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NSGF Appoints Ex-CDS, Former Defence Minister Co-Chairmen of Northern Security Trust Fund

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By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has appointed former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), and former Minister of Defence and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, as co-chairmen of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund Board.

The inauguration, held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, marks a major step in the North’s regional response to worsening insecurity.

The board comprises retired military officers and former security chiefs drawn from the 19 northern states to provide strategic oversight, mobilise resources, enhance intelligence sharing and coordinate efforts against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and cattle rustling.

Other members include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (Sokoto); former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba (Yobe); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha (Adamawa); Sen. Napoleon Bali (rtd) (Plateau); former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Inuwa (Jigawa); AVM Kabiru Aliyu (Taraba); Prof. Usman Tar (Borno); Maj. Gen. A.M. Dikko (Niger); AIG Sunday Babaji (Gombe); AVM Farouk Omeiza Umar (Kogi); Maj. Gen. Muhammad Sani (Kano); Maj. Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki (Kebbi); Maj. Gen. John Malu (Benue); and Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Agbab (Kwara), among others.

Speaking at the inauguration, NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the Trust Fund would complement, rather than replace, the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies.

He said the initiative must remain focused, responsive and credible, stressing that its success would be measured by its ability to protect lives and property.

The governors also resolved that each of the 19 northern states, alongside their local government councils, would contribute ₦1 billion monthly for 12 months to fund the initiative.

Traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, endorsed the initiative, describing it as a practical and long-overdue response to the region’s security challenges.

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Group Lists Tinubu’s Achievements, Reaffirms Support For Renewed Hope Agenda

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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.

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Group Rallies Support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Lauds Gbajabiamila

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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.

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FG to Launch Military Medical College for Armed Forces in 2026

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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.

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