Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has reassured Nigerians in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and addressing the challenges posed by insecurity and instability in the Sahel region.

Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the sidelines of the AU extraordinary session in Luanda Uganda

The Nigerian delegation to the AU summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking to the Nigerian community, Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, noting that some of them were linked to instability in the Sahel, with its effects spilling across national borders.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.

In the same vein, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, said: “Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing, and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery “ On the request to have a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, Tunji-Ojo said he would look into the request so as to ease the issuance of passport booklets in the country.

Dabiri-Erewa, appreciated members of the Nigerian community in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for continuing to project the positive image of the country abroad.

Meanwhile, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has raised concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three-week leave in Europe, urging the Presidency to clear the air on rumours concerning the President’s health.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, yesterday, said the Presidency owed Nigerians an explanation on the circumstances surrounding the President’s lengthy absence from the country, including his itinerary, entourage and official engagements while abroad.

The APM said the need for clarification had become imperative amid public apprehension that Tinubu might have become incapacitated.

It, however, stressed that there was nothing wrong with the Presidency providing Nigerians with information on the President’s health, noting that transparency on the matter was consistent with practices in other countries.

According to the party, the President’s decision to embark on an extended leave at a time when the country is grappling with serious security and economic challenges had heightened public concern.

The party also linked the President’s absence to what it described as unresolved questions surrounding an alleged FBI report relating to a drug-related case involving Tinubu, saying the development had further fuelled public apprehension.

The APM maintained that Nigerians had a right to know the President’s state of health, stressing that “nobody is above human frailties.”

In another development, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Africans and people of African descent worldwide to transform the global recognition of their heritage and contributions into concrete action for justice, empowerment and sustainable development.

Senator Tinubu made the call in her message commemorating the 2026 International Day for People of African Descent, observed yesterday with the theme, “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice, and Development.”

She said the yearly observance offered an opportunity not only to celebrate the rich heritage, resilience and remarkable contributions of people of African descent to humanity, but also to renew the collective commitment to protecting human rights and expanding opportunities for their advancement.

The First Lady stressed the need for Africans to take greater responsibility for preserving their cultural identity, strengthening unity across the continent and deepening ties with the African diaspora. (Guardian)