Ibadan – The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants into the Public Service.
A statement on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said the approval is part of efforts to address the growing problem of illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security.
He said Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
US to suspend visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026
The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
According to the statement, Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure.
Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
FG reactivates terrorism charges against Bello Turji, associates
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted an application by the Federal Government to reopen a terrorism case involving five suspects allegedly linked to notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application in a ruling on a motion on notice filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, seeking an order to relist the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 on the court’s cause list.
The judge held that the application, moved by counsel for the AGF, Mr David Kaswe, was meritorious and accordingly granted it.
The charge had earlier been struck out on July 8 following an oral application by defence counsel, who cited lack of diligent prosecution after the lead prosecuting counsel failed to appear in court.
Troops kill several terrorists in intensified onslaught in north
Troops engaged in internal security operations across the country have killed several terrorists and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in the ongoing onslaught against non-state actors.
In the past week, the troops also arrested criminals and terrorist collaborators and rescued kidnap victims during operations spanning five geopolitical zones nationwide.
They also seized 652,000 litres of stolen crude, destroyed three illegal refining sites, and arrested five oil thieves.
How remaining 130 abducted Catholic schoolchildren were rescued in Niger — NSA
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that the successful rescue of the remaining 130 abducted St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools Children in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State was the outcome of sustained resilience, strategic coordination, and joint operations involving Nigeria’s security agencies and international partners.
The freed children arrived at the Niger State Government House at about 1:30pm on Tuesday in seven white colour Hiace Toyota buses under heavy security escort.
The convoy included about 15 armoured personnel carriers and several bulletproof vehicles operated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army.
Igboho demands FG action as gunmen kill farmers in hometown
Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Monday raised the alarm over the killing of three farmers during a fresh attack by gunmen in Igboho, his hometown in Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Adeyemo, in a statement issued in Ibadan, called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently address the growing insecurity in rural communities across Oyo State and other parts of the South-West to avert further violence and chaos.
According to a statement authorised by Adeyemo, the victims were identified as Aderoju Mukaila, Olawuwo Saka and Ojeniyi Ojebayo.
KWAM1 loses bid to block Awujale selection process
The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode on Monday refused to grant popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, alias KWAM1, an interim injunction aimed at restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and five others from proceeding with the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
Ayinde, represented in court by Wahab Shittu (SAN), had sought the injunction pending the hearing of his substantive suit challenging the selection process.
But Justice A. A. Omoniyi dismissed the application, holding that the interim injunction lacked merit and that there were no strong grounds to justify its grant.
He subsequently ordered the expedited hearing of the substantive matter, fixing 14 January 2026 for proceedings.
