Supporters of Team Gbaja on Friday held a sensitisation and mobilisation rally for Nigeria’s North Central Zone, where they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and commended the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for what they described as his commitment to public service.

Addressing participants at the rally, the National Spokesperson of Team Gbaja, Tabuko Kennedy, said the gathering was aimed at promoting democratic participation, peaceful engagement, and national development.

Kennedy said supporters of the Tinubu administration believe the government’s performance should be assessed based on “measurable actions and visible results,” highlighting several initiatives and developments they said demonstrate progress under the current administration.

Among the achievements cited were the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State through what he described as a coordinated multi-agency security operation without the payment of ransom.

He also pointed to the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as one of Nigeria’s largest infrastructure projects intended to improve transportation, trade, and economic growth.

Other initiatives highlighted included the implementation of the Student Loan Scheme to improve access to higher education, increased investment in federal road infrastructure across the country’s six geopolitical zones, reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at boosting local refining capacity, enhanced collaboration among security agencies to address insecurity, and
ongoing economic reforms focusing on agriculture, investment, digital innovation, and social intervention programmes.

According to Kennedy, these initiatives have strengthened the confidence of many supporters in the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and justify continued public support.

He urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the rally, stressing that the event was intended to exercise citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association.

“We are not here to insult anyone. We are not here to threaten anyone. We are here to demonstrate our constitutional right to freedom of expression and association,” he said.

Kennedy also encouraged supporters to continue engaging their communities through peaceful mobilisation, civic participation, voter education, and constructive dialogue aimed at promoting national unity, security, and development.

The rally concluded with calls for continued support for Team Gbaja, the North Central Zone, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By Abigail David

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the first set of military medical cadets expected to begin training during the 2026 academic session.

Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, announced the initiative in Abuja while inaugurating a Technical Working Group tasked with accelerating the college’s establishment. According to a statement from the ministry, the institution is intended to provide a dedicated pipeline of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals trained specifically for military service.

Alausa said the project would reduce the Armed Forces’ reliance on civilian universities for medical personnel and strengthen healthcare support for military operations. He noted that the college would focus on producing professionals equipped to meet the unique demands of military and battlefield medicine.

The minister also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to expand medical education nationwide, stating that admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased to over 10,000 annually, while nursing enrolment has risen significantly.

The Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from the Ministries of Education and Defence, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders, has been directed to develop the curriculum, secure accreditation and ensure the institution is ready for the 2026 academic session.

Chairman of the committee, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the college would operate from the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna and follow a model similar to the Uniformed Services University in the United States. He added that medical cadets would receive both academic and military training, including battlefield medicine and Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

According to Solebo, the Armed Forces currently face a significant shortage of medical personnel, making the new institution a key step toward strengthening military healthcare capacity.

By Abigail David

President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government refused to negotiate with or pay ransom to the kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that security agencies instead relied on intelligence-led operations to secure the victims’ release.

Speaking on Thursday while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and other Oyo traditional rulers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said the kidnappers demanded ransom and the release of detained gang members, but the government rejected the conditions.

According to the President, security agencies intensified operations by tracking the criminals and their networks, leading to the successful rescue of the victims after 56 days in captivity without paying ransom.

Tinubu commended the armed forces for the operation, describing it as a major success achieved through intelligence gathering and a detailed understanding of the terrain.

The President said the incident informed his decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, explaining that the move is intended to improve response times and strengthen the country’s capacity to combat terrorism and banditry.

He also reaffirmed plans to establish state police with safeguards against abuse and announced that forest guards would be retrained and equipped to support security operations in forests and remote communities.

Tinubu urged traditional rulers to encourage residents to provide timely information on suspicious activities, stressing that community intelligence remains vital to addressing insecurity.

He also called on state governments to prioritise road construction to improve access for security agencies and enhance economic development.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Oba Ladoja thanked the President and the armed forces for securing the release of the abducted pupils and teachers. He also expressed appreciation for ongoing federal road projects in Oyo State, describing them as critical to improving connectivity and economic activities.

The Oriire abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked three schools and abducted about 39 pupils and seven teachers. The victims were rescued on July 10 in an intelligence-led operation that authorities said was carried out without the payment of ransom.