The Federal Government, on Sunday, broke its silence over reports of an alleged failed coup to topple the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the government had faith in the military and had no reason to doubt the position of the Defence Headquarters, which on Saturday dismissed the report of a coup as fake.

On Saturday, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the military had denied a news report by Sahara Reporters, linking the detention of 16 military officers to a failed coup.

The online newspaper had linked the alleged coup to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day by the Federal Government.

Dismissing the report, however, in an official statement on Saturday, Gusau condemned the report, saying it was “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

Gusau said the cancellation of the October 1 anniversary parade was “purely administrative,” explaining that it was meant to allow President Tinubu to attend a bilateral meeting abroad and enable troops to sustain ongoing operations against insurgency and banditry.

While declaring that “Democracy is forever,” Gusau said, “The ongoing investigation involving the 16 officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks. An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings would be made public.”

When contacted on Sunday for the Federal Government’s position on the development, the information minister responded that it was “a military affair”.

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” the minister said. “The Federal Government believes that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to ensuring the territorial integrity of the country and also strengthening its fight against insecurity.

“The Federal Government commends the military, and it will continue to support them in their task of ensuring the security of Nigeria.”

However, the opposition parties in the country are calling on the Federal Government and the military authorities to come clean and ensure transparency.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, said Nigerians deserved to know the truth about the alleged coup plot and the nature of the charges against the detained officers.

“They should let us know what actually happened. We have to know the charges and whether they are facing court-martial or not.

“So, we will know with time whether the military was lying to us or whether the news of soldiers planning a coup is true. Whichever way, we ought to know. That is part of the due process,” he said.

Similarly, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, said it was concerning that the military is “speaking with two mouths.”

“If it is as severe as we tend to think, then we ought to be cautious in making comments. Because, first, the military is speaking with two mouths.

“Secondly, they said those in detention are there because of some disciplinary measures. Yet, we have sources within the rank and file saying there indeed was an issue of that nature (coup),” he said.

He appealed to the military to “be courageous, according to the oath of their service, to bring the actual facts to the public so that innocent lives do not suffer.”

Also weighing in, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said it was important to verify the authenticity of the alleged coup story before drawing conclusions.

“First of all, you need to establish the truth of the matter before you can suggest punitive measures. There are people already insinuating that this particular statement is planted news by the government in power in order to gain traction,” he noted, adding that public discontent over the government’s performance may have fueled the rumour.

“People are hungry and tired of being manipulated. So, we are not surprised the anger has gone to that particular level even in the military,” Tanko added.

In its Saturday statement, the military reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s democratic institutions and urged Nigerians to disregard rumours of instability.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain firmly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu. Democracy is forever,” Gusau stated.

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned against any attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democratic process, declaring that a military takeover would spell doom for the country.

The group also reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s administration, urging Nigerians to resist any unconstitutional change of government.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH in Ibadan, Oyo State, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said a military coup would set the country back by decades.

He said, “The constitution clearly stated that government cannot be changed except through constitutional means.”

Ajayi urged ambitious officers not to embark on any “calamitous mission,” and warned those inciting such an act to desist, describing a coup as “an ill wind.”

He noted that although the situation in the country might appear challenging, military rule was not the solution.

“The current administration under President Bola Tinubu is trying its best to re-engineer Nigeria. It is hoped that very soon, relief would be had in many areas in which people appear to be feeling some pinches.

“It is a known fact that many military putsches were not informed by patriotism but by selfish interests. At the moment, there is no justification for changing the government in Nigeria by force,” he insisted.

Ajayi added, “It is heartwarming to hear the spokesman for the military, General Gusau, declaring that there is no coup, and that some military officers who were arrested are being investigated.”

Similarly, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, in a separate statement on Sunday, condemned any plot or attempt to overthrow the government, saying Nigeria’s growing democracy must not be truncated.

According to him, “Irrespective of political affiliations, ethnic leanings or religious persuasions, Nigerians stand united in their collective rejection of military incursion into governance.”

He said, “Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, notes with grave concern the circulating reports, real or imagined, factual or speculative, of an alleged attempt by certain military elements to undermine the constitutional order.

“We deem it necessary, in the interests of national stability and historical justice, to state unequivocally that any contemplation of a military coup d’état, however remote or rumoured, constitutes an unmitigated assault on the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The nation still bears the indelible scars of past military interventions, marked by years of institutional collapse, economic retrogression and political repression. It was under military regimes, notably during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, that the tragic cycle of killings in Plateau and Benue States began, a cycle that continues to haunt our national conscience.”

Omololu reaffirmed Afenifere’s “unwavering faith in democracy as the only legitimate instrument for leadership renewal and national advancement.”

He hailed President Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, saying that though still evolving, they “provide a lawful and credible framework for steering the nation toward economic recovery and rapid development. The surest route to reform is through constitutional governance, not the barrel of a gun.”

He warned, “Any military officer nursing political ambition is advised to honourably resign his commission and test his popularity at the ballot box. The armed forces exist to defend the Constitution, not to desecrate it. To deploy arms against the Republic is not patriotism but treason, an offence clearly defined and punishable under the Armed Forces Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“From 1966 to 1979, every coup was justified under the guise of combating corruption, yet corruption persisted under the military administrations. Let that history remain a warning, not a temptation.

“Afenifere commends the Chief of Defence Staff, his chiefs, and all patriotic officers for their loyalty and vigilance in upholding the nation’s sovereignty. The Nigerian state must and shall never again be held hostage by the gun,” the statement concluded.

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Police officers on Monday dispersed protesters demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra , Nnamdi Kanu, at the Utako area of Abuja.

The protesters, who had earlier been forced to flee after police fired tear gas canisters at them around the Maitama area, later regrouped at Utako to continue their demonstration.

However, armed operatives again moved in and dispersed them.

The demonstrators, made up of civil rights activists and members of pro-democracy groups, were part of the #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow campaign aimed at pressuring the Federal Government to comply with the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted Kanu.

Earlier in the day, police had fired multiple rounds of tear gas at protesters and passersby near the Transcorp Hilton and adjoining streets in Maitama.

The development created panic, forcing commuters, traders, and motorists to run for safety.

After regrouping at Utako, the protesters continued chanting solidarity songs and displaying banners before security agents again used tear gas to scatter them.

Security has since been tightened across the Federal Capital Territory, with soldiers, police, and operatives of the Department of State Services stationed at strategic locations including Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the Three Arms Zone.

Also, at the Berger roundabout, our correspondent saw a large number of soldiers with a gun truck mounted at the area.

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The Federal Road Safety Corps has announced the introduction of a contactless biometric capture system for driver’s licence issuance, marking a significant shift toward digitalisation in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration.

The development came as the Corps launches its 2025 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign aimed at reducing road accidents during the busy festive period.

The campaign, launched on Monday in Abuja, is themed “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” It targets dangerous driving behaviors often linked to increased crashes between December 15 and January 15.

Speaking during the flag-off, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the new licence system would not only eliminate delays but also remove the need for temporary documents.

“We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the driver’s license and number plates. Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 driver’s licenses daily.

“This production average will be increased to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025,” the Corps Marshal noted.

Mohammed added, “We are also about to commence the contactless biometric capture with on-spot printing of the license, which will eliminate temporary licenses, thereby signaling the beginning of a digitalized one-stop-shop for processing driver’s licenses.

“With this development, it is expected that delays and other challenges related to the national driver’s license will be history.”

The corps marshal explained that the new system was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including state governments, noting that licensing falls under a concurrent legislative list.

“Globally, we have seen how a driver’s licence has been obtained. As soon as you come, you get the driver’s license. What matters is the comprehensive data, the adequate data that will be stored for usage at any given time,” he said.

He further explained that the system would fully integrate existing driving schools, Vehicle Inspection Office, and certification processes, but with a faster and streamlined approach.

“We are almost through with the process. It is no longer going to be the process of putting hands on the biometric. This one is a contactless biometric. It doesn’t take time, and also, it captures all the essence required,” he said.

According to him, the entire process, from application to licence issuance, will become immediate upon capture.

“Once you reach the point of capture, you get captured and you get your driver’s licence instantly. There is no longer going to be a temporary driver’s licence. There’s no longer going to be two weeks, one month, six months, one year before you get your driver’s licence,” Mohammed stated.

He said the new process is also synchronised with the National Identification Number database, ensuring data consistency and seamless identity verification.

He described the new contactless fingerprint system as “seamless,” saying it allows biometric data to be captured without physical contact, using advanced technology that reads fingerprints from a short distance.

The FRSC has also enhanced its cooperation with state governments and agencies such as the VIO and state revenue boards to ensure seamless implementation of the new system nationwide.

During a press tour of the FRSC’s Driver’s Licence Print Farm on Monday, Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, confirmed that the contactless system is already operational and will be rolled out across the country, including Lagos.

Crucially, Datsama disclosed that the Corps had been dealing with a massive “backlog of 800,000 unprocessed driver’s licences, which has now been reduced to 400,000.”

“We are now working 24/7 to clear the remaining backlog.

“Our current daily production capacity is 40,000 licences, and by the grace of God, we will clear everything in the next few weeks,” he stated.

He also urged Nigerians who have already completed capture to check and collect their licences, noting that “over 206,000 licences remain unclaimed across various states.”