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Nigeria At 61: Armed Forces Confers Gallantry Honour On Late Col. Abu Ali 23 Others
Joel Ajayi
The serving officers honoured were: Brigadier Generals Mohammed Babayo, Musa Ibrahim, Commodore Patrick Effah, Lieutenant Colonels VK Tagwoi, GB Osiobrni, Major MA Narogo, Lieutenant Commander D Adeola and Flight Lieutenants AA Dairo and AK Galadaci.
Other recipients of the award in the Non- Commissioned Officers’ cadre were: Master Warrant Officers Olusegun FK, Shuaibu Y, Staff Sergeants ALiyu Umar, Emmanuel Managa, Sergeants Sadiq Pada, Bawa Samaila, Adamu Waziri and Leading Seaman Obende OJ. Others include: Lance Corporal Walshak R, Seaman Muhammed M, Private Oparah Chiguzie and Air Craftman Aderable AS.
The Defence Minister assured the current AFN leadership of a sustained support in the provision of adequate logistics and equipment to aid the military in restoring lasting peace in the nation.
He used the opportunity to convey the appreciation of the president to the AFN for showcasing what he described as a colourful military parade during the Independence Day Anniversary Celebration at the Eagle Square.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, showered encomium on late Lt Col Abu Ali and other awardees for their gallantry, dedication and professionalism.
According to the CDS, the Armed Forces Independence dinner, afforded the service, the opportunity to celebrate and honour some of our personnel who have distinguished themselves during the conduct of operation and excelled in various fields.
These few personnel, the Defence Chief said have worked tirelessly in ensuring that the Nigerian military remain very effective in the discharge of its duties.
Gen Irabor also posited that the gathering was a clear demonstration of the reinvigorated cooperation and jointness being experienced in the AFN.
He averred that the military is proud of its roles and efforts in the Nigeria project, which it has raised to the occasion to confront security challenges with tremendous sacrifices in answering the clarion call.
In his words, “indeed, at no time in our nation’s history have members of the Armed Forces been so engaged as it relates to addressing the current myriad of security challenges in our dear country that threatened the very foundation of our unity, security and wellbeing.” the CDS added.
The CDS restated the commitment of members of the armed forces in upholding the territorial integrity of the nation as the service will continue to support civil authority and ensuring a secured and prosperous Nigeria.
He commended the wives and husbands of military personnel for supporting it’s various operations from the home front.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha who was the Guest of Honour gave a goodwill message at the event, also thank the AFN for defending the nation.
Highlights of the ceremony, were the observation of one minute silence in memory and honour of fallen heroes, who have paid the supreme sacrifices in the line of duty and the presentation of certificates of honour to the recipients.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Musa Istifanus, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, former Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) and former COAS, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) were among the personalities that graced the event.
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Alake Inaugurates Nigeria-US Solid Minerals Committee, Dismisses $700bn Claim, Says No Assets Sold
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja, dismissing reports that Nigeria sold $700 billion worth of solid minerals to the US.
The inauguration followed the strategic cooperation framework established between Nigeria and the United States during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head PRESS and Public Relations Department Mrs. Kania Maliki Andeyaba stated that, Alake in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the US is a government-to-government platform to facilitate business-to-business engagements between American investors and Nigerian local operators, not a sale of assets.
Harping on the importance of the solid minerals sector to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, he noted that the administration was committed to reducing dependence on a mono-product economy through the sustainable development of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.
According to him, the Nigeria–US partnership as a strategic initiative to attract investment, promote technology transfer, strengthen local mineral processing and create employment opportunities.
“There is no sale of any Nigerian asset. There’s nothing exchanging hands,” Alake declared.
“We created a platform to facilitate mingling of US investment ventures with Nigeria’s local operators. It is in the public domain. We signed it in public and published it in four or five national newspapers.”
The Minister said reports claiming the US was coming to take over Nigeria’s minerals and security architecture were untrue at best and products of riotous imagination at worst.
Explaining the policy thrust, Alake said Africa has historically held the short end of the stick in global economic transactions, and Nigeria is determined to change that model.
“We have the resources, the critical elements the world needs to transit to clean energy. So we are creating a new paradigm — you bring your capital, expertise and technology, to match with our natural resources and create a win-win situation . The investor gains, Nigeria gains.’’he said.
Nigeria, he stressed, had operated a mono-cultural economy dependent on oil, while solid minerals were exploited informally — with ores taken “from pit to port” without value addition.
Alake said government has now made local processing mandatory, refusing to grant mineral titles to investors without a clear pathway to processing in Nigeria.
He said the policy led to the springing up of processing factories, including the largest lithium processing plant in West Africa commissioned recently in Nasarawa by the Vice President, and informed the formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group.
Alake noted that investor confidence has returned due to macro-economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu that guarantee security of tenure and repatriation of profits.
He charged the committee to discharge its assignment responsibly, saying its work is strategic to achieving the President’s $1 trillion economy target.
To this end, he told the Committee to ensure effective coordination, identify investment opportunities and translate the framework into measurable outcomes capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global solid minerals industry.
In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, said the inauguration translates growing bilateral engagements into a structured framework for practical cooperation and investment mobilization
Economic Officer at the US Embassy, Jonathan Baas, said President Donald Trump has prioritized three areas for US embassies — energy, artificial intelligence/super intelligence, and critical minerals.
Baas said Washington’s direction is to work with partners to secure critical supply chains while ensuring partners capture value.
“We just signed a contract today on looking into building AI data centres in Nigeria at the Nigerian Economic Summit. That’s the direction Washington wants us to go,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, CEO/Managing Director of Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, NSMC said that the committee
is expected to coordinate implementation, facilitate investment and monitor progress towards achieving the objectives of the Nigeria–US cooperation framework.
The inauguration reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, industrial development and national prosperity under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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