Headline
SERVICE CHIEFS: Criticism, Applaud Trail Tinubu’s Appointments
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Mixed reactions, Tuesday, greeted President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of new service chiefs, which took the nation’s security firmament by surprise.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George said the appointments were reasonable but not perfect.
However, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Benjamin Kalu and Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor and President Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa, Uche Nwosu, commended Tinubu for reflecting Nigeria’s diversity in his appointments.
Tinubu on Monday retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and Comptroller of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, retd among others.
New service chiefs
He appointed new service chiefs as follows:
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints New Service Chiefs, IGP, Customs CG, Others
* Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser
*Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff
*Maj. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff
* Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff
*AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff
*DIG Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police
* Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye, Chief of Defense Intelligence
* Adeniyi Bashir Adewale, Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.
Other top appointments include:
*Col. Adebisi Onasanya, Brigade of Guards Commander
* Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf, 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
* Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa, 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State
* Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim, 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
* Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote, 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja
Similarly, the President approved the appointments of other military officers in the Presidential Villa as follows:
*Maj. Isa Farouk Audu, (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery
*Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183), Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
*Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656), Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
* Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860), Commanding Officer, State House Armament
*Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament.
Also, President Tinubu approved the appointments of two additional special advisers, and two senior assistants. They are:
* Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser, Policy Coordination
* Hannatu Musa Musawa, Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
* Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel, Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate)
* Mr. Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim, Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)
Kalu hails Tinubu over Chief of Naval Staff appointment
Speaking on the issue, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu hailed President Tinubu over the appointment of Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff.
Kalu noted that the appointment touched on the diversity of the country, stressing that the President is determined to lead an inclusive government and promote national cohesion.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tinubu Dissolves Boards Of FG Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, Companies
The deputy speaker also expressed gratitude to the president for his proactiveness in appointing capable hands to many key areas of the new administration so far.
While commending Tinubu for finding Ogalla, an Enugu indigene worthy of the esteemed position, Kalu who is also from the South-East expressed his confidence in the competence and capacity of the new naval helmsman to deliver.
Kalu further urged the South-East to support the current administration as the interests of the zone were well secured by the president.
So far reasonable, not perfect—Bode George
On his part, Chief Olabode George said that it is too early to evaluate President Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Channels Televisions ‘Politics Today, George insisted that the President needs a lot of good advisers, introspection noting that “Tinubu’s methodology so far is ‘reasonable but not perfect.’
He said: “The major difference between Bola and me is his methodology. His managerial style is not like mine. I have a background in the military. You don’t carry your men to war without adequately doing serious planning and intelligence gathering.
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“So it is too early in the day. It is not a 100-meter dash race. He is to manage the people and the resources of this country for the betterment of the Nigerian people. In other words, his start is reasonable but not perfect.
“At least it is better than what we knew before when he was in Lagos. … I have worked for Gen. Babangida, Baba Obasanjo, and Jonathan, among others. It is not an easy job; the only thing is that you pray for whoever is there.
“It is not a matter of totalitarianism or you know it all syndrome. You need a lot of good advisers, you need a lot of introspection, and now he’s doing some balancing; it may not be perfect, but it is reasonable.”
Asked if the federal character principle was reflected in the security chief’s appointment, he said: “It is still reasonable. The founding fathers of the PDP divided Nigeria into six geo-political zones; it was not in our constitution.
“What got me a little bit worried was that the Secretary to the Government announced the appointment of smaller units. That should be done by the naval council or the military council.”
Nwosu commends Tinubu, says appointment nationalistic
However, Uche Nwosu, hailed President Tinubu’s appointments, saying that the president has the nation at heart and was committed to addressing the nation’s challenges.
Nwosu, in a statement, said Tinubu has demonstrated nationalism through his dedication to signing bills into law, ranging from the student loan bill, electricity distribution bill and of recent, the appointment of service chiefs.
The statement read: “The recent reshuffling of service chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is commendable. Since assuming office, President Tinubu has demonstrated by the Bills he signed into law, and by the appointments and pronouncements he made that his administration is one where the leader understands the peculiar challenges facing the country.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints New EFCC Chairman
“Mr President in his drive for holistic national repositioning delved into the education sector where the recent education loan scheme act would provide Nigerians with opportunities to pursue their academic goals, regardless of their social or economic background.
“Recall the electricity distribution bill that President Tinubu also signed into law, thereby bringing to an end, the belated controversy on electricity distribution that has slowed the wheel of the nation’s march towards industrialization.
“The latest hallmark of the administration is the appointment of service chiefs to ensure the security of lives and properties, and to defend and enforce Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“By selecting fine and well decorated officers from all regions of the country to man our security outfits, Mr President has demonstrated his deep understanding of the country, its people, as well as showing his unflinching commitment to one Nation bound in love and unity, where tribe, tongue and religion does not matter.
“I, therefore, urge the new service chiefs to deliver on their mandate, and restore our country to its former glory where lives are sacred, and investment, economic opportunities and political stability flourish.”
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US To Revoke Student Visas For Those Who Skip Classes, Programmes
Published
14 hours agoon
August 4, 2025By
Editor
The United States has issued a warning to international students regarding the consequences of violating student visa regulations.
In a message shared via its official X handle on Monday, the US Mission in Nigeria stressed that students who drop out, skip classes, or leave their academic programmes without notifying their schools risk having their US student visas revoked.
Such actions could also lead to disqualification from obtaining future US visas, it stated.
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The mission advised all student visa holders to strictly adhere to the terms of their visas and maintain their academic status to avoid any immigration issues.
“If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your programmes of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas.
“Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues,” the mission noted.
Headline
Fake Labubu Dolls Worth Millions Seized In London Raid Amid Growing Safety Fears
Published
2 days agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
Thousands of fake Labubu dolls believed to be worth millions of pounds have been seized at an industrial estate on the outskirts of London following a major crackdown led by Trading Standards and law enforcement agencies.
The operation, which followed weeks of investigation, traced the fake merchandise from a corner shop in Swansea, south Wales, to a warehouse complex in London.
Officers discovered rooms stacked floor-to-ceiling with fake goods, but it was the imitation Labubu dolls at the centre of a viral TikTok craze that drew the most concern.
The dolls, produced by popular toy company Pop Mart, have surged in global demand, with some genuine pieces retailing for up to £80. The popularity of the brand helped the company double its revenue to £1.33 billion last year, according to Forbes. However, authorities say the boom has also attracted criminal enterprises looking to profit from the trend through counterfeit production.
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“The head comes off. The feet pull off. The eyes aren’t glued in,” said Rhys Harries, a Trading Standards officer, while examining one of the seized dolls. “These are clear choking hazards.”
Using a plastic tool modelled after a child’s throat, Harries demonstrated how easily parts of the fake dolls could become life-threatening. “These parts would get stuck and potentially cause choking,” he warned.
The scale of the operation was alarming. Border Force officials say they have intercepted hundreds of thousands of fake Labubu dolls at UK ports in recent months, with many traced back to manufacturers in China, Hong Kong, and Turkey.
In one case, a mother from Caerphilly, Jade, recounted how fake Labubu dolls she bought for her six-year-old son Harri’s birthday began falling apart within hours. “The hook came off and ended up in his mouth,” she said. “Luckily he was old enough to spit it out and tell me.”
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Despite knowing the dolls were fakes, Jade said she bought them due to the high cost of the original ones and peer pressure from other children. She got the knock-offs for just over £10 each.
Authorities say the rush to cash in on the craze has led to the use of substandard and potentially dangerous materials, including toxic plastics. Kate Caffery, deputy director of intelligence and law enforcement at the UK’s Intellectual Property Office, said counterfeiting is the second most lucrative source of criminal income worldwide, after drug trafficking.
“There’s a complete disregard for safety,” Caffery said. “They’re made from anything from the inferior to the outright dangerous.”
TikTok collector and plush toy enthusiast Meg Goldberger, 27, said she struggled to find genuine dolls due to scalpers bulk-buying authentic stock and reselling them at inflated prices. “They sell out in seconds,” she said. “Some resellers are using bots to buy hundreds at once.”
Investigators found invoice books showing the dolls were destined for locations across the UK. Some of the seized dolls will be used as evidence, while the rest will be stored in a secure location before being recycled or destroyed.
Pop Mart has been contacted for comment on the counterfeit issue, which authorities say is now a national concern.
Headline
Young Catholics Converge On Rome For Pope Leo’s Vigil
Published
2 days agoon
August 2, 2025By
Editor
Thousands of young Catholics began assembling Saturday for an evening prayer vigil led by Pope Leo XIV, the culmination of a week-long pilgrimage and a key event in the Jubilee holy year that is expected to draw up to a million people.
The “Jubilee of Youth” — when the Vatican invites Catholics aged 18 to 35 to the seat of the global Church’s power — has seen young pilgrims from around the world flood Rome, waving flags, singing or praying in groups.
It comes nearly three months after Leo, 69, the first American pontiff, began his papacy, and 25 years after the last such massive youth gathering in Rome under Poland’s Pope John Paul II.
On Saturday morning, thousands of young pilgrims had already gathered at the vast open space in Rome’s eastern Tor Vergata neighbourhood where the pope will lead the vigil, the ground already dotted with blankets and mattresses.
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Elsewhere in the Eternal City, numerous groups of young people were seen preparing to set off for the venue.
On the plaza outside the Basilica of St John Lateran, they filled water bottles, applied suncream and checked bags of food and snacks — ready to spend the next 24 hours surrounded by a swarm of people and then sleep under the stars.
Victoria Perez, who carried a Spanish flag, could not contain her excitement at seeing “the Pope up close.
“It’s the first time I’m going to see him, and I can’t wait,” the 21-year-old told AFP, excited to experience the “night of prayers under the stars”.
French pilgrim, Quentin Remaury, 26, said he had been inspired by the late Pope Francis’s rousing message to youth during a 2016 visit to Krakow, Poland.
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“Pope Francis told us to ‘get off your couches,’ and that really gave me a boost,” he said.
– ‘What is his message?’ –
Since the youth jubilee began on Monday, attendees have participated in various Church-planned events throughout the city.
On Friday, approximately 1,000 priests were on hand to take confession at Circus Maximus, one of Rome’s top tourist spots.
Some 200 white gazebos lined the hippodrome where chariot races were once held, and youths lined up to speak to priests in 10 different languages.
Of the many languages heard on the streets of the Italian capital this week, Spanish seemed to dominate. The Vatican has said that more than 146 countries were represented, and it expects up to a million people to attend the vigil.
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The pilgrimage is taking place as economic uncertainty and anxiety over climate change rise among the under-30s, with many saying they were curious to hear the Church’s position on global warming, wars and economic inequalities.
Samarei Semos, 29, said she had travelled three days from her native Belize to get to Rome.
“We are still trying to understand his leadership,” she said of the new pope, adding she hoped he would have a strong say about “third world countries”.
As Parisian student Alice Berry exclaimed, “What does he have to say to us? What is his message for young people?”
– Raising voices –
The youth pilgrimage also comes amid global alarm over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and more than three years of war in Ukraine.
READ ALSO:Pope Leo XIV Outlines A Path For A Modern Church That Follows Francis’ Steps
The Vatican has praised young Catholics who managed to travel to Rome from war-scarred countries, with Pope Leo saying the voices of the world’s youth “will be heard to the end of the earth”.
In an unprecedented move, Leo hosted a mass on Tuesday for Catholic social media influencers, signalling the Vatican’s openness to supporting the Internet-savvy youth.
More than 4,300 volunteers will be working the event to welcome the young pilgrims, along with over 1,000 police, according to organisers.
Roman authorities have tightened security in the city — which has seen an unprecedented number of people, with both tourists and pilgrims inundating the city.
AFP
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