馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Nigeria's ambassador-designate to Algeria, Mohammed Mahmud Lele, dies at 50
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Nigeria's ambassador-designate to Algeria, Mohammed Mahmud Lele, has died at the age of 50. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced his death, stating he passed away in Ankara, T眉rkiye, in the early hours of April 19, 2026, after a protracted illness. Lele, a career diplomat, was the Director in charge of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had recently been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ambassador-designate to Algeria, following Senate confirmation. Born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976, he studied Economics at Bayero University, Kano, and served in Nigerian missions in Berlin, Lom茅, and Riyadh. The ministry described him as a dedicated officer known for his intellectual depth, strategic insight, and commitment to Nigeria鈥檚 foreign policy. Permanent Secretary Dunoma Umar Ahmed received his remains in Abuja, calling him a hardworking and humble officer. Lele was buried on Wednesday in Kano according to Islamic rites. The ministry extended condolences to his family, associates, and the government and people of Bauchi State.
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Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, met with John Ezeobi, Chairman of Zobis Cable Industries, to discuss plans for the Zobis Industrial City. This multi-sector industrial and commercial development project aims to boost manufacturing in the state. Located across Okoti and Odekpe in the Ogbaru Local Government Area, the project is expected to house over 15 industrial and commercial facilities, including cable manufacturing plants, copper production facilities, switchgear and PVC factories, a research and development institute, residential quarters, and integrated logistics infrastructure. Ezeobi stated that the industrial city is designed to support Nigeria's local production drive, reduce import dependence, and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians. The project, covering approximately 94 hectares with over 800,000 square meters of built-up area, is projected to create more than 15,000 direct jobs in its first phase. It will also foster innovation, research, and industrial collaboration, aligning with the state government's economic development agenda. The visit highlights the growing partnership between the Anambra State Government and investors in driving industrialization, infrastructure development, and economic expansion.
Must ReadThe Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has discovered an unaccredited university in the Imeke area of Lagos State, where students were allegedly enrolled in unapproved programs and coerced into a Ponzi scheme. Six suspects were arrested during the operation, and 107 students were rescued from the institution. The NSCDC Lagos State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, stated that the suspects and recovered exhibits would be transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for further investigation. Keshinro warned prospective students to be cautious of fraudulent admission offers. In separate operations, the NSCDC also arrested 12 other suspects for illegal migration, human trafficking, Ponzi schemes, cross-border crimes, and vandalism, rescuing 10 Cameroonian nationals who were allegedly trafficked. Additionally, seven suspects, including five minors, were arrested and prosecuted for vandalizing public school facilities in Ibereko, Badagry.
Must ReadRecent attacks in Benue and Plateau states have exposed the government's inability to guarantee the constitutional right to life for Nigerians. In Benue, armed herders killed at least 16 people in the Nobi community of Otukpo Local Government Area on July 12, leading to protests by residents. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack. Similarly, Plateau State experienced a horrific week with indigenous youth groups reporting over 50 deaths across Bokkos, Riyom, and Jos South Local Government Areas. An overnight attack in Bokkos reportedly killed at least 25 people, including children, while nine members of one family were murdered in Riyom. Residents and Christian leaders in Jos protested the escalating insecurity. These incidents are not isolated, revealing significant weaknesses in Nigeria鈥檚 security infrastructure. Investigations by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa estimate that terrorism-related violence claimed 79,323 lives between 2020 and 2025. Amnesty International reported that between 2023 and mid-2025, suspected armed groups killed over 6,800 people in Benue State and at least 2,600 in Plateau State. The violence is attributed to desertification and drought in the North, pushing nomadic pastoralists southward, intensifying competition for resources in the Middle Belt. This conflict is further complicated by ethnic, religious, and political tensions. Despite repeated warnings and intelligence reports, vulnerable communities remain exposed. The lack