COAS charges Plateau troops to sustain security gains, strengthen peace efforts

By: Zagazola Makama

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) to sustain pressure on criminal elements and strengthen efforts to consolidate peace and stability in Plateau State.

Shaibu gave the charge on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, during an operational visit to the headquarters of 3 Division and OPEP, where he reviewed the security situation, ongoing operations and measures to protect vulnerable communities.

During the visit, the COAS inspected the ongoing construction of the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Control Station, a facility expected to boost the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities when completed.

The system is also expected to provide commanders with improved real-time situational awareness and timely intelligence to support operational decision-making.

The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander OPEP, Maj. Gen. Maxwell Dangana, briefed the COAS on security developments within the Division’s area of responsibility, including ongoing operations and engagements with stakeholders aimed at preventing violence and sustaining peace.

Shaibu commended the troops for their courage, professionalism and commitment to duty, urging them to remain vigilant and disciplined while maintaining close cooperation with other security agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders.

He stressed that military operations must be complemented by dialogue, reconciliation and other peace-building initiatives to prevent criminal elements from undermining the gains recorded in the state.

The COAS directed the troops to respond decisively to security threats while maintaining professionalism and respect for the rights of law-abiding citizens.

He assured the personnel of continued support from the Nigerian Army and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property and creating an environment where communities can live and pursue their legitimate livelihoods without fear.

Shaibu also called on residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that sustainable peace in Plateau requires collective responsibility among security forces, government authorities, traditional institutions, community leaders and citizens.

COAS charges Plateau troops to sustain security gains, strengthen peace efforts

NiDCOM Boss Honours Nigerians Killed in 9/11 Attacks

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has paid tribute to Nigerians and persons of Nigerian origin who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, saying their names and stories must not be erased by time.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the tragedy signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, remembered Godwin O. Ajala, Ignatius Udo Adanga, Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee, Sadie Ini Ette and Ayodeji Awe among those whose lives were cut short in the attacks that claimed thousands of lives and altered the course of global history.

She said the passage of a quarter of a century had not diminished the pain of losing loved ones, stressing that behind the statistics associated with September 11 were individuals with families, careers, aspirations and dreams.

“ We remember them. We remember their families. We remember the lives they lived and the dreams they carried. Twenty-five years later, they are not forgotten. Their names remain, and their stories must continue to be told,” she said.

The NiDCOM boss extended her thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims, noting that remembrance was particularly important for younger generations who did not witness the tragedy.

She said the Nigerian victims represented the far-reaching presence of Nigerians across the world and the enduring connections they had built in the communities where they lived, worked and contributed.

According to her, the anniversary should not only serve as a painful reminder of lives lost but also as an opportunity to celebrate the lives the victims lived and the legacies they left behind.

Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising and honouring the lives, contributions and experiences of Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that every Nigerian life mattered, regardless of where the individual lived in the world.

She prayed for the peaceful rest of the victims and for strength, comfort and healing for their families and loved ones who continue to bear the pain of their loss.

NiDCOM Boss Honours Nigerians Killed in 9/11 Attacks

Zulum Pledges Support for Tax Ombuds’ Regional Headquarters in Maiduguri

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has assured the Tax Ombuds of Nigeria of the state government’s support to establish a regional office in Maiduguri, positioning the state as the administrative hub of the Northeast.

The governor gave the assurance when he received the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the Tax Ombuds of Nigeria, Dr John Nwabueze, who led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Maiduguri.

“I am pleased to welcome you to Maiduguri, and I want to assure you that the government of Borno State, under my leadership, will provide the needed political will and commitment to supporting your office, with a view to establishing the regional office in Maiduguri,” Zulum said.

To fast-track the process, the governor directed the Tax Ombuds team to link with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Finance, and the State Revenue Service Board to work out modalities for the office’s requirements.

“We shall identify what will cater for your immediate needs, while also looking into sustainable, durable solutions for the medium and long term. In the meantime, we will provide office space to you, inshallah, within the shortest possible time,” he said.

The governor congratulated Dr Nwabueze as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the Tax Ombuds of Nigeria, reiterating his willingness to work with the agency.

Speaking on the mandate of the Tax Ombuds of Nigeria, Zulum said the organisation serves as an arbiter between taxpayers and tax authorities, filling a longstanding gap in the country’s tax administration framework.

“We have listened to the mandate of your organisation, as you have briefly mentioned — that you sit between taxpayers and the responsibility for tax collection. You are an arbiter. And I believe such an organisation did not exist in the country before. Even where similar efforts existed, they lacked the full legal backing to undertake this mandate,” the governor said.

The CEO of Tax Ombuds, Dr. John Nwabueze said his visit was to formally introduce himself and his office to the governor following his appointment by the President in June last year.

He described the creation of the office as a pragmatic step by the President to provide relief to Nigerian taxpayers facing disputes and complaints arising from tax and revenue-related issues.

“Our responsibility is to strengthen trust in the tax system by protecting taxpayers’ rights, promoting fairness and transparency, and providing an independent avenue for resolving tax-related complaints. The role I have to play is to be an impartial and fair arbiter in cases involving citizens that have business with the tax and revenue authorities,” Nwabueze said.

Dr Nwabueze commended Governor Zulum for his efforts to restore peace, rebuild communities, and improve education and economic opportunities in the state.

Zulum Pledges Support for Tax Ombuds’ Regional Headquarters in Maiduguri