By Ifeoluwa Odunayo

The Federal Government is taking bold steps to produce military hardware locally through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Steel Development, the Ministry of Defence, and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria.

Minister of Steel Development Shuaibu Abubakar Audu announced the plan during a visit to the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency in Kaduna.

He revealed that a draft Memorandum of Understanding is in place and awaits presidential approval.

The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company and establish a military industrial complex.

Audu highlighted that Nigeria spends around four billion dollars annually on steel imports and stressed the importance of local production to ease pressure on foreign exchange.

He also disclosed that foreign investments are pouring into the sector, including a three hundred million dollar steel plant by a Chinese company, Galaxy, in Ogun State.

With a strategic roadmap in place, Nigeria aims to produce ten million metric tonnes of steel annually within five years, positioning the country for economic growth and self-sufficiency in steel production.

By Patrick Idowu

Fear has gripped Riwaza community in Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), after suspected herdsmen allegedly hacked a man, John Moses Gwatana, to death following a dispute over a water pond.

Eyewitnesses said the violence erupted around 11:23 a.m. on Sunday when herders led their cattle to drink from the pond, contaminating the community’s only water source.

Angered by the sight, some women confronted the herders, sparking a heated argument.

As the situation escalated, two women ran back to the village to report the incident.

The deceased, along with two other men, rushed to the scene to question the herders.

However, in the confrontation, one of the herders allegedly pulled out a machete and fatally stabbed Gwatana, while two others sustained serious injuries.

The wounded villagers were rushed to a hospital in Gwagwalada, while the attackers fled with their cattle before local vigilantes could arrive.

Reports suggest the herders were migrating from Zago village in Niger State.

The police in the area have confirmed the incident, but the FCT Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the attack.

By Njoku Chijioke

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has cautioned officers against inter-agency rivalry, warning that it threatens national security and public trust.

Addressing personnel of the NSCDC’s FCT command, Dr. Audi stressed the need for seamless collaboration among security agencies to enhance the country’s safety.

“Rivalry weakens our collective mission and compromises the security of Nigerians,” he stated.

Under his leadership, the NSCDC has intensified efforts to safeguard national infrastructure, combat terrorism, and support disaster management.

Dr. Audi urged officers to remain focused on their core responsibilities, emphasizing that unity among security forces is crucial to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.

His message serves as a strong reminder that security agencies must work together, not against each other in order to build a safer Nigeria.