Category: Politics

ABUJA, NIGERIA (Agency Report) — March 19, 2026 —The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, says communities in Borno and Yobe must take ownership of the fight against terrorism as local cooperation remains critical in ending insurgency.

Oluyede said this following a strategic assessment by the Armed Forces of Nigeria on ongoing counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

This was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that findings indicated that the effectiveness and sustainability of military operations were closely tied to the cooperation and commitment of local communities.

He noted that terrorism could not thrive without local support systems and expressed concern over intelligence reports suggesting that some individuals within affected communities had knowingly or unknowingly aided or shielded terrorist elements.

According to him, such actions undermine military efforts and prolong the suffering of innocent citizens.

The CDS added that perpetrators of violence were often not strangers but individuals known within the communities, including neighbours, relatives and acquaintances.

He therefore urged residents to rise above fear and misplaced loyalties by exposing criminal elements and denying them sanctuary.

“The fight against terrorism is not the responsibility of the military alone. It is a collective duty.

“The people of Borno and Yobe must reject terrorism in all its forms and actively support security agencies with credible and timely information,” he said.

Citing a recent incident, Oluyede said some wounded attackers involved in an assault on Kukawa were found within the community during follow-up operations, indicating possible complicity.

“For us to bring this to an end, all hands must be on deck. Our people must resolve that this has to come to an end,” he said.

He reassured Nigerians that the Armed Forces remained committed and adaptive in tackling evolving threats, including the use of drones and other emerging technologies by terrorist groups.

Oluyede also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and civil society organisations to play more proactive roles in mobilising communities against extremism.

He emphasised that building resilient communities capable of resisting extremist influence was critical to achieving lasting peace in the region.

The defence chief urged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and cooperate fully with security agencies.

He also assured law-abiding Nigerians of its commitment to safeguarding lives and restoring peace across the North East.(NAN).

ABUJA, NIGERIA (Agency Report) — March 19, 2026 —Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has ordered a comprehensive anti-corruption review of federal road projects, reinforcing transparency and accountability in infrastructure delivery.

Umahi disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the ‘Personality of the Year’ award from Aljazirah Nigeria Newspaper.

He said the ministry invited the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to independently investigate road projects nationwide.

“We wrote to ICPC to investigate all our projects, not on paper, but to physically verify what the President is delivering.

“We also wrote to EFCC. ICPC has concluded. We gave them space to check procurement processes. They have started work. Nobody is interfering.

“I am told EFCC will begin after Sallah. We are not hiding anything because we feel for the people.

“When a road is cut into two, it is like people being imprisoned because movement becomes impossible. This is what the President is addressing,” Umahi said.

He said the ministry’s costing system allowed detailed breakdowns of materials and construction processes for every project.

“If you ask about any project cost, we can disaggregate it—cement, sand, chippings, equipment—everything is accounted for,” he said.

Umahi stressed that shifting from asphalt to concrete roads, though initially resisted, serves the public interest.

“We fought that battle because concrete roads last longer and serve Nigerians better,” he said.

He added that poor road infrastructure restricts movement and economic activities nationwide.

“When a road is cut off, it is like putting people in prison. That is what we are trying to change,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the media outlet, Williams Bassey, said the award followed rigorous evaluation and peer review.

Bassey said the committee unanimously selected Umahi as the 2025 Personality of the Year for Infrastructure Transformation.

He described Umahi as a public servant driving significant infrastructure improvements under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“This honour recognises your strides in infrastructure development and elevating road construction standards nationwide,” he said.

He added that extensive investigations into the ministry’s operations found no evidence of wrongdoing.

“In 2024, we deployed our highest investigative resources within and outside Nigeria, and found no evidence of corruption,” he said.

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the latest Global Terrorism Index report, which ranked Nigeria among the most terrorised nations in the world and recorded the highest increase in deaths from terrorism.

In a statement on Thursday, Obi described the ranking as a painful indictment of failed leadership, noting that while many countries are witnessing a decline in terrorism, Nigeria continues to move in the opposite direction. He blamed the worsening insecurity on misplaced priorities, weak governance, corruption, disregard for the rule of law, and persistent neglect of security, which he stressed is the government’s most fundamental duty.

“From the insurgency of Boko Haram to the growing threat posed by the Islamic State West Africa Province, the crisis of kidnapping, and unchecked violence in our rural communities by heavily armed bandits, Nigerians are dying daily while those in power continue to feast,” the statement read.

The presidential hopeful questioned the very purpose of government if it cannot protect lives, lamenting that Nigeria has normalised tragedy while other nations make progress. Campaigning under the mantra ‘A New Nigeria is POssible’, Obi insisted that a safe and secure Nigeria is the right of every citizen. He urged a shift from excuses to action, and from failure to measurable progress, declaring that the current situation does not represent what the Nigeria people deserve.