A Public Lecture In Honor of Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja.

Protocol:
On the 21st of June, 2024 when I was contacted by this institution to deliver a lecture commemorating the completion of the tenure of the erudite Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’ Allah as a Vice Chancellor, I was a bit reluctant considering my schedule as the Hon. Attorney-General of Ondo State and Commissioner for Justice, but a witness within me propelled me considering the pedigree of the Honoree and most importantly his contribution to academic excellence in Nigeria and across the globe.

It is of necessity to state that the tenure of the Honoree recorded no interruption in the academic calendar of this great citadel of learning. This is in large part due to the Honoree’s very strong beliefs that academic quality would be enhanced if there is stability in the system and that particularly, higher institutions should be problem solvers to Nigerian governments and should be the engine room for developmental programs. This is why the honoree have to his credit the legacy: AbdulRasheed Na’ Allah Entrepreneurship Development Foundation which was inaugurated on the 23rd of September, 2023.

Again, I was given the privilege possibly to adjust the topic provided for today’s auspicious occasion which is ‘Sustainability of Academic Institutions in Nigeria’. I see no justification in modifying the suggested topic for the lecture noting that it emanated from great academic minds and the topic is a reflection of what should be the focus of our academic discuss in Nigeria today and I will therefore, within the limit of my time paraphrase the topic as provided.

SUSTAINABILITY OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA.
To place the topic in proper perspective, I consider it very necessary to start this discussion by stating that academic sustainability is related to incorporating sustainability principles and practices into educational establishments and the fundamental operations and functions in academic institutions.

In many developed nations, higher educational institutions are sustained through their teachings, research work, operations, practices, regulations and laws. This lecture will appraise the current status of sustainability in Nigerian institutions of higher learning.

I believe it is appropriate for us to delve a bit into the beginnings of higher learning in Nigeria. I believe that it is only through an evaluation of the past and the present that we can step into the future.

Higher education within the shores of Nigeria began in 1948 when the University College, Ibadan was established as a College of the University of London in a special relationship scheme. The University later became a full-fledged university in 1962. Thus began the establishment of citadels of higher learning in the country. The creation of the premiere university was followed by the creation of the second generation of universities from 1960-1962.

Since then, the Federal Government, States of the federation and private individuals have all contributed to the now enormous pool of universities.

In the early days of the Nigerian university system, colonial era structures still in place ensured that Nigerian universities could hold their heads high among world universities. However, matters have gradually deteriorated as a result of a lot of factors.

These factors are largely entwined with the general problems of the Nigerian nation and have posed a great challenge to the sustainability of Nigerian academic institutions.

In this lecture, I shall approach this topic through a problem-solution based approach. I shall discuss the challenges to the sustainability of our academic institutions, and then I shall enumerate my proposed solution to these challenges.

PROBLEMS BEDEVILING SUSTAINABILITY OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
1. Poor Leadership: one of the indisputable problems facing Nigerian institutions is the poor caliber of administrators. Appointment to top management posts are very often not by merit, and it is not unusual for due process to be thrown in the bin. Many administrators are appointed by politicians without any regard for merit – administrators are very often stooges to powerful politicians who have put them there. While it is disturbing that most university administrators are stooges of some politicians, it is more disheartening that some administrators have no business being administrators at all. The lack of competence that is so often a result of nepotistic appointments is a bane to the sustainability of our academic institutions. No wonder the pedigree and administrative tactics of the honoree Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’ Allah changed the paradigm positively in the university of Abuja. Hopefully, this would be sustained.

2. Lack of Sound Strategic Planning: Many Nigerian universities do not have plans covering the unit level, the department level and other sectors of the institution. There is no driving mission, no vision, and no goal at all from the topmost level to the lowest. Most universities are not coordinated because there is no strategic plan guiding their activities. The lack of goals means there is no direction or drive. Lack of strategic planning in areas such as curriculum development, university infrastructural development, finance management means the institutions do not plan their activities properly. Curricula get old and become outdated, meaning graduates are not equipped with the skills needed for today’s world, funding becomes an ever re-emerging problem and the infrastructure collapses or becomes outdated. Even where there are long term strategies set out by their forbears, administrators mostly do not follow this strategy. They instead form their own strategy, leading to a lack of uniformity of purpose between succeeding administrations. The impact of this is profound on the products on the institutions.

3. Lack of Research: The poor attitude of successive governments at different levels towards the funding of research activities is another problem facing Nigerian institutions. Research programs in Nigerian institutions are given far less attention than in most other countries. One of the functions of academic institutions is engagement in research activities with a view to solving social, economic and political challenges affecting the nation through findings. Due to the lack of proper funding for research, many young researchers are discouraged from carrying on, and instead find greener pasture in other activities, or go abroad to find greener pasture.

4. Inadequate Infrastructure: Most Nigerian academic institutions face an infrastructural deficit that has affected productivity in many ways. Infrastructural facilities and laboratory equipment in most Nigerian institutions are not in good condition, with many having become outdated and out of place in the modern world. Today, students are forced to learn in dilapidated buildings, forced to use outdated equipment in outdated laboratories and endure an ever worsening learning environment. The current infrastructural situation in most Nigerian institutions is sickening and runs short of an ideal in an academic environment. Every year, thousands of young scholars travel out to carry out research work on their thesis or research work. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and computer labs in most Nigerian institutions are ages-old and dilapidated where they exist at all.

5. Poor Teaching: With the national population ever increasing, the number of persons vying for and gaining admission into Nigerian institutions is ever increasing. This means an ever-increasing pressure on university personnel. Unfortunately, this has not translated into a corresponding increase in recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff. As a result, the pressure on the staff is ever increasing, and teaching has become less effective.

6. Poor Funding: Successive Nigerian government have continuously paid lip service to funding for educational institutions. Poor funding has continued to hamper the growth and continued sustainability of educational institutions in Nigeria. While successive governments continue to lament the lack of funding faced by educational institutions, they only complain, and have continuously left much to be desired in their funding of education.

7. Poor Recognition of Nigerian Institutions outside Nigeria: Majority of Nigerian academic institutions are not well known in other parts of the globe. This is because of the lack of involvement in collaborative research with foreign institutions. Only few Nigerian Universities are recognized outside the shores of Nigeria. It used to be that scholars from other continents visited Nigeria for studies, but those days are sadly, far behind us.

8. Academic Corruption and Fraud: It is disheartening that it is hard for a discussion about anything Nigerian to end without at least one mention of corruption. The corruption that pervades almost all aspect of the Nigerian society has not spared academic institutions. In 2013, Transparency International reported that about 30% of Nigerians surveyed said they had paid a bribe in the educational sector. This corruption ranges from requiring ‘long leg’ for facilitating admission, to bribing lecturers for grades, to sex-for mark scandals.

The National Youth Service Corps at a time did reveal that some Nigerian tertiary institutions do sell their certificates. Recently, a Nigerian university was found to be sending students to the Nigerian Law School when the students had not spent the required number of years to qualify for admission into that institution. While the erring university was sanctioned, the trend is really disturbing, as the so called ‘ivory towers’ appear to be daily losing all the sanctity hitherto associated with them.

WAYS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
Having considered the problems facing academic institutions, it is appropriate to propose solutions to this threats to sustainable academic institutions.

1. Provision of Effective Leadership: Nigerian institutions need effective leadership to navigate the challenges facing them. Leaders of Nigerian universities must be those with integrity, knowledge and persons who practice modern management leadership styles. Leaders of educational institutions must be visionary and dynamic. The performance of the administrator should be sustained through the proper utilization of material and human resources in the achievement of institutional goals and objectives. The sustainability of academic institutions in Nigeria depends largely on the caliber of people at the helm of affairs at these institutions. It would therefore be counter-productive to continue to allow corruption and nepotism to dictate appointments into leadership positions in academic institutions.

2. Provision of Quality Teaching and Learning: The National Universities Commission must ensure that all the set requisite benchmark designed for universities to achieve the standard in the quality of teaching and learning are to be complied with. The Commission must become more vigilant and ensure every defaulting institution is appropriately sanctioned to deter others from falling below standard.

3. Fighting Academic Corruption: Academic institutions and enjoined to set themselves apart and become examples of what zero-corruption means. All forms of corruption and fraudulent practices in the system must be brought to be barest minimum. An holistic fight against corruption and nepotism in the Nigerian educational system is vital if our institutions are to be sustained.

4. Improvement of Research: Nigerian institutions must increase their capacity for research. Regulatory bodies should come up with policies that would mandate Nigerian institutions to carry out research work. A minimum benchmark should be set for institutions. Every Nigerian university for example, should be required to publish a certain number of journals, or a certain number of collaboration between its researchers and foreign researchers. There should be deliberate attempts to make research work the center of activity for institutions in Nigeria. In other climes, research constitutes a major avenue for funding of institutions of learning. In Nigeria, the bright minds are available to conduct required research. All that is needed is a conducive environment and the appropriate resources and incentives.

5. Rebranding of Nigerian Institutions: Many foreign institutions have advertisement agencies promoting them in Nigeria. Nigerian institutions should have similar bodies outside the shores of Nigeria to attract enrollment by foreigners. This will ensure that Nigerian institutions are portrayed in a good light outside the shores of Nigeria. The current status quo, where Nigerian universities are not known in most parts of the world, is the reason most of the time, Nigerian institutions are not favourably ranked in world rankings of educational institutions.

6. Provision of Adequate Infrastructure Facilities: It is imperative that Nigerian institutions of learning, especially publicly owned institutions are provided adequate infrastructural facilities. There must be adequate provisions of physical resources appropriate to each course of study being offered and the quality and adequacy of classrooms, library holding recent books and periodicals and other learning resources, well-equipped laboratories and information technology providers should be assessed at regular intervals. The budgetary allocation must be adequate for the recurrent cost of materials for teaching. Internal sources of revenue generation should be intensified.

CONCLUSION
Academic institutions constitute the foundation upon which every nation is built. The current state of the nation which has graduates unable to defend their certificates is due in large part to several problems which have been enumerated earlier. However, the challenges are by no means insurmountable. A deliberate commitment by all stakeholders involved is required if the bright days of Nigerian academic institutions is to come back. It is important that we sustain the relevance of the institutions by making sure persons graduating have the required attributes to make a better living for themselves and positively impact the society. Research work should be geared towards societal problems with a view to finding solutions to them. Governments at all levels should ensure educational institutions are adequately funded. All efforts should be made to sanitize the university system, as corruption cannot be allowed to eat any deeper into the fabric of the educational system. Nigerian institutions should ensure that collaborations between their researchers and foreign researchers are encouraged. These steps will ensure Nigerian institutions of learning take their rightful place among institutions around the world and be sustained.

Dear Readers,

We find ourselves at a crucial juncture, contemplating a true reflection on our 25-year democratic journey towards a more perfect democracy. Let us state clearly that with all its triumphs and challenges, this journey is a testament to our commitment to the democratic process. 

Advancing towards a more perfect democracy necessitates a rigorous examination of the key players in this journey. A candid and profound introspection will unveil the areas that demand our reconsideration and vigilance in our democratic process. 

An excellent place to start such honest and deep reflection is to consider the role and impact of politicians and political parties in our democracy. 

General education does us a disservice by insisting on defining democracy as “the government of the people by the people” That definition, taken from Abraham Lincoln’s November Gettysburg 1863 speech, does not allow for reflection in our times; yes, it rhymes, and it is evocative and stimulating, even romantic, but it does not allow us to put into focus the crucial elements that make democracy what it should be. It does not talk about the role of parties and politicians, nor does it dwell on the Constitution or the duties and limits of government. 

Most Nigerians and those who observe Nigerian affairs will, on reflecting on the role and impact of politicians and political parties in the last 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, hardly give politicians and political parties a pass mark on their performance. The most common reason is their inability to provide the most basic services that the modern state they contested and won to manage should deliver.

I refer to security, constant electric supply, good roads, reduction of poverty and level of illiteracy, etc. That is about services of good democratic government, or “dividends of democracy”, as most say in Nigeria. 

Beyond the services of a government, we have other intangible but more significant and debilitating issues, like the fact that rather than helping unite the country, politicians have, in the past 25 years, divided the people more along ethnic and religious lines in a bid to get into power not through vision, merit, and rigour but indolently through mere identity politics. 

Let us note here that political parties conceived as a platform to bring ideas to the commonwealth table and unite people of like mind based on ideologies or visions of the world have become, in Nigeria over the past 25 years, mere special-purpose vehicles that individuals use to achieve their very personal ambitions: A total corruption what political parties ought to be. 

With this in mind, it is easy to see why politicians will and can easily defect, disappoint, and betray so many of what they purport to stand for the day before. It is also easy to see why those leading our political parties, referred to as leaders and parading themselves as such, are nothing but boys and girls doing the bidding of their sponsors (aspirants and candidates) too many times to the detriment of conscience and nation. 

To move towards a more perfect democracy, it is crucial that we, as observers, politicians, and citizens, spend more time following the formation and procedures of political parties and those who manage them. It was, and still is, a significant and dangerous error to consider issues of any political party affair a “family affair,” as was declared and believed. 

A major peculiarity of Nigeria’s peculiar democratic system that has offered the world is the role and prominence of the election regulator and manager, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Let us start by noting that unlike most countries and in their normal times, where anyone rarely talks about the election regulators, Nigeria’s election regulator is visible and prominent. 

Our INEC is amazingly expensive, largely disorganised, untrusted by too many people, and involved in too many controversies. 

INEC is a body that has too often done a major disservice not only to election management but to the image and reputation of professors in Nigeria that have brought little of professorial to the election process.

In our journey towards a more perfect democracy, we must review INEC and reset it towards a lighter, less expensive, more decentralised, and more digital organisation with many functions outsourced. 

As said elsewhere, I propose that BVN should be linked to voter cards and that registration for and retrieval of voter cards should be managed by banks where possible. 

We do not need a central body keeping us up in a hall all night to announce results. Let us devolve this function to the local arms of the commission and let parties and media announce certified results. 

How have we, the people, fared in this 25-year democratic journey in the country? Truth be told, not very well. Sadly, too many people who should be involved based on conscience and knowledge are not. Scarily, too many people who, based on character and capacity, should not be anywhere near matters of the commonwealth are right in the middle of our democratic process. I am not one who believes in the generally accepted platitude that wants to get millions and millions of people to vote and participate in politics just because they are citizens of the country. There are other ways to exercise our citizenship. 

If we want to move towards a more perfect democracy, we must realise that it is time to consider what our experience has taught us about voters in the last 25 years, but we refuse to learn based on a received but poorly digested value: universal adult suffrage. I propose we consider voting and participating in politics a duty and a qualified earned right, not a natural right. 

A voter’s card should be treated not as proof and right of citizenship but like a driver’s license that requires demonstrable commitment and capacity. Yes, I know it’s not a popular idea, but let us think about it…

Many complain and moralise about vote buying and selling, but what do you expect? What do you expect in a system where so many voters are in a state of abject poverty and are primarily illiterate? How do you think voters who do not know what the Constitution says and pay no tax will vote? 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of eight new Federal Permanent Secretaries to fill in existing and impending vacancies of some states and geo-political zones in the top administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The new Federal Permanent Secretaries appointed after a diligent selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation are:

(1) Dr. Emanso Umobong Okop - Akwa-Ibom 

(2) Obi Emeka Vitalis - Anambra 

(3) Mahmood Fatima Sugra Tabi'a - Bauchi 

(4) Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi - Jigawa 

(5) Olusanya Olubunmi - Ondo 

(6) Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila - Zamfara 

(7) Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma (South-East)

(8) Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen (South-South)

The President anticipates that the new Federal Permanent Secretaries will exercise absolute dedication, diligence, and fidelity to the nation in the discharge of their functions and ensure optimum service delivery to the Nigerian people.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

The Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria recently announced that the nation’s total public debt increased significantly to N121.67 trillion (approximately $91.46 billion) as of March 31, 2024.

This figure encompasses the combined domestic and external debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the thirty-six state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In comparison, the total public debt as of December 31, 2023, stood at N97.34 trillion (approximately $108.23 billion). This represents an increase of N24.33 trillion or 24.99% within a three-month period.

The increase is driven majorly by naira devaluation, as the total debt was reduced in dollar terms by $16.77 billion or 18.34%.

Amid concerns over rising debt service costs, states have been working to decrease their debt stock. In Q1 2024, states’ total domestic debt dropped by 31% from N5.86 trillion in Q4 2023 to N4.07 trillion and by 26% from N5.48 trillion in Q1 2023.

Despite the decrease, some states still have high debt stock. Below is the ranking of the top 10 Nigerian states with the highest domestic debt in Q1 2024:

#10 Bauchi

Bauchi’s domestic debt decreased significantly from N144.54 billion in Q1 2023 to N108.39 billion in Q1 2024, representing a 25.01% decrease. Additionally, there was a decrease from N160.81 billion in Q4 2023, a 32.62% decrease.

#9 Abia

Abia experienced an increase in domestic debt from N99.54 billion in Q1 2023 to N113.71 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting a 14.22% increase. However, from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024, there was a decrease of 17.99% from N138.64 billion.

#8 Benue

Benue’s debt reduced from N141.29 billion in Q1 2023 to N116.73 billion in Q1 2024, a 17.38% decrease. Compared to Q4 2023, which had N187.18 billion, there was a decrease of 37.62%.

#7 Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom’s domestic debt decreased from N206.64 billion in Q1 2023 to N142.93 billion in Q1 2024, which is a 30.83% decrease. From Q4 2023 to Q1 2024, the debt also decreased from N190.48 billion by 24.96%.

#6 Cross River

Cross River’s debt decreased from N196.27 billion in Q1 2023 to N156.17 billion in Q1 2024, showing a 20.42% decrease. From Q4 2023 to Q1 2024, there was a decrease from N220.20 billion by 29.08%.

#5 Imo

Imo saw a decrease in domestic debt from N202.55 billion in Q1 2023 to N163.06 billion in Q1 2024, which is a 19.53% decrease. The decrease from Q4 2023’s N217.11 was 24.89%.

#4 Ogun

Ogun’s debt decreased from N293.20 billion in Q1 2023 to N221.22 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting a 24.55% decrease. Compared to Q4 2023, which had N278.68 billion, there was a 20.62% decrease.

#3 Rivers

Rivers remained constant at N232.58 billion from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024. However, there was a slight increase from N225.51 billion in Q1 2023 by 3.14%. The DMO in its latest debt report noted that the domestic debt stock figure for Rivers State was as of March 31, 2023.

#2 Delta

Delta’s domestic debt decreased from N421.78 billion in Q1 2023 to N334.90 billion in Q1 2024, a 20.62% decrease. From Q4 2023 to Q1 2024, the debt also decreased from N373.41 billion by 10.31%.

#1 Lagos

Lagos, with the highest domestic debt, saw an increase from N812.38 billion in Q1 2023 to N929.41 billion in Q1 2024, which is a 14.41% increase. However, there was a decrease from Q4 2023’s N1.05 trillion by 11.38%.

[Nairametrics]

Hajiya Halima Adamu, mother of the famous Hausa Singer Dauda Adamu, popularly known as Rarara, has been abducted, Daily Trust can report.

She was abducted at her residence in Kahutu village, Danja local government area of Katsina State, according to a source in Kahutu village.

According to the source, the bandits stormed the village around 1am Friday and abducted the aged woman.

“The bandits came on foot and silently because they did not fire a single shot during the operation that lasted for just a few minutes. The woman did not resist when the bandits requested her to go along with them.”

“Although the bandits met other people at the house, they only picked Rarara’s mother, leaving behind others. No attempt to confront the bandits while leaving the house because they were armed with guns.

“They probably kept their motorcycles from far away and then trekked to the village. We are praying that the woman will return to us in condition because she is very helpful to us in this village. Her son, Rarara is very generous to us; he has brought so many developments to this village for our wellbeing.”

Efforts to reach the famous Hausa singer on phone proved abortive, as his phones rang severally without any response.

Katsina is one of the states with a high level of insecurity in the North West region.

[DailyTrust]

British Jamaican rapper Stephanie Victoria Allen, popularly known as SteffLondon, has explained why she loves Nigeria and its culture.

The singer disclosed this in an interview with radio host ‘Henrieveill’ on Tuesday.

When asked what she loved about Nigeria and its culture, she answered, saying: “Ooh, my gosh, there’s so many things, music, food. I like the people, the banter. They are so funny, very vibrant, and very colourful, like everything is in your face. It’s very loud. They remind me of Jamaicans but in a different way.”

She added: “I like your tradition; I feel like, as Jamaicans, we’ve been stripped of that. We’ve just got dancehall, good food and vibes. we are just nice people, but we ain’t really got; the cultural aspect has been taken away from us.”

DAILY POST recalls that Steff had done a Nigerian-themed video that featured dances, Ankara and the use of Pidgin and Yoruba languages in her ‘Can’t Let You Go’ video.

In December 2022, the singer also hosted an Ankara-themed party for her birthday celebration.

[DailyPost]

The ruling party in Kano state, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Friday, June 28, accused the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje of appointing Aminu Bayero and the other four dethroned first-class emirs for his political gains.

NNPP chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman had split the Kano emirate into five and appointed five emirs in pursuance of political gains, with a target on the 2023 general election.

Dungurawa stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in his office.

According to him, it was arranged to expire with the tenure of the former governor, Dr. Ganduje, whose governorship candidate subsequently lost the 2023 election.

He alleged that the sacked emirs had enjoyed the status of a state commissioner during Ganduje’s reign, adding it was a matter of public good that they now cease to be recognised after Ganduje’s tenure.

“The five first-class emirs we met on the throne were only commissioners appointed by Ganduje to assist his candidates win elections in 2023. They were sustained until they lost the political elections in 2023 and lost their emirships as well.

“The fact remains that immediately Ganduje and his party lost the elections and stepped down as Governor of Kano State, they ought to have also vacated the thrones, because none of them was occupying the vacant seat of Emir of Kano since Muhammadu Sanusi II left.

“But maybe they didn’t accept that their tenure had expired after Ganduje and preferred successor (Gawuna) lost the election that witnessed their benefactor’s exit from the seat of power in the state,” Dungurawa said.

The NNPP chairman said the decision to relieve Bayero and the other emirs of their traditional status was rooted in public outcry over the vacant position of the emir of Kano.

He said: “Governor Abba Yusuf acted based on public outcry that there was a vacuum in the seat of Emir of Kano and he reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II who was earlier dethroned.

“The lawmakers in the State Assembly repealed the Kano Emirate Council law 2019 and enacted a new one that called for a united Kano emirate, and the governor assented to it”.

He commended Justice A. Liman, saying, “The judge is handling the legal tussle professionally brought before him.”

Speaking further, the NNPP state chairman mocked Bayero for hoisting the emirate flag at the Nasarawa palace where he is currently staying, saying the 15th emir was performing the role of a Personal Assistant (PA) to the 16th emir of Kano (Sanusi II).

Dungurawa said: “Don’t forget that the Nasarawa mini palace is a guest house for the Emir. It is all about the Kano Emirate, it shows the SA (Bayero) to the Emir of Kano (Sanusi II) is doing his job faithfully by overseeing the graveyard of their forefathers laid to rest in the mausoleum.”

[TheNation]

The Nigeria Customs Service, Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, said it intercepted 1,410 litres of premium motor spirit worth N30.4m within one week.

The Coordinator of the team, Mohammad Shuaibu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Customs Training College in Ikeja on Friday.

He said that the team intercepted these contraband within their area of jurisdiction adding that some were intercepted at the creeks.

Shuaibu added that the team also seized other contraband worth N1.12bn and arrested five suspects in connection with the various seizures.

“In our effort to actualise the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines, the goods worth, N1.12bn

“They were intercepted across the borders of the six states of the South-West geo-political zone,” he said.

According to him, the arrested suspects are undergoing investigation and prosecution.

“Other items seized include, 4, 051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3, 751, Jerry Cans of PMS, 425 cartons of frozen poultry products, 912 pieces of used tyres, 30 sacks of cannabis sativa

“30 units of cars as means of conveyance, seven units of imported (tokunbo) cars, four units of motorcycles among others,” he said.

The coordinator stated that the team also recovered a total of N11.5m as revenue through the issuance of debit notes on vehicles and other goods improperly imported into the country.

However, Shuaibu disclosed that the team intercepted 30 illegal immigrants.

“With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the joint border patrol team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the NIS for further investigation and prosecution” Shuaibu disclosed.

He warned smugglers to desist from the crimes adding that they have multiple effects such as, “undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, which impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nation’s revenue base through evasion of duties and taxes,”

[Punch]

UEFA has dismissed two Spanish referees, Alejandro Hernández Hernández and Jesús Gil Manzano, from officiating at Euro 2024 after receiving complaints about their performance.

Hernández, who served as the VAR official, faced criticism for dismissing Scotland’s penalty claim in their 1-0 loss to Hungary last Sunday. Manzano was under fire for his error during France’s 1-0 victory over Austria.

Alongside the two referees, their assistants, Diego Barbero Sevilla and Ángel Nevado Rodríguez, have also been sent home.

This decision leaves Martínez Munuera, a VAR official, as the only Spanish representative for the remainder of the tournament.

Former La Liga referee Iturralde Gonzalez has called on the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to improve relations with UEFA following the dismissal of four out of five Spanish officials after the group stage.

“There is an urgent need for a Spanish representative on the refereeing committee,” Gonzalez told Spanish radio network Cadena SER.

In related news, Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who dismissed Scotland’s penalty protests against Hungary, has been named the fourth official for Italy’s last-16 tie against Switzerland on Saturday, despite earlier reports suggesting he had been dropped by UEFA.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke was visibly frustrated after his team was denied a penalty when Stuart Armstrong was brought down inside the box by Willi Orban.
Tello dismissed the claim, and lead VAR Hernández did not advise a review.

Clarke commented, “In a European competition it might have been better to have a European referee. But we had European VAR. Maybe the referee didn’t see the challenge clearly on the pitch, but what’s the purpose of VAR if they’re not going to come in on something like that? It’s a penalty. It’s 100 percent a penalty.”

Austria also expressed their displeasure with Manzano’s officiating in their 1-0 defeat to France, after they were not awarded a corner shortly before Max Wöber’s own goal secured the win for Didier Deschamps’ side.

Vanguard News