Category: PM News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke said the Federal Government’s acquisition of modern aircraft, advanced weaponry and improved training had placed heavy responsibility on the NAF to deliver decisive results.

Aneke said this during an operational visit to the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) Sector II at the 213 Forward Operating Base in Katsina State.

He therefore said NAF personnel must continue with relentless pursuits of insurgents, terrorists and bandits who are threatening in the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Friday in Abuja.

“We will not rest until every threat to our sovereignty is neutralised.

“Wherever they hide, forests, valleys or remote settlements, our forces will find them and strike with precision. Our mission is clear: hunt them down and protect our people,” he said.

The CAS charged personnel to intensify operations in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to eliminate all security threats.

He noted that the nation’s evolving security challenges demand precision, innovation and relentless pursuit of criminals.

Aneke commended the troops for their professionalism for sustaining operational pressures across the theatre.

He urged them to sustain momentum and honour the sacrifices of fallen colleagues by remaining disciplined and mission-focused.

He reiterated that personnel welfare would remain a top priority under his leadership, stressing that “a force that fights hard must also live well,” while assuring continued investment in modern capabilities, intelligence systems and technology-driven operations.

“You represent the pride of our nation. Every flight must count, guided by actionable intelligence to support the overall campaign plan,” he added.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command, AVM Ahmed Idris, assured the CAS of the troops’ commitment to his strategic vision.

A detailed operational brief was later presented by the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore C.E Illoh, highlighting recent gains and evolving strategies.

The CAS also inspected operational, engineering, logistics and welfare facilities before holding an interactive durbar where he encouraged personnel to renew their resolve.

The visit reinforced NAF’s resolve to sustain intelligence-driven, precision-led operations to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)OYS/SH

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has started developing a new curriculum for Nupe and Tiv language programmes in Nigerian universities.

According to the NUC, its Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has approved a team of experts from different universities to create the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) for the Bachelor of Arts degrees in Tiv and Nupe.

The commission shared this information in a publication on its website. The curriculum development meeting was held at the NUC Secretariat from October 21 to 24, 2025.

Professors from several universities worked together for four days to design the academic standards.

The Acting Director of Academic Planning, Mallam Abubakar Girei represented by Deputy Director Dr. Esther Mmeka led the experts to visit the Executive Secretary.

During the visit, Professor Ribadu formally launched the curriculum development process for both programmes.

He praised the experts for accepting the assignment and encouraged them to carry it out with seriousness and excellence.

Ribadu also expressed happiness that the NUC is expanding efforts to develop curricula for more Nigerian languages.

He said the initiative will strengthen the study and research of indigenous languages and cultural heritage.

Speaking on behalf of the development teams, Professors Mary Adebayo and Rebecca K. D., who lead the Tiv and Nupe units, promised to produce a strong academic framework that will improve teaching and research in both languages. Members of the Tiv curriculum panel include Professors Muhammad Alkali and Musa Bawa, with Florence Onuoha and Chinenye Augustine representing the NUC.

The Nupe panel includes Professors John Akosu Adeiyongo and Nguton Sambe, while Kate Omotayo Onaiyekan and Hadiza Kalla serve as representatives of the Commission.

Serenity Royale Hospital in Abuja has denied issuing a medical report circulating online that claims actress Regina Daniels is struggling with serious substance abuse.

The viral document alleged that Daniels was diagnosed with a substance use disorder and placed on a home detox programme on September 24, 2025. The report carried the name of the hospital’s Managing Director, Adekunle Adesina.

But in a statement on Thursday, the hospital dismissed the document, saying it did not come from them. “Our attention has been drawn to a post on an alleged home detox report being circulated online in the name of Serenity Royale Hospital with respect to Nwoko Regina. We clearly state that the publication did not emanate from us and ask the public to disregard it,” the hospital said.

The controversy comes amid renewed tension in the Nwoko family. Earlier in the week, one of Ned Nwoko’s wives, Laila Charani, accused Regina Daniels on Instagram of introducing her to drugs and alcohol, claiming it almost ruined her marriage six years ago. She said Nwoko has always opposed substance use and wanted Daniels to seek help.

“My husband hates alcohol, drugs, and smoking. He has always said he would never accept any wife who engages in them. The only reason you are fighting him is because he wants you to stop. His quick intervention saved me from that dark path,” Charani said.

Before the allegations, Charani had been sharing photos and videos of her family spending time with Nwoko, including a vacation clip captioned, “Too busy building my peace, life, and family, no time for anything else.”

Meanwhile, Regina Daniels has continued to respond online, insisting her marriage was strong during its early years. She wrote, “My ex-man never slept outside for one day in our seven years of marriage because, as a Delta babe, I held him well in the other room.”

More than 150 Palestinians including a woman who is almost due to give birth arrived unexpectedly in South Africa without proper exit stamps from Israel.

They landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Thursday. No one knew how long they planned to stay.

Because their travel papers were not clear, the group was kept inside their chartered plane for about 12 hours. A pastor who was allowed to visit them said the plane was very hot and that children were crying for help.

After the long delay, South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs stepped in. A local charity organization, Gift of the Givers, agreed to provide shelter for the passengers.

The Border Management Authority said that 23 of the travelers have already moved on to other countries, leaving 130 still in South Africa.

Officials are now investigating how the passengers got to South Africa without proper travel records.

By Paul Dada

The faction of the People’s Democratic Party led by Umar Damagun has expelled Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nysesom Wike, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu and former Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose.

Also expelled are Kamaldeen Ajibade, Austin Nwachukwu and several others.

The faction took the decision on Saturday at its ongoing national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. It said Wike and others were expelled for anti-party activities.

The decision was taken following a motion moved by a party elder, Chief Olabode George.

The decision was reported to have been promptly ratified by an overwhelming majority of delegates.

Meanwhile, Damagun has been ratified by the convention as the National Chairman of the Party.

Details later

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday renewed his call for additional air-defence systems following Russian missile strikes on Kyiv that killed seven people.

The attacks on Friday targeted apartment blocks across the capital, leaving civilians dead and raising concerns over Ukraine’s security ahead of a fourth winter of war. Among the victims was Nataliia Khodemnchuk, the wife of a Chernobyl nuclear power plant operator who died in the 1986 disaster. Other victims included a couple in their 70s and a 62-year-old.

“Ukraine needs support that saves lives: more air-defence systems, more protective capabilities and greater resolve from our partners,” Zelensky said on social media.

On Saturday, Ukraine reported further Russian casualties in its southern region, where four people were killed in separate attacks.

In a retaliatory move, the Ukrainian army said it struck a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow to reduce the enemy’s capacity to launch missile and bomb strikes. Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said Russian air defences intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight, with debris causing a minor fire at one facility but no casualties.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has now lasted nearly four years, with diplomatic efforts failing to end the war and energy security remaining a growing concern for the country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have agreed to deepen their joint offensive against piracy and intellectual property theft in the South-East, warning that the criminal trade now serves as a money-laundering channel for drug syndicates and even terror groups.

The resolution followed a visit by the Enugu State Coordinator of the NCC, Mr. Macfoy Akachukwu, to the EFCC Enugu Zonal Director, CE Daniel Isei, on Wednesday.

A kachukwu, who acknowledged years of cooperation between both agencies, said piracy had become a major criminal pipeline.

“Nobody has ever thought that pirated works are used to launder money. People travel outside the country, get involved in drug related -crimes and they will use the money to make pirated copies of major publishers and get them shipped here. By doing so, they are laundering money,” he said.

He explained that the NCC routinely relies on EFCC facilities and asset-freezing powers during investigations, stressing that the visit was aimed at strengthening existing synergy. “Anytime we call upon you, please, continue to assist us,” he appealed.

Responding, Isei described piracy as a “predicate offence to money laundering” and vowed deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing and investigations.

“If it is on the basis of information sharing, we’re ready to receive, we’re ready to give. If it is on the basis of investigation, we are ready to support in any way we can support,” he said, adding that piracy’s damage to Nigeria’s economy is far-reaching.

“What we, at the EFCC stand for is to have an economy that is resilient, an economy that is enduring and sustaining and that is why the issue of piracy is important for us to deal with. What intellectual property theft does to people is unimaginable,” he added.

Isei emphasized that collaboration remains a core EFCC value and assured the NCC of steadfast support in the fight to rid the region of piracy and IP theft.

Monday Okpebholo of Edo has called on the Muslim community in the state to “stand firmly behind the President Bola Tinubu reform-driven leadership, ahead of the 2027 general elections”.

Speaking during a special Walimah, entitled “365 Days in Office Celebration Walimah of His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo” on Thursday in Benin, the governor also urged them to sustain their prayers and support for P

The celebration was part of the activities, lined up to mark Okpbeholo first anniversary in office.

ddressing the large gathering, Okpebholo announced his commitment to deliver a resounding victory for Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

“President Tinubu is a man of courage, character, and truth, committed to repositioning our nation through bold reforms.

“He deserves our collective prayers and support,” the governor said.

“I have promised the President that we will deliver 2.5 million votes to him in 2027,” Okpebholo said.

He expressed gratitude to them for their prayers, loyalty, and partnership with his administration.

He described their unwavering support as a vital pillar of his administration’s success.

He said: “It has been a long and challenging journey, but by the mercy of Allah, who presides over the affairs of men, we have come this far.

“From the beginning, we made it clear that Edo belongs to all of us, irrespective of religion or background.

“Our appointments and decisions are guided strictly by competence and capacity.”

The governor affirmed that the unity and prosperity of Edo remained his topmost priority.

According to him, governance must be driven by service and shared purpose rather than personal ambition.

“The interest of Edo is greater than any personal or sectional interest.

“That is why I continue to call on all to pray for our president. Nigeria is one.

He also affirmed his solidarity with the Muslim community, assuring them of continued engagement and support.

He pledged to remain open to their advice and also sustain collaboration with religious and traditional leaders across the state.

“One love binds us together as a people,” he said

Delivering goodwill message at the event, former Edo Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, lauded the governor’s people-focused leadership.

Imasuen said that Okpebholo’s administration represents the unity and inclusiveness Edo had long desired.

NAN reports that major highpoints of the event included the conferment of an award to the governor, in recognition of his inclusive governance, humility and dedication to service.

(NAN)

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially launched the Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS), a digital platform designed to transform land administration, urban planning, and infrastructure management across the state.

Sanwo-Olu described the system as a key step towards improving transparency, efficiency, and accountability in governance.

Speaking at the Victoria Island launch on Friday, he said the platform is a necessary response to Lagos’ rapid population growth and urban expansion, noting that traditional paper-based systems can no longer meet the demands of a 21st-century megacity.

“The EPPPS is a bold move towards our Smart City vision–where systems are digital, processes are seamless, and citizens can access government services effortlessly,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“This system accelerates planning approvals, reduces human interference, curbs corruption, and provides accurate data for urban management, infrastructure planning, and environmental monitoring,” he added.

The Governor emphasised that EPPPS aligns with his administration’s THEMES+ Agenda, particularly in Technology and Innovation, as well as with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which promotes the use of technology to drive inclusive growth and efficient governance.

He also urged developers, professionals, and the public to embrace the platform to foster orderly, sustainable, and innovation-driven development in Lagos.

Dr Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, hailed the launch as the culmination of a visionary project.

He said the platform will eliminate long queues, reduce processing times, and prevent revenue loss caused by human interference.

“EPPPS provides real-time, accurate information that is incorruptible and enhances efficiency for both government officers and developers,” he said.

Singaporean partners Raymond Tan and Steven Chan, Board members of LagosNet, which collaborated with Lagos State on the project, shared their experience with similar systems. Tan noted that Singapore implemented a comparable digital planning system in 2001, saving billions through efficiency and streamlined processes.

He reassured planning officers that EPPPS enhances professionalism and decision-making rather than threatening jobs. Chan highlighted that the platform would enable faster approvals, strengthen accountability, and advance Lagos’ digital transformation agenda.

Mr Adebola Adeyinka, Chairman of Innovacore Technologies PTE and LagosNet member, described the initiative as a demonstration of courage, innovation, and resilience.

Despite initial scepticism, he said EPPPS has proven to be a credible platform capable of elevating Lagos to higher standards of economic growth and governance.

The new system is equipped with over a thousand upgraded computers and digital facilities, providing planning officers with modern tools to support efficient, transparent, and data-driven urban development.

24-year-old man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years for the murder of teenager Mohamed Abdi during a violent confrontation on a busy Westminster street.

Mohamed Abdi, 19, was found with fatal knife wounds on 4 June 2024 at the junction of Bell Street and Edgware Road, NW1, following a clash that detectives say lasted less than half a minute.

wad Abdel Samad, of Talbot Road, Westminster, was arrested four months later on 8 October 2024 and charged with murder and possession of a bladed weapon.

He was sentenced on Thursday, 13 November 2025. In addition to his life term for murder, he received 12 months for the weapons charge, to run concurrently.

When arrested, Samad was carrying a large lock knife, prompting a further charge of possession of a bladed article. He was handed an additional six-month sentence, also to run concurrently.

second man, 27-year-old Mohamad El-Hazzaa, the driver of the Seat Leon involved in the incident, was found guilty in September of perverting the course of justice. He received a three-year sentence on Thursday and was banned from driving for three years and six months.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Denby of Specialist Crime South described the killing as “a stark and brutal example of the horrors of gang violence,” noting the entire incident unfolded in just 25 seconds.

Samad and Abdi, who knew each other before the attack, had been driving along Edgware Road in separate vehicles when Abdi pulled his Porsche Cayenne behind Samad’s Seat Leon and flashed his lights. Both men and their passengers exited their cars, leading to a violent street fight in which each was armed with a knife.

ccording to police, Samad managed to disarm Abdi. As the teenager attempted to retreat into his vehicle, Samad stabbed him three times before he could close the door. Officers arrived within minutes and performed CPR before paramedics took over, but Abdi died from his injuries.

fter the stabbing, Samad fled the scene in the Seat Leon driven by El-Hazzaa. Investigators later discovered Samad had travelled to a hospital in Luton using a false name in an attempt to hide injuries sustained during the fight.

El-Hazzaa further attempted to evade detection by swapping his phone and booking a flight out of the country. When he returned to the UK in November, police arrested him at the airport.

DCI Denby said detectives used “advanced analysis of technical data” and clear CCTV footage to identify the men, trace their movements and build an unassailable case.

“We will continue to work tirelessly and use all our resources to bring violent criminals to justice and make London a safer city,” he said.

Police say the combination of CCTV evidence and phone data was critical in reconstructing the events of the night and establishing the roles of both Samad and El-Hazzaa in the deadly attack.