In a move signalling a broadened focus beyond spiritual formation, the Young Ministers Retreat has partnered with Premium Trust Bank to provide N24m in business grants to young entrepreneurs.

In a statement, it was noted that the 2025 Young Ministers Retreat concluded at Redemption City with a landmark shift in its mission, awarding N24m (approx. $15,000+) in business grants to over 1,000 young entrepreneurs.

The statement said, “The four-day event, traditionally known for its rigorous spiritual focus on fasting and prayer, pivoted this year to address the economic realities of Nigeria’s youth through a strategic partnership with Premium Trust Bank.

“Pastor Daniel Olawande (popularly known as PDaniel), the convener and pastor in charge of RCCG Youth Province 20, described the initiative as a move to equip a ‘New Army’ that is holistically prepared for societal impact.

“While we ensure spiritual growth, we must ensure young Nigerians are financially capable of growing their businesses. This is how we contribute to the economic growth of the country. To ensure transparency, participants submitted detailed business operations for review by a jury. Prequalified candidates then entered a raffle draw.”

Mary Anu, winner of the N2m grant, expressed her gratitude to both the convener and Premium Trust Bank for the business grant, which came as a surprise but a huge boost to her business.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Digital and E-Business at Premium Trust Bank, Shina Atilola, oversaw the distribution, noting the bank’s commitment to supporting the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

“Now in its ninth year, YMR has grown from its 2017 inception to a global phenomenon, recording over 300,000 attendees this year. As the 2025 ‘New Army’ cohort departs, PDaniel has already set the stage for next year, announcing the 2026 theme: City Takers,” the statement concluded. Josephine Ogundeji

The Peoples Democratic Party chairmen across the 27 Local Government Areas of Jigawa State have passed a vote of confidence and support in the leadership of the state chairman, Babandi Gumel, and former governor Sule Lamido.

Following ongoing leadership rifts within the party at the national level, with factions jostling for control and calling for changes in the party’s leadership, the chairmen of the party made their declaration and their position known.

Recall that the PDP Board of Trustees had on Friday announced the suspension of Lamido over allegations of anti-party activities and inflammatory statements during recent internal crises in the party.

The endorsement by the Jigawa chairmen is widely seen as a boost to his standing following the opposition the former governor and a national chieftain of PDP faced from some factions within the party.

The chairmen made their position known during a special meeting held at the party’s state secretariat in Dutse on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Dutse Local Government Chapter and Forum Chairman, Sa’adu Barwa, while speaking on behalf of the chairmen of the party, explained that they remained firmly committed to the party and its leadership in the state.

He further explained that the PDP chairmen of Jigawa State, reaffirm their allegiance to the party and its leadership, assuring that they will not be swayed by the ongoing crisis within the party.

He urged party members to remain calm, united and focused, stressing that the success of the PDP will depend on collective effort.

The chairmen, according to Barwa, urged all PDP members to remain united and focused on the party’s goals, saying that they will overcome their challenges and emerge stronger.

The Chairman of Hadejia Local Government Area and Vice Chairman of the forum, Adamu Muhd, also described the declaration as a testament to the chairmen’s loyalty to the party.

According to him, “We are committed to working with the state chairman and our national leader to ensure the success of the PDP in Jigawa State.”

Muhd enjoined other party members to emulate the chairmen by standing to show loyalty and support with the party and its leadership, believing that unity was critical to the future of the PDP.

The PDP state chairman, Babandi Gumel, had earlier expressed appreciation to the chairmen for their support and pledged to continue steering the party towards electoral success in the state.

Represented at the meeting by his deputy, Umar Danjani, the chairman reaffirmed the loyalty demonstrated by the chairmen.

The chairman stated that the party appreciated the unwavering support of their chairmen, saying that they will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the success of the PDP in Jigawa State.

The meeting had in attendance prominent PDP stakeholders, including former lawmakers and party leaders, who also expressed support for the party’s leadership

A Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Comrade Austin Okai has predicted that the rift between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara will consume the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike and Fubara resumed their face-off recently as the Minister vowed to frustrate the governor’s re-election bid.

Fubara, who is now a member of the ruling party, however, has the backing of some APC top leaders.

But Wike urged the party stalwart to steer clear of Rivers State politics, a comment that triggered war of words between him and national leadership of the ruling party.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News on Tuesday, Okai predicted that the crisis will escalate to other parts of the country.

He said, “Wike did not just attack the APC National Secretary, he attacked the NSA and all of them. For over a decade, the crisis of ruling parties usually starts from Rivers State.

“What you see happening in Rivers will consume APC except the president summons a political courage and call the FCT Minister to order. He has declared that his political survival depends on Rivers State and we don’t know the agreement between him and the president.

“Wike is talking tough even more than the APC National Chairman, NSA and the Chief of Staff to the President. Wike is talking more than the president himself”.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has sealed Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini over allegations of illegal child trafficking and other child welfare violations.

The Director of Child Development at the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Idris Attah, confirmed the action in an official statement issued on Monday. He said the facility was shut to allow for a thorough investigation into its activities.

According to the statement, the proprietress of the orphanage, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, allegedly fled with an unspecified number of children to an unknown location without notifying the Child Development Department of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.

“This is to inform FCT residents and the general public that Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home, Kagini, Abuja, has been sealed with effect from Monday, January 5, 2026, pending the outcome of investigations into its activities concerning children,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigations have linked the orphanage to a recent case involving four siblings who were allegedly taken from Ado in Nasarawa State and moved to Gwagwalada in the FCT.

The children, Joefreey Kasal Asoja, 11, David Mtsewe Asoja, 7, Joy Elsan Asoja, 4, and Joseph Asoja, 2, were reunited with their biological parents on Monday.

Further findings also revealed an alleged connection between the orphanage and Anderson Archibong, the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, who is currently at large.

Authorities suspect that this relationship may have facilitated the illegal movement of children from states such as Benue and Nasarawa into Abuja for unauthorised fostering and adoption.

Attah urged members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the missing children or suspects to report immediately to the nearest security agency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, marking the commencement of the second phase of the process.

The exercise resumed on Monday after the first phase ended on December 10, 2025. INEC had earlier opened online pre-registration on August 18, 2025, before commencing physical registration at centres nationwide on August 25, 2025.

According to the commission, 9,891,801 Nigerians began the online pre-registration during the first phase.
However, only 2,572,054 people completed their registration nationwide as of November 28, 2025. This figure comprises 1,503,832 online registrations and 1,068,222 registrations conducted physically at registration centres.

INEC explained that the interval between the two phases was used to carry out statutory activities, including the display of the voters’ register for public scrutiny.

“In line with Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022, the voters’ register was displayed for claims and objections from December 15 to 21, 2025, at local government offices where the CVR was conducted,” the commission said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of the newly promoted Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Gumel, alongside 17 Commissioners of Police to strategic departments, commands and formations across the country.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the deployment was aimed at strengthening operational capacity, enhancing leadership effectiveness and improving public safety nationwide.

According to the statement, DIG Gumel has been posted to head the Force Intelligence Department.

It added that Aina Adesola has been deployed to the Delta State Police Command, Umar Hajedia to the Kebbi State Police Command, and Iyamah Edobor to the Bayelsa State Police Command.

“Others include CP Osagie John Agans-Irabor as Commissioner of Police, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, FCID Annex, Lagos; CP Johnson Babalola as Commissioner of Police, Special Enquiries Bureau, FCID, Abuja; CP Adepegba Adetoye as Commissioner of Police, Marine Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Tabitha Bako as Deputy Commandant, Police College, Kaduna; CP Umar Fagge as Deputy Commandant, Police College, Ikeja; CP Audu Bosso as Commissioner of Police, General Investigation, FCID Annex, Kaduna; CP Edwin Ogbeghagha as Commissioner of Police, Community Policing, Force Headquarters, Abuja; and CP Arikpo Ikpi as Commissioner of Police, Investment Office, Department of Logistics and Supply, Force Headquarters, Abuja,” the statement said.

Others deployed include Cyril Obiozo as Commissioner of Police, Maritime Command, Lagos; Samuel Yerima as Coordinator of Courses, Police Staff College, Jos; Alhaji Danlandi as Commissioner of Police, X-Squad, FCID Annex, Kaduna; Richard Gara as Commissioner of Police, Inspectorate, Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters; Lasisi A. Titilola as Commissioner of Police, Railway Command, Lagos; and Obuagbaka John as Commissioner of Police, Safer Highway, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Hundeyin said the Inspector-General urged the newly deployed officers to provide result-oriented leadership, uphold professionalism and integrity, and ensure strict adherence to the rule of law.

Among them were one Assistant Inspector-General of Police elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, seven Commissioners of Police promoted to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, and 13 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to substantive Commissioners of Police, among others.

Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has officially rolled out an electronic membership registration drive across all wards in the state.

The party announced that the e-registration initiative, which commenced on Monday, will continue until the end of January, targeting both existing members and newcomers to create a comprehensive digital membership database.

In a statement, the Lagos APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the move is aimed at strengthening internal democracy, enhancing the accuracy of party data, and preparing the party for upcoming electoral engagements.

“The adoption of digital registration will help eliminate duplication and impersonation, ensuring that every member is accurately documented and verifiable,” Oladejo said.

He added that the initiative guarantees equal recognition for long-standing and new members alike, curbing gatekeeping practices and promoting transparency across the party’s structures.

Oladejo emphasised that maintaining a credible and reliable membership registry is essential for conducting transparent congresses, primaries, and leadership selection processes.

He noted that leveraging technology will encourage participation from youth, professionals, and first-time political entrants, while improving grassroots coordination and electoral readiness.

The APC spokesman urged all members across Lagos State to engage actively in the exercise, describing it as a collective responsibility vital to the party’s growth and democratic processes.

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has celebrated the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, on the occasion of his birthday, offering prayers for wisdom and clarity in the year ahead.

Kwankwaso made this known in a post shared on his official X account on Tuesday.

In the message, the former governor reflected on his long political relationship with Governor Yusuf, describing it as a shared journey that spanned many years and different responsibilities.

“On this day, I appreciate the birthday of the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf,” Kwankwaso wrote.

He recalled that Governor Yusuf served under him in several capacities, starting as his Personal Assistant during his first term and ministerial period, later as Principal Private Assistant, then as Commissioner during his second tenure, before eventually becoming governor.

Kwankwaso noted that through these roles, Abba Yusuf contributed to the vision and programmes aimed at developing Kano State.

“I reflect on the many years of our shared political journey, during which he served in various important capacities; first as my Personal Assistant in my first term and as Minister, and then as Principal Private Assistant, and later as Commissioner during my second tenure, and now as Governor- through which he contributed to the vision and programmes we pursued for the development of Kano State.

“I pray that this new year grants him wisdom, good health, and clarity of purpose,” he added.