News
I’ll Work With Other Stakeholders To Bring Lasting Peace To Nigeria – Acting COAS

The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has pledged to bring lasting peace to the country if confirmed in a substantive position.
He said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday.
He stressed that the security environment in the country today requires a united effort on the part of every Nigerian.
He also called for strong bilateral and multilateral alliances with neighbouring countries, as well as deep collaboration and joint efforts by the services and other security agencies.
He said, “I am honored this evening to be considered worthy to play a part in these efforts and I look forward to contributing my utmost best by working with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in bringing lasting peace to the length and breadth of our dear country Nigeria.
“I humbly appear before you today to be confirmed as the 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army simply because tragedy befell our Army and Armed Force, and as a nation in total when the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja passed after a brief illness.
“Although before his passing, I had been appointed by Mr. President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed, to act in his place pending his expected full recovery and resumption of duty as the Chief of Army Staff then.
“After Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s demise and state funeral on 15 November 2024, Mr. President, in his wisdom, found me worthy to fully continue the excellent job the Army has been doing here and get confirmed by the National Assembly.
“I have served this great nation as an officer of the Nigerian Army for over 30 years. My exposure to national security issues at the junior, middle, and senior cadres of the military profession has prepared me adequately for the assignment I am being screened for here today.
“In the past five years or thereabout, I have operated at the senior operational and management levels of the Nigerian Army and I have somewhat been part of the running of the service in its entirety.
“Thus, I cannot completely distance myself from the successes or setbacks of our great army in the past couple of years. However, I see my nomination as the Chief of Army Staff as a privileged opportunity to be in the driver’s seat and bring about more positive changes to the Nigerian Army to enable it to fulfil its
constitutional responsibilities.
“Thus, if confirmed by this joint committee and given the common mandate to lead the Nigerian Army during this period, I promise to do my best to justify the confidence imposed in me by the appointing authority which is His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the confirming authority which is you members of the National Assembly and the generality of Nigerians.
“Let me underscore that the security environment will find ourselves as a nation requires a united effort on the part of every Nigerian. We also need strong bilateral and multilateral alliances between our country and our neighbors, as well as deep collaboration and joint efforts by the services and other security agencies.
“I a’m glad that this administration of His Excellency Bola Tinubu is on the right path to providing the enabling security environment for socioeconomic activities to thrive and restore a dear country to the path of pride and success,” he said.
He also said the Nigerian Army requires tactical aircrafts.
He said, “Aircrafts have different strata of employment. We have the tactical and the strategic strata of employment. Now the air support that we require as an army is the one at the tactical level, whereby the aircraft should be ready at the force during operations, the combat operations, at the tactical level, while the air force, being the main players in that sphere, are to give us strategic cover. So we require those aircraft and the air wing to support our operations,” he said.
He said there is robust cooperation between Armed Forces adding that he intends to enhance this to ensure that Nigeria has better security and better socio economic development.
Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon Babajimi Benson, said Nigeria continues to grapple with an evolving spectrum of security challenges, ranging from insurgency and banditry to communal clashes and cyber threats.
He said for over a decade, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been at the forefront of responding to these challenges, launching numerous operations and providing vital support to internal security efforts.
While commending the significant successes recorded in recent years, he pointed out that it is clear more work remains to be done to achieve sustainable peace across all regions of the country.
“The current dynamics of global security demand innovative and adaptive strategies. Threats are no longer confined to traditional battlefields; they now extend to cyberspace, economic domains and even the socio-political fabric of nations.
“In light of this, we must prioritize a forward-looking approach to national defence, ensuring that our military is well-equipped and adequately trained to address both conventional and emerging threats,” he said.
He said their task was not only to assess the qualifications and vision of the nominee for Chief of Army Staff but also to establish a collaborative roadmap for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
He said as a partner in the pursuit of a secure and prosperous Nigeria, the House remains steadfast in its commitment to legislative oversight and support for the Armed Forces.
Benson said the House will continue to provide the necessary legal frameworks, advocate for adequate funding and monitor the implementation of appropriations to ensure accountability and transparency in military operations.
He stressed that the position carries immense responsibility, hence the Chief of Army Staff must lead with integrity, professionalism and a deep commitment to the protection of lives and property.
“If confirmed, you will be expected to foster synergy among security agencies, prioritize the welfare of troops and uphold the trust of Nigerians. This committee will ask questions that reflect the concerns of our constituents and the nation as a whole. We urge you to provide comprehensive and candid responses to guide our deliberations.
“In closing, I wish the nominee the very best during this screening exercise. Your role is pivotal in Nigeria’s journey toward lasting peace and stability and we look forward to working with you to achieve this goal. “
Benson said the outcome of the screening exercise would be reviewed and presented to the House during plenary on Thursday.
News
Trump declares war in Ukraine could end after productive discussions with Putin

US President Donald Trump has disclosed that the war between Russia and Ukraine could end soon.
According to Trump, this comes after productive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump stated this in a post on his Truth Social, adding that he had requested that Putin spare the lives of completely surrounded Ukrainian troops.
“We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,” Trump said.
The Truth Social post did not say whether Trump and Putin had spoken to each other.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had used the meeting to convey to Trump through Witkoff.
Peskov added that Russia and the US would work out the timing of a phone call between their presidents once Witkoff had briefed Trump.
The US president has said he wants Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a swift ceasefire to pause fighting in a conflict which he has warned has the potential to spiral into World War Three and has already cost many lives on both sides.
News
MEET Nigerian born Joshua Beckford, youngest person to attend Oxford University

Joshua Beckford gained worldwide recognition as the youngest person ever to study at Oxford University.
The youngster was admitted at age six (taking part in courses which were part of an online learning platform for gifted children) and gained distinctions in both Philosophy and History.
When Beckford’s father, Knox Daniel, wrote to Oxford University advocating for his son’s admission, it was a bold move to challenge the conventional age limits for a programme aimed at children aged eight to 13.
His record remains unmatched, with the next youngest Oxford student being at least two years older at the time of admission.
By 10 months old, Beckford could already identify letters and numbers. At age two and a half, he could read fluently using phonics and had begun learning Japanese and some Mandarin.
Aspiring to become a neurosurgeon, Beckford has already demonstrated remarkable medical knowledge.
Using the Microsoft Surgery Simulator, he has mastered complex surgical procedures, including cataract removal, hernia repair and leg fracture correction. His proficiency with surgical instruments showcases his extraordinary abilities beyond his years.
Beyond medicine, Beckford is multi-talented, excelling in art, Information Technology (IT), sports and foreign languages.
In 2017, Beckford was named Positive Role Model of the Year at the UK’s National Diversity Awards.
The Illumination Foundation of North Carolina also listed him among the Top 30 Most Extraordinary People worldwide who have made societal impact.
Beckford serves as an ambassador for the Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network (BMAN), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to mentoring young boys and adolescents in Africa. Within BMAN, he holds the role of Low-Income Families Education (L.I.F.E) Support Ambassador across six countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and the United Kingdom where he was born.
Joshua Beckford also serves as the face of the National Autistic Society’s Black and Minority (BME) campaign. Diagnosed with high-functioning autism himself, he helps to spread the campaign’s mission.
In 2019, Beckford and his father travelled to Nigeria to launch a live mentoring session, delivering a keynote speech at the University of Lagos before an audience of nearly 5,000 people. Their visit was to raise funds for building a secondary school in Kaduna State, providing education to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
According to a statement on UNILAG’s website, the proposed school was to include classrooms, an administrative block, a laboratory, an ICT Centre and an agriculture green garden and was to be named Joshua Beckford Community School.
News
Dayo Amusa opens up on alleged affair with KWAM 1

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa has opened up on alleged romance with Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as K1 De Ultimate (KWAM 1).
Speaking on Oyinmomo TV, she dismissed the rumors, made it clear that what they share is far from romance.
She described their connection as one built on deep respect and unwavering support, a bond that has nothing to do with the assumptions people make when they see a man and a woman close.
Amusa spoke of K1 not just as a friend, but as a father figure, a guiding force, and an unwavering pillar in her life..
The movie star revealed how he became her silent anchor in ways she never saw coming, wiped her tears, and pushed her forward when everything seemed to be working against her especially in her movie career, where his influence and support gave her the strength to rise beyond limitations.
For Amusa, a man like that is a presence to be cherished, no matter how many times the world tries to twist the narrative.
This follows her fiery social media outburst in November 2024, where she fiercely shut down relentless speculations and invasive questions about her newborn’s father.
What began as a wave of congratulatory messages quickly spiraled into a frenzy of gossip, fueled by none other than the notorious blogger Auto Bola. The actress soon found herself at the center of a paternity storm, her joy overshadowed by whispers and relentless online probing.
Auto Bola, with her never-ending videos, refused to back down, hammering Dayo with demands to unveil her child’s father.
In her relentless pursuit of a scandal, she dragged King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, assumed he is Amusa’s baby daddy.
-
Politics7 hours ago
WATCH moment Wike arrives Rivers State in grand style for Ijaw people reception
-
News8 hours ago
Senator Ireti Kingibe vows to champion sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio
-
News8 hours ago
2027: El-Rufai becomes prayer warrior, says “I pray, Obi others join opposition alliance
-
News7 hours ago
2023: El-Rufai regrets throwing his weight behind Tinubu despite all the odds against him
-
News17 hours ago
Rivers lawmakers adjourns sitting indefinitely
-
News17 hours ago
Harassment: Akpabio, Natasha, others to give testimonies before Senate Cttee
-
News22 hours ago
Tinubu will be removed from office in 2027, SDP’s Adebayo boasts
-
News17 hours ago
HUNGER! There’s hope, I’m ready to listen, Tinubu tells Catholic Bishops