NEWS
Wipe terrorists off, Buhari charges military officers
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Nigerian military officers to fight terrorists and wipe them off the face of the earth.
Buhari spoke in Jaji, Kaduna State at the graduation ceremony of 247 students of the Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Full text of his speech:
I am delighted to once again visit the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji Nigeria, on the occasion of the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 44.
2.Command and Staff courses hold great promise to the careers of mid-level officers of the Armed Forces. They prepare officers for tactical and operational level leadership, focusing on national security, joint planning processes, interagency cooperation and operations as well as multinational integration.
3.I am pleased to note that you have since inception of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, over 40 years, steadfastly kept faith with the ideals of the College.
4. The Armed Forces Command and Staff College has been pivotal to the achievements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Furthermore the College provides a broad platform for training of members of the Armed Forces of friendly countries and Senior Course 44 is no exception.
5.This Graduation is a milestone in the careers of the 247 graduating students today. You have made a success of this Course after 48 daunting weeks and I say to you all, Congratulations!
6.It is particularly gratifying to note that amongst the graduating students are international officers from sister African countries. Gentlemen, I am confident that you have enjoyed our friendliness during your stay here. I am also sure you would have observed that despite our diversity and challenges, Nigeria is still one of the most hospitable and enjoyable countries to visit and stay.
7.Your participation on the Course is a further testimony of our national security aspirations to promote international peace, friendship and cooperation. To the graduating students from Nigeria’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, you have indeed justified the confidence reposed in you by your respective organizations. Congratulations!
8.We must specially commend the spouses of the graduands here for keeping the home front and without whose sacrifices there would have been no celebrations for many here today.
9.Most of the security challenges facing the world today are both asymmetric and trans-border in nature, involving mainly non-state actors in different regions and sub-regions of the world. The West African sub-region and indeed our beloved continent of Africa are not immune to these threats.
10.We have witnessed recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria bearing the hallmark of national and trans-border insurgents trying to cause havoc in Nigeria as well as in neighbouring countries. It will be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries.
11.Consequently, the specifics of your training which focused primarily on countering these security threats are important. Combating these prevalent security threats effectively demands that African countries continue to work together at all levels; be it tactical, operational and strategic.
12.To this end, the ongoing collaboration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Chad in a multinational operation to combat the Boko Haram Insurgency in the Lake Chad region has been productive and particularly commendable and successful.
13.The synergy achieved in operating together must have been enhanced by an understanding of the doctrines of the cooperating forces.
14.This occasion provides me another opportunity to briefly reflect on the state of the Nigerian nation, particularly regarding national security. The last 12 years have been very challenging for our nation, considering the different security threats that have besieged the country.
15.Our government is poised to promote national security and development, as well as to remain committed to promoting a vision of a secure, safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong Nigeria.
16.We shall be employing all elements of our national power in ensuring security, a just society, peaceful coexistence, national unity and sustainable development while promoting our good standing internationally.
READ ALSO: Your ban on Twitter unlawful, don’t repeat it again, ECOWAS Court tells Buhari govt
17.The Armed Forces of Nigeria are working tirelessly to enhance their combat effectiveness, operational capability and training necessary to eliminate the threats, in synergy with other institutions and nations. The response of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping as well as the activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been commendable. This government will continue to provide the required guidance and support to ensure that the desired results are achieved.
18.I am duly informed that in recent times, a lot of work has been done to expand and upgrade the facilities of the College. This is to provide a conducive and amenable environment that is fit for purpose.
19.This, you are complementing by ensuring that the College’s curricula speak to the critical needs of the knowledge, skills and aptitudes of the officers to face the dynamic contemporary national security challenges.
20.Your efforts are maintaining the status of the College as a mid-level military training institution of repute. I therefore commend the College Board as well as the Commandant and staff for these remarkable achievements.
21.This government will continue to support the College in its developmental strides. My administration will also continue to give priority to the training and welfare of officers and men of our Armed Forces.
22.Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me now return to our graduating students in whose honour we are gathered here today. You, the graduating students, should realize that the nation has made a lot of investment in your training up to this stage of your respective careers.
23.I am confident that you have been sufficiently groomed in character and learning to take-up the challenges you will be confronted with hereafter.
24.For the Nigerian graduating students amongst you, the graduation today is a clarion call to duty in service to our country. Nigeria expects the very best from you in terms of loyalty, commitment to duty and service to your fatherland.
25.Therefore, you must endeavour to make honest and positive contributions in the discharge of the constitutional responsibilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, your strategic Ministries, Department and Agencies and be good ambassadors of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
26.Let me once again congratulate the Commandant and his team for transforming these graduating students into the highly refined products they have become today. I also congratulate your families whom I expect would be proud of your successful completion of this Senior Course. I want to thank them once again for always holding the home front together as you are moved from place to place as duty calls. We must all join hands and play our part in order to take our country Nigeria to its rightful place of peace and prosperity.
27.I thank you all for listening and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has challenged the Presidency to explain how Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends were distributed among states and local governments, insisting that a reconciliation exercise identified a shortfall of about ₦9 trillion.
Makinde’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in response to the Presidency’s rejection of the governor’s earlier claims over NLNG dividend payments.
RELATED NEWS: JUST IN: Presidency Rejects Makinde’s Claim of ₦250bn NLNG Dividends for Each State
The statement said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), with the support of the Federal Government, engaged a consultant to reconcile NLNG dividend payments, adding that the exercise identified approximately ₦9 trillion allegedly due to states and local governments.
“The exercise identified a shortfall of about ₦9 trillion due to states and local governments. The Federal Government accepted the findings,” the statement said.
The governor maintained that the reconciliation report remained in the custody of both the Federal Government and the NGF.
“The report remains in the custody of both the Federal Government and the NGF. We trust the Presidency will not deny its existence,” the statement added.
The statement also noted that Makinde is the incumbent Vice-Chairman of the NGF.
Makinde Questions $21.5bn NLNG Dividend Payments
The governor questioned the Presidency’s statement that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since its inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration.
According to Makinde, the Presidency’s response did not explain how the payments were distributed or establish the amounts received by states and local governments.
“The Presidency stated that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration. But it did not explain how these funds were disbursed,” the statement said.
The governor also questioned whether states and local governments had received their shares, how much they received and the basis for calculating their allocations.
“Have states and local governments received their shares? How much did they receive, and how were those amounts calculated? What happened to the $3 billion received under this administration?” the statement asked.
Makinde defended the figures he had previously cited, maintaining that his claims were based on verifiable information.
“Governor Makinde conducts public discourse with decorum and does not make unfounded claims or quote figures without a basis,” the statement said.
The governor maintained that he was ready to provide further clarification on the matter while urging the Presidency to address the substance of the allegations.
“We remain ready to provide further clarification while we urge the presidency to address the substance of the matter,” the statement added.
Recall that Biztellers had earlier reported the Presidency’s rejection of Makinde’s claim concerning NLNG dividends allegedly withheld from states and local governments.
The Presidency stated that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since its inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration.
However, in his latest response, Makinde argued that disclosing the total amount paid into the Federation Account did not address how the funds were distributed among the different tiers of government.
The governor is now demanding clarification on the distribution of the dividends and the findings of the reconciliation exercise that reportedly identified the ₦9 trillion shortfall.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to shut down Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, if the institution’s management fails to reverse the reported increase in school fees.
The association, in a press release dated Sunday, October 18, 2026, described the reported tuition increment as insensitive, unjustifiable and unacceptable, citing the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian students.
The statement was signed by the NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, who warned that the increase could frustrate the academic aspirations of countless students.
SEE MORE: BREAKING: OAUSTECH Student Akinteye Babatunde Elected New NANS National President
“To be clear, education cannot be commercialised. Students cannot be made to pay for the financial challenges confronting our universities,” the statement read.
NANS acknowledged that universities require adequate funding but argued that their managements, particularly vice-chancellors, should explore innovative revenue-generating opportunities rather than impose additional financial burdens on students.
The association maintained that the Federal Government was investing heavily in education to keep students in school and ensure that access to education was not determined by their financial background or status.
NANS Gives University Management Conditions
The student body warned the vice-chancellor and the entire university management against policies capable of pushing students out of school.
It said the national leadership would not stand by while Nigerian students faced additional financial pressure that could threaten their academic futures.
“Going forward, we wish to make it clear to the Vice-Chancellor and the entire University Management that the National Leadership of NANS will not stand by while Nigerian students are subjected to policies capable of pushing them out of school,” the statement said.
NANS subsequently demanded an immediate reversal of the reported tuition increase and called on the university to restore fees to the affordable and reasonable levels that existed before the increment.
The association warned that failure to meet its demand would lead to a mobilisation of its national leadership to the institution.
“To this end, we call on the management of Alex Ekwueme Federal University to immediately reverse the reported tuition increment and return the fees to the affordable and reasonable level that existed before the increment. Otherwise, we will mobilise the National Secretariat of NANS to Alex Ekwueme Federal University and shut down the school until the fee is reversed,” the statement added.
NANS Reaffirms Commitment to Students
The association reiterated its commitment to defending the interests, welfare and aspirations of Nigerian students.
It pledged to continue speaking firmly against policies that place unnecessary and unbearable financial burdens on students.
NANS maintained that students should not be made to bear the financial challenges confronting universities and called on the management of AE-FUNAI to reverse the reported increase.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has handed over land titles to displaced residents of nine communities in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area, to enable them to rebuild their homes and regain shelter.
The Kaduna State Ministry of Information and Culture disclosed the development on Sunday, October 18, 2026, describing the exercise as an intervention aimed at helping displaced residents rebuild their homes.
According to the ministry, each beneficiary is being allocated a plot of land to support resettlement and provide shelter for affected residents.
SEE ALSO: Kaduna Moves to Clear 5-Year Promotion Backlog for 24,000 Teachers
“ He is officially handing over land titles, giving each person a plot of land to rebuild their homes and regain shelter,” the ministry’s announcement stated.
The ministry also noted that Governor Sani had continued to support displaced communities across Kaduna State since assuming office.
The latest exercise focuses on nine communities in Igabi Local Government Area, with the allocation of land intended to help affected residents rebuild their homes and regain stability.
The development comes amid previous reports concerning land disputes and displacement affecting communities in Kaduna State.
In September 2026, reports indicated that the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) had resolved more than 5,000 land disputes and restored over 150 property titles.
The agency also reported that alternative plots had been provided to some communities affected by previous demolitions.
APC Campaign Council Sets Inaugural Meeting for Tuesday Ahead of Kaduna Flag-Off
Renaissance Capital Sees Significant Upside in Dangote Refinery, Lifts Valuation by 33.4%
Dangote Refinery IPO Elicits Participation in 90 Countries Globally
Makinde Fires Back at Presidency, Insists on ₦9tn NLNG Dividend Shortfall
‘NELFUND Is Not an Excuse for School Fees Hikes’ – NANS Warns Universities
NANS Threatens to Shut Down AE-FUNAI Over School Fees Hike
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
