AIDS Fight Must Reach Rural Communities, Says IHVN FCT Regional Manager

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November 28, 2025

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has lauded the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, FNSE, for what he described as a highly successful and impactful four-year tenure.

In a letter issued by the Office of the SGF and signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Akume commended Engr. Ahmad’s dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to national development, particularly his contributions to the growth of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to national development, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, are duly noted and commendable. As you move on to the next phase of your career, kindly accept the best wishes of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for continued success and fulfilment,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approved the full payment of severance entitlements to the outgoing Executive Secretary, acknowledging his meritorious service up to the completion of his tenure on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), was appointed Executive Secretary of the FCDA on November 22, 2021, and successfully completed his four-year mandate.

Group Seeks Arrest, Prosecution of Hoodlums Over Attacks on FCTA Officials, Destruction of Property in Kuchibena

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November 27, 2025

A group under the auspice of the civil society organisation, Pro-Impact Initiative, has decried the renewed wave of violence in the Kuchibena community of Kafe District, Abuja, calling on security agencies to urgently arrest and prosecute hoodlums who attacked officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and set ablaze a truck conveying construction materials.

The group expressed concern that the attacks, if left unchecked, could degenerate into broader security threats within the Federal Capital Territory. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director of the group, Dr. Osamudiamen Isokpehi, described the incidents as “reckless assaults on constituted authority” that must not be tolerated.

“The unfolding criminalities in Kuchibena community are a source of concern to us,” Isokpehi said.

“On Monday, November 24, 2025, officials of the Development Control Department came under attack during a post-removal cleanup exercise in Winning Clause Estate, during which their vehicle was vandalised in broad daylight.”

According to the group, the situation escalated when hoodlums launched another attack on Wednesday night, destroying buildings and setting a truck on fire.

“The assailants vandalised a truck delivering construction materials into the estate and later set it ablaze. Several buildings were also affected, as window glasses were shattered during the attack. This is totally unacceptable,” the statement added.

The Pro-Impact Initiative stated that its findings showed that the enforcement actions taken by FCTA officials were backed by four court judgments three from the FCT High Court and one from the Court of Appeal which affirmed that the developers of Winning Clause Estate had fully compensated the indigenous community.

“Following our investigations, we make bold to state, like the judges of the four courts, that Winning Clause Estate has fully compensated those on its property and even overcompensated them,” the group said.

It faulted former Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department, Tanko Yamaho, accusing him of misleading natives by claiming they had not received compensation.

“Even Yamaho himself knows clearly that they have been compensated severally and even saw them with the money. So why is he now misleading them?” the CSO queried.

The group urged the FCT Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security chiefs to act decisively.

“We hereby call on the FCT Police Commissioner, the Director DSS and other security chiefs in the FCT to immediately bring these criminal hoodlums to book before they wreak more dangerous havoc. Enough is enough.”

It would be recalled that, the developers of Plot 67, Cadastral Zone C05, Kafe District, maintained that the Kuchibena community was compensated at least three times in 2011, 2015, and 2016 but refused to vacate the land despite repeated court rulings affirming the company’s ownership.

Counsel to Winning Clause Nigeria Limited, O. Marx Ikongbeh, Esq, told journalists during the enforcement exercise that the land was allocated to the company in 2011 under the Abuja Mass Housing Programme.

He explained that the company met a small settlement of about 20 houses when it took possession and initiated compensation procedures. However, despite receiving funds, the community repeatedly resorted to litigation.

“Compensation was paid not once, not twice, but three times,” Ikongbeh said.

“In its 2016 judgment, the FCT High Court ruled that the natives had no legal claim to compensation and declared them trespassers who must vacate the land.”

He noted that even after the judgment, the company continued to engage the community on humanitarian grounds, particularly as the settlement expanded due to illegal land sales.

“The Court of Appeal, in February 2025, upheld the company’s ownership, directed the villagers to vacate, and mandated the FCT Minister to give the company vacant possession.”

He revealed that the community also demanded money for traditional rites to “relocate their ancestors,” a request that was granted in 2016 under an agreement brokered by the Sa’peyi of Garki.

Despite the judgments and multiple compensations, he said the community continued expanding illegally, encroaching into parts of Ring Road 3 and selling land to non-natives who constructed buildings without approval.

Ondo Secures Slot in €18.3m Germany–EU Agriculture Project

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November 27, 2025

has been listed among seven states to benefit from a €18.3 million climate-smart agriculture programme jointly backed by the German government, the European Union and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The initiative, known as the EU-VACE TARED Project, is designed to revitalise key agricultural value chains and strengthen rural economies. Running from October 2024 to September 2028, the project will be implemented by the German development agency GIZ in partnership with federal ministries and participating state governments.

Under the scheme, four major value chains — cocoa, dairy, tomatoes and ginger — will receive targeted support aimed at improving productivity, upgrading processing capacity and boosting farmers’ access to finance. The project also plans to equip smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with new skills and technologies while promoting climate-smart practices to reduce environmental impact.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola, described the state as a conducive and secure environment for agricultural investment when he hosted the project team in Akure. He said the state government is eager to collaborate and tap into opportunities the initiative will bring to local farmers and the wider economy.

The EU-VACE TARED programme is part of broader development cooperation efforts between Nigeria, the EU and Germany under the Global Gateway framework, aimed at strengthening food security, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth across the country.

Reps Demand Full Disclosure from EFCC on Crude Oil Seizures, Question Lack of Naira-for-Crude Investigations

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November 26, 2025

ABUJA – The House of Representatives has demanded complete records of all crude oil seizures and sales from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), expressing concern over the anti-graft agency’s failure to conduct specific investigations into the government’s Naira-for-Crude-Oil policy.

During a resumed investigative hearing on Wednesday, the Ad-hoc Committee on the Implementation and Oversight of the Naira-for-Crude-Oil Policy challenged the EFCC’s incomplete documentation, which contained empty fields for crucial details like volume and grade of seized crude oil.

Committee Chairman Emerengwa Boniface Sunday directed the Commission to provide comprehensive data on all crude oil seizures under its supervision, including disposal rates, end users, and transaction currencies.

“The documents you submitted, including payment evidence, need more clarity on how the remitted amounts to the EFCC were calculated,” said Rep. Muhammed Bello Shehu, highlighting significant gaps in the agency’s submission. “In the same tables, the columns for crude volume and grade show ‘nil, nil,’ yet there should be a section indicating the value of what was seized.”

EFCC Special Adviser on Regulatory Compliance, Francis Usani, acknowledged that the agency had not conducted any direct investigations specifically under the Naira-for-Crude initiative, despite the policy being launched in 2024 to stabilize the naira and support domestic refineries.

“It is surprising that the national anti-graft agency has not investigated the Naira-for-Crude policy, which is a major government initiative aimed at easing operations for domestic refineries and reducing pressure on the naira and dollar,” Rep. Shehu stated. “Nigerians deserve transparency on this.”

The EFCC representative committed to revising the submission to include full details, clarifying that the agency primarily handles crude oil seizures rather than refined products.

The hearing was adjourned to December 4, 2025, with Chairman Sunday emphasizing that the probe represents constitutional oversight to strengthen Nigeria’s economic framework, not target any individual or institution.

Follow NewsFocus for continuing coverage of legislative investigations and economic policy oversight.

Reps Probe Delayed Stipends for Nigerian Students Abroad, Citing “Breach of National Trust”

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November 26, 2025

ABUJA – The House of Representatives has launched a major investigation into the prolonged non-payment of scholarship stipends to Nigerian students studying abroad, with lawmakers describing the situation as a “breach of national trust” that threatens the academic futures of the nation’s youth.

During an investigative hearing on Wednesday, the House Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing heard alarming testimony that students under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship have received no stipends for the entire 2025 fiscal year, with some arrears dating back to 2023.

Committee Chairman Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero condemned the delays as symptomatic of deeper bureaucratic failures. “A nation that sends its students abroad must be committed to funding them, guiding them, and protecting their dignity as an investment in the country’s future,” Ehindero stated.

Parents representing the Forum of Parents and Guardians of BEA Scholarship Recipients provided detailed evidence of the crisis, revealing that award letters guarantee beneficiaries a $500 monthly supplement, $600 annual allowance for feeding and books, $250 warm clothing allowance, $200 health insurance, and a $60,000 take-off grant—commitments the government has consistently failed to meet.

“The delays have severely hindered students’ ability to cover basic living expenses, jeopardizing their health, safety, and academic progress,” Forum Chairman Prince Ponfa A. Wuyep told lawmakers.

The investigation comes amid reports that currency fluctuations between the naira and dollar have caused payment shortfalls since 2023, compounding the scholarship program’s administrative challenges.

Speaker of the House Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Rep. David Agada, expressed grave concern that the payment delays “could negatively affect students’ education and motivation,” pledging that the 10th Assembly would work to improve administrative efficiency in scholarship disbursements.

The committee has committed to identifying the root causes of the funding gaps and ensuring proper processes are implemented to prevent future failures in the critical scholarship program.

Senate Launches Probe Into Kebbi School Attack, Troop Withdrawal; Proposes Death Penalty for Kidnapping

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November 26, 2025

ABUJA – The Senate has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Kebbi school abduction, including the controversial withdrawal of soldiers prior to the attack, while proposing radical new measures including the death penalty for kidnapping offenses.

During a heated plenary session on Wednesday, the Red Chamber directed its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, Police Affairs, and Interior to probe both the Kebbi incident and the recent killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State, with particular focus on allegations that his location was compromised by his own team.

The Senate resolved that “the relevant sections of the nation’s extant law should be amended to make act of kidnapping carry death sentence without option of fine,” marking one of the most severe proposed responses to Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic.

The investigation, which must report back within two weeks, will examine the withdrawal of soldiers from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga just before ISWAP fighters invaded the institution, killed the vice principal, and abducted over 25 students.

The session grew contentious when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe challenged the government’s accountability, asking: “Who asked them? Nobody knows. If I were the Commander-in-Chief, I would demand answers.”

Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole escalated the confrontation, demanding: “Who ordered the military to withdraw? That person should be tried for terrorism.” The Senate subsequently adopted this demand among its resolutions.

The chamber also witnessed an uproar when Senator Seriake Dickson accused the majority caucus of “managing the issues rather than confronting them,” resulting in his microphone being cut off by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Beyond the investigations, the Senate outlined a comprehensive security response, including the establishment of a Joint Task Force covering the Kwara-Kogi corridor, immediate reconstruction of the Idofian-Omu-Aran-Eruku-Egbe-Kabba federal highway, and enhanced intelligence-driven operations across multiple states.

In a significant policy shift, the Senate advised the Federal Government to “review Nigeria’s firearm law to reflect current security challenges,” noting that over 175 countries permit responsible citizens to own guns.

The Senate leadership was mandated to brief President Tinubu on all resolutions, encouraging him to “persevere in his efforts” amid the worsening security crisis.

Follow NewsFocus for continuing coverage of national security developments and legislative actions.

ADC Accuses Tinubu Administration of “Expanding Banditry Economy” Through Terrorist Negotiations

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November 26, 2025

ABUJA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy, accusing the federal government of “expanding the banditry economy” through negotiations with terrorists while effectively enforcing Boko Haram’s ideology through widespread school closures.

In a strongly-worded press conference on Wednesday, ADC National Spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi declared that the administration’s approach to securing recent hostage releases represents a “dangerous and misguided path” that rewards criminal behavior.

“The Federal Government cannot fight insurgency by doing deals with bandits,” Abdullahi stated. “By appeasing insurgents in this manner, the government is, in effect, expanding the banditry economy.”

The opposition party’s condemnation comes amid conflicting government accounts about the release of kidnapped schoolchildren in Kebbi State and worshippers in Kwara State, with officials offering explanations ranging from peaceful negotiations to terrorists voluntarily surrendering weapons.

The ADC particularly criticized the government’s decision to close dozens of schools across northern states, arguing that “a government that quietly negotiates with insurgents and then shuts down schools to avoid further kidnappings has, in effect, conceded ground to terror.”

“What we are witnessing is the creeping paralysis of our society and the gradual shutting down of our country,” Abdullahi said. “Terrorists are now dictating government decisions and reshaping the future of our children.”

The party questioned the transparency of the hostage releases, demanding to know whether ransoms were paid and why perpetrators were not arrested. They cited the Inspector General of Police’s statement that Kwara church attackers “came out voluntarily for the peace talk” and Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga’s suggestion that abductees were released because security operatives “asked them nicely.”

Calling for immediate action, the ADC urged the administration to reopen schools with proper security measures, determine the exact number of children still in captivity, and abandon negotiation tactics that perpetuate what they termed a “vicious cycle of terror.”

Niger Rep Raises Alarm: Bandits Overrun Borgu–Agwara, 303 Students Abducted

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Roland Edet

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November 26, 2025

Niger Rep Raises Alarm: Bandits Overrun Borgu–Agwara, 303 Students Abducted

The lawmaker representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, has issued a stark warning over the deepening insecurity in his constituency, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly as bandits tighten their grip on communities.

Addressing journalists after Wednesday’s special plenary, Hon. Ali called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban Borgu, to deploy decisive measures to halt the escalating attacks that, he said, threaten to overrun the entire Borgu Emirate.

The lawmaker’s alarm follows a string of violent attacks, including the abduction of 303 students, 12 teachers, and a community leader from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area on November 21. He confirmed that 50 of the students have so far escaped and reunited with their families.

Hon. Ali also recounted how his convoy was ambushed on November 4 during a condolence visit between Agwara and Babanna in Borgu LGA, resulting in casualties. He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), DSS, and the Nigerian Army for their swift intervention, including deploying a helicopter to extract him and members of his entourage.

The lawmaker further reported additional killings, including the murder of three family members at Gidan Guga on November 2, with the surviving patriarch currently receiving treatment at Usmanu DanFodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

He said several communities Boyiya and Bakin Bara have been completely displaced, while others such as Aika, Kuka, Dekara, Kerenji, Saminaka, and Audu Fari are now “fully under bandits’ control.”

According to him, the attackers operate from the vast Kainji and Ibbi National Parks, launching coordinated assaults on communities in Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara States, as well as border communities in the Benin Republic. He alleged that many of the armed groups comprise foreign nationals who speak neither Hausa nor other local languages.

Hon. Ali also revealed that a month earlier, bandits ambushed and killed four security personnel between Babanna and Lumma, while a Fulani clan leader was assassinated in broad daylight at the Lumma police station for resisting their demands.

“The situation is dire. If the government does not intervene immediately, these criminals may take full control of the entire federal constituency in the coming months,” he warned, adding that residents are being forced into dangerous compromises with the bandits to survive.

He urged the Federal Government to prioritise clearing Kainji National Park, which he described as the insurgents’ operational headquarters.

Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval for First Ambassadorial Nominees Since 2023 Recall

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November 26, 2025