Abuja

A+AROAMS NIGERIA Ltd, with the support of the Chairperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has launched an online entrepreneurship training programme designed for young people across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Abubakar Sidi Akibu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, noting that the initiative became necessary in view of the increasing unemployment rate in the country. He said the nationwide programme will equip Nigerian youths with practical skills, digital knowledge, and business strategies essential for creating sustainable livelihoods. Sidi Akibu explained that the training will help participants understand how to use digital platforms to generate income, particularly as technology continues to reshape global opportunities. Read Also: NNPP Claims Overhyped as Ganduje Strengthens APC’s 2027 Positioning – Analyst “Almost everyone today has a smartphone and social media handles. The question is, why not use it to our own benefit?” he said, urging youths to take advantage of digital tools. The programme will cover Digital Marketing, Handcraft Skills, and Product Packaging, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with a strong foundation to start and scale small businesses. He further stated that Dr. Ganduje initiated the initiative as part of his commitment to giving back to society beyond politics. “You know that small businesses and digital marketing will really help, especially our married women at home, allowing them to earn without needing to go outside”. “Ganduje’s commitment to empowerment is not limited to Kano alone; his guidance continues to inspire youth initiatives across the country. Stakeholders say his support for the nationwide digital training programme reflects a broader vision that reaches all 36 states and the FCT, demonstrating his belief in equipping young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in today’s digital economy”, he added. Interested applicants from all states can register for the training through this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSexA6KKuFNhCwK864nNYh8Tq2IfexujWuXwTPrht83trGMBOw/alreadyresponded?usp Sidi Akibu also revealed that exceptional participants will receive rewards at the end of the programme to further motivate them and support their growth. Abubakar Sidi Akibu, a realtor in the nation’s capital, expressed confidence that the project will make a meaningful impact on the lives of both youth and women.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaits further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State. In response to a request by the Governor of Kwara State, President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of more security personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state. He has also directed the police to apprehend the bandits who attacked the worshippers. The President was scheduled to leave Abuja to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and then proceed to Luanda to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit. However, he has suspended his departure due to the security breaches in Kebbi State and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State. Read Also: FAAN National Aviation Conference 2025 Concludes With Focus On Safety, Security, and Profitability President Tinubu is awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who paid a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services regarding the attack in Kwara. He reiterates his directive to security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 abducted schoolgirls and bring them back home safely. This information was conveyed in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Wednesday.

Scientist Mubarak Sale Bagwai, the newly elected Chairman Kano State Branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), has unveiled a reform-driven agenda aimed at elevating laboratory practice, strengthening member welfare, and advancing healthcare delivery nationwide. In his inaugural address, Bagwai reaffirmed his commitment to raising laboratory standards across Nigeria, noting that the AMLSN will actively support medical laboratories in obtaining ISO accreditation and implementing effective Quality Management Systems (QMS). He disclosed plans to connect both public and private laboratories with qualified mentors and technical experts to ensure safe, precise, and reliable diagnostic outcomes. He also pledged to reinvigorate the AMLSN Care Foundation by expanding member access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), supporting families of deceased members, and initiating community medical outreaches in underserved areas. Bagwai further announced financial sustainability plans for the association through low-risk investments, cooperative shareholding, and income-generating ventures aimed at reducing dependency and ensuring long-term growth. Read Also: NSE Kabuga Branch Inducts 132 Graduate Engineers, Pledges Support for Professional Growth “No association can thrive without sustainable finance,” he emphasized. As part of his vision for capacity development, Bagwai highlighted the introduction of structured mentorship and career development programmes—both locally and internationally—to help young scientists advance professionally and gain research exposure across borders. He vowed to advocate for paid internships and improved training conditions, including hostel accommodation for Medical Laboratory Science trainees — a longstanding demand in the profession. Calling for a stronger national voice, Bagwai said medical laboratory scientists must be included in key health policy platforms, presidential committees, and decision-making spaces where Nigeria’s healthcare agenda is shaped. He leads a newly elected national executive council comprising: Prof. Muhd Ahmad Bello – Vice Chairman MLS Aisha Abubakar Jibril, PhD – Secretary MLS Arif Safyan Labbo – Assistant Secretary MLS Muhd F. Aliyu – Treasurer MLS Comrade Alwal Nasir – Financial Secretary MLS Muhd Ahmad Muhd – Publicity Secretary MLS Ibrahim Kassim Litai – Internal Auditor MLS Fatima Adamu – Welfare Director Bagwai’s leadership signals a new chapter for Nigeria’s medical laboratory scientists — one focused on professional excellence, financial stability, and a stronger role in shaping national health outcomes.

A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. A.M. Yarima — who recently confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — has reportedly escaped what appears to be an assassination attempt in Abuja. Military sources told The Independent Mirror that Yarima was trailed on Sunday evening by unknown men dressed in black and riding in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way. The officer reportedly noticed the surveillance and carried out what sources described as a “strategic maneuver,” successfully evading the suspected attackers at about 6:30 p.m. Read Also: Navy Silent as Wike Confronts Officers Over Alleged Land Grabbing in Abuja Security authorities are said to be taking the matter seriously, though further details are being withheld to avoid jeopardizing ongoing investigations. This incident comes shortly after a viral confrontation in Gaduwa District, where Lt. Yarima — while on official duty — challenged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a disputed land site. The argument, captured on video, sparked national attention and forced the Presidency to halt a demolition exercise. The face-off triggered widespread public debate, with many Nigerians and military veterans rallying behind the officer. A coalition of retired servicemen warned they were ready to “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if Yarima faced any form of punishment. “How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera?” asked Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesperson for the veterans’ group. In response, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar assured the public that no officer acting lawfully would be sanctioned. “We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” he stated. “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.” The alleged assassination attempt has now heightened tensions, with many interpreting it as an escalation in the fallout from the widely publicized confrontation.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has assured that the Ministry of Defence and the military leadership will protect every soldier carrying out lawful duties across the country. Badaru gave the assurance on Wenesday while addressing journalists in Abuja. His statement came amid growing controversy following Tuesday’s confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some naval officers over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. Read Also: FCTA Bans Staff Mobile Phones Shortly After Minister Wike’s Naval Officer Face-Off Responding to questions on the incident, Badaru said the military would not abandon any officer performing legitimate assignments. “At the Ministry, and indeed the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty. We are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly. We will not allow anything to happen to him so far he is doing his job, and he’s doing it well,” the minister said. The clash, which occurred on Tuesday, involved Wike and a naval officer identified as Lt. A.M. Yerima. A video that circulated on social media showed the visibly angry FCT Minister accusing the officer of unlawfully seizing a parcel of land linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. “Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike said in the video. The incident has since sparked widespread reactions among Nigerians and security experts. Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), condemned Wike’s actions, describing them as a “palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.” Buratai urged Wike to tender “an immediate and unequivocal apology” to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved. “His public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity,” Buratai said, adding that the minister’s action “undermines the chain of command and erodes morale across the armed forces.” Similarly, former Minister of Aviation and ex-Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka, faulted Wike’s approach, describing it as “a fundamental misstep.” “In a democracy, ministers act through process, not presence. A formal communication to the Minister of Defence, whose office oversees the Armed Forces, would have sufficed. If the officers were on illegal duty, the established disciplinary systems would have addressed it,” Chidoka noted. However, human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi offered a more nuanced perspective, questioning the legality of the naval officer’s presence at the disputed site. “Have you wondered if the order Yerima is obeying is legal? If Wike, Yerima, and the officer who gave the order are subject to the rule of law, would the officer be able to secure a disputed plot of land? I detest Wike’s methods, but my loyalty is to the law and the truth,” he wrote on his X handle. The Ministry of Defence is expected to review the matter and provide further clarification in the coming days.

The Nigerian Navy has remained silent following a heated confrontation between some of its personnel and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. When contacted on Tuesday for a response, the Navy spokesman, A. Adams-Aliyu, simply said, “No reply for now.” The confrontation reportedly occurred when Wike visited the disputed site and accused the military of taking over the land illegally. A video circulating on social media shows the visibly enraged minister questioning why the military would lay claim to a property allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Read Also: Wike, Soldiers Clash Over Land Dispute in Abuja “Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike queried. An officer dressed in military camouflage, however, interrupted the minister, insisting that the property was legally acquired. “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” the officer replied. This interjection further angered Wike, who ordered the officer to keep quiet, saying, “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.” The officer maintained that he was deployed to the site on official orders. Wike, in response, warned him not to develop the land without proper documentation, saying, “You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see.” In a statement by the Assistant Director of Press (Office of the Minister), Rabi Umar, the FCT Minister condemned the incident, describing it as an act of lawlessness by the military personnel. “I did instruct them (FCTA officials) to make sure that nothing takes place inasmuch as they do not have any legal paper in terms of building approval or acquisition of the land. When they came here, I was informed that the military chased them away. So today, I had to come to see things for myself,” Wike stated. Umar added that the minister questioned the deployment of military personnel to protect what he described as an illegal development and vowed that the FCTA would not tolerate such acts. “It’s really unfortunate, and you heard what the officer said — he was sent by the former Chief of Naval Staff. I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position cannot approach my office to explain what is going on. Or, simply because he’s a military man, he felt he could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those who will succumb to blackmail,” Wike said.