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Forest Crisis Deepens! NFSS Tells FG: ‘National Security Is Incomplete Without Forest Protection
The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has called on the Federal Government to integrate forest security into the broader national security architecture, warning that ungoverned forest areas continue to pose a major threat to Nigeria’s stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Dr. John Metchie, the Deputy Commander-General in charge of Intelligence at the NFSS, made the appeal during a zonal training exercise for NFSS personnel held in Jos, the Plateau State capital. His remarks were contained in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Metchie noted that forests remain some of the most vulnerable and neglected areas in Nigeria, often excluded from national security planning despite being exploited by criminals.
“While the Army, Police, and other conventional security forces focus on urban centres and highways, vast forest regions across Nigeria remain largely unmonitored. That’s where we are most needed,” he stated.
He explained that the NFSS was established to fill this critical gap by gathering intelligence within forested regions, monitoring illicit activity, and supporting security agencies in tackling crimes such as banditry, arms smuggling, illegal mining, and cross-border trafficking.
Metchie added that NFSS operatives are predominantly local residents who understand the terrain better than conventional forces. Embedded within forest communities, they are uniquely positioned to provide timely and accurate intelligence.
Training sessions, he said, were being held simultaneously in states including Nasarawa, Benue, and across the South-East and North-East to improve officers’ capabilities in intelligence collection and inter-agency coordination.
“Our operatives are trained to collect, analyse, and share forest-based intelligence with relevant bodies like the Army, Police, and Immigration Service,” he said. “We’ve been described as the missing link in Nigeria’s security framework — and rightly so.”
He stressed that the NFSS operates in a complementary, not competitive, capacity with sister agencies.
Metchie also praised President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and urged him to sign the pending Forest Security Bill to grant the NFSS full legal and institutional recognition.
“Our officers are trained, deployed, and ready. All we ask for is legislative backing to operate optimally as a national security asset,” he added.
Also speaking, Commander of the Plateau State Command, David Mwahoss, disclosed that over 5,000 officers are currently active across local communities in the state. He said NFSS personnel had made significant sacrifices, with some losing their lives in the line of duty.
“If granted full federal support, NFSS can secure forested and rural areas that conventional forces find hard to access,” he said. “We are locals who know the terrain intimately and can act swiftly on credible intelligence.”
Mwahoss concluded by warning that forest insecurity remains a major driver of wider instability, adding, “Strengthening forest security is no longer optional — it is a national imperative.
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The Bulldozers Are Coming! Kano Targets Azman University In Massive Illegal Property Crackdown.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has dismissed recent claims by 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi regarding Nigeria’s power generation goals. During an Arise Television interview, Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s core electricity crisis stems from structural deficits—such as gas supply shortages, a $4 trillion legacy debt owed to suppliers, and an aging national grid—rather than a lack of generation capacity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Onanuga noted that the nation already possesses an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts, exceeding Obi’s promise to add 10,000 megawatts. He argued that the former governor lacks a clear understanding of the existing infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the Tinubu administration is actively tackling these issues through the Electricity Act, which decentralizes power management, and the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO) to improve performance. He maintained that power generation has seen marked improvement since the current administration took office in May 2023.
President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged Peter Obi’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years. In a recent interview, Onanuga stated that Obi’s plan ignores the reality that Nigeria’s installed capacity is already 13,500 megawatts—a figure that remains underutilized due to structural failures.
Onanuga identified the country’s primary obstacles as an outdated national grid, chronic gas supply issues, and a massive legacy debt of over ₦4 trillion owed to gas companies. He asserted that the current administration is addressing these systemic problems through legislative reforms, specifically citing the Electricity Act, which allows states to manage their own power generation, transmission, and distribution. Onanuga concluded that electricity output has already trended upward since May 2023 and that the government’s focus remains on optimizing existing assets rather than merely chasing higher capacity targets.
Bayo Onanuga is pushing back against Peter Obi’s recent promise to boost Nigeria’s power supply by 10,000 megawatts. According to President Tinubu’s spokesperson, the real issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a broken system.
Onanuga pointed out that Nigeria already has 13,500 megawatts of installed capacity, most of which sits idle due to three main roadblocks:
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The Grid: Outdated infrastructure that cannot handle current demands.
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Gas Supply: A crippling lack of fuel for power plants.
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Legacy Debt: A massive ₦4 trillion debt pile-up owed to gas suppliers.
Onanuga credited the Tinubu administration with tackling these hurdles head-on, specifically through the new Electricity Act that empowers states to generate and distribute their own power. He insists that the sector is already performing better than it was in May 2023 and that the focus is on fixing the structural bottlenecks, not just expanding capacity.
Would you like me to focus on a specific aspect of this report, such as the economic implications or the political disagreement between the two figures?
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja initiated an investigation into the unauthorized release of a video linked to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Investigation into the Leaked Video
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Court Directive: Following a complaint from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), regarding a video statement that surfaced on the social media platform of influencer “VeryDarkMan” despite a court-imposed restriction, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an inquiry.
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National Security Concerns: The DPP characterized the leak as a national security risk that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings, noting the video had already surpassed 6,000 views.
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Defense Stance: While defense counsel denied involvement in the leak, they held varying views on a probe; some welcomed an investigation, while others, like Sanusi Musa (SAN), cautioned against acting without formal evidence.
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Judicial Ruling: Invoking Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Justice Abdulmalik mandated the DSS to identify and bring any responsible parties before the court, noting that such prosecution would be handled separately from the main coup trial.
Trial Testimony and Bail Proceedings
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Witness Testimony: A prosecution witness, an Army officer codenamed “DDD,” testified that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team—including the Army, DSS, DIA, and EFCC—and explicitly denied that the defendants were chained, coerced, or tortured during interrogation.
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Defense Challenges: During cross-examination, defense lawyers challenged the interrogation process, specifically noting the absence of family members or legal representation during the suspects’ questioning; however, the witness stated no such requests were made by the defendants.
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Bail Applications: The court heard bail arguments from the defense, which the DPP opposed; Justice Abdulmalik has reserved her ruling on these applications and adjourned the trial-within-trial for the first three defendants until June 25 and June 30.
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Deportation of Nigerian National: A Nigerian citizen named Ayodeji Ajayi has been deported from the United States following a series of criminal convictions, which include domestic violence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Immigration Status: According to a statement released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their official account, Ajayi had been living in the US illegally for nearly two decades after failing to depart the country following the expiration of his student visa.
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Criminal History: ICE reported that after abandoning his studies, Ajayi amassed a significant criminal record that includes convictions for domestic violence, trespassing, intimidation, and obstruction. Furthermore, his record includes charges involving kidnapping, rape, and family neglect.
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Administrative Context: ICE attributed the removal of Ajayi to the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump, noting the administration’s commitment to deporting criminal undocumented immigrants.
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Missing Details: While the agency confirmed the deportation, they did not specify when it occurred, nor did they provide additional details regarding the jurisdictions of the convictions or the current status of his pending criminal charges.
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Policy Enforcement: This action reflects the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to intensify enforcement and increase the number of removals of undocumented individuals with criminal backgrounds across the United States.
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