President Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs To Step Up Fight Against Insecurity

President Tinubu orders security chiefs to step up fight against insecurity. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede assured Nigerians that security agencies are improving coordination for a peaceful yuletide season.

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, directed service chiefs and intelligence heads to intensify the crackdown on insecurity and deliver more efficient nationwide results.

The president met the security chiefs at the State House in Abuja during a closed-door session lasting more than an hour.

President Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs

After the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the discussions were engaging, with the president issuing fresh directives to strengthen ongoing operations.

M Oluyede assured Nigerians that security agencies were improving coordination to ensure peaceful yuletide celebrations across the country.

Governor Alex Otti Empowers 150 Polytechnic Fraduates With N1 Million Each

Governor Alex Otti empowers 150 polytechnic graduates with N1 million each. Mr Okoro said that the gesture was in fulfilment of the governor’s promise to the institution two years ago.

The Abia government, on Tuesday, disbursed cheques worth N1 million each to the 150 best HND graduates of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, (OOPA), between 2022 and 2024.

The rector of the polytechnic, Christopher Okoro, who handed over the cheques to the students on behalf of the governor, said that the empowerment aimed at turning them into entrepreneurs.

Mr Okoro said that the gesture was in fulfilment of the governor’s promise to the institution two years ago.
He said that the process of qualification involved HND graduates presenting proposals, which were vetted by a consultant, who shortlisted the successful beneficiaries.

He also said that the fund was a grant rather than loan given to ensure the beneficiaries would invest it to become better and also give back to society to improve other lives.

He said that Mr  Otti also directed the management of OOPA to interface with key entrepreneurs, who would assist the beneficiaries gain the capacity to utilise the money efficiently.

Mr Okoro said that although some beneficiaries had gone for national youth service, they should come for their cheques, whenever they returned, so they could utilise it for the purpose it was meant.
Earlier in an interactive session, the rector told journalists that the institution would hold its 22nd convocation ceremony on December 5.

He said that the institution had since Mr Otti’s administration improved in so many areas, including academics, infrastructure, productivity and personnel welfare.

According to him, apart from getting its old 33 courses accredited, OOPA has floated 17 new courses, including Legal Studies and Igbo Language, which had all been accredited to meet the student’s needs.

Governor Otti

He said that the students were solely producing the iron doors used in all primary and secondary schools in Abia and all the refuse buckets Abia needed.
He said that the development had encouraged the students to work harder, while it provided other services and revenue to the state.

He said that the institution would move to its new site at Umuarakpa, Osisioma LGA on January 6, 2026.
Mr Okoro, however, said that the School of Engineering and Skills Acquisition Centre would remain because they had businesses with some citizens.

He thanked Mr Otti for being God-sent and all he had done for the polytechnic, and the media “for helping us to see our challenges and to work on them”.

Governor Usman Ododo Presents N820bn 2026 Budget To Kogi Assembly

Governor Usman Ododo presents N820bn 2026 budget to Kogi assembly. Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, on Tuesday, presented a budget of N820,490,584 443 to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The 2026 budget represents an increase of N215,961,592,725, which amounts to 35.7% of the 2025 budget of N604,528,992,718.

The budget estimate comprised N367,448,083,683 in recurrent expenditure and N453,042,501,760 in capital expenditure.
In his address to the Assembly, Governor Ododo noted that the 2026 budget, titled “Budget of Shared Prosperity: Driving Sustainable Growth For All,” was designed to achieve enhanced revenue mobilisation, enforce expenditure discipline, and deepen strategic investment in growth sectors.

Other objectives of the budget, according to the governor, include the aggressive repayment of federal government debts, strengthening the investment climate, encouraging collaborative investment models, blocking revenue leakages, and prioritising ongoing projects, while introducing new initiatives aligned with the state’s 32-year development plan.

He noted that these objectives will support economic growth, reduce financial pressures and create a more competitive business environment.

Speaking further, Ododo said, “The 2026 budget is more than a financial statement, it is a roadmap for inclusive growth, economic diversification and shared prosperity.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf appealed to Governor Ododo to support the legislature’s efforts to computerise its operations.

He also lamented the lack of qualified staff in the Assembly to meet the 200 minimum support personnel needed to provide optimal legislative services.

He applauded the Governor for his unwavering commitment to fiscal discipline, infrastructural development, security, and human capital investment across the state, adding that the notable strides recorded in healthcare, education, road infrastructure, agriculture and public financial management reflect the administration’s vision of a stable, prosperous and inclusive Kogi State.

The Speaker assured that the Assembly will continue to foster a harmonious Executive-Legislative relationship for sustaining good governance, strengthening institutions and deepening the dividends of democracy.

Kogi Governor Ododo

He assured the governor that the lawmakers were ready to give the budget accelerated yet diligent consideration, consistent with global best legislative practices.

He urged the political heads and accounting officers of ministries, Departments, and Agencies to honour invitations by standing committees for budget appraisal and defence, enabling the legislature to efficiently consider and deliberate on the Appropriation Bill.