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Institution of Marriage Faces Extinction, Former Envoy Raises Alarm

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Institution of Marriage Faces Extinction, Former Envoy Raises Alarm

By: Michael Mike

The institution of marriage is on its way to extinction while infantilism and criminal propensities are fast being accepted as the new normal, former Nigerian Ambassador to Mozambique, Albert  Omotayo has lamented.

The former envoy, who In a bid to strengthen family ties in Nigeria and ensure nation building presented a book titled: “Fifty Reasons Why I Love You” to the public, decried that the rate of separation and  divorce in the country is soaring, insisting that this could only be checked with true love and strong marriage institution.

Speaking at the presentation of the book in Abuja on Tuesday, Omotayo who was a Private Secretary to former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he was the Federal Commissioner for Works in the 1970s and later as the Head of State said the battle against marriage and the family is fierce and sustained, yet soft and elusive.

Ambassador Omotayo who also inaugurated Qoodrat Adebola Abeni Omotayo Literary Award (QAAOLA) in honour of his wife said: “The rate of separation and divorce is soaring everywhere, the socio-intellectual movements which articulate marriage to be bondage that must be broken are gaining more ground and their disciples are fast growing.

“The world is getting drowned deeper in the sea of consumerism and instant creation, the root of world-wide economic hardship and inter-personal intolerance which is in turn  pushing our humanness to a dangerous limit and making ordinary relationships increasingly more difficult  to maintain.”

The former envoy also lamented that values in all walks of life are being turned upside-down in a counter-cultural protest against “old culture and tradition.”

The retired diplomat said he wrote the book not only to promote good family value system in Nigeria, but to also appreciate his wife whom he noted staunchly believes in marriage institution and transparently lives it.

On why he inaugurated a non-profit organisation for his wife who is also an Author, and who turned 50 on Tuesday, Omotayo said “The NGO is a literary award because the crusade is not about laws, it is about the reorientation of human mind which can be challenged and move to change only through writings in all manners of genre”

In his remarks, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada commended Omotayo for coming up with a book that touches on love at the family level and advised Nigerians to read the book which he noted is capable of strengthening family ties and creating a better society.

Omotayo’s wife, Abeni who is a former Chairperson of Ekiti State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), said she would continue to impact on lives and not relent in her efforts at promoting literary arts. She commended her husband for being a pillar of support.

A former National President of Association of Nigerian Authors, Denja Abdullahi, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Vicky Sylvester, the book reviewer, Miss Salamatu Sule, all commended Ambassador Omotayo for writing the book, and also described his wife as a virtuous woman.

Institution of Marriage Faces Extinction, Former Envoy Raises Alarm

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Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed

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Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed

By: Zagazola Makama

A combined security team was ambushed by armed men along the Kuzuntu axis of Anchau, Kubau Local Government Area, resulting in the death of a policeman and injuries to others.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 1455 hours on 3 December 2025, a team of security forces comprising of Nigerian Army, police, KADVS operatives, and local vigilantes on assignment at the government grazing reserve in Kuzuntu.

The team was on a request from the Kubau Local Government Council Chairman to accompany staff of an Agro Industry and local officials to take measurements of the grazing area.

The exercise was successfully completed; however, on their return, the team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be bandits.

Police Constable Sunday Ishaya was fatally shot, while several military personnel sustained injuries. The victims were rushed to a hospital for medical attention, where PC Ishaya was certified dead, and the injured are responding to treatment.

The deceased was deposited at General Hospital, Ikara.

Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed

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Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions

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Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions

*VP Shettima says economic reforms must deliver visible impact to Nigerians across states

By: Our Reporter

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the sum of N100 billion, subject to a final ratification by President Bola Tinubu, for rehabilitation of training institutions for police and other security agencies in Nigeria.

This followed recommendations by the adhoc committee earlier constituted to assess the state of police and security agencies’ training institution nationwide.

At its 154th meeting held virtually on Wednesday, NEC also approved the sum of and N2.6 billion for consultancy services for the project.

President Tinubu had at the 152nd meeting of NEC in October, proposed the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, had in his presentation to Council, underscored the urgency and significance of the condition of the training facilities, saying most of the training institutions are in dire condition.

Following the presentation by the Governor, the Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed the commitment of government to address the situation.

VP Shettima also charged governors of the 36 states of the federation to ensure that economic reforms by the state governments translate into clear, measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Noting that governance is meaningful only when citizens can feel its impact, the Vice President particularly urged all tiers of government to focus on execution rather than rhetoric.

He said the era of policy without results must give way to governance defined by tangible outcomes in communities across the country.

“Our task is not to admire problems, but to solve them. Not to explain challenges, but to overcome them. And not to hope for progress, but to engineer it.

“Today’s agenda speaks to our shared responsibility to build a nation where reforms translate into results, and where policies are not mere promises but convincing instruments of change felt in the markets, schools, clinics and farms across our federation,” the VP said.

Highlights of the meeting are follows:

NEC (7TH IN 2025) 154TH MEETING WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2025

UPDATES

The Accountant-General of the Federation gave update to Council on the under listed accounts as follows:

  1. EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)

Balance as at November, 2025 – $525,823.39

  1. STABLIZATION ACCOUNT

Balance as at November, 2025 – N71,647,494,101.12

  1. NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT

Balance as at November, 2025 – N79,252,769,532.35

PRESENTATION BY NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE UPDATE ON POLIO ERADICATION

The presentation to Council was made by the Chairman, Governor of Gombe State

Council noted that Since the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Polio was inaugurated earlier this year, the Committee has met four times—between June and November 2025. Each meeting has deepened political commitment, strengthened coordination, and ensured that states remain firmly engaged in the national push to interrupt the remaining variant poliovirus transmission.

Progress to date
Council noted that :

As of Week 47, Nigeria has recorded 73 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) this year—a 39% reduction from the 119 cases recorded during the same period in 2024. Six priority states account for 63% of total cases, with the majority coming from Sokoto (23), Zamfara (9), Kebbi (7), Gombe (2), Kano (3), and Katsina (2).

Of particular note is the progress made in the two states that have historically carried the highest burden:

a. Kano has achieved a 94% decline in cases compared to last year.

b. Katsina has recorded an 88% decline.

  • 13 new detections—12 cVPV2 and 1 cVPV3—have been confirmed across the country. Notably:

a. Gombe detected its first cases of the year—one in Dukku LGA (Acute Flaccid Paralysis) and one in Gombe LGA (environmental surveillance).

b. Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Nasarawa and Zamfara have also reported new cases, highlighting the need for intensified action.

First phase of the integrated Measles–Rubella, HPV, and Polio campaign across 20 northern states and Oyo. That exercise delivered meaningful gains:

i. 83% of all planned settlements were reached with geo-evidence.

ii. 92% and 95% of targeted children received the MR vaccine polio vaccine

iii. LQAS results showed 85% pass for MR and 86% for polio

  • In the six priority states:

i. Kano, Katsina, and Gombe passed LQAS, showing strong campaign quality.

ii. Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara did not meet the 80% threshold for LQAS, and revaccination conducted in the affected LGAs

A new round of nOPV2 campaigns will commence this December. The implementation will occur in two blocs:

i. Bloc A (12 northern states)—including Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara

ii. Bloc B (9 northern states)—including Gombe

  • This round is critical. It presents an opportunity for us to close remaining immunity gaps before year-end

Resolution:

i. Deputy Governors across the implementing states are encouraged to convene State Taskforce Meetings ahead of the campaign

  • State Governments are urged to work closely with security agencies to support safe access for vaccination teams, particularly in settlements affected by insecurity or hard-to-reach terrain.
  • LGA Chairmen should be fully involved in campaign oversight by chairing the Evening Review Meetings (ERMS), where daily performance is assessed, bottlenecks identified, and corrective measures taken in real time.

UPDATE ON THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING ON THE COST AND AVAILABILITY OF DOMESTIC GAS BY THE MINISTER OF PETROLEUM (GAS)

The Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo made a presentation on the cost and availability of domestic gas, particularly the payment of outstanding obligations to gas producers to encourage increased production and supply for domestic consumption.

Gas producers have a cumulative debt claim of $1bn for gas supplied to the power sector as far back as 2011 and ₦185bn (78%) of the total naira-denominated debt claims has been validated by submissions made by NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd (NGML) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); the variance is largely driven by NEPL’s claims against its GenCo customers and unreported claims against NGML by Shell, Seplat Energy and NUIMS.

His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on 4th April 2024, granted approval to urgently settle the ₦185 billion naira validated debt owed to gas producers through future oil and gas royalty deductions.

Following the transmission of the Presidential approval to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the NUPRC has engaged with the six (6) gas producers and agreed on a royalty deduction schedule.

Resolution:

Council commended the initiative and efforts of the committee, given Nigeria’s status as a largely gas nation.

It approved the committee’s prayers to among other things, concur with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the payment of outstanding obligations to the tune of ₦185 billion to gas producers to ensure improved supply of gas for domestic production.

Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions

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NSCDC Intensifies Anti-Corruption Fight, Inaugurates New Heads of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit

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NSCDC Intensifies Anti-Corruption Fight, Inaugurates New Heads of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reinforced its commitment to combating corruption by inaugurating new heads of its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and unveiling a robust Corruption Prevention Strategy.

Commandant General (CG) of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi on Wednesday charged the newly inaugurated ACTU heads to lead by example, enforce compliance without fear or favour, and resist undue pressure by upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The CG, represented by the Deputy Commandant General (Administration), DCG Adeyinka Ayinla, delivered the keynote address at a one-day sensitization workshop, inauguration ceremony, and integrity award event held at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.

Audi stated that the new NSCDC Corruption Prevention Strategy is designed to reduce misconduct, promote due process, and reinforce internal discipline within the Corps. He applauded the support of President Bola Tinubu, through the Minister of Interior, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, stressed that corruption undermines service delivery, erodes public confidence, distorts development priorities, and weakens the security architecture of a nation.

Aliyu, represented by Mr. Olusegun Adigun, assured the NSCDC of the Commission’s continued partnership in championing preventative measures across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and appreciated the Corps for its strong anti-corruption posture.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NSCDC ACTU, Acting Commandant Audrey Obeh, described the gathering as a “transformative moment” and a testament to the Corps’ dedication to integrity and national development. She commended the Commandant General for his visionary leadership, which has provided an enabling platform for the ACTU to thrive.

“The inauguration of ACTU Heads, integrity awards, and unveiling of the NSCDC corruption prevention strategy all demonstrate how we are intentionally strengthening the pillars of accountability within our system,” Commandant Obeh stated.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation of integrity awards to deserving officers and staff.

The CG of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi, received the Integrity Champion and Visionary Award.

The erstwhile Chairman of NSCDC ACTU, Commandant of Corps Remi Ekundayo, bagged the Distinguished ACTU Chairperson Emeritus Award.

Other recipients included ASCII Amanze Abraham Onyedikachi (ACTU Integrity, Ethics and Compliance Award), and CSC Aremu Rafiu (Kwara State Command), CSC Akinwande Adesola Comfort (Oyo State Command), SC Umar Abubakar Ladan (Borno State Command), and SC Yusuf Ibrahim Yusuf (Jigawa State Command), who all received the ACTU Outstanding Performance and Distinguished Service Award.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives from sister agencies, including the Controller General of Immigration, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

NSCDC Intensifies Anti-Corruption Fight, Inaugurates New Heads of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit

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