The Ministry of Defence on Monday dismissed reports alleging that it denied Channels Television access to the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, AFCRD, symposium/lecture series held at the National Defence College, Abuja.

In a statement signed by the Chief Information Officer, Queeneth Iheoma-Hart, the ministry said a media advisory had been circulated ahead of the event, indicating a 10:00 a.m. start.

Iheoma-Hart added that advisory requested media personnel to be seated by 9:30 a.m. to allow for accreditation, security screening and smooth proceedings.


According to her, a Channels TV cameraman, who arrived before the programme commenced, was duly granted access and covered the event without interruption.

“A reporter who arrived after proceedings had begun was denied late entry strictly on security and protocol grounds, as dignitaries were already seated and checks were ongoing,” she said.

Iheoma-Hart faulted what she described as “inaccurate reporting suggesting deliberate exclusion”, stressing that it valued professional media organisations as partners in public information and transparency.

The spokesperson urged media houses to verify facts before broadcast.

She reaffirmed that the ministry would accord utmost respect to all invited media organisations to cover subsequent AFCRD activities, subject to schedules and standard security procedures.

Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has spoken on the troubles at Manchester United.

A caretaker manager is expected to fill in for the sacked Ruben Amorim until the end of the 2025/26 campaign as the clubs continue talks with Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Man Utd have zero direction
The club have had a dire campaign under Amorim and have since been knocked out the FA Cup by Brighton under interim manager Darren Fletcher.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, Mendieta opened up on the club, who are once again in turmoil.

“From the outside, it looks like there is no real direction for how the club wants to play or what style. They have fantastic players, but there’s no clear identity of what they want to do or how they want to do it.

“This is probably because they have had so many managers throughout the years, and also because of the owners’ idea in terms of how they want to be as a club.

“I have not perceived that, and I think that is more important than anything else. Then, obviously, you get a manager and align with that, or get the manager and then align with the existing ideas.

“When you have had so many managers, it’s hard to have a clear direction.”

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will on Wednesday, January 14, formalise a new agreement that will improve the quality of the university educational system and ensure stability.

A statement released on Sunday by the Ministry of Education said the ceremony will be held at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja.

The ceremony will be presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad.

The development followed a recent 14‑day ultimatum by the union.

However, the strike was later canceled before it began after ASUU and the FG held overnight talks.

In an update by the ministry, it explained that the new agreement reflected government’s commitment to constructive engagement with critical stakeholders, and to resolving industrial disputes through dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

Signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, Folasade Boriowo, formalisation of the agreement followed years of engagement between the FG and ASUU to address industrial disputes.

According to the Ministry, the agreement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which recognises education as a strategic driver of national development, human capital growth, and socio-economic transformation.

It is expected to further enhance industrial peace, create a more conducive academic environment, and reinforce confidence among students, university staff, and the wider public.

According to the Ministry, the agreement unveiling will bring together senior government officials, ASUU representatives, heads of tertiary institutions, development partners, and members of the media.

The dispute between FG and ASUU has been a longstanding challenge for Nigeria’s higher education sector, with recurrent disagreements over funding, conditions of service, and the implementation of agreements reached at previous negotiations.

Over the years, ASUU has embarked on numerous strike actions to press for better funding for public universities, improved welfare for lecturers, and full implementation of earlier accords, including unresolved terms from a key 2009 agreement that has been central to many of the union’s industrial actions.

The most recent major industrial action occurred in October 2025 when ASUU commenced a two‑week nationwide strike.

These strikes have frequently disrupted academic calendars, sometimes lasting months and leading to significant lost academic time, delayed graduations, and increased student migration to private institutions or foreign universities.