SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigerian Army has strengthened its partnership with World Archery Africa and the Nigeria Archery Federation (NAFED) as part of efforts to promote sports development, enhance civil-military relations and improve Nigeria’s capacity to host major international competitions. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Thursday, when he received a joint delegation from World Archery Africa and NAFED, led by the federation’s President, Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, at Army Headquarters, Abuja. Shaibu said archery was closely aligned with key military values, including concentration, marksmanship, discipline and physical fitness, noting that the sport could contribute to the professional development and physical readiness of personnel. The COAS consequently directed the Chief of Training to commence preparations for the proposed African Indoor Archery Championship at the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery facility. ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The National Coordinator of the Safe Schools Initiative, Hajiya Halima Iliya, has called for stronger collaboration between the initiative and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to enhance the security of schools and protect children across the country. Iliya made the call on Thursday when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, at Defence Headquarters, Abuja. She said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing synergy between the Safe Schools Initiative and the military, while briefing the CDS on the initiative’s ongoing interventions, activities and future plans.  The National Coordinator recalled that the Safe Schools Initiative was established in 2014 following a series of attacks on schools, particularly the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State. She explained that the initiative, domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance, coordinates the efforts of security agencies, govern...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  ​The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Conducting Internal Corruption Risk Analysis and Mapping (ICRAM), the ICRAM Handbook, and the Integrity Action Plan, while directing their immediate implementation across all zones, commands, and units of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). ​The Comptroller-General gave the directive on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, during a ceremony held at his office in the NCS Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja. As part of the milestone event, CGC Adeniyi also formally activated the ICRAM Steering Committee, cementing the Service’s systematic framework for identifying, assessing, and mapping corruption risks across all operational and administrative processes. ​CGC Adeniyi said the documents resulted from a painstaking process involving an internal team, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and partner administrations such as His Majesty’s Revenue an...

Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket, is facing an environmental crisis that is increasingly threatening the land, water, farms and communities upon which its agricultural economy depends. Across the state, flooding, deforestation, soil degradation and poor waste management are combining to place growing pressure on the environment and the livelihoods of residents. What was once largely viewed as separate environmental problems is increasingly becoming an interconnected cycle, with one problem worsening another. For a state whose economy and food production depend heavily on fertile land and predictable weather, the consequences could be significant. Flooding remains one of the most visible manifestations of the crisis.  Communities located along the River Benue and its tributaries regularly face the threat of rising water, while heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems in urban centres such as Makurdi. Beyond the immediate destruction ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged the Service’s support for the Federal Government’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy. Adeniyi made the commitment on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while delivering a keynote address at the New Nigeria Festival held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Conference Hall in Abuja. He said the $1 trillion economic target was achievable if government’s plans and strategies were effectively implemented and translated into measurable outcomes. The Customs boss said the Service had moved beyond policy discussions to implementing practical reforms aimed at supporting economic growth, citing the ongoing modernisation of the NCS. According to him, initiatives such as the B’Odogwu digital platform, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and Advance Ruling mechanism were designed to facilitate legitimate trade, provide greater predictability for b...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its campaign against breast cancer, urging officers and stakeholders to prioritise early detection, regular screening and timely medical attention. The Service made the call on Tuesday, during a breast cancer awareness and sensitisation programme held at its headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. The programme, organised to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect” and brought together Customs officers, medical professionals and other stakeholders to promote awareness and prevention of the disease. Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said cancer should not be viewed as a stigma or a death sentence. Adebakin urged officers to take their health seriously, stressing that continuous education and sensitisation rem...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has rescued 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State on October 1, 2026. The victims were rescued at about 4:28 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained and coordinated search-and-rescue operations by security agencies. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), in a statement, said the rescued victims had been taken for medical examination and necessary treatment as part of the post-rescue process. According to the statement, the successful operation was achieved through sustained operational coordination and collaboration among the security agencies involved in the search for the abducted prospective corps members. The Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspects responsible for the abduction, adding that security agencies had intensified operations to bring th...