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The Zamfara Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a six per cent reduction in road accidents compared to 2024 in the state.

This was disclosed to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital, by the Sector Commander, Aliyu Ma’aji, during a press briefing to flag off the 2025 Ember Months Campaign in the state.

The Sector Commander explained that in 2025, the Corps recorded 46 road crashes compared to 56 accidents recorded in 2024, which he said accounts for a decrease of 6.27 per cent.

According to Ma’aji, in 2024, road crashes claimed the lives of 51 persons and injured 259 others, noting that the mixed loading of goods, animals, and passengers in trucks largely caused the casualties.

The Sector Commander noted that the theme of this year’s campaign, ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,’ reinforces the view that human factors are the major causes of road crashes.

He lamented that drivers were largely responsible for most crashes on the highways, saying that records showed the major causes included driver fatigue, overloading of passengers, conveyance of passengers in haulage vehicles, and travelling with fuel in plastic containers.

Ma’aji added that the Corps had mapped out formidable strategies to achieve its desired outcomes in the 2025 end-of-year campaign.

The Guardian reports that the FRSC has attributed the deaths of more than 3,400 people in road crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2025 to driver recklessness and poor road use practices.

Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed the figures in Abuja on Monday during the launch of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, themed ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.’

According to Mohammed, 3,433 people lost their lives and 22,162 others were injured in 6,858 reported crashes within the first nine months of the year. He noted that many of the crashes were preventable.

The records showed that the major causes of these crashes were linked to driver fatigue, overloading of persons, conveyance of persons in haulage vehicles, and travelling with fuel in plastic containers,’ he said.

‘Apparently, driver behaviour is a fundamental element in determining safety on our highways.’

He explained that the Ember Months campaign was designed to raise awareness about the dangers of reckless driving, particularly during the festive period when crash rates tend to increase. The campaign will run from December 15 to January 15.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has said the recent reports of a coup plot in the country were false.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s confidence in the leadership of the military but explained that the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day parade was a precautionary measure tied to security concerns.

Dare spoke on a television programme on Tuesday where he said the military remained firmly under civilian control.

The presidential aide noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent changes in the military leadership reflected long-term planning, inclusivity, and strategic renewal within the Armed Forces.

‘The leadership of the Armed Forces has provided clear explanations regarding current security measures. The cancellation of the Independence Day parade was a preventive decision based on intelligence reports, not political instability,’ Dare said.

He explained that the recent reshuffle in the military high command was a deliberate and forward-looking decision aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture through innovation, agility and renewal.

Dare described the development as part of President Tinubu’s constitutional responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief to ensure that the nation’s defence system remained dynamic and responsive to emerging threats.

‘Security is not static,’ he said. ‘It demands innovation, agility, and constant renewal. President Tinubu understands this deeply, and that’s why we’ve seen a comprehensive approach to security management under his leadership.’

The presidential aide added that the President’s decision was guided by classified intelligence reports and security briefings that provided a broad picture of the nation’s defence needs and vulnerabilities.

According to him, the reshuffle reflects the President’s proactive stance towards strengthening the country’s security framework.

‘The President and Commander-in-Chief has access to critical security briefings that most of us do not,’ Dare stated. ‘Based on that, he’s able to make judgments that are timely, comprehensive, and desirable for the country.’

Commenting on the concerns about the frequency of changes in the military hierarchy – being the second major shake-up in a little over two years – Dare dismissed suggestions that the reshuffle was due to underperformance.

‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘If you look at previous administrations, whether civilian or military, we have had reshuffles and changes determined by current realities. Nigeria was inherited with complex challenges – banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and organised crime – and with persistent threats from groups like ISIL, ISIS, and Boko Haram attacking through our borders, you have to bring your best men to bear.’

Dare emphasised that President Tinubu’s approach is guided by both gratitude and pragmatism.

The presidential aide acknowledged that the President had expressed appreciation to the outgoing service chiefs for their dedication and service, but also recognised the need for new leadership to drive the next phase of security operations.

‘The President thanked the outgoing service chiefs for their dedication and commitment,’ he said. ‘But it was time to move on. The new service chiefs are tested men – battle-hardened commanders who have served in key operations, like Hadin Kai in the Northeast and Udoka in the Southeast.’

Dare added that the President’s decisiveness reflected an understanding of the ‘theory of securitisation’ – that security management must evolve continuously and adapt to unfolding situations rather than follow a fixed timeline.

‘There’s no rule that says you wait one year or two years before making changes,’ he explained. ‘It is determined by developments on the ground, by intelligence reports, and by the need for renewal and innovation. That’s exactly what President Tinubu has done.’

From the newspapers, radio, television and social media last week, it would appear that more Nigerians would suffer from mental health challenges, especially from Depression and Possession, in the coming years. Last week ( October 23, 2025) , we heard that no fewer than one in four or five Nigerians were no longer thinking straight. It was all part of the assesment of the mental health report of Nigerians estimated population of 220 million in which about 50 million or more could be down. The world’s brain doctors on October 10, 2025 reviewed their work and achievements in the past year. Last week, this column said there had been no paradigm shift in their conceptions of the brain and how it works. Nor have they been able to come up with better ways of treating brain troubles outside Anti-Depressantionant Drugs which often dehumanise their patients and make vegetable humans of many of them for life.

The sky-line of mental health in Nigeria looks dimmer with reports that six governors of the South Western states planned to meet over information that primary school children were now using all sorts of hard drugs. The reports were followed by a call from the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), which covers the country’s 301 universities, that students be tested for drug use before they were enrolled or graduated. Additionally, education policy makers have agreed that mental health education be included in school curriculums at all levels of schooling. Just when I thought we could have some reprieve from the bad news, there were reports that drug pushers were fleeing from their dens being combed by the NDLEA and using the kiosks of petty trade mallams to circulate substances.

Begun last week (23 October 2025), comments of this column on the present state of treating depression and possession in Nigerian hospitals is a widow’s mite contribution to help persons challenged with mental health problems by giving their doctors hints of what else they may add to the present treatment regimen. Its approach is from the stand point of Natural Medicine and the perspective that neither drugs but the right kinds of food and drinks bring lasting health. In particular, it revisits a teaching in the 1920s and 1930s that recomposition of the blood will heal brain problems, especially depression and possesion, to which are chained a long train of behaviour imbalances.

Mystery of the blood

In these matters, I am incorrigibly optimistic that the right foods and drinks can clear up such dysfunctions of the brain. The incorrigibility is founded on the propositions of a Wise One in the 1920s and 1930s which may have advanced and humanised psychiatry had the practitioners not remained tenaciously hooked on drug and injection therapies. The Wise One presented the propositions in a series of public lectures. Some of them were.Motion, The Physical Body, The Mystery of The Blood, The Mystery of Birth, Temperament and The Significance of Man’s Generative Power. The knowledge they bear is ever expansive as it unfolds with the growing maturity of the human soul, (nay )spirit. so I can only attempt as follows, a summary based on my understanding.

1) Man, that is you and I, are not our bodies but another existent consistency which inhabits these physical bodies, the human spirit or the scriptural breath of life. Look at a mirror, and ask yourself if the physical body you are looking at is the real you. If you think the physical body is the real you, ask yourself: Why do I say this is my body, these are my eyes, these are my fingers.those parts of the body that I own? Were we not taught all that in primary school? At the age of 24, I had an incitive experience. My younger brother slept beside me in bed. I came out of my body, which I saw lying beside him. I saw myself existing in another body that was not my earthly body. In that second or non earthly body, I was confronting a man in the same type of body who was trying to reach my body in bed. I recognise that was a period in my life when I fed my body with all sorts of rubbish which could have denatured my blood composition and radiation, made them unusable for me to control my body but made them usable by a lower and malicious person who probably had designs on the quietly sleeping body.

2) The physical bodies are lifeless on their own, and merely animated by the inhabiting or in-dwelling different consistency, the human Spirit.

3) The other consistency is spirit or, in the language better understood, Soul

4) The spirit is a traveller on earth for a task, like an astronaut on the moon for a purpose.

5) Like the astronaut who needs a special garment for the different nature of the moon, the spirit needs a garment on earth, the physical body.

6) On earth, the body is a tool or servant of the spirit which uses it as a motorist uses a motorcar. As the motorist learns to maintain the car and to control it, the spirit must care for and control his or her physical body.

7) Many persons do not care for their physical bodies or control them. Only when they have problems with them do they remember to. Besides, they exercise no control over their bodies.

8) Evidence of the lack of control is the manner many persons walk. They walk not in a straight movement, but in wavy motions. The steps are often heavy, ponderous , bobling or stumpy , and their movements are everything but beautiful and graceful , like an animal’s.

9) The lack of control occurs because the spirit cannot connect with the body through the blood.

10) In the Natural Design of the body, there are

A) The frontal brain or cerebrum, seat of the intellect and B) The back brain or cerebellum, the spiritually receptive brain.The inhabitant of the body, the spirit, is meant to connect with its origin as the astronaut connects with earth, in the case of the spirit through intuitive radiations before it takes any action on earth. Whatever guidance is given is expressed by the spirit on the back brain, the cerebellum or the spiritual brain. The impression comes in pictorial messages, such as the ones received in dreams. That is why it is often said of dreams: The Lord gives to his own in their dreams. Let us remember the dream of the Egyptian Pharoah, the interpretation by detainee Joseph and the action the frontal brain or intellect took therefrom. From the cerebellum, the images are rapidly transported through the blood radiation to the Solar Plexus and, from there, via blood radiation again, to the front brain, the cerebrum. This brain decodes the images, fashions them into thought, words, (spoken or written) activates muscles.

11) In many persons, this process is haphazard. That explains why dreams may not be well remembered. From the outside, the reverse process informs The inhabitant of what is going on which can be forwarded by the spirit to the helpers and guides for advise as earlier stated. This process, which occurs faster than the speed of light, has become hazardous from the blood composition. If the blood is not well composed, its radiation will be dull and will not provide the spirit effective bridge to the brains and to the body, and from the body back to the spirit via the brains.This is one of the causes of Autism. The in-dwelling spirit is aware of its environment and wishes to connect with it and to impact it but has been hindered by a lack of appropriate bridge to the body through the blood radiation.

12) The blood radiation is, therefore, also the problem of persons in depression and persons who are possessed.

13) The series of public lectures of the 1920s and 1930s, which were originally espoused by the Theosophical Society, went beyond these limits. I halt here only to not digress too far.

14) Evidence in the lecture series that the Spirit forms the blood are that a) the blood in the baby growing in the womb does not begin to circulate until the spirit or soul enters into the body. This is about the middle of pregnancy. b) The entrance or incarnation can be felt in the first kicks of pregnancy c) The blood stops to circulate when death of the body occurs and the spirit withdraws from the body.

d) Were the spirit not responsible for the formation of the body and blood, both would not be different from those of animals. For the animal bears no spirit as its inhabitant but an animal soul

15) The Wise One acknowledged the laborious and devoted work of gifted ones whose studies of the secrets of the blood have yielded beneficial results in the various blood groups. But he said the outcomes still scratch the surface, however beneficial they may have been to human health and happiness. Brighter would their paths be, he said, lit by the grateful prayers of their fellow men if they proceeded further to unearth more secrets of the blood. Such new revelations on the threshold of which we stand, would lead to the healing of more diseases hitherto thought incurable because really, there are no sick souls but sick blood and bodies. I believe psychiatrists will eventually recognise existence of the human spirit, as American surgeon Dr. Norman Sheally and intuitive spiritual healer Carolyn Myss ventured in their 1998 book, The Creation of health, which I had the privilege to review at that time for the present Millenium. I believe Dr. Abayomi Aiyesimoju, a neurologist and medical director of Healthville, on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Lagos, also reviewed the book. He is not an ‘intellectual’ doctor. By ‘intellectual’, I do not infer that he is not academic or erudite. I mean he has not submitted himself to his intellect in the frontal brain through a disconnection of the spirit from the body described above. In medicine, ‘intellectuals’ are known as Mechanists. They believe only what they can see, hear, smell or touch. They also like to be called Realists. They, therefore, limit themselves to only that knowledge which earthly conceptions of time and space and the intellect can offer. On the other hand, The Vitalists are those doctors and researchers including lay persons like me who believe there is something within the physical body which is of a higher origin and has more potential than the intellect. It is these set of doctors who hold the potential to liberate mankind from the present malaise of blood and brain dysfunctions which impact depression and possession on an increasing scale.

16) The lecture series also distinguish between insanity, possession and occurrences of spookish activities. In lunacy, brain cells are damaged. In possession, which is evident in the Split Personality Syndrome, also called Bi Polar personality, an earth-bound human soul has taken over part of the brain or organ of another person, temporarily or permanently to materially manifest. This is possible where the original owner of the physical body has been careless with the composition of his or her blood and the radiation such blood gives off is found useful for earthly manifestation through a physical body by the roaming and invading earth-bound soul. An earth-bound soul is a human person on earth who, after his or her physical demise, does not move away from the earth environment but is attached through propensity or other causes to persons, places or events. The earth-bound soul seeks to manifest its nature in happenings on earth and, in his or her roaming about, may find an earth dweller with a suitable blood radiation which provides a good anchorage. In some alternative medicines and some traditional medicines, such invaders are cast out, but they may return if the protecting agent withdraws, as is seen in the warning The Lord Jesus gave the possessed man he freed of a legion of demons! The best protection and curative, therefore, is the recomposition of the blood to the consistency most suitable for the owner spirit.

17) The Wise One acknowledged that many factors influence blood composition, but emphasises that, to the spirit concerned belongs the primary responsibility. The doctor, too, has leading role to play, especially if the spirit had become constrained in one way or another. Some of the constraining factors are a) diet b) radiations of the stars and earth in a particular zone of the earth. C) illness d) accidents e) temperament f) age.

The intervention of the doctor would need to personalise therapies.Therefore, the doctor of this description will have to be rooted in nutrition as he or she is rooted in physiology, anatomy, biochemistry and haematology. Unfortunately, many doctors did not study nutrition in-depth or at all in medical school. Thus, not much is to be expected at this time from the present system of the practice of psychiatry.

Nigerian psychiatrists may learn a lot from Nigerian Traditional Medicine (NTM). In the 1970s or 1980s, a man picked up so called insane persons on the streets of Lagos, made them live in a commune and healed them. He received no government recognition and the professional medical association looked derisively the other way. His methods were not dehumanising as are found in some of today’s rehabilitation centers. He may have died and taken his healing art with him. We hear reports of healers in Benue and Akwa Ibom states who give afflicted persons special water to drink and they often ask: Where am I and how didi I get here? In so far as these methods are not Hynotic, I believe they are worth being studied by psychiatrists.

18) Spookish manifestations evidenced in throwing of objects, noise making etc near or in the vicinity of a person does not mean such a person is possessed. His or her blood radiation may only have enhanced such manifestations . In Oshogbo recently, a house owner commited suicide. Some of his tenants relocated to other places immediately. The ones who stuck around needed no prodding to leave when the family buried his remains on the grounds. It was clear he could come to haunt the house and torment the residents. Our people know of these things and address them appropriately.

Conclusion

Many ideas converge in respect of the composition of the blood. A spirit disconnected from his or her body leaves that body without control. An earth-bound soul may pick up that body. Two captains may, therefore, exist in the body giving it different instructions thereby producing a split personality. Some persons call this situation depression. Others name it possession. Still others assume erroneously it is lunacy. However, it is not lunacy but possession which is different as well from depression. Space does not suffice to discuss many possible causes of depression, a leading cause of which may be the consumption of naked sugars, chemical flavours, food additives, pesticides and herbicides and, lately genetically modified foods, to mention a few. The body must be detoxified, given high grade nutrition, many foods and drinks must be abandoned, exercise and rest must be serious watch words, negative thoughts must be abandoned and, above all, the spirit must become active within his or her garment.

By the foregoing, I do not mean that the outward care of the physical body is less important. If I own a car I do not maintain but only look after myself, it would break down some day! The human body is even more than a vehicle for locomotion to the in-dwelling human spirit. The frontal brain(cerebrum) and the back brain (cerebellum) are meant to co-operate in their work far more than science and medicine have recognised today. The human Spirit is connected with its orign through an intuitive faculty. The values and guidance it draws upon from there are pictorially passed to the back brain, the spiritually receptive brain, according to the text of Care of the Physical Body. Thus, for example, the back brain is where inspiration breaks forth and where experiences of the human spirit, when the body goes to rest in sleep, are pictorially recorded as dreams. Whether we have a sharp memory of dreams or if the reception and remembrance are poor reveals how well or otherwise we are maintaining this part of the brain. If we leave it inactive through inner life inactivity it would athrophise from disuse. That is what has happened to humanity through over cultivation of the frontal brain and the intellect through the pressure of formal education and thinking out of the challenges for their situations. We are meant to not primarily be thinking but intuitive persons who, automatically, pass pictorial messages or guidance from the beyond from the back brain to the front brain, seat of the intellect, which fashions it out into earthly responses and actions. This way, there would have been no quastion of the big brain, and the small brain, as we describe the front and back brains respectively today. They would have been the same size, neither dominating the other.

Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured that Nigeria will be aligning with the regional vision of the Pan-African Great Green Wall Sustainable Development Goal five on gender equality, while also giving practical effect to SDG 1 on Ending Poverty, Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 13 on Climate Action, and Goal 15 on Life on Land.

The minister who was represented by Agnes Aneke, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics disclosed this at the green women platform validation workshop in Abuja, stating that this initiative demonstrates the government collective resolve to mainstream gender equality into the Great Green Wall programme and ensure that women are not left behind in the implementation of national environmental and climate commitments.

Lawal noted that Women bear the most significant burden of environmental degradation, yet they are also the most potent agents of resilience and adaptation. ‘By creating the Green Women Platform, Nigeria is aligning with the regional vision of the Pan-African Great Green Wall, as the task is urgent and essential’.

‘This workshop will validate the structural framework, adopt a national governance arrangement, and agree on a two-year action plan for the Green Women Platform. These outcomes will ensure that women are empowered as beneficiaries and full partners in decision-making, resource mobilization, and implementation’.

The minister commended the leadership of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, the strong political support from the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Olufemi Tinubu and the collaboration of our partners, particularly the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Pan-African Great Green Wall Agency (PAGGW).

The Director General National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW Saleh Abubakar said the Green Women Platform is a unique innovation of the Pan-African Great Green Wall, designed to place women at the center of the fight against desertification, climate change, land degradation and livelihood. Stating that here in Nigeria, women are not only custodians of the land but also agents of transformation within their communities.

In a country with hundreds of universities, Lagos State University (LASU) stands out for promoting modest dressing among its students.

It prohibits revealing or seductive clothing, tattoos, and other inappropriate accessories. Violating these rules can result in denial of access to classrooms or exam halls. This ensures that students maintain their best appearance, as they risk being barred from classes or exams if they do not comply.

Some departments have specific dress codes, giving students a unique appearance and making them easily identifiable. For example, Law students wear a white shirt with a black skirt for females and black trousers for males. This distinctive attire is a tradition that every law student follows.

LASU doesn’t allow patterns or designs on hair and also coloured hair. I have personally experienced it,a student had a haircut, tinted it gold, and also drew a design on it, and the lecturer asked her to leave the class, connoting that it’s not just rules but also backed with action.

Crazy jeans are not allowed on campus because the university upholds a dress code that promotes decency and discipline among students. Such clothing is considered inappropriate for an academic setting and inconsistent with the image of a responsible student community.

Multiple body piercings are prohibited as they are seen as unfit for an academic environment. The rule, aimed at maintaining discipline and a distraction-free atmosphere, views excessive piercings as unkempt and unprofessional.

As someone with two ear piercings, I always remove my earrings before entering the school premises to avoid being denied access at the gate, a clear reflection of how strictly the regulation is enforced.

The use of face caps on campus is also prohibited because some male students reportedly wear them to conceal braided hairstyles, an act that violates the university’s dress code.

Just as you wouldn’t wear slippers to an office and expect to be taken seriously, you can’t wear them to class and expect to be treated like a responsible student. Slippers are not allowed in classrooms, as footwear is also part of LASU’s dress code.

LASU follows the principle of ‘dress how you want to be addressed,’ emphasising modesty. Modest clothing promotes discipline, ensures comfort, and reduces the risk of harassment, keeping the school a safe place for learning rather than for exposing the body.

The idea that revealing one’s body could give an advantage or attract special attention is completely rejected, as there is no room for that. Covering the body should be a tradition, especially in a place dedicated to learning.

The school encourages blending modesty with style, showing that it is possible to dress decently while still looking your best.

Popular comedian Franchez reaffirmed his influence in the South-East entertainment scene as he hosted the 6th edition of his comedy show at the Amadeo Event Centre, Enugu, on October 19, 2025.

The event featured leading comedy acts such as Sabinus, Governor Amunek, Busy Mouth, Danny Spry, Machine, Albino Brothers, and Twin Parrots, delivering non-stop laughter and entertainment to the audience.

Tagged ‘a night of class and humour,’ the show attracted a large and diverse crowd, including politicians, business leaders, students, and representatives of corporate organisations across Enugu State.

Expressing his appreciation after the show, Franchez described the night as a huge success celebrating unity and laughter.

‘It’s always an amazing experience performing before my home crowd,’ he said. ‘With the energy and love from Enugu, I’m confident we’ll take this show to Abuja in 2026 – even bigger and better.’

The packed hall and enthusiastic turnout underscored Franchez’s rising profile in Nigeria’s entertainment space, with many attendees praising him for elevating local comedy and placing Enugu’s entertainment industry on the national stage.

With yet another successful edition, Franchez continues to solidify his reputation as one of Enugu’s standout entertainers while boosting the city’s growing creative scene.

On October 20, protests for the unilateral release of detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, took place in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja; Lagos, and a few other locations in the country. Organised by human rights activist and publisher, Mr Omoyele Sowore, the action was predicated on what was described as the ‘delayed trial’ of the pro-Biafra separatist agitator, thus creating the insinuation that the government was manipulating a protracted and unending judicial process to keep Kanu out of circulation in perpetuity.

It has also been alleged that the IPOB leader had since been cleared of all charges by a Court of Appeal and that the Federal Government had failed to obey the judicial order that he be released.

There were also those who anchored their calls for Kanu’s release on the prerogative of mercy recently exercised by President Bola Tinubu in favour of a number of convicted persons who were granted pardon for an assortment of reasons, arguing that the same gesture be extended to Kanu.

True, Kanu’s trial has been ongoing since 2021 when he was forcibly repatriated back to the country and ordinarily ought to have proceeded further than it has four years after. But the truth, which Sowore and his fellow protesters seek to obscure is that Kanu has largely been the architect of the snail’s speed at which his trial has progressed.

It is pertinent to note that Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 and charged before a magistrate’s court in November of the same year for alleged acts of terrorism and treason. Although his release was ordered by a Federal High Court in December 2015, the Federal Government brought fresh charges of treasonable felony against him, necessitating the continuation of his trial.

Nevertheless, he was granted bail in April 2017 by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the conditions that he should not grant press interviews or address gatherings of people. Later that year, he jumped bail and fled the country, citing the alleged invasion of his country home in Abia State as the reason for his action.

But even from his base abroad, Kanu continued to make incendiary radio and social media broadcasts to the country, employing insulting, derogatory and abusive language against non-Igbos and inciting his supporters to violence.

The sit-at-home Monday protests inspired by IPOB in the Southeast was capitalised upon by rogue groups and criminal elements, leading to the loss of several lives across the region, paralysing educational institutions and leading to colossal economic losses in a region known for the commercial vibrancy of her people.

In the same vein, his inflammatory and inciting directives from his base abroad are known to have contributed to the scale of destruction during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, with Lagos State, for example, suffering losses estimated at no less than N2 trillion and the deaths of several people, including security personnel in the state and other parts of the country.

However, Kanu was repatriated back to Nigeria in June 2021, his trial before Justice Nyako resumed and his bail revoked. The presiding judge expunged eight of the 15-count charge against him, asking him to defend himself against the remaining seven.

In 2022, he was discharged by the Court of Appeal and the charges against him ordered to be dropped but this decision was overturned in 2023 by the Supreme Court which decided that he must defend himself against the seven charges for which he was arraigned.

On this issue again, Sowore and his associates sought to mislead the public. However, Kanu’s theatrics forced Justice Nyako to recuse herself from handling the case, thus causing further waste of time as the case was reassigned to Justice James Omotosho and the trial had to begin afresh in 2024.

It has become glaring that Kanu is unwilling to commence his defence despite the prosecution having closed its case and the court adjourning twice to enable him open his case and giving him six days to begin and conclude his defence.

A panel of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), at the behest of the court, affirmed that Kanu was fit to undergo trial contrary to his claim of being seriously unwell. The IPOB leader had since sacked the entirety of his legal team and opted to defend himself, despite lacking any legal expertise.

On Monday when he was supposed to open his defence by calling witnesses, Kanu declined to do so, affirming rather that the evidence so far had not established any case against him and requesting to be granted bail or released. The presiding judge has been quite liberal, perhaps indulgent, in granting him another week to file a written address to support his claim that no valid case had been established against him despite the court having earlier overruled the submission by his counsel that he had a case to answer.

Kanu seems to seriously underestimate the gravity of the offences for which he has been charged. Those calling for the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy on his behalf are perhaps unaware that pardon can only be granted where there has been conviction and a definitive decision on his guilt or otherwise cannot be reached without a trial.

In the same vein, it is hardly justifiable to call for a political solution of the problem when Kanu has neither demonstrated remorse nor shifted position to make compromise a possibility.

A new era of leadership of the Armed Forces commenced yesterday with the confirmation of the appointments made on Friday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Senate after two-hour closed-door session, during which the Service Chiefs were screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation.

Confirmed are: Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.

The new military top brass, expected to assume office today after being decorated with their new ranks by President Tinubu and get the Commander-in-Chief’s charge which will include a mandate to end insurgency and general insecurity.

The CDS will become a four-star general while the heads of Army, Navy and Air Force will become three-star generals.

The Service Chiefs while answering questions from Senators before the executive session promised sweeping reforms to modernise the Armed Forces, boost troop morale, promote local arms production, use of technology, and deepen cooperation among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Lt. General Oluyede said his leadership would drive a ‘technology-driven, self-reliant’ defence system that reduces dependence on foreign arms.

He said: ‘We cannot continue to rely on foreign suppliers for our weapons. It is economically unsustainable and strategically risky.

‘My focus will be to build a strong local military-industrial base that can produce what we need to defend the nation.’

He pledged to make intelligence-led, data-driven warfare the backbone of joint operations, while prioritising welfare, healthcare, housing, and education for soldiers’ families.

‘Morale is the backbone of fighting power,’ he said.

Oluyede also called for a comprehensive reform of the police to enable it to take charge of internal security, so as to free the military to focus on external defence.

‘The military alone cannot secure Nigeria. Security is everyone’s business,’ he added.

Senators praised the nominees’ strategic focus, with Borno North Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno commending Oluyede’s experience in the insurgency war, while Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) urged him to treat troop welfare as non-negotiable.

Rear Admiral Abbas, the new Chief of Naval Staff, promised to overhaul maritime operations, expand drone surveillance, and intensify the fight against piracy and oil theft.

He also said that there was no need for setting up the proposed Coast Guards, as the Navy is already performing their expected role.

‘The Navy’s constitutional roles already cover what a Coast Guard would do.

‘What we need is better funding and modern surveillance systems,’ he said.

He said the Navy had deployed drones to monitor remote creeks and set up a Special Operations Command in Makurdi to boost patrols on the Benue-Lokoja waterways.

Abbas also said there is need for victim-centred reintegration of repentant militants, saying: ‘Deradicalisation must include justice and healing.’

Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, the new Chief of Air Staff, vowed to transform the Air Force into a ‘combat-ready, disciplined, and intelligent’ service anchored on drone technology and rapid-response capability.

‘Modern warfare is technology-driven. Unmanned aerial systems perform many missions better and safer than manned aircraft. We will invest in them,’ he said.

Aneke assured senators that Nigeria’s $1.2 billion Super Tucano aircraft fleet remains operational and vital to ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

‘They are flying every night in the North-East and North-West. Each missile costs about $100,000, the price of peace,’ he said.

He promised to prioritise pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and personnel welfare, while seeking legislative support for defence technology funding.

Together, the new Service Chiefs outlined a unified vision, one built on synergy, innovation, and welfare, to secure Nigeria’s land, sea, and airspace.

General Oluyede vowed to drive joint operations with Rear Admiral Abbas to safeguard maritime assets, and Air Vice Marshal Aneke to ensure air dominance.

All three reaffirmed loyalty to President Tinubu’s defence reform agenda and promised to deliver tangible results in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.

‘We are here to serve. Every naira invested in the military must translate into peace, safety, and pride for Nigerians,’ Aneke said.

With their confirmation, the Service Chiefs now form the core of Tinubu’s new security architecture, tasked with restoring stability to the North-East, ending banditry in the North-West, and defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The Service Chiefs were equally screened by the House of Representatives where they made essentially the same submissions as they did before the Senate.

Following the presentations by the nominees, the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, hailed the military chiefs for their service and assured them of a fair and transparent confirmation process.

Scanfrost, home and kitchen appliances outfit, has named Hilda Baci, Guinness World Record-breaking chef and culinary entrepreneur, as brand ambassador.

Hilda’s story of passion, excellence, and perseverance aligns with Scanfrost’s values of reliability, innovation, and quality. From her record-breaking cookathon to her impact in the culinary and lifestyle space, Hilda represents the strength and creativity of the Nigerian.

Ajit Nair, group managing director of C.G.C.L, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Hilda Baci to Scanfrost family. Her authenticity, energy, and entrepreneurial drive reflect the values that have guided Scanfrost for over four decades. We look forward to inspiring Nigerians to create memorable experiences at home and beyond.’

Ashok Dimri, Business Head, added: ‘Hilda’s influence goes beyond the kitchen; she embodies resilience, creativity, and ambition. These are values we build into every Scanfrost product. We believe this partnership will deepen our connection with consumers who see home appliances as key partners in their lives.’

Baci said: ‘Scanfrost has been part of our homes, and partnering them feels like coming full circle. It’s a brand that represents hard work, trust, and everything I stand for.’

Alfred Jarikre, Marketing manager at Scanfrost Nigeria, noted: ‘Hilda brings a fresh, youthful, and dynamic energy to the brand. This is not just about endorsement but about showing how Nigerians can be more with the brand.’

Hilda will feature in Scanfrost’s campaigns, digital content, and lifestyle projects, focusing on food, family, and home innovation.

Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has said that parents of public school pupils under the aegis of the Solution Parents League, have endorsed Governor Chukwuma Soludo for a second term in office.

Prof. Chuma-Udeh disclosed this while speaking with reporters on the governor’s achievements in the education sector.

She said the parents, through the Solution Parents League, had pledged to ensure a landslide victory for Governor Soludo in the November 8 governorship election, describing their support as an expression of gratitude for his education reforms.

According to her, the parents’ endorsement followed the success of the administration’s free education programme, which she said had significantly eased the financial burden on families across the state.

She said: ‘The Solution Parents League applauded the Solution Governor for the free education programme, which has positively touched the lives of every child and parent in Anambra State.

‘In support of Governor Soludo’s re-election, the League has already staged a one-million-man march in Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of Ihiala.

‘After that, the group will move into various communities and wards to mobilise more support to ensure that this education-passionate governor returns to continue his good works for another four years.’