Category: Nigerian Tribune

The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said that nobody can unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inthe 2027 general election.

Speaking in Lokoja on Saturday during the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term and the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, in the 2027 general election, respectively, which took place at Muhamadu Buhari Civic Centre, Bello noted that the people of Nigeria should thank God that they have a president who is committed to moving the nation forward.

According to him, Tinubu has done well since he came on board as President, stressing that his efforts so far in stabilising the economy of the country are commendable.

He warned those who are seeking the position of President to forget their ambition and give total support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming general election.

His words, ‘Today, we are endorsing President Tinubu and Alhaji Ahmed Ododo for a second term. They have done well, and they are still doing well and will continue to do more for the state and the nation as far as the people of Kogi State are concerned

‘So far, we are having a stable economy, and Mr President will not relent in his effort to tackle any issue that will affect his administration. I call on the people of Nigeria to stand up and support Mr President so that he can move the nation forward.

‘Any merger against President Tinubu by the opposition will never work, it will not work, and it has failed already. Nobody can unseat Tinubu in 2027,’ he said.

He also urged the people of Kogi state to always support the administration of Ahmed Ododo, adding that the second term of the governor is in tack.

Also speaking, the Governor of Kogi State, Ododo, promised Tinubu 99 per cent votes in the coming general election.

He stressed that Tinubu should have no fear because Kogi State belong to him as they will turn out in thousands to cast their votes for him in the coming election. He thanked Tinubu for giving the people of the state federal appointments, adding that with all these good things coming to the state, ‘we are going to reciprocate when the time comes’.

He commended the effort of the President in the area of security.

The Governor disclosed that since he came on board, his administration has been able to provide dividends of democracy to the people of the state. adding that his administration has embarked on various projects which include road construction across the state, establishing primary healthcare centres, renovation of schools, both primary and secondary schools and provision of potable drinking water for the people.

He promised that he would embark on more projects before the end of his first tenure.

Those who grace the occasion are Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, Kogi state House of Assembly, former speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole and many more.

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board has commenced an integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign today (Saturday), aimed at immunising more than 4.2 million children across the 23 local government areas of the state.

The campaign, supported by UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other development partners, targets children between the ages of nine months and 14 years as part of efforts to curb the spread of childhood killer diseases.

Speaking during the flag-off of the campaign, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Hamza Ibrahim, said the exercise would help reduce the number of ‘zero-dose’ children – those who have never received any vaccine – in the state.

He explained that Kaduna alone accounts for about 10 per cent of the 100 local governments nationwide battling the zero-dose challenge, with more than 4,000 unvaccinated children identified in the state.

‘Even though we are a big number, we exist now because of the support and effort by community women and development partners to reduce the number of zero-dose children,’ Dr Ibrahim said.

‘With UNICEF, WHO, CHAN, CHI, and other partners supporting the state government, we are optimistic about reaching every eligible child.’

Also speaking, the State Health Educator, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Yusha’u Isah, said the integrated campaign would address several vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria.

‘For now, we have ongoing transmission of diphtheria in more than 19 local governments, while all local governments have reported measles cases this year,’ he said. ‘This campaign aims to stop the transmission of these diseases and boost the immunity of our children.’

He added that adequate arrangements had been made to reach children in hard-to-reach and security-compromised areas, including those in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

‘We are collaborating with security agencies, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders to ensure full access and coverage,’ Isah said.

The representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Elizabeth Hassan, stated that the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine is safe, effective, and approved by both NAFDAC and the World Health Organisation, noting that the campaign aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating measles and rubella by 2030.

Health authorities have advised parents and guardians to present all eligible children for vaccination at health facilities and temporary posts across the state, stressing that the vaccine is free of charge.

I want to know how anti- snake venoms are made and how they can be used to treat snake poisons.

Raheem (by SMS)

Even though the world’s most poisonous snake can kill even an elephant, but there is one animal that survives, the horse. No matter how deadly a snake is, even the fearsome king cobra, a horse doesn’t die from its bite. After the bite, the horse may become mildly ill for about three days, but then recover completely, as if nothing had happened.

It is for this reason that most anti-snake venoms are made by the help of horses. First, the venom is collected from the snakes. A small amount is then injected into the horse. The horse’s immune system responds and produces antibodies to neutralize the venom.

After 2-3 days, these antibodies are present in the horse’s blood. Blood is then drawn from the horse and the red blood cells (RBCs) are removed. The plasma (the white part) is processed to create anti-venom. This anti-venom is then injected into people who have been bitten by poisonous snakes to save their lives.

Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), says the security situation in the region has improved significantly following sustained counter-terrorism operations and renewed synergy among security agencies.

He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Maiduguri.

Abubakar said the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) maintained the operational initiative across the theatre, denying terrorists the freedom of movement and access to logistics that once fuelled their campaigns of terror.

He said the lingering insecurity in the North-East was not an isolated phenomenon but closely linked to broader regional and global developments, including instability in the Sahel, the Middle East, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

‘Since November last year, we have observed an increase in the use of armed drones and radio-controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by the terrorists. These trends are direct consequences of global technological proliferation linked to conflicts elsewhere.

‘However, our forces continue to retain the initiative. The goal of the armed forces remains to flush out the terrorists from their remaining strongholds in Sambisa Forest, the Mandara Mountains, the Tumbuns, and the Lake Chad Islands (LCI),’ he said.

Abubakar highlighted that coordinated operations aimed at achieving this strategic objective were yielding remarkable results.

He said, ‘In the last two months alone, about 26 key terrorist commanders have been neutralised, with substantial recoveries of arms, ammunition, and vehicles. Many insurgent camps have been cleared and destroyed, forcing remnants of the groups into isolated pockets.

‘Socio-economic activities have resumed in most areas previously under terrorist influence. Markets have reopened, schools are functioning, and roads that were once unsafe now experience daily movement of goods and people. That is a major milestone for us as a nation.’

The commander said sustained pressure by the Nigerian Army troops had restored confidence among the citizens, leading to increased voluntary returns to ancestral homes under the Borno State Government’s resettlement framework.

While highlighting some of the key achievements of the operations, Abubakar described the strangulation of the terrorists’ logistics strategy as a turning point in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

‘By cutting off their supply chains, we have effectively crippled their capacity to sustain prolonged engagements. Several IED-making factories have been discovered and destroyed, and we have recorded tremendous successes in intercepting their logistics convoys,’ he said.

Abubakar cited the July 2025 operation in Dikwa, where troops recovered over 50 lethal Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as an example of how intelligence-led missions disrupted enemy capabilities.

He said the troops neutralised more than 257 terrorists in coordinated ground and air offensives, with many others surrendering along with their families between July and September 2025.

‘The terrorists’ employment of drones has also been curtailed through the deployment of advanced anti-drone technology and improved air dominance made possible by the unwavering support of the Military High Command.

‘Recoveries of weapons have increased significantly, and our sustained offensive operations have continued to shrink the battle space for the terrorists,’ he said.

Reacting to reports of renewed attacks in some border communities around Kirawa, Abubakar said the incidents were desperate attempts by the terrorists to create fear and attract attention.

‘Most of these attacks are confined to remote border settlements, reflecting desperation rather than strength. Kirawa was previously under the security framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), but we have now made adequate deployments to strengthen control and forestall further incursions,’ Abubakar said.

To stem the attacks, Abubakar said the military command had deployed additional troops and logistics assets to the Kirawa axis, including quick response teams, armoured vehicles and surveillance units to ensure rapid response to any threat.

‘OPHK covers about 130,000 square kilometres, so the terrain is vast. But we have improved our deployment posture and enhanced coordination with the MNJTF and local security volunteers to ensure that no area remains vulnerable. Kirawa is now fully secured with boots on the ground,’ he assured.

Abubakar reiterated the commitment of the Armed Forces to achieve lasting peace in the region, stressing that the troops remain motivated and focused in their missions.

He urged the residents to continue cooperating with the military by providing credible intelligence, as well as denying logistics support to the terrorists.

‘Citizens must collaborate with the military in fishing out bad elements. This is a whole-of-society approach to asymmetric warfare. Denial of logistics and timely passage of information by communities remain crucial for our collective success.’

The commander also commended the gallantry of officers and men of the OPHK, who demonstrated courage, resilience and sacrifice in defence of the nation.

‘Our troops are highly motivated and determined. The North-East is steadily regaining its stability, and we remain fully committed to consolidating these gains until peace is completely restored,’ the commander said.

Some of the community leaders in the affected areas commended the Nigerian military for its swift response and decisive actions to protect the citizens.

Alhaji Bukar Modu, a community elder in Gwoza, said the increased military presence in Kirawa and adjoining communities had restored public confidence.

‘Before now, we used to hear gunshots almost every week. But since the troops came in numbers, the situation changed. We now sleep peacefully and even attend markets in Pulka and Gwoza without fear,’ he said.

Also, Mrs Falmata Bakura, who recently returned from an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, described the soldiers’ conduct as professional and reassuring.

‘Their presence alone gives us hope. We can see the soldiers patrolling day and night. Our children have resumed school, and we now farm without fear,’ she said.

The Ondo State Government has warned that it will no longer tolerate acts of blackmail, cyberbullying, or coordinated attacks against Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and senior state officials.

The government’s position was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, who said a group of individuals, including ‘two certain legal practitioners,’ had launched a ‘disturbing and coordinated campaign of misinformation’ targeting the governor and his team.

According to Ajanaku, the campaign was being orchestrated by those ‘whose only grievance arises from their failed attempts to secure political appointments, contracts, and financial gain’ from the present administration.

‘When their self-serving demands were firmly rejected-consistent with our unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability-they resorted to despicable acts of blackmail and character assassination,’ he said.

The commissioner alleged that the group recently demanded N200 million, claiming it was for ‘activism in support of the governor and their so-called factional organisation.’

‘Investigations have revealed this entity to be unregistered, fraudulent, and devoid of any legal or operational legitimacy,’ Ajanaku said. ‘Following the government’s refusal to succumb to this extortion, they launched a barrage of coordinated social media attacks targeting the Governor and the Honourable Attorney General of Ondo State with ridiculous and unfounded allegations.’

He described the actions of the group as ‘calculated attempts to destabilise and discredit’ the Aiyedatiwa administration, insisting that their motives were not rooted in patriotism or public interest.

‘Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomes constructive criticism and acknowledges the importance of opposition in a healthy democracy,’ Ajanaku noted. ‘However, he will not tolerate blackmailers masquerading as activists.’

He said the government remains committed to transparency and people-centered leadership, stressing that ‘no amount of blackmail or propaganda will deter’ its mission to foster development and uphold the rule of law.

The commissioner warned that those behind the alleged cyberattacks would face the full weight of the law.

‘We issue an unequivocal warning: those who think they can wield social media harassment and blackmail to intimidate public officials will face swift legal and public repercussions,’ he said. ‘We are fully prepared to invoke every lawful and constitutional measure to hold these individuals accountable.’

Ajanaku added that the government would not allow ‘a handful of desperate individuals’ to tarnish the state’s image for selfish gain.

‘Ondo State belongs to all of us, and we will not stand idly by while a few people attempt to destroy the reputation of our state and its institutions. Enough is enough,’ he said.

Good advice has a way of staying with us. It lingers in our minds, shaping our choices, values, and how we navigate life’s twists and turns. For some, it comes from a parent, a mentor, or even a book; for others, it is born out of experience or faith. This week, Olayinka Awe asked a few people to share the most powerful advice they have received, the kind that did not just sound good, but truly transforms how they live and see the future. Here are what they had to say.

Oyekan Mumiyo

‘Never disclose yourself too much to people’. I learned that not everyone deserves full access to who you are. Keeping parts of yourself private protects your peace and helps you see people’s true intentions. That mindset shaped how I move and who I trust today. I used to overshare until I realised silence holds power. Keeping certain things to myself taught me self-control.

Bankole-Ajayi Herrientta

Honestly, one of the best pieces of advice I’ve come across is: ‘Start before you’re ready.’ It shaped the way I see growth and opportunities. Many times, we wait until we feel perfectly prepared, until we’ve studied enough, saved enough, or feel confident enough. But the truth is, clarity often comes after you start, not before.

Omolegan Simidele

It would have to be ‘Welcome every human experience. Even with the bad experiences sometimes from the bitterest experience comes the greatest awakening’. I have learned that not every struggle is a punishment; some are lessons in disguise. When I began to accept every experience, whether joy, rejection, or failure, I stopped resisting life and started growing from it. Pain and disappointment became tools that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, revealing my strength, values, and purpose. Over time, I realised that even setbacks have direction, they guide me toward who I’m meant to become. This mindset has transformed my life, teaching me patience, emotional maturity, and resilience, and helping me see that even my darkest moments are preparing me for a brighter future.

Oguntuase Tijesuni

I have heard a lot of quotes in my life, but two have really shaped the way I think. The first one is, ‘If you wait for a perfect time, you will never get things done.’ That is one of the most valuable pieces of advice I have ever received.’ And the second is, ‘Do not rush to acquire things you have not yet reached the stage to handle or maintain.’

Both came from my dad, and honestly, they have stuck with me. He always said that without self-awareness, you will end up investing your time and energy chasing things that do not truly fulfill you. And about the second one, he used to explain it with money, that the reason you do not have all those billions you dream of yet is because it is not your time. You have to grow into the kind of person who can handle that level of responsibility first.

Adeoya Kolade

My dad once told me that ‘Life is like a pyramid – it’s full of competition’. Many people start together at the base, but only a few make it to the top. So, work hard, strive for excellence, and always aim to be the best version of yourself.

Smith Femi

One of the most powerful advice that has shaped my view of life is that ‘Never get too comfortable with where you are, because you were created for more’. I’ve come to see that life is not about reaching one point and stopping; it’s about growing through every stage and becoming better in the process. For me, it is not about chasing success for its own sake, it is about honouring the person I am becoming, one step, one lesson, and one experience at a time.

Bankole David

‘If you wait for a perfect time, you will never get things done.’ That is one of the most valuable pieces of advice I have ever received. I heard it at a church programme during a session titled ‘No blame game’, and it honestly shook me. It made me realise that if I fail, I cannot keep blaming people or circumstances. At the end of the day, I am responsible for how I respond.

Instead of giving excuses, I learned to find my way around challenges and keep moving forward. Life will not always give you the right timing or perfect conditions, you just have to start from where you are and make it work.

Makinde Akinpelu

The best advice I’ve ever received was about discovering my purpose, destiny, and vision in life. It taught me that true direction starts with understanding who I am and why I am here. That journey led me to give my life to Jesus Christ. Since then, everything about my purpose has become clearer and more meaningful.

IT is one of those proverbial cases in which you do not know whether to laugh or cry. It is benumbing. Nigeria used to be the country with the largest population of poor people in the world but the statistics, as recently revealed in a viral statement by Yemi Kale, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shifted slightly recently. It so happened that India, the world’s most populated country with some 1.46 billion people, recently beat Nigeria to the sad top spot. With no fewer than 89 million Nigerians currently living in poverty, representing about 40 percent of the population, Nigeria has emerged as the country with the second-largest population of poor people in the world. According to Kale, who spoke during a presentation at The Platform Nigeria’s Independence Day event in Lagos, only India surpasses Nigeria in the number of citizens trapped below the poverty line. But then, Nigeria’s dismal figure is still larger than the entire population of most countries globally.

Kale, who is currently Group Chief Economist at Afreximbank, linked the worsening poverty levels to years of delayed reforms and policy missteps which pushed millions into hardship while leaving households vulnerable to inflation and fiscal shocks. In his view, the corrective measures currently being implemented should have begun over a decade ago when early warning signs of decline were already evident. The failure to act, he said, eroded investor confidence, constrained growth, and weakened the economy’s capacity to generate jobs. Hear him: ‘To grasp the magnitude of this number, we can consider that fewer than 20 of the world’s 195 recognised countries even have a population bigger than Nigeria’s number of poor people. And these dynamics are compounding. Together, these trends threaten the very promise of independence that every Nigerian should have the opportunity to thrive at home. So, what went wrong? Well, there are many reasons, but a large part of it lies in policy missteps and costly delays in implementing needed reforms. Key adjustments, some finally underway, should have begun over a decade ago, when warning signs were already evident. Acting sooner would have significantly softened the impact on households and businesses, sparing the economy years of compounding fiscal and inflationary pressures. Instead, distortive monetary and exchange rate policies lingered, eroding investor confidence and choking off investment.’

To say the very least, this is an extremely sad story. Nigeria is vastly resourced naturally, and is blessed with a dynamic, talented and hardworking population. Around the world, Nigerians continue to be one of the most successful migrant groups, proving the essential point that it is the Nigerian environment that, chiefly on account of poor leadership and structural imbalances, basically limits potential. It is no coincidence that very often, Nigerians are cited as one of the most successful and educated migrant groups in the United States, excelling in fields like medicine, engineering, law, and business, with their success story attributed to a strong emphasis on education, resilience, and hard work, which allows them to achieve high levels of academic and professional success. Nigerian-Americans are reported to have more post-graduate degrees than any other racial or ethnic groups in the United States, and it has been pointed out that although they account for less than 1 percent of the country’s black population, they constitute nearly 25 percent of all Black students at the Harvard Business School. Would these Nigerians be so successful if they were based in Nigeria?

You would think that a country with such a frightening level of poverty as Nigeria’s would jealously gaurd its borders and resources, but that is categorically not the case. As we pointed out in previous editorials, in 2024, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Solid Minerals disclosed that illegal mining activities in Nigeria was costing the country about $9bn annually, and most of it is perpetrated by foreigners. The implication is that even as the vast majority of Nigerians literally scrounge and starve, foreign criminals are making a killing at their expense. As we have said time and again, governments at all levels must address poverty decisively. According to the World Bank, some 139 million Nigerians are trapped in poverty, and we have seen no reason to change our view that the situation requires a deliberate tweaking of policies to bring immediate relief to the populace. This is actually an irreducible minimum.

There is no way to defend the idea that good leaders are creating a poverty-stricken society. The greed and selfishness of the political class must be addressed squarely. There is no reason governance should continue to be a superstructure erect ed on the people’s pain. We urge governments at all levels to address poverty squarely and give Nigerians a better deal. Governance is problem solving.

In a step toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural economy into a commercially competitive and investment-driven sector, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with agribusiness firm Arzikim Noma for the management and financing of the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate in Ora, Kwara State.

The partnership, signed at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, represents a significant milestone in the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at attracting private capital into agriculture while modernizing food production systems across the country.

Speaking at the event, NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Cornelius Adebayo said the partnership with Arzikim Noma would serve as a model for sustainable agribusiness investment through shared risk and return between the government and the private sector.

‘We’ve provided the land, infrastructure, and enabling environment, while Arzikim Noma is financing and managing the farming clusters. This structure ensures sustainability and commercial viability beyond government tenure,’ Adebayo said.

According to him, the Ora Mega Farm Estate, spanning 5,000 hectares, will operate as a fully mechanized agricultural hub featuring hostels, warehouses, a police post, mechanization centers, and recreational facilities, all designed to make large-scale farming attractive to youth and investors alike.

Over 1,050 hectares have already been cleared for cultivation, with Arzikim Noma taking charge of input financing, farmer management, and output aggregation.

Each farmer under the scheme will cultivate about five hectares, with tractor and mechanization services provided on credit, and deductions made post-harvest.

‘We’ve structured this project so that farmers don’t have to pay upfront. It’s a performance-based model where deductions happen only after sales. That ensures financial discipline, productivity, and investor confidence,’ Adebayo explained.

He added that the partnership would create a new class of agripreneurs capable of bridging the gap between smallholder farming and industrial-scale food production.

Arzikim Noma’s Group Managing Director, Michael Adeshola, described the collaboration as a big bet on the long-term profitability and scalability of Nigerian agriculture.

‘We see this as a viable investment frontier. This partnership will not only boost yields and profitability for farmers but also open new opportunities for investors in agro-processing, input supply, and exports,’ Adeshola said.

According to him, Arzikim Noma, which successfully participated in the Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme and fully repaid its loans, is leveraging its financial discipline and operational experience to de-risk agribusiness in Nigeria.

‘Our partnership with NALDA gives investors confidence because it combines government-backed land infrastructure with private-sector efficiency and accountability. We are creating a sustainable model that guarantees offtake, quality control, and consistent returns’, he said.

Adeshola noted that the company’s target is to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported raw materials and expand the country’s agro-export capacity, adding that the firm had already helped multinational processors cut their importation of agricultural raw materials from 70 percent to about 30 percent in the last five years.

‘With the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate, we are going to close that gap entirely and even begin exporting surplus produce to other African countries,’ he added.

The NALDA-Arzikim Noma deal is a strategic investment framework that aligns with global trends in agro-industrial partnerships, combining state-backed infrastructure with private financing to drive food system transformation.

The model reduces government expenditure on recurrent subsidies while attracting private equity, impact investors, and development finance institutions seeking sustainable agriculture projects with measurable social returns.

The Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate in Ora is part of a broader rollout that includes similar clusters in Ekiti and Bauchi States, with NALDA aiming to open up 10 million hectares nationwide over the next decade.

The initiative is expected to stimulate rural economies, create agro-processing value chains, and improve Nigeria’s position in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a regional supplier of agricultural commodities.

The Renewed Hope Mega Farm model demonstrates how public-private partnerships (PPPs) can unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential.

With NALDA providing the enabling infrastructure and Arzikim Noma injecting capital and management expertise, the project is expected to deliver returns across multiple fronts, from job creation and rural development to food price stabilization and investor confidence.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has conducted an assessment of the military formations in Babanla community, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state on the strategy deployed against recent banditry and kidnapping in the area.

In a statement by the youth group in the community, under the aegis of the Babanla Youths for Sustainable Development (BYSD), the people appreciated the COAS’s visit and commended the ongoing military’s dedication to restoring peace in Babanla community.

Lt. Gen. Oluyede appreciated Oba of Babanla, Alhaji Aliyu Alabi Adegboyega Yusuf, for providing necessary support for the troops in the community in the interest of national unity and development, assuring the community that the troops will eliminate all forms of criminality and ensure that no threats gain ground in Kwara state.

He charged indigenes and residents who have vacated the community on the heels of the security challenges ravaging the town to return home as soon as possible, assuring the people that the security forces have recorded outstanding success in their quest to flush out the bandits and restore peace in the community.

The youths, under the umbrella of the BYSD appreciated the COAS’s visit and commended the ongoing military’s dedication to restoring peace in Babanla.

They reassured the army of their continued support in the fight against criminal elements terrorizing the area.

The group also acknowledged the commendable role that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq played in the deployment of the 22 Armoured BDE Step-Up Headquarters in Babanla towards strengthening the security of lives and property in the area and beyond.

The COAS visit is expected to bolster the troops’ morale and enhance their operational capabilities. The move is seen as a decisive step towards addressing the growing insecurity in the area and beyond.

During the assessment tour, the COAS inspired troops at the 22 Armored Brigade Step-Up Headquarters in Babanla and its environs.

The COAS, who landed in Babanla around 16:05, was received by the GOC 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, as well as the Commander of the 22 Armored Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, and his troops. The Army chief assessed the security situation and engaged with troops on the frontlines of the counter-insurgency operations in the Babasango area of the town.

Addressing troops of the 22 Armored BDE Step-Up Headquarters, the COAS tasked them to intensify efforts and speedily end terrorism and banditry in the area, while acknowledging the personal sacrifices made by the soldiers, in what he described as ‘the highest form of patriotism to the nation’.

The Attorney-General (AG) of Osun State on Friday filed a notice of withdrawal of the suit he instituted against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), seeking to stop the Federal Government from releasing withheld local government allocations to the ‘court-sacked’ Local Government Chairmen and Councillors elected during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

While moving the motion on Friday, Counsel to the Osun AG, Musibau Adetumbi (SAN), said the aim of the suit, which sought to safeguard the money, had been defeated as the allocation had been moved out of the CBN by the defendants.

‘On September 29, 2025, when the matter was heard, I told the court that our primary aim was to safeguard the money. Between then and now, we are sure that, notwithstanding the pendency of the case and order of status quo, the money was moved out of the CBN,’ Adetumbi said.

He told the court that the notice of discontinuance was filed pursuant to Order 51 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules, adding that any further arguments in the matter would amount to an academic exercise.

As against the submission of the defendants, Adetumbi said the court-sacked Local Government Chairmen and Councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assuming without conceding that they had a tenure, it lapsed on Wednesday, October 16, 2025.

In their various submissions on the notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiff, counsel to the defendants – CBN, Dr Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN), and that of the AGF, Tajudeen Oladoja (SAN) – did not oppose the application but faulted the averments in an affidavit of facts attached to the application.

According to Muritala, the plaintiff made damaging depositions in the affidavit of facts and added that the plaintiff should withdraw the affidavit along with the notice of discontinuance because some of the depositions in the affidavit were against persons who are not parties in the matter.

‘Somebody can approach the court any day with a request for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the process and may decide to use it against the persons mentioned in the plaintiff’s affidavit of facts,’ the CBN lawyer stated, adding that the grounds upon which the notice of discontinuance was predicated were in bad faith.

He said the plaintiff got it wrong when he claimed that the 1st defendant had no competent response to the plaintiff’s originating summons, adding that a 12-paragraph counter-affidavit to the originating summons was filed on behalf of his client in May.

‘While we are not opposing the withdrawal of the suit, we are against the grounds for the withdrawal,’ Muritala said, and urged the court to expunge paragraphs 5 to 11 in the affidavit of facts filed by the plaintiff for being inaccurate and for referring to persons who are not before the court.

Counsel to the Accountant-General, Tajudeen, on his part, did not oppose the application for discontinuance because the plaintiff has the liberty to withdraw his case. ‘However, we are in vehement opposition to the 2nd ground upon which the application is predicated.

‘The plaintiff is not under any obligation to predicate his application on any ground,’ he said, adding that it is not true to say that the 2nd defendant has no competent defence in the matter. He explained that his client filed an application for an extension of time to file a counter-affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons on September 8, which had not been determined due to the application filed by the plaintiff accusing the court of bias and challenging its jurisdiction.

He urged the court to strike out ground one of the notice of discontinuance and ground two, which stated that certain money had been paid, a claim the 2nd defendant had not been given an opportunity to react to.

Tajudeen also asked for a cost of N10 million against the plaintiff for bringing the 2nd defendant to court, for the court processes filed in the matter, and for wasting the precious judicial time of the court.

Responding, Adetumbi said a notice of discontinuance under Order 50 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules does not attract cost, and added that the defendants had not filed any process before the court. ‘It is their default to have filed their process out of time. They cannot approach the court to ask for cost or expunging any of the grounds in the notice of discontinuance.’

The plaintiff’s counsel said the defendants were not entitled to cost because of their own default.

Having listened to the submissions of counsel in the matter, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned till October 29 to rule on the plaintiff’s application for discontinuance and other applications by the defendants.

Speaking with newsmen after the proceedings, Adetumbi said the major reason for the discontinuance of the matter was that the defendants had paid the money out. ‘We came to court to safeguard the money, and the money has gone. So, what are we arguing over again? It has left their hands.

‘They deliberately released it, so it is no longer within the jurisdiction of this honourable court. That money is no more. As long as that money had left the hands of the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation, it is no longer within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.

‘I mentioned it there. Even the so-called APC chairmen and councillors, assuming without conceding that they had any tenure, it ended yesterday, 16th October. That’s what the document is saying – not 22nd, not 23rd. It is saying 16th. We have the affidavit here. They are out of office. They signed. They were out of office on 17th October 2025,’ he said.

Justice Nwite had, in a ruling on a request by the CBN and the AGF praying for the dismissal of the case, delivered on Wednesday, held that the Osun Attorney-General has locus standi (legal right) to institute the suit on behalf of the local government authorities.

He held that the plaintiff, as the Chief Law Officer of the state, had the duty and authority to act in the public interest, including protecting local government allocations.

The judge further held that the suit challenging local government allocations ‘does not constitute an abuse of court process.’

He emphasised that the plaintiff did not act in ‘a biased or deliberate manner in seeking the present action.’