknown gunmen kidnapped the sister of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu and her twin sons while they were on their way to school.

The pattern suggests a dangerous escalation in the targeting of educational institutions. Teachers’ unions and student bodies are now contemplating nationwide protests. Their frustration is understandable. Schools – the very spaces meant to nurture hope and learning – are increasingly becoming theatres of fear.

For years, mass school abductions were largely associated with Northern Nigeria. But the Oyo incident – the first of its scale in the Southwest – has triggered nationwide outrage, renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s security architecture, and fresh calls for urgent action.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, a high-powered federal delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, visited the affected communities. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and the establishment of additional military bases along vulnerable corridors linking Kwara and parts of the southern region. The deployment strategy mirrors earlier approaches adopted in Northern states battling banditry and terrorism.

These developments prompted me to ask a question on my social media platforms – a question many Nigerians are quietly asking but few are willing to articulate publicly: Are these recurring school attacks merely acts of banditry and terrorism, or is there a deeper political pattern? It is an uncomfortable question, but one that refuses to go away.

In 2014, during President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign, the world was shaken by the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State – an incident that became a defining symbol of insecurity under his administration.

Four years later, in 2018, 110 Dapchi schoolgirls were abducted in Yobe State just as President Muhammadu Buhari prepared for the 2019 elections. Although most of the girls were eventually released, the incident still cast a shadow over the political climate.

Now, as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum under President Tinubu, Nigeria is witnessing another disturbing wave of school attacks – including the unprecedented spread of such incidents into the Southwest. Three election cycles. Three major school abduction crises. Three administrations placed on the defensive at precisely the moment they are most vulnerable to political erosion.

One can only hope that this is not the beginning of what some may cynically describe as Season Three. I am not asserting conspiracy. I am observing a pattern – one so persistent that it demands honest interrogation rather than dismissal. Is this merely coincidence? Perhaps. But the timing is difficult to ignore.

The Chibok abduction cast a long shadow over Jonathan’s presidency and contributed to his electoral defeat. Buhari weathered the Dapchi crisis because most of the abducted students were released or rescued before his re-election in 2019. The question now is whether the Tinubu administration can contain the current wave of insecurity before it grows into a crisis of similar magnitude. This is why urgent and decisive action is imperative.

The Government must urgently strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative launched in 2014. It is also necessary to reassess the foreign military technical partnerships that supported Nigeria during the peak of insurgency before the 2015 elections. Most importantly, the time has come for community and state policing. Every community should be empowered-within the law-to protect itself through locally recruited security structures that understand their terrain, their people, and their threats.

Beyond the immediate tragedy, the long term consequences are even more alarming. Persistent attacks on schools threaten the education of more than 50 million Nigerian children. Parents may withdraw their children out of fear, worsening already troubling out of school statistics and undermining national development. Insecurity must never become a political instrument – whether by design or exploitation. Every attack on a school is an attack on Nigeria’s future.

As a student of crisis communication and national security, I remain troubled by the recurring timing of these incidents around politically sensitive periods. Are criminal groups exploiting election cycles to maximise attention and pressure? Are there actors benefiting from the atmosphere of fear such attacks create?

I do not claim to have definitive answers. But the pattern is too striking to ignore. Chibok drew global outrage. Dapchi saw partial returns. Oriire has produced a beheaded teacher, a kidnapped toddler, and a nationwide teachers’ strike.

From Chibok to Dapchi and now Oriire, Nigeria is confronting what looks alarmingly like a third season of failure to protect schoolchildren during politically sensitive periods. If this is indeed ‘Season Three,’ the real question is whether the country can finally build the institutions and safeguards needed to prevent a tragic ‘Season Four.’

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has disclosed that no fewer than 15,083 Nigerian pilgrims received medical attention during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia, representing nearly one-third of the country’s total pilgrims population.

The figure was revealed during the Post-Arafat stakeholders’ meeting in Makkah, where officials reviewed the health and welfare situation of Nigerian pilgrims following the completion of the core Hajj rites.

Speaking at the meeting, Head of the Nigerian Medical Mission, Ibrahim Abubakar, said 8,303 pilgrims were attended to during the Mashair period alone, while total consultations in Makkah and Mashair stood at 12,630.

According to him, the cumulative number of pilgrims who accessed medical services since the commencement of Hajj operations in Madinah, Makkah and the holy sites has risen to 15,083.

He explained that the most common health challenges recorded among pilgrims included severe dehydration, heart-related illnesses, stroke, fractures, anaemia, rheumatism, migraine, hyperglycaemia and pancreatitis.

The medical mission also referred 15 pilgrims to hospitals in Makkah for specialised treatment, while several others were successfully managed through the commission’s clinics across the holy sites.

Dr Abubakar expressed concern over the impact of stress on pilgrims’ health, revealing that between 70 and 80 per cent of deaths recorded during the exercise were linked to heart-related complications aggravated by stress.

He further disclosed that about 50 pilgrims developed mental health disorders during the pilgrimage, attributing the development largely to physical and emotional stress associated with Hajj activities.

‘We need greater awareness on stress management. Many pilgrims experience pressure long before arriving in Saudi Arabia, from raising funds for Hajj to coping with the physical demands of the pilgrimage itself,’ he said.

The medical team urged pilgrims to prioritise rest, hydration and compliance with medical advice, while calling on Islamic scholars accompanying pilgrims to intensify sensitisation on health management during Hajj.

NAHCON also expressed concern over inadequate emergency medical infrastructure among state pilgrims’ boards, noting that only Lagos and Kogi states currently operate dedicated ambulances for their pilgrims during the Hajj exercise.

The commission urged other states to invest in emergency response facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce avoidable medical emergencies during future pilgrimages.

Earlier, NAHCON Chairman, Ismail Abba Yusuf, commended medical personnel, officials and stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the 2026 Hajj operations.

He acknowledged that although significant progress had been recorded, Nigeria still had considerable work to do in improving Hajj administration and pilgrims’ welfare.

‘We are still far from where we should be. The lessons from this year’s Hajj will guide future reforms as we continue to improve our operations and services to Nigerian pilgrims,’ Yusuf said.

The Yobe State Police Command has arrested seven suspects for allegedly operating an illegal gun fabrication factory in Potiskum Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the suspects were arrested during a raid conducted by operatives of the Potiskum Area Command in collaboration with the Divisional Police Headquarters.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the operation was carried out on June 2, following credible intelligence that some blacksmiths were involved in the illegal production of firearms.

According to the statement, police operatives stormed a blacksmith workshop at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road in Potiskum and arrested seven suspects.

The police also recovered two fabricated pistols, 24 muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, one filing machine and a sharp cutlass.

The command said investigations were ongoing to uncover the suspects’ collaborators, possible buyers and the intended use of the weapons.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, had directed investigators to intensify efforts to identify other illegal firearms fabrication centres and assess the security threat posed by such activities.

The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), an umbrella body for organised businesses, employers, investors and taxpayers, has raised concerns over an alleged attempt by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to apply provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 (NTA) and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025 (NTAA) to Corporate Income Tax (CIT) returns relating to business activities, accounting periods, contracts, transactions and financial statements executed and closed in the 2025 fiscal year.

In a public notice published in some national dailies, the OPSN said it considered it necessary to speak out because several channels of constructive engagement had been explored by its members and affected companies, as well as reputable professional firms, yet the responses received from the NRS had not addressed the central legal question.

The notice was signed by the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir; Director-General of NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu; Director-General of NECA, Adewale Oyerinde; Director-General of NASME, Eke Ubiji; and Director-General of NASSI, Engr. Ifeanyi Oputa.

The OPSN raised a key question: ‘Can a new tax law, which commenced on 1 January 2026, be applied backwards to income earned, transactions concluded and accounting periods closed before that commencement date?’

Daily Trust reports that on 26 June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the Tax Reform Acts into law. Subsequent communications from the Presidency confirmed that the new tax laws scheduled to commence on 1 January 2026 would proceed as planned. The OPSN noted that the NTA and NTAA are therefore designed to operate prospectively, not retrospectively.

The OPSN said it does not dispute the Year of Assessment (YOA) framework but argued that while it regulates the timing of assessment, it cannot be used to apply new substantive law to income earned before its commencement.

It stressed that a tax authority must administer laws as enacted, adding that unless a statute clearly provides for retroactive application, it cannot impose liabilities or penalties on prior transactions.

The group further warned that the NRS position conflicts with the commencement framework of the new laws and undermines legal certainty, legitimate expectations and the rule of law.

On the way forward, the OPSN called on the NRS to withdraw or suspend any administrative measures applying the NTA/NTAA to 2025 accounting periods and restore the previous CIT framework under CITA.

It also urged the issuance of a public circular confirming that CIT returns for periods ending on or before 31 December 2025 should be computed under existing laws.

The group further called on the Presidency and relevant ministries and agencies to intervene to ensure legal certainty and smooth tax reform implementation.

Efforts to reach the Special Adviser on Media to the NRS Chairman, Dare Adekanbi, were unsuccessful as calls and messages were not returned.