Nigeria Archives | Page 11 of 13

NAFDAC seizes illegal products worth N37m in Abuja

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

NAFDAC has intensified its efforts to rid the market of counterfeit and illegally imported cosmetics products in Abuja. Acting on intelligence reports, NAFDAC’s Investigation & Enforcement Directorate conducted coordinated raids across supermarkets and open markets including Wuse and Garki markets. Several unregistered and counterfeit cosmetics were seized with a total street value of ₦37 million. NAFDAC is committed to investigating the sources of these illegal products and will take strict regulatory action against those involved. All confiscated items will be destroyed in line with the Agency’s laws and regulations, ensuring public safety.

Sam Sodje condemns pedophilia among coaches in Nigeria

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

Former Super Eagles and Premier League football star Sam Sodje over the weekend condemned in very strong terms the prevalence of paedophiles among youth coaches in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria. The retired footballer, who presently shuttles between London, England, and Delta State where he contributes to youth engagement and empowerment through sports, is sad that coaches who are entrusted with young children are abusing them sexually and destroying their tomorrow and the society is not doing enough to arrest the criminal practices. Said Sodje, “Sports is a powerful tool that takes millions out of poverty in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the present economic difficulties in Nigeria have led many parents to encourage their children to participate as a get-out-of-poverty vehicle. “In their hurry to ensure their wards participate in sports, they give them out without doing due diligence or proper background checks of the so-called youth coaches. “Majority of the so-called youth coaches are of questionable character and their motive is to sexually abuse these children, not to give them coaching tutorials.” Sodje who has traversed every nook and cranny of Delta State and other parts of Nigeria in the course of promoting his initiative “Life After Sports” revealed that he has heard too many stories of coaches who engage in the act of sexually abusing children in the course of offering coaching services in the different sports across the country, Delta State not being an exception. The former football star isn’t just condemning the act; he’s also demanding urgent action. He’s calling for coaches involved in such immoral acts to be named, shamed, prosecuted, and punished similarly to how pedophiles are treated in Europe, America, and other regions. Sodje also urge parents to do serious background checks about coaches they want to entrust their children with, “I am therefore using the medium to offer strong advice to parents to ensure that they carry out due- diligence from top officials of various sports associations across the country, Delta State inclusive, to ensure that children do not fall prey to the activities of these unscrupulous coaches with their high inclination for immortality and sexual abuses against underage children. “As parents, we have the responsibility and the duty to protect our children from these wicked people that are living amongst us in the society.” He also called on administrators to “I want to also seriously call on all the administrators of the various sports associations to make it a point of duty to carry out proper character venting of individual coaches that are attached to them and ensure that the bad eggs in their midst are disengaged and specifically banned from working with children to protect our innocent boys and girls for the good of the family, the sports sector and the society in general.” Sodje said that instead of romancing the issue, we need to call a spade a spade and stop the shenanigans before it gets out of control. The football star who played for top and iconic English sides like Brentford, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Charlton Athletic, Notts County, Portsmouth, and Greek club Skoda Xanthi, said he is ready to lead the fight against this ugly practice in sports and the society at large so that our children that practice and excel in their God’s given talents, without their today and tomorrow being destroyed by paedophiles.

Money laundering charges against Bobrisky were dropped lawfully – EFCC

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

A Prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Bilikisu Bala on Monday, September 30, 2024, told a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the Commission, and the Nigeria Correctional Service that charges of money laundering dropped in the trial of Idris Okuneye (a.k.a Bobrisky) were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA. Bala, head of the prosecution team that handled the trial of Okuneye pointed out to the Committee that the charges were dropped based on the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP, and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022. “We initially raised six count charges bordering on Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it. Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and not rendering returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six count charges. However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP. We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty”, she said. The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened. “There is simply no basis for that. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?”, she said. Bala, who appeared before the Committee with top management staff of the EFCC, charged the Committee to critically look into all the issues raised against the EFCC and make public its findings in the interest of justice. Chief of Staff to the EFCC’s Chairman, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe who stood for the Chairman, Ola Olukoyede restated the seriousness the Commission attached to integrity of its staff. “We viewed the allegation of bribery against our officers seriously. Integrity is one of our core values. This is why we are here to place all the facts involved in the trial of Okuneye in the public domain”, he said. Okuneye, an ex-convict, had alleged in a viral video that he offered N15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira) as a bribe to some unnamed EFCC officers to drop money laundering charges against him.

64 Years After, A Brighter Future Beckons Under President Tinubu

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

By Mohammed Idris Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation On this day 64 years ago, a new independent nation crystallized from the dreams and ambitions of a group of men and women driven by the vision of self-rule for the largest black country in the world. They wrote, campaigned, negotiated and agitated, until that vision became reality. And thus, on October 1, 1960, the colonial flag was lowered for the last time, and in its place the triumphant green-white-green emerged, a powerful symbol of black and African pride and energy. Today, we celebrate that moment in our history. Interestingly, we are celebrating it with the same national anthem that ushered us into independence, basking in the truth that even while our tribes and tongues may differ, we stand united; one country, one people, one destiny. We also know that we still have a long journey ahead, as we strive like all other countries towards enduring peace, progress and prosperity. What we should not do on this day is allow our challenges to completely obscure the progress we have made and we are making as a country. Twenty-five years ago, we tentatively embarked on another attempt at democracy, after 15 years of unbroken military rule. I say ‘tentatively’ because naysayers abounded, and many assumed that this latest experiment at democracy would go the short-lived way of the others before it. Until 1999, our longest attempt at democracy was the six years of the first Republic. But through determination and perseverance, our 4th Republic is now a quarter of a century old. We have broken a jinx, and this is undoubtedly worthy of acknowledgement and commemoration. Today indeed marks the 26th celebration of Independence Day after the historic handover of May 29, 1999. We have come a long way, indeed, and things can only get better from here. Amid the many challenges that we face as a nation, sixty-four years after independence, there’s also much that should encourage and inspire us. May 29, 2023 brought us yet another seamless transition of power, that ushered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope agenda into office. Since then, the President has left no doubts about his capacity and determination to boldly lay a new socioeconomic foundation for Africa’s most populous nation. On the level of macroeconomic stability, a lot of progress has been made –in stabilizing government revenues, the foreign exchange market, debt management, investment inflows, and more. A new national minimum wage has taken effect, alongside the consequential salary adjustments. The much-awaited local government financial autonomy is finally becoming a reality, thanks to the President’s bold move to seek judicial clarification at the Supreme Court. Investors are seeing and responding positively to the reforms. Just in recent days we’ve seen news of renewals of billion-dollar investment commitments from multinationals like Exxon Mobil and Coca Cola. The work ahead now is to ensure that this translates into gains that can be deeply felt in lives and households across the country. I can boldly say that this is the task that is uppermost in the President’s mind – ensuring that the high-level policies and programs being implemented touch lives in very positive and meaningful ways. Just last week, the Federal Executive Council approved an omnibus Economic Stabilization Bill that will transform the Nigerian economy in many ways, and help fast-track the attainment of President Tinubu’s renewed hope. The approved Bill will now go to the National Assembly for passage, and then presidential assent. Once finalized, the new legislation will facilitate domestic and foreign investment, as well as remittances and other foreign exchange inflows, reduce tax burdens, and promote business and entrepreneurship.

Obasanjo was behind my impeachment -Ladoja reveals

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

The former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo masterminded his removal from office. In a recent interview on Fresh FM to celebrate his 80th birthday, Ladoja revealed that Obasanjo was the powerful force responsible for his impeachment, contrary to popular belief that it was orchestrated by the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and his then-deputy, late Adebayo Alao-Akala. “You see, some people said it was Akala, it was Adedibu. No, it was not any of them. It was Obasanjo. “It was during the time of Ileya (Muslim festival Eid-el-Kabi). We went to see Baba Obasanjo. I think it was on a Friday or Saturday that we went to see him in Abeokuta. I was there with Oyinlola, Daniel and Agagu. Ladoja said he, along with other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, including Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Dr. Segun Agagu, had pleaded with Obasanjo in Abeokuta to halt the impeachment plans. This revelation sheds new light on the events surrounding Ladoja’s impeachment in 2006. “We did not call Fayose, because we knew that Fayose was Baba’s son. So they knelt down and I knelt down with them. They were begging him, ‘Baba, please, let Ladoja be.’ “Baba then said ‘Rashidi, go and resign!’ I said ‘No, I won’t resign!’ He said, ‘If you don’t resign, you would be removed’. “I said ‘No, they cannot do it.’ He asked ‘why?’ I said ‘because you cannot get two-thirds. He said ‘two-thirds my foot’ and then he left the place in fury. Daniel ran after him.” Oba Ladoja added: ”While we were reflecting on what we were going to do, myself, Agagu and Oyinlola, a man came in, it was the former World Court Justice Bola Ajibola. “He said ‘what is wrong with you?’’ He said: “I know your problem. Your problem is that you don’t want Ladoja to be impeached. They, Oyinlola, Agagau and Daniel said yes. Justice Ajibola said ‘well, I’ve talked about it to Segun, he’s just adamant. He said ‘but you’re leaders in your own rights. There comes a time when you must have to stand up and fight.” Oba Ladoja maintained: “ Then he told us the story of ‘Jafitafita.’ The story of ‘Jafitafita’ is simple. It is about tortoise and his wife, yannibo.” “I must put it on record that Prince Ajibola did wonderfully for us because he told us exactly what to do and we “jafitafita. When eventually we got the judgement of the Appeal Court. Baba said no. People said this is a declarative judgement, he said they are going to stay its execution. And eventually, it stayed until the Supreme Court confirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal.” It’s worth noting that Ladoja’s impeachment was a contentious issue, with the Oyo State legislators voting him out of office on January 12, 2006. However, the Appeal Court later declared the impeachment null and illegal, and Ladoja was reinstated on December 7, 2006.

Nigeria @64: Pyrates Confraternity tasks FG to tackle Nation’s challenges

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

The National Association of Seadogs aka Pyrates Confraternity has tasked on the Federal Government to implement economic measures to alleviate suffering of the Nigerian masses. The Pyrates Confraternity made the clarion call in a statement signed by its Capoon, Dr Joseph Oteri, on Monday. The statement reads; “As we mark the 64th Independence Day of our beloved country, the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, stands in unity with all citizens in acknowledging our journey. “However, we must also address the urgent challenges that continue to undermine our progress and the well-being of millions of Nigerians. The Pyrates Confraternity calls on the Federal Government to immediately implement economic measures to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian masses, especially the growing hunger. “The rising poverty and worsening economic conditions, if not addressed, threaten to spiral into widespread social unrest. Nigerians are becoming increasingly indifferent to Independence Day celebrations, as promises of progress have often gone unmet, leaving disillusionment in their wake. Poverty remains rampant, with over 133 million Nigerians—more than 60% of the population—living without access to basic necessities such as healthcare, education, and housing. “This economic crisis highlights the failure of policies to provide safety nets for the most vulnerable. The inflation rate has skyrocketed, with food inflation reaching an unprecedented 40.9% in June 2024. “This is further compounded by rising transportation costs and the effects of insecurity and climate change on food production. “Insecurity is also a major concern. Farmers are unable to access their farms due to attacks from bandits and herdsmen, causing a food crisis and linking rising food prices directly to the security situation. “We must ensure that our security agencies step up efforts to protect lives and properties so that agricultural productivity can thrive. “Corruption remains a stubborn obstacle to progress, with Nigeria ranking 145th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. We call for the strengthening of anti-corruption agencies and the enforcement of accountability across all sectors of government. Corruption continues to erode the rule of law, weakening institutions and eroding public trust in the government. “Education is another critical sector in need of attention. Over 10 million children are out of school, a situation that has dire consequences for the future of our nation. We call on the government to allocate adequate resources to education, ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality schooling. “In conclusion, as we celebrate our 64th Independence Day, we must reflect on the future of Nigeria. The solution to our challenges lies in unity, the decentralization of governance, and genuine leadership that prioritizes the welfare of the people. “Together, let us work towards a Nigeria that is prosperous, secure, and equitable for all.”

October 1: Full text of President Bola Tinubu’s speech

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago020 mins

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard. As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world. Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers. The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it. While it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together. Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide. Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union. Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation. Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians. While we celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future. My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture. On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country. We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this. Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble. At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies. Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters. The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences. Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year. Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector. The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy. The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our foreign exchange market. We…

Sam Sodje condemns prevalence of paedophiles among coaches in Nigeria

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

…Urges parents to be vigilant Former Super Eagles and English Premier League football star Sam Sodje over the weekend condemned in very strong terms the prevalence of paedophiles among youth coaches in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria. The retired footballer who presently shuttles between London, England, and Delta State where he contributes to youth engagement and empowerment through sports is sad that coaches who are entrusted with young children are abusing them sexually and destroying their tomorrow and the society is not doing enough to arrest the criminal practices. Said Sodje, “Sports is a powerful tool that takes millions out of poverty in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the present economic difficulties in Nigeria have led many parents to encourage their children to participate as a get-out-of-poverty vehicle. “In their hurry to ensure their wards participate in sports, they give them out without doing due diligence or proper background checks of the so-called youth coaches. “Majority of the so-called youth coaches are of questionable character and their motive is to sexually abuse these children, not to give them coaching tutorials.” Sodje who has traversed every nook and cranny of Delta State and other parts of Nigeria in the course of promoting his initiative “Life After Sports” revealed that he has heard too many stories of coaches who engage in the act of sexually abusing children in the course of offering coaching services in the different sports across the country, Delta State not being an exception. The former football star isn’t just condemning the act; he’s also demanding urgent action. He’s calling for coaches involved in such immoral acts to be named, shamed, prosecuted, and punished similarly to how pedophiles are treated in Europe, America, and other regions. Sodje also urge parents to do serious background checks about coaches they want to entrust their children with, “I am therefore using the medium to offer strong advice to parents to ensure that they carry out due- diligence from top officials of various sports associations across the country, Delta State inclusive, to ensure that children do not fall prey to the activities of these unscrupulous coaches with their high inclination for immortality and sexual abuses against underage children. “As parents, we have the responsibility and the duty to protect our children from these wicked people that are living amongst us in the society.” He also called on administrators to “I want to also seriously call on all the administrators of the various sports associations to make it a point of duty to carry out proper character venting of individual coaches that are attached to them and ensure that the bad eggs in their midst are disengaged and specifically banned from working with children to protect our innocent boys and girls for the good of the family, the sports sector and the society in general.” Sodje said that instead of romancing the issue, we need to call a spade a spade and stop the shenanigans before it gets out of control. The football star who played for top and iconic English sides like Brentford, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Charlton Athletic, Notts County, Portsmouth, and Greek club Skoda Xanthi, said he is ready to lead the fight against this ugly practice in sports and the society at large so that our children that practice and excel in their God’s given talents, without their today and tomorrow being destroyed by paedophiles.