News
Tinubu Set To Appoint New Ambassadors Amid Trump’s Threat To Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu is expected to conclude the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions across the world after months of diplomatic vacuum and growing pressure over the absence of envoys in key global capitals.
Multiple Presidency sources who spoke to The PUNCH confirmed that the President had directed a “final cleanup” of the ambassadorial list to reflect updated information before it is officially released.
“It is going to be concluded very soon,” a senior Presidency official said on Monday, November 3, adding that the exercise was in its final stage.
According to top government insiders, the revision became necessary following changes that occurred since the list was first transmitted to the Senate for screening.
They are just cleaning it up now because, since the time the President sent it to the Senate, some people on that list have died, and some have retired and are no longer eligible for appointment. Some of them have less than one year left in service,” one official explained.
He revealed that while the Senate had screened the earlier nominees, the final list must be updated to exclude those who have either passed away or left government service.
“The list of those screened has left the Senate long ago; it has been returned to the President,” he said.

Another Presidency source added that security and background clearances had been completed months earlier but needed to be revalidated due to the changes.
“The earlier list sent to the Senate is outdated. Some nominees have died, while others have taken up new appointments or opted out due to health reasons. The cleanup will ensure that the final list reflects only those still available and qualified,” the source stated.
Diplomatic Vacancies Persist Two Years After Envoys’ Recall
Naija News reports that the ambassadorial exercise comes two years after Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates, as part of a “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Since then, most missions have been run by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority to engage in formal negotiations or represent Nigeria at the highest levels.
A senior Foreign Service officer told journalists that the absence of ambassadors had weakened Nigeria’s international visibility.
“The truth is that most foreign governments do not accord the same level of respect to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors. At a time like this, when Nigeria is facing multiple diplomatic demands, it is crucial to have full-fledged ambassadors in place,” he said.
Naija News reports that the renewed push for appointments comes amid diplomatic tension following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to launch military action in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
Trump had, in a post on Truth Social, claimed that Christianity faced “an existential threat” in Nigeria, warning that the United States might “go into that disgraced country, guns-a-blazing.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may very well take direct action,” Trump wrote
While government officials have dismissed the threat as “baseless,” senior Presidency sources told The PUNCH that the absence of Nigerian ambassadors abroad made communication and crisis management more difficult.
“That’s not to say the lack of ambassadors caused the recent issues with the United States, but their presence could have made communication smoother,” one senior aide explained.
“Foreign partners prefer engaging at the ambassadorial level, especially in moments of crisis or negotiation.”
Naija News learnt that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is scheduled to meet with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3, 2025, where the ambassadorial list is expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
A Presidency insider said: “When the President is ready to make that appointment, it will be made public. The Presidency will release an official statement very soon.”
In April 2025, reports had it that the Federal Government had completed security vetting and clearance for nominees but delayed the postings due to funding shortages and the need to balance political and professional considerations
Officials estimated that over $1 billion was required to settle arrears owed to foreign service officers, replace aging diplomatic vehicles, renovate embassies, and fund operational overheads.
President Tinubu had earlier acknowledged the challenge of balancing political representation and merit.
“It’s not easy stitching those names,” the President told members of The Buhari Organisation, led by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, during a visit to the State House on September 2, 2025.
I couldn’t appoint everybody at once. I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that so many people are craving for,” he added.
With most foreign missions operating at limited capacity for more than two years, diplomats and analysts have welcomed the expected appointments as “long overdue.”
A former ambassador told journalists that the move could restore Nigeria’s global visibility and improve bilateral relations with key partners.
Foreign representation is not symbolic it is strategic. The earlier the ambassadors are deployed, the better for Nigeria’s image and foreign policy interests,” The PUNCH quoted the former ambassador as saying.
As of press time, Presidency sources confirmed that the revised list was in its final review stage and could be released within days, ending a prolonged diplomatic vacuum in Nigeria’s foreign service.
News
BREAKING: Popular Nigerian Gospel Singer Reportedly Dies [PHOTO]

Nigerian gospel singer, Toluwanisings is reportedly dead
His death was announced by the Convener of the Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates, COPA, Pelumi Olajengbesi on Wednesday.
Expressing concern over the death of young Nigerians, Olajengbesi, in a post on Instagram, pleaded for God’s mercy.
Concerns mount over reports of Toluwanisings’ death
While noting that the death of Toluwanisings is not God’s plan, he wrote, “We say no to untimely death.”
Sharing the singer’s picture, Pelumi said, “My God! What a life! No, Lord! We plead for Your mercy upon Toluwanisings.

“I am deeply troubled by the deaths of young men and women. This is not God’s plan for us.”
Reacting to the sad news, comedian Woli Agba said they are still praying for a miracle.
He wrote on his page, “Please hold on. Please don’t conclude. We are trusting God. Please.”
Responding in the comments section, singer Boyebest wrote, “Yes yes yes. Yeah I have faith in God. I do. God you’ll do this one.”
This came about two hours after the rumour first surfaced on social media.
DAILY POST reports that the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death have not been revealed as of the time of this report
News
NAFDAC Uncovers Fake Alcohol, Energy Drinks Factory In Lagos
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two men over alleged production and repackaging of counterfeit alcoholic and energy drinks at a facility in Ojo, Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Chibuzor Okafor and William John, were arrested during a raid on a two-storey building at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex, along the Badagry Expressway.
NAFDAC said its officers recovered drums, filters, packaging materials, a heating device and other equipment allegedly used in the illegal operation.
The agency disclosed that the raid followed intelligence gathering and surveillance on suspected counterfeiters operating within the Trade Fair International Market.
Speaking during the operation, the Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Kunle Ojo, said some of the suspects were caught in the act.
“Gentlemen of the press, as you can see today, when we came, we caught some red-handed people producing all kinds of alcoholic drinks,” Ojo said.
He described the discovery as alarming, adding that the operation was part of efforts to protect Nigerians from potentially dangerous products.

Ojo said NAFDAC had intensified enforcement activities ahead of the festive season, when demand for alcoholic beverages and other drinks usually increases.
He warned that counterfeit drinks could pose serious health risks and urged those involved in the trade to stop.
“You are killing Nigerians in order to make money, which is not good,” he said.
The NAFDAC official added that the agency would investigate the sources of the products and raw materials, as well as identify those allegedly financing or directing the operation.
He said the recovered products and materials would be moved to the agency’s warehouse for further action, including destruction in line with established procedures.
Ojo warned that those arrested would face administrative action and prosecution in accordance with the law.
One of the arrested suspects, Chibuzor Okafor, who identified himself as a drinks dealer in the market, said he changed the bottles of some drinks because the original containers were damaged.
Speaking to Vanguard at the scene, Okafor said, “I deal in drinks. I change the bottle of the drink. It’s not that the bottle is not good. It’s the drink in there, because the other one is already damaged. So that’s why we are putting it in the next bottle.”
NAFDAC has yet to establish publicly the full details of the products involved or the extent of the suspected operation.
The agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Christiana Obiazikwor, said NAFDAC continued to carry out surveillance, seize unregistered and counterfeit products, arrest suspects and destroy offending goods.
She dismissed claims that the agency was not doing enough to tackle counterfeit products, saying its officers regularly visited markets and suspected production sites.
“NAFDAC is still at work. We are on the streets. We are in the markets. We are everywhere,” she said.
Obiazikwor explained that some enforcement operations were not publicized to avoid alerting suspected offenders or creating unnecessary tension.
She said journalists were invited to observe the latest operation to show the public the agency’s efforts to protect consumers.
The official urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit production and distribution directly to NAFDAC instead of relying on social media posts that could spread unverified information.
“There’s no point going to social media to create fear. Report to NAFDAC, and we’ll do the needful,” she said.
She assured members of the public that the identities of people who provide credible information would be protected.
The Assistant Director and Head of Public Relations at the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Victoria Jennifer Akudu, said the raid formed part of the agency’s routine operations against illegal manufacturing and distribution.
Akudu said enforcement officers regularly confiscated suspected counterfeit products and shut down facilities linked to illegal activities.
She disclosed that the suspected operators had allegedly moved from an earlier location following enforcement action, prompting officials to continue tracking their activities.
“We have confiscated and sealed off the place. They moved to another place. This time around, we passed through the back door. And that is how we are able to get them,” she said.
Akudu urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products directly to the agency and avoid spreading unverified claims that could cause unnecessary public concern.
“I will ask Nigerians not to fear. We are alert, and we are alive. We are doing our statutory function the way it should be,” she said.
NAFDAC said the operation was part of its ongoing efforts to remove counterfeit, adulterated and unregistered products from the Nigerian market.
The agency warned that repackaging drinks in the bottles of established brands without proper quality checks could expose consumers to serious health risks, particularly when the contents and production conditions have not been verified.
News
Sowore Drags DSS DG, AGF, Others To Court, Demands ₦5 Billion
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has filed a ₦5 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged assault and forcible removal from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Daily Voice reports that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2480/2026, was instituted on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, against the DSS, its Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and a deputy director of the security agency, Benjamin Bulus.
Sowore alleged that DSS operatives assaulted and forcibly removed him from the court premises on June 22, 2026, despite an existing judicial order directing that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
He disclosed that the alleged assault occurred after Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his application seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
According to him, armed DSS operatives, including men and women wearing hoods, stormed the fourth floor of the court building while he was waiting for correctional officers to arrive and implement the remand order.
The activist alleged that the operatives physically assaulted him, forcibly removed him from the area and transported him against his will to the basement of the court complex using elevators reserved for Federal High Court judges, thereby resulting in physical injuries.
He maintains that the remand order did not authorise the security operatives to assault him, forcibly remove him or subject him to degrading treatment within the court premises.

Sowore is asking the court to determine whether the DSS operatives acted outside the scope of the judicial order and whether their conduct violated his fundamental rights.
The presidential candidate is seeking ₦5 billion in aggravated damages for alleged violations of his constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty.
A significant part of the case concerns video footage allegedly recorded during the incident using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
According to the court processes, the recording forms part of the evidence Sowore intends to rely on to establish the circumstances of the alleged assault and the conduct of the operatives involved.
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