News

Senate seeks recruitment of 100,000 soldiers after Kebbi attack, demands probe of safe school funds

Published

2 weeks ago

November 19, 2025

Admin

The senate on Tuesday demanded an immediate investigation into the more than $30 million spent on Nigeria’s safe-school programme.

The red chamber also urged President Bola Tinubu to authorise the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel to tackle the growing threat of school abductions across the country.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Abdullahi Yahaya, senator representing Kebbi north.

Lawmakers’ anger was triggered by Monday’s attack on Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi state, where terrorists killed the vice-principal, wounded a school guard and abducted 25 students despite the presence of police.

The incident prompted calls for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and a rigorous audit of funds allocated to school protection since 2014.

Presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the session opened with a sombre review of the attack before lawmakers moved into a closed-door meeting to discuss classified security matters.

A minute’s silence was observed in honour of the slain vice-principal, with prayers offered for the safe return of the abducted students.

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, criticised the safe school programme, saying billions spent at federal, state and donor levels had failed to protect vulnerable institutions.

“What happened to the money earmarked for the safe school programme? People have turned security into business,” Oshiomhole said.

“We cannot monetise the deaths of our citizens. If these funds were properly used, we should not still be witnessing terrorists walking into schools to kidnap children with ease.”

Oshiomhole also called for urgent recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel, arguing that Nigeria’s current forces are insufficient.

“We don’t have enough men and women in uniform to cover this country,” the former Edo state governor said.

“This recruitment will not only boost our defence capacity but also provide employment for our youth.”

Akpabio supported the probe, saying Nigerians deserve full transparency given repeated attacks on children.

“These criminals are going after soft targets. We must find out why the safe-school programme has failed to protect them,” he said.

Ahmad Lawan, former senate president, warned that Nigeria risks “losing an entire generation” if school attacks continue.

Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia north, urged governors to share responsibility in tackling insecurity, recalling his own experience while in office.

“Security should not only be the job of the federal government. I have never blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo while I was a governor,” he said.

“I had gone out of my way to help Anambra and other states in terms of security.”

Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, called for technology-driven intelligence to track and rescue abducted students.

“This matter is what many people don’t want to discuss anymore. But it is a matter of national importance,” Umeh said.

“They were taken away and are still being moved around. So, we urge security agencies to deploy their technology to find them.”

Simon Lalong, senator representing Plateau south, questioned the effectiveness of the World Bank–supported safe school initiative, drawing parallels with the 2014 Chibok abductions.

“This is the same fate that befell our Chibok girls. It should be treated as a matter of national security before it turns into another Chibok experience,” Lalong said.

Sani Musa, a senator representing Niger east, said the armed forces were overstretched and called for the involvement of community leaders in intelligence gathering.

The senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee comprising the committees on finance, defence, army, air force, education and police affairs to investigate all appropriations and expenditures under the safe-school programme.

The senate also adopted an additional prayer moved by Oshiomhole, demanding the recruitment of 100,000 youths into the armed forces and the deployment of modern surveillance and intelligence technology to combat insecurity.

News

PHOTOS: FCT Minister, Wike, inspects ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

Published

55 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Minister of FCT today inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike today, Friday inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa.

The project is titled; Full scope development of Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III with Two Interchange Bridges at N16/RRII and N16/RIII intersections.

The portion from RRI to Arterial Road N20 (Solomon Lar Way) within Katampe District was developed and commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to mark 2nd year Anniversary of his Administration.

The portion from N20 to RRII is being developed under Jahi District Infrastructure Project, leaving the undeveloped portion from RRIII to Arterial Road N40 to link the road that leads to the Renewed Hope Estate in Karsana Districts.

The portion of this Arterial Road N16 under reference traverses the Gwarimpa Housing Estate and this segment of the road when developed will provide access to the Gwarimpa Housing Estate located within Bunkoro and Wupa Districts as well as Sector Center E which is the hub of commercial and social activities comprising group of four districts namely; Gwarimpa II – C03, Kafe – C05, Wupa – C15 and Bunkoro – C18 Districts in Phase III of the Federal Capital City.

See photos:

News

“Why I dumped PDP for APC “- Rivers Speaker, Amaewhule

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule, on Friday gave reasons why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The major reason for leaving the PDP is because of the division in the PDP,” Amaewhule, who represents Obio-Akpor I constituency, told the lawmakers on Friday.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for some programmes embarked upon by his administration that have benefited Nigerians, especially Rivers people.

According to the Speaker, his defection would enable him to partner with President Tinubu for the overall good of the Rivers people.

Amaewhule said, “Distinguished colleagues, let me happily announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my Ward Chairman, Mr Osondo Orlu, of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

“APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time. I am happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. He is doing so much for this country.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He is tackling issues of security headlong. The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country. I am so delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President right inside the All Progressives Congress.”

Amaewhule defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

Since returning to civil rule in 1999, the PDP has maintained a tight grip on the oil-rich Rivers state, until the protracted crisis rocked the state, which pitched the lawmakers against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The crisis led to the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex by forces allegedly loyal to Fubara as well as the attempted moves to impeach the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Worried by the development, President Bola Tinubu waded in to douse the tensions and declared a state of emergency on March 18.

The emergency declaration led to the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu and the lawmakers.

At the expiration of the exercise, he reinstated Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers on September 17.

News

Finally Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Assembly Members Dump PDP , join APC

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Amaewhule defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

The House of Assembly is currently in session with the defectors blaming their departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the crisis in the party.

Others who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

Details shortly…