National News
AREGBESOLA LAUDS NSCDC FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, CHARGES ON SYNERGY, EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.

AREGBESOLA LAUDS NSCDC FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, CHARGES ON SYNERGY, EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
By: Michael Mike
In a bid to assess the level of performance and achievements recorded so far by the Ministry of interior with respect to its mandates and identifying priority areas which requires improvement towards the realization of good governance, NSCDC hosted the 3rd and 4th Quarter 2021 Performance Review Meeting of the Ministry and its Services/Departments from July To December 2021.
The meeting which was chaired by the Minister of Interior, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola had in attendance, the Parmanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ably represented by Ag. DCG Administration, Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, fdc, CG Nigeria Immigration Service, Correctional and Fire Service as well as the Director/ Secretary Board, Hajia Aisha Rufai and other Directors from the Ministry of Interior.
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Reviewing the activities of the various Agencies and Departments under his supervision, the Minister spoke extensively on raising the bar of performance and accountability of the Ministry. He expressed satisfaction over the performance of its services and emphasized on the need to rekindle efforts in tackling the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation.
He assured of his readiness to give quality leadership to the various services under his Ministry for improved service delivery and lauds the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni and the entire Corps for living up to its responsibilities within the period under review.
He commended the various transformational programs initiated by the Corps within the last one year which has raised the morale of personnel and changed the narratives of the service in addition to the visible improvement in the dressings of officers of the service which he noted upon his arrival at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja.
He applauded the CG NSCDC for the initiative in forming the Female Squad which is helping to protect School children from the clutches of kidnappers in many parts of the country and the introduction of additional New Uniform to its array of uniforms for better public appearance and performance.
Aregbesola emphasized on synergy and collaboration between its various agencies and charges NSCDC and Federal Fire Service to work out modalities towards effective partnership in the area of security coverage and protection of firemen and women who are often exposed to horrendous harassments and molestations in the cause of carrying out their lawful duties on one hand and with the Nigeria Correctional Service to provide support in fortifying Nigerian Prisons towards putting an end to the rising wave of jail attacks in the country.
In his remark, Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior emphasized that the take home from the meeting for the different agencies and departments under the ministry of Interior is for all stakeholders to put on a new toga of quality service and redouble efforts towards achieving the ministry’s set goals.
He reiterated that the various security challenges the nation is facing today is surmountable if we all contribute our quota by doing the right thing at the right time.
AREGBESOLA LAUDS NSCDC FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, CHARGES ON SYNERGY, EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
National News
International Day of Democracy/ ActionAid Nigeria Demands Good Governance

International Day of Democracy/ ActionAid Nigeria Demands Good Governance
By: Michael Mike
As the world commemorates the International Day of Democracy under the theme, “From Voice to Action,” ActionAid Nigeria has insisted on good governance and the repair of the fractures in the nation’s democracy in order to ensure its foundational pillars are not eroded.
A statement on Monday by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu noted that the theme of the day serves as a powerful call to move beyond merely expressing the will of the people (voice) to taking decisive steps to translate that will into tangible results and good governance (action).
He noted that: For Nigeria, this year’s commemoration is not a theoretical exercise; it is an urgent demand for a system where the voice of the people is not just heard, but is acted upon to repair the fractures in our democracy and ensure its foundational pillars are not eroded.”
Mamedu also noted that “Our democracy is at a critical juncture. While we have sustained a continuous civilian rule for over two and a half decades, the promise of democracy, accountability, good governance, and credible elections remains, for many, an illusion.”
He highlighted the recent 2025 Chandler Good Government Index, which ranked Nigeria at a dismal 116th out of 120 countries, and the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which places us 33rd out of 54 African nations, stating that these “are not mere statistics; they are a damning indictment of a system that is failing to deliver on its most basic duties. This trust deficit is palpable and it stems from a leadership that often operates without genuine accountability to the citizens it purports to serve.”
He added that these figures, alongside a national unemployment rate that has remained stubbornly high and a multidimensional poverty index showing that a third of our population lives in abject poverty, paint a picture of a democracy that is not delivering on its promise.
He noted that the Rivers State situation in 2025 serves as a chilling testament to this democratic regression, a situation where a state of emergency was declared to settle political scores.
He further noted that the situation with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan further questions Nigeria’s rule of law and the abuse of power within our legislative arm, lamenting that despite a court order and the expiration of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, the National Assembly has continued to bar her from resuming her duties, citing a pending appeal.
Mamedu said this refusal to adhere to a judicial pronouncement is a clear example of legislative impunity, and it disenfranchises the entire Kogi Central Senatorial District. He added that it is a deeply unsettling precedent that suggests political institutions can act as they please, with little regard for the checks and balances designed to protect the rights of citizens and their elected representatives.
He stressed that this deliberate obstruction of a lawmaker’s mandate is not just an attack on an individual; it is an assault on the core tenets of representative democracy and a clear message that dissent will not be tolerated, even when it is legally sanctioned.
He said: “As we confront these domestic challenges, we must draw lessons from global trends, particularly from the Gen Z-led movement for accountability and democratic reform in Nepal. Angered by systemic corruption and a lavish political elite, Nepalese youth took to the streets in 2025, demanding a government that serves the people rather than itself. Their digitally powered protests, which saw the use of social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram for mobilisation, culminated in the resignation of the Prime Minister and a push for a new political order. This movement is a powerful reminder that a digitally-native generation is no longer content with the status quo. They are demanding transparency, accountability, and a genuine say in whom their leaders are. For Nigeria’s democracy to thrive, it must empower its youth and engage with their demands for good governance, for it is this generation that will either inherit a broken system or build a more equitable one.”
He said on this International Day of Democracy, ActionAid Nigeria calls on all tiers of government and stakeholders, including the judiciary, civil society, and every Nigerian citizen, to demonstrate a renewed commitment to accountability. We demand the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to her senatorial seat in compliance with the Federal High Court’s judgment. The Presidency must be held accountable by refraining from actions that undermine federalism, as seen in the Rivers State crisis.
He added that: “The National Assembly must also be held accountable by playing its role of check and balance on the Executive arm. Furthermore, we call for the swift passage of electoral reform legislation, including provisions for electronic transmission of results, to ensure our electoral process is transparent and accountable. We also call on our Judiciary to actually be the hope of the common man and be bold and quick in giving judgements on issues that are of national interest and have bearing on interpretation of our constitution, like the case of the ability of the President to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and remove an elected Governor and serving State House of Assembly Members.
International Day of Democracy/ ActionAid Nigeria Demands Good Governance
National News
NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna

NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have carried out a precision strike on a notorious bandit hideout in Kunti, within Sohon Gaya community of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Zagazola learnt that the operation followed credible intelligence reports of heightened bandit activities in the axis, with the criminals reportedly wielding sophisticated weapons, including assault rifles and heavy-calibre arms.
Sources confirmed that at about 1200hrs, two NAF helicopters were sighted conducting the successful strike on the location, which had been a source of terror to the surrounding communities.
In the aftermath of the air interdiction, friendly ground troops arrived the target area in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to secure the location, assess battle damage and mop up fleeing elements of the bandits.
The timely synergy between air and ground components ensured effective neutralisation of the threats while also restoring confidence among residents of Sohon Gaya community.
NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna
National News
Hilda Baci Concludes GWR Jollof Rice Attempt, Awaits Confirmation

Hilda Baci Concludes GWR Jollof Rice Attempt, Awaits Confirmation
By Halima Abdulkadiri
Celebrity chef Hilda Baci on Saturday successfully wrapped up her ambitious bid to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the largest pot of jollof rice.
The reports gathered that Baci cooked approximately 200 bags of rice in a massive 22,619-litre pot, which measured six metres in both width and height. The cooking process lasted about nine hours.
She now awaits official confirmation from Guinness World Records on whether her feat will be certified as a new world record.
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