Politics
Terror attacks: Why Nigeria would remain in CPC list – US
***Decries renewed attack on Benue, Plateau communities
*** Urges F to meet its commitments to protect Nigerian communities
**”UK issues travel warning alert to citizens in 11 states
By Eze Nnadi (with agency report)
As the Nigerian government insists that the terrorist attacks across the country cut across the various religious and ethnic groups , and not targeted at only Christians as the United States of America has claimed, the US has insisted that Nigeria would not be removing ved from it’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC), following the renewed terror attacks across the middle belt and other regions of the country
This is as the US State Department has called on the federal government to protect Christian communities after last week’s attack at Mangu, Plateau state that left over 24 people were reportedly killed with several missing
The Department of State noted that the federal government made the commitment to protect Nigerian Christians during it meeting over allegations of Christian genocide
Also, the US Bureau of African Affairs in a similar post, condemned the latest attack in Plateau State where several locals reportedly lost their lifes
Supporting the State Department position, a member of the US Congress, Rep. Riley Moore, insisted that the United States must not remove Nigeria from its Country of Particular Concern, CPC, designation list over alleged persecution of Christians, citing continued violence in the Middle Belt.
Moore, who was among the US congressmen that interfaced with the Nigerian delegation in both the United States of America (USA), and at home in December 2025, made the position known yesterday in a post on his official X handle, while responding to a statement by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
The lawmaker backed the State Department’s call for the federal government to protect Christian communities after Plateau attack, saying it was a commitment Abuja made.
“We absolutely CANNOT remove the CPC designation from Nigeria while radical Islamic terrorists continue this horrific violence against Christians,” the Congressman wrote.
“@AsstSecStateAF is right. The Nigerian government must meet its commitments to protect innocent Christian communities in Plateau and Benue states
“The United States is horrified by yet another murderous attack in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, killing dozens of people asleep in their homes in Plateau State.
“This is especially troubling coming on the heels of the recent CPC Working Group meeting. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those missing and killed, and we strongly urge the Nigerian government to meet their commitments to protect Christian communities and to hold perpetrators of violence accountable,” the Bureau said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied any religious targeting in the conflicts, describing them largely as clashes over land, resources and criminality.
Nigeria was first designated as a CPC in 2020 under the International Religious Freedom Act, a tag given to countries deemed to have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, but was removed from the list in 2021
The Trump administration returned Nigeria to the list last year following the series of terror attacks and killings in Benue, Plateau, Niger and several other states in the country
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has advised its citizens against all travel to parts of 11 Nigerian states, while it warned against all but essential travel to parts of 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The UK advisory was contained in the latest Nigeria travel advice published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday.
According to the advisory, updated on August 20, 2026, the FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states in the North-East.
It also warned against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara states in the North-West.
In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all travel to riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
The FCDO defined the affected areas as “the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road.”
The UK government also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi State in the North-East.
In the North-West, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto states were placed under the same advisory.
The FCDO further listed Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue states in the North-Central region as areas where it advised against all but essential travel.
The advisory also covered the Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja.
In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all but essential travel to Abia State, Anambra State and Imo State, as well as non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The FCDO cautioned travellers that “No travel can be guaranteed safe” and urged those planning trips to Nigeria to read its travel advice before travelling.
The UK government also advised travellers to “research your destinations” and “get appropriate travel insurance” if they chose to travel.
It warned that “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”
2027: We made mistakes, APC chairman begs aggrieved members, seeks unity
By Adeyemi Johnson (Ibadan)
As political parties mobilise for election campaigns, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s primaries
Yilwatda, said on Thursday at the opening of the APC campaign office in Ibadan, Oyo state, that the National Working Committee takes responsibility for all primary election actions having been the body that appointed the election committees
The chairman appealed to aggrieved members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The responsibility extended beyond Oyo State. The committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and, therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.
“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.
“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility for all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry.”
The chairman further urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.
He noted that Oyo state is in the priority list of the APC, adding that the APC was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.
In his address, the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s national chairman for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.
“The achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.”
“The promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled. We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.
The proposal for implementation of state Police received a noisy on Tuesday, as the Delta State House of Assembly became the sixth State to approved the bill which was sent to the states by the National Assembly for deliberation and accent
The assembly in an overwhelming vote by all the 23 members present, approved the proposed sixth alteration to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with all 23 members present voting in favour.
The debate was led by the House Leader during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor.
After the approval, Guwor commended the lawmakers, describing the decision as a significant step towards establishing a policing system that would respond more effectively to security challenges in local communities.
He said the proposed reform could improve intelligence gathering and strengthen efforts to protect lives and property
“For Delta State, this reform holds great promise for protecting lives and property, sustaining peace and creating a safer environment for investment and development,” the Speaker said.
He added that the move aligned with the state government’s MORE Agenda under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the Assembly’s approval to the National Assembly for further action.
Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has likened President Bola Tinubu to the Egypt that Nigerians will not return to in 2027, as he continued to make alternatives in rejection of fuel subsidy removal by the president
Atiku was responding to president Bola Tinubu’s statement that he will not return the already removed fuel subsidy regime, saying doing that would mean returning the country “back to Egypt”
Reacting through a statement by the Director of Strategy and Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said president Tinubu’s remarks has exposed “how little he understands the suffering of Nigerians”.
Atiku said Tinubu boasted of removing the subsidy on his first day in office “like a wicked king recounting the suffering he had inflicted as a triumph.”
The statement read, “Bola, you are the Egypt Nigerians are desperate to escape. You celebrate the day you made fuel more expensive, then lecture families struggling to pay for food and transport about why they must never go back.”
“At least Pharaoh knew he was holding people captive. Tinubu watches families cut meals, workers spend their salaries on transport and businesses struggle to keep their lights on, then tells them a story about Moses. He may quote scripture, but he governs like Pharaoh, Herod and Ahab combined: deaf to the cries of the people, proud of the hardship he has imposed and convinced that power excuses him from answering for it.
“Bola, a mother trying to feed her children cannot pay for food with a metaphor. A worker cannot get to work on a story about the Red Sea. Nigerians are asking how you intend to make life affordable. Answer them.
“I will make life affordable again through practical relief Nigerians can feel. My proposal is clear: give limited, budgeted support only to verified petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians. Imported fuel gets nothing. Independent auditors must track every naira, and the benefit must reach consumers in the price they pay. If it does not lower that price, it has failed its purpose.
“But hardship is not the only captivity Nigerians face. Tinubu’s failure on security cannot be buried under Buhari’s record. He asked Nigerians for the presidency knowing that communities were under attack, families were paying ransom and children were afraid to travel to school. He took the oath to protect them. Yet his own campaign Director-General asks, ‘What do you expect Tinubu to do when even Buhari, a general, could not wipe out insecurity?’ Let me remind them that President Yar’Adua was not a sergeant, yet he stamped it out.
“Nigerians expect their President to confront the killers, rescue the abducted and make it possible to travel, farm, work and sleep without fear. If Tinubu cannot tell them how he will do that after more than three years in office, he has no business asking for four more years. The lives lost under his watch are not an argument about his predecessor. They are an indictment of his own leadership.
“And look at what Tinubu asks of the officers sent to protect us. A retired Assistant Superintendent told me he receives ₦29,000 a month. Serving officers are drawing down their pension savings to feed their families. How can a President demand courage from police officers in the field while leaving them worried about food at home and destitution in retirement?
“Bola, answer the retired officers asking for a pension they can live on. Act on the Police Exit Bill and review serving officers’ salaries, as was done for members of the Armed Forces. Give the people who protect Nigerians the pay, healthcare and retirement security their service has earned.
“Stop pointing to Egypt as though it lies behind us. For millions of Nigerians, Egypt is the hunger, fear and indignity they are living through under you. They deserve affordable fuel, safe communities and police officers who can serve without sacrificing their families’ future. Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again.”
From Maurice Ugwoke (Enugu)
The Enugu state government said it is set to commence the payment of twenty five years owed arrears of gratuities of local government retirees in the state.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Enugu State, Hon Ferdinand Ukwueze, while briefing Government House correspondents after the 40th meeting of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, which was chaired by Governor Peter Mbah.
Ukwueze, who is also the Chairman of Igboeze South Local Government Area, expressed the determination of the state government to settle inherited gratuity obligations and improve the welfare of retirees.
According to him, “In a very historic manner, the local government system in Enugu State has taken the bold step of aligning with the state’s policy of alleviating the hardship of the masses. In line with the payment of the legacy gratuity that the state government embarked on a couple of days ago, the local governments have also decided at the Economic Planning Commission meeting to step into that arrangement to make sure that we clear all the gratuities we inherited.
“Beginning from this month, we are going to key into what the state government has started implementing already by making sure that we offset those debts. The decision is that starting from this month, 10 per cent of our monthly allocation will be dedicated to that responsibility until it is cleared. So, once we start it, there is no going back. Every worker who worked in our local governments will have access to this entitlement
“For clarity, the arrears are from the year 2000, but, as I said, we are going to clear all the over 25-year legacy gratuities. The reason is to put smiles on the faces of the masses, especially those of them who spent their youthfulness serving the public in our various local government areas.”
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