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Fire alert centre inaugurated at Presidential Villa

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Permanent Secretary State House Tijjani Umar sixth from left and Controller General of Federal Fire Service Liman Ibrahim seventh from left at the inauguration of State House Fire Centre
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The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, and the Controller General, Federal Fire Service, FFS, Liman Alhaji Ibrahim have inaugurated the State House Fire Alert Centre.

Inaugurating the Centre in Abuja, Mr Umar said it would safeguard national assets and ensure rapid response to emergencies within the precincts of the Presidential Villa and beyond.

The ICT-based Fire Alert System centre has already been installed in 13 States of the Federation and the platform in the Presidential Villa is the latest addition.

The Permanent Secretary said: ‘‘We have just commissioned this Fire Incident Reporting System which is not only going to take care of the precincts of the Presidential Villa but the Three Arms Zone in Abuja and beyond.

‘What this does immediately is to give everybody around this area (Three Arms Zone) the opportunity to use any electronic device to report a fire incident to safeguard lives, property and national assets.’’

He described the project as a ‘‘huge plus’’ in service delivery to the people under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his remarks, the CG of the FFS explained that the platform was designed by the Service to ensure rapid response to emergencies as first responders.

According to him, the communication gadget has provision for an application that can be installed on Android phones by subscribers, with which they can initiate emergency calls to the Fire Service.

“The Application enables a video transmission from the point of call so that the Fire Alert System Centre can view real live location from where the call is initiated,’’ he said.

He thanked the president for all the support to the Fire Service’ to enable it deliver its mandate of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

‘‘We have these communication gadgets in 13 States and we decided that before we proceed further we must bring one to the Presidential Villa because what we are today as a rebranded Federal Fire Service is the handiwork of Mr President.

‘‘Therefore whatever innovation we are doing in the Fire Service, the Villa should have a taste of it,’’ he said.

According to the CG, the Villa Fire Centre is linked to the Central Control System which can also respond to emergency incidents across the country.

He noted that under President Buhari, the Federal Fire Service had recorded massive transformation from 3 rickety fire trucks, some 600 staff and functional presence in just Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt to a Service with 141 modern fire trucks, over 6000 staff and presence in all the States of the Federation.

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Tinubu Approves Cabinet Reshuffle, Appoints Oyedele as Finance Minister

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Taiwo Oyedele
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle affecting the Federal Executive Council (FEC), with key changes in the finance and housing ministries.

According to a memo issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, former Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, have been directed to step down from their positions.

Taiwo Oyedele has been elevated to serve as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. He previously held the position of Minister of State in the ministry.

In the housing sector, Muttaqha Rabe Darma has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister-designate for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

All affected officials have been instructed to complete their handover processes on or before Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The presidency said the reshuffle is aimed at improving coordination in governance and delivering better economic outcomes under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The President also thanked the outgoing ministers for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors.

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Bamidele: 2026 Electoral Act Reflects Stakeholders’ Consensus, Not Legislative Imposition

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Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
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The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has stated that the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act were the outcome of broad consultations with stakeholders rather than unilateral decisions by the National Assembly.

In an Easter message issued on Sunday through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Bamidele explained that the new electoral law aligns with global best practices and was not designed to serve any political interest. He urged political actors to adhere to the rules collectively established to ensure stability, peace, and order within Nigeria’s democratic system.

His remarks come amid criticisms from opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which alleged that certain provisions—such as Sections 77 and 84 of the Act—were introduced to weaken their chances ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, Bamidele dismissed the claims, insisting that all sections of the law were products of consensus involving civil society groups, development partners, and other stakeholders.

He defended the requirement for political parties to submit a digital register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a transparency measure aimed at preventing undue influence by individuals outside party structures. According to him, the reform is essential for strengthening internal democracy and ensuring that party decisions reflect the will of legitimate members.

Bamidele also justified the restriction of candidate nomination processes to either direct primaries or consensus arrangements, noting that the move is intended to eliminate the delegate system, which he said had been susceptible to manipulation by wealthy individuals. He added that the new system empowers party members and reinforces majority rule in line with democratic principles.

Beyond electoral matters, the Senate leader condemned recent violent attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states, describing them as unacceptable acts against innocent citizens. He assured that the National Assembly is collaborating with federal and state authorities to tackle insecurity and prevent further loss of lives.

He disclosed that ongoing legislative efforts, including amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, are aimed at introducing stricter penalties for kidnappers, their sponsors, and collaborators. Bamidele expressed confidence that these measures would help restore security and stability across the country.

Reflecting on Easter, Bamidele called on Nigerians, especially political leaders, to embrace the values of sacrifice, tolerance, and unity exemplified by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, urging a collective commitment to nation-building.

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FG to Deploy AI Cameras to Tackle Insecurity in Plateau — Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Tinubu has announced that the Federal Government will deploy over 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled digital cameras across Plateau State to help security agencies combat rising insecurity.

The President made this known on Thursday during a visit to Jos, following the March 29 gun attacks in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, which claimed several lives. He assured residents that such incidents would not recur, pledging decisive action to bring perpetrators to justice.

Tinubu directed security chiefs, including the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector General of Police, to track down those responsible for the killings. He also tasked the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, with overseeing the immediate installation of the surveillance system, starting in Jos and later expanding across the state.

Expressing sympathy to affected families, the President said no compensation could replace lost lives but promised government support and justice. He also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to compile data on victims to ensure fair distribution of relief.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the incident as a temporary setback, noting that the state had previously enjoyed relative peace. He expressed confidence in ongoing security efforts and thanked the Federal Government for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen local security.

Stakeholders at the meeting, including former governors and political leaders, called for greater collaboration and dialogue among Plateau indigenes, stressing that lasting peace would require collective responsibility.

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