Vice President, Kashim Shettima has expressed confidence that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges, assuring citizens that the Federal Government is working hard to restore peace across the country.

Shettima made the statement on Tuesday in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, during a ceremony where he formally received Governor Dauda Lawal and his supporters into the All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We pray for more unity and progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because as our leader, he is working very hard to ensure the safety of lives and property across Nigeria,” Shettima said.

He noted that the move by the Zamfara governor to join the ruling party would strengthen ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly in troubled states.

The Vice President also assured Lawal of the full backing of both the Federal Government and the APC, while praising the people of Zamfara for their support.

Earlier, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said lawmakers elected on the APC platform were fully in support of the governor’s defection.

“The Governor will now be working together with other governors to help address the problems of the state and further enhance development,” Barau said.

He added that while security challenges are not unique to Zamfara, they can be addressed through cooperation among leaders.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the defection as a significant political development, saying it marked a new phase for the state.

“Today there is no opposition in Zamfara State,” Abbas said, urging residents to support the governor for greater development.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, also welcomed the move, describing it as beneficial to both the state and the party.

“APC is a moving train and we are happy that the State has joined that train. All Governors of APC will support Governor Lawal to do more for this State,” he said.

Similarly, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda declared that Zamfara had now fully aligned with the ruling party. He commended Lawal’s performance, especially in infrastructure development, and presented him with the party’s flag.

In his remarks, Governor Lawal thanked former governors, including Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle and Senator Abdulazeez Yari, for their support.

“I will embrace all my predecessors, and I will work hard for the progress of Zamfara State,” Lawal said, pledging loyalty to the APC and commitment to development.

The Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations (CDAs) Forum has raised the alarm over threats by terrorists, militias and bandits to attack some of its communities.

Chairman of the CDAs forum, Dr. Samuel T. Achie in a statement said terrorists are targeting Kachia, Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Southern Kaduna.

It said over the last four days, the leadership of the Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations Forum has become aware of security alerts circulating in the media on threats by terrorists, militias and bandit gangs to attack communities in Kachia, Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas in Southern Kaduna.

*It is with much concern that the leadership of the CDAs Forum views these threats as dangerous because such threats have occurred many times over the last ten years, and they have almost unfailingly been followed by devastating attacks by terrorists in the Southern Kaduna region.

“We are concerned because we have seen no visible efforts being made by the federal, state and local government to apprehend these threats,” the statement said.

The forum further alerted security agencies that hundreds of people have been taken into captivity in these very Local Government Areas in the last three months.

The CDAs Forum said that it is aware that the threats of attacks are coming from different quarters, and must be taken seriously by the government.

“While the leadership of the CDAs forum is aware of some of the efforts by the government to ensure peace across the nation, it still becomes necessary to call the attention of the government and security agencies, as well as other critical stakeholders in Kaduna State to intensify efforts to ensure the entire Kaduna State and Southern Kaduna in particular are kept safe.”

Lagos State Government has commenced its 2026 promotion exercise for civil servants and personnel in its parastatal and agencies.

The development was announced via the state government’s official X handle, indicating that the exercise covers officers on Grade Levels 01–05 within the core civil service and those on Grade Levels 01–16 in parastatal organisations.

As part of the process, officers on Grade Levels 01–05 in the mainstream service and Grade Levels 01–10 in parastatals are participating in the Revised Structured Training Programme, RSTP, while those on Grade Levels 12–16 in parastatal agencies are undergoing the Structured Evaluation Assessment Programme, SEAP.

SEAP is being introduced for the first time as a formal requirement for senior-level promotions, incorporating written examinations and computer-based tests, in line with the state’s push for a merit-driven system.

According to officials, the initiative is designed to ensure that career advancement is determined by competence, performance, and professional development, in line with the government’s broader reform agenda.

The exercise is currently taking place at the Public Service Staff Development Centre in Magodo and the Women Development Centre in Agege.

A total of 388 officers are participating in the SEAP, while 4,870 officers are undergoing the structured training programme.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, who monitored the exercise, described the conduct of participants and the coordination at the centres as orderly. He encouraged officers to remain committed throughout the process, urging them to “approach the process with dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.”

Ayantayo noted that the introduction of SEAP would ensure that promotions are based on proven knowledge, skills, and competence, while also strengthening the capacity of the public workforce.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Olubusola Abidakun, expressed satisfaction with the level of organisation and preparedness, reiterating the ministry’s resolve to sustain reforms aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity within the civil service.

The promotion exercise is expected to continue through the week and into the following week, with various sessions designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities.

In line with civil service regulations, promotion committees will assess eligible candidates, while officers who are unsuccessful retain the right to appeal within a stipulated period.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the ongoing power challenges across the country, assuring that the situation is temporary and efforts are underway to restore stable electricity supply.

Adelabu expressed remorse that the disruption has caused hardship for citizens, particularly during the current dry season marked by intense heat, affecting businesses, schools and industries nationwide.

He tendered his apologies during a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adelabu explained that the challenges were caused by factors beyond the government’s control but stressed that authorities are working round the clock to resolve them.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians for this temporary issue that is causing hardship, especially during this dry season where there is so much heat everywhere and where businesses, schools and industries are being affected,” Adelabu said.

According to him, the government was not expecting the situation but has intensified efforts to address it.

“It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but some factors are actually beyond our control. However, we are not relenting. We are working on it 24/7 to make sure we return to the trajectory we achieved in 2025,” he said.

“In 2025, you commended us, praised us for a job well done. If we were able to provide such a service then, this is 2026 and we are willing to do even more and do better,” the minister added.

He further assured Nigerians that the current power challenges would soon be resolved.

“I can assure Nigerians that in the next few weeks all these issues will be over,” Adelabu said.

Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has told Governor Alex Otti that his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu should not be announced through his proxies.

The APC also said that the Abia Governor’s chances of getting re-elected is less than 30 per cent.

The party, which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, on Monday, was reacting to the report where a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Oneusibe of the Labour Party declared that Governor Alex Otti would deliver the votes for President Bola Tinubu’s victory in 2027.

APC claimed that the situation stemmed from desperate political survival tactics in the Governor’s camp.

“Rather than openly and boldly identifying with President Tinubu, he has chosen to deploy proxies to communicate supposed support.

“This sudden declaration of support is nothing more than a desperate and deceptive tactic aimed at political survival.

“It is clear that Governor Otti understands the reality on ground- that his chances of re-election are less than 30% even with all the social media sponsored deception,” Abia APC said.

The broom party, which boasted about having the capacity to give up to 90 percent votes for the President, urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard any misleading overtures but to rely on the party’s strength in Abia.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, the political atmosphere in Ogun, the Gateway State is already thick with ambition.

There is presently an intense jostling for the seat of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

By 2027, Governor Abiodun will be completing his eight years term in office, giving way for the fresh blood at the Oke Mosan seat of power.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that more than 15 aspirants across party lines are eyeing the Ogun number one political office.

However, of all the aspirants, there are four female politicians attempting to make history in the state and Nigeria by extension.

A Jinx Waiting to be Broken

Ogun State has always been a pioneer in female leadership, producing the likes of late Titilayo Ajanaku, the first woman to be elected as a local government chairman in Nigeria (Old Abeokuta LG), female speaker, and at least three deputy governors.

Salimot Badiru served eight years under Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003-2011), while Yetunde Onanuga served four years under Ibikunle Amosun (2015-2019) and Noimot Salako-Oyedele is the present deputy governor of the Abiodun-led administration.

However, the ultimate prize, the Governor’s office, has remained all-male enclave since the state’s creation in 1976. Will they break the jinx in 2027? This remains a poser on the lips of political pundits in the state.

Noimot Salako-Oyedele:

As the current Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele is arguably the most strategically positioned. The 60-year-old real estate expert and civil engineer hails from the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government (Ogun West).

She hasn’t declared but her poster has been playing around with the inscription, “Ogun 2027, Let The Good Works Continue.”

Our correspondent observed that her supporters have also begun singing her praises saying, “Noimot lo le se oo” meaning in English, “Noimot can do it.”

And the fact that her region, Ogun West, hasn’t produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, boosts her chances. Although, she has formidable aspirants from the region to contend with.

However, history has shown that deputy governors in Nigeria struggle to succeed their principals, hence she must overcome the “Deputy’s Curse”.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello: The Return of the “Lioness”

Iyabo, daughter of former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, is a name that still sends ripples through the Nigerian political landscape. She was a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State from 2003 to 2007 under Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration before being elected as a Senator representing the Ogun CentralSenatorial District in April 2007 until 2011.

In January, she returned to active politics after about 15 years break and defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to declare her governorship ambition. This sent shockwaves through the state.

Recall that she had lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Her supporters see her as a no-nonsense leader who can bring federal-level experience back to her home state. The 59 years old professor of epidemiology who hails from Ifo Local Government (Ogun Central – Ibogun Ward) recent visibility has sparked rumors that she is ready for a major comeback.

Although critics have labeled her a “diaspora politician” out of touch with modern grassroots realities, she is proving her “street” credibility while embarking on several consultations with political leaders and stakeholders across the state.

The aspirant explained that her focus on people-centred development is influenced by her past experiences in public service as commissioner and senator, where she said she consistently prioritised interventions that improved the lives of ordinary citizens.

She also assured the women folk that if elected, they will become decision makers and not just mere mobilizers during elections.

She said, “Development demands continuity, institutional memory and a leadership that understands that governance is a relay, not a sprint. If entrusted with the mandate in 2027, my administration will be anchored on credibility, competence and compassion.

“We will not run a government of exclusion. Women will not merely be mobilisers during elections; they will be decision-makers at the highest levels of governance.”

The former senator also pledged to lead an open administration with quantifiable results and accountability.

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf: The Media Guru

The 59-year-old veteran broadcast journalist, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf has already tested the waters. She served as a Special Adviser on information and strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, and resigned to contest for the ticket in 2023, signaling her long-term intent.

Sarafa-Yusuf announced her intention to run for the 2027 gubernatorial election in an open letter posted on her official X account in February.

The retired sport journalist who hails from Sagamu Local Government (Ogun East – Iperu Remo) framed the position as a stabilising force amid the risks of party fracture, drawing on her experience in 2022, when she accepted defeat without upsetting relations.

While admitting that the state is blessed, she asserted that blessings alone do not guarantee progress but rather deliberate leadership and trust.

The letter addressed to leaders, members, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State, reads, “Ogun State is blessed with industry, blessed with intellect, blessed with culture, and blessed with strategic relevance to the nation.

“Yet we all know that blessings alone do not guarantee progress. Progress requires deliberate leadership, balance, and trust among our people. It requires continuity.

“After deep reflection and wide consultation, I have decided to make myself available to serve as our party’s candidate for Governor, Ogun State, in the 2027 elections.

“I chose this system of declaration deliberately to be public, honest, and focused on responsibility rather than spectacle.“

Meanwhile, she clarified that this is, however, not a return driven by unfinished business but a response to a different political environment, asserting that the state needs inclusion without escalation, as loud politics can mobilise quickly and collapse quickly, leaving damage behind.

She insisted that her aspiration would pave the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun state and Nigeria at large.

“Nigeria has never elected a female governor, and I’m aware of the weight of breaking that ceiling.

“To that extent, my aspiration isn’t just about me; it’s about paving the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

“However, this is not about symbolism. It is about capacity and competence,” Sarafa-Yusuf said.

Dr. Bolaji Marie Odusina- From Medical Missions To Political Mission

The United States-based physician and humanitarian formally announced her intention to run for governor of Ogun State in 2027 on Tuesday.

For years, Odusina popularly known as DeeDoc, has quietly built a following through massive free medical outreaches in rural Ogun communities.

Her formal declaration for 2027 signals a shift from medical missions to a political mission.

Although she did not disclose her party affiliation, she said her political platform would be made public in the coming days.

While others talk about politics, the 62-year-old paediatrician, who founded Doctors Without Prejudice with over thirty years of experience in both Nigeria and the US, focused on healthcare, maternal mortality, and grassroots economic empowerment.

Citing findings from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she decried gaps in maternal healthcare and child mortality, describing them as urgent concerns requiring immediate government attention.

She said, “I have seen families travel across borders for basic medical care. These are not statistics to me; they are real people whose pain I have witnessed.”

The paediatrician hails from Ijebu land.

However, analysts note that her ambition may face hurdles, including the need to build a formidable political structure, secure a viable party platform and translate public goodwill into electoral success.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 18, 2026 handed over a total sum of N3,936,145, 822 ( Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira) to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd.

The presentation was made on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda in a brief ceremony at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja.

In his remark at the occasion,   Hammajoda reiterated  the commitment of the Commission to the task of curbing economic and financial crimes, stressing that the funds were recovered through diligent investigation and professional uncovering  of fraudulent engagements by some actors in the NNPCL.

“On behalf of the Executive Chairman, we will continue to put ourselves on the line to serve over 220 million Nigerians.  Along the line, many of our colleagues have paid the price and others will still pay the price as we continue to do our work with courage and integrity. We will serve and continue to serve this country.  So,  on behalf of the EFCC, I present the sum of Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira to you”, he said.

Receiving the funds on behalf of NNPC, the Executive Vice President,   Downstream, Mumuni Dagazau excitedly thanked the Commission for  its assistance in the recovery “which goes to show the core unity that exists in our system”

“NNPC over the years has had its struggles and challenges and one thing we have always tried to do is correct the system. When the opportunity came for this recovery from your people that handled this,  it was something I was really proud of. I was also happy that we brought it to EFCC to help and support us.  We are very excited, for me this is a great day for us, we will continue to rely on you for assistance.

 

The court-recognised President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, and six others loyal to him have been arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, explained in a statement issued on Monday that the command received a distress call reporting that about 300 individuals, armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows, and arrows, had stormed the NURTW headquarters along Sapele Street, Garki II, Abuja.

She said the information indicated that the armed men were removing items from the NURTW premises, triggering violence as another factional leader resisted the attempt to take over the facility.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer said that in a swift response, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a response team to the scene.

According to her, upon arrival, it was learnt that Baruwa and his group “were attempting to enforce a court order on the premises without the presence of court sheriffs and other officials.

“This action degenerated into a physical confrontation when other members of the NURTW attempted to resist them, which led to one victim being inflicted with severe machete wounds to the neck.

“He was rescued by the police team, while several others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”

The suspects arrested include Sulaiman A. Musa, Nasir Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba, Rasheed Fojebi, and Ibikunle T. Baruwa.

The police said all the suspects have been “charged to Magistrate Court 1, Wuse Zone 2, while normalcy has since been restored to the area.”

Josephine Adeh also debunked videos circulating on social media alleging that personnel of the command shot at some NURTW members.

She said the claims are false and misleading, stressing that they were aimed at rousing public sentiment.

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate the alleged killing of a resident, Abdulrahman Mustapha, popularly known as “Abchin,” by soldiers in Maiduguri, Borno State.

In a statement posted on its verified Facebook account on Tuesday, the global human rights organisation said the incident occurred on March 22, 2026, around the Polo axis near the Federal High Court in an area known as Karshen Kolta.

According to Amnesty International, eyewitnesses said Mustapha was shot dead by soldiers of the Nigerian Army while returning from a Sallah visit to his siblings residing in the Polo area.

The organisation said it was disturbing that the military reportedly transported the victim’s lifeless body alongside his vehicle to the GRA Police Station in Maiduguri.

From there, the body was taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where he was formally confirmed dead.

Condemning the incident, Amnesty International described the killing as another troubling example of alleged abuses by security forces.

“What happened to Abdulrahman is a sad reminder of the Nigerian military’s consistent utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and the rule of law,” the organisation said.

It warned that such incidents erode public confidence in security institutions.

“Such flagrant disregard for human rights undermines public trust and creates a toxic climate of impunity,” Amnesty International stated.

The organisation urged the government to ensure accountability and justice for the victim.

“The authorities must stop turning a blind eye to such unlawful killings. They must live up to their constitutional and international human rights obligations by ensuring that all suspected soldiers involved are brought to justice in a prompt and fair trial,” the statement added.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Nigerian military regarding the allegation.