Ibadan – The Senate has announced that it will on Wednesday screen the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence, describing the process as part of its ongoing response to the country’s security challenges.
The disclosure was made by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement issued by his Directorate on Media and Public Affairs on Tuesday.
He noted the importance of the screening to efforts aimed at ensuring internal peace and stability.
Musa’s nomination follows the resignation of former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who stepped down citing health concerns.
Insecurity: Akpabio rejigs Senate standing committees
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday announced new leadership for four key committees in a bid to tighten oversight of the nation’s security architecture.
The fresh appointments, made during plenary, were seen as part of the upper chamber’s broader strategy to reinforce accountability across Nigeria’s security and intelligence institutions.
Akpabio named Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North) as Chairman of the Committee on National Intelligence and National Security, positioning him at the centre of the Senate’s scrutiny of intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism and inter-agency coordination.
Borno rebuilt 45 churches destroyed by B’Haram – Zulum
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has declared that the Boko Haram insurgency is not a religious crisis, noting that more Muslims than Christians have been killed since the conflict began.
Dispelling claim of Christian genocide, Zulum added that the Borno State government had rebuilt no fewer than 45 churches destroyed by terrorists.
Zulum spoke on Monday during a high-level consultative meeting with the leadership of Jama’atu Nasril Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the state government and religious bodies to combat insecurity and entrench lasting peace.
President Tinubu, N’Assembly, Wike donate N320m to Nigerian legion
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced a N200m donation to the Nigerian Legion as part of activities marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal launch.
Speaking at the event held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of serving military personnel, injured officers and the families of fallen heroes.
The National Assembly, represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, contributed N100m, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, donated N20m.
Any officer providing escort will be arrested — Force spokesman
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning that any police officer found providing escort or protection for Very Important Persons, VIPs, will be arrested.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, issued the warning on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
Hundeyin described such assignments as illegal under the current order of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. He emphasised that the enforcement operation is fully underway and that all officers previously attached to VIP protection duties have been withdrawn.
Court bars Sowore from making statements detrimental to national peace, security
A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore from further making statements that are detrimental to the peace and security of the country.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Tuesday, threatened to revoke the bail granted Sowore’ should he ever make such statements.
Justice Umar held that since there was evidence that Sowore was a presidential candidate in the country before and having also earlier been granted bail by the court, with his international passport still being held by the court, he was entitled to be granted bail on self recognition.
Wait till 2027 if you want Shettima’s seat – Muric tells Dachomo
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), to wait for 2027 if he is interested in becoming Nigeria’s vice president.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, said this while reacting to Dachomo’s recent claim that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria because President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are Muslims.
Dachomo had said in an interview, “Shettima is a Muslim, the president is a Muslim. Is that not complete genocide to Christians in the political world? The way forward is to remove Shettima and I stand on it.”
In its response, MURIC accused the cleric of being consumed by “hyperbolic articulation,” describing his comments as extreme and exaggerated.
Dictatorship has no place in Nigeria, says Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima said on Tuesday it is “impossible to have a successful dictator in Nigeria,” promising that the administration of President Bola Tinubu “respects, and will continue to protect” the right to freedom of expression in the country.
Shettima made the declaration at the 2025 Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Press Institute Nigeria, where he insisted that no administration could successfully repress the Nigerian media.
The vice president noted that journalists must operate without harassment or intimidation, adding that the government bears the duty to create an environment where truth thrives and where media work is “protected, rather than policed.”
Gov. Adeleke will reveal new party before Dec 13 — Osun commissioner
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke will formally join a new political party before December 13, following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.
It was earlier reported that the governor, in a statement on Monday, confirmed he submitted his resignation letter to PDP executives in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government, on November 4, 2025.
Speaking on a political programme on Rave FM in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday, Alimi said the resignation was the result of prolonged internal crises within the PDP.
Lagos 2026 budget scales second reading
The proposed N4.23tn 2026 budget for Lagos State has scaled its second reading as the state House of Assembly deliberated on it during Monday’s plenary.
The budget, tagged the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” was presented to the House by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu last Tuesday.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the budget aims to eradicate poverty and build a safer, more prosperous Lagos.
It is anchored on four strategic pillars: poverty eradication, a human-centred approach, enhanced infrastructure, and effective governance.
Police debunks report alleging mass kidnapping at Ngor-Okpala axis in Imo
The Imo State Police Command has debunked reports alleging the mass kidnapping of passengers travelling from Owerri to Aba along the Ngor-Okpala axis, describing the claims as false and urging members of the public to disregard them.
The command, through its spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said in a press statement made available to journalists that the clarification was issued in response to a misleading viral video circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that 14 passengers were kidnapped at Ngor-Okpala.
Okoye explained that, following a thorough investigation, the command confirmed that the video originated from an incident earlier this year and has been recirculated online to create unnecessary panic. He added that concerted efforts were made at the time to ensure the safe release of the victims.
