Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.

Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.

He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.

The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.

He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.

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“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.

The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.

They have also figured out who is making them.

The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.

Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.

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He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.

Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.

“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.

“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”

The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.

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He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.

A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.

David Adedeji Adeleke, known professionally as Davido, has shared his past suicidal thoughts as he dropped Oriadé,  his sixth studio album yesterday.

Davido

Davido said he chose the date on purpose as it marks exactly 15 years since he began his professional music career.

Oriadé is a Yoruba word combining “Ori,” meaning destiny, and “Adé,” meaning crown.

It translates to “the crowned head.” The album has 13 tracks and features Black Sherif, Aya Nakamura, Leon Thomas, Mayorkun, and Llona.

It follows his 2025 project, 5ive, which reached number two on the Billboard World Albums chart.

Davido also announced an international tour to support the new record.

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In the days leading up to the release, Davido gave interviews that revealed personal details about his past and his current life.

Speaking to Vibe Magazine on Thursday, he described a 2014 incident in Ghana that left him feeling suicidal.

He said he invited a woman back to his hotel room after a show, and she later posted a photo of him sleeping online.

He said the fallout overwhelmed him.

“My daddy was calling me. My sisters were calling me. If I saw the balcony that day, I would have jumped,” he said.

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He said he was young at the time and did not fully understand the consequences of his actions.

He described the experience as a turning point that changed how he thinks about privacy and fame.

In the same interview, he explained why he often dresses down in public despite his wealth.

He recalled a trip to the South of France where he went out in shorts and slippers without his watch.

“I’ve been on jets, I’ve been flying, I’ve been in all these places since I was a baby. I’ve been seeing money since I was a baby. So all these things don’t really excite me,” he said.

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He added that he sometimes prefers to drive a Toyota to the supermarket in Atlanta instead of one of his luxury cars.

In a separate livestream with Davrel, Davido spoke about how his life has changed since marrying his wife, Chioma, and becoming a father.

He said his home no longer holds the large crowds it once did.

“I can no longer have 100 people in my house like before,” he said.

He said he speaks to Chioma every day regardless of his schedule.

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He also disclosed that he spends between $200,000 and $300,000 a month on himself, not including costs for his wife, children, jewelry and cars.

He said the amount is lower when he is in the United States, where he described his lifestyle as quieter.

Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.

The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare,  ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.

The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.

Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.

He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.

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Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.

The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.

Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.

He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.

The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.

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