SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Troops of the Nigerian military under Operation HADIN KAI have neutralised 48 terrorists and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition following successful operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno and Yobe states. The operations, conducted between October 29 and 30, 2026, involved the foiling of coordinated terrorist attacks on military positions in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. In Bitta, troops, supported by air assets, successfully repelled an attempted terrorist assault on the night of October 29, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and disrupting their planned offensive. Similarly, troops launched a counter-offensive against a large concentration of ISWAP fighters who attacked NETTS in Buni Yadi on October 29, with the engagement extendi...

By Aviashima Toom The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to troops’ welfare and family well-being, describing them as critical components of its transformation agenda and operational effectiveness. Shaibu made this known on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during the commissioning of the newly constructed Nigerian Army Space Command Headquarters at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja. The Army Chief said sustained investments in accommodation, healthcare and modern infrastructure were aimed at boosting personnel morale and providing a conducive working and living environment for soldiers and their families. He explained that the initiatives were consistent with his Soldier First mantra and the command philosophy's emphasis on Sound Administration. On the strategic importance of the Space Command, Shaibu said the integration of space-based assets with unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and other emerg...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) strengthened business relations and enhanced trade facilitation with the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC), and the American Business Council (ABC) at a quarterly meeting in the NCS Headquarters' ICT Auditorium, Maitama, Abuja.  During the meeting, held on 28 October 2026, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the visit will strengthen collaboration and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. Niagwan reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation, and enhanced stakeholder engagement. Delivering the CGC's message, she stated, "Our objective is to build a modern, transparent, and responsive Customs administration that facilitates trade wh...

By Aviashima Toom The flames rising from oil facilities across Nigeria tell only part of a much larger environmental story. Behind the familiar glow of gas flaring lies an invisible threat contributing to global warming, wasting valuable natural resources and raising concerns about the safety and livelihoods of communities living near oil and gas installations. That threat is methane, a potent greenhouse gas released through oil and gas production, agricultural activities, waste decomposition and other human activities. Although methane remains in the atmosphere for a shorter period than carbon dioxide, it traps significantly more heat over the short term. Reducing methane emissions is therefore widely recognised as one of the fastest ways to slow the pace of global warming. For Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil-producing country, tackling methane emissions represents both an environmental responsibility and an economic opportunity. A report published by the Natural...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel and their families, declaring that comprehensive and quality healthcare remains fundamental to troop morale, operational readiness and the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army. General Shaibu stated this on Thursday  while unveiling the newly constructed Headquarters, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja. He charged the Corps to continually improve healthcare delivery to officers, soldiers, their families and members of the barracks communities. The COAS emphasised that investing in extensive healthcare services goes beyond treating illnesses, noting that the physical well-being of personnel and their families is essential to maintaining a healthy, motivated and combat-ready force. He stressed that access to responsive and quality medical services would not only enhance o...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Navy has emerged champion at the 2026 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) Cyber Drill Finals organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with SecDojo. The competition, held on October 27, 2026, as part of the National Cyber Security Conference (NCSC) 2026, showcased the growing cybersecurity capabilities of government institutions and their readiness to tackle emerging digital threats. The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the Nigerian Navy team for its outstanding performance, describing the victory as a testament to the personnel's discipline, dedication and professionalism. The winning team comprised Lieutenant Commander JE Peter, Lieutenant YS Danladi, Lieutenant MM Huseini, Sub-Lieutenant IB Gaya and Sub-Lieutenant A Adam. During the competition, participants were tested on their proficiency in offensive security, application security, threat...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned 49 welfare and infrastructure projects across Nigerian Army formations and units nationwide, as part of efforts to improve personnel welfare, address accommodation challenges and enhance operational efficiency. The projects include 11 commissioned in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 38 others across Army formations and units nationwide. At the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the COAS inaugurated a newly constructed Officers Transit Accommodation at Life Camp, Abuja, designed to provide temporary housing for officers posted to Army Headquarters and other formations in the nation's capital. Shaibu said the projects aligned with his command philosophy, particularly the pillars of Sound Administration and the Soldier First Concept, which prioritise personnel welfare in building a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Nigerian ...