₦airaland Forum

Operatives of Kano State Police Command have taken over the security of the main palace of the Emir of Kano, displacing local hunters who had been guarding the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, since his return to the palace.

The local hunters, popularly known as ‘Yan Tauri,’ were earlier deployed to the palace en masse last month following rumours that federal authorities were planning to forcefully return the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, to the main palace and sack Sanusi II.

However, on Sunday evening, a team of security agents cleared out the hunters and assumed control of the palace’s security.

Meanwhile, the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, remains under the protection of security agents at the Nasarawa mini palace. Despite an eviction notice issued by the Kano State government after a vague court ruling by Justice Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano last Thursday, both palaces have continued their traditional activities without interruption.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, SP Haruna Kiyawa, was yet to comment on what prompted the sudden change in security arrangements at the main palace where Emir Sanusi II is calling shots.

The ongoing standoff between the two gladiators has drawn significant attention to the Kano Emirate throne.

edian:
Na Obi go dump them or Labour Party ?

Even if this Obi register a brand new party. His new party will still produce a governor and lawmakers without rigging. Something wey we never see for this country before. Without rigging or financial power

The Labour Party Directorate on Mobilization and Integration has denied any plan to dump Peter Obi as the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2027 election.

The Directorate was reacting to the story on the social media which said that they had reconciled with the Apapa-led faction of the party where they agreed to field another candidate in the 2027 presidential election.

The rebuttal was contained in a statement signed by the Director General of the Directorate, Marcel Ngogbehei, the Deputy Director Media and Communications, Aju Elumelu and the Deputy Director, Strategic Engagement, Sheikh Rufai Al-Saddiq.

Ngogbehei acknowledged that there are efforts to reconcile aggrieved groups in the party, but no agreement had been reached ahead of the 2027 election with the groups.

“The Leadership and members of our great Party recognises the importance of this great admonition based on our African culture of ensuring peaceful coexistent among Brothers and acknowledging the fact that there’s a bigger target – liberating Nigeria from the shackles of greedy politicians and building a Nation that protects the interest of its citizens.

“The Party has decided to follow a peaceful approach to resolving the internal misunderstanding.

“This effort within the Labour Party and its successes has elicited different reactions; and also, we have seen an attempt by the opposition to make a false spin for their own selfish interest, misinforming the general public with the aim of causing more crisis in our Party.

“For the records, this Directorate was setup to facilitate reconciliation and help mobilize and integrate Labour Party stakeholders toward electoral victory for our Presidential Candidate H.E Peter Obi come 2027.

“The Party Leadership recognised the need for unity and cohesion within the Party as a requirement for internal party stability and improving the winning chances of H.E Peter Obi in the coming 2027 elections.

“We have reached out through various channels to different stakeholders and discussions are still ongoing on various fronts; and we are also making great successes in this endeavour.

“To misconstrue this effort as against our presidential candidate is unfortunate and we can’t help those with this mindset. But to set the records straight, HE Peter Obi remains our Presidential Candidate for 2027 as ratified and all the Party Leadership are behind him and committed to his message of a New Nigeria.”

Saudi Arabia’s official death toll from this year’s Hajj exercise has reached 1,301, with extreme heat and unauthorised trips cited as major contributing factors.

The Saudi government released a statement acknowledging “numerous cases” of heat stress and highlighting that 83% of the deceased were “unauthorized to perform Hajj.” The affected pilgrims, the statement claimed, “walked long distances under direct sunlight, without adequate shelter or comfort.”

2 Kwara Pilgrims Die In Saudi Arabia, Board Mourns

The scorching temperatures in Mecca, with highs exceeding 125 degrees Fahrenheit, have been a major concern throughout the pilgrimage. Witnesses reported pilgrims collapsing from heat exhaustion and bodies covered in white cloth lining walkways.

Adding to the dangers, Saudi Arabia pointed to a surge in unauthorised pilgrimages. Hajj permits are allocated by country quota and require a license for legal entry to Mecca. These licences, however, can cost several thousand dollars, leading some pilgrims to seek alternative, often dangerous routes.

Egyptian authorities recently revoked licences of 16 tourism companies accuced of facilitating illegal trips. Reports suggest hundreds of Egyptians may be among the deceased, far exceeding the official toll of 31. The companies, according to the Egyptian government, failed to provide proper visas, forcing pilgrims onto treacherous desert paths and leaving them exposed to the brutal heat.

Beyond the immediate tragedy, the disaster has sparked renewed calls for improved infrastructure and better organisation of the annual Hajj. Critics point out that even with official permits, pilgrims still spend a significant amount of time outdoors under the scorching sun.

Nigeria has recorded a commercial transaction of raw gold sales at the London Bullion Market Association, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake disclosed on Sunday.

He said the sales have delivered a $5m increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, 70 plus kilograms of gold refined to the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard and successful aggregation of locally mined gold thereby injecting about N6bn into the rural economy.

Alake disclosed this while presenting the latest gold bar sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by the Solid Minerals Development Fund to President Bola Tinubu during the weekend.

The minister in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said the refined gold would be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria to bolster foreign reserves.

Nigeria reportedly has about 600,000 tonnes of gold reserves, worth about $45bn located in several states including Zamfara, Edo.

However, the upsurge of illegal mining has led to a notable diversion of the nation’s commonwealth into the hands of private individuals, thereby diminishing resources intended for public benefit.

Three years ago, former president Muhammadu Buhari declared Zamfara State a ‘no-fly zone’ as part of efforts to curb the problem of illegal gold mining.

At the event, Alake commended Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the National Gold Purchase programme will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value.

Explaining to President Tinubu the significance of the event, Alake said it marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program, the centralised offtake scheme supported by a decentralised aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.

He said, “The successful completion of the first commercial transaction demonstrates the National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness. It has increased the nation’s foreign reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy. This transaction has also underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and monetary stability.”

Receiving and displaying a symbolic bar, Tinubu commended the Ministry for achieving a major milestone in the administration’s drive to diversify the economy.

“This is another concrete step towards the diversification process under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the President said.

In her presentation, the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatimah Shinkafi said the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard is the globally recognised stringent and trusted standard that enables the global trade in gold and silver bars.

“Only gold and silver bars that meet our Good Delivery standards are acceptable in the settlement of a Loco London contract – where the bullion traded is physically held in London” she said.

Shinkafi said, that through the efforts of the National Gold Purchase Program under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria has joined a select group of countries bolstering their gold reserves by purchasing gold in local currency to foster economic confidence, enhance currency stability, and create a more attractive environment for foreign investment.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has rejected a bill that seeks to establish a national agency for the regulation and management of ranches in Nigeria.

Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, MACBAN president, announced his opposition to the bill at the weekend.

Ngelzarma said pastoralists were looking for the creation of a pool-blown Federal Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries instead of the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches.

Daily Trust gathered that a bill for an act to ban open grazing and establish ranches as an antidote for the perennial clashes between sedentary farmers and nomadic herders in Nigeria scaled second reading after a slightly heated debate in the Senate.

But speaking with newsmen in Damaturu, Yobe capital, during an interview with newsmen shortly after the inauguration of the state Executive Council of the Association, he said by the creation of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, ‘‘the entire livestock value chain issues can be addressed holistically rather than what is going on now at the National Assembly, working to create a bill for Animal Husbandry or Ranching.

According to him, ‘‘Ranching is just an aspect of livestock instead of going for ranching why can’t the president create a pool-blown ministry for livestock so that all the value chain related to livestock issues can be addressed holistically by that ministry?

‘‘Issues of production, processing, marketing, transportation even security related issues can be addressed if there is a ministry dedicated for that purpose’’ He said.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the Livestock Reforms and Mitigation Committee headed by the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, set up to seek a lasting solution to the perennial farmers-herders conflict in rural areas.

‘‘We submitted the Jega’s report on Livestock Reform and Mitigation sometime last year, we are looking forward for the President to establish the implementation committee so that implementation of that report starts inanest’’ he said.

‘‘Major requirement of that report is the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries so that livestock-related issues can be given due attention.’’

The presidency has called on Nigerians to embrace subsistence farming to address the challenge of rising cost of food.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, made the call at a meeting with a group of online editors, under the aegis of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) in Abuja.

A statement on the meeting was made available to newsmen by ACOE’s Chairman, Mr Martins Odiete, on Saturday in Abuja.

“In 1976, former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation,’ promoting farming.

“In 1984, when former President Muhammadu Buhari came in, there were shortages of rice, milk, and sugar, and the government had to open warehouses to make these items available to people.

“This is not the first time we are going through this kind of crisis.

“The government is investing in agriculture to make things available and affordable, and as individuals, we also have a role to play,” he said.

Onanuga acknowledged that, things were not working as President Bola Tinubu’ wanted.

He, however assured that in the next twelve months, Nigerians will begin to see the results of the government’s efforts for the country’s benefit.

“Though people complain about hardship, I told the BBC that cost of living crises exist globally.

“Maybe what is happening in the world is a cycle, and countries will have to go through certain difficulties.

“We are going through it, but this government is making serious efforts to reduce the hardships faced by our people,” he said.

Onanuga assured the association of robust relationship towards dissemination of news in line with global best practices.

Earlier, Odiete emphasised the importance of partnership with the presidential media team, at a time Nigerians are eager for essential information from their government.

“In an age where information flows ceaselessly across digital platforms, this partnership is pivotal for ensuring accurate, responsible and effective dissemination of news and information.

“By working together, we can ensure that the information reaching the public serves the greater good of society,” he said.

Odiete, who thanked Onanuga for the meeting, noted that members of the association were thoroughly screened to avoid admitting the wrong persons.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday, declared that its militia arm, Eastern Security Network, ESN, doesn’t engage in kidnapping or ransom demand.

IPOB said the claims by a group in Taraba that ESN operatives kidnapped some people and demanded N20 million ransom was false.

A statement by Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB, reads: “On June 13th, 2024, the public, especially Biafrans, were alarmed over the viral videos of the foreign and local Fulani terrorists in Biafraland with various charms and weapons in the middle of the night who were intercepted by the gallant ESN operatives.

“These Fulani terrorists confessed that they were sent to camp in a certain location in Biafraland. They confessed that some of the terrorists are already on ground in Biafraland while others will also arrive soon.

“Their mission is to destabilize Biafraland. After ESN Operatives interrogated the terrorists, they were given the appropriate treatment that they deserved and were dislodged from carrying out their attack in Biafraland.

“The so-called Taraba indigenes should look for their terrorist brothers in one of the forests in the North. They have been dislodged from Biafraland and sent back where they came from. The terrorists are not in the custody of ESN.

“The purported news that some Taraba indigenes said that ESN killed three of their brothers and demanded N20 million ransom to release the remaining nine is false. The so-called Taraba indigenes claimed that the men that ESN intercepted in the middle of the night of June 12th, 2024, were fishermen.”

Powerful described ESN operatives as well-trained and disciplined vigilantes with mandates to dislodge marauding Fulani terrorists from the Biafra territory.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s total public debt has reached N121.67 trillion within three months.

This figure represents an increase of N24.33 trillion or 24.99 percent from the N97.34 trillion as of December 2023.

Nigeria’s public debt profile consists of domestic and external debt stocks of the federal and subnational governments — the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

According to the DMO, the increase was primarily due to new domestic borrowing by the federal government to partly fund the deficit in the 2024 budget as well as disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.

"Total domestic debt was N65.65 trillion (USD46.29 billion) while total external debt was N56.02 trillion (USD42.12 billion).

“Excluding naira exchange rate movements in Q1 2024, only the domestic debt component of total public debt grew from N59.12 trillion on December 31, 2023, to N65.65 trillion on March 31, 2024.

“The increase was from new borrowing to part-finance the 2024 Budget deficit and securitization of a portion of the N7.3 trillion Ways and Means Advances at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

"Whilst borrowing, as provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act, will continue, we expect improvements in the government’s revenue to enhance debt sustainability.”

On June 13, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced the approval of two major “financial support packages” by the World Bank — valued at $2.25 billion.

In May, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said the federal government has secured a $500m World Bank loan to boost electricity distribution in the country.

Prior to this, the federal government had received $750 million from the World Bank for humanitarian and social reforms and $1.5 billion for its economic stabilisation plan.

THE Federal Government has revealed that it has in the last one year uncovered 1,618 officers in the Civil Service with illegal and fake employment letters and have been deleted them from the Integration Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, during a media parley organized as part of programmes marking the 2024 Civil Service Week, with a theme: Education an African fit for the 21s Century: Building Resilient Education System for Increased Access to Inclusive Longlife, Quality and relevant Learning in Africa.

She disclosed that through physical verification conducted by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government, the once over-bloated federal civil service has now been brought down from over 100,000 to 69,308 who have been verified and are on the payroll.

Yemi-Esan revealed that apart from the ghost workers who were parading fake employment letters, there was also the issue of some civil servants who “japa” for greener pastures in overseas that were caught napping during the physical verification exercise.

According to her, some of them who came into the country for the verification exercise like one or two weeks after the exercise had been conducted under the pretext that they were not aware of the scheduled physical verification exercise, were graciously given two weeks to appear for the verification exercise.

Curiously, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, said instead of waiting for the two weeks in addition to the days they had already spent in Nigeria, “a lot of them tendered their resignation letters because no UK organization would afford to give two additional weeks in the country to perfect the verification process.

On the issue of endemic corruption in the public service, Yemi-Esan said her office has been working in synergy with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in ensuring that underhand dealings were eliminated from the system.

She also spoke on the efforts to reposition the Federal Civil Service for optimum and quality service to Nigerians, while expressing confidence that by the end of 2025, the entire service would be fully digitized.

Yemi-Esan disclosed that significant progress has made by the current administration to transform and digitize work processes.

“From the service wide perspective, all MDAs, all other ministries are also running with the digitalization programme and there are different stages of implementation, but they have a mandate for all to achieve full migration by the end of 2025,” she said.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has said that the withdrawal of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission Force and the 2000 Chadian troops from Mali as well as troops of Republic of Niger from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is a security threat to Nigeria and the entire Sahel Region.

He also said that the upsurge in coup d’etat in the West African sub-region as well as the withdrawal of some nations from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have negative impacts on the collective regional security architecture of the region.

The air chief said these security situations had caused the influx of more weapons and terrorists into Nigeria.

Abubakar spoke during his meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, Directors, Commandants and Commanders at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

The meeting was aimed at revisiting NAF’s set objectives in line with the CAS command philosophy and key enablers, discuss performance and achievements and identify challenges.

A statement by NAF’ spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, quoted the Air Marshal Abubakar as saying that “these security situations had necessitated the need for the NAF and other security agencies to be proactive and intensify efforts at meeting the Federal Government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualization of a peaceful, safe and secure nation for prosperity to thrive.”
The air chief noted that despite these threats, the NAF has, in the last 12 months, re-strategized and adopted new air power measures to enhance the gains against identified threats.

He said these strategic measures had led to modest and significant progress in various operational areas, including the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.

The CAS said despite NAF’s achievements, the prevailing economic challenges, such as high youth unemployment, increasing inflation, and multidimensional poverty, have exacerbated the security situation, which he said had made it “imperative for the NAF to continuously adapt and improve.”

Abubakar commended the efforts of NAF personnel and expressed gratitude for their support since he assumed office.

He said: “The NAF, so far, has achieved modest yet significant progress in fighting insurgency, terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and other criminal activities in the country.

“Therefore, I wish to use this opportunity to commend you all for your efforts. I also sincerely thank you for your support over the last 12 months since my assumption of office.”

The Labour Party has expressed its disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s statement which it described as making a mockery of Nigerians as poor.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who said this added that the President needed to be reminded that he was elected into office to reduce if not eliminate poverty and not increase it.

He was reacting to President Tinubu’s statement that Nigerians were not the only ones suffering from poverty.

According to him: “We are disappointed but not surprised by the comments made by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu about the excruciating poverty his administration’s policies have unleashed on Nigerians since he took office over a year ago.

“It was to say the least disheartening to hear Mr. President mock his citizens by saying Nigerians are not the only ones facing poverty.

“Assuming but not conceding that what he said is true, Nigerians who are at the receiving end of his harsh economic policies don’t need to be reminded about the pain and hunger they have been forced to live with by the very people who put them in that situation in the first place.

“May be this administration needs to be reminded that it was elected to reduce if not eliminate poverty, hunger and disease but what we have seen is an obsession with opulence.

“We are yet to get over the billions appropriated for the renovation of the President and Vice President’s lodges, now we hear they want new jets to join the Presidential fleet.”

He said the nation’s schools and health institutions were on their knees and the same government claims it cannot afford to pay public servants a living wage but has enough to make itself comfortable at the expense of the suffering masses.

He implored the President to uphold the constitution he swore to protect, adding that the constitution says the security and welfare of the populace shall be the primary purpose of the existence of the government.

Amid the political crisis in Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara on Monday declared that he fears nothing because God is on his side.

Fubara said even though his detractors would gather and plan against him, such moves would end in futility.

The governor had been at loggerheads with his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara spoke during a Sallah solidarity visit by a delegation led by the Vice President General and Chairman, Association of South-South Muslim Ummah of Nigeria, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, to the Government House in Port Harcourt.

He said: “It is a difficult system but one with God is one with the majority. So, when you have God around, you need to fear nothing. They will plan, they will gather, but their gathering, at the end of the day, will be to your own glory.

“So, I can say boldly that God has been very faithful to us against the expectations of a lot of people. He’s been guiding us, holding us forth, and we can boldly beat our chest to say: so far, we have shown that we are a responsible government.

“We have shown that we mean well for Rivers people. We have shown that this is not just a government that merely wants to control: it is a government resolved to give everybody opportunity, a government that allows you to feel free, and operate within the laws. That is the only way we can move from where we are to a higher pedestal.”

An unspecified number of bandits have attacked the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Command in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.

DAILY POST gathered that the assailants invaded the Command’s headquarters in the early hours of Monday amid sporadic gunshots.

Operatives of the Command, however, repelled the attack by opening fire on the hoodlums, leading to a gun duel.

It was gathered that the terrorists were on a mission to free some high-profile suspected criminals in the custody of the Command.

According to the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Jerry Victor, the bandits invaded the Command’s headquarters with sophisticated weapons.

He said the gunmen attempted to break some part of the fence to gain entry into the offices while some of them took different positions around the building.

“The operatives of the NSCDC swiftly responded by opening fire on the hoodlums whose mission was to release some high-profile suspected criminals, including informants of kidnappers in the custody of the Command.”

He also confirmed that no casualty was recorded during the gun battle between the gunmen and the NSCDC operatives.

I so much love this Tinubu effect because, it is a respecter of nobody; be you a card carrying BATist or not, e go carry you up well-well and throw you inside poto-poto with full force.

Tinubu, after You na YOU jare

Some Nigerians living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed worry over the continuous increase in the prices of foodstuffs and other commodities this Eid-el Kabir festive season.

A visit to some markets in Abuja and its environs showed that the prices of goods have continued to rise.

Some respondents told journalists at Dutse Market in Bwari Area Council that meeting their family needs was becoming increasingly difficult due to lean resources.

Mohammed Rabiu, a buyer, said it was unfortunate that he could not afford the feeding needs of his family due to the high price of food items.

Mr Rabiu pleaded for government intervention by using relevant instruments and institutions to lower the cost of goods.

“A lot of people are ceasing the economic situation to dupe others and blame it on fuel subsidy removal.

“I witnessed how somebody will keep what she bought previously at a certain amount but refuse to sell those items.

“Let the government monitor the market to control the prices of goods. This will help a lot in curtailing the rising cost of things,’’ he said.

Similarly, when asked how she was coping with the economy, Amina Bawa, another buyer, said, “When I hear prices of foodstuffs, I feel like committing suicide. But I can’t because it is not a good thing to do.

“I can’t remember the last time I ate to my satisfaction; I only eat to survive,” she said.

Another respondent, Idris Bello, urged government agencies to see the need for a regulatory system in the country to avoid the unnecessary hike in food items and all goods and services.

However, a vegetable seller, Mallam Yahaya, said, “I am just trying to find happiness in my business since I don’t want to be idle. Making a profit in this business is now a herculean task.”

Another petty trader, Hajiya Hassana, told journalists that the prices of foodstuffs were now determined by what wholesalers sell to retailers.

“I know some buyers may blame us because they don’t know how we get these goods from the wholesalers; the challenge is transporting them to the market.

“It has not been like this before; things just changed automatically since the removal of the fuel subsidy,” she said.

Nevertheless, Ms Hassana said she was trying to satisfy her customers and ensure she made some gains.

Mynd44 Nldpmod

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has revealed that drug barons are increasingly recruiting customs officers and officials of bonded terminals into their drug trafficking operations to evade security checks.

Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS had made significant progress in identifying such corrupt elements within and outside the service who facilitated the movement of drug consignments without proper examination.

Speaking at an event showcasing a major drug seizure at the Tin-Can Port, Adeniyi emphasised that those involved would face severe legal consequences.

During the weekend, Adeniyi displayed approximately N4.2bn worth of seized hemp, highlighting that the NCS was intensifying its scrutiny on the activities of “unscrupulous customs officers” to eliminate them from the system, noting that some indicted officers were found to be collaborating with bonded terminal operators to expedite the clearance of drug shipments.

He said, “I assure you that the service will soon name, shame and arrest those involved. The modus operandi of the syndicate involves moving imported containers from the port on transit without proper examination, diverting them to private premises instead of bonded warehouses.”

He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of sister agencies, particularly the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in combating drug trafficking.

The 5,937 soldiers that recently passed out from the Depot will be deployed to fight banditry, cattle rustling and related crimes, the Chief of Army of Staff (COAS), Taoreed Lagbaja, has said.

Mr Lagbaja disclosed this during the passing out parade for the 86 regular recruit intake of the Depot Nigeria Army, in Zaria, on Saturday.

The army chief, who was the special guest of honour and reviewing officer for the passing out parade, added that the new men would form part of the solution to numerous security challenges bedevilling the country.

“The fresh products passing out today will form part of the solution to the challenge of insurgency in the North-east, banditry and cattle rustling in the North-west.

“They will fight the farmers/herders clashes in the North-central, secessionist agitation and cultism in the South-east, militancy and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure in the South-south and South-west,” he said

Mr Lagbaja noted that training was a continuous process in the military, adding that the Nigeria Army has put in place post-depot training packages to help the soldiers master the array of weapons and equipment.

This, according to him, will enable the soldiers to become more efficient in the art of war.

He said that the army was improving on the existing welfare packages to enable the soldiers cater for their medical, recreational and educational needs to ease career fulfillment.

While congratulating the 5,937 recruits, the COAS said that the life of a soldier was a life of sacrifice to his country, allegiance to defend and, if need be, sacrifice his life for the people.

“Sacrifice to go wherever you are ordered to, by land, sea or air; sacrifice to relegate personal comfort and assume duty to country as a primary concern,’’ he said.

He said that by becoming a soldier, one had accepted the highest call to duty any Nigerian could take-up.

He added that as soldiers, they had joined the unique league of exceptional Nigerians who had elected to abide by the requirements of exceptional discipline, loyalty, integrity and dedication to duty.

Mr Lagbaja, therefore, charged them not to disappoint the Nigeria Army and the country’s expectations on them.

He commended and congratulated the commandant and instructors of Depot NA for the successful training and graduation of the recruits.

The army boss assured the commandant of the army headquarters support towards realising the training objectives of the institution.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that the country will become self-sufficient in Premium Motor Spirit (Petroleum) production in the next four weeks.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for having the courage to remove the fuel subsidy, assuring that the temporary pains would soon be over.

Akpabio spoke in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, during the one-day South-South APC conference.

He said he had conducted surveillance across many refineries before arriving at his conclusion.

“I went round the Dangote refinery and found out that by this July 2024, Nigeria is about to become self-sufficient in the production of PMS.

“As of today, it produces enough diesel and it’s already exporting to other countries. Same with fertiliser and Urea. So we are getting to that era in the country where we produce what we consume and consume what we produce,” he said.

Akpabio also assured that the ongoing negotiations over acceptable minimum wage will be concluded shortly.

“Very soon we’ll conclude negotiations on minimum wage and Nigerians will be happy for it.

The economy we met was not in good shape at all, I call it a ‘foamy economy.’ Despite that, the President consistently tells me, ‘I cannot complain; I campaigned and danced for this job, so I must do it and I must do it well’,” Akpabio stated.

Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-governor of Edo State, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, has promised to ensure the victory of the party during the September 21 governorship election.

Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, made the remark while inaugurating the party Campaign Council for the election.

“If it requires me (Oshiomhole) to take the role of a sweeper, I am ready to sweep Senator Monday Okpebholo into office as governor.

“Every member and supporter of the APC is a member of our campaign for genuine change under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Titles do not matter, every member is a canvasser, every member of our party must work hard to win their units and wards, local government and state. Move from house to house because neighbour talks to neighbour and would understand.”

According to him, every Edo person who is affected by flood, whose child sit on bare floor in schools should join hands to deliver APC.

“There will be a change at the Osadebe avenue, APC will take over Edo democratically, come September 21, election,” he added

On his part, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, urged party members to resolve their differences and work hard for the victory of the party and de-emphasize the role of money.

Earlier, APC State Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, noted that late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Prof. Ambrose Alli and Comrade Oshiomhole were governors who provided good governance in the state.

According to him, Governor Godwin Obaseki was supposed to continue from where Oshiomhole stopped but failed. He added that the result was flooding Benin witnessed every rainy season.

Jarret expressed confidence that the campaign council led by Senator Urhoghide would work hard to deliver victory to the APC.

One of MKO Abiola’s son, Abdul, on Saturday disclosed that some international and local forces were behind the death of his father.

Abdul also disclosed that these forces were okay with the late Sani Abacha becoming Nigeria’s president.

He explained that Abiola was killed due to some of the policies he wanted to introduce in Nigeria and Africa if he emerged as president.

Abdul disclosed this while featuring on Seun Okinbaloye’s podcast.

According to Abdul: “A team of people worked against Abiola because he had announced that he would declare daily barrels of oil when he becomes president.

“There were a few forces against Abiola and they were okay with Abacha becoming president. Remember Abiola went to America without a passport (remember the famous no passport), he was the only man allowed to enter US without a passport.

“He went to meet Clinton and I’m sure he would have been looking at him like you want to bring democracy to Africa? Democracy is only good for them, but they would impose dictatorship across the world, yet they claim to be the democratic world. It’s a sham.”

MKO Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election which was annulled by former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB.

Organised labour appears to have backed down on its demand for N250,000 as minimum wage.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo said yesterday that there was nothing sacrosanct about the N250,000, adding that labour was receptive to adjustments.

There was no immediate response from the federal government last night on the latest stance of organised labour, although the Senate yesterday pledged to grant accelerated consideration and passage of the new minimum wage bill from President Bola Tinubu.

Only last Wednesday, the acting President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said labour’s demand “remains N250,000, and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position, which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.”

Adeyanju was responding to the Democracy Day broadcast of President Bola Tinubu in which he said an agreement had been reached on the new national minimum wage.

Osifo himself in his first reaction to the FG and OPS agreement on N62,000 as minimum wage penultimate Friday had said “for us (labour), we felt that with the current economic hardship and the difficulty in the land, the sum of N250,000 should be what will be okay as the minimum wage.

But speaking yesterday on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, he said there was “no figure that is sacrosanct; there is no figure that is cast in stone that both parties will be fixated on it.”

He added: “What we said is that for us, when we give figures, there is always a room to meander; there is always a room for us to do some adjustment here and there.

“One of the reasons that we went on industrial action the last time was because when it got to N60,000, they told us that a kobo could not even join the N60,000; that they could not even add one naira to it.

“So that was one of the reasons that led to that industrial action beyond the fact that there were also delays.”

President Tinubu is expected to send an executive bill to the National Assembly on the new minimum wage for legislative action.

The TUC President said that they are not going to pre-empt the President, but they are making all efforts to justify why Tinubu should tilt towards the figure presented by the labour instead of the one by the organised private sector and the government.

He said that if the President sends a figure that is not favourable to the labour to the National Assembly, they will still approach the lawmakers and push them to do much more.

Osifo vowed that the work of the labour leaders will not end until the Minimum Wage Act 2024 becomes law. He said it is premature to predict what labour will do if what is passed is not acceptable to them at the end of the day.

The FG and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) had on Friday, May 31 reached an agreement to pay N62,000 to their least paid worker; an increase of N2,000 on the N60,000 rejected two weeks ago by labour.

The 36 states, which were represented on the Tripartite Committee on the minimum wage, said on the same day that they could not afford to pay even N60,000 while the NLC and the TUC disagreed with government and the OPS.

They said the minimum they would accept was N250,000, which is N244,000 less than the N494,000 they initially demanded.

The Tripartite Committee has already submitted its report and recommendation to the President, who is expected to take a decision on the final figure to be sent by way of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for consideration.

The TUC President said while labour was not disposed to pre-empting the President on his decision, the unions were keen on ensuring that Tinubu tilts toward the figure presented by labour instead of the N62,000 by government and OPS.

He said should the President decide on a figure labour finds unfavourable, it will take its struggle to the lawmakers to convince them for an increase.

He said it was premature to predict labour’s reaction if the action of the executive and the legislature turns out to be unfavourable.

Tinubu, at a state dinner to mark Democracy Day on Wednesday had declared that his planned minimum wage is “what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford.”

He added: “Cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.”

Apart from the state governments which have expressed their inability to pay even the N60,000 which labour had rejected prior to the June 3 and 4 strike, signals from the local governments also suggest that they cannot pay N62,000.

National President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Aminu Muazu-Maifata, said on Thursday that the LGs could not pay that amount.

Muazu-Maifata said some local governments have not even been paying their workers the ₦30,000 approved as minimum wage in 2019.

He said an affordable minimum wage should be set and not something unsustainable.

Senate will give Tinubu’s proposed Bill expeditious passage, says spokesman

Speaking yesterday ahead of the expected arrival of the executive bill on the new minimum wage, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, promised that it would be given accelerated consideration and passage.

But he said it would be subjected to accepted legislative processes.
He spoke to reporters in Abuja.

Adaramodu said the Senate would pass the Bill without compromising on standard legislative procedures in lawmaking.

Asked if the Senate would pass the minimum wage bill like it passed the New National Anthem Bill within a few days, Adaramodu said: “Yes, if immediately after Sallah the Bill is brought by Mr. President to the National Assembly, it’s going to be dealt with at the speed of lightning.

“We are going to pass it because it is for the benefit of Nigerian workers. Even if it is possible within 30 minutes, we will do that.

“But it depends on the content of the Bill because the bill will go through the crucibles of the passage of a bill.

“We are not going to sit down and just say that the Bill has been passed. We will go through the crucibles. So within the time, if there is no opposition from outside, if there is no opposition from within, there can never be opposition from within because it’s going to be a kind of agreement between Labour, government and organised private sector.

“So once that one is there and then it comes to us, we will go through the processes without delay and make sure that Nigerian workers get their deal.”

On whether the Senate would take into consideration the position of the State Governments that they cannot afford to pay the N62,000 proposed by the Federal Government, Adaramodu said: “Since they are all meeting, we know that at the end of the day, all of them will agree on the figure, because when it’s an executive bill, an executive bill means state executive, federal executive and even local government executive.

“So definitely there is going to be an agreement. So once there’s an agreement, the bill will come and I don’t think any of the components of the negotiating bodies will oppose the agreed figure at the end of the day.

“So we don’t have any fear about that. You know when you are negotiating, you negotiate from various parameters and parallels. So at the end of the day, all the lines will converge and meet at a concentric point.

So that’s where we now come in. We come in at the end of the tunnel and then we’ll pick it from there and make it into law so that we can have a better deal for Nigerian workers.”

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called for sober reflection on Nigeria’s democracy and democratisation process as Nigeria marks 2024 Democracy Day and 25 years of unbroken democracy.

The CNG, in a statement by its national coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday, claimed that democracy as it is being practised in Nigeria has failed to provide its dividends to the people after two and a half decades of its practise.

The pro-northern groups contended that despite the nation’s richness in natural and human resources, Nigerians continue to suffer from abject poverty and economic instability, which were not recorded even during military dictatorships.

It said that it is important to note that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the poverty rate in Nigeria stands at an alarming 63%, with over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty.

“Similarly, the NBS disclosed that unemployment has reached a stunning 33.3% in the country, while youth unemployment is at an unprecedented over 50%, leaving young Nigerians devoid of decent jobs or sustainable means of livelihood.

“In the same vein, before returning to democracy, Nigeria’s inflation was just 10%, while now in a free democratic setting, inflation has risen to an all-time high of 33.69%, depleting people’s purchasing power and weakening their standard of living; whereas interest rate has sharply risen from 6.05% in 1999 to 26.25% in 2024, suggesting tighter monetary policy in the midst of high inflation and economic challenges.

“It is on record that the number of out-of-school children has increased from 7.4 million in 1999 to 18.5 million in 2024, highlighting a severe decline in educational accessibility over the past 25 years of our democratic engagements.

“Disgustingly, job racketeering to the highest bidder, inflating contracts, and kickback collection by political elites and senior civil servants have irrevocably decayed our civil service at all levels, resulting in the destruction of the fabric of Nigeria as a country with a lot of potential,” it said.

The CNG argued that these economic challenges are a direct result of years of mismanagement, corruption, and lack of genuine commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy by those who have sworn by the holy scriptures to promote good governance.

It said that unfortunately, over the years, the Nigerian economy has been bastardized and surrendered to the Bretton Wood institutions of the IMF and World Bank through the removal of subsidies in healthcare, education, energy, etc, adding that consequently, unpatriotic leaders and capitalist-backed technocrats who continued to propagate a free-market economy devoid of government interventions suddenly lose their voices and relevance.

It noted that the minimum wage has drastically decreased in value from the equivalent of $195 in 1981 to only $21.22 today, indicating a substantial erosion of purchasing power and economic hardship for low-income workers.

It also noted that fuel prices have seen a dramatic increase from N20 per liter in 1999 to N701.24 per liter in 2024, reflecting severe inflation and apparent antipeople economic policies from the beneficiaries of democracy since 1999, adding that diesel prices have surged to N1415.06 in 2024, which is significantly higher than in 1999, indicating a steep rise in energy costs.

“It is evident, therefore, that democracy in Nigeria only works for politicians and senior civil servants, while Nigerians continue to languish in poverty and misery.

“Suffice it to say that politicians, senior civil servants, and top defense and security heads have not only cornered the country to serve them but also are deploying their amassed wealth to restrict the dividends of democracy in Nigeria.

“It is regrettable that under democratic dispensation, destitution and pauperization have been deliberately entrenched in Nigeria due to the relegation of our economic planning and strategies to the dictates of capitalist, neoliberal, racist, and imperial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“The CNG observed that the exchange rate of our Naira against the US dollar has depreciated drastically from N84.70 in 1999 to N1,479.69 in 2024, pointing to severe devaluation of the currency; public debt has escalated from around N3 trillion in 1999 to N97.34 trillion in 2024, highlighting a significant increase in the country’s borrowing and debt burden.

“Also, prior to our return to democracy in 1999, oil production has decreased from 2.21 million barrels per day (bpd) to 1.28 million bpd in 2024, indicating a decline in one of our major source of revenue.

“Tragically, according to the United Nations, over 35,000 have been killed in the North East insurgency under the watchful eyes of the leaders that claim to promote democracy. In the same vein, Global Observatory said about 15,000 have been killed in the North West alone.

“Additionally, millions of people, including women and children, have been rendered internally displaced persons (IDPs). This unprecedented catastrophe has been normalized in Nigeria’s democracy,” it said.

The CNG said it is rather despicable that our democracy in Nigeria has been hijacked by a select few who prioritize their personal gain over the collective good of the nation, noting that corruption is endemic, and accountability is almost non-existent, deeply entrenched in our political system.

“As we observe this Democracy Day, the CNG calls on all Nigerians to reflect on the state of our nation and question the effectiveness of our democratic system. It is evident that democracy, in its current form, has failed to deliver on its promises of development, security, and prosperity for all Nigerians, as only a select few politicians and senior civil servants amass questionable wealth while bequeathing depravity to the masses.

“Therefore, as Nigeria marks 25 years of continuous democratic sojourn, we must engage in a candid reflection to domesticate this democracy or design a system that aligns with our tradition, culture, and history, which is capable of providing security, promoting economic development, and fostering true people’s participation,” it said.

Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, has announced the approval of two major “financial support packages” by the World Bank — valued at $2.25 billion.

According to a statement on Thursday, this is part of President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy, reposition it for sustained and inclusive growth, and provide urgent support to the poor and vulnerable.

The statement was signed by Mohammed Manga, the ministry’s director of information and public relations.

“The approved operations include $1.5 billion for the Nigeria Reforms for Economic Stabilization to Enable Transformation (RESET) Development Policy Financing Program (DPF) and $750 million for the Nigeria Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) Program-for-Results (PforR),” the statement reads.

"The combined total of $2.25 billion will provide essential financial and technical support as the government continues to address economic distortions.”

Additionally, Manga said the support package will assist Nigeria in its long-term goal of increasing non-oil revenues and securing oil revenues to ensure fiscal sustainability and the delivery of quality public services.

He said ‘RESET’ aims to strengthen Nigeria’s economic policy framework, create fiscal space, and protect the poor and vulnerable.

The statement also noted that ‘Armor PforR’ supports tax and excise reforms, improves tax revenue and customs administration, and safeguards oil revenues.

Commenting on the approval, Edun welcomed the support of the World Bank.

“We have undertaken bold and necessary reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and put Nigeria on a path to sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

“These reforms will create quality jobs and economic opportunities for all Nigerians.

"We welcome the support of the RESET and ARMOR programs as we further consolidate and implement our policy reforms, consistent with accelerating investment and using public resources more sustainably to achieve our development goals.”

On his part, Ousmane Diagana, the World Bank vice-president for Western and Central Africa, lauded the country’s efforts in reforming the financial sector.

“Nigeria’s comprehensive macro-fiscal reforms are placing the country on a new path that can stabilize the economy and lift people out of poverty,” Diagana said.

“It is essential to maintain the momentum of these reforms and continue to provide support to the poor and vulnerable to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.”

The vice-president said the financing package will strengthen the World Bank’s strong partnership with Nigeria and support efforts to rejuvenate the economy and expedite poverty reduction, serving as an example for Africa.

Nigeria’s average crude oil production in May dropped to 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1.28 million bpd recorded in April 2024, according to direct communication from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

This data comes from the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report for May, based on direct communication with Nigerian authorities.

However, secondary sources reported an increase in crude oil production to 1.41 million bpd in May, a 5 percent rise from the previous month.

Despite the decline, Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil producer, followed by Libya and Algeria.

Total OPEC-12 crude oil production rose by 29,000 bpd in May, mainly due to increased output in Nigeria, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.

Non-OPEC crude oil production decreased by 152,000 bpd in May, with Mexico being the only country to experience an increase in output.

The global demand for crude oil is projected to reach 104.5 million bpd in 2024, with a consistent average price in May.

The OPEC Reference Basket price dropped to $83.59 per barrel in May, a 6.2 percent decrease from the previous month.

Former President Godluck Jonathan has alleged that some states governors are busy encouraging criminals for political use, instead of encouraging best brains in the civil service.

Jonathan made the remark on Wednesday in Benin while inaugurating the state secretariats refurbished by the Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The former president said when the Head of Service mentioned that Obaseki had employed first graduates, he was quite pleased, noting “It takes somebody who has vision like Obaseki to do that”.

He said, “In fact, if you go to some states, governors are busy encouraging criminals because of politics, people that would rig election for them, carry ballot boxes, knives and cutlasses pursuing people during election.

“But you are encouraging the best brains in Edo State. The brains didn’t come from one political party, it comes from all the political parties. The brains come from all those who are supporting all governorship candidates.

“Those who are undergraduates should struggle to make First Class instead of going to join cult gangs, drinking alcohol and raping women. You should try to make good grades.So, if you have opportunity to go to school, take your school seriously.”

Jonathan noted that Obaseki was not supporting best brains because he wanted to win election, but because he wanted to build a state, adding: “for you to build a state you have to build people”.

“To be a leader, especially political leader, local government chairman, state governor or president of a country you must have a vision, and not just I want to be this andwhen you sit in the office, you don’t know what to to do.

“I have to sincerely appreciate your vision and let me also join the civil servants to thank for improving their welfare,” he said.

Jonathan said before the governor increased the state minimum wage to N70,000, the civil servants were going home with salary that could not take them home.

“Initially, when I read in the papers that you proposed to pay N70,000 minimum wage, I was also worried if this good friend will be able to pay. But, that is a word of a visioner,” he added.

Earlier, Governor Obaseki said he renovated the secretariat because of his belief that government bureaucracy must work “if we must make progress as a state.”

“One of the biggest takeaways from the building of this secretariat is that we can achieve anything that we set our mind to do, irrespective of the opinion of the nay sayers at the beginning of any journey.

“I am confident, that wherever General Samuel Ogbemudia of blessed memory is today, and all of those who worked with him during and after the civil war to build Edo State, wherever that are today, they will be proud that their dreams of building a secretariat complex like this has been realized today.

“If we have to attract private sector investments, which we require to develop Edo State, it is important that we upgrade the workplace, personalities and capacity of public servants and the public service,” he said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says political leaders in Nigeria should not hand over a democracy built on the politics of region and religion to future generations.

Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the public lecture to mark the country’s 25 years of democracy.

The former president spoke on ‘25 years of enduring democracy: Prospects for the future’, which was the theme of the public lecture.

Jonathan said the political class must lead by example and work with unity of purpose to ensure that Nigerians get the dividends of democracy.
democracy to yield its desired dividend, we, the political class and elites, must lead by example and work with unity of purpose to guarantee peace and social justice for the citizens,” the former president said.

“Our lifestyle must reflect that we are elected people. A situation where children of political officeholders go to parties and start spraying dollars is not the kind of democracy we want to witness in this country.

“We must work together despite our political differences, accommodate our diversity, and prioritise policies that will impact the lives of our citizens.

"As we project towards celebrating a golden jubilee of uninterrupted democracy, which I believe we will, we are celebrating 25 years, we will also celebrate the golden jubilee.”

Jonathan called for a model of democracy that is “more inclusive and reinforces social cohesion”.

“Let me say that we need to come up with a model of democratic practice that will be more inclusive and reinforce social cohesion,” he said.

“The zero sort of kind of politics, where a winner takes it all, has not helped us to foster unity and political justice.

"A political party, for example, that scores up to 30% of votes during an election at either the national or subnational level should have something to go with.

“I’m not clearly recommending proportional representation, but different governments come up with models of democracy that suit them.

“All the presidents of the world don’t emerge through the same process. In Nigeria, we elect our president directly. In a number of countries, presidents are elected indirectly.

“So our national assembly can also look at models that will fit us. A party that even sometimes gets 40 percent of the votes, especially at the state level, will have nothing.

“This gives rise to this do-or-die politics. The zero-sum approach, I think, is inimical to consolidating and strengthening our democracy.

“We must not hand over to our children a democracy built on the politics of the region and religion. A democracy built on ethnicity does not endure; it will continue to wobble.”

The Nigeria Police Force has cautioned against violent protests across the country.

This was as the force said it is unacceptable to disrupt critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and other essential services during a protest.

The police added that tampering with the national grid is a criminal offence.

The PUNCH reports that activities were disrupted at the airports across the country and various unions shut down the national grid on June 3 to compel the government to agree on a new minimum wage for workers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi stated that such action would not be tolerated during any protests.

Adejobi noted that any attempt to try this would be met with full force of the law.

The statement read, “Those who want to stage a peaceful protest are advised to inform the police and request protection. Those who do otherwise should be ready to face the full weight of the law. Members of the public are again reminded that it is a criminal offence to tamper with the national grid or prevent/disrupt the transmission of electricity.

“It is equally unacceptable to disrupt any other critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and other essential services, or violent picketing in whatever magnitude.

“The Nigeria Police Force, being a civil and responsive institution, committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, therefore warns that any attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure, which could lead to an act of economic sabotage, treasonable felony, and jeopardize national security and public safety, will not be condoned during any protest action and will be met with the full force of the law.”

Adejobi said the force would protect the rights of all citizens including those on peaceful protest but would not watch when other citizens’ rights are being violated.

He said, “Following recent moves by some groups mobilizing for a mass protest nationwide, the Nigeria Police Force reiterates that the right of citizens to protest is a right to peaceful protest only.

“The Nigeria police will protect the rights of all citizens including those on peaceful protest but will not look on to see the rights of other citizens being violated. No decent society anywhere in the world will tolerate the violent destruction of lives and properties in the name of a protest.

“While the NPF is committed to protecting the rights of those on peaceful protest, it will not look on to see the rights of others being violated in the name of a mass protest.”

Adejobi added that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the Commissioners of Police among others to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the area of responsibilities.

He said, “The Inspector General of Police, has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure robust security arrangements are in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order including strategic deployments to protect key infrastructures and ensure that protests, if any, remain peaceful and lawful.”

He also urged parents to warn their children against being used by disgruntled elements.

Adejobi said, “The Police equally appeal to parents and guardians to warn their wards not to be used by disgruntled and misguided individuals who are mobilizing for destruction with intent to create anarchy. Such individuals are advised in their own interest to shelve their unpatriotic and clandestine plans.

“We remain dedicated to upholding the rights of citizens while ensuring that public order is maintained.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been elected as the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum.

Sanwo-Olu was elected as Chairman during their Zonal meeting in Lagos State on Monday.

It was gathered that the six governors in South-West unanimously elected Sanwo-Olu.

The meeting was attended by Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

Former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. who passed on months ago was the last chairman of the forum.