Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), a former chief of army staff, has cautioned that the expansion of the Nigerian Police Force and other civilian security agencies is being undermined by the troops’ extensive presence throughout the country’s 36 states.
In order to bolster internal security activities, military forces are reportedly currently stationed throughout Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.

In his keynote speech at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day lecture in Abuja on Monday, Buratai contended that the development was undermining the Nigeria Police Force’s capabilities.

According to Buratai, “the widespread use of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in internal security offers instant stability, but it also perpetuates a cycle of dependency that weakens civil police capacity and strains defense resources.”

He claims that the situation has led to a hazardous imbalance where the Armed Forces are less prepared for conventional threats, the military is overburdened, and defense budgets are diverted to routine policing activities.

Buratai pointed out that according to the constitution, the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s main duties are to defend the country from foreign aggression, preserve territorial integrity, put down uprisings, and support civil authorities as needed.

But he emphasized that, at its core, internal security should be intelligence-driven and led by civilians, with state security services and the police at the forefront.

“The state intelligence services and the police should essentially be the civil-driven and intelligence-driven agencies in charge of internal security,” he stated.

He cautioned that the military’s primary duty of protecting the nation from outside threats should not be permanently replaced by tasks related to development and internal security.

Buratai stated, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain an essential force for national development and stability, but its expanded internal role must not compromise its core mandate or weaken civilian institutions.”

In order to maintain the military’s preparedness for its main purpose, the former army chief urged for a comprehensive, time-bound, and conditions-based disengagement strategy that would progressively transfer internal security responsibilities to civilian authorities.

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The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has extended condolences to NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, over the death of seven Gombe State Council members in a ghastly road accident

In a statement, signed by the Council Secretary Comrade Usman Chiji on behalf of the Chairman, Comrade Abu Nmodu described the incident as “devastating and deeply painful”.
He said “the untimely demise of the journalists has robbed the Union and the Nigerian media industry of dedicated professionals who made meaningful contributions to nation-building through their work”.

“The loss is particularly grievous given the prime ages of the deceased and their active participation in NUJ activities, and a great setback to the Union”
” The Council urges the National President to take solace in the fact that the departed colleagues had served diligently and paid their dues in their respective workplaces”.

The statement further encouraged the National President not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident, but to accept it as the will of Almighty God.
The NUJ Niger State Council said it shares in the moment of grief and sorrow with the National President, the NUJ Gombe State Council, as well as the government and people of Gombe State.
The Council then prayed that Allah forgives the shortcomings of the deceased, grants them Aljannatul Firdaus, and gives their families and loved ones the strength to bear the irreparable losses.

It would be recalled that about eleven journalists from the NTA Gombe Chapel were involved in a fatal road accident last weekend while returning from a wedding ceremony, resulting in the death of seven journalists, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced that a Nigerian national, Ibrahim  Ijaoba, is currently in its custody awaiting deportation following a final removal order.

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Civil society organizations, led by the Parliamentary Support and Advocacy Network and the Civil Rights Situation Room on Economic Reforms, have backed the leadership of the National Assembly on the ongoing review of Nigeria’s tax reform laws.

The four key statutes under scrutiny — the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025 — represent a major overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework.
The laws, passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu earlier in 2025, are intended to simplify tax administration, enhance revenue collection, and improve the investment climate. They are scheduled to take off on January 1, 2026.

However, in recent weeks reports have emerged of discrepancies between the versions approved by lawmakers and the officially gazetted copies.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the CSOs, speaking through the Convener, Comrade Ogiri John, commended the Speaker and the Senate President for what they described as a “measured, constitutionally grounded, and institutionally exemplary” response to public concerns over the recently assented tax legislations.

The civic groups maintained that the scrutiny being conducted on the laws by the National Assembly is healthy for democracy but must be rooted in facts and procedure.
“Having undertaken a careful and dispassionate examination, we are convinced that the response of the National Assembly Leadership has been exemplary in its adherence to constitutionalism and institutional self-regulation,” John said, adding that the actions taken by the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas-led House and the Senate leadership are fully aligned with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Acts Authentication Act, and established parliamentary rules.
According to them, the scrutiny by the National Assembly is an admission of any deficiency, nor an erosion of authority. Rather, they explained that it represents the deliberate exercise of institutional responsibility.

The CSOs lauded the directive issued to the Clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate the re-gazetting of the Acts and to provide Certified True Copies upon request.
The move, they said, “would enhance transparency, restore public confidence, and affirm that citizens and institutions must have unimpeachable access to the authentic law”.
“The stakes are profound. These tax reform laws will fundamentally shape Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, economic incentives, investment climate, revenue mobilisation, and prospects for inclusive growth.

“Precision in law-making is not delay; it is duty. Certainty in law is not weakness; it is strength,” John added, while appealing to Nigerians, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to exercise patience and allow the constitutional review process to conclude without undue pressure.
The civic groups reaffirmed their support for transformative economic reforms while stressing their unwavering commitment to the rule of law and institutional integrity.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, hinted at reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national convention may not hold.

PDP scheduled its National convention for hold in Ibadan, Oyo State come November.
However, Wike said if the crisis in the party is not resolved, the convention may not hold.

Speaking during his monthly media chat, the Minister said: “The issue of the National convention is not the problem, the issue is the problems leading to the convention and people should understand that.
“PDP has agreed to setup a committee for the Southeast and Ebonyi.
“Our own team is meeting by 7pm today and you will hear what we have to say. We are not contesting the venue of the convention, what we are saying is that the things leading to the convention if they are not well taken care of, there are likelihood that the convention will not hold

“And instead of you to report what we have said accurately, some people say because I’m quarreling with Seyi that is why I said the convention will not hold in Ibadan.
“The venue is not the subject matter. The subject matter is have you done what you are supposed to do before holding that convention? So you now go and turn it that I said Ibadan will not hold the convention, no that is not correct.
“We have held conventions in different venues before – we have held conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja, so the party can decide whether to hold it in Sokoto or Borno but what we are saying is before you get to the convention, have you done what you are supposed to do?

“If you have not done it, it may be a set back and the PDP from what I learnt have taken some steps to see that the issues are being resolved and if resolved to the satisfaction of the complaint, no problem but if they are not of course they will take action.”

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The Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, have emphasised the importance of implementing the National Single Window, NSW.

Both services stated that President Bola Tinubu has given them a target to implement the project by the first quarter of 2026.
This formed the central issue during a high-level meeting between the leadership of the two agencies in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to them, the project is of utmost importance to President Tinubu.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, while speaking on the importance of collaboration between the agencies, said there must be room for the exchange of ideas between them.

“We are here to exchange ideas and have open discussions that will help our preparations for the National Single Window,” he said.
“This project is important to Mr President,” he added, noting that this particular project has been listed among the Tinubu government’s key policies.
Speaking, FIRS chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, said, “Mr President has given us till the first quarter of 2026.”

He explained that he was at the meeting to support the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller-General in achieving the National Single Window.

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