₦airaland Forum

Troops of Operation UDO KA Sector 5, in a coordinated operation with the 63 Brigade and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a massive cache of ammunition allegedly destined for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The joint operation, conducted on May 29, 2025, along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway, led to the seizure of over 164,000 live cartridges hidden inside a truck. Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, security personnel also arrested a key suspect, identified as Mr. Emeka Omenife, believed to be a major courier in the arms smuggling network.

The dramatic bust happened along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway on 29 May 2025, following credible intelligence reports. Security operatives swiftly moved in and apprehended the suspected gunrunner, Mr. Emeka Omenife, who was allegedly transporting the deadly cargo.

According to intelligence sources, Omenife was immediately handed over to the DSS for interrogation. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to being part of an international ammunition trafficking syndicate that moves weapons from Ghana to Nigeria.


Acting on the confession, troops launched a follow-up operation and arrested another suspect, Mr. Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate on 30 May 2025, as he awaited the delivery of the deadly consignment.

The operation successfully led to the interception of the truck carrying the massive cache of ammunition, which had been carefully concealed to avoid detection.

Authorities have vowed to continue cracking down on arms trafficking networks threatening the nation’s peace and security.

APCheat:
Nigeria Not Rich’ Asked whether the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms have exacerbated hardship among ordinary Nigerians, Omokri acknowledged the suffering but insisted it is a necessary sacrifice for long-term stability.


Who bears the brunt of the sacrifice? The poor man, while Tinubu and his cronies continue to live in unimaginable extravagance.

A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has claimed that before President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, Nigeria was spending a staggering $1.5 billion every month to subsidise the naira—money he says was borrowed and “wastefully spent.

” Speaking on Inside Sources, a current affairs programme on Channels Television aired on Sunday, Omokri explained that the funds used to artificially prop up the naira were not invested in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, or infrastructure.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria was spending $1.5 billion every month to subsidise the naira. Please assume I’m a liar and go and fact-check me—$1.5 billion every month subsidising the naira. And this was not money that we had. This was money that we were borrowing.

“We weren’t spending $1.5 billion every month on healthcare, on education, on roads. We were spending it subsidising the naira,” he said.

According to him, the subsidy was fuelling unsustainable consumption patterns, including luxury imports. “We were spending $200 million annually on importing human hair for our women to wear. We were spending $75 million on French champagne and £25 million on Scotch whisky,” Omokri stated.

Naira Devaluation

Defending President Tinubu’s decision to float the naira, Omokri said the current exchange rate, where the naira trades at over ₦1,500 to the dollar, reflects its true value without government interference.

“The reason why the naira is now ₦1,560 to the dollar is not because President Bola Tinubu is a terrible president. No. It’s because he started floating the naira and stopped subsidising it,” he said.

He added that under previous administrations, including that of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and when he served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, the naira was not valued at its real worth.

“I was presidential spokesman when the naira was ₦165 to a dollar. Then, the naira was being subsidised. What you were seeing as a Nigerian wasn’t the actual value,” Omokri said.

Omokri further praised Tinubu’s fiscal and trade reforms, noting that they have led to positive outcomes, including a reduction in national debt and the creation of a trade surplus.

“President Tinubu met a debt profile of $108 billion. Right now, our debt is $94 billion. It has reduced by $14 billion. So there is no way you can call such a person someone who’s addicted to debt. With all due respect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has exceeded the expectations of most reasonable Nigerians,” he stated.

“He’s increased our trade surplus. In fact, we didn’t even have a trade surplus before. This man came in, Nigeria was the number one petrol importer in Africa.

Right now, we are not. South Africa has now overtaken us. We are now instead the number one petrol exporter in West Africa,” he said.


Hardship Still In The Land

Nigeria Not Rich’ Asked whether the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms have exacerbated hardship among ordinary Nigerians, Omokri acknowledged the suffering but insisted it is a necessary sacrifice for long-term stability.

“There is still a lot of suffering in the land. Nigeria is not a rich country. So if you have a father who is not rich and you are suffering, you can’t be complaining and saying, ‘Well, I’m suffering.’ No. Your father is not rich.

Nigeria is an oil-poor country,” he said. He added that the president’s decision to float the naira has begun yielding structural benefits for the local economy.

“The reason why we now have a trade surplus is that President Bola Tinubu has done what worked in Vietnam. He has floated the naira and made imports so expensive that Nigerians have no other choice but to buy made in Nigeria.

“And look at me—everything I am wearing from head to toe is made in Nigeria. And that’s how we are going to grow our economy,” Omokri declared.

zero8zero:
Where's the article?, this is the second thread I have seen today without being able to see the main article. Why is the bot deleting the OP?.
See scanty posts everywhere, will seun ever listen?.

Seun, definitely the OP has blocked me that I couldn't read the OP, I could only read people's comments but can't read the main article. Is this what the block button is supposed to achieve?, deny whoever is blocked by some posters from seeing their threads even when they are on front page?. seun, if you think these recent changes are helping this platform, you're very wrong and I pray it won't be too late then. How can I open a thread and denied seeing the OP because I was blocked, what type of nonsense is this?.

Dangote Cement takes delivery of hundreds of CNG trucks, announces plans to convert 7,000 diesel trucks by end of 2026.

Currently, Dangote Group has 3,100 mono-fuel CNG trucks in its fleet, from 1,500 as of last October.

Last October, it announced it has invest $280m in CNG technology, other infrastructures to support Tinubu’s CNG initiative.

Dangote Cement PLC (DCP) has announced plans to convert its fleet of over 7,000 trucks from Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the end of 2026.

Arvind Pathak, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement PLC made this known on Tuesday May 27th 2025 at the 2025 edition of Dangote Cement’s Customers Awards & Gala Nite held in Lagos.

“In line with DCP’s commitment to sustainability and the country’s clean fuel policy, we are transitioning our fleet of over 7,000 trucks from AGO to CNG by the end of 2026. We are making significant investments in new CNG trucks and the necessary infrastructure to support this transition.

He adds that : “Currently, 3,100 trucks are operational, and our initiatives in alternative fuel utilisation have gained global recognition, with Dangote Cement receiving a commendable score from CDP in climate change and water security.”

On Thursday May 29th 2025, the company also announced the arrival of hundreds of CNG-powered trucks, twenty-eight (28) of which were presented to its top dealers at the 2025 edition of Dangote Cement’s Customers Awards & Gala Nite.

Last October, the company announced it has invested over $280 million (₦460 billion) in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technology and other infrastructures to support President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNG-i).

At the time, Pathak stated that :

“This move marks a significant milestone in Dangote’s clean energy transition, to operate most of its fleet on CNG by mid-2026. As of October, the company has received its first batch of 1,500 mono-fuel CNG trucks while expecting an additional 1,600 CNG trucks, totalling 3,100 before the end of the year.”

“By mid-2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fueling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel.’’

Saao:
is not Mr. President, the E.S of NBTE he's an innovative guy. Their are other innovations he brought in before Tinubu came and I'm a beneficiary of it.

The Federal Government says it is converting Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) to full-fledged Federal Technical Colleges (FTC) to overhaul technical education in the country.

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Bugaje said the reform was part of a broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector as a viable and attractive pathway for youth employment and economic development.

According to him, the transition will begin in September, marking the start of a new admission cycle that will exclude science-based enrolments.
He added that students already in the system would be allowed to complete their studies, but going forward, all new admissions would be strictly for technical education.

“That is a very smart, timely intervention. Before, there used to be federal technical colleges; somebody came in and smuggled science into them.

”So, when students register, they prefer to enroll into the sciences, and the technical aspects are ignored.

“This measure is taking effect immediately, this coming September when all admissions will be for technical education,” he said

Bugaje said the President had approved provision of infrastructure, more equipment, more facilities to make technical education attractive.

According to him, most polytechnics admit students from general secondary schools due to the limited number of technical colleges.

He said there were only 129 technical colleges nationwide compared to over 15,000 conventional secondary schools.

“That is going to change. We expect state governments to follow suit by converting some conventional secondary schools into technical colleges.

” Technical colleges are the proper feeder institutions for polytechnics,” he said.
Beyond secondary education, Bugaje explained that the government was also reviewing the status of higher institutions.

Citing China’s 2017 conversion of over 600 universities into polytechnics and skills training centres, Bugaje proposed a similar approach to address the imbalance in the education system.

“There’s a troubling trend of polytechnics being converted into universities, which is repressive to the growth of technical education.

“However, if they must be converted, let them remain within the TVET family—as TVET universities.

“The Minister has agreed to this, and with this policy shift, Nigeria is aiming for a renaissance in technical education that aligned with global best practices,” he said.

Bugaje added that the policy shift would prepare the youth for employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a fast-evolving economy.

The Federal Government has inaugurated a digital village pilot project providing free internet access to the rural community of Ibwa 2, Isuanin Kura, Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory, in a bid to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed that over 20 million Nigerians remain without any form of telecommunication access.

“If you bring out your phone in many communities, you will see there is no network at all. “This is costing the country significantly because people cannot access financial services, medical care cannot be supported remotely, and education is suffering,” he said.

Tijani further stressed the often-overlooked security implications of poor connectivity, saying,

“Those locations that are not covered become difficult to govern. The president has mandated an investment in about 7,000 telecom towers nationwide. What we are doing here today is the first pilot of that plan.”

Ibwa 2 community, home to over 12,000 people, is among the first to benefit from this initiative, alongside neighbouring areas with no telecommunications whatsoever.

According to the minister, the project goes beyond just enabling phone calls.

“We are using the same equipment to connect the hospital here. Huawei has donated equipment that allows medical practitioners in this facility to consult doctors worldwide.

“We just witnessed the community chief speak with a doctor in Abuja via this technology,” he said.

Education is also being transformed through remote teaching.

“At the local school, where there are insufficient teachers, a science teacher from Lagos will now teach the children remotely through this equipment,” Tijani added.

Highlighting the community-wide access, he said,

“There is community Wi-Fi here that anyone can connect to, enabling them to access global opportunities.”

The minister emphasised the government’s commitment to inclusivity, saying, “Where you live should not determine whether you have access. Over 80 per cent of unconnected communities are in the North, so this project prioritises those areas while balancing connectivity nationwide to bring nearly all Nigerians online.”

He acknowledged the collaboration with top industry players, notably Huawei.

“We are working with the best companies to manage these infrastructures sustainably,” Tijani said.

To promote affordability, the ministry, alongside Huawei, donated 125 mobile phones to the community chief.

“These phones cost about $25 each and are among the cheapest smartphones globally.

“We aim to test and introduce affordable devices widely, and also explore local manufacturing options,” the minister revealed.

The Ibwa 2 pilot represents a significant step towards Nigeria’s digital inclusion and the government’s broader goal of integrating all citizens into the digital economy.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Huawei Nigeria Enterprise, Terrence Wu, described the partnership as a groundbreaking effort rooted in innovation and collaboration.

He outlined the project’s three core pillars—mobile connectivity, digital education and accessible health services—as essential to fostering inclusive and resilient communities.

Wu stressed that Huawei’s technology, combined with Globacom’s infrastructure and the ministry’s leadership, would deliver high-speed networks and telemedicine to underserved areas.

He said the initiative was a commitment to empower rural Nigerians with access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.

Globacom’s Head of Division for North West, Mr Kazeem Kaka, described the launch of the Nigerian National Digital Village as a landmark moment in the country’s digital transformation.

He praised the collaboration between the Ministry of Communications, Huawei, and Globacom for extending connectivity to underserved communities, calling it a “bold announcement towards an inclusive digital future.”

Kaka highlighted the critical role of affordable mobile phones and internet access in empowering Nigerians with opportunities in education, healthcare, and commerce.

He urged the residents of Ibwa 2 community to protect the infrastructure and fully utilise the new digital resources to build a prosperous future.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated three acres of land to the International Council for Ifa Religion for the construction of the World Ifa Temple.

This was aimed at promoting its activities and establishing the largest pilgrimage site for Yoruba traditional worshippers across the world.

The ICIR announced this in a statement released by its President, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

Fakayode said, “This gesture of our referred first class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba culture and spirituality.

“On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese Agbaye and all practitioners of Ifa and Orisa Worldwide, we thank His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for this good and historic gesture.

“With this step, Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and spirituality is obvious to all to see.
“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world, and it will serve as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of Oduduwa’s spirituality across the globe.”

He said the three acres of land are located around the Stadium Area, Route 7, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and work has begun on the site.

It will be recalled that ICIR, whose headquarters is located at Oke-Itase, Ile Ife, had recently requested the land for the construction of what the body tagged “the Largest World Ifa Temple” in Ile Ife.

The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses to Nigerian universities.

The government began with the University of Abuja as part of efforts to cushion high transportation costs and promote cleaner energy use on campuses.

The project, tagged ‘CNG-Sprout’, is the first phase of the ‘Project CNG Special Palliative Relief for Universities Transportation’ and is expected to be replicated across 20 federal universities nationwide.

Commissioning the buses on Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the initiative as a timely response to Nigeria’s energy transition and economic realities.

“I hereby commission the Project CNG-Sprout buses for deployment to university campuses across the country. May they serve as vehicles not just of transport but of hope, relief, and national progress,” the minister prayed.

He explained that the initiative was designed to provide immediate palliative relief to students while also aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s broader commitment to energy affordability, environmental responsibility, and transport sector reform.

“As we navigate energy reforms and shift towards cleaner fuels, cushioning the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly students, remains a key national priority,” Ekpo said.

The project is being implemented through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund in partnership with FEMADEC Energy Limited, which was commended for completing the first phase of deployment on schedule.

Recall that in 2024, the government disbursed N122 billion to six indigenous companies through the MDGIF to improve Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and promote the use of gas in various sectors.
The minister added that the rollout of CNG buses is only the beginning of a wider plan to revolutionise Nigeria’s public transportation system.

“In the coming months, we will be unveiling further incentives for CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refuelling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain. This is not just a transport solution. It is a jobs and industrialisation pathway,” he said.

The MDGIF Managing Director, Oluwole Adama, in his address, applauded the President for providing what he called a clear “executive steer” through initiatives such as Executive Order 40 and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas.

He noted that the rollout of CNG refuelling infrastructure in 20 universities is no small feat, given the time constraints and resource demands.

“As we unveil the first four facilities, here in Abuja, we must congratulate FEMADEC for delivering under pressure and against tight timelines,” Adama said.

He assured that the MDGIF would continue to invest prudently in projects that increase domestic natural gas consumption and encourage economic growth through strategic infrastructure development.

On his part, the PiCNG Chief Executive Officer, Michael Oluwagbemi, said the launch signified the fulfilment of President Tinubu’s post-inauguration pledge to deploy CNG buses, particularly to tertiary institutions.

“Through this partnership, we are delivering more than just buses and tricycles. We are delivering hope, innovation, and a future-forward solution to the mobility and energy challenges facing our academic communities,” Oluwagbemi said.

He added that the government is building not only a cleaner transport alternative but also an ecosystem that supports innovation and creates economic opportunity.

The Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who coordinated the participation of vice chancellors across the 20 selected universities, was commended for ensuring the project is tied to institutional performance indicators.

“This is the first of 20 of our federal institutions that will get this. But let me tell you, look into the future, 24 months from now, literally, and I mean literally, all our tertiary institutions in the country, universities and colleges of education alike, will have each of these amenities on campus.”

The CNG-Sprout buses are expected to significantly reduce transportation costs for students while reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint, in line with global climate goals.