President Bola Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, the former Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who passed away on Wednesday.

The President conveyed his sorrow upon receiving the news of Ojougboh’s demise.

Dr. Ojougboh, a former member of the House of Representatives (2003-2007) and a prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, contributed significantly to both legislative and political spheres.

Tinubu extended his condolences to the government and people of Delta State, acknowledging the tragic loss they have suffered.

In his message, the President offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed soul. He sought to provide solace to the grieving family, urging them to find strength and hope in God Almighty, the ultimate overseer of human affairs. Tinubu also encouraged them to draw comfort from the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the late APC stalwart.

The untimely passing of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who reportedly breathed his last while watching the football match between Nigeria and South Africa, marks a somber moment for the political community and the nation at large. The President’s condolences reflect a recognition of the significant contributions made by the late APC chieftain.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, expresses confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, assuring Nigerians of far-reaching and massive gains.

Sylva, who campaigned for Tinubu during the Bayelsa State governorship election, emphasizes his alignment with the president’s economic blueprint.

Sylva’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Julius Bokoru, dismisses claims linking the former governor to an article critical of Tinubu’s economic policies, labeling it an attempt to create discord between Sylva and Tinubu. Bokoru asserts that Sylva has remained steadfast in supporting Tinubu’s ideals and attributes the article to political schemes aimed at tarnishing Sylva’s image.

Bokoru emphasizes that the author of the article is not Sylva’s spokesperson and the expressed views do not represent Sylva’s stance. He condemns the act as an unintelligent and classless attempt to undermine Sylva’s reputation, attributing it to individuals with a history of antagonism against the Federal Government.

The Defence Headquarters declares that Nigeria is at war and calls on citizens to unite with the military to win the ongoing war against terrorism.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operation, highlights the need for citizens to recognize their role in the conflict and emphasizes the importance of unity.

General Buba stresses that the security challenges facing Nigeria are mostly self-inflicted and urges citizens to rise to the challenge.

He acknowledges the sacrifices of the armed forces and calls on all segments of society to emulate the resilience and unity displayed by the troops on the frontlines.

Providing updates on counterterrorism operations, General Buba reveals that in January 2024 alone, troops killed 266 terrorists, arrested 463, and rescued 116 kidnapped hostages.

Additionally, the military recovered various weapons and ammunition, foiled oil theft, and prevented the theft of an estimated sum of N2,821,503,962.00.

Despite recent challenges, General Buba reassures the public of the military’s commitment to restoring peace and security.

He underscores the ongoing efforts of troops and emphasizes the goal of achieving a secure and peaceful environment for all citizens.

In the week under review, troops neutralized 105 terrorists, arrested 140, and rescued 86 kidnapped hostages. The military also seized weapons, ammunition, and disrupted oil theft activities in the Niger Delta region.

General Buba concludes by asserting that the Armed Forces will continue to hunt and destroy terrorists across the country professionally, offering the two choices for the insurgents: surrender or face elimination.

President Bola Tinubu expresses deep sadness at the passing of His Royal Majesty, Obi Joseph Chike Edozien (CFR), the Asagba of Asaba. In a condolence message relayed through his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu extends heartfelt condolences to the family, Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, the government, and the people of Delta State.

Celebrating the impactful life of the late monarch and distinguished professor of medicine, President Tinubu acknowledges the Asagba’s advocacy for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and his inimitable role in forging partnerships across divides.

President Tinubu reflects on the legacy of His Royal Majesty, emphasizing a life defined by lofty ideals of peace, unity, patriotism, honesty, and dignity. He expresses the sorrow of losing a figure at a time when Nigeria requires more peace-builders and bridge-builders.

The President offers prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed monarch and urges the Royal Family and all those mourning this significant loss to find solace in the enduring legacies of His Royal Majesty.

The Federal House of Representatives in Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to suspend its planned recall of Nigerian heads of chancery from foreign missions abroad. The resolution was made following a motion of urgent public importance titled “Urgent Need to halt the move to recall all Nigerian heads of chancery from Nigeria’s Foreign Missions abroad,” presented by Mr. Umar Ajilo, the representative of Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.

President Bola Tinubu had recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career, on September 2, 2023, with a deadline for their return set for October 31, 2023. The recall, communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, affects over 300 foreign missions.

Hon. Ajilo highlighted the crucial functions of Nigeria’s heads of diplomatic missions, emphasizing their role in representing the government, presenting policies, safeguarding nationals’ interests, and providing public services for Nigerians abroad, including documentation and citizens’ evacuation from dangerous locations.

The motion expressed concern over the potential hazards of recalling all heads of chancery while Nigeria has no ambassadors, suggesting it could be viewed as a sign of political instability, impacting diplomatic relations and service delivery to Nigerians abroad.

The House urged the Federal Government to suspend any plans for recalling heads of chancery from foreign missions and mandated the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to collaborate with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to address issues related to Nigeria’s foreign missions, reporting back to the House for further legislative actions.

In a motion titled “Need to implement global standards on national policy on education,” sponsored by Hon. Moshood Oshun, the Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Education to implement global standards for enhancing the country’s education sector. The motion, adopted during Thursday’s plenary, emphasizes the importance of aligning the nation’s education curricula with global benchmarks to address diverse student needs and prioritize skills acquisition.

Hon. Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, Lagos State, highlighted the necessity of special needs education to cater to individual requirements, especially for students with disabilities. Quoting Section 18(1) of the Constitution, he stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

Expressing concern over the current inadequacies in public schools, including the shortage of qualified staff, learning materials, and specialized facilities for students with special needs, Hon. Oshun called for reforms to address these lapses in the education system.

The lawmaker underscored the need for awareness and understanding of special education laws and policies among educators and parents, pointing out gaps in implementation and support for special needs students.

The House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to fully implement the National Policy on Education concerning Special Needs Education. Additionally, it called for the allocation of adequate resources to create a conducive learning environment in public schools for pupils and students with special needs.

To ensure prompt implementation, the House mandated the Committee on Disabilities to investigate the non-implementation of the National Policy on Special Needs Education and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.