President Bola Tinubu has urged the armed forces to continue defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity against all threats, commending them for their dedication to duty and sacrifices for the nation.

Speaking at an event marking the Diamond Jubilee of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, on Saturday, the President assured the military of his administration’s commitment to its welfare, as well as unflagging support in the discharge of its duties.

The NDA was established about six decades ago, on February 5, 1964. The institution has undergone various stages of transformation in its quest to fulfill its mandate of training officers for the Nigerian Armed Forces. Before obtaining independence from Britain, Nigeria’s first set of officers were trained in Ghana and subsequently at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England. But by January 1964, four years after independence, the first batch of 64 army and navy cadets commenced training at the NDA.

President Tinubu highlighted some of the milestones recorded during the transformation of the NDA to include the subsequent addition and training of Air Force cadets, the successful reunification of the country after the Civil War in 1967 as well as the various short-service military training programmes instituted to fill the manpower needs caused by the Civil War.

Other noteworthy achievements he accented include the upgrade of the NDA from a non-degree awarding institution to a full-fledged degree-awarding university in 1985, thereby phasing out the Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education hitherto awarded to cadets.

“The government is also pleased to note that the curriculum approved by the National Universities Commission, the regulatory body is sufficiently robust and broad-based to enable the cadets to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, character, and discipline required for effective and efficient service in the Nigerian Armed forces in peace times and in times of crises.

“I understand that other giants’ strides recorded in the NDA include the establishment of post-graduate programs, the creation of research centres and centres of excellence to facilitate research and enable cross fertilization of ideas.

“The consistent academic calendar devoid of industrial disputes and strikes should make the NDA postgraduate school an institution of first choice not only for Nigerian students but also for students across the globe. I therefore charge the academic staff both military and nonmilitary to transform the NDA into ‘Nigeria’s Silicon Valley,’ a hub for startups where ideas are not only incubated but also actualized,” the President said.

President Tinubu commended the past and present leadership of the NDA for the quality of military and academic training, which has continued to attract clientele from other African nations.

He said with the quality of training at the Academy, the military is capable of bringing to an end all acts of banditry, insurgency, and criminality that have ravaged the country.

“Let me also add that although the war against the enemies of Nigeria is not over, it is fair to state that relative peace has been recorded across the major flash points. These successes have come at a price for the government and the populace. We remember our fallen heroes and those out in the trenches for the sake of our fatherland. Let us also celebrate their resilience and sacrifice at this didiamond jubilee.

“I urge you to continue to play your constitutional role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigeria, our fatherland. You must shun any acts that are inimical to the well-being of our nation and acts which can destroy the gains of democracy which we have enjoyed in the last 20 years.

“The government is fully aware of the service and sacrifices that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to render across the length and breadth of this country, especially in the face of daunting challenges. We, as a government, will continue to accord priority to the needs of the armed forces to enable the military to play its constitutional role without let or hindrance.

“Let me reiterate the urgency to upscale the fight against insecurity, which has robbed us of peace and progress. While the relative peace you have been able to secure is worth celebrating, you must remember that the war is not yet over until every parcel of land held by the enemy is flying the flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the President said.

A 22-year-old man, Nura Sabiu was on thursday sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing 18-year-old Abba Isma’il to death. The Court also sentenced Dahiru Ubale, 21, to five years’ imprisonment for criminal conspiracy.

Sabiu and Ubale were convicted on two-count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The Prosecution Counsel, Lamido Sorondinki, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 17, 2017, at Jalabi village in Bunkure Local Government Area of the state.

He said that on the same date, the defendants conspired and attacked the Abba with a catapult and a knife.

“In the process Ubale used a catapult to shoot the deceased’s head, while Sabiu, the first defendant, stabbed him with a knife on his back because he was having a relationship with his girlfriend (Zahra’u) of Jalabi village.

“As a result, the deceased sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to Rano Hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”

Although the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, the prosecution presented three witnesses to the court to prove its case.

According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to the provision of sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code.

The defence counsel, Umar Danbaito, presented three witnesses including the defendants.

Thereafter, Justice Usman Na’abba held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the defendants guilty.

“I here by sentence Sabiu to life imprisonment and sentence Ubale to five years’ imprisonment,” the judge declared.

I am dreaming of watching AFCON 2024 live, and I enquired about flights to Abidjan to watch our Super Eagles play in the finals. I believed that Ivory Coast being so close (an hour and 35 minutes) wouldn’t cost me too much. However, my travel agent of over twenty years sent me a price quotation of N2,183,000.00 (two million, one hundred and eighty-three thousand Naira), which was a huge shock. I did the math and realized I would need to save my five months’ salary as a Professor of Law on the last professional step to buy one return ticket to a West African country. This is a sad reflection of our current economic realities.

Please refrain from attempting to convert to US dollars- it’s extremely depressing and demystifying of a full professor position. This will push the resolve of brilliant young ones we’re training and mentoring to take over from us farther away from the classrooms to becoming political aspirants/election delegates.
My alternative plan is to cut down on expenses. I have recharged my DSTV for N19,800, and I plan to buy twenty litres of fuel to generate power because we didn’t have electricity during the Semifinals. The match is a must-watch for me as it will be a breath of fresh air and a chance for me to forget about Nigeria’s many woes.

I want to make a public notice for those asking for help that I have been posting that we haven’t been paid. Kindly note that my salary, which I received yesterday, has been mortgaged in arrears. Please be patient, and let’s hope we get the 8-month arrears from the ASUU strike or that NLC and FGN reach a new deal that will increase my wage. The struggle continues!

Good luck to our Super Eagles! You’re in my thoughts and prayers!

• 90-year-old woman and granddaughter savagely murdered in Katsina

To think that one’s home which is meant to be a bastion of safety turns into a chamber of gruesome death is horrifying to say the least. – Nachamada Shaltha, ex -JAW, AFGMS, Jos, National Assistant Publicity Secretary, FIDA Nigeria.

Yobe state police command is currently investigating the brutal murder of Mrs. Ammi Adamu Mamman at her residence, New Bra Bra Estate in Yobe state on January 4, 2024.

Ammi was an Ex-Jnr Aircraft Woman(Ex-JAW) of the Air Force Girls Military School (AFGMS), Jos, in Plateau State of Nigeria.

A statement signed by Hansatu Adegbite on behalf of the Air Force Girls Alumni Association of Nigeria (AFGAAN) Board of Trustees revealed that her husband is a possible suspect in the homicide.

The statement reads:

NOTIFICATION OF THE MURDER OF OUR ALUMNI MEMBER MRS. AMMI ADAMU
MAMMAN

The Air Force Girls Alumni Association of Nigeria (AFGAAN) formally informs the general public of the murder of one of her members, Mrs. Ammi Adamu Mamman. Ammi was a 1992 ex-student (ex-JAW) of the Air Force Girls Military School (AFGMS), Jos in Plateau state of Nigeria.

As an alumni, we received the tragic news that she was brutally murdered on January 4, 2024, at her residence at New Bra Bra Estate in Yobe state of Nigeria.

The investigation into her murder by the Yobe state police command is ongoing following the apprehension of her husband as a possible suspect in the homicide.

The AFGAAN Board calls on women groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, FIDA, practitioners in the prevention of gender-based violence, the media, public sector stakeholders and the general public to ensure that true justice is served on this matter.

We request on behalf of AFGAAN for your kind intervention to post this on various social media channels and tag all relevant stakeholders with the hashtag

#justiceforammi #exjaw

Kindly feel free to share on your various WhatsApp groups to ensure that this case is not swept under the carpet.

We thank you in advance for your support.

May Ammi’s soul find true rest after her murderer is arrested, charged and sentenced for the heinous crime committed.

Signed
Hansatu Adegbite
AFGAAN Board of Trustees
[email protected]
08030661082

Similarly, a 90-year-old woman, Hajiya Amina, and her 23-year-old granddaughter, Bilkisu, were gruesomely murdered in the Tudun Wada area of Daura, Katsina state. 

The incident occurred at the victims’ residence behind Tashar Kudu on Thursday, February 1, 2024.  

According to the Daily Trust, the nonagenarian was strangled while her granddaughter was slaughtered by the unknown assailants.

A resident of Daura also told the publication that the granddaughter’s stomach was ripped open and her kidney removed by the assailants, an allegation that could not be independently verified. 

It was gathered that not long ago, some youth had burgled the victims’ house and went away with their plasma TV.

The deceased had reported the incident to the police but investigation was ongoing at the time the victims were killed.

“The TV was recovered and an investigation was ongoing when this terrible thing happened. only investigation will reveal whether those who have stolen the TV have any direct or indirect connection with the murder,” the resident said.

A spokesman of the State Police Command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, confirmed the incident saying details were sketchy. 

By Bob and Debby Gass

Wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.’ Proverbs 8:11 NLT

To keep learning and growing, you must recognise these:

1) Successful people view learning differently than unsuccessful people.

Joshua learned from Moses. Timothy learned from Paul. Who have you chosen to learn from?

American author Sydney J. Harris wrote: ‘A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others.

A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.’ It’s all a matter of attitude. It’s truly remarkable how much a person has to learn before he or she realises how little they know.

2) Nothing is interesting if you’re not interested.

In Quality Is Free, American author Philip B. Crosby writes: ‘There is a theory of human behaviour that says people subconsciously retard their own intellectual growth. They come to rely on clichés and habits. Once they reach the age of … personal comfort with the world, they stop learning, and their mind runs idle for the rest of their days.

They may progress organisationally, they may be ambitious and eager, and they may even work night and day. But they learn no more.’ The Bible says, ‘… Jesus increased in wisdom and stature …’ (Luke 2:52 KJV). He didn’t just grow physically; He grew spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

It’s a tragedy when you let yourself get into a rut and never climb out; you miss out on the best that God has to offer. By contrast, teachable people are completely engaged in life. They are enthusiastic about things. They’re interested in discovering, discussing, applying, and increasing. So, never stop learning and growing!

Exo 20:12 Jer. 35:1-19 Pro 1:8 John 19:25-26

Credits: The Word for Today

Providence finally smiled on 62-year-old Mrs. Fummi Akinade, who had been married for 31 years without a child.

After three failed IVFs, Mrs. Akinade recently gave birth to a baby boy in a private hospital in Lagos.

It was her forth attempt at Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) but this time it was a success.

The baby was born at Strong Tower Hospital and Advanced Fertility Centre, a Lagos-based private medical facility on Tuesday through caesarian section at 37 weeks.

Akinade told NAN on Thursday in Lagos that she got married in 1992 but never had a child.

Narrating how she went through a series of gynecological procedures without success, the joyful new mum enthused that her fourth IVF yielded fruits.

Funmi Akinade said her husband has been supportive, adding that both of them remained optimistic that God would give them a child.

“This is my fourth IVF attempt, but the others were not in this hospital.

“When someone is looking for fruit of the womb, the person will be moving from one hospital or gynecologist to another, undergoing series of gynecological investigations and treatments,” she said.

Akinade said that all through the years she was looking for a child, she had strong faith in God.

“Even when I felt it was already too late to be possible, God in His infinite mercy made it possible for me in my lifetime. I return all glory to Him.

“Two major factors that kept motivating me all along are my husband’s support and one particular book that I usually read,” Akinade said.

Akinade advised couples desiring children not to give up but trust in God while seeking the right medical attention.

She identified finance as a major challenge encountered while looking for fruit of the womb, saying that fertility treatments are expensive.

She called on governments to subsidise the cost of IVF and other fertility procedures for the sake of poor couples.

“Fertility treatment is quite expensive – whether IVF or whatever. A lot of couples out there are childless and do not have the financial capacity to go for them,” she said.

Dr. Ayodele Ademola, a Consultant Gynecologist, who delivered the baby, said that a woman above 62 years could still conceive through IVF or other innovative methods of assisted pregnancy.

The doctor who is also the Medical Director of the hospital, said many couples without children could still have kids with the right medicare.

NAN

As Nigerians rack their brains on how football could be used to unite Nigeria, social critic and human rights advocate, Aisha Yesufu has advised citizens to make use of ‘football sense’ during election.

An anonymous Nigerian had said: “Apart from soccer, I don’t see anything else that brings us together in Nigeria, we put aside our differences whenever Nigeria is playing a football match against another country.”

Another noted that: “It is no secret that in spite of our diversity, with our over 300 ethnic groups, Nigerians are able to display a unique and uncommon type of Patriotism not seen in other nations, not even in England. There is no Kanuri, Ijaw, Igbo or Fulani. No North nor South. How is this possible? And how can we use this Patriotism to impact our leaders and the masses, to make Nigeria truly the giant of Africa!”

But Yesufu suggested that Nigeria should make use of ‘football sense’ during election adding that religious and tribal sentiments do not give positive results.

The statement followed the victory of the Super Eagles over the South Africa national team, Bafana Bafana, in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nation in Ivory Coast.

In a post on her X handle, Yesufu suggested it could have been a different story if a goalkeeper from the 80s was fielded in place of Stanley Nwabali, the current Eagles goalkeeper.

“Imagine instead of fielding Stanley Nwabali we decided to field a goalkeeper from the 80s because it is his turn.

“Make we dey use football sense during election.

“Religious and tribal sentiments don’t give you positive results,” she wrote.

Abuja lawyer and rights advocate Maduabuchi O. Idam has written to the Presidency and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation demanding details of the savings made by the government since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023.

Idam in the letter February 5, 2024 letter observed that the fuel subsidy removal has caused untold hardship on average Nigerians and that palliative measures by the government have been inadequate. He is therefore requesting details of the subsidy savings made so far and any projects commissioned as a result of the accrued savings.

Asserting that that his request is premised on ensuring transparency and accountability on the part of the government regarding the subsidy savings, Idam gave a 7-day ultimatum for the information to be provided as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

He said the details on projects commissioned with the subsidy savings are needed to ascertain if Nigerians are getting any relief from the money saved.

It will be recalled that the Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023 announced the removal of fuel subsidy after over 2 decades of paying billions annually to subsidise petrol.

The removal resulted in over 100% increase in pump price of fuel amid widespread public outcry. Analysts say information on how much has been saved and how it has been utilized will show if the objectives of the subsidy removal are being met.

Read the full text of his letter here.