Category: The Citizen

Washington/ Johannesburg. Donald Trump said South Africa will not be invited to take part in next year’s G20 summit in Florida after Washington boycotted the leaders’ summit in Johannesburg last week, which the African nation called a “punitive” measure against it.

The Group of 20 leaders adopted a declaration on Saturday to address the climate crisis and other global challenges despite U.S.

objections, prompting the White House to accuse South Africa of weaponising its leadership of the group this year. “At the conclusion of the G20, South Africa refused to hand off the G20 Presidency to a Senior Representative from our U.

S. Embassy, who attended the Closing Ceremony,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

“Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year.” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office called Trump’s post “regrettable.

” Ramaphosa said that since the U.S.

delegation was not present at the summit last week, “instruments of the G20 Presidency were duly handover to a U.S.

Embassy official at the Headquarters of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.” Since taking office for a second time in January, Trump has been critical of the South African government’s domestic and foreign policies.

“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the U.S.

, President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” Ramaphosa’s office said. Trump has repeatedly alleged that South Africa’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority, and that there was a genocide of white farmers in the country, claims that have been widely discredited.

In a White House meeting in May, Trump confronted South Africa’s leader with false claims of white genocide. Trump said on Wednesday that his administration was “going to stop all payments and subsidies” to South Africa, effective immediately.

Trump signed an executive order in February to cut financial assistance for South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington’s ally, Israel. .

Dodoma. Tanzania’s ride-hailing market has added a new entrant which has announced its upcoming launch in the cities of Dodoma, Mwanza and Morogoro.

The entrance of Maxim – an international ride-hailing and delivery service company – signals rising competition in the country’s fast-evolving urban mobility sector. The head of Maxim Dodoma, Mr Franklin Foy, said in a statement that the company–founded in 2003–is now active in more than 1,000 cities across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, offering app-based motorcycle, bajaji, car and delivery services similar to established players such as Uber, Bolt and InDrive.

“Our goal extends beyond providing just another ride-hailing option. We aim to open new economic perspectives for driver-partners by creating meaningful earning opportunities,” he said.

“For passengers, we are committed to making daily life easier and more affordable with safe, reliable and cost-effective mobility solutions. Ultimately, our aim is to leverage our technology to genuinely help people and improve their lives in every city we serve,” he said.

He said the company is ready to begin operations in Tanzania under local management. According to him, the company has applied for a licence from the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) and it’s now awaiting approval.

The service is targeting price-sensitive riders, with starting fares of Sh500 in Mwanza and Morogoro and Sh1,000 in Dodoma. Riders will be able to choose between Bodaboda (motorcycle), Bajaji, Car and Delivery categories.

Initial tariffs range from Sh1,000 for motorcycles to Sh3,000 for cars, while Bajaji rides start at Sh1,900. The expansion comes at a time when ride-hailing in Tanzania–once concentrated primarily in Dar es Salaam–has spread to secondary cities such as Dodoma, Mwanza and Arusha, reshaping urban transport and influencing attitudes towards traditional taxis. Positioning itself as a low-cost alternative, Maxim says it will offer fares that are about 15 percent lower than prevailing market prices.

The company will also allow new driver-partners to retain 100 percent of their trip earnings during the initial phase, describing the move as a response to concerns about high commission charges on competing platforms. However, under Latra rules, Maxim would still be permitted to introduce commission rates of up to 25 percent in future.

Like other platforms, Maxim operates through a smartphone app that allows users to request rides, view exact fares and track drivers in real time. The same app also enables customers to order groceries and other essentials, aligning with a global shift towards integrating mobility, delivery and on-demand services on a single digital platform.

The company is currently recruiting motorcycle, bajaji and car owners through its driver app and says it considers Dodoma, Mwanza and Morogoro as strategic growth hubs as Tanzania’s cities expand and demand for flexible, app-based transport continues to rise. .

Dar es Salaam. Vodacom Tanzania has reiterated its commitment to advancing digital transformation, telecommunications services and financial inclusion as the company marks 25 years of operations in the country.

Speaking yesterday during the launch of its festive-season campaign in Dar es Salaam, Vodacom Tanzania’s Managing Director, Mr Philip Besiimire, said the firm is celebrating a quarter century of supporting digital and economic growth for Tanzanians. “We have served Tanzanians for 25 consecutive years.

We may have changed our colours, but our mission and values remain the same–empowering Tanzanians both digitally and economically. Communication is the foundation of development, and we have always been at the forefront of driving it,” said Mr Besiimire.

He said the company continues to invest in a modern network to ensure customers enjoy fast internet and reliable services, including upgrades to the M-Pesa system to enhance product innovation and strengthen customer data security. Mr Besiimire added that Vodacom has cut its energy consumption by 30 percent through connecting its towers to the national electricity grid, a move that reduces diesel reliance and minimises environmental impact.

“We are investing in education, health, ICT and the environment. But above all, we continue to ensure that our service and payment systems remain secure for customers’ money and information,” he said.

Vodacom’s Director for Commercial Business and Marketing, Ms Brigita Shirima, said the company’s extensive growth reflects the trust it has earned from Tanzanians. “We value customer feedback, which is why our network now covers up to 95 percent of Tanzania.

From offering voice services alone, we now provide financial solutions, business support for both large and small enterprises, and digital services that simplify daily life,” said Ms Shirima. He noted that the festive-season campaign includes a “basket of appreciation” featuring various offers to welcome customers and give them opportunities to share feedback on areas requiring improvement.

M-Pesa Tanzania director, Mr Epimack Mbeteni, announced a range of promotions set to run throughout the festive season as a gesture of giving back to customers. Among the offers are two litres of free fuel every weekend for customers who pay through M-Pesa at more than 100 fuel stations nationwide, a 10 percent discount on all M-Pesa purchases at major supermarkets and restaurants, free SGR tickets, and discounts of up to 50 percent when paying via M-Pesa.

Meanwhile, Vodacom’s director for Enterprise Business, Nguvu Kamando, said the company will introduce special promotions for its vehicle-tracking service, offering customers a 20 percent discount on connection fees along with two months of free service. .

Mbeya. Youth in Kyela District have outlined a series of grievances they say fuelled last month’s nationwide unrest, pointing to demands for a new constitution, concerns over abductions and frustration over unemployment.

They have also called on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to publicly state her position on the issues. During a meeting on November 27 with the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Youth Development), young people in Kyela criticised what they described as unfair blame placed on bodaboda riders for the October 29 protests, arguing that the root causes were well known to authorities.

A resident of Kyela town, Simon Charles, said the youth’s foremost demand is constitutional reform. He also faulted the decision to distribute motorcycles to CCM ward secretaries rather than unemployed youth.

He accused government officials of travelling abroad and returning with “bonanza entertainers” instead of attracting tyre manufacturers to lower bodaboda operating costs. “Under such conditions, it is inevitable that young people protest,” he said.

Charles added that in Kyela, bodaboda riders had been forced to stop working at midnight, affecting their earnings while exposing them to harassment. He insisted that senior leaders, including President Hassan, must address the nation to prevent a repeat of the October 29 unrest and strongly condemn abductions and killings.

“If leaders with security can be abducted, what about us who walk on foot?” he asked. Eliza Mwakyoma of Kasumulu said fear remained widespread, claiming youth were still being taken from their homes and that tear gas was frequently fired in the area.

She said the situation had become so alarming that some felt like fleeing to the neighbouring Malawi. Mary Kanosya, a fruit vendor known as Mama Jiko, accused market leaders of relocating them to a dark, isolated area with no customer traffic, where they face harassment and neglect.

“We were moved to a place without lights. We are mistreated and have no one to turn to,” she said.

Another resident, Ruben Kibosa, said youth wanted genuine electoral freedom and an end to abductions by so-called “unknown people”, arguing that such actions erode trust between citizens and government. Makwaya Majidi said many challenges faced by youth–especially bodaboda riders–stem from the government’s failure to effectively respond to their concerns.

He proposed the creation of a formal platform for youth to present grievances. A bodaboda rider from Ipinda Ward, David Richard, said accessing the 10 percent council loans was difficult, citing strict requirements such as political-party membership cards, National Identification Authority (Nida) numbers and tough repayment terms.

Government responds Kyela District Commissioner Josephine Manase said the midnight business restriction had been imposed due to security concerns but announced an immediate return to 24-hour operations, drawing applause from youth. Addressing the gathering, the minister directed the council to install streetlights in the area where women fruit vendors had been relocated.

On constitutional reform, he said the matter was progressing as promised by President Hassan. He acknowledged persistent concerns over access to council loans, noting that the same groups often benefit repeatedly despite sizeable allocations.

He called for targeted training and awareness programmes to widen access. “We will establish a proper system for collecting your views, especially on the constitution.

The process will be well-coordinated to ensure deserving ideas are included,” he said. The minister added that the government is pursuing district-based industrial zones, including facilities that would support bodaboda riders through domestic production of spare parts in the coming term.

Nanauka said President Hassan was committed to formalising work in various sectors, including bodaboda operations and small-scale businesses, and ensuring a conducive environment for young people to earn a living. “We do not want clashes between the government and young people.

Let us live in harmony. Whatever needs to be fixed must be addressed quickly,” he said.

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Dodoma. Police in Dodoma are investigating the death of a second-year University of Dodoma (UDOM) student, Said Kabuga, whose life came to an abrupt and tragic end after he fell into a well on campus.

Early accounts suggest the 20-year-old had been distressed after reportedly losing his tuition fees in a gambling incident. Kabuga, who was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations, was remembered by friends as a soft-spoken young man who kept mostly to himself.

Those who knew him described him as calm, polite, and free of any notable difficulties during his first year at the university. Friends say his anxiety grew sharply after he lost the money meant for his studies.

One student, who asked not to be named, recalled how the day unfolded. “He kept saying he didn’t know how he would face his parents.

He was overwhelmed and did not even eat dinner,” the student said. Later that night, witnesses noticed Kabuga leaving his dormitory.

He is said to have walked quietly to a nearby well, set his belongings down, and then jumped in. His phone and music devices were later found placed neatly beside the well, a detail that left many of his peers deeply unsettled.

Among those who spent time with him, Kabuga was known as shy and reserved, often keeping a small circle of companions and participating little in class discussions. Ally Waziri, one of his friends, said Kabuga had appeared cheerful earlier that day.

“But as evening approached, he became withdrawn, lost in his thoughts,” Waziri said. Another friend, Ally Amani, recounted being one of the last people to see him.

He said he spotted Kabuga near the well, shining a torch from his phone and carrying a bag that did not appear to contain water. Moments later, Amani heard a scream.

By the time he reached the spot, Kabuga had already fallen in. “I alerted the security guards immediately,” he said.

Dodoma Regional Police Commander Gallus Hyera confirmed the incident, noting that initial findings indicate Kabuga may have jumped intentionally. “Our preliminary assessment shows he prepared himself before entering the well, but investigations are ongoing,” he said.

UDOM’s Director of Communications, Rose Mdame, conveyed the institution’s condolences. “We are deeply saddened and extend our sympathy to his family and fellow students,” she said.

We urge students to remain calm and allow the police to complete their inquiries,” she said. Kabuga’s passing has stirred conversations on campus about the heavy weight of financial strain, academic pressure, and the silent dangers of gambling–burdens that can push even the quietest of students into despair.

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Dar es Salaam. Health experts are calling for quicker referral pathways for patients with infertility challenges, and emphasizing the need to increase the number of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) specialists to pursue advanced training, as well as offering holistic support including psychological counselling and consistent communication to help couples cope with deep desperation and the burden of stigma due to infertility.

Speaking at a seminar to train gynecologists on the advanced technologies available for IVF treatment, the President of the Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Tanzania (AGOTA), Dr Sunday Dominico, said many couples lose valuable treatment time because they are kept for too long at lower-level facilities that lack the capacity to manage complex reproductive issues, citing that early referral to specialized centres is essential in preventing conditions from worsening and reducing the emotional and financial strain on families. The seminar, organized by NuLife Advanced Fertility Centre and AGOTA, gave an opportunity for gynecologists to interact and share knowledge to strengthen the country’s infertility care, noting that advanced reproductive technologies such as IVF are now available locally with high success rates.

“It is important to help couples cope with deep desperation and the burden of stigma. Many families seeking fertility treatment, they note, have endured intense social pressure, making compassionate, informed care a critical part of Tanzania’s reproductive health response,” said Dr Dominico.

Speaking at the seminar, the world-renowned IVF specialist Dr Nayana Patel said NuLife services in Tanzania are transforming the country’s reproductive health landscape, offering both basic and advanced IVF technologies that previously forced couples to seek treatment abroad, as these services have positioned Tanzania to become a medical tourism hub provided that awareness, training and adoption of advanced reproductive techniques continue to grow. The world-renowned IVF specialist Dr Nayana Patel She emphasized the need for early education on reproductive health, beginning from schools and universities.

Many young women are unaware that egg quality declines as they approach the age of 40. “As you produce children, you can also face challenges that prevent you from conceiving again. When will that happen? These are the conversations young people should be having early.

Educating both male and female students, as well as those with family histories of fertility complications, is seen as a key step toward reducing infertility rates. She said smoking and infection rates–particularly sexually transmitted and terminal infections–remain major contributors to infertility among men and women.

High rates of tubal blockages following miscarriages or deliveries further increase cases of secondary infertility, which occur in Africa more frequently than in many other regions. Fibroids remain a major concern, especially among African women.

Specialists recommend early detection and laparoscopic surgery, which provides better reproductive outcomes compared to open procedures. She encouraged women to consider having children earlier, as fibroid risk increases with age.

“Tanzania is progressing well and moving in the right direction. Although some African countries may have advanced regulatory guidelines at a faster pace, Tanzania has the potential to surpass its neighbors by strengthening training for gynecologists and expanding awareness of available innovations,” said Dr Patel.

The IVF Specialist and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Medical Director at NuLife, Dr Madhav Hirani, said the centre has reported a steady rise in couples seeking fertility care, with hundreds of patients attended annually. The clinic has achieved more than 500 pregnancies in the past five years, a milestone attributed to improved service uptake and expanding expertise.

“The numbers have been growing consistently each year as more families gain awareness and seek timely medical intervention,” the doctor said. The centre also reports an average success rate of 65 per cent, placing it among the leading fertility providers in the country.

The doctor noted that the trend reflects both early referrals and growing confidence in local IVF and fertility services. “Our outcomes show that success is possible when patients come early and receive the right treatment,” he added, emphasizing that timely intervention significantly improves the chances of conception.

NuLife Services Tanzania has also invested in advanced reproductive technologies that are widening treatment options and boosting success rates. He highlighted several innovations, including Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a fertilisation method that directly improves the probability of eggsperm fusion.

The centre further uses rejuvenation techniques such as platelet-rich plasma and exosomes, as well as pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) to enhance outcomes. “PGT drastically improves success, reduces miscarriage risks and helps prevent major genetic diseases at the embryonic stage,” he said.

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As President Samia Suluhu Hassan unfolded her new Cabinet, attention was, as is usually the case, focused on who has been appointed to what Ministry, who has been taken on board and who has been left by the side. Nevertheless, it did not escape the attention of lovers of local government, urban development and management, housing, real estate and good governance, that the folder for local government has been moved from the President’s Office (PO), to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Tanzania has always aimed at having efficient semi-autonomous local governments answering to the needs of the people. Pundits of local governments point to their crucial role in understanding and implementing local priorities, with the general population exercising oversight.

A major problem has been the feeling that local governments were not performing as expected, a feeling that has in part encouraged the central government to continue exercising authority directly, of indirectly though executive agencies, in areas that are under the jurisdiction of local governments. A question that has enigmatized various Presidents is where, in the Cabinet, should local government be placed.

At one time in the past, local government had a separate Ministry. This however, did not appear appropriate, given that local governments were units of governance, which, in totality could not be equated to a sector ministry.

So, again, in the past, local government administration was moved to the Prime Minister’s Office. After all, the Prime Minister was the overall implementor and supervisor of government business.

There was thus formed the Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG, or, in Kiswahili, OWM-TAMISEMI). With time, this arrangement was seen as wanting since the totality of local government areas made up the whole country, which needed to be close to the Country’s Chief Executive Officer, that is, the President.

Regional Administration and Local Government was thus moved to the President’s Office and we had the PO-RALG (or OR-TAMISEMI). Because education and health establishments were moved to local governments, you could find OR-TAMISEMI literally in any corner of the country.

Servants in under local governments generally exuded the importance of belonging to the President’s Office (PO), or, Ofisi ya Rais (OR). The President has now reversed this and local government is once more under the Prime Minister’s Office.

If this is read in the spirit of the President’s aim of seeking efficient and performing local governments, the move is aimed to removing local government from hibernating snugly under the wings of the President (who, technically, was the substantive minister for local government), to a position where they are exposed to supervision and direction from Her office. Thus, both the Prime Minister, and the Minister for TAMISEMI, will now be required to be up and running to ensure that local governments perform, to the satisfaction of the people.

The appointed TAMISEMI Minister, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, is not a stranger to the Ministry. He spent a stint of his career at Ardhi University where local government is a key subject in all the curricula taught at the University.

You will find Ardhi University students in all local governments in the country. The Professor’s research interest in forestry, natural resources and climate change comes in handy to addressing issues daunting local governments.

There are many challenges though. One, all our urban areas, be they large or small, are growing chaotically.

It is my understanding that TAMISEMI has been developing an urban development and management policy. A problem to be sorted out urgently is who, between the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development (MLHHSD), and TAMISEMI, has the duty to oversee the orderly development of urban areas.

TAMISEMI must take charge, since all Directors answer to this Ministry, and urban development is not just about land. All headaches of how to make urban areas function should be on the shoulders of the Executive Officers of these local government areas.

These include land use planning, local economic development, employment, environment, housing, the informal sector, waste management, infrastructure and services supply and management, transport (yes, including the BRT and daladalas in Dar es Salaam). To manage such areas, you need a cadre of well-trained managers with experience in corporate management, appointed on merit and competitively, and tasked with clear mandates and duties; subjected to regular monitoring and evaluation.

Urban areas must be run on the principles of successfully managing a huge corporate organisation. Large urban areas, such as Dar es Salaam, need to have an organisation set up tailored to making the city work.

You most likely need a Metropolitan Authority. The relation between executive agencies such as TARURA, UWSAs, RUWASAs, and LATRAs operating independently within the local government areas, need to be streamlined.

Human resources is one problem, but how about financial and other resources? There needs to be a clear-cut formula of revenue sharing between the central and local governments. This would be in line with the esteemed policy of decentralisation by devolution (D-by-D) espoused under the Local Government Reform Programme.

It is time that local authorities, particularly urban areas, took charge of their development; to have short and long-term strategies that that will see them improving the quality of life of their residents, and becoming competitive in a rapidly-evolving world. .

Arusha. The Arusha Sub-Registry of the High Court of Tanzania has dismissed an application filed by three cadres of the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) who were seeking leave to challenge the party’s General Meeting held earlier this year, during which new leaders were elected.

The court reached the decision after upholding a preliminary objection raised by counsel for the respondents, who argued that the application was defective for failing to meet legal requirements. The application had been filed by TLP members Issa Magere, Geofrey Steven and Kinanzaro Mwanga.

The respondents were the party’s Board of Trustees, the TLP national chairman, Richard Lyimo, the secretary-general, Yustas Rwamugira, and the Registrar of Political Parties. The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, by Judge Dafina Ndumbaro, who was presiding over the matter (Application No.

26901/2025), which had come up for mention. The applicants were represented by advocate Roland Kimbi, while the respondents were represented by advocate Baraka Sulus.

After the matter was called, advocate Sulus informed the court that the application was defective for failing to comply with legal requirements, particularly the omission to include the Attorney-General (AG) as a necessary party. He argued that under section 6(3) of the Government Proceedings Act, the AG must be joined in any matter involving a government office–adding that in this case, the AG ought to have represented the Registrar of Political Parties.

He asked the court to strike out the application to allow the applicants to refile it once the legal requirement had been met. The objection was not opposed by counsel for the applicants.

“The matter has come up for mention today, but in the interest of saving the court’s time, it is clear that this application is defective for failing to meet statutory requirements. Whenever a government office is sued, the AG must be joined,” he told the court.

“As we all know, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties is a public office, and therefore the AG’s inclusion was mandatory.” Judge Ndumbaro upheld the preliminary objection and struck out the application without costs.

In their application, the TLP cadres had sought leave to file for judicial review, arguing on two main grounds: that the party’s General Meeting had not been conducted in accordance with its constitution–rendering its elections invalid; and that the elected leaders, including the national chairman, were chosen without a quorum, with some participants allegedly not being legitimate delegates. Speaking to journalists outside the court, advocate Kimbi said the next step would be to refile the application after fulfilling the legal requirement to join the Attorney-General.

Lyimo, who was previously the TLP secretary-general, was elected national chairman on February 5, 2025, succeeding Hamad Mkadamu, who had been acting in the position following the death of long-time chairman Augustine Mrema on August 21, 2022. The General Meeting took place in Dar es Salaam and was attended by the Deputy Registrar of Political Parties, Sisty Nyahoza. During the meeting, 21 party members were expelled, including leaders accused of attempting to organise parallel meetings to elect leaders to fill the vacancy left by the late chairman Mrema–actions said to be contrary to the party’s constitution.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian giants Simba SC are set to depart today for Bamako, Mali, ahead of their crucial Caf Champions’ League Group D clash against Stade Malien on Sunday.

The match is scheduled for 7:00 pm Tanzanian time at the Stade du 26 Mars. The Simba contingent will travel aboard Ethiopian Airlines, though four players will miss the trip.

Kibu Dennis has been granted special leave to attend his father’s funeral, while Abdulrazak Hamza and Moussa Camara are sidelined due to injuries. Awesu Awesu will also be absent due to technical matters.

Team information manager Ahmed Ally stressed that the match is very important and players must deliver a strong performance to recover from a shock opening defeat. “We know the significance of this game and our players are determined to give their best to console our fans after the loss to Petro Atletico,” said Ally.

Simba currently sit at the bottom of Group D with zero points following their 1-0 defeat to Petro Atletico of Angola. In contrast, Petro Atletico top the group with three points, while Stade Malien occupy third place with a single point after a goalless draw against Tunisia’s Esperance in their opening fixture.

Despite the challenging group standings, Ally expressed confidence in Simba’s ability to turn their campaign around. “Even after the loss at home, we still have a chance to qualify for the knockout stage.

Our players are committed and eager to reverse the situation in Bamako,” he said. The team has taken all necessary precautions ahead of the trip to Mali, ensuring that the squad is physically and mentally prepared for the encounter.

Ally praised the resilience of the players, saying they have shown determination and professionalism despite setbacks in the opening match. “Stade Malien will be a strong opponent, but we are proud of the strength, talent, and commitment of our players.

They have reflected on their previous mistakes and are ready to deliver a better performance,” he said. Simba’s preparation reflects their ambition to remain competitive on the continental stage.

The club’s supporters will be hoping for a significant turnaround in Bamako, as a positive result is crucial to keeping their knockout stage aspirations alive. With the match less than two days away, all eyes will be on the Tanzanian side to see whether they can recover from their early setback and mount a serious challenge in Group D.

A win in Mali could reignite Simba’s campaign and restore confidence as they aim to progress further in Africa’s premier club competition. .

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared a national security emergency following a sharp rise in deadly attacks and kidnappings in several states across the country. In a tough directive issued on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Tinubu ordered an immediate increase in the number of security forces and firm action against what he called “agents of evil” undermining the nation.

According to the directive, the Nigeria Police Force has been instructed to add 20,000 new officers, bringing the planned total to 50,000. Additionally, the President has approved the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centers to fast-track the deployment of these officers to areas facing security challenges. He has also ordered that police officers who were previously assigned to protect VIPs be recalled, given emergency training, and then deployed to high-risk areas.

“The State Services Department has been given authority to immediately deploy all forest guards who have completed their training to combat terrorists and bandits hiding in the forests, and to recruit more personnel for security purposes. There will be no hiding place for the agents of evil,” Tinubu said.

He added that operations to rescue students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, as well as other citizens abducted across the country, will continue relentlessly.

In another development, President Tinubu urged Nigeria’s Parliament to begin reviewing legislation to allow states that wish to establish regional police forces (state police) to do so legally a proposal that has been debated for many years due to worsening internal security. He also warned local governments against establishing boarding schools in remote areas without strong security measures.

He further encouraged churches and mosques in high-risk areas to strengthen security coordination to protect their communities .