President Bola Tinubu Has Sworn In Former Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, Rtd, As The New Minister Of Defence. Our Correspondent Reports That General Musa Took The Oath Of Office On Thursday At The State House, Abuja. Recall That The Senate On Wednesday, Confirmed Him As Minister Of Defence Following A Rigorous Five-hour Screening. During The Session, The Former CDS Was Grilled Over Recent Security Lapses, Including The Controversial Withdrawal Of Troops From Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, In Kebbi State, Shortly Before Schoolgirls Were Abducted On November 17. General Musa Told Lawmakers He Would Immediately Set Up A Full-scale Investigation Into The Troop Withdrawal Once He Assumed Duty. The New Defence Minister Also Vowed To Probe The Killing Of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba In Borno State, Along With Other Attacks On Senior Military Officers.

Terrorists who kidnapped 10 residents of Isapa town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have given the community a one-week ultimatum to pay N300 million ransom or risk the execution of the captives. Our correspondent reports that the victims were whisked away last Sunday, and despite days of negotiation, none has been released. Recall that the assailants had initially demanded N500 million but later reduced the ransom to N300 million. The kidnappers warned that failure to meet their demand within the ultimatum would trigger another violent attack on the town, aimed at killing many more residents. The threats have reportedly heightened fear and tension across Isapa. Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, the Chief Hunter of Isapa, Mr A. Adeyeye, confirmed the latest communication from the kidnappers, saying that the community pleaded with the criminals and offered N5 million, but the gunmen rejected it outright. “Despite pleas from the community offering N5 million, the armed group rejected the offer, describing it as unacceptable and far below their expectations,” Adeyeye said.

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

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.