By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has commended the party’s candidate for the Kokona/Karu/Keffi Federal Constituency, Hon.

Daniel Ogah Ogazi, for empowering 550 women with N20,000 each, describing the gesture as a practical demonstration of people-oriented leadership.

Wadada made the commendation during the unveiling of Ogazi’s campaign office and empowerment programme organised by Ogazi in Keffi, where he also donated N2 million to support the initiative.

The APC governorship candidate said governance goes beyond protecting the lives and property of citizens, stressing that true leadership must also create opportunities that improve the standard of living of the people.

“You cannot claim to be protecting lives without caring for those lives. The best way to care for people is to empower them so they can live meaningful lives. Life is meant to be lived, not merely to exist. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi understands the rudiments of making those alive truly live, and for that, we commend, congratulate and appreciate him,” Wadada said.

He noted that empowerment programmes remain among the most effective ways of reducing poverty and improving livelihoods, adding that Ogazi’s initiative reflects the qualities of a responsive and compassionate leader.

The Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Hon. Dr. Aliyu Bello, described the empowerment programme as unprecedented, applauding Ogazi for demonstrating commitment to the welfare of the people even before securing election into the National Assembly.

“This is leadership in action. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi has shown commitment to the welfare of our people even before getting to the National Assembly. This aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC’s vision of lifting Nigerians out of poverty,” Bello stated.

The party chairman reiterated the APC’s commitment to fairness, equity and justice, explaining that the party’s zoning arrangement was designed to ensure that every senatorial zone in the state has the opportunity to produce the governor.

“APC is a party rooted in fairness and equity. We decided to adhere to the principle of zoning because the Keffi Zone has spent about 20 years without producing the governor. This arrangement is for the benefit of future generations so that even children from less privileged backgrounds can aspire to become governors someday,” he said.

Bello added that after the Keffi Zone completes its expected eight-year tenure, the governorship position would rotate to the Lafia Zone.

“We must understand that zoning is not for our personal benefit. Most of us are already above 60 years of age. It is about securing the future for the younger generation and sustaining equity across the state,” he added.

In his remarks, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to make productive use of the financial support provided to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Ogazi also appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for the ongoing infrastructural development across Nasarawa State, especially the construction of flyovers in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area.

He further called on the people of Nasarawa State to support Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada in the 2027 governorship election, describing him as a man of integrity with the capacity to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

“If we elect Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as governor in 2027, he will build on the good legacy of Governor Abdullahi Sule and take Nasarawa State to greater heights,” Ogazi said.

The Federal Government has urged private security operators to embrace intelligence-driven operations, technology and stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to strengthen national security and tackle evolving security threats nationwide.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr.

Bello Matawalle, made the call at the maiden Nigeria Private Security Development Summit 2026 on Tuesday in Abuja.

Matawalle was represented by his Special Adviser, Retired Rear Adm. Ariku Abdulkadir at the event with the theme “Reimagining Private Security in Nigeria: From Manpower to Intelligence-Driven Protection.

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He said the theme of the summit reflected the changing realities of modern security management.

According to him, terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, transnational organised crime, misinformation and other hybrid threats have become increasingly sophisticated, interconnected and technology-driven.

He added that evolving threats required intelligence superiority, rapid response and effective collaboration among public and private security institutions.

Matawalle said national security now extends beyond territorial defence, stressing that “peace, investment and sustainable development depend on secure environment.”

He said the Federal Government had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The minister listed the reforms to include the National Security Strategy 2024, the National Defence Policy, the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023.

He explained that Nigeria was investing in cyber defence, Artificial Intelligence, digital intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics and integrated command-and-control platforms.

Matawalle, however, stressed that technology must complement professionalism and remain within legal, ethical and human rights frameworks.

He described the private security industry as an indispensable component of Nigeria’s national security system.

According to him, no modern nation can rely solely on public security institutions to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

He urged private security companies to evolve beyond manpower deployment to intelligence-based, technology-enabled and professionally regulated operations.

The minister said operators should strengthen intelligence gathering, risk management and critical infrastructure protection in collaboration with government agencies.

He emphasised the need for standard training, professional certification, ethical conduct and continuous capacity development across the industry.

He said stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and international partners remained essential to building safer and resilient Nigeria.

The National President, Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Dr Chris Adikwu, urged government to integrate licenced private security operators into Nigeria’s national security architecture through structured intelligence collaboration.

Represented by Dr. Felix Obaze, Adikwu said more than 1,700 licenced private security companies employing more than four million personnel constituted a strategic national asset capable of strengthening intelligence gathering and protecting critical infrastructure.

He advocated reform of the Private Guard Companies Act, establishment of a National Private Security Intelligence Network, adoption of advanced technologies and joint training with security agencies to enhance national resilience and crime prevention.

The Summit Producer, Chief Agu Amogu, said Nigeria possessed one of Africa’s largest private security workforces whose strategic potential remained underutilised.

Amogu said the industry should move beyond providing guards to becoming key player in intelligence, technology and critical infrastructure protection.

He said the summit would produce practical recommendations culminating in the Abuja Declaration to guide future policy reforms and industry transformation.

The Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of ALPSPN, Chief Lucky Ojealaro, urged operators to embrace innovation, strategic partnerships and continuous professional development.

Ojealaro said the summit would equip participants with knowledge on security governance, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, emerging threats and regulatory compliance.

He expressed confidence that the engagement would reposition Nigeria’s private security industry as a strategic partner in national security and economic development.

Stakeholders at the summit agreed that private security operators must evolve to be able to function effectively in the national security architecture.

By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), as Chief of Staff to the President, Olufemi Gbajabiamila, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew to retract what he described as false and defamatory allegations against him or face legal action.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and had no legal backing through any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or other lawful government act.

According to the Presidency, Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation and claimed to be a presidential appointee. President Tinubu consequently directed the ICPC to conclude its investigation within 30 days, covering the alleged forgery of appointment letters and official government documents, false claims of presidential appointment used to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.

The President also ordered investigators to identify any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries that may have facilitated the alleged scheme, examine the movement of funds connected with it, and recommend measures to strengthen institutional safeguards against similar abuses. He stressed that all those found culpable should face the full weight of the law.

The Presidency further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with the ICPC by providing all relevant information required to facilitate the investigation.

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila, through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, demanded that Adeyemi withdraw allegations made during a June 25, 2026, press conference, publish an unequivocal apology, remove all related publications from media and social media platforms, and undertake not to make further defamatory statements.

In a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, the law firm described the allegations as false, malicious and entirely unsupported by evidence. The allegations included claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of an alleged take-off grant for the purported PFIPC, received N400 million through proxies, manipulated security agencies, abused his office, engaged in corruption, acted under the influence of intoxicating substances while performing official duties, and was involved in murder and a cover-up.

The solicitors maintained that the Chief of Staff had never met or communicated with Adeyemi and argued that the publication was a calculated attempt to tarnish his reputation.

The letter also linked the allegations to an ongoing criminal case before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Adeyemi is standing trial on charges bordering on the alleged forgery of appointment letters and presidential documents purportedly showing his appointment by President Tinubu.

Pinheiro LP warned that failure to comply with its demands within 72 hours would trigger both criminal and civil proceedings, including a criminal complaint for alleged defamation and a N10 billion suit seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, a perpetual injunction against further publications, and a court order compelling a public retraction and apology. The firm said any damages awarded would be donated to charities chosen by the Chief of Staff.