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Time to Defeat the Enemies, Tinubu Charges New Service Chiefs

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday charged the newly decorated service chiefs to act decisively against emerging security threats, warning that “new snakes must be smashed right in the head before they grow.”

Speaking at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, where the four security chiefs were decorated with their ranks, the President said their appointment “marks the beginning of a renewed effort to ensure peace and security for all Nigerians.”

“Today’s ceremony is beyond the symbolism of decoration. It marks the beginning of our renewed effort to ensure the peace and security of all Nigerians.

“Each of you has been carefully selected for this critical task. Security is an essential element without which everything else is rendered meaningless.

“Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the benefits of governance,” Tinubu said.

At the ceremony attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, senior government officials and the spouses of the officers, who were all dressed in their respective force uniforms, the President conferred ranks on General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shuaib (Chief of Army Staff), Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff).

Thursday’s event followed the Senate’s confirmation of the nominees a day earlier after a two-hour closed-door screening.

Referring to Shuaib, who sustained injuries during previous counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, Tinubu commended the officers for their courage and teamwork.

“To General Shuaib, I understand you were injured; you recuperated. I saw many stories and clips online of Operation Hadin-Kai. All of you, working together as a team, have made the country proud,” he said.

The President praised the military for reclaiming territories once held by terrorists and rescuing countless victims of abductions but said the government would not relent until peace is fully restored.

“However, challenges remain. Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating.

“Of grave concern is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.

“We must not allow these threats to fester,” Tinubu warned.

He urged the new military heads to be decisive and proactive.

“Let us smash the new snakes right in the head. Nigerians expect results, not excuses. We are in a hurry to celebrate peace,” he affirmed.

He urged the military leaders to embrace innovation, intelligence sharing, and technology-driven operations, assuring them of his administration’s full backing.

“Be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Deploy technology where necessary.

“We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. It is time to defeat the enemies,” he said.

Tinubu encouraged the service chiefs to share information effectively, and follow up proactively.

He said, “Work with other security agencies to defeat this enemy once and for all. We need to clean them up, clear them out. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.”

Tinubu also reaffirmed the military’s role as the “shield of the nation,” urging them to uphold patriotism and discipline while safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“Our military has remained steadfast in defending our territorial integrity. In dark times, when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land, our gallant armed forces rose to the challenge and reclaimed those occupied territories.

“I sincerely appreciate your sacrifices as your Commander-in-Chief. I have repeatedly acknowledged them, and I will continue to do so,” he said.

The decoration comes barely a week after the President’s second major shake-up of the armed forces since assuming office.

The Presidency had dismissed rumours linking the reshuffle to an alleged coup plot, insisting it was aimed at “injecting new direction” into the security architecture.

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APC Drops Uzodinma As National Convention Chairman, Names Masari As Replacement

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reconstituted the leadership of its 2026 National Convention Central Coordination Committee, appointing former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, as the new chairman.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who was initially named chairman of the committee, has been reassigned to serve as treasurer.

In addition, the APC expanded the committee’s membership from 73 to 90 members to accommodate more party stakeholders.

Newly added members include Senator Barry Mpigi and several other prominent APC chieftains.

According to the party, the adjustments form part of the revised 2026 APC National Convention Central Coordination Committee and were made to reflect zoning considerations and other strategic exigencies.

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Fight Against Terrorism: US Troops Finally Arrive in Nigeria

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The United States has sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, the general in charge of the U.S. command for Africa (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said on Tuesday.

The development is the first acknowledgment of U.S. forces on the ground since US airstrikes targeting terrorists in Nigeria’s North-West on Christmas Day, 2025.

US President, Donald Trump, who announced that he ordered the airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets, had said there could be more U.S. military action in the country.

According to Reuters, the U.S. had been conducting surveillance flights over the country from Ghana since at least late November.

Speaking on the decision to send troops to Nigeria, the top general said both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of the U.S. military’s Africa Command AFRICOM, told journalists during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Anderson did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.

According to Reuters, Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Christopher Musa, confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details.

A former U.S. official told Reuters that the U.S. team appeared to be heavily involved in intelligence gathering and enabling Nigerian forces to strike terrorist-affiliated groups.

Nigeria has come under intense pressure by Washington to act after President Trump accused the West African nation of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.

The Nigerian government denies any systematic persecution of Christians, saying it is targeting Islamist fighters and other armed groups that attack both Christian and Muslim civilians.

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Glo Leads in Investments, Performance As NCC Sets New Standard for Telecoms

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Nigeria’s digital transformation continued to gain momentum as Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Globacom (Glo) reinforced a powerful partnership built on transparency, long-term investment, and consumer trust.

Through its Industry Performance Reports, developed with global network intelligence firm, Ookla under the QoS/QoE Crowdsourcing Project, NCC is setting a new benchmark for accountability in the telecoms sector.

The quarterly, data-driven reports provide independent insights into network performance, coverage and real-world user experience across operators, states and regions.

A senior NCC official described the initiative as “sunlight and substance”, stating that it enables Nigerians to see clearly how networks perform so that excellence is rewarded and complacency is exposed.

Within this rigorously lit landscape, Globacom has emerged as a standout performer. Its leadership position is anchored in decades of sustained investment, patient capital, and continuous modernisation.

From pioneering one of the largest fibre-optic backbones in the country to upgrading radio access and core networks, Glo has consistently treated infrastructure as a long-term covenant with Nigeria’s future.

A member of Glo’s executive leadership summarised the company’s philosophy, thus, “We invest as if Nigeria’s tomorrow depends on what we build today—because it does. Our goal is not to be loud, but to be lasting.”

NCC–Ookla analytics now validate what many subscribers already experience: Glo’s network is engineered for substance, not spectacle.

With strong fibre-to-site architecture, resilient backhaul and intelligent traffic management, Glo delivers stable speeds, lower latency and dependable service in real-world conditions.

The commission’s focus on Connectivity on the Move highlights performance along major road corridors—critical arteries of commerce and social life. Here, Glo’s dense fibre footprint and redundant routes ensure fewer call drops, faster data sessions and reliable streaming for Nigerians on the move.

On the Urban vs Rural Divide, Glo’s strategy of extending fibre closer to base stations and modernising legacy sites is narrowing performance gaps between metropolitan and underserved areas.

Where signals once faltered, connectivity now flows with confidence.

Glo’s measured approach to next-generation technology is equally notable. NCC’s 5G Reality Check compares coverage with actual usage and experience. By prioritising strong 4G foundations and fibre-fed sites, Glo is ensuring that future 5G deployment is credible, inclusive and sustainable.

The reports also examine how networks affect battery life and device temperature. Here again, Glo’s optimisation protocols and modernised core architecture stand out, reducing unnecessary signalling and improving everyday user comfort.

For consumers, the impact is tangible. A small-business owner in Ibadan, Segun Adeleye, stated, “My work runs on data. With Glo, I just connect and go. That confidence is everything.”

With the NCC providing the tools for transparency and Glo delivering on long-term leadership and investment, Nigeria’s telecoms industry is entering a new era—one defined not by promises, but by performance.

Regulation is the lighthouse; leadership is the ship. And together, NCC and Glo are steering Nigeria towards a faster, fairer and more connected future.

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