In order to discover the most effective methods for enhancing Nigeria’s migration governance, the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development held its annual Civil Society Forum yesterday.
A number of significant players in the field of migration governance attended the forum’s inaugural event in 2021, and this year is no different.
Dr. Emeka Xris Obiezu the CSONetMADE’s National Coordinator, thanked the federal government for recognizing CSOs as significant partners in the regulation of migration in his speech.
He said that without influence from outside sources, the Forum would let the participants evaluate and criticize their viewpoints on immigration policy.
The national coordinator stated that the 10 point statement from the Forum that was released during the 2021 event has been incorporated into national policy.
Hajia Sadiya Umar Faruq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disater Management and Social Development said the federal government was taking the issue of migration seriously because of the continued increase in the world population and the crisis in some parts of the world.
Represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Charles Anaelo, also commended the contributions of the CSOs in the migration governance and assured that their inputs, as it will be contained in the communique to be issued at the end of the deliberations, would be part of the national policy on migration.
Speakers at the event including the representatives of the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria, International Organisation on Migration(IOM), the European Union, and NACTAL, believe that the deliberations would promote effective and sustainable migration governance in Nigeria through the Technical Working Group.
This year’s event has its theme as ‘CSOs’ role and contributions in achieving sustainable migration governance through the Technical Working Group on Migration and Development.
A crack team from the Delta State Police command arrested Mr. Collins Afuwah, a prominent member of the Ogwashi-Uku community, on Monday, December 5th 2022 during a sting operation.
He was placed on remand at the Nigerian Federal Custodial Center Ogwashi-Uku Prison after being charged with attempted murder yesterday, December 6, 2022, in the Magistrate court in Ogwashi-Uku (Charge No. MO/193/2022).
You will recall that five members of the Ogwashi-Uku and Otulu Ogwashi-Uku community including notorious criminals Michael Arueze Njoh, Monday Okondo, Chinedu Anene and Agaliga Okolie were recently found guilty for the attempted murder of Chief Onyema Igbokei a new Chief newly installed by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and sentenced by Justice Umukoro to life imprisonment.
According to a confidential source who wanted to remain unnamed, the detectives had been trailing and tracking the movements of the accused suspect for several weeks using sophisticated devices. The police officers from the Delta State command anti kidnapping and Eagle Net units had arrested Christopher Nduka Odiakaose aka Big Fish after trailing him to Agbor in Delta State in September 2022 for the same crime.
There was widespread jubilation in parts of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom as community members expressed their happiness about the arrest and remand of the person they claim is the godfather of the suspects who have been causing mayhem in Edo Ogwashi-Uku, Otulu Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu Okiti and surrounding areas.
When contacted, the Palace Secretary in Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi confirmed the arrest and remand of Collins Afuwah but declined to make any further statement on the matter. According to him, the Palace doesn’t comment on matters already in court but expressed his firm belief in the judiciary in the state to dispense impartial Justice. The Palace Secretary restated that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku has already assured members of the community that all those involved in criminal activities will be brought to justice.
The Church of Christ, Karu-Jikwoyi Congregation celebrated evangelist Milling Chukwumaeze, who is stepping down after twenty-one years as the congregation’s minister, in a moment of joy, thanksgiving, and excitement.
Evangelist Innocent Agu, the congregation’s new preacher, organized the other members to give the departing preacher with a bank check of three million naira as a token of appreciation for the good work he had done.
Evangelist Obakemi Moses of the Church of Christ, Nyanya congregation gave a speech at the event dubbed “Celebration of Service,” challenging preachers of the Lord’s church to always be passionate about their vocation.
He emphasized that they have been called by God to devote their lives to serving him. He praised the Church of Christ Karu-Jikwoyi for hosting the Evangelist Milling Chukwumaeze celebration.
Evangelist Obakemi tasked the Churches to always be focus on its goals as stated in the holy scriptures.
In welcome remarks, the host Evangelist, Innocent Agu thanked his predecessor for diligently servicing the congregation in the past twenty-one years. He noted that the Church will continue to respect and love the outgoing Preacher. He gave a historic explanation of how Evangelist Milling Chukwumaeze became a member of the Lord’s Church while praising his dedication all these years.
In their Goodwill messages, Evangelist Imoh Atakpa of the Church of Christ, Kubwa and his Kagini Counterpart Evangelist Uche Onyeike tasked members of the Lord’s Church to take proper care of their Evangelists if they hope to get the best of them. They lauded Evangelist Milling Chukwumaeze for his commitment to duty, especially in the Television Evangelism activities of the Churches of Christ in Abuja and its Environs.
In his response, Evangelist Milling Chukwumaeze thanked the Church of Christ Karu-Jikwoyi for giving him the opportunity to serve in God’s vineyard and supported him throughout the last two decades on the saddle. He said though age was not on his side he was not willing to quit, but the congregation decided otherwise. Evangelist Chukwumaeze enjoined the members to be heavenly minded at all times while running the Christian race with purity and steadfastness. He prayed for the congregation to do better under his successor while enjoining everyone to support him physically and spiritually.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the celebration cake and general presentation of gifts by members.
In a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the head of the European Union in Nigeria, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete, Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, has been criticized for her “lack of experience” and alleged corruption (SGF). The Lawyer for Reform Group served as the petition’s sponsor (LRG).
Aare Oladotun Hassan, the group’s executive director, Juryman Associates Chambers’ principal partner, and the secretary of the Epe branch of the Nigeria Bar Association all signed copies of the appeal dated November 30, 2022, which were provided to journalists.
Others copied in the petition include the UK High Commissioner , US Embassy, IGP, NBA President, Attorney General of the Federation and the Managing Director of the NEXIM Bank.
It would be recalled that Okotete was in April 2022 re-appointed by President Buhari for another term of five (5) years despite issues regarding her qualification for the post.
It was reported that she did not have the 18 years of post-graduation experience required to occupy such high office as specified by the Central Bank of Nigeria circular of 15th October 2015
“A minimum of first degree or its equivalent in any discipline plus a higher degree or professional qualification in any business-related discipline. Candidates must also have a minimum of 18 years post-graduation experience, out of which at least 13 must be in the banking industry and at least 2 as General Manager,” the CBN document read.
In the petition captioned “ Save Our Soul/Appeal for and Urgent Action”, the lawyers noted that Okotete does not have any experience in the banking industry as required by the law.
They also accused her of “serial criminal activities bordering on excessive and reckless abuse of office, deceitful misrepresentation of her qualifications to earn the post of the Executive Director of the NEXIM Bank.”
The group also called on President Buhari to ensure that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and 9th Senate leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan investigate a 2019 unimplemented Senate Report of a 13-member committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on the matter.
The petition reads: “ It was well investigated and resolved Petition submitted in 2018 by Myson Law Practice represented by Mr Myson Nejo, Esq. on behalf of the Ilaje Global Think Thank Initiative AGAINST Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete nomination and appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari on 20th April, 2017 demanding her immediate REMOVAL AND PROSECUTION based on her fraudulent misrepresentation in gross violation of the CBN’s statutory laws.
“On this premise, we anticipate your good office’s independent, swift and fair investigation, while hoping on your authorized reversal of all discharged transactions, and further accord the investigating team to act decisively through the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, particularly EFCC and office of the Inspector General of Police to recover all fraudulent payments earned as Executive Director of the NEXIM BANK; during the entire years and period of her appointment till date, as well as harmonize their investigation accordingly.
“Our humble appeal is done in due recognition of your responsive call to duty. Our petition is predicated on the fact that consequent upon Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete’s long years of unchecked nefarious activities and continuous massive corruption currently perpetrated at the NEXIM BANK; hence our economy has suffered greatly as a result of her lack of capacity, technical know-how, financial accounting and administrative management knowledge in the handling and management of the day to day running of the apex financial institution regulating Nigeria’s Exports and Imports Businesses, inevitably leading to untold hardship, monumental embarrassment and aggravated economic loss.
“We write your good office for onward implementation, investigation and compliance with the statutory legislative resolution of the House of Senate dated April 2019 (Attached herewith), this is done in accordance with the operational laws and 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) respectively.
“Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete’s gross misconduct, ineptitude, massive corruption and embezzlement is most inhuman, wicked, most corrupt, highly demeaning and unlawful to say the least.
“We further reiterate, if nothing urgent is done to rescue the situation, the culprit is ready to wreak further monumental havoc; what a double jeopardy.
“Our request is that we appeal to your good office should please direct an independent team of law enforcement agents to investigate our complaint and HARMONIZE all the facts and evidence for proper investigation, in order to avoid injustice and ensure possible conclusion on the criminal aspect of the case, so that the erring suspects would be charged to court in due time soon.”
“We hereby reiterate for the umpteenth time that our demand for Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete’s removal and replacement as Executive Director of the NEXIM Bank is in the interest of fairness, equity and justice.
The lawyers futher threatened to sue the Federal Government if it fails to address their demands, adding that : “ We further reiterate that if nothing meaningful and urgent is done in compliance with our fundamental demands on or before 7th of December, 2022(Seven Days Ultimatum) we shall not hesitate to seek legal sanction Against President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government of Nigeria forthwith.
Established in 1991, NEXIM Bank is an export credit agency of the Federal Government, which focuses on the development and expansion of the non-oil sectors of the Nigerian economy, with a view to reducing the country’s over-reliance on oil exports as part of its mandate.
The Greenville LNG Company is on the verge of another litigation in connection with its supply agreements with the massive manufacturing conglomerate BUA Group, which is situated in Nigeria, two years after it was hit with a $9 million claim for contract breach by a US Court.
With three liquefaction trains and a combined capacity to produce 2250 MT of LNG per day, Greenville is the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and distribution company in Nigeria. It is owned by Belgian cement magnate Eddy Van Den Broeke.
Since April 2019, the company, which was founded in 2013, has produced and marketed liquefied natural gas to consumers across Nigeria.
It should be noted that the company is a Nigerian subsidiary of the International Engineering & Construction (IEC), a Luxembourg-based construction company.
However, in 2018, there are reports of how Broeke was struggling to get his LNG project off the ground in Nigeria and also facing a $9m claim from his subcontractor Baker Hughes.
How it started
In 2014, IEC through Greenville LNG entered into an agreement with Baker Hughes Energy Services LLC, formerly known as GE Oil & Gas (GEOG), for the purchase and installation of two small-scale liquified natural gas plants in Rumuji, Rivers State, Nigeria.
According to the documents obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, GEOG agreed to supply IEC with two small-scale liquified natural gas production plants — the first by June 24, 2015, and the second by September 24, 2015— for use at the Rumuji Site.
In exchange, IEC agreed to pay GEOG $95 million. Both parties also agreed on a payment schedule, which would require IEC to pay various percentages of the $95 million at specific milestones.
It was stated that the agreement would be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.
Unfortunately, GEOG failed to deliver the gas plants by their contractual delivery deadlines and this stalled installation, commissioning, and start-up of the Plants.
Arbitration
On July 31, 2018, IEC filed a Notice of Demand for and Commencement of Arbitration under the Contracts on behalf of itself and Greenville.
IEC initially sought approximately $75 million in damages but its demand increased to $700 million by the end of the arbitration.
The $700m claims included the liquidated damages for delayed delivery and damages associated with the delayed entry into operation of the gas plants.
But GEOG also filed counterclaims against IEC for breach of the contracts, asking for damages up to $40.1 million.
In 2020, the American Tribunal gave its verdict, ordering IEC and Greenville to pay GEOG over $9.5m for breaching contracts.
The Tribunal held that IEC had breached the Equipment Contract by failing to make two Milestone payments.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, On January 27, 2021, IEC filed a petition to vacate the Award in New York state court but the court rejected IEC’s arguments.
“In short, due to the strong deference owed to the decisions of arbitrators, the Court is compelled to reject IEC’s arguments and confirm the Award,” the court ruled.
Poor Ethics/Underhand Business Practices
It is believed that the posture of the company and record of breaching contract is owing to its owner’s secretive and shady business activities. Prior to setting up Greenville, Eddy Van Den Broeke ran ASCA bitumen from 1996 and grew the company into becoming a giant monopoly with over 90% of the Nigerian market by 2015.
Through this position, he was famed to hold everyone to ransom through alleged arbitrary price increases, artificial scarcity, amongst others. Eddy Broeke’s families were one of six of Belgium’s wealthiest families that featured on the Panama Papers, a cross-border investigation that revealed a list of thousands of people who channelled funds to tax havens.
“The family of Eddy Van Den Broeke, who turned the Eres company into an international player, is also mentioned. Eddy Van Den Broeke is identified as the sole beneficiary of at least five offshore companies in the BVI,” the ICIJ report read.
Eddy was named in the Panama Papers having had an extensive network of shell companies to hide his funds and avoid government oversight.
Another multi-million dollar breach of contract suit looming
Our investigations also revealed that recently, BUA, which is one of Greenville’s largest clients, is set to allegedly sue Greenville for 50 billion Naira for a possible breach in contract and reneging on its obligation to supply gas to its businesses in the far north.
According to sources, this uj is as a result of Greenville LNG reneging on their contract with BUA to supply gas and also increasing prices arbitrarily despite the contractually agreed oil-indexed pricing for any changes in price.
Industry watchers have claimed that Greenville is trying to take advantage of its near monopoly in the domestic trucked LNG market hence their habit of entering into contracts and reneging on it after starting.
With Eddy and his companies’ history of reneging on contracts entered into with the Federal Government, partners, suppliers, communities and clients, it is unlikely that Greenville LNG or its billionaire owner Eddy and Managing Director Ritu Sahajwalla would stop such behaviour anytime soon.
Experts familiar with BUA’s history of ensuring its rights are enforced, believe BUA will pursue this issue to a logical conclusion at the courts and till their rights are enforced.
A Civil Society Organization (CSO) called White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRAN) has urged households in Bauchi State to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Federal Government Self-Care initiative, which is designed to bring basic healthcare services into the comfort of their homes, in an effort to further increase access to basic health care for residents of Bauchi State, particularly those living in hard to reach communities.
The request was made in an advocacy brief that was provided to our correspondent in Bauchi on November 29, 2022, in advance of WRAN’s withdrawal from operations as one of the main proponents of the state of Bauchi’s self-care initiative.
The executive summary states that self-care is the capacity of individuals, families, and In an effort to further make basic health care accessible to citizens of Bauchi State, particularly those living in hard to reach communities, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) known as White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRAN), has called on households in Bauchi State to avail themselves the opportunities provided by the Federal Government Self-Care initiative, designed to bring basic healthcare services in the comfort of their homes.
The call was contained in an advocacy brief made available to our correspondent in Bauchi on Tuesday 29th November, 2022, preparatory to the exit of WRAN activity, as major promoters of self-care initiative in Bauchi State.
According to the brief, Self-Care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote their well-being, prevent disease, maintain health and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.
The brief also indicates that the initiative is anchored on simple methods in three major areas of caring for one’s self that includes: Self – Management, Self – Testing and Self – Awareness, pointing out that, “these care options put healthcare in the hands of the people who need it the most”.
The advocacy brief also stressed that, “For women, the ability to be equipped with the information and tools to manage their sexual and reproductive health needs in the comfort of their home is a key means of promoting her health and family’s wellbeing”.
The brief further stated that in hard-to-reach communities where access to health facilities and health information is scare, the use of self-care, can determine their current health status even for HIV and Malaria
In highlighting what the Self – Care products entails , the advocacy brief also itemized the self administered services to include: contraception; targeting women that have been prescribed to take injectable contraceptives on having the choice of administering such services without necessarily going to hospital every three months. The Self-Care products that take care of that component of health includes Pre and Post pregnancy kit, Ovulation prediction kit (OPK), Male/Female Condoms, Home-based Pregnancy test kit, Family planning and other methods.
With regards to instant health status check; one can also conduct Malaria, and HIV preliminary self-testing at home too.
According to WRAN, “These Self-care products are now available in pharmacies and PHCs in all the 20 LGAs of Bauchi State”.
While advocating for the utilization of the Self-care kits, WRAN also cautioned that, “Self-Care system is an informed approach to using home remedies as part of a health plan as prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider – this is entirely different from taking self-prescribed medications, which is usually done without the consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Self -prescription is very risky and can lead to serious medical complications and even death”.
It could be recalled that in 2022, the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with other partners developed the National Self-care Guidelines on Self-Care for Sexual Reproductive and maternal health in 2020, which was followed by its launch in 2022. The guideline includes guidance for self- care interventions, and its sub-National level adoption in Nigeria.
The Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Sambo has given assurance that adequate security measures has been put in place along the Abuja- Kaduna train route after it was shut down eight months ago due to an attack by terrorists.
He added that National Identification Number (NIN) will be compulsory for buying train tickets, he said adults are at liberty to use their NIN to buy for up to four minors.
Sambo made this known in Kaduna during an inspection, to ascertain the level of security measures put in place to forestall attacks on the Abuja – Kaduna rail line.
The minister who was accompanied by his counterparts, Minister of State Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of Water Resources Eng. Suleiman Adamu, alongside Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation Fidet Okhiria, Chairman governing Board Nigeria Railway Corporation Ibrahim Musa, Sambo gave assurances that, there are sufficient measures to repel any attack by terrorists or hoodlums on the train corridor.
He said, “A number of measures have been put in place in order to ensure that life and property will be secured when we resume services and I’m satisfied with what I have seen.
“Of course, there are one or two areas that need to be addressed and we’re going to address them immediately”.
The Minister debunked the rumour that train services will resume on (Monday) at the northern corridor. He said that the newly introduced measures will delay the resumption of business along the corridor for a few more days so that passengers will be acquainted with the new protocol involved in train boarding before it will resume services.
He said “We have not said that train services will start tomorrow. I want to be very categorical about that.
“Now, we have introduced a new system before you buy a ticket. The purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a national identification number in order to profile you because that is the beginning of the security checks. So at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another, we know who and who are on board.
“If you don’t have an NIN you are not going to board our train, it is as simple as that. If you are a minor, an adults will register for you and an adult can only register for not more than four minors. Now, we want to give sufficient time for Nigerian public to listen to these two requirements, to assimilate this new system. So if you go and start tomorrow, a lot of people will be disgruntled. Why didn’t they tell us that this is a new way of doing it? Why didn’t they give us adequate time to do it? So we want to give you adequate time. Definitely between 3,4,5 days, certainly not more than a week.
Sambo said that although only God can guarantee maximum security, he assured Nigerians that everything is in place to guarantee a secured and smooth train ride.
“We are not going to tell you what we have done. It is a security matter and I have no apologies for that.
“Who will give you the assurance is Almighty God but I will tell you that whatever is humanly possible to secure the lives of the users of this service have been put in place and we will continue to upgrade it.
“We’ll be monitoring it on a daily basis and improve on wherever we find some snacks”.
The Minister assured that Secured ID will continue to handle the e-ticketing services.
“The ticketing called e-ticketing has already been contracted to a company called secure ID. That concession has gone through the entire concession process under extant laws, including approval by the Federal Executive Council. So that concession remains in place for the duration of the concession period, which I think is 10 years”.
Recall that on March 28, 2022, around 7:45 pm, hundreds of passengers travelling on a Kaduna bound train on we’re attacked in Katari, Kaduna State, with many killed and others injured, while some were abducted by the bandits.
In recognition of his contributions to international peace, unity, and the advancement of human capital, the International Peace Commission (IPC) has named Mr. Henry Chekwube Okafor, a philanthropist and the chairman of Multiple Hems World Accessories with headquarters in Lagos, a “Global Ambassador for Peace.”
The Anambra-born humanitarian received the medal and decoration at a ceremony on Saturday in Lekki, Lagos State, which was attended by his family, friends, and acquaintances from all walks of life.
The IPC works with UN organizations like UNEP, UNDP, UNCHR, UNDDA, and WTO to improve our global community. The IPC has members and partner organizations all over the world.
Amb. Kingsley Amafibe, Director of Peace and Conflict Resolution of the IPC, alongside other officials of the commission, handed the plaque and certificate of award to Amb. Henry Chekwube Okafor.
In his congratulatory message, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Abuja, Amafibe stated that the recognition was given to Okafor for his humanitarian gesture across Nigeria, especially to the less privileged and his passion for economic empowerment for youths, which were fundamental to national peace building.
He noted that though there were a lot of Nigerians who were working towards national peace and development in different ways, Okafor was a ‘detribalized and selfless peace builder.’
He therefore urged the new Peace Ambassador not to rest on his oars, but to get more committed to peace building initiatives across Nigeria and beyond. Amafibe said the award was given by IPC with support from Peace Achievers International, a Civil Society Group.
“When his name was sent to us, we carefully did a thorough check on him and discovered that he has been a silent peace builder through his numerous humanitarian initiatives.
“ Of course, global peace is now a serious concern, and our country is not left out, that is why we encourage everyone to be an agent of peace,” he said
In his remark, Amb. Henry Chekwube Okafor, who hailed from Awka South of Anambra State, expressed delight for the honour and pledged not to relent in his service and contribution to national peace and progress.
“This honour is an indication that people are watching us wherever we are, especially as one make selfless effort to serve humanity.
“I am grateful for this recognition and I hope to do more in our collective effort towards building a better Nigeria,” he said.
On Wednesday, in Area 1, Garki Abuja, commercial motorcycle operators sobbed unceasingly as they stood helplessly and watched their more than 365 confiscated motorcycles being reduced to ruins by a bulldozer.
Commercial motorcycle operation is not entirely prohibited by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), although there are some areas where it is not permitted.
Despite the limitations, the stubborn bike operators and owners have persisted in blatantly violating the partial ban.
The extensive raids in the Guzape, Durumi, Airport Road-Lugbe, and Kubwa districts were assisted by paramilitary units.
The worst situation, according to the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant for Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah, is the operators’ blatant disregard for traffic laws and their persistent use of the improper lanes.
According to him, the administration only seldom let them to operate in interior villages and estates, but despite this, they have persisted in breaking the rules by brazen acts of abrasive behavior against law enforcement officials.
He suggested that the new practice of seizing bikes and crushing them right away was a trademark initiative started to act as a deterrence and also get rid of the crowd that always surrounded the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTs) headquarters to beg for the bikes’ release.
Attah further stated that , the FCT Minister has given a marching order that the bikes should be impounded and crushed immediately, and this may not be unconnected with reports of Okada riders attacking people and also committing serial crimes in the city.
According to him: ” This operation is a signature project and a decision of the FCTA Security Committee, they agreed that we should go back to massive enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles in the Federal Capital City as well as some strategic locations, like the airport road and Kubwa where they have become a big threat to the people.
” We have brought the 356 motorcycles here in Area 1 for immediate crushing because the menace cannot continue. We have gotten complain daily about Okada riders across the city.
” The operation cannot be said to be high handedness because since 2006 when the ban started, the impounded bikes hardly get back to them. The Minister has given us a marching order to impound and crush in the full glare of everybody to avoid the allegation that the bikes were seized and given to somebody else.
” They have been asked to leave the Federal Capital City and you they are here wrecking havoc, committing crimes and killing people.
” Last week in Durumi a personnel in uniform was stabbed and killed, another officer was also stabbed on the head by these same characters, the Okada riders. We have gotten a forfeiture orders for all of these”, he added.
Also, the Mandate Secretary, FCTA Transport Secretariat, Abdullahi Candido said that if the the commercial motorcyclists continue to defy all government’s entreaties to them, by allowing them to operate within designated routes, they will continue to suffer losses.
Candido also disclosed that there the Secretariat will never succumb to the preasures from any quarters to allowance form of illegalities in the nation’s capital.
In his remarks, the Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services ( DRTS ), Dr. Abdulateef Bello said the operation being the second outing of the joint task team, was commenced to ensure that we clean up commercial motorcycles from the City centre.
He reiterated the need for the Okada riders to obey the traffic rules and all other regulations that will make them acceptable in the areas their operations are permissible.
The Federal Government has made public the redesigned naira notes.
It was unveiled a few minutes ago during the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, advised Nigerians against keeping old notes, stating there is no going back on the January 31st, 2023 deadline to entirely render the old notes obsolete.
The new notes have denominations of N1000, N500, and N200.
