Retired General Yusuf Buratai warned that Africa faces interconnected security threats including terrorism, cybercrime, and political instability, necessitating unified, locally-led responses rather than reliance on external actors. He highlighted the escalating crisis in West Africa, citing rising attack rates and regional fragmentation following the departure of key nations from ECOWAS, while stressing that African solutions must become reality to preserve sovereignty and ensure long-term peace.
Over 10 million SRD grant applications were rejected during the 2025/26 financial year primarily due applicants exceeding income thresholds, having alternative support, or failing digital verification checks. Government officials emphasize that these figures reflect sustained demand for temporary relief amidst high unemployment rather than barriers to access, as the grants are strictly means-tested and intended only for those meeting specific eligibility criteria. To address dissatisfaction with these outcomes, the department has streamlined the appeals process through online platforms to allow efficient reassessment of rejected claims.
