Adegoke Fayoade, the commissioner of police in Lagos says its command provided water and biscuits to protesters to prevent collapse.

Fayoade who spoke to NAN in Lagos, said the long distance and hot weather for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protesters, emphasizing the need for at least water and biscuits for participants to ensure a successful protest.

“I provided water and biscuits because I don’t want anyone to collapse on the way. We have to use water to strengthen everybody. That is the least we could do,” he said.

“The protest went on as agreed with the NLC leadership. We promised them protection and we provided such from the beginning to the end.

“The same protection will be provided on Wednesday and I will be part of the operation.”

The commissioner of police pledged to maintain the security of lives and properties and urged residents to provide timely information on crimes to support the police.

He described the protest as peaceful nothing that no one was arrested for any violations during the protest.

Many protesters were seen rushing for the refreshments being distributed from patrol vehicles by police personnel on the way.

The NLC protest is stated to continue on Wednesday

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress has called out President Bola Tinubu.

According to Punch, he rejected what he described as the excuses and blame game dished out by the presidency as the cause of the deepening economic woes.

Eze says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team seem entrapped in a quagmire as hope is nowhere in sight to get the country out of the pickle.

The APC chieftain claims that the Nigerian economy has progressively continued in a free fall while the value of the Naira to other convertible currencies is steadily on a downward trend and is nearing a state of worthlessness in the international money market.

He noted that the effect of the uninterrupted journey of the Naira to its place of final rest is the hike in the price of food and other basic commodities.

Eze noted that the attendant reality is the hunger and starvation that is feasible on the faces of angry Nigerians, who, according to him, are unsure of a square meal for each passing day and most of whom go to bed each night hungry.

Despite the overwhelming challenges of the time which has sealed Nigeria’s place as the poverty capital of the world, Eze wondered why some analysts still hold the view that Tinubu is right in his policies.

Countering the assertions of pro-Tinubu commentators, Chief Eze said: “Assuming the policies were good, with very little or no thought towards the complex chains of reciprocal interactions and variables required in the translation of policies into actions, there is bound to be a widening gap between intentions and results as is the case in the present.”

In a statement made available to the media, the politician expressed shock over a recent comment credited to Vice President Kashim Shittima, who had inferred that politicians who lost in the 2023 general election were orchestrating a plot to destabilize Nigeria.

Describing Shetima’s claims as inconsequential, Eze said Tinubu was never prepared to make any meaningful impact in Nigeria, adding that his only concern was to be President and nothing more.

“The pernicious effects of perpetual poverty have become real under his administration and these are his chief legacies,” he said

“There seems to be no efforts by the present administration in tackling the economic concerns of the country and if there are, he said, it means such efforts are not good enough and shifting blame to patriots who are in their private capacities thinking out ways to help the country is to say the least myopic.

“I laugh at the reasons expounded by some of our leaders and Scholars as the factors behind our present food Crisis. They failed to highlight insecurity as the main bane of the present economic woes facing Nigeria.

“Where do we get the food to eat when most of the farmers both in the North and Southern sections of this country particularly those in the North Central are now in the IDP Camps leaving their farms in the hands of herders?

“And we are busy fooling ourselves that we don’t have enough food to feed the populace. What part of Nigeria is safe or secure for normal farming activities to take place?

“This is the reality. Our problem is human-induced yet we are expecting God to send us manna from Heaven as he did to the people of Israel who had no means of farming at the period God sent manna to them."

Eze highlighted that apart from insecurity another major cause of Nigeria’s present woes was the inability of the President who in 2012 highlighted the consequences of the removal of subsidy but was carried away by his election victory and announced without a proper study and provision to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians, the removal of oil subsidy.

A kidnap kingpin, who has been on the wanted list of the Command for a long time, Samaila Wakili Fafa A.K.A Habu Ibrahim, has been arrested by the FCT Police Command.

Wakili was arrested on February 24, at about 7:05 PM, in a continued effort against banditry in FCT and its environs

The suspect is said to be one of the two kidnappers the Honorable Minister FCT placed a bounty on, as the other one namely Saidu Abdulkadir A.K.A Dahiru Adamu, had earlier been arrested by the Command.

When interrogated, the suspect confessed that his syndicate masterminded and executed several kidnappings in FCT and its environs, including the abduction of Barr. Chris Agidy, the legal aid to Senator. Ned Nwoko and Mr Sunday Yahaya Zakwai, the district head of Ketti Village were later killed by them.

Samaila Wakili further led police operatives to where the remains of Barr. Chris Agidy is. The remains were recovered and deposited in Gwagwalada General Hospital.

Confirming the arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, said while an investigation is still ongoing, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, reiterates his unflinching commitment to combat crime and criminality in all its manifestations and to ensure safety of residents.

He equally urges residents to report suspicious activities through the following emergency lines; 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883; PCB: 09022222352.

Most Superior Evangelist Olagbaju Moris Gbade Fadehan, the Shepherd In-Charge of CCC Grace of Comfort Parish, Obaloran Quarters, in Ile-Ife Osun state, was reportedly killed in the church premises on Monday evening, February 26, by his serving assistant, Evangelist Olalekan Ogundipe.

According to reports, Fadehan had a conflict with the suspect and this degenerated into a fight after the close of their service on Monday evening.

The suspect allegedly stabbed Fadehan, causing him to die on the spot. The suspect thereafter allegedly set the deceased ablaze with his sutana on him.

The suspect was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police.

The spokesperson of the command said investigation into the incident has commenced.

A car snatcher, Ahmed Mohammed, who ran away with his employer's Toyota Highlander in Maiduguri, Borno State, has been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command.

A Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, said the suspect stole the car with the intent to sell it at N2m and use the money to pay his house rent and bring back his estranged wife.

According to the PPRO, the suspect was employed as a driver by a company owned by his secondary school classmate in Maiduguri.

“On the 24th February 2024, the operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID) attached to Bauchi State Police Command acted on Credible Intelligence at their disposal and arrested one Ahmed Mohammed 29yrs 'M' a resident of Polo High-Court, Borno State,” the statement read.

The suspect was arrested at Bayan Gari Area of Bauchi state alongside the stolen vehicle (Toyota Highlander) white in color with registration number ABC-65PK.

A discreet Investigation into the matter has revealed that the suspect was employed as a driver by a company owned by his secondary school classmate called Damuli Investment Company Ltd. in Maiduguri, Borno State.

"It was further uncovered that the accused Ahmed Mohammed fled with the car to Bauchi with with intent to sell it out at the sum of two million Naira (N2.000.000) and use the money to pay his house rent and to welcome his estranged wife back home.

"The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, psc, has directed that further Investigation be extended to Borno State to explore more motives and unravel every fact behind his action''

A 26-year-old woman, Omorogbe Soni, has been arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command for assault, after she was captured on camera assaulting a policeman in Ajah on February 21, 2024.

The incident occurred when Soni engaged in a heated argument with the policewoman and subsequently pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground.

According to a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on his X account on Tuesday, Soni was presented before the Etiosa Magistrates’ Court in Ajah on February 22, 2024. She has since been remanded in the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre till the next court sitting scheduled for March 27, 2024.

The statement said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned one Omorogbe Jennifer Soni ‘f’ aged 26 for serious assault after she was caught on camera assaulting a police officer in Ajah on February 21, 2024.

“Omorogbe was arraigned the following day, February 22, 2024, at the Etiosa Magistrate Court, Ajah and has been remanded to the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre till the next hearing on March 27, 2024.

“The Lagos State Police Command advises Lagosians to remain law-abiding in their day-to-day activities with all and sundry as anyone found guilty of violating the law would be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Former World Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, aka Bash Ali, took to social media on Tuesday to reflect on his commitment to fighting corruption as he celebrates his 68th birthday.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Ali recounted the sacrifices he endured over 17 years in his quest to host his Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight in Nigeria, emphasizing his refusal to succumb to corrupt practices.

The former World Boxing Federation Champion revealed that his principled stand had cost him dearly, resulting in a decline in his financial fortunes from being a millionaire in dollars to having virtually nothing in Naira.

“For 17 years I struggled in vain to host in my country, Nigeria my Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight because I was bold to say no to corruption in sport in particular and in Nigeria in general.

“In 17 years, I went from being a millionaire in dollars to a zeronaire in naira.

“In 17 years, I was beaten and injured that I had to be admitted twice and treated at the National Hospital in Abuja.

“In 17 years, I was detained eight times at various police stations in Abuja. In 17 years, I was once detained at Kuje Prison for 43 days.

“I went through hell in my country not because I am a criminal but because I say no to corruption. Despite juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria, I never gave up on my dream to fight in Nigeria and I never gave up on Nigeria.

“Today, our dream is finally becoming a reality and because I am an extraordinary human being, I am going to fight until I am 70 years old, retire young and healthy with a lot of money and then go on to be the President of Nigeria. This is my ultimate goal so mark my words.

“Thank u very much for always being by my side. I appreciate you, always. Happy birthday The Great Bash Ali.”

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has condemned the policies taken by President Bola Tinubu.

In an interview with TheCable, Lawal said President Tinubu was insensitive and arrogant in his decisions when he took over power.

According to the former SGF, Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy without due consultation.

Speaking on the situation in the country, he said, “I have a different view of what is happening today, and I did say on quite a few occasions that Bola Ahmed Tinubu exhibited an unimaginable degree of insensitivity and arrogance, first in the face of the Muslim-Muslim ticket and in some of the earlier decisions he took.

“My view is that fuel subsidy removal was driven by a sense of arrogance. You are now sworn in, and you believe that since you are now in charge, you can boss everybody around. You just announced the removal of the fuel subsidy without due consultation.

“My experience in life is that when you are going to take a monumental decision, especially one that affects the lives of over 200 million people, you need to have wide consultations.

“Taking such a spur-of-the-moment decision on that very important issue is very insensitive, and probably he (Tinubu) was ignorant of the challenges he was going to face.

“That was why everything came crashing down immediately after he was sworn in because of the removal of the fuel subsidy. He ought to have waited, formed a cabinet, got every relevant person in place, and held discussions among his advisers and the cabinet. By so doing, they will get alternative solutions to the removal of subsidy, whether or not it should be done.

“If they agree that subsidy must go, what are the actions that will be put in place to mitigate the negative outcomes? If the outcomes are positive, they will also consider how to maximise them. They will also list their options. If this happens, then we fall back on this.

“He has enough examples from the past to rely on. When (Sani) Abacha removed subsidy, he created the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) to channel the additional income into social development, and everybody today knows the various projects undertaken by the PTF, such as hospitals, schools, social services, and so on.

“When (Olusegun) Obasanjo removed the subsidy, he created SURE-P to renovate roads and carry out social services. I don’t understand how my friend Tinubu got this arrogance that he could do things radically different from others who were before him and get results.

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“So, he is only reaping the benefits of his hasty decision, and we are also reaping the benefits of putting in power somebody who works in a cavalier manner.”

Let us begin with the profound words of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement (1957–1960). Awolowo, in his book, “Voice of Courage” Awo, remarked as follows: Africa’s Dependence on Former Colonial Masters “Today, Africa is a continent of COMPETING BEGGAR-NATIONs.

“We vie with one another for favors from our former colonial masters; and we deliberately fall over one another to invite neo- colonialists to come over to our different territories to preside over our economic fortunes…Unless a beggar resolutely shakes off and irrevocably turns his back on, his begging habit, he will forever remain a beggar. For, the more he begs, the more he develops the beggar characteristics of lack of initiative, courage, drive and self-reliance.”

Similarly, George Pratt Shultz, an American politician, economist, statesman, and businessman. He served as the United States Secretary of Labor from 1969 to 1970, as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1972 to 1974, and as the U.S. Secretary of State from 1982 to 1989. Shultz remarkable posited: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and a willingness to act in its defense.” In my humble opinion, eternal vigilance is not only the price of liberty; eternal vigilance is the price of human decency.

To be honest, our Constitution and Monetary policies have become a doubtful experiment, and at the end of over half a century, we find that it has not been able to preserve the liberties of the people, secure the rights of property, and that our country has not improved and is yet flourishing beyond any former example in the history of nations. In our domestic concerns, there is everything to discourage us, and if we are true to ourselves there are so many impediments on our march to the highest point of national prosperity.

Furthermore, the current crisis of deregulation in Nigeria is generated by the pervasive impact of yesterday’s Recklessness and Profligacy. For example, the sums of $43.4m, 27,700 British pounds ($36,000), and 23.2 million naira ($74,000) were found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a private residence in Lagos. Sadly, like many others, it may have been swept under the carpet as they say in the local parlance.

Let me, therefore, continue with the position canvased, some three decades ago by no less a personality than Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), the President whose mandate was truncated by reactionary forces. MKO profoundly posited: “…every effort have been made in the past to shave people’s heads in their absence; the commutative wisdom of all the bankers would have seen us out of the trouble.

Some people came from the IMF and World Bank; what do they know about Nigeria? You see…the most brilliant doctor in Norway may not have seen MALARIA before. Therefore, imposing such will be tantamount to sending our people to their early graves. You see…we will rely on Nigerians to keep things running, not those who will be imposed on us by foreign authorities. We are an independent entity under God, ain’t we”?

Richard, g’day. “This is a good article. I would like to add that ours is not a country with leaders – instead, we have RUINERS of various generations. They are made up in the form of a hydra with five legs: political, religious, Civil (evil) servants, 99% of so-called businessmen/women, and judicial imposters (law careerists of all categories).”

“I do not like comparing Nigeria with America or any other industrialized countries on earth as it amounts to false and erroneous pursuits. You can only give relief to your people if you have the funds to do so. Welfarism requires money to implement and where your country is in the “valley of death” money-wise, you have no way out or the capacity to provide hand-outs to any masses.”

“This is why I produced a simple economic model that is based on the Malaysian Mahattir Mohammed’s model. You cannot use the established Western economic models – our past and current governments have continued our enslavement using the IMF/WB models, and the approach would not work. Please, look at my model again as I am convinced that it is this model or its tactful variation that could pull us out of the current mess! My regards.”

These are the profound word, eruditely posited by Prof Kunle Oloyede, the first African professor of medical Engineering.

Likewise Steve Biko’s Black Theology of Liberation from the Perspective of Ubuntu – “If one is free at heart, no man-made chains can bind one to servitude”.

Conclusively, I should note, at this point, that Nigerians were treated to a comical show of ignominy when it came to light that some criminals inside Emefiele’s CBN forged the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to steal $ 6.3 Million. It was more comical when “Big Masquerade” Boss Mustapha, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), said the recipient of the $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not a staff of the SGF office. What a country, what a system! Who does that? Where would you forge the signature of Vladimir Putin in Russia and still be walking on Mother Earth?

Characteristically, in the pitfalls of unbridled self-promotions; Godwin Emefiele and Zainab Ahmed, former finance minister, had jointly signed a statement advising the then President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the Ways and Means of N23.71 trillion “a different figure presented to the National Assembly on the same date”. On the contrary, Buhari presented N22.7 trillion to the National Assembly in December 2022. This shows conflicting figures within the same system. Hence, this is part of the Ways and Means of fraud in the banking sector under a government that prides itself on “Anti CORRUPTION”.