Month: March 2025

Nigeria Customs, Security Agencies Destroy Expired, Illicit Drugs in Lagos

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other regulatory agencies, has intensified efforts to rid the country of expired and illicit drugs through a large-scale destruction exercise.   The exercise took place on Friday, March 22, 2025, at a dumpsite in Epe, Lagos, where Assistant Comptroller of Customs Oluwaseun Oguntuase, representing the NCS, highlighted the dangers of expired drugs and the crucial role of enforcement in seizing them.   “Many of these drugs are expired, and expired drugs must not…

CGC Adeniyi advocates Charity and Community Service at Ramadan Iftar

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has urged officers and stakeholders of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to embrace charity, discipline, and community service as core values, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.   Speaking on Wednesday, March 21, 2025, at the grand Iftar organised by Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, Adeniyi emphasized the importance of selflessness and social responsibility.   He noted that Ramadan offered an opportunity for reflection and empathy towards the less privileged, added that fasting foster a…

Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana : Promoting Professionalism in NASS, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Abubakar Yusuf

Soon after his appointment in Acting capacity in November, 2024 as the new Clerk to the National Assembly CNA , Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana set the ball rolling to ensure the consolidation of professionalism and hard work in all facets of the National Assembly.   The newly appointed Clerk to the National Assembly CNA, on assumption of duty has hit the ground running by ensuring needed actions , collaborations and decisions that will not only improve workers performance on the job , but to develop new initiatives in line with the…

FAAC distributes ₦1.7 Trillion revenue to Federal, State, and Local Govts for February 2025

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed a total of ₦1.678 trillion in revenue among the federal, state, and local governments for February 2025.   This was disclosed in a communiqué issued after the March 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, which was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and attended by the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.   The total distributable revenue of ₦1.678 trillion was sourced from the following: Statutory revenue: ₦827.633 billion Value Added Tax (VAT): ₦609.430…

NAHCON refutes allegations of Nepotism, reaffirms commitment to transparency and staff welfare

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed recent media allegations of nepotism and internal discord, asserting its commitment to transparency, due process, and staff welfare.   In response to reports suggesting that NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, appointed his son as a Personal Assistant within the Commission, NAHCON’s Principal Information Officer, Shafii Sani Mohammed, described the claims as “unfounded and lacking any basis in truth.” He reiterated that all appointments and assignments within the Commission strictly adhere to established civil service procedures.   Addressing concerns raised by…

Necessity of Intervention in Rivers and the burden of leadership in times of crisis, By Taminu Yakubu

Emporium Reporters

Throughout history, leadership has never been measured by mere occupancy of office but by the ability to act decisively in the face of disorder. From the ancient philosopher-kings of Plato’s Republic, tasked with safeguarding justice, to Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which emphasizes preemptive action against internal threats, it has been clear that governance is not a passive role but an active duty. John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government reminds us that when those entrusted with power begin to subvert the institutions that sustain governance, superior authority must intervene to…

The Rivers emergency dilemma! By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Emporium Reporters

Rivers State is now under emergency rule, and it’s likely to remain so for the next six months, unless a drastic change occurs. If not managed carefully, this could mark the beginning of a prolonged crisis.   In situations like this, opinions tend to be divergent. For instance, some people hold the notion that the security situation and the need to protect the law and public order justified President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in, and the appointment of a sole administrator for, Rivers State. However, others…

NHRC declares National Action Plan a Game-Changer, condemns parade of Suspect

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has described Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) for the promotion and protection of human rights as a transformative policy document that deserves full support from stakeholders. Speaking at an Inter-Agency Consultative Workshop in Abuja, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu, emphasized that the NAP is a comprehensive framework that aimed to address human rights gaps, promote protection, and ensure compliance with national and international human rights standards.   Dr. Ojukwu commended the Federal Government for adopting the NAP and allowing NHRC to serve as…

Power, privilege and governance By abiodun KOMOLAFE.

Emporium Reporters

The concepts of power, privilege and governance are complex and multifaceted. Power refers to the ability to influence others, while privilege denotes unearned advantages. Governance encompasses institutions, structures and processes that regulate these dynamics. Together, these concepts raise fundamental questions about justice, equality and resource distribution. It emphasizes the importance of considering marginalized groups’ experiences and perspectives.   The main problem in Nigeria today is its political economy, which is rooted in rent-seeking and fosters a mindset that prioritizes patronage over production. The country’s politics are characterized by a patron-client…

Wike’s Landmark Visit to Lombardy , Italy , Take Aways, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Emporium Reporters

Between March 6 and 10 , 2025, the workaholic FCT Minister , Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike broke the yoke of public officials particularly at the Minister’s level in the FCT, when he made a maiden State visit to Lombardy, far away Italy to broker a global relationship that entangled both economic, social, agriculture among many other ties for the benefits of the residents of the Federal Capital Territory FCT and Italy .   Leading the potential team of Nigeria delegation from the nations city , Barrister Wike met with the…