Headlines

Atiku: FG developed Lagos, not Tinubu or APC

Published

2 years ago

December 6, 2022

Atiku: FG developed Lagos, not Tinubu, APC

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said the Federal Government developed the nation’s economic nerve centre, Lagos.

The Adamawa-born politician and former vice president also said the All Progressives Congress (APC) lied that its presidential candidate, Tinubu, built Lagos after the nation’s return to democracy in 1999, saying Tinubu did not carry out any developmental projects in the state as governor.

Atiku, who spoke at the PDP presidential rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos, warned the people against returning APC to power at the federal and state levels, saying “a single family has ruled the state for 23 years.”
Addressing a crowd of PDP supporters decked up in party paraphernalia, he said: “53 years ago when I came to Lagos in 1969, there was only one Carter Bridge built by the Europeans, no Second Mainland Bridge, no Third Mainland Bridge, no TBS.

“Now, I want to tell you, this is a fact, you can go and check, the Federal Government built the Second Mainland Bridge, rebuilt the Old Carter Bridge, built the Third Mainland Bridge, rebuilt Agege Motor Road, rebuilt Ikorodu Road, all the major roads connecting Island and Mainland.”
He said the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the APC governments in Lagos since 1999 lied about developing the state.

Atiku urged Lagosians to free themselves from the control of the Tinubu family by voting in the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, better known as Jandor.
Atiku also reiterated his stand on restructuring. He promised to restructure Nigeria and revamp its economy if voted into power.
He was at the rally with his running mate and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; Governors Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), among others.

Atiku also reiterated his stand on restructuring. He promised to restructure Nigeria and revamp its economy if voted into power in 2023. “On my own part, if you elect me as your president, by the grace of God, I’m going to set aside $10 billion so that we can empower our young men and women in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“People are asking me where are you going to get the $10 billion, if I privatise Port Harcourt Refinery, Warri Refinery and Kaduna Refinery, I’m going to get the money. So, let me also promise you that if you elect the PDP government, we are going to restructure this country. What do we mean by restructuring? We will give your states and local governments more powers and resources?
“It is up to you to hold them responsible, therefore, people of Lagos it is high time you took your rights in your own hands for your future not for the future of one family. In the last 23 years, you have been governed by one family. It is your right and duty to take over governance and handle it yourselves. That is what PDP is asking for,” he said.

The National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, said the party would liberate Lagos State, and that liberating the state is like liberating Nigeria.
Ayu said Atiku is an experienced man, who knows Lagos and is determined to lead the liberation of the state. “Lagos is going to be liberated because we are determined to rescue Lagos from the hands of those who do not want the progress of Lagos people and of Nigeria. Liberating Lagos is like liberating Nigeria because Lagos is an important part of the country.

“Lagos is the biggest city in the country with a population of about 25 million people, which is more than most other African countries and other countries in the world, and yet it is a very rich state. Today, we have brought you hope, we have brought you a man who is experienced, who knows Lagos, who knows Nigeria and who is leading the crusade to rescue Lagos, abolish poverty and create jobs.

“Atiku is going to make sure that you are not overtaxed. Most of you are running small businesses, and your businesses are not thriving because you are not given the right atmosphere. Every day, you have about 200 taxes imposed on you. People of Lagos you need to be free from multiple taxations that are going on in Lagos and making you more impoverished,” he said.
On his part, the chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Udom Emmanuel said Nigerian economy was better under the PDP. In those days, the economy of Lagos was more buoyant than the economy of so many West African countries put together, but today all the factories and companies in Lagos have left the state.

Emmanuel said: “In those days of PDP from 1999 when you enter Lagos you would see trains everywhere working and that shows that the economy was working. I’m telling Lagosians that Lagos is where money is made, Abuja is where money is shared and South-South is where money is produced, so under PDP, we will restore the economy of Nigeria.
“All those factories that have left Lagos today, they will all come back. Under the Atiku Abubakar administration, the economy of Lagos will bounce back and everything will come back to life.

The Guardian reports that former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, was conspicuously absent at the rally.
George is a strong member of the PDP Integrity Group, which also has five governors of the party known as G5 as members. One of whom is Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who also shunned the rally in Lagos, South West.

The group led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is demanding the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as a condition to work for Atiku.
Similarly, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, former Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, among other leaders of the Integrity Group, were absent.
However, Atiku and his entourage rode triumphantly into the Tafawa Balewa Square, venue of the rally, in a motorcade.

Africa

Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.59 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Comptroller of the command, Mr James Ojo, disclosed this during the handing over of the drugs to Mr Olusegun Adeyeye, the Commander of NDLEA, Idiroko Special Area Command, in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Friday.

Ojo said the customs handed over the seized cannabis and tramadol tablets to the Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with the standard operating procedures and inter-agency collaboration.

He said the illicit drugs were seized in various strategic locations between January and November 21, 2024, in Ogun State.

He added that the illicit drugs were abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, the Agbawo/Igankoto area of Yewa North Local Government Area, and Imeko Afton axis.

Ojo said that the seizure of the cannabis sativa and tramaling tablets, another brand of tramadol, was made possible through credible intelligence and strategic operations of the customs personnel.

“The successful interception of these dangerous substances would not have been possible without the robust collaboration and support from our intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.

“These landmark operations are testament to the unwavering dedication of the NCS to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

He said the seizures comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels, weighing 7,217.7 kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405,00.

He described the height of illicit drugs smuggling in the recent time as worrisome.

This, he said, underscores the severity of drug trafficking within the borders.

“Between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12 alone, operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,337kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each,” he said.

Ojo said the seizures had disrupted the supply chain of illicit drugs, thereby mitigating the risks those substances posed to the youth, families and communities.

He lauded the synergy between its command, security agencies and other stakeholders that led to the remarkable achievements.

Ojo also commended the Comptroller General of NCS for creating an enabling environment for the command to achieve the success.

Responding, Adeyeye, applauded the customs for achieving the feat.

Adeyeye pledged to continue to collaborate with the customs to fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking in the state.

Economy

Customs intercepts N30m worth of PMS in Operation Whirlwind

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said that it had intercepted 849 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), worth over N30 million in retail price from Operation Whirlwind.

The Comptroller of Customs, Hussein Ejibunu, made this known during a news conference in Ikeja.

“Today, we have another seizure of 849 kegs of PMS containing 25 litres each. This translates to 30,225 litres with duty paid value at N30.225 million only at the NNPCL retail price.

“Today marks yet another success recorded by the operatives of Operation Whirlwind, Zone “A” Lagos/Ogun Axis.

“About five weeks ago, same PMS products were displayed before you here on the parade ground of the college where several seizures were made,” Ejibunu said.

“On this note, we wish to thank the National Security Adviser and the Comptroller-General of Customs for their unwavering support,” Ejibunu said.

The coordinator of the Operation Whirlwind said that two vehicles of means of conveyance were intercepted along with the seizures.

Ejibunu said that they evacuated 80 Jerry Cans each from a vehicle.

He assured the public that Operation Whirlwind remains steadfast in its efforts to clamp down on PMS smugglers, ensuring no room for their illegal activities nationwide.

Africa

Ann-Kio Briggs Faults Tinubu for Scrapping Niger Delta Ministry

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist and environmentalist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta, describing it as ill-advised and detrimental to the oil-rich region.

Briggs expressed her concerns during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

“The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua. There was a reason for the creation. So, just removing it because the president was advised. I want to believe that he was advised because if he did it by himself, that would be terribly wrong,” she stated.

President Tinubu, in October, dissolved the Ministry of Niger Delta and replaced it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which is tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, and North-East Development Commission.

Briggs questioned the rationale behind the restructuring, expressing concerns about its feasibility and implications. “But that’s not going to be the solution because who is going to fund the commissions? Is it the regions because it is called the Regional Development Ministry? Is it the states in the regions? What are the regions because we don’t work with regions right now; we are working with geopolitical zones,” she remarked.

She added, “Are we going back to regionalism? If we are, we have to discuss it. The president can’t decide on his own to restructure Nigeria. If we are restructuring Nigeria, the president alone can’t restructure Nigeria, he has to take my opinion and your opinion into consideration.”

Briggs also decried the longstanding neglect of the Niger Delta despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy since 1958. “The Niger Delta has been developing Nigeria since 1958. We want to use our resources to develop our region; let regions use their resources to develop themselves,” she asserted.

Reflecting on the various bodies established to address the region’s development, Briggs lamented their failure to deliver meaningful progress. She highlighted the Niger Delta Basin Authority, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the NDDC as examples of ineffective interventions.

“NDDC was created by Olusegun Obasanjo…There was OMPADEC before NDDC. OMPADEC was an agency. Before OMPADEC, there was the Basin Authority…These authorities were created to help us. Were we helped by those authorities? No, we were not,” she said.

Briggs further described the NDDC as an “ATM for failed politicians, disgruntled politicians, and politicians that have had their electoral wins taken away from them and given to somebody else.”

Her remarks underscore the deep-seated frustrations in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to advocate for greater control over their resources and improved governance.