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Shettima in Switzerland for World Economic Forum

Published

2 months ago

January 19, 2026

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Davos, Switzerland, to lead Nigeria’s delegation at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum.

The forum, which brings together global political and business leaders, will hold from January 19 to 23, 2026.

Shettima arrived from Conakry, Guinea, where he represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya on Friday.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, the VP was received on arrival by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; and officials of the Nigerian mission in Switzerland.

This year’s forum marks a milestone in Nigeria’s participation at the annual gathering, with the Federal Government establishing a dedicated sovereign pavilion on the Davos Promenade for the first time.

The facility, called “Nigeria House Davos,” was established through a Public-Private Partnership.

It will serve as a hub for ministerial engagements, investment roundtables, and cultural diplomacy throughout the week.

Speaking to journalists after Shettima’s arrival, Oduwole said Nigeria would make a robust presentation of investment opportunities at the launch of Nigeria House.

“We will be showcasing four playbooks on President Tinubu’s efforts in re-engineering the Nigerian economy,” she said, adding, “We will present our solid minerals sector, climate sustainability, agriculture, and creative and digital sectors to investors from all over the world.”

According to Nkwocha, Shettima will present Nigeria’s 2026 economic outlook to global leaders during the forum.

He will also participate in plenary sessions focusing on the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology.

The Vice President is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state, executives from multinational corporations, and leaders of international development finance institutions throughout the week.

The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos attracts thousands of participants, including heads of government, chief executives, civil society leaders, and journalists.

The 2026 edition is expected to focus on global economic challenges, technological innovation, and climate action.

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Ex-military chief gives reasons bandits kidnap people

Published

15 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Former Field Commander of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, Maj. Gen. Anthony Atolagbe, rtd, says bandits kidnap people to use them as human shields from the military.

General Atolagbe made this revelation on Tuesday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He was speaking about the rising insecurity confronting the country.

“The bandits have a pattern of taking people into their enclave, just to use them as sex slaves, but also as shields for negotiation.

“What I can say also is that I will not be able to dwell on specifics. But in Sambisa, some abducted people were freed. In fact, the first thing that happened was that over 100 of them escaped, based on the heat that was brought on the adversary.

“Now, what is playing out is that these guys are being dislodged, and when they are dislodged, and they lose contact with all these women and these men that are running, who are sex slaves and liberals for them within the theater or wherever they are in their enclaves, what happens is that they try to move to other locations where they think they will be safe.

“And the next thing is to start looking for who they can also grab and bring into their new locations.

“The other side is that it is also another strategy by those that are expecting the arrival of the military that are coming into their enclaves to come and chase them out by using some of these people as human shields when the military approach their location.

“So you see that the analysis has brought it out that they have a pattern that they always want to take people into their enclave, not just to use them as slaves or whatever, but they will also want to use them to negotiate,” the retired military officer said.

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War: Federal govt begins evacuation of Nigerians from Iran

Published

15 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of Nigerians who wish to leave Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety as tension continues to escalate in the Middle East.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post shared on her X handle.

According to her, officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation process and assisting Nigerians willing to depart the country.

The evacuees are being escorted to the Armenian border where arrangements have been made to facilitate their safe passage.

The evacuation comes amid growing concerns over the security situation in the region following a series of coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28.

The strikes reportedly triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across parts of the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

Despite the rising tension, Dabiri-Erewa reassured that no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the ongoing hostilities.

She also noted that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist Nigerians who decide to leave the country.

“Willing Nigerians being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave,” she wrote.

This comes due to the ongoing military strikes between U.S, Israel and Iran.

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News

Insurgency: FG knows every terrorist by name, says Gumi

Published

17 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Abubakar Gumi has stirred debate by claiming that the Nigerian government already knows the identities and hideouts of terrorists across the country. Speaking in a recent DRTV interview, he said his interactions with armed groups are coordinated closely with security agencies.

Gumi addressed rumours that he negotiates with bandits on his own, stressing the involvement of police, military, and other officials. “The government knows every terrorist by name and by location. I don’t go alone to negotiate I go with the police, military, and other security agencies,” he said.

The cleric revealed that some of his efforts take him deep into forests and remote communities, sometimes even accompanied by local women. “I would go to the Emirs. In fact, when we went to one forest, I even went with women into the bush,” he added.

Gumi has long advocated dialogue as a tool to reduce violence, often sparking controversy for interacting with groups considered enemies of the state. He argued that these efforts complement security operations rather than replace them, highlighting the importance of negotiation alongside law enforcement.

Observers note that Gumi’s approach underscores the complexity of addressing Nigeria’s insecurity, where military action alone may not suffice. His collaboration with traditional leaders and security agencies demonstrates a hybrid strategy aimed at curbing violence and encouraging disarmament.

Despite these efforts, insecurity remains high in several northern states, prompting debate on whether dialogue initiatives have tangible results. Critics argue that without accountability and transparency, negotiations could inadvertently legitimise armed groups.

Gumi’s statements have reignited national conversations on counterterrorism strategies, with many Nigerians discussing the balance between dialogue, intelligence gathering, and military action. His insights suggest that tackling terrorism in Nigeria may require innovative approaches that merge community engagement with formal security measures.

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