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Shettima: We Can’t Remain Technology Consumer, Africa Must Invest In Indigenous Military Innovations

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Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for home-grown solutions to address the multifaceted security challenges, including terrorism, plaguing the African continent.

 

Shettima stated that the continent faces numerous forms of insecurity, which required concerted efforts by African nations.

He said that Africa must invest in cyber-defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military innovation, as it could not remain merely a consumer of technology.

“The nature of warfare has evolved. The traits of today are asymmetric, digital, and often invisible. Our response must not be less dynamic.

“We must invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military innovation. Africa cannot remain merely a consumer of technology. We must be creators, innovators, and owners of the tools that secure our tomorrow,” Shettima said at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the summit provided an opportunity to reassess Africa’s military objectives in the collective aspirations to make the continent safe.

The Vice President also said it was a time to forge a new doctrine of continental defence, one rooted in trust, shared intelligence, and coordinated strategy.

Addressing the gathering military chiefs, he stated, “The enormity of threats across our continent compels us to pause and reflect, from the deserts where insurgency passes to the high seas where piracy prowls, from the silent corridors of cybercrime to the ruthless networks of transnational criminals.

“None of these tragedies respects borders, and neither should our response. What is true of our challenges must also be true of our resolve. We cannot neutralise these threats in isolation.

According to him, security is the foundation upon which the pieces of progress must stand.

He urged participants to explore avenues for defence industrial cooperation, collaboration, research partnerships, and African-led solutions to African security challenges.

The Vice President also called on the organised private sector to be the continent’s ally, to invest in the future of defence as an investment in the survival of nations.

“That is why we must use this summit, not merely as a meeting, but as a component to deepen cooperation through joint training, harmonised doctrines, and interoperable systems. For this to endure, we must build a framework where our defense institutions speak with one voice and act with one purpose.

“We are bound as a family, sharing not just borders, but destiny. And in this family, defence is the first expression of love each member can promise the other,” Shettima said.

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Update: El-Rufai To Be In Custody Till June

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Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June, 2026.

 

El-Rufai was arraigned last week on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office, filed by the Independent Corupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He appeared before the court last Tuesday for hearing of his bail application.

However, the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on the application to Tuesy April 21, 2026.

The former governor was, last week, granted bail by a Federal High Court in Kaduna in another corruption case instituted against him by the ICPC.

Justice Rilwanu Aikawa admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200 million.

The judge had ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

As part of the conditions, the defendant was barred from making public comments on the case and must attend all court sittings.

However, speaking after the court session on Tuesday, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, said the bail application had been adjourned.

He kicked against the lingering adjournment, saying it is politically motivated.

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5 Key Players Barca Will Let Go This Summer

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Barcelona are set to let five key players leave the club this summer, as they plan a squad overhaul, according to reports.

 

The Blaugrana are currently sitting nine points clear at the top of LaLiga, and are set to romp to a second consecutive title ahead of rivals Real Madrid.

However, after more disappointment in the Champions League, in which they were dumped out by Atletico Madrid, Hansi Flick and the board at Barcelona are preparing to rebuild their squad at the end of the campaign.

Spanish media outlet Marca are reporting that there are five players who have ‘completed a cycle at the club’ and will likely be moved on come the summer.

Marcus Rashford is one of those players. Barcelona can buy the 28-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester United, for £26million under the terms of the deal, but reports have emerged that they are not willing to exercise that option.

The 28-year-old has contributed 12 goals and 13 assists this season to help the Catalan giants run rampant in LaLiga, and as recently as last week, it was believed that Barca would like to keep him.

However, they have made a failed bid to renegotiate the £26m fee with United, who are refusing to budge on the clause which expires on June 15 – four days after the World Cup kicks off in North America.

It means there is a strong chance that Rashford will be forced to return to his boyhood club following England duty if he is selected for the tournament this summer.

Another attacker who seems set for the exit door is none other than Robert Lewandowski.

The Pole, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in 2022, is out of contract in the summer, and there has been little indication that he will sign a new deal at the club.

It is believed that both Lewandowski’s ‘age and recent physical problems’ have thrust his future at Barca into doubt.

Barcelona are said to be looking at freeing up some financial legroom, and for that reason, they want to offload stars on big wage packets.

One of those players is Frenkie de Jong, who is understood to be on just under €400,000 (£348,000) per week, and Marca suggest that he could be sold to ‘ease the financial burden’ on the Spanish giants.

Former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and La Masia graduate Marc Casado are also said to be on the proverbial chopping block.

Christensen played 161 games in six seasons with the Blues before making the move to Catalonia in 2022 on a four-year deal. That deal is now set to expire, and there are no plans for an extension at this moment in time.

Casado, however, still has two years left on his contract, but due to a lack of minutes, could be forced to find a new club.

The defensive midfielder has failed to break into the team ahead of Pedri, Eric Garcia, and Gavi, and has started only one of the last eight LaLiga games.

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Genocide: Minister Accused Of Attempted Bribery By US Official

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Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s minister of state for defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report.

 

The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday.

She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him.

Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video.

Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria.

Matawalle is yet to officially reply the US lawmaker.

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