
President Bola Tinubu has affirmed his administration's commitment to addressing security threats in Nigeria through the adoption of emerging technologies and capacity building across all battle spaces. Speaking at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, outlined plans to modernize the Nigerian Army to enhance its ability to manage contemporary security challenges. He emphasized sustained research and development within the Armed Forces, advancing technology, and strengthening homegrown innovations, with a focus on revitalizing the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria DICON. The President also highlighted the importance of the African Land Forces Forum in promoting the growth of defense industries, local production, and skilled employment. He commended the Nigerian Army for its contributions to national and global security, peace, and stability, acknowledging the sacrifices of soldiers. The event also honored fallen heroes, with President Tinubu stating their families remain a sacred responsibility. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, noted the Army's ongoing transformation and its commitment to defending Nigeria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also addressed the presence of foreign jihadists across the nation's borders, vowing to flush them out. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara congratulated the Army and pledged continued state government
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadNigeria's Federal Government-owned Galaxy Backbone is actively engaging banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions to utilize its digital infrastructure services. This initiative follows a recent directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN mandating that all payment transaction data generated within the country must be stored on local servers. Galaxy Backbone hosted chief information officers and technology stakeholders at a webinar focused on digital trust, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure resilience in the financial sector. Ibrahim Sani, Galaxy Backbone's Executive Director, Finance, highlighted the need for trusted digital infrastructure to support secure financial services, emphasizing the organization's role in providing secure connectivity, cloud, and data center services. Olumbe Akinkugbe, Executive Director, Digital Exploration and Technical Services, stressed the importance of complying with CBN directives to enhance transparency, accountability, consumer confidence, and data security. Thomas Oghenebhumhe, Head of Automation and Integration, showcased Galaxy Backbone's sovereign cloud capabilities, while Samuel Olusola Oyeleke, Head of Data Centre Operations, detailed their globally certified Tier III and Tier IV data center infrastructure. Olusegun Olulade, Executive Director, Customer Centricity and Marketing, underscored the necessity of collaboration among regulators, technology providers, and financial institutions to strengthen digital trust.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has publicly criticized Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, calling her a "despicable woman" for racist comments made about him. Following France's 1-0 World Cup victory over Paraguay, Mbappe accused Amarilla on his X account of racism, stating her conduct overshadowed Paraguay's World Cup campaign. Amarilla's posts targeted Mbappe with racially charged language, including calling him a "colonised Cameroonian, pretending hard to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly." The match, held in Philadelphia, saw Mbappe score the winning penalty. An altercation occurred after the game between Mbappe and Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, which Gill attributed to Mbappe not acknowledging his attempt to shake hands. Mbappe stated he would "never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."

The Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress APC have differing views on the outcome of a meeting between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu. The Inspector General reportedly stated that the state's Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, informed him that wanted suspects were harbored in the Government House. Governor Adeleke denied these allegations, accusing Gotan of unprofessional conduct by not arresting criminals allegedly protected by the APC. Kolapo Alimi, the state Commissioner for Information, suggested the Inspector General's remarks could embolden criminals and described them as "subtle blackmail." The APC, through its spokesperson Kola Olabisi, criticized Alimi's comments, calling them misplaced, and accused the Adeleke administration of politicizing security matters. The party also suggested that police action to remove alleged criminals from the Government House should extend to properties owned by the governor's relatives. Olabisi further commented on the state's governance, anticipating a change in leadership through the upcoming governorship election.