Headlines

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, will later on Friday, begin the sale of seized bags of rice to the public at the rate of N10,000 per 25kg .

The Comptroller General of the NCS, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, told newsmen in Lagos, on Thursday that buyers have been warned never to resell the seized and auctioned food items.

Adeniyi also warned that customs officers were banned from partaking in the exercise, adding that the rice would come in 25kg, which would be sold for N10,000.

The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, had revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Giving an update on the criteria, Adeniyi said, eligible persons must provide a Nigerian Identification Number.

“The target groups included artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies and other Nigerians within our operational areas. The intention is to reach out directly to members through the organised structures to ensure the maximum impact of this exercise,” Adeniyi added.

He warned against profiteering or exploitation of the initiative.

“It is imperative that beneficiaries of this exercise understand that the items are not to be resold. We take a strong stance against any form of profiteering or exploitation of this initiative. We urge Nigerians to report any incidents of misuse or unauthorised resale of the seized food items.”

He maintained that the NCS was fully committed to transparency and accountability in the process.

“We will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individuals or entities found to be in violation of the terms of this program.”

Senator Monday Okpebholo has been declared winner of the Edo All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River who was the Chairman of Edo APC shadow poll, made the declaration after collating the results from the 18 local government areas.

Okpebholo scored 12,433 votes to defeat Dennis Idahosa, who scored 6,541 votes.

The collation and declaration were at Lushville Hotel and Suites, Gapiona Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of qualified individuals to serve in agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The appointees and their respective positions are as follows:

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC):

1. Abraham Oshadami — Executive Commissioner, Technical Services
2. Rimini Makama — Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
3. Opeyemi Dele-Ajayi — President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute

Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited:

1. Abiodun Attah — Executive Director, Technical Services
2. Aisha Abdullahi — Executive Director, Finance & Administration
3. Jaiyeola Awokoya — Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development

Galaxy Backbone (BB) Limited:
Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju —

1. Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju
   Managing Director/CEO
2. Mohammed Sani Ibrahim — Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services

3.Olusegun Olulade — Executive
Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing

4. Olumbe Akinkugbe — Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services

Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said the appointments aim to strengthen the agencies’ leadership teams and contribute to advancing the digital and communications sector in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Gbenga Alade as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

He equally announced other management team of AMCON.

He noted that the appointments were pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

The President urged the the new appointees to put forward thier unflagging dedication, professionalism, and dutifulness to ensure that the operations of AMCON were more efficient, transparent, and in consonance with his determination to sanitize the nation’s financial system to maximize value and enhance investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Full List:

Gbenga Alade — Managing Director/CEO

Aminu Ismail — Executive Director;

Adeshola Lamidi — Executive Director;

Lucky Adaghe — Executive Director.

A businessman, Asue Ighodalo, has been declared the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election, which took place in Benin City in Edo State on Thursday.

Ighodalo defeated about nine other candidates including the Deputy Governor of the state in the election.

He polled a total vote of 577 votes to become the candidate of the PDP in the September 21 governorship election in the state.

The Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State declared him as the winner of the exercise.

Details later…

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has directed its members to fully comply with the proposed nationwide protest slated for February 27 and 28 over the cost of living crisis in the country.

The NANNM Secretariat gave the directive in a circular signed by its Deputy General Secretary and Acting Head of Department, Industrial Relations, Otaru Shaibu, on Wednesday.

The NLC had on February 16 declared a two-day protest which would begin after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 22.

The warning was on account of the alleged failure of the government to implement the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress earlier on February 8 gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet their demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities.

The NANNM in a circular titled, “Re: Mobilisation for the nationwide protest rally,” and dated February 21, 2024, urged its members to comply with the directive to make the protest rally a huge success.

The circular addressed to the National Administration Council members, the National Executive Council members, and NANNM, partly read, “The attention of all members of the NAC and NEC is hereby drawn to the above subject matter. The Nigeria Labour Congress has scheduled a nationwide protest rally and all workers have been directed by the national leadership of the congress to embark on the protest, billed for 27th and 28th February 2024.

“All state councils of the association are hereby enjoined to comply with the directive to make the protest rally a huge success.

“Kindly mobilise our members in line with this directive. The NLC letter conveying this directive is hereby attached for your necessary action.”

Meanwhile, the TUC has backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the NLC.

LeadingReporters gathered that The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, on Wednesday said that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

The TUC in a letter dated February 19, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the NLC unilaterally took the decision on the planned protest.

The Rivers State Police Command said an Inspector was killed by gunmen who ambushed and attacked its men on a stop and search duty at the Eliozu Flyover in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday night.

The spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday and sent to newsmen.

Iringe-Koko said the gunmen who were spotted in a carton-colored Sienna bus with fully tinted glasses drove in from the Rumuodumaya axis, near Port Harcourt where they launched the offensive which claimed the officer’s life.

She, however, said the team rose to the occasion and returned fire and neutralise one of the miscreants who wore masks, but that other gang members escaped by the whisker.

The statement reads, “We are deeply saddened to announce a heinous incident that occurred on 21st February 2024, involving an attack on policemen attached to Operation Sting of the Rivers State Police Command.

“At approximately 2145hrs, while conducting routine stop-and-search at Eliozu flyover, the officers were ambushed by unidentified hoodlums operating in a carton-colored Sienna bus, with fully tinted glasses.

“The registration number of the vehicle remains unknown at this time.

“The assailants drove in from the Rumuodumaya axis, and opened fire on the police team, resulting in the tragic loss of one Inspector who valiantly gave his life in the line of duty.

“Undeterred, the police team responded with bravery, engaging the attackers and managing to neutralise one of them with a mask on his face, while the others managed to escape, potentially sustaining gunshot wounds.

“The command has launched a thorough investigation into this despicable act and has already identified the group responsible.

“Rest assured, we will relentlessly pursue these criminals and bring them to justice. No amount of intimidation will hinder our officers’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens.”

While noting that such acts of aggression against security forces detrimentally impact the safety and security of our entire society, she stressed that the command remains resolute in its duty to maintain peace and protect the well-being of the populace.

“The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, reiterates unequivocally that those who perpetrate violence against policemen or any citizen will face the full weight of the law.

“We urge all law-abiding citizens to continue with their daily activities without panic, as we are determined to uphold our mandate of preserving lives and property in the face of such challenges.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of the fallen inspector, and we assure them that his sacrifice will not be in vain. Our resolve to serve and protect remains unwavering as we stand together against those who seek to disrupt the peace and harmony of our society.”

Last year, a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division, Bako Angbashim, was ambushed and killed by a cult gang.

Since the death of the cop, the command has been on his trail, with constant land and air bombardments in the various hideouts of the Iceland cult leader, even as some of his lieutenants were gunned down previously.

However, on Monday, Grace Iringe-Koko,  said intelligence reports revealed that the wanted cult kingpin was killed in a recent joint security raid in the Idu-Ekpeye community, Ahiada East LGA.

The Federal government has halted cooking gas exportation in a bid to lower the price of the commodity in the country.

Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, broke the news to reporters at the ‘Internal Stakeholders’ Workshop’ in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop is ‘Harnessing Nigeria’s Proven Gas Reserves for Economic Growth and Development’.

He said the country will no longer, for the time being export Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly referred to as cooking gas, in a bid to alleviate the scarcity and steep price surge within the country.

“We are interacting with critical stakeholders to ensure that there is no exportation of LPG.

“All LPG produced within the country will have to be domesticated. And when this is done, the volume will increase and of course, the price will automatically crash.

“I am in contact with the regulation, NMDPRA, we hold meetings almost on daily basis, and the producers such as Mobil, Chevron, and Shell. So there is that hope that things will turn around. We don’t need to make noise about it,” the minister said.