Ibadan – President Tinubu declares security emergency, orders 20,000 new police recruits
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering the Nigerian Police and Armed Forces to recruit additional personnel to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued from the Statehouse, the president directed the police to recruit 20,000 new officers, bringing the total planned intake to 50,000.
He also authorised the use of National Youth Service Corps camps as temporary training facilities for the recruits.
President Tinubu sends three ambassadorial nominees to senate for confirmation
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a list of three ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the submission during Wednesday’s plenary session, which was aired on the NASS YouTube channel.
The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke.
Nigeria protests visa denial for World Youth Table Tennis players
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation has petitioned the International Table Tennis Federation after its players were denied visas for the World Youth Championships in Romania.
The refusal has alarmed Nigeria’s table tennis community, with officials warning on Wednesday that it threatens the country’s place in a major global youth competition.
NTTF President, Adesoji Tayo, condemned the decision, calling it “a violation of international sportsmanship, inclusivity and fair participation”.
He said the reasons given for the denial were “unjust, discriminatory and contrary to the spirit of unity which international sport should foster.”
Nnamdi Kanu: Bianca Ojukwu urges South-East to embrace dialogue
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has urged the South-East people to use dialogue and peaceful means to address the recent imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu.
Ojukwu made the remarks at the 14th edition of the Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Day Celebration held at the Ojukwu Memorial Library, Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
She noted that although the court of first instance had sentenced Kanu to imprisonment, “all hope are not lost,” adding that through dialogue and peaceful methods, Nnamdi Kanu could be released from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
NLC rejects NSITF Bill, declares emergency meeting
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has announced an emergency meeting to discuss the proposed Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF Bill.
The announcement was made in a notice by the union spokesperson, Benson Upah, on Wednesday.
The sole agenda of the meeting is to deliberate on the NSITF bill, which has undergone its second reading in the Nigerian Senate. The bill, aimed at amending the NSITF Act, has been strongly rejected by the NLC on the grounds that it is ill-motivated.
Gov Makinde pledges to resolve circular road setback, compensation issues for landowners
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has met with the community members whose properties fall within the Ologuneru axis of the ongoing 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project.
At the engagement, which lasted several hours, the governor listened to representatives of the property owners and assured them that his administration would not fail the people.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser (Media), Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said all issues relating to the setback and development corridor would be resolved before his administration ends in 2027.
Trump excludes South Africa from 2026 G20, cites human rights abuses
US President, Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday that South Africa would not be invited to next year’s G20 summit in Miami, taking his diplomatic offensive against the country to a new level.
Trump cited what he described as “horrific Human rights abuses” endured by white farmers, and South Africa’s refusal to symbolically hand off the G20 presidency at the end of this year’s summit to the United States.
White House on lock down following shooting of two National Guard members
The White House was reportedly placed on lockdown on Wednesday following a shooting involving members of the U.S. National Guard near the nation’s capital, raising security concerns in the area.
The shooting occurred close to the Farragut Metro Station, coinciding with a controversial troop deployment to Washington, D.C., ordered by President Donald Trump.
In a post on X, the DC Metropolitan Police stated that officers were present at the scene and advised the public to stay away from the vicinity.
Tension in Bissau as military announces takeover, suspends electoral process
Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday declared that they had assumed full control of the country, announcing the suspension of all electoral activities and an immediate closure of national borders.
The development comes just three days after the nation conducted its legislative and presidential elections.
The declaration followed reports of heavy gunfire earlier in the day around the presidential palace in Bissau.
