Tijjani Muhammed’s promotion to Lithuania’s top division excites Mailantarki Care FC

The management and entire family of Mailantarki Care FC proudly extend heartfelt congratulations to our former star forward, Tijjani Muhammed, on helping FK Babrungas clinch the 2026 I Lyga title and secure a historic promotion to Lithuania’s elite top-tier division, the TOPLYGA.

Mr Adamu Usman Ahmed, the
General Secretary of
Mailantarki Care FC conveyed the management’s message in a press statement issued to newsmen on Saturday.

Tijjani Muhammed’s remarkable journey from sharpening his craft at Mailantarki Care FC to making a decisive, high-impact presence on the European stage is a testament to his exceptional talent, discipline, and relentless work ethic.

Playing a pivotal role in guiding FK Babrungas to the summit of Lithuanian football marks a monumental milestone in his professional career and stands as a shining example for young talents across Nigeria.

Commenting on the milestone, the club leadership led by its President Hon Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki noted that Tijjani’s success reflects the core vision of Mailantarki Care FC of developing world-class players equipped to compete and excel at the highest levels of global football.

“We celebrate this well-deserved achievement with Tijjani. His hunger for success and dedication continue to make us immensely proud. We wish him even greater milestones, stellar performances, and countless goals as he prepares to take on the challenge of the TOPLYGA next season,” the statement read.

Tijjani Muhammed earned his pathway into European football following a scintillating, star-making performance with Mailantarki Care FC, the champions of the 2024 Dana Cup in Denmark, where he clinched both the highest goal scorer award and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor.

Mailantarki Care FC remains steadfast in its mission to discover, nurture, and project homegrown talent onto the international stage, living up to its mantra.

Tijjani Muhammed’s promotion to Lithuania’s top division excites Mailantarki Care FC

Zulum Orders Suspension of Dikwa Council Secretary, Directors Found Absent on Duty

…Halts Work on Nurses’ Quarters

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed the immediate suspension of the secretary and some directors of Dikwa Local Government Council over alleged neglect of duty.

The Governor issued the directives on Friday during a working visit to Dikwa, where he found several senior council officials absent from their duty posts.

He directed the affected officials to hand over to their respective assistants immediately.

However, the Director of Primary Healthcare and the Education Secretary were exempted from suspension because both were on duty at the time of the visit.

“Residents depend on the local government for essential services. Senior officials must report for duty and carry out their responsibilities.
Those who neglect their duties will face disciplinary action,” Zulum said.

The governor directed the Borno State Local Government Service Commission to compile a list of the affected officials and begin the administrative process of filling the posts to ensure that council services continue.

…Zulum halts work on nurses’ quarters

Governor Babagana Zulum also ordered the halting of construction at the nurses’ quarters after raising concerns about the quality of work.

During the visit, Zulum inspected ongoing projects at Dikwa General Hospital, the nurses’ quarters and a mega primary school.

Visibly dissatisfied with the standard of construction at the nurses’ quarters, he ordered work to stop immediately pending the engagement of another contractor.

“Public funds must deliver buildings that are safe, durable and fit for use. Every contractor must meet the approved specifications. Those who fail to do so will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” Zulum stated.

Governor Zulum warned that contractors who fail to meet contractual specifications and approved standards would face immediate sanctions.

Zulum Orders Suspension of Dikwa Council Secretary, Directors Found Absent on Duty

Obaze Raises Alarm over Declining Foreign Service Standards, Calls for Diplomatic Reforms

By: Michael Mike

Former Nigerian diplomat and public policy expert, Mr Oseloka Obaze, has expressed concern over the declining professional standards in Nigeria’s Foreign Service, calling for institutional reforms to strengthen the country’s diplomatic capacity, preserve institutional memory and restore professionalism in the conduct of foreign relations.

Obaze also urged retired ambassadors and career diplomats to document their experiences, warning that Nigeria risks losing valuable historical records, institutional knowledge and lessons from decades of diplomatic engagements if such accounts are not preserved for future generations.

He made the call while reviewing a 377-page memoir, My Diplomatic Sojourn – The Full Story, written by Ambassador Chudi Okafor, a retired career diplomat who served Nigeria for 35 years.

The book review, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, provided an opportunity to examine Nigeria’s diplomatic history, the challenges confronting its Foreign Service and the importance of institutional continuity in advancing national interests.

Obaze, a former Secretary to the Anambra State Government under Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, identified administrative bottlenecks and institutional weaknesses as factors undermining the effectiveness of Nigeria’s diplomatic establishment, warning that they had contributed to what he described as a “dilution of foreign service standards.”

He noted that Okafor’s memoir offered valuable insights into the internal workings of Nigeria’s diplomatic service, highlighting the professional demands, administrative challenges and policy considerations that shaped the country’s foreign relations over several decades.

The former diplomat also raised concerns about diplomatic reciprocity in Nigeria’s bilateral relations, citing the country’s engagements with Russia as an example of the need for greater balance and mutual recognition in international partnerships.

He recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo undertook an official visit to Russia in March 2001, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had yet to make a reciprocal visit to Nigeria as of November 2026.

According to him, Putin’s visits to other African countries, including Egypt, South Africa, Algeria and Libya, raised questions about the level of reciprocal engagement between Nigeria and Russia, despite Nigeria’s strategic importance on the continent.

Obaze’s observations highlighted the need for Nigeria to continually evaluate its diplomatic relationships, strengthen its negotiating position and ensure that bilateral engagements deliver tangible benefits in line with the country’s national interests.

Reviewing the memoir, Obaze commended Okafor for documenting his diplomatic experiences while maintaining the discretion expected of a former public official entrusted with sensitive state information.

He described diplomatic memoirs as important historical resources that provide firsthand accounts of policy formulation, negotiations, international engagements and the institutional circumstances surrounding major foreign policy decisions.

Drawing on the words of English novelist George Meredith, Obaze described memoirs as “the back stairs of history”, noting their importance in revealing experiences and decisions often absent from official records.

He situated Okafor’s publication within Nigeria’s tradition of diplomatic memoir-writing, referencing accounts by distinguished diplomats and public officials, including Simon Adebo, Joe Garba, Olujimi Jolaoso, Olufemi George, Lawrence Agubuzu and Ade Adefuye.

He encouraged other retired diplomats and former foreign ministers to document their experiences, stressing that such publications would contribute to scholarship, diplomatic training, policy development and a better understanding of Nigeria’s place in international affairs.

The 13-chapter memoir chronicles Okafor’s early life, National Youth Service Corps experience and progression through Nigeria’s diplomatic establishment.

It also documents his foreign postings to Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, Russia, the United States, Thailand and Myanmar, reflecting the diversity of Nigeria’s bilateral engagements across different regions and political environments.

The book further examines his assignments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lagos and Abuja, as well as his service at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

With a career spanning 35 years, Okafor’s experiences provide insights into the evolution of Nigeria’s diplomatic institutions, the demands of representing the country abroad and the relationship between domestic administrative structures and foreign policy implementation.

Obaze recommended the memoir to diplomats, policymakers, researchers, students of international relations and members of the public interested in Nigeria’s diplomatic history.

He maintained that preserving the experiences of former diplomats would enrich the country’s historical records and enable successive generations of Foreign Service officers to learn from past achievements, challenges and missed opportunities.

Obaze Raises Alarm over Declining Foreign Service Standards, Calls for Diplomatic Reforms