Compilations of top 10 key happenings that you might have missed this Sunday, 7th December, 2025
Security emergency: Army freezes retirement of officers
The Nigerian Army has suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for certain categories of officers following the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Over 600 cases of mass abductions were recorded in November alone.
Some of the incidents included the kidnapping of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State, among others.
In response, the President on November 26 declared a nationwide security emergency and directed the military, police, and intelligence agencies to expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel.
An internal memo dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff stated that the suspension of retirements was to retain manpower, experience, and operational capacity as the Armed Forces expand in response to rising insecurity.
Five ambassadorial nominees haunted by controversies
As the Senate prepares to screen President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees, attention is shifting to those whose controversies could weigh on their representation of the country overseas.
After nearly two years without substantive envoys after recalls from the country’s 109 foreign missions, President Tinubu on Sunday, November 26, sent three names to the Senate as ambassador-designates.
Last Saturday, the President followed up with another list containing 32 names.
On Thursday, he transmitted a letter to the Senate updating the list to 65 nominees.
According to the letter, 34 persons were nominated as career ambassadors and high commissioners, while 31 others were nominated as non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
In the letter, Tinubu urged the Senate to give swift consideration to the nominees to help fill key diplomatic positions.
The President’s letter was read at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said Tinubu asked lawmakers to give the nominations urgent consideration
Scrapping mother tongue policy won’t kill local languages — Education minister, Alausa
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, discusses with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI the key national issues affecting the education sector, with a focus on the reform policies rolled out by the present administration
On October 23, you clocked one year as the 31st substantive Minister of Education.
How will you describe the journey so far?
It’s been very fruitful and impactful.
You know we have a President, Bola Tinubu, who believes so much in education.
When he was going to make his cabinet reshuffle, it was clear to all that he knew the capabilities of all his ministers, and he would not give them any work that he believed they could not do.
I think that months after that, the President was vindicated in the transformation we brought to the Nigerian education system with six clear high-priority areas that we have tackled in a concurrent manner, and we are beginning to see significant results.
The number one was to bring technical education and vocational training back to our schools, and we have been successful in this.
First, we have revived the interest of Nigerian youths in technical and vocational education.
We have let them know that this is the bedrock of society.
We have been able to reawaken their conscience and interest in this key area
Police ban sale, use of fireworks in Edo
The Edo Police Command has warned residents against the sale and use of fireworks during the festive season.
In a statement released on Sunday in Benin, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, declared popular “bangers” and “knockouts” illegal and disruptive to public peace.
According to him, the command has observed a troubling increase in the use of fireworks across the state, raising security concerns at a time when law enforcement agencies are on heightened alert.
“The loud and sudden explosions from these items are capable of creating unnecessary panic, causing fear in the minds of the public, and potentially leading to false security alerts or avoidable emergencies,” Yamu said.
FG begins recovery of 157 model Almajiri schools
The Federal Government has commenced full recovery of the 157 model Almajiri Schools built across the country under the Administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nura Muhammad, Spokesperson of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
Muhammad said the recovery was a decisive step taken by the federal government to revitalise and institutionalise Almajiri education in the country.
According to him, the recovery process is underway, and all the schools will be brought under the Commission’s control before their rehabilitation begins.
He added that the renewed effort was a sequel to the establishment of a legally backed national body, specifically mandated to regulate all Almajiri-related educational activities, an institutional foundation that was absent during earlier reforms.
Harrison Gwamnishu, family of abducted Edo couple in ransom controversy
Fresh details have continued to complicate the online storm surrounding human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, following new assertions credited to his lawyer amid investigations into a ransom-delivery operation in Edo State.
The latest twist emerged after Ossai Ovie Success, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, shared an account on his Facebook page reportedly obtained from Gwamnishu’s lawyer.
The narrative comes at a time when social media has been awash with accusations, counter-accusations, unverified confessions, and claims that the activist diverted money meant to be paid as ransom for the rescue of kidnapped victims.
I have never dated anyone violent towards me — Nkechi Blessing Sunday
Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has expressed her frustration over online strangers who pressure her to get married.
The actress shared her experience during an interview on The Honest Bunch Podcast, where she opened up about her past, family background, and why she refuses to succumb to marriage pressure from the public.
Speaking about her upbringing, she said,
“I have never dated anyone who has been violent toward me.
I can say for a fact that my father used to hit my mum, but that didn’t make me feel like any man should hit me.
”She went on to recount a difficult relationship from younger years.
“Even though one of my exes when I was growing up used to beat me—his name is Valentine. My mum would lock him up at the police station.
And when she did, I would go there and tell the police, ‘It’s because my mother wants me to leave him for another man, that’s why she locked him up,’ even though it wasn’t true.”
According to her, her mother always took a firm stance.
“The police would call my mum, and she would tell them, ‘Lock am join there.’ Before you know it, play-play, they would lock me too.
”How I landed role in 2Baba’s “African Queen”- Yvonne Jegede
Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has shared the unexpected story behind how she was selected to feature in 2Baba’s timeless music video, “African Queen,” revealing that the opportunity came when she least expected it.
In an interview with BellaNaija, Jegede recalled that she was on the set of Missing Angel when fate intervened.
“I was sitting beside Uncle Charles when his phone rang.
Charles Nova turned to me and said Uzor, the director of African Queen, wanted to speak to me,” she said.
According to her, the call felt random and abrupt.
“He said, ‘I want you to do a music video for me tomorrow.’
I was like, music video?” she recalled.
Jegede explained that she was initially uninterested, having previously appeared in videos where all she did was dance.
“I said me I don’t want to do a music video o,” she said, adding that the director pressed further, hinting that the project was the video for African Queen by 2Face (now 2Baba).
“I sha said I don’t want,” she added.
Gov Idris approves N10bn to boost 2026 Hajj seats in Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has approved a N10 billion intervention to support intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj following a shortfall in payments for allocated seats
The Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, disclosed this on Saturday, saying the decision followed the inability of many intending pilgrims in the state to meet the payment deadline
According to him, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria officially closed the sale of Hajj seats on December 6, 2025.
To prevent the loss of the state’s remaining slots, the governor approved the release of N10 billion to enable the agency to procure over 1,000 additional Hajj seats for intending pilgrims.
Yaro said that before the intervention, only about 2,000 intending pilgrims had completed their payments, which fell short of the number Kebbi State usually registers annually.
No ‘Detty December’ for the Elumelus
Billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu and his wife, Dr. Awele’s white party has come to be a staple and part of our Christmas holidays in Lagos.
It is a Christmas party that mirrors the aspirations and ambitions of celebrities, socialites and fun lovers
The Elumelus octane white party became a platform for the elites in Lagos to unwind and network after a stressful year chasing money.
The guests, regardless of their status or position in society, are not allowed to enter Tony’s house with their security, so that guests can freely intermingle and network as well.
So, it is not surprising that many are looking forward to this year’s edition.
Unfortunately, this year’s edition has been cancelled by Tony and Awele.
The reason for the cancellation is not far-fetched.
