The Federal Government said on Thursday that the country was poised to begin local production of military equipment with the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill by President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, said following the signing of the bill, the Federal Government had been in talks with about 50 local and internal firms for local production of firearms in the country.

According to him, already 13 of the firms have begun production of firearms in Nigeria.

Badaru, who spoke on Thursday at the Ministerial Sectorial Update in Abuja, added that Nigeria had made significant progress in the fight against terrorism in the last one year under the Tinubu administration.

He said,“With the help of the bill, Nigeria has been discussing with over 50 private companies, both within and abroad, in the area of production of weapons and other military equipment.

“In fact, 13 of them have already started production or are about to start production.”

According to the minister, the military in the last one year killed 9,300 insurgents and arrested 7,000 others.

This feat, he said, was made possible by the close synergy among the Service Chiefs under President Tinubu.

According to him, the synergy, which increased military productivity and translated into laudable achievements in the last one year.

Badaru, who spoke at the Ministerial Sectorial Update in Abuja on Thursday, said the synergy among the Service Chiefs was different from what obtained in the past.

He said, “The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff are working together as against what it used to be. That has led to productivity and efficiency in their operations. In addition to this, we have close collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser, the police, the NSCDC and all other security agencies.

“This has translated to tremendous progress in the last one year. Because of the synergy, we were able to neutralise more than 9,300 bandits and insurgents; about 7,000 were arrested while we rescued 4,641 kidnapped victims in just one year.

“We have also recovered 4,882 assorted weapons and 83,900 assorted ammunition in just one year. Among those that we naturalised were bandits that you hear. We have neutralised not less than 20 bandit leaders the commanders of insurgents and terrorists in just one year. “

The minister said in an effort by the military to boost oil production in the country, no fewer than 1,437 suspects had been arrested and 363 killed in the last one year.

He noted that as a result of the ongoing operations against oil theft, “most of the illegal refineries are down”.

Badaru said, “In our efforts to improve the production of crude oil in the country, We have been able to arrest 1,437 suspects, 363 neutralised and we have freed 245 held captive in the Niger Delta region. We have destroyed 3,051 dug pits, 1,276 boats and 3,924 storage tanks, among others. So most of the illegal refineries are down. Many vessels have also been arrested.”

Badaru said the President has been eager to see an end to insecurity in the country.

“The question from Mr president has always been ‘when are you going to end this thing?’. I keep telling him in no distant future we would end it. We have the personnel and the communities are supporting us. We have seen over 100,000 terrorists surrendering to troops, we are still expecting to see more. Those who refuse to surrender, we will fight them hard,” he said.

Answering questions on why the attacks are still on, the minister said, “The attacks happen around local governments that have forests. These people come out from the forest with motorcycles, attack the people and run back. But we have deployed technology today so that we can see them coming and take care of them before that time. We continue to fight, we will continue to deliver and I can assure you that the successes we have enjoyed in the last one year will be replicated and we will even do more next year.”

Badaru also said the President had approved the recruitment of more personnel into the military to increase its manpower.

He added that the President has directed the full deployment of technology to end insurgency in the country.

He said, “The President has approved that we should recruit more so that we can have boots on the ground and also deploy technology heavily so that we can end the insurgency.”

A former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Deputy Chairman, Bode George, says the party must stick to its power rotation grundnorm between the North and South to win in 2027.

George said this while fielding questions from newsmen during his address to the nation, titled “My Thoughts on The State of Our Country in the Last 25 Years: A Time to Chart A New Direction”.

He was reacting to a recent statement made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and PDP 2023 Presidential candidate that he would drop his ambition in 2027 if the party picks the Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2023, Mr Peter Obi.

George said power rotation must be sacrosanct, adding that the PDP should have learnt its lessons from the defeat of 2023.

He said: “Our party has a grundnorm. The constitution of our party as compiled by the founding father, Baba Ekwueme (former Vice President Alex Ekwueme) and his team will remain a guiding light.

“We have paid a big price for not following the rule. We have made mistakes, let us learn. It has cost us too much.

“Section 7 sub section 3C states very clearly that the party must adhere to the zoning and rotation procedures for party positions and elective positions simultaneously for things to work well.”

According to him, power rotation, as embedded in the party’s constitution, was to guard against any situation that might bring back the military to power.

He said that the party’s founding fathers divided the country into six geo-political zones to capture the majority and minority tribes and give all a sense of belonging.

“This is because the problem since 1960 is between majority tribes and minority tribes.

“The majority tribe will have their way, but the minority will just be mere onlookers. That was the major cause of coups and counter coups,” he said.

George added that the party’s founding fathers came up with the idea that the top six positions in the land be shared by the six geo-political zones for equity and justice.

He listed the positions as offices of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the party.

He added: “They (founding fathers) agreed that every eight years, all the positions held by northern zones should come to the south zones, vice versa, for rotation.

“The moment we (the PDP) started tinkering with that idea officially against our grundnorm, that was what created division in PDP.”

Tinubu to flag off project Sunday, ministry to demolish buildings based on gazette

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that 750 houses that are on the path of the Lagos-Calabal Coast Highway have been marked for demolition.

He revealed this during a meeting with stakeholders in Lagos on Thursday.

He said, “If we go by the new alignment, 490 houses would be demolished, also following the gazette alignment, 750 houses would be demolished.

“There is no change of alignment; we are following the gazetted alignment. There would, however, be realignment at Okun Ajah area of the state by 25 kilometres to avoid damaging submarine cables.”

However, landlords of affected property were displeased with the government compensation, claiming it did not match their investment.

Umahi further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had been invited to flag off the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

He said, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been invited to flag off the coastal highway on Sunday, May 26, 2024.”

According to the minister, the coastal highway would boost tourism.

“The new corridor is going to have befitting tourism centres and the land is going to be made available by the relevant department of government, and Nigerians would be opportune to leverage that.

“When external funding from outside comes, it is going to reduce our inflation and strengthen the naira. So, the partnership of Federal Government is 30 per cent commitment, and we have not exceeded that in terms of the local funding commitment of the Federal Government,” he explained.

The minister noted that the new coastal corridor was not going to be for the benefit of Lagos alone.

He added, “This is not just going to be in Lagos alone, but all through the 700 kilometres of the coastal highway. We tend to link this road from Sokoto to Badagry, and another spur that is going to link a road that runs from Enugu, Abakaliki, and Ogoja, down to Cameroon, and that is called the trans-Africa trade route. The Badagry route is also an African trade route linking us to other West African Countries.”

10 property owners were compensated during a question and answer session with the minister.

Meanwhile, some property owners and residents have expressed anger over the compensation paid to them by the government, describing it as small compared to their investment in the marked properties.

According to them, the compensation is grossly inadequate and there is a need for the government to review the payment.

The President of Total Energies Staff Cooperative Society and Total Energies Staff Club, Cajetan Onu, said the compensation paid by the government was insufficient compared to the investment made on the developed property.

He appealed, “As I speak now, we have a bulldozer on our fence and we started developing our clubhouse four years ago, and we just commissioned it this year. We are not against the project; what we are requesting is more time to recover the equipment we can recover.

“Our second request is on the evaluation that was done to be on the cost for the compensation. We feel it is grossly inadequate compared to how much investment we put into this property. We beg you to assist us to ensure that we get the right compensation for this property.”

The founder of Leisure Games, Olanrewaju Ojo, who got N1.3m compensation, told The PUNCH that the amount was what he could generate in a week.

He said, “This is ridiculous! What am I supposed to do with this? I will make this in a week.”

Another compensated property owner of businesses on the Good Beach, who pleaded anonymity, said the amount was 1/6 of what he submitted.

He said, “For me, the compensation I was given is about 1/6 of what we submitted. Obviously, it is not up to what we invested in this business.

“I am having mixed feelings now and I do not know what to do. I do not know if I should accept or reject this.”

Another property owner, Paul Osemele, claimed that the compensation was not at a market rate.

He lamented, “Nobody is okay with the compensation; the government is given pantries, with the increase in cement.

“The government is not paying according to market value. In my house, I had about 20 tenants, and I have lost revenue since the whole thing started, as they have all moved out.”

Umahi responded that the government was fair on the issue of compensation.

He asserted, “On the issue of compensation, the government is impartial. What we have done for others is what we have done for this place as well.”

Umahi had earlier announced N2.75bn in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway spanning from channel 0 to channel 3.

He revealed this information during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos State on Wednesday.

He said, “To show sympathy for people who voted for Mr President, we would do everything possible to pay the human face compensation.

“Today, we are paying over N2bn in compensation just from channel 0 to channel 3.”

Umahi noted that the compensation being done was a flag-off for 10 people, directing that the rest of those to be compensated should go to the Secretariat of the Compensation Committee for payment.

He added, “All tenants within the Landmark premises, today, have all been shortlisted and they will get the alerts by 2:00 pm.

The first phase of the compensation flag-off included 10 property owners, which were: Olaotan Olamuyiwa of Checkmate; Kemi Osinibi of Landmark Kids Club by Maxtivity; Mide Adegbite, Peter Oladipupo of FX Lounge; Bukola Oloko, Abiodun Oguntunde of Xchange Lagos; Dapo Oniru of Moist Beach; Mustapha Olatunji of G12 Beach; Dr Bashir Oshodi, and Bestrock.

The Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, noted that the aforementioned property owners were the first 10 to be compensated, adding that subsequently, other compensations would ensue.

In March, the Federal Government started constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Umahi revealed that the road would be built using concrete pavement.

In the following month, the government established a committee tasked with the responsibilities of reviewing, assessing and compensating landowners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Expressway.

Umahi said that the committee, comprising members drawn from the ministry, Lagos State, affected communities, and other stakeholders, had primary responsibilities that included verifying the eligibility of claimants, assessing the dimensions of affected properties, and determining the appropriate compensation amounts.

Justice Liman of the Federal High Court has reportedly issued an ex-parte judgement prohibiting Governor Abba Yusuf, Kano State Government from reinstalling Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Platinum Times Nigeria reports that one Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba-Dan'Agundi, filed the lawsuit against Sanusi's reinstatement late Thursday.

Justice Liman granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage the
and assent of the bill into pending hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

“That In view of the Constitutional and Jurisdictional Issues apparent on the
face of the application, parties shall address the Court on same at the hearing of the
Fundamental Rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.

“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

The judge adjourned the case to 3rd June, 2024 for hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on Thursday officially announced the re-appointment of Emir Sanusi shortly after signing a new bill on the Kano Emirate into law.

He performed the signing at Ante-chamber, Government House before the Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Ismaila Falgore and other Principal Officers of the House.

Speaking shortly after signing the law, Governor Yusuf described the event as historic, and thanked the state of Assembly for performing their constitutional duties.

He said the Kano state Emirate law 2019 that divided the over 1000 years Kano Emirate into five has been repealed.

Governor Yusuf announced the reappointment of Muhammad Sanusi 11 as the Emir of Kano and gave the five Emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to vacate their official residence and ove their instruments of power r to the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo who doubles as the state Deputy Governor.

Our Correspondent reports that earlier on Thursday, Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council bill 2024, abolishing the five Emirates crested by Ganduje.

Ganduje had carved out Bichi Gaya, Karaye, Rano and Kano Emirates , before dethroning the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11

With the passage of the bill into law, the five Emirs in Kano have been dethroned.

However, all offices created under the repealed law have been dissolved, and district heads appointed or elevated under the previous legislation are to revert to their former positions.

The bill, titled the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency.

The original law, enacted under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019, was amended twice: first on October 14, 2020, and again on April 11, 2023. Section 3(1) of the law had established the five distinct emirates, distributing jurisdiction over the 44 local government areas in the state.

Following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to designate the Emir of Kano as the chairman of the council.

Section 12 of the law allowed the Governor to grade emir offices as first, second, or third class with the Assembly’s approval.

The Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, has said its leadership wants the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to join the party and help it win the presidential election for Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Reports that Okocha stated this on Thursday during a one-million-man solidarity march for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Port Harcourt.

Okocha described Wike as a game changer and political strategist with a midas touch.

According to the APC chieftain, Wike’s presence in the party will make President Tinubu’s reelection in Rivers State easier like he did during the last presidential election.

He said, “Wike is the leader of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Rivers State. Wike was responsible for the victory of the Tinubu election in Rivers State. Wike is a reformer and he is our leader Rivers in State.

“Wike is the game changer he has a Midas torch and you remember that we have been wooing him to come over to to help us. This is again one of those attempts to woo him to come over to APC and help us so that we will continue to win the elections for Mr President, particularly when elections come for 2027.

“A time came in Rivers State when we could not campaign for our presidential candidate using the party platform upon which he emerged because we were threatened by the entire leadership of APC in Rivers State.

“They told us that the man we were supporting Bola Tinubu, was too old and that he had become senile. How can we support a man who will die any moment soon, that he was at the departure lounge?

“They said to us that we were supporting a man who is medically unfit and was using all the social media platforms to paint him as someone who defecates on himself. I want to state here that President Tinubu is the best thing that happened to Nigeria.

“Rome was not built in a day. Nigeria suffered setbacks- political, economic, socio-cultural and we have a leader who just came on the throne for nearly one year. 

“Can he possibly upturn the mistakes of 30 or 50 years in one year? So it’s a process and the process began the same day he took the oath of office. The President was very clear when he said that he wanted to fix Nigeria and he said that fuel subsidies were gone.

“Today states, federal, and local government areas are packing money in billions for the development of the State. I am aware that the first and biggest project that will transverse the length and breadth of Nigeria is being carried out under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Former Bayern Munich coach, Hansi Flick is on the verge of becoming the head coach of FC Barcelona.

Earlier this week, Hansi Flick travelled to London, England to meet with the sporting director of FC Barcelona, Deco and Sports Commission member Bojan Krkic.

After the meeting, Flick and the Spanish giants reportedly agreed on a deal which will see the German tactician replace the departing Xavi Hernandez this summer.

A report by Spanish publication, AS, claimed that Hansi Flick was at the meeting with his agent, Pini Zahavi.

Reports in Spain claimed that the parties involved in the discussion had already agreed on the terms of the deal in principle. The purported agreement will see Flick stay at Barcelona for two seasons.

Meanwhile, there are reports that FC Barcelona sent scouts to watch the Europa League final between Italian Serie A club, Atalanta and German Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen.

Spanish outlet Sports claimed that Barcelona directors, Deco and Krkic were at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to watch the game.

The report claimed that the directors were impressed with the performance of Super Eagles’ forward, Ademola Lookman who scored the three goals that won Atalanta the Europa League.

Following the outstanding performance of the 26-year-old, the Barca directors are said to be considering making a move for the €30 million-valued-winger this summer.

Lookman who has scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 43 games this season has two more years in his contract with Atalanta.

West Ham United appointed former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new manager on Thursday after David Moyes’ departure from the London Stadium.

The 57-year-old Spaniard, who had been unemployed since leaving Wolves just before the recently concluded Premier League season, will officially begin working with the Hammers on July 1.

“We came here with the idea and the thought to make a big, big noise.

“That’s why we came here, and we are excited by this challenge.

“Of course, we are going to do our best to help the club and the team to achieve the best level and to achieve our aims.

“I assure the fans that they are going to be key in all our achievements,” Lopetegui said.

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan said Lopetegui’s appointment would “ensure a strong opportunity to build on the positive progress made in recent seasons.”

Recall that David Moyes had confirmed that he will be leaving West Ham United at the end of this season as he rolls out his achievements at the club.

David Moyes first coached West Ham United from 2017 to 2018 and then returned to the side in 2019. Since then, he has been enjoying a series of ups and downs in terms of the team’s run under his watch.

Most West Ham United fans seem not to be big lovers of his style of football as they prefer more free-flowing football from the Scottish tactician.

The Hammers secured a ninth-place finish in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

The Federal Government has said it was unaware that Dangote Refineries imports its crude oil from the US.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri, said the country is blessed with enough crude to supply all the refineries in the country, including the modular ones.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the Ministerial Sectoral Updates as part of activities to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one year in office.

The first session of the Sectoral Briefing was attended by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim Bio; Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud; Minister of State Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande.

“I’m not aware that Dangote Refinery has started importing crude oil from the US. That’s the reason why we’re talking about an increase in production.

“That’s why we’re talking to servicing companies to come back and start drilling. The only way we can increase production is to continue drilling…” He stated.

Speaking on the rumours that the Tinubu administration still pays fuel subsidy, he added, “On the issue of subsidy, all of us know that from the first day the President took over office he said subsidy is gone.

“And I can confirm to you today that the subsidy is gone. But the point is, all over the world, governments find a way to subsidise. It may not be fuel but may be food … there’s no responsible government that will not find a way to ameliorate the suffering of its citizens. But pls I want it to be official that there’s no subsidy for fuel as of today.”

The Federal Government has announced the immediate start of construction work on sections three and four of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, beginning from Calabar.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the announcement at an engagement with representatives of communities within the alignment of the road between Eko Atlantic (Chainage Zero) and Eleko inside (Chainage 47.4klm) on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that section three would start from Calabar and section four from Akwa Ibom.

Umahi said, “Let me announce also that Mr President has directed that section three that is starting from Calabar and section four that is starting from Akwa Ibom should commence immediately; and so, we are in the process of concluding the procurement.

“And for those who have been saying why not start these roads in Calabar, one, the zero point is Lagos and what wrong has Lagos done to these people?

“However, an impartial President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has directed that section three and four be started from the end of the project. So while this is moving, the other one will be moving.

“I’m sure that sections five and six will also start in places like Port Harcourt and Bayelsa.”

Umahi also announced that the president had given approval for the commencement of construction work on the road connecting Sokoto to Badagry.

He said: ” Just the last Federal Executive Committee meeting on Monday, Mr President also approved another project; because this road have two spurs , that we start the design and procurement of that Sokoto to Badagry.

”It’s a 1,000 km, its running through a lot of irrigation, lands and dams where you can have a lot of power generation and its running from Sokoto to Kebbi, Kebbi to Niger, Niger to kwara, Kwara to Oyo, Oyo to Ogun state, and then to Badagry in Lagos State.”

The minister, who acknowledged potential criticism about the project’s scale and chosen sections, mentioned that section one, a 47.7 kilometers, was ambitious for an interstate road project.

He said that the federal government’s plan was to recoup construction costs through tolling and selling land along the road corridors.

The aim, according to him, is to create a scenic route similar to coastal highways in other countries.

Additionally, he said that the return on investment would start immediately the first section was completed and would come from tolls and land sales along the completed section one.

The minister pointed that the country loses money daily due to cargo transshipment at Apapa Port.

He explained that Apapa Port’s water depth was insufficient for large ships, forcing them to use deeper ports elsewhere for cargo transfer (transshipment), which incurred millions of dollars on daily basis.

He said that the new roads would act as an evacuation corridor for the Lekki Deep Sea Port to other parts of the country.

he house of representatives has passed a bill seeking to reintroduce the old national anthem.

The old national anthem is themed: ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.

The house speedily passed the bill for first, second, and third readings during plenary on Thursday.

More to follow…