Category: PM News

By Monday Ijeh

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday held a memorial parade held in honour of 17 officers of its Mobile Force (PMF) officers who died during a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Yobe.

The 17 officers paid the supreme price in the early hours of May 18 during the attack.

Speaking during the parade held in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu said the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would not be in vain.

“These brave men died while standing in defence of Nigeria, her people, and our collective peace and security.

” Their sacrifice represents the highest form of patriotism and duty,” he said.

Disu said the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the PMF had continued to maintain hundreds of personnel across the Northeast region in joint operations.

He said the operation had been with the Armed Forces and other security agencies, aimed at confronting terrorism and violent extremism daily.

According to him, officers continue to put their lives on the line, often under extremely difficult conditions, so that every Nigerian family can sleep at night with a measure of safety and peace.

“We want every Nigerian to feel and know in their hearts that there are men and women in uniform who wake up every morning with one purpose: to serve, to protect, and if called upon, to give everything.

“Behind every fallen officer is a family left behind, a future cut short and a nation that owes them an immensurable debt of gratitude.

“Their sacrifices will never be forgotten, and we solemnly pledged that their deaths will not be in vain,” he said.

The I-G said the Nigeria Police Force would not waver, and would continue to show up, to stand firm, and to give its very best in service to the nation.

“To the families of our fallen heroes, the Nigeria Police Force stands with you in this painful moment, share in your grief, and remain committed to walking this difficult road alongside you,” Disu said.

He said the memorial parade was organised to pay respect to the souls of the fallen heroes and to condone members of their families. (NAN)

IMC/YEN

By Isa Isawade

In line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, the Osun State Police Command has inaugurated the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) as part of sustained efforts to strengthen security and the fight against violent crimes across the nooks and crannies of the state.

The VCRU, an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, is aimed at establishing a more coordinated, efficient and intelligence-led framework for responding to violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other related violent offences.

The Unit is also expected to operate at all times in full compliance with constitutional provisions, the Nigeria Police Act 2020, other related laws and applicable international Human Rights standards, while remaining accountable and serving as a bridge of trust between the Nigeria Police Force and the public.

This was made known in a press release by the command on Tuesday, signed by the state’s Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi.

The release read: “Further to the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to ensure strict adherence to extant laws and international human rights standards, officers deployed to this Unit are presently undergoing intensive training on human rights, as well as social and emotional intelligence, to enhance professionalism and guide their relationships with members of the public.

“It is pertinent to state that this program came at the period we are facing security challenges especially from our neighbouring States, meanwhile police operatives will be deploy to our neighbouring boundaries to forestall a repeat of what happened there.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, mnips has charged operatives deployed to the Unit to remain guided by its core mandates and clearly defined standard operating procedures, as he appointed CSP Ademuwagun Jeremiah as the Commander of the Unit (VCRU).

“The CP further reiterated that the VCRU initiative is a reflection of the force’s unwavering commitment to reassuring and rebuilding public confidence through professional and accountable policing practices.

“Therefore, any act capable of tarnishing the image of Force should be jettisoned.”

The command also informed that Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) and other critical stakeholders have been co-opted as an oversight committee of the VCRU.

Members of the public are advised to reach out to the complaints Desk of the command police public relations office i.e. Complaint Response Unit (CRU) through the following phone numbers 08134681997; 07051629634 to report their complaints against personnel of the unit.

In his address to Press men on Tuesday, CP Ibrahim Gotan reassured residents of Osun State of the command’s unwavering commitment to tackling violent crimes and solicited the continued support and cooperation of the public.

He also used the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the press “as one of the critical stakeholders in security business.”

A major political realignment has emerged within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following the withdrawal of frontline governorship aspirant, Samuel Ajose, popularly known as SMA Gold, from the 2027 governorship race less than 48 hours before the party’s primary election.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, has said the party already has systems in place to settle disagreements that may come up after its primary elections.

He spoke after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the President’s residence in Lagos on Wednesday.

Yilwatda said the APC has conflict resolution committees that will help reconcile unhappy members and prevent crises before the 2027 general elections.

According to him, it is normal for some aspirants to feel disappointed after losing elections, but the party will begin an early reconciliation process to keep members united ahead of campaigns.

He described the ongoing APC primaries as the most competitive in Nigeria’s history, saying thousands of people are contesting for a limited number of positions because of the party’s growing popularity across the country.

He also said the primaries have been mostly peaceful and organised, despite a few complaints from some aspirants.

On concerns about consensus candidates, Yilwatda explained that the party followed its rules. He said where consensus fails, the party conducts direct primaries.

He added that aspirants involved in consensus arrangements must sign forms agreeing to step down for chosen candidates.

Speaking about President Tinubu’s reaction, Yilwatda said the President was impressed with the conduct of the primaries, especially the logistics and the low number of incidents recorded nationwide.

He noted that this is the first time the APC is organising direct primaries across the country on such a large scale, with result sheets and logistics similar to those used by INEC.

Yilwatda also thanked Tinubu for supporting the party’s National Working Committee and backing efforts to enforce party rules.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Bala Wunti, former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), to contest the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 Bauchi State election.

However, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has withdrawn from the race.

Buba attributed his withdrawal to alleged breaches of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and constitutional provisions guiding internal democracy.

The development is expected to reshape political calculations ahead of the 2027 governorship contest in Bauchi State, with Tuggar and Wunti now emerging as leading contenders within the ruling party.

Speaking on his vision for the state, Tuggar said that if elected, his administration would prioritise security and agricultural development.

According to him, “The issue of insecurity and how to manage and harness the farmland that we have will be a major focus.”

He added that Bauchi’s vast land resources would be effectively utilised to improve the livelihoods of farmers and herders across the state.

“The 46,000 square metres of land that Bauchi possesses will be used to ensure that subsistence farmers and herders are able to sustain themselves in a way that can be properly managed, so that people are lifted out of poverty,” he said.

“And that the land is not controlled by just a few people while the rest are pushed into poverty and desperation.”

Tuggar also stated that he was open to any mode of primary election, whether direct primaries or consensus, as long as the process remains transparent and credible.

“I hope that the process will be free and fair. Regardless of what the party chooses — whether direct primaries or consensus — what matters is that the process is transparent and fair,” he said.

In an apparent reference to direct primaries, Tuggar stressed the need for the party to present candidates with credibility and genuine grassroots support.

“It is important to ensure that we put forward people with credibility as candidates — people who command respect and enjoy genuine followership,” he added.

By Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani

The United State (U.S.) has said it is “rapidly supporting” the Ebola outbreak response by funding up to 50 treatment clinics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The U.S. Department of State said it is actively responding to the Ebola outbreak in the affected regions of DRC and Uganda.

The department said the U.S. was also funding associated frontline costs being established in Ebola-affected areas of the two countries.

“These rapidly deployed clinics would enable implementing partners to establish clinical care and containment perimeters around affected areas.

” Clinics will provide emergency Ebola screening, triage, and isolation capacity,” the department said.

The U.S. said its funding commitment will accelerate the delivery of frontline medical care, life-saving humanitarian assistance, and critical outbreak response capabilities to communities at greatest risk.

” Incremental rapid U.S. funding will stimulate the expansion of emergency treatment capacity, strengthen field operations, and accelerate the delivery of protective equipment, diagnostics,” it said.

The department added that the rapid U.S. funding would ensure essential health services where they were needed most.

” We know from previous outbreak response that ensuring partners rapidly scale up containment and treatment efforts in the affected regions is the most critical variable.

” This is to ensure an effective response and that the disease does not spread.”

The U.S. said the additional funding announcement, in the first days of the epidemic, “sent a clear message”.

” The United States has an ironclad committed to ensuring this response is fully resourced, rapid, and cooperative between key global health and humanitarian partners,” it said.

” Healthcare and humanitarian workers heading to the frontline should know that the United States has their back and is urgently mobilizing all available resources to assist frontline providers and response efforts.”

The U.S. said it would deliver the funding primarily via UN’s Central Emergency Response Funds (CERF) pooled funding vehicles administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

It said it was building upon its landmark partnership with OCHA to deliver life-saving assistance faster, more efficiently and more accountable.

” Our combined reforms helped OCHA deliver a record disbursement timeline in our December 2025 funding tranche.

The U.S. said the 2025 funding was disbursed with a “proven speed at scale that will be critical in ensuring resources the frontline in these critical first days of this outbreak response”.

The department said the U.S. continues to mobilize its global resources in support of this outbreak response. (NAN)

Portugal have announced their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to make history by appearing in the tournament for a record sixth time.

The 41-year-old forward remains an important player for Portugal and continues to perform at the international level. His inclusion in the squad was expected, but it also marks a major achievement because no male footballer has played in six World Cups before.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez spoke about the emotional side of selecting the squad, especially while remembering former international player Diogo Jota.

“He is our strength and our joy. Losing Diogo was a very difficult moment, but we must continue fighting for his dream and the example he gave to the national team,” Martinez said.

Ronaldo is still expected to play a key role for Portugal, although the coach may carefully manage his playing time during the tournament.

The squad also includes top stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos.

Ronaldo already holds the records for the most international appearances and goals in men’s football. Portugal will hope their talented squad can challenge strongly for the World Cup title.

Portugal World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo.

Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, has congratulated the three victorious candidates of the recently concluded APC senatorial primaries in Delta State.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Keyamo commended Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North), Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), and Senator Joel-Onowapo Thomas (Delta South) for their “resounding victories,” describing the exercise as “largely free and fair” and the best primaries organised in Delta State since the party’s inception.

Keyamo noted that the primaries saw a large turnout of grassroots APC members at various ward levels, emphasizing that the exercise reflected a truly organic voting process.

He urged all unsuccessful aspirants to embrace the results and support the victors to strengthen party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also called on the winners to be magnanimous, extend fellowship to the losers, and incorporate their supporters into party structures, stressing that “there is always strength in unity.”

The minister praised Governor Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori for his leadership, describing it as “one of the most inclusive political systems ever witnessed in the state” and positioning 2027 as a coronation waiting to happen.

Keyamo further lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting internal democracy and ensuring a free and fair process nationwide. He emphasized that candidates who bypassed local leaders and attempted to secure tickets from Abuja were “brought down from their high horses,” highlighting the value of grassroots engagement.

The minister concluded by urging APC members nationwide to remain steadfast, maintain faith, and work hard, declaring: “Victory is in sight. For the opposition, in 2027, everywhere go first blur!”

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris said President Bola Tinubu established the Office of the Tax Ombudsman to ensure equity, fairness and justice in the administration of taxes in the country.

Idris said this on Tuesday when the Nigeria’s Tax Ombudsman, Dr John Nwabueze, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Nwabueze’s visit was to partner with the ministry and its agencies to create public awareness on the roles of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman in the nation’s tax system.

The minister assured the tax Ombudsman that all the heads of the ministry’s agencies would help in using their platforms to ventilate the tax activities to the Nigerian public.

“Tax is a very essential component of our national development, indeed of any nation’s development. We know that the office is new and even for some of us, what the Ombud Office does is actually new.

“Tax administration is part of the major reform initiatives of President Bola Tinubu.

“I recall the early part of last year, when the issue of the tax reform was at the front burner of national discourse, it was indeed a very compulsive period.

“People who didn’t understand what tax administration or tax compliance or tax increase or whatever you call it, became really very negative towards it.”

The minister said the National Assembly had to go back to the drawing board to really begin the process of public enlightenment for people to really understand it.

“Because at that point, what we saw was that even those who were criticising the document hadn’t actually even seen the document.

“So, there was misrepresentation and mischaracterisation and sometimes outright mischief about the whole programme.

“Because the President wants fairness in this issue of tax administration, he said, let us set up this Office of the Tax Ombud.

“Now, the Tax Ombud is not just there for the person collecting taxes. It is also there for the person who is paying taxes, ensuring that there is equity, fairness, and justice in the administration of taxes in this country.

“And this is where we think your role is principally. And for us as a ministry, we have a direct responsibility to making sure that Nigerians get to know about what you do, and how you do it,” the minister said.

The Nigeria’s Tax Ombudsman, Dr John Nwabueze, said the purpose of his visit was to seek the minister’s support and his team in enhancing public awareness of the Office of the Tax Ombud’s mandate and fostering collaboration to improve taxpayer education.

Nwabueze said the ministry and its agencies played a strategic role in deepening public communication, citizen’s engagement, national orientation and democratic accountability in Nigeria.

He commended the President for making policies that stabilised the nation’s economy and set it on the path of posterity.

According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombuds reflects the President’s ingenuity and foresight in pursuing additional tax reforms for fairness, accountability and efficiency.

“The establishment of this office under the new Nigerian tax administration framework represents a significant milestone in strengthening transparency, accountability, fairness and taxpayers’ confidence within our tax system.

“The office serves as an independent mechanism for addressing taxpayers’ complaints, resolving disputes fairly, protecting taxpayers’ rights and promoting trust between tax authorities and the citizens.”

The tax ombudsman said one of the greatest challenges confronting public institutions in Nigeria today was not only policy implementation but also public awareness and citizens’ understanding of government reforms and institutional mandates.

“This is why collaboration between the Office of the Tax Ombuds and the Federal Minister of Information; National Orientation has become strategic and imperative.

“We strongly believe that taxpayer education, public enlightenment and civic communication are critical to improving voluntary tax compliance and strengthening citizens’ trust in government institutions.

“Nigerians must clearly understand that the Office of the Tax Ombuds exists to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in tax administration while also providing accessible channels for dispute resolution and complaints management.

“In this regard, we seek the support and collaboration of your Ministry in designing and implementing sustained public enlightenment campaigns across the traditional media, digital platforms, community outreach structures and national orientation programmes.

“Such collaboration will help educate citizens’ rights and responsibilities under Nigerian tax laws as well as on the important role of the Office of the Tax Ombuds in promoting justice, fairness and equity within the tax ecosystem.”

Present at the meeting were all heads of the agencies under the Ministry, including Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), among others.

A multi-city training campaign coordinated by Bisola Akeju, a Computer Management Specialist at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Nigeria, has reached its two hundred and fiftieth implementing-partner trainee, completing one of the more substantial capacity-building sweeps undertaken within the agency’s Nigerian portfolio in recent years.

The training, run in successive cohorts in Enugu, Kano, and Ibadan, has targeted technical and administrative staff drawn from roughly twenty civil society organisations and development partners contracted to deliver USAID-funded programmes across the federation.

Curriculum content has spanned cybersecurity awareness, application security hygiene, the agency’s GLAAS procurement system, and a suite of internal collaboration tools through which partners interface with the mission.

Implementing partners — the network of non-governmental organisations, consultancies, and grantees that translate donor commitments into community-level activity — sit at the operational heart of the USAID delivery model in Nigeria.

The country hosts one of the largest USAID country portfolios on the African continent, with active programmes in health, agriculture, governance, education, and economic growth, whose execution depends on the security posture and digital competence of partner organisations.

Geographic spread has been a deliberate feature of the campaign.

Enugu has served as the South-East anchor, drawing partners working across the broader region; Kano has covered the North and parts of the North-West; while Ibadan has anchored the South-West and central operations.

The three-city footprint mirrors the geographic distribution of USAID programme delivery, which extends well beyond the Abuja administrative core into communities where last-mile implementation actually takes place.

Cybersecurity awareness has emerged as one of the more pressing components of the curriculum.

Donor-funded environments in Nigeria have come under sustained pressure from credential phishing, business email compromise, and ransomware activity targeting both the partners themselves and the financial intermediaries through which programme funds move.

Federal cyber threat data and disclosures from financial sector watchdogs have placed the incident curve on a steady upward trajectory over the past five years, with non-governmental organisations cited as a growing share of victim profiles.

Akeju assumed her USAID role in September 2022 following twelve years at the United States Embassy in Abuja, where she served as Computer Management Assistant, supporting more than four hundred staff and contributing to the embassy’s standing on the Department of State’s internal IPOST performance index.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Lagos State University, a Master of Science in Business Information Technology from Middlesex University, London, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Portsmouth.

Her professional certifications — including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), the Certificate in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), the Project Management Professional (PMP), and most recently the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) designation — place her among the small group of Nigerian IT professionals with both governance-focused and engineering-focused security qualifications, a combination increasingly sought after in donor-funded technology roles.

Sector observers have identified train-the-trainer models as a more sustainable strategy for closing Nigeria’s cybersecurity hygiene gap than direct hiring initiatives, given the country’s continued exposure to talent migration.

The USAID campaign, by extending cybersecurity practices across twenty partner organisations rather than concentrating expertise within a single team, expands the country’s pool of trained technology personnel and pushes operational knowledge into the field where programme delivery occurs.

The mission is expected to extend the training framework into additional cohorts in the coming financial cycle, with content evolving to reflect the rollout of more partner-facing systems and the tightening compliance requirements outlined under United States federal procurement law.

For Nigerian civil society organisations operating within the donor sector, the development increasingly positions credentialed in-house technology staff as a strategic necessity rather than a routine administrative function.