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Nigerian, Portuguese Navies Launch Five-Day Gulf of Guinea Exercise

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Nigerian Navy

Nigerian, Portuguese Navies Launch Five-Day Gulf of Guinea Exercise

The Nigerian Navy and its Portuguese counterpart have launched a five-day joint maritime exercise to strengthen security and interoperability in the Gulf of Guinea.
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Codenamed Exercise Coastal Grip II, the drills began on Friday at the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT Jetty in Apapa, with personnel from the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, Customs and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also participating.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the exercise would tackle maritime threats including sea robbery, oil theft, illegal fishing and trafficking in people, weapons and drugs, which require coordinated international responses.

Represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Abbas said the exercise builds on Coastal Grip I, conducted with the Spanish Navy under the European Union’s SWAIM project.

The exercise will deploy Nigerian ships, helicopters, Special Boat Service personnel and the Western Naval Command’s Mission Control Centre alongside the Portuguese Navy frigate Álvares Cabral.

Nigerian Navy

Nigerian Navy

Activities will include maritime interdiction, air-sea coordination, communications drills, ship manoeuvres and mission planning.

Abbas urged participants to maintain professionalism, discipline and safety throughout the exercise.
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Economy

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM Chairman, Others Meets Nigerians in Angola, Reassure Growing Economy and Insecurity Being Tackle

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Minister of Defence

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM Chairman, Others Meets Nigerians in Angola, Reassure Growing Economy and Insecurity Being Tackle

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has reassured Nigerians in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and addressing the challenges posed by insecurity and instability in the Sahel region.
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Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the sidelines of the AU extraordinary session in Luanda Uganda

The Nigerian delegation to the AU summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking to the Nigerian community, Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, noting that some of them were linked to instability in the Sahel, with its effects spilling across national borders.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.

The Minister assured Nigerians in Angola that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to defeating security threats across the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

In the same vein, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo said “ Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery “

On the request to have a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, Tunji-Ojo said he will look into their request so as to ease issuance of passport booklets in the country.

Coordinating the meeting, Dabiri-Erewa, appreciated members of the Nigerian community in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for continuing to project the positive image of the country abroad.

She reassured the community that the Federal Government values the contributions, concerns and welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, stressing that their voices remain important in shaping policies and interventions that affect them.

Dabiri-Erewa also encouraged Nigerians in Angola to continue to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of both Nigeria and their host country.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in Angola, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the engagement and highlighted some of the challenges confronting Nigerians in the country.

Obi specifically called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, noting that access to passport and consular services remains a major concern for members of the community.

He also raised concerns over healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians living in Angola and called for greater attention to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the Federal Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirm its commitment to deepening Diaspora engagement, addressing their concerns and ensuring that Nigerians abroad remain an integral part of the nation’s development agenda.

Minister of Defence

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM

NiDCOM reiterated that the Federal Government, through relevant agencies, will continue to strengthen its engagement with Nigerians across the globe while working towards responsive solutions to issues affecting their welfare and interests.

E-signed
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, mnipr
Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abuja.
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Akwa Ibom

Government Ready to Partner South Korea on AI, Smart Agriculture, Blue Economy in Akwa Ibom

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South Korea

Government Ready to Partner South Korea on AI, Smart Agriculture, Blue Economy in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed its readiness to welcome investors from South Korea and other parts of the world seeking to establish industries, develop businesses and explore investment opportunities in the State.
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Governor Umo Eno stated this on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Permanent Site of the University of Uyo, Nwaniba, during a public lecture delivered by the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Nigeria, Ambassador Jeong Yo-an, on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart Agriculture and the Development of Blue Economy Resources.

The Governor, who welcomed the Korean Ambassador to Akwa Ibom State, said the visit was a reflection of the growing diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and South Korea, noting that the State was positioned to benefit from stronger economic, technological and institutional ties between both countries.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Governor Eno noted that available data put the trade volume between Nigeria and South Korea at over $2.1 billion, expressing the desire of his administration to contribute to expanding that relationship by attracting Korean investments into State.

He identified Artificial Intelligence, smart agriculture and the development of the Blue Economy as areas with significant potential for mutually beneficial partnerships, stressing that State was open to investors willing to build industries and create sustainable economic opportunities.

“Akwa Ibom State can be a beneficiary of this mutual relationship. Artificial Intelligence, smart agriculture and the Blue Economy are areas of interest to my administration as we work towards the transformation of our State. Today, no sane person can ignore the role of Artificial Intelligence,” the Governor said.

Eno further highlighted his administration’s investments in human capital development, including the establishment of youth development centres across the State, which he said would provide platforms for training young people in digital skills and other emerging areas of the global economy. He also cited the administration’s investments in agriculture, security and maritime infrastructure as part of efforts to build a diversified and sustainable economy capable of creating opportunities for the people.

The Governor commended the management of the University of Uyo, under the leadership of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Ekong, for hosting the public lecture and facilitating the visit of the South Korean Ambassador. He said the themes of the lecture aligned with key areas of interest to his administration, assuring the university of the State Government’s continued partnership in advancing education, innovation and human capital development.

At the lecture, the Ambassador shared insights into South Korea’s remarkable transformation from a relatively poor country following the Korean War into one of the world’s leading industrial and technology-driven economies.

He explained that the South Korean experience, often described as the “Miracle on the Han River,” demonstrated the impact of deliberate investments in education, human capital, technology, industrialisation, infrastructure and innovation.

Amb. Yo-an said South Korea’s development experience offered valuable lessons for countries such as Nigeria seeking rapid and sustainable economic transformation, particularly in the areas of education, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure and export-oriented development.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Chris Ekong, said the institution was determined to break existing barriers and ensure that its graduates were properly prepared for the demands of the modern labour market.

Prof. Ekong expressed optimism that stronger partnerships with South Korea would enable the university to strengthen its academic programmes and produce graduates who were employable, innovative and equipped with relevant skills for the global economy.

In a goodwill message, former Deputy Governor and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Obong Nsima Ekere, described Prof. Chris Ekong as an “uncommon transformative Vice-Chancellor,” commending the impact of his leadership on the University of Uyo.

Obong Ekere said visits and engagements such as the Ambassador’s visit were important in deepening relationships between institutions and countries, urging the University of Uyo to explore strategic linkages and partnerships with South Korean institutions through the Korean Embassy.

Drawing parallels between the development experiences of South Korea and Nigeria, he said the major lesson from the Korean experience was that natural resources alone could not guarantee prosperity.

According to him, human capital development, innovation, discipline, dedication and strong institutions were critical drivers of sustainable economic growth and national development. He challenged the students and young people to draw inspiration from the lecture and become active participants in shaping the future of Nigeria, expressing hope that the engagement would sow the seeds of partnerships capable of yielding benefits for generations to come.

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Dr. Muiz Banire, described the lecture as enriching and rewarding, charging the university management to explore opportunities for domesticating academic programmes and initiatives in Artificial Intelligence.

South Korea

South Korea, Akwa Ibom

Dr. Banire also emphasised the importance of building strong institutions that could outlive individuals and continue to deliver on their mandates irrespective of changes in leadership.

The Governor was accompanied to the event by members of the State Executive Council and other government officials.
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Crime

NPF Rescues Two Colombian Nationals, Dismantles Criminal Hideout in Lagos

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Plateau Police

NPF Rescues Two Colombian Nationals, Dismantles Criminal Hideout in Lagos

​In a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against transnational organized crime, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex, have successfully rescued two foreign nationals lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate.
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​The successful operation followed actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on August 26, 2026, regarding two female citizens of Colombia, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa. The victims were fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated by certain Chinese nationals who are currently at large.

​Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day. The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate.

​The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support. The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá.

Plateau Police

Police

​The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.

CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
29th August , 2026
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