The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, has revealed that Nigeria is steadily moving from dependence on foreign military procurement to local production.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by Mati Ali, the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the minister, Badaru stated that “this aims to facilitate local production, repairs, refurbishment, and supply of military hardware and ordnance.”

According to the minister, the shift to local production marks a significant stride towards self-reliance for enhanced national security.

“The shift to local production is expected to boost efficiency and reduce reliance on imported hardware,” he clarified.

Badaru made this known shortly after concluding his 2-day working tour of military institutions and facilities in Kaduna.

The minister visited key military institutions, including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot, Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Limited, and the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology.

During his visit, Badaru praised the ongoing efforts in training, local production, and refurbishing military assets.

He emphasised that training remains a vital pillar in achieving Nigeria’s defence objectives.

The minister inspected several workshops and was impressed by the potential and progress on repairs and refurbishing of military hardware.

He noted that new combat platforms, bulletproof glasses, spare parts, and surveillance UAVs are being built at the workshops.

“Some of the equipment successfully constructed and repaired are made readily available for redeployment, while others are already deployed back to theatres of operations,” he explained.

Badaru commended the Armed Forces for their initiative and emphasised the critical roles of Training, Research, Development, and Innovation in achieving operational excellence.

He therefore urged continued collaborations between institutions and investment in military RDI.

Also, the minister highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s defense capabilities, noting the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill into law.

A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on Wednesday after they were found guilty of sex outside marriage by a court operating under strict Islamic law.

Sexual relations between an unmarried couple is outlawed in Aceh, which imposes a version of sharia, the Islamic legal code. 

Indonesia banned sex outside of marriage in its latest criminal code in 2022 but that law will not come into force until next year. 

The two were lashed in sets of 10 with a rattan stick as a small crowd watched on at a park in provincial capital Banda Aceh, and the female suspect was lashed by a woman, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Three other suspects were caned a combined 49 times for alleged gambling and alcohol consumption.

“Today we are carrying out flogging punishment for perpetrators of adultery, alcohol consumption, and online gambling,” Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal told reporters.

“This becomes a moral lesson for the community at large. This flogging punishment becomes a gateway to repentance for them.”

Medical services were on standby for all of those convicted.

Rights groups have condemned the punishment as draconian.

Yet caning retains strong support among Aceh’s population as a common punishment for a range of offences including gambling, drinking alcohol and adultery. 

In February, two men were publicly flogged more than 150 times after being found guilty of sexual relations. Gay sex is outlawed in Aceh.

The region started using religious law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

AFP/VANGUARD NG

…As Osun Amotekun Corps parade suspects

A suspected rapist, Raji Ridwan, on Tuesday disclosed that cold weather lured him to attempt to rape a varsity female student in Osun State. 

Raji, 25, said he barged into the room of the 17-year-old 200-level student of Federal University of Health and Science on Thursday, May 29, after she declined an attempt to speak with him.

According to him, he was in the students’ area because his uncle asked him to park his motorcycle at the house.

“But I got there immediately; it stopped raining, and it was cold. Suddenly the girl passed by and asked after the landlady. I asked her whether she knew the lady, but she refused to answer and went straight into her room. I ran after her and banged straight into the room with the aim to rape her.

“But the girl held my clothes tight and was shouting, which attracted neighbours, and I found a way to run away from the room,” he added.

However, Osun Amotekun Commandant Adekunle Omoyele, the suspect, was later arrested at a hideout after a complaint was made at the Amotekun command in Ila.

He added that the investigation showed that the suspect had sometimes raped one of his siblings and was beaten severely when caught, adding that he would be arraigned in court.

Similarly, one Abdulateef Ajao, 28, was arrested for attempting to rape a minor hawking pepper in Ode-Omu town, Ayedaade local government, on Monday . 

He was said to have lured the primary 3 pupil into his house with a pretence to buy pepper from her, but the victim escaped and reported the matter to her parents.

“He has confessed to the crime. The suspect will be charged in court to serve as a deterrent to others,” Omoyele added.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai(Rtd), has expressed optimism that the security situation in the country will improve in the next two years under President Bola Tinubu.

Buratai stated this in an interview with newsmen during the 2025 VON Forum in Abuja. 

According to him, there is no country that does not have its peculiar challenges, including the western countries.

“However, concerning the security in Nigeria, I foresee much improvement in the next two years of President Bola Tinubu. Lessons have been learnt. Insecurity is not something you wished away overnight. It will not disappear, just like other forms of crimes like rape, armed robbery, pickpocketing and others,” he said.

“These are societal ills that will continue to exist as long as human beings exist. So, insecurity is something you continue to handle as they arise.”

“I believe that members of the armed forces and other security agencies, including the police, have taken lessons from the recent challenges.”

“And I believe they will rise up to the occasion and deal with it, but also, there should be collaboration of all stakeholders, from federal agencies to state and local governments, to ensure improved security.

If we depend too much on the federal government without us doing our part, that’s where this 2025 VON Forum comes in handy: citizen engagement.”

Gen Buratai further explained that in achieving national security, institutional capacity building and manpower development remain very important.

He, however, noted that there are national security policies and national defence policies which need implementation to the letter.

“When executing or implementing it, there is coordination. You need to work with others to achieve more,” Buratai said.

Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has fired back at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying he would not engage in a war of words with “children”. 

Amaechi made the remark on Tuesday during an appearance on ARISE TV, in response to Wike’s criticism of his recent comments on the state of hunger in Nigeria. 

“God, Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers State people made me governor. Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children,” Amaechi said.

The exchange stems from Amaechi’s earlier comments at his 60th birthday celebration, where he expressed concern about the economic hardship in the country.

“Nigerian elites are not the problems of Nigeria. The problems of Nigeria are the followership. There are no capitalists in Nigeria; capitalists are those with capital to invest for production. Do we produce here? I look at Nigeria and ask what are we doing here? Do we really want to be a country? What is important is how do we change this country?

“We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I’m. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power,” Amaechi said.

Wike, during a media chat on Monday, dismissed Amaechi’s comments as “politically motivated” and accused him of trivialising the plight of Nigerians.

“He did not talk about hunger. He became a minister — super minister of transportation. He did not talk about hunger. Two years after he left office and as a member of the coalition, he is talking about hunger. He is just hungry for power,” Wike said.

“How do you insult Nigerians and trivialise poverty and hunger? You are insulting Nigerians. It is just that you have stayed out of power — that is the hunger.” 

In his response, Amaechi debunked Wike’s claim of being instrumental to his rise as governor, stating that his emergence was backed by divine intervention, legal victory, and the support of the people of Rivers State.

The former minister of transportation also addressed his decision to appoint Wike as chief of staff instead of commissioner for finance, citing the need for close supervision.

He said, “Mohammed Adoke flew all the way from Abuja to Port Harcourt. That week he asked me to make him commissioner for finance and I said no, he has to work under me. I want him as chief of staff so I can supervise him.
“I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children. I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no.”
He added, “You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”

Amaechi also took a jab at Wike’s political conduct, saying, “There’s no more respect for family names. People just do and say anything.”

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), has called for the fencing of Nigeria’s borders to bolster national security.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a security conference, Musa emphasised the need for effective management of the country’s borders.

He noted that countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had to fence their borders with Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively, due to increased insecurity.

Musa stressed the need to fully secure and assert control over the country’s borders, noting that its perceived wealth and abundant natural resources are making Nigeria a target for insurgents.

“Other countries, because of the level of insecurity they have, had to fence their borders,” he said.

“It is Nigeria that everybody is interested in. That is why we need to secure fully and take control of our borders. It is critical for our survival and sovereignty.”

Nigeria shares borders with four countries, including Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad – all of which are currently grappling with varying degrees of insecurity.

However, the country’s porous borders have been widely cited as a key factor fuelling the rise in insurgency and cross-border threats within its territory

Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has reiterated the unwavering support of the National Assembly for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the legislative arm under his leadership is proud of the President’s achievements in the last two years.

Akpabio made the declaration on a post on his Facebook page days after the commissioning of the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lagos, where he led members of the National Assembly to join President Tinubu.

Describing the commissioning of the 30-kilometre stretch as a major milestone, Akpabio said it was clear evidence that President Tinubu is delivering on his promises.

“The commissioning of this first phase is proof that when the National Assembly says Mr President is doing well, he is truly doing well,” he said.

He praised the President’s leadership qualities, calling him a man of both vision and determination, fully committed to steering Nigeria in the right direction.

“In President Tinubu, we have a leader who has both sight and vision and is totally committed to taking Nigerians to where they ought to be,” he added.

Akpabio also issued a word of caution to state governors, advising them to prioritize competence and preparedness in succession planning.

“Governors must not hand over power to those who only kneel to greet them, but are unprepared for the responsibilities of governance. That leads to betrayal,” he stated.

He further commended the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, for his dedication and successful execution of the project.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, and today’s commissioning is proof that this administration means what it says and says what it means,” he said.

Akpabio concluded by affirming that the National Assembly remains a strong partner in supporting President Tinubu’s vision for a better Nigeria

A coalition of Gbagyi stakeholders in Kaduna has criticised former governor Nasir El-Rufai over what it described as self-serving attacks on President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Benjamin George, the group’s leader, said El-Rufai’s recent criticism of the Tinubu administration is rooted in personal disappointment rather than any genuine concern for national development.

“We discovered that since former governor Nasir El-Rufai lost out on a ministerial slot in President Tinubu’s cabinet, he has remained inconsolable—launching repeated verbal assaults on the administration,” George said.

He accused El-Rufai of marginalising the Gbagyi people during his time as governor by demolishing homes without compensation, denying them political appointments, and excluding them from key development projects.

George also said the former governor ordered the demolition of market stalls, failed to address the growing insecurity in the state, and trampled on the rights of citizens, including journalists.

He warned that El-Rufai’s alleged efforts to form a political coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027 were a thinly veiled act of revenge.

“It is very clear that his current move to mobilise politicians he had despised in the past to unseat President Tinubu in 2027, as a revenge for losing a ministerial position, is dead on arrival,” he said.

George pledged the group’s support for Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani, noting that both leaders are working to resolve challenges inherited from past administrations.

“To this end, we have decided not to keep quiet and to tell the world categorically that the Gbagyi nation and the Middle Belt will never be part of any coalition orchestrated by Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his cohorts against President Tinubu,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to disregard what he called El-Rufai’s “utopian postulations and selfish machinations”, and expressed confidence that the current administration will succeed.

The coalition also accused El-Rufai of running an autocratic government for eight years, alleging that he marginalised Southern Kaduna communities, particularly the Gbagyi and Christian populations.

Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that food prices are dropping and insecurity is declining under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Idris made the comment on Tuesday at the inaugural national dialogue on citizen engagement and national security held in Abuja.

The event, themed “One Voice, One Vision: Uniting Perspectives for a Stronger Nigeria”, was organised by the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

He said: “Just last week, we commemorated the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration with ample proof of its monumental positive impact.

“No preceding government has ever achieved what the Tinubu administration has achieved in two years: first, the courage to vanquish the monster of oil subsidy and the forex racket, and then massive road infrastructure, an unprecedented students’ loans scheme, and the CreditCorp – indeed, policies that are re-stimulating confidence in our young population.”

Idris said the administration’s efforts are beginning to yield results across critical sectors.

His words: “After a stormy start, food prices are falling, even as we are stemming the tide of insecurity.

“The impact of governance, for the first time in decades, is making a new headway through the local government autonomy, the creation of ministries for regional development, and the biggest boost in agriculture – the creation of the federal ministry of livestock development.”

He said more Nigerians are now uniting in support of President Tinubu, whom he described as “a man of vision and courage”.

He said the Renewed Hope Agenda is rooted in citizen engagement, where every Nigerian “must feel, be seen, heard, and valued”.

Idris urged greater synergy among stakeholders in government, the media, civil society and the security sector.

“This forum reflects that vision. It brings together government, media, civil society, and the security community – not in silos, but in synergy. Not to talk at each other, but to listen to each other,” he said.

Dignitaries at the event included ministers, security chiefs, heads of federal government agencies and former Chief of Army Staff,

Yusuf Tukur Buratai

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday evening played host to the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, in what observers have described as a significant display of bipartisan engagement.

Governor Adeleke, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was accompanied by his elder brother, renowned businessman and philanthropist, Adedeji Adeleke, and his nephew, global Afrobeat star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed the visit via a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, @DOlusegun.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience, H.E. Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, and Chief Adedeji Adeleke at his residence in Lagos,” Olusegun wrote.

Photos from the meeting, which surfaced online, quickly gained traction, with Davido’s presence drawing widespread attention.

Although the specific content of the discussions was not made public, according to Vanguard, insiders described the meeting as warm and productive, hinting at Tinubu’s broader strategy of national cohesion and cross-party collaboration.

The meeting comes at a time when President Tinubu has been meeting with leaders from various political affiliations, reportedly to foster unity and national dialogue.

Governor Adeleke has recently praised President Tinubu’s leadership approach, particularly his emphasis on nation-building over party loyalty.

The Osun governor’s presence at the meeting has been interpreted in some quarters as a sign of improved relations between the presidency and opposition governors.