The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

The supplies, which were disclosed in an X post by the US African Command (AFRICOM) on Thursday, were part of  a foreign military sales agreement between Abuja and Washington.

“PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION: A U.S. Air Force C-17 delivers equipment to the Nigerian Air Force this weekend. The equipment is part of a foreign military sales agreement that furthers the U.S.-Nigerian partnership and will aid in Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism in the region.” U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) posted on X.

The development comes after US troops left Nigeria amid diplomatic engagement between Washington and Abuja over security challenges, particularly the activities of jihadist groups operating in parts of Nigeria.

The Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) clarified that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel from Nigeria will not affect the country’s security cooperation with the US.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. S. Uba, made the clarification on Tuesday during the joint security spokespersons’ briefing.

Uba described the development as a routine, mission-specific adjustment linked to particular operational and counterterrorism objectives, stressing that it should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the longstanding Nigeria-US security partnership.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” he said.

He said the relationship between both countries remained “strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial”, adding that intelligence cooperation, training and information sharing would continue.

According to him, Nigeria remained primarily responsible for defending its territory and protecting its citizens, while US support was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Nigerian military.

“Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance, and other forms of professional military cooperation,” he said.

The tales of woe over the deplorable state of roads in Edo are not limited to commuters in transit on the linking highways in the State, as residents of Benin City, the capital, also groan as most intra-city roads have become deplorable.

Most hit are roads within the Government Reserved Areas (GRA), which were constructed decades ago without any visible rehabilitation work done by successive governments in the state.

But more appalling is the condition of the Oba Ovoranmen Square, otherwise known as Ring Road, which, in recent months, has become an eyesore with potholes and deep craters, with the residents of the metropolitan city calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo to rescue the city centre.

From the Mission Road, Oba Market Road and Plymouth Road entries to the Ring Road, it has become a herculean task for commuters using the square as they meander through the numerous potholes that have almost rendered the city centre impassable.

The situation is indescribable, especially in the early hours of the day when workers struggle to get to work and late in the evening, when the workers and traders close for the day.

Besides, commercial drivers that were previously barred from dropping and picking up passengers at the Kings Square have turned the place into a motor park, just as the rains have not helped matters either, as vehicles break down in the potholes that are usually covered by erosion.

In the GRA, Ihama Road by the House of Assembly Quarters remains impassable whenever it rains, while the Boundary Road towards Airport Road and Adesuwa Grammar School Road suffers the same fate whenever the rain falls.

Giwa Amu, Gapiona and other adjoining roads are also at the mercy of erosion as there are no drainages to take the overflow of water out of the GRA.

Gardens built around the King’s Square by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole have overgrown with weeds, even as hawkers are seen all over the place, turning all the walkways into extensions of their stores.

The National Museum, which used to be a point of attraction from any point of the King’s Square, has now become unkempt, overgrown with grass.

Some residents, who spoke with journalists over the deplorable state of the Ring Road, described its current state as a bad tale ahead of the Oba of Benin’s 10th coronation anniversary.

A resident, Mr. Osaro Idemudia, said: “We are not happy with the way the Ring Road is looking. Bus drivers are supposed to take passengers at the Central Park. Look at dirt everywhere.”

Another motorist, James Igie, said that “Kings Square represents the image of the State, and called on the government to attend to the situation promptly.

“It is sad that the Oba Ovoranmen Square is allowed to look dirty. This is not good, and we hope the government will address the situation.

For Solomon Aibangbee, a businessman, “in the last two weeks, the state of the roads in Edo State has been in the news all over the world. Passengers and motorists spend days passing through Edo State because of bad roads.

“As if that is not enough, you now add the roads within Benin City to the problems. Is Ring Road also a federal Road? I ask because that is the usual excuse we hear.” Aibangbee bemoaned

The Managing Director of Edo State Road Maintenance Agency, Engr. Felix Ibhade, said there are plans to fix the Ring Road.

Ibhade added that Governor Okpebholo had said that he would not want to do palliative work on the road but a full-scale asphalting rehabilitation.

“So we are on it. Our constraint is the rain because the majority of the roads we have given amelioration, the rain washed them up. So we are waiting for the rain to subside. That is the beauty of the town, and we don’t do it and after one month it will wear out. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Works because it is not going to be an easy job,” Ibhade admitted.

On his part, the Managing Director, Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency, Pastor Stanley Ighodaro, assured that Governor Okpebholo has shown commitment to beautify Benin City centre and other parts of the State.

The Federal government has released funds to clear the eight-month backlog of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) owed to eligible academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

The payment covers the period from January to August 2026, in what the Federal Government described as a further demonstration of its commitment to implementing approved agreements and improving the welfare of personnel in the education sector.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Wednesday after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.

A statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said the funds had been released for the payment of eligible academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.

According to the statement, all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have been notified to commence payment to qualified academic personnel.

Alausa said the disbursement was being implemented in line with the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) Agreement, underscoring the government’s position that commitments reached with stakeholders in the education sector must be implemented.

The minister described the release as evidence of the Federal government’s commitment to implementing approved agreements while prioritising the welfare of education personnel.

While announcing the release for academic staff, Alausa also disclosed that the government was making arrangements for the payment of the corresponding allowance to non-academic staff in federal tertiary institutions. He said funding for the non-academic staff allowance was expected to be made available within the coming weeks.

The minister linked the payment to President Tinubu’s broader commitment to improving the welfare of workers in the education sector.

Alausa reaffirmed the administration’s determination to improve staff welfare, infrastructure and the overall quality of education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement provides the framework under which the current CATA payment is being implemented, according to the Education Ministry.