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Tinubu swears in Kingsley Udeh as minister

Published

1 month ago

November 6, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu and the newly inaugurated Minister, Kingsley Udeh

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…as Enugu applauds Gov Mbah’s recruitment of best brains in governance

…Doro also sworn in

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in two newly appointed Ministers, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro and Mr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, at a brief ceremony inside the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

The swearing-in took place just before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by the President.

Doro, a pharmacist and lawyer from Plateau State, fills the ministerial vacancy created by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who is now National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).l

Doro and Yilwatda are from Plateau State.

His nomination was confirmed by the Senate in late October.

Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), from Enugu State, will be filling the vacancy created by the resignation of former Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who resigned following allegations of certificate forgery.

Udeh’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate earlier on Thursday, following a brief screening session during plenary. Until his elevation to the federal cabinet, he served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State.

The FEC swung into session immediately after a report presented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, on the state of the economy.

The Senate had confirmed Dr. Kingsley Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Enugu State, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The confirmation followed a screening session on the Senate floor on Thursday, as reported by Channels TV.

Born in 1978, Udeh previously served as Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

During the screening, senators questioned him on national and diplomatic issues, including Nigeria’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats.

Responding, Udeh said President Bola Tinubu was managing the situation through diplomatic channels, describing it as “a matter of diplomacy rather than law.”

He also addressed the debate on separating the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, saying the success of either arrangement depends on the integrity and independence of the officeholder.

Satisfied with his responses, the Senate asked him to take a bow and subsequently confirmed his appointment.

Across Enugu State, the news of Udeh’s confirmation was received with widespread joy and celebration, as residents, youth groups, and professional bodies described the development as a testament to the excellence and vision of Governor Mbah’s leadership.

They hailed Udeh as a youth of distinction—an accomplished scholar and legal luminary whose brilliance and character embody the new face of Enugu’s rising generation.

The people further extolled the governor for his pivotal role in facilitating Udeh’s nomination and eventual appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

They also lauded him for consistently identifying and promoting competent professionals to positions of responsibility, both within and beyond the state. According to them, Mbah’s deliberate recruitment of the best brains into his administration has made Enugu stand out as one of the most reform-driven and innovative states in the federation.

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Burkina Faso releases 11 Nigerian officers after Abuja claims the aircraft was en route to Portugal

Published

4 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

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Burkina Faso has released the 11 Nigerian military officers who were detained after their Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft made what authorities described as an unauthorised landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday.

According to Business Insider, the officers — two crew members and nine military passengers — were allowed to return to Nigeria after Burkinabè authorities completed preliminary security checks amid suspicions that the team may have been linked to Nigeria’s involvement in the Benin coup response.

The Nigerian government had maintained that the landing was purely a technical emergency while the aircraft was en route to Portugal. However, Burkina Faso countered this explanation, saying the aircraft violated national protocols by entering its airspace without permission.

Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo said the unexpected arrival of the aircraft triggered an immediate and heightened security response.

“The aircraft flew into Burkina Faso without clearance,” Zerbo stated, noting that defence and intelligence units were deployed promptly to assess the situation.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — issued a joint statement late Monday describing the incident as a confirmed “airspace violation” and an “unfriendly act.” The bloc further announced that its air forces had been placed on maximum alert with orders to neutralise any aircraft that breached AES-controlled airspace.

Despite the strong language, Burkinabè security officials told the BBC that the Nigerian officers were questioned, cleared, and later permitted to leave.

The Nigerian Air Force, in its own account, stressed that a technical fault necessitated the diversion and that the emergency landing followed standard international aviation safety procedures. While the NAF confirmed its personnel were safe and treated respectfully, it did not directly acknowledge their detention.

The episode comes amid worsening relations between Nigeria and the AES governments. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — all under military rule — have repeatedly accused Nigeria of overstepping in regional security matters, particularly in Benin, where Nigeria has coordinated responses to coup attempts.

The three Sahel states formally withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year, alleging political interference and the bloc’s inability to effectively tackle jihadist violence. Since then, they have strengthened military ties within the AES, distanced themselves from Western partners such as France, and expanded security cooperation with Russia.

In a related development, Niger has imposed new restrictions on goods entering from Nigeria, citing growing security concerns and suspicion over Nigerian military activities across the Sahel.

“For security requirements, all goods originating from Nigeria must be unloaded and inspected at the entry offices before any transit formalities,” announced Colonel Mohamed Yacouba Siddo in a Tuesday directive.

SaharaReporters had earlier revealed that Burkina Faso’s junta detained the 11 Nigerian officers and impounded the NAF C-130 after its emergency landing — an incident now adding to the escalating tension between Abuja and the Sahel military regimes.

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Senate approves Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin for peace mission

Published

8 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate

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The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin on a peace mission aimed at restoring democratic order and stability.

The resolution followed the Senate’s consideration of the President’s request in the Committee of the Whole during plenary.

Tinubu had, in a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, urged the Senate to approve the troop deployment to help restore governance following a recent coup attempt in Benin.

The President had initially deployed members of the Nigerian Armed Forces on Sunday to assist in restoring democracy after a group of soldiers attempted a coup.

In the letter titled, “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission”, Tinubu cited Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and stated that, following consultation with the National Defence Council, he sought the Senate’s consent for the deployment.

“This request is made further to a request received from the Government of Benin Republic for the exceptional and immediate provision of air support by the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Distinguished Senate may wish to note that the Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilization of democratic institutions.

“The situation as reported by the Government of Benin requires urgent external intervention.

“The Distinguished Senate considers the close ties of brotherhood and friendship which exist between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS.

“It is our duty to provide the support as requested by the Government of the Republic of Benin.”

After reading the letter, Akpabio committed the President’s request for consent to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action.

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Rivers Governor Fubara finally dumps PDP for APC

Published

8 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Fubara suspends Rivers LGA caretaker committee boss

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Announcing his defection on Tuesday evening, Fubara said the move was made “in the interest of the people of Rivers State” and in appreciation of the “overwhelming support” the state has received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, President Tinubu personally gave his approval for the move, clearing the path for Fubara’s official entry into the ruling party.

His switch to the APC comes on the heels of several closed-door meetings with the President and the recent defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, fueling expectations that the governor would eventually align with the APC as part of a broader peace arrangement.