National News
Police Affairs Minister Says Budget for Police Information System before Tinubu
Police Affairs Minister Says Budget for Police Information System before Tinubu
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam on Tuesday said Nigeria remains committed to collaborate with other countries in the West African subregion to fight back insecurity.
He said the nation was ready more than ever before to share information with other countries in the subregion towards ensuring enhanced security for Nigeria and the rest of the countries in the subregion.
Gaidam made the disclosure at the formal handing over of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) to national and regional authorities.
WAPIS is an European Union sponsored information system implemented by the INTERPOL
The project which has lasted for 12 years is coming to a close and the sub-region is expected to take ownership of the project which aimed at developing the security information infrastructure of the police and other relevant agencies. The project also aimed at enhancing robust Information sharing on crime and other criminal activities within the subregion.
Speaking at the occasion which was held at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Gaidam said Nigeria has benefited greatly since the inception of the project.
He said with EU funding coming to an end, his ministry has prepared a budget which is already receiving attention by the President.
Gaidam said: “Today’s ceremony symbolizes Nigeria’s strong commitment and active role in regional security cooperation through the WAPIS Programme. Let us continue to build on these achievements and collaborate towards sustaining the WAPIS initiative, ensuring enhanced security for Nigeria and the West African Region.
“Understanding the imperative of sustainability, the Ministry of Police Affairs, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has proactively submitted a comprehensive budget proposal to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am pleased to report that this proposal is currently receiving commendable attention from the Office of the President.
“Moreover, as a further commitment to ensuring seamless and effective operation, I personally oversaw the provision of stable and reliable internet connectivity at the DACORE, facilitating continuous and effective communication with remote locations.
“Additionally, in our deliberate move to foster ownership and operational efficiency, the Ministry recently organized a three-day WAPIS Workshop themed “Interagency Collaboration on Information Sharing among Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.” This vital workshop brought together key stakeholders from various law enforcement agencies, resulting in strategic deliberations that were encapsulated in a communique presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).”
The minister while commending EU and other partners for the initiative, also seeks the continuous support of the regional body, saying that “as we progress further in enhancing regional cooperation and security through WAPIS, aiming for sustainable peace and stability in West Africa.”
On his part, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray said the region is faced with monumental threats, some of them existential, because of its tmgeographical location as well as many other factors.
He noted that through IPWAS, ECOWAS is building security infrastructure instruments across member states and beyond in order to combat these threats, which include human trafficking, insecurity and other criminalities.
Touray, who was represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatal Musah, stressed that WAPIS has succeeded in bridging the gap in the area of information sharing and this needed to be taken further and that will require a continuation of the WAPIS agenda.
He therefore said that “ The platform, the digital platform for gathering, storing, managing, sharing information in order to enhance collaboration against criminality in our region could never have started at a better time than when it did.”
He however said the work is still in progress and has not stopped with the handing over of the project to ECOWAS, saying that: “ECOWAS still has not fully, under the WAPIS arrangement, completed the creation of a regional platform. Some of our member states are also lagging behind in even creating the network nationally in order to facilitate monitoring of criminal activities in our region.
“Those are very critical elements that we have to continue with. And we know that intelligence sharing is not easy because intelligence sharing goes to the very core of national security and people will say sovereignty and then all others.”
He also added that: “Even as the funding by the European Union is coming to an end, we need to broaden partnerships and still continue collaboration with the European Union to see what is possible in order to maintain the expertise that has been developed in the course of the WAPIS process. That is very important.”
Musah in an interview with the media, also stressed that the project is part of the infrastructure being built to fight criminality in the region.
He however expressed displeasure with the slow pace and the lack of platform by the region.
He said: “You know, the duration that this process has taken. It has been almost 12 years since it began. It just tells you about the slow pace that it has taken. And even as we speak, the regional platform is not ready, but they are handing over. And in some member states, even the inter-agency coordination mechanism is lacking.
Something about fighting crime requires a lot of political will and trust. Because criminality, who is a criminal, who is not a criminal, one man’s criminal is another man’s hero. So you need to build that common agenda.
“So the duration of it, and the fact that we have not been able to complete this process, are two of the challenges that we have now. And hopefully, after this handover, as we think about whatever is happening, we will see.”
He noted that the process will require “a lot of advocacy to make sure we push it forward. And then the principle of reciprocity. Meaning that we are not going to share our database with a region like the EU if they do not share their database with us. It has to be on equal terms.”
“So if we give you the petty criminals, you have them and the big shots are in the European capitals, in Latin America, then the whole exercise is futile. Because what you want to stop is to stop criminality from the countries of origin, the countries of transshipment, that is West Africa, and then the country of the end users in Europe and others.
“So if we do not have that network that brings all these factors together, then the database will be limited to our region. In terms of exchange of information, which is a good thing. But like I said before, even at that level, we haven’t reached there yet.”
The EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, on his part, said the project has been a success, stating that:
“Well, we think the programme has been very successful, because we’ve seen that it has been adopted by the individual countries. And there were around 750,000 datas entered into the platform.
“Criminals, stolen cars, stolen objects, fraudulent documents, stolen documents. And it has led to success in law enforcement. So that’s really the reason for the objective of the programme.”
He also said the EU will be willing to share Information with ECOWAS, saying “ one of the interests of such a platform is also to open the possibility of exchanging data out of the region, out of West Africa, also through Interpol. And the fact that Interpol is so much involved in this programme, of course, is a very important asset from this point of view. But the most important part is for each individual country to have this digital platform, and for the cooperation between the countries of the region.”
Mignot, while stressing the importance of the platform, said: “Because today, crime is transnational, very much. And so, if you don’t know the information that your neighbouring country has, you won’t be able to fight crime efficiently.”
He also revealed that the project has received funding of €38 million over 13 years, since its inception in three phases.And the third phase, which will be closing in a few weeks, was financially the most important with 28 million euros in financing.
On his part, INTERPOL Executive Director for Police service, Cyril Gout spoke about the challenge of bringing all the ECOWAS countries on the same digital page.
He said: “And the most pressing challenge is having all those countries contributing on their sides or allocating resources, but also deciding themselves to share a legal framework. To share a legal framework, to be consistent in the information that they do share through the police information system. So twelve years, it’s a while, but it’s just sufficient to be at the level where we are today.”
He also stressed that it is the beginning of a new, safer era. “That’s the beginning of new initiatives where the governments, where the countries of West Africa take ownership of what they have. Towards digitalisation, towards access to more information in the region, to bring this information for the success of investigation, to have more safety in controls.”
Police Affairs Minister Says Budget for Police Information System before Tinubu
PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.
The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
All appointments take immediate effect.
PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS
Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria-Germany trade volume has hit an all-time high of €3 billion, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther said on Thursday
The envoy who addressed a press conference in Abuja said the 30% increase could be attributed to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Gunther who called the press conference ahead of the joint Nigerian-German binational commission scheduled for Berlin, in German, noted that Nigeria remains “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of 3 billion Euros,” adding that: “Trade volumes have increased this year by 30% due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”
The envoy equally revealed that more than 90 German companies are active in the country, “indirectly creating about 17.000 jobs in Nigeria.”
Gunther also told journalists that good times between both countries were not over, promising Nigerians that more investments are on the way, especially in the energy and the pharmaceutical sectors.
She revealed that in the energy sector, the Presidential Power initiative is now in the second phase.
She said: “This cooperation with the German energy giant Siemens will add about 7 Gigawatts to Nigeria’s Energy Grid. Secondly, the German –Nigerian cooperation in the Gas sector, eliminating gas flaring and improving Nigeria´s CO2 footprint.”
The envoy revealed that the relationship has also improved in the area of Visa and Migration as no fewer than 7,600 visas were issued to both students and short term stay, adding that plans were already in place to increase the number.
Gunther said: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travels on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration. Last year alone, the German Embassy here in Abuja and the German Consulate General in Lagos granted around 1400 long-term visas for purposes such as study in Germany, family reunion and employment as well as around 6200 visas for short-term stays such as business and tourism.
She revealed that: “This year, we are well on track to raise those numbers,” stating that:
“The German missions remain committed to furthering the bilateral relations by granting visas to properly documented applications.”
She also assured that in the area of military cooperation, Germany will continue to stand by Nigeria.
She said: “This year marked a new chapter: the launch of our first Bilateral Annual Programme, bringing military experts from both countries together for in-depth exchanges and joint planning.
“Through the Bundeswehr Advisory Group, Germany has been a reliable partner — supporting Nigeria with field medical expertise and counter-IED operations, car mechanical training and other interventions.
“And we’re not stopping here. Germany will continue to stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
“Next month, we’ll take this cooperation to the next level: for the first time, high-level military staff talks will take place in Abuja, opening the door to even closer collaboration in the future.”
She also revealed other areas of cooperation which includes support for the Nigeria police force and the drug enforcement agency amongst others.
In the area of stabilization efforts at containing impacts of terrorism and climate change, the envoy said: “Germany is supporting the development of resilient state institutions and the strengthening of local communities.”
She said focus are on the North East (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and the North West (Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina), “where initiatives such as the reconstruction of schools, health centres, markets, housing, and police stations are improving both security and daily life for local people.”
Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy
National News
NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide
NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide
*Constitute committee to oversee overhaul of training facilities
*Okays anticipatory action framework to prevent riverine flooding across 36 states
*As VP Shettima urges states to align with President’s growth targets
By: Our Reporter
The National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.
The President’s proposal followed a presentation made to Council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on the realisation of President Tinubu’s vision for a trillion-dollar economy, which also highlighted the necessity of investing more in security by the three tiers of government.
At its 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, NEC constituted a committee chaired by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to oversee the process of overhaul of training institutions for security agencies across the country.
The committee has a one month period to produce a blueprint for the renovation of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies nationwide.
Addressing members of the Council, President Tinubu highlighted the need for government to fix training institutions and facilities for security agencies across the country, assuring that his administration would make concerted efforts to reverse the dilapidation in police training facilities nationwide.
“We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,” he said.
Other members of the NEC committee are Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Kefas Agbu of Taraba, Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, with former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman, as secretary.
Also, President Tinubu urged state governors to also pay attention to issues that affect the wellbeing of the people particularly from the grassroot.
Earlier, Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim called on state governments to translate the optimism of the streets into real prosperity in homes and communities.
In his opening address, the Vice President Shettima reminded state governors that the measure of governance lies in the tangible improvement of citizens’ lives rather than rhetoric.
“The measure of government is not in speeches delivered; it is in the lives improved,” the Vice President said.
Highlighting one of the day’s major presentations, including the Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), VP Shettima reiterated the administration’s shift from reactive crisis management to proactive planning.
“It is no longer in doubt that rivers that once sustained our farmlands and livelihoods have also been the source of recurring tragedy for many of our citizens.
“Entire communities have watched their dreams drown in waters that could have been tamed through foresight and planning. True leadership anticipates danger and builds systems to prevent loss before it happens,” he said.
He commended the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for leading the charge toward disaster preparedness across the federation, noting that the framework will strengthen early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and subnational response capacities.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu presented a NEC memorandum outlining Nigeria’s trajectory toward a $1 trillion economy by 2033, describing the target as a test of coordination and clarity.
According to the Vice President, “This ambition requires coordination across the federation. It is our duty as a Council to interrogate the pathways, to assign responsibilities, and to ensure that our targets are realistic, time-bound, and transparent to the citizens who expect results.”
He emphasised that the roadmap aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises macroeconomic stability, job creation, food security, and subnational competitiveness as anchors of national prosperity.
Senator Shettima also commended the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA), a state-driven digital agriculture model designed to modernise service delivery and improve farmers’ access to data, markets, and climate information.
“Earlier this week, at the invitation of His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, I was in Katsina State. One of the progressive projects we launched is the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture, known as KASPA. It is a scalable framework for digital governance, farmer inclusion, and climate-smart productivity ready for sub-national adoption,” the Vice President said.
The platform, he noted, reflects the Council’s broader commitment to technology-enabled governance and inclusive agricultural growth that cuts across the thirty-six states and the FCT.
“The story of Nigeria’s recovery will not be written by chance but by choice—by the deliberate actions we take to protect our economy, safeguard our environment, and uphold the welfare of our citizens,” he said.
VP Shettima commended governors, ministers, and members of the Council for sustaining the NEC as a platform of trust, cooperation, and policy innovation.
Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:
NEC (6TH IN 2025) 153RD MEETING, THURSDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 2025.
PRESS BRIEFING:
UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES AS AT OCTOBER, 2025
EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT – $535,823.39
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT – N87,665,172,169.67
NATURAL RESOURCES ACCOUNT – N141,585,815,908.16
UPDATE ON NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON POLIO ERADICATION BY THE CHAIRMAN, ALH. MUHAMMAD INUWA YAHAYA, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF GOMBE STATE
Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee briefed Council that since its inauguration, the Committee has convened four times (June–October 2025), strengthening political commitment and coordination.
That Epidemiological data show continued progress, with cVPV2 cases dropping by 44% from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025. Kano and Katsina achieved major reductions (89% and 88% respectively). However, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi reported new cases (8, 4, and 2), highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance. Gombe remains free of new cases.
That recent In-Between Round Activities (IBRA) led to significant gains:
i. Settlements reached rose from 77% in August to 97% in September.
ii. Vaccine coverage in insecure areas reached 90% across key states.
iii. The first phase of the National Integrated Campaign (launched by the First Lady on 6 Oct 2025) was conducted in five high-burden states, reaching 60% of settlements and vaccinating 73% (Polio) and 57% (Measles-Rubella) of targeted children as of 12 October 2025.
iv. The second phase began on 18 Oct 2025 in Gombe, continuing integrated vaccination efforts.
Current activities and next steps
- The nationwide Integrated Campaign commenced on 6th October 2025 is ongoing across five states — Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
- The Integrated Campaign delivers a comprehensive health package, including Measles-Rubella and Polio vaccines, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) interventions.
Council Resolution:
i. Council urged state governments to ensure release of funds to their structures to improve statewide immunization exercise.
ii. The NEC urged sustenance of momentum to reduce polio infection and spread thereby safeguarding every Nigerian child.
PRESENTATION ON KATSINA SUSTAINABLE PLATFORM FOR AGRICULTURE (KASPA) BY SSAP INNOVATION NASIR YAMMAMA
The National Economic Council received a presentation on the Sustainable Platform for Agriculture by the SSA to the President on Innovation, Nasir Yammama. The presentation was on the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) as a model for adoption by sub-nationals and part of solutions to challenges militating against improved agricultural productivity and sustainability in Nigeria.
The SSAP said the model which focuses on empowering smallholder farmers and developing the agribusiness value chain leverages technology to provide farmers with integrated agriculture assistance, including extension services and market linkages.
Council Resolution:
Council commended the innovation to deploy technology in addressing challenges faced by farmers across Nigeria and urged state governments to replicate the model in the bid to unlock the full potential of agricultural production regions across the country.
Council also directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to capture in its 2026 budget, the establish of the agriculture data and control centre in the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON CRUDE OIL THEFT PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, SEN. HOPE ODIDIKA UZODINMA, GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE.
The Committee updated Council that it has met several times and Members have formed a common front to fight Oil Theft in Nigeria. Some Critical Stakeholders in the Industry were invited for discussions to extract very important information that will further the assignment of the Committee. The Committee also met with the Regulator NNPC, and some operators in the industry. Our determination to raise oil production is informed by the Nation’s quest for a One Trillion US Dollar Economy by the year 2030.
NEXT STEPS
Below are the next steps the Committee intends to undertake:
A. Obtain and analyze some important information/data from critical stakeholders to further assist its assignment.
B. Resolved to provide logistics support to outstanding States, Security Agencies and relevant Agencies in securing National Oil and Gas Assets.
C. Embark on physical visits by the Committee to all the Crude Oil Export Terminals
D. Carry out further Forensic Investigation
E. Periodically monitor the implementation of activities outlined in the workplan
Council Resolution:
Council commended the committee for a job well done and urged concerted efforts to improve crude production beyond the 1.72 million barrel per day and directed the committee to expand the scope of its work to cover illegal mining activities and theft of mineral resources across the country.
Council also noted that Nigeria is on course to hit 2.5 million barrels day by end of 2025.
End
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