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Army Immortalises Gen. Lagbaja, Names New Army Logistics Complex After Him

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

 

The Nigerian Army has immortalised its late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, by naming a newly constructed complex at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM), Lagos, after him.

 

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility in Lagos on Friday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity through modern infrastructure that promotes professional military education, efficient administration and improved personnel welfare in support of national security.

 

According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the complex, named in honour of the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja, is designed to enhance the College’s training, administrative and welfare functions by providing a conducive environment for developing highly skilled logistics professionals capable of supporting operational effectiveness across the Nigerian Army.

 

Shaibu described the late Army Chief as an outstanding military leader whose professionalism, integrity, selfless service and unwavering commitment to national service continue to inspire officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

 

He said naming the complex after the late General reflected the institution’s enduring appreciation of his immense contributions to force development, leadership and operational excellence.

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The Army Chief also urged officers, instructors and students of the College to uphold the values exemplified by the late General Lagbaja by remaining disciplined, professional and committed to excellence in the discharge of their responsibilities.

 

He reiterated that sustained investment in training institutions, modern infrastructure and personnel welfare remains central to his command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptive, combat-ready and resilient force capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

 

In a separate development, troops of the 65 Battalion apprehended 24 foreign nationals during a coordinated operation in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State as part of ongoing efforts to rid the 81 Division Area of Responsibility of criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats.

 

According to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the operation followed credible intelligence on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals within the Battalion’s area of responsibility.

 

Acting on the intelligence, troops, in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group, raided a secluded fenced compound at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe, where they apprehended 24 foreign nationals comprising 15 males and nine females.

 

Preliminary profiling showed that the suspects are nationals of several West and Central African countries, including Cameroon, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.

 

Initial investigations were conducted to determine their immigration status, the purpose of their stay in Nigeria and any possible involvement in unlawful activities.

 

Efforts are also ongoing to identify and question the owner of the premises to establish the circumstances surrounding their residence and activities at the location.

 

The statement added that the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, on 16 July 2026 for further investigation, profiling and appropriate administrative action in line with extant immigration laws and regulations.

 

Commending the troops for their professionalism and vigilance, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, directed personnel to sustain ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats any operating space within the Division’s area of responsibility.

 

He also reaffirmed the Division’s commitment to supporting relevant security agencies in maintaining peace, security and public safety across the area.

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Mahanga TV appoints former AREWA24 staff Zuwairiyah Girei as MD

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Mahanga TV, a Kano-based television station, has appointed former AREWA24 staff member Zuwairiyah Adamu Girei as its new Managing Director, bringing her more than 14 years of experience in Hausa-language television production and broadcasting to the organisation.

Girei was formally welcomed into her new role during a reception held at Mahanga TV’s premises in Kano on Monday, November 2, 2026, marking a new phase in the organisation’s growthe barely three months after its launch.

Speaking at the reception, Girei expressed excitement over her appointment, describing her experience at AREWA24 as a significant milestone in her professional journey.

She said she would draw on the knowledge and experience acquired during her time at the television station to strengthen Mahanga TV and drive it towards greater achievements.

“All the experience I have at AREWA24, I will bring here, and I think I will do extraordinary because I know what I have learnt there. I pray that we will see success beyond our expectations,” she said.

Outlining her vision for Mahanga TV, the new Managing Director said the organisation would look beyond Northern Nigeria and target audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.

She identified the large Hausa-speaking population as a major opportunity for the industry, noting that despite the challenges facing Hausa-language broadcasting, the sector has a substantial audience.

“We have over 60 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria, so I think we have a target audience we have to try to reach,” she said.

Girei said her leadership would focus on understanding audience expectations, introducing improvements and positioning Hausa productions for international recognition.

“Our thinking is pan-African; our thinking is the world. Our thinking is now how can Hausa film reach the Oscars. That is the thinking,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the next decade, she expressed her ambition to see Mahanga TV secure three to four Academy Awards, earn international recognition and become a household name among viewers across different age groups.

She said she envisioned a future where Mahanga TV would be the preferred television platform in homes, with both adults and children identifying with its programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, said Girei’s appointment was informed by the organisation’s rapid growth and the need for experienced leadership to sustain its progress.

Balarabe explained that he initially served as both Managing Director and CEO but decided to appoint a dedicated Managing Director to oversee the organisation’s daily operations and provide the leadership required to sustain its expanding activities.

He said the organisation needed someone who could provide consistent leadership and maintain its momentum as it continued to grow.

“She is well experienced, and I’m sure she will use that experience to take the organisation further from where it is,” he said.

Balarabe disclosed that Mahanga TV had recorded progress beyond its initial expectations within three months of launching, attributing the achievement to the dedication of its staff, consultants and advisers.

He said the organisation was expanding its content offerings through original productions and partnerships with independent producers to provide audiences with engaging programmes.

He also urged viewers to continue supporting the station and sharing feedback through its social media platforms and WhatsApp channel, assuring them that the organisation remained open to suggestions as it worked to improve its services.

Reaffirming the organisation’s broader ambition, Balarabe said Mahanga TV was committed to ensuring that Hausa stories, culture and experiences reached audiences across the world.

“We have a beautiful tale happening in Northern Nigeria, and I believe it is only we that can tell our own story. We want to make sure all our stories are told and they reach every part of the world,” he said.

Also speaking, Mahanga TV’s Creative Director and Brand Manager, Abdulbasit Abanikanda, described Girei’s appointment as a timely development that would strengthen the organisation’s management structure and provide better direction for its expanding workforce.

Abanikanda recalled that Mahanga TV started with a team of just three people but had since grown considerably, making the appointment of an experienced manager necessary to coordinate its activities.

He expressed confidence in Girei’s ability to advance the station’s creative vision, noting that her ambition of taking Hausa stories to audiences across the world aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

With Girei’s appointment, Mahanga TV aims to consolidate its early progress, strengthen its content production and expand the reach of Hausa storytelling, creating opportunities for Northern Nigeria’s stories, culture and creative talent to gain wider national and international recognition.

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Kano Governor Nominates Ex- Speaker, Spokesperson as Commissioners

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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Balarabe Sa’idu Gani, for appointment as commissioners.

The governor has forwarded their names to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly is expected to screen the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the legislature had received a formal communication from Governor Yusuf requesting the screening of the two nominees.

He added that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Gani served as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, while Bature currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.

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2027: Rep Abubakar Kabir Bichi holds strategic meeting with Kano lawmakers

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The Chairman, House of representatives committee on appropriations Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has convened a meeting of all APC State Assembly Members and 40 Candidates in the upcoming 2027 General elections, led by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore.

Crucial issues were discussed on how best to coordinate their campaigns programs to deliver the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

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The meeting was held at his Bichi office, Sunday evening 1st November 2026.

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