metro

Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

Two notable groups — the Oodua Peoples Network (OPN) and the Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Forum (NDSF) — have strongly rejected a call by Senator Francis Fadahunsi urging President Bola Tinubu to replace the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, because he is not a military officer.

Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East, had argued that the President should appoint a retired military officer as NSA, claiming such restructuring would enhance national security management.

But in a joint statement signed by OPN leaders Olasupo Bamidele, Emmanuel Adesokan, and Kehinde Olasope, the group criticised the senator for taking his concerns to the media rather than using proper communication channels with the presidency.

According to OPN, the senator’s position reflects a misunderstanding of modern security structures, noting that the NSA position is not exclusive to military officers.

The group cited historical precedents, recalling that the Office of the NSA was successfully led by non-military figures such as Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta and Ismaila Gwarzo, both considered among the best to have held the position.

READ ALSO:

OPN noted that although soldiers held the position between 1999 and 2023, national security challenges persisted, proving that military experience alone does not guarantee effective national security leadership.

It added that the most successful NSAs in the U.S., UK and other advanced democracies are typically civilian security experts, not retired soldiers.

The organisation also highlighted Ribadu’s diplomatic achievements, especially his recent leadership of a Nigerian delegation to address the U.S. “Country of Particular Concern” designation, saying his international network and intelligence background made him ideal for the job.

Similarly, the NDSF, in a statement signed by Andrew Mene, Rowland Tamunopiri and Umukoro Erhimeyoma, dismissed the senator’s call as “a narrow and outdated view” of national security leadership.

According to the group, modern threats — including terrorism, cybersecurity, and intelligence coordination — require expertise beyond military experience. They argued that Ribadu’s background as former EFCC Chairman and his involvement in governance and security reforms demonstrate competence, integrity, and deep strategic capacity.

The NDSF stressed that national security leadership today relies on intelligence, inter-agency synergy, and strategic coordination—not military rank.

The group urged leaders to stop politicising security appointments and instead support ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening intelligence gathering and restoring peace nationwide.

Both OPN and NDSF maintained that President Tinubu made a strategic and globally aligned decision in appointing Ribadu as NSA, insisting that what Nigeria needs is “competence, strategy, and results.”

Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

metro

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

Published

4 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Godwin Emefiele

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has strongly denied allegations linking him to terrorism financing in Nigeria, describing the claims as “mischievous and malicious.”

In a statement released on Saturday, December 6, 2025, Emefiele said the reports were “entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors.”

He emphasized that the fight against terrorism is too important to be trivialized by irresponsible reporting, warning that Nigerians deserve accurate information rather than “reckless misinformation.”

READ ALSO:

“Throughout my service to the nation and in my private life, at no time have I been involved in any activity remotely connected to terrorism, terrorist financing, or any action that threatens the peace and security of our nation,” Emefiele stated. He added that he has never been invited, questioned, or investigated regarding such allegations and has no connection to the individual cited in the media reports.

“There is no scintilla of truth in the allegation,” he said, urging the public to disregard the claims entirely and calling on media organizations to verify facts before publishing sensational stories.

Emefiele’s statement seeks to reaffirm his reputation and distances him from any activities undermining national security.

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

metro

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

Published

37 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday inaugurated the newly constructed multi-million-naira Juma’at Mosque located within the Emir of Gumel’s Palace in Jigawa State.

According to a statement by Zainab Rabo, Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Governor Umar Namadi, the event drew high-level dignitaries, including top politicians, first-class emirs, captains of industry, and prominent Islamic scholars from across the country.

Rabo disclosed that the mosque was built by the Kashim Shettima Foundation, adding that Governor Umar A. Namadi and the Sultan of Sokoto graced the ceremony.

READ ALSO:

During the occasion, the Vice President congratulated the Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Sani, on marking 45 years on the throne, describing the milestone as a blessing and testament to exemplary leadership.

Shettima also reaffirmed his commitment—through his foundation—to initiatives that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

The Vice President further commended Governor Namadi for his notable strides in modern agriculture, noting that Jigawa’s progress under his leadership had positioned the state competitively within Nigeria and beyond.

“Governor Namadi is equal to the task, looking at his two-year achievements and the way he transformed Jigawa in modern agriculture,” Shettima stated.

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

metro

Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts

Published

52 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun

Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has deployed a Special Enforcement Team in Lagos to enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directive ending the use of police officers as escorts and guards for Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The operation, according to a statement posted on the Force’s official X account on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, commenced at about 10:00 a.m. on December 6, 2025, across key locations in Lagos State.

Hundeyin confirmed that the team carried out compliance checks at major points, including the Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic terminal, and other strategic hotspots within the state.

READ ALSO:

He disclosed that officers found “satisfactory and commendable” compliance with the presidential directive, with no incidents of unauthorised police escort and no arrests recorded.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterates the Force’s commitment to the full implementation of the presidential directive,” the statement said. “The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in redeploying its personnel to core policing duties aimed at enhancing general security, crime prevention, and the protection of lives and property nationwide.”

Hundeyin added that enforcement would continue across the country “without fear or favour,” urging Nigerians to support the push for a more professional and citizen-focused policing system.

President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection, directing that they be reassigned to frontline policing roles. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIP protection will now be handled by armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The policy aims to free up police manpower for critical security operations, particularly in underserved communities, and enhance overall national security efficiency.