News
New Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro Resumes Duty
New Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro Resumes Duty
By: Michael Mike
The new Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has resumed duty at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Technical Assistant to the former Interim Administrator, Mr Ita Henshaw, handed over the notes to the Otuaro in a brief ceremony in Abuja on Monday.
In his speech, Otuaro said that he will not betray the trust reposed in him by the President and the National Security Adviser.
He said his mission in the Presidential Amnesty Office is to render quality service to the Niger region and the nation, stressing that there would be no room for failure.
Otuaro asked the members of staff to be focused and give him the requisite cooperation to move the establishment forward.
He assured that he is not in the Amnesty Office to pursue personal gains even as he urged the members of staff to embrace his principle.
Otuaro promised to bring the programme closer to the people
He said: “First and foremost, I greet everybody here. I thank Mr President for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve at this time.
“I need everybody’s cooperation here to take this programme to greatness.
“My appeal here is as from today we should back the crowd and face the job. I need everyone’s cooperation so we don’t disappoint the President, the NSA, the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
“I believe in this country. Everything about me is in this country and it is also in the Niger Delta.
“This assignment is for our people, for the country and for humanity. We are bringing the programme closer to the people. We will not use it to pursue things that are abstract.
“We will streamline whatever that we know that is giving us the load to provide excuses, we must streamline some things and we’ll work together.
“I will not disappoint my people, I will not disappoint Mr. President and National Security Adviser who gave me this appointment. I am not here to pursue personal goals, I am begging everybody to be on same with me.
“This is a serious time we are going to spend here, so I will make everything short. I thank everybody, we will get used to ourselves as time goes on,” he stated.
President Bola Tinubu had approved the appointment of Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme on Thursday night.
Otuaro’s appointment was announced by the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
Otuaro holds a PhD in Comparative Politics & Development Studies; an MSc in Public Administration, and a BSc in Education.
He had previously served as a top-level executive of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with experience across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development, security, environmental remediation as well as oil and gas.
New Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro Resumes Duty
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Three men have been arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal weapons dealings in Bauchi State, security sources said.
The suspects, identified as Peter Pama and Saleh Monday, both of Iburu, and Sunday Makama of Kasuwan Magani, were apprehended on Feb. 17 following intelligence on illicit arms activities.
Zagazola gathered that one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle and one fabricated pump-action gun from the suspects.
Investigations into the case are ongoing as security agencies work to determine the full extent of the arms network.
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have repelled an armed bandit attack in Gida Soda Village, Katsina State, neutralising two attackers and recovering a motorcycle, security sources said.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 17 when suspected bandits stormed the village. Troops, acting promptly in coordination with local police and Civil Watch Patrol Teams, engaged the attackers in an intense gunfight, forcing the criminals to flee.
During the operation, two of the bandits were neutralised, and a Boxer-brand motorcycle belonging to the group was recovered.
Tragically, one resident, Hassana Muhammad, 30, was reportedly fatally shot during the attack. She was rushed to Dansoda Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Sources said efforts to track fleeing bandits and secure the area are ongoing.
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
AACIS’26 Set to Open $40 Trillion Africa-Caribbean Market
By: Michael Mike
The 2026 edition of the Aquarian Consult’s Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS’26) will focus on boosting trade, investment, and private sector partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean, targeting a combined market valued at $40 trillion across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.
The Chief of Staff of Aquarian Consult Ltd, Serumun Ubwa, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja, ahead of the summit scheduled for March 23–28, 2026.
She described AACIS as a strategic platform designed to connect African businesses with Caribbean partners, attract foreign investment, and promote sustainable economic collaboration across key sectors.
Ubwa highlighted that the inaugural AACIS in 2025 achieved landmark outcomes, including the establishment of the first direct flight from Africa to Saint Kitts and Nevis, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in agriculture and cultural exchange, and a $40 million deep-water port agreement. She said these successes set the stage for the 2026 summit, which will expand opportunities for trade and investment.
She revealed that the 2026 summit will introduce two specialized events: the Afri-Caribbean Agriculture and Food Security Summit (March 23–24) and the Afri-Caribbean Health Summit (March 26), running alongside the main Investment Summit from March 25–28.
“By focusing on agriculture and healthcare, we aim to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance food security, open new export markets for African producers, and support policy frameworks that reduce import dependence in the Caribbean,” Ubwa said.
She added that the summit will feature structured Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) matchmaking sessions, an Investor Deal Room managed by investment promotion agencies, and sector-specific engagements in agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, tourism, digital technology, and the creative economy.
Ubwa added that over 2,000 participants are expected, including current and former heads of government, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral institutions, and private sector leaders. She emphasised that AACIS seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation and increase Africa-Caribbean trade, which currently represents less than one per cent of total trade between the regions.
Interested participants are expected to register for the summit at www.aquarianconsult.com/AACIS.
AACIS’26 Set to Open $40 Trillion Africa-Caribbean Market
Bandit attack in Zamfara leaves one dead, three abducted
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
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