AFRIDEX 2026: CDS Oluyede Meets Poland, US, Italy, Others to Strengthen Defence Cooperation The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has held high-level diplomatic engagements with defence officials from several countries as Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen international military partnerships and address emerging security threats. The engagements took place on the sidelines of the ongoing African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos, with delegations from Poland, Italy, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) participating in the discussions. The meetings focused on strengthening military cooperation, defence technology transfer, equipment…
Author: Ibom Focus
Ibom Ignite 2026: Eno Pledges Agricultural Training for 100 Youths Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has offered to sponsor 100 youths for agricultural entrepreneurship training at CSS Global Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State as part of efforts to promote youth empowerment, self-reliance and business development. The governor also urged young people in the state to embrace innovation, acquire new skills and continually reinvent themselves to remain relevant and achieve sustainable entrepreneurial success. Eno made the remarks on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the ninth edition of the Ibom Ignite Conference, held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.…
Customs Vows to Sustain Anti-Money Laundering Fight Ahead of Nigeria’s Next FATF Evaluation The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has pledged to sustain the country’s progress in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, warning that stronger institutional collaboration is necessary to prevent a reversal of its achievements. The Service described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a significant national achievement, stressing the need to strengthen existing measures ahead of the country’s next Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) mutual evaluation. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in…
COAS, Tanzanian Land Forces Chief Seek Stronger Military Training, Cooperation The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for stronger military cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, with emphasis on professional training, intelligence sharing and operational knowledge exchange. Shaibu made the call on Monday, October 26, 2026, during a bilateral meeting with the Chief of Land Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, Major General Fadhil Omary Nondo, on the sidelines of the African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos. The COAS stressed the need to expand collaboration in professional…
Nigerian, Zambian Armies Seek Stronger Ties to Combat Africa’s Security Threats The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for stronger military cooperation between Nigeria, Zambia and other African countries to tackle emerging security threats across the continent. Shaibu made the call on Monday, October 26, 2026, during a bilateral meeting with the Commander of the Zambia Army, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, on the sidelines of the African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos. The Nigerian Army chief stressed the importance of intelligence sharing, joint military training and coordinated operations in addressing terrorism, insurgency,…
FG Plans New System to Lift Vulnerable Nigerians Out of Poverty — Doro The Federal Government is developing a coordinated humanitarian and poverty reduction system aimed at lifting vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty, reducing social crises and empowering beneficiaries to become productive contributors to the national economy. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, disclosed this on Monday, October 26, 2026, when a delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, led by its Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Sylvia Ekra, paid him a courtesy visit in his office. Doro said…
Senate Moves to Protect Senior Fire Service Officers from Premature Retirement The Senate Committee on Interior has proposed measures to protect qualified senior officers of the Federal Fire Service from being bypassed in the appointment of the Controller-General, warning that such practices could trigger premature retirement and undermine career progression. The committee chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, made this known on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during the consideration of a proposed bill seeking to repeal the existing Fire Service Act and establish a new legal framework for the service. Oshiomhole argued that the proposed legislation should give priority to serving Deputy…
Court Jails Former Banker 39 Years Over N2.7bn Fraud — EFCC A former banker, Christopher Jackson Edeh, has been sentenced to a total of 39 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.7 billion fraud. Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, handed down the sentence on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after finding Edeh guilty of nine counts of fraudulent false accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, prosecuted the case. Edeh was first arraigned on February 28, 2024, over allegations…
EFCC: Kuru Approved Arik Air Receivership Without Prior Board Approval, Witness Tells Court A prosecution witness in the alleged N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud case involving former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, has told a Lagos court that Kuru approved the receivership of Arik Air without obtaining prior approval from the corporation’s board. The witness, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, the acting Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, made the disclosure on Monday, October 26, 2026, during the continuation of the trial before Justice Mojisola Dada…
Nigeria to Begin Large-Scale Local Production of Military Weapons Within One Year — Defence Minister Nigeria will commence large-scale local production of military weapons and other defence equipment within the next year as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the country’s defence capabilities. The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, disclosed this after attending the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, which brought together African governments, military institutions, defence manufacturers and technology innovators to explore opportunities for security cooperation. Musa said the Federal Government was committed to developing Nigeria’s indigenous defence industry through the Defence…