The National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, says Nigeria has begun to receive international support in its fight against insurgents and terrorists waging war against the country. Ribadu made this known when he led a Federal Government delegation to pay a sympathy visit on the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bulus Yohanna, and parents of the abducted students of St Mary’s Catholic Nursery Primary/Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. The NSA, who said Nigeria would overcome the insurgents, named some of the countries lending support to Nigeria to include the United States of America, France and Britain. “Many good people from all over the world are coming to support us, including the United States of America. We appreciate everyone, especially European countries like France, the United Kingdom and a couple of others. “The whole world is coming together to stop and defeat this evil which has been going on in Nigeria for two decades,” he stated. According to him, President Bola Tinubu was distressed and disturbed by the kidnap of the children and some of their teachers resulting in his stopping some of his official engagements to attend to the problem. “Mr. President said I should thank you, Bishop Yohanna for your understanding and patience and for giving us the right information and by standing by for us. We are one. “You will see our reactions and responses now. One thing I know is that evil people will always be around but this thing they have done is what will change Nigeria for good. “Enough is enough. We will not relent in our efforts, we are all under attack, let us not allow bad people to divide us, let us not allow evil to get into us,” he counseled.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced a comprehensive revision of cash-related policies, introducing new nationwide withdrawal limits and scrapping the cumulative deposit cap for bank customers. In the circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy & Regulation Department, Dr. Rita I. Sike, on December 2nd, 2025, the apex bank said the policy overhaul was necessary to reduce the rising cost of cash management, strengthen security around cash movement, and curb money laundering risks in an economy still heavily reliant on physical currency. According to the apex bank, earlier cash policies were introduced to manage changing economic conditions. It noted that the time had come to adjust those rules to meet current realities. The CBN said the cumulative cash deposit limit has been fully removed, and banks will no longer charge customers fees for deposits exceeding previously set thresholds. The move is expected to encourage more deposits and expand liquidity within the financial system. New Withdrawal Limits Introduced Under the revised framework, individuals are limited to a cumulative weekly withdrawal of ₦500,000 across all channels, including ATMs, POS terminals, and over-the-counter transactions. At the same time, corporate account holders may withdraw up to ₦5 million per week. Withdrawals above these limits will attract excess withdrawal fees of 3% for individuals and 5% for corporates, with the charges to be shared between the CBN (40%) and the financial institution (60%). The apex bank also discontinued the special monthly cash withdrawal waivers of ₦5 million for individuals and ₦10 million for corporates, stating that such exemptions will no longer apply. “These policies, issued over the years in response to evolving circumstances in cash management, sought to reduce cash usage and encourage accelerated adoption of other payment options, particularly electronic payment channels. With the effluxion of time, the need has arisen to streamline the provisions of these policies to reflect present-day realities,” the CBN said

The Peoples Democratic Party has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to protect Nigerians at home, on the streets, and in their workplaces. The party’s National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, made the remarks on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Abuja. The briefing took place at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, where the Turaki-led National Working Committee has been meeting since the Nigerian Police Force sealed the PDP national secretariat in November amid a supremacy battle between two opposition camps within the party. Addressing reporters, Turaki criticised the government’s security record and called for a review of strategies to make the nation safer. “We believe the situation in this country is such that Nigerians are not safe on the streets. Nigerians are not safe in their places of work — be it in offices, on farms, or in markets. Nigerians are also not safe in their homes. “The situation where every citizen lives in perpetual fear, walks in perpetual fear, and conducts business in perpetual fear is something that must change,” he said. The former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs also criticised the Federal Government for failing to meet the basic expectations of an elected administration. “With the spate of kidnappings and killings occurring across the country, the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has really not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians. “We therefore call on the Federal Government to brace up and, most importantly, consider a review of the country’s security architecture. “We in the PDP believe that a situation where governors are called chief security officers of their respective states, yet have no control over the operational activities of the military and security personnel in their states, is something that needs to be overhauled,” he said. On preparations for the Osun State governorship election, Turaki said the NWC was satisfied with developments so far. “This afternoon, we reviewed, confirmed, and approved the congresses held in Osun State to select ad-hoc delegates. We have also reviewed and confirmed the processes of the ongoing gubernatorial primary election, and we are satisfied with the reports from the field. “Everything is being conducted in an orderly, transparent, fair, and rancour-free manner. That is vintage PDP,” he said. Regarding litigation involving the party, Turaki added, “We have reviewed some of the cases filed against us, and those we have filed — particularly the one relating to the unlawful closure of our offices, the Legacy House and Wadata Plaza. The brief from our lawyers indicates we are on sound ground, and very soon, the law will take its course.” Turaki said the new NWC was scrutinising handover notes from the previous leadership to ensure continuity. “We have also begun examining the handover notes that the outgoing executives provided. We will be painstaking in our consideration of those notes to ensure there is no gap whatsoever in continuing the good work of the outgoing National Working Committee. For us in the PDP, it is a long continuum, so there will be no gap,” he said. On the fate of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and nine others expelled by the PDP national convention in Ibadan, Turaki confirmed that certificates of expulsion had been dispatched to them. “We have considered the issue of members expelled by the national convention in Ibadan. Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, so we sought to make it straightforward for them. Now that they are no longer PDP members, and the national convention — the highest decision-making organ of our party — has expelled them, we have issued certificates of expulsion. These certificates have been dispatched via courier to the 11 expelled persons,” he said, displaying the certificates. He urged INEC, the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies to note that the affected persons are no longer PDP members. On Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s status within the party, Turaki emphasised that changing political platforms is a constitutional right. “If he decides, either in person or via a representative at the primary, that he has withdrawn or refused to participate, that will form part of the report we receive. As far as we are concerned, even if what we saw on social media is true, Governor Adeleke, like any Nigerian, has the constitutional right to freedom of association. He is free to move on and join any political party,” he said. He also noted that former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, recently nominated as ambassador-designates, have yet to officially notify the party of their nominations.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday projected a renewed sense of direction as its new National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, declared that the opposition won’t be silenced. He spoke in Abuja after receiving handover documents from the former chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, in a ceremony that marked a fresh chapter for the party. The event, held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge on Tuesday, brought together top members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other senior figures. Damagum formally handed over a two-volume record of his stewardship, a gesture aimed at smoothing the transition and giving the new leadership a clear picture of where the party stands. “This handover for us is part of our responsibility… There is no better time than now; it is better late than never,” Damagum said, noting that the delay was due to the extensive process of compiling the documents. He said the materials would help the new NWC navigate the many political and internal challenges the PDP is currently facing. “I know it comes at a time when we are bedevilled by many challenges. The beauty of the PDP is its ability to surmount obstacles and continue doing what is right,” he said. Reinforcing his confidence in the party’s standing, Damagum argued that the PDP remains the strongest alternative platform in the country despite attempts to undermine it. “Every day, we cross one hurdle; they place another before us, we cross it and continue. All this happens by God’s blessing,” he stated. He added that the PDP’s resilience has always rested on faith and fairness. “You may have temporary respite through your injustices, but when God’s justice descends, then you realise that He alone is absolute,” he said. In his response, Turaki commended Damagum and his team for presenting a thorough handover report and for maintaining continuity in party administration. “Immediately after our election in Bauchi, you promised to prepare a comprehensive handover note… Today, that pledge has been fulfilled,” he said. Turaki also raised concerns about what he described as deliberate efforts by certain interests to weaken the PDP because of the threat it poses in national politics. “We are at a crossroads, because some believe the PDP must be killed, must be destroyed, must be isolated simply because of the threat we pose today. But in a democracy, you should live and let others live,” he said. He reaffirmed the new NWC’s commitment to internal reforms, transparency and fairness, saying the party must return to its grassroots base. “We promised there would be no impunity, no injustice, a level playing field, transparency and fairness. We still stand by that pledge we made in Bauchi,” he declared. Turaki said the leadership would carefully study the two-volume handover report and use it to guide their decisions in the months ahead. “Once again, I want to assure Nigerians that the PDP is on the rise again, and there is no stopping us,” he said. The handover ceremony added momentum to the PDP’s broader push to rebuild unity, tighten its structures and strengthen its role as the country’s leading opposition platform

President Bola Tinubu has nominated a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as the new Minister of Defence. The nomination was conveyed in a letter sent to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, announcing Musa as the replacement for Mohammed Badaru, who resigned from the position on Monday due to health reasons. In his letter to the Senate, the President expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the defence ministry and strengthen Nigeria’s security framework. The nomination was confirmed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The statement added, “General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. “Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991. “General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. “His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps. “In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region. “In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.” Our correspondent had earlier reported that Badaru, who was appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023, cited ill health in his resignation letter. A statement by Onanuga added that Tinubu had accepted the resignation and thanked him for his service to the nation. The statement further noted, “President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week. “His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.” Badaru recently came under criticism following a BBC Hausa interview in which he said some terrorists could not be targeted because their forest hideouts were too dense for bombs to reach.

Adewale Egbedun, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, has cautioned Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State against using the state as a tool for his 2027 presidential ambition. Egbedun warned that lawmakers and political stakeholders in Osun State will not allow Makinde to dictate to them. He disclosed this while addressing journalists amid the crisis surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary elections in Osun State. According to Egbedun, “We were on the floor of the House when he heard that some people from Oyo State were on the floor of the House just to have what we can call a drama. “I’m a leader of PDP, a bonafide member and I used PDP ticket to win my election in 2023, so it’s very strange to see videos of people calling themselves PDP members from Osun State, they are not PDP members. “If Seyi Makinde is desperate to become president in 2027, he should use another state as a tool, not Osun. “We are bona fide PDP members, and in a state where we have 25 house of assembly members, including the speaker, five house of representatives members, and a senator, we will not be dictated to by a governor from another state. We won’t take that.”

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from his position, citing health reasons. The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday. In the letter, Badaru cited poor health as the reason for stepping down. President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for the minister’s service to the nation.

Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, has accused some politicians of funding terrorism in the country. Irabor made the allegation on Monday while responding to questions in an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, as monitored by our correspondent. He was reacting to the recent wave of insecurity ravaging the nation, where bandits are bent on kidnapping innocent Nigerians, including children. “Some Christians are being targeted in this country, and some politicians are funding terrorism in this country. “There are a lot of individuals who are being called to question, and while I was the Chief of Defence Staff, some trials were made for the financiers,” he said.

Nigeria’s Northern Governors have said the region Is on the brink of losing its future to escalating insecurity and deepening poverty unless leaders take urgent and decisive action. Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, stated this on Monday during a joint meeting of the Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Kaduna. Our correspondent, reports that the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Northern Traditional Leaders Council were in an emergency meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, amid escalating security concerns across the region. The Forum’s Chairman said the North is today confronted with the grim reality of insecurity and poverty that seeks to undermine our very existence. The two-day meeting, held at the Kaduna State Government House, drew 19 governors, traditional rulers, security chiefs and civil society representatives in what Is described as a final push for a coordinated response to terrorism, banditry and social decay in the region. According to the Gombe state governor, future generations would judge today’s leaders not by the number of projects they commission, but by whether they are able to bequeath to them a Northern Nigeria they can truly call home. He, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for his ‘strong leadership and steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity,’ particularly in the rescue efforts for abducted schoolchildren. The governor extended condolences to families of pupils abducted in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto states, as well as victims of recent Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe. He insisted that attacks on education, “the bedrock of our children’s future” are an assault on the region’s destiny. Yahaya, while warning that insecurity spares no one, poor or rich, Muslim or Christian, called for an end to partisan bickering and a united stand to ensure the very survival of the north and Nigeria at large. “We reject divisive narratives. The crisis is driven not only by crime but also by underdevelopment, illiteracy, poor resource management, climate change and the abandonment of millions of Almajiri and out-of-school children,” he said. Topping the agenda was a renewed call for the establishment of state police. Reaffirming the May 10, 2025, communique of the NSGF, the governors said state policing remains “a critical and effective mechanism” to address today’s security challenges and urged the National Assembly to fast-track constitutional amendments required to make it a reality. Traditional rulers were tasked to deploy their influence as “stabilizers,” while religious leaders were urged to preach tolerance and avoid incendiary rhetoric. Political leaders, the forum warned, must desist from exploiting ethnic or religious differences for political gains.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has insisted that there’s no Christian genocide in Nigeria, explaining that number of people killed doesn’t amount to genocide. Bishop Kukah stated this while presenting a paper at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna. His comments follow criticism that trailed reports quoting him as advising the international community against designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” The bishop explained that such labels could heighten tensions, fuel suspicion, and give room for criminal groups to exploit the situation, which would disrupt interfaith dialogue and cooperation with government. Addressing figures circulated about alleged Christian killings in Nigeria, Kukah said he aligns with the Vatican Secretary of State, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and all Catholic bishops in the country.