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By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Ebonyi State Government on Tuesday hosted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to a state banquet in Abakaliki, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Army in promoting national security and sustainable development. The banquet, attended by the Chief of Army Staff's wife, senior military officers, government officials, traditional rulers, security stakeholders and other dignitaries, highlighted the partnership between the state government and the Nigerian Army, particularly following the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda. Speaking at the event, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifices in defending the country's territorial integrity and maintaining peace across the nation. He described the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda, as a strategic national asset that would strengthen the Army's forc...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the intervention programmes introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are fulfilling campaign promises by expanding access to finance for small businesses and empowering young entrepreneurs across the country. Yilwatda, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, said the Presidential Intervention Funds demonstrate the administration's commitment to stimulating enterprise, creating jobs, and promoting economic inclusion. According to him, inadequate access to affordable financing has remained a major challenge for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), despite their significant contributions to Nigeria's economy and employment generation.  He said the Federal Government has responded with targeted intervention programmes aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potent...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Team Lagbaja has emerged champions of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026 Polo Tournament, held on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The tournament, organised as part of activities marking the 163rd anniversary of the Nigerian Army, underscored the Service's commitment to promoting teamwork, resilience, physical fitness and esprit de corps among its personnel. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, presented the championship trophy to Team Lagbaja and commended all participating teams for demonstrating discipline, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition. He noted that sporting activities remain an important platform for strengthening cohesion, leadership and healthy competition within the Nigerian Army, adding that these qualities are essential for maintaining a professional, motivated and combat-ready force capable of addressing contemporary security chal...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Recent allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and workplace victimisation within the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have sparked renewed concerns about accountability, transparency, and the protection of employees in Nigeria's public institutions . The controversy stems from an open letter written by former NAN staff member, Dr. Femi Ogunshola, to the agency's Managing Director, Ali Muhammad Ali. In the letter, Dr. Ogunshola alleged that a female employee, Miss Ogunola Folashade Adunni, suffered prolonged sexual harassment from a senior official allegedly connected to the agency's recruitment process. He further claimed that after rejecting repeated advances, the employee was unfairly placed on a lower salary grade despite possessing a university degree and years of service as a casual staff member. At the time of writing, the allegations remain unproven, and there has been no public finding by an independent in...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday commissioned 80 housing units under the Nigerian Army Affordable Home Ownership Scheme in Jos, Plateau State, reaffirming the Army's commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on June 30, 2026, General Shaibu said the housing initiative forms part of his "Soldier-First Culture," which he described as a key driver of operational effectiveness and national security. He noted that providing affordable and quality housing for soldiers is a strategic investment in their welfare, morale and combat readiness. The Army Chief said the welfare of personnel and their families remains a central pillar of his leadership philosophy, stressing that motivated and professionally fulfilled soldiers are better equipped to carry out the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army. According to him, the 80 housing units com...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intensified operations against terrorists and bandits across the North-West, neutralising two suspected terrorists, rescuing a kidnapped victim, arresting eight suspected collaborators and logistics facilitators, and recovering 110 rustled cattle during operations conducted between June 27 and 28, 2026. According to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the operations were carried out across Kaduna and Zamfara states as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks in the region. The statement said that on June 27, troops of Sector 1, working with members of the Vigilante Group, engaged terrorists transporting kidnapped victims on motorcycles during fighting patrols in Giwa and Kaduna North Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Following a gun battle, the terrorist...