President Tinubu mourns General Lagbaja demise

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has expressed regret following the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, after a brief illness at the age of 56 years. The President has directed that National Flags be flown at half mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed Army Chief. He appreciated profoundly the services of the departed to the nation and wished the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

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Breaking: Lagbaja: President Tinubu postpones FEC meeting

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, has ordered rescheduling the Federal Executive Council meeting till another date to be announced. Initially scheduled for today, the council meeting was postponed in honour of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday night. General Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff from June 19, 2023, till his death on November 5, 2024. President Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general. Earlier today, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Lagbaja family and the Nigerian Armed Forces. He wished Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honoured his significant contributions to the nation.

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Donald Trump wins 2024 US Presidential Election 

Donald Trump won the presidential election in a landslide on Tuesday night, with a realigned GOP coalition that, according to early exit polls, successfully drew young, male, and minority voters. “We’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said to reporters at his campaign’s headquarters, “Political victory, that our country has never seen before — nothing like this.” In the end, Trump won at least 270 electoral college votes, winning in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, and defying Democratic hopes that Kamala Harris would carry Pennsylvania and Georgia as Joe Biden did in 2020. Trump also looked set to win the popular vote, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to do so in 20 years.  Trump clinched the White House around 2 a.m. ET by winning Pennsylvania by 3% and cracking the so-called Democratic “blue wall,” of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The latter two states had yet to be called at the time of this writing, but Trump maintained solid leads in both.  Polling places in several states were targeted with bomb threats. In DeKalb and Fulton, Georgia, two counties that would have been key to a Democratic win of the swing state, threats caused five polling places to be closed in the final hours of voting, and the FBI uncovered that they appeared to be sent from Russian email domains.  She may have bet too big on one issue: democracy, which came in third – after the economy and immigration – on the list of voter’s concerns heading into the election. Harris’ closing campaign message focused on Trump’s anti-democratic rhetoric – and perhaps not enough on pocketbook issues. Harris also struggled with young Democratic voters, who may have wanted a platform that promised greater policy change – especially on issues like the war in Gaza and climate change – which led to her underperforming in some cities and swing-state college towns.  Meanwhile, Trump’s efforts to appeal to young men – who typically vote at the lowest rates – were highly successful. Another surprise of the night was early exit polling that showed Trump gaining substantially among Latino and Black voters, particularly men.  Trump has a strong mandate and will face few constraints. Republicans won back the Senate and could also win the House in the coming days. Taken together with a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, Trump will come into office in an immensely powerful position to implement his vision for America.

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Breaking: Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja is dead 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, at age 56. He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu. His distinguished military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course. Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion. He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States. An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership. Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children. President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.

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Alleged N3b Fraud: I exchanged Naira for Dollars for Yahaya Bello – BDC Operator

Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and the third prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, affirmed before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja that funds were brought to him by agents of Kogi State Government for the payment of school fees of the daughters of former governor, Yahaya Bello.

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Nigerians without insurance coverage to get FG’s financial protection 

The Federal Government has initiated a strategy to provide financial protection for millions of Nigerians who are currently without insurance coverage. The initiative, which marks the first major implementation phase of the recently signed Aso Accord, brings together the nation’s top financial and insurance regulators in a collaboration to transform Nigeria’s insurance landscape. Speaking at a roundtable meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said outcomes of the roundtable will be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC).  “This marks the first time insurance is being formally recognised as a critical financial service in Nigeria’s economic framework,” he stated. Sen. Hadejia explained that financial inclusion through insurance is an economic imperative, saying, “We cannot build a resilient economy while leaving millions of our citizens financially exposed. “Financial inclusion, particularly through insurance access, serves as the crucial driver that will propel Nigeria toward sustainable economic growth,” he added. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Technical at the National Insurance Commission, Dr. Jankara Usman, outlined the transformative potential of the initiative for Nigeria. He said, “Through inclusive insurance, we can provide tailored, affordable products that promote financial readiness and advance social well-being.” Dr Usman quoted a World Bank data that paints a stark picture of financial vulnerability in the region, revealing that only two out of five adults in sub-Saharan Africa can raise $35 within 30 days. “In Nigeria, insurance penetration remains at a concerning 3.3%, significantly below global standards,” he said. In his remarks, Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro @nazauro, said the meeting demonstrates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT administration’s commitment to the insurance sector. He explained that the government has established a monitoring framework to ensure effective implementation of the decisions made during the roundtable, with a specific focus on forming specialised committees for financial control, developing risk management programmes for smallholder farmers, fostering public-private partnerships, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and simplifying processes for innovative insurance products. The roundtable produced several innovative proposals aimed at expanding insurance access, including enabling insurance purchases through mobile phone airtime, development of specialised micro-insurance products for low-income segments, integration of blockchain technology for insurance delivery and creation of digital platforms specifically for agricultural insurance coverage The initiative has garnered widespread support from major institutions, including the Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and various other regulatory bodies.

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