The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has raised the alarm over renewed attacks by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on farmers in communities within the state.

Zulum, in a condolence visit Friday to five communities in Jere and Mafa local government areas (LGAs) where eight farmers and scavengers were brutally murdered, alleged sabotage of efforts to restore security to the troubled state.

Before the murder of eight scavengers and farmers on Thursday in Shuwari, Kaleri, Tamsu Ngamdua, Baram Karamwa, and Muna communities, there had been similar attacks on farmers in Borno communities in recent weeks.

A top military source within the army confirmed to Channels Television that the murder of about 16 farmers in Molai and Kayamla communities was because they went 11 km away from the stipulated area earmarked for farming activities which they had been warned against.

However, Zulum revealed that there was an attempt to sabotage the counterinsurgency fight of the Federal Government and the military.

Also, the governor expressed concern over the inconvenience farmers underwent before reaching their farmlands, noting that for them to have access to more farmlands, military roadblocks along Maiduguri/Mafa Road will be moved further.

He also charged the farmers to remain resilient, assuring them that his administration would convene a security meeting to devise a means to tackle the insecurity, including the re-establishment of agro-rangers and a joint security task force.

Olukayode Egbetokun, the acting Inspector-General of Police, has presented a new police plan for the Nigeria Police Force.

During the inaugural conference with Strategic Police Managers, which included members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and other Heads of Police Formations in the nation, today, Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP made public the new strategy intended to achieve operational successes and restore public trust.

The IGP’s policing vision focuses on upholding Nigeria’s legal framework, combating crime, and creating a specialized Quick Intervention Squad with trained members.

The acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has also appointed a Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, as his Principal Staff Officer.

Sanwo-Olu’s Deputy Allegedly Swore In US To Renounce Nigerian Citizenship
The appointment, which is with immediate effect, was revealed through a police signal made available on Friday.

Mr Disu is the immediate past ommander of the Force Intelligence Bureau, Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force.

CP Disu is a graduate of English Education from Lagos State University. He was born on Lagos Island, Lagos State, on April 13, 1966.

He holds two Masters degrees, one in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, and the other in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.

He joined the police on May 18, 1992. He has attended several professional courses both at home and abroad, including Small Arms Smuggling Training in Botswana; Internet Fraud Training at Cambridge University, UK; Strategic Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; and Forensic Investigations and Criminal Intelligence Course at the University of Lagos, amongst others.

Disu was appointed as Commander, Police Intelligence Response Team, on August 2, 2021, by former IG, Usman Baba, following the suspension of embattled DCP Abba Kyari.

Prior to that, he was the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State, where he led a team that made several arrests of criminals, especially fraudulent persons.

He was at one time the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He also served at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Rivers State, as the second in command of the unit.

He was also a former commander of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan.

A Civil Society Organisations, Partners for Electoral Reform has faulted a recent call by a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Olisha Agbokoba (SAN) calling for the sack of Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Olisha Agbakoba (SAN) had asked President Bola Tinubu to sack the INEC boss, hinging his call over claims of poor logistics arrangements by the electoral body during the recently concluded 2023 elections.

But convener of the CSO, Ezenwa Nwagwu while addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja faulted Agbakoba’s call, saying that anybody who followed the 2023 election would have been able to know the context in which that election was held.

He said, “The issue of the unnecessary colouring of the naira, which brought about shortage of cash both for citizens and for institutions, and an organisation like INEC that its activities actually depend on vendor relationship.

“That catastrophic policy of the central bank was a setback for logistics for the election. We also know the issue of fuel scarcity during that period. The circumstance around that election was held around the period of fuel scarcity and the rest of them.”

Ezenwa said while it is true that the election experienced some challenges, the positives far outweighed the negative outcomes

Ezenwa said being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria does not confer knowledge of electoral issues, adding that “You have to have a painstaking participant engagement with the process to be able to understand it.”

He said under the kind of climate which the election held, “somebody who is a participant observer in election issues should not make the kind of call that Chief Olisha Agbokaba made, and even more importantly, he also said he made a shocking discovery. A shocking discovery that our election is manual and I asked him ‘Where have you been?’ if as a senior advocate of Nigeria you don’t know that election in Nigeria is manual, then it means that you have no right to make a call on issues that are not very substantive. And Senior Advocate of Nigeria does not confer knowledge of electoral issues.”

He noted that over the years the issue of logistic challenge is something INEC has not been able to cure because Nigeria is a large country. He, however, explained that with the naira policy, And we’re also now battling with issues of insecurity, banditry in some parts of the country.
Ezenwa said while INEC seems to be taking all the heat, the political class are being excused for their roles in electoral violence and voters’ apathy experienced during the election

“I’m not saying that there were no issues. An election is not a church service. Election is a competitive enterprise. We give comfort to the real people who cause challenges in the election. INEC does not cause voter suppression. Politicians do this in collaboration with disgruntled INEC officials, right?

INEC does not unleash violence, politicians unleash violence. Now 90% of the time in discussing 2023 election, you focus on INEC, you leave the role of security agents. You leave the role of the political parties and their candidates and the role they play in making bad elections.

“INEC will bring its ballot box to the most remote part of this country that will be ballot box there. INEC d officials were killed in 2023, they are Nigerians. INEC were kidnapped. By whom? Who kidnapped them? Who murdered them? We provide comfort for the political class and their inability to embrace reforms and conduct themselves in a manner that allows for free and fair election.”

The Oyo State Government has again called on street traders to vacate the roads or face sanctions, especially within the Ibadan metropolis. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Modupe Adeleye gave the warning in Ibadan today during a sensitization programme with market men and women.

She said the Oyo State Government is poised to find a lasting solution to the menace of street trading and illegal dumping of refuse in the State. 

While Adeleye harped on the need for collaborative efforts amongst stakeholders at curbing the menace, she stressed that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting anyone.

She called on market, community and transport union leaders among other stakeholders to caution their members to stop the allocation of trading spots on roads and major streets to traders in the State. 

The Permanent Secretary said traders and residents must align with the Oyo State Government in its renewed efforts at curbing indiscriminate waste disposal.

L-R Babaloja General of Oyo State, Chief Yekin Abass, Perm. Sec., Min. of Env. & Natural Resources, Mrs. Modupe Adeleye and the Otun Iyaloja general, Oyo State, Chief Mrs. Labake Lawal  during the sensitization progromme

She noted that the Oyo State Government has put in place some major efforts, especially by engaging a Waste Management company, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, in tackling refuse disposal and recycling.

Adeleye noted that street trading impedes the free flow of traffic and operatives of the Ministry are resolute to take an uncompromising posture in enforcing street trading laws of Oyo State. 

Mrs. Adeleye therefore appealed to traders to adhere strictly to the environmental laws of the State, by patronizing the Government approved Waste consultant and its Accredited Franchisees.

She said after the sensitization, the Ministry would embark on full enforcement and anyone found culpable will face the wrath of environmental laws operating in the state.

In his remarks, the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Chief Yekin Abass called on the traders in the state to strictly adhere to the environmental laws, urging them to put an end to street trading.

Speaking on behalf of traders, the Iyaloja of Bodija International Market, Chief Mrs. Victoria Onipede and her counterpart, the Iyaloja Eleyele Market, Mrs Saliu Akanni collectively promised their unalloyed support through monitoring their members regularly to ensure they adhere strictly to the law of the land.

They also agreed to involve other major stakeholders in the Oyo State Government's renewed efforts at tackling the menace.

Markets visited include Bodija International Market, Eleyele Market and Sango Markets among others.

E-signed:

Mr. Gideon Alade,

Co-ordinating Director, 

Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism,

Oyo State.

June 23, 2023. 

Sequel to his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, the seat of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as a member representing the Surulere Federal Constituency 1 has been declared vacant.

Naija News reports that Gbajabiamila tendered his resignation letter to the House on June 14 2023 to resume his new post, and the seat has since been vacant.

Following this development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to announce the date for the conduct of the Surulere Federal Constituency 1 bye-election.

While about three members within Gbajabiamila’s party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) have shown interest in contesting for the seat, other aspirants from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have equally come out to indicate interest in the seat as well.

It was gathered that the three people interested in the seat from within the APC include former acting Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Agboola Dabiri; two-term former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabir Lawal popularly called Caesar; and the current chairman of the APC in Surulere Local Government Area, Fuad Laguda.

This platform understands that the APC leadership in Lagos State has conducted a sort of mock primary among the three interested aspirants and Laguda was picked, as Lawal agreed to step down for him.

A party source who spoke on the basis of anonymity said to The Guardian that “We did the mock primary and Laguda was unanimously nominated as a candidate to represent the party. We decided on Laguda because he has the experience as a seasoned politician and also an accomplished public servant.”

However, the APC Spokesperson in Lagos, Seye Oladejo denied that a mock primary had been conducted saying the party does not practice the anointed candidate method, adding that the party would announce the process for nomination of candidates when INEC fixes a date for the bye-election.

Oladejo explained that the party will still follow due process in selecting a candidate through the primary and it would be the members of the party in the constituency that would decide who gets the ticket among those jostling for it.

According to him, “It’s natural for people to show interest and fulfil their ambition once opportunities come up. The office left by the former speaker is a big office and whoever is coming there will have a big shoe to fill. We are on the lookout for the right candidate who can win the election and meet up with the kind of performance that has made Gbajabiamila a household name that the party and the constituency are proud of.

“The party will ensure that the person that will emerge has electoral value and the morale to win the election. Gbajabiamila has left an indelible mark in that constituency, his works have made him a household name and there is a need to carry on with the good works he has started.

“Every politics is local. It is the constituency that will determine who gets the ticket.” When asked if the party would consider a woman for the position, Oladejo said, “Our party is fair to all gender and age groups. Everyone will be given a chance.”

Also, the PDP publicity secretary in the state, Hakeem Amode equally said the party was waiting for INEC to set a date for the bye-election.

Ambode said “The PDP will contest the election, follow the directive of the national executive. In PDP, the national exco will write the INEC at the national level, letting them know, after they have pronounced the date at which they want to do the election, the date at which our primary will hold.

“The party will pick who will represent the people well during the party primary. We will pick the best among our members who will represent the people and do something different. We will field a candidate that is respected, democratic and understands what is going on in that constituency.

“A candidate who will offer alternatives to what one person has been doing for over 20 years. We will feature somebody who has the capacity, intelligence and education, who understands the sufferings of the people.

“The PDP will not do anything outside the electoral law as amended. We will follow the Constitution of the country in fielding somebody who will do something different and understands what is going on in Nigeria at this time.

“Whoever is interested will come up, they will buy the letter of intent, and will take it to the state secretariat that they are interested in running for the office.”

The Labour Party in the state also said it is contesting for the seat and it would file a candidate in to contest.

The publicity secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in the state, Bunmi Odesanya said “We will encourage as many aspirants as show interest. If there are two or more aspirants, we will conduct primaries.

“LP will make a marked difference in representing the Surulere constituency. The achievement of Gbajabiamila in Surulere is lopsided. It is not cosmopolitan enough. He is known to favour and empower APC party loyalists. The former Reps member did this widely to buy the conscience of the vulnerable masses and not with the intention to serve.

“The Labour Party believes in the youths as the future of the country. LP will empower the youths indeed in the constituency, which cut across party lines irrespective of affiliation. Everyone will feel the positive impact of the LP candidate when he or she emerges. LP will deliver a candidate that will win the election. Odesanya, however, stated that the party is waiting for INEC directives on the conduct of the bye-election.

“We had a candidate in the last election, but if other people show interest, all the modalities will be considered. We had candidates that we fielded but if other people come up, we will conduct a credible and fair primary that is open to all.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos INEC’s HOD Voter Education and Publicity, Tadese Adenike, disclosed to The Guardian that the state INEC is awaiting the directive from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to give them the directive.

He said “Sorry, I will not be able to speak on that because it’s the national headquarters of the commission in Abuja that will also direct us at the state level and up till now we have not received any correspondent to that effect. I don’t have anything concrete to tell you about it. We are still awaiting the directive of the headquarters and we haven’t received any up till now.”

As IATA Adjusts Exchange Rate

One-way Economy class tickets on international routes from Nigeria may hit N2 million as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), sets the exchange rate from N663/$1 to N770.

The change in the exchange rate was as a result of the floating of naira as ordered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Also, the inability of international airlines to repatriate ticket sales for over a year has contributed to high airfares on Nigerian routes.

LEADERSHIP, gathered that at the new IATA Rate of Exchange (IRoE), registered by the Global Distribution System (GDS), a six-hour Lagos-London Economy class ticket sells for between N1.3 million to N2.5 million – subject to airline of choice, place, and time of booking. Its Business class variant sells for between N3.36 million to N4.8 million.

Recall that the Economy ticket price was from N400,000 before it jumped to about N1.2 million, while business class tickets ranged from N4 million to N6 million, depending on the airline and booking time. With the new exchange rate, fares are expected to rise further to N2 million.

While stakeholders regretted that the development has further pushed international air travel beyond the reach of average Nigerians, they acknowledged the inherent respite on foreign airlines that are patronising the Investors and Exporters (I&E) FX window for fund repatriation, and reopening of naira inventories to travel agencies in the countries.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the former national Financial Secretary, NANTA, Daisi Olotu, said the increment is affecting the stability of the travel market.

According to Olotu, the exchange rate has brought down the numbers of foreign travellers, thereby urging the airlines to adopt a weekly exchange rate system.

“The change in exchange rate doesn’t go down well with travelers and travel agents because it reduces the number of people traveling. It also leads to instability in the market. We give a price today and the price changes the following day.

“So, to create stability in the system, they shouldn’t change the exchange rate daily, rather they should adopt a weekly exchange rate system,” Olotu stated.

Also speaking, former President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Bernard Bankole, however, rued the new exchange rate saying tickets sales or fares would be out of reach.

He stated that the already high fares had been worsened by the instability in the airline business occasioned by the recent monetary policy of the federal government.

He said he expected strong leadership from the NANTA executive on reaching a middle ground on the stability of the IROE, stressing that there had been four adjustments in one week which did not do the sector any good.

The clearing house in a statement recently reiterated that airfares for international flights from Nigeria are denominated in U.S. dollars and converted into Naira, the local currency, for sale in the Nigerian market.

“These conversions use the official prevailing exchange rate provided by the country’s financial system.

“IATA simply applies the spot rate at which the Central Bank of Nigeria sells USD through banks to the market, at its fortnightly retail foreign exchange auctions. The rate is not static, i.e. if the rate at which the CBN sells USD goes up, the exchange rate applied to airfares will follow and vice versa,” IATA said.

There are high hopes that foreign airlines’ stuck funds issues with Nigeria may be a thing of the past following the new I&E instructions.

It could be recalled that earlier in the month during its 79th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Istanbul, Turkey, the organisation had raised the alarm that its member airlines’ blocked fund in Nigeria had increased to $818.2 million as at end of April from $744 million in March.

The association said that the figure put Nigeria as the country with the most trapped funds in the world. A statement by Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general put the total trapped funds in the world at $2.27 billion as at April, 2023.

Apart from Nigeria, other countries where foreign airlines’ funds are currently trapped are Bangladesh; $214.1 million, Algeria; $196.3 million, Pakistan; $188.2 million and Lebanon; $141.2 million. IATA maintained that the top five countries account for 68 per cent of blocked funds worldwide.

Walsh warned that rapidly rising levels of blocked funds are a threat to airline connectivity in the affected markets.

He emphasised that the industry’s blocked funds have increased by 47 per cent to $2.27 billion in April 2023 from $1.55 billion in April 2022.

­­­­­He declared that airlines could not continue to offer flight services in countries where they have found it difficult to repatriate their funds and called for quick action to address the situation.

The Presidential Election Petitions Court has taken into consideration official documents related to the academic and professional history of President Bola Tinubu.

The documents were provided by the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The records in question include a Bachelor of Science certificate from Chicago State University, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, and a Certificate of Service from Mobil Nigeria Oil Plc.

PDP, through their witness Mike Enahoro Ebah Esq, introduced these documents, noting that they were supposedly acquired by Tinubu under the name ‘Bola Adekunle Tinubu.’

Guided by the PDP lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), the witness also presented EC13 and EC9 nomination forms and corresponding letters sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), as well as the lawyers for Tinubu, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), and the All Progressive Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), all raised objections to the documents’ admissibility.

The defense is preparing to cross-examine the witness.

More details will follow as the story unfolds.

Former Ghanaian President, John Mahama, has urged President Bola Tinubu to tackle corruption with asset declaration.

Mahama made this appeal in his keynote presentation, titled, “Asset Valuation As A Global Anti-Corruption Tool:- The Nigeria Experience” at the 53rd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers held in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital on Thursday.

The former Ghanaian President identified asset declaration by the Public Officers as a tool to tackle the menace of corruption in the public sector.
According to him, corruption is a cankerworm that retards the progress of a nation.

He said corruption must be fought headlong whether it occurs in the public or private sector adding that corruption grows as a result of the failure of the instructions that are established to fight it.

Mahama stated, “Corruption is a global challenge that hinders economic development, diverts investments from infrastructure, institutions, and social services, and undermines efforts to achieve other country-specific development goals and targets.”

The former Ghanaian President explained that those who signed contracts documents that produce bad infrastructures have contributed to the destruction of the economy.

He urged all stakeholders in Nigeria and the African sub-region to rise and defeat corruption in all its ramifications.

He also urged Nigerians to support government efforts and ensure transparency in the fight against corruption in all sectors of the economy.

He also called for the use of the asset declaration mechanism to fight corruption.

Mahama said, “The international community has embarked on a global anti-corruption fight across several sectors, including real estate.

“Real estate asset and property valuation are a critical factor in asset investment decision-making and a vital tool for the global fight against corruption.

“Considering the enormity of the consequences of perversely attributed values to assets, asset valuation deservedly demands and requires increased attention from critical actors, such as the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

“Our fragile financial intermediation systems’ security and growth face significant risks from poorly done asset valuation.

“To remain relevant in pursuing economic and social progress and distributive justice and equity, you as professionals must rise to the occasion and create a more responsive regime to aid Africa’s renaissance and growth. You must work to build Africa as a centre of excellence in the asset valuation space.”

A former presidential candidate, Kingsley Moghalu, has said the suspended Governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, should not have contested the 2023 presidency.

Moghalu stated that Emefiele “crossed the line” when he bought the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contested for the presidency.

In an interview with Arise News on Thursday, the former CBN Deputy Governor said contesting for the presidency made Emefiele unfit to continue as the governor of the apex bank.

Moghalu, however, said he has the highest minimal regard for Emefiele’s performance as the CBN governor. He added that the bank’s performance on its core mandates has not been impressive under Emefiele.

He said: “We have seen the consequence of not being careful in appointing people for such a sensitive role. They make decisions and are just trying to achieve some self-interest at the particular time but are not weighing the consequence on the masses of an economy. There are lessons to be learned from what we have seen over the last several years.

“You cannot substitute political mandates for statuary mandates of the Central bank. I think it has been sidetracked. What we are seeing today is not a surprise at all.

“I have the highest minimal regard for Godwin Emefiele’s performance as the governor of CBN. The bank’s performance on its core mandates has not been impressive.

“Especially, going to contest for the presidency while sitting on the governorship seat of the bank. I think that just crossed the line and made him unfit to continue.”

Recalls that Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu as the CBN Governor, and was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and national chairman of Tinubu Support Network (TSN) Engr. Kailani Muhammad, yesterday said besides the military, traditional rulers and governors have been involved in stealing oil for decades.

Muhammad who is also director-general of Amalgamated APC Support Groups, stated this while reacting to the recent allegation by Asari Dokubo that 99 percent of oil theft in the oil-rich Niger Delta is being perpetrated under the watch of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy.

Kailani alleged some top traditional rulers and governors are not left out in the high-scale oil theft running into billions of dollars since 1983.

He said “Oil theft is not just about the military. It involves some traditional rulers and governors and they started in 1983. They are very powerful people. So Mr. President has to step up, stand on his feet and be ready to deal with anyone found sabotaging our source of revenue because we operate a mono-economy. We depend on oil for survival as a country and the best Tinubu can do for himself is to put a stop to it so he can have resources to deliver his ‘renewed hope” campaign mantra to the citizens”, he stressed.

He however urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the investigation into activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the period when Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi served as helmsman of the apex bank.

He said the news or rumour of the former apex bank Governor Sanusi calling for the release of Emeifele sends a signal that even Sanusi may not be a saint hence he too should be investigated accordingly.

According to Kailani, Sanusi Lamido has integrity questions hanging on his neck which led to his removal by former President Goodluck Jonathan around 2014 which Tinubu should not ignore.

“We have been seeing the former Governor of the CBN, Sanusi Lamido around the presidential villa and other public places and that was a source of concern to us. We want to advise that Mr. President doesn’t listen to him.

“In fact, we want the investigation extended to his tenure as a former CBN Governor. There were a lot of issues hanging on his neck which made former President Jonathan to suspend him.

“We also know that Emefiele is his boy.

He too should be investigated alongside Emefiele so they can bring out our money for developmental purposes”, he said.

With regards to the appointment of new service chiefs, he said, the President has put the round pegs in a round hole, he stated however that, “let the Service Chiefs and other security leaders come together because what we used to have until now is weak inter-agency collaboration.

“Some of them will just keep intelligence within instead of sharing it with other sister agencies. But, if they can come together and form a formidable force, we will finish with the issue of insecurity in this country and our lives and economy will be better for it.

“So let us hope that things will go well. We will be talking to them through press conferences from time to time to tell Nigerians the situation report as this administration goes into its first 100 days in office and we hope it is going to be very positive, especially with what we have seen Tinubu doing in less than his first three weeks in office as President”.

He said, President Tinunbu has started on a very sound footing, doing what his predecessor couldn’t do such as the signing of the Student loan bill, subsidy removal, electricity bill among others, adding that. “Nigeria will be a Haven under Tinubu” while urging all and sundry to give him maximum support to reposition the country.