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Femi Pedro Assumes Office as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Pledges Stronger Trade, Diaspora Ties
Femi Pedro Assumes Office as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Pledges Stronger Trade, Diaspora Ties
By: Michael Mike
Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, has formally assumed office as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, pledging to deepen economic cooperation, boost trade and investment, and strengthen engagement with Nigerians living across Australia and the Pacific region.
Pedro officially commenced his diplomatic duties after presenting his Letters of Credence to the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms. Sam Mostyn AC, in a ceremony that marks the beginning of his tenure as Nigeria’s envoy to Australia, with concurrent accreditation to New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Oceanic states.
Describing the occasion as more than a ceremonial event, the envoy said his appointment represented a call to action aimed at expanding Nigeria’s footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
He noted that Nigeria and Australia enjoy a growing relationship anchored on shared Commonwealth values and mutual respect, stressing that both countries possess enormous opportunities for collaboration in strategic sectors, including critical minerals, agricultural innovation, education, technology and financial services.
According to him, Nigeria is open for business and ready to forge stronger partnerships capable of delivering economic growth and mutual prosperity.
Pedro pledged to work closely with the Australian government and stakeholders across the Pacific to attract investments, promote educational cooperation and encourage cultural exchanges that would benefit both nations.
The envoy also assured Nigerians residing in Australia and across the Oceanic states that the Nigerian mission under his leadership would remain accessible and responsive to their needs.
He said he was assuming office carrying not only the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but also the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
The High Commissioner disclosed that his diplomatic engagements would be guided by the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy doctrine anchored on the four pillars of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy, while also promoting the National Values Charter as part of efforts to project a positive image of Nigeria globally.
He urged Nigerians in the region to see themselves as ambassadors of the country and partners in nation-building, noting that the diaspora community remains a critical asset in advancing Nigeria’s interests abroad.
Nigeria and Australia have in recent years expanded cooperation in trade, mining, education and security, with both countries increasingly exploring opportunities in the critical minerals sector amid the global transition to clean energy. Australia is also home to a growing Nigerian community, many of whom are contributing significantly to academia, healthcare, business and technology.
Pedro’s assumption of office comes at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying economic diplomacy and seeking to leverage its diaspora communities to attract investments, promote exports and strengthen bilateral relations with key partners across the world.
Femi Pedro Assumes Office as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Pledges Stronger Trade, Diaspora Ties
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Kanfani JJibrin, PSC, MSPSP, SM. ICM has called on residents of Yobe State to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely, credible, and actionable information.
He said the prevailing peace and security in the state can only be sustained through mutual trust, collaboration, and coordinated efforts among all security agencies.
CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin revealed this while receiving the newly posted state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), CC Hassan Owuna, at his office.
He maintained that the command’s unwavering commitment to fostering stronger inter-agency collaboration through intelligence-led policing, joint security building, and other coordinated strategies aimed at preventing and combating crime, protecting critical national assets, and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
Earlier, the NSCDC Yobe State Commandant, CC Hassan Owuna, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the existing partnership between the police command and the NSCDC in Yobe State.
He emphasised the need for sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, and operational synergy among security agencies to effectively address emerging security challenges and enhance public safety.
CC Owuna expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to him and his members of his management team.
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, has confirmed the acting secretary to the state government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, as the substantive secretary to the state government.
Before appointing him as the secretary to the state government, Dr. Mohammed Goje was the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Dr. Mohammed Goje was appointed as the acting secretary to the Yobe State government on 29th April, 2026.
Governor Mai Mala Buni CON urged Dr. Mohammed Goje to justify his appointment as the substantive secretary to the state government through value addition to good governance and service delivery.
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
Woman Killed, Another Injured in Attack While Fetching Firewood in Plateau’s Mangu
By Zagazola Makama
One woman has been killed and another injured after suspected armed Fulani herders attacked two female villagers who had gone into the bush to fetch firewood in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 3 at Aloghom Village in Mangu LGA.
The sources said troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) swiftly responded to a distress call and moved to the scene, forcing the suspected attackers to flee before they could inflict further harm.
During a search of the area, the troops found the two victims, identified as Mrs. Priscilia Friday and Anna Obed Joseph, both with varying degrees of injuries.
The victims were immediately evacuated to Allah Nakowa Hospital for emergency treatment. However, medical personnel later confirmed Mrs. Priscilia Friday dead, while Anna Obed Joseph is receiving treatment.
Security sources said troops have intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, while patrols have been reinforced around the affected community to prevent further attacks.
The latest incident adds to the growing wave of violence in parts of Mangu Local Government Area, where security forces have continued to respond to attacks on civilians, livestock and farmlands amid ongoing efforts to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Woman Killed, Another Injured in Attack While Fetching Firewood in Plateau’s Mangu
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
Troops Impound 28 Livestock Over Illegal Grazing, Farm Destruction in Plateau’s Mangu
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