NSCDC Chief Hails FCT Command’s Transformation, Showcases Obstacle Training Facility

By: Michael Mike

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi has commended the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Corps for its rapid infrastructural growth and operational innovation, describing the command as a benchmark for excellence within the Corps.

Prof. Audi made the remarks during an inspection visit to the FCT Command as part of his 2026 Operational Tour aimed at assessing readiness, training capacity, and infrastructure development across NSCDC formations nationwide.

At the centre of the visit was the newly initiated Obstacle Course Training Facility, which the NSCDC boss described as a strategic investment in personnel capacity building and operational effectiveness.

He noted that the transformation witnessed at the FCT Command since the assumption of office of the Commandant Olusola Odumosu reflects purposeful leadership, discipline, and dedication to service.

According to the Commandant General, the FCT Command occupies a critical position as the operational nerve centre of the National Headquarters, stressing that the pace of development recorded within a short time underscores the command’s commitment to innovation and professionalism.

He further described officers of the FCT Command as some of the most dedicated personnel in the Corps, working deliberately to reposition the NSCDC in line with contemporary security demands. Prof. Audi noted that the progress recorded by the command is clear evidence of the broader transformation taking place within the Corps.

During his interaction with personnel, the NSCDC boss urged officers to uphold the values and principles of the service, cautioning against indiscipline, complacency, and misconduct.

He emphasized that national service must take precedence over personal interests, encouraging officers to pursue initiatives that can serve as models for other commands.

Audi also acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of NSCDC personnel, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for addressing long-standing promotion challenges within the service. He said the recent promotions have boosted morale and reinforced the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Looking ahead, the Commandant General disclosed that the National Headquarters is developing a College of Arms Squad Service in Nasarawa State, adding that the FCT Command’s obstacle course design will be adopted as a reference model for advanced training nationwide. He assured the FCT Command of continued institutional support to ensure timely completion of the project.

The visit culminated in a tactical demonstration by trained personnel at the obstacle course, showcasing the physical fitness, coordination, and operational preparedness of the command.

NSCDC Chief Hails FCT Command’s Transformation, Showcases Obstacle Training Facility

Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has called on Europe and Africa to reject isolationist tendencies and embrace a partnership rooted in shared history, geography, and responsibility.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of Spanish Ambassadors in Madrid, attended by 182 diplomats, Ambassador Tuggar framed Europe and Africa not as distant continents but as interconnected regions whose destinies are historically and economically linked.

Speaking under the theme, “Good Neighbourliness: Building Bridges or Building Walls,” he urged policymakers to focus on tangible realities rather than abstract divisions, highlighting the Mediterranean as a historic connector of peoples.

Tuggar recounted Africa’s longstanding contributions to the modern world—from the trans-Saharan gold trade of the 14th century to early Atlantic commerce in sugar and palm oil—emphasising that contemporary relations cannot ignore this shared past. He proposed that Africa be recognised alongside Europe and Ibero-America as a core component of Spain’s broader historical identity.

On migration, the Foreign Minister acknowledged its sensitivity while warning against policies driven by fear. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s opposition to irregular migration but cautioned that securitised approaches in the Sahel often exacerbate instability, dismantle local economies, empower traffickers, and undermine governance.

He praised Spain’s circular migration schemes as a pragmatic, humane model that aligns with centuries-old patterns of seasonal work across West Africa.

Highlighting Nigeria–Spain collaboration, Tuggar cited joint initiatives in migration management, police training, and the fight against human trafficking. He commended Spain for demonstrating that engagement, dialogue, and development-focused partnerships yield more sustainable results than coercion.

Turning to development, the minister stressed that Africa’s marginal share of global trade is incompatible with its demographic weight. He argued that reliance on raw material exports in exchange for manufactured goods perpetuates underdevelopment, urging investment in value-addition and development finance as mutually beneficial strategies for stability.

Tuggar also cautioned against the shrinking space for diplomacy amid over-militarisation and polarised domestic politics. He called for diplomats to champion dialogue, compromise, and long-term solutions, particularly in addressing democratic backsliding and unconstitutional changes of government in parts of West Africa. He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in launching a Regional Partnership for Democracy with the United Nations Development Programme, a program designed to strengthen democratic resilience in ways that respect local histories and cultures.

He urged Spain’s diplomatic corps to promote good neighbourliness not only within Europe but globally, stressing that in a world tempted by walls and withdrawal, true statesmanship lies in building bridges where geography, history, and shared interest already demand them.

Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls

Karai-Karai leader urges Bauchi government to engage youths for better productivity

By: Yahaya Wakili

The leader of the Karai-Karai cultural heritage, Bala Bara Ma Jalam, Malam Usman Marqui Ma Jalam (known as Marqui), has called on the Bauchi state government to pay more attention to youths to engage them with something to do in the state.

He reiterated that, because youths are the backbone of everything in the society, anything to be done has to involve youths first; therefore, in reality, youths have been left behind, so the government should have done something to revive the teeming youths in the state.

Marqui made the call while briefing the newsmen at his residence shortly after this year’s Bala Bara Ma Jalam celebration in Jalam, Dambam local government area of Bauchi state.

According to Marqui, neglecting the youths without something to do is pushing them to get involved in crime, such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities in the society; therefore, we are appealing to the Bauchi state government to create something for the youths so that they can be self-reliant.

“As they know and everybody knows, this Karai-Karai tribe culture call Bala Bara Ma Jalam used to take place in every first week of the new year, and we are celebrating it today, Tuesday, 6th January, 2026, at Jalam town in the Dambam local government of Bauchi state,” Marqui said.

He maintained that, as history comes, any tribe has its own culture, because the tribe that doesn’t have its own culture is not a complete tribe, and by the grace of Almighty God, we will face the next year’s Bala Bara Ma Jalam celebration, inshallah.

Karai-Karai leader urges Bauchi government to engage youths for better productivity