Big Gist Africa

*Says NYLF yet to back any candidate Comrade (Dr) Elliot Afiyo is the National President of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), the umbrella organisation of the Northern Youth formed by the Northern Military, Political, Religious and traditional Rulers on the 26th September, 1994. Dr. Afiyo is also a Senior Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is also the Secretary General of the Association of the West African Monarchs (AWAM), the umbrella body of the Traditional Rulers in West Africa Region. On the 24th of September, 2026, he was appointed as Minister (Designate) in charge of Defence, Peace & Security of the Sovereign United hayachratic Government of Alkebulan (formerly Africa), with its Headquarters in Zambia. He has also been uplifted to the position of an Emperor. In this explosive interview with the journalists during the inauguration of the President's second term at Kenneth Kaunda Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia. Dr. Afiyo expressly conclud...

The wife of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ogechi Lokpobiri, has received commendation for her humanitarian efforts, compassion and commitment to making a difference in the lives of people around her. Vice President of Boardwalk Group and Abuja-based real estate developer and philanthropist, Chief Mrs Obiageli Okwubanego, gave the commendation while speaking with journalists in Asokoro, Abuja, after the Bayelsa State 30th anniversary celebration. The celebration, themed “Celebrating Legacies,” saw Governor Douye Diri present an Award of Excellence to Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Okwubanego described Senator Lokpobiri and his wife as “two perfect persons,” saying they were committed to improving the country and making life better for people who crossed their paths. She praised the minister for his role in the oil and gas sector and his efforts to project Bayelsa State positively at the federal level. However, she singled out Dr Ogechi for special praise, de...

*Submit formal petition to National Working Committee Some prominent chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country, under a registered platform known as APC Solidarity Group, have formally petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party through the office of the National Chairman, asking for appropriate sanctions against the former Benue State Chairman, Austin Agada over alleged anti - party activities.  The petition, signed by the group's National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sa'idu Muhammad, accused Agada of cross party endorsement of Senator Abba Moro of the PDP and others. An acknowledgement copy of the petition dated October 2, 2026, is tittled "Petition against anti-party activities, public opposition to the APC governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in Benue South Senatorial district, Zone C of Benue state: A conduct prejudicial to the interest of the APC at large.  S...

The Federal Government has commenced a six-month technical and vocational training programme for 2,549 Nigerian youths in Abuja and Niger State, targeting skills acquisition as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship. The programme, implemented under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills Technical and Vocational Education and Training initiative, involves 21 Training Service Providers. The initiative is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the World Bank. It seeks to modernise technical colleges, upgrade workshops, train instructors and equip Nigerian youths with market-driven vocational, technical and digital skills. The Federal Government plans to expand the programme to train between 70,000 and 80,000 young Nigerians across various states through approved Training Service Providers. Speaking at the joint flag-off ceremony in Abuja on Friday, the National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET p...

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced a refresher training to strengthen responders’ capacity for urban search and rescue during floods. Halima Suleiman, Head of Operations, NEMA Kaduna Operations Office, said this on Wednesday,  in Kaduna while opening a refresher course on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) for flooding. Suleiman said the training was designed to improve responders’ preparedness, skills and coordination. She said lessons from the 2022, 2024 and 2025 flood operations had exposed new challenges for rescue teams. “We are not just rescuing people from open water; we are navigating through urban settlements with submerged houses, collapsed walls, live electrical hazards and panicked populations,” she said. According to her, the changing nature of flood emergencies required updated skills, modern techniques and effective coordination among response agencies. She said the training would strengthen responders’ capacity in urban search and ...

Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has formally assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, with a pledge to consolidate the Command’s achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and institutional discipline.  A statement signed by the Chief Superintendent of Customs Customs Public Relations Officer Apapa Area Command, Isah Sulaiman, dated Tuesday September 29, 2026, said that  the assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony, held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Auditorium of the Apapa Area Command, was attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government agencies, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the Command, who delivered goodwill messages to the outgoing and incoming Controllers.  In his inaugural address, Comptroller Mu’azu described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege” and expressed appreciation to ...