Former Texas mayor Mike Arnold has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, outlining conditions he says must be met before he will stop criticising the Nigerian government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Arnold disclosed the conditions in a letter published on his verified X account, according to reports.

The American lawyer said he would end his criticism of Tinubu if the President acknowledged the plight of displaced Nigerians living in at least eight camps within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and took urgent steps to ease their suffering.

He urged the President to provide immediate assistance to the affected families, seek support from international humanitarian organisations and ensure that displaced persons have access to adequate food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and education for their children.

Arnold also called on the Tinubu administration to take decisive action to remove Boko Haram and other armed terrorist groups from the ancestral lands of the displaced families, allowing them to return to their homes and live in peace.

In his letter, Arnold wrote: “Acknowledge the tens of thousands of innocent displaced Nigerians, as many as 40,000 or more, living in at least eight horrific camps inside the Federal Capital Territory. Acknowledge that they exist. Acknowledge that they are suffering. Then act.

“I believe I am shaking your table far more than Reno Omokri ever dared. And I’m only getting started. I was the number one target of attack for your $9 million US lobby contract, and it only made me more popular, influential and determined.

“Do you want me to be quiet? I do not want a shambassadorial appointment. I do not want a government position, contract, favour or money.

“Do all I asked, and I will not say another word about you or the presidential election. I will step away knowing that the widows, orphans and displaced families I have fought for are finally being seen, protected and helped.

“No appointment. No payment. No personal benefit. Just mercy. Justice. Action. The choice is yours, Mr President,” Arnold stated.

The former mayor maintained that his demands were focused on humanitarian assistance and security for displaced Nigerians rather than any personal gain from the government.

He challenged Tinubu to take concrete steps to address the conditions in the camps, insisting that meeting the needs of vulnerable families would be enough to bring his criticism of the President and the 2027 presidential election to an end.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the State House in Abuja, with the country’s security chiefs and heads of security agencies in attendance.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The meeting focused on security preparations for the 2027 general elections, according to reports.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), said the gathering was convened to brief the President on the country’s security situation ahead of the elections scheduled for January 2027.

Musa explained that the security officials held extensive discussions with Tinubu, who emphasised his commitment to ensuring a free, fair and credible electoral process.

The defence minister also assured political parties, citizens and other stakeholders that the military would remain neutral throughout the elections.

He said Nigerians had nothing to fear, adding that security agencies would fulfil their responsibilities to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.

“Today’s meeting was to brief Mr President on the security situation within the country. You know, the elections are coming in January, and it’s important that we keep him abreast of what is ongoing. You can see all heads of security agencies are here.

“We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote.

“And so, we want to assure Nigerians that we are committed. We are determined to ensure that we provide safety and security for all Nigerians. Everyone should come out and vote. Vote for whoever they want.

“The president wants the atmosphere to be free, and it’s important for all other political parties to understand that the security forces are going to be neutral.

“We are going to ensure that we give everybody opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and that nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons,” Musa said.

The meeting reportedly lasted about five hours and took place in the President’s office on the first floor of the State House.

Those in attendance included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Defence Minister Christopher Musa; and Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam.

Others present were the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major-General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.).

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, also attended alongside the three service chiefs: Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Undiandeye, was also present.

Other participants included the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.

Motorists travelling between Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State can now use the First Niger Bridge following its reopening by the Federal Government after about 38 days of closure for rehabilitation work.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, officially reopened the bridge on Thursday in the presence of government officials and traditional rulers from both states.

The bridge was closed on September 7 after damaged structural components, including steel parts around the expansion joints, were discovered.

Although the repair work was initially scheduled for completion on September 21, persistent rainfall and other challenges delayed the project.

According to The Punch, photographs of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside banners of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were displayed on the bridge following its reopening.

Speaking during the ceremony at the Onitsha end of the bridge, Umahi called on residents of the South-East and South-South regions to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He argued that the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects in the two regions provided reasons for residents to back the President.

“We have no regret supporting President Bola Tinubu. Let me declare, in opening this bridge, that I have no regret supporting Mr President.

“I am very proud to have him as my boss. He is the most qualified and eminently qualified to lead this country,” the minister said.

Umahi explained that reopening the bridge was also an opportunity to acknowledge Tinubu’s contributions to infrastructure development in the South-East and South-South.

He commended the governors of Anambra and Delta states, as well as the contractor, SKCC, for their contributions to the rehabilitation project.

“We must commend the contractors, SKCC, very highly; they have worked very well,” he said.

The minister stated that the rehabilitation was intended to improve traffic movement and enhance the safety of motorists using the bridge. However, he acknowledged that some aspects of the work were still ongoing.

Journalists present at the reopening observed that some railings had been repainted, while workers were completing finishing touches on other sections. Fresh road markings had also been applied, and CCTV cameras were installed at various points along the bridge.

During an earlier inspection, Umahi had disclosed plans to display Tinubu’s photographs on the bridge after the rehabilitation.

He also directed the removal of unauthorised advertisements from the structure, explaining that the President’s photographs would be displayed to recognise his contributions to the South-East.

The First Niger Bridge was completed in 1965 and serves as a major transport link between Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions.

Traditional rulers from Anambra and Delta states who attended the reopening ceremony commended the Federal Government for rehabilitating the bridge. They described the project as the first major rehabilitation of its kind since the bridge was opened in 1965.

Some motorists also expressed relief over the reopening, saying it would ease the difficulties associated with travelling between Onitsha and Asaba.

They explained that the closure had forced road users to take alternative routes, resulting in longer journeys and increased transport fares.