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Shortchanging the North: 1,500 CBN Staff to Resume Duty at Lagos Office on Friday

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CBN Governor Cardoso

At least 1,500 members of staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria will on Friday resume at its Lagos office following their redeployment from the headquarters, it was was learned.

A source at the apex bank told our correspondent exclusively that the plan, though heavily criticised, was still in motion, and affected staffers would be resuming on Friday.

Yes, the plan is still on and they will resume work by February 2, which is the first week of next month,” an official said.

The latest development comes on the backdrop of the decision of the new management to relocate some of CBN’s departments to the country’s economic hub for staff safety, increased productivity, and to decongest its head office.

CBN said the action was necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives and redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent.

It added that it was also in compliance with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the facility manager, and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.

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A memo issued to staff read, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the Bank.

Although the Northern Elders Forum and some other Northern groups had condemned the move, our correspondent gathered that the CBN governor was committed to implementing it, as it is expected to reduce the  HQ occupancy level to 2,733 personnel from 4,233.

Another source told the said that some of the affected staffers had started relocating to Lagos.

“Some have already gone ahead. Over 80 per cent of the Banking Supervision Department staff have been redeployed and the same for the Payment System Department,” the source hinted.

The NEF had, in a statement, expressed worry over the potential negative impact of relocating those essential departments on both the institution itself and the country as a whole.

The movement would involve increased costs, loss of talent, disruption in operations, reduced coordination, regional economic disparities, impaired economic development in Northern Nigeria, and decreased investor confidence in the nation’s economy.

Therefore, relocating them entirely to Lagos will only serve to further strengthen the already dominant position of Lagos, while potentially weakening the significance and role of Abuja,” it claimed.

More so, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, warned that there would be “political consequences” if the plan to relocate some departments of CBN as well as the corporate headquarters of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to Lagos were implemented.

He said, “Those misleading the President are not doing him any good because this is going to have some political consequences. If Tinubu were not elected president, the CBN governor would not be there. It was not Lagos votes that put Tinubu there.”

Northern senators and youths also expressed displeasure over the move, which they claimed was a calculated move to short-change the North.

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To Support the Family in This Difficult Time, Hon. Bichi Donates ₦100 Million to Late Colleague’s Family

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Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and representative of Bichi Federal Constituency, has donated ₦100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) to the family of his late colleague, Hon. Barrister Muhammad Hassan.

The condolence visit, led by Hon. Bichi and members of the Appropriations Committee, was held in Abuja following the passing of Hon. Hassan last Friday night at the age of 62. The late lawmaker, who represented Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, succumbed after a prolonged illness. His death has drawn widespread mourning from fellow legislators, political associates, and constituents who hailed him as a dedicated public servant committed to the welfare of his people.

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During the visit, prayers were offered for the repose of his soul, with colleagues asking Allah (SWT) to forgive his shortcomings, show him mercy, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus. The atmosphere was deeply emotional as lawmakers reflected on his contributions to governance and his enduring legacy.

Hon. Bichi’s donation of ₦100 million was described as a significant show of compassion, underscoring the bond among members of the House of Representatives and their commitment to supporting one another in times of grief. The gesture is expected to provide relief to the bereaved family as they navigate this difficult period.

The late Hon. Hassan is survived by three wives and 18 children, leaving behind a large family and a legacy of service. As condolences continue to pour in, prayers have been extended for strength and comfort to his family, colleagues, and the people of Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency.

 

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Borno Airstrike: President Tinubu Meets Service Chiefs

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a security meeting with service chiefs, intelligence heads, and the Inspector-General of Police at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting, which began at about 2:00 pm on Monday, is the first item on the President’s agenda since his return to Abuja from Bayelsa State on Friday.

The emergency session comes amid heightened security concerns following the United States’ authorisation of non-emergency embassy staff to leave Abuja and a controversial military airstrike in Borno State that killed over 100 civilians.

Those in attendance at the ongoing meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Staff, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is also attending the closed-door session at the Presidential Villa.

On April 8, 2026, the US State Department authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency government employees and family members from the US Embassy in Abuja, citing a “deteriorating security situation.”

The decision placed 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” designation, the highest risk category, adding Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba to the list.

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The US highlighted threats from Islamist insurgents in the Northeast, criminal gangs in the Northwest, and ongoing violence in parts of southern and southeastern Nigeria, including oil-producing regions.

The embassy said visa appointments in Abuja had been suspended, though the Lagos consulate continues to provide routine and emergency services.

The Federal Government said the travel alert was guided by US internal protocols and did not reflect the overall security situation across Nigeria.

“While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable,” Minister Mohammed Idris stated.

The security meeting also comes hours after a Nigerian Air Force strike targeting Boko Haram terrorists hit Jilli Market along the Borno-Yobe border on Saturday, April 11, 2026, killing over 100 civilians, including children, and injuring many others.

Amnesty International cited survivors as saying at least 100 people were killed in the airstrike, with some reports putting the death toll as high as 200.

The Air Force acknowledged conducting “precision mop-up airstrikes on identified terrorist locations” in the Jilli axis of Borno State but made no reference to hitting a civilian market.

However, the Presidency defended the operation.

Speaking with Bloomberg earlier on Monday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said, “The market was a legitimate military target because it has been turned into a logistics and trading hub by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.”

Amnesty International condemned the strike, calling for an independent investigation and describing it as evidence of “the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect.”

Military air raids have killed at least 500 civilians since 2017, according to multiple reports, with failures in intelligence gathering and coordination between ground forces and air assets cited as contributing factors.

Nigeria is battling multiple security threats across its six geopolitical zones, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgency in the Northeast, banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and North-Central regions, and separatist violence in the Southeast.

Major attacks in 2026 include the February 3 massacre in Woro, Kwara State, where over 100 people were killed and 176 kidnapped, and multiple mass abductions across northern states.

Amnesty International reported that at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026, though the Police disputed the figure as unverified.

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ADC: Islamic scholar joins 2027 Zamfara Gov’ship race

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A popular Islamic scholar, Dr Abdulmuddalib Muhammad Auwal has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Zamfara State and declared for Governorship ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr Auwal who formally registered with ADC on Sunday at the state APC Secretariat was supported by the Chairman ADC Tudun Wada Ward.

He was received and welcome by ADC leaders and stakeholders in Tudun Wada Ward and Gusau LGA and large crowd of the party members.

Dr Auwal said he joined ADC because of good ideologies and manifestos of the party
“I have personal desire to contribute to ensure good governance tackling security challenges, addressing poverty and vulnerability in Zamfara.
“I have blueprints to serve as framework, and strategic plans on Education, Health, insecurity, Poverty reduction, women and youths empowerment.
“The ADC’s ideology aligns with my visions to rescue Zamfara from poor governance,” he said.

According to him, “if we are given the mandate, we would change the Zamfara fortune to the promised land through the ADC”.

He described injustice and poor governance as the yardsticks of the increase of security challenges in Zamfara

One of the main reasons for the ongoing escalation of the issues with insecurities challenges destroying Zamfara state and other places is as results of neglect, injustice and political aspirations that have eaten deeply around some elites in the society.

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We are aware that injustice and poor governance by the certain group of leaders entrusted with governance are becoming too burden and a yardstick of the increase of the insecurity challenges, particularly in Zamfara state that have become a feasting ground of banditry.

“Poverty and injustice are the main reasons for the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara.”

“Also the lingering insecurity challenges in Zamfara is due to o poor governance.

“In Zamfara we have various potentialities to address future the challenges of insecurity and poverty,” he explained.

He further said, “We came up with good blueprints to ensure sustainable security of our dear state through various policies and programs to tackle poverty, unemployment, and lack of education, particularly among youths”

“We are going to create more job opportunities, through agriculture and economic entrepreneurship development for our teeming to have better alternatives than criminal activities.

“You know, Zamfara is blessed with immense agricultural potentials, infact our motto is “Farming is Our Pride”, but due to lack of good governance, we failed to develop such potentials in to reality for the development of our dear state.

He noted that Zamfara, we have comparative advantages in agriculture due to a large fertile land but not being utilize to address youths unemployment, poverty among our people especially those affected by the insecurity.

“On security sector, I will come up with good strategies to tackle insecurity affecting our communities.

“I have passion about agriculture, if we are voted I will initiate various policies and programs to transform irrigation farming in the state to enhance food security in the state.

“In each of the 14 LGAs in the state, I will build a dam for our teeming population to go in to food and cash crops production.

“One of my blueprints is addressing youth unemployment through establishment of companies by fostering entrepreneurship development and vocational training for our teeming unemployed youths.

“This is to change mindsets of our people, infact we want to Zamfara people to become job providers not job seekers- Scholar explained.
In their seperate remarks, the ADC leaders in Tudun Wada Ward and Gusau LGA expressed gratitude for the Governorship aspirant for joining the party.
They assured him that the party would provide an enabling environment for him and his teeming supporters

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