Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called for urgent restructuring in Nigeria, stressing that it is essential for citizens to fully enjoy the benefits of democracy.
Addressing a coalition meeting in Yola on Tuesday, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed concern over the country’s current direction, insisting that immediate action is necessary to prevent future generations from suffering.

He emphasized the need for a strong movement to bring about change, warning that failure to act could lead to a situation where Nigerian children become strangers in their own land.

In his remarks, Atiku hinted at an upcoming political declaration, stating that while the time was not yet right for him to speak extensively on national issues, he would soon break his silence on the state of affairs in the country.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to protecting the nation’s interests, describing the coalition as a crucial force in addressing the challenges Nigeria faces.

The meeting drew a wide range of political figures, including Senator Ishaku Abbo, who reaffirmed Atiku’s leadership and influence beyond party lines.

He declared that Atiku remained a central political figure, emphasizing that his supporters would continue to align with him regardless of political affiliations.

Atiku’s tenure as vice president, Abbo noted, had solidified his reputation as a leader dedicated to democratic values.

Representatives from all 21 local government areas of Adamawa State attended the event, including key figures from the All Progressives Congress (APC) aligned with Senator Aishatu Binani, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of 38 Commissioners of Police to various State Commands and Police Formations across the country.

This strategic move, aimed at enhancing security and intelligence-led policing, includes the posting of nine CPs to state commands and 29 CPs to various formations.

Among those assigned to state commands are CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba (Zamfara), CP Bretet Emmanuel Simon (Taraba), CP Christopher Ado Emmanuel (Yobe), CP Olusegun Eyitayo Omosayin (Cross River), CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman (Niger), CP Sani Omolori Aliyu (Bauchi), CP Bello Shehu (Katsina), CP Saka Adewale Ajao (Federal Capital Territory), and CP Ojo Adekimi (Kwara).

A statement on Friday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said the deployment of 29 CPs to various police formations is part of broader efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, tackle security challenges, and ensure a more responsive and community-oriented policing approach.

He said, “In addition to these State Command appointments, the deployment also includes the posting of 29 CPs to various police formations as part of a broader effort to address rising security challenges and ensure effective policing that is responsive to community needs. Each CP will be tasked with implementing tailored strategies that reflect the unique requirements of their respective formations, ensuring that policing is both proactive and effective.”

Adejobi said the IGP charged the newly deployed CPs to prioritise intelligence-led policing, tackle insecurity, and uphold professional ethics in the discharge of their duties.

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An explosion has rocked a major oil pipeline, the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), at Bodo, Gokana local government area of Rivers State.

Although the incident occurred on Monday night, the affected section of the major pipeline was on fire on Tuesday morning.

Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning.

Authorities were yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the federal government’s withholding of Rivers State’s monthly allocations due to the ongoing political crisis in the state.

The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she did not have the full details of the incident yet.

Details Later…

Despite possessing over 200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, Nigeria continues to struggle with underutilisation, infrastructure deficits, and investment roadblocks in its gas sector.

The chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Prof. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, who disclosed this at the 6th West Africa LPG Expo on Tuesday in Lagos, highlighted critical challenges impeding Nigeria’s efforts to maximise its gas potential.

Ibrahim pointed to inadequate infrastructure, environmental concerns, and policy inconsistencies as major barriers to fully harnessing natural gas for domestic use and export.

Explaining further, the chairman said Nigeria’s gas fields, including Bonga, Amenam, and Utorogu, remain underdeveloped due to aging pipelines, processing constraints, and political instability, adding that, the lack of sufficient midstream and downstream infrastructure means many remote areas still lack access to gas, limiting its role in power generation, industrial production, and economic diversification.

“High capital costs for exploration, pipeline construction, and processing facilities have further slowed progress. Although the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 established a Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund to enhance financing, challenges persist due to inadequate in-country manufacturing capacity for critical machinery and equipment. Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta also remains a pressing issue. Gas flaring, oil spills, and soil contamination have sparked tensions with local communities, who often feel marginalized and inadequately compensated,” he added.

While government policies, including tax incentives and import duty waivers, aim to attract foreign investment, regulatory uncertainties and slow implementation continue to hinder investor confidence, even as Ibrahim stressed that Nigeria’s reliance on a single gas stream—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)—poses risks to long-term energy security, advocating for a broader approach to gas utilisation.

To unlock Nigeria’s gas potential, the chairman called for increased public-private partnerships, local capacity-building, and strict adherence to regulatory frameworks. Expanding small-scale gas distribution centers and investing in local manufacturing of equipment could accelerate development and reduce costs, he affirmed.

“The National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) is positioned as a catalyst for these reforms, aiming to shift Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified, gas-powered future. However, without decisive action to address infrastructure deficits, environmental concerns, and investment constraints, the country risks missing out on the full benefits of its vast gas reserves,” he stated.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has elected Dr Agbo Major as its new National Chairman at a convention held on Wednesday.

However, notable party figures, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and former presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, were absent from the event.

Efforts to reach Kwankwaso and Yusuf for comments on their absence were unsuccessful, as their phone lines were not reachable.

The convention, which lasted from 9 pm on Tuesday until 4 am on Wednesday, saw the election of several other party officials.

Mr Oginni Olaposi was named National Secretary, Chief Felix Chukwurah became Deputy National Chairman (South), and Alhaji Babayo Muhammed was elected Deputy National Chairman (North).

Others include Mr Adetoyese Omokanye as National Treasurer and Abdulrasaq Abdulsallam as National Publicity Secretary.

The delegates also elected Hajia Aisha Kade as the National Woman Leader, Chief Edward Ofomona as the National Youth Leader, and Omolara Johnson as the National Organising Secretary, among others.

TheNigerian Online learned that the convention was attended by members of the party’s Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and all elected office holders of the party nationwide.

The event followed a judgment by the Abia High Court on November 1, 2024, which directed the NNPP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam, to restructure the party from ward congresses up to the national level.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the new party leadership.

Speaking at the convention, Aniebonam told the members that, pursuant to the judgment of the court, the board had successfully repositioned and reconstituted its ward executive and zonal officers.

“Today, the board shall conclude its assignment through a national convention to elect and establish its national working committee to take charge of its administration and management.

“In carrying out these responsibilities, INEC and other security agencies were duly notified,” Aniebonam said.

In his welcome address, the BoT Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Babayo, said the party remained united and focused on its vision of providing credible leadership and governance that would prioritise the needs of Nigerians.

Babayo said that the resolve to move forward was collective, and any speculation to the contrary would be baseless.

He urged the newly elected executives to lead the party with diligence, integrity, and dedication.

“The task ahead is huge, but with unity, hard work, and a clear vision, we will continue to strengthen the NNPP and position it as a true vehicle for change in Nigeria,” Babayo added.

Also speaking, the new national chairman urged all aggrieved members of the party to return home and contribute towards its development.

Major said, “I thank all delegates present here today for this huge confidence reposed in me. I won’t take this trust for granted.

“The National Working Committee under me as elected today is poised to deliver. We are committed to repositioning our party for 2027, and this we will do vigorously.

“I urge all other elected officials at all levels to key into this new move to reposition our dear party for optimal performance.

“We will not tolerate anything short of the expected standards and benchmarks drawn to keep you on your toes.

“The National Secretary will issue directives to this effect soon.”

Nigeria’s telecom operators have kept Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services active as banks make significant progress in repaying their outstanding debts, preventing a potential disruption that could have impacted millions of users.

The banks, which were at risk of disconnection due to a N160bn debt, have made substantial progress in clearing their liabilities, ensuring continued access to the USSD platform—vital for customers without internet access.

In a January 15, 2024, notice, the Nigerian Communications Commission warned that nine banks would be cut off from USSD services by January 27 if they failed to clear debts accumulated since 2019. However, the banks acted quickly to resolve the issue, averting service disruptions.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed at a CEO forum in Lagos that the matter had been de-escalated.

“The matter has been de-escalated. Money has been paid, and we are making progress thanks to the regulators,” he said.

The nine banks that would have been affected by the NCC’s disconnection notice include Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.

The dispute began in 2019 when banks started incurring charges for using USSD services provided by telecom companies. However, many banks struggled to settle the charges, causing the debt to accumulate.

This enforcement is part of the first phase of a structured payment plan outlined in a December 20, 2024 memo from the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The memo details a three-phase payment obligation for banks to settle the N250bn debt, with specific deadlines for each phase.

The first phase requires banks to settle 60 per cent of all outstanding pre-API invoices by January 2, 2025.

The second phase mandates the full payment of all pre-API invoices by July 2, 2025. Finally, the third phase requires banks to settle 85 per cent of post-API invoices by December 31, 2025.

As part of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to emplace peace and public safety across the country, police operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command have achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism with the neutralisation of three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Operatives from the Command’s Tactical Unit following credible intelligence launched a coordinated operation on Friday aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts.

The police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA of the State. Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.

The operation resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe local government area of the State, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, which announced the feat on Saturday, said prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.

The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination. The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety. Members of the public are hereby urged to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens,” the Police spokesman added.

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army (NA) to various command, staff and instructional positions in a major shake-up in the Service.

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the development was a move to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

He said the redeployment involves Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of Army training institutions, Brigade Commanders and other key positions.

He said, “The reshufflement underscores Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges.”

He named some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs at the Army Headquarters to include Maj Gen LA Fejokwu, from National Defence College to Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army), Maj Gen GU Chibuisi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Department of Civil-Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil-Military Affairs and Maj Gen AS Ndalolo, also from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Department of Army Training and appointed Chief of Training.

Maj Gen OS Abai, moves from Department of Army Training to Department of Army Transformation and Innovation as hief of Transformation and Innovation and Maj Gen JH Abdussalam moves from Headquarters 6 Division to the Department of Special Services and Programmes and appointed Chief of Special Services and Programmes.

In the same vein, Maj Gen EI Okoro has been redeployed from the Department of Army Logistics to the Department of Military Secretary and appointed Military Secretary (Army).

Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) include Maj Gen OT Olatoye from Nigerian Army School of Infantry to Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) South-East Operation UDO KA (OPUK) as GOC 82 Division/Commander JTF OPUK and Maj Gen EF Oyinlola from Department of Military Secretary to Headquarters 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH).

The acting appointments of Maj Gen AGL Haruna as GOC 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 JTF North-East Operation HADIN KAI and Maj Gen IA Ajose as GOC 8 Division/Commander Sector 2 JTF North-West Operation FANSAN YANMA, among others, have been confirmed substantive in the recent redeployment.

Other senior officers redeployed are Maj Gen GO Adeshina from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre and appointed Director General while Maj Gen GM Mutkut is posted from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Multi National Joint Task Force Njamena, Chad, as the Force Commander.

The redeployment also featured Maj Gen MC Kangye from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Defence Headquarters as the Director, Media Operations.

Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj Gen OC Ajunwa from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps and appointed Commander, Maj Gen HT Wesley from the Department of Special Services and Programmes to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, appointed Commander and Maj Gen TT Numbere from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers and appointed Commander. Others include Maj Gen NC Ugbo from Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals and appointed Commander, Maj Gen ZL Abubakar from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander and Maj Gen AP Oguntola from Nigerian Army College of Education Science and Technology to Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps and appointed Corps Commander.

Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj Gen JO Sokoya, who is appointed Commandant Nigerian Army Training Centre, Maj Gen UM Alkali is appointed Commandant Army War College Nigeria, while Maj Gen FS Etim moves from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Nigerian Army School of Infantry and appointed Commandant. Maj Gen AB Mohammed has been redeployed from the Department of Army Operations to Depot Nigerian Army and appointed commandant.

Other newly appointed senior officers are Maj Gen IE Ekpenyong, who is now Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering and Maj Gen AO Adegbite is appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, while Brig Gen AM Umar was redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to Warrant Officers Academy and appointed Commandant, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, therefore, directed all newly appointed senior officers to bring renewed vigour, dedication and commitment to their duties, particularly while ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security.

He equally charged them to ensure that the welfare of troops remain paramount as they assume their new appointments.