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Imo Desirous Of Productive Economy, Says  Uzodimma

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The Source
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Fetes Chief Okoro

…Fetes Chief Okoro @ 80

The Imo  State Governor,  Senator Hope Uzodimma, has maintained that his administration will continue to create platform for investors in different fields  of endeavour for constructive partnership with government to grow the economy and create prosperity for all in the State.

Senator Uzodimma brought this to bear on Friday, April 25, 2025 at the Banquet Hall of Government  House  Owerri,  when he played host to the 80th birthday party of Chief Ephraim Okoro, a man he said provided succour to him and others in the course of their growing up as young men.

The Governor explained  that his decision  to host the dinner party was to appreciate  Chief Okoro for “his robust goodwill and to get him fully integrated to Imo State after his many years of sojourn in the United States of America.”

He described the octogenarian as “an amiable fellow, a mentor and a compassionate person whose robust goodwill attracted over seventy of his associates and relations from the United States of America to join him in the celebration.”

Senator Uzodimma recognised the presence  of some international players of government from Silicon Valley, California, who are in Imo State to partner on the Imo Digital City Project.

He pointed out that the project when realised will create start-ups and stimulate the economy of the State.

He further noted that sustainable  economies world over are led and driven by the private  sector, pointing  out that his administration is desirous of bringing on board a productive economy, and assured that Imo is ready for business.

“What I have introduced into Imo  State going forward is to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP); to bring innovations, to stimulate an economy that will lead to prosperity,” he noted.

The celebrant, Chief Ephraim Okoro expressed appreciation to Governor Uzodimma for deeming it fit to host his 80th birthday dinner party and for encouraging  him to finally return home after about 58 years of sojourn in the United States of America.

He thanked his friends and relatives for joining the Governor to honour him, and to God, for the grace of  long life and good health.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the cutting of the 80th birthday cake by the celebrant, supported by the wife and the Governor.

Apart from Chief Okoro’s family members, the dinner attracted so many important  personalities from and outside government circle.

They include, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and husband, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru SAN, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu, Senators Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Owerri Zone) and Patrick Ndubueze (Okigwe Zone), Majority leader of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi and many of his colleagues, Secretary to the Imo State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu and former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

Also in attendance were members of the Imo State expanded Executive Council led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the National Vice Chairman of the APC (South East), Dr. Ijomah Arodiogbu, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Elders/Co- Chairman of Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, business mogul, Chief Tony Chukwu, and others too numerous to mention.

LASG To Decisively Punish Open Defecators, Installs 4,710 Public Toilets

By
Akinwale Kasali
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LASG Public Toilets

By Akinwale Kasali

The menace of Open Defecation in Lagos State, the nation’s economic hub is set to be decisively dealt with. The Lagos State Government has vowed to severely punish open defecators in the State.

To ensure it does this, the Government has read a riot act. Anybody caught defecating in the public will face the full wrath of the law.

To this effect, it has  provided over 4,710 public toilets that the people can use.

Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, stated this during the Ministry’s Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Commissioner said the State Government has provided 1,710 public toilets while petrol and gas stations provided 3,000 public toilets and 150 toilets were provided in  markets across the State, while the state is working on providing additional 250 public toilets in the markets through a Public Private Sector Participation (PSP) arrangement.

Wahab added that the State Government needs to embark on a lot of advocacy and enlightenment programme for members of the public to enforce the ban on open defecation.

He maintained that enforcement is a way to make people change from bad behaviour.

“Why are people not making use of the public toilets? People must be responsible.”

Speaking on failure of officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to pick refuse deposited at designated place by members of the public on time, the Commissioner said his Ministry would have a meeting with LAWMA officials and members of the PSP working with LAWMA on it and come up with a solution to the challenges facing members of the public on disposing refuse.

He disclosed that no fewer than 3,786 street traders, environmental polluters, and cart pushers were arrested and prosecuted by the Lagos State Government in the past year.

In addition, he said that almost 700 persons were arrested for highway crossing, which endangered their lives.

The Commissioner, who reeled out the Governor’s achievements in policy formulation, environmental protection, waste management, water provision, and enforcement, among others, stated that the main enforcement agency, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), in collaboration with the State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, undertook the clearing of rail tracks and the demolition of shanties and illegal structures under the Apongbon Bridge, Lekki, Victoria Island, Agege, Obalende, and along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway corridor.

To ensure a flood-free Lagos, Wahab said the present administration had embarked on the construction of 22.9 kilometres of collector drains and 12.43 kilometres of primary channels between 2023 and 2024, which are at various stages of completion across the state.

He further disclosed that an additional 36.44 kilometres of collector drains are currently undergoing procurement processes for award in 2025.

Wahab said’ “A total number of 666,740.50 kilometres of 397 secondary collectors was maintained/cleaned up between the year 2023 till date. In 2023, 144 secondary collectors with a total length of 257,399 km were cleaned. In the year 2024, secondary collectors cutting across areas like Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lagos Island were cleaned, and this was calculated as 181 number of collectors with a total length of 242,495 km.

“As at the end of March 2025, the Drainage Maintenance/EFAG Team has worked on secondary collectors, particularly focusing on Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lagos Island and environs, cleaning 72 collectors which translates to 166,846.50 km in length.”

The Commissioner said that  Sanwo-Olu’s Administration,  in line with his THEMES Plus Agenda and building on the gains of his first term, remains fully committed to environmental sustainability.

This, he said, has led to the development of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to ensure a clean, resilient and liveable city.

“The administration under the inspirational leadership provided by Mr Governor believes that providing innovative solutions to the management of the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily lies at the heart of unlocking the problem of waste management in the state in addition to transitioning from a linear ‘collect and dump’ system to a sustainable circular economy,” the commissioner said.

According to him, providing workable, practical solutions to managing daily waste would ensure that only a reduced volume reaches the state’s landfill sites.

He added that it would also help to reduce incidences of flash floods across the metropolis.

“Instead of our drains being filled with waste, sand and silt will have its way as it naturally should be, thus allowing water from the various channels to empty into its natural sources instead of sputtering on the roads. This is because our drains can effectively contain runoffs,” he said.

On partnerships to tackle the waste management crisis, Wahab revealed that the state government had signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with reputable international, multilateral and experienced companies.

These partnerships aim to develop waste-to-resource initiatives, improve solid and liquid waste collection and recycling, and establish a smelting plant for processing electronic waste — thereby positioning Lagos as a leader in e-waste recycling.

To underscore the priority placed on strategic partnerships, Wahab noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu personally signed an MoU last May with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium, for the construction of a high-efficiency 60–80 MW Waste-to-Energy plant at the Epe landfill.

The facility will use advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal, commercial, and industrial solid waste and will consume 2,500 tonnes of municipal waste daily.

The Commissioner added that the waste-to-energy solution could take up to 40,000 homes off the national electricity grid, as the technology is expected to generate between 60 and 75 megawatts of base-load electricity annually.

He continued: “The state has also initialled a major agreement with Jospong Group, represented by Zoomlion Nigeria, for the construction and operation of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) in key areas.

The partnership also includes processing 3,500 tonnes of solid waste and 4,000 cubic metres of liquid waste daily, thereby improving collection and recycling efficiency.

“Others include the signing of an MoU with Netherlands-backed company ‘Close the Loop’ BV to establish an e-waste smelter plant in Lagos to manage the vast deposits of electronic waste in the state while creating new jobs and a new economy. Another milestone was the MoU signed with Swedish-backed companies on turning solid and liquid waste into energy across the state,” the commissioner stated.

He further disclosed that the state also entered into an MoU with Green Deal Company for the processing of plastic waste into oil, providing a circular solution for plastic waste pollution.

In addition, another MoU was signed for the establishment of a smelting plant to process electronic waste and further reinforce Lagos’s leadership in e-waste recycling.

“The latest of such MoUs was signed by the state with Lafarge Africa/Geocycle for the treatment of non-recyclable combustible waste, diverting waste from landfills and converting it into industrial energy. We are of the firm belief that these partnerships will ensure Lagos remains at the forefront of waste recovery, recycling and energy generation,” he said.

He noted that the government had adopted a pragmatic and decisive approach to transitioning to a sustainable circular economy, including the banning of the sale, distribution, and use of Styrofoam food packs — a major contributor to urban flooding and blocked drains — over a year ago. Positive results have since emerged from the drainage clearance process.

“We have also, in line with our commitment, commenced enforcement of a ban on single-use plastics from the beginning of 2025 while promoting sustainable alternatives and extended producer responsibility.

“We have also been upbeat in the last two years concerning the way we confronted the menace of industrial effluent discharge into the Lagos waterways, bringing about a drastic reduction to 25 percent due to the proactive consistency of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in regulating their discharge through permits, fines, penalties, and outright publicised sealing off.

The agency is also responsible for conducting yearly training for effluent treatment plant handlers in industries to ensure that the handlers are up to date on current trends in wastewater treatment and plant operation,” he said.

On the rampant digging of boreholes by residents of the state, Wahab noted that if the rate was not regulated, it would add to the problems in the state in future.

Edo Tops List Of 231 Repatriated Nigerians From Ghana

By
Ayodele Oni
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231 Repatriated Nigerians From Ghana

By Ayodele Oni

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has announced that a total of 231 Nigerian boys and girls, trafficked to Ghana, have been rescued and facilitated back to the country.

This is in a coordinated multi-agency collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) facilitating their transportation back home.

The NIDCOM Spokesman, Alhaji Abdulrhaman Balogun, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday.

According to him, the victims, many of whom were lured with false promises of lucrative jobs, were instead coerced into engaging in internet fraud after being handed laptops, before their rescue.

The Staff Officer, Dominic Mensah, Head of Human Trafficking at Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), explained that the victims were discovered during a recent raid on an estate where they were lodged.

He said 27 suspected traffickers were arrested during the operation.

“We got intelligence on the location two weeks ago and struck last week. We found underage youths and adults held there. Some were sick, and to prevent a humanitarian crisis, the Ghanaian government decided to repatriate them back to Nigeria.”

“Thereafter, NiDCOM, with the support of Her Excellency, the First lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Wema bank, facilitated the return of the victims immediately.

“The victims were officially handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further profiling and support.

“The estate owner where the victims were held is currently undergoing trial in Ghana, with assurance that all those involved in the trafficking network will be arrested and prosecuted.

“The victims, whose ages range from 15 to 38 years, has Edo state topping the list with 76 indigenes, Anambra 6, Delta 17, Bayelsa 13, Imo 19, Enugu 12, Ebonyi 8, Cross River 7, Abia 9, Niger 4, Akwa Ibom 3, Kogi 6, Ondo 1, and one person from Osun.

Receiving the victims in Lagos, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM, encouraged them not to feel ashamed of their ordeal.

“You are being received on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The President cares about you and every Nigerian, regardless of where you reside. Hold your heads high.

“For those who want to return to school or learn a trade, support will be provided through your state governments,” Dabiri-Erewa assured.

She thanked key stakeholders who facilitated the rescue and repatriation including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON) and other private concerns.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed that government’s resolve to shame and prosecute human traffickers, just as it does with drug traffickers.

“They will not go scot-free. Traffickers will be punished. NAPTIP and other agencies will help you reintegrate and find jobs. You have a bright future ahead.”

She called on state governments to provide support to victims identified from their various states.

Speaking in the same vein, NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Comfort Agboka, said that all victims would be thoroughly profiled, while the suspects would be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

“We Will Stage Mother Of All Mobilizations For Tinubu’s Re-Election” – Rivers NASS Caucus

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Senator Barry Mpigi

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

At a time overwhelming number of Nigerians are  clamouring for the restoration of democratic order in Rivers State, the State’s National Assembly caucus,  on Saturday, April 26, 2025, threw its weight behind the yet-to- be proclaimed ambition of President  Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.

Consequently, they urged  all those nursing any Presidential ambition from across the country come 2027 to bury the idea.

A statement jointly issued by the nine-member caucus, which was read on their behalf by Senator Barry Mpigi, premised its support for the President on the visible and verifiable breakthroughs so far recorded by his adminstration.

The caucus which is made up two Senators, and seven House of Representatives members, insisted on the need to consolidate the gains so far made by the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.

Instructively all the Federal law makers are of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP extraction.

In a clear reference to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the caucus advised “all would-be Presidential Candidates, especially, those with desperate and never-ending Presidential ambitions to jettison such ambition  and rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027”.

“We, the members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, comprising Senators and members of the House of Representatives, extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust in our leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, following his appointment as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

“We are gladdened by the President’s public acknowledgement and commendation of the exceptional performance of the Minister of FCT, whom he described as the “Master of Infrastructure”.

“Now, having carefully reviewed the President’s economic policies which are targeted at repositioning our once moribund economy through his Renewed Hope Agenda, and taking into account the massive rot, and decay he inherited on the 29th of May 2023, including our unenviable debt profile and the terrible inflationary figures occasioned by the printing of N22.7 trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means overdraft for the Federal Government, between 2015 and 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“With the near absence of critical infrastructure to support food production, we have come to the conclusion that the President’s economic plan is the surest way out of our country’s social and economic morass.

“Further, our assessment is firm that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is very much on track with credible basis that offers greater improvement in the economic wellbeing of Nigerians if given the necessary time.

“Still, we are convinced that the declining inflation figures, the substantial reduction in our foreign debt profile, and an IMF-backed promising growth figure all bode well for the economy in the years. ahead”, the NASS caucus posited.

The Legislators also expressed immense gratitude to the President for his wise decision to intervene in the lingering political impasse in Rivers State through the instrumentality of a State of Emergency.

According to them, the State of Emergency has remarkably set in motion  the process for  the return of peace in the troubled environment.

They promised to initiate massive campaign of awareness for the laudable policies of the President, preparatory to his re-election bid in 2027.

“As Legislators who are closest to the people, we shall begin the mother of all mobilizations of our people to repeat, in greater measure, what we did in 2023 in order to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027”, the Law makers pledged.

Musician, Terry Apala Remanded For Alleged Naira Abuse

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Terry Alexander Ejeh

By Akinwale Kasali

Sensational Musician, Terry Alexander Ejeh, popular as Terry Apala, has been remanded in Prison custody by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos.

Apala was arraigned before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged mutilation of the Naira notes.

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, arraigned him on a one-count charge of mutilating the Naira notes.

The charge by the EFCC reads: “That you, TERRY ALEXANDER EJEH, on the 5th day of January, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

He pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, prayed for a trial date and also urged the court to remand him in a Correctional  Centre.

The defence counsel, Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025 and prayed for a short date for the hearing of the application.

“Whilst praying the Court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the Court to release the defendant to the defence.

“We undertake to produce him in Court. He will not evade hearing.

“He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025, and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own.”

The prosecution counsel, however, opposed the application, saying, “ the application is alien and unheard of.

“I urge the Court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the Court can make a well -informed ruling,” he said.

Justice Aluko, in a short ruling,  refused the application of the defence.

The Judge, however, adjourned the hearing till May 5, 2025 and ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application.

It would be recalled that popular cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, popular as Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment without any option of fine for abusing the Naira.

“Two Governors, 40 Lawmakers To Dump PDP For APC”  –  Rep. Ugochinyere

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere

By Akinwale Kasali

Two Governors and 40 Lawmakers are set to dump the main opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Their reason, according to PDP’s House of Representatives Member, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere are  disillusionment and loss of confidence in the leadership of the party.

Ugochinyere,  spokesman of the coalition disclosed thid during a Press Conference held in his hometown of Akokwa, Imo State.

He expressed disappointment in the current state of the PDP, asserting that its founding fathers would be ashamed of what the once-proud party had become. He accused the current leadership of sabotaging the platform that brought them to prominence.

The coalition demanded the immediate expulsion from the Party of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, the  PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Ugochinyere who spoke on behalf of the Coalition,  also, called for the emergence of a substantive National Chairman from the North Central zone to save the party from collapse.

“For two years, the Leaders of this party have failed to find a solution to its internal crisis because they are actively undermining the very platform that made them,” Ugochinyere stated.

He criticized Damagum’s statements invoking divine guidance, questioning his inaction during critical party decisions. “Where was God when you allowed the North Central to be sidelined in appointing an acting chairman? Where was God when you supported APC defectors in court? Or when party structures were handed to APC members? And yet you speak of faith in God?”

He also questioned the continued membership of Wike in the PDP despite his open collaboration with the APC-led Federal Government.

Ugochinyere further drew  attention to the severe erosion crisis ravaging im his constituency, Ideato. He appreciated the Federal Government’s  intervention in the N25 billion Umuchima erosion control project, and commended the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments.

“I thank the Federal and State Governments for their commitment, but in other parts of my constituency, especially the Umuechi-Urualla axis, the erosion is out of control. It’s threatening St. Jude’s Catholic Church, the king’s Palace, and Federal infrastructure. The situation is dire,” he warned.

He revealed that a previous World Bank erosion control project in the area worth N9 billion had been abandoned due to mismanagement by the former State Administration, resulting in worsening conditions.

He appealed to the Federal Government and the Ministers of Works and Environment to take urgent action. “Please intervene and save our people from being cut off by this devastating erosion menace.”

“I Have No Plans To Defect To APC” – Abia Gov Otti

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Alex Otti - Abia State Governor
Alex Otti, Abia State Governor

By Ayodele Oni & Suleiman Anyalewechi

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said his rumoured planned defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is baseless.

Special Adviser to the Governor,

Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Saturday explained that the meeting of Otti with Governor Hope Uzodinma, in Abuja after the National Economic Summit meeting was purely for a birthday celebration and had nothing to do with politics.

It pointed out that Governor Otti’s political decisions, would always be guided by the wills of the people.

“The report that His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, held a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State over his alleged planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is false, baseless and unfounded. It’s completely devoid of substance and thus should be disregarded.

“After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, an event that had nothing to do with politics.

“It’s natural for Governor Otti’s impressive performance, popularity and towering credentials as the Governor of Abia State to attract admiration and permutations from interested parties.

“However, Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies. Such decisions must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people.

“Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if politics of 2027, instead of governance is allowed to dominate discussions less than two years into the administration.

“Finally, we wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter as falsely alleged. ”

The speculation that Otti was on his way out of the LP, was accentuated by the wholesale defection of Delta state  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, structure to the APC earlier in the week.

The mass defection, which included Governor  Sherrif Oborevwori, his immediate predecessor in office,and the running mate to  Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 Presidential election, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Members of the State House of  Assembly had provoked widespread insinuation of more serving Governors joining the APC train .

Governor Otti has been speculated to be one of the state Governors seriously considering defection to the APC, especially, given the leadership crisis in his Party.

Salary Fraud In Kano: The Dead, Retired, Received Alerts For March Payment

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Abba Yusuf - Governor of Kano State
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State

By Ayodele Oni

In continuation of a move towards cleansing the State payroll system, Kano State Government has discovered that 247 individuals that have either retired from service or dead have been appearing in the local governments’ payroll and their salaries running.

This has cost the state government about  ₦27,824,395.40 for the month of March, 2025 alone.

A government statement explained that “In a decisive move towards cleansing the State Payroll, the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has recorded a major milestone in its ongoing efforts to reform the salary administration system within the State civil service.

“As part of the reform process, a Pay Parade Committee has been established and will commence its operations shortly. In preparation for the full implementation of its mandate, the Committee deemed it necessary to involve all stakeholders.

“Consequently, the Committee printed the March 2025 payroll vouchers and requested  all Ministries , Departments, Agencies  (MDAs) and Local Government Councils to study the Payrolls and  make necessary observations as a prelude to a comprehensive Pay Parade scheduled to be flagged-off on Monday the 28th of April.

“Arising from the validation exercise, a disturbing irregularity was uncovered within the payroll system of  Local Government Councils.

“The findings revealed that 247 individuals have either retired from service or dead yet, have been appearing in the payroll and their salaries running.

“These fraudulent salary payments amounts  to sum of ₦27,824,395.40 for the month of March, 2025 alone.

“In a prompt and effective response and while further due diligence is being conducted to determine the extent of this apparent fraud and the perpetrators , the  amount has been recovered and returned  to the Local Government  Treasury.

“This significant recovery underscores the administration’s unwavering dedication at entrenching governance, transparency, and  responsible management of public resources.

“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to purging the payroll system of irregularities. Individuals found to be involved in this fraudulent activity will be identified and held fully accountable in accordance with the law.”

Mr. President, Please Allow Younger People To Run In 2027 –  Hakeem Baba Ahmed

By
The Source
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0
Hakeem Baba Ahmed and Bola Tinubu

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

I had hoped I would have the opportunity to meet you one-on-one for the first time since you approved my appointment as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President about 18 months ago. It would have afforded me an excellent opportunity to offer what might have been the only significant advice I could give you directly in return for the salary you paid me. I had also hoped that an audience with you would provide the chance to explain why I insist on resigning, despite efforts to dissuade me by the Vice President, some Ministers, key officials in your administration, and a host of people I hold in the highest esteem. Well, all that is now history.

Still, please allow me to thank you for approving my appointment and for the privilege of serving my country once again as a public officer. To be honest, for someone at 70 who did not campaign for you, is not a member of your party, and who had gained some reputation for sustained criticism of your APC predecessor’s eight years of deeply damaging governance, your approval that I should come on board gave the impression of a willingness to tolerate inclusiveness and diversity, as well as some regard for merit. I am particularly grateful to the Vice President, who went to great lengths to convince me that staying in place was a better option than resigning.

I must be honest in saying I had many misgivings about accepting the invitation in the first place. Your “Emi Lokan” mantra suggested to me a worrying desire to lead, driven mainly by the urge to satisfy personal ambition. I felt that after the Buhari misadventure—for which the country continues to pay a steep price—the last thing we needed was another leader driven purely by a personal quest for power. Many well-meaning people advised me that I would not fit into your administration for various reasons, the most common being that you might end up as Buhari 2.0—or worse—and I would shift from being a vocal critic to an active or silent collaborator.

It was tempting to sit it out and wait—either to critique you if you failed to provide the leadership the nation needs or commend you if you succeeded in turning the country around. In the end, I thought it better to help put out the fire than curse those who lit it. I joined your administration as an Adviser with my eyes wide open, at the cost of valuable relationships and under intense hostility from social media ‘politicians’ who assume every political appointee is in it for personal gain (read: lots of money, most of it stolen).

My long career in the federal public service taught me that the Office of the Presidency has a long-standing tradition of treating the Vice President’s office at best as a constitutional liability, and at worst, as a suspicious appendage constantly scheming to take the number one position. When you pushed the nation into the deep end with your inaugural announcement on subsidy removal, a few of us with experience in policy design and public administration knew the country would need the best hands to manage massive change and transition.

You inherited a badly damaged economy and a severely stressed population. Without a clear and sustained vision, and failing to translate the May 29 momentum into consistent leadership, your administration was bound to face turbulence. The idea of another four or eight years of poor governance after Buhari’s era was too alarming to contemplate. You needed some basic elements to succeed.

First, you needed a clear vision of your goals and the challenges you had to overcome. Unfortunately, it seemed you were too busy chasing political dominance, relying on your old Lagos circle to supplement a vision that was lacking. Your Renewed Hope Agenda is not a vision—it is a set of campaign promises, not a structured governance strategy worthy of your experience, however dated. You needed to appoint men and women who shared a compelling vision—not merely loyal party members and political jobbers. Your initial appointments reflected more politics than quality. Though there was some improvement later, the effort was tepid. As things stand, more than half your cabinet has no business managing an administration tasked with improving security, livelihoods, or public trust.

You needed to embody and uphold personal integrity, good health, and strong commitment to the demands of your office—hard work, fairness, and humility. Yet your closed-door style of leadership, your apparent indifference to complaints of ethnic bias in appointments, and the perception that you frequently run the country from abroad while attending to personal matters, have created the image of an isolated leader heading an insular administration.

Your inner and secondary circles do not reflect the discipline or inspiration necessary to transform Nigeria. Pandering to political interests at the expense of good governance has deprived you of the tools to make a greater impact. You needed to act as a democrat in a federal system—something even the best global leaders struggle with. It appears your experience in governing Lagos, playing the kingmaker, and resisting premature power grabs did not prepare you for the complex demands of national leadership—balancing self-interest with the challenges of inclusive governance and statesmanship.

You needed to create a balance between the past you wanted to reform and the future you hoped to shape. Instead, you’ve created a situation where citizens debate whether life under you is worse than under Buhari, or better only in economic jargon that doesn’t reflect their suffering. You needed to build a team driven by urgency, purpose, and a deep understanding of the scale of your mission—not one content with the routine and mediocrity inherited from the past. That team never materialised.

You needed a strong engagement strategy—one capable of building national consensus or at least neutralising hostility. Instead, you’ve appointed a crowd of spokespersons who often confuse rather than clarify your policies. You’ve ignored  legitimate dissent, choosing instead to engineer a pliant legislature, thereby robbing the nation of robust democratic discourse. Your record on security and institutional reform is unimpressive.

These are harsh truths, Mr. President—but few will tell you even their diluted versions. Now your administration is being pushed toward prioritising the 2027 elections over governance. But improving governance, revisiting priorities, refining policies, instilling fiscal discipline, addressing grievances, combating insecurity and corruption, and fostering national unity should be your focus.

Two years is a long time—you can still achieve much. But if you shift attention now to electoral ambitions, you risk losing both governance momentum and public goodwill. If you win again without reforming your style and strategy, you may spend four more years preserving failure. If you lose, your legacy could be wiped out in an instant.

You hold what your opposition lacks: the power to reduce the harshness of life for the average Nigerian. Use it well. Watch 2027, yes—but don’t become consumed by it. The North is drifting from your leadership under the weight of economic hardship, insecurity, and alienation. The East remains politically disengaged, while the South-South is fragmented. The South West has been lukewarm, and its privileged position may become a burden. The North East is deeply wounded and can no longer be taken for granted.

Mr. President, I urge you to reflect deeply on the legacy you want to leave and how history will remember you. Insisting on running for a second term could be a grave mistake. Your name is already etched in Nigeria’s history. Use the time until 2027 to shape your legacy—not just extend your tenure.

Step aside—not for your opponents, but for a new generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas. Our generation has done its time. It would be a masterstroke if you and your party yielded the field to new voices and new leadership. That way, you could catalyse a peaceful, historic transformation and inspire a new political culture rooted in merit, unity, and progress.

Mr. President, these and a few more thoughts are what I would have offered you in person. You do not have the reputation of being overly conservative. I hope you still possess the fire to challenge the status quo. Perhaps, this is the role destiny has prepared for you.

I offer this advice with sincerity and hope—believing that one leader can change the course of a nation. That leader could be you. Many who’ve worked with you say you mean well for Nigeria. That’s why I ask, respectfully and firmly:

Mr. President, please do not run again in 2027.

Baba Ahmed was, until recently when he resigned, Presidential Adviser on Politucal Affairs, office of the Vice President

“FG Ready To Reclaim Security Situation In Borno, NE” –  Defence Minister

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Mohammed Abubakar Badaru - Minister of Defence

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on Thursday, April 25, 2025, expressed concern about the inadequate manpower and military equipment to effectively man the large swap of forests and international borders that dot the landscape of the State.

But the Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, assured of Federal Government’s commitment towards halting the renewed wave of terrorist activities in the State and other parts of the North East.

Governor Zulum who spoke while receiving a Federal Government delegation in the State to interact with the State Government and other stakeholders on the recent upsurge in terrorist attacks on some parts of the State, however expressed  optimism that the visit will mark a turning point in the fight against terrorism in the region.

“I want to most sincerely thank you for this visit, and it is our sincere hope that this visit will change the security narrative in Borno State.

“A lot has been said about what is ongoing in Borno State, but God willing, I am optimistic that the security situation will be arrested very soon”, Zulum stated.

While calling for commitment on the part of parties, he pledged the continued support of the Borno State Government to all the Security Agencies in the quest to defeat insurgency not just in the State ,but in the entire North East region.

Governor Zulum also commended the Federal Government, Heads of Security Agencies and Security Personnel for their dedication and sacrifices to the people of Borno State.

“I want to assure you that I will provide the necessary political aid and commitment needed to collaborate and support the Nigerian military in their task of ending insurgency.”

“However, some of the problems we are facing in Borno State include limited manpower to manage our forests.

“While I am aware of the constraints of the Nigerian Army, because you are everywhere -North-west ,North- central, North- east , and even South-south, and South-east, I still believe that the Army should look into the possibilities of sending more trained personnel to the North East”,  Governor Zulu noted.

According to him, the fate of the State, the North East and other security- challenged parts of the North depend on the effective protection of the Sahel Region.

He, therefore, called for the fortification of security in and around the country’s international borders, with a view to adequately control  undocumented immigrants that flood the country through the porous borders.

“If the Sahel is not secured, the entire Nigeria will not be secured. So there is the need to fortify the security situation in the Sahel in order to end the influx of illegal immigrants”, Governor Zulum stated.

On his part ,the Defence Minister  assured  the Governor and the people of the State of the readiness of the Federal Government to effectively address the security situation.

According to him, the Federal Government delegation is in the State on the expressed directives of President Bola Tinubu to fashion out  ways of halting the incursion of terrorist, not just in Borno, but the entire North East region.

“Ours is to find out what is needed in terms of men and equipment. The President has given us the directive to make sure we provide everything required to stop this ugly trend.

“We  know that Borno has enjoyed relative peace for some time now due to your determination and people have returned to their towns and villages to rebuild their lives.

“I want to  assure you, on behalf of the President, that we will nip this in the bud, and restore the peace that we have enjoyed in recent years”, Badaru asserted.

The Source reports that there have been renewed attacks on many parts of Borno State in recent times, particularly, in Gwoza and other  resettlements.

The attacks have led to the death of several military personnel and civilians, and wrought severe damage on both public and private facilities.

The increase in the wave of terrorist attacks some weeks back prompted Governor Zulum to raise concerns about the State being taken over by ISWAP and  Boko Haram insurgents.

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