A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Cyril EneOjo Akuh, has risen to the rank of Air Commodore in the Nigerian Air Force, in a rare career that has combined priesthood with military service. Akuh, an indigene of Kogi State and an Igala, began his educational journey at Army Children’s School, Keffi, before attending St. Kizito Minor Seminary in Idah, Kogi State. He was ordained a Catholic priest on July 10, 1999, and later became a military chaplain in the Nigerian Air Force. Records from the Catholic Diocese of Idah show that his early posting with the Air Force was in Makurdi.…
Author: National Update
A Kogi-based rights group has challenged the state government to explain how public funds are being translated into better welfare for workers and improved infrastructure. The Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) said the reported ₦24.75 billion received by the Kogi State Government from the Federation Account should prompt questions about spending priorities. The group’s Executive Director, Idris Miliki Abdul, also challenged political appointees to account for the impact of their appointments on their communities. Abdul said officials should examine the condition of roads, schools, hospitals, healthcare facilities, electricity and other basic amenities in their areas. He asked…
The Emir of Daura, HRM Dr Umar Faruk Umar, CON, has conferred the traditional title of “Mairamar Kasar Hausa I” on the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa. The title, which means “First Daughter of Hausa Land,” was bestowed on the minister on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of the Hausa Day celebrations in Daura, Katsina State. Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze, quoted Musawa as describing the honour as deeply personal and a reflection of her roots, heritage and pride in Hausa culture. Musawa said the…
The Federal Government has backed the proposed National Forest Association of Nigeria, saying it will promote coordination, investment and sustainable development in the forest sector. Assistant Director, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Felicia Udeh, stated this at a national stakeholders’ meeting on the draft constitution of the proposed association. Udeh said the initiative was an important step towards building a stronger and more sustainable forest sector. She cited World Bank data showing that Nigeria’s forests covered 23.2 per cent of the country’s land area in 2023, compared with 25.7 per cent across sub-Saharan Africa. She said declining forest cover,…
The inclusion of Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Chairman, Zach Adedeji, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign structure has raised fresh questions about the boundary between public service and partisan politics, lawyer and public affairs analyst Frank Tietie has said. Tietie argued that the controversy goes beyond the role of one government official, saying it points to what he described as a broader problem of blurred responsibilities and competing interests within the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on ARISE NEWS on Monday, the lawyer said the chairman of the agency responsible for collecting national tax revenue should maintain professional…
By Lamara Garba Azare Some names are written into history because of courage, sacrifice and service to humanity. Others become forever associated with suffering, destruction and the darkest chapters of human history. Ratko Mladić belongs to the latter category. The bull necked Bosnian Serb general, remembered across much of the world as the “Butcher of Bosnia”, died on Thursday, 27 August 2026, at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence in United Nations custody in The Hague. His death closes the physical life of one of the most notorious military commanders of the Bosnian War, but it does…
Douglas Baye-Osagie dbayeosagie@yahoo.com Ibrahim Gusau’s resignation as President of the Nigeria Football Federation should not be mistaken for an achievement. After four years in charge, he leaves behind a federation facing one of the darkest periods in Nigerian football history. His decision to finally step aside came only after mounting pressure, public anger and intense scrutiny following a succession of failures across Nigerian football. Gusau may describe his departure as a patriotic decision taken in the interest of Nigerian football, but Nigerians are entitled to ask why he waited until the final stretch of his tenure to act. If reform…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Jigawa State for the 2027 election, Mustapha Sule Lamido, has congratulated the people of the state on its 35th anniversary, calling for greater unity and collective efforts to drive development. Lamido, who is the Santurakin Dutse, in a goodwill message marking the anniversary, thanked Allah for giving millions of Jigawa citizens the opportunity to witness the milestone in good health. He said Jigawa State had made significant progress since its creation 35 years ago and had achievements worthy of celebration. However, he noted that the state still had important development gaps to…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja AS Kogi State marks the 35th anniversary of it’s creation, a body of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the state under the auspices of Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to make citizen-centred infrastructure and improved living conditions the focus of his next phase of development agenda. In a congratulatory message to the government and people of the State signed by its Chairperson, Mr Hamza Aliyu, KONGONET said the anniversary provided an opportunity not only to celebrate the state’s achievements but also to reflect honestly on the challenges confronting its people. The network…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has congratulated the government and people of Kogi State on the 35th anniversary of the state’s creation. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, in a statement on Thursday, said the anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate the state’s achievements and renew its commitment to development. Prof. Usman, who spoke on behalf of the university’s Governing Council, Senate, management, staff and students, described Kogi as a state with rich human and natural resources and a diverse cultural heritage. He commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his administration’s focus on infrastructure,…