News
Insecurity: Buhari seeks US help, relocation of AFRICOM HQ
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the United States to consider relocating the headquarters of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Germany as one of the steps towards addressing the security problem in Nigeria and Africa.
The President made the request on Tuesday during a virtual meeting with Anthony Blinken, US secretary of state.
AFRICOM, with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of the 11 departments of defence combatant commands of the US which focuses on improving security in African countries.
The US established AFRICOM in 2007, but it became fully operational in 2008, with operations carried out in Niger Republic, Djibouti, Chad, among others.
A statement by a presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as saying the relocation was necessary as part of efforts to address insecurity in Nigeria and other African nations.
“The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region,” the President said.
“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing it and addressing its root causes. The support of important and strategic partners like the United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations, hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges.
“In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider relocating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the theatre of operation.”
The President also commended the US for lifting the immigrant visa ban on Nigeria, and rejoining the World Health Organisation and Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
He stated, “Nigeria attaches great importance to its relations with the United States. Let me in this connection express appreciation to President Joe Biden for his welcome and reaching decision to repeal the Immigration restriction known as the ‘Muslim ban’ on travel and visas for citizens predominantly from Muslim Nations and African Countries, including Nigeria,” Buhari said.
“I also wish to congratulate the United States for re-joining the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The leadership of the United States in these two organsations is crucial for international community.
“This action is a demonstration of the United States’ commitment in championing and supporting international organisations with the aim to build a better world for all.”
On his part, Blinken said he was happy to make Nigeria part of his “first virtual visit to Africa,” adding that the US looks forward to building sustainable relationships that will engender development.
![]()
News
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly ordered the release of more than 300 containers of electricity equipment that have remained stranded at Nigerian ports, with some consignments said to have been held for as long as 20 years.
The equipment will undergo technical assessment to determine which items remain usable and can be deployed to support efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
The development could provide an opportunity to recover valuable power-sector assets that have remained unused at the ports for years, although their actual contribution to electricity generation and distribution will depend on their condition, suitability and cost of rehabilitation.
The Federal Government is also pursuing plans to increase Nigeria’s electricity capacity to 19,000 megawatts (MW), as part of broader efforts to address the country’s persistent power challenges.
READ ALSO:
- US Police Release Bodycam Footage After Dispute Over Three-Year-Old Soccer Prodigy
- Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes
- Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial
However, the proposed assessment of the stranded equipment will be crucial in determining how much of it can be salvaged and whether it can be integrated into the country’s existing electricity infrastructure.
Nigeria has continued to face electricity supply challenges, including inadequate generation, transmission constraints, distribution difficulties and ageing infrastructure.
The release and possible deployment of the equipment could support ongoing interventions in the power sector if the items are found to be functional and suitable for use.
Further details are expected on the assessment process, the estimated value of the equipment and the timeline for deploying any recoverable items.
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
![]()
News
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
The Nigeria Police Force has assured the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) that its complaint over the demolition of the Ijeh Police Barracks Mosque in Obalende, Lagos State, is receiving attention, with the Lagos State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) promising to monitor the mosque’s reconstruction.
MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, disclosed this in an update issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following telephone calls from police officials in Abuja and Lagos.
According to Akintola, a senior Muslim police officer at the Police Headquarters in Abuja contacted him to confirm that the authorities were aware of MURIC’s complaint and its public outcry over the alleged refusal of the contractor handling the barracks project to rebuild the demolished mosque.
The officer reportedly assured him that the matter was receiving attention and that the mosque would not be abandoned.
Akintola said he received another call about five minutes later from officials of the Lagos State Police Command’s CID at Panti, who assured him that they would monitor the mosque’s reconstruction.
He declined to disclose the identity of the senior police officer who contacted him from Abuja, saying the officer’s identity should remain confidential.
READ ALSO:
- 2027: Akpabio Says Tinubu’s Online Critics Are Paid, Mobilises Northern Youths
- 2027 Election: PRP Asks Court to Bar APC From Rivers Governorship Race
- Atiku Challenges Tinubu Over Mecca Trip, Demands Daily Photo, Video Proof
Following the communications, the MURIC director urged members and supporters of the organisation to remain peaceful and allow the police authorities to address the matter.
“Therefore, let us relax, remain calm and allow the police authorities to handle the issue,” Akintola said.
He described the calls from the police offices in Abuja and Lagos as signs that the authorities were sensitive to the concerns raised by the Muslim community.
“By contacting us from Police Headquarters, Abuja and also from Lagos Police Command, the Nigeria Police has displayed sensitivity, professionalism and accountability,” he said.
Akintola also thanked MURIC members and supporters for their solidarity during the controversy and urged them to exercise patience while awaiting further action.
The organisation’s complaint followed the demolition of the Ijeh Police Barracks Mosque in Obalende and concerns over the alleged failure of the contractor handling the barracks project to rebuild the facility. MURIC has called for fair treatment of Muslim worshippers and the restoration of the mosque.
However, the police assurances, as relayed by Akintola, do not establish that reconstruction has commenced or that a completion date has been agreed upon. No specific timeline for the rebuilding was announced in MURIC’s update.
The immediate issue is therefore whether the relevant authorities will take concrete steps to ensure that the demolished mosque is rebuilt.
For now, MURIC says it will allow the police to handle the complaint while urging its members to remain calm and peaceful as they await further developments.
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
![]()
News
Cocaine Trafficking: Court Denies KC Luxury Bail Over Missing Medical Certificate
The Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected the bail application of Nigerian businessman and social media influencer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, over alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering, ruling that the defence failed to provide sufficient medical evidence to justify his release.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the ruling on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, holding that the application lacked the necessary medical certificate to establish special circumstances warranting bail on health grounds.
“There is no medical certificate to warrant the court to grant him bail,” the judge said.
He added that a defendant claiming to require special medical attention should provide an expert assessment explaining the condition and the need for the requested treatment.
KC Luxury’s lawyer, Emefo Etudo, had asked the court to release his client so he could receive specialised treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The defence argued that his health had deteriorated and that he required medical attention beyond what was available at the facility where he was being held.
READ ALSO:
- After AfDB Tenure, Adesina Offers to Help Tinubu Drive Nigeria’s Growth
- Why Nigeria Needs Fresh $21.7bn Loan Despite Rising Debt Burden – Finance Minister
- Emeka Ike Loses ₦10bn Privacy Suit Against Wike’s Aide, INEC
The application followed concerns about the defendant’s health after he was brought to the court premises in an ambulance on October 23 while receiving oxygen.
During that proceeding, a nurse attached to the Police Hospital in Falomo, Lagos, told the court that KC Luxury had been admitted on October 7 and diagnosed with asthma and sepsis.
The nurse said the defendant remained inside the ambulance because he was receiving oxygen and could not safely be moved into the courtroom.
The defence also alleged that KC Luxury had suffered a collapsed lung and needed specialist care. However, the prosecution opposed the bail request, arguing that the medical evidence did not establish that his condition could not be managed while in custody.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki reviewed the medical exhibits submitted by the defence but held that they did not sufficiently establish the special circumstances required to grant bail.
The judge also noted that the defence had failed to demonstrate a material change in circumstances that would justify reconsidering the application.
He questioned the argument that KC Luxury needed treatment at LUTH without sufficient evidence showing that the hospital or other available medical facilities could not adequately manage his condition.
Despite refusing bail, the court directed officials of the Ikoyi Custodial Centre to ensure that the defendant had unrestricted access to doctors and medical specialists for examination and treatment.
The judge also ordered an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned proceedings until November 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
KC Luxury is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch on a 22-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The charges include allegations of conspiring to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom and money laundering. The defendants have pleaded not guilty.
According to the NDLEA, the cocaine was intercepted at a courier facility in Lagos before it could be exported. The agency also accused the defendants of involvement in financial transactions and asset acquisitions allegedly connected to the suspected drug operation.
The defendants have yet to be convicted, and the allegations remain before the court.
The latest ruling means KC Luxury will remain in custody while the criminal proceedings continue, with the court directing that his medical needs be addressed during detention.
Cocaine Trafficking: Court Denies KC Luxury Bail Over Missing Medical Certificate
![]()
-
metro3 days agoNigerian Navy Recruitment 2026: October 31 Deadline, Full Requirements and How to Apply
-
metro2 days ago₦110.4bn Fraud Trial: EFCC Witness Traces Company Inflows To Kogi LG Accounts
-
metro2 days ago₦2.7bn Fraud: Court Jails Ex-Banker 39 Years
-
Auto3 days agoOn the Highway Marks 30 Years, Sets Agenda for Safer Roads, Sustainable Mobility
-
Sports3 days agoOutrage as Police Respond to Dispute Involving 3-Year-Old Soccer Prodigy Accused of Outshining Older Players
-
metro22 hours agoAjaero Fires Back at TUC Over Rejection of FG’s ₦70,000 Allowance
-
Auto3 days agoChina’s Auto Price War Hits German Giants as Nigeria’s Market Offers Fresh Hope
-
International21 hours agoHackers Leak Details of 41,000 US Homeland Security Personnel in Major Data Breach
