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Presidency Dismisses Claims On Recent Cabinet Reshuffle
Presidency Dismisses Claims On Recent Cabinet Reshuffle
By: Our Reporter
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has clarified reasons the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle was not dismissed in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking during an interview on a national TV station, Mr Onanuga said that allegations against the Minister were thoroughly investigated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and found to be baseless.
According to Mr Onanuga, the NSA’s investigation concluded that the allegations against Matawalle were “mere fabrications”.
He said, “As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations.
“In one of them, I got something like that and sent it to the NSA and asked: ‘Have you heard about this?’ The NSA said: ‘No. We have probed a lot of those things; they are not true.’” Mr Onanuga added.
The Presidential aide also provided insights into the rationale behind the reshuffle, explaining that public perception played a crucial role.
“People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations. That is why the man (Matawalle) is still in the cabinet. The president, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him.
For him to be there shows that, as I have said, some of those things have been probed. They are not true.”
He applauded Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, for implementing a system that allowed Nigerians to assess the ministers’ performances.
“It wasn’t done arbitrarily Hadiza Bala Usman brought in technology, asking Nigerians to rate the ministers.
So, the removal of these ministers was based on empirical facts, shaped by the public’s perception. The scorecards were filled out by the people, and the President acted on those results.”
He added that the reshuffle was not solely about meeting the President’s expectations but also addressing the concerns of the public.
“A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to inform Nigerians of their accomplishments, because, according to him, there was a public perception that the government wasn’t performing,” he said.
Mr Onanuga also hinted at more efforts of the President to reduce the cost of governance.
“The President will soon announce measures to reduce government expenditure, starting with the ministers.
I don’t want to pre-empt the details, but the cuts will be significant to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in reducing the cost of governance.”
The Special Adviser to the President added that President Tinubu is fully aware of specific requirements to address the country’s challenges.
“The government is aware of what’s required to address the country’s challenges. It’s not about the size of the government, but about having many competent hands to drive its agenda.”
It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who is also a former governor of Zamfara State, has faced accusations of having links to bandit groups.
Presidency Dismisses Claims On Recent Cabinet Reshuffle
Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested three suspected bandits, an informant, and a suspected drug supplier during a coordinated raid on a criminal hideout in Kware Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said the operation, carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Oct. 4, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a five-man syndicate notorious for terrorising communities in Wamako and Kware areas.
The police team stormed the suspects’ hideout in Sabon Birni, Kware LGA, leading to the arrest of Bubale Mohammed and two others, alongside an informant and a suspected drug baron who allegedly supplied the gang with hard drugs.
Items recovered during the operation include dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and various illicit drugs.
According to the sources, video footage retrieved from the suspects’ phones showed them dressed in military uniforms and displaying rifles inside their camp.
Sources said efforts are ongoing to track and arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally-made pistol and several stolen items in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest followed a complaint lodged by one Kabiru Ahmed of Kasuwan Dare, Gwagwalada, who reported that two men swapped his Moniepoint POS machine on Oct. 1, 2025, at about 2:55 p.m.
Detectives from the Gwagwalada Division swiftly acted on the report and apprehended one Abdul Abdullahi of Kano State, who confessed to being part of a syndicate notorious for POS swapping and robbery within the area.
The suspect named his accomplices as Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola, and later led police operatives to their hideout in Angwan Dodo, Gwagwalada.
However, the other suspects escaped through the ceiling and roof of the building towards a nearby river upon sighting the operatives. One female suspect, Rahama Michael was arrested at the scene.
Items recovered include one fabricated locally-made pistol, six POS machines, seven ATM cards, 37 SIM cards, six wristwatches, and one axe.
The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has commenced a full investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
Two commuters lost their lives as tipper rams into Keke napep injuring others in Maiduguri
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Two commuters have lost their lives while several others were injured when a tipper lost control of its break and rammed into their Keke napep in Maiduguri on Friday.
The fatal crash which occurred around the T junction overlooking the official quarters of the Commissioner of Police in Maiduguri has brought to the fore once again the excesses of tipper drivers in the Borno State Capital.
A Statement by the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Usman Muhammad described the probable cause of the crash as break failure.
In his statement he said that “A road traffic crash occurred at Police Commissioner Junction in Maiduguri on Friday, 3rd October at about 1854 hrs, resulting into two fatalities and eight injuries.
“The Crash involved a Howo truck, a Toyota Corolla and two other Tricycles at the Junction.
“The Cause of the Road crash was as a result of mechanical fault (Brake failure) of the Tipper Truck.
“Eight people (all Male adults) were involved in the crash. Two dead (all male adults) and 6 injured (all Male adults)”
The FRSC Sector Commander, Usman Muhammad said he had promptly dispatched emergency services to the scene to rescue the victims and provide medical attention to those who were wounded.
The FRSC authorities further noted that they have launched an investigation into the crash to determine the circumstances surrounding what happened that fateful day.
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent such incidents.
The Command also emphasizes the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to ensure roadworthiness as a proactive measure to avoid such crashes.
Commander Usman
Muhammad who spoke with this reporter on phone extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery even as all the victims were conveyed to the Specialist Hospital Maiduguri for medical attention.
Bodies of those who lost their lives have since been deposited at the Mortuary of the specialist hospital, Maiduguri.
Two commuters lost their lives as tipper rams into Keke napep injuring others in Maiduguri
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Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
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