News Security April 01, 2026 Easter: DHQ places troops on high alert, confirms fresh US military backing

The Defence Headquarters has placed troops on nationwide alert ahead of the Easter celebrations, assuring Nigerians of tightened security.

The DHQ also reaffirmed that ongoing support from the United States is strengthening counter-terrorism operations, with a visible impact expected in the coming weeks.

Addressing journalists during the end-of-the-month briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, assured citizens of heightened vigilance by troops during the Easter celebrations.

Onoja said the Armed Forces had already placed personnel on alert nationwide to prevent any security breach during the holiday period.

He added that similar measures were implemented during previous festive seasons, including Christmas and Eid-el-Fitr, and would be sustained.

“We know that festive seasons usually have heightened security activities. The military command gives instructions to ensure all personnel are on alert. This time will not be different,” he said.

He emphasised that security agencies would not relax despite the celebrations, noting that adversaries often attempted to exploit such periods.

“I can assure you that we will always be on alert, particularly at this period of festivities, because we know that the threats expect us to relax.

“But we are not going to relax. Everything will be okay for this Easter,” he added.

Speaking on the ongoing collaboration with the US forces, Onoja said the impact of the collaboration may not be immediately visible due to the nature of military engagements, but expressed confidence that the benefits would become evident in the coming weeks and months.

He said the U.S. support to Nigeria’s operations had been significant, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing and training, noting that the assistance was being provided on favourable terms to strengthen ongoing counter-threat operations.

According to him, “You are aware that they are bringing intelligence and training support to us, which we need. They are giving that to us on very favourable terms. There are lots of things I cannot say because of confidentiality.”

He added that the intelligence being provided included information on the location of threats and hostile elements, stressing that Nigerian troops would act accordingly.

“All we can say is that these things take time. There is a gestation period when we are conducting military operations.

“You will not see it immediately, but in the next few months or weeks, you will feel the difference in the impact of the assistance that the U.S. is providing,” Onoja stated.

On February 16, 2026, DHQ confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 US military personnel and equipment at Bauchi Airfield.

According to the military high command, the personnel, who are not combat troops, were in Nigeria strictly for technical assistance, training, and advisory roles in counter-terrorism efforts.

However, insecurity has continued to surge in several parts of the country since their deployment, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the collaboration.

Sports World April 01, 2026 FIFA 2026 World Cup groups, fixtures confirmed [Full list]

The full groupings and match schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been confirmed, ahead of the tournament’s kick-off on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Host nation Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match in Mexico City, as the competition expands to 48 teams for the first time, divided into 12 groups of four.

The confirmed groups include: Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic; Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland; Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland; Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.

Others are Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador; Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia; Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand; Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.

Group I comprises of France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway, while Group J includes Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan; Group K features Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia; and Group L has England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

The group stage fixtures will run throughout June, with matches scheduled across major host cities including Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver before the tournament advances to the knockout rounds.

Among notable early fixtures are Mexico versus South Africa on June 11, Brazil against Morocco on June 13, and England’s opening clash with Croatia on June 17.

With an expanded format and a demanding schedule, the 2026 World Cup is set to deliver a more extensive and competitive group stage than ever before.

News April 01, 2026 Rukuba attack: Army denies troops provided cover for perpetrators

The Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace has denied claims that troops provided cover for perpetrators of deadly Palm Sunday attacks in Angwan Rukuba community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a Tuesday statement signed by Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Oteh, the JTF said the claim made by one of the youth leaders of the community was false and misleading.

The JTF said it would have ignored the claim which is currently circulated on social media, especially in this moment of grief, but chose to debunk it for the purpose of clarity and the benefit of well meaning Nigerians.

The statement reads, “It is expedient to state unequivocally that at no point did troops provide any form of cover for the terrorists elements who carried out the unfortunate attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens.

“Rather, troops on receiving a distress call on the unfortunate incident swiftly mobilised to the scene, which was far away from where they were deployed and observed that the attackers had fled.”

The JTF said troops acted professionally to avert what could have spiraled to endless bloodshed and pursued the fleeing criminals as could be attested to by many survivors who were at the scene of the attack.

It added, “Specifically, four guntrucks mounted by troops were despatched to the incident scene and they acted professionally on arrival as confirmed by other security agencies, as well as eye witnesses at the scene of the attack.

“Nonetheless, the allegation was promptly investigated and confirmed to be false.

“The comment by the youth leader is false, misleading and unfortunate, capable of demoralising troops and causing disaffection between the military and its host community.”

The JF urged the public to discountenance the comment, remain calm, law abiding and continue to support troops with credible and actionable information on terrorists activities.

“Troops in conjunction with other security agencies have adopted effective strategies to unravel and apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“Troops will continue to deal decisively with criminals while maintaining peace in every part of Plateau State,” the statement further reads.

News April 01, 2026 Senate extends 2025 budget implementation to June 30

The Senate has approved another extension of the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30.

This followed the presentation of a Bill for an Act to Amend the 2025 Appropriation Act to further extend the capital component of the Act from March 31 to June 30.

The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), at plenary on Tuesday.

Bamidele, while leading debate on the general principles of the bill, said the rationale for the amendment was both compelling and pragmatic.

He said that the execution of capital projects under the 2025 Appropriation Act had not reached an optimal level, despite the release of approximately 30 per cent of allocated funds to ministries departments and agencies (MDAs).

“This situation, if not urgently addressed, risks exacerbating the already troubling incidents of abandoned or partially executed projects across the country,” Bamidele said.

He said it was instructive to note that a significant proportion of the projects had relevance, saying only about 70 per cent had been provided for under the 2026 appropriation framework.

He said that without the extension, the president’s several critical national infrastructure and development initiatives might suffer avoidable discontinuity.

The lawmaker said that the bill was designed to ensure continuity, enhance budget performance and promote efficient utilisation of already released funds.

“It is also aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and safeguarding public resources from waste.

“Furthermore, this extension will contribute meaningfully to economic reflation by sustaining capital expenditure flows, conserving jobs and supporting ongoing development efforts across key sectors of the economy,” he said.

The senator said it was imperative to provide MDAs with the necessary legal window to fully implement their projects in the overriding public interest.

He urged the lawmakers to give the bill expeditious and favourable consideration.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), while seconding the motion for approval of the bill, said President Bola Tinubu was determined to bring about enhanced and quick infrastructural development to the country.

“It is in tandem with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of Mr President to bring about prosperity to our nation, and this cannot be done without building the critical infrastructure needed to bring about this vision to fruition.

“It is this regard that it is very important that time should be given so that the projects that have been started, that are ongoing, can be concluded. Otherwise, we will go into the problem of abandoned projects, which is inimical to our progress.

“It is very necessary. It is known to all that if we don’t do this, it will create a problem to the desire of Mr President to bring about the infrastructure development needed to bring prosperity to our nation,” he said.

Barau urged his colleagues to give expeditious passage to the bill.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate, thereafter, passed the bill, extending the 2025 budget capital component implementation to June 30 after a clause-by-clause consideration.(NAN)

News April 01, 2026 Adelabu denies resignation as power minister

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied reports suggesting he has resigned from office, describing the claims as false and misleading amid growing political speculation over his future.

The rebuttal comes at a time of heightened uncertainty following a Federal Government directive requiring political appointees with ambitions for the 2027 general elections to step down from their positions.

Responding in a WhatsApp chat with journalists on Tuesday, Adelabu’s Special Assistant on Media, Bolaji Tunji, dismissed the reports as fake news, insisting that the minister remains fully committed to his responsibilities in the power sector.

“The news of the minister’s resignation is fake. There is no truth to it”, Tunji said.

The media aide also shared photos of the purported resignation letter stamped “fake news.”

It was gathered that the rumours gained traction following recent comments by the minister, which many interpreted as leaving room for a possible political move.

At a press briefing in Abuja last Tuesday, Adelabu stopped short of confirming whether he would resign, even as he acknowledged the timeline for political decisions ahead of the 2027 elections.

“What matters to me most now is this job that I am doing as the Honourable Minister of Power. I am excelling on the job, and that is my priority for now, tackling foreseen, known and unforeseen challenges in the power sector,” he said.

He reiterated that resolving Nigeria’s electricity challenges remains his immediate focus.

“Resolving the power supply challenges is my priority for now. We have between now and March 31, if I am interested, in the gubernatorial contest in Oyo State. It is all about service, either at the national level or at the subnational level,” Adelabu added.

However, in remarks that further fuelled speculation, the minister hinted that his political future remains undecided.

“I will not say more than that. Whether I will be here or I will be leaving is a matter of time. I will get back to you,” he said.

The development comes against the backdrop of a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandating all ministers, heads of agencies and political appointees seeking elective office in 2027 to resign on or before March 31, 2026.

The directive, issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is aimed at ensuring compliance with electoral laws and maintaining the integrity of the political process.

News April 01, 2026 Irregular migration spikes in Nigeria with 848,000 visa overstayers identified

Nigeria is facing a rising irregular migration challenge, with about 848,000 visa overstayers currently in the country, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said.

Speaking on Politics Today, the minister said the figure was uncovered through the country’s recently upgraded immigration tracking system, which has improved the government’s ability to monitor foreign nationals residing in Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo noted that visa overstays are a global issue, stressing that addressing the problem would help curb crimes such as human trafficking and smuggling. He added that Nigeria is working to strengthen bilateral cooperation with other countries to ensure the dignified return of individuals without legal residency status.

“Just as we have Nigerian overstayers in the UK, Nigeria is also facing the same challenge. As of this morning, through our upgraded system, we have about 848,290 visa overstayers in Nigeria. These are citizens of different countries residing in Nigeria,” he said.

The minister also dismissed claims that Nigeria could be compelled to accept foreign prisoners under its migration agreement with the United Kingdom, insisting that such an arrangement would not be tolerated.

According to him, the Nigeria–UK migration deal is based strictly on reciprocity and applies only to Nigerian nationals, including visa overstayers, failed asylum seekers, and convicted offenders abroad.

“I have seen reports suggesting that prisoners would be brought into Nigeria. This government will not tolerate such. There is no way this administration will sign that kind of agreement,” he stated.

Tunji-Ojo further revealed that the Federal Government has enhanced its capacity to track and apprehend visa violators through data gathered over the past decade and the operations of the Nigeria Immigration Service’s Integrated Operations Centre.

He maintained that Nigerians returned under the agreement would be treated with dignity and in line with their fundamental human rights, assuring that the deal does not disadvantage citizens.

News April 01, 2026 JUST IN: Tinubu Secures Senate Approval for $6bn Foreign Loan

The Senate has expeditiously approved the request of President Bola Tinubu to go for external loans totalling $6 billion.

The approval came barely three and a half hours after the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the letter from the president, seeking the approval.

The Senate approved the loans following the presentation and consideration of the report by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, APC, Sokoto North, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.

Earlier, President Tinubu’s request to borrow was contained in two separate letters addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which were read during plenary on Tuesday.

In the first letter read by Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the approval to establish a structured total return swap (TRS) external financing programme of up to $5 billion with First Abu Dhabi Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In the letter, President Tinubu, who noted that the facility would be made available to Nigeria in tranches, said, “The purpose of this letter is to request the approval and resolution of the National Assembly pursuant to the provisions of section 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office Establishment Act 2003 to establish a structured total return swap (TRS) derivative external financing programme from First Abu Dhabi Bank of the United Arab Emirates of up to $5 billion, which will be made available to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in tranches.”

According to Tinubu, the proceeds would be used for budget implementation, development of priority infrastructure projects and repayment of relatively expensive domestic and external debts, adding that the facility would also help the federal government meet urgent financial obligations when necessary.

The president said that Nigeria’s total public debt currently stands at $110.3 billion, equivalent to about N159.2 trillion as of December 31, 2025.

According to him, the loan would be drawn in phases to reduce pressure on the country’s debt stock and servicing obligations.

In the second letter, Tinubu also asked the Senate to approve the issuance of naira-denominated federal government securities as collateral for the facility and the payment of margining obligations in US dollars.

In the letter, the president, who sought approval for a $1 billion UK export finance loan facility arranged by Citibank, London branch, said that the loan would be used for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.

More soon…..