President Bola Tinubu is ready to fire underperforming ministers who fail to deliver on targets set for them, the Presidency has said.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, speaking in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, said though the President was yet to decide on the ministers’ performances, he had told them to deliver on his administration’s eight-point agenda. He added that those found wanting would be asked to leave the cabinet.

Onanuga also rated the performance of the administration high as it approaches its first year in office, giving it a score of 70 per cent.

He said when President Tinubu took over, Nigeria was using 97 per cent of its revenue to service debt, and was borrowing for recurrent expenditure, which include the payment of salaries, adding that the administration brought the nation back from the brink of economic collapse with the implementation of bold policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidy, and the unification of the exchange rate.

Tinubu’s charge to ministers

President Bola Tinubu, had while inaugurating his 48 ministers, advisers, and other aides, urged them to put aside their personal interests and focus on his government’s immediate concern of pulling Nigeria out of poverty.

The President gave the advice at the close of a three-day retreat for ministers, permanent secretaries, presidential aides, and other top government officials at the State House, Abuja, last year after they were appointed.

He told the participants that they had the responsibility of changing the narrative about the country, noting that if they had any problem with Nigeria, they should have a conversation about it.

President Tinubu stressed the need for the officials to bond and ensure that the country recovered from ‘elephantiasis’.

He said, “We have gathered here to shape the future, no threat about it. The responsibilities we bear are not just titles; they are the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians.

“You might be ready to forget about the rest of the world but as a Nigerian, let’s go out there, let’s bond together and make sure our country is fully recovered from elephantiasis.

“Let me remind you that you are not here to make excuses; neither am I. I am your friend, brother, father and grandfather.

“You must put outside personal ambitions and focus on the progress of our nation. It is through this that we can be truly proud. I am proud to stand before you. I am very proud of all of you. And, I am proud of myself too. I contested the election and won with your support. They took me to court, and I won.”

The President also extracted the commitment of the ministers and other government officials to work together as a team to achieve the goals of his government, asking, “We are about to close this three-day cabinet retreat, are we proud that we are Nigerians? Are we sure that we’ve done this? Is the responsibility of the permanent secretary clear in partnership with the minister? Are we one family?

“Since we are one family and one nation, and we are in this vehicle together to change the narrative and bring about the economic prosperity of our country. Are we ready?”

The President further told his ministers and other aides, “We have a responsibility to our country to make sure we completely change the narrative about Nigeria.

“If we have problems, let’s talk to one another. Let’s have gentle conversations about our country. It is not about ‘just leave me alone, I’m going home’; you may not have a home.

“There’s nothing you can do successfully without good healthcare and poverty reduction. Like I said before, poverty is not a shameful thing, but it is not acceptable. Are we going to dig our people out of it?”

Struggling economy

There has, however, been some disquiet around the country as Tinubu counts days to his first anniversary.

From rising inflation to insecurity and a shaky exchange rate, the country, according to analysts, still has a long way to go.

Although the President inherited a struggling economy, he promised to get it running in no time.

Tinubu, in his 80-page policy document, highlighted an eight-point agenda, with national security and economy topping the list.

Others include agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation, and education.

In his manifesto, Tinubu said his objective was to foster a new society based on shared prosperity, tolerance, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to treating each citizen with equal respect and due regard.

He promised to build a Nigeria, especially for the youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life.

He said, “Manufacture, create and invent more of the goods and services we require. Nigeria shall be known as a nation of creators, not just of consumers. Export more and import less, strengthening both the naira and our way of life. Continue assisting our ever-toiling farmers, through enlightened agricultural policies that promote productivity and assure decent incomes, so that farmers can support their families and feed the nation.

“Modernise and expand public infrastructure so that the rest of the economy can grow at an optimal rate.

“Embolden and support our young people and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment, culture and tourism, and others to build the Nigeria of tomorrow, today.

“Train and give economic opportunities to the poorest and most vulnerable among us. We seek a Nigeria where no parent is compelled to send a child to bed hungry, worried whether tomorrow will bring food.”

He also vowed that his government would generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity to give people the requisite power to enlighten their lives, homes, and dreams.

“Make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all; and, most importantly, establish a bold and assertive policy that will create a strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation.”

On May 29, as he was sworn in, the president removed petrol subsidy, which many economic analysts said was responsible for corruption and waste in the oil sector.

This was greeted by outrage, with protests erupting in several locations as a result of the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit, transportation, and food items.

Inflation rose astronomically and has continued to do so month-on-month. 

As of April 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.69 per cent relative to the March 2024 headline inflation rate, which was 33.20 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In February, the headline inflation rate increased to 31.70 per cent relative to the January 2024 headline inflation rate, which was 29.90 per cent.

Meanwhile, the February 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.80 per cent (five points), when compared to the January 2024 headline inflation rate.

Unemployment also rose to about 4.1 per cent, with over 60 per cent of the youth either unemployed or underemployed.

Ministers’ assessment

In commemoration of his first anniversary in office, Tinubu directed his ministers to present their performance reports to Nigerians.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while announcing this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, said the low-key first-anniversary celebration would be marked with sectoral media briefings by the 47 federal ministers. 

Idris was joined at the press conference by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu.

On January 24, 2024, the agency in charge of the assessment, the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, trained at least 140 officials to track and assess the performance of federal ministries, departments and agencies ahead of the assessment.

Speaking on Arise TV’s News Night programme in April, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, who also heads the CDCU, affirmed that the unit had received performance reports from at least 20 ministries.

She explained that the assessment report would be the joint effort of the ministers, citizens and industry experts.

Meanwhile, in April, the Presidency unveiled a citizens’ feedback platform in a bid to get a ‘strong feedback loop between citizens and government’ on the eight priority areas of the current administration.

Bala-Usman, who disclosed this at the Go-Live event of the CDT held in Abuja that month, said the creation of the application was informed by President Tinubu’s decision to assess his ministers and heads of agencies based on key performance indicators.

Bala-Usman added that the eight priority areas for the assessment of the ministers’ performances in the App included reforming the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth, strengthening national security for peace and prosperity, boosting agriculture to achieve food security, and unlocking energy and natural resources for sustainable development.

Others are to enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth; focus on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development; accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation; and improve governance for effective service delivery.

Also, in an interview in October 2023, Bala-Usman provided extensive details about the application and its expected deliverables.

She had said, “We are going to deploy an application— a software— where citizens can report back on project-based deliverables that the Federal Government has committed to doing within the period to 2024.”

Detailing the process at the time, she said, “We sat with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. We have worked effectively to define the exact deliverables for each ministry.

“Those deliverables cascade to the agencies of government. So, for example, you have deliverables for the health sector, and everything that is contained within the value chain or the ecosystem within that sector will be contained within the deliverables.

“Those deliverables are translated into key performance indicators for the respective ministries. Once you have your key performance indicators, you’re able to clearly understand what your deliverables are over the period of the four years of the administration.”

However, an analysis of the feedback reports from the application made available to Sunday PUNCH showed that some Nigerians rated the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman; and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, very poorly, giving each of them one mark out of a possible five.

However, Onanuga insisted that the President had done well given what he met on the ground.

While promising that the administration would deliver more on its promises in the next 12 months, the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy said Tinubu would sack ministers who failed to perform and meet the targets set for them.

He said, “President Tinubu has already told them (the ministers) they will go if they can’t perform. He told them at the retreat last year that the government has an eight-point agenda, and he expects the ministers to deliver on it. Those who are found wanting would have to go. But, as of today, the President has not made any decision on that.”

Onanuga also stated that while the President had not announced that he would reshuffle his cabinet, he wanted them to be accountable, adding that that was why he asked them to present their scorecards, even though they had only spent eight months in office.

“The president has not said he is going to reshuffle. Let me explain something. None of those ministers have spent one year in office. They came in last August. The president wants them to be accountable. That’s why he told them to come out and give their scorecards, to talk about what they have done in the last eight months. When you see what they have done, you cannot but give this government, in its first year, a 7/10 for the various achievements that his ministers and, by extension, his government have achieved.”

Tinubu performance abysmal – PDP

However, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party does not see anything good to cheer about the one year in office of President Tinubu.

Faulting claims by the All Progressives Congress that President Tinubu had done very well and that Nigerians would rate him highly, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, described the first year stewardship of the president as ‘an abysmal failure’.

Tinubu has not done well – LP

Also reacting, the Deputy President of the Labour Party, Ayo Olorunfemi, said the presidency was only deceiving Nigerians to think that President Bola Tinubu had done well in his first year in office.

He criticised the president and the APC, saying Tinubu’s administration had only taken citizens from ‘frying pan to fire’.

He said, “They have done well to themselves as a nuclear family. They are nuclear families. Nigeria is roasting in poverty, people can no longer feed, hopelessness has taken over the land, and anarchy is taking over. So, what is it that he has done? What is it that this government and its political party have done in the past nine years?

“They took us from frying pan to fire. That is exactly what they have done in the past nine years. I don’t think they have done anything good. They are just deceiving us, believing that Nigerians are fools.”

‘Govt performing poorly’

In his reaction, a public affairs analyst, Dr Emma Jimo, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, highlighted the government’s failure to address basic needs despite promises of renewed hope.

He said, “Pick education, for example. The government is performing poorly. Maybe the highest point is the government taking responsibility to pay the backlogs of the previous government’s indebtedness to ASUU. Even at that, it is still poor. Aside from that, look at what binds all Nigerians together – the economy.

“This government is performing poorly on the standard of living. The cost of living has gone up astronomically. The measures put in place to run the economy have not been working. They failed woefully, and they are still failing.”

In a similar vein, another analyst, Dr Anthony Ahmedu, told Sunday PUNCH that the current administration had disappointed Nigerians with its performance in one year, adding that it had continuously made poor decisions that were rejected by the citizens.

The academic said, “I had believed the Tinubu-led government would be able to take Nigeria to a greater height from the mess the previous administrations left us, looking at his (Tinubu’s) experience in politics, and especially his role in Lagos State. But to my utmost disappointment, the current administration has not met expectations at all.

“Economy wise, especially, because I felt he was coming in with the economic idea of Lagos, and should be able to help the economy of Nigeria. But, he has not been able to do so in any way. We can see how unstable the naira has been. We have also seen some wrong decisions taken, such as naira devaluation and subsidy removal.”

Adam Idah scored a 90th-minute winner as Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Rangers 1-0 on Saturday to lift the Scottish Cup and complete a league and cup double.

A scrappy game was decided by an error as Jack Butland fumbled Paulo Bernardo’s effort and Idah pounced for his ninth goal of a loan spell from Norwich.

“I said I’d come here to try and score as many goals as I could, I didn’t think I’d score a goal like this in front of all these fans. It’s an amazing feeling,” said Idah, who only made the move to Glasgow in January.

People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties0:00 / 1:00
“It’s hard to put into words. Anyone here can see what it means to the fans, to the players. I’ve always supported Celtic, it’s amazing!”

Rangers thought they had taken the lead earlier in the second half when Abdallah Sima turned home a corner at the far post.

But after a VAR review, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart was handed a reprieve in the final match of his career as the former England international had been pushed by Nico Raskin.

Celtic were far from their best but maintained their unbeaten record in five meetings against Rangers this season, which has also secured them direct qualification for next season’s Champions League by winning the Scottish Premiership.

Victory also continued Brendan Rodgers’ remarkable Scottish Cup record across two spells in charge of the Hoops.

Rodgers has never lost a Scottish Cup tie in 17 matches and takes his trophy haul as a Celtic boss to nine in three-and-a-half seasons.

Celtic’s win also has historical significance as they move level with Rangers’ total of 118 trophies.

The head-to-head between the clubs is also now level after 441 meetings with 169 wins each and 103 draws.

Erik ten Hag made a convincing case to be spared the sack as Manchester United upset Manchester City to take the FA Cup with a shock 2-1 victory in Saturday’s final.

Ten Hag was reportedly set to be dismissed regardless of the result at Wembley after a troubled campaign that even the United manager described as “terrible” this week.

But United’s hierarchy might be having second thoughts after Ten Hag’s tactical masterclass ruined City’s history bid.

City were hot favourites to win a second successive Premier League and FA Cup double.

Yet Ten Hag found a way to neutralise Pep Guardiola’s side as first half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo put United on course to win the FA Cup for the first time in eight years.

Jeremy Doku squeezed an 87th minute strike past Andre Onana’s weak attempted save but it was too late to rescue City.

Having ended a turbulent season on a high note, if Ten Hag’s two-year reign does end, his exit would provoke memories of fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford departure.

Van Gaal was fired just two days after United’s FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace in 2016.

Ten Hag will hope a more apt comparison is Alex Ferguson’s 1990 FA Cup final win against Palace, which kick-started his remarkable run after calls for his sacking earlier that season.

Ferguson was in attendance as a match labelled Ten Hag’s funeral turned into a triumph for the much-maligned Dutchman.

United shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, who has control of football operations at Old Trafford, was also watching from the stands alongside co-owners Joel and Avie Glazer.

Linked with Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Gareth Southgate, among others, there is still plenty for Ratcliffe to ponder after United finished eighth in the Premier League this season — their lowest final position since 1990 — and crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage.

Ten Hag believes a lengthy injury list was the root of the problems and can point to the two trophies he has won in three cup final appearances with United as proof of what he can do when his team are at full strength.

Ten Hag ended United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last year and has now avenged their 2-1 loss to City in the FA Cup final 12 months ago despite finishing 31 points behind the champions this term.

– Stay of execution –

United will also qualify for the Europa League, avoiding a first season without European action since 2014-15. 

They benefitted from an unusually tepid City performance as their double bid fell flat in their first domestic defeat since losing at Aston Villa in the league 171 days ago.

Last weekend, City became the first team to win the Premier League in four consecutive seasons.

But Guardiola’s men looked hungover after the celebrations that followed their sixth title in seven years.

City were furious when their strong penalty appeal was rejected inside the first minute after Lisandro Martinez’s shove sent Erling Haaland sprawling.

Content to sit deep with all 11 men behind the ball, United stifled City impressively and gleefully accepted their gift-wrapped opener in the 30th minute. 

Diogo Dalot’s punt forward should have been dealt with by Josko Gvardiol, but the left-back hesitated as he looked for an offside flag.

Gvardiol headed the ball over City keeper Stefan Ortega, who had rashly rushed off his line, leaving Garnacho with the simple task of tapping into the empty net as Ten Hag clenched his fist in celebration.

Garnacho, 19, was the first teenager to score in the FA Cup final since Cristiano Ronaldo for United against Millwall 20 years ago.

Just nine minutes later, the 19-year-old Mainoo punished more sloppy City defending.

Garnacho advanced unchecked down the right wing and found Fernandes, whose superb first-time pass reached the unmarked Mainoo for a clinical close-range finish. 

City pushed harder after the interval but although Doku’s shot slipped through Onana’s grasp to set up a tense finale, it wasn’t enough to deny United.

As the final seconds ticked away, Ten Hag stood in the sunshine nervously waiting to celebrate a dramatic win that could earn an unexpected stay of execution or serve as his final fling.

The Kano State Police Command has said that security agencies in the state will adhere strictly to the Federal High Court order that all parties in the Kano Emirate controversy maintain status quo.

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, said the order by the Kano Governor, Abba Yusuf to arrest Aminu Ado Bayero was on social media and not formally transmitted.

Gumel addressed newsmen on behalf of other heads of security agencies.

Recall that on May 23, a Federal High Court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

The law had ensured the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

But Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate, filed a suit.

Mohammed Liman, the judge, ruled that the defendants “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019”.

The court also ordered that all processes be served on the inspector-general of police (IGP) in Abuja.

The court also ruled that “all parties” “maintain status quo until June 3, 2024″.

Ado Bayero

Reacting, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, assured that justice would prevail. He urged residents to maintain law and order.

He spoke on Saturday at the mini-palace where he has been since returning to the state after dethronement.

His words: “I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the legal process in this tussle.

“We call on the authority to do justice in this matter. Kano is a very influential state in Nigeria. Whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria.

“May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders.

“Justice is the way to go on every issue. There will be justice. Nobody is above the law. We will accept whatever the law says.

“I appreciate all the people who have shown concern. As I said, justice will take its course. We will keep on praying for peace in Kano State. May Allah the Almighty protect us.”

Police’s position

Meanwhile, Gumel, the Police Commissioner, statted the position of security agents on the matter.

He addressed the press alongside a brigade commander of the Nigerian Army and officials of other security agencies.

His words: “The police command is expressly obeying the Court Order with SUIT No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 Dated 23rd May, 2024 issued by the federal high court sitting in Kano alongside all law enforcement agents in the state.

“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state is working together with the military and other security agencies to provide the adequate security to everyone, as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Starting in June, Nigerians will have the convenience of passport home delivery, eliminating the need to visit the immigration office for collection.

This development was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday when he inspected the electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s new terminal in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said the delivery will not include every location to avoid overloading and damaging the system.

He said the Nigerian Immigration Service would start home delivery in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja.

He stated that for Nigerians in the diaspora, the home delivery service would initially launch in the United States and the United Kingdom, with preliminary testing to ensure its effectiveness.

The minister explained that the delay in implementing home delivery was due to a lack of data centres.

He noted that the NIS had been relying on a private company’s data centre and emphasised the need for a permanent solution to this problem.

“We have completed the whole solution but when we came on board, we realised that the data centre was not really there. We were leveraging on a private company data centre and we appreciate them for that assistance. We think that it is better to create a permanent solution to problems rather than quick fixes.

“We could have done it in February but we had to build our data centre from scratch to be able to keep the integrity of our data and national security intact. This is more important. It is disgraceful that NIS is 61 years old and NIS is a custodian of biometric data of Nigeria and we believe that NIS should be in charge of the data of Nigeria.

“It is not acceptable that this data is domiciled in a third party and that is why we have been able to do this,” he said.

H added that the data centre has been constructed and the passport delivery issue has been resolved.

“It is about national security and I can assure you that It is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world.

“We have built the data centre, sorted the passport delivery solution and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,” the minister said.

Speaking further, the minister stated that the final presentation of the electronic visa has been completed.

He added that it will reduce the visa processing time from 72 hours to 48 hours.

“The passport automation process is almost complete,” he added.

This announcement comes nine months after the minister initially declared that home delivery of passports to Nigerians would commence by February 2024.

In October, Tunji-Ojo stated that starting in February 2024, Nigerians would be able to have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or any other location of their choice.

…Suspension Illegal – Party Spokesman

It’s one crisis after another for the Labour Party (LP) as the Edo State chapter of the party has suspended the embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, over alleged anti-party activities.

Abure who has been fighting to keep his position for several years now has been hit by yet another suspension in a letter of suspension dated May 14, 2024.

To see through his suspension, another letter of ratification dated May 15, 2024, was ratified at a meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) on Friday night in Benin.

The letter announced that Abure, who has defied all odds to stay on as chairman, has been suspended with immediate effect.

The letters indicated that Abure has been suspended from the party in Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State for alleged “high-handedness and anti-party activities.”

The letters further read, “While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to restrain from holding out or parading yourself a member of Labour party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Ean North-East LGA, Edo State.”

While the letter of suspension was signed by the Ward Chairman, Thompson Ehiguese and Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh, the letter of ratification of his suspension was forwarded to the State Executive Committee of the party through the State Chairman by the Local Government Chairman of the party in Esan North-East, Patrick Onogbeni and LGA Secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.

“The LGA Executive met today, 15th of May, 2024 about 12 noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension and accordingly found them weighty and the suspension ratified and upheld,” the letter read.

It noted that, “The state executive committee considered the letters, together with the issues contained therein, and ratified Abure’s suspension.

“With the ratification of his suspension, the basis of his chairmanship of the party at the national level has been vitiated, and by implication, he stands suspended as the party’s national chairman.”

But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh told newsmen that the suspense was illegal.

He stressed that, “The ward, LG or even the state have no power to suspend the National Chairman. An Edo High Court has also ruled on this matter. Also, an Appeal Court has ruled on this matter.

“This dimension is a continuation of the attack on the person of Abure as witnessed during the governorship primaries. It will also amount to nothing and we are not perturbed,” Ifoh stated.

Controversial Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has claimed that women are more unfaithful in relationships and marriages than men.

He said the notion that men cheat more than women was a propaganda.

The maverick singer spoke on the ‘Bahd & Boujee’ Podcast co-hosted by reality star Tolanibaj and actress Moet Abebe.

“The society made it seem like it’s only men that cheat. Women cheat more than men,” he said.

The hosts: “We don’t agree!”

Kuti, “Okay, this propaganda out there… The truth is that women cheat more than men. Even in the bible, Joseph’s master’s wife tried to cheat on her husband with him and because he refused, she framed him for rape.

“Which man did they write in the bible that he cheated on his wife?

“We [men and women] are all equally bad. Let’s just accept that. And men that are out there thinking that you are the only unfaithful one in your marriage or relationship, you are living in a fantasy.

“If she is not stepping out of the house, you’re sure she is in that compound 24 hours, start looking at everybody in the compound.”

An Iveco truck loaded with petrol exploded along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday.

DAILY POST gathered that the truck, with no registration number, crashed at about 6:57 a.m. around Ago Igbala, Ibafo area axis of the highway.

The crash was said to have caused a traffic backlog between the scene and Arepo on the outward Lagos section of the expressway.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, Florence Okpe, ascribed the cause of the crash to reckless driving and loss of control by the tanker driver.

Okpe noted that the accident involved five male adults and recorded no casualties or injuries.

She said, “The crash occurred at 06:57 a.m. this morning on Lagos-Ibadan expressway around Ago Igbala, Ibafo area of Ogun State.

“A total of 05 persons were involved, all male adults, and fortunately no deaths were recorded nor were there any injuries.

“The vehicle involved was an Iveco truck with no registration number on it. The suspected cause of the lone crash was speed and the vehicle lost control and crashed. The tanker was loaded with fuel and no casualties were recorded.”

Okpe noted that a rescue operation has been initiated, but traffic managers are still managing the traffic situation caused by the crash.

The new Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu did not stand in the way of his reinstatement by the Kano State government.

According to Sanusi, the President resisted the pressure of using federal might to stand in the way of his reinstatement and instead, chose to ensure law and order was maintained in Kano State.

Naija News recalls Sanusi was reinstated on Friday as the Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Yusuf after signing the new Kano Emirate Council Law 2024 following the repeal of the Emirate Council Law put in place by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje by the State House of Assembly.

Speaking on what transpired in Kano State, which led to his reinstatement, Sanusi said President Tinubu recognised that the Kano saga was a local matter and resisted all pressure to interfere or use federal might.

Speaking in an interview with TVC, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said: “As you know, I was appointed the 14th Emir of the single emirate of Kano in June 2014 and now I am reappointed as the Emir of the single emirate of Kano.

“I would also like to express my thanks to his excellency Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu without whose principled stance of non-interference in the internal affairs of the state, this would not have been possible.

“The president has shown that he is a respecter of the constitution and the separation of powers, he recognises that this is a purely local matter and that the government has a responsibility to do what is right for the state.

“I’m aware that he has resisted all pressure to get the federal government to be involved.

“This for me is a continuation of service that I started, it is also an opportunity God has given me to improve on my previous tenure.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down on a private rice factory in Niger State over unhygienic practice.

Speaking during a routine inspection of facilities in Niger State, the Director, North-Central Zone of NAFDAC, Shaba Mohammed, pointed out that though the facility was registered with the agency, the production environment was unhygienic and without good manufacturing practice.

“The rice processing facility has been sealed and given compliance directives for not complying with the instant regulations for which they were given to produce and certification. The place is unhygienic and they are not doing production according to good manufacturing practice,” he said.

The director added that the agency also discovered that some key workers employed by the company were not knowledgeable in areas of production.

Meanwhile, Mohammed has urged small and medium enterprises to take advantage of the Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System, an e-registration and data capture system that provides an online electronic medium for the application for products registration with NAFDAC.

He said NAPAMS would ease their interface with the agency and called on the general public to report anything that could endanger lives to the agency.