SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s historic direct primary election. The results were officially announced at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja after a nationwide collation exercise supervised by the APC Presidential Primary Election Committee chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim. Tinubu defeated fellow aspirant, Mr. Stanley Osifo, by a landslide margin after polling millions of votes across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Tinubu Accepts Nomination In his acceptance speech, President Tinubu described the moment as “another proud chapter” in Nigeria’s democratic journey and thanked party members for renewing their confidence in his leadership. “I accept, with humility and profound gratitude, the nomination of our great party, the Al...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency synergy in addressing terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crimes. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known on 21 May 2026 during a study tour by the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course 2 (CFTRSC - OPL2) from the National Defence College, held at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. He commended the growing capacity development within the Service, as well as the participation of officers drawn from various formations across the country.Adeniyi described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a significant milestone that restored investor confidence and strengthened the country’s global financial standing. He e...

By Bimpe Audu The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has renewed its commitment to boosting legitimate trade with China while clamping down on illicit economic activities. This effort centers on tightening enforcement and strengthening bilateral cooperation to create a more secure, streamlined economic partnership between both nations. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, stated this on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, while receiving the Ambassador-Designate to China, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd.), at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja. CGC Adeniyi said the envoy was not a stranger to the Service, considering his antecedents, military background, and distinguished career. He noted that Dambazau’s military training and leadership experience had prepared him for the diplomatic assignment and expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen Nigeria’s mission in China. The CGC described China as Nigeria’s biggest trading partner, adding that ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged commanders across the Nigerian Army to strengthen operational effectiveness through accountability, professionalism and results-oriented leadership. This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, in Abuja. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Bi-Annual Conference 2026 held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, the Army Chief said the conference provided a strategic platform to review ongoing operations and develop new approaches to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Lieutenant General Shaibu stated that discussions at the conference focused on enhancing operational responses, improving training structures and adapting to the realities of the contemporary security environment. According to him, the resolutions reached duri...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly refuted reports suggesting that terrorist groups have established operational bases in Nigeria’s South-West region, insisting that the recent attack and abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State was an isolated criminal incident and not evidence of an entrenched insurgency. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, expressed deep sympathy to the families of victims abducted during attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. General Oluyede described the abduction of innocent pupils and school staff as “callous and reprehensible,” assuring Nigerians that troops were fully committed to securing the safe and unconditional release of all victims. “The f...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, 18 May 2026, officially launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the International Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a move aimed at improving passenger clearance, compliance and Customs operations. The platform, designed to simplify baggage declaration for inbound international passengers, is expected to reduce manual bottlenecks, improve transparency in revenue assessment and enhance operational efficiency at Nigeria’s international airports. Speaking at the official launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the deployment marks another major step in the Service’s digital transformation agenda under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi. DCG Adebakin said the initiative became necessary following operational challenges encoun...