News

DSS Plans Schools, Religious Centres To Tame Terrorism

Published

4 months ago

May 26, 2025

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, says the agency is investing in schools, places of worship, and sporting facilities across Nigeria as part of a strategy to counter terrorism and subversion through community engagement and social development.

Speaking through a retired DSS director, Alhaji Ahmed Zalmar, during the inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Darul’Ilm Centre for Islamic Studies in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday, Ajayi said such non-conventional interventions were designed to reduce discontent and win the trust of vulnerable populations.

“The DGSS, in his usual magnanimity, chose to channel these supports for the well-being of vulnerable and needy groups through several social projects, including building of schools, places of worship, sport centres, among others,”Zalmar said.

He, however, quoted Ajayi as stressing that “As the DGSS, I have never used operational funds or budgetary provisions for these philanthropic gestures, aimed to win the hearts of the vulnerable population towards defeating insurgency and terrorism but has always channeled parts of CSRs and other financial support from stakeholders for this purpose.”

“The DSS mandate goes beyond intelligence gathering and law enforcement. It includes reducing the root causes of insecurity. These projects—funded through corporate social responsibility and private donations—are part of our broader strategy to improve national security,” Ajayi said.

The new centre, which will serve orphans and indigent children, is named after President Bola Tinubu in recognition of his commitment to education and development.

It was entirely funded and donated by Ajayi, a Christian, in an act hailed as a model of interfaith unity and national healing.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who led dignitaries at the inauguration, described the school as a “legacy project” and a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and unity.

“When people of different faiths and backgrounds come together for the common good, we build the kind of Nigeria we all dream of,” the Sultan said.

He praised President Tinubu for appointing Ajayi to lead the DSS, calling it a move that helped build bridges of cooperation and understanding.

The Sultan urged Nigerians to downplay religious and ethnic differences and instead focus on shared values and national development.

“We must never allow religion to become a tool for division. If this kind of initiative is replicated nationwide, Nigeria will surely rise again,” he added.

“This project sends a powerful message,” the Sultan said. “When people from different backgrounds come together for the common good, we strengthen the fabric of our nation. The gesture by DG DSS is a legacy project that will outlive most of us here.”

He described the new school as a beacon of hope and a strong statement of faith in Nigeria’s future.

“If we can replicate this kind of initiative across the country, there is hope for Nigeria. Let us not give up,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, applauded the DSS initiative, saying it aligned with the Tinubu administration’s emphasis on inclusive growth and youth empowerment.

“With Nigeria projected to supply a significant portion of the global workforce by 2050, education is our best investment,” Edun said.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, reaffirmed his administration’s support for education and efforts to address poverty and insecurity.

Other dignitaries included the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Bamalli; Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Dahiru Liman; Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi; and several past and present DSS directors.

The Sultan urged more affluent Nigerians to emulate Ajayi by investing in education, especially for disadvantaged children. “Only God will reward us for helping orphans and the vulnerable receive the education they deserve,” he said.

News

Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors

Published

11 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.

Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.

The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”

News

Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

Published

12 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

News

Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi

Published

15 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.