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Insecurity Poses Challenges To April Polls – Army Chief
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Onyeabo Ihejirika, on Monday decried the spate of insecurity in the country, saying that it poses great challenges to the April general elections.
Ihejirika said during the commanding officers’ workshop in Jos that the current dimensions of the problem called for the involvement of the military.
“You are all aware of the challenges posed by ethno-religious upheavals, terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in our nation today.
“The dimension of these challenges is such that our involvement in internal security duties is paramount. This trend is likely to prevail as we approach the April 2011 general elections,” he said.
Ihejirika said that President Goodluck Jonathan was very pleased with the performance of the military, and challenged the men not only to maintain but improve upon their performances.
He urged the military to be “proactive and be highly professional in every sense,” as they were being deployed to discharge their duties in line with the operational directives and orders”.
“Let me note that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. In this wise, the Army shall continue to remain the symbol of unity in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. “I, therefore, urge you to remain apolitical and duly committed to the sustenance of democracy at all times,” the Army chief said.
He challenged the officers and men to earn the support and admiration of the civil populace through professional conduct.
“The military must be courteous to the civil populace at all times because the benefit cannot be over-emphasised. If you are hostile to them, they will not give you vital information. The Army leadership hierarchy will not accept any act of mediocrity. There is no room for failure in any assigned tasks,” he warned.
Ihejirika said that all logistics required to enhance operational success would be provided but tasked them to show mastery of their profession.
He said that the workshop was an avenue for all commanding officers to interact and share peculiar and practical experiences with a view to raising their performances and standards.
Earlier, the GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko, said the workshop was aimed at achieving Ihejirika’s vision of transforming the “Army into a force better and able to meet contemporary challenges”.
The workshop drew participants from all the military formations in Northern Nigeria, including GOC 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Shoboiki, Director, Directorate of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Sani Audu, and heads of security agencies in Plateau State.
The week-long workshop has as its theme: “Repositioning the Commanding Officers to meet Contemporary Challenges”.
Financial Misappropriation In FCT Area Councils:
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.