General News
FG seeks UN backing for regional maritime force in Gulf of Guinea
Itoro Umoren
Nigeria has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to support the establishment of a regional maritime security force for the Gulf of Guinea, with its proposed Combined Maritime Task Force to be headquartered in the country.
This is part of Nigeria’s efforts to tackle piracy, kidnapping for ransom and other maritime crimes in the region.
The country also called for predictable and sustainable international financing for regional maritime operations, alongside the development of a shared regional maritime surveillance system to strengthen cooperation among Gulf of Guinea States.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, disclosed this in a statement on Nigeria’s position at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Nigeria’s statement was delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, during the debate themed, “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security”.
Ahmed warned that organised criminal networks were increasingly exploiting emerging technologies, including satellite communications, to carry out piracy, kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities across the Gulf of Guinea.
He, however, noted that the effective use of similar technologies by governments had helped improve maritime surveillance and reduce criminal activities, stressing the need for stronger regional cooperation and information-sharing to maximise their benefits.
Highlighting Nigeria’s efforts, the Permanent Secretary cited the Deep Blue Project, which combines unmanned aerial vehicles, maritime domain awareness systems and an advanced central command and control centre to improve surveillance, strengthen response capabilities and combat maritime crimes.
He also pointed to the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, as an example of Nigeria’s efforts to establish a strong legal framework for prosecuting maritime offenders.
As part of its recommendations, Nigeria called on the Security Council to encourage international partners, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other relevant bodies to support the development of a shared regional maritime picture through the Yaoundé Architecture, building on UNSC Resolution 2634 (2022).
According to Ahmed, the initiative would allow national surveillance systems across the region to work together, improve the exchange of maritime security information and strengthen regional ownership of security operations, while ensuring appropriate human oversight.
He also stressed that developing coastal countries should have fair and affordable access to maritime security technologies to prevent innovation from widening existing gaps in the region’s capacity to tackle criminal activities.
On funding, Ahmed urged the Security Council to adopt predictable and sustainable financing arrangements for regional maritime operations, drawing on the framework under UNSC Resolution 2719 (2023), which provides for sustainable funding of African Union-led peace support operations.
He specifically called for the alignment of the financial framework with the proposed Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea, recommended to be headquartered in Nigeria and endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council in April 2025.
Ahmed reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with Gulf of Guinea countries, regional organisations, the African Union and the United Nations to make the region’s waters safer for seafarers, coastal communities and international shipping.
General News
Kaura wins APC re-run primary for Zamfara North after court nullifies earlier election

By Chinwo Aginta
Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura has won the All Progressives Congress primary for Zamfara North, securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election after a court nullified its earlier nomination process over reported irregularities.
Kaura polled 16,758 votes in Monday’s re-run, well ahead of Sahabi Alhaji Yau, who received 1,465 votes, and Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who scored 1,447, according to results announced by the party’s senatorial primary election committee.
The fresh election followed a Court of Appeal decision in Sokoto upholding a Federal High Court ruling in Gusau that invalidated the previous primary and ordered the APC to conduct another exercise.
The committee’s announcement brings an end to the court-ordered contest over the party’s nomination in the senatorial district, with Kaura emerging ahead of the two other aspirants.
Announcing the results, committee member Sani Abdullahi said Kaura secured the highest number of valid votes and fulfilled the requirements for nomination under the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.
The committee said 19,608 delegates were accredited from a register of 23,257, while 19,292 valid votes were recorded.
The result sheet was signed by the committee’s chairman and secretary on November 2, formally returning Kaura as the APC candidate for Zamfara North.
General News
DSS dismisses Atiku’s claims, says two operatives hurt while protecting Sokoto ADC guber candidate;
The Department of State Services (DSS) has punctured a claim by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that it is recruiting protesters to create disorder in Sokoto State and provide an excuse for imposing a curfew to stop the party’s campaign rally.
In a statement on its official X handle, the secret police said it was surprised that Atiku could make such claim days after two of its operatives suffered injuries and were hospitalised while protecting the ADC governorship candidate in the state, Mannir Daniya, from a mob attack.
According to the DSS, after safely evacuating the Sokoto ADC governorship candidate, the politician later called personally to appreciate the State Director of the Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.
The Service recalled that on 2nd March 2026, it arrested one Monday Udeme Steven in Rivers State, for threatening to attack the National Democratic Party (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
The DSS stated that it successfully prosecuted Udeme in a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, and that he is currently serving a two-year sentence in prison.
The statement read in full:
“The attention of the DG Department of State Services (DSS) has been been drawn to allegation by elder statesman and ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji ATIKU ABUBAKAR that, DSS is organizing protests in Sokoto State.
“For the Records, DSS Operatives deployed to Sokoto ADC Governorship Candidate; Mannir Daniya, evacuated him to safety unhurt on 31st October 2026 when attacked in Sokoto. Two (2) DSS operatives were assaulted during the incident and are still being treated in the hospital. The governorship candidate called personally to appreciate the State Director of Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.
“Though these operations to protect all Political Parties is at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralize our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DGDSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman.
“The Service also use this medium to reference a similar allegation by AAC Presidential Candidate Omoyele SOWORE that, the Service was involved in an attack on him in Ekiti State. In this regard, we thank the Police for swift investigation and a preliminary Report on the cause of the incident; “altercation”, coupled with the arrest of eleven (11) suspects. We await the outcome of Police investigation and will not dissipate energy on the matter.
“The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG,” the statement concluded.
General News
2027: Bauchi Gov thumps down for thuggery, demands transparency
Abu Umar
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has on Tuesday vowed that his administration will not tolerate any breach of peace, political thuggery or disruption of stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Mohammed stated this while addressing members of the State Executive Council in Bauchi.
He said his administration’s collaboration with security agencies has restored peace, allowing citizens to farm, go to school and live freely, and warned that such peace must not be compromised for politics.
“As we approach the election cycle, our security apparatus must remain hyper-vigilant. We will tolerate no breach of peace, no political thuggery and no disruption to the stability of our dear state,” he declared.
The Governor said the government will continue to support security agencies with accommodation, vehicles and logistics to maintain impartiality and effectiveness.
He also warned against last-minute abuse of due process as political temperature rises, insisting that adherence to public procurement laws and financial regulations must be watertight.
“We will leave behind an administration defined by transparency, not last-minute lapses in due process,” he said.
The Governor directed that no bureaucratic delays or lackadaisical attitudes should be entertained, stressing that time is of the essence to solidify his Bauchi Project agenda.
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