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Economy

FG Deploys 7,000 Forest Guards To Tackle Banditry, Kidnapping In Northern States

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Forest Guards

FG Deploys 7,000 Forest Guards To Tackle Banditry, Kidnapping In Northern States

FG deploys 7,000 forest guards to tackle banditry, kidnapping in northern states. About 7,000 newly recruited forest guards, drawn from seven frontline states, have graduated after completing a three-month intensive training programme.

The new forest guards were trained under the presidential forest guards initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in May.

The programme, coordinated by the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), is a joint federal and state security effort to reclaim forest territories from criminal groups.

The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency initiative led by the NSA, supported by the federal ministry of environment, and coordinated operationally by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.

The programme also draws strategic and operational input from the defence headquarters (DHQ), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The graduation ceremonies were held on December 27 across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states. Speaking at the ceremony, Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, described the initiative as a major step towards restoring state control and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

Ribadu said the deployment of the forest guards would begin immediately, with no break between graduation and active assignment.
“These forest guards are not just uniformed personnel,” he said.

“They are first responders, community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture, and they will hold ground, gather intelligence, and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.

“There will be no delay between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately, and every certified guard will proceed directly to assigned duty posts.

“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory, and by securing our territory, we are protecting our people.”

The NSA further said the federal government would sustain and expand the initiative nationwide. He noted that the programme recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate, with 81 trainees dismissed for disciplinary reasons while two died from pre-existing medical conditions.

Forest Guards

Forest Guards

 

 

The guards are indigenous to the areas where they will serve, which authorities say will enhance trust, intelligence flow, and operational effectiveness.

According to a statement issued by the ONSA, the forest guards were recruited from their LGAs to enable them to rely on local knowledge and community trust in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.

Among those who attended the graduation ceremony were AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, and Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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