Salem University advocates for legal framework in the use of drone technology in modern warfare / News Desk

Petrol Depot Prices Crash by N24 as Pump Price Cuts Loom Nationwide

23 Sept 2026 18:23

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor Petrol prices fell by as much as N24 per litre at major depots in Lagos on Tuesday, sparking fresh hopes that filling stations across Nigeria could begin cutting pump prices in the coming days as they restock at the new lower rates. The reductions, the most significant single-day decline in weeks, came amid a sharp retreat in international crude oil prices, with Brent crude slipping below the $100 per barrel mark and West Texas Intermediate falling to around $91 per barrel. The development offers a glimmer of relief for Nigerian motorists who have endured weeks of rising fuel costs, with pump prices climbing to between N1,395 and N1,450 per litre in Abuja and other parts of the country.In Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the downstream sector, Ascon, Integrated and Sahara depots led the reductions, cutting their petrol prices by N24 per litre to N1,327 from N1,351. Pinnacle also slashed its rate by N24 to N1,326 from N1,350, while MRS reduced its price by N20 to N1,332 from N1,352. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which had raised its gantry price by N85 to N1,350 per litre on September 12, reduced its price by N25 to N1,325 per litre on Monday, setting the benchmark for the latest round of cuts across the country. The refinery's decision to lower its price followed a sustained decline in international crude oil prices, with Brent falling from a peak of about $109 per barrel last week to under $100 per barrel by Tuesday.The reductions were not confined to Lagos. In Port Harcourt, Ascon and Integrated reduced their petrol prices by N5 each to N1,815 from N1,820, while Ibeto retained its price at N1,815. In Calabar, Mainland cut its price by N7 to N1,320 from N1,327, while Alkanes reduced its price by N2 to N1,325. In Warri, Keonamex reduced its price by N3 to N1,327, while Nepal cut its price by N1 to N1,329. The diesel market recorded even steeper declines, with Matrix in Warri reducing its Automotive Gas Oil price by N50 to N2,000 per litre from N2,050, while Masters in Port Harcourt cut its diesel price by N35 to N1,900 from N1,935. Prudent and Rain Oil in Warri also reduced their diesel prices by N10 each to N1,940 from N1,950. The sharper drop in diesel prices carries broader economic significance, as manufacturers, farmers, logistics firms and businesses depend heavily on diesel for transportation and backup power generation.A petroleum products marketer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the depot reductions would likely put pressure on filling stations to review their pump prices, particularly outlets buying directly from the affected depots or replenishing their stocks at the new lower rates. He cautioned, however, that motorists may not see an immediate or uniform reduction. Stations still holding products purchased at higher prices may maintain existing pump prices until those stocks are depleted and replaced with cheaper supplies, he explained. Competition among filling stations could accelerate the transmission of lower depot prices to consumers, especially in areas where several outlets operate within close proximity. The extent of any reduction will also depend on transportation costs, operating expenses and retail margins, meaning the N20 to N24 decline recorded at some Lagos depots should not be interpreted as an automatic equivalent cut at the pump. Sustained lower energy costs, the marketer added, could benefit the wider economy by trimming transport and logistics expenses.The Federal Government had convened a consultative meeting with refiners, depot owners, petroleum marketers and retailers on Tuesday to discuss competitive pricing of fuel and other petroleum products. The meeting, announced by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in line with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, was held against the backdrop of renewed pressure over petrol prices. The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said stakeholders could consider reducing petrol prices at the meeting, but he dismissed the possibility of selling petrol at N500 per litre, a demand recently made by organised civil servants. He said the N500 per litre target was not commercially viable under prevailing conditions in the downstream sector, stressing that retailers could not operate at a loss.The NMDPRA has maintained that it does not fix petrol pump prices under the deregulated market framework established by the Petroleum Industry Act, but it has pledged to step up surveillance against price-gouging, collusion and under-dispensing. The Authority said it was working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies to intensify surveillance along border corridors and prevent product smuggling, while collaborating with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to monitor exploitative practices. It has also opened dedicated reporting channels through which members of the public can report irregular pricing. The regulator's posture reflects the delicate balance it must strike in a market where prices are theoretically determined by supply and demand, but where consumers remain acutely sensitive to any perceived exploitation.The latest depot price reductions represent a welcome reprieve in a sector that has endured significant volatility throughout 2026. Petrol prices had risen sharply from around N830 per litre earlier in the year to above N1,300 in many parts of the country, driven by a combination of rising international crude oil prices, exchange rate pressures and logistics costs. The Dangote Refinery's N85 increase on September 12 had pushed pump prices to near N1,500 in some cities, intensifying calls for government intervention. The subsequent decline in crude oil prices, triggered by renewed expectations of diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran, has provided room for the downward adjustments now being seen at the depot level.Industry watchers caution that the downward trend could reverse if crude oil prices rebound, as they have repeatedly in recent months. The marketer who spoke to journalists noted that crude oil prices, exchange rates and supply costs could still reverse the downward trend. For now, however, the direction of travel is downward, and Nigerians are watching closely to see whether the reductions at the depot level translate into meaningful relief at the pump. The coming days will reveal whether filling stations pass on the savings to consumers, or whether the gap between depot prices and pump prices remains stubbornly wide.📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Sarkin Gabas Zayyanu Dies in Kebbi

23 Sept 2026 18:20

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor The ancient Gwandu Emirate in Kebbi State has been thrown into mourning following the death of one of its most senior traditional titleholders, Alhaji Muhammadu Rasheed, the Sarkin Gabas of Gwandu and District Head of Gwandu, who passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after a brief illness. He was a revered figure in the emirate, a custodian of its customs and traditions, and a bridge between the traditional institution and the modern machinery of governance in one of Nigeria's most historically significant kingdoms.The death was confirmed in separate statements by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Ahmed Idris, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris. According to the officials, the late traditional ruler died on Wednesday, and his funeral prayer was scheduled to be held at the Palace of the Emir of Gwandu in Birnin Kebbi at 3 p.m. the same day. "His Royal Highness passed away today, and the burial prayer will be performed at the Emir of Gwandu's Palace, Birnin Kebbi, by 3pm. May his soul rest in peace," Abdullahi Idris said. The confirmation brought to an end hours of uncertainty and conflicting reports about the identity and condition of the deceased, with an earlier report by Vanguard newspaper having identified the Sarkin Gabas as Muhammad Zayyanu Bello, a discrepancy that was resolved by the state government's official confirmation.The late Sarkin Gabas was a man of considerable pedigree within the Gwandu traditional hierarchy. He succeeded his father, the late Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar Mai-Wurno, who was the eldest son of the late Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed. That lineage placed him at the heart of one of northern Nigeria's most storied emirates, a kingdom with deep historical roots in the Sokoto Caliphate and a legacy of Islamic scholarship, governance and trade that stretches back centuries. As Sarkin Gabas, a title traditionally associated with the eastern gate of the emirate and one of the most senior positions in the Gwandu court, he was both a political adviser to the Emir and a direct administrator of the Gwandu District, overseeing the affairs of thousands of residents across the local government area.The reaction from the Kebbi State Government was swift and marked by a sense of profound loss. Ahmed Idris described the demise of the district head as a great loss to Kebbi State and its traditional institution, saying it had left a vacuum in community leadership. He disclosed that Governor Nasir Idris, who was in the United States attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, was deeply shocked by the news and extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the people of Gwandu and the entire state. The governor's aide prayed for Allah to forgive the deceased's shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and he asked God to grant the family, the Gwandu community and all of Kebbi State the fortitude to bear the loss. The sentiment was echoed across the state's political and traditional landscape, where the late Sarkin Gabas was widely regarded as a stabilising figure and a bridge between the emirate and the government.The death of the Sarkin Gabas comes at a delicate moment for the Gwandu Emirate and the wider Kebbi State traditional institution. In November 2025, the late traditional ruler had played a visible public role when the Kebbi State Government flagged off the disbursement of N750 million in compensation to property owners affected by the construction of the N4 billion Gwandu Township Road. Speaking at his palace during the event, he had applauded the government for remembering Gwandu and fulfilling its campaign promises, demonstrating the active role he played in fostering cooperation between the traditional institution and the state administration. His presence at that ceremony, and his willingness to mobilise community support for government projects, illustrated the kind of constructive traditional leadership that the emirate now mourns.The late Sarkin Gabas is survived by his wife and children. His son, Nasiru Zayyanu, described his father's death as painful and irreplaceable, saying the loss was felt across the Gwandu Emirate and Kebbi State. The funeral prayer was scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Emir of Gwandu's Palace in Birnin Kebbi, where family members, traditional titleholders, government officials, community leaders and ordinary residents were expected to gather to pay their final respects. It was to be a solemn occasion, a moment for the emirate to honour a man who had served his people with distinction and to bid farewell to a figure whose life spanned the transition from colonial-era traditional administration to the complexities of modern Nigerian governance.The passing of the Sarkin Gabas is a reminder of the enduring significance of Nigeria's traditional institutions, which continue to serve as custodians of culture, mediators of community disputes and vital partners in governance at the grassroots level. In Gwandu, as in many parts of northern Nigeria, the district head is not merely a ceremonial figure but a working administrator who oversees local affairs, liaises with government agencies and provides counsel to the emir. The death of Alhaji Muhammadu Rasheed leaves a gap that will be difficult to fill, and the process of selecting a successor will be watched closely by the people of Gwandu and the wider Kebbi State. For now, the emirate mourns, and the state government, despite the governor's absence abroad, has made clear that the loss is shared by all. The Sarkin Gabas is gone, but the legacy of service and tradition he embodied will remain part of the Gwandu story for generations to come.📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Gombe 2027: APC’s Gwamna Ready for Public Debate, Challenges Rivals to Put Records on the Table

23 Sept 2026 18:17

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor

Bauchi Police Arrest Six Over Drugs and Farm Murder

23 Sept 2026 18:12

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested six suspects in two separate incidents that have renewed concerns about drug trafficking and mob justice in northern Nigeria, recovering a large consignment of suspected Indian hemp and taking four men into custody over the brutal killing of a farmer accused of witchcraft.The arrests were announced on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, who said the operations formed part of the command’s sustained offensive against crime and criminality across the state. In the first case, operatives attached to the Gadau Division, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a black Sharon Wagon with registration number WKA 805 along Sharfolli village in Atafowa District at about 3 p.m. on September 21. The vehicle was suspected to be transporting illicit drugs. The interception led to the arrest of Shu’aibu Umar, 35, and Isah Ibrahim, 20, both of Atafowa village in Itas/Gadau Local Government Area. They were found in possession of 69 blocks of dried leaves reasonably suspected to be Indian hemp, concealed in bags of groundnuts. Both suspects remain in custody while the exhibits have been recovered.The second case, which has shocked residents of the Gadau area, involved the killing of 45-year-old farmer Garba Abdullahi. According to Habib, the command received a report on September 22 at about 12:35 p.m. from the victim’s younger brother, a 35-year-old man of Dunari village via Atahowa District. The report stated that at about 11:40 a.m. that same day, Abdullahi was brutally attacked on his way home from his farm by four persons who accused him of being responsible for the illness of one Sawaida Dahiru. The suspects, identified as Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19, all males of the same address, allegedly stabbed and macheted the victim on various parts of his body, leaving him unconscious. Police operatives rushed to the scene upon receiving the report and evacuated Abdullahi to the General Hospital in Azare for medical attention. He was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, and his remains were released to his relatives for burial. All four suspects have been arrested.The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned what he described as the increasing cases of jungle justice and self-help based on superstitious beliefs. He warned that nobody had the right to take another person’s life under any guise, urging residents to allow the law to take its course whenever disputes or suspicions arise. Both cases have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for discreet investigation and subsequent prosecution. The command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police and to desist from taking the law into their own hands.The arrests come amid a broader surge in drug-related crime and vigilante violence across Bauchi State. In late August, police arrested three members of a vigilante group over the death of a 39-year-old man, Abdulrazak Ibrahim, who died while in their custody. The Commissioner of Police again warned against extrajudicial actions and jungle justice, stressing that only lawful authorities are empowered to investigate and prosecute alleged offences. Earlier in September, five suspects were arrested in three separate cases of culpable homicide and foeticide across Bauchi metropolis, Kirfi and Ningi Local Government Areas. In one of those cases, a dispute over farmland escalated into a fatal stabbing, and the suspect was arrested while attempting to flee to Gombe State.The drug dimension of Wednesday’s arrests reflects a deepening challenge in the state. According to data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Bauchi State Command seized more than 2.2 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs and secured 79 convictions between November 2025 and June 2026. The agency arrested 270 suspects during the same period and destroyed a cannabis plantation. In September, an NDLEA officer was killed during an operation against suspected drug users in Toro Local Government Area, underscoring the risks faced by enforcement personnel. The NDLEA has consistently linked drug abuse to property crime, violent crime and the erosion of social cohesion, a pattern that appears to be playing out in Bauchi’s communities.The witchcraft allegation that led to Abdullahi’s killing is not an isolated phenomenon. Across parts of northern and central Nigeria, accusations of witchcraft and sorcery have repeatedly led to mob violence, lynching and extrajudicial killings. The police have consistently warned against such practices, but enforcement remains difficult in rural communities where traditional beliefs are deeply held and where suspicion of formal justice systems runs high. The Bauchi command’s swift arrest of the four suspects in Abdullahi’s killing sends a clear signal that such acts will not go unpunished, but the underlying social dynamics that produce these tragedies require more than arrests to address.For now, the six suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. The drug suspects face charges related to trafficking and possession of illicit substances, while the four accused in Abdullahi’s murder face culpable homicide charges. The cases will be prosecuted through the courts, where the evidence gathered by the police will be tested. The command has urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement and to resist the temptation to take justice into their own hands, warning that those who do will face the full weight of the law. In a state grappling with both drug trafficking and vigilante violence, the message is clear: the police may be stretched, but the law still applies to everyone, and those who choose to kill in the name of superstition or to profit from the misery of addiction will be held accountable.📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Wike Rejects Rigging Allegations, Says G5 Strategy Outsmarted Atiku in 2023

23 Sept 2026 18:08

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that he rigged the 2023 presidential election in the South-South in favour of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the outcome was the product of a deliberate political strategy by the G5 group of governors aimed at denying the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the region’s votes.Wike, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, described the rigging claims as a “baseless narrative propagated primarily on social media”. The rebuttal followed widespread criticism that erupted after his appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, where he disclosed that the G5 governors deliberately allowed Peter Obi of the Labour Party to win in parts of the South-South to weaken Atiku’s chances. Critics, public commentators and opposition figures argued that Wike’s statement amounted to a public confession of voter manipulation, prompting the minister to clarify that the results were achieved through political strategy rather than illegal interference.At the heart of Wike’s defence is a simple argument: no individual could single-handedly manipulate results across Nigeria’s vast electoral infrastructure. “People who don’t understand, how can they say I rigged the election? How would I have done it? So, I just took the result sheets, wrote it, and gave it to INEC?” he asked. He emphasised that social media projections often fail to reflect reality across the country’s roughly 176,000 polling units, noting that seeing results from a few hundred polling units and rushing to conclusions does not determine election outcomes. Wike also pointed to the fact that opposition parties failed to substantiate rigging claims in court, asking why nobody tendered any result from Rivers State at the tribunal to prove they won.Detailing the G5’s strategy, Wike explained that the group identified Atiku as its primary threat because the South-South was traditionally a PDP stronghold. “We felt that Atiku was more of a factor in that election than Obi. So our strategy was that, make sure that you vote for Obi to win in order to deny Atiku the votes,” he said. “South-South was purely a PDP state and so if we had voted for PDP all through, then Atiku would have won. That was a threat”. He revealed that the strategy was applied in Edo and Cross River, where the PDP was considered strong enough to boost Atiku if the party won, but Rivers State was excluded. “It was only Rivers that said, ‘No, we have a problem here in Rivers. Obi will not win here because if he wins, he sends a signal somewhere, people may not understand it.’ And we stopped it,” Wike said.Wike downplayed Obi’s broader national appeal, arguing that the Labour Party candidate was a threat only on social media and that even a victory in Rivers would not have altered the presidential outcome. “Assuming Obi won Rivers, add it for him. Would he have won the election?” he asked. He attributed Obi’s 2023 performance in certain states to the controversy over the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, a factor he said no longer exists. “Under 2023 there was this campaign of Christianity, there was this campaign of Muslim-Muslim ticket. There was, seriously,” Wike said. “It’s no longer there now. No more like Muslim-Muslim ticket. Well, it doesn’t work. Tinubu has been able to kill that”.The G5 governors were a group of five PDP governors who opposed Atiku’s presidential candidacy, arguing that the party’s ticket should have been zoned to the South after eight years of northern presidency under Muhammadu Buhari. The group comprised Wike of Rivers, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu. Makinde has since broken ranks with the group after falling out with Wike over the FCT minister’s support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.The controversy has drawn sharp reactions from opposition figures and political commentators. A chieftain of the Labour Party, Yunusa Tanko, said Wike’s admission confirmed what the party had always known about the 2023 election. “This is a confirmation of what we have been saying. The G5 governors colluded with the APC to deny the Labour Party victory,” he said. “But what Wike fails to understand is that Nigerians have moved on. The 2027 election will be different.” A spokesperson for the Atiku campaign described Wike’s remarks as an admission of anti-party activity that should attract disciplinary action from the PDP. “If a member of the PDP openly admits to working against the party’s candidate, what does that tell you about his loyalty? The party should act,” the spokesperson said.Wike has also faced criticism from within his own party. A former National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, described the minister’s statements as reckless and capable of damaging the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections. “Wike is playing a dangerous game. He is not just opposing Atiku; he is undermining the entire party,” Secondus said. “He should remember that he is still a member of the PDP and should conduct himself accordingly.”The political landscape has shifted significantly since the 2023 election. Atiku has since joined the African Democratic Congress, while Obi has aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, setting the stage for a three-way contest in 2027. Wike has openly campaigned for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the President deserves a second term. He has dismissed suggestions that the G5’s strategy could be replicated in 2027, insisting that the conditions that favoured Obi in 2023 no longer exist. “What people need now, Obi does not have it and he would never have it. So for 2027, leave it for Tinubu. Come back in 2031,” he said.As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, Wike’s remarks have reignited debates about the integrity of the 2023 polls and the role of political strategy in shaping electoral outcomes. The minister’s insistence that the G5’s actions were strategic rather than criminal has done little to quiet critics, who argue that openly admitting to manipulating voter choices, whether through political strategy or otherwise, undermines public confidence in the democratic process. For Wike, the matter is settled: the G5 had a strategy, it worked, and the results speak for themselves. For his critics, the questions remain unanswered, and the 2027 election will be the ultimate test of whether Nigerian voters are swayed by political calculations or the ballot.📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Salem University advocates for legal framework in the use of drone technology in modern warfare

23 Sept 2026 17:41

Defence Minister Proposes Military Training for Every Nigerian

23 Sept 2026 17:39

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has proposed that every Nigerian citizen should undergo military training, arguing that such an experience would build discipline, endurance, and a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in protecting the country. Musa made the proposal while featuring on the African Leadership Podcast hosted by Ken Giami, released on Monday. The former Chief of Defence Staff said military training exposes individuals to hunger, exhaustion, physical strain, and prolonged periods without sleep, experiences that he believes would give Nigerians a different understanding of life and the responsibilities of national security. “For me, I think it’s the best. If I have my way, every Nigerian should be able to go through military training. I can tell you for free,” Musa said. “It will give you a different perspective about life. You will now understand what it means to stay hungry, what it means to walk in days without sleep. It will show you what endurance means, that when you walk kilometres and you are tired, but you still need to keep up going. You have not eaten, you have not taken well, because of the nature of the thing. And because you are doing it to protect.” The minister, who was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1991 after joining the Nigerian Defence Academy as a cadet in 1986, drew on his own experience to illustrate the demands of military service. He revealed that for the first seventeen years of his marriage, he never spent thirty consecutive days with his family. “So you can imagine how 17 years of my marriage, never spent 30 straight days together. So you have kids that are growing up, and those are formative years for your children, because you need to have that. Once they get to school, start going to universities, they are gone,” he said. “So these are the sacrifices that people make. So when you hear people saying, look, what are they doing? It’s really demoralizing. And if you demoralize your troops, they can’t give you their best.” Musa likened the sacrifices of military personnel to the biblical principle of giving one’s life for another, stressing that soldiers operate in difficult environments and conditions in the course of their duties. “And that’s exactly what the military men are doing, putting their lives at stake for their country to move around,” he said. He appealed to Nigerians to understand that soldiers are members of families who leave their loved ones behind while serving the country. “Everybody wants peace, and that is important, so we want them to understand soldiers are fathers, brothers and sisters of people. They’ve families they’ve left behind, staying in the weather, rain, dust, night or day, staying there to ensure the country is secured,” he said. Musa also expressed concern over instances where members of the public insult military personnel or question the need for continued operations, stressing that soldiers also desire peace and are working towards securing the country. The minister linked increased infiltration across Nigeria’s borders to the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States. He said Nigeria was responding by strengthening bilateral relationships with neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, particularly to secure the southern part of the country. Musa also emphasised that winning the fight against insecurity required both military and non-military approaches, noting that kinetic operations alone could not resolve the complex security challenges facing the nation. The proposal for universal military training is not entirely new to Nigeria’s policy discourse. The National Youth Service Corps, established in 1973, already requires graduates of tertiary institutions to undergo a compulsory one-year service programme that includes paramilitary training. However, Musa’s suggestion goes significantly further by proposing that every Nigerian, regardless of educational background or age, should experience military training at some point. The proposal raises practical questions about feasibility, funding, and implementation, particularly in a country of over 220 million people with a military that currently numbers in the hundreds of thousands. It also raises questions about whether such training would be voluntary or mandatory, how long it would last, and whether it would be integrated into existing national service frameworks or established as a standalone programme. The minister did not provide specifics on how such a scheme would be designed or funded. Reactions to the proposal have been mixed. Some security analysts have described the idea as a potential tool for fostering national unity and civic responsibility, arguing that shared military training could help bridge ethnic and religious divides while instilling discipline in a population grappling with high youth unemployment and social unrest. Others have raised concerns about the cost, the capacity of the military to absorb millions of trainees, and the risk of politicisation. Critics have also questioned whether mandatory military training is the most effective use of resources in a country where the military is already stretched across multiple internal security operations, from the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and separatist agitation in the South-East. Musa’s comments come amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve public understanding of the role of the armed forces in combating insecurity. The military has faced criticism over civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and the slow pace of progress against armed groups in various parts of the country. In that context, the minister’s appeal for Nigerians to better appreciate the sacrifices of soldiers can be seen as an attempt to rebuild public trust and counter narratives that undermine military morale. Whether the proposal for universal military training gains political traction remains to be seen. What is clear is that Musa has placed a provocative idea on the national agenda, one that raises fundamental questions about citizenship, service, and the relationship between Nigeria’s military and the society it is sworn to protect. 📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Lagos APC Expels Ex-Agege Chairman, Aspirant Over Defection to APM

23 Sept 2026 17:27

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor

Ogun urges firms to embrace circular economy, cut waste healthwise

23 Sept 2026 17:21

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor

Drug Offences Top Reasons for Inmates’ Custody in Oyo – NCoS

23 Sept 2026 17:14

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor

EFCC Chairman Olukoyede Says Case Files Full of Pastors, Imams Indicted for Financial Crimes

23 Sept 2026 16:49

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Security Forces Arrest Bandit Informant Ashiru Abubakar Over Threat to Romo Village in Sokoto

23 Sept 2026 16:32

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

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29 Sept 2025 01:22

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Salem University advocates for legal framework in the use of drone technology in modern warfare

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