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Defence and Security

Buhari receives new COAS, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, at Presidential Villa

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President Muhammadu Buhari has formally received the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabo, presented Yahaya to the president.

Yahaya was appointed on May 27, to replace Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, who died along with ten military officers in a place crash in Kaduna.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents, Msgashi said the president shared with them his experience, which they intended to use to address the nation’s security challenges.

He said: “What really brought us to the Villa today is to present the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya; who was just appointed 11 days ago to the president for his blessings and guidance.

“The president offered advice on how we can go about doing this operation to improve the entire security of the country.

“Being an actor in the field in the past, he has given us a direction in which we can learn from his experiences and apply that to our mode of operations.

“With that, we are wiser today and we assured him that we will do our best to bring an end to the problem of security in this country.”

He said the issue of synergy among the armed forces and all security agencies was stressed at the meeting, adding that there would be many changes in the security situation of the country.

According to Magashi, there will be more collaboration between all security agencies, particularly with the police, as they work hard to bring about peace in parts of the country where there are challenges.

“In the North-Western part of the country, the major issue there is that of kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities.

“We are taking the challenge but you know really, that is a constitutional responsibility of the police.

“But, we are giving maximum cooperation to them in order to see an end to the insecurity in the North-West.

“In the North-East, it is a different scenario, where there is Boko Haram issue, which is an ideological thing.

“We are up and doing to ensure that we bring an end to the Boko Haram issue especially with the current development about Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

“So, we are doing our best,” he said.(NAN)

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Defence and Security

Tinubu Appoints Retired General, Famadewa As Special Adviser On Homeland Security

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Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (Retired)
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President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security and intelligence coordination.

The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by Chris Ugwuegbulam, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

According to the statement, the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to improving security coordination, boosting intelligence-driven operations, and enhancing collaboration among security agencies to tackle emerging threats across the country.

The statement described Famadewa as a highly experienced military officer with more than three decades of service in national security, intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and international security diplomacy.

It noted that during his time as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, Famadewa played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s intelligence coordination system.

One of his major contributions was the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The centre brought together key security and intelligence agencies including the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces.

The platform was designed to improve intelligence sharing, national threat assessment, and strategic response coordination among security agencies.

After retiring from active military service, Famadewa continued contributing to national security discussions as a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

He is also the author of the monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which focuses on improving cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that Famadewa’s experience and strategic expertise would help strengthen the administration’s efforts to achieve a safer and more secure Nigeria.

The President also urged the retired general to use his professionalism and wealth of experience to support the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and advance the country’s national security objectives.

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Defence and Security

Insecurity: CDS Orders Troops to Intensify Offensive Against Bandits in North-West

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CDS, Olufemi Oluyede
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The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has directed troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to intensify operations against bandits and other criminal groups in Nigeria’s North-West region.

The directive was given during his operational visit to the Joint Task Force Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State, where he assessed troop readiness and ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area.

Addressing the soldiers, Oluyede praised their courage and sacrifices, urging them to remain disciplined and relentless. He stressed that the safety of citizens depends on their commitment, calling on them to pursue criminal elements until they are eliminated.

He also assured troops of continued support in welfare, training, and provision of necessary equipment to enhance their effectiveness in the field. The CDS highlighted the importance of improved air support and better coordination across operations.

During the visit, Oluyede paid a courtesy call to the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, commending his support for military operations and encouraging stronger collaboration, especially in intelligence sharing.

Governor Lawal, in his response, appreciated the efforts of the Armed Forces and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security operations in the state.

The visit included operational briefings, troop interactions, and an assessment of deployments as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.

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Defence and Security

Tinubu Approves ₦15bn Take-Off Grant for New Police Academy Campus in Ogun

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The President also approved a ₦15 billion take-off grant for the institution. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the move aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which allows for expansion into multiple campuses nationwide.

The take-off fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation and will support key infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and essential training equipment.

The decision followed a high-level meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.

The meeting considered factors such as student capacity, funding, academic standards, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force. The expansion is expected to enhance policing education, institutional governance, and national security.

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