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Tell Nigerians who imported 844 guns, 112,500 ammunition into Rivers — Sani slam Customs

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Former Kaduna central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service to disclose the identities of those behind the importation of 844 rifles, 112,500 live ammunitions to Rivers State.

In a tweet on Monday, July 1, Sani commended Customs authorities for the seizure.

“The interception of illegally imported arms & ammunition by the Customs is commendable. In a country infested by terrorists, thousands of lives are saved. Next is to publicly disclose the identity of the chief importer and not just parade the crew of the ship,” Sani wrote.

Leading reporters recall that Customs intercepted a container from Turkey containing 844 rifles and 112,500 live ammunitions.

The service arrested three suspects who are currently in custody.

It also noted that thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved face the full wrath of the law.

Briefing journalists at Onne Port where the items were seized, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the arms and ammunitions include 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles; 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles, 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles, 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles, Exclusive Series, and Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition.

The Comptroller General said the duty-paid value of the container is N4,171,710,000.

According to him , eight other containers with falsely declared contents, including used clothes and cough syrup with codeine, have been seized with a total duty-paid value of N13,915,710,000.

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Wike Shows Off New Dance Moves in His Alleged Multi-Million Naira Outfit [VIDEO]

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sparked debate with his recent fashion choice and dance moves.

The former Rivers State governor wore a Versace blue street-style coat, reportedly worth millions of naira, to work on Monday.

A viral video shows Wike dancing to Flavour’s hit song “Big Baller” at his Abuja residence, surrounded by cheering men.

The luxury coat, allegedly priced at £1499 (N2,910,121) and €2120 (N3,489,289) by online stores, has raised eyebrows among many who question the need for such an expensive outfit.

Wike wore the coat to the Mabushi bus terminal construction flag-off ceremony.

While some praise his fashion sense and dance moves, others criticize the need for such a show of extravagance.

Watch the Minister’s dance moves below:

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Wike threatens to unseat FCT lawmaker in 2027

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to unseat an unidentified lawmaker for criticising his successes as the FCT Minister.

Mr Wike made the threat during the inauguration of the construction of Mabushi Bus Terminal, Phase I, in Abuja on Monday.

He said that he overheard a federal lawmaker castigating, on Arise TV, the successes being recorded in FCT.

The minister said that the lawmaker particularly criticised the rot in schools and the absence of quality hospitals in the territory.

You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?

“I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you.

“Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again.

“Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory and I’m not afraid,” he said.

Mr Wike further said,“With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know, what you know you know.

“The good thing for you is to tell people you don’t know when you don’t know, then people will educate you.

“The Honourable Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and my humble self, have not been in office for more than 11months and the person is angry that people are praising us.

“If you don’t want or you are angry about that, go and hang yourself in a transformer.

“If we have done well; we have done well. If we haven’t done well; we haven’t done well. I’m proud to say that in the short time that President Tinubu has appointed us, we have done well.”

The minister warned that if the lawmaker is angry with the praises they are receiving for doing a good job, “by next year, your blood pressure level will go very high.

“This is because the praises you would see would be too much,” he said.

Mr Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government.

In a related development, Ireti Kingibe (LP-FCT), who appeared on Arise TV on Monday complained that she was being sidelined in the running of the FCT.
Mrs Kingibe particularly claimed that her constituency was being marginalised, adding that there was no clean water for the residents of Abuja.

She also said that roads being constructed across the FCT were not addressing the needs of the majority of the people, namely healthcare, water, education and security.

(NAN)

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BREAKING: 2 persons reportedly killed as flood submerges Trademore Estate in Abuja

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An early Monday morning downpour led to severe flooding, submerging the popular Trademore Estate in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Unconfirmed reports said that two people were swept away by the flood.

The estate’s gate area was particularly affected, with the prolonged rain rendering hundreds homeless and causing extensive property damage.

A video circulated on Monday morning, narrated by an unidentified woman, showed the estate nearly completely submerged, with some properties seen outside homes in the rain.

She said while screaming in the video: “This is Trademore Estate, federal government we are pleading, two persons just died now, the water took them away. Two persons swept away by this water, please we are begging. FCT minister come and do something, we are appealing.

“See the Police Station is gone. These are people’s residences, and water is everywhere. Minister of FCT, Honourable Wike, please come to Trademore Estate, people are dying. Two people just died this morning, what a pity.”

Recall that the flooding in the estate has been a perennial occurrence every rainy season, which made the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) promise to tackle it, but nothing has been done.

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had announced last year that it would demolish structures on waterways in the estate and other estates across the FCT, but residents of the affected areas vehemently opposed the decision of the government and went to challenge it in court.

In a statement signed by the FCDA executive director, Shehu Ahmed, he said the structures in communities such as Trademore Estate, disrupting the natural water flow, were responsible for flooding recorded in some parts of the city, despite the Administration marking many buildings in the estate, the occupants refused to vacate.

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NDDC urges IOCs to defray over $700m outstanding debt

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has appealed to International Oil Companies (IOCs) to defray the $700 million debts they owe the commission.

The Managing Director of the commission, Samuel Ogbuku, made the appeal during a virtual media tour of the commission’s projects in the Niger Delta region and sensitisation engagement with media executives across the country.

Mr Ogbuku, represented by the commission’s Executive Director of Projects, Victor Antai, said the debt spanned more than 24 years.

He said that paying the debt would help the commission to tackle the enormous developmental challenges confronting the region.

He said that the present NDDC’s board and management were genuinely committed to changing the poor perception of the commission in the region.

“We are presenting a new NDDC that is dedicated to implementing several interventions aimed at enhancing and transforming the lives of the Niger Delta people.

“The completion and inauguration of previously abandoned legacy projects are a demonstration of our determination to build on the successes of past NDDC boards and correct their mistakes.

“However, for us to realise our objective of transforming the Niger Delta, we require the support of all stakeholders, including the IOCs,” Mr Ogbuku said.

He also said that the NDDC board had adopted a triple ‘T’ (Transiting from Transaction to Transformation) strategy to actualise its regional mandate.

“We are very committed to ensuring that this time, NDDC truly makes a difference for the betterment of our people.

“The recent inauguration of five mega projects in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo States is a testimony of the new passion with which the commission is delivering on its mandate,” he further said.

Leading the media executives through a virtual tour of NDDC projects, Mr Antai, said that the commission constructed and rehabilitated 5,141.3 kilometres of roads across the region.

According to him, the commission has also built 42 bridges, 87 jetties and numerous hydraulic structures across the nine NDDC states.

“NDDC has also installed 3,806.15 kilometres of distribution lines and 527 transformers; deployed 56,786 solar streetlights and constructed and rehabilitated 678 water schemes in communities in the region.

“The commission has reclaimed 427.16 hectares of land for development; awarded 2,323 foreign postgraduate scholarships and constructed and rehabilitated 924 schools and 1,571 hostel rooms.

“On healthcare, NDDC has built 142 health centres and hospitals, equipped six with modern facilities; while in Agriculture we built a rice mill in Elele, Rivers, among others,” Mr Antai said.

He expressed the commission’s intention to undertake big-ticket projects in the region.

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BREAKING: MURIC raises alarm over alleged plan to depose sultan of Sokoto

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised an alarm over an alleged plan by Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, made the announcement in a statement on Monday.

The development comes amidst controversy and tension over the deposition of monarchs in Kano State.

Leading reporters recalls that Governor Aliyu previously deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences.

Akintola warned that Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposing the Sultan, who he said is not only a traditional leader but also a religious figure with jurisdiction across Nigeria.

He urged the governor to reconsider, stating that tampering with the Sultan’s stool would have far-reaching consequences.

MURIC called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws, adding immunity for the office of the Sultan.

He said, “A military governor, Col. Yakubu Muazu, exposed this soft underbelly when he deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki on 20th April 1996. Nigerian Muslims will be forced to make a hard decision if Sokoto governors continue to diminish the authority of the Sultan.

“For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Sultan of the Nigerian people. His performance and style of leadership have warmed him into the hearts of Nigerians.

“Nigerian Muslims North and South of the country may be constrained to pick Islamic scholars only as President General of the NSCIA and overall leader of Nigerian Muslims.

“It will be farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s priviledged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Col. Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.

“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, the third time is enemy action. If the deposition of a Sultan and NSCIA leader happens a second time, Nigerian Muslims will not allow the embarrassment to happen a third time.

“MURIC reiterates its call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to either repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws by adding the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to Section 6, Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria which empowers the state governor to depose the emirs including the Sultan.

“We urge Northern elites and Islamic scholars based in the North to intervene before it is too late. This is the time to lobby the Sokoto State House of Assembly and the governor himself. If the chieftaincy laws of Kano State can be repealed within 24 hours, nothing stops that of Sokoto State from being reviewed in favour of immunity for the office of the Sultan in a single day to save Nigerian Muslims from humongous embarrassment.”

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Minimum Wage: National Assembly plans to approve N70k for workers

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Assembly may approve a new minimum wage of N70,000 as part of efforts to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerian workers.

The move, according to an inside source who preferred not to be named, will relax the tension between the organised labour, the federal government, states, and local governments.

Recall that the tripartite committee had recommended a minimum wage of N62,000. Labour unions in the country have since turned down the offer, insisting on N250,000 for workers.

However, an executive bill from President Bola Tinubu would still be sent to the National Assembly in the coming days.

The source said Tinubu has concluded plans to send the compromise minimum wage of N62,0000, but the National Assembly might likely jack it up to N70,000 as their own input.

“This was exactly the situation that played out in 2018 and 2019. The federal government sent a minimum wage bill recommending a minimum wage of N23,000, but the National Assembly increased it to N30,000,” the source told ThisDay.

“This scenario will play out when the National Assembly gets the minimum wage bill any moment from now. The role to be played by the National Assembly is one of, ‘we feel your pains and therefore considering the economic realities, we are increasing the minimum wage to N70,000’.

“Though some states will still insist that they cannot pay, the federal government will persuade the states to pay and where necessary give the states a bailout that will encourage them commence payment, in the first instance.”

It source said the federal government’s negotiating team and leaders of the National Assembly were moved to adopt this position since Edo State had already started paying the N70,000 minimum wage.

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JUST IN: Vice President Kashim Shettima’s mother-in-law is dead

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Vice President Kashim Shettima has lost his mother-in-law, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir, who passed away in Kano on Sunday evening after a prolonged illness. She was 69 years old.

Hajiya Maryam, the mother of the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, will be laid to rest on Monday afternoon in Kano, in accordance with Islamic traditions.

”The late Hajiya Maryam was known as an exemplary and kind-hearted mother in her community and also a devoted Muslim. She was respected for her wisdom, compassion, and dedication to charitable causes.

”Many remember her as a source of guidance and support, both within her family and in the wider community in Kano.

”The nation extends its condolences to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hajiya Nana Shettima, and their family during this difficult time, while appreciating the life and legacy of the late Hajiya Maryam Albishir,” Ameen Amishi, an aide to the vice president said in a statement.

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BREAKING: Christ Embassy headquarters in Lagos currently on fire [VIDEO]

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The headquarters of Christ Embassy Church, located in the Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State, is currently on fire.

The incident was revealed through multiple videos shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by eyewitnesses present at the scene.

One user, Augustine, tweeting under the handle @Chief_Augustin1, shared a video and wrote, “Christ Embassy Church on Billings Way, Oregun, is on fire. Serious fire is raging, and men of the Lagos State Fire Service are working hard to put it off. Thank God service hasn’t commenced fully.”

Officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were quickly deployed to the scene and are currently working to control and extinguish the blaze.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and there have been no reports of casualties at this time.

Residents and church members have gathered at the scene. The church, known for its large congregation and significant influence in the community, is a landmark in the Oregun area.

Watch the video of the raging inferno below:

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FG highlights AKK Gas Pipeline’s Massive Impact on Economy, Industrialization

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

……….As Kyari Assures Project Will be Ready 1st Qtr 2025

The Federal Government has highlighted the huge multiplier impact of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project on the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation.

Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in a recent press release during the visit of three cabinet Ministers to the AKK Gas Pipeline Project Site where they inspected the River Kaduna crossing milestone of the project in Kaduna, on Friday.

This is coming just as the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari assured Nigerians that the Project will be delivered by the end of first quarter 2025.

The three Ministers who visited the Project Site were: Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Information & National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris Malagi and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo.

Speaking at the project site, the Minister of Finance Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun described the AKK Gas pipeline as the pipeline of prosperity, which is very dear to the President, because it will deliver the critical infrastructure needed to trigger the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation.

“The AKK Gas Pipeline is crucial for this administration and its delivery is in line with Mr. President’s strategy of bringing prosperity to the people,” Edun added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris Malagi said the AKK Gas Pipeline Project is a testimony to the fact that the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas” has commenced in earnest.

“Nigerians should be proud of the AKK Gas Pipeline project. With the delivery of this project, the prosperity that Mr. President is always talking about is unravelling right here before our eyes,” he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said the gas pipeline is part of the Federal Government’s many efforts to harness the nation’s abundant gas resources towards improving power generation, revamping ailing industries and creating employment opportunities in the country.

Ekpo urged all stakeholders to support the NNPC Ltd towards delivering the project and several other gas projects as the country depends on it to bring prosperity to the people.

The three Ministers, who lauded the NNPC Ltd and its project partner, Brentex/CPP Ltd (BCL) on the progress made so far, also expressed optimism that the NNPC will deliver as promised.

Earlier in his remarks, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari assured the Project will be delivered by first quarter of 2025 as major segments of the job have been completed.

“Without promising too much, we assure you that this Project will be delivered on schedule. Our mission is to work towards delivering it by December this year. But we are confident this project will be delivered by 1st Quarter of 2025,” Kyari informed the three visiting Ministers.

The GCEO, who said the NNPC Ltd recognises the strategic importance and enormous value of the project to Nigeria’s economy, stressed that the Company was bankrolling the project on the back of its own balance sheet.

In his speech, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Uba Sani, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said the completion of the AKK gas pipeline will herald the much-needed economic and industrial revival in the state.

“If you know about the Kakuri Industrial Area and how most of our factories there have become moribund, you will understand why we in Kaduna State are all excited about the AKK Gas Pipeline. Without doubt, the pipeline will revamp our industries and bring about a huge impact on our people. We can’t wait for it to be completed,” the Governor added.

The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is a 40 inch by 614km linear pipeline system running from Akaojuta in Kogi State to Kano with associated intermediate, terminal gas facilities and other related equipment to transport natural gas to off-takers at Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

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