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Leadership Row Thwarts Tinubu’s BCDA Nomination

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Leadership Row Thwarts Tinubu’s BCDA Nomination

Three weeks after President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Dr Abdulrazak Namdas as the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), controversy has emerged over the delay in issuing his formal appointment letter. Allegations have surfaced that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has not yet implemented the presidential directive.

The delay has led to a leadership crisis in the agency, as the immediate past chief executive, Dr Dakorinama George, has continued to carry out official functions, even when the Presidency had announced Namdas as his replacement.

The Presidency announced Namdas’ appointment on June 26 in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The statement said George resigned to pursue an elective position in Rivers State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas as the new Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency.

“Dr Namdas replaces Dr Dakorinama Alabo George who resigned to contest for an elective position in his home state,” the statement said.

The Presidency said that the appointment was effective immediately.

However, it was gathered that Namdas has not assumed office as yet, as he has not received the formal appointment letter required for his resumption.

Meanwhile, George has continued to oversee the agency’s affairs and represent it at official functions.

One such engagement was when he met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in Abuja to seek the release of funds for BCDA projects.

George spoke about ongoing infrastructure projects in border communities and other development initiatives including a proposed $2bn Chinese investment in a livestock processing hub in Jigawa State and plans to establish a Border Communities Intelligence Corps, according to a statement published after the meeting.

The development has raised questions over who now exercises lawful authority at the agency.

An APC chieftain, Hamman Yero, alleged that the delay was a consequence of failure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to transmit the President’s appointment.

In an interview with Trust TV, Yero wondered why Namdas has not received his appointment letter despite the public announcement by the Presidency.

“This is a mandate Nigerians have given to the President. “Who is the SGF acting on the mandate of?” he asked.

“If the President says Namdas should be appointed and the SGF sits on the appointment letter without releasing it, then serious constitutional and administrative questions arise.”

He said presidential appointments should in the normal course, go smoothly from presidential approval to the issuance of appointment letters through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Yero also dismissed the reports that George’s appointment had been restored.

George returned to the BCDA after losing the APC governorship primary in Rivers State, multiple sources familiar with developments at the agency alleged.

Read Also: Iron sharpens iron – Reno Omokri celebrates Peter Obi’s birthday

A senior official of the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said George resumed official activities without a formal handover process.

“He resigned to seek the governorship. The source alleged that after losing, he “just came back and carried on, with no formal handover”.

The official also said George continued to receive political support within the administration.

The source also alleged that George’s continued stay at the agency was linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under whom he served as Commissioner for Works in Rivers State.

Sunday PUNCH, however, said it could not independently verify the allegation.

A Wike ally dismissed the claim as “mere insinuation”.

“Wike is also an appointee of the President and he cannot have such powers,” the ally said.

In response to the controversy, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, insisted that President Tinubu had not reversed Namdas’ appointment.

“As I understand it, the President has not changed his mind. Namdas is the current Executive Secretary of the agency.

“All these things they are talking about, they don’t know what they are talking about. “The President has not changed his mind on the appointment of Namdas to head that border agency,” Onanuga said.

The presidential spokesman said the delay was because the formal appointment letter was a matter for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“His appointment has been conveyed to the Office of the SGF, so the SGF has to issue him a letter,” he added.

Christopher Ugwuegbulam, the Head of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, when contacted, said the office would only respond after receiving a formal inquiry.

“I would prefer that you write to us and we would sit down, and give you an answer,” he said.

“I don’t have any information on this issue,” the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Yomi Odunuga, said also.

Iron sharpens iron – Reno Omokri celebrates Peter Obi’s birthday

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Iron sharpens iron – Reno Omokri celebrates Peter Obi’s birthday

The Ambassador designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Reno Omokri has sent a birthday message to the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi.

Omokri described Obi as a politician who has helped to strengthen democratic participation in Nigeria.

Omokri, congratulating Obi on his 65th birthday, wrote, “Here is wishing Mr Peter Obi a happy birthday on his 65th birthday, today, Sunday, July 19, 2026. May God bless you with a long life of good health.

My family and I rejoice with you and thank God for showering His blessings upon you. We rejoice with you when you rejoice and recognize your contributions to enliven participatory democracy.

Read Also: ‘Slap on the Wrist’: DSS Seeks Harsher Punishment for Convicted Terror Suspects

‘Scripture says, ‘Iron sharpens iron’, and you are that. You have helped sharpen your followers by being active in the political process, making them more conscious and engaged in the democratic life of Nigeria. And for that I look up to you.

“And since this day comes but once in a year, it is perhaps the fittest wish of mind that the rest of your days may be the best of your days, and that the Giver continues to increase you in wisdom as you increase in years.

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, I say again, happy birthday, sir, and may this day put you in a good way, such that you say at the end of the day that you had a hey day! Regards.”

‘Slap on the Wrist’: DSS Seeks Harsher Punishment for Convicted Terror Suspects

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‘Slap on the Wrist’: DSS Seeks Harsher Punishment for Convicted Terror Suspects

The Department of State Services (DSS) plans to appeal two recent court rulings that sentenced three men to prison terms in separate terrorism-related cases, arguing that the penalties do not correspond to the severity of their crimes.

Security sources said the Service has resolved to appeal the decisions of the Federal High Court in Kano and a Katsina State High Court on the grounds that the sentences were inadequate considering the nature of the crimes and the weapons allegedly recovered from the convicts.

In separate terrorism-related cases, the Federal High Court in Kano convicted Jamilu Ibrahim and Rayya Haruna, sentencing Ibrahim to 32 years’ imprisonment and Haruna to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Similarly, an 80-year-old village head of Salihawa in Safana Local Government Area, Audu Adamu Tubali, was jailed for 10 years by a Katsina State High Court.

Security sources said the DSS views the penalties as too light and plans to appeal them at the appellate court.

The Service said the three convicts were arrested in separate operations which recovered large caches of arms and ammunition, allegedly meant for terrorist and bandit groups.

DSS said Ibrahim was arrested while allegedly conveying arms to an alleged bandit kingpin, Karami, who operates in Katsina State.

The prosecution said he was caught with four Rocket Propelled Grenades and 832 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition for AK-47 rifles by DSS operatives.

The Service argued that the weapons recovered were meant to bolster terrorist and bandit networks.

The prison terms were a “slap on the wrist” compared with the seriousness of the offences, a security source said.

Read Also: 2027: Running Mates May Decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Electoral Fate

The source told ThisDay that previous judgments in similar cases attracted tougher punishments.

For instance, the source cited the case of Hauwa’u Mukhtar, an alleged female arms courier who was recently sentenced to death by a Federal High Court in Katsina State.

The source said Mukhtar was arrested by DSS operatives at Jibia Motor Park while allegedly trying to convey 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to a suspected bandit leader operating in Dunburum Forest area of Zamfara State.

The source said that if courts deemed the death penalty appropriate in Mukhtar’s case, then similar sanctions should be considered in cases where more sophisticated weapons were allegedly recovered.

The source said: “Where the courts have seen it fit to impose the maximum penalty in cases involving the transportation of arms to bandit and terrorist networks, the DSS believes that similar treatment should be meted on Ibrahim, Haruna and Tubali, more so as the weapons found on them are more lethal than those found on the lady sentenced to death by hanging.”

“The Service believes in fairness to all and will explore all available legal options to ensure that the full weight of the law is made to bear on all who run foul of it without fear or favour,” the source said.

“The proposed appeals are part of a broader effort by the DSS to secure judicial outcomes that will serve as stronger deterrents against arms trafficking and support for terrorist and bandit groups,” another security source said.

2027: Running Mates May Decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Electoral Fate

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2027: Running Mates May Decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Electoral Fate

The announcement of vice-presidential candidates by the major political parties has brought attention to the possible impact of running mates on the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closes nominations, President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will seek re-election along with Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has picked former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has also picked former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

The emergence of the three tickets has focused attention on the political experience, regional appeal and grassroots support that the running mates are expected to bring to their respective campaigns ahead of the February 2027 presidential election.

The APC has Shettima on the ticket, having served as vice president since 2023. He is a former governor of Borno State and former senator representing Borno Central and is expected to play a key role in the party’s efforts to maintain support in the North-East.

The North-East, where Atiku is also from, is expected to be a major battleground in the election as he seeks to consolidate his traditional political base.

Atiku won Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states during the 2023 presidential election, while Tinubu secured only Borno State in the zone.

Amaechi’s choice of Atiku on the ADC ticket has been widely seen as an effort to boost the party’s presence in the South-South and expand its reach across the South-East.

Amaechi, a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor and ex-Minister of Transportation brings decades of political and administrative experience to the ticket.

He was one of the leading aspirants in the APC presidential primary ahead of the 2023 election, behind Tinubu.

In 2023 presidential election, Tinubu won Rivers State, but Peter Obi dominated much of the South-East. Obi also received significant backing from some areas in the South-South.

Tinubu polled 1,271 votes in the 2023 APC presidential primary, and Amaechi, a former minister and top contender, polled 316 votes. Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo polled 235 votes.

The choice of Kwankwaso by Obi is expected to boost the chances of the party in Northern Nigeria, particularly in Kano State and some areas in the North-West, for the NDC.

Kwankwaso is a former governor and senator of Kano State and is credited with leading the Kwankwasiyya Movement, one of the country’s most influential grassroots political organisations.

He won the 2023 presidential election in Kano State defeating APC, PDP and Labour Party candidates by a large margin.

Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, won the election with 58.4 per cent of the votes and carried the state by almost 440,000 votes, a 26.9 per cent margin of victory over the runner-up, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The other two main contenders, Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, followed with 7.3 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively.

But Kwankwaso’s appearance on the ticket followed internal disagreements in the Kwankwasiyya Movement after his squabble with his political godson, Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who defected to the ruling APC.

Policy and political analyst, Suleiman Hassan Gimba said Nigerians should not assume that elections are won solely on the personalities on a presidential ticket.

He said several factors determine presidential elections, such as how people perceive the leadership, how the campaign is organised, financing, security, electoral integrity and voter turnout.

“All three (APC, ADC and NDC) have chosen people with substantial political experience. But experience alone doesn’t automatically turn into votes. “Now every ticket must convince Nigerians that it offers a credible solution to the country’s economic and security challenges,” he said.

According to Gimba, vice-presidential candidates add political structures, strategic advice and regional influence to presidential campaigns but cautioned against the belief that they could deliver entire states or geopolitical zones single-handedly.

He said Kwankwaso has one of the strongest independent grassroots political movements in the country while Shettima has administrative experience and knowledge of the North-East and Amaechi has decades of political organisation and executive experience.

Dr Christian Okeke, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said Kwankwaso was the running mate with the strongest independent grassroots political following.

“The Kwankwasiyya Movement is now a reliable electoral structure that has always shown its political strength,” he said.

“I don’t want to diminish the strength of other vice presidential candidates but I think Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has the strongest natural grassroot followership. The movement he created has translated into electoral value and remains his greatest political asset,” he added.

Okeke said that Shettima has the advantage of incumbency while Amaechi has years of administrative and political experience.

But he insisted that the success of any presidential ticket would ultimately depend on how well the parties mobilise voters and respond to the issues that matter most to Nigerians.

They said two other analysts; Mahlon and Chilion; Peter Fakolujo and Isaac Kekefun, who were former members of the PDP and AD, respectively, argued that the political dynamics had changed since Amaechi contested the APC presidential primary and Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform.

Fakolujo, who hails from Osun State, said it would be difficult for the former Rivers State governor to beat the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from Rivers State where they were both governors.

He said, “Amaechi will have to work even harder to win Rivers State. Wike is in the state. You could see how he stopped the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from getting a second term ticket.

Read Also: Oriire Kidnapping: Now the Real Questions Must Be Answered

If you go to PDP, Wike is there. In APC he is also like a land lord. He is the leader of all the members of the state House of Assembly. He is even influential nationally. So Amaechi will really have to work to bring in votes for his party and for Atiku.

“He (Amaechi) could exploit the anger of some members of the APC and PDP who are not happy with the manner Fubara was treated. They might want to show their anger by joining the opposition. “Atiku might get something out of this situation.”

“Also looking at the South-South, the APC has the entire region. All six states are ruled by the APC. Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states have all gone to the APC.

Until now, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers were all PDP states. “I am sure the governors of these six states will work for the party in their respective states.”

From Bayelsa State, Kekefun agreed with Fakolujo’s assessment of the role Amaechi could play in determining Atiku’s chances.

“But you know that Amaechi is young, vibrant and energetic. He’s a fighter, too. I am sure he will add value to the ticket for the ADC and Atiku,” he added.

Kekefun also described the selection of Kwankwaso as Obi’s running mate as strategic. He said Kwankwaso could bring votes from the seven states in the North-West, adding that the former Kano governor still enjoys popularity in the state.

“Kwankwaso is very popular with many northern Muslim voters. He also has appeal among younger voters. His popularity could add to Obi’s appeal, as some may not be comfortable with him as president.

“But with a deputy like Kwankwaso, Obi is likely to fetch more votes from the northern region, especially among northern Muslims,” Kekefun said.

It was also argued that keeping Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate would shield the APC from more controversy over calls for a change in the ticket.

Mallam Abubakar Dahiru said that dropping Shettima for a Christian candidate, as canvassed by some people, could further divide the party.

“So, nothing new to say about the APC ticket again. All the criticisms were made three years ago. Again nothing new, apart from the economy and probably security which the administration has to deal with.

“The decision has been welcomed by many Kanuri people and Borno State residents. Shettima has been congratulated by the governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum. Some North governors have done the same. “I am sure they will deliver votes for the APC ticket,” Dahiru said.

He however said the Vice President would have to work harder to convince voters in the North-East to support the APC ticket instead of Atiku, who is also from the region.

Oriire Kidnapping: Now the Real Questions Must Be Answered

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Oriire Kidnapping: Now the Real Questions Must Be Answered

I grew up in Ijebu-Ode where my job was to join the other children in defending the hens of each family and their chicks from predators. We were led by a practical proverb: first you have to drive away the eagle, then you can count the chicks. That meant having rocks and slings on hand to intervene when the hens were under attack from an eagle overhead. If we were awake and ready, the predator had no chance.

The abduction of children and teachers by the Oriire in Oyo State is on my mind. It was good that our security forces, as it should be in a normal country, got involved and after 56 days rescued the victims.” I commend the excellent work of the security forces under the overall leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who worked behind the scenes, ostensibly, with the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. Up to now, Nigerians have been told that the victims’ unharmed release was not negotiated for ransom or quid pro quo demands by the kidnappers.

There is so much we should push to know still. Now it’s time to count the chicks. The media has little snippets of information. Pidgin rendition of killing. There is need to substantiate claims that eight terrorists were captured alive as many were “unalived.” Interesting if true: that the security forces rounded up family members of the terrorists in different states in Northern Nigeria and delivered a clear message of killing those family members in retaliation for any further deaths among the victims beyond the dastardly slaughter of Michael Oyedokun and the killing of another teacher on the day of the kidnap.

Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for further investigation into the roots of this crisis would be a welcome development if it was not a major departure from established diplomatic protocols. Ideally, a subnational leader would have a basic understanding of the international system that would allow him or her to understand the specific, limited role of the UN. From the point of view of international relations and the legal environment of global interventions, this type of request seems misguided.

UN Secretary-General: A Secretary, Not A General

Governor Seyi Makinde may have been misled by the Yoruba translation of United Nations as “Ijoba Agb’aiye”, literally World Government, and in which case the UN Secretary-General as the President of the World. This could not be further from the truth. The UN is not a government. It has neither a police nor a military force.

The office of the Secretary-General is more for a Secretary and not a General, although the Secretary-General is one of the main organs of the UN system, as the British Permanent Representative to Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari and I campaigned for General Olusegun Obasanjo to be the UN Secretary-General in 1991. The General Assembly has the power of the purse , but the power at the UN is more in the Security Council ( if the veto system allows decisions ) . The Secretary-General is to a large extent a secretary for a union of member states.

His profile as the media representation of the will of the union or if you like association of member states does not make him the boss. Of course, in theory he has power over the staff he appoints when the strong countries are not strongly interested in opposing him. He also has his “good offices role” with which he makes direct and indirect intervention pleas for peace, development and respect for human rights and humanitarianism around the world. These efforts offer him significant media visibility.

The Barrier of Sovereignty

The UN Secretariat and related agencies are not mandated to engage with sub nationals unless there is an express Security Council resolution calling for their involvement and/or a request for assistance by the national government concerned. This is what the agitators for the dismemberment of Nigeria never understood, while they deceived Nigerians by claiming that they wrote to the UN, requesting one sanction or the other for Nigeria. Of course, some demands could be included in the many reports the UN issues annually, but without an express resolution that could bite, it is only at best, for academic masturbation and that is if any of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council did not cast a negative vote.

Of course, the UN Secretariat and its Agencies and other International entities could be asked for all sorts of support, including sharing of material and knowledge, but not an investigation over kidnapping by terrorists. It was a big and very important development in the South-West of Nigeria, more so with the beheading of a teacher and the killing of another and keeping 42 children and seven teachers in the forest for 56 days.

Read Also: DHQ Kicks Off Capacity-Building Programme for Retired Armed Forces Personnel

But even more serious situations such as civil war would have to be handled with care to prevent the UN from violating the sovereignty of a member state, no matter how weak or comatose a situation such a state may be in. For the Security Council to investigate, it would have to adopt a resolution under Chapter 7. The general responsibility to protect cannot be invoked in such a situation, and not through an innocuous subnational utterance of a Governor.

If the situation was more serious than what was faced in Oyo, the Human Rights Council could have given Governor Makinde succour and PBAT has no objection to external intervention. If PBAT objects the investigation team would not be issued visas but the report could be prepared from outside.

But for a report like that to matter, it would need a Security Council intervention to use its power to impose sanctions, if the Nigerian government had no veto-wielding friend who would swap a veto for an interest that Nigeria could cultivate.

Now it’s time to count the chicks. Governor Makinde could have taken a more constructive lead by addressing his concerns/questions directly within the national framework with the 49 Nigerians safely outside the den of the terrorists. He could have sought clarity on the processes that led to the victims’ abduction and freedom by organising internal pressures through the Governors Forum, credible Civil Society Organisations and investigative journalism. In my opinion, a lost opportunity to take a more statecraft-oriented approach was going over Nigeria for an external appeal. This situation is not beyond Nigerias coping capacity . Therefore, it is not too late to seek accountability and draw lessons for use elsewhere especially in Northern Nigeria.

*Babafemi A. Badejo is a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia, a former Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, and author of several books including a best seller on Politics In Kenya as well as Why Peace Has Been Elusive In Somalia. Currently a Legal Practitioner and Chairman of the national NBA Anti-Corruption Committee and a Consultant at Yintab Strategy Consults. He received the 2025 Nelson Mandela Distinguished Africanist Award at the Africa Annual Conference at the University of Texas at Austin. In November 2025, he was decorated with the Order 27 Juin 1977 by Djibouti.

DHQ Kicks Off Capacity-Building Programme for Retired Armed Forces Personnel

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DHQ Kicks Off Capacity-Building Programme for Retired Armed Forces Personnel

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the North Central geographical zone, the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has initiated the Skill Acquisition Training for Veterans (SAT-V).

This underscores the DHQ’s dedication to enhancing the welfare and post-service well-being of retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces through possibilities for sustainable livelihood and vocational empowerment.

The Veterans Affairs Directorate of the DHQ organized the four-day course, which took place from July 14 to July 17, 2026, at Headquarters 22 Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State. It is a component of continuous initiatives to increase veterans’ economic resilience and independence nationwide.

General Olufemi Oluyede GCOR, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), announced the training’s opening, characterizing it as a strategic investment in veterans’ health and a testament to the Armed Forces’ unwavering dedication to those who gave their lives to defend Nigeria.

The program’s topic, “Enhancing Veterans’ Capacity Building through Sustained Skill Acquisition Training for Enhanced National Development,” he pointed out, emphasizes how crucial it is to present veterans as valuable contributors to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

The CDS added that the program is consistent with his leadership style, which emphasizes effective administration and enhanced welfare as essential components. General Oluyede encouraged attendees to embrace the training’s practical knowledge and vocational skills in order to fully utilize the opportunity.

He emphasized that the skills they would get would not only enhance their own quality of life but also significantly advance the growth of the country.

Major General OD Williams, Director of Veterans Affairs, represented the CDS during the inaugural ceremony.

The SAT-V is intended to give veterans the technical and entrepreneurial abilities they need to launch long-lasting companies and find other sources of income following active duty.

Beauty Queen Chidimma Adetshina Arrested, Begins Court Fight Over Deportation

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Beauty Queen Chidimma Adetshina Arrested, Begins Court Fight Over Deportation

Chidimma Adetshina, a former Miss Universe Nigeria and Miss South Africa finalist, is at the heart of an escalating legal dispute in South Africa following her recent detention for alleged immigration infractions, rekindling the debate over her citizenship and residency status.

In June 2026, South African immigration officials detained Adetshina in Cape Town’s Summer Greens neighborhood. She was originally deemed a forbidden person under South Africa’s Immigration Act, but after being arrested, she appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on charges that she had entered and lived in the country illegally.

Authorities claim that Adetshina, who was formally prohibited from entering South Africa on December 19, 2024, unlawfully reentered the nation from Mozambique via the border station in Lebombo. The Department of Home Affairs claims that she obtained entrance by falsely declaring her nationality to immigration authorities.

Prosecutors are still pursuing the beauty queen’s deportation, even though she has subsequently been placed on warning for additional court proceedings. The South African government is still working to get her out of the country in compliance with immigration laws, and she is anticipated to appear in court again at a later time.

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Adetshina’s little son, who was allegedly discovered living with her in South Africa without proper immigration documents, has also come under scrutiny due to the judicial procedures. As part of the larger probe, authorities are expected to look into the child’s immigration status.

A long-running dispute that initially surfaced during Adetshina’s participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa contest is the basis for the most recent legal complaint. When concerns were raised regarding her eligibility to compete, public scrutiny of her citizenship status increased.

Adetshina’s mother allegedly stole South African identity documents years prior, according to evidence found during subsequent investigations by the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa. According to the agency, Adetshina was categorized as a forbidden person since the paperwork used to determine the family’s legal status in South Africa was flawed.

Adetshina was forced to resign from the Miss South Africa pageant before it ended due to the issue, which garnered significant media coverage both domestically and abroad.

Read Also: Complete List of Roads, Buildings and Institutions Named After Tinubu

Adetshina gained newfound success in Nigeria, where she was named Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, despite the setback. Later, she competed for Nigeria in the Miss Universe pageant, placing first runner-up and receiving praise from all around the world for her performance.

Her success in Nigeria made her one of Africa’s most renowned beauty queens, but the legal issues pertaining to her immigration status have resurfaced since her return to South Africa.

Due to its ramifications for immigration enforcement, border security, and citizenship verification, the case has subsequently developed into something more than a standard immigration issue, garnering substantial public attention. Additionally, it has spurred discussion on nationality rules, documentation procedures, and the legal obligations of public officials in both South Africa and Nigeria.

When the case goes back to court, Adetshina’s legal team will probably contest the government’s assertions in an attempt to stop her deportation, while South African authorities are anticipated to provide evidence to back up their accusations.

The former beauty queen may face serious legal repercussions from the case’s verdict, which might also influence conversations about immigration law and cross-border citizenship on the African continent.

Complete List of Roads, Buildings and Institutions Named After Tinubu

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Complete List of Roads, Buildings and Institutions Named After Tinubu

The Federal Government (FG) has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Tinubu, one of several other major public facilities that have borne the president’s name since he assumed office in May 2023.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday, stating that the 750-kilometre highway was named in honour of Tinubu because the project started during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State about 30 years ago.

Umahi said the idea of the coastal road came about 27 years ago, long before Tinubu became president.

The latest development comes on top of a growing list of roads, public buildings, educational institutions and government facilities that have been renamed or established in the president’s honour over the past two years.

Read Also: Ningi Warns FG Over Delay in Prosecution of Oyo School Kidnappers

List of public assets named after Tinubu since becoming president:

Latest Coastal Highway Addition
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship infrastructure project of the Federal Government, has become the latest facility to be named after Tinubu following the minister’s announcement on July 16, 2026.

Umahi said the decision acknowledged the president’s vision for the project which he said dates back to Tinubu’s administration in Lagos State.

Minna Airport Renamed
Among the first of Tinubu’s namesakes was the international airport at Minna in Niger State.

Governor Umar Bago renamed the Abubakar Imam International Airport to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in March 2024 saying the president has supported the state.

The move attracted attention because the airport was recently named after the late renowned writer, Abubakar Imam.

Southern Parkway Abuja renamed
In May 2024, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, renamed the Abuja Southern Parkway Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way.

The road which connects the Christian Centre to Ring Road One in the nation’s capital was renamed after being rebuilt.

National Assembly Library Named After Tinubu
Also in May 2024, the National Assembly chose to name its new library after the president.

Tinubu inaugurated the facility which was started in the Ninth Assembly and completed by the Tenth Assembly.

Technology Complex Names Immigration
In December 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service named its command and control centre after Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC).

The agency said the facility would be a vital hub for border security, migration management and technological innovation in the service.

Abuja Polytechnic Is Established
The Federal Government also approved the establishment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic in Gwarinpa, Abuja, in January, 2025.

The institution was established to offer technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education.

Army Names Barracks After Tinubu
In late January 2025, the Nigerian Army named its newly built barracks in Asokoro after the president.

The military said the decision was made to “give respect to who respect is due.”

The facility also includes residential quarters, places of worship, sporting facilities and other operational infrastructure.

International Conference Centre Gets New Name
In June 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Administration also renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) as Tinubu International Conference Centre after the renovation of the facility.

Some of the conference centre’s halls were renamed after senior government officials.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway renaming is the latest of at least eight major public infrastructure projects and institutions named after President Tinubu since he assumed office – a trend that has persisted throughout his administration.

Ningi Warns FG Over Delay in Prosecution of Oyo School Kidnappers

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Ningi Warns FG Over Delay in Prosecution of Oyo School Kidnappers

Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to fast-track the prosecution and parade of the culprits behind the kidnap of school children and teachers in Oyo State.

It was gathered that Ningi made the demand during the plenary on Wednesday.

He warned that any delay in bringing the suspects to trial would “undermine public confidence in the justice system.”

Read Also: Shettima Says Criticising Buhari Is The Fastest Way To Upset Tinubu

The perpetrators should face justice to act as a deterrent to others, he said.

What’s key now going forward is to take a cue.” Now we have people arrested, they must be paraded, prosecuted and the full course of the law taken.”

“Delayed prosecution will create another impression that there is something wrong. “So I am calling on the security agency to prosecute them, parade them and make them an example,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ningi, has urged the Nigerian government to act against the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerian citizens.

The lawmaker called for the Nigerian government to immediately recall its diplomats from South Africa.

The call was said to have been made by Ningi on Tuesday during plenary at the Senate.

His call came amid a spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

While more than 1200 Nigerians were evacuated, the South African government only warned their people, Ningi said.

“Cut off all diplomatic relations with South Africa. Nigeria has been killing people left right and centre There has never been any action other mouth condemnation.

“This xenophobic attack is not done by mouth, but physically. Imagine someone in his own home and place of business, with no warning, and then mobs start chasing that man, killing and burning him.

“As we speak today over 1200 Nigerians are already being evacuated. And what did the government do? Prudence. Caution what?

“Does Nigeria not have a right to live in other countries? Are they to be killed in this way, even if they are criminals? And that is why the United States and other countries are different. “That is why you could see the relationship between the United States’ citizens and their country,” the Bauchi senator noted.

Shettima Says Criticising Buhari Is The Fastest Way To Upset Tinubu

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Shettima Says Criticising Buhari Is The Fastest Way To Upset Tinubu

Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has said that President Bola Tinubu does not blame game and is ready to take responsibility for all his decisions.

Shettima said Tinubu understands that for everything that happens in his administration, the buck stops at his table.

Vice President Kashim Shettima said categorically that President Tinubu gets angry whenever anyone criticizes the late former President Muhammadu Buhari because he is ready to take responsibility for every one of his own actions.

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Shettima made the submission on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the Agric Development and Investment Summit, where he described President Tinubu as a game changer who is ready to take far-reaching decisions in an effort to reposition Nigeria’s economy, reports.

He said some of the reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration are already bearing fruit, adding that Nigeria remains the hub of every good thing that is about to happen in Africa.

He called on all stakeholders, including development partners, to support the government in the task of repositioning the country.

“He isn’t one who is keen on the blame game. Over the past three years, the surest way to incur the wrath of President Tinubu is to criticise Muhammadu Buhari. “No, the buck stops at his desk and he is ready to take responsibility for whatever comes out of his actions,” he said.

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