The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has deployed 1,102 operational vehicles to ensure hitch-free movements of citizens during the yuletide.

Olusegun Ogungbemide, the corps public education officer, said on Monday that the FRSC has also deployed its personnel, including the special marshals, to the highways.

“These logistics include the deployment of 157 administrative vehicles, 754 patrol vehicles, 143 ambulances, and 48 tow trucks, which brings the total to 1,102 operational vehicles,” he said.

Ogungbemide quoted Shehu Mohammed, FRSC corps marshal, to have said that the mobilisation is aimed at curtailing excessive speed, overloading, dangerous driving and overtaking, lane indiscipline, and other traffic offences.

 

He urged members of the public to download the FRSC mobile application for real-time traffic reporting and updates, adding that they can also utilise the corps’ social media handles —facebook.com//frscnigeria,Instagram.com//frscnigeria, twitter.com//frscnigeria — in case of emergency.

“The directive also mandates the commanding officers to ensure effective collaboration with military units, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),” Ogungbemide said.

“We also have collaboration with the Directorate of State Services (DSS), NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services (NNERS), and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), among others.

 

“The operatives will be charged with the responsibility of identifying alternative routes to assist motorists during gridlocks and giving notification of traffic-distressed areas for intervention.

“The public can also call the 122 toll-free number as well as the National Traffic Radio live lines: 08052997848 and 09139600107, which are available means to reach FRSC to report traffic situations anywhere in the country.

“The public can also reach the situation room at 07054005754 and 07054005712, respectively.”

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has admitted that the immediate-past Muhammadu Buhari-led administration deceived Nigerians during its eight-year tenure.

He made the revelation during an interview on the ‘Mic On Podcast’ with popular TV achor, Seun Okinboloye.

Dalung, a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during Buhari’s first term in office between 2015 and 2019, stated that the administration lied to Nigerians.

According to him, “I am completely disappointed because what we told Nigerians was not what happened. We lied; we deceived Nigerians. Even though we used ‘people deceive people,’ referring to the PDP, for our campaign, we were a replica of what we accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of.”

Dalung recounted how he confronted Buhari about the worsening state of insecurity and hardship in the country at the time.

“When we came in, it was just the North-East that had security issues. By 2020, it was not even possible to travel from Abuja to Kaduna. I told the president, ‘If you don’t believe me, roll out a brigade of guards now, and I’ll join you. We’ll drive from Abuja to Daura. If bandits don’t attack us, I’ll go and die in exile.

“To be fair to the president, he expressed surprise, meaning that some of the things I told him, he was hearing for the very first time,” Dalung added.

The former minister also revealed that Buhari was often unaware of significant incidents occurring under his administration.

Dalung narrated an incident where the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clashed in Asokoro District of Abuja, holding the community hostage for three days, without the president’s knowledge.

“It was me, during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, who informed him about the incident. I expected it to be on the agenda, but it wasn’t. I had to introduce it through AOB (Any Other Business), and the president was completely confused listening to what I was saying.

“At the end of the meeting, we even left without any closing prayer because he was visibly angry. On my way to the office, I saw those two agencies, directly under his office, holding a community hostage for three days over whatever interest they had, and the president didn’t know,” he recalled.

Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the house of representatives, says political parties must identify and nurture young Nigerians to take over leadership positions.

Abbas spoke in Abuja on Monday at the youth town hall meeting organised by the national assembly on the 2025 budget.

The speaker said Nigerian youths are active participants in governance and development, adding that their creative energy is necessary in every critical sector of society.

Abbas advised the youths to unite and boldly propose their demands and expectations for the 2025 budget.

 

“Your energy, creativity, and resilience are transforming every sector of our society, from agriculture to technology, arts, sports, and entrepreneurship,” the speaker said.

“Across these fields, you demonstrate that Nigerian youths can achieve greatness with the right support and opportunities.

“Yet, we must ask ourselves: how can you do even more? How can we, as leaders, create an enabling environment that allows your potential to flourish fully?

 

“This dialogue is, therefore, so important to explore how government policies, budgets, and programmes can better support you in taking your rightful place as drivers of national development.

“The responsibility of building the next generation of leaders must not be left to chance. Political parties, as key institutions of democracy, have an urgent role to play in identifying, nurturing, and empowering young people to assume leadership positions.

“The challenges of our time, from climate change to digital transformation, economic shocks to global security issues, demand leaders who are prepared, knowledgeable, and visionary. Preparation is, therefore, non-negotiable in leadership.

“It requires education, exposure, mentorship, and a strong sense of duty and integrity. Young Nigerians must be intentional about preparing themselves to lead, not just politically but in every sphere of society.

“I call on political parties to take seriously their mandate to scout for and develop young talents, ensuring that leadership succession is deliberate and inclusive. The future of our democracy and the survival of our institutions hinge on this.

There is confusion at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as embattled chairman, Danladi Umar and the newly appointed chairman, Mainasara Kogo, are laying claim to its chairmanship.

Inquiries by Daily Trust indicate that both persons have officially visited and held discussions with staff of the tribunal without any clear directive on who is in charge.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on July 13 appointed Kogo as the new chairman of CCT the same day he announced Omolola Oloworaran as the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Although the staff complained about the lull in the work of the tribunal since the controversy over Umar’s removal began, it was observed that corruption cases involving public servants are still being taken with several charges listed on the course list either for trial or arraignment.

 We are confused – Staff

However, senior staff of the tribunal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that they are confused about who to work with as both men have spoken with them and they are only civil servants who obey instructions.

“We are civil servants and we believe we can work with anyone that comes,” a staff said.

“We have not seen any letter to the effect of these changes. We believe there is a procedure for the removal and appointment of a new chairman of the CCT.

“We know that the president and the two arms of government have made pronouncements but we don’t know if invisible hands are working on these but we know there is a process,” he added.

One of the officials said the process is for the appointee to go through the screening by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), who recommends to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and then to the President, who approves and forwards to the Senate for confirmation.

The senior official said there has been a pile of unattended files arising from a lack of clarity on the chairmanship of the tribunal.

“He came today and left and the entire judiciary is now on holiday so we have taken the liberty to adjourn all the outstanding cases to January,” the witness said.

However, a former staff of the tribunal, who pleaded anonymity, criticised Umar for visiting the office after what he said his valid removal.

“Why is he still coming to work seeking to sign some documents and approve payments to contractors?”

He said Umar’s visits were illegal as he was no longer the chairman of the commission.

Umar’s removal endorsed by Senate, Reps

After the presidential announcement removing Umar, both the Senate and the House of Representatives in separate plenaries on November 20 and 26, also endorsed his removal as CCT chairman on allegations of misconduct and corruption.

Both resolutions were hinged on Section 17 (3) Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22 (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 2004 for the decision.

The section provides that “A person holding the office of chairman or member of the code of conduct tribunal shall not be removed from his office or appointment by the president except upon an address supported by 2/3rd majority of each house of the national assembly praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office in question (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body) or for misconduct or for contravention of this code.”

The legal dispute over Umar’s tenure is being tested in a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Community Rescue Initiative, Toro Concerned Citizens and Relief Foundation, who are contending that by the provisions of sections 1(1) and (3), 6(6), 153 (1) (e) & (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Paragraph (3)(a) (vii) and (b) of the Third—Schedule thereof, the purported concurrence of both Senate and the House of Representatives was null, void, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever.

Umar has not been validly removed – Lawyers

Lawyers have picked holes in the process that has created the situation in the CCT with both Umar and Kogo claiming leadership of the tribunal.

Reacting, Sunusi Musa (SAN) said the president did not announce Umar’s removal as provided by the constitution, which states that he can only do so after a resolution of two-thirds of the two houses of the National Assembly.

He explained that at the same time, there have been no further announcements about Kogo’s appointment by the NJC after Umar’s purported removal.

“Where is he getting the powers to visit the tribunal if he has not been appointed by the NJC and has not been inaugurated as the chairman of the tribunal?,” he asked.

Similarly, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) said if the newly announced chairman has not been issued any letter, which ought to be an instrument of appointment, his appointment is not binding.

He said a letter of appointment would imply that removal has been done which the person affected could then challenge “Not by taking the laws into his hands but through the judicial process.”

In his submission, Haroun Eze, Esq said there are some irregularities in the purported removal of the CCT chairman, Umar.

“The removal did not accord with the procedure for the removal of the CCT chairman and that is why the National Assembly provided that aspect by their resolutions for the removal,” he said.

“Even the resolution, to what extent does it conform to the provision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, particularly Section 22?”

He said the Attorney General of the Federation ought to have commenced an action to establish a case of misconduct against the CCT chairman, which would have given the National Assembly the leeway to pass the resolution they did.

[DailyTrust]