The Department of State Services (DSS) has clarified its involvement in the security takeover of the Lagos State House of Assembly, stating that its presence was requested by the Assembly itself.

In a statement on Monday, the DSS explained that it acted on a letter from the Assembly dated February 14, 2025, which sought additional security due to potential threats.

The letter, signed by Acting Clerk Mr. A.T.B. Ottun, cited credible intelligence suggesting plans to forcefully reinstate the impeached Speaker on February 18, 2025.

It stated, “The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members. In light of this situation, we kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday, 16th February, 2025, by increasing the presence of your men and observing strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice.”

DSS Assures Public Of Neutrality

The DSS noted that its deployment was to ensure order and protect Assembly members, emphasizing that its actions were based on the lawmakers’ request and not driven by external influence.

This development follows days of tension at the Assembly, where legislative workers clashed with security personnel amid the ongoing leadership tussle between Speaker Mojisola Meranda and impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

The DSS reiterated its commitment to upholding security and order without bias.

The local unit of Heineken NV, Nigerian Breweries, continued its FX-induced lossmaking for the second year last year as the manufacturer posted N144.9 billion in net loss after a devaluation of the naira last January caused its reporting currency to slump substantially.

It recorded the negative bottom line even though sales improved by 80.8 per cent, taking revenue to a new milestone of N1.1 trillion, according to its audited accounts issued on Friday.

The direct cost of production for the beer and non-alcoholic beverages maker rose to 70.5 per cent of turnover from 64.5 per cent as the cost of imported raw materials eroded revenue.

CEO Hans Essaadi said in April 2023 that imports accounted for almost half of Nigerian Breweries’ input costs, leaving it at the mercy of exchange rate swings.

The spending on raw materials and consumables more than doubled to N615.5 billion during the review period, underscoring the gravity of FX pressures.

“Foreign exchange volatility and limited access to foreign capital created additional hurdles for businesses, while the lingering effects of the fuel subsidy removal and Naira devaluation significantly increased operating costs across industries,” the company stated in its earnings release.

The consumer goods giant said it used the proceeds of its last year’s rights issue to “significantly reduce future currency risks.”

Naira, its reporting currency, saw one of its worst outings in years last year when it shed roughly 41 per cent of its value, complicating matters for import-dependent businesses already grappling with sky-high price levels.

Net loss on foreign exchange transactions stood at N157.6 billion, 2.8 per cent higher than a year ago.

But the reverberations of its foreign exchange woes even went far beyond its base Nigeria.

“Net revenue (beia) was dampened by a negative translation impact of €1,656 million, or 5.5%, mainly due to the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira, and depreciation of the Brazilian Real and Mexican Peso,” the parent Heineken remarked in its own financial report issued on Wednesday.

Heineken acknowledged Nigeria as one of the markets that drove a 1.6 per cent increase in its beer volume globally last year.

Net finance costs stood at N252.8 billion, up from N189.2 billion a year ago. Loss before tax went higher by one-fifth to N182.9 billion.

Last June, Nigerian Breweries announced the acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in Distell Nigeria, helping it branch out into the manufacturing of wines and spirits.

The House of Representatives is considering a bill to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to regulate the deployment of police officers as orderlies to top government officials and prevent abuse of the practice.

Sponsored by the lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Wale Raji, the bill seeks to limit the duration officers can serve in such roles and ensure their reassignment to core police duties after a specified period.

A copy of the bill, exclusively obtained by The PUNCH, proposes amendments to Section 18 of the Principal Act by introducing new subsections (12 to 17) that clearly define the offices entitled to police aides and the duration of such assignments.

Subsection 12 of the proposed amendment stipulates that only select public officials, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, state governors, deputy governors, and principal officers of the National and State Assemblies, as well as local government chairmen, shall be entitled to police orderlies as determined by the Inspector General of Police.

The bill introduces a three-year limit for police officers assigned as orderlies to elected officials, after which they must return to their police divisions for other duties and further training. Additionally, such officers will not be eligible for reassignment to similar roles for at least five years.

However, an exception is made for officers attached to the President, Vice President, state governors, and principal officers of the National and State Assemblies, who may serve throughout the official’s tenure before being reassigned.

To ensure compliance, the bill proposes penalties for any police officer who contravenes or aids the violation of these provisions, with misconduct punishable under the Police Service Rules.

In its explanatory memorandum, the bill seeks to curb the abuse of police personnel attached to VIPs while improving the efficiency, professionalism, and dignity of the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposed legislation is expected to return to the floor of the House for further debate in the coming weeks.

Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has dismissed the state Government panel report indicting him of ₦96 billion for fraud alongside Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and impeached Local Government chairmen.

Naija New reports that, following the revelations in the report, Governor Monday Okpebholo has vowed to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Presenting the report to Governor Okpebholo over the weekend, the panel’s chairman, Solomon Imohiosen, revealed that forensic investigations uncovered massive financial irregularities, with approximately ₦96 billion either mismanaged or diverted into private accounts.

Responding to the allegation, Obaseki, in a statement on Sunday through his Media Advise, Crusoe Osagie, described the fraud allegation as another desperate effort to justify Okpebholo’s unconstitutional onslaught on duly elected council executives.

Obaseki stated that Okpebholo does not have supervisory responsibility over the local governments and can, therefore, not set up any investigation of government officials elected into office just like him.

The ex-governor said he was never obsessed with control of local government funds during his tenure, as Okpebholo has shown himself to be in the last three months, adding that Nigerians and Edo people should ignore the governor’s lies and propaganda.

The statement read, “We have read with disdain a statement by Monday Okpebholo alleging that the elected 18 local government chairmen in Edo State mismanaged N96 billion, in another of Okpebholo’s frantic efforts to justify his unconstitutional onslaught on the elected leadership of the third tier of government.

“What is most shocking about the statement is that Okpebholo appears to be completely oblivious of the fact that he does not have supervisory responsibility over the local governments and can therefore not set up any investigation of government officials that are elected into office just like him.

“As a matter of fact, these local government chairmen have a better claim to their democratic office than he, whose election stands on a knife edge, with the election petition tribunal preparing to deliver justice in the September 21, 2024 election, widely believed to have been rigged.

“Also advertising Okpebholo’s ignorance is his attempt, as usual, to drag His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki into his propaganda. Okpebholo should kindly note that Obaseki was never obsessed with control of local government funds during his tenure, as Okpebholo has shown himself to be in the last three months.

“We are forced to, by this statement, inform Okpebholo that there are limits to his powers as governor, and if he believes there are financial infractions in a separate tier of government from his own, he should simply inform the relevant agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to carry out their constitutional responsibilities. Okpebholo needs to be reminded that he is neither the Inspector General of Police nor the Chairman of the EFCC.

“We urge all Edo people and Nigerians to ignore the lies and falsehood propagated by Okpebholo in his statement and to rest assured that His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, who is clearly the target of Okpebholo’s witch hunt ran the most transparent government in the history of Edo State and had no authority over local government funds at any time during his 8 years in office.”

A newly wedded official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aliyu Imran, has been tragically killed by a mob in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Naija News learnt that Imran, who held the position of Assistant Superintendent of Narcotic 1, was set ablaze by a furious mob in the Gadan-Gayan region of Igabi LGA.

This incident reportedly occurred after a vehicle which Imran and his colleagues were pursuing was involved in a collision that resulted in fatalities.

According to SaharaReporters, the officer and his team were chasing a suspected drug dealer when the suspect attempted to evade capture by reversing his vehicle, leading to the deaths of at least three individuals on the scene.

In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Imran reportedly intervened but was subsequently attacked by the mob.

He sustained stab wounds while the Officer in Charge (OC) called for assistance.

The media platform quoted sources to have disclosed that a courageous police officer transported him to a nearby hospital; however, the mob later invaded the medical facility, forcibly removed him, and set him on fire.

Imran’s bereaved family has expressed their disappointment, accusing the NDLEA of neglecting to issue a statement or extend condolences or compensation to them.

“It happened that on Friday some NDLEA officers went for an operation at Gadan-Gayan. They are covering it up. This is our agency. Do you know what they normally do? If accidents like this happen and an officer is in involved or an officer loses his life, instead of them compensating the family, the NDLEA will try to cover it up so that they will not give the deceased family the compensation.

“Some officers were on patrol and the suspect reversed and started driving away from the officers on patrol.

“So the officers took their own car and followed the car that was trying to get away from them. So in that process, the car they were chasing had an accident, and killed four people died.

“So when our officers reached there, one of them Aliyu Imran, came down to try and calm the situation. Then people started to attack him. Even me, I’ve been involved in that kind of situation before.

“Normally, the moment you see the place is starting to get tense, you leave immediately.

“So when he came down to try to calm the situation down, the OC (Officer-in-Charge), the person that led the operation, started saying, okay. You guys should inbox. Like, let’s go. When you say inbox, it means you should enter car – let’s leave.

“So, in the process, they left Aliyu Imran in that place. So those guys, they stabbed him. After stabbing him, one police officer there took him on his bike to one hospital close to that place for treatment,” the source said.

He said the mob followed the policemen to the hospital, dragged out the NDLEA officer and burnt him alive.

The source further shared the sad development: “Do you know what’s heartbreaking? He just got married last December. His wife fainted as they were burying him yesterday (Saturday).

“Aliyu had stepped out of the vehicle to calm the situation, but the crowd turned hostile. I understand how these things escalate—I’ve been in similar mob situations during operations. Once tensions rise, the best thing to do is leave immediately.

“In the chaos, they left Aliyu Imran behind. The mob attacked him, stabbing him repeatedly.

“A police officer tried to save him by taking him to a nearby hospital on his bike. But the same mob stormed the hospital, dragged Aliyu out, and burned him alive while he was still clinging to life.

“The agency has done nothing for his family. They haven’t even addressed the incident officially. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and NDLEA has covered it up before.”

The source asserted that this is not the first instance of an officer losing their life while on duty.

He noted that in many cases, these occurrences are not widely reported, and the families are left with only minimal compensation.

In response to the unfortunate event, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, refuted claims suggesting that the agency neglects its fallen officers.

He affirmed that the chairman of the agency is directly communicating with the family of the deceased officer.

“As I speak with you, a delegation from the headquarters—led by the agency’s director of operations and general investigations—is already in Kaduna to meet with the family. Additionally, another commander had earlier been dispatched by the chairman. So, there’s no truth to the claim that the family has been abandoned.

“To further demonstrate how seriously the agency is taking this matter, the management has suspended the commander involved. Do you understand?”

“This is an ongoing investigation. The matter is being thoroughly looked into, and the agency remains in close contact with the family. We are working diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” he was quoted to have said.

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has admonished African leaders to look past the era of waiting to receive aid from developed nations and instead be creative with the domestic resources available in the continent.

Naija News reports that United States President Donald Trump recently announced the suspension of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) activities across the world, citing financial mismanagement.

This development comes following United States Republican lawmaker, Scott Perry, alleged that USAID funds were used to arm Boko Haram terrorist organizations.

Addressing journalists at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nigerian former finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala commented on the development, stating that African leaders must look inward for funding opportunities for the continent.

The former World Bank developmental economist emphasizes that Africa must shift its perspective to recognize opportunities amid the challenges posed by the suspension of billions of dollars in global funding for health and education initiatives in various countries.

Okonjo-Iweala asserted that African leaders need to focus on attracting investment and mobilizing resources to navigate the current social and economic realities influenced by the policies of the Trump administration.

She said: One of the key things that is emanating is a recognition of the present very difficult geopolitical context we are in. And of course, as the head of the WTO, I am right in the middle of it. But one thing is very clear.

“Africa, really, we really need to change our mindset. Access to aid, I think we can begin to think of it as a thing of the past. We really have to focus on two things: attracting investment and mobilizing our own domestic resources.

“And I think that is a theme that is running through almost all the meetings here at the AU. I think African leaders are recognizing that this is a challenge. But we can also see it as an opportunity.

“And again, I’m glad to say that it’s emerging that look, this could be looked at as an opportunity. This morning, we had a session with the Multilateral Development Bank Association of Africa itself, along with President Mahama. One of the things we talked about is how do we better mobilize our own resources on the continent to invest in ourselves. I pointed out that we have about $250 billion worth of pension funds resources on the continent, which we need to find a way to tap.”

We Have The Institutions, Capitalize On Them – Okonjo-Iweala Stressed

The WTO boss stressed that Africa must capitalize on its institutions and properly channel its resources for development instead waiting to be helped.

Okonjo-Iweala added: “First, the pension funds need to look at their regulations to see how they change it so that they can invest more on the continent rather than investing more outside. And pension funds from South Africa is the biggest, but you have South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Botswana, Namibia, and many other countries.

“When you start totalling the resources, it’s huge, hugely significant. 250 billion is the estimate that I have. We have these multilateral development banks like the African Finance Corporation. Afrexim Bank is chairing the Association of African Multilateral Institutions.

“We need to capitalize on them better. Instead of looking outside to see what we can get, we have our own institutions. The shareholders are the African governments. Capitalize them properly so that their balance sheet can expand.

“They have a combined balance sheet now of about 70 billion. But if you look at the $70 billion, but if you look at the needs we have for infrastructure alone, up to more than 200 billion a year, you can see that we need to expand these organisations’ balance sheets.

“We have more than 84 national development banks and financial institutions, quite apart from the multilateral.

“How do we mobilize them and capitalize them better so they can help us finance? In Nigeria, during the time I was finance minister, we raised a diaspora bond of $300 million that was quite successful.

“That’s another type of instrument you can tap, tapping resources of our people outside, not just inside the continent. So there are so many creative and innovative ways we can raise resources.

“I want to end by one thing. Another theme going here at the meeting is the realization that we have to better add value and monetize our mineral resources on the continent.”

They Will No Longer Come To Dig Our Resource To Process Them Elsewhere

Okonjo Iweala insists that when the proper steps are taken, all the resources being taken out of Africa will henceforth be processed in the continent as these will create more jobs and increase its trade.

She said: “Almost every head of state is talking about large discoveries of lithium, manganese, copper, so many other things that are needed in the manufacture of electric batteries and vehicles.

“They are found on this continent. The issue is how do we attract the right investments so they add value? They don’t come to dig up, mine the resources and get them processed elsewhere.  They have to be processed on the continent to create more jobs for us and to increase our trade.

“The only way we are going to be able to finance ourselves is to grow our economies, trade more, add value to our products, and trade more. And at the WTO, we’re trying to see what are those barriers that are preventing us sometimes when we add value, we can’t export it the way we want.

“What are those barriers? And we have a unique opportunity at our 14th ministerial next year, which will be in Cameroon, for Africa to articulate those barriers.

“And for us at the WTO to work hard to make sure that we lower them so we can have a better percentage of world trade and a better percentage of intra-Africa trade.”

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has officially released the results for the 2024 second series of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE for private candidates.

Notably, a total of 43,923 candidates, representing 67.55% of those who sat for the examination, scored credit and above in a minimum of five subjects.

In a statement by the acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, out of the 65,023 candidates who participated in the exam, the results indicate a promising performance, especially with 34,878 candidates (53.64%) achieving credit and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

This represents a significant improvement from previous years, with a marked increase of 9.35%, compared to the 2022 and 2023 results, where only 42.16% and 44.29% respectively achieved similar success.

The examination, which featured both paper and pen and computer-based modes, took place across 5,067 centres in the country.

Of those who took part, 31,504 were males, while 33,519 were females, marking a close gender distribution with females slightly leading at 51.55%.

WAEC confirmed that results for 62,354 candidates (95.90%) had been fully processed and released, while 2,669 candidates (4.10%) were still awaiting results due to errors attributable to their submissions.

Additionally, 2,577 candidates (3.96%) had their results withheld due to allegations of examination malpractice.

Candidates whose results have been withheld can visit the WAEC Notice of Examination Malpractice Portal to make official representations regarding these allegations.

A lady’s bold move in the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach left the founder, Ebuka Obi stunned and congregants bursting with loud laughter.

The lady who attended the Singles Conference had the opportunity to speak to the congregation and she made an unexpected speech.

She kicked up by stating that in 2022, someone prophesied to her that she was going to marry a prophet and the prophesy was further given a boost after God confirmed it to her in a dream.

However, she noted that the impediment was that the prophet whom she believes is her future husband is quite inaccessible.

Upon further probing by the pastor, the lady revealed that Ebuka Obi was the man whom the lord revealed to her as her husband.

This ultimately threw the church off-guard as the band swiftly kicked off a performance of Flavour’s hit track, ‘Golibe’

READ ALSO: https://reubenabati.com.ng/news/okey-ogbodo-embroiled-in-amede-eha-amufu-election-controversy

Sharing the video on IG, the pastor wrote:

“She Proposed Marriage to EVANG EBUKA OBI during Singles Conference ?????.”

Recall that a few months back, Ebuka Obi took the public by storm, revealing a life choice that few can ignore.

In a new and eye-opening interview with BBC Igbo, the Imo-born cleric, speaking in his native labuat, Igbo, made a shocking admission that has sent ripples through the spiritual community and beyond—he revealed that he has never had sexual intercourse.

He shared that 12 years ago, he made a sacred vow to God to remain celibate until marriage.

For Ebuka Obi, celibacy isn’t a mere sacrifice but a powerful tool that allows him toremain spiritually focused, helping him hear God’s voice with absolute clarity, unhindered by worldly distractions.

His words; “I have never dated before. I have never had sexual intercourse with any woman. Any woman who says I’ve had sexual relations with her should speak up

“Qualities in a woman is not the reason I am not yet married. What is holding me back is that I want to hear the voice of God on it. He has never directed me about marriage. I prayed for 100 days last year to hear from God about it but there was no sign.”

In a recent interview with ChartsAfrica, Senegalese-American musician Akon weighed in on Nigeria’s biggest Afrobeats stars, sharing his thoughts on Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido.

The video, which has since gone viral, generated a wave of conflicting reactions from fans across social media.

Akon, who has long been a significant figure in the music industry, expressed his admiration for Burna Boy, describing him as a “beast” on the global music scene.

He commended Burna Boy for his unique fusion of Nigerian and Ghanaian sounds, which he believes sets him apart from other artists.

Akon also credited his former colleague, who served as the head of international at Konvict Music, for having a strong influence on Burna Boy’s rise to fame.

When speaking about Wizkid, Akon labeled the “Ojuelegba” crooner as a true superstar, noting that his releases remain relevant throughout the year despite only releasing one song annually.

Turning to Davido, Akon referred to the “Awuke” singer as a hardworking artist who was initially an “underdog.”

He pointed out that Davido looked up to Wizkid during his early career and benefitted from the backing of his wealthy family.

Akon highlighted that despite the challenges, Davido’s persistence in releasing quality music and videos eventually secured his place as a leading figure in the Afrobeats genre.

He further praised Davido for having the most songs, recognizing his consistency in both quantity and quality.

Akon also took a moment to shout out Mr. Eazi, acknowledging his ability to blend music with business acumen, which has contributed to his growing influence within the industry.

While Akon’s praise for Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido was appreciated by many, his comments about Davido being an “underdog” sparked a heated debate online, with some fans disagreeing with his assessment.

Security experts have urged the federal government through the various security agencies and the National Assembly to investigate alleged revelations by a US Congressman that USAID has sponsored Boko Haram.

A United States Congressman representing Pennsylvania, Scott Perry, had accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of funding terrorist organisations like Boko Haram.
He disclosed this at the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday while speaking during a session entitled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud.”

Perry accused USAID of providing $136 million to build 120 schools in Pakistan. He, however, noted “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.

Perry asked: “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan because Pakistan’s right next door. Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.”

This comes as former President Donald Trump moved to shut down USAID’s operations.
Trump had accused the agency of corruption Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Barr. Mike Ejiofor, called security agencies and the National Assembly to investigate the allegations.

“I don’t have much information, but he has his. All I expect the National Assembly and our security agencies to do is to investigate the allegations. If it’s true that USAID has been sponsoring Boko Haram, then that’s very dangerous,” he said.

A former Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman (rtd) lamented the lack of patriotism among Nigerians despite the country facing existential threats from Boko Haram.

He equally called for a thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of such revelations.

He said, “We face an existential threat, but Nigerians are not patriotic enough. We have suspected these and tried to convince Nigerians, but they wouldn’t believe us.”

He said there are international nongovernmental organisations (NGO) that have paid for accommodation in advance for ten years and above.

He added that the US had, following the action of some Nigerians, imposed an arms embargo on Nigeria despite the country facing existential threats.

“Many of us want to eat our cake and have it, but life doesn’t work like that. Americans have always been pursuing their national interest; anytime they give anything, they know what they want and how to go about it. There is no way somebody would wake up and give you the best of the best, so I’m not surprised because there must be some strings attached. ”

He recalled that security agencies had uncovered a female Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative who rented an apartment in Maiduguri and stayed for an extended period.

“When we raised issues at the time about the move of some of these NGOs, Nigerians said it was a lie.

“It has been there, and that is why we keep emphasising that security is local, so let us develop local resilience.

“These have been there as allegations, and now that the US Congressman has brought them up, there is a need to investigate them thoroughly. He has lent credence to things that have been suspected over time; therefore, it is necessary to examine them and ensure that such doesn’t continue thoroughly.

“As a former Army spokesman, I know there have been suspicions; several commanders have called for NGOs regulation due to their suspicious activities, which is unsurprising. People have been raising the concern,” he said

A victim of Boko Haram who doesn’t want to be named expressed disappointment at the revelation.
He said the Borno State government strictly regulates the activities of NGOs, so it is surprising that the same NGOs will be funding the activities of Boko Haram, which has destroyed many lives.

The Ministry of Defence’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, could not be reached on his phone line to discuss the Ministry’s position on the revelation.

He also did not respond to messages trying to get his official comment at the time of this report.