By Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has embarked on a strategic economic, development and bilateral trade mission to the United States, aimed at attracting investments and deepening sub-national international cooperation in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The governor arrived in the U.S. to engage key American institutions, including the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the United States Export-Import Bank (EXIM), senior officials of the U.S. State Department, as well as other policy and investment stakeholders, to explore opportunities that will boost economic growth, trade and development in Plateau State and Nigeria.

According to him, the visit underscores Plateau State’s commitment to expanding its international footprint and leveraging global partnerships to drive sustainable development and prosperity for its people.

As part of his early engagements, Governor Mutfwang met with U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, where discussions centred on strengthening the growing Nigeria–United States partnership, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, investment, security and democratic governance.

During the meeting, the governor highlighted the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which he said prioritises the welfare, security and prosperity of Nigerians. He also noted the progress being made in tackling insecurity across the country, attributing recent gains to the President’s decisive leadership and firm commitment to national security.

Governor Mutfwang said the improving security situation is creating a more conducive environment for investment and economic growth, both at the national and sub-national levels.

In his response, Congressman Moore commended the Plateau State governor for the visit and expressed strong interest in deepening U.S.–Nigeria relations. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Nigerian government to promote a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership between both countries.

Governor Mutfwang thanked the U.S. Government and Congressman Moore for their continued support, assuring them of Plateau State’s readiness to strengthen cooperation in investment, development, security and people-to-people relations.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Friday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an immediate and independent investigation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, over allegations of arming Fulani bandits and other non-state actors in the state.

Frank also urged the United States government to impose visa bans on the two officials and to exercise caution in sharing intelligence with Nigeria until the controversy is fully investigated.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank described the unfolding situation as “a chain of official contradictions, confessions, denials and reversals” which, according to him, has exposed “dangerous fault lines within Nigeria’s national security architecture.”

The controversy followed the interception by Nigerian soldiers of armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and operating in a patrol vehicle reportedly linked to the Kwara State Government in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The arrested men were said to have claimed that the state government provided them with the arms and vehicle.

Frank noted that shortly after the incident, officials of the Kwara State Government publicly confirmed that the arrested men were members of Miyetti Allah, allegedly operating under a federal security arrangement coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“Barely days after initial denials, the Kwara State Government itself confirmed that the arrested individuals were part of a security operation linked to the NSA’s office,” he said.

According to Frank, the matter became more troubling when a statement from the NSA’s office initially acknowledged that arms had been issued to vigilantes as part of so-called “hybrid security operations” under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act.

“That admission was widely reported and not immediately disputed,” he said.

However, Frank faulted what he described as a “sudden and suspicious U-turn” by the NSA’s office, which later denied arming kidnappers, militias or socio-cultural groups, insisting instead that the armed men were merely “vigilantes known to the NSA.”

“This leaves Nigerians with fundamental questions,” Frank said. “Who authorised the arms? Who recruited these armed men? Why did official accounts change repeatedly within days? Is the Kwara State Governor telling the truth, or is the NSA covering up?”

Describing the situation as a “national security scandal,” Frank said the contradictions could not be dismissed as a media misunderstanding.

“You cannot, as National Security Adviser, first appear to justify or explain the issuance of arms and then turn around to deny it completely. Such contradictions suggest either gross incompetence or a deliberate cover-up to protect powerful interests,” he said.

Frank argued that the incident showed that “top government officials know exactly what is happening and are playing politics with Nigeria’s insecurity,” adding that insecurity was being politicised “within the cabinet, within the government and within the ruling party.”

“When a governor says one thing and the NSA says another, Nigeria is not just confused — Nigeria is endangered,” he added.

He also questioned the deployment of armed Miyetti Allah operatives in Kwara, a predominantly Yoruba area.

“What business do armed Miyetti Allah operatives have operating in Yorubaland under any circumstance?” he asked, noting that communities in the state had repeatedly warned that deploying armed migrant herders would worsen insecurity rather than resolve it.

Frank said that in a “sane country,” Ribadu would have stepped aside to allow a transparent investigation, rather than what he described as “evasions, reversals and damage control.”

Calling directly on President Tinubu, Frank said: “The President must immediately order a full, independent probe into the roles of the NSA and the Kwara State Government, investigate the conflicting briefings from the NSA’s office, and punish any official found to have armed or enabled non-state actors outside the law.”

He warned that the contradictions suggested “that someone is lying — or many people are hiding the truth,” and amounted to internal sabotage of the administration.

Frank also appealed to the United States to be cautious in its dealings with Nigeria’s security leadership.

“America must withhold sensitive intelligence sharing, launch its own investigation into these allegations, and impose visa bans on Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq pending the outcome of credible investigations,” he said.

According to him, “when a country cannot tell the truth about who is armed, who authorised it, and who is responsible, that country cannot be trusted with shared intelligence.”

Frank who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East as well as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA,
lamented that the controversy underscored a deeper crisis.

“Nigeria’s insecurity is no longer just about bandits and kidnappers — it is about deception, politics and betrayal at the highest levels of government,” he said, warning that history would judge Tinubu’s administration harshly if decisive action was not taken.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Political activist and international affairs leader, Comrade Timi Frank, has welcomed the resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) but insisted that stepping aside should not bring closure to the matter.

“Resignation is not an admission of guilt, but it is only the first step. What must follow is a full investigation and, where necessary, arrest and prosecution,” Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and currently ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East as well as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA,

said in a statement in Abuja.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)

to immediately investigate and prosecute Engr. Ahmed over allegations raised by Africa’s foremost industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote( the newest comrade in town).

Frank expressed concern that more than 72 hours after the allegations were made public, the relevant agencies had remained largely silent, apart from the ICPC which only acknowledged receipt of a petition.

“More than 72 hours after these weighty allegations were made public, the silence of our anti-corruption agencies is deeply troubling and unacceptable in a country that claims to operate under the rule of law,” Frank said.

He argued that allegations of such magnitude, especially when raised by a figure of Dangote’s standing, deserved swift and transparent action, warning that the continued silence could further erode public confidence in public institutions.

“If Aliko Dangote cannot get justice in a matter of this nature, then one must ask what hope is left for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

He drew attention to the gravity of the allegations, noting that the amount reportedly involved, about $7 million, estimated at roughly N10 billion, was significant in a country facing widespread economic hardship.

“This amount is more than enough to fund entire communities, yet Nigeria is constantly on strike over the inability of government to meet relatively small financial demands in the education sector,” Frank said.

He questioned how a public servant, allegedly earning about N50 million annually, could spend such a huge sum on the secondary school education of four children.

“What example is a public servant setting in a country where millions of parents cannot afford N100,000 in school fees?” he asked. “If public funds are indeed being used to fund personal excesses, then this must concern every Nigerian.”

Frank also warned that the unresolved allegations could affect Nigeria’s image and investor confidence.

“No serious investor will put money in a country where allegations of corruption involving a key regulator are left hanging without resolution,” he said.

He noted Engr. Ahmed’s expressed willingness to submit himself to investigation, urging the anti-corruption agencies to act without delay.

“Now that he has stepped aside and indicated willingness to cooperate, there should be no delay. The agencies must act fully, independently and without fear or favour,” Frank said.

He further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene if the agencies fail to act promptly.

“A government that is serious about fighting corruption must show it through action, not prolonged silence,” he said.

Frank added that Nigerians deserved clarity and accountability, stressing that the case should not be swept under the carpet.

“This is one case Nigerians will not allow to be buried. Only transparent investigation and prosecution can restore confidence in our institutions and in the fight against corruption,” he said.