Nigeria

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has approved a fresh six-month extension for the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Adeniyi’s current tenure was earlier extended by one year in 2025. The tenure was expected to end on August 1, 2026.

According to the Presidency, the latest extension will run until February 2027. The statement explained that the decision will allow the Customs boss to continue the implementation of the National Single Window project and also ensure a smooth leadership transition within the service.

The Presidency stated that during the transition period, Adeniyi will work alongside the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee the promotion of qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs.

He is also expected to supervise the compulsory retirement of officers who have either reached the age of sixty or completed thirty-five years in service.

Adeniyi joined the Nigeria Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late nineteen eighties.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops attached to Forward Operating Bases (FOB) AUDU and BABANNA have destroyed a suspected terrorist hideout during a patrol operation in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a report shared on his official X account on Wednesday.

According to the report, the operation was carried out around 10:30 a.m. on June 14, 2026, after security personnel received credible intelligence about the presence of a suspected terrorist camp within the Saminaka–Kanau axis.

The troops conducted a fighting patrol across the area and searched locations linked to criminal activities.

Although the soldiers did not encounter any suspected terrorists during the mission, they reportedly located and dismantled the hideout. They also destroyed a logistics and administrative facility believed to have been used by the criminal group.

Military sources cited in the report said the operation was executed successfully and without any incident.

The report added that security forces are continuing efforts to maintain a strong presence in the area and prevent criminal elements from operating freely within the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has commenced a statewide operation against vehicles without valid registration and those using concealed or fake number plates, with mobile courts deployed to facilitate the speedy prosecution of offenders.

The exercise began on Wednesday following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. Authorities said the initiative is intended to improve security and promote safer roads across the state.

In a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, the command disclosed that mobile courts have been positioned at the headquarters of the state’s five area commands and at key locations within Bauchi metropolis.

According to the police, the enforcement drive focuses on vehicles operating without proper registration, those with hidden or covered number plates, and vehicles displaying unauthorised or fraudulent registration numbers.

Commenting on the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, said, “Unregistered and unidentifiable vehicles remain a major security risk. Such vehicles are often used to perpetrate violent crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery. This enforcement is not aimed at harassing motorists, but at protecting lives and property.”

He warned that any vehicle found to be in breach of the law would be impounded, while offenders would face immediate trial before the mobile courts. He added that penalties could include fines and other sanctions stipulated under the country’s vehicle registration and licensing regulations.

The command advised motorists to ensure that their registration documents are up to date, display number plates appropriately, and avoid any form of alteration or concealment.

Police authorities also appealed to residents to cooperate with personnel involved in the operation, noting that the exercise would continue across the state without exception.

According to the command, the campaign is part of broader efforts to prevent criminals from using untraceable vehicles and to strengthen public safety throughout Bauchi State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a fresh review of interconnection rates for telecommunications operators across the country, a move that could lead to higher costs for voice calls and SMS services if approved.

Interconnection rates, also known as Mobile Termination Rates (MTR), are charges paid by one telecom operator to another when a customer places a call to a subscriber on a different network. The current rates stand at between ₦3.90 and ₦4.70 per minute.

Industry stakeholders discussed the planned review during a consultative meeting on mobile termination rates held in Lagos on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, KPMG partner, Wole Adenekan, said interconnection rates should reflect the actual cost of providing services. According to him, rates that are set too low may discourage investment in telecommunications infrastructure.

“A mis-set MTR can enable dominant operators to foreclose smaller competitors through high termination barriers. A cost-reflective rate supports a level competitive playing field,” he said.

Adenekan also noted that consumers could eventually bear the burden of excessive termination charges through higher retail service costs.

He explained that economic realities have changed significantly since the last review in 2018. He cited the depreciation of the naira, rising inflation, higher energy expenses and increasing equipment costs as factors that have altered operators’ cost structures.

The KPMG official further stated that the expansion of 5G technology and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) services have transformed network usage patterns and service delivery models. He added that messaging and voice services provided by Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms have reduced dependence on traditional telecom interconnection services.

According to him, the local interconnection rates established in 2018 have not been revised, while the 2022 review focused only on international termination rates.

In her remarks, the Head of Competition and Tariff Unit at the NCC’s Policy Department, Omotayo Mohammed, described the review as an important economic measure aimed at ensuring the commission’s regulatory framework keeps pace with developments in the telecommunications sector.

She said: “Our existing national interconnection rate regime was set out in the Commission’s Interconnection Rate Determination of June 1, 2018, and was subsequently adjusted through an amendment to the Mobile International Termination Rate (ITR) in September 2022.

“The Commission has historically maintained a regular cycle of periodic reviews to keep its frameworks relevant.

“However, the years since our 2018 determination have been marked by unprecedented and rapid change. The Nigerian telecommunications market has undergone considerable transformation, reflected in swift expansion, shifting market dynamics, the commercial deployment of advanced technologies such as 5G, and the emergence of new ecosystem players including Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

“At the same time, both global and domestic macroeconomic conditions have shifted considerably. Changes in exchange rate regimes, and inflation rates have substantially altered the cost structures associated with providing communications services in Nigeria.

“For regulation to remain effective in a fast-moving market, our frameworks must evolve in step with it. Pursuant to Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission is therefore acting on its mandate to ensure that telecommunications tariffs and charges remain reasonable, cost-reflective, and non-discriminatory”.

Mohammed added that the exercise will also assess existing retail pricing controls and asymmetry arrangements to ensure that consumer interests remain protected while maintaining fair competition within the sector.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Katsina State Government has announced the rescue of four kidnap victims by Nigerian Army troops during ongoing operations against wanted bandit leader Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and his criminal network.

The rescued individuals identified as Musa Yakuba, 62; Alhaji Sa’adu Dayi, 68; Mukhtar Danja, 36; and Salisu Danja, 50—were freed during sustained military operations in areas where the gang is believed to be operating.

According to a statement released Wednesday by the state’s Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, all four victims sustained gunshot wounds during their captivity and received immediate medical attention upon rescue.

The operation comes weeks after troops successfully rescued the wife of late Major General Rabe Abubakar. Officials noted that the newly rescued victims had previously appeared in a photograph with the late general.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda praised the professionalism and bravery of the security forces, stating that their relentless efforts continue to yield results in the fight against banditry and kidnapping across the state.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, assured citizens that security forces remain on the trail of Fulani and other criminal elements, vowing that operations will persist until all perpetrators of terror against innocent citizens face justice.

“We remain fully committed to protecting lives and property,” Mu’azu said, adding that the government will continue collaborating closely with security agencies to deny criminals any safe haven in the state.

By Anas Abbas

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking an order to suspend the implementation of a Federal High Court judgment that directed the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

At a hearing before a three-member panel of the appellate court on Tuesday, INEC expressed support for applications filed by the affected parties challenging the lower court’s decision.

The electoral body argued that it was unaware the judgment would be delivered, insisting that an earlier order of the Court of Appeal had halted the planned delivery of the ruling.

Counsel representing INEC told the court that the commission only became aware of the judgment through media reports, maintaining that no formal notice was issued regarding its delivery.

The commission therefore backed requests for a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.

Lawyers representing the ADC also faulted the ruling, describing it as a threat to judicial order and urging the appellate court to intervene. The party’s legal team argued that the lower court proceeded despite being aware of an order suspending the judgment, and called on the Court of Appeal to take urgent steps to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.

Other affected parties warned that enforcing the judgment could create uncertainty ahead of upcoming by-elections scheduled in several states. They urged the appellate court to prevent possible disruptions by suspending the implementation of the ruling while the appeal is being considered.

The Court of Appeal was still receiving submissions from parties involved in the matter at the time of filing this report. The case follows a Federal High Court judgment ordering INEC to deregister the ADC and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements.

By Anas Abbas

A court in Katsina State has sentenced a woman to death after finding her guilty of aiding bandits operating in parts of the state.

The convict was prosecuted for providing assistance to armed criminal groups, an offence the court ruled contributed to insecurity and violence affecting communities across the region. After reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the court held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge stated that anyone who supports criminal groups, either directly or indirectly, bears responsibility for the consequences of their actions. The court consequently imposed the death penalty on the defendant in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law.

The case is one of several ongoing efforts by authorities to tackle banditry and related crimes in Katsina and other northwestern states. Security agencies have intensified operations against armed groups blamed for killings, kidnappings, and attacks on rural communities.

Officials say the judgment sends a strong message that individuals who provide logistical, financial, or other forms of support to criminal networks will face severe legal consequences.

The conviction comes amid renewed calls for stronger collaboration between security agencies, local communities, and the judiciary to address the persistent security challenges facing the region.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A 26-year-old housewife, Fatima, is in police custody in Kano State after allegedly stabbing her husband, Auwalu, to death on Sunday in the Rimin Kebe quarters of the metropolitan area.

The couple, who had been married for less than two months, reportedly engaged in a heated argument that turned violent. Neighbors said the marriage was not one of mutual affection, with the wife having consistently expressed reluctance to the union.

According to a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the deceased emerged from their home crying for help after the attack.

“Fatima struck his throat with a knife. He came out shouting that it was his wife who stabbed him. He was rushed to the police station and later to a hospital, but he died before arrival,” the source told.

The suspect was promptly arrested by officers from the Zango Police Division in Dantamashe.

“Their marriage is less than two months old. The wife is presently under police custody,” the source added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has attributed Nigeria’s long-running electricity problems to what she described as poor public policy, despite the country’s abundant oil and gas resources.

Badenoch made the remarks during a recent interview with The Spectator, where she reflected on her upbringing and discussed a range of issues.

According to her, the presence of natural resources alone does not guarantee development if government policies fail to support their effective use.

“My belief that we need to drill our oil and gas comes from growing up in a country… Nigeria is an oil-producing country that has never had electricity,” she said.

“It is very easy to have resources under the ground, but stupid public policy means that you can’t use them,” she added.

Her comments come at a time when Nigeria continues to face persistent power supply shortages despite reforms and the privatisation of the electricity sector over the years.

Available data shows that the country’s electricity generation has largely remained between 3,500 and 5,000 megawatts, a figure many analysts consider inadequate for a population estimated at more than 250 million people.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently assured Nigerians that his administration would continue efforts to tackle the challenges facing the power sector.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Mrs. Abubakar, wife of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar, following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The rescue operation, conducted under the ongoing Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched after intelligence reports confirmed the abduction of the retired senior officer’s wife and other family members.

Military sources told Zagazola that troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga village during a search-and-rescue mission. The armed group came under heavy military pressure and fled the scene.

“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source said.

The victim was immediately stabilized by troops before being evacuated to a medical facility for further treatment.

Military authorities have since intensified follow-up operations in the area, with troops maintaining a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing bandits and suspected kingpins linked to the attack and abduction.

Security sources assured that the ongoing clearance operation under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III will continue until all criminal hideouts are dismantled. The military remains committed to tracking down those responsible and ensuring they face justice.