2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the escalating insecurity across Nigeria. The President also ordered an expansion of personnel in the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security operations. In a statement issued today, Tinubu directed the police to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, increasing the force to a total of 50,000 personnel. He further authorised the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as training facilities, and instructed officers withdrawn from VIP duties to undergo crash training before redeployment to security-challenged areas. The President also empowered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits, while also recruiting additional personnel to secure vulnerable areas. “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil,” he stated. Read Also: Tinubu Appoints Three Non-Career Ambassadors, Sends List to Senate for Confirmation Tinubu commended security agencies for their role in recent rescue operations, including the release of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and 38 worshippers in Kwara State, promising sustained efforts to free remaining hostages, including students abducted in Niger State. The President urged state governments to strengthen local security measures, rethink the establishment of boarding schools in remote areas, and ensure places of worship have adequate protection. He called on herder associations to adopt ranching, surrender illegal weapons, and collaborate with the Federal Government to prevent farmers-herders clashes. Paying tribute to fallen security personnel, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, Tinubu appealed to Nigerians not to give in to fear. He encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities and cooperate with security agencies, emphasizing that “we are in this fight together, and together we shall win.” The President concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives, maintaining national peace, and guaranteeing the safety and freedom of all Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed three non-career ambassadors, ending a diplomatic vacancy that had lasted for more than two years. The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke from Oyo State. The president’s letter conveying the appointments was read on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who noted that the list is the first batch of nominees. “The list contains three names for now; I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio said after announcing the president’s request for confirmation. The delay in ambassadorial appointments had previously attracted concerns, especially after former U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” with some commentators linking the issue to the absence of appointed envoys. Read Also: Guinea-Bissau Officers Claim Control After Reported Arrest of President Embaló However, in a recent interview, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar dismissed such claims, insisting that Nigerian missions around the world had continued to function effectively. “All our embassies are functioning well. The chargé d’affaires in each mission is carrying out responsibilities effectively. The absence of ambassadors has not created a vacuum,” Tuggar said. He explained that embassies operate through a structured chain of command involving deputies, counsellors, and career diplomats who ensure continuity in diplomatic activities. “Diplomacy is not a one-man show. The system is designed to cope with such situations,” he added. The minister stressed that ambassadorial appointments remain the exclusive prerogative of the president and assured that missions were still delivering on key foreign policy objectives. “Nigerians abroad are still accessing services, and our engagement with host countries has not diminished,” Tuggar said, noting that trade facilitation, investment promotion, consular services, and cultural diplomacy had continued uninterrupted. He noted that it is not unusual for countries to operate some foreign missions without ambassadors for extended periods, saying what matters is “substance, not optics.” “Our foreign policy direction is clear, and our presence is felt globally. What we are doing is ensuring that our missions deliver tangible results for Nigerians, not just ceremonial appearances,” he added. The Senate is expected to screen and confirm the three nominees in the coming days.