The Presidency has questioned the credibility of Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term if elected president, citing his past departure from the All Progressives Grand Alliance despite…
The post Presidency revisits Peter Obi’s APGA exit, dismisses one-term pledge appeared first on Tribune Online.
The Imo State Police Command has officially disbanded the Tiger Base Unit, one of the known tactical squads within the command and replaced it with the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, for effective response to violent crimes in the state.
Other tactical squads that were disbanded include Scorpion Unit and Lion Squad.
Unveiling the new tactical squad at the Command Headquarters, Owerri, the State Police Commissioner, Audu Garba Bosso, said the new initiative is in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunj Rilwalu Disu, aimed at strengthening operational capacity and response to violent crimes across the federation.
The establishment of the VCRU, according to Bosso, became necessary following the disbandment of the former tactical units with animal symbols, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit popularly known as Tiger Base and others.
He added that VCRU also reflects the ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force aimed at deepening professionalism, accountability, and improved service delivery.
The police Commissioner, after inspection of the new Squad along with other Heads of Security Agencies and Stakeholders, said the inauguration of the new Unit further underscores the Command’s commitment to consolidating professional policing standards while improving public safety and security across the state.
He pointed out that personnel of the Unit were carefully selected based on competence, discipline, integrity and operational experience.
“They have undergone rigorous specialised training in tactical operations, intelligence gathering, crisis management, human rights compliance and professional conduct to ensure effective and lawful service delivery,” the CP said.
In ensuring operational transparency and accountability, the Command also inaugurated the Civilian Oversight Board, COB, which will monitor the operations of the new Unit and report public complaints to the office of the Police Commissioner.
In his speech, the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, represented at the event by his Chief Principal Security Officer, Gboyako Shaba Adamu, commended the initiative and reaffirmed the State Government’s continued support for security agencies in maintaining law and order across the State.
The event attracted top Government Officials, Heads of Security Agencies, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organizations, Community Leaders, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and others.
It also featured the official unveiling of the VCRU logo, operational dress code and other activities as the Command used the occasion to urge members of the public to support the Unit with prompt and credible information.
The newly constituted Unit, according to a spokesperson of the Command, Henry Okoye, is mandated to proactively tackle violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms and other serious felonious offenses through intelligence-led policing and rapid response operations.
He also maintained that VCRU will strengthen collaboration with Communities and sister security agencies in its operations.
The Command reiterates its commitment to professional policing, protection of lives and property, and sustained peace and security across the State.
Stakeholders who participated in the event advised the newly formed Unit to operate with a human face and eschew actions capable of bringing the Unit to public ridicule.
Imo police command disbands tiger base, launches VCRU for effective crime fighting
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Paul Kagame have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda through renewed diplomatic and economic engagements. President Tinubu reached the agreement during a meeting with President Kagame at the Urugwiro Village shortly after arriving in Kigali for the Africa CEO Forum. According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, […]
The post Tinubu, Kagame to deepen bilateral relationship appeared first on Tribune Online.
The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has pledged support for the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FONWAN ) ahead of its 2026 Annual National Conference scheduled to hold in Abia State.
Mrs. Otti gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the association led by the Chairman of the National Organising Committee, Hajiya Isimekhai, at her country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The delegation visited to formally intimate the First Lady on the association’s activities and seek collaboration for the conference slated for August 19 to 23, 2026, at the Federal Government Girls College, Umuahia.
The conference, themed “Faith, Resilience and Responsibility: Muslim Women Responding to Challenges,” is expected to attract over 600 participants from within and outside Nigeria.
Speaking during the meeting, Mrs. Otti commended FOMWAN for its longstanding contributions to women empowerment, girl-child education, healthcare, and humanitarian services across the country since its establishment in 1985.
She noted that the organisation’s programmes are in line with the vision of the administration of Governor Otti in promoting inclusiveness, peace, and sustainable development.
“Abia State remains open to initiatives that promote unity, development, and social progress.
“We are delighted to welcome FOMWAN to the state,” she said.
Mrs. Otti assured the delegation of the support and cooperation of the state government towards ensuring a successful and hitch-free conference.
“We appreciate the role of women-focused organisations in shaping society and promoting positive values. The state government will continue to encourage such initiatives,” she added.
She also praised the Amirah of FOMWAN in Abia State, Hajiya Azeezat, for her efforts in securing the hosting rights for the state.
Speaking also, Hajiya explained that the visit was to familiarise the First Lady with the vision and programmes of the organisation and to seek the support of the state government ahead of the conference.
She described FOMWAN as a faith-based, non-governmental organisation dedicated to education, moral development, humanitarian service, and community advancement.
“Our organisation remains committed to promoting education, supporting women, and contributing positively to national development,” she stated.
Hajiya also commended Governor Otti for the developmental projects and transformation currently taking place across.
Abia First Lady Pledges Support For FOMWAN 2026 National Conference is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his pledge to serve only one term if elected, saying the commitment is driven by the need for structural reform in Nigeria rather than personal sacrifice. Obi made the statement during an interview with News Central, where he was asked to clarify his one-term promise. “For stability, I […]
The post VIDEO: Even with gun in my head, I won’t stay beyond four years — Peter Obi appeared first on Tribune Online.
Experts have called for stronger collective action on climate governance, warning that climate change now poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s economy, security, and national stability. Delivering a keynote address at the EnviroNews Media Literacy Training on Climate Change Governance, Gender Mainstreaming, and the UNFCCC and Minamata Convention, former member of the House of Representatives, […]
The post Climate change now direct threat to Nigeria’s economy and security — Experts appeared first on Tribune Online.
Adedayo Amzat, the Group Managing Director of leading financial services firm, Zedcrest Group, has officially commissioned a memoir, Building in Chaos: From Sawdust to Green Rugs, at his 40th birthday celebration held in Lagos.
The milestone event brought together family, friends, captains of industry, business leaders, media personalities, and other distinguished guests to commemorate a defining personal milestone while celebrating the release of a book that captures the journey, lessons, and legacy of one of Nigeria’s respected finance executives.
The evening unfolded as a celebration of achievement, gratitude, and vision. Guests witnessed the formal commissioning of the book, goodwill tributes, reflections on Adedayo Amzat’s life and career, networking moments, curated entertainment, and a surprise artist performance that elevated the atmosphere.
More than a birthday celebration, the event served as a tribute to four decades of resilience, leadership, enterprise, and impact, while marking the public release of a deeply personal body of work.
Synopsis
Building in Chaos: From Sawdust to Green Rugs is the story of Adedayo Amzat’s journey from a childhood shaped by scarcity, duty, and the sharp inequalities of Nigeria, to building one of the country’s notable financial services groups. It begins in the first Nigeria he knew: sawdust stoves, face-me-I-face-you compounds, rationed meals, crowded classrooms, and the early awareness that opportunity is not evenly distributed.
At ten, Dayo glimpsed another Nigeria: green rugs, video games, full plates, and children who could take comfort for granted. That encounter awakened his ambition and created a lifelong question: how does a child cross from one world into another, and what should he do once he gets there?
The book follows that crossing through schools, NYSC, Access Bank, the founding of Zedcrest, the painful early years of Zedvance, regulatory battles, investment mistakes, personal reckoning, and the long work of turning all that hustle into an institution. It is a story of grit, luck, judgment, failure, recovery, and the emotional cost of becoming the person everyone expects to succeed.
More than a memoir, Building in Chaos is a reflection on Nigeria itself: its disorder, its talent, its invisible class lines, and the bridges that must be built between them. It is a personal story, but also a quiet argument that no country can afford to waste children simply because they were born too far from the bright lights.
With the successful launch of the book at this milestone celebration, Adedayo Amzat adds author and storyteller to a career already defined by entrepreneurship and leadership, offering readers an honest and timely contribution to conversations around ambition, nation-building, and legacy.Building in Chaos: From Sawdust to Green Rugs is now available for preorder via http://buildinginchaos.com
Zedcrest Boss, Adedayo Amzat, Commissions Memoir at 40th Birthday Celebration
Health stakeholders in Ogun State have called for the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Sexual and Reproductive Health Right and the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) guidelines in the state.
They lamented the neglect of women living with disabilities, stressing that some die from complications of unsafe abortion.
The stakeholders, including community representatives, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, advocates, among others, spoke on Wednesday, during a briefing and alignment meeting on inclusive SToP guidelines in Ogun State.
Speaking at the event held in Abeokuta, Paul Bennett, Executive Director, The Rainbow Alive Hub Initiative (TRAHI), noted that the meeting aimed to identify the challenges faced by the PWDs, close existing gaps and advocate for their welfare.
Bennett applauded the Ogun state government for the introduction of the SToP guidelines to protects women, but lamented that they do extend to all categories of women like persons with disabilities, mentally challenged women, drug addicts among others.
He said, “We advanced certain policies, within the state, that helped make sexual reproductive health and bodily autonomy for these women possible. But we also discovered that there were a group of women that were left behind, especially those living with disabilities.
“Their issues are compounded, there’s a need to tighten policies to address these gaps, where you have people living with, maybe visual impairment, or people who cannot speak, being impregnated, they can’t point to who impregnated them. And then they cannot also procure abortion freely.
“This is a huge gap that we need to address. It’s a collective effort and that’s why we are here to listen to your complains.”
God’s Gift Udoh, Director of Programs at TRAHI, stated that while the SToP guidelines cover all women in Ogun State, awareness and implementation remain lacking for PWDs.
“When it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights, no community should be left behind,” Udoh added, stressing that collaborative effort is needed to achieve the SDG 2030 agenda of leaving no one behind.
In his remarks, Dr. Michael Ebonhor, State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), advocated for PWDs to be included in the vulnerable group and provided with free health insurance scheme.
He decried the unaccessible health centers, derogatory language and stereotypes from medical professionals such as “with this condition who impregnated you?,” adding that these and other factors discourage them from visiting the hospital.
Ebonhor, however, called for training and retraining of medical professionals, emphasizing the need to address the information gap, as many ladies and girls with disabilities are unaware of where to seek help.
He added that the long route of getting justice when their rights are being violated is another significant obstacle as most people give up halfway because of financial constraints.
Another participant, identified as Adeosun Olufemi, called for more awareness and partnership in spreading the information to rural communities.
Olufemi argued that many PWDs are dying in silence, citing an experience where a deaf and dumb was raped and the survivor could not identify the perpetrator.
Responding, Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, stated that the government is still trying to get sign language interpreters across PHCs in the state, but has provided ramps with access toilets in 75 health centers across the state.
He noted that even though people with special needs seems negligible in the population, the government is making them the number one priority in the health sector, adding that comprehensive sexual reproductive health interventions are also available for them.
“It’s your choice to have sex, your choice to have relationships and it’s your choice to determine what you want to do about it.
“We come with family planning, if you don’t want to be pregnant, it’s your choice to protect yourself and if you get pregnant and you feel… don’t say because I have special needs I have to go to a quack, no, the state government has trained health workers to give you what you need. And the health centers will be waiting for you to receive you,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Rehabilitation Services, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Olekanma Funminiyi, stated that the government is doing all it can to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all women, including those living with disabilities.
Stakeholders push for PWDs inclusion in sexual health, safe abortion guidelines
AC Milan forward, Christian Pulisic, has broken his silence after he broke up with his girlfriend, Alexa Melton.
Recall that Melton, a golfer, had confirmed last month that she had separated from the USA international.
However, in an interview with Time Magazine ahead of this summer’s World Cup, Pulisic Melton was a fun, adding that she wanted to push him to enjoy his life.
“I only look at her in the most positive way,” the former Chelsea star said.
“She was a lot of fun, and she supported me in every way. She wanted to push me to enjoy my life a little bit more and do things with her and do things just in general. And I was grateful for that.”
‘She wanted me to enjoy life’ — Pulisic breaks silence after breakup with Alexa
No fewer than 296 artisans trained under the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) programme of the Industrial Training Fund in the Federal Capital Territory are set to participate in certification examinations as part of efforts by the Federal Government to equip Nigerian artisans with globally competitive skills and internationally recognised certifications. According to a statement signed […]
The post 296 FCT artisans set for international certification appeared first on Tribune Online.