• Critique of Current Police Strength: Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, stated that Nigeria’s current number of police officers is vastly inadequate to serve a population exceeding 200 million.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Need for Expansion: During an appearance on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’, the lawmaker argued that the country requires at least 1 million police officers to meet operational needs.

  • Comparison to International Standards: Highlighting that Nigeria fails to meet United Nations benchmarks—which recommend 200 to 400 officers per 100,000 citizens—Ndume emphasized that the nation’s total police capacity is insufficient.

  • Support for Decentralization: Ndume expressed full support for the creation of state police, arguing that a centralized system under a single Inspector-General of Police is ineffective for a country as vast as Nigeria.

  • Context of the Statement: These comments followed the Senate’s passage of a bill on Wednesday aimed at establishing state police to better combat national insecurity, with Ndume advocating for governors to hold authority as chief security officers of their respective states.

• South Africa’s Historic Milestone: In a defining moment for the nation, South Africa secured their first-ever knockout stage appearance after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey. Thapelo Maseko netted the decisive second-half goal, booking a round-of-32 clash against Canada in Los Angeles.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Brazil and Morocco Advance from Group C: Brazil cemented their position at the top of Group C with a dominant 3-0 win over Scotland, fueled by a Vinicius Jr. brace and a Matheus Cunha strike. Meanwhile, Morocco clinched second place in the group following a high-energy 4-2 win against a resilient Haiti side, setting up a potential knockout tie against the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden.

  • Mexico’s Perfect Campaign: Co-hosts Mexico closed out a flawless group stage by defeating the Czech Republic 3-0 in Mexico City. The match featured a goal from Mateo Chavez, an influential performance from 17-year-old rising star Gilberto Mora, and a late appearance by veteran Guillermo Ochoa.

  • Group B Developments: Switzerland secured the top spot in Group B with a 2-1 win over Canada, courtesy of two Breel Embolo assists. The result forces Canada to travel to Los Angeles for their upcoming match against South Africa. In the same group, Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their tournament hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over Qatar, putting them in contention for a spot in the next round as one of the best third-placed teams.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has revealed the discovery of a “world-class” polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State. Speaking at the 2026 African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, Alake identified the deposits as including gold, nickel, copper, lithium, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Significance: The discovery is considered one of the most substantial advancements in the Nigerian mining sector in recent years.

• Verification and Collaboration: These findings, which contain exceptionally high-grade deposits of minerals essential for advanced manufacturing and clean energy, were verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency following exploration by a private company.

• Global Positioning: The discovery aims to improve Nigeria’s standing in the international market for critical rare earth minerals and attract sustainable mining investment.

• Economic Strategy: Moving away from the historical practice of exporting raw minerals, the government is prioritizing domestic beneficiation and value addition.

• Investment Impact: Minister Alake noted that billions of dollars have been committed by investors toward processing projects intended to restructure the nation’s economy.

This announcement followed the unveiling of approximately 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves by Steron Mining and Company Limited during a facility tour for summit delegates.