News
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
*** As NYCN invites VP to unveil 60th anniversary
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has restated the commitment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to supporting Nigerian youths to reach their potentials and contribute to the growth and development of the country.
VP Shettima stated this in his remarks when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, the National Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by its President, Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo.
This is just as the NYCN is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary in November 2024.
Commending the Council for its support of the programmes and activities of the Tinubu administration, VP Shettima said, “We cannot thank you enough for keeping the hope alive for the Nigerian youth. We identify with you; we empathize with you because the future of this nation belongs to you.
“We are one of the youngest nations on the planet and the youths constitute nearly 75% of our population. Once we engage the youths, once we give them hope for a better tomorrow, all the madness pervading this land will dissipate.
“60 years for an organization to remain vibrant and still standing on its feet deserves commendation. I want to thank you for believing in the Nigeria Project. A lot of members of your generation have left the country but you resolved to stay on, and together we are going to salvage the ship of this state,” he added.
On plans of the Tinubu administration for young Nigerians, the Vice President noted that President Tinubu created a ministry for the youth under the current dispensation and appointed two young people to head the ministry, while he (VP) has complemented this by appointing a lot of young persons into key positions in his office.
Assuring the NYCN delegation that the administration is aligned with their aspirations, Senator Shettima said, “We hold you in the highest esteem. We have a series of opportunities lined up for you such as the iDICE project that will create digital jobs, including the ones in the creative industry. So, let’s hope for the best, let’s believe in Nigeria because this is our country.”
Earlier, the National President of NYCN, Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, expressed the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government in addressing the issue of illegal oil bunkering.
“We have decided to see how we can help this country in areas of oil theft that have been ravaging this nation,” Sukubo stated, adding that “the NYCN has decided that it’s a collective effort, and we are ready to partner with the government to address this illegality.”
Sukubo announced that the NYCN which was established on August 28, 1964, in Lagos is gearing up to commemorate its 60th anniversary this year.
On behalf of the Council, he extended an invitation to the Vice President to officially unveil the anniversary events, which are expected to draw participants from across the country.
“This year, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary, and we want you to officially unveil the anniversary events. The event will have nothing less than 100,000 participants across the country, and that is the day we want to give insight into the activities of this government,” Sukubo said.
Acknowledging the administration’s efforts in appointing a significant number of young people to government positions, the NYCN delegation also appealed to the federal government to construct a Youth House.
Also speaking, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor, the National Deputy Secretary General of the NYCN, highlighted the council’s role as the apex youth body representing all youth organizations in Nigeria as stipulated in the National Youth Policy.
“NYCN is made up of 104 affiliate member youth organizations, a 27-member national executive council, 36 state chapters, and an FCT chapter, as well as 774 coordinators in all local government and area councils in Nigeria. That is why the NYCN is the vehicle through which the government passes its policies to the grassroots,” Nwajiofor explained.
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
Navy officer, family abducted in Kachia
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have abducted a naval officer and members of his family in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Aug. 20, 2025, at about 0200hrs, when the gunmen stormed Unguwan Mission, Kachia, and whisked away Seaman Olatunji Enoch, 40, of the Nigerian Navy attached to NNSAT Kachia.
The assailants also took away his wife, Margaret Olatunji, 25, and their daughter, Hellen Bitrus, 13, during the attack.
Security agencies have since launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, with cordon-and-search operations ongoing in surrounding bushes. The operation aims to ensure the safe rescue of the victims without harm.
Navy officer, family abducted in Kachia
News
International Police Academy – UNIPOL Appoints Joseph Icha, as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section
International Police Academy – UNIPOL Appoints Joseph Icha, as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The international Police Academy (UNIPOL) has Appointed Deputy Commander General (DCG) Joseph Icha,
Director Training and Manpower Development, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section.
A statement from the academy’s management stated that “the academy proudly announces the appointment of
DCG Joseph Icha, Director Training and Manpower Development, NDLEA as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section.
“This appointment recognizes
DCG Joseph Icha, Director Training and Manpower Development, NDLEA. exceptional contributions to national security, law enforcement leadership, and international cooperation.”
Icha has served the Agency in various Senior Management capacities as Principal Staff Officer, Assistant State Commander, Assistant Director, State Commander, and Deputy Director among others, with commendations.
The new international counter narcotics boss has attended several law enforcement courses on Drug Supply Suppression and Drug Demand Reduction within and outside the country.
“He is a Master Trainer with the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC) in Drug Law Enforcement intelligence led investigation strategies and Criminal Intelligence. ” said the statement.
Joseph Icha has facilitated training programmes on behalf of UNODC to various law enforcement agencies in the country.
DCG Joseph Icha is a Law Enforcement Operative, mentor, curriculum designer, and advisor per excellence.
He is also a member of several international professional Organizations and currently is the Director Training and Manpower Development of NDLEA.
This important appointment was pronounced under the leadership of Dr. Alexander Jan M (Hany El Zahar), Executive Director, Founder, and CEO of the International Police Academy – UNIPOL, and IPA President (Rtd.) Senior Superintendent of Police Shuaib Adam HSC OLY VJ, International Director of Law Enforcement, Police, and Military, with the support of Prof. Yuval Binstoc (IPA) and Sir Junustia Brecen.
International Police Academy – UNIPOL Appoints Joseph Icha, as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section
Plateau State Complied with the deadline for 2024 Audited financial Reports…. Manset
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Plateau State Accountant General Naanret Manset has said that it was not true that Plateau state has refused to comply with the deadline given to states for the submission of 2024 audited financial statements.
Reacting to a report published recently, the accountant general in a statement noted that “the attention of the Office of the Accountant-General of Plateau State has been drawn to a publication by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) titled ‘It’s Past Deadline, 5 States Fail to Publish 2024 Financial Statements’, which wrongly lists Plateau State as one of the defaulters.”
Naanret Manset maintained that “For the record, Plateau State fully complied with all statutory timelines for the preparation, audit, and publication of its 2024 audited financial statements
“Submitted same to the Auditor-General in May, 2025 which is within the stipulated period of 6 months.
“Audit completed in June, 2025 and forwarded to the House of Assembly which is also within the stipulated period of 3 months.
“Approved by the House of Assembly
Published online on 27 July 2025, below the legal timeline of 9 months.
The audited report is publicly available here:
“We urge FIJ to promptly correct their publication and remove Plateau State from the list of non-compliant states.
Plateau State remains committed to transparency, accountability, and timely financial reporting.” It noted.
The FIJ had recently published that six Nigerian states are yet to publish their audited financial statements for the 2024 fiscal year.
It revealed that five of such erring states have already past their statutorily implied deadlines which Plateau is saying is not true as it applies to them.
The publication had said that ” erring states are Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau and Rivers.
“In Akwa Ibom’s case, its amended 2021 audit law gives the auditor general up to nine months to publish the report online after submitting it to the House of Assembly.
“The Accountant General has six months to present the books, followed by a 90-day audit and submission period.
” In the other five states, audit laws differ in the year they were enacted or updated, but the process is similar.
“The Accountant General must submit the financial documents to the audit office within three months after the financial year ends.
” The Auditor General is then required to audit the report, send it to the House of Assembly and publish it immediately.
“The Ogun State Audit Law (2021), Rivers State Audit Law (2021, as amended), Akwa Ibom State Audit Law (2021), Oyo State Audit Commission Law (2021) and Plateau State Audit Law (2021) all set out these requirements.
” In Rivers, however, publishing the audit is left to the discretion of the Auditor General.
“In past years, these states have published their audits between June and August. Some have also been ranked among the lowest in transparency.
” The CJID Openness Index, released in July 2024, placed all six in the bottom tier along with 10 others.”
Recently, FIJ reported Akwa Ibom’s repeated disregard for budgetary transparency despite binding provisions in its Fiscal Responsibility Law.
The FIJ report maintained that two states Yobe and Ekiti, scored above average for transparency and accountability in 2024, with 73 per cent and 54 per cent, according to the Sub national Audit Efficacy Index, published by the Paradigm Leadership Initiative.
The report noted that the annual assessment, which measures financial transparency and policy adoption across Nigeria’s state governments, shows a familiar trend: “stagnation or decline.”
Plateau State Complied with the deadline for 2024 Audited financial Reports…. Manset
Navy officer, family abducted in Kachia
International Police Academy – UNIPOL Appoints Joseph Icha, as Director International Counter Narcotics Training Nigeria Section
Plateau State Complied with the deadline for 2024 Audited financial Reports…. Manset
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