By Our Correspondent

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has clarified that the presence of United States troops in the country is strictly for training assistance and advisory purposes.

Musa gave the clarification on Wednesday while presiding over the maiden edition of the Monthly Operational Briefing at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

According to him, the deployment of the US military personnel does not in any way affect Nigeria’s sovereignty, stressing that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will remain fully in charge of all operations carried out within the country.

His clarification follows an earlier announcement by the Defence Headquarters confirming the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and equipment at the Bauchi Airfield on February 16, 2026.

The Defence Headquarters said the foreign personnel are technical specialists working in an advisory and training capacity and are not combat troops.

It added that all training activities would be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the Nigerian government in close coordination with the Nigerian Armed Forces.

During the briefing, Musa also highlighted the security challenges confronting the country, including terrorism, insurgency and banditry, urging the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs to intensify efforts and adopt new strategies to address the threats.

He commended Nigerian troops for their professionalism, resilience and gallantry in ongoing operations, while reaffirming the commitment of the ministry to improving troop welfare and enhancing operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of the 401 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi to remain relentless in sustaining pressure on criminal elements threatening peace and stability.

Shaibu praised troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke for their resilience in restoring security in affected communities, noting that their efforts have helped create a safer environment for socio economic activities and the return of internally displaced persons.

By Samson Adeyan

Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has approved the appointment of Rev. Fr Dr. Patrick Alumunku, OON, as Chairman of the Board of the Benue Television Corporation.

Alumunku, a renowned media professional, brings decades of experience in broadcasting and communications to the position. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Mass Communication and previously worked for 12 years with Vatican Radio.

He also served for 21 years as Director of Communications at the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja and is currently the Executive Director of Catholic Television of Nigeria.

His appointment is part of a broader board constitution approved by Governor Alia to strengthen the operations of the state-owned broadcasting corporation.

Other members of the board include Dr. Thaddeus Hanmakyugh as Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Ejembi, Dr. Barnabas Gbam, and Engr. Sunday Iji.

Hanmakyugh holds a doctorate in Film Production and Media Arts from the University of Abuja and retired from the National Film Institute.

Ejembi is a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Television Authority in Ibadan, while Gbam previously served as Rector of the NTA College Jos. Engr. Iji is a former Director of Engineering Services at Radio Benue.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the appointments take immediate effect.

Governor Alia charged the new board to deploy their wealth of experience toward improving broadcasting standards in Benue State and promoting the state’s cultural heritage through quality programming.

By Patrick Idowu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance, replacing Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President sought the Senate’s confirmation of Oyedele’s appointment. Uzoka-Anite has been redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State.

Oyedele, from Ikaram-Akoko in Ondo State, was until his nomination the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which led major reforms of Nigeria’s tax system.

An economist and accountant, Oyedele holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology and a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University.

He has attended executive programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

He spent 22 years at PwC, rising to Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University and a visiting scholar at Lagos Business School.