₦airaland Forum

Let it be clarified that the former Governor and now FCT Minister repeatedly criticized the dilapidated and leaking Assembly Complex, and during the commissioning of the Assembly Quarters in August 2022, challenged the lawmakers to take responsibility for the poor state of the edifice, rejecting requests to rebuild it to ensure a conducive legislative environment for the lawmakers.

Obiedun:
You are pained? Kilikikikikikik! I am to see you sobbing

SalamRushdie:
Especially after they have been sorted

Obiedun:
They did well
"I Voted In Support Of Emergency Rule In Rivers; I Counseled Fubara To Show Humility, He Didn't Listen"
Hon Ugochinyere

Obiedun:
"I Voted In Support Of Emergency Rule In Rivers; I Counseled Fubara To Show Humility, He Didn't Listen"
Hon Ugochinyere

advanceDNA:
This one has come again....
Be praising wrong doing ....
Approval should be in place first...that's the standard....

advanceDNA:
Action already carried out before approval......

Nigeria is a weird country .....as in... the three arms of the government be in wicked and manipulative synergy against the Nigerian pple...

SalamRushdie:
You know Money was paid and you are here zombistically saying Tinubu is a masterclass .. GTFO

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Fagbemi, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that the state of emergency prevented the Rivers State House of Assembly from following through with its impeachment process against Fubara and Odu, who were facing charges of “gross misconduct.”

The AGF stated that the declaration of the state of emergency by President Tinubu could be viewed as a strategic maneuver to stop the impending impeachment of the governor and his deputy.

Fagbemi emphasized that had the impeachment proceedings been allowed to continue, Fubara and Odu would have been removed from office, possibly for the remainder of their term.

“About compromise and replacement. It appears so. Don’t forget, I think yesterday (Tuesday), there was a notice of impeachment from the House of Assembly,” Fagbemi remarked.

He continued, “If that impeachment had been allowed to take its full course, then the governor would have lost entirely and completely. So, in a way, if you say it’s a compromise, I will agree that instead of allowing the impeachment process to continue, which in the end, would have seen both the governor and the deputy governor out of office and would have been out for the entirety of the four-year term with the remainder of what we have.”

Fagbemi defended the president’s decision, describing it as a “very bold” move to restore order in the state. He highlighted that Tinubu had thoroughly addressed the situation during his nationwide broadcast, providing a detailed account of the events leading to the declaration of a state of emergency.

“We were all there when he addressed the public and chronicled all the facts from Genesis to Revelation,” Fagbemi stated, reinforcing that the president had acted in the best interest of Rivers State and the nation at large.

The declaration of the state of emergency, which saw the suspension of Fubara, Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has sparked mixed reactions.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has dismissed reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State, describing the incident as a minor flare event that posed no threat.

In a statement on Wednesday, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that there was no explosion at the facility and that the situation had been brought under control.

“What occurred was a routine flare incident, which has since been fully contained. There is no risk to staff, surrounding communities, or the environment,” the statement read.

NNPC urged the public to disregard misinformation about an explosion at the refinery, emphasizing that operations remained unaffected.

Nigeria’s total debt service payments dropped significantly from $540 million in January 2025 to $276 million in February 2025.

This is according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s latest data on external sector payments.

This decline comes amid ongoing efforts by the federal government to restructure its debt portfolio, improve dollar liquidity, and ease pressure on the foreign exchange market.

The figures, published on the apex bank’s website, highlight the increasing strain of debt obligations on Nigeria’s external reserves and overall fiscal sustainability.

Analysts suggest that recent debt repayment deferrals and negotiations with multilateral lenders may have contributed to the lower outflows for the month.

Surge in Letters of Credit

While debt service payments declined, Letters of Credit (LCs) rose sharply, indicating increased financing of trade transactions.

The CBN reported that LCs issued in February 2025 totaled $95.6 million, a 48% increase from $64.6 million in January 2025.

The rise in LCs suggests a recovery in import-related activities, particularly as businesses adjust to the fluctuating naira exchange rate and government policies aimed at stabilizing trade financing.

Foreign Reserves and Government Measures
President Bola Tinubu has said in the first 17 months of his administration, Nigeria’s revenue-to-debt service ratio has reduced to 65% from 97%.

The federal government has continued engagements with global lenders and investors to ease Nigeria’s growing debt burden.

The CBN’s monetary policy direction in recent months has focused on stabilizing the naira while balancing external obligations.

According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s debt servicing payments have surged by 69% in the first half of 2024, reaching N6.04 trillion, up from N3.58 trillion recorded in the same period of 2023.

The Police headquarters in Abuja said on Tuesday that its operatives arrested a female gunrunner, among other gun runners, as well as illicit drug suppliers to bandits and terrorists in Nasarawa, Yobe and Katsina states.

A statement by Force Public Relations officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi said, ‘These accomplishments are exemplified by the efforts of its several tactical teams, including the Force Intelligence and Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).

He said, ‘On December 23, 2024, at about 5:50 PM, operatives of FID-STS intercepted one Hauwa Sani, a 30-year-old female resident of Doro village, along the Keffi/Abuja Expressway.

“She was found in possession of 124 rounds of live ammunition of various calibers, concealed inside a 5-liter container of palm oil.

“She confessed that one Nasiru of Daura tasked her to deliver the ammunition to Katsina State.

“Further Investigations have led to several other recoveries and arrests that are undergoing profiling.

“Citizens are urged to be wary and remain conscious of the antics of these smugglers.

“Suspicious items should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities.

“In another operation on February 1, 2025, operatives of the FID-STS, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted Alhaji Usman Yahaya, 50, Joseph Matthew, 27, and Solomon Bala, 25, all residents of Potiskum, Yobe State.

“The suspects were apprehended while transporting 30 cartons of codeine syrups and other various hard drugs around Postiskum.

“They confessed that the drugs were intended for supply to bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, and kidnappers terrorizing Yobe State and neighbouring countries.

“Furthermore, on February 3, 2025, operatives of FID-STS apprehended one Yusuf Dantani ‘m’, 24 yrs, Usman Labaran, 32 yrs, and Musa Mohammed, 23 yrs, with 10 AK-47 rifles.

“The suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to being involved in several arms deals, receiving the sum of Three Million Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N3,980,000) for the last batch of arms they were supposed to trade.

“These successful operations highlight the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to proactively combat crime, disrupt criminal networks, and ensure the safety and security of all citizens.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its efforts to dismantle criminal enterprises and bring perpetrators to justice.

“We urge the public to continue to support our efforts by providing timely and accurate information that can aid in crime prevention and detection.”

The Ondo State Police Command has intensified its efforts to tackle the growing threat of kidnapping in the state, recording significant breakthroughs in recent operations that led to the arrest of several suspects and their collaborators.

In recent months, residents of Ondo State have faced increased cases of abduction, with kidnappers demanding huge ransoms from victims’ families. This disturbing trend prompted the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, to launch strategic operations aimed at dismantling the criminal networks responsible.

Briefing journalists on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed that the command’s persistence paid off with the arrest of 21-year-old Abdullahi Mallam Bala, a suspected member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating around the state capital.

Bala was intercepted in a forested area but could not provide a satisfactory explanation for his presence there. Upon investigation, it was revealed that he was actively working with other members of a well-organized syndicate, including two men identified as Ibrahim Dan and Alahu Umar.

Afolabi noted that Umar had previously been arrested earlier in the year for his role in several kidnapping cases and is currently in custody, reinforcing the pattern of re-emerging criminal collaborations in the region.

The police operation also led to the arrest of Kolawole Sunday, 39, a commercial motorcyclist. During interrogation, Kolawole confessed to providing critical support to the kidnappers. He admitted to serving as a food supplier and informant, monitoring movements and tipping off the syndicate.

Building on this momentum, the police intensified their investigation, leading to the arrest of two more suspects — Umar Abubakar Sanda and Yusuf Almanac. Sanda, during questioning, confessed that his primary role was to guide kidnapped victims through the forest, ensuring their captivity.

Further intelligence gathering exposed the involvement of another commercial motorcyclist, Lekan Temitope, popularly known as Legelege. Temitope’s role, according to the police, involved transporting supplies, including food items, to the kidnappers in their hideouts while also assisting with their movement.

The police command’s operations culminated in a major raid on March 14, 2025, when officers, supported by local vigilantes and hunters, stormed a bushy area in Ipele.

Two more suspects, 45-year-old Rilwan Saliku and 19-year-old Umar Isyaku, were arrested during the operation. A search revealed ₦3.5 million in Saliku’s possession, which he claimed was proceeds from his Point of Sale (POS) business.

However, the police are investigating the source of the funds due to suspected links to ransom payments.

While addressing the press, CP Afolabi assured the public that the police remain resolute in their commitment to rooting out criminal elements in the state. He reiterated the command’s readiness to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Afolabi also commended the Inspector-General of Police for equipping the command with modern gadgets and resources, which have significantly boosted the effectiveness of their operations.

“These arrests send a clear message to criminal elements that Ondo State will not be a safe haven for kidnappers and their sponsors. Our joint efforts with other security agencies, local vigilantes, and hunters will continue until the state is free from these threats,” he stated.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information to aid ongoing operations.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its airstrike destroyed terrorists’ hideouts in Chikide and Degbewa onMarch 16, 2025.

Group Captain Kabiru Ali, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, in a statement said the night operation targeted insurgents’ enclaves deep within the treacherous Mandara Mountains, delivering a crippling blow to the terrorists’ stronghold and disrupting their activities.

He said acting on credible Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data, reports indicated that the notorious terrorist leader, Ali Ngulde, and his fighters had planned a high-level engagement at the location.

ISR missions over the area confirmed terrorist activity at a key assembly point in Degbewa, alongside the presence of heavily fortified structures equipped with solar-powered installations – clear evidence of an active command hub, he said.

Following this intelligence, the NAF immediately launched a precision night strike under the cover of darkness, achieving complete surprise.

According to him, the coordinated firepower extensively destroyed the terrorists’ logistics and command centre, igniting large fires that obliterated multiple structures and eliminated scores of terrorists in their hideouts.

“This operation against Boko Haram enclaves across the theatre significantly degraded their fighting capability while creating favourable conditions for ground troops to advance and dominate the battlespace.

“The successful execution of this night operation underscores the NAF’s growing dominance in both day and night air power capabilities, proving that insurgents can no longer operate under the cover of darkness,” he further stated.

According to the statement, through relentless precision strikes and sustained air operations, the NAF remained committed to utilising its formidable air power to neutralise terrorist networks and restore lasting peace to the region.