Author: Aminu Imam

‘Unregulated foreign influence in media contributing to insecurity’ – NUJ

Aminu Imam
NUJ on insecurity

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has raised concerns that unchecked access by foreign entities to Nigeria’s media landscape is emerging as a factor exacerbating the country’s security challenges. Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the second day of the National Security Summit jointly organised by the NUJ and the Department of State Services (DSS), the union’s National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya-Abdullahi, called for greater oversight of foreign participation in the media sector. The summit, themed: ‘Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building’, brought together journalists, security experts…

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“Tinubu may lead Nigeria to war path if 2027 is rigged” – Dino Melaye 

Aminu Imam
Dino Melaye on Asiwaju

Former Kogi-West Senator, Dino Melaye, has warned that Nigeria could face serious political unrest if the 2027 presidential election is manipulated in favour of President Bola Tinubu. In a video shared on his Facebook page yesterday, Melaye alleged that any attempt to rig the next general election would be met with “vehement resistance” from the opposition, insisting that Nigerians would not accept an imposed leadership. He also referenced Indonesia’s history of mass resistance, suggesting similar public action could occur in Nigeria if democratic principles are undermined.  Melaye, however, did not…

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NDPC seeks clarification from INEC over alleged data breach

Aminu Imam
NDPC seeks clarification

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) says it has twice requested the Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over allegations of a data breach. National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, disclosed this in Abuja during a media parley to mark three years of the Commission. Olatunji said the request followed the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023, noting that it was part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral database. According to…

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LG Funds: “Hold your Govs. accountable” – Presidency tells State Assemblies 

Aminu Imam
Presidency tells State Assemblies

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has called on State Houses of Assembly to strengthen oversight of local government allocations, saying the President cannot act as a “prefect” to governors under Nigeria’s federal structure. Speaking on federalism and accountability, Bwala said policy direction rests with the President at the centre, while implementation and scrutiny lie with governors, state lawmakers, and other federated institutions. “The President is not a prefect to the governors. That is why I talk about federalism. At the centre, whatever the…

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2027: APC defends Tinubu, dismisses opposition’s resignation call

Aminu Imam
APC defends Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected calls by opposition parties and the 10th House of Representatives minority caucus for President Bola Tinubu to either improve governance or resign over worsening insecurity and economic hardship. The opposition lawmakers had urged Tinubu to suspend 2027 political activities and focus on a 6-month ‘National Security and Economic Recovery Plan’, arguing that rising insecurity and economic challenges were pushing Nigeria toward a failed state.  The position was backed by parties including the ADC, PDP, SDP, NDC and the Democratic Leadership Alliance, which accused…

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‘Impunity fueling genocide claims in Nigeria’ – UN expert

Aminu Imam
UN expert on genocide

Spreading violence and impunity for armed groups is undermining religious freedom in Nigeria, the United Nations (UN)’s top expert on the matter said yesterday, adding it was understandable that some victims “describe this as persecution or genocide”. The comments by the United Nations special rapporteur on religious freedom, Nazila Ghanea, came after US President Donald Trump angered Nigeria last year by condemning what he called a Christian “genocide” in the country. Nigeria, which is divided between a mostly Muslim north and Christian-majority south, is struggling to deal with multiple security…

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‘B’Haram, banditry, clashes driving poverty across the North’ – Report

Aminu Imam
Report on B'Haram, banditry

A new report has revealed that violent conflict across the northern part of the country is deepening poverty and weakening the ability of households to recover from economic shocks. The report, titled: ‘Insecurity, Livelihoods and Welfare in Northern Nigeria’, identified three major forms of insecurity affecting the region: Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency in the North-East, farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central, and banditry and kidnapping in the North-West. The findings were unveiled on Thursday in Abuja, during a high-level webinar convened by the ‘Chronic Poverty Advisory Network of the Institute of Development…

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“I’ll never negotiate with terrorists” – Zamfara Gov. declares

Aminu Imam
Zamfara Gov. on bandits

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has ruled out the possibility of negotiating with armed groups terrorising communities across the state, insisting that security operations remain the only viable option for ending banditry. The Governor stated this while responding to renewed calls from some stakeholders advocating dialogue with bandits as a strategy for restoring peace in the troubled state. Lawal maintained that engaging criminal elements in negotiations would amount to rewarding violence and undermining the authority of government. According to him, the state cannot afford to create an impression that terrorists…

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NDC disowns candidates’ list circulating on social media

Aminu Imam
NDC disowns candidates’ list

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has distanced itself from a list of purported candidates for elections in Imo, Abia and Anambra states currently circulating on social media, describing it as fake and unauthorised. In a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, the party urged members and the general public to disregard the lists, insisting that they did not originate from the party’s national headquarters. The NDC stated that it had already submitted the authentic list of candidates who would fly the party’s flag in the affected states…

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IPOB crisis deepens, as faction suspends Nnamdi Kanu

Aminu Imam
IPOB crisis deepens

…Rival leadership rejects move A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) following the announcement by one faction of the group that it had indefinitely suspended the office of the leader, and the position of Director of Radio Biafra previously held by detained separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, while a rival faction swiftly dismissed the action as unconstitutional and null and void. In a statement issued on Thursday, the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS), led by Chikadibia Edoziem, announced the immediate and indefinite suspension of Kanu’s…

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