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By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has said his administration rejected negotiations with the kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State because security agencies understood the terrain where the victims were held.

The president spoke on Thursday at the State House in Abuja while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

Tinubu said the successful rescue operation demonstrated the effectiveness of the country’s security forces. He maintained that the government would continue to confront criminal groups without paying ransom.

“Congratulations on the Oriire Oyo state rescue that succeeded. I think we succeeded with your support, prayers, and I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance,” the president told the delegation.


“On behalf of them, I accept the message and I will forward this same message on. I should emphasise the question of security that each event teaches us new method, open our eyes, challenge us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategies, our map and operations.


“And you would agree that we gifting geographical and numerical answers to the challenge. We refused to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest.


“We know what it is and in answer to it, you see that from eight divisions, we are now moving to 12 divisions to shorten the response time, to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry. It is very necessary and we are doing so.”


The president also reiterated his administration’s commitment to establishing state police as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country.

“We have equally embarked upon what was missing, several decades of fears and uncertainty about what to do about security at the local level will be corrected,” he said.


“There will be state police. And as state police will have guardrails from abuses. We protect it from abuses.”


Tinubu also appealed to traditional rulers to support the fight against insecurity. He said the government is strengthening the capacity of forest guards to confront criminals operating in forests.

“We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards. They are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests,” he added.


Gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire LGA on May 15 and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools.

The kidnappers later killed one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, while he was in captivity.

The Presidency announced on July 10 that all the remaining abducted pupils and teachers had regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to focus on projects that directly improve the lives of citizens instead of constructing flyovers in areas with little traffic.

The president made the remarks on Thursday at the State House in Abuja when he received a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

Addressing Ladoja, Tinubu noted that state governments now receive significantly higher allocations than they did when both men served as governors. Tinubu governed Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, while Ladoja was governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007.

He said the increase in allocations has eased the financial burden on states, adding that many no longer need to borrow to pay workers’ salaries or pensions.

“You have governed before as a governor. You need to help us communicate to these governors,” Tinubu said.


“Today, the economy of operation is high. But the money that I’m pushing to the states, if you had had it during your own time or during my time, it would have been different.


“They are taking four to five times their money. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay.


“They should do more instead of building flying over where there is no numeric traffic; build roads and artery networks to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas.”


Tinubu also said his administration is working to strengthen security at the grassroots through the planned establishment of state police.

He appealed to traditional rulers to support efforts to tackle insecurity. He added that the federal government is improving the capacity of forest guards to help combat criminal activities across the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has announced plans to increase the country’s annual cashew production from about 300,000 metric tonnes to 1 million metric tonnes within the next 10 years.

The association’s president, Ademola Adesokan, revealed the target during the inauguration of NCAN’s national and state executives at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in Abuja.

Adesokan said the association also aims to process at least half of the projected 1 million metric tonnes within Nigeria. He explained that the initiative is supported by a well-defined implementation strategy.

According to him, the roadmap will promote industrialisation, expand non-oil exports, attract investment and create employment opportunities across the country’s cashew-producing states.

He stressed that state chapters would play a central role in achieving the targets because production activities take place at the grassroots.

> “Policy is written in Abuja, but cashew is grown, harvested, dried, aggregated, and stored in our states — in our farming communities, our warehouses, our local markets. The National Cashew Roadmap can only succeed if it has strong hands to carry it at the grassroots. That is why state chapters are not a formality. They are the engine room of this entire transformation.


“The quality of the nuts that reach our processors, the integrity of our storage systems, the efficiency of our aggregation networks — these do not happen in a ministry office. They happen because of the men and women in this room today, and the chapters you now lead.


“When a processor in Kogi or an exporter in Lagos can trust the quality of what comes through our supply chain, it is because a state chapter somewhere insisted on doing it right. That is industrial development at the grassroots — real, measurable, and yours to own,” he said.


The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the cashew sector. The ministry described the inauguration of the association’s executives as an important milestone in the implementation of the recently validated Nigeria Cashew Roadmap.

The Director of the ministry’s Industrial Development Department, Olumuyiwa Jayi-Ade, spoke through Assistant Director Popoola Abimbola. He said the inauguration signalled the beginning of the roadmap’s implementation phase after the completion of policy development.

He praised NCAN for its role in developing and validating the Nigeria Cashew Roadmap. He said the association had established a strong foundation for a sustainable and globally competitive cashew industry.

Jayi-Ade added that the ministry would work with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NCAN and development partners to prepare implementation plans and institutional frameworks for the roadmap.

He also disclosed that the Nigerian Cashew Project Office (NCPO) would be established to coordinate reforms, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and supervise the implementation of programmes across the cashew value chain.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A local councillor in the United Kingdom has been charged over an alleged social media post about Nigerians that prosecutors described as grossly offensive.

Glenn Gibbins, a councillor representing Reform UK in Sunderland, was charged under the Communications Act 2003 following an investigation into a post made in 2024. Authorities allege the post suggested Nigerians should be “melted down” and used to fill potholes.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge, and Gibbins is scheduled to appear in court in August.

Gibbins was elected during the local elections in May 2026. He was suspended by Reform UK over the alleged post but was reinstated in June after apologising and receiving a final written warning from the party.

Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. The criminal case against Gibbins is now before the courts.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

United States President Donald Trump has urged new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take immediate action against illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom.

In an interview with GB News on Wednesday, Trump said Burnham would eventually be forced to address immigration despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office.

“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster.

The US president claimed migrants were arriving from multiple regions, including Africa, South America, and parts of Asia.

“They’re invading Europe,” Trump warned, adding that “the UK is a prime suspect.”

Trump’s comments came on the same day that more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain, with people smugglers launching 11 small boats from various points along the French and Belgian coastline.

The remarks also come as Burnham’s government continues to face scrutiny over its plans for handling asylum seekers.

When asked earlier this week whether the Prime Minister wanted asylum hotels to be closed, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The work on that continues,” adding there was “no change in that work being carried out by the Home Secretary in her department.”

According to Home Office figures, 172 people crossed the Channel on the Wednesday of Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday and another 103 on Friday.

Trump reflected on his early interactions with the British leader, saying Burnham had a “big job ahead of him” on his first day in Downing Street.

Describing a recent telephone conversation between them, Trump said it was “interesting, and went very well,” adding that he wished the Prime Minister “GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.”

While the two leaders have maintained relatively stable relations during Burnham’s opening weeks, North Sea oil drilling has emerged as a potential point of disagreement.

The day before Burnham succeeded former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump urged him to expand North Sea oil drilling, claiming it would transform the UK “from a poverty stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world.”

Sources in Washington have reportedly expressed concern over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his previous criticisms of Trump.

Behind the scenes, efforts to strengthen UK-US relations are continuing, while Burnham has maintained Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for what the government describes as “defensive” strikes linked to the conflict involving Iran.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A UK court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Obinwa Obichukwu, to two years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman twice at Euston railway station in London.

The British Transport Police (BTP) announced that the 45-year-old, who lives on Armstrong Close in Hertfordshire, received the sentence at the Inner London Crown Court on July 21. He had earlier been convicted on two counts of sexual assault in January.

Apart from the prison sentence, the court imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Obichukwu. It also directed that he remain on the UK sex offenders register for 10 years.

According to the BTP, the incident happened on the evening of August 20, 2023. Investigators said Obichukwu approached the woman as she walked towards Euston station. He reportedly asked what music she was listening to before placing his arm around her shoulder and inviting her to return home with him.

Police said he repeatedly grabbed the woman’s hand as she continued along Euston Road. He allegedly told her he loved her before preventing her from entering the station and sexually assaulting her at the entrance.

The victim later made her way towards the London Underground platforms. However, Obichukwu followed her and sexually assaulted her again near the ticket barriers before she managed to push him away and escape. She subsequently reported the incident to the authorities.

Officers later arrested Obichukwu at his home after tracing him through their investigation.

The police said the victim’s account, alongside CCTV footage, provided sufficient evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to approve two charges of sexual assault against him.

Reacting to the conviction, Detective Constable Daniel Burke described the convict as “a sexual predator” who deliberately targeted a woman travelling alone.

“Obinwa Obichukwu is a sexual predator who targeted a lone woman and attacked her at a busy London station.

“He claimed his assault was consensual and took his case to trial, but fortunately, the jury saw straight through his lies, and he’s now behind bars where he belongs.

“Tackling violence and intimidation against women and girls is a priority for us as a force, and we’re tireless in our efforts to bring offenders like Obichukwu to justice.

“If you experience or witness these crimes on the railway, please report them to us by texting 61016. We will always take action,” Burke said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The House of Representatives has uncovered fresh details in its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, admitted that her office failed to conduct sufficient checks before approving requests linked to the agency.

Lawmakers are investigating allegations that Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, obtained official recognition for the agency with fake appointment letters, fabricated legislative documents and other forged government records, despite the organisation lacking legal backing.

The House Ad-Hoc Committee also said its investigation had exposed what it described as a network of fake appointment letters, fabricated legislative documents and fictitious government offices allegedly used to secure recognition from federal institutions.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) also admitted that an official diverted a letter meant for the Permanent Secretary, State House. The committee believes the action helped sustain the alleged scheme.

The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, who represents Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, has continued to examine how the purported agency secured approvals from several government institutions despite having no legal foundation.

Joshua Luka, Director of the Federal Project Financial Department in the OAGF, told the panel that the office issued an administrative code only after receiving what appeared to be an official request from the State House.

“As part of our due diligence, what we did was to convey the administrative code to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and not to the so-called agency. The idea was that if it was not genuine, the whole thing would be unravelled,” Luka said.

The committee, however, rejected the explanation after evidence showed that the letter never reached the Permanent Secretary. Instead, it was reportedly collected by Adeniyi.

Gagdi further stated that investigators discovered the Directorate of Administration and Support Services, which appeared on the correspondence, did not exist within the State House.

“There is no Directorate of Administration and Support Services in the State House. That office does not exist,” he said.

He criticised the OAGF for allowing the suspect to collect official correspondence intended for another government office.

“You allowed the fraudulent DG to come and pick the letter from your office instead of allowing someone from the Permanent Secretary’s office to receive it. If the letter had reached the Permanent Secretary, the fraud would have been unraveled immediately,” Gagdi said.

Luka maintained that the incident resulted from the actions of one official rather than a failure by the institution.

“The problem here was not an office lapse; it was an individual lapse. Somebody was supposed to deliver that letter to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and it was not delivered there,” he explained.

He identified the official as Bello Abdullahi, who admitted handing the letter to Adeniyi before the committee halted his explanation.

Appearing before the lawmakers, Walson-Jack acknowledged that her office relied on documents that were later discovered to be false.

“We now, having seen all the facts and observed all the documents, concede that we ought to have carried out more due diligence in the discharge of the duties of the office in issuing an authorised establishment and a recruitment waiver to the PEAC/PFIPC,” she told the panel.

She explained that representatives of the purported agency attended the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence with what appeared to be an Establishment Act and a letter appointing a Director-General. She said civil service procedures required such documents before an agency could obtain recruitment approval.

Walson-Jack described the incident as unprecedented.

“In over almost a century of the Federal Civil Service, we have never encountered a situation like the current one. Criminals always try to be a step ahead of law enforcement,” she said.

She later disclosed that she personally examined the documents and concluded that the supposed Establishment Act was not authentic.

“I requested to see the documents myself and I saw that the Establishment Act was not really an authentic Act. I have almost 30 years of legal practice experience and immediately I saw it, I knew it was not real,” she stated.

The HoSF also questioned the authenticity of the letter said to have been issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

“I’m not a forensic expert, but I can clearly see that the signatures are not the same,” she added after comparing the signature on the appointment letter with other official documents.

Gagdi said forensic experts from the Nigeria Police Force had already confirmed that the signatures were different.

“The Police Forensic Department has already analysed the signatures and confirmed that those signatures are not the same. In fact, according to them, there was not even an attempt to imitate the signature,” he said.

He insisted that both the appointment letter and the purported Establishment Act were fake.

“You have clearly stated that you acted on false documents. You have now established, just like we have, that the letter of appointment of the so-called DG is not only forged, it is fake.

“If something is forged, there will be an attempt to imitate the signature. But in this case, the signatures are completely different. So, I will not call it forged; I will say it is fake,” Gagdi declared.

The committee chairman also pointed out that the document presented as an Act of the National Assembly lacked essential features of valid legislation.

“Our Acts have citation numbers, Supreme Court numbers, Gazette numbers and Gazette titles. The Act presented here has none of those features,” he added.

Although she accepted responsibility for the shortcomings, Walson-Jack said officials acted in line with existing procedures based on the documents submitted.

“Everything was done in accordance with the practice in the office. Out of the 88 ministries, departments and agencies processed, we are really surprised that we were unable to detect that PEAC/PFIPC had actually given us a false Establishment Act and what has now been proved to be a false letter of appointment,” she said.

She also assured lawmakers that measures would be introduced to strengthen internal safeguards.

“We take full responsibility and we will definitely review our processes to make them more fraud-proof,” she said.

The committee also heard from Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. He explained that Adeniyi could not be produced before the panel because he remained in lawful custody under a subsisting court order.

“The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant. The Nigeria Police Force recognises the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and remains committed to cooperating with the committee in the discharge of its mandate.

“However, in this case, it will be appreciated if a reproduction warrant could be sought from a court of competent jurisdiction to enable the police to comply with this request,” Akinola said.

The committee accepted the explanation and said it would seek the necessary court order before the suspect is brought before the panel.

Lawmakers said the investigation is nearing completion. They plan to present preliminary findings to the public next week before submitting a final report to the House of Representatives after the National Assembly resumes from recess.

The Osun State Police Command says it has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five other suspects over alleged vote-buying ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The police also said officers recovered ₦4.81 million, a laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, voter cards and a voter register during an operation at a residence linked to the SSG in Osogbo.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation followed intelligence reports about suspected criminal activities around the Oroki Estate area of the state capital.

“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence that some criminal gang were hibernating around Oroki Estate Area, Osogbo, operatives of the Command carried out a lawful operation within the environs while one suspect identified as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa,” who has been on the watch-list in connection with serious criminal offences including murder and others at a residential property linked to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Osun State,” the statement read.

“During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising cash sum of four million eight hundred ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook Laptop, one Photocopy Machine, one Printer, two Voter’s Card and voter register for Ward 1-15.

“These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

“The operation also led to the arrest of the following suspects: Hon Igbalaye Teslim ‘m’ 47years, One Akande Taiwo ‘m’ 60years, Oladele Abiodun ‘m’ 38years, Adeyemo Lukman ‘m’ 45years, Olaoye Muftau ‘m’ 50years, Aderemi Musliu ‘m’ 40years.

“The suspect was found within the premises during the operation and has since been taken into lawful custody.”

According to the police, the cash recovered alongside the voter register has raised concerns about possible electoral offences and other criminal activities.

“While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offences which may include: Bribery of Voters (Vote Buying) contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, arising from the alleged distribution of money or other inducements to registered voters for the purpose of influencing their voting decisions,” Ojelabi said.

“Criminal conspiracy, where two or more persons are found to have agreed to commit an unlawful act.

“Harbouring or concealing a Wanted Criminal, where any individual is found to have knowingly sheltered or assisted a fugitive from justice. Any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”

The police spokesperson described the allegations as serious and said investigators were working to identify everyone connected with the recovered items, determine the source of the money and establish its intended use.

He added that the command would enforce the law without bias.

“No individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation, or public office, is above the law,” he said.

“Any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all applicable laws.”

Ojelabi also urged residents to remain peaceful and continue providing useful information that could help security agencies maintain law and order and ensure credible elections.

The arrests come amid heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

However, the Osun State Government has condemned the police action. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, accused the police of unlawfully invading the residences of the SSG and several commissioners.

He described the operations as “gestapo operations” and alleged that officers carried out the raids without obtaining proper search warrants.

“The Osun state government has raised alarm over systematic invasion, attacks and bursting of homes of top Osun state government officials by the Osun state police command without proper search warrant, with the latest being the invasion of the house of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),” the statement read.

Alimi said ward officials were holding a meeting at the SSG’s residence when the operation took place. He added that Igbalaye was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum at the time.

The commissioner also alleged that the police had searched the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire and that five other commissioners had reported surveillance and raids on their homes.

He further claimed that several members of the Accord Party were being held in police custody without bail.

Describing the incidents as “an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun state” and a “grave danger” to Nigeria’s democracy, Alimi accused the police command of acting in a partisan manner.

He alleged that “by openly launching attacks on Osun government officials, the state police command has again confirmed its partiality, its partisanship and its becoming a direct tool in the hands of Osun APC”.

Alimi called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and traditional rulers in the state to intervene.

“This must be stopped before it escalates into a general breakdown of law and order,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed fresh terrorism charges against five convicted members of the Ansaru terrorist group over the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants appeared before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, where they pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge.

The accused are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, whom the DSS identified as the leader of Ansaru; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam, Mahmud al-Nigeri or Malam Mamuda, described as the group’s deputy leader and chief of staff; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.

Court documents showed that the new case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, was filed on July 29 by M.E. Ernest, counsel to the DSS. It contains six terrorism-related counts.

The latest prosecution comes only days after the five men were convicted in separate cases linked to the same attack.

On July 20, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Muhammad and Abbas to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.

Three days later, the same judge sentenced Umar, Musa and Sani to life imprisonment after they admitted their roles in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Calistus Eze, counsel to the DSS, informed the court that the charge had been amended to include all five defendants and requested that it be read to them. The defence did not object, and each of the defendants entered a not guilty plea.

The prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendants remain in DSS custody until the case is concluded.

Although the defence opposed the request, Justice Ibrahim overruled the objection. He ordered that the five defendants remain in DSS custody. The judge also directed that they should have unrestricted access to their lawyer and two family members.

The case was adjourned until September 25 for the commencement of trial.

According to the charge, the alleged offences are punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The DSS alleged that the defendants participated in the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire LGA, where seven teachers and 39 pupils were abducted.

One of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded while in captivity. His attackers circulated a video of the killing.

Authorities also confirmed that another teacher, John Olaleye, died in captivity. The remaining five teachers and the 39 pupils were eventually rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.

The DSS further alleged that before the hostages were rescued, the kidnappers demanded the release of Muhammad and Abbas as part of negotiations for the victims’ freedom.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Army has announced a significant expansion of its operational structure with the establishment of four additional divisions, following presidential approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has appointed seasoned senior officers as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the new formations, which form part of a comprehensive reorganisation aimed at addressing the nation’s evolving security challenges.

The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee security operations in Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States, while 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger States. The 10 Division, based in Jalingo, will handle border areas of Taraba and Adamawa States, and 83 Division in Benin City will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States when activated later this year.

Under the new structure, Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from Operation WHIRL STROKE to command 5 Division, while Major General Yakubu Yahaya takes charge of 9 Division in Ilorin. Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife moves from 2 Division in Ibadan to command 10 Division in Jalingo.

The reorganisation also affects existing divisions, with Major General Auwalu Mahmuda appointed as GOC of 2 Division in Ibadan. The army has simultaneously activated three new brigades in Gboko, Kainji and Lafia to strengthen the new divisions.

The COAS stated that the expansion would enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security and enable faster troop deployment across the country. The new divisions will commence operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with measures underway to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).

Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for what he described as a “historic milestone” in the transformation of the Nigerian Army, emphasising that the expanded force structure would significantly bolster national security.