Author: Farouk Abbas

THE Police Service Commission has finally announced the commencement of training for newly recruited police constables. The development comes following a recent heated crisis between the commission and the Nigerian Police Force regarding the list of successful candidates. A dispute arose between PSC and NPF after the former released the list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles in the Nigeria Police Force on June 4. The police had rejected the list, alleging that the recruitment exercise was marred by corruption and irregularities. However, the commission vowed not to cancel the list, prompting the Minister of Police…

THE International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), on Monday, revealed that “hundreds of thousands of dollars” are being laundered out of Nigeria to other African countries and across the world every hour. The organisation also said money laundering across Africa and the entire world has assumed a monstrous dimension, adding that it would require a concerted efforts of every security agencies in Nigeria and other countries to address. Garba Baba Umar, the INTERPOL Vice President for Africa, revealed this at EFCC Academy, Abuja when he declared a four-day workshop for Nigerian law enforcement agencies open. The INTERPOL official, however, said the organisation…

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed police top brass to protect intending participants of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated for August 1 to 10, 2024. This was contained in a response letter by the IGP to the request of human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had on July 26, 2024 written the IGP to provide police coverage for protesters. The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer. Egbetokun’s response was signed by his Principal Staff…

COMMUTERS plying the Keffi-Abuja expressway were on Monday left stranded after military officers barricaded the highway to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital. The soldiers mounted a road block at Sani Abacha barracks before the popular AYA roundabout. Security agencies did not give any prior warning before to the blockade that has caused a gridlock extending as far as Nyanya Bridge, more than 12 kilometres from the checkpoint. Civil servants and traders who work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) live outside the city centre in places such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba and Masaka. After hours…

TELECOMMUNICATION companies in Nigeria have commenced the final phase of disconnecting Subscriber Identity Module numbers (telephone lines) not linked to National Identification Numbers. Two senior officials from the telcos who were not in a position to speak publicly on the matter confirmed this development to The PUNCH on Sunday. The disconnection was initially scheduled for April 15, 2024, but the Nigeria Communications Commission postponed it to July 31, 2024, after carefully considering the various challenges encountered by subscribers and requests for extensions. “This is not only about MTN; it’s an industry issue. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors is set to hold the second edition of the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture on Tuesday in Lagos State. In a statement on Sunday signed by its President, Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the NGE said the Chairman, THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, will share with editors, media executives and other stakeholders, the survival strategies for the trying times. The statement noted that the lecture, wiith the theme “Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies”, will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. It added that the lecture will be…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered commanders of Tactical Squads, to take charge of their areas of operations by preventing violence and anarchy across the country. The order comes following determination by the organisers of the protest to proceed with the protest, despite appeals by the government, individuals and groups. Addressing the commanders from the Police Mobile Force’s Counter Terrorism Unit and Special Protection Unit in Abuja on Saturday, Egbetokun said citizens have a right to peaceful protest, however, such rights must not be allowed to infringe on the rights of…

TOP human rights activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has written to the Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to notify him of planned public meetings, rallies, and processions being organised by a non-governmental body, the Take It Back Movement, all its members, and some other patriotic Nigerians and groups. In a letter dated Friday, July 26, 2024, the senior advocate writing as solicitor to the Take It Back Movement stated that the planned rallies will commence from Aug. 1 to 10, 2024, or any time thereafter at the Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of all…

THE Niger Police has vowed to resist violence during the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1. A statement by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh in Abuja on Friday, said the FCT Command has also deployed a total of 4,200 police officers to curb any form of violence that might arise during the protest. The command was reacting in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths, to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship. The planned protest has since generated massive traction on social media, especially on X. According to…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest in August, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has directed its 104 affiliate organisations to remain on standby. The directive was given in a communique released on Thursday by the NYCN President Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo. It followed an emergency meeting of the National Executive, 36 state chairmen, and other stakeholders held via Zoom from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday. The group expressed deep concern over the severe socio-economic challenges and widespread hardship faced by citizens, especially the youth. “We recognise the challenges faced by our country and the need for urgent…

THE Department of State Services has warned the organisers of the planned nationwide protests against proceeding with them. The service said it uncovered a plan by some criminal elements to hijack the protest and cause unrest in the country. The military and police have also warned against the protest scheduled to be held from August 1 to 10 in response to the economic hardship experienced in the country. The DSS, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, described the motive behind the protest as political. Afunanya added that the plotters of the protest intended to use the…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship in the country, the military has warned organisers of the protest against any form of violence. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday warned that the military won’t allow anarchy to befall Nigeria. He hinted that organisers of the planned protest intend to replicate the recent protest-turn-anarchy demonstration in the East African country Kenya. General Buba said although citizens have a right to ventilate their grievances, the military won’t condone any form of violent gatherings or protests. He added that…

FORMER Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Wednesday weighed in on the disagreement between the Dangote Refinery management and the Nigerian regulatory authorities. Nigerian regulatory authorities had accused Dangote Refinery of rolling out sub-standard petroleum products, a claim the company has refuted. Reacting via his X handle, Kwankwaso blamed what he described as ‘unnecessary fuss’ on vested interests, saying it could damage investor confidence in the Nigerian economy. “The creation of unnecessary fuss around its integrity by some vested interests is very unfortunate, and it stands to undo all the years of hard work to maintain the fragile investor confidence…

THE Abuja Coordinator of the International Association Of World Peace Advocates IAWPA has called on Nigerians to embrace peace and remain calm in their dealings. Amb. Lawal, a global peace advocate made this known while reacting to the planned nationwide hunger protests planned for August 1st. Lawal in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory FCT, said as much as the those planning the protests remain entitled to airing their opinions in the face of the current hardship in the country, they should also learn to eschew peace considering the fact that peace is…

THE National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, said on Wednesday that the government has resumed mass trials of terrorism suspects in the country. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated in December 2023 that the Federal Government secured 366 convictions in the trial of Boko Haram terrorists conducted in 2017. In addition, he said 896 suspects were discharged for lack of evidence, while 61 other cases were adjourned for further hearing. In December 2023, the FG also secured the conviction of four Boko Haram financiers. In a statement on Wednesday…

A SOCIO-CULTURAL group, Kogi Ethnic Nationalities Forum (KENF) has raised alarm over an alleged plan to arm some hoodlums with sophisticated weapons and decorate them as security operatives for the purpose of invading the Government House in Kogi. The group was responding to a threat from certain quarters to invade the Government House in Lokoja in search of the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who they alleged is hiding at the Government House. In a release on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of KENF, Dr. Kennedy Owolabi fingered rejected politicians as being behind the move to…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the planned national protest dated August 1 as politically induced. Wike stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during an inspection tour of the Apo Karshi Road, saying the planned protest is to divert the attention of Nigerians from efforts by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as modalities are being worked to bring succour to the masses. Speaking further, the minister also issued a seven-month ultimatum to the contractors of the Apo-Karshi Road to complete the project. Dissatisfied…

A FEDERAL lawmaker who represents Imo East Senatorial District, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Majority Leader of the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, announced Onyewuchi’s defection during plenary on Tuesday. Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Salman Idris, decamped from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the APC. The lawmaker, who represents Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in the green chamber, officially announced his political decision in a letter read on the floor of the House on Tuesday by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate admitted Imo State Governor Hope…

SENATOR Ali Ndume wants President Tinubu to address the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship using dialogue. Ndume gave the advice on Monday ahead of the planned protest billed for August 1 across the country. According to the lawmaker, talking with the organisers who are mostly youths would help in dousing the tension and avert the planned demonstrations. “I think the President should talk to Nigerians, talk to the youths,” the lawmaker who represents Borno South said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria. His comment aligns with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s charge…

ABUJA Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced the appointment of Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye as the acting Managing Director, with immediate effect. According to a statement by Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Adefisayo Akinsanya the appointment, which is part of the transformation agenda of the company, will see Engr. Okwuokenye drive the positioning of AEDC as the foremost, customer-focused electricity distribution company in the Nigerian power sector.    See full statement below: AEDC Announces Leadership Changes; Appoints Chijoke Okwuokenye as MD/CEO Abuja, Nigeria – Monday, July 22, 2024: Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced the appointment of Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye…