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Abbas Nda Mohammed has assumed duty as the 16th commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Kwara State command.

He took over on Monday from Bala Bodinga Bawa, who has been redeployed to the national headquarters of the NSCDC.

Bodinga had served barely over one month in the state as the commandant before his redeployment to Abuja.

Commandant Mohammed is a seasoned security professional with over two decades of experience in the Corps.

He had served in several strategic capacities, including Zone 4 Headquarters, Minna; Head of Operations, NSCDC Kwara State Command; Head of Anti-Vandal Unit, Niger State Command; Area Commander, Kainji LGA; Divisional Officer, Edati LGA; Head of Counter-Terrorism Unit, Zamfara State Command; and various leadership roles within the FCT Command.

Prior to his deployment, Abbas served as Commandant, Zone 4 Headquarters, Minna.

Speaking after assuming office, the new commandant reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to protecting lives and property, safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, and strengthening intelligence-driven operations across Kwara state.

Abbas warned criminal elements, vandals, and economic saboteurs to steer clear of the state, emphasizing that the command will adopt proactive and decisive measures to combat all forms of criminality.

“Kwara State will not be a safe haven for criminals. We are fully prepared to deploy all necessary operational strategies to ensure the safety and security of lives and property,” he declared.

Commandant Abbas further pledged to strengthen collaboration with sister security agencies, traditional institutions, and relevant stakeholders to sustain peace and security in the state.

New commandant takes over at Kwara NSCDC

The Nigeria Customs Service has stepped up efforts to improve excise compliance as part of plans to meet a N400 billion revenue target for 2026.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 9, 2026, on the official page of the service.

According to the statement, the move formed part of stakeholder engagements held across the Imo/Abia and Oyo/Osun Area Commands, aimed at strengthening compliance and addressing operational challenges in excise administration.

Speaking during an engagement in Owerri, the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives Joy Edelduok, said the service is targeting N400 billion in excise revenue for 2026.

“The Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi believes we have the capacity to meet and surpass the 2026 excise revenue target,” she said.

The statement noted that the Customs Area Controller of the command Blessing Iheanacho, disclosed that nine excise factories under the command are currently not operational due to economic challenges.

She, however, expressed optimism that ongoing engagements would help revive operations and strengthen collaboration between the service and excise operators.

According to the statement, some companies including the Nigerian Bottling Company, have continued to comply with regulations through voluntary remittances.

It was further noted that In a similar engagement at the Oyo/Osun Area Command, the service stressed the need for sustained compliance to improve revenue generation.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Moses Adewole, described the engagement as a platform to strengthen collaboration with industry players.

The statement added that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the service to enhance transparency and improve overall excise administration.

Customs intensifies excise drive, targets N400bn revenue for 2026

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within

A member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, convention planning committee, Dino Melaye, has insisted that no force can prevent the party from holding its convention, citing a valid contract and full payment for the venue.

DAILY POST reported that the ADC convention scheduled on Tuesday was reportedly under threat as the party was being denied venue to hold the event.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Melaye said attempts were made to stop the event, including efforts to shut the venue gates and ask organizers to vacate the premises.

He, however, stated that the committee resisted the move, maintaining that they had a duly signed agreement with the facility’s owners and had fulfilled all financial obligations.

Melaye further declared that the party was committed to challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, expressing confidence in ADC’s growing influence.

He said: “I have that information as a member of the planning committee and the chairman of the protocol committee, and not only we were even asked to leave yesterday, they wanted to shut the gates, but we insisted, and said we are not going to leave because we have a contract duly signed with this place, and we paid fully.

“We have receipt of payments. We have duly signed contracts. The most important thing is that at the end of the day we are here, and we hold our convention here.

“Nobody will stop us. After a contract, a proper contract, with the owners of this place, and after payment and receipt issued, no battalion would have moved us away from here today. So convention is going to hold. The exercise will hold. ADC is entrenched, and we are kicking out APC.”

‘No battalion can stop ADC convention’ – Dino Melaye

By Nnasom David

The National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has rejected claims by the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) over proposed nationwide flow control and concerns about fatigue, ageing systems, and manpower shortages in Nigeria’s airspace management.

In a statement dated April 13, the association said the claims did not accurately reflect the current operational realities within the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), stressing the need for a balanced and factual assessment of the sector.

“While we acknowledge the indispensable role of Air Traffic Controllers in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air navigation services, it is necessary to present a balanced, factual perspective to avoid misrepresentation of the prevailing operational realities within NAMA,” the statement said.

NAAE maintained that NAMA has made significant progress in upgrading infrastructure and strengthening operations.

“Contrary to the claim of widespread obsolete infrastructure, NAMA has, in recent years, implemented significant upgrades to critical Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems,” it stated.

The association highlighted ongoing efforts, including the overhaul of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the deployment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) technology.

“In a move to keep the radar system functional, the process of deploying ADS-B has commenced to support the ageing national surveillance infrastructure, while efforts are ongoing through Presidential intervention to replace the ageing TRACON system,” it added.

NAAE also pointed to broader infrastructure improvements.
“There has been progressive upgrade and modernization of control towers at key airports nationwide, alongside continuous improvement of navigational aids and communications networks to enhance reliability and operational continuity,” the statement said.

On manpower, the association said NAMA has taken deliberate steps to address workforce challenges.

“The recruitment of new personnel and the re-engagement of approximately 95 per cent of retired controllers on contract basis directly counters the narrative of widespread manpower fatigue,” it stated.

NAAE also referenced welfare improvements, noting that, “NAMA has implemented a recent upward review of remuneration packages, while a comprehensive review of the Conditions of Service is currently underway.”

On the issue of flow control, the association cautioned against generalisation.

“While flow control is a recognized operational tool in global air traffic management, its proposed nationwide application must be evaluated within proper operational context,” it said.

It added that, “existing CNS systems, supported by ongoing modernization and maintenance efforts, are capable of supporting safe operations within Nigeria’s airspace.”

The association called for collaboration among stakeholders, warning against public disagreements.

“Concerns relating to welfare, infrastructure, and operations are best addressed through constructive dialogue rather than public narratives that may inadvertently undermine confidence in the aviation sector,” it stated.

NAAE further dismissed NATCA’s claims.

“In our opinion, the issues raised are uncalled for as they do not fully reflect the substantial progress and ongoing efforts by NAMA management,” the statement said, urging stakeholders to adopt “a collaborative, solution-oriented approach to sustain aviation safety and operational excellence.”

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…JAMB deploys tough security,

…delists 23 CBT centres over poor mock performance and sanctions officials

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

All is now in place for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) prepares to commence the nationwide exercise on April 16, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate.

The examination, scheduled to run until April 22, will take place across 966 accredited Computer-Based Test, or CBT, centres nationwide, following the delisting of 23 centres over poor performance during the mock exercise.

JAMB has directed all candidates to print their examination notification slips, which contain essential details including date, time, and venue, warning that failure to comply could disrupt participation.

The Board, in a statement through its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, stressed that candidates must familiarise themselves with their centres ahead of time to avoid last-minute challenges.

In a decisive move to safeguard the integrity of the examination, JAMB has rolled out enhanced security measures and warned that it would enforce strict penalties against malpractice.

Read Also: Full List: JAMB adjusts arrival time for 2026 UTME candidates

Candidates have also been cautioned against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, charged examination officials to demonstrate utmost professionalism, noting that the success of the UTME hinges largely on their performance.

He disclosed that 11 technical officers had already been delisted for poor performance, with further sanctions underway.

While commending officials for the relative success of the mock UTME, Oloyede emphasised the need for thorough technical assessments at centres, revealing that lapses in this area accounted for most of the challenges recorded earlier.

To boost performance, the board has introduced incentives for high-performing teams while deploying cutting-edge technology, including a newly tested alternate examination system with a reported 90 per cent success rate.

JAMB also assured inclusivity, stating that candidates living with disabilities would be adequately catered for through the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, JEOG.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, has initiated a partnership with JAMB to adopt CBT for its staff promotion examinations, further underscoring the Board’s growing reputation in examination administration.

Across states, including Abuja and Ogun, JAMB officials have intensified oversight of CBT centres, urging operators previously flagged for deficiencies to urgently rectify issues or face sanctions.

Beyond the UTME, the Federal Government has rolled out a nationwide Learner Identification Number, LIN, for students, a digital system expected to strengthen data management, curb examination fraud, and enhance transparency in the education sector.

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A new trial over the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona begins Tuesday a year after a scandal involving a judge caused the first trial to collapse.

Maradona, considered one of the world’s greatest players ever, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery at a private residence.

He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs — two weeks after going under the knife.

His seven-person medical team were indicted over the conditions of his convalescence in the northern Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.

But two and a half months into their trial, after hours of sometimes tearful testimony from witnesses, including Maradona’s children, the proceedings came to a halt.

The trial was annulled in May 2025 after it emerged that one of the judges overseeing the trial was involved in a documentary about the case, potentially breaking ethics rules.

The judge, Julieta Makintach, was later impeached.

The new trial, which will hear from some 120 witnesses, will again seek to determine if Maradona’s medical team is responsible for his death.

Seven health care professionals —- doctors, psychologists, and nurses — who were treating him at the time of his death are accused of homicide with possible intent — pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death.

They risk prison terms of between eight and 25 years if convicted.

The defense maintains the larger-than-life Maradona, who battled cocaine and alcohol addictions, died of natural causes.

“If there’s one thing that has been ruled out, it’s a malicious criminal plan to kill Maradona. Anyone who continues to maintain that is cruel to the family and the accused,” Vadim Mischanchuk, lawyer for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, told Radio Con Vos on Sunday.

News of the death of the 1986 World Cup champion brought hundreds of thousands of Argentines onto the streets in mourning in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

The trial is expected to last until July.

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Crisis is brewing at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State following the emergence of two provosts at the college: Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi and Professor Agwu Ekwe.

Nwawuisi was appointed Acting Provost of the college last year, while Ekwe was appointed substantive Provost on the 10th of this month.

Joint Union Action (JUA) of the college and Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) which rejected the appointment of Agwu as the substantive Provost by the federal government, locked the school gate and the Provost’s office on Monday over the leadership crisis.

The unions protested around the college, which paralyzed academic activities and caused tension in the school.

Dr. ThankGod Nwaneri, Chairman of Joint Union Action of the institution said the two Provosts gave him instructions which he abandoned because he was confused on the one to obey.

“Before now, we have an Acting Provost in the person of Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi. And I may say this is an illegal appointment that was done on the 10th of April, 2026, when they said they appointed one Professor Agwu Ekwe.

“As a matter of fact, we do not know the actual Provost for now because yesterday, two different persons gave me instructions as Provosts and I abandoned the instructions because I don’t know the one to follow.

“The issue on ground is we have qualified persons who applied for the position and since after the submission of their applications credentials, they have not been invited for interviews either oral or written till today.

“So, how come they appointed somebody without following due process? We are not against whoever they appointed but they should follow the due process.

“We have qualified persons here for the position of Provost of the college.

“If we continue to encourage University professors to come into Colleges of Agriculture, it is actually going to reduce institutions like colleges to brain drains. People will begin to leave because you can’t get to the peak, that is the issue.

“Academic activities are supposed to be going on in the college but the issue on ground has affected the system already.

“In the morning, we actually locked up the gate but we decided to open it in the afternoon. So, what is on ground now is affecting the system already.

“Recently, we concluded a struggle involving the punitive transfer of the College Registrar, the Procurement Officer, and the former Director of Works to Kwara, Kaduna and Benin, respectively, under the directive of the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

“These actions were taken without clear justification. They appear arbitrary, targeted and widely regarded as unacceptable. This raises serious concerns about fairness, administrative propriety, and respect for institutional due process.

“More troubling is the clear breach of due process in the appointment of Professor Agwu Ekwe as the substantive Provost of this College.

“It is in record that in June 2025, the Governing council advertised vacancies for the position of Chief Executive Officer and Provost across seven Colleges of Agriculture.

“Qualified candidates applied and have since been awaiting invitations for written examination and oral interviews.

“However, in a shocking development on 10th April, 2026, Ishiagu was singled out and a substantive Provost was appointed. This action bypassed the established procedure and disregarded other applicants and participating institutions. It is irregular and represents a direct affront to fairness, transparency, and the rule of law “, he stated.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the crisis, reverse the appointment of a University Professor as Provost of the College and appoint someone from the College of Agriculture for the position.

On his part, National President of Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture, Dr. Kadurumba Chukwuemeka said the union also rejected the appointment of a University Professor as Provost of the College of Agriculture, Ishiagu describing it as unacceptable, unjustifiable, and a clear violation of established procedures and principles guiding college administration.

He demanded immediate withdrawal of the appointment, commencement of a transparent and credible selection process for all the seven Colleges affected, conclusion of appointment of substantive Provosts in the seven Colleges within 14 days, immediate release of the revised scheme and conditions of service for Colleges of Agriculture to address long-standing structural issues among others.

He said failure to address the issues within the 14-day ultimatum will lead to the resumption of the previously suspended strike, with protest done in all the zones during the strike.

Ebonyi: Crisis brews at Federal College of Agriculture over emergence of two provosts

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has announced the commencement of payments of long-awaited arrears arising from the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, for its members.

This was disclosed in a communication to members by the association’s Publicity and Social Secretary, Abdulmajid Ibrahim, who confirmed that the disbursement process is already underway.

According to the statement, the payments cover outstanding arrears ranging from one to six months for affected doctors, with several members reportedly acknowledging receipt.

“The leadership of NARD is pleased to inform all members that payment of the outstanding 25/35 CONMESS review arrears has commenced,” the notice read.

Ibrahim assured members who are yet to receive their payments that the process is ongoing and will be concluded in due course, urging patience as disbursements continue.

He, however, noted that the August component of the arrears is currently experiencing minor administrative delays, which may extend payment timelines by about one to two weeks.

“Payments for August are currently facing a few challenges that are being addressed. As a result, the August arrears may be delayed by about a week or two,” he added.

The CONMESS review, which determines salary adjustments for medical and dental officers in Nigeria’s public health sector, has historically been a contentious issue between doctors and government authorities.

Delays in implementation and payment of arrears had previously led to industrial actions by NARD, disrupting services in both federal and state-owned hospitals.

Resident doctors, who constitute a critical component of Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare system, have consistently expressed concerns over welfare challenges, including delayed salaries, demanding working conditions, and the growing migration of medical professionals in search of better opportunities abroad.

Industry estimates indicate that Nigeria has witnessed a significant outflow of doctors in recent years, further stretching an already burdened healthcare system and worsening the doctor-to-patient ratio.

The ongoing payment of arrears is seen as a positive step by authorities to address longstanding welfare concerns and reduce the risk of potential labour disputes in the health sector.

Ibrahim further advised members experiencing unresolved payment issues after the disbursement period to report through their respective centre leadership for prompt intervention.

“We sincerely appreciate your patience, resilience, and continued trust. Be assured that we remain steadfast and committed to the welfare and well-being of all NARD members,” he said.

NARD confirms commencement of CONMESS arrears payment for resident doctors

Iran slammed a US blockade around its ports on Monday as a “grave violation” of its sovereignty, as Washington and Tehran’s belligerent rhetoric rattled a fragile truce.

“The imposition of a maritime blockade constitutes a grave violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani wrote to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a letter seen by AFP.

The “unlawful” blockade also “constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles of the international law of the sea,” Iravani added.

US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Gulf Sunday, following the failure of peace talks over the weekend, warning that any Iranian attack boats that challenged the blockade would be destroyed.

The blockade came into force at 1400 GMT Monday, despite the United States and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire days earlier, with mediator Pakistan and Gulf state Qatar continuing calls for it to be respected as diplomatic efforts continue.

Guterres on Monday called on “all parties” to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran and subsequently the United States blocked passage through the critical waterway.

The strait, through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows, has become a key flashpoint as the US and Iran attempt to gain leverage over each other during ceasefire negotiations.

Iravani said the “unlawful” blockade “poses a grave threat to international peace and security and obviously exacerbates the risk of escalation in an already highly volatile region.”

In a second letter, the UN envoy called on Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases to “cease their internationally wrongful acts.”

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan should pay “compensation for all material and moral damage sustained,” he said.

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