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Hon. Chidi Mark Obetta, who represents the Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency in the 10th National Assembly, has stated that his and his colleagues’ defection to the state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is justified by the Enugu state governor’s performance, which is not centered on Ning, and the wealth that flows into the Nsukka area during his administration.
The Hall of Fame, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) hosted an interface over the weekend between the state governor and political party leaders in the Enugu North Senatorial zone, also known as the Nsukka socio-cultural zone, during which Hon. Obetta spoke.
The appointment of a “indigenous Nsukka son as Vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, for the first time since the citadel of learning was founded in Nsukka soil 65 years ago, and named after our nation – Nigeria,” was one of the many items Obetta mentioned.

He claimed that the administration of Governor Mbah had broken a jynx for the residents of the Nsukka zone.
The 5,000-seat stores constructed at Nsukka International Market, which the governor recently completed kicking off its construction ceremony prior to attending the interaction session, Hon. Obetta added, are a glaring example of the governor’s sincere intentions and dedication to the development of the Nsukka zone.
During the leadership crisis in their previous political party, the Labour Party, Obetta recalled that he and his colleagues, including Hon. Dennis Agbo, the member representing the Udenu/Igbo-Eze North federal constituency, and their other supporters, made it clear that their decision to rejoin the PDP was motivated by their passion and dedication to furthering the development of their region.
However, you (Gov Mbah) did not force us to adopt your administration’s vision or return to the PDP, according to the record.
Instead, your government’s good deeds and your admirable vision persuaded us. When we made that choice, we were quite clear that it was based on a common vision of your administration’s strategy for changing our beloved state. We said, “When we are with you under a common political canopy, our zone stands to witness more impactful development activities so that at our various levels that synergize in fostering critical development in all areas,” Hon. Obetta continued.

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The governor was reassured by Hon. Obetta that the people of Nsukka love him and will support his administration. He said that the participants in the interactive meeting are the true grassroots leaders from each of the six local governments that make up the zone: Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Etiti, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani.
He asked the governor to allow each local government representative to speak about the unique needs of their region, pointing out that in addition to having “finger tips full knowledge of the needs of their people, demography of their villages and communities,” those attending the meeting are “strong political foot-soldiers who are in control of the conscience of their people, and, as well, serve as effective feedback to the people on the government development activities and administration.”
In response to the numerous demands made by the speakers, which mostly focused on access to roads, water, and better welfare, Governor Mbah said that during the first two years of his administration, his administration gave priority to health and education. He added, however, that while road issues were not completely abandoned during that time—he mentioned a number of roads that had been awarded and were still being built—he assured them that their requests would receive more attention.
In particular, the governor allayed public concerns that his government harbors animosity toward Nsukka by pledging that his administration is dedicated to developing the area on an equal footing with other regions in the state.
Edem-Ani kingdom’s traditional ruler and the head of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers Igwe Samuel Asadu, His Royal Majesty, led the zone’s other traditional leaders to the interactive gathering.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied allegations that it withheld the Certificate of National Service (CNS) of corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye (state code LA/24B/8325) due to supposed negative remarks about the government.
In a statement posted on its official page, the NYSC denounced the charge as “entirely unfounded and false in its entirety,” claiming that the decision was made for genuine disciplinary reasons in accordance with its bye-laws.
According to the NYSC, Ms Ushie is one of 131 corps members whose certificates have been delayed due to various offenses. Her service year was extended by two months since she failed to attend the April 2025 biometric clearing exercise.

The statement states, “The NYSC Management desires to clarify misleading information circulating on social media on Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, State Code number LA/24B/8325. Contrary to misleading assertions that she was denied a Certificate of National Service (CNS) because she made critical remarks about the government, this claim is completely unsubstantiated and incorrect.

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“Rita is one of 131 Corps Members whose Certificates of National Service (CNS) were withheld for valid disciplinary reasons.” Rita’s service year has been extended by two months for failing to attend the April 2025 biometrics clearance, which is consistent with the NYSC Bye-Laws.

“It is crucial to stress that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her situation, and the concept of equal treatment was only used in this instance.

“The NYSC Management thus encourages the public to handle this issue with understanding, since prolonging service for noncompliance is a traditional practice within the NYSC that should not be politicized.

“The NYSC Scheme remains committed to discharging its mandate, in line with the dictates of the constitution.”

Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged traditional and political leaders in the nation to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition for a second term in office in order to maintain the political and economic stability of the country.

Oyintiloye, who made the plea on Sunday while addressing reporters in Osogbo, stated that the authorities should prioritize maintaining the country’s political and economic stability.

In his second term, the president will continue to guarantee equity in the federal government’s development initiative for all regions, he added, adding that Tinubu’s reelection would stabilize Nigeria.

He clarified that Northern elites who are determined to prevent President Bola Tinubu from being reelected in 2027 needed to be shielded from him by political and traditional leaders, particularly those in Southern Nigeria.

“Tinubu deserves to enjoy the support of the region for his second term bid because he has been a friend of the North and has always supported its political cause,” he said.

However, he voiced worry that anytime a Southerner governs, a Northern offshoot group frequently forms a clique and uses all available tools, including blackmail, to overthrow his administration.

The embarrassment that Southern presidents frequently endured at the hands of a small group of Northerners in their attempt to seize power will live on in the nation’s political history, according to Oyintiloye.

The nation’s political history will never forget the type of intimidation that Southern presidents frequently endured at the hands of a select few Northern individuals who consistently put up a fierce fight against their reelection bid.

In President Bola Tinubu’s instance, however, he has done enough to win over the main Northern power bloc.

“Therefore, the time has come for the area to further place the small number of those responsible for the president’s mischief where they truly belong.

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Because these people are self-appointed leaders of the North, Oyintiloye stated, “the recognized political leaders and royal fathers of the region cannot continue to watch the trend and allow blackmail against Tinubu to gain traction.”

The former legislator also urged Southern Nigerian political leaders and traditional leaders to avoid playing a role in the plan against Tinubu by some Northern politicians who have been rejected.

“And this is the more reason the Southern leaders need to get up and support the President,” he continued.

“This support is required to stop the bad political trajectory that second-term bids frequently take when a Southerner is in the White House.

“The President should be protected from unjustified attacks by a small group of Northern politicians.”

In addition, he urged the Council of Southern Traditional Rulers’ Chairman, His Royal Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as well as the co-chairmen, Obi of Obinugwu, Cletus Illomuanya, and King Jaja of Opobo, Dandeson Jaja, along with the council’s secretary, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi 1, Dein of Agbor, to work with their Northern counterparts to support Tinubu in 2027.

“I also want to counsel former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Professor Wole Soyinka, former Nigeria Senate President Ken Nnamani, and other Southern elders to step up and prevent a recurrence of bad history.”

He added, “They should protect Southern Nigeria from the few Northern power-hungry individuals.”

Under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians have been accused of having hope that the country’s economy will improve.

This was stated by Adewale Giwa, senior pastor of the Second Coming of Christ’s Ministry, during a sermon on Sunday at his Akure church.

Accusing prophets of selling their supernatural gifts to unbelievers in exchange for cash, he accused them for contributing to the nation’s socioeconomic problems.

Giwa pointed out that due to what he called the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) dishonesty, voters erred in removing former President Goodluck Jonathan from power.

Since the APC took office, he claimed, the country’s economy has been in severe crisis.

“I woke up at precisely 1 p.m. this morning to pray for Nigeria,” Giwa stated. I asked God, “Do we still have prophets in Nigeria?” during one of my prayers.

I am a pastor, as you are aware, but I am not a prophet. Whereas a prophet is a seer who expresses God’s will, a pastor is a shepherd who leads and looks after a flock while concentrating on teaching. A prophet can also be thought of as God’s spokesperson.

The Lord’s Spirit informed me that the devil had placed a false Spirit in the mouths of several of our prophets. In other words, they have traded the gift of prophecy for cash from unbelievers, much like Esau traded his birthright for soup from his younger brother Jacob. Thus, according to the Lord, he had left them to mislead Nigeria.

There aren’t many politicians that genuinely care about the people; politics is deep. Dr., we made a mistake by voting out. I wish you luck, Jonathan, since the APC presented itself as an angel without realizing that they were going to bring poverty to Nigeria. Am I suggesting that Jonathan should return? No.

I firmly believe that Nigeria will rise once more in the meantime, but not under the current leadership. Things have gotten worse over time since the APC assumed power in 2015.

Nigerians were reassured by the pioneering cleric that someone would come from among the nation’s minority ethnic groups to save the country’s economy from dire straits.

He claimed the APC had sabotaged the opposition’s chances in the general elections of 2023 by using Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general elections.

It remains to be seen if Obi would continue to play the same role in the 2027 presidential election, Giwa further warned Nigerians.

“A man named Peter Obi may be familiar to many of you,” he continued. It was in 2023 that I first called him a pretender. Even when a few fleshly-led men of God backed him, I stepped out from the crowd and trusted my gut.

To put it plainly, he is not a serious politician. Currently, the man is cashing out, just like he did during the 2023 presidential election. His supporters find it difficult to accept that God understands him better than he does. On the platter of gold, he wants to get things done.

In 2023, the ruling party divided some votes with him. We’ll have to wait and see whether they utilize him again. Having Tinubu in office for another four years is preferable to Peter Obi as Nigeria’s president. Obi’s administration would be characterized by selfishness, nepotism, and tribalism.

“This time, someone from the minority ethnic group that the Lord intends to use to restructure the nation is coming.”

In accordance with Sections 103 to 107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and as part of continuous reforms to improve professionalism and regulatory efficiency in the freight forwarding industry, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it has begun consulting with stakeholders regarding a planned review of licensing renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents.

This information was revealed on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting with executives from the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), and the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC).

This meeting was the first of several consultation sessions with industry participants to be held prior to the scheduled implementation, according to a statement released by the Nigeria Customs Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Friday.

The licensing of customs agents is still essential to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearing procedure, according to Maiwada, an assistant comptroller of customs.

The planned assessment, he continued, was meant to address operational demands, reflect current economic realities, such as the value of currency rates, and guarantee that only agents who satisfy the Service’s compliance, competence, and integrity requirements remain active in the system. Promoting accountability, optimizing procedures, and raising the standard of service delivery in the industry are the goals of this project.

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In order to reorient the NCS to meet the changing demands of border management and international trade, the Service emphasizes that the study is a component of larger modernization initiatives. It is anticipated to establish a more open, dependable, and effective licensing system that would eventually help respectable businesses and the general trading public. The National Image Maker of NCS stated that the new licensing structure will go into effect in January 2026 once stakeholder consultations are finished.

Additionally, according to Maiwada, Licensed Customs Agents who adhere to the new licensing framework will have access to premium facilitation measures, such as expedited processing times, better channels for communication with Customs officers, and improved integration with the Service’s updated digital platforms.

“This compliance-driven incentive is intended to discourage sharp practices and promote adherence to professional standards,” he said.

“The NCS assures stakeholders that it is committed to an inclusive process and that before the review is finalized and put into action, input from industry associations, individual operators, and pertinent government agencies will be carefully considered.” “The Service reaffirms its commitment to equity, openness, and the advancement of a safe, competitive, and effective trading environment in Nigeria,” the Customs image creator said.

Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged strategic stakeholders and top military officers to turn strategy into tangible actions in order to address Nigeria’s problems.
At the Nigerian Army Resource Center’s (NARC) Strategic Management and Policy Study Course 7/2024 graduation, Oluyede reportedly gave the charge on Friday in Abuja.
Oluyede, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Gbemiga Adesina, Director-General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Center, encouraged the 25 graduating officers to use their education for the advancement of the country.

“This course focuses on using strategy, leadership, and innovation to make things happen in your organizations and for the country; it is not just about theory,” the COAS stated.

“You have to be a change agent. Your next task will be for Nigeria’s advancement outside of this classroom. Use everything you’ve learned here for your own development, the benefit of your organizations, and the advancement of our country and humanity.

He said the training educated officers to lead in a rapidly evolving security and governance environment by combining policy, entrepreneurship, psychology, and research.

The NARC’s Director-General, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, characterized the initiative as a means of fostering mutual understanding, cooperation, and trust amongst security, defense, and civic agencies.

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He claimed that organizations including the NYSC, Defense Intelligence, and the Department of State Services had faith in the course, which has grown steadily and currently has one of the largest classes.

“Collaboration cannot work if we don’t know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and perspectives. That’s what this course offers,” Wahab stated.

In order to overcome national obstacles, he encouraged participants to make use of their networks and abilities.

Nobody is an expert in everything. What you see as white, someone else may see as black, the point is to exchange ideas and learn from one another,” Wahab added.

Course President, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army, NARC, and partner institutions for the opportunity to undergo the strategic training.

It was reported that the participants completed 11 months of intensive academic work, earning a master’s degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Fellowship of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.

They were inducted on Thursday ahead of the official graduation ceremony.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Federal Government, is urging the international community to support the implementation of a new, smooth visa system in order to improve bilateral collaboration and fortify the country’s foreign travel management.

On Thursday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Maitama Tuggar, told diplomats and international partners that the new consular biometric data verification policy is intended to protect the integrity of citizens, secure the visa application process, and facilitate seamless travel while preserving the sovereignty of all participating nations. The new visa regime is being promoted by ASFAAR, a visa and tour company in Abuja.

This policy, he explained, has three main goals: to prevent identity fraud and make sure that only legitimate and screened Nigerian applicants are granted visas by embassies and high commissions; to deter the use of unapproved third-party agents to obtain and handle sensitive personal data without government oversight, which poses a serious risk to national and international security; and to improve mutual accountability by enabling countries and destinations to verify applicants in real-time using Nigeria’s National Identification Number, or NIN, as the primary reference point.

“This technology is being deployed by Nigeria to a validated platform that operates under the ASFAAR system, which complies completely with both international best practices and Nigerian data protection legislation.

Its purpose is to verify the legitimacy of our applicants in Nigeria by directly integrating with the country’s national identity infrastructure. Along with encouraging missions, the strategy aims to provide visa-free funding and insurance modalities as part of the energy system and platform.

This goes beyond simple domestic regulation, Your Excellencies. This is a mechanism for cooperation that benefits both parties. By processing valid applications more quickly, it lowers risk for your embassies.
It enables us to make sure that Nigerians who travel overseas do so within the law, responsibly, and with honor and respect.

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“By reducing overstays, trafficking, incarceration, and missile abuse, it improves security for anyone involved.” For the avoidance of doubt, this policy is applied consistently throughout all consular operations and is not specific to any one country.

“To align your insurance and visa procedures with this framework, Nigeria requests your cooperation on a worldwide scale. With your wisdom and kindness, Nigeria is sure you will realize that this action is about credibility, cooperation, and coordination rather than control. We preserve the dignity of our nationals and the integrity of our consular procedures by cooperating.

The minister emphasized, “As the process is being implemented, we implore your Excellencies to assign visa officers to work with ASFAAR, who coordinate with Nigeria’s Identity Management Commission and other pertinent agencies to conduct verification as a mandatory part of the T application process for Nigerian citizens.”

While stating that “this policy represents a new chapter of trust, the platform currently faces a rule of authorizing missions with Gulf and Arab countries considering the high volume of Nigerian travelers for purposes of pilgrimage, education, employment, and others,” Ambassador Tuggar gave assurances regarding the transparency of the visa regime.

Information security, data privacy guidelines, secure dashboard setup, loyalty office involvement and training, and aboard for interested missions are all excluded from this rule. Your Excellency, ASFAAR can attest to Nigeria’s efforts to promote responsible mobility via legal collaboration, a reliable system, and online transparency.
Stronger engagement with a mission based on respect for one another and shared accountability is made possible by it. ASFAAR is eager to hear your thoughts and encourages your group to get in touch with us to discuss potential areas of cooperation and partnership. When we work together, we can create a framework for mobility that embodies respect, legality, and global cooperation.

We are available, attentive, and willing to work together to address concerns or make any necessary alterations for your mission-specific needs, as well as to deter unauthorized agents from tracking down or overseeing visa procedures outside of the proper channels. “Come with me on this journey,” he urged.

Dr. Jamil Hausawi, the Chairman/CEO of ASFAAR, discussed the effort and stated that its goals are to improve bilateral collaboration between Nigeria and friendly nations that participate in the new procedure, boost outboard travel management, and uphold the integrity of visas.

“The project reflects the increasing need to improve bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and friendly Gulf and Arab nations, strengthen our foreign travel management, and uphold the integrity of visas.”

Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the infrastructure is intended to facilitate efficiency, transparency, and the verification of Nigerian nationals traveling overseas.
Its operations and design are being carried out with the assistance of pertinent government organizations, such as those in charge of data management, border control, and identity verification.

In addition to sending real-time notifications and performing identification use, it offers secure access to verified application data. Offers from biometrics are helpful analytics. It is linked to the national identity system of Nigeria, which aids in better risk management and more significant and informed decision-making by officials.