Daily Digest Online

President Bola Tinubu's promotion of his personal Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, to the rank of Brigadier-General has triggered significant internal concern within the Nigerian Army, with senior officers describing the move as an unusual breach of military tradition. The promotion, approved in a letter signed by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on December 12, 2025, marks Yusuf's second elevation in less than a year. He was decorated as a Colonel in January 2025 after being appointed ADC in May 2023. "Rupture with Tradition" Sparking Quiet Resentment Military sources speaking to journalists expressed deep unease, framing the promotion as a departure from established institutional norms. One officer directly questioned the precedent, stating that while junior officers can be promoted for exceptional performance, "elevating an officer to Brigadier-General by executive approval sets a troubling precedent." ...

In an unusual move, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at a crucial ECOWAS summit in Abuja on Sunday, December 14, as President Bola Tinubu was notably absent from the gathering of West African leaders. The 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government was convened to address pressing regional security challenges, primarily the aftermath of the December 7 coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. A Significant Absence The meeting marked the first time Vice President Shettima has headed Nigeria's delegation at an ECOWAS summit held within the country while the president remained in Nigeria. No official reason was provided for President Tinubu's absence. Tinubu, who served as the chairman of the regional bloc from July 2023 to July 2025, delegated the responsibility to his deputy for this session. Regional Leaders Convene on Instability The summit, chaired by the current ECOWAS chair, President Juli...

The Nigerian Presidency has categorically dismissed a warning from a foreign group predicting mass terror attacks in northern states on Christmas Day, labeling the report as a potential attempt to incite panic and internal crisis within the country. The alert was issued by a U.S.-based organization called "Equipping The Persecuted," which claimed terrorists were regrouping to launch attacks in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Benue states on December 25. In a strong rebuke, President Bola Tinubu's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, questioned the motives behind the alarm. "We should be very careful how we digest and process some of these doubtful reports by external organisations who are setting a stage for internal crisis in our country," Ajayi told Saturday Punch. "We should not be providing oxygen for reports that heighten a sense of insecurity." Questioning Motives and Timing Ajayi exp...

In a landmark decision asserting judicial independence, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has overruled a presidential pardon, reinstating the death sentence for Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband. In a four-to-one split decision delivered on Friday, December 12, 2025, the apex court overturned the commutation of Sanda's sentence by President Bola Tinubu. The President had recently reduced her sentence to 12 years' imprisonment on compassionate grounds. The Court's Ruling and Legal Journey The Supreme Court affirmed the original death sentence by hanging, which had been handed down by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in 2020 and later upheld by the Court of Appeal. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein held that the prosecution had proved its case "beyond reasonable doubt" and that the appellate court was correct to affirm the trial court's verdict. The court resolved all issues in S...

President Bola Tinubu has convened a meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Osun State, urging them to embrace unity and consensus ahead of the party's primary election scheduled for Saturday. The meeting, held at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, aimed to foster harmony among contenders. Attendees included key aspirants such as former Deputy Governor Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, and Senator Babajide Omoworare. They were joined by top party officials, including APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and SGF Senator George Akume. Appeal for Party Supremacy and Victory President Tinubu commended the aspirants for their contributions and appealed for cooperation to avoid the internal divisions that impacted the party in the previous Osun election. He emphasized their collective duty to ensure an APC victory. "You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the...

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive requiring ministers and senior government officials to obtain presidential approval before being assigned police escorts for official duties. The directive was given during Wednesday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. President Tinubu stated that security lapses often occur when police officers are reassigned without proper replacement plans, emphasizing the need for tighter coordination. "I have told the Inspector-General of Police (IGP)... If you have any problem with security, because of the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance," the President stated. To address security gaps, the President also ordered the Minister of Interior to collaborate with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace officers deployed for special duties. He instructed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services ...

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria's First Lady, has extended warm birthday felicitations to Mrs. Titilola Adeleke, the wife of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, as she celebrates her 60th milestone. In a message shared on her official social media account on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu commended the celebrant for her dedicated service to the people of Osun State. She particularly highlighted Mrs. Adeleke's role as the State Coordinator for the Renewed Hope Initiative, a nationwide program championed by the Office of the First Lady. "I celebrate your commitment to uplifting the good people of Osun State through the Renewed Hope Initiative, where you continue to touch many lives," Mrs. Tinubu stated in her birthday tribute. The First Lady joined the Governor, their children, family, and friends in honoring Mrs. Adeleke. She expressed a prayer that the special day be filled with "joy, love, and cherished moments," wishing the Osun ...

In a frank television interview, President Bola Tinubu's spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has sought to explain a glaring contrast in Nigeria's security response: the swift military intervention that helped reverse a coup in the Benin Republic last Sunday, versus the protracted fight against banditry and terrorism on Nigerian soil. His explanation centers on the fundamental difference between a conventional military target and an insurgent enemy that uses civilians as shields. A "Clear Target" vs. A "Guerrilla" Enemy Speaking on Arise Television's Prime Time on Monday, Onanuga framed the intervention in Benin Republic as a clear-cut, conventional military operation. "Look at the case of Benin Republic now," he stated. "They wanted to bomb a military base in Benin. They know where to go. They coordinated where they should actually bomb." He starkly contrasted this with the domestic security crisis, describing it as ...

ABUJA, Nigeria — A United States Congressman has concluded high-level talks with Nigerian security officials, delivering a sobering assessment of the country's ongoing crisis and highlighting the issue as a priority for President Donald Trump. In a statement following meetings with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, U.S. Representative Riley Moore acknowledged progress but emphasized that "substantial work remains" to address persistent violence across Nigeria. The discussions, part of a U.S. Congressional delegation's fact-finding mission to Abuja, focused on the "widespread terrorism ravaging the North-East and the relentless killings occurring in the Middle Belt." Moore directly tied the urgency of the situation to President Trump's agenda, stating that stopping the violence, particularly the targeting of Christian communities, is a "top concern" and matter on which Trump is "obsessed." A Dual Focus: Ter...

In a move to revitalize Nigeria’s security architecture, President Bola Tinubu has formally sworn in former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd), as the new Minister of Defence, tasking him with immediate investigations into recent high-profile operational failures and attacks. President Bola Tinubu officially swore in General Christopher Musa as the substantive Minister of Defence on Thursday during a ceremony at the State House, Abuja. The appointment follows the Senate’s confirmation after an extensive five-hour screening session on Wednesday, where lawmakers pressed the former military chief on critical security lapses. General Musa assumes office at a pivotal moment, inheriting a defence portfolio strained by persistent terrorism, banditry, and a crisis of public confidence.  During his Senate screening, he faced intense questioning over the controversial withdrawal of troops from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in ...