₦airaland Forum

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said that the State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps would metamorphosed into a State Police.

Akeredolu who said he does not believe in secession stated that the many promises of June 12 have been dashed.

Akeredolu who spoke in Akure at the 2021 Democracy Day celebration said there was no serious attempt to redesign the security architecture to respond to the demands of a nascent country as at the time of independence.

He insisted that every federating unit in the country should have its own police for effective security.

The Ondo Governor declared that local government could not be absolute autonomous and that the Federal Government should have no control, whatsoever, on how a Local Government is run in a State of the Federation.

“Let every state determine the number of local governments it wishes to have for effective administration. The civil service must respond to the current realities for relevance. Let the extent of wealth creation form the basis of establishing local administrations. It does not make any economic sense to create as many local governments as the politics of revenue sharing will permit.

“Governors must be Chief Executive Officers answerable only to the people indeed. The law must empower them to harness the resources in their respective States for the benefit of those who voted for them. They must not be subjected to any external control as equal partners in a federation unless when it is absolutely necessary.

“They must be able to mobilise the people for socio-economic activities with minimal interference from the government at the centre. This will enhance their ability to protect their people from rampaging marauders and other criminals who wreck their peace in perpetuity.

“The message which produced June 12, 1993, was “Farewell to Poverty”. Our people looked forward to a better Nigeria where every citizen would be proud. The hope was dashed. We have been trying to rekindle the light of realistic expectations since 1999. The political journey proceeds in fits and starts. The ride has been bumpy, creating doubts and suspicion on the genuineness of intentions.

“The problems are, however, surmountable if all are sincere in finding lasting solutions to the existential issues confronting us. That should the lesson derivable from the June 12 annulment and the symbolic revalidation.”

Barr. Femi Aborisade who delivered the Democracy Day lecture insisted that Nigeria was not a broke nation.

By Samson Adenekan and Nasir Ayitogo




Some pro-government protesters have revealed how they were recruited to join a rally aimed at countering the mainstream June 12 protests on Saturday.

Civic groups and activists had chosen the June 12 Democracy Day to express their grievances against the Muhammadu Buhari-led government, which they accused of poorly governing Nigeria and being lackadaisical in its handling of the country’s worsening security situation.

But in a move to overshadow the mainstream protests, hundreds of protesters sporting branded T-shirts with pro-Buhari inscriptions also trooped to the streets of Abuja on Saturday.

‘We were promised between N1,500 and N2,500’
Some of them who randomly spoke to PREMIUM TIMES at Unity Fountain, Abuja, said they were promised to be paid between N1,500 and N2,5000 to attend the counter-protest.

“I was in my area when they called me to come to do something. They promised to pay us. Some are promised N2,000 while some have been promised N1,500,” Abdul Yusuf told this newspaper on camera.

Mr Yusuf, in his branded T-shirt, physically exhausted from the rally, said they were mobilised by their leader, Muhammad Garba, from Area 1 District in Abuja.


“They’ve not paid but I know that they will pay,” he added as he made to leave, probably for Area 1, to receive the promised payment.

Mr Yusuf’s story was corroborated to this newspaper by at least four other protesters at the location, among whom were two teenagers walking home after the event.

One of the teenagers who identified himself as Muhammadu said they were invited for a meeting in support of Nigeria’s president and were promised N2500 each.

“We were promised 2,500 but we have not been paid yet,” he said in Hausa language.

Except Mr Yusuf who said he was contracted to appear at the scene till 11a.m., none of the other pro-Buhari protesters divulged who called them to join the protest.

PREMIUM TIMES however, identified a fair-complexioned and sturdy man issuing directives to the protesters on what to do and how to do them at the protest ground.

He even promised to deal with one Musa whom he paid to bring drums to the protest ground.


June 12 protesters

The June 12 protesters had slated the Unity Fountain, opposite Transcorp Hilton in Maitama, as their convergence venue, but they could not gain access to the venue due to the presence of pro-government rally-goers.

The pro-government protesters donned branded T-shirts with inscriptions like, ‘Are you with BUHARI?’ and placards with inscriptions such as ‘Thank you for being champion of anti-corruption in Africa, PMB’, ‘North, South, East and West are united with PMB’.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that while security operatives allowed the pro-government rally to be held at Unity Fountain in Maitama, Abuja, they dispersed the June 12 anti-government protesters with teargas in the Gudu area of the capital city.

Transport union workers and security operatives have dispersed June 12 protesters from the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota area of Lagos state .

Protesters had converged on the Park on Saturday to demonstrate against bad governance, insecurity, the unemployment level, among other issues.

But the police did not allow the protesters gain entry into the park.

Thereafter, the protesters moved upward with their placards, chanting solidarity songs.

Suddenly, the union workers, after having a meeting with themselves, moved towards the protesters and ordered everyone to vacate the premises.

“Go home. Everybody should go home. No protest here,” some members of the union said.

“Anyone that creates unnecessary havoc here will die.”

“What are these hoodlums doing here?” one of the union workers said while pointing at the protesters.

Commentor:
You lot are hypocrites.

Address people so they can as always twist it out of context and use it as the pretext for anarchy.

Try again.

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused governors of causing the country so much pain as a result of the strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Judiciary workers had embarked on a 64-day strike over the refusal of governors to implement the autonomy for the state judiciary.

Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the Executive Order 10 for the enforcement of the autonomy of the judiciary but the 36 governors kicked against the order.

When he played host to the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, the president spoke on his commitment to devolving of power to the people.

“I remain an unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people and that is why I signed the Executive Order granting autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary. Unfortunately, this was met with some resistance at the state level and led to a more than two months strike action that has caused the country a lot of pain.

“Luckily the National Assembly has nearly completed the constitutional review process, which I hope would address some of the burning issues agitating the minds of our people.’’

The president also spoke about the effect of the strike, lamenting its security implication.

“Fortunately, this strike has been called off and prosecution of some of these people (those behind insecurity) would soon commence, while our security agencies expand their network in closing in on the others,’’ he added.

NIREC was led by Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle.

President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the 157-kilometer Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway line which extends to Apapa Ports, directing that henceforth, goods meant for the hinterlands should be transported through the rail line to the dry port in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The president, who inaugurated the $1.7 billion project for commercial operations, described the commissioning as another milestone in the efforts of his administration to revitalise infrastructure.

He said the railing, which is connected to the Apapa Port quay, is a vital line which establishes an end to end logistics supply chain in railway transport within the Lagos-Ibadan corridor.

According to him, the goods would move directly to the Inland Container Port in Ibadan from where it would be distributed to the country.


He said the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line which is a section of the Lagos-Kano rail was in clear recognition of the challenges posed to the nation’s economic growth by absence of strong and effective rail infrastructure.

He stated that the Lagos-Kano rail line which is 2,773 kilometres when completed would link the ongoing Kano-Maradi line which terminates at Maradi, Niger Republic.

The line from Lagos, he stated, would position the country’s port as a preferred choice for import and export of goods by the people of landlocked Niger Republic.

“This would be beneficial to the economy through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation,” he said.

He directed the Ministries of Transportation and Finance to engage relevant partners for the development of Ibadan-Kano railway and connection to Tin-Can Island Port as well as the Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar, linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa and Oyo.

He added, “From the beginning of this administration, railway infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various milestones are being reached right from when Abuja-Kaduna railway was flagged off in 2016.”

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the delivery of the project was as a result of the “full support and steadfast encouragement” of the President.

Amaechi said for instance in Abeokuta, Ogun State, over 1000 houses were demolished.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has given approval to the return of the open grazing practised during the 1st Republic where herdsmen used designated grazing routes to move their cattle to several parts of the country.

To this end, the President said he had asked the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to begin the process of recovering land from persons who have converted cattle grazing routes for their personal use.

Buhari said this during an interview with Arise Television which was aired on Thursday.

The President said the grazing routes were designated in the 1st Republic when “Nigerians use to obey laws” but those routes had been converted.

Buhari was reacting to a question on the decision by 17 southern governors to ban open grazing.

The AGF had kicked against the declaration by the governors, adding that it was like northern governors banning spare part trading, a job that is synonymous with southerners.

When asked if he agreed with the AGF’s position, Buhari laughingly responded, “You want me to contradict my attorney-general?”

Explaining further, he said, “What I did was ask him to go and dig the gazette of the 1st Republic when people were obeying laws. There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (herdsmen) are moving up country, north to south or east to west, they had to go through there.

“If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The khadi or the judge will say pay this amount and if you can’t the cattle is sold. And if there is any benefit, you are given and people were behaving themselves and in the grazing areas, they built dams, put windmills in some places there were even veterinary departments so that the herders are limited. Their route is known, their grazing area is known.

“But I am telling you, this rushing to the centre (sic) so I asked for the gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.”

He also lamented the style and utterances of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who had not only implemented an aggressive anti-open grazing law but had accused Buhari of failing to take actions against herdsmen because he is also a member of the Fulani herders.

Buhari said indeed, he is a Fulani man but Ortom was being unfair to him. He said he had told Ortom that the herdsmen perpetrating the attacks are not the Nigerian ones.

The President further explained that the Tivs, which form the majority in Benue, and the Fulanis had been engaged in cultural conflicts for a long time.

He added, “The problem is trying to understand the culture of the cattle rearers. There is a cultural difference between the Tivs and the Fulanis. So, the governor of Benue said I am not disciplining the cattle rearers because I am one of them.

“I cannot say I am not one of them but he is being very unfair to me and I told him that the Nigerian cattle rearer was not carrying anything more than a stick sometime with a machete to cut some trees and feed his cattle but those sophisticated ones move with AK 47.

“So, from other areas, people rush to Nigeria you know and Fulanis from Mauritania and Central Africa look the same so they feel they are the Nigerian ones and I assure you that we are trying to resuscitate these cattle routes, grazing areas and make them accountable.”

By Khadijat Lawal


Barely a week after suspending the operations of American-owned microblogging site, Twitter, the Nigerian government has joined Koo, an Indian microblogging platform.

Last week, Twitter had pulled down a tweet of President Muhammadu Buhari on the civil war.

Three days later, the Federal Government suspended Twitter, alleging that it is undermining the interest of the country.

Nigerians had circumvented the ban through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) but the Federal Government threatened to prosecute violators of the ban.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) also ordered television and radio stations to go off Twitter.

There had been complaints about dissemination of information as a result of the Twitter ban.

Probably as a means of making up for the ban, the Nigerian government enlisted on the platform.

The Nigerian Government’s verified account on Koo, with the name ‘Government of Nigeria’ @nigeriagov, has 6,570 followers as of the time of filing this report.

Koo co-founder and CEO, Aprameya Radhakrishna, shared a post on his account @aprameya, about Nigerian government’s presence on Koo.

“The official handle of the government of Nigeria is now on Koo!”

He also added that the Indian microblogging and social networking service is working to enable local Nigerian languages on its app.

“Koo is available in Nigeria. We’re thinking of enabling the local languages there too. What say?” He also shared a screenshot of the languages spoken in Nigeria.


What is Koo?

Koo is an Indian microblogging and social networking service based in Bengaluru, India. Formerly known as Ku Koo Ku, the app was developed by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka.

It won the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge in August 2020. The app is currently valued at over $100 million.


When was it launched?

The app was first on launched on March 1, 2020 in Kannada, the app now supports Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi. In the future it plans to provide support for Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Meitei, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu.


When did Koo debut in Nigeria?

Koo made its debut in Nigeria following an indefinite ban on Twitter. The Government of Nigeria created their official account on 10 June 2021.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has defended his decision to construct railways and roads extending into Niger Republic.

Buhari said this during an interview on Arise Television which aired on Thursday.

The President said borders were arbitrarily drawn by the French colonialists without taking into cognisance the cultural similarities of the people of Niger and Nigeria even as he revealed that he has first cousins in Niger Republic.

He argued that the people of the South-West similarly have cousins in neighbouring Benin Republic.

The President said another reason the railway is being constructed is to boost the friendly relationship with Niger which has helped Nigeria to prevent Boko Haram terrorists from gaining unfettered access into Nigeria.

Buhari added, “If you recall, when I came, I went to Chad, I went to Niger, I went to Cameroon. Look at what happened with Boko Haram. If we were not in a good relationship with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, Boko Haram would have done worse things to us and you say I am going to Niger.

“I told you the border between us and Niger is 1, 500km. And Niger (sic). I spoke to one French man and I had to tell him this. He spoke nonsense and I told him look, in 1885, you sat down and drew lines (boundaries). I said I have first cousins in Niger. There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are Fulanis in Niger Republic just as there are Yorubas in Benin. You can’t absolutely cut them off.”

He argued that the new rail would help Nigeria to compete with Benin Republic which has cornered entrepot trade in the region.

Buhari said Niger, which is a landlocked nation, has discovered oil, and Nigeria does not want them to do trade through Benin Republic.

“We want them to come through Nigeria. We want them to send their exports through Nigeria,” the President said.

Buhari justified his choice of Yahaya though his appointment will force over 20 Major-Generals to retire.
President Muhammadu Buhari explained that he appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff because he had led a war and was used to the frontlines.

Buhari justified his choice of Yahaya though his appointment will force over 20 Major-Generals to retire.

The President said the soldiers in the frontlines also know him and that he is used to them.

He stated this on Thursday in an interview on Arise News Television in Abuja.

Buhari said, "Do you know you can't be the Chief of Army Staff because of seniority? You have somebody who has been on the frontlines. He fought there. They know him. I tell you the truth. I don't know them (the other generals)."

Buhari appointed Yahaya on May 27 and the Sokoto-born general returned from the North-East where he was hitherto serving as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the Boko Haram counterinsurgency operation.

By Abubakar Auwal

The Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (OPMAN) has said it will cut off supply to entire southern Nigeria beginning from Monday if the government fails to respond to the association’s demands.
Daily Trust gathered that one of OPMAN’s demands is that its members who had suffered losses as a result of ethno-religious crises in the South must be duly compensated.

Others include restoration of law and order in those areas as well as a thorough investigation to uncover the remote causes of those attacks on their members.

OPMAN also called on the host communities to respect the constitutional rights of northern traders in their respective states.

Addressing journalists after the association’s meeting in Sokoto at the weekend, OPMAN’s President, Aliyu Isa, noted that members of the association lost onions and property worth N4.5 billion in various attacks in the south.

According to him, during the Aba crisis in Abia State, the association lost three members, while about 30 trailers, 9 utility cars, 50 stores and 10,000 bags of onion, among other valuables belonging to their members, were destroyed.

In Shasa, Oyo State, he said 27 lives, five trailers, 5,600 bag of Onions, 12 utility vehicles and other valuables were lost.

Isah added that members were robbed of onions worth N13 million in Imo State.

He said, “After full deliberation by the executive members of this association and the failure of government to respond to our cry, we resolved…that we are shutting down the supply of onions to the entire South by Monday, June 7, 2021, unless all our demands are met.”

The attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party senator representing Oyo South, Kola Balogun, to present his bill aimed at banning open grazing in the country, on the floor of the red chamber, might have been technically frustrated.

Balogun told our correspondent in March this year that the proposed legislation, which he had submitted since January, was ready for first reading.

Investigations by Saturday PUNCH at the Rules and Business Committee of the red chamber, however, showed that the bill has not been approved for listing on the order paper by the leadership of the upper chamber.

The senator, in a discussion with our correspondent last week, expressed surprise that his bill had yet to see the light of day, since he presented it for listing on the order paper.

Balogun, however, said he would not relent in his efforts to ensure that the bill surfaced on the floor of the Senate as soon as possible to tackle the menace of killer herdsmen terrorising Nigerians.

He said, “I don’t really know why the bill has not come up for first reading but we are on it. I have a lot of senators ready to support it.”

Balogun’s senatorial district, like other southern parts of Nigeria and the Middle Belt, are constantly under the attack of the Fulani herdsmen.


Worried by the development, the governors from the southern part of Nigeria announced a total ban on open grazing at the end of their meeting in Asaba, Delta State last month.

Senators from southern Nigeria have also supported the ban on open grazing and urged the governors to approach the National Assembly to perfect necessary legislative effect to their collective resolution.

Some senators, who spoke with our correspondent on the issue during the week on condition of anonymity, vowed to push for the listing of the bill for necessary legislative action.

A senator from the South-West geopolitical zone said there was strong opposition to the anti-open grazing bill in the red chamber.

He, however, noted that his colleagues pushing for the proposed legislation would not relent until they achieved their aim.

The lawmaker said, “The leadership of the 9th Senate is not comfortable with the bill and we have noticed that in their body language but we are determined to protect our people through all legal means against the herdsmen.”

However, the senator representing Cross River South, Gershon Bassey, told Saturday PUNCH that he did not believe the bill was being frustrated by the Senate leadership.


He said, “Talks about the leadership trying to frustrate the presentation of the bill is in the realm of speculation. The truth of the matter is that the process of lawmaking is there. Before any bill can be introduced, it has to go through the normal process and then we see how the document will look like.”

Bassey earlier told our correspondent that the legislation needed the support to end the herder-farmer clashes.

He emphasised widespread consultations to make it enjoy the support of every senator in the chamber.

“There has to be a widespread consultation before we can reach something that is agreeable to everybody,” he said.

Repeated calls made to the spokesperson for the red chamber, Dr. Sirajudeen Basiru, on Friday were not answered, nor had he replied to the text message sent to him on the issue at the time of filing this report.

Saturday PUNCH reports that senators from the southern and Middle Belt areas of Nigeria, in February, started mobilising their colleagues from the core north areas of the country to support the yet-to-be-introduced new Senate anti-open grazing bill.

Investigations showed that a principal officer of the upper chamber was coordinating support for the bill sponsored by Balogun.


The Senate had also in February passed a resolution urging the state governments to implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

The red chamber described the project as “a modern scheme designed to eliminate trans-human movement in order to prevent farmer-herder conflicts and activate the highly productive livestock sector in Nigeria.”

The senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro, who is a former minister of interior, had also confirmed to our correspondent in February that the sponsor of the anti-open grazing bill had sought his support.

He promised to do everything possible to give the proposed legislation all the necessary input to ensure that it was signed into law.

Moro said, “I have it on good authority that one of my colleagues is sponsoring a bill on anti-grazing. I have assured him that I will support him and I will lend my voice to his bill.”

Similarly, the senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, in February, confirmed that the bill was already in the Senate, saying, “The anti-grazing bill is already in the Senate and I am fully in support of it. The foreign herdsmen are in Nigeria to cause mayhem, so the only alternative is to stop their free movement through the proposed law.”

Lending his support to the bill, the senator representing Ogun West, Tolu Odebiyi, also said there was the need for a total ban on open grazing, Odebiyi said it would prevent incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

He added, “I completely support a total ban on open grazing and its replacement with the ranching system, which is a modern practice all over the world. We have a national crisis on our hands. It is a national crisis that has been devoid of leadership politically and morally.”

Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said he was not aware of the matter because he had not been around for a while.

Basiru said, “I’m not aware of the development. I have not been around.”

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has called on those clamouring for secession to jettison such an idea.

Speaking at the Special Ramadan Prayer Tafsir (Lecture) for Lagos State and Nigeria, held at the Lagos House, Marina on Sunday, Mr Tinubu said the country was better together than seperated.

He said the war drums some people were beating would result in the disintegration of the country like Sudan and Iraq.

According to him, Nigeria is yet to recover from the effect of the civil war, hence, cannot afford to experience another war.

”For clamouring for war, God will not allow Nigeria to experience war. If we say Nigeria should seperate, people should remember what war caused in Sudan and Iraq. Such war does not end on time. We are yet to recover from the civil war.

”We are better together. I have nowhere I am going. Whoever has experienced war in the past will not pray for such. Nigeria will not seperate, it’s not acceptable to us. Our prayers is for prosperity and more wealth for the country,” he said.

Mr Tinubu also commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, for their achievements in the state.

He said that the state had witnessed massive developments since the administration of Mr Sanwo-Olu came on board and expressed satisfaction with their performance.

In his goodwill message, Governor Sanwo-Olu promised to fulfill his campaign promises and deliver on the dividends of democracy. He said the state government was in the process of installing 2,000 cameras across the state for security surveillance.

He said the proposed last mile buses, which his administration would unveil this month (May), would eradicate the menace of Okada riders.

According to him, more funds will be deployed into the state Security Trust Fund to empower police and other security operatives, while technology will be deployed around the state.

The National Missioner, Ansaru-deen Society of Nigeria, Abdul-rahman Ahmad, also called on those clamouring for the country to divide to have a rethink.

Mr Ahmad said that though insecurity was on the increase, but with constant prayers, change of thoughts and characters by Nigerians, the country would come out of it

The Islamic cleric encouraged all Nigerians to buy made in Nigeria products to strengthen the naira and the economy.

He urged the Lagos State Government to make examples of lawless commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, for peace and security in Lagos.

Mr Ahmad condemned the kidnappings in many parts of the country and advised government to implement the laws on insecurity as it affects development.

”For those clamouring to divide the country, maybe you should have a rethink. Ask yourself; where will this clamour for so called independence lead us? We should reinvent this country. Nigeria will be great.


”Today are in hard times, these are uncertain times. This is the time men are supposed to be seperated from boys. This is the time that regions need to think out of the box.

”We are insecure, we are unsure, there is hunger, there is anger and confusion in the land. This is the time we need divine intervention. If we gather and pray till 2023, Allah will not listen to us till we do some things.

”This is the time action is required, backed by deep thoughts for today and our tomorrow. We have often blamed leaders but we have to choose the kind of leaders we deserve. Everywhere is unsafe even the police station is not safe. We need to rejig,” he said.

The event was attended by frontline Islamic clerics from all local government areas in the state and the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Abubakar Garba; the former National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; business mogul, Aliko Dangote; among others.

Meanwhile, the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on Sunday held a special prayer session for peace and unity to reign in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prayer session and Ramadan lecture took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The Director-General of the organisation, Aminu Suleiman, said the prayer session was also held for the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Mr Tinubu, because of his compassionate nature.

Mr Suleiman said that many who knew and appreciated the good things Mr Tinubu had done in Lagos wanted him to replicate the same at the national level.

”We need someone like him to rule this country, he has done it in Lagos, that is why we are praying for him; let God give him the chance to come and rule this country. He has feeling for human being,” he said.

Mr Suleiman said that there was the need to maintain peace and unity as the way to progress in the country

In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissoner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, said that the prayers for peace and security in the country were very important.


Mr Elegushi said that it was also imperative for Muslim faithful to pray for a good leader ahead of the 2023 election.

”Really, we are praying for security, for peace but at the same time, we must pray for us to have a good leader as the president of this country.”

(NAN)””

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Nigerians have continued to condemn the verbal attack on Senator Smart Adeyemi by Senator Oluremi Tinubu after the former lamented the threats posed by the growing insecurity in the country.

Adeyemi is the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District while Oluremi Tinubu represents Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Both lawmakers are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The plenary session on insecurity last week which lasted for over an hour had lawmakers complaining about the insecurity in Nigeria and proffering possible solutions.

Adeyemi was one of the contributors to the debate during which he spoke passionately for over five minutes, describing the current state of insecurity in Nigeria as the worst so far.

But Tinubu seemed disgusted by Adeyemi’s comments.

“I’m a party man and I’m supporting APC but it has gotten to a point that as supporters we cannot keep quiet,” Adeyemi had said.

“This is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war.”

While Adeyemi continued venting his anger at the “killing, maiming, insecurity in the country,” Tinubu who sat beside the senator interjected.

“Are you in PDP? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” Tinubu said, rebuking the lawmaker.

Adeyemi, however, ignored his colleague and fellow party member, stating that there were lots of misinterpretations of what was happening in the country. See Also Sahara Reporters Are You In The PDP, Wolf In Sheep's Clothing? – Remi Tinubu Tackles Senator Adeyemi For Complaining About Insecurity 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

When SaharaReporters reached out to Adeyemi for his reaction to what Tinubu said, he declined to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians did not find the statement credited to Tinubu funny.

They lambasted her on social media platform Twitter, saying she is more concerned about the 2023 elections than talking about tackling the insecurity in the land.

However, this is not the first time the ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God would be involved in a controversy since becoming a Senator in 2011.

2015: TAKING OVER DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT’S SEAT

In 2015, Tinubu raised a storm at the senate when she sat on the chair meant for Ike Ekweremadu, the then Deputy Senate President.

The former Lagos State First Lady, who wanted to second a motion on the approval of the Lagos state development policy operation loan, earned the rebuke of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, when she stood up to speak while standing in the Deputy Senate President’s corner.

Naturally, this forced her to second the motion from another seat, complaining that her microphone was faulty.

She however returned to the seat of Ekweremadu, who was not present at plenary, after she had seconded the motion.

Tinubu sat giddily in the Deputy Senate President’s seat, intermittently conversing with Aliyu Ndume.

2016: FIGHT WITH DINO MELAYE

In July 2016, there was an altercation between Tinubu and Senator Dino Melaye from Kogi state which saw both lawmakers calling each other names and charging at each other.

According to reports, those who witnessed the incident, which occurred during a closed-door meeting held by the senators, said trouble started when Melaye urged the Senate to descend heavily on members who had offered to serve as prosecution witnesses in the ongoing forgery case against the then Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu.

“You should go and tell those who sent you that nobody, I said nobody, no matter who he is, can ever control this Senate,” Melaye was quoted as saying as he pointed at the affected senators, his face contorted in rage.

But when Tinubu was recognised to speak, she rose, and said, “I’m just wondering why whenever Senator Dino speaks in this chamber, he is always threatening people and behaving childishly and at times like a thug.

“I think he needs to know that every senator here represents their constituencies. And that there is no need to threaten anyone.

“We are seeking and working towards reconciliation, yet you are busy issuing threats.”

One of the sources said at this point, Melaye jumped up from his seat and charged towards Tinubu, saying, “Look this is not Bourdillon (referring to the famous Lagos residence of Mrs Tinubu’s politician husband). I will beat you up, ….. impregnate you and nothing will happen.”

Witnesses said as Melaye charged towards the Lagos senator, other senators, especially those from the South-West geopolitical zone, waded in and shielded Tinubu from attack, and then calmed her down.

2016: ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SLAP ANOTHER SENATOR

Melaye in 2016 also alleged that Tinubu almost “slapped Senator Rafiu Ibrahim” and got away with it.

Ibrahim was elected to the Senate under the platform of the APC from Kwara South in March 2015.

“I know a former member of the National Assembly, who had to go to one of today’s cabinet members to report her, that the next time she was rude to him, he would damn the consequences and take her to the cleaners. I also know that Mark as former Senate President avoided her like a plague.

“Did anyone see how she charged Senator (Musiliu) Obanikoro when she objected to his nomination as minister? Instances abound and these are unbecoming incidences that should not be found in anyone’s character file. But that’s who she is. It will take a ‘real man’to brush aside such invective and pretend an encounter ever took place with her. That’s where Dino missed it. But Remi can be such a menace.

“The same woman almost slapped Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and nobody demanded an apology /response from her or the entire Senate. Why now? The same woman deliberately sat on the Deputy Senate President’s seat to cause uproar yet, nobody demanded an apology from her. Why now?” Melaye had said.

2019: THREATENED ‘intimacy gadget SENATOR’ WITH SUSPENSION

In July 2019, Tinubu had an open confrontation with another colleague of hers, Elisha Ishaku Abbo from Adamawa state.

Abbo, who was caught on camera assaulting a woman in an Abuja intimacy gadget shop, hadappeared before a Senate committee set up to investigate the incident.

The Adamawa senator said he had refused to allow journalists to interview him over the matter, and did not understand why he came in for the hearing to be “ambushed” by journalists.

Insisting that the hearing be done privately, Abbo had said “I am not addressing the camera, I am not addressing the press.”

Before being allowed to explain this, Tinubu told Abbo he was new in the Senate and could not tell the committee how to handle the hearing.

“You are just joining us. We have a procedure and we are also under law. What we are doing, we are doing as a legislature. You don’t come in here when we invite you, despite you being our colleague, you are on the other side now,” she had said.

“Everybody requires a fair hearing, what is going on with you affects us as a body. You don’t come in here and dictate to us the procedure we are supposed to adopt. You don’t dictate to us, because you undermine us by even trying to do that. You haven’t even listened to us, even if we are going beyond what you expect, you can stop us.

“Do you want us to protect you, or do you want us to defend you, or you want to be on your own? Do you realise that the Senate when we constitute this, whatever the law gives, we can also suspend you?”

Interrupting Tinubu with a protest, Abbo said the senator should not threaten him with suspension.

“Are you threatening me with suspension?” he asked.

“I am a senator like you, I won’t sit here and you threaten me with suspension. With all due respect, you cannot threaten me with suspension, I take exception, ma’am.”

Honeywell Group said it has met its credit obligations to FirstBank, saying none of its credit obligations, is non-performing.

“We have serviced all our credit facilities in line with the terms agreed with First Bank and at no point have any of these facilities been non-performing,” the Honeywell Group said in a statement yesterday.

In its reaction to the recent development that erupted over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) response to the purported sack of the bank’s Managing Director and the consequent directive that First Bank should recover debts owed it by Honeywell Group, the company said since 1972, Honeywell Group and FirstBank of Nigeria have had a professional business relationship which preceded the Group’s investment in FirstBank over a decade later.

“Honeywell Group’s relationship with FirstBank has always been professional, at arm’s length and in accordance with all regulatory and industry practices and norms. The credit facilities which we have accessed from FirstBank and indeed other banks, were granted after due negotiations with the necessary documentation and in line with regulatory policies and industry standards.

Read Also: Ember month: Honeywell/FRSC caution motorists on safety

“Like most companies, Honeywell Group utilises its own equity and borrows from banks and other financial institutions to carry out its operations. Partnering with local and international financiers, we have a strong track record of mutually beneficial successes with our partners, based on honouring obligations and delivering returns to all stakeholders,”Honeywell Group said.

It recalled that in 2015, FirstBank under the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), drew our attention to a 2004 circular (BSD/9/2004), which requires that insider related facilities must not exceed 10 per cent of paid-up share capital.

“Based on this directive we subsequently entered negotiations with the bank to agree an appropriate repayment structure and the final negotiated position was duly approved by the CBN.”

“It is important to note that from the inception of the facilities and to-date, the facilities have been performing,” Honeywell said.

In accordance with agreed terms, our facilities are adequately secured with First Bank, with collaterals in place at over 170% of Forced Sales Value and 230% at Open Market Value.

By Temidayo Akinboyo


The ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ business, formally known as cyber fraud in Nigeria’s cybercrime law, is not a new phenomenon in the country.

The illicit business, mostly perpetrated by young men and sometimes women, is an offshoot of the so-called ‘419’ business of the 1980s and 1990s.

The 419 code is derived from a section of the country’s Criminal Act Section 419 (Advance Free Fraud) which frowns at obtaining money from people through pretence or impersonation, cheating, falsification, counterfeiting, forgery and fraudulent representation of facts.

Internet fraud has now been here for decades and does not seem to be declining in spite of the government’s efforts to stem the tide of the crime that has given the country a bad reputation.

On the global scale, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Obinwanne Okeke, a.k.a Invictus Obi, a trans-Atlantic cybercriminal, was jailed in the United States of America for 10 years for cyber-related crimes.

Before his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and subsequent prosecution and conviction, Mr Okeke was a rising star within the country’s private sector to the extent that he once graced the front page of the elite magazine, Forbes, as a young millionaire.

Until the bubble burst, only a few people knew Mr Obi, who had practically become a business coach to young folks, was into cyber fraud.

There are similar cases like that of Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, a.k.a Hushpuppi, and Ismail Mustapha, a.k.a Mompha, both Instagram celebrities, who are being tried in various courts for cyber fraud which has to do with business email compromise and money laundering.

How they operate

Cyber fraud, locally known as Yahoo Yahoo in Nigeria, takes various shapes and forms which have undergone evolution in recent years.

Boys involved in the illicit business have various ways of duping their victims – mostly foreigners. These range from romance scam, email phishing, business email compromise fraud, identity theft, impersonation, to generating bogus business transactions that look too good to be true and shady business deals running into millions of Naira, usually in hard currencies.

Some of the men involved in the illegal business often resort to seeking metaphysical powers from herbalists that they believe will enable them to hypnotise or control their victims for the time they are on their radar. This latter category of boys are called ‘Yahoo Plus’ boys or ‘G-boys.’

Their tools include laptops connected to the internet that runs almost on a 24-hour basis. They also have premium software exclusively for hacking purposes. Most of them live in secluded places, away from the prying eyes of the public.

When they are not at home, they use their mobile phones which are connected to mobile internet providers like Mifi to run their illicit schemes.

Resurgence of Yahoo Yahoo.

For some time now, hardly does a week pass without the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) parading young men for cyber fraud or some being jailed by courts for internet fraud-related offences.

In fact, it is almost a daily occurrence to the extent that some persons no longer pay any attention to it. It is now a sub-culture, an indication that it is the new normal, despite the country’s criminal justice system being stoutly against it.

As law enforcement agencies scale up their intelligence gathering to track those involved in the crime, the criminals have also learnt to up their games to avoid being caught.

There are also allegations that some of the Yahoo boys have informants within the country’s security agencies who tip them off to escape arrest.

Even though it is one crime the government seriously frowns at and has sent many young men to prison for, after prosecution by the country’s anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, the number of young men recruited into the illicit activities seems to be on an upward swing in the South-west region of the country.

While a part of the South-west society seems to be against what they do, there is a new generation of cheerleaders who believe Yahoo boys are not doing anything harmful. This latter category, to justify their support for cyber fraud criminals, say Nigerian politicians do worse.

Yahoo Boys in the South-west

From Akure in Ondo State to Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State; from Ibadan and Ogbomoso in Oyo State to Agbule Egba, Lekki, 1004 Estate in Lagos State to Osogbo and Ilesha in Osun State and Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode e.t.c in Ogun State, it has been the same tale: Yahoo boys in their teens and twenties are very many in the aforementioned cities, occupying the best housing estates in secluded parts of the cities.

According to findings by this newspaper, the men involved in internet fraud also drive expensive automobiles, shop in classy boutiques and date some of the prettiest ladies in the cities mentioned because they have the cash to throw around.

Tunde Ajayi, a commentator in Akure, the Ondo State capital, told PREMIUM TIMES that getting apartments in some parts of the city is now a herculean task because of the rising cost of accommodation instigated by the purchasing power of Yahoo boys.

“These boys can pay any amount to secure an apartment for themselves in highbrow areas,” he said.

As for the ubiquitous presence of ‘yahoo boys’ in the city, Mr Ajayi, who asked that his real name not be used, said that is the reigning ‘business’ in the town.

“The surprising thing is that the more security agencies are on their trail, the more their number increases. It appears it has become a subculture here, an accepted part of the society,” he told this newspaper.

According to him, the boys are often quartered in areas like Oba Ile, Idanre Road, Ijapo and Alagbaka axes of the city.

He said the boys often patronise exclusive bars in the city for fun.

”They converge on Bola Komo every night to carry Olosho,” he said. Olosho is slang for sex workers.

The story is not different in Ibadan and Ogbomoso, two of the most populous cities in Oyo State. Some of the men are now moving to Oyo town since security operatives are started beaming their searchlight on Ogbomoso and Ibadan.

In Ibadan, the boys are found in areas like Bodija, Ring Road, Ologun Eru, Akobo, Polytechnic Ibadan axis, among others.

Like in Ondo, the Yahoo boys also patronise the most expensive clubs in Ibadan.

They shop in some of the newest shopping malls in the city, often intimidating less endowed shoppers by their crass display of opulence.

Ogbomoso, arguably, parades the highest number of Yahoo boys in the entire South-west. A lot of them are undergraduates of the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH).

In fact, internet scam is so rampant in the city that male undergraduates of other schools often go to meet their friends in LAUTECH to train them on how to be experts in the illicit business, an insider said.

Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, many of the Yahoo boys are domiciled in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. An observer in the city said they patronise some of the most expensive hotels in the city.

In Ogun State, Yahoo boys aggregate in Abeokuta, the state capital. Some of them are found in Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Ago Iwoye.

In Abeokuta, they live in Obantoko, Obada and Panseke areas. They live in expensive hotels and patronise some of the best clubs in the Ogun capital.

In Osun State, Osogbo, the state capital, is their headquarters. They are said to live in areas like Dada Estate and Oke Baale.

Without a doubt, Lagos is the hub of all Yahoo activities in the country. If you are into Yahoo and have not practised the illicit scheme in Lagos, you are operating in a lower league.

Virtually every part of the city and even the suburbs have Yahoo boys. But the big players are mostly domiciled on the Island, Ajah, Ikoyi, Epe, Ikorodu, e.t.c. They are regular fun seekers in high upscale clubs in the areas.


Timeline of arrests of ‘Yahoo-Yahoo Boys’ in South-west, Kwara between January and March.

January 9: Ten persons were arrested for alleged involvement in internet-related fraud in Lagos by the Lagos zonal station of the EFCC.

The suspects are: Jonathan Daniel Adebayo, Lawal Waidi Seun, Adeosun Joseph, Taiwo Gbemileke, Oseni Omotayo, Emmanuel Fakiyesi, Rasheed Ogunlana, Oladunni Segun, Sowunmi Rotimi and Efetobore Prince Wilfred

January 20: EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office arrested 10 suspects in Olomi area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

January 22: 11 suspects were arrested in Osogbo, the Osun State capital by officers from the Ibadan zonal station of the EFCC. About 12 exotic cars, including SUVs, were recovered from the suspects. Also recovered from them were mobile phones, laptop computers and other devices.

January 23: 22 suspects were arrested at various residences at Terra Annex Estate, Sangotedo in the Ajah area of Lagos.

They are Muyiwa Adetola, Adeolu Damilade, Oritsetimeyin Abel, Ademola Lekan, Abayomi Qudus, Isaac Chibueze, Ayeni Olarewaju, Aminu Kelvin, Ajama Patrick and Nesta Olotu.
Others are Odaro Edogiawere, Balogun Ayo, Mustapha Hassan, Musbaudeen Olamilekan, Adewumi Adebayo, Charles Akpene, Joshua Ugwuomore, Ayeni Isamilola, Ogundare Kayode, Kara Uzuegbu, Akindele Samuel and Oladimeji Ashiru.

January 26: Lagos zonal office of the EFCC arrested 22 suspects, while the Ibadan zonal office arrested 13 in Ibadan on the same date.

January 26 and 27: Officers from the Lagos zonal office of the EFCC arrested 17 suspects in different locations in the state. Three of the suspects are based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai- based suspects who were arrested at Victory Nest Estate, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos on January 27, 2021 are Samuel Oluwasegun Olayinka, Afeez Fajumobi and Olamide Olamilekan Olaofe.

February 4: Lagos zonal office of EFCC arrested 14 suspects at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos State. The suspects are: Akin Abiola Daramola, Stephen Augustine Terungwa, Oluwateru Abiodun Samson, Jeffrey Imariagbe Ehis, Uwajiala Odion Henry, Solomon Abidiran Pelumi, Adebayo Oluwatobi Isaac Olamide and Odunifa Joseph Opomulero. Others are Adulkarim Samad Olalekan, Anne Davidson, Ibrahim Enakere Emmanuel, Abayomi Oluwagbenga Olowoake, Israel Jigah Sokoamtu, Oluwaseun Olajuwon Ibrahim and Isaiah Effiong.

February 9: The Ibadan zonal office of EFCC arrested 39 suspects. Ten of them were arrested at Ilesha, Osun State, while 29 others were arrested in different locations at Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Items recovered from them include seven cars, laptop computers, mobile phones, and several documents containing false presences. Those arrested at Ilesha are: Oyesoji Tosin, Olaniyi Emmanuel, Samson Ojo, Sodiq Sunkanmi, Kolawole Abiodun, Oluwole Gbenga, Olajuyigbe Olamide, Oyebanji Olabisi Temitope, Ayoola Oluwafemi, and Oluwatobiloba Gbadamosi.

March 8: The Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC arrested 37 suspects in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. Some of the suspects are Michael Ekundayo, Victor Olujobi, Damilola Akinluyi and Attamah Hyauth, Ade Ajayi Tobi, Oyewola Adewunmi, Emmanuel Bello, Lekan Oyewole, Oso Opeyemi OMG others.

March 9: EFCC arrested 14 suspects at K1 White House, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos. Some of the suspects are Azeez Oluwatimileyin, Stephen Abu, Gbolahan Abbas Ridwan, Oyenowo Steven and James Silas Didam.

March 12: EFCC Ibadan Zonal office arrested 57 suspects in Ilaro, Ogun State. The suspects were arrested in their hideout in Yewa Frontier Hotel & Resort, Ellysam Hotel & Suites, April Suites and IBD International Hotels, all in Ilaro. Two pump-action guns, four exotic cars, mobile phones and laptops were recovered from some of them

March 17: 18 suspects were arrested in Sagamu, Ogun State. They were apprehended at Remo Majestic Hotel. Exotic cars, phones, laptops, and internet devices were recovered.

March 29: EFCC arrested 10 suspects in Akure, Ondo State. The items recovered from the suspects include eight exotic cars, laptops computers, phones, documents and identity cards.

Recall that the disturbing video which trended on social media has received wide condemnation from concerned Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, calling for sanction against the pupils and their parents.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the state government, through the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth and Social Development, subsequently, identified the female pupils and the school in the state.

They were subsequently, identified as students of Oreyo Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of the state.

It was gathered that the identified students were later suspended by the school authorities while the state government has ordered for their rehabilitation with immediate effect.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the development when contacted.

Tokunbo, who directed our corespondent to the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, for further information, said “appropriate steps are been taken to address the issue with the aim of preventing future occurrence in the state.

“The appropriate ministry is already intervening. You see why the role of parents is so critical. We can’t leave everything to government and school. This is heart wrenching.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent could not get the comments of the Commissioner at press time.

Shisha smoking

Shisha smoking is a way of inhaling tobacco, sometimes mixed with fruit or molasses sugar, through the mouthpiece of a bowl hose or tube1. Although the practice of shisha smoking started in the Middle East, it has spread to several other parts of the world, including Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the prevalence rate of shisha smoking, especially among the youth, is rising, making it an issue of public health concern.

The rising prevalence of shisha smoking in Nigeria can be attributed to the increase in the openings of new shisha lounges/bars, subtle advertisement of shisha in public places, social acceptance of shisha smoking, peer influence, and public misconceptions about the safety profile of shisha use.

In a recent study conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, 633 patrons of selected nightclubs were interviewed in order to obtain information on prevalence, correlates and predictors of shisha smoking.

The results showed overall prevalence of shisha smoking as 7.1 per cent. The age of initiation into shisha smoking was lower among women, p = 0.03, but men were significantly more likely to be more frequent users, daily or weekly users, p<0.001 and also to be current cigarette smokers, p = 0.03.

There was no significant gender variability in the stage of readiness to quit. Regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, the predictors of shisha smoking were: cigarette smoking, OR = 4.83, 95 per cent CI (1.49-15.70) and more than 12 years of education, OR = 7.55, 95 per cent CI (1.88 – 30.37), while being a rural dweller was a protective factor, OR = 0.05, 95 per cent CI (0.01-0.20).

Last month, Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant To The President On Media and Publicity, said the Federal Government had arrested some Bureau De Change operators who were facilitating transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists.

He had said some Nigerians transferring money to the sect from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were working with the BDC operators.

“Bureaus de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE. Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically. And I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that dozens of persons have been arrested by security agents in an ongoing nationwide crackdown on suspected financiers and collaborators of Boko Haram.

This newspaper has now exclusively obtained a list of some of the persons arrested in connection with this incident.

In Kano, traders at the foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government, were picked up in March.

Prominent among the BDC operators arrested in the state are

Baba Usaini

Abubakar Yellow (Amfani)

Yusuf Ali Yusuf (Babangida)

Ibrahim Shani,

Auwal Fagge,

Muhammad Lawan Sani (a gold dealer)

Four of the arrested BDC operators are related to two persons jailed in Dubai last year on similar charges.

Those arrested are being kept in military and DSS facilities in Abuja and other places.

Multiple sources informed Daily Trust that the closely-guarded operation is being coordinated by Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Nigerian government has taken delivery of the first set of 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines out of a total of 1.4 million doses designated for Nigeria by the AU.

The vaccines are a combination of doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility, and from the African Union’s (AU) COVID-19 vaccination programme, towards which the MTN Group contributed $25 million, the telecom company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The vaccines will be distributed among health workers in Nigeria by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

Commenting on the vaccines, Dr Faisal Shuaib, Director-General of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), said: “On behalf of health care workers in Nigeria, we commend the efforts of the Nigerian government and the African Union in the fight against COVID-19, and we thank MTN for their collaboration.

“The arrival of these vaccines is a major step, as we try to stay ahead of the virus.

“We need all the collaboration we can get, and I implore more organisations to join this drive for the Nigerian people.”

Also Speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, expressed appreciation on behalf of the government.

“The donation of COVID-19 vaccines is truly helpful, and we are grateful.

“We can only succeed against COVID-19 when we fight together.

“These vaccines will go a long way in protecting health workers, who are on the frontline, and need all the protection they can get at this critical moment, hence the prioritisation of their vaccinations.”

Expanding on the power of partnership and collaboration, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said: “I thank the Nigerian government and the African Union for the opportunity they granted MTN to collaborate and contribute towards the delivery of these vaccines.

“The ongoing threat of COVID-19 requires a vast and accelerated effort by both the private and public sectors.

“Partnerships like this practically demonstrate what can be achieved when we work together for Africa’s (and indeed Nigeria’s) progress.

“We are truly privileged to have been able to play our part in contributing to the government’s efforts to protect and save lives.”

At the start of the pandemic, MTN Nigeria collaborated with the government to curb the spread of the virus, in large part via the introduction of MTN’s Y’ello Hope platform.

Y’ello Hope encompasses a broad range of interventions and programmes valued at approximately N25 billion, which are designed to offer relief where it is needed most.

Through Y’ello Hope, the company provided free-to-access services (including SMS and data) to the most vulnerable, facilitated zero-rated access to healthcare websites, deployed the ‘Wear-it-for-me’ campaign to help create awareness around the importance of wearing masks, and made a N1 billion donation to the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

In addition, the MTN Foundation delivered more than 70,000 pieces of essential Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

A Youth Movement on Twitter, Arise Nigerian Youths has revealed that the autopsy conducted on Ifeoma Abugu, a corps member killed by members of the Nigeria Police Force in September 2020, showed that she was strangulated.

The group further stated that the autopsy also showed that Abugu's private parts were heavily mutilated.


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In a post on their Twitter page, the group urged all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight to get justice for Abugu.

The tweet read, “Do you remember Miss Ifeoma Abugu of Abuja NYSC who was killed by Police in Sept 2020?

“The recent autopsy report revealed she died of strangulation and her private parts were heavily mutilated too, by the police. Please retweet as we seek justice for Ifeoma.

“Last year, in defence to cover this sinister act, the Abuja Police HQ released a statement saying she died of drug abuse but the autopsy reported the opposite. Ifeoma will not die in vain.

“The judicial panel has ordered the police to release her remains for final interment. We are calling on Nigerians to join us in seeking justice for her please."

A graduate of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, Abugu had just her introduction ceremony with her fiance — as a precursor to their wedding.

Twenty-eight-year-old Abugu had just finished the mandatory one-year National Youth Service when she travelled to Abuja, to visit her fiance, Ugwuna.

At her fiance’s residence in Wumba village, Lokogoma, some operatives of the now-defunct police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) reportedly stormed the house, looking for Ugwuna.

But when they could not find their target, Ifeoma was arrested in place of her fiance. Efforts by her loved ones to get her out of police custody on the same day were not successful and the next day, she was announced dead. The officers claimed that Ifeoma had a cocaine overdose.

Ifeoma’s brother, Alex, said when they saw her corpse, “there were signs that she was sexually assaulted”.

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Legislative activities were grounded at the Ogun House of Assembly on Tuesday as the state chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) joined their counterparts nationwide on an indefinite strike.

The indefinite strike was due to failure of government to implement financial autonomy for legislature as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

Addressing newsmen at the assembly complex, Mr James Obanla, the State Chairman of PASAN, said that the assembly staff had joined the strike as directed by the national body.

Obanla said that all activities at the assembly complex would be grounded indefinitely.

He explained that several notices had been issued to the government on the need to implement the financial autonomy signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, but without any action.

Sunday Mbang, Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, passed a blistering verdict on President Muhammadu Buhari, casting aspersions on his intellectual ability to rule Nigeria.

Mr. Buhari, during his tenure as a military dictator, was seen by many as a figurehead, while his deputy, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, was considered the brainpower of his brutal regime.

On Sunday, Mr. Mbang re-echoed the sentiment.

“You know there is always the argument that he (Muhammadu Buhari) is not the one ruling. They have not solved that problem. The first problem was whether he had the certificate or not. That one came and went; we don’t know the beginning or the end of it. So, these are the areas that you have to find out. Does he have the certificate or the capability to rule? That one we don’t know.

“If he does not have the certificate, how will he have the capability of being an administrator because administration involves a lot of things? Then they say he is not the one ruling. Have we solved that problem? I hear it, and Nigerians always hear it. I know that when Buhari was head of state, it was the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon that was ruling the country.

“We, Christians, never successfully had a meeting with him (Buhari). We would book a meeting, and he would send Major General Magodo to come and meet with us. One day, I asked Magodo, ‘What is going on? Is the man afraid of us?’ the cleric said in an interview with Punch on Sunday.

He then listed names of previous heads of state whom he believed had a “brain” to rule the country. When he got to Mr. Buhari, he expressed his reservations.

Mr. Mbang explained further, “When I sat with the late Gen. Sani Abacha, I knew Abacha had the brain. It was his rascality and the evil around him that caused his problems. But does this man (Mr. Buhari) have the brain to run this country? You know his wife said other people are running the country. I am not the one who said it o! The wife said it. And it happened that, all of a sudden, the wife ran to London and when they were talking of marrying another wife, she ran back.

“These are the stories I hear. I don’t know whether they are true or not. When I sit with Obasanjo, I know he has the brain. Ibrahim Babangida has the brain, but his own was how he used it. I was also very close to Abdulsalami Abubakar. He too has the brain, then he has a wife who is a judge.

“So when we have such people as leaders, you will understand what they should do. But here, we have a leader whom his wife does not understand.”

The 85-year-old cleric also repeated what critics of Mr. Buhari’s regime have always claimed.

“People have said Nigeria is a failed state, but I don’t know to what extent Nigeria has failed. However, when you see the things happening in the country, you begin to wonder whether we still have anything called security forces. I mean, there is no day that I don’t hear about somebody being killed almost every day,” he pointed out.

However, Mr. Mbang did not hesitate to blame Nigerians for the problems in the country. According to him, corrupt people have been allowed to run amok in the corridors of power.

“Nigeria is God’s country. God always wants His country to be great. We are the ones that don’t want this country to be great,” the cleric said.

“I have lived in this country during the colonial days; I was involved in independence. The country started to do well, but we have very dangerous politicians who have taken us many years back. A lot of them are corrupt. When we look at the government, most of those corrupt politicians are in the ruling party. We embrace them and offer them the best areas, so how can corruption stop?”

The Presidency cabal has rejected Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi’s 2023 presidential ambition and they are scheming to ensure that Fayemi is silenced or at least distracted from the race.

Fayemi, who is also the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s chairman and whose tenure ends in 2022, has been nursing a presidential ambition, as talks of a southern presidency gather weight ahead of 2023.

SaharaReporters learnt, however, that President Muhammadu Buhari's loyalists in Aso Villa have rejected Fayemi and they plan to silence him as they believe they have done to former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“They (the cabal) have set up Babafemi Ojudu to ensure that Fayemi is wrestled to the ground over his ambition. They stated that apart from Malami, another candidate who can be considered is Mai Mala Buni (Yobe State Governor) but Fayemi was rejected,” a top source revealed.

Ojudu is the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, also from Ekiti State and at 59, he is three years older than Fayemi.

“The plan is to first weaken Fayemi at home which is Ekiti and that will play out in the 2022 state governorship election as his candidate may not win the election or even emerge,” the source continued.

Already, Ojudu is leading an APC factional crisis against Fayemi in Ekiti State, which sources revealed, is part of the grand plot to weaken Fayemi, another South-West potential candidate for 2023.

Since last year, Ekiti APC has been in a crisis with the suspension of Fayemi from the party in September 2020 by a faction loyal to Ojudu and former Minister, Dayo Adeyeye, over anti-party activities.

In February 2021 also, Ojudu stated in a veiled reference to Fayemi that the APC would resist any form of imposition of a candidate on party’s members ahead of the 2022 governorship election in the state.

Ojudu, who is also eyeing the Ekiti governorship seat, noted that although it was too early for him to declare interest in the coveted seat, no one would be allowed to foist a surrogate governor on the people of the state.

“I can assure you that there will be no imposition. Anybody who is a member of our party would be free to contest the primary. We will allow democratic process to take place.

“But we don’t want somebody who is a stranger or a houseboy in our party to be imposed as governor,” he had said.

Ojudu had also boasted that Fayemi could not expel him from the party, despite their political differences.

“Let me tell you this, I don’t have any crisis with the governor, but I have differences with him. In political situations, differences are allowed, groups are allowed. I may not belong to Fayemi’s group, but I am a member of the party, he is also a member. I cannot chase him away from the party, neither can he chase me away from the party. Every member of our party is qualified to do the revalidation,” he had stated.

The Oodua Peoples Congress says three of its operatives detained by the Oyo State Police Command are still in the state and not moved to Abuja as reported in some section of the media on Tuesday.

OPC Coordinator in Oyo State, Rotimi Olumo, stated this in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

He said, “Our men are still in police custody here at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Iyaganku, Ibadan. I saw them this afternoon after a meeting with the police. They have not been moved anywhere and we are working on their release.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the OPC, on Sunday, arrested notorious Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakili, accused of terrorising villages in the Ibarapa area of the state.

The OPC later handed over Wakili to the Oyo State Police Command but the police subsequently detained three OPC operatives for allegedly burning down Wakili’s house and killing an unknown woman in the process.

However, the OPC had said the murder and arson allegations were false, adding that it immediately handed over Wakili and three of his accomplices to the police in Igboora after their arrest.

The OPC had called on Yoruba leaders to come to the rescue of its men, saying it is unfortunate that the police resorted to hunting its men after arresting the notorious Fulani warlord while Wakili was moved to the hospital.

Before Wakili’s arrest, farmers and residents of Ayete, Kajola and neighbouring villages in Ibarapaland lived in perpetual fear of Wakili who was accused of displacing them from their farms, kidnapping their rich men and raping their women.

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra have uncovered various amounts of cocaine and heron stashed in the palace of a ruler in Anambra.

Muhammadu Misbahu Idris, the Anambra State Commander of the NDLEA, said 58.5 grams of cocaine and 13.9 grams of heroine were concealed in the palace of the traditional ruler.

“Investigations are on-going to unravel how the illicit drugs were hidden in the palace and the palace security guards are helping in tracing the dealer behind the consignment,” he said.

In the same period, officials also arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Hassan Bishi Taiwo, with three parcels of cocaine in false bottom created in his suitcase.

He was intercepted at the E-arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at the weekend.

Taiwo was arrested after he alighted from an Ethiopian Airlines flight at 1.30m on Friday, the agency’s spokesman Femi Babafemi, said on Monday.

Head of the agency’s command at Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said the suspect came into Lagos from Addis Ababa but actually travelled to Addis Ababa from Abuja.

“Upon a thorough search, we discovered another ticket on him while our findings also show that he has been plying his criminal trade through some Middle East countries,” he said.

In the same vein, narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos have intercepted 500grammes of unaccompanied cocaine going to the United Arab Emirates and concealed inside the walls of packed cartons containing clothes.

Babafemi said the operatives also intercepted in another courier firm one kilogram of cannabis concealed in cream bottles going to UAE while 500grammes of ketamine hidden in artefacts and going to the US was also recovered from the same company in Lagos.

“Equally, another 480grammes of unaccompanied methamphetamine going to China was recovered from the same courier company,” he said.

Speaking on the developments, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the commanders, men and officers involved in the operations for their vigilance and charged them to continue with the vigour the offensive action maxim of the new leadership of the lead anti-drug agency.

According to Captain Christopher Singo of the Hawks in Free State, the 23-year-old woman told them that she met the man when he professed his love for her, asking her to be his girlfriend

Free State police have arrested a Nigerian man for allegedly holding a woman hostage and coercing her into sex work.

The woman only managed to escape after telling one of her clients the story of how she ended up doing sex work. The man then gave her money and helped her escape.

The suspect, Justice Lyke Ikachuku, 37, was then arrested and charged with human trafficking.

According to Captain Christopher Singo of the Hawks in Free State, the 23-year-old woman told them that she met the man when he professed his love for her, asking her to be his girlfriend, IOL reports.

"Ikachuku promised the victim a hair salon and a music studio.

"She indicated that they went together to his place the same day they met.

"He then coerced the victim to work as a sex slave. On several occasions, Ikachuku booked the victim in various guesthouses to meet clients. Ikachuku then collected the money that she received for sexual exploitation.

"She was kept hostage from December 4 last year until February when she was assisted in escaping by a client. She managed to escape after one of the clients gave her R350 to run away. She then ran to the police where a case was opened and reported to the Hawk's Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further probing, which led to the arrest of Ikachuku on Friday, February 26," Singo said.

Ikachuku appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on March 1. He was expected back in court on March 8 for a bail application.

From Fred Itua, Abuja

There is growing tension in the National Assembly over alleged illegal and lopsided promotion of over 150 staff without recourse to the public service rule.

The tension, Daily Sun learnt, might lead to protest soon if the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) failed to act.

According to documents seen by Daily Sun, the said promotion was done in August, 2017, when Adamu Fika held sway as chairman of NASC. In one of the memos addressed to the former clerk to the National Assembly, Sanni Omolori by Fika, he admitted that the action the commission took in addressing the issue of proper placements was against the public service rule.

It was learnt that some of those promoted bypassed some steps in the service and were promoted ahead of their contemporaries.
The development led to series of protests by aggrieved staff, who are insisting that the action must be reversed by the new Commission, which came on stream last year.

The protesting staff are also demanding that federal character principles must be followed in the promotion of staff. They argued that the alleged illegal promotion carried out by Fika-led NASC favoured his section of the country.

Part of the letter read: “In order to redress the situation and also ensure equity, justice and fairness, the Commission has over the past two years looked into cases presented by various staff and approved the adjustments of the appointment of some officers’ in the National Assembly Service.

“With effect from 24th of August, 2017, the National Assembly Service Commission shall not entertain any requests for proper placement as it doesn’t exist in the public service, please.”

After series of protests, Daily Sun gathered that Ahmed Amashi-led NASC may review some of the promotions and placements which did not follow the public service rules. If the Commission goes ahead to review the exercise, over 100 staff are expected to be affected.

A source in the office of the chairman said the move was necessary to guide against bad blood in the service and unnecessarily place those undeserving above their peers. The source said staff already shortlisted for possible demotion are scouting for top traditional rulers from the North to prevail on Amshi to halt the move.

He said the action ought to have been taken months before now but explained that pressure is growing by the day to halt move, which many stakeholders in the National Assembly are rooting for.

“If the Commission fails to act, we should expect some consequences. Staff are angry and they’re waiting to see if the Commission will act or do otherwise before we will begin to see documents flying around,” the source added.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has threatened to name those benefitting from the perennial traffic gridlock and disorderliness experienced along the Apapa corridor in the state.

Sanwo-Olu stated this on Wednesday in Lagos while commending the Nigerian Ports Authority for the new E-Call Up system for trucks going to the ports.

The Apapa area of the state is notorious for chaos over the haphazard operations of container-laden trucks around the seaports.

At an event in Lagos today, the governor said, “We will name and shame them. We will bring out their names, be it a corporate organisation, be it a company, be it a Lagos State officer, be it a police officer, whoever it is, be it a union that will say that the solution that we have brought about will not work.

“They will go and answer to the citizen of Nigeria and the citizen of Lagos State and the citizen of Nigeria. We will bring them to the public courts for them to see that we are about seriousness; we cannot condone the recklessness and the carelessness that our citizens have gone through.

“And I want to use this opportunity to commend the Management of NPA because they have worked with us on this agenda. So, my challenge is to others who have not signed on to this wonderful column system.”

NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman, had assured port users that e-call up system would address irresponsible parking of trucks on port access roads in Apapa.

The e-call up system was designed for the management of truck movement and access to and from the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports, Apapa.

The Apapa corridor had been a nightmare for road users and Sanwo-Olu had last year said the Lagos State Government had started the process of taking over the operations of the Presidential Task Force on Port Decongestion that had been managing the traffic gridlock in the area.