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11 Generals moved in major Army shakeup, new spokesman named

Published

5 years ago

June 11, 2021

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has approved the appointment of Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu as the Director of Army Public Relations.

The army has also announced redeployment of 11 Generals and other senior officers in a major shakeup.

Nwachukwu replaces Mohammed Yerima who assumed duty in February following the appointment of late Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff in January.

Until his new appointment, Nwachukwu was the Acting Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters.

He once served as the Media Coordinator, Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.

A statement by the outgoing army spokesman, Yerima, said the posting of the Generals was in line with the vision of the COAS.

Those affected in the reorganisation are Major General FO Omoigui from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI to Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria and appointed Director General, Major General CG Musa from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI and appointed Theatre Commander, Major General OR Aiyenigba from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and appointed Provost Marshal(Army) and Major General IM Jallo from Defence Space Administration to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI and appointed Deputy Theatre Commander 1.

Also redeployed are Brigadier General NU Muktar from Nigeria High Commission Islamabad to Office of the Chief of Army Staff and appointed Director of Procurement, Brigadier General O Nwachukwu from Defence Headquarters (Director Defence Information) to Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations and appointed Director, Brigadier General AE Abubakar from Department of Training and Operations( Defunct) to Headquarters 22 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General KO Ukandu from Office of the Chief of Army Staff (Director Procurement) to National Defence College and appointed Directing Staff.

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Winpart by CFAO Clinches Auto Aftersales Award, General Manager Honoured

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Trends Admin

L-R: Editor, Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum; Dean, School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University, Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma and General Manager, Winpart by CFAO, Mr. Eric Fantodji at the presentation of the Winpart by CFAO awards to the GM during the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Winpart by CFAO Clinches Auto Aftersales Award, General Manager Honoured

Winpart by CFAO has emerged as the Auto Aftersales Company of the Year, clinching the prestigious honour at the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture and Awards in recognition of its outstanding contribution to Nigeria’s automotive aftersales industry through innovation, service excellence and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, where key stakeholders and decision-makers from Nigeria’s road, rail, maritime, aviation and logistics sectors gathered to celebrate excellence and discuss the future of the country’s transport industry.

The gathering featured distinguished personalities such as the National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi; the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki; and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Professor Ogochukwu Ugboma, among other industry leaders.

In addition to the company’s recognition, the General Manager of Winpart by CFAO, Mr. Eric Fantodji, received the Auto Aftersales Personality of the Year Award in acknowledgment of his leadership and contribution to advancing quality standards and professional service delivery within the automotive aftersales space.

Winpart by CFAO Clinches Auto Aftersales Award, General Manager Honoured

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Senate Passes State Police Bill, Awaits Ratification by State Assemblies

Published

1 day ago

June 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Senate Passes State Police Bill, Awaits Ratification by State Assemblies

Nigeria moved closer to a decentralized policing system on Wednesday as the Senate passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, a landmark piece of legislation that could transform the country’s security architecture if it receives the required approval from state legislatures. The bill, which establishes a constitutional framework for the creation of State Police Services, is widely regarded as one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

If eventually endorsed by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, the legislation will create a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, ending the long-standing monopoly of a centrally controlled police institution.

Under the proposed constitutional arrangement, states will have the authority to establish, fund and manage their own police organizations through legislation passed by their respective Houses of Assembly. However, no state police service will become operational until it satisfies nationally prescribed standards and receives certification confirming its readiness to function. Supporters of the reform argue that State Police in Nigeria will improve local intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enable faster responses to security threats such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other crimes that have stretched federal security agencies.

Despite granting states greater control over policing, the bill preserves substantial powers for the Federal Government. One of the most significant provisions allows the Federal Police Service to intervene in state policing operations whenever there is an actual or imminent breakdown of public order, a threat to national security, serious administrative failure or evidence that a state police organization is being used for political, ethnic, religious or sectional persecution. In such situations, the Federal Police Service may temporarily assume operational control of a state police command, subject to presidential authorization, Senate oversight and judicial review. The legislation also reserves exclusive responsibility for terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, arms trafficking, border security and inter-state crimes for the Federal Police Service.

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A major departure from the existing structure is the appointment process for State Commissioners of Police. Under the bill, governors will appoint commissioners upon the recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by their State Houses of Assembly. Removal from office will also require legislative approval. To prevent abuse, the bill expressly prohibits governors from directing police authorities to target political opponents, associations, ethnic groups or individuals for partisan purposes. State police officers are equally barred from enforcing laws in a discriminatory manner based on political, ethnic, religious or sectional considerations.

The legislation establishes State Police Service Commissions that will oversee recruitment, promotion, discipline and personnel management within state police organizations. It also proposes a restructured National Police Council to coordinate national policing policies, set minimum standards and promote cooperation between federal and state policing institutions. Speaking during debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the proposal as one of the most consequential constitutional reforms undertaken by the National Assembly in recent years. According to him, the legislation seeks to address the limitations of a highly centralized policing structure in tackling modern security threats.

The Senate’s consideration of the bill attracted high-profile observers, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and several state attorneys-general. Their presence generated brief controversy as some senators opposed allowing non-members into the chamber during deliberations. The opposition was eventually resolved after Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Bamidele reminded lawmakers that the amendment would require approval from state legislatures before becoming law. Bamidele told senators that the cooperation of state governments was essential to the success of the constitutional amendment process.

Although electronic voting devices were initially introduced for the exercise, lawmakers eventually adopted manual voting after concerns emerged that malfunctioning devices could disenfranchise some senators. The Senate subsequently conducted clause-by-clause voting through voice votes, standing votes and hand-raising procedures supervised by Senate President Akpabio. He assured lawmakers that a complete record of the proceedings would be preserved and made available for public scrutiny.

In addition to approving the State Police Bill, the Senate also passed the Police Trust Fund Bill, which is designed to strengthen funding mechanisms for policing and security operations across the country. Both bills must now secure concurrence from the House of Representatives before being transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly for ratification. For the constitutional amendment to take effect, at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 state legislatures must approve it.

While the proposed reform has received support from many governors, security experts and stakeholders, concerns remain about the possibility of political interference in state-controlled police organizations. Senators Aminu Tambuwal and Enyinnaya Abaribe expressed support for the establishment of state police but emphasized the need for strong oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse. Nevertheless, the Senate’s approval represents the most significant progress in decades toward the creation of State Police in Nigeria, a reform many believe could reshape the country’s approach to security and law enforcement.

Senate Passes State Police Bill, Awaits Ratification by State Assemblies

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Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Ex-FUOYE VC as Ambassador

Published

2 days ago

June 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Professor Abayomi Sunday-Fashina, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)

Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Ex-FUOYE VC as Ambassador

Former university administrator’s nomination forwarded to Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening within one week

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the appointment of Professor Abayomi Sunday-Fashina, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) , as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate . The presidential communication was read during Wednesday’s plenary session by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who subsequently referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening and further legislative consideration .

President Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter transmitted to the upper legislative chamber, in which he noted that the nomination was made in line with constitutional provisions governing diplomatic appointments and urged lawmakers to consider the request expeditiously. “In accordance with the provisions of section 121, subsections 2, 3, and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday-Fashina as non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate,” the letter reads. “Attached herewith is the nominee’s curriculum vitae. Whilst I hope that the Senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished Senate President and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

After reviewing the letter, Akpabio submitted the nominee to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for review and future legislative action. The committee was tasked with conducting the requisite scrutiny of the nominee and submitting its report to the Senate within one week, clearing the way for a final confirmation vote by lawmakers. The nomination comes amid the Tinubu administration’s continuous attempts to expand Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, which includes the appointment of various career and non-career envoys to represent the country in critical overseas embassies.