PRESS RELEASE

COAS VISITS OBA OF LAGOS, SOLICITS TRADITIONAL SUPPORT FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday, 11 December 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, at his palace in Lagos.

During the visit, the COAS expressed profound appreciation to the revered monarch and the council of Obas for their consistent support to the Nigerian Army. He noted that the purpose of his visit was not only to extend his gratitude but also to seek the blessings of the royal father, stressing that Nigeria’s customs and traditions remain sacrosanct and must always be honoured.

General Shaibu lauded Oba Akiolu for the fatherly role he has continually played in supporting Army formations and institutions across Lagos State. He described the Oba’s guidance and goodwill as invaluable to the Army’s operational and civil–military cooperation efforts.

In his response, the Oba of Lagos commended the Nigerian Army for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation and maintaining peace. He described the Army as a critical pillar upon which the Nigerian State stands, adding that the sacrifices and professionalism of its personnel have contributed significantly to national stability.

Oba Akiolu also applauded the COAS for his steadfast leadership and dedication to ensuring a peaceful and secure country. He thereafter offered special prayers for sustained peace in Nigeria and for Lieutenant General Shaibu’s successful tenure as the 25th Chief of Army Staff.

The visit underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening relationships with traditional institutions as vital stakeholders in the nation’s peace and security architecture

APPOLONIA ANELE
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations
11 December 2025

Nigerians, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about to hand our taxes and economic data to France.

Yesterday, December 10, the FIRS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s tax authority at the French Embassy in Abuja.

France will provide AI audits, automated compliance, real-time analytics, and cybersecurity tools. In return, Nigeria will share insights from our digital economy and tax system, including international taxation issues like transfer pricing, profit shifting, and multinational compliance.

The government claims no raw taxpayer files will leave the country, but sensitive aggregated data will.

The truth is, this data can reveal key financial patterns and give France visibility into our economy. Once it leaves, we can’t get it back, putting our national economic sovereignty at risk.

France has been losing influence across West Africa, with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger pushing back. Now, while those doors close, Nigeria appears ready to open a new one, putting our fiscal independence at risk.

This MoU could compromise our control over our revenue system, expose sensitive economic data, and weaken Nigeria’s fiscal independence. We are big enough to manage our own tax system and employ our own experts.

This deal should be paused or renegotiated to protect Nigerian taxpayers and safeguard the sovereignty of our economy.

ERC Faults WAEC Over 2026 WASSCE Changes, Demands Full Return to Old Curriculum

The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has criticised WAEC for reinstating only two subjects—Civic Education and Digital Technologies—for the 2026 WASSCE, calling the move inadequate and inconsistent. The group said many students still cannot register for subjects they have studied, citing contradictions in WAEC’s recent circulars. ERC demanded a complete return to the old curriculum to ensure fairness for SSS 3 students and urged the National Assembly to maintain pressure on WAEC to avoid disadvantaging thousands of candidates.

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Update: Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has confirmed that, three days after the C-130’s had an emergency landing in Burkina Faso, both the eleven Nigerian officers and the aircraft remain in the country, meaning Captain Traore has not given orders for their release. He stated that negotiations with the Traoré regime are still ongoing to secure the release of the aircraft and the soldiers.

Ghana has taken firm diplomatic action after three of its citizens were deported from Israel under what officials described as unfair and unacceptable conditions.
The Ghanaians — including members of a parliamentary delegation travelling for a cybersecurity conference — were detained upon arrival on 7 December, and three were later sent back without clear justification.

In a reciprocal move, the Ghanaian government ordered the removal of three Israelis who had recently entered the country, signalling that it will not tolerate disrespect toward its nationals abroad.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that Israel’s chargé d’affaires in Accra was summoned for discussions, stressing that while Ghana values its relationship with Israel, mutual respect for travellers is non-negotiable.

Both countries are now working diplomatically to calm rising tensions and restore normal relations.

#Ghana #Israel #Diplomacy #ForeignAffairs

Nigeria, Benin Foreign Ministers Meet in Abuja, Address Failed Coup and Regional Security Threats

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar, met at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja to discuss the recent failed coup attempt in Benin and rising security challenges across West Africa. Both ministers emphasized the need for deeper regional cooperation, with Tuggar noting that much of Nigeria’s insecurity stems from external influences. Benin’s minister confirmed that Nigerian military support was sought to neutralize coup plotters positioned in sensitive locations, praising the swift response that helped restore order. The two nations called for a standby regional force to counter future destabilisation attempts, while authorities continue hunting the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri.


#RegionalSecurity

#ECOWAS

#BeninCoup

Sam Nda-Isaiah’s Legacy Lives On: Azu Ishiekwene Reflects Five Years After His Passing”

In this reflective opinion piece, Azu Ishiekwene examines the enduring influence of Sam Nda-Isaiah, founder of LEADERSHIP newspaper, five years after his death. He highlights how Sam’s voice remains alive through his writings, especially his incisive columns on Nigerian politics, governance, corruption, and national security. Ishiekwene revisits several of Sam’s notable articles, showing how many of his warnings and analyses still hold relevance today—from the PDP’s internal crises to terrorism, corruption, and leadership failures. The tribute underscores Sam’s relentless fight against injustice, his bold political commentary, and the lasting imprint of his ideas on Nigeria’s public discourse.


#AzuIshiekwene

#SamNdaIsaiah

#Opinion

Terrorists Demand ₦30m Ransom for Three Brothers Kidnapped After Mother’s Burial in Kwara

Three relatives returning from their mother’s burial in Agboro, Kwara State, have been abducted by terrorists who are now demanding ₦10 million each, totalling ₦30 million. The victims — Isanlu Bidemi (33), Olumide (30), and their 17-year-old cousin Moses — were kidnapped on December 7 along the Odo-Ogbe axis in Yagba East. A fourth traveler was also seized. The grieving family’s attempt to negotiate with ₦3 million was rejected as the abductors intensified threats and beatings. The incident adds to growing insecurity in the Yagba area, where kidnappings and daylight ambushes have surged, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention.


#KogiInsecurity #KidnappingCrisis #YagbaEast

When your dog runs the house

Work bestie deserves a raise for dealing with me 👏🏻

childhood memories gone wrong