The Comptroller General of the Service, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, made this known at the opening ceremony of the News Agency of Nigeria’s, NAN, 1st Annual International Lecture on Thursday in Abuja.

Adeniyi said that NCS as part of its constitutional duties was tackling smuggling at Nigeria’s borders and ports, to combat the proliferation of arms and other contraband which was yielding positive results.

He described the event as timely following President Bola Tinubu ‘s economic reforms, which required an enabling environment to thrive.

According to him, NAN has demonstrated its capacity to invest in other arms of the media, through its various products and services.

He said that the recent parley with the media indicated that the newspaper industry required intervention in the access to prints for their publications.

“Editors should rally round the president in addressing this,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, commended NAN for bringing renowned security experts to chart a new course in proffering solutions to insecurity in the sahel region.

He expressed confidence that the event would deliver home grown solutions to end the lingering security challenge.

Abdulsalami spoke at the first News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, annual lecture on Thursday in Abuja.

He added that climate change, environmental degradation among other factors had provided fertile ground for insecurity to thrive in the region.

“At the heart of the insecurity in this region, among other factors, are the undercurrents of poverty and unemployment, for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

“Also weak governance, and institutional failures, as well as climate change and environmental degradation.

“These factors have certainly created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on our dear nation.

“We must not, however, lose faith in our capacity to ride above the storms of insecurity, since this challenge is the business of each and every Nigerian, and indeed, all Africans,” he said.
According to him, the impact of the situation is devastating to Nigeria and the Sahel region particularly in its development.

He expressed concern that insecurity was still lingering and required concerted efforts to address the situation.

He commended NAN for organising the lecture, saying it would elicit a productive and thought-provoking response to address the situation.

According to him, the event is apt following the increased efforts of the government and other stakeholders in addressing the situation.

Abubakar said that the event would provide the platform for stakeholders to identify actors in the situation, identify root causes and proffer sustainable solutions.

The President of IYC, Dr. Theophilus Alaye stated this while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

He said the intention of Governor Siminilayi Fubara to conduct the local government election is to ensure that governance at the grassroots takes full swing in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

“As Ijaw youths, we won’t allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the upcoming local government elections.

“We, the Ijaw people are laying the golden eggs to feed this country, and we won’t allow anyone to disrespect our humble and peaceful son, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“It is appalling to note that courts of coordinate jurisdiction are giving conflicting judgements to stop the conduct of local government election in Rivers State, which IYC consider as very unfortunate.

“We also in the same vein call on INEC to be independent and play her constitutionally given mandate of releasing all necessary information needed by RSIEC to enable them carry out a credible election and not allow themselves to be used as enemy of the people and democracy.

“We advise eminent judges to be impartial while adjudicating over sensitive issues of this magnitude and avoid playing into the hands of politicians to cause chaos and confusion as no court judgment has ever stopped national and state government elections from holding.”

Beke emphasized that despite Amaechi’s current silence, he continues to be a significant influence and active member of the APC.

He dismissed rumours that Amaechi has withdrawn from politics, particularly at the state level.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to newsmen.

“Amaechi is still the leader of the APC in Rivers State. It is impossible to discuss the history of politics in this state, especially regarding the APC, without devoting an entire book to Amaechi’s contributions,” he stated.

During the presentation of party flags to candidates in the 21 local government areas ahead of the October 5 local government elections, Beke confirmed that Amaechi is fully aware of the party’s participation in the polls and supports the candidates.

Reiterating the APC’s commitment to the upcoming elections, Beke noted that all candidates have been screened and deemed qualified by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He called on security agencies to maintain neutrality and ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Additionally, Beke criticized former governor Nyesom Wike but praised the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

He said, “These candidates have been screened by RSIEC and are qualified for the election. Some believe the election will not take place, but that is just a fantasy.

“I urge security personnel to be vigilant and deter anyone looking to disrupt the peace. Rivers State has faced turmoil under former Governor Wike, but our current governor is God-fearing. Anyone causing trouble will be dealt with by the security forces.”

The proposed Commission, according to the bill sponsored by Senator Ekpeyong Asuquo (Cross River South), “was meant to receive and manage funds from the Federation Account Allocation and other sources, donations, aids, grants for integration, development, resolution of infrastructural deficit, militancy, communal crises as well as tackle ecological, environmental problems; and for related matters”.

Similar bills concerning five other geopolitical zones have been signed into law.

Speaking on the bill, Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa Central) maintained that the South South Development Commission, if approved, would develop the region.

According to him, the South South Development Commission is distinctly different from the Niger Development Commission, which some Senators compared to it in terms of developmental responsibilities.

He said the NDDC was a resource based Commission, as only states with oil could benefit certain percentages of oil production. According to him, not all states in the South South are benefiting from the NDDC.

He said: “The NDDC is a resource based Commission and that is the reason OMPADEC was scrapped and replaced with NDDC. It is interesting to note that Ondo in South West, and Imo and Abia in South East, are beneficiaries of NDDC despite not being South South States.

“States in the North Central have the North Central Development Commission, despite having HYPADEC because they have water bodies generating electricity.

“The South South Development Commission is created based on geopolitical zones and I plead that senators should support this bill as it is often said, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

“Also not all states in the South South region are benefitting from NDDC. For instance Cross River did not get anything after the court judgment some time ago, but if there is a geopolitically based Commission, they would get something.”

Senator Suleman Kawu (Kano South) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), leveraging on Seriake Dickson’s explanation on the differences between NDDC and South South Development Commission, supported the bill.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio thanked the sponsor of the bill for this foresight and commended senators from other geopolitical zones for their understanding.

The bill was passed for second reading through voice vote and was referred to the Senate Committee on Special Duties.

Idris stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the first international conference organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) themed “Interrogating the Root Cause of Violence in the Sahel and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity,” which brought together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to assess and propose solutions to the challenges posed by violence in the Sahel region.

He acknowledged that the Sahel region has become a vortex of instability, violence, terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, smuggling of weapons and violent extremism with spillover effect on Nigeria due to the country’s porous borders with the region.

Okogbe is an ally of Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of the state.

DAILY POST reports that the lawmakers also recalled Addeh Isibor, the All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker representing Esan North-East Constituency II.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, announced the recalling of the duo at plenary on Wednesday in Benin City.

DAILY POST recalls that the house had on May 6, 2024, suspended Donald Okogbe (PDP, Akoko-Edo I), Addeh Isibor (APC, Esan North-East I) and Bright Iyamu (PDP, Orhiomwon II) for an alleged plot to impeach the speaker and other principal officers.

The Speaker had also in June 2024 recalled Bright Iyamu for being remorseful.

Agbebaku had alleged that the suspended lawmakers are being used by some external forces to cause chaos in a bid to change the leadership of the house.

He also accused the lawmakers of bringing juju priest to the premises of the assembly at about 1 am to perform some rituals.

One of the suspended lawmaker, Isibor, had instituted a N3 billion libel suit against the Speaker and several media houses.

The Edo Assembly recalled the lawmakers 12 days after the governorship election in which the candidate of PDP, Asue Ighodalo, was defeated by the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo

The disaster, which struck on Friday, left four workers still missing as of Tuesday.

Floodwaters engulfed the area surrounding Impact Plastics, with dramatic footage showing the Nolichucky River spilling over onto the highway near the factory.

Videos of the incident, shared on social media, captured employees waiting for rescue, with one worker, Jacob Ingram, filming himself and four others stranded on a floating vehicle. Ingram, a mould changer at the factory, later reflected on his survival, saying, “Just wanna say I’m lucky to be alive.”

Helicopter rescues of stranded workers were posted online, but Ingram criticised the company for delaying evacuation despite flash flood warnings.

“They should’ve evacuated when we got the flash flood warnings and when they saw the parking lot,” Ingram remarked.

Impact Plastics defended its actions, stating they monitored weather conditions and dismissed workers once water levels began to rise. However, Robert Jarvis, another survivor, refuted this, stating: “The water was coming up. A guy in a 4×4 came, picked a bunch of us up, and saved our lives, or we’d have been dead, too.”

The two deceased workers were identified as Mexican citizens, with their families launching fundraisers to cover funeral costs, according to Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

As search efforts continue, the death toll from Hurricane Helene climbs across several states. Survivors in Tennessee and surrounding areas are faced with ongoing hardships, including a lack of running water, electricity, and food.

Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of BRGIE, said this while warning against an alleged plan to settle refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Imo State.

Ekpa disclosed this in a statement through his official X account.

His comments are in reaction to a recent viral video that alleged that the government planned to settle refugees, IDPs and migrants at the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN Nsu, Ehime Mbano Centre.

However, Ekpa vowed to protect the Southeast region against terrorism, banditry and other elements of insecurity.

According to him, the lives of every Biafran remained sacrosanct to BRGIE.

“There is nothing like gunmen. Biafra government will not allow any Boko Haram IDP camp in Biafraland.

“Biafra government is in charge of the security in Biafraland, not Nigeria. And under my leadership, we will do everything to secure Biafra territory,” he boasted on X.

This comes after the residence of Frank Ibezim, an ex-senator who represented Okigwe North (Okigwe Zone), and the NOUN study centre at Nsu were set ablaze on Monday.

The incident was condemned by the Police Command, the Imo State Government and Senator Ibezim.

The youths who besieged the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Akure, the state capital, demanded for the immediate removal of Babalola.

According to the protesters who were armed with the placards, another REC should be posted to the state, particularly since Babalola had allegedly been meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The spokesperson of the group, who is also the Akure South Coordinator of Vanguard for Democracy, Olawale Ijanusi, expressed fear that the election would not be free and fair if Babalola presided over the conduct of the polls.

The protesters, who equally submitted a petition addressed to the National Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that findings indicated that Babalola had been a resident of Akure for years.

The petition written by counsel to the protesting youths, Adeniyi Farinto, read: “We have the firm instructions of our clients to bring to your notice the activities of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and to implore you as a matter of urgency to immediately transfer Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola as the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner before the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections set to hold on the 16th day of November 2024.

“This demand became necessary and imperative in order to safeguard the electoral integrity, fairness, and level playing ground in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

“The compromised position of Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola is further undermined by her activities and alliance with members of political parties within the state. This clearly is a conflict of interest that threatens to undermine the foundation of our democracy and imperil the trust of the people of Ondo State in the electoral process.

“This is not merely a request but also an imperative duty to safeguard the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission as the Commission responsible for protecting democracy and electoral processes carried out in the nation at large.”

While addressing the protesting youths, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Biodun Amosun, assured them that their votes would count, adding that the allegations against the REC would be handled at the national headquarters of the commission.

“We have heard your demands. The thing is being handled at the headquarters. It is not easy for INEC to do anything if you vote. Ensure you have a situation room where you collate results from the polling units,” he said.