National

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), demanding either credible evidence for a murder allegation or a public retraction and apology.

The dispute stems from a live appearance by General Musa on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, 2026, during which he allegedly claimed that Mr. El-Rufai actively orchestrated killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as governor.

In a press statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the former governor’s relatives described the allegation as “grave” and “unsubstantiated,” noting that no evidence was presented to back the claim.

“While General Musa (Rtd.) is entitled to hold and express his personal opinions, the El-Rufai family is equally entitled to demand that such serious allegations be substantiated with credible evidence,” the statement read.

The family has given the Defence Minister until September 14, 2026, to either produce proof of his allegation or retract it publicly through the same media platform.

“In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made,” the statement added.

The El-Rufai family warned that failure to comply would leave them with “no option but to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law.”

Mr. El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and current Opposition Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has faced various political and regional security criticisms during his tenure, but this marks the first time a sitting cabinet member has made such a direct personal accusation against him on national television.

As of press time, the Defence Ministry had not issued an official response to the ultimatum.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board said the results are available for candidates and their parents or guardians to check their performance.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

Benjamin clarified that the release of the results does not mean that all underage candidates are qualified for admission.

He explained that candidates below the age of 16 as of September 30, 2026, are regarded as underage candidates for the 2026 admission exercise.

According to him, the results are mainly for candidates and their parents or guardians to know their UTME performance. They cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidate meets the conditions for exceptional consideration.

Candidates can access their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 through the same SIM card used during UTME registration.

Benjamin said JAMB had previously made it clear that only underage candidates who record exceptional performances and satisfy all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.

He warned candidates who fail to meet the requirements against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.

The JAMB spokesperson said the exceptional admission process involves several stages of assessment. The process is intended to identify candidates with outstanding academic ability and sufficient maturity for tertiary education.

He said candidates must obtain a minimum UTME score of 320 and achieve at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.

“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” he said.

Benjamin said the procedure would help the board separate candidates with genuine exceptional ability from those who only recorded high UTME scores.

He added that the assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates had not been completed.

The board, according to him, must also give candidates who are waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results an opportunity to submit the results for verification.

“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he said.

Benjamin said JAMB would announce the date for the final assessment once the NECO results are released.

He stressed that admission consideration would not depend solely on UTME scores. Candidates must pass the other stages of assessment and meet all the requirements set by the board.

The spokesperson also advised candidates, parents and guardians to be wary of individuals who claim they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved procedure.

He maintained that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result do not automatically guarantee admission, especially for candidates who have not reached the stipulated admission age.

Benjamin assured the public that the assessment and admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would be transparent, rigorous and based on merit.

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has apologised to Nigeria’s security and enforcement agencies over comments he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The activist tendered the apology in a video posted on his Facebook page on Friday after reflecting on his remarks during a panel session at the conference.

During the session, VDM referred to personnel of the Nigerian military, police, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service as “unknown gunmen.”

He also alleged that some police officers stationed at checkpoints provide information about travellers to kidnappers and terrorists. The police subsequently invited him to present evidence to support the allegation.

In his latest video, however, VDM admitted that his remarks were unfair to many security personnel, particularly those who risk their lives to protect Nigerians.

“I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people, particularly the speech where I said that the military are the unknown gunmen, the police are the unknown gunmen, you know, the immigration, the customs.

“I know exactly what I was trying to say because, I mean, I have evidence to back up my claim, but I wasn’t fair to a lot of people in that speech,” he said.

He said his comments were especially unfair to soldiers deployed to areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

“That speech was not fair, especially to the soldiers that are in the bushes fighting Boko Haram to protect our lands, to protect our lives, and to protect our families.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say they are also the unknown gunmen, to be very honest, because these people have laid down their lives,” he said.

According to the activist, his intention was to draw attention to alleged corruption, information leaks and sabotage by some individuals within the security agencies, rather than accuse every officer of wrongdoing.

“My speech was not to discourage you. My speech was entirely to talk about the bad eggs in our security operative, our security forces, is to put attention on the bad eggs, so that the leaders in these security settings will look inward and to see that sometimes information are being leaked and their own people are sabotaging them,” he said.

VDM acknowledged that although he stood by the concerns raised in his speech, the manner in which he presented them amounted to an unfair generalisation.

“But by passing that speech, like I said, it seems like I was generalising and it’s not fair to the fallen soldiers,” he said.

He added: “(There’s) a lot of corrupt generals, a lot of high-ranking police officers are corrupt, a lot of junior officers are corrupt, a lot of them are there.

“But there’s still a lot of more good people, a lot of more good people, and I know a lot of them.”

Apology To Defence Chief

VDM also directed a specific apology to the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the country’s security agencies.

“So I will go further to say to the Chief of Defence Staff. Sir, I really want to apologise for that speech, and I don’t want to discourage your boys.

“Please extend my apologies to your boys, to the ones that are in the bush protecting our lands,” he said.

The activist said he was concerned that soldiers and other security personnel who were genuinely committed to protecting the country could feel discouraged after watching his comments from the NBA conference.

He also disclosed that he has maintained contact with the police and sometimes passes information to officers.

“Me and the police, we work steadily. I give, sometimes I share police information, tell them, ‘Oh, this is what is happening here, please, can you intercept,” he said.

He appealed to security personnel who are committed to protecting Nigerians not to be discouraged by his comments.

“We’re there behind you now, and we’ll always support you. You know, and we are part of this thing, security is for all of us,” he said.

Warning To ‘Bad Eggs’

Despite his apology, VDM maintained his criticism of security personnel whom he accused of undermining their colleagues through sabotage, arms supply and the leakage of information to terrorists.

“But then again, to the bad eggs, your days are numbered. To all of you in the military that are sabotaging and causing deaths to your officers, your days are numbered,” he stated.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has asked Nigerians to scrutinise his past and publicly disclose any wrongdoing they believe he has committed.

Obi made the call on Thursday at a town hall meeting with voters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he answered questions on the 2027 general election.

The former Anambra State governor spoke amid renewed public scrutiny of the records of politicians seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, including President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

There has also been public discussion about the educational records of some leading presidential contenders after they left out their primary and secondary school certificates from the personal particulars submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in July.

Obi said he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had made information about their backgrounds available for public verification.

“I want to give every Nigerian the opportunity to know who I am,” he said.

“Both of us have presented our backgrounds, from our dates of birth to our schools, education and all, to the people. You can go and verify our backgrounds worldwide, anywhere.”

The former governor also referred indirectly to his legal dispute with Kenneth Okonkwo, who served as his spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign.

Obi had instituted a court case against the Nollywood actor over alleged defamatory statements concerning their previous dealings. He said the action followed Okonkwo’s claim that he possessed information about Obi’s past that could shock the public.

“We have sued somebody in court. He said he knows something he can say and the people will be shocked. I said I want you to say what people will be shocked about,” Obi said.

He then challenged Nigerians and people around the world to produce evidence of any wrongdoing against him or Kwankwaso.

“And I’m challenging every Nigerian. If there is anything that you know I have done that is wrong, say it out now.

“I’m challenging the world over: if you know anything that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has done that is wrong, say it out now.”

Obi also argued that candidates for senior political positions should be judged by the credibility of the processes through which they attain office.

“You cannot continue to answer his excellency when the process that got you there is not excellent,” he said.

By Uzair Adam

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged state governors and lawmakers to stop distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the motorcycles eventually find their way into the hands of terrorists and bandits.

Musa gave the warning on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism and other security challenges confronting the country.

According to him, motorcycles provided to vulnerable Nigerians sometimes end up being used by terrorists to facilitate their movements and carry out attacks.

“We try to appeal to even governors to stop giving motorcycles out as palliatives. Because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up with these terrorists,” he said.

The minister advised that where motorcycles must be distributed, authorities should consider smaller-capacity models that would be less useful to terrorists operating in difficult terrains.

“Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles; give them the small capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,” Musa said.

He also warned that motorcycles distributed by lawmakers under constituency projects and other intervention programmes could eventually be diverted to bandits and terrorists.

“Those bikes… before you know it, they’re already back to the bandits, and that’s what they’re using. So we must stop that,” he added.

Musa further disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks as major channels through which terrorists transport arms and ammunition to their areas of operation.

“What we realise from experience is they establish illegal markets or illicit motor parks. They go to those motor parks; that’s where they move arms and ammunition into those areas,” he said.

The defence minister also called for greater involvement of local governments in the fight against insecurity, arguing that local authorities are better positioned to identify criminal activities within their communities.

“We must allow our local governments to work. Failure of local government is what is aggravating what we’re dealing with, and if we want a better solution, a quick fix, our local governments must work,” he said.

According to Musa, local government chairmen should regularly convene security meetings and monitor developments within their respective areas.

He also urged state and local authorities to strengthen surveillance around markets, motor parks and other locations that could be exploited to transport drugs, weapons and ammunition.

“If we’re able to make sure that we man all the markets, all the motor parks, all these areas where drugs, weapons, ammunition move, it will make it difficult for them,” the minister added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

More than 1,400 schools have been destroyed across Nigeria’s North-East, while 2,295 teachers have lost their lives and about 19,000 others have been displaced as a result of prolonged insurgency and conflict in the region.

The Borno State Government also disclosed that approximately three million children are in urgent need of emergency education support due to the impact of the crisis.

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, disclosed the figures in Maiduguri while representing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at a two-day National Dialogue on the Psychosocial Impact of Conflict on Children in Nigeria.

Kadafur said the statistics showed the severe consequences of years of conflict on children, particularly its effects on their mental health, education and prospects for the future.

He explained that the effects of insurgency often continued after active fighting had stopped, with many children experiencing trauma that affected their behaviour, relationships and ability to trust others.

“Trauma does not end when the guns fall silent. It embeds itself in their developing brains. It alters their cognition, behaviour, and their capacity to trust,” he said.

The deputy governor warned that failure to address trauma among affected children could create bitterness and alienation. He also cautioned that vulnerable children could become targets for recruitment by violent groups.

Kadafur said military operations alone could not resolve the long-term effects of insurgency. He called for mental health and psychosocial support to become part of recovery and security programmes in conflict-affected communities.

He advocated the establishment of a national mental health framework for children affected by conflict. He also called for more mental health professionals in affected communities, alongside increased investment in education and community-based interventions.

Professor Andrew Zamani, who also spoke at the dialogue, described the psychological effects of conflict as a national emergency. He warned that untreated trauma could transform grief and anger into a desire for revenge.

The Director of Medical Intelligence, Dr Patience Omokri, who represented the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said child trauma should be regarded as a national security issue.

She noted that children exposed to insurgency, terrorism and communal violence had experienced the loss of parents and homes, displacement, abduction and other forms of exploitation.

“A traumatized child is not only a victim. If left unsupported, they can become a vector of instability,” Ribadu said in the message.

The UNICEF representative, Francis Otuochi, disclosed that 270,864 children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe require mental health and psychosocial support under the 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan.

Otuochi urged governments to incorporate mental health and psychosocial support into child protection, healthcare, education and social welfare programmes to address the needs of children affected by conflict.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Moody’s Ratings has revised Nigeria’s credit outlook from stable to positive, citing stronger-than-expected economic growth and improved macroeconomic stability, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The credit rating agency affirmed the nation’s long-term issuer rating at B3, which remains six levels below investment grade. However, the positive outlook revision signals that Africa’s largest oil producer is moving closer to a potential credit upgrade.

In a statement released Friday, Moody’s analysts Jorge Valez and Matt Robinson highlighted the country’s strengthening external buffers and greater macroeconomic stability. The agency also noted that rising oil production is expected to boost economic growth in 2026 and 2027.

“If sustained, the economic growth would enhance the country’s capacity to absorb external shocks, strengthen economic resilience and, over time, support a gradual increase in government revenue,” the analysts wrote.

The positive assessment underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal consolidation and economic reforms, which have been a cornerstone of his administration’s policy agenda since taking office.

The outlook revision comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to address structural challenges in the economy, including foreign exchange shortages and inflationary pressures. Tinubu’s administration has implemented several bold policy measures, including the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of the exchange rate, aimed at attracting foreign investment and stabilising the economy.

Economic analysts view the Moody’s decision as a vote of confidence in the administration’s reform trajectory, though they caution that sustained implementation will be critical to achieving a full credit rating upgrade.

Finance Ministry officials welcomed the development, describing it as recognition of the government’s prudent economic management and reform agenda.

The improved outlook is expected to boost investor sentiment and potentially lower borrowing costs for the West African nation, which has faced significant economic headwinds in recent years.

Moody’s noted that continued policy discipline and sustained economic growth would be key factors in determining Nigeria’s future credit rating trajectory.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have killed two terrorists and recovered weapons and motorcycles during an encounter in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The operation took place after security forces received intelligence in the early hours of 28 August 2026 about the movement of terrorists who were reportedly transporting hundreds of rustled cattle through the Maikujera general area of Rabah LGA.

Acting on the information, troops from Sector 2 moved to the area to intercept the suspected terrorists. The troops, however, came under attack after encountering an ambush laid by the terrorists.

The soldiers responded with superior firepower and fought their way through the ambush. Two terrorists were killed, while others fled into nearby bushes.

A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and three motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

The gun battle caused the rustled cattle to scatter into the surrounding bushes. The military said efforts were underway with the support of local vigilantes to trace and recover the livestock.

According to the Joint Task Force, the area remained calm after the operation as troops continued to maintain a strong presence and monitor the surroundings to prevent further attacks.

The force said its personnel remained committed to sustaining operations against terrorist and criminal groups while protecting lives and property within its area of responsibility.

The statement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on 28 August 2026.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has received the Distinguished Alumnus Star Award from the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, for his contributions to strategic military leadership, professional military education and national security.

The award was presented on Friday, 28 August 2026, during the graduation ceremony of NDC Course 34 in Abuja.

The ceremony was attended by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The event also highlighted the Federal Government’s focus on developing strategic leaders and promoting professionalism across the country’s defence and security institutions.

Lieutenant General Shaibu has previously served at the NDC as a Directing Staff and later as Director Coordination. During his time at the institution, he contributed to programmes designed to strengthen strategic thinking and leadership among senior military officers and other national security practitioners.

The Distinguished Alumnus Star Award recognises his record of service in strategic military education and leadership.

The honour also reflects his continued efforts to build a Nigerian Army that is professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of 500 additional compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations across Nigeria as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, in what, according to many citizens, appears to be fear of losing 2027 election.

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement he personally signed on Thursday after discussions with members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on measures to make transportation more affordable.

According to the President, the governors had agreed to pursue measures that would lower transport costs, with particular attention to the savings offered by CNG-powered and electric vehicles.

Tinubu said the Federal Government is already supporting more than 100 gas-related projects across the country. These include 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.

He said the Federal Government and state governments had also agreed to establish a joint committee that would commence work on the agreed measures immediately.

“I have also directed the additional rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country,” the statement reads.

The President said state governments have an important role to play because intra-state transportation has a direct impact on Nigerians.

“Intra-state transport is where Nigerians feel the cost most directly, and it is where the states hold the levers.

“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve.

“We have agreed to set up a joint Federal and State committee to begin implementing these measures immediately. A vehicle running on CNG spends 60 to 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol.

“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”

The President urged all levels of government to coordinate their efforts to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the programme.

“Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian.”

Governors Consider Nationwide Fare Reduction

The development follows a communiqué issued by the NGF after its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The governors said they were considering a nationwide reduction in transportation fares under the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP).

The forum said the programme would take advantage of the lower operating costs associated with CNG to provide more affordable public transportation.

Tinubu approved the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) in August 2023.

The Presidency said the initiative was designed to reduce the impact of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians through lower energy costs.

With the latest directive, the number of CNG refuelling stations targeted under the programme is expected to rise to 1,000 nationwide.