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Tinubu to military: Count on me to equip, care for your needs as you defend Nigeria
For the umpteenth time, President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, made a firm promises that his government would provide all necessary support to Nigerian soldiers, particularly those battling at several conflict areas to end the reign of insecurity in the country.
Tinubu, who spoke on the same day he equally charged the military personnel to continue to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity against all threats, commended them for their dedication to duty and sacrifices for the nation.
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 their welfare, as well as unwavering support in the discharge of its duties.
The NDA, established about six decades ago, on February 5, 1964, is reputed to have 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, which changed on January 1964, four years after independence, when the first batch of 64 army and navy cadets commenced training at the institution.
Highlighting 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, Tinubu also recalled 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.
His words: “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 actualised.”
Tinubu, while commending the past and present leadership of the NDA for the quality of military and academic training, which had continued to attract clientele from other African nations, 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.
He added: “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 diamond 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.”
After years of public outcries by individuals, groups and civil society organisations, the Imo State Police Command finally took steps against the controversial Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base.
The agency, described by many as notorious for rights abuses, was scrapped, by the Command, along with other tactical squads with similar identities, which have now been replaced with a newly created Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) aimed at tackling rising violent crimes across the state.
The development was announced at the Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, marking one of the most significant policing reforms in the state in recent years following growing public concerns over the activities of Tiger Base.
Other tactical formations affected by the disbandment include the Scorpion Unit and the Lion Squad, whose operations were closely linked to the now-defunct outfit.
Speaking during the inauguration of the new unit, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, said the reform was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reposition tactical operations nationwide and strengthen professionalism within the Force.
Bosso said the newly established VCRU would focus on intelligence-driven operations against armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and other violent crimes.
According to him, officers drafted into the unit were carefully selected based on competence, discipline, integrity, and operational experience.
He disclosed that the operatives had undergone intensive training in tactical response, intelligence gathering, crisis management, and human rights compliance to ensure lawful and professional conduct.
“The inauguration of the VCRU reflects our commitment to professional policing, public safety, and improved service delivery to the people of Imo State,” the police commissioner stated.
In a move seen as an attempt to rebuild public trust, the command also inaugurated a Civilian Oversight Board comprising representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The board is expected to monitor the activities of the unit, receive complaints from members of the public, and provide independent feedback to the Commissioner of Police.
The event attracted top government officials, heads of security agencies, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, youth organisations, and human rights groups.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Chief Principal Security Officer, ACP Gboyako Shaba Adamu, commended the initiative and pledged continued support for security agencies in combating insecurity across the state.
Observers believe the scrapping of Tiger Base and the creation of the VCRU may signal a new chapter in tactical policing in Imo State, especially amid increasing calls for accountability and respect for human rights by security operatives.
The ceremony featured the unveiling of the VCRU logo, presentation of its operational dress code, and goodwill messages from stakeholders.
Residents were urged to support the new unit with credible information to aid crime-fighting efforts across the state.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has released a list of nomination fees for all its elective positions in 2027, with that of presidential office pegged at N60million – N20million for Expression of Interest and for Nomination Forms, respectively, while putting that of the governorship at N30million.
The forms which would be on sale from Wednesday, would also has those of the Senate put at N8million cumulatively, that of the House of Representatives is pegged at N6million, while aspirants for Houses of Assembly in states are to pay N2.5million.
In a statement signed by Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, National Chairman and Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, National Secretary the party also released the timetable and deadlines for the purchase and return of the forms.
Specifically for the governors, the NDC fixed N10 million and N20million for the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, respectively, N3 million and N5 million respectively, for the Senate and N2 million and N4 million for the Nomination Forms respectively for the Reps.
State House of Assembly aspirants would be required to pay N1 million for the Expression of Interest and N1.5 million for the Nomination Forms respectively, the statement said, adding that sale of the forms for all elective positions would commence Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and close on Monday, May 18, 2026.
All aspirants would undergo screening and interviews between May 19 and May 21 before becoming eligible to purchase Nomination Forms, the statement noted, adding that the sale of Nomination Forms would commence immediately after the screening exercise and run from May 21 to May 23, while completed forms must be returned not later than May 25.
Disclosing that appeals arising from the screening process would be handled on May 25 and 26, while primary elections for various offices would hold on May 27 and 28, the party put its presidential primary election for May 29, 2026, in Abuja.
While aspirants for the state assemblies would be screened in their respective states, those for National Assembly and presidential aspirants would take place at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
For the governorship primaries the assignment would be conducted at the local government level, the statement said, adding that all aspirants seeking its tickets would be required to sign undertakings in line with the party’s code of conduct and electoral guidelines.
Assuring members and aspirants of what it described as a transparent, inclusive and credible primary process capable of producing competent candidates for the 2027 elections, the statement said: “The party remains committed to a transparent and democratic process that guarantees fairness, inclusiveness and internal democracy in the conduct of its primaries.”
In the conduct of the primaries, the party said it had adopted “open secret ballot” system, to strengthen credibility and transparency during delegate voting, adding that its nomination fees remained among the lowest when compared with those charged by other major political parties in the country.
Announcing concessions for female aspirants and persons living with disabilities, the statement said while women would pay only 50 per cent of the approved fees, while PWDs would enjoy a 75 per cent waiver across all categories.
The statement further added: “The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially announced the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for aspirants seeking to contest various elective positions on the platform of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The screening and interview of aspirants, which will determine eligibility for the purchase of Nomination Forms, will hold from Tuesday, May 19, to Thursday, May 21, 2026. The sale of Nomination Forms will commence immediately after the screening exercise, from Thursday, May 21, to Saturday, May 23, 2026, while completed forms must be submitted on or before Monday, May 25, 2026.
“The NDC further stated that appeals arising from the screening process will be entertained on May 25 and 26, while primary elections for various elective offices are scheduled to hold on May 27 and 28, 2026.
“The Presidential Primary Election is slated for May 29, 2026, in Abuja.
“The party explained that aspirants seeking tickets for State Houses of Assembly will be screened in their respective states, while screening for aspirants to the National Assembly and Presidential positions will be conducted at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
“It also disclosed that governorship primaries would be conducted at the local government level. All aspirants will be required to sign an undertaking in line with the party’s guidelines and code of conduct.
“The NDC assured members and aspirants of a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process in the sale of forms and conduct of primaries.
“The party also announced that it would adopt the “open secret ballot” system for its primaries in order to guarantee credibility, fairness, and internal democracy.
“The NDC noted that its approved nomination fees remain among the lowest compared to those of other major political parties in the country.
“A breakdown of the approved fees is as follows:
- State House of Assembly:
Expression of Interest Form – N1 million
Nomination Form – N1.5 million - House of Representatives:
Expression of Interest Form – N2 million
Nomination Form – N4 million - Senate:
Expression of Interest Form – N3 million
Nomination Form – N5 million - Governorship:
Expression of Interest Form – N10 million
Nomination Form – N20 million - Presidency:
Expression of Interest Form – N20 million
Nomination Form – N40 million
Meanwhile, female aspirants and persons living with disability (PWDs) are to pay 50% and 25% of the fees across all categories.
“The party reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and credible primary election process capable of producing competent candidates for the 2027 general elections.”
For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu there is no other way for African countries to get out of the woods but to engage in massive industrialisation – transforming their rich mineral resources into finished products rather than exporting them in their raw states.
This was the major highlight as he took the podium on Tuesday at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit at the Kenyatta Convention Centre in Nairobi.
Tinubu, who led Nigeria’s government, diplomatic, and business delegation to event, told his audience that Nigeria was ready to assist in the deeper economic integration and industrial growth and prosperity he envisaged for the continent.
Highlighting Nigeria’s blue economy potential as a key driver of Africa’s development, and decrying its underutilisation due to insecurity and uncertainty, he said: “Today, I make an explicit commitment: Nigeria will intensify regional coordination by offering our Deep Blue Project’s maritime intelligence infrastructure as a shared data hub for willing Gulf of Guinea states.
“Interoperable systems, harmonised laws, and seamless joint enforcement must become the daily reality, not an aspiration on paper. Let no one misunderstand: maritime sovereignty does not repel investment — it attracts it. Secure sea lanes, predictable regulation, and functional courts are the preconditions that unlock private capital. Governance has de-risked Nigeria’s maritime proposition. We now invite partners to build on these gains as we advance climate-aligned port modernisation and the digital transformation of our maritime sector.
“As we endorse the Nairobi Declaration, Nigeria affirms that maritime sovereignty and ocean governance are the non-negotiable foundations of Africa’s Blue Economy transformation. We will continue to earn that sovereignty — through institutions, through assets, through law, and through iron-clad regional solidarity that turns our waters from a theatre of risk into a story of shared resilience.
“The oceans have no duplicate as a common heritage of mankind. For Africa, moving from sea blindness to ocean sovereignty is not a choice — it is a generational duty. Nigeria is ready, and we invite all present to join us in that duty.”
Blaming international financial system, for the poor state of industrialization in Africa, Tinubu insisting that Africa must not remain locked into raw-material exports while importing finished goods.
Hear him: “Last September, from the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria warned that the international system must reform or risk irrelevance. We spoke not only of the Security Council but of the financial and trade structures that quietly de-industrialise our nations. The evidence is before us. Despite decades of independence, Africa’s share of global manufacturing value added remains below 2 per cent.
“We export raw minerals, crude oil, and agricultural commodities, and we import processed goods at a premium. This pattern is not an accident. It is the product of a global financial architecture that starves our industries of affordable capital, tolerates massive illicit financial flows, and imposes policy constraints that our competitors themselves never observed when they built their own industrial bases.
“Nigeria does not come to this discussion as a supplicant. We come as a nation that has taken painful, homegrown decisions to put our house in order — removing fuel subsidies, unifying our exchange rate, recapitalising our banking system with over US$3.4 billion, and exiting the FATF grey list. These reforms were sovereign choices, not external conditions. They have delivered a declining debt-to-GDP ratio, now projected at 32.3 per cent in 2026, stronger external reserves of $45.5 billion, and a return of investor confidence. But, Excellencies, even a reforming nation like Nigeria is being forced to de-industrialise by a financial system that is stacked against us.”
The President added that in 2026, Nigeria will spend about US$11.6 billion on debt servicing — nearly half of projected revenue.
“Every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates is a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile mills, our agro-processing plants, or our digital industries. It is a dollar that did not train a young Nigerian engineer or provide affordable power for our factories. Our industrial base is being starved of the blood it needs — long-term, affordable finance — while creditors and rating agencies treat African sovereigns as permanent high-risk borrowers, regardless of our fiscal performance.
“So, I ask this gathering: how can an African manufacturer compete with a competitor in Europe, Asia, or North America when the cost of borrowing in our nations is five to ten times higher? How can we build cross-border industrial value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area when our infrastructure projects face a financing gap deepened by the very institutions meant to bridge it? The answer is plain: we cannot. The international financial architecture, as currently constituted, is an instrument of industrial disarmament for Africa.
“Nigeria is not asking for charity. We are demanding a financial system that intentionally enables Africa to industrialise — to process its own minerals, refine its own crude oil, manufacture its own pharmaceuticals, and compete fairly in global markets. We will continue to borrow responsibly, but we insist that our creditworthiness be measured by our economic fundamentals and our industrial potential, not by outdated stereotypes,” he noted.
On migration, Tinubu said addressing root causes was essential, stressing that people would not risk dangerous journeys if opportunities existed at home.
He said Nigeria had embedded migration management within its broader economic reforms, including subsidy removal, banking recapitalisation, and agricultural modernisation.
He also called on international partners to increase investments in climate adaptation, energy access, digital skills, and job-creating sectors, urging that a portion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) be directed toward reducing irregular migration pressures.
Tinubu also called for stronger African cooperation in shaping global migration governance, saying existing frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration remained insufficient due to their non-binding nature.
He expressed support for African Union initiatives including the Migration Policy Framework and the Khartoum Process, while urging stronger links between regional and global systems.
The Africa Forward Summit, co-hosted by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, brought together leaders and officials from over 30 countries.
Opening statements were delivered by Macron, Ruto, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
On the sidelines, Tinubu met Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina and held talks with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 CAF Awards.
He was accompanied by senior government officials, including ministers of foreign affairs, finance, agriculture, marine and blue economy, environment, industry, communications, as well as leading private sector figures such as Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
The summit featured discussions on investment, AI, digitalisation, agriculture, creative industries, climate change, and strategies to translate policy discussions into industrial development across Africa.
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