Wednesday, October 29, 2025
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61st Independence: Nigeria Better As United Entity, FCT Minister

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Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the country was better off as a single entity and that working together would achieve far more.

He, on the other hand, advised Nigerians to stand firm against any attempts to divide them.

Bello made this known in his 61st Independence Day Anniversary message to FCT residents, in which he urged citizens to join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and remain steady on the side of unity, peace, and the country’s collective growth.

While congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari on his exemplary leadership at this critical juncture in the country’s history, the Minister stated that the President’s distinct character and personality have done much to instill hope in Nigerians for a brighter future as a strong, virile, and indivisible nation.

Bello also urged locals to remember the battles of Nigeria’s freedom heroes, both past and present leaders, who have made significant sacrifices over the years to get the country this far.

He also asked locals to take use of the opportunity offered by the independence anniversary celebration to reflect on how far they had come as a people in their effort to establish a strong, virile, and united country.

The Minister stated that the FCT was formed on a platform of Nigerian unity, as a place where all Nigerians may call home, and that the Administration has worked hard to create a Territory that reflects all Nigerians’ collective ideals.

According to him; “while we have largely succeeded in building a beautiful, world class city, thanks to the efforts of thousands of Nigerians over the years, the equally important task of forging a common identity for our people is still work in progress”.

“It is worthy to mention once again, that there now exists a generation of Nigerians from all parts of the country who truly know no other home but the FCT, having been born, schooled, are married and raising families of their own here in the Nation’s capital” he said.

“The dreams of our founding fathers are truly alive in these residents and we should constantly remind ourselves that we are better off together and will achieve much more as a united people and consequently, should resist all efforts to cause divisions within our ranks”.

He further reminded residents that they have an obligation to uphold the dreams of the  founding fathers to  truly make Abuja the symbol of Nigeria’s unity

On security, the Minister paid tribute to the officers and men of all the security agencies who daily confront security challenges in the FCT with some paying the highest price with their lives. He therefore called on FCT residents to continue to aid them in their work by providing vital information when they feel the need to do so.

The Minister also reminded FCT residents that the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic was far from over, advising them to seize every available opportunity to get vaccinated in addition to abiding by other non- pharmaceutical health guidelines.

While reiterating the Administration’s determination to ensure compliance on the provisions of the Abuja Masterplan, the Minister reiterated its commitment to ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of all residents.

Bello said, “As we roll out the drums in celebration today, let us be encouraged that the best of our country still lies ahead of us and we should work hard together at meeting our collective aspirations”,

Aero Contractors Takes Delivery of Two Airbus 320, Assures Adequate Safety

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The Aero Contractors, one of oldest Aviation Companies in Nigeria has taken delivery of two Airbus 320 from Heston airline based in Lithuania.
On its arrival, the two aircrafts were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by the Managing Director of the airline, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, along with other senior executives of the airline.

Speaking while receiving the two Airbus with the capacity of 180, the MD Captain Abdulahi Mamood stated that the company which was at the verge of collapse has bounced back with all the safety measures and technicalities improved.
He reflected on how the company struggle to survive the economic hardship bedeviling the sector.
He noted that Aviation sector is the economic heartbeat of any nation, hence the need for synergy and collaboration.

He further disclosed that the two aircraft leased by House of Five A’s will boost the fleet of the airline and provide the much needed capacity to serve the Nigerian market. The aircraft is the first of its kind in the Nigerian market.

Capt. Mahmood said: “We are pleased to secure these two aircraft through House of Five A’s which will boost our fleet and give us the needed capacity in the Nigerian market, while making us more efficient and offer more comfort to our customers”.

“These new generation aircraft are suitable to our operations in this market. We have established an excellent relationship with the lessors and the financier and we are looking forward to a stronger relationship between both parties” he added.

Aero Contractors is currently in Receivership by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

It could be recalled that Captain Mahmood was appointed Managing Director of Aero Contractors in January to build on the success of his predecessor Captain Ado Sanusi. Under nine months he has strengthened the airline, expanding the frontiers of the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) arm of the company and increasing its capacity to maintain more aircraft.

Labour Canvasses for Social Protection for Nigerian Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called for adequate implementation of social protection cover for Nigerian workers in the country, following the present securities challenges bedeviling the country.
The President NLC Comrade Ayuba Wabba made the call in Abuja at the
2021 NLC Roundtable on Social Protection Cover.
Wabba added that social protection is key for human security and social justice, noting that it is the foundation for peaceful societies committed to shared wealth and prosperity.

He further stated that “the Roundtable was a fallout of the recent 2nd National Peace and Security Summit organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress, from the paper presentations made at the summit and the ensuing expert and plenary discussions, it was firmly established that the crisis of physical insecurity in Nigeria has very strong ties with human insecurity especially as marked by the dearth of social protection cover for the poor and vulnerable in our society”.

He noted that the Social Protection is a fundamental human right intended not only to set a minimum social security floor but also plays an important role in alleviating poverty and providing economic security for all. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights recognize the right of all to social security. As a human right and component of decent work, social protection allows working conditions that are safe, fosters family values, provides for compensation in case of lost or reduced income and permits access to adequate healthcare.

“Social protection floor such as basic income security including cash transfers where needed, pensions, disability benefits, unemployment benefits and support, maternity protection, child benefits. Also, universal access to essential social services such as health, education, water sanitation and housing makes a lot of difference”.

He also noted that the United Nations over a decade ago endorsed Social Protection floor for Fair Globalization. Equally, ILO Convention 102, ILO Recommendation 202 and the SDG Goal 1.3 on social protection systems for all by 2030 give credence to the centrality of social protection to stability and progress.

Wabba further revealed that the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weakness of the current global economic model and social protection system.
“More than 4 billion persons, 53% of the global population, are completely unprotected against economic shocks. With about 17.4% social protection cover, Africa has the least social protection coverage for its citizens leaving most Africans vulnerable to economic shocks, poverty, hunger, huge sickness burden, illiteracy, and destitution”.

“The state of social protection cover and standard of living indices leaves very little to desire. As at 2020, data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, shows that about 83 million Nigerians representing 40% of the total population live in abject poverty. As at March 2021, 33.3% of Nigerians are unemployed. We have never had such high numbers of the army of the unemployed in our country.

“Tragically, most of the unemployed and under employed in Nigeria are caught in the web of perpetual misery as they lack the basic skills and training to break forth from the stranglehold of poverty. In the absence of any modicum of sustained social protection cover, the only available alternative is to resort to a life of crime. This is the reason many of young people are being attracted to terrorism, kidnap for ransom, rural cum urban banditry, armed robbery, militancy, prostitution, thuggery, and other forms of violent crime.

In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that social protection is one of the most important responsibilities of the government, noting that it is how we live up to the constitutional obligations to ensure that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and the unemployment, sick persons and welfare of the disabled are provided for.

“I have always believed that any politician whatever party he belong to that does not have the interest of workers at heart is not a true politician. I believe that the reason why any politician should exist is the people”.

“I want to assure you that in the House of Representatives, we are committed to use the tools of legislative authority to advance solutions and implement policies that will help achieve the promise of the more perfect union. These are challenging times for our country”.

FCTA Steps Up Hitch-Free Preparations For 61st Independence Day Celebration

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…Ensures Adequate Security For Residents

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has strengthened its efforts to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free commemoration of the country’s 61st anniversary of independence on October 1.

One of these activities is the decoration of parts of the city with flags and other national symbols.

During a tour of the city in preparation for the National Day events, Chukwuma Nwaji, an Assistant Director in the Protocol Department, said the decorations were done to promote a sense of national consciousness in FCT inhabitants and to underline the value of a united Nigeria.

“The national emblems serve as a very strong reminder of the essence of a virile and indivisible nation,” according to Nwaji.

October 1st serves as a national reminder, something that every Nigerian knows instinctively and automatically.

As a result, the symbols foster a sense of nationhood and serve as a reminder of Nigeria’s glory.’

In addition, the Acting Director of Security Services, Bello Abdulateef, revealed that the FCT security agencies have deployed massively and strategically in and around the FCT to secure the security of the citizens in order to ensure a hitch-free Independence Day celebration.

He also revealed that the FCT Administration, in partnership with security agencies, has increased monitoring throughout the city in order to deter criminals and ensure citizens’ security and safety.

Bello also stated that the Federal Road Safety Corps will inform the general public about traffic and vehicular movement within the city during the National Day celebrations, and urged locals to follow the law.

Again, Miscreants Attacked FCT Tasks Team Injuring Eight Personnel

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…Three Criminals Were Apprehended With Guns Dangerous Weapons

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation was attacked again on Tuesday in Gwarinpa, leaving eight people with varied degrees of injuries.

This is going to happen Two years after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was severely afflicted in Gwarimpa by the renowned Lungu shanty.

Three of the criminals were apprehended with various deadly weapons during the demolition of the location, according to our source, and the injured workers were brought to the hospital right away.

When some of the area’s indigenous youth attacked members of the taskforce team with dangerous weapons such Dane guns, stones, and petrol bombs, among other things, the joint security forces were able to defeat them.

The hoodlums attacked the taskforce team with stones, petrol bombs, and sticks, injuring eight of them if not for the squad’s bravery in confronting and beating the hoodlums.

Fielding questions from reporters, Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, denounced the attack on the team and urged residents to stop supporting those who perpetrate infractions in Abuja.

The hoodlums threw stones, petrol bombs, and sticks at the taskforce team, injuring eight of them if not for the team’s bravery in confronting the hoodlums and defeating them.

The Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah, denounced the attack on the team and encouraged locals to quit backing those who commit infractions in Abuja.

According to him, “Today is one of the days we are seeing extreme criminality we have in our society. We came here after two years that FCTA suffered extreme attacks on this same spot, a place called Lungu in Gwarimpa Abuja, where machine belonging to FCT worth over N300 million was damaged, some staffs were badly injured one of them a Civil Defence officer called Tosin was badly injured and had two brain surgeries.

“Some of the person’s here believe that FCTA cannot come to this location, because it is close to this indigenous village here, four people with Dane guns attacked us, while others attacked us with stone, catapult etc, but we were very much in number and well prepared and they injured a Policeman who has been rushed to the hospital and also injured a staff of Development Control, he has an extreme cut on his head and I myself was so lucky some stones were thrown but it didn’t have much impact but my phone was damaged.

“One thing I want to appeal to our indigenous people, yes some infractions have been committed but the people should help us not to defend people who commit illegality close to their village, it is very painful that we came under heavy attacks, one of the Dane guns was recovered and the beauty about the whole thing is that Lungu the notorious part of Gwarinpa has fallen, the shanties have been cleaned.

“The village as you can see has been spared but we feel very bad that both sides suffered casualties here”.

On suspects that were arrested he said, “We arrested three people and we are talking to them that they should change their attitude of defending illegalities. The indigenes should stop defending those that are not part of the village and that are committing illegalities” , he lamented .

He, however, stressed that there is no going back in removing shanties and slums in Abuja, “We must remove shanties in Abuja, even if it is the villagers that gave them permission to stay, we must remove them.

Meanwhile, Secretary FCT Command and Control Centre, Peter Olumuj, while confirming the attack said 8 personnel’s were injured but 3 were rushed to the hospital.

He said, ” Today we are here in a village called Lungu in Gwarimpa Abuja, we came under heavy attacks by few people they called themselves vigilante and they attacked law enforcement officers that were doing their jobs.

“We have threesuspects that have been handed over to the Gwarimpa Police division, further investigation will be carried out and the law will take its course, we
always tell people not to allow shanties , slums in a planned and unplanned environment. That is why the team have been going round to clear all shanties and arrest all the criminal elements hiding in this shanties and alums in Abuja”.

Senate To Investigates Alleged Fake COVID-19 Test Result Used To Defraud Nigerians

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The upper chamber of the National Assembly has directed its Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Primary Health and Communicable Diseases and Foreign Affairs to conduct detailed investigations on the two allegations of fake COVID-19 test result being used to defraud Nigerians in Ghana and obtainment or use of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards.

Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe sponsored a resolution titled “urgent need to conduct probe on accusation of false COVID-19 test results being used to swindle Nigerians in Ghana and the acquisition of phony COVID-19 vaccination cards” (APC, Kwara Central).

The Senate’s decision to investigate the claim against Ghanaian officials came after a slew of allegations and complaints from Nigerian passengers held in Ghanaian detention centers.

The directive followed a motion titled, “urgent need to conduct investigation on allegation of fake COVID-19 test results being used to defraud Nigerians in Ghana and the obtainment of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards,” sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central).

The decision by the Senate to investigate the allegation against the Ghanaian authorities, also followed numerous allegations and complaints made by Nigerian travelers isolated at Ghanaian isolation facilities.

Leading debate on the motion, Senator Oloriegbe recalled that the COVID-19 infection was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2020.

He noted that, “while the global roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations continues to accelerate, only around one percent of the world’s population have received their full course of injections.

“Billions are still waiting for their first dose, which inevitably leads those people to question exactly when they will get it, especially as plans are being made internationally to allow those that have been vaccinated, or can prove they have had a recent negative test, the freedom to travel to other countries, attend large-scale events, take a new job, and more;

“Notes also that there’s a strong and growing demand for vaccinations and test results because of the greater freedoms they will give to people. Also, there will always be people who don’t want to wait for their official vaccination, or for an official negative test result – and shady people willing to service that demand.

The lawmaker further hinted that there is a serious allegation that the Ghanaian authorities are diagnosing Nigerians who travel to their country of testing positive for Covid even after testing negative in Nigeria.

He , however, observed that the Ghanaian authorities, usually, commit Nigerians who visit their country to isolation for two weeks and are made to pay about seventy thousand naira per day.

Oloriegbe also observed that the allegation was exposed by a Nigerian artiste, who was told in Ghana that he had Covid-19 even after testing negative at a Nigerian facility in Nigeria, adding, “he rejected the result and instead that it was a fake result. He was deported and kicked out of a Ghana by the authorities and proceeds to New York in the the United States, where his test result on arrival came out negative.

“Worried that Nigerians traveling to Ghana or through Ghana lamented that they are made to pay almost one million naira while in isolation.

“Further worried that most of the Nigerians traveling to Ghana or through Ghana have alleged that the Ghanaian authorities have made them targets for the purpose of making money;

“Concerned that if this allegation is not properly investigated and addressed, the exploitation will continue, thereby unlawfully taking away the resources of Nigerians in this global economic recession; and

“Worried that if the allegation of people obtaining and using fake Covid-19 vaccination cards to travel is not debunked, it may have negative consequence for Nigerians with genuine Covid-19 vaccination cards from traveling outside the country.”

The lawmaker also prevailed on the upper chamber to investigate another allegation on the United Kingdom’s refusal to acknowledge the vaccination cards and tests results issued to travelers by facilities in Nigeria.

Accordingly, the upper chamber in its resolution directed its Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Primary Health and Communicable Diseases and Foreign Affairs to conduct detailed investigations on the two allegations of fake COVID-19 test result being used to defraud Nigerians in Ghana and obtainment or use of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards.

NAFDAC Sets To Arrest Users Of Azo Dye To Polish Red Oil

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed concerns over the usage of Azo Dye, also known as Sudan Dye, to make palm oil appear reddish and appealing.

Azo dye is a type of chemical used to color fabrics, the agency hinted.

Prof. Moji Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, described the behavior as “wicked and inhuman,” emphasizing that the medicine is fatal because it causes progressive deterioration of human health.

Sudan dyes, also known as Azo dyes, are synthetic organic compounds used as dyes for a range of polymers and to stain sudanophilic biological materials, the most common of which being lipids.

Azo dye is considered an illegal dye, because to its long-term harmful effects, which include cancer promotion.

Represented by the agency’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Pharm (Mrs) Ngozi Onuorah , the NAFDAC Director General said: “We have discovered the sharp practices where sellers of red palm oil now put Azo dye to make it very reddish for it to look very glittery and tantalizing so that unsuspecting consumers can easily buy them.

While calling on members of the public to be vigilant, Prof. Adeyeye said: “When you see red oil is very tantalizing and too reddish, you should begin to have some level of suspicion on it.”

She, however, called on marketers and dealers of palm oil and even farmers to be very vigilant and that anybody they discover using such chemicals on red oil should be reported to the security agencies.

According to her, “We are giving considerable attention to the markets because there are a lot of activities going on there. Some are based on ignorance while some are deliberate because they went cut corners and make gain.

“The renewed campaign of NAFDAC is going from market to market because a lot of atrocities, sharp practices are going in some of our local markets both in the cities and the rural areas.

“The emphasis has been on processed foods but there is a paradigm shift in our campaign to focus on row foods that enter our markets.”

INEC Insists on e-Transmission of Polls Results

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…Says Nobody Can force the Commission to share a constitutionally mandated duty

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has requested that the National Assembly reconsider the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, stating that it has the capacity and technical know-how to conduct electronic transmission of election results across the country.

INEC stated that it was independent of the National Communication Commission (NCC) and that it was not accountable to any government body.

Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, argued that the best guarantee of transparency was real-time electronic transmission of results.

Okoye said INEC was resolved to employ electronic devices to improve Nigeria’s electoral process and provide free, fair, and credible elections in a television interview broadcast in Abuja on Monday.

According to Okoye, the National Assembly must demonstrate courage by altering the essential provisions of the Electoral Act in order for this to become a reality.

He said, “Although INEC is increasingly tilting towards the use of technology to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, we want the National Assembly to amend the law, which prescribed the method elections are being conducted at the moment.”

Okoye admitted that INEC was still using the manual method, as enshrined in the Electoral Act, by collating election results from the Polling Units (PU), using Form EC8A, and Registration Area Collation Centre (RACC), with Form EC8B up to local government areas, and using Form EC8C to collate results, which are computed manually before announcement.

Okoye maintained that INEC had perfected the use of technology to conduct elections starting from the 2023 general election.

He stated, “For us to alter the methodology, the Electoral Act must be changed to accommodate the new innovations. We want National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to enable INEC deliver a more transparent, fair and credible elections that will meet the aspirations of Nigerians. They should also look at 51, 52, 53 and 57 of the Electoral Act.

“We are already uploading election results electronically but we will need the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to be amended to avoid litigations, because INEC doesn’t want our election winners to be determined by the law courts.”

Okoye said the commission was not answerable to NCC or any other federal government organ in carrying out its constitutional duties, saying INEC has inherent powers to conduct elections.

He said, “Nobody can bully INEC to share its powers given by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria of Nigeria. Section 160 of Nigerian constitution mandates INEC to give NCC duties to perform, not NCC giving INEC orders.

“Also, Section 52 of Electoral Act gives INEC inherent powers to conduct elections in any manner it wants, including e-voting. Again, the 2015 Electoral Act (as amended), which was signed by the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has given INEC unfettered powers to conduct elections in the best method available.”

He insisted that the present method of manual collation of election results from PU, RACC and LGA should be done away with, adding, “With the introduction of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and other devices by INEC, elections in Nigeria can only get better, hence, National Assembly should join in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.”

Arms Proliferation: Nigerian Navy Indicts Chadian Army, Alleging They Sell Arms When Broke

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The Nigerian Navy has accused Chadian Army members of illegally selling guns when they are broke.

Commodore Jemila Abubakar, a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, made the claim while representing Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff, at a House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence public hearing on the consideration of four security bills.

Abubakar, speaking on the proliferation of small guns and light weapons, claimed that weapons provided by rich countries to neighboring countries are exacerbating the country’s security problems.

According to him; “Section 9 (1) suggests an additional function of proposing a seized weapons and arms be used by security agencies; I think we can look at the provisions of the international convention on the issue of how the arms should be used when seized.”

“Other sections have been addressed by our colleagues, so I’m sure their presentations have been submitted. I want to contribute to the coming seminar on the operation of arms to be organised by the house of representatives.

“I was in charge as a member of the fight against Boko Haram and I can tell you categorically here, I stand to be corrected, that some of these countries that we have borders with have no armoury.

“They do not have armoury. So most of their arms that are being donated by – I don’t want to be specific – the developed countries in the name of assisting us are compounding our problems in Nigeria because you find out that each average Chadian soldier has 20 to 30 arms underneath his bed. When he is broke, he brings it out and sells it for $30, $20. I am here, I am standing here, and I am saying it.

“Since we are going to collaborate with ECOWAS and other countries that are donating such arms to these countries, I think we should insist that they should either enact laws to govern the handling of these arms and ammunition or build an armoury for these countries or else we will not see peace.”

The Chadian authorities are yet to react to the allegation.

Nigeria has at different times enlisted the support of Chadian Army in the fight against insurgency.

Music Star, R. Kelly Finds Guilty Of Racketeering In Sex Trafficking By US Court

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In his sex trafficking trial, R. Kelly was found guilty of racketeering by a federal jury on Monday.

Prosecutors accused the R&B singer of using his celebrity for sex over a quarter-century.

Kelly, 54, pleaded not guilty to a racketeering charge and eight counts of violating a federal law prohibiting the transportation of people across state lines for prostitution. Kelly is best known for the Grammy-winning hit “I Believe I Can Fly,” which she released in 1996.

Prosecutors tried to paint Kelly as a predator who used his celebrity and attractiveness to entice women and underage girls into his orbit, then subjected them to horrific physical and sexual abuse, some of which he videotaped.

Kelly’s accusers, on the other hand, are liars seeking a payoff from book contracts or the media after their relationships with Kelly or hoped-for music careers never took off, according to defense attorneys.

The panel’s deliberations began on Friday afternoon with the seven-man, five-woman jury.

On Aug. 18, the trial started.