Nelson Ugwuagbo

The iconic Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, witnessed a solemn atmosphere on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, as the nation paid tribute to its fallen heroes during the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The annual event honoured the patriotism and sacrifices of countless gallant troops who lost their lives defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The occasion marked another reflection on the nation’s 64 years of independence, a journey upheld by the selflessness of its military personnel.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu, who was attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the UAE. Other members of the Federal Executive Council joined Shettima in laying wreaths, alongside service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The leadership of the National Assembly, senior government officials, senior military officers, members of the diplomatic corps, and widows of fallen officers also participated in the ceremonies in Abuja.

In a preceding statement, the Senate commended the sacrifices of fallen heroes and appreciated the efforts of serving officers and soldiers currently safeguarding the nation from internal and external threats.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of six people in a road accident involving two vehicles on Tuesday evening in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Kogi State, Samuel Oyedeji, disclosed the casualty figures to journalists, adding that 60 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash.

Oyedeji attributed the accident to excessive speeding and called on motorists to adhere to road safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.

He noted that FRSC personnel, in collaboration with the police and Civil Defence officers, evacuated the injured to Kogi Specialist Hospital and the Federal University Teaching Hospital Lokoja for medical attention.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital’s mortuary.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has approved N20,075,050,006.55 for disbursement to 192,906 students in public tertiary institutions across the country.

In an update shared on X on Monday, NELFund confirmed that the disbursement is effective as of January 1, 2025.

Among the beneficiaries, Bayero University, Kano, will receive the largest allocation, with 11,683 students approved to share N1.3 billion. This is followed by the University of Maiduguri, where 12,198 students will receive N1.27 billion.

Other institutions with significant allocations include:

• University of Jos: 6,988 students to receive N941 million
• Federal University Dutsin-Ma: 8,978 students to benefit from N909 million
• University of Ibadan: 4,907 students to get N746 million
• Federal University Dutse: 5,451 students to share N593 million
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto: 6,480 students to receive N578 million
• University of Lagos: 3,685 students to get N557 million

Meanwhile, some institutions with fewer beneficiaries include:

• Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga: Four students to receive N122,000
• Abia State Polytechnic: Two students to receive N106,300
• Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe: Three students to get N214,116
• Kenule Benson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori: Seven students to share N315,500

Other smaller allocations include:

• Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi: Three students to receive N330,000
• Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom: 11 students to get N518,500
• Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State: Nine students to share N368,400
• Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri: 12 students to receive N528,500

The latest approval follows an earlier announcement by NELFund Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, who revealed in December 2024 that the agency had disbursed N110 billion to students nationwide.

The Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued ten suspected victims of human trafficking during a midnight operation in Babura Local Government Area.

The State Comptroller of NIS, CIS Musa, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Dutse.

According to CIS Musa, the operation, codenamed “Operation Salama,” was conducted on January 12, 2025, at Naira Tsamiyar Kwance in Babura Local Government Area. The victims, comprising eight females and two males, were reportedly en route to Europe through illegal migration channels.

He revealed that the victims, aged between 21 and 30, hail from Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Imo States. They include:

Alatise Damilola (29, Oyo State)
Ayomide Adeyemi (24, Ondo State)
Wisdom Chikwuemeka (29, Imo State)
Lateef Jumoke (30, Ondo State)
Emyola Adeoye (24, Ogun State)
Soneye Abigeal (22, Ogun State)
Ogunleye Temitope (29, Ogun State)
Osirowo Rebecca (21, Ogun State)
Oniyide Kabirat (27, Ogun State)
Azizat Adaranijo (26, Ogun State)

The Comptroller stated that preliminary investigations revealed the victims were being trafficked from various states to Kano and subsequently Babura, with plans to cross into Niger Republic, then to Libya, and finally to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

The victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and further investigation.

During the briefing, the Command expressed concern over the increasing cases of human trafficking and irregular migration. It urged parents and guardians to monitor their children closely to prevent them from falling victim to traffickers.

The NIS reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and curbing illegal migration in the state.

A New York judge on Friday sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge after his conviction for falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star.

The sentencing followed Trump’s conviction in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. While the charges carried potential jail time or fines, Judge Juan Merchan opted for the mildest criminal sanction available—a relatively rare unconditional discharge.

“Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances,” Merchan said. “The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land is an unconditional discharge.”

Trump, who attended the sentencing virtually, described the legal process as a “terrible experience” and criticized its impact on New York and its judicial system.

“This has been a very terrible experience. I think it’s been a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system,” he said before the judge issued the ruling.

The sentencing took place in the Manhattan courtroom where Trump’s trial, marked by high drama and contentious legal battles, unfolded. Trump’s legal team, including attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, appeared alongside him virtually during the proceedings.

The case, which made Trump the first US president-elect to face felony charges, has drawn significant public attention and sparked widespread debate.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, January 11, to participate in the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

The Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Friday, noting that the event, themed “The Nexus of Next: Supercharging Sustainable Progress,” will run from January 12 to 18 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

According to the statement, President Tinubu was invited by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to join global leaders in discussions aimed at accelerating sustainable development and advancing socioeconomic progress.

“ADSW has been held annually for over 15 years, providing a global platform for fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation, addressing global challenges, and driving impactful alliances,” the statement read.

The summit will bring together policymakers, business executives, and civil society leaders to explore pathways to a sustainable economy and usher in a new era of prosperity. It has historically facilitated high-value agreements and strategic partnerships among governments, industry leaders, and clean energy pioneers.

During the summit, President Tinubu will highlight his administration’s ongoing reforms in energy sufficiency, transportation, public health, and economic development. He is also expected to meet with UAE leadership to discuss issues of mutual interest between the two nations.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and other senior government officials.

President Tinubu is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Thursday, January 16.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has dissolved his cabinet, citing the need to bring new professionals on board to drive his administration’s agenda.

Speaking during a valedictory session at the Executive Council Chambers on Friday, Eno commended the outgoing commissioners for their performance, noting that none of them was removed due to non-performance.

“For me, if you were to be changed based on non-performance, I think none of the commissioners would go. All of you have delivered, and that’s why the Arise Agenda has succeeded. But we must come to the end of a season, start another season, and keep moving,” he said.

Governor Eno announced that a valedictory dinner would be held on Friday evening at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Uyo to honor the outgoing executive council members.

Many of the commissioners had served in the previous administration under former Governor Udom Emmanuel, with some holding their positions for nearly a decade. It is believed they were retained by Eno to compensate them for their contributions, as they were not rewarded at the end of the last administration on May 29, 2023.

The governor is expected to announce a new cabinet soon to further his administration’s objectives.

The Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has approved the conferment of honorary degrees on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Sale at the institution’s 44th convocation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025.

The decision followed recommendations by the Honorary Degrees Committee, which were endorsed by the University Senate during its 544th special meeting. The approval was finalized at the council’s 207th (special) meeting held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

According to a statement released by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, both recipients have accepted the honor.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), will be conferred with a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Honoris Causa. Okonjo-Iweala, a renowned global finance expert and economist, is recognized for her over 40 years of experience in international development, spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. She made history in March 2021 as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.

Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Sale will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa in recognition of his contributions to society.

The convocation ceremony is expected to celebrate their exceptional achievements and contributions to global and national development.

Suspected bandits attacked Baure village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, leaving 21 people dead and several others missing. The incident occurred on Tuesday, according to residents, and was confirmed by police authorities.

Baure village, known as a hotspot for banditry, came under attack when armed assailants reportedly went door to door in the community. A resident, who spoke to Channels Television on condition of anonymity, revealed that 15 people were killed on the spot during the attack, while others remain unaccounted for. The attackers reportedly burned some of the victims’ corpses.

Katsina State Police Spokesman, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident, stating, “Sadly, twenty-one (21) persons were fatally shot as a result of the attack. Efforts are currently being made to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Further developments will be communicated in due course as the investigation proceeds.”

In a separate but related attack, suspected bandits ambushed members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps in the same Baure village on Thursday. Eyewitnesses told BBC Hausa that the victims, mostly from Charanchi, Safana, Kurfi, and Kaita Local Government Areas, were attacked while returning from a condolence visit to Madaddafai village in Batsari LGA.

The eyewitness reported that over 30 people were killed in the ambush. According to the source, “The victims were members of a local vigilante group who had visited Madaddafai village to offer condolences over the death of one of their members. After the visit, their leaders returned home, but the rest proceeded to Baure village, where they were ambushed by the bandits.”

Investigation into the attacks is ongoing.