Tinubu Orders Shettima to Convene NEC Meeting on Ranching Amid Rising Farmer-Herder Clashes

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to summon a special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting focused on resolving Nigeria’s escalating farmer-herder crisis through ranching reforms. The directive comes as violent clashes surge across several states. Tinubu also ordered the immediate training, arming, and deployment of additional forest guards to combat kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. According to the presidency, the worsening insecurity demands a more aggressive, coordinated national response to protect citizens.


#Tinubu
#Ranching
#Insecurity

NAHCON Commissioner Defies VP Shettima’s Order, Retains Retired Staff Amid Nepotism Allegations


The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is facing fresh controversy as insiders accuse Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi, of ignoring Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s directive by retaining a retired officer, Mr. Gaffar, who left the commission in 2023. The retired officer reportedly attends official meetings, travels with the commissioner, and maintains offices in Abuja and Saudi Arabia — actions seen as violations of Public Service Rules. Elegushi is also accused of keeping a former NYSC corps member allegedly related to him, granting her full staff privileges despite her service ending months ago. These actions allegedly defy a written directive from VP Shettima rejecting NAHCON’s request to re-engage retired staff and ordering all such appointments reversed. Staff fear retaliation, with claims that Elegushi is consolidating power ahead of a possible bid for the NAHCON chairmanship. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Abidjan

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Alassane Ouattara for a fourth term in office as President of that country.

In a Statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha said Shettima is expected to join other leaders across Africa and beyond to witness activities lined up for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to hold on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.

Quatara was re-elected for a fourth term in office on October 25, 2025 as President of Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country that shares cordial diplomatic ties with Nigeria.

Both nations collaborate significantly within ECOWAS and the African Union on security, trade, and development, formalised by a Bi-National Commission and numerous agreements covering areas like anti-trafficking, agriculture, and digital economy, with strong informal trade and significant Nigerian diaspora in Côte d'Ivoire, fostering deep bilateral economic and social connections.

The Vice President is accompanied by HE Omar Aliyu Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission; Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Hon. Usman Zannah, member representing Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The Vice President is expected back in Abuja at the end of the inauguration ceremony.

IPI Nigeria to Immortalise Late Treasurer With University Endowment Prize*

The International Press Institute (#IPI) Nigeria has promised to endow a prize at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) in honour of its late Treasurer, Rafat Idris Salami.

In a statement on Friday, IPI Nigeria said, the prize to be endowed will be to instil in students of the institution the values that the late Treasurer stood for.

The President of the body, Musikilu Mojeed, confirmed the decision during the opening ceremony of the 2025 IPI Nigeria Conference and Annual General Meeting on December 2, 2025.

Salami, the then Assistant Director of Digital Media at the Voice of Nigeria (VON), died on December 20, 2024, just days after the first annual conference and AGM of IPI Nigeria, where she participated actively despite being ill.

Speaking on her death in his welcome address at the second annual conference and AGM, Mojeed requested members and guests, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to observe a one-minute silence in her honour.

He said: “Last year, even in severe pain and confined to a wheelchair, she insisted on attending the conference.

“She greeted guests, co-ordinated logistics, took photographs with her phone and served with grace until her body could no longer carry her.

“Her commitment was a reminder that Journalism is not merely a job; it is a calling.

“It demands sacrifice; It demands conviction.”

Mojeed said: "to honour her legacy, the National Committee of IPI Nigeria will endow a prize in her name at the University of Abuja, which was her alma-mater.

He added: “We will work with the University to ensure that every year, young Journalists are inspired by the values Rafat lived by— integrity, courage, and selfless service.”

When she died last year, Salami was eulogised by the IPI; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, where she had served as Secretary; her employer, VON and colleagues.

The late Salami began her career with VON as a News Editor and correspondent in Lagos.

She rose through the ranks to become VON’s Assistant Director in charge of Digital Media before her demise.

“The Igbos are the greatest stakeholders in the Nigerian project half of Abuja is owned by Ndigbo,”

~ Vice President Kashim Shettima

BREAKING NEWS: Wait Till 2027 If You’re Eyeing Shettima’s Seat

~ MURIC Tells Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, responding to Dachomo’s recent claim that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria because President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are Muslims.

2025 annual conference of the international press institute in Abuja.

With the theme, addressing media repression in Nigeria, safeguarding press freedom and democratic accountability.

Vice president Kashim Shettima, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, captains of media industries including heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation are in attendance.

The event futures paper presentations, panel discussions and the launch of the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy.

Nasarawa Police Rescue 40 Foreign Nationals from Human Trafficking Syndicate Lafia, Nasarawa State

The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued 40 foreign nationals, mostly from Mali and Ivory Coast, who were lured into Nigeria by a human trafficking syndicate with false promises of jobs in France.

The victims were intercepted before they could be transported out of the country, police said on Saturday.
State Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro, disclosed the rescue during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital.

According to CP Jauro, the victims were deceived with offers of employment in Europe and brought into Nigeria through illegal routes. They were being held in a location within the state ahead of onward movement to France when police acted on intelligence and raided the premises.

The prime suspect, believed to be the leader of the trafficking ring, remains at large. Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest him and other accomplices.
No further details about the victims’ conditions or the exact location of the rescue were immediately released, as investigations continue.

Vice President Shettima approves KYAN smart class technology, urging localisation and collaboration to transform teaching and improve learning outcomes nationwide.

Shettima is a muslim, the president is a muslim. Is that not complete genocide to christians in the political world? The way forward is to remove Shettima."

VP Shettima Arrives Bauchi To Attend Funeral of Late Sheikhh Dahiru Usman Bauchi

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Bauchi State to attend the burial ceremony of the revered Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

VP Shettima Returns To Abuja After G20, AU–EU Summits

Vice President Kashim Shettima has left Abuja for Kebbi State following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to meet with the state government and families of schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.

During his visit, the Vice President is scheduled to meet with Governor Nasiru Idris, traditional rulers, security officials & parents of the abducted students.

President Tinubu specifically instructed VP Shettima to reassure the people of Kebbi State that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the swift & safe release of the kidnapped girls.

The Vice President will also convey the President’s condolences regarding recent security challenges & reaffirm the administration’s dedication to protecting all educational institutions across the country.

Accompanying him are APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Reduction, Minister of Women Affairs & the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency.

Senator Sheriff Debunks Report Claiming He Accused Shettima of Creating Boko Haram.

Former Governor of Borno State and ex-APC National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has denied claims circulating online that he accused his colleague, Senator Kashim Shettima, of creating Boko Haram.

In a statement issued by his media office, Sheriff described the publication, titled “It’s Not Me, It’s Shettima Who Created Boko Haram—Sheriff Reveals,” as entirely fabricated and intended to mislead the public and tarnish his reputation.

Sheriff clarified that he never granted any interview or made comments relating to the claims circulating online.

“The story is a total falsehood, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to sow discord within the nation’s political landscape. At no time did Senator Sheriff engage with any journalist on this matter,” the statement read.

The former governor called the publication a “dangerous piece of fake news,” aimed at undermining his contributions to peace, unity, and development in Borno State and across Nigeria.

He reaffirmed his commitment to national stability and condemned those spreading misinformation for political gain.

Sheriff also said he has instructed his legal team to identify and prosecute the individuals behind the false report.

“Should the publication not be retracted, the Senator will seek full legal redress,” the statement warned.

He further urged the public and media to disregard the viral story, emphasizing his dedication to truth, justice, and accountability.

FG, EU, ECOWAS Sign Health Agreements to Boost Local Manufacturing, Reproductive Health in West Africa.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has signed three major agreements aimed at advancing local pharmaceutical production, attracting investments in the health sector, and improving reproductive health outcomes across West Africa.

The agreements, Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N), Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), and Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa, were formaliSed on Thursday during the Nigeria-EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja.

The initiatives are part of the EU’s Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) Programme, a global effort designed to enhance regional health resilience and reduce dependency on imported medical products.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the agreements reaffirm the government’s commitment to building a “sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven health economy.”

Represented by Uju Rochas, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Health, Shettima said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order promoting local production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

“Through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and complementary frameworks such as the sector-wide approach (SWAp), this administration has taken concrete steps to strengthen health governance, stimulate investment, and promote local manufacturing,” he said.

“Our message is clear: Nigeria is open for health investment, innovation, and impact. The President has declared that Nigeria’s health transformation will not be driven by aid and dependency alone, but by ownership, accountability, and innovation made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians.”

Shettima also commended the EU, PVAC, and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for their collaboration, describing the partnership as “a new chapter defined by shared prosperity, local innovation, and global collaboration.”

Vatican Finally Breaks Silence on Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria.

The Vatican has finally spoken out on the growing international narrative of an alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, addressed the issue while presenting a new global report on religious freedom by the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Rome.

His comments come amid heated global debates following remarks made by Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.

Shettima’s call for peace in Gaza sparked a wave of reactions online, with some Western voices, including American security contractor Eric Prince, alleging that Christians in Nigeria were facing genocide.

Prince had even called on “the Vatican, the Pope, President Donald Trump, and Christian leaders worldwide to ‘fund and support’ a private Christian army to ‘protect the Christian community in Nigeria.’”

However, Parolin dismissed such claims, urging caution in labeling Nigeria’s security crisis as religious genocide.

According to him, the violence in Nigeria is not exclusively targeted at Christians but has broader social and ethnic roots.

“It is not a religious conflict. Much of the violence stems from social causes such as land disputes between herders and farmers in the North-Central region,” he said.

“We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance. These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”

Unemployment on the Run as Shettima Announces $220m Plan to Empower Nigerian Youths.

The Federal Government has announced plans to invest $220 million in creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Wednesday during the official inauguration of the programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is designed to equip graduates with hands-on work experience, mentorship, and professional training.

Shettima said the new phase of the NJFP seeks to bridge the gap between learning and earning for thousands of qualified but unemployed graduates. According to him, the Tinubu administration aims to turn Nigeria’s youthful population into an engine of economic growth by integrating the programme into the national planning and budgeting system.

“Our goal is to raise $220 million not as charity, but as an investment in our most valuable asset: our young people,” Shettima stated.

The Vice President further emphasized that inclusivity would be central to the implementation of NJFP 2.0, ensuring participation across all regions and socio-economic backgrounds. Priority sectors include agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, noted that since its inception in 2021, the NJFP has empowered over 13,000 youths with skills and placements, with the new phase targeting 100,000 job opportunities within five years.

UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, and EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gauthier Mignot, both reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the initiative and ensuring its sustainability through government integration and long-term funding mechanisms.

Teenager Takes Over as ‘Vice President for a Day,’ Champions Girl-Child Education.

A Nigerian teenager, Joy Ogah, on Monday, symbolically took over the seat of Vice President Kashim Shettima, using the moment to advocate for girls’ education and empowerment across the country.

According to a statement from the Office of the Vice President, the handover occurred during a meeting with a delegation from PLAN International, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, the organisation’s Director of Programme, Quality and Innovation.

From the Vice President’s chair, Ogah highlighted the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria — over 10.5 million, with girls accounting for more than 60 percent — urging government and stakeholders to invest in inclusive and safe learning environments.

“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said.
“Every girl deserves a classroom, a choice, dignity, and not silence. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible. I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day.”

Ogah further called on authorities to provide free sanitary products in schools, guarantee access to clean water, sanitation, and good nutrition, and implement policies that uphold the dignity of every girl.

Responding, Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to advancing girl-child education nationwide, pledging continued collaboration with PLAN International.

“We will continue engagement with PLAN International and see where the force and strength of government can be brought to bear on your advice regarding girl-child education. In President Tinubu, you have an ally you can trust,” he stated.

Ogah’s “Vice President for a Day” experience, observers say, underscores the growing movement for inclusive education and equal opportunity, giving voice to the aspirations of millions of Nigerian girls still fighting for access to learning.

Nigerians blush uncontrollably as VP Shettima reveals EFCC recovered over ₦500 billion in assets in just two years.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered assets worth over ₦500 billion within the first two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Shettima made this known on Monday while declaring open a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

Representing President Tinubu, the VP said the administration’s policy of non-interference in anti-graft agencies has strengthened their independence and boosted Nigeria’s anti-corr¥ption drive.

“As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by empowering anti-corr¥ption agencies to operate without political interference. The EFCC, for instance, has secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets valued at over ₦500 billion,” Shettima stated.

He noted that proceeds from the recovered assets are being reinvested into national development schemes such as the students’ loan and consumer credit programmes to enhance economic growth and welfare.

Reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law, Shettima said no political ally enjoys protection from investigation, urging judges to uphold integrity and resist corruption.

“Corruption is no respecter of persons. Judges are not immune from its consequences,” he warned, stressing the need for stronger collaboration across government arms to sustain the anti-corruption fight.