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Ondo, DAWN, Afenifere, Host Citizen Engagement Summit

October 27, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State Government, in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and Afenifere, will host the two days Federal Government/South West Citizen-Government Engagement Summit on Wednesday.

The summit, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” will hold at the International Conference Centre (The Dome), Akure.

The Summit aims to provide a platform for citizens and government to engage in constructive dialogue on key issues affecting the south west region.

According to the Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, who is the Secretary to the State Government, all preparations have been made to host delegates from the six States of the south west region.

The event, he said, will feature six thematic sessions, including Fiscal Reforms and National Planning, Economic Development and Job Creation, Social Services and Social Development, Infrastructure and Transportation, Human Capital Development, and Security and Governance.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will serve as the Chief Host of the Summit.

Participants will include Southwest governors, ministers and federal appointees of Southwest origin, federal legislators, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, private sector players, youth and student bodies, women groups, and other key stakeholders across the region.

The two-day summit is expected to foster collaboration and promote sustainable development in the Southwest region.

ADC Says FG Claim Of Drop In Food Prices Is “Propaganda, Deception”

Ayodele Oni

October 27, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — President Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political advantage.

It described the administration’s claims of increased local production as “propaganda and deception.”

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it was “dishonest” for the Tinubu-led government to celebrate a supposed drop in food prices when many farmers, particularly in the northern region, had been displaced by banditry and could no longer afford fertilisers or other key inputs.

“The Tinubu government is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains.

“The reported drop in prices is artificial, driven by import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign food.

“This is not evidence of increased production, but rather a short-term measure that sabotages local farmers and undermines food sovereignty.”

The ADC pointed out that the temporary decline in prices was “unsustainable and driven by panic, not strategy or planning,” warning that such policies would cripple the agricultural sector in the long run.

It also questioned why the government would hoard imported food while millions of Nigerians go hungry, describing the act as “callous and inhumane.

“If, as the government claims, imported food has not been released into the market, then why is it being hoarded while citizens starve? What kind of administration stores food in warehouses during a hunger crisis?” Abdullahi asked.

Calling for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s agricultural policy, the party urged the government to prioritise rural security, stabilise input costs, and support local producers instead of relying on import-dependent stopgap measures.

“The Nigerian people deserve truth and food, not manipulation and a false narrative of renewed hope,” the statement concluded.

How NDLEA Nabbed Pretty Mike

Adesina Soyooye

October 27, 2025

By Adesina Soyooye

A Lagos-based socialite and nightclub owner, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, has been arrested by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Popular as Pretty Mike, he was arrested in a-wee-hour raid at his Night Club, Proxy Nightclub, Victoria Island, Lagos, alongside Tuoyo Ideh, a former BB Housemate. Also arrested were more than 100 guests during the midnight raid at the Nightclub.

In a statement signed by NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and posted on its website Sunday the Agency alleged that many cartons of banned substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from the Nightclub.

The statement said NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence and infiltrated the club around 11 pm Saturday, based on standard operating procedures, and swooped on the party at about 3.00.am.

The statement reads:

“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, raided Proxy Night club at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, where a drug party was going on. Over 100 suspects, including the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, alias Pretty Mike, were arrested and taken into custody for screening. Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.

“The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11 pm on Saturday, 25th October, however, disrupted the gathering at 3 am on Sunday, 26th October based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).”

Confirming his arrest, Tuoye who confirmed his arrest on his Instagram page Sunday lamented his ordeal and expressed displeasure at his arrest.

“I have been arrested by the NDLEA from a night club in Lagos for basically doing nothing at all since around 4 am, they made us sit down like criminals, we over 150 people here up till now, that were carried to NDLEA head quarters Ikoyi, we didn’t commit any crime, they came with guns inside and the club and told everyone to lie down”, he wrote.

In another development, the NDLEA disclosed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, it intercepted 70 parcels of cocaine concealed inside cocoa butter body cream containers bound for London, United Kingdom.

The weight of the Cocaine, discovered on October 14, 2025, weighed 3.6kg and was discovered during the examination of cargoes declared as personal effects and scheduled to be exported on an Air Peace flight to London.

Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, the Cargo Agent, who brought the consignment for airfreighting was arrested. Investigations conducted over two weeks led to the arrest of two other suspects, a female healthcare worker, Ogunmuyide Taiwo Deborah, and the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi.

Said the NDLEA:

“The cocaine consignments weighing 3.60 kilograms were discovered on 14th October 2025 during examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects going to London, UK on an Air Peace flight. A cargo agent, Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, who presented the consignment for airfreight, was promptly arrested while investigations stretching into two weeks led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt to export the concealed Class A drug to the UK.

“In a follow-up operation on 18th October, a female healthcare worker, Ogunmuyide Taiwo Deborah, was arrested, following which Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebiyi & Co, was arrested at his 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos office on Monday 20th October.”

In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, foiled an attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national, Lemena Mark, to smuggle 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a Diabeta herbs coffee tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on October 22.

Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested at the airport and the illicit substance recovered.

In Kwara State, the agency intercepted 21,950 capsules of tramadol 250mg hidden inside a 100-litre water heater. Umar Abubakar, the suspect, aged 40, was, based on credible intelligence, arrested on October 21 at Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area.

And, in Taraba State, “two suspects — Auwal Musa, 26, and Salihu Bala, 22 — were arrested on October 21 with 450,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 at the Dan-anacha checkpoint.

“The drugs were being conveyed in a truck loaded with building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mubi, Adamawa State.

Along the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State, officers seized 162.2kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a truck on October 24. Another 128kg of the same substance was recovered from a suspect, Abubakar Muhammad, 55, in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on October 22.

“In Lagos, a mother of two, identified as Oyonumoh Glory Effiong, described as a major distributor of high-grade cannabis known as Loud across Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ajah, and VGC, was arrested on October 17 during a raid at her Lekki home, where 500 grams of the substance were recovered.

“In another Lagos operation, NDLEA officers raided the home of a suspect, Ogunyabo Adenigbigbe, at Solomade Estate, Ikorodu, where 275 litres of skuchies — a cocktail of blackcurrant drink, cannabis, and opioids — were recovered.

Also, a 75-year-old grandfather, Echendu Onuoka, was arrested with 4.7kg of skunk at Ovum village, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, while a 60-year-old woman, Aukana John, was arrested with 225 grams of the same substance at Apanta village in the same area.”

Three Ondo Amotekun Officers Declared Wanted

Ayodele Oni

October 27, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Security Network agency codenamed Amotekun corps, has suspended three of its officers for alleged gross misconduct capable of undermining the security of the state.

The suspended officers are; Abu Taiwo, Akinsipe Victor and Ekujumi Julius.

The State Commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye who announced this in Akure on Monday during the parade of four suspected criminals, said the agency also declared the officers wanted as they are currently on the run.

Adeleye noted that the suspension would enable the agency to carry out proper investigations into allegations levelled against the officers.

Adeleye explained that “every organization has its own rules, the Ondo State Security Network Agency is not an exception.

“The law setting up the Corps specifically says the Corps should give out identity cards and warrant cards for operatives who are full staff of the government as an agency.”

It was however gathered that the affected officers took to the social media agitating for their appointment letters two years after they were signed in.

Adeleye pointed out that “You will observe that at the time when there are pressing need for the Corps to come together and continue to work assiduously to ensure that the security of the state is not compromised, it is when our intelligence showed that the trio ; Abu Taiwo, Akinsipe Victor, Ekinjumi Julius have been sponsored not only to undermine and disparage the management of the Corps but totally to distract the attention of the Corps from its core mandate of the provision of security to lives and property.

“All that you had seen on the social media on the 15 points they raised are all false allegations and disciplinary actions had been put in place by the Corps.

“And as we stand today, the three of them had been reprimanded. They are also declared wanted and due diligence in handling such in a security environment where oaths of allegiance and secrecy to the state cannot be thrown away will be used.

” We refused to be dragged into the controversies surrounding each and every one of them.

“But the fact remains that they are acting in isolation and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps remains solid as you can see the entire management staff in ensuring that we are not distracted. They are acting in isolation.

“The three of them have been suspended from the Corps and we are looking for them to come and answer as a way of giving them free access to criminal justice.

“If they are innocent, everybody will see. But the Corps as an entity will not be dragged into social media controversy with such people that are acting in isolation, especially now that we are sure and we have proof to show that they are being sponsored.”

On the four suspects paraded, the Amotekun commander said they were apprehended in connection with stealing of government’s property and kidnapping activities at a village in Akure North.

“Today we are parading four notorious suspects, in addition to that, we have another six sets of criminals that were arrested in the last two weeks in Ondo State in connection with robbery and kidnapping.

“For the fact that we had not concluded investigation on those, so they will not be paraded.

“For the four that we are parading today, we have Ogungbemi Adebayo who confessed voluntarily that he is an informant to kidnappers in Ademekun power line at Agodada camp.

Meanwhile, the wife of one of the officer of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has raised an alarm over the sudden disappearance of her husband after he was allegedly invited by the Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, for a meeting.

According to the distraught woman, her husband, Victor Temitope Akinshepe, was invited for what was described as a “peaceful meeting” regarding his appointment letter on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

She stated that he left home to honour the invitation, but has not been seen or heard from since that day.

According to her, efforts by family members and colleagues to trace his whereabouts have so far proved unsuccessful.

She said the meeting was related to agitations among some officers demanding formal appointment letters from the state government.

“My husband told me the Commandant called them for a meeting to settle the issue of appointment letters. He left home for the meeting and since then, I have not seen or heard from him.”

CNPP, Groups Demand Probe Of Sacked Service Chiefs

The Source

October 27, 2025

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and over 75 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold decision to sack the non-performing Service Chiefs, describing the move as long overdue but better late than never.

In a joint statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the coalition stated that the persistence of insecurity across Nigeria’s land and territorial waters throughout the tenure of the former Service Chiefs was undeniable evidence of incompetence, poor coordination, and policy failure.

“From the forests of Zamfara to the highways of Abuja–Kaduna, the creeks of the Niger Delta to the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, insecurity flourished under their watch. Kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy became daily realities for Nigerians. Entire communities were displaced, farmlands abandoned, and ancestral lands seized by non-state actors. Their removal was not just necessary — it was inevitable,” the statement declared.

While acknowledging that the decision to remove them came later than it should have, the CNPP and CNCSOs applauded President Tinubu for finally acting in the national interest and urged the new Service Chiefs to “hit the ground running” with fresh energy, new strategies, and measurable results.

“The President’s action rekindles hope that the government is now ready to match political will with decisive leadership in the war against insecurity. Nigerians, however, will not celebrate mere appointments; they expect swift, visible improvements in safety across the country,” the coalition stated.

The groups also called for an immediate and comprehensive probe of the tenure of the sacked Service Chiefs, alleging that their years in office were marked not only by persistent insecurity but also by opaque defence expenditures and poor accountability in military operations.

“The Nigerian people deserve to know how trillions of naira budgeted for defence and internal security were spent while insecurity worsened. We call on President Tinubu to immediately constitute an independent panel to investigate the activities, procurements, and command decisions of the former Service Chiefs to determine whether negligence, corruption, or complicity contributed to the sustained insecurity that ravaged the country under their leadership,” the statement demanded.

“There can be no meaningful reform without accountability. Those who failed the nation must explain why Nigerians remained unsafe in their homes, highways, and waterways despite huge investments in the defence sector,” it added.

While urging the newly appointed Service Chiefs to learn from their predecessors’ failures, the CNPP and CNCSOs also called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s internal security system, with special emphasis on restoring the central role of the Nigeria Police Force in domestic security management.

“The police must not continue to exist merely as a protest control unit while the military performs internal security functions that should constitutionally belong to the police. A weak police force translates into weak internal security. The time has come for President Tinubu to empower, reform, and reposition the police as the lead agency in maintaining law and order,” the coalition emphasised.

The statement further advocated the institutionalisation of community policing through necessary constitutional and Police Act amendments, ensuring that security becomes people-driven and rooted in grassroots intelligence gathering.

“Community policing is not just desirable; it is essential. Security must begin from the people, not from the barracks. The government must bring policing closer to the citizens to build trust, cooperation, and resilience against crime,” the statement noted.

Reaffirming their commitment to supporting genuine government efforts to restore peace, the CNPP and CNCSOs stressed that Nigerians have endured too much pain to continue tolerating excuses or mediocrity in the security sector.

“President Tinubu has taken the right step by sacking those who failed to deliver. The next step is to probe their stewardship, rebuild the police, and empower the new security leadership to restore peace, unity, and confidence in the Nigerian state,” the statement concluded.

Signed:
Comrade James Ezema
Deputy National Publicity Secretary,
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP)

Alhaji Ali Abacha
National Secretary,
Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs)

Dangote Refinery Moves Up To 1.4m bpd

Tosin Olatokunbo

October 27, 2025

Billionaire Aliko Dangote has announced his plan to make his $20 billion Petrochemical Refinery in Lagos worlds’ largest by increasing production from its current 650, 000 barrel per day to 1.4 million per day.

Currently, the Jamnagar Refinery in India, with 1,240,000 barrels per day, is the largest refinery in the world. But the President of Dangote Group said the Indian Refinery will be toppled soon with the ongoing Dangote Refinery expansion.

The businessman was recently accused by the National Union of Petroleum Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG of importing Indians into the country, to take over jobs meant for Nigerians. The company has denied the allegation.

One of the top executives in the Refinery is an Indian man, Devakumar V.G Edwin who holds the position of Vice President responsible for the Group’s Oil & Gas business, which includes the refinery.

Edwin previously served as Group chief executive officer of Dangote Cement Plc and has a long history with the company since joining in 1992.

Dangote however did not give a timeline for his ambitious plan, he said the focus now is to cater for Africa’s requirements.

The Africa’s Richest Man made the announcement in Lagos on Sunday, few days after Bloomberg announced that he retained his position as the Continent’s number one Billionaire with a combined wealth of over $30 billion. He’s now the 75th richest man in the world.

According to the publication, Dangote’s fortunes rose by $2.25 billion to $30.3 billion as of October 24, making him the only African among top 100 world billionaires.

According to him, the facility will also expand the production of polypropylene from 900,000 metric tonnes to 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum.

“We are expanding the Dangote Petroleum Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.

“Upon completion, this will make it the largest refinery in the world, surpassing the Jamnagar Refinery in India,” he stated.

Meanwhile, analysts insist that his surging fortune may not be unconnected with a period of aggressive expansion by his flagship company, Dangote Industries subsidiaries. Just recently, Dangote Cement, one of his subsidiaries, officially launched operations in Attingué, Côte d’Ivoire.

The new plant, which spans 50 hectares, boasts a production capacity of 3 million tonnes of cement annually, cementing Dangote’s dominance in Africa’s construction materials market.

Back in Nigeria, the Dangote Refinery in lagos has establisehd itself as the mjor player in the nation’s energy sector.

The $20 billion refinery, inaugurated in May 2023 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, began production in January 2024 after overcoming crude supply challenges. The refinery, with a 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity, is one of the largest single-train facilities in the world and sits on 2,635 hectares of land in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria’s economic powerhouse.

Demolition: Residents Lament Flouted Court Order

Akinwale Kasali

October 27, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

Hundreds of residents were rendered homeless following the midnight demolition of homes despite a subsisting court injunction halting the exercise.

It was gathered that, at least, two bulldozers were deployed to the community for the demolition exercise, accompanied by a large number of police officers.

According to residents, over 50 armed policemen fired teargas through the night to disperse those attempting to resist the demolition. They claimed the operation had continued till the early hours of Sunday morning.

It was gathered that over 70 houses across Ajileru, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Streets were pulled down in what authorities described as part of a regeneration plan.

It was gathered that Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja had, on October 23, issued an interim injunction restraining the demolition of properties belonging to members of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Association, CDA.

Despite this ruling, human rights group Amnesty International condemned what it called “violent forced evictions,” stating that some houses were demolished while families were still inside. The group urged authorities to stop “punishing the poor for urban planning failures.”

Leaders of the affected community have branded the act a “gross violation of judicial authority” and vowed to initiate contempt proceedings.

Some residents have accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of supporting the demolition to reclaim waterfront lands allegedly meant for private development.

However, the monarch has denied any involvement, stating that he too had previously suffered losses from a similar government-led exercise.

“I was also a victim when I unknowingly built on land that had been acquired by the government. I have no hand in any demolition,” he said.

The Baale of Oworonshoki, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, also condemned the ongoing exercise, insisting it was not sanctioned by any government authority.

Luwa said, “If this were a government-approved operation, it wouldn’t happen at midnight or 3 a.m. People with genuine property documents are losing their homes in this lawless exercise,” he said.

A resident, Olanrewaju Segun, stated that the demolition exercise took place without the marking of any building.

“We quickly mobilised and stopped them, and that was how they left in the morning. But we didn’t know they would return at midnight,” he said.

Another resident, a pregnant woman named Adenike, described a terrifying escape. “We thought the court had stopped the demolition, but around 1 a.m., bulldozers came again. I ran barefoot with my children. We lost everything,” she said tearfully.

Adewale Thomas, a displaced Lanlord wept uncontrollably saying, “Our homes were demolished while we were asleep, despite the injunction.

“Families, including children, slept outside in the cold”, he stated.

15 Rescued With Varying Degree Of Injuries As Building Collapses In Lagos

Akinwale Kasali

October 27, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

There was pandemonium in the early hours of Monday as a-two storey building on 54, Cole Street, near Cemetery Bus Stop in the Oyingbo area of the State collapsed.

According to a situation report issued by Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the building caved in around 12:20 a.m. while residents were asleep.

Adeseye said firefighters from the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the scene following a distress call.

As the officials embarked on a rescue mission, 15 people were rescued.

They include; seven men, four Women, and four children — with varying degrees of injuries.

They were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, and the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.

The search and rescue operations are still ongoing as more victims are feared trapped under the rubble.

Building collapses continue to be a recurring tragedy in Lagos, which often time attributed to the weak enforcement of building regulations, the use of substandard materials, and inadequate structural supervision.

72 hours ago, tragedy Tragedy struck late Friday night when a three-storey building under construction collapsed at No. 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, in the Yaba area of Lagos State, leaving two people dead and several others injured.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Acting Head of the Lagos Command of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibitayo Adenike, said that emergency responders recovered two male bodies while four men were rescued alive and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to Adenike, the structure collapsed around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, trapping several workers beneath the debris. She added that the exact number of people still trapped could not be determined until the site was fully cleared.

Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and the Nigeria Police Force, were on the ground to coordinate rescue efforts.

It would be recalled that in November 2021, a 21-storey building under construction in Ikoyi collapsed, killing at least 42 people, while another four-storey building in Yaba came down in September 2025, claiming multiple lives.

Terrorism Trial: Kanu Dumps Self-defence, Insists He Has No Case To Answer, Judge Adjourns

Ayodele Oni

October 27, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, again on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, refused to open his defence as earlier ordered by the court.

He also has abandoned earlier plan to call witnesses in his defence in the ongoing trial for alleged terrorism offences.

The court had, on October 24, adjourned till October 27 for Kanu to open his defence. Kanu had written the court, indicating his intention to call witnesses and applied for witness summons.

When the case was called on Monday, Kanu said he has gone through the case-file and realised that there is no valid charge against him.

He argued that since he is convinced that there is no valid charge against him and that he was subjected to unlawful trial , there would no be need for him to conduct any defence.

Justice James Omotosho asked him to file a written address to that effect and serve the prosecution.

Justice Omotosho advised him to consult experts in criminal law on the consequences of the option he has chosen.

The Judge adjourned till 4th ,5th & 6th November for the adoption of the final written addresses based on the defendant’s position that evidence led so far and the charge have not established any case against him or for the defendant to enter his defence.

Ondo Set To Confront Any Security Threat – Gov Aiyedatiwa

Ayodele Oni

October 27, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has again assured residents of the State not to exercise any fear over security alarm as government is ready to confront swiftly any threat.

The Governor had last week convened an emergency high-level State Security Council meeting in a decisive move to address public concerns and reinforce government’s readiness to confront any threat head-on.

This followed a leaked intelligence report from the State Security Services, (SSS) to the effect that some armed bandits have concluded arrangement to launch attacks on some states including Ondo.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa made it clear that the security and stability of Ondo State are non-negotiable, emphasizing that his administration will respond swiftly, firmly, and effectively to any attempt to undermine the peace of the State.

Receiving the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Abubakar Ahmed, in Akure, the governor said since its establishment, the NSCDC has continued to live up to task on internal security, especially in preventing oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who said Ondo State has had its share of security challenges in recent past, added that no State is completely immune from threats, but security agencies in the State have been up to the task.

He stressed that the recently leaked intelligence report from one security agency to another “shows that our security agencies are working together and collaborating effectively to secure our communities and our people.”

The Governor promised to continue to give the needed support to the security agencies in the State as encouragement for the wonderful jobs they are doing.

He commended the security chiefs for their comprehensive briefings and assured them that the state government will provide the necessary logistics, intelligence support, and operational backing required to stay ahead of any potential threat.

Earlier, the NSCDC Commandant commended Governor Aiyedatiwa, for his support for the operations of security agencies in the State.

The NSCDC boss disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa is one of the very few governors offering operational support to the Corps, which has strengthened the partnership between the government and security agencies in the State.

He said: “Your Excellency, I am in Ondo State for operational activities and it is important for me to pay you a visit to appreciate all your efforts towards enhancing the security of this State.

“I can say that just like your predecessor, late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu did, you are one of the few governors in Nigeria that we have identified as giving tremendous support for our operations.

“In doing this, you have demonstrated exceptional leadership and all we can do is to continue to support the government in providing adequate security for the people of Ondo State.

“We are here on the ground to access the situation and to further motivate our men who are working very hard. We are satisfied with what we have seen so far and we will continue to collaborate with the government and other security agencies to enhance the security and safety of the people and national assets domiciled in Ondo State”

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