The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) has inaugurated the NAOWA Multipurpose Cooperative Society (NMCS) to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacity and economic wellbeing of women in military barracks nationwide.

The President of NAOWA, Mrs Safiyyah Shaibu, at the unveiling on Thursday in Abuja, said the initiative was designed to provide a dependable platform for members to save, access credit and grow sustainable businesses.

Shaibu said the cooperative was conceptualised and developed by her predecessor and current President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Merna Oluyode.

She said the conceptualisation of the scheme was in line with NAOWA’s commitment to improving the welfare of officers’ wives, young entrepreneurs and widows of fallen heroes.

“Today is a proud moment for our association. This cooperative will serve as a financial support system to strengthen our members economically and promote self-reliance across our communities,” she said.

NAOWA President commended Oluyode for her foresight and leadership in laying the foundation for the cooperative, adding that it was fitting for her to perform the formal launch.

“As the current NAOWA president, I pledge our full support to ensure the cooperative remains transparent and becomes a dependable platform for all members,” she added.

The President of DEPOWA, Mrs Oluyede, said the cooperative was “a vision born in one administration and nurtured into reality by another.”

Oluyede, who initiated the idea during her tenure as NAOWA President, said seeing the cooperative take off under her successor was a powerful reminder that leadership is strongest when it transcends personal tenure.

She said the cooperative would help women cushion the financial shocks that frequently come with military life — frequent transfers, separation from spouses, and the strain of raising families in duty barracks.

Oluyede stressed that beyond loans, the cooperative would provide the structure, discipline and training that many women need to grow small businesses, build savings, or secure future investments.

“In NAOWA, we don’t build for ourselves alone. We build for the women coming behind us.

“This is about dignity. It is about ensuring that no woman in our community stands alone,” she said.

She added that financial literacy, youth skills development, and partnerships with reputable institutions would position NAOWA families for long-term stability.

Oluyede praised NAOWA’s leadership for sustaining the vision, saying the unity between past and present presidents showed that women’s associations could build enduring structures when they work hand in hand.

She described the cooperative as “a gift from women to women — and a symbol of what empowered military wives can achieve.”

A member of the NMCS Management Committee, Mrs Eyotoyosi Sonibare, said the newly inaugurated body had evolved from a concept seven months ago into a full-fledged institution built on resilience, shared purpose and the collective spirit of NAOWA members.

Sonibare said the cooperative was created to provide a platform for economic advancement, offering members opportunities to improve their livelihoods through agriculture, trading, manufacturing, real estate and other productive ventures.

She said the NMCS was designed to make funding more accessible for women in barracks to start or expand their businesses, invest in property and benefit from training and partnerships that strengthen capacity.

According to her, the overarching goal was to deepen financial independence, promote wealth creation and enhance social cohesion within NAOWA, in line with its tagline, “Together we thrive, together we grow.”

She added that the cooperative belongs to all members and expressed confidence that it would become a model of excellence and a symbol of unity for future generations.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to intensify cadet battle -hardened training with a view to bridging gaps in military operations.

Shaibu gave the charge during a courtesy visit by the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, to Army Headquarters, Abuja.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The COAS said that cadet training at the NDA must be driven by purposeful leadership, discipline, character, courage and strategic thinking.

He stressed the need to strengthen research centres, particularly the NDA Department of Military Science, as a strategic step towards boosting the National Defence Industry and enhancing indigenous capacity for military innovation and self-reliance.

He underscored that a robust research framework would provide the intellectual backbone required for a modern, responsive and technologically advanced fighting force.

The COAS further advocated for a curriculum overhaul that reflects contemporary security challenges, with emphasis on night training, physical fitness, artificial intelligence and other emerging warfare domains.

According to him, these measures would ensure that young officers are fully attuned to the realities of modern battlefields and equipped with the warrior ethos and battle-oriented leadership skills required to drive his Command Philosophy.

The philosophy according to him, is, “To Advance the Transformation of the Nigerian Army into a More Professional, Adaptable, Combat Ready and Resilient Force Capable of Decisively Discharging its Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”

The army chief also pledged full support to the commandant in achieving those objectives.

He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian Defence Academy produces officers who are strategically sound, operationally competent and fully prepared to meet the evolving security demands of the nation.

In his remarks, the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Olatoye expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the military for the confidence reposed in him to lead the nation’s premier military training institution.

He described the NDA as the “training factory” for future officers of the Armed Forces.

The commandant assured that he would build on the legacies and structures established by his predecessors.

He solicited sustained support from the COAS to effectively realise the vision and mission of producing competent, disciplined and professional officers capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s security interests.

Nigeria is “a nation under siege”, the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has warned, as escalating attacks on schools plunge the country into a deepening education and security crisis.

In a blistering statement signed by Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, FNAE, President, and Prof. Chris Chukwurah, MNAE, Secretary General of the Academy, following the abduction of students from St Mary’s School in Niger State, the academy said 92 school invasions, 2,500 abducted learners, over 180 children killed, and 1 million too afraid to attend school paint a portrait of a nation failing its young.

“These figures represent shattered dreams and grieving families,” the NAE said. “Classrooms have become battlegrounds.”

‘Government efforts amount to lip service’

While the government has unveiled several initiatives—including the Safe Schools Declaration and a multibillion-naira safety plan, the academy said these measures have failed to halt mass abductions or restore confidence. Large parts of the North East and Middle Belt remain exposed, and schools continue to shut down.

The NAE accused authorities of neglecting their constitutional duty to protect lives, warning that abandoned policies and weak implementation have created a “false sense of security”.

With trauma, economic ruin and a fading future that accompany killings and kidnappings, children and teachers are battling severe trauma, nightmares, anxiety, and fear that cripples learning. Teachers, described as “unsung victims”, face daily threats that push many out of the profession.

The economic fallout is severe: more than 11,500 schools in the north have closed since 2020, placing 3 million children at risk of dropping out and eroding Nigeria’s human capital.

“When education collapses, national development collapses with it,” the academy warned.

NAE demands decisive action as it called for immediate and coordinated security measures, accountability for perpetrators, community-level protection, medical and psychological support for victims, and an overhaul of all existing safety frameworks.

“If Nigeria fails to protect its schools, it fails to protect its future,” the NAE said. “The time for rhetoric is over—the time for results is now.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an opioids cartel in an intelligence-led operation during which a baron and five members of his gang were arrested.

The NDLEA operatives recovered illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion from their secret warehouse in a residential estate in Lagos.

A statement by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Wednesday in Abuja said that the operatives had continued their offensive action against drug syndicates in a nationwide crackdown.

Babafemi said that the arrest followed credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation (DTO) was distributing over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million mls) of codeine syrup.

He said that the drugs were warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos state, ahead of the Christmas festive season.

He also said that officers of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA led a well coordinated operation between Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20 to round up members of the syndicate and dismantle their criminal network.

He added that two members of the DTO were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac area of Lagos on Wednesday, Nov. 19 while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.

He also added that a follow up operation to the syndicate’s warehouse at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor the following day Thursday, Nov. 20 led to the arrest of other members of the syndicate.

“In all, a total of 7,272,000 pills of tramadol 225mg worth N3.9billion and 53 million mills of codeine syrup valued at over N2.8 billion bringing the combined value of the seized drugs to N6.7 billion only in street value were recovered.

“They were all moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos,” he maintained.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the Commander and operatives of the Special Operations Unit as well as those of Strike Force Unit involved in the dismantling of the syndicate.

Marwa praised the officers’ professionalism and dedication, describing the breakthrough as a major blow to the cartels preying on Nigeria’s youth.

“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement.

“The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation.

“This represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Tinubu,” Marwa stated.

The NDLEA boss emphasised that the agency’s focus remains squarely on the kingpins and financiers of the illicit drug trade.

According to him, the days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over.

“The arrest of this drug baron and his criminal cohorts, following an intensive intelligence operation, serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death.

“No matter how high or deeply concealed they think they are,” he emphasised.

The House of Representatives has bemoaned the non-implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 that provided for environmental remediation funds by relevant organisations.

The Chairman, House Committee on South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Rep. Julius Pondi said this during an interactive session with stakeholders in Abuja.

“As you know, these two essential funds were created under the PIA to make sure oil and gas companies are fully responsible to properly decommissioning outdated facilities and restoring environments degraded by decades of exploration and production activities,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that most companies had not been implementing the Abandonment and Decommissioning Fund and the Environmental Remediation Fund as provided under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 by companies.

Pondi said that the law is intended to prevent the ongoing shifting of environmental liabilities to local communities by multi-national firms and to establish a clear, transparent and well-funded system for repairing affected ecosystems.

The SSDC committee chairman regretted that after four years of the enactment of the PIA, there has been non-implementation of these provisions.

“Available data before this committee indicates that, had the provisions been operationalized as required since 2021, the Abandonment and Decommissioning Fund should have accrued an estimated N850 billion to N1.1 trillion since the enactment.”

“The Environmental Remediation Fund alone should have accrued no less than N420 billion to N550 billion within the same period.”

Pondi explained that these figures represent lost opportunities to restore damaged lands, protect the livelihoods of millions through provision of potable water, rehabilitating of polluted ecosystems and secure community safety.

He reeled out the consequences of the non-implementation which includes polluted farmlands, contaminated rivers, abandoned installations posing safety hazards and declining fisheries.

According to him, other consequences are health challenges and devastated livelihoods in communities whose resources continue to power our national economy.

Pondi, therefore, described the continuous non-implementation as contraventions of both the PIA 2021 and the SSDC Act, 2025.

“Lack of visibility and operational progress on these funds have raised serious concerns regarding the institutional capacity and readiness of the responsible agencies, particularly the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Mid-Stream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).’’

Pondi said that such brazen lack of capacity has informed the ongoing contemplation on the necessity of establishing a new agency and operational structure to administer these funds effectively and transparently.

He said that the session is aimed at creating a platform that fosters constructive dialogue among the NUPRC, NMDPRA, NOSDRA and SSDC.

Pondi reaffirmed the resolve of the lawmakers in ensuring that the goals of these legislative instruments translate into tangible outcomes.

He expressed confidence that, with sincerity of purpose, these funds can become transformative instruments for environmental justice and sustainable development.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. have strengthened collaboration to boost the security of the nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.

This followed a courtesy visit by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Aneke said that securing pipelines, flow stations, offshore platforms and other key assets was vital to Nigeria’s economic stability and central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the NAF remained committed to supporting NNPC to curb oil theft, protect investments and enhance national revenue.

The CAS said improved synergy among security agencies had already reduced oil theft, adding that the Air Force was scaling up its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations to detect and counter emerging threats.

He also highlighted NAF’s strengthened maritime security posture, noting that aligning operations with NNPC’s priorities would ensure uninterrupted energy supply and increased production.

Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to support NNPC in protecting national resources and tackling criminal networks undermining the country’s energy sector.

Responding, Ojulari commended the NAF for its sustained support, saying the renewed partnership was crucial to boosting energy security, stabilising production and improving the safety of industry operations.

He assured that NNPC would expand cooperation with the Air Force in intelligence sharing, joint planning and the deployment of modern security technology across vulnerable assets.