The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Lagos

  • Tinubu Returns To Nigeria After Four-Week European Vacation

    Tinubu Returns To Nigeria After Four-Week European Vacation

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a four-week working vacation in Europe, dismissing concerns about his health and declaring that he is ready to resume his activities.

    Tinubu spoke with journalists on Tuesday shortly after arriving at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from Paris, where he spent the final part of his extended stay.

    Asked about concerns raised in some quarters about his health, the President said there was nothing wrong with him.

    “Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong. Rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain: I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go,” Tinubu said.

    The President’s aircraft touched down in Lagos at about 6.22pm. He was received at the airport by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and other senior government officials.

    A cultural troupe was also present to welcome the President.

    Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week working vacation. He spent about a week in London before travelling to Paris, where he held several official and business-related engagements. The Presidency later announced that his stay had been extended by a few days.

    Before his return, the Presidency said Tinubu chose to travel to Lagos first to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

    The President is expected to attend the October 1 premiere of a film honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

    According to the Presidency, Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates in Lagos ahead of the 2027 elections before returning to Abuja.

    During his stay in France, the President held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and met with business executive Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group.

    He also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone, with DP World planning to invest $7bn in the project.

    On Monday, Tinubu also met with the Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola.

    His extended absence from Nigeria had generated public and political discussion, including questions about his health and his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the gathering and delivered the country’s national statement.

    With his return to Lagos, Tinubu is expected to resume physical engagements in Nigeria after spending about four weeks abroad.

  • Tinubu Ends Working Vacation, Heads To Lagos

    Tinubu Ends Working Vacation, Heads To Lagos

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    President Bola Tinubu has concluded his working vacation in France and departed Paris for Lagos, where he is expected to hold meetings with political leaders and associates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The President’s return flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos later on Tuesday, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

    Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending about a week in London before proceeding to Paris.

    The Presidency said the President chose Lagos as his first destination on returning to Nigeria in order to honour the memory of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, widely recognised as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    As part of activities planned in Lagos, Tinubu is expected to attend the October 1 premiere of a film celebrating Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu.

    The President is also expected to meet with political leaders and associates in Lagos during his stay.

    The Presidency said the meetings would focus on political engagements ahead of the 2027 elections.

    During his stay in France, Tinubu held several engagements, including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

    He also met with businessman Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose interests include media and digital businesses such as Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

    On Monday, Tinubu met with businessman and Chairman of First Bank Holdings, Femi Otedola.

    The President also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone.

    The proposed project is expected to attract a reported $7bn investment by DP World.

    Tinubu is expected to proceed to Abuja after completing his engagements in Lagos.

  • Nollywood’s Black Market Sets Guinness World Record With 51,000 Viewers

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nollywood crime thriller Black Market has set a Guinness World Record after 51,000 people watched the film at a single-location screening at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The record-breaking screening was held on Saturday, September 26, as thousands of movie lovers gathered at the Lagos venue for the film’s premiere.

    Guinness World Records recognised 51,000 viewers as the qualifying attendance, surpassing the previous record of 43,624 people who watched the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena in the Philippines in 2015.

    The figure recognised by the record body was lower than the total crowd at the venue. Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat had put the attendance at about 64,000, but the Guinness count was based on viewers who remained for the required duration of the screening.

    The achievement sparked celebrations at TBS, with cheers and fireworks following the announcement.

    Organisers had targeted at least 50,000 simultaneous viewers for the screening, which was designed to break the 43,624 benchmark. The official event programme stated that the gates opened at 2pm, while the film was scheduled to run from 7pm to 8:30pm.

    Long queues formed around the venue before the screening as movie lovers arrived for the event, which also featured music, games, food and other entertainment activities.

    The event attracted government officials and several Nollywood personalities, including Hamzat, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Gabriel Afolayan, Kunle Afolayan, Stan Nze and other members of the Nigerian film industry.

    Black Market was directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and co-written by Gimsay and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed.

    The film centres on five women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation whose activities are disrupted after the daughter of one of them is kidnapped. The cast includes Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe.

    The project was produced through Rixel Studios, in collaboration with Signet Ring Studios, Switch Visuals Production and FilmOne Studios. Plans for the record attempt had been announced months before the premiere, with the filmmakers targeting 50,000 people at TBS.

    The previous Guinness World Record of 43,624 people was established on October 4, 2015, when Felix Manalo was screened at the Philippine Arena. Guinness World Records lists the same attendance as the record for both the largest attendance at a film screening and the largest audience at a film premiere.

    With the latest achievement, *lBlack Market has moved the record to Nigeria, giving Nollywood another international milestone.

  • Peter Okoye Admits Receiving $800,000 in P-Square Royalties, Says Jude Got Nothing

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Singer Peter Okoye, one half of the defunct music duo P-Square, has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he received more than $800,000 in royalties from French music-rights organisation, SACEM, for the group’s musical works but did not give any portion of the money to his elder brother, Jude Okoye.

    Peter made the disclosure on Monday while testifying virtually before Justice Alexander Owoeye during cross-examination by Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, counsel to Jude.

    SACEM is a French professional organisation responsible for collecting and distributing royalties for songwriters, composers and music publishers.

    The testimony came during the ongoing trial of Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, over allegations of fraud brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Jude and his company are facing a seven-count charge involving alleged fraud of about N1.3 billion and $1 million. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    During the proceedings, Peter was questioned about royalty records relating to P-Square’s musical works and his earlier claim that Jude delayed in providing him with the group’s backend royalty records.

    Peter acknowledged that Jude eventually sent him royalty records covering the period between 2016 and 2022, including records connected to Lex Records.

    He explained that he had requested the records after some individuals expressed interest in acquiring the P-Square music catalogue.

    When confronted with the suggestion that the request for the records was made on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and sent them six days later, Peter maintained that he had made an earlier request.

    However, when asked to provide an email, text message or other documentary evidence of the earlier request, Peter said he did not have any and could not recall one.

    The cross-examination subsequently shifted to royalties paid by SACEM for P-Square’s musical works.

    Peter confirmed that about 10 songs for which SACEM made payments were P-Square songs and acknowledged receiving approximately $800,000 in royalties between 2016 and 2026.

    When asked whether he gave Jude any portion of the money, Peter said he did not.

    He also confirmed that he did not inform Jude about the payments, explaining that **“the money was for the artistes.”**

    Peter maintained that the SACEM royalties belonged to him and his twin brother, Paul Okoye, who formed P-Square.

    He disputed Jude’s entitlement to the money, despite acknowledging that Jude had signed the SACEM agreement.

    According to Peter, Jude signed the agreement on behalf of “the team” and was not a member of P-Square.

    Peter told the court that he and Paul composed, wrote and produced the group’s songs, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of P-Square’s music videos.

    He also admitted that he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his SACEM share but denied that his elder brother was entitled to continued quarterly payments after their reconciliation in 2022.

    On Jude’s role as P-Square’s manager, Peter said he had no personal employment contract with him, explaining that the management arrangement was through Northside Entertainment Limited.

    The latest testimony forms part of the evidence being presented in the financial dispute involving the Okoye brothers. The court is yet to determine the competing claims surrounding the ownership and distribution of the royalties.

    Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to December 8 and 9, 2026

  • Davido Says Lagos Residency Will Showcase Africa’s World-Class Entertainment Venues

    Davido Says Lagos Residency Will Showcase Africa’s World-Class Entertainment Venues

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says his planned three-night residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will demonstrate that African artists can stage major international-standard entertainment events on the continent.

    Davido is scheduled to perform at the newly renovated National Theatre from December 17 to 19, combining songs from his latest album, Oriadé, with some of his biggest hits and performances featuring collaborators.

    Speaking to CNN, the singer said bringing the production to Nigeria was important to him because of its cultural and economic significance.

    He said his experience touring several African countries last year, after an eight-year break from a broader continental tour, reinforced his desire to perform more extensively for audiences at home.

    “Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture,” Davido said.

    The singer said returning home had also provided him with fresh inspiration and strengthened his resolve to avoid another prolonged absence from his Nigerian fans.

    Davido said his plans were partly influenced by Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency in Puerto Rico in 2025, which attracted visitors and generated economic activity beyond the concert venue.

    According to Davido, the residency demonstrated how a major music event could promote a country’s culture while creating economic opportunities.

    He hopes his Lagos shows will have a similar effect by attracting international visitors, particularly during December when Nigerians in the diaspora and tourists travel to the country for concerts and other entertainment events.

    Davido also highlighted the abundance of creative talent in Lagos, saying the city remains a major source of musical inspiration.

    He described the National Theatre as central to his plans because of its historical importance to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

    Comparing the facility to Madison Square Garden in New York, Davido said the residency would provide an opportunity to demonstrate that Africa has venues capable of hosting major international productions.

    “It’s very important that we show the outside world that we have these kinds of facilities in Africa as well,” he said.

    The singer said the global rise of Afrobeats had created opportunities for African musicians to perform across the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and other parts of the world.

    However, he argued that international success should be matched by continued investment in audiences and the entertainment industry at home.

    Davido acknowledged that overseas performances can attract higher fees but said bringing major productions to Nigeria could create jobs and stimulate economic activity within the country.

    He also advised emerging musicians to remain connected to the audiences who supported them before they achieved international recognition.

    “Don’t forget where you started,” he said, stressing the importance of appreciating the fans who helped build their careers.

    CNN reported that Davido’s planned Lagos residency would be among the first major residency projects by an Afrobeats artist in Nigeria. Adekunle Gold previously held a smaller Lagos residency in 2018.

  • Enugu Air to Begin Direct Flights to Douala September 23

    Enugu Air to Begin Direct Flights to Douala September 23

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Enugu State-owned airline, Enugu Air, is set to expand into international operations with the launch of direct commercial flights between Enugu and Douala, Cameroon, on September 23.

    The new route will mark the airline’s first international service and is expected to strengthen air connectivity between South-East Nigeria and Cameroon while providing a faster travel option for passengers travelling between the two countries.

    The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Ugonna Agubuokwu, said the service was designed to connect businesses, families and opportunities across Nigeria and Cameroon.

    “This is more than the introduction of a new route. It is about creating stronger connections between Nigeria and Cameroon and making regional travel more accessible, convenient and seamless for our passengers,” Agubuokwu said.

    The service is scheduled to operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays.

    Flights from Enugu are expected to depart at 12:45pm and arrive at Douala International Airport at 1:45pm. The return flight will leave Douala at 2:30pm and arrive in Enugu at 3:30pm.

    The schedule is also designed to allow passengers travelling from Lagos and Abuja to connect to the Cameroon-bound flights through Enugu.

    The new service is expected to particularly benefit business travellers and traders who move between South-East Nigeria and Cameroon.

    According to reports, a significant number of Cameroonian traders travel to commercial centres such as Aba and Onitsha, while travellers from the South-East also maintain business and family links with Cameroon. The direct flight is expected to reduce the time and logistical challenges associated with connecting through other airports.

    Enugu Air’s expansion comes months after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority granted the airline an Air Operator Certificate to commence scheduled flight operations.

    The NCAA issued the certificate to Enugu Air in March 2026 after the airline completed operational demonstrations, documentation reviews and other regulatory evaluations.

    NCAA Director-General, Chris Najomo, at the time urged the airline to maintain compliance with safety and operational standards.

    The airline currently operates domestic services from its Akanu Ibiam International Airport hub, connecting Enugu with destinations including Lagos and Abuja. Its expansion into Cameroon represents a further step towards its stated ambition of developing Enugu as a regional aviation hub.

    The development also comes against the backdrop of efforts to reposition Akanu Ibiam International Airport as a major gateway for the South-East.

    In June, the Federal Government formally handed over the management of the airport to Aero Alliance Limited under a public-private partnership arrangement for its rehabilitation, expansion, operation and management.

    The concession is expected to improve the airport’s infrastructure and strengthen its capacity to serve as a regional aviation and logistics hub.

    With the commencement of the Enugu-Douala service, Enugu Air is expected to provide a direct air link between the South-East and one of Central Africa’s major commercial centres.

    The airline said the new route would further its objective of making regional travel more accessible while creating opportunities for trade, tourism, family connections and business across the borders.

  • 9 Dead As Container Falls On Bus In Lagos, 11 burnt to death in Ondo Autocrash

    9 Dead As Container Falls On Bus In Lagos, 11 burnt to death in Ondo Autocrash

    It was a black Sunday in Lagos and Ondo yesterday as no fewer than twenty people lost their lives in separate accidents that occurred in the two South-West States.

    While a truck conveying a 20ft container lost control and landed on a commercial bus and killing nine people at Oluejegba in Lagos, 11 persons were reportedly burnt beyond recognition in an auto crash that occurred at Soka Bridge in Ore, Odigbo council area of Ondo state on Sunday.

    The fully loaded bus marked KTU 921 YD was said to be waiting to pick up passengers when the incident happened at Ojuelegba Bridge in Surulere with the passengers trapped.

    The reporter recalls that there were similar accidents in September 2015; April 2, 2022, and April 19.

    Our correspondent reports that traffic in and around Ojuelegba was shut down yesterday as emergency responders struggled to recover the container and the bus.

    Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the truck was trying to climb the Ojuelegba Bridge when it suddenly lost control while its container detached and landed on the bus.

    A source said the truck driver was trying to prevent the bus from overtaking him. “You can see the bus was so close to the pavement and it was pinned down by the container after falling off from the truck”, the source said.

    Many residents were said to be helpless when the incident happened before the arrival of the emergency responders, especially LASEMA which immediately deployed its heavy-duty equipment.

    “Some of them were still gasping for breath when the accident happened. Though people had called the LASEMA and other agencies, most of the trapped victims died before they arrived as the container pinned them to the ground. Only one woman survived it,” said an eyewitness.

    Another eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Adekola said the conductor escaped because he was trying to settle the Agberos (Motor Park touts).

    “The driver stopped on the bridge when he realised his conductor was held down by the Agberos. This is how containers fall anyhow around here. It is very tiring. We just wish there would be an end to this loss of life,” he said.

    Emergency officers including the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Police were at the scene to jointly recover the dead.

    LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency’s heavy-duty equipment was deployed to remove the container on top of the bus while the head of the bus was removed to aid recovery of the trapped passengers.

    “After suspending the container load with the aid of the agency’s forklift and cutting off the top of the bus with light rescue equipment, a single adult woman was extricated alive and taken to the trauma centre,” he said, adding that a total of nine fatalities were recovered comprising 4 adult males, 3 adult females, a girl child, and a boy child.

    As of the time of filing this report, emergency responders were able to remove the charred bus while the remains of the victims were deposited at the mortuary.

    The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos, Olusegun Ogunbemide said the rescue had been concluded, adding that an investigation had commenced determining the immediate and remote cause of the crash.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the incident as unfortunate and sad, saying he was pained that innocent people lost their lives in such a manner.

    In a statement by his media aide, Lanre Lasisi on Sunday, the Speaker, however, lauded the quick efforts of the officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), FRSC, police, and others in evacuating the victims and rescuing one person.

    While calling for immediate action and an investigation into the incident, Gbajabiamila said: “This is not the first time such an incident is happening in Lagos. I call for immediate temporary installation of barriers as in the case of Oba Akran – computer village, Ikeja to prevent trailers from using the bridge to avert future occurrences. It is unacceptable for people to die in such a way at the same spot multiple times.”

    Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal of, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu has recommended the construction of barricades against articulated vehicles (Tankers, Trucks, Trailers, and other heavy-duty vehicles) on Ojuelegba Bridge as a permanent solution to the reoccurring crashes.

    Reacting to the incident that occurred on Ojuelegba Bridge, Lagos State, and another crash that claimed 11 lives at Soka Bridge on Lagos-Benin Highway, he cautioned commuters against route violation as well as driving against prescribed legal speed limits on all roads.

    He said according to the FRSC operatives on the ground, the container mounted on the Mack Truck at Ojuelegba fell off the truck while landing on the Suzuki minibus filled up with passengers which obviously led to the death of 9 of the passengers.

    He said the Corps Marshal who frowned at the incident underscored the importance of barricading the bridge against articulated vehicles citing some of the dangers that come with their continued use of the bridge as he calls for efforts to be made towards expanding the connecting roads under the bridge to accommodate all articulated vehicles.

    (Daily Trust)

  • 2023 Polls: Lagos, Kano, Kaduna with highest voters as North gets 50.162m voters, South 43.305m

    2023 Polls: Lagos, Kano, Kaduna with highest voters as North gets 50.162m voters, South 43.305m

    …North-West, South-West top zones

    A breakdown of the 93.469 million voters shows that the 20 states of the North have 50,161,722 voters while the South has 43,305,286 votes

    Among the six geo-political zones, the North-West has the highest number of voters with 22,255,562 voters. It is followed by South-West which has 17,958,966 and North-Central including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory with 15,363,731 voters.

    South-East has the least number of voters with 10,905,606 followed by North-East, 12,542,429; and South-South, 14,440,71

    A state-by-state breakdown showed that Lagos State with 7,060,195 registered voters topped the register, followed by Kano with 5,921,370 and Kaduna with 4,335,208.

    Ekiti has the least number of voters with 987,647 followed by Bayelsa, 1,056,862; and Yobe, 1,485,146.

    Others include:

    Abia-2,120,808

    Adamawa – 2,196,566

    Akwa-Ibom -2,357,418

    Anambra- 2,656,437

    Bauchi – 2,749,268

    Benue – 2,777,727

    Borno – 2,513,281

    Cross River – 1,766,466

    Delta – 3,221,697

    Ebonyi – 1,597,646

    Edo -2,501,081

    Enugu – 2,112,793

    FCT, Abuja – 1,570,307

    Gombe 1,575,794

    Imo – 2,419,922

    Jigawa – 2,351,298

    Katsina – 3,516,719

    Kebbi – 2,032,041

    Kogi -1,932,654

    Kwara -1,695,927

    Nasarawa – 1,899,244

    Niger- 2,698,344

    Ogun- 2,688,305

    Ondo -1,991,344

    Osun- 1,954,800

    Oyo -3,276,675

    Plateau- 2,789,528

    Rivers- 3,537,190

    Sokoto -2,172,056

    Taraba-2,022,374

    Yobe -1,485,146

    Zamfara – 1,926,870.

    (Vanguard)

  • EFCC arrests 87 forex dealers in Abuja, Lagos

    EFCC arrests 87 forex dealers in Abuja, Lagos

    In continuation of its onslaught against forex dealers over the current dollar crisis in the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arrested no fewer than 87 forex dealers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Lagos and Kano.

    Findings by The reporter revealed that the EFCC detectives stormed several forex trading hubs in Abuja, ransacking their vaults for stash of dollars and naira.

    The operatives later arrested no fewer than 25 legal and illegal forex dealers in addition to the 40 arrested on Tuesday during a raid of the Zone 4 Wuse offices of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators, bringing the number of arrests in the Federal Capital Territory to 65.

    During the operation, the EFCC personnel were said to have seized the phones of those that were arrested.

    The anti-graft agency also nabbed about 14 forex dealers in Lagos on Wednesday while eight others were picked up at the famous Bureau de Change market located at Wapa in Kano metropolis.

    The development came barely 24 hours after operatives of the anti-graft commission arrested the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ismaila Atumeyi, with N326m and $140,500 cash.

    Atumeyi, who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022 alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

    In Lagos, EFCC detectives swooped on forex dealers on Broad Street in Lagos Island as well as some BDC outlets in other parts of the states.

    Forex traders, who spoke with The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the EFCC operatives came in two buses. It was learnt that about 14 BDC operators were arrested in Lagos.

    The reporter had reported that the operation against the BDCs, which began on Tuesday, would be extended to Lagos, Anambra, Oyo and Rivers states.

    Though no reason had been given for the raids, the EFCC operation, it was gathered, was targeted at tracking illicit funds from terrorists, bandits and politicians who might want to convert their stash in a desperate move to beat the redesign of the naira announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The new naira notes, which would replace higher denominations, would be released on December 15.

    It was as if the naira responded to the raids as it rallied to N820/$ on Wednesday from N857 it plunged to the previous day at the parallel market.

    But speaking on the Abuja raid, the Assistant Provost, Association of Bureau de Change Operators, Zone 4, Wuse, Mallam Muhammed Nera, disclosed that 13 out of the 25 persons arrested on Wednesday had been released to the association, noting that their phones were, however, still in the EFCC’s custody.

    Nera described the raids as illegal, noting that the commission did not present an arrest or search warrant before ransacking offices and taking people away.

    40 arrested

    A visibly angry Nera stated, ’’Forty persons were arrested on Tuesday but they have released almost all of them but held on to their phones which they went to collect on Wednesday. They kept them throughout the whole day before releasing their handsets.

    “Today (Wednesday), they came again and arrested 25 persons. They released 13 of them without their phones and detained 12 others. Over 30 phones were seized; they even seized the phones of some bankers who were looking for depositors. It was when they wanted to leave that they realised their error and returned the phones.’’

    The forex dealer accused the EFCC of ethnic profiling, noting that the BDC operators were being harassed because they were northerners, insisting that they have not done anything wrong.

    He challenged the anti-graft agency to disclose the crimes for which the dealers were being held, noting that they were ordinary Nigerians doing legitimate business.

    Nera stated, “They (EFCC operatives) heard that people are bringing naira to the market to change into dollars. What is bad about that? Is it stolen money? If it is stolen money, let us know. We can work together, and help to identify people who stole their money.

    “We don’t understand what these people were doing. They threatened to break down our offices. They said if they met any office locked, they would break it down. They didn’t show us any warrant; they were just entering offices, they are doing illegal work. They didn’t have any warrant; just because they are EFCC. Anybody can wear (EFCC) jackets and claim to be EFCC.’’

    Asked if the operatives took away money, the ABCO official said, ‘’They didn’t collect money, it was just the harassment, threatening people. A bureau de change is a legal business. We have our certificates, we are doing legal businesses just like banks.’’

    He added, ‘’About 90 per cent of bureau de change operators are northerners. We are thinking they are harassing us because we are northerners but we are citizens of Nigeria. This business is not only for northerners, it is being done in Lagos and other places but most are northerners.

    ‘’They just want to cripple us because we have been keeping quiet. They have been harassing our people every time; it is annoying, it is getting out of hand. Nobody is above the law but they are breaking the law. We are going to petition the National Assembly and also take them to court. We are going to fight to the end.’’

    Nera particularly took umbrage at the alleged maltreatment of elderly forex dealers during the raid, insisting that the commission did not follow the proper procedure.

    “It is true that 70 per cent of us didn’t go to school, does that mean we should not have money? They would say it is aboki (Hausa) business. What they are doing is too bad. We are going to take it up legally. The other time, they accused us of funding Boko Haram. Is it because we are aboki or what? This is disgusting, it is not fair and God is watching.

    “Some people were even sleeping in their offices and they would ask them to open their offices and demand to see their dollars and other currencies. If you go to a bank, won’t you see dollars there? We are doing cash business,’’ he stated indignantly.

    The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren did not respond to the allegations when contacted on Wednesday.

    EFCC meets BDCs

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the EFCC, AbdulRasheed Bawa, on Tuesday met with the Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria, top forex operators under the aegis of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators as well as other critical stakeholders in the financial services sector in Lagos.

    The BDC operators were summoned to the meeting as the agency continues its raids on outlets.

    The meeting, it was learnt, was attended by the National President, ABCON, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe; Vice President, Azubuike Igbokwe, and no fewer than 12 other top exco members of the BDC association.

    Bawa, who chaired the meeting was said to have emphasised how the CBN naira redesign might lead to a situation where those with illicit funds would be seeking BDCs as an avenue to channel their funds.

    BDC operators at the meeting said all licensed BDCs were advised to be extremely careful in their day-to-day operations by requesting their customers’ information.

    “Secondly, they were informed that BDCS are the gatekeepers of the economy and their operations and that of their directors will be keenly monitored by both the CBN and security agencies. As such, the BDCs were advised not to be involved as cash couriers,’’ a source said.

    The EFCC chairman was quoted as saying, “It is a serious infraction and subject to prosecution. Render your statutory and regulatory returns; record-keep all your transactions.’’

    ABCON president, Gwabade, in an interview with one of our correspondents, confirmed the meeting.

    He said the association had been sensitising its members not to allow themselves to be used by political actors and other corrupt elements who might be seeking BDCs as avenues to keep their ill-gotten wealth.

    He said, “We are in support of the raids and we will continue to cooperate with the government. We have been sensitising our members and we will continue to do so.”

    However, the ABCON leaders said the raids had led to intended and unintended consequences such as the spike in the dollar against the naira in recent times, stressing the need for the CBN to address the liquidity shortage in the retail end of the market.

    “We will cooperate with the government to address terrorism, and banditry financing with naira redesign,” Gwadabe pledged.

    A statement by the Head, of Media and Publicity, Uwujaren on Wednesday, explained that Bawa sought the collaboration of the chief compliance officers as well as Bureau De Change operators in the fight against foreign exchange malpractices, money laundering and other fraudulent activities in the nation’s financial sector.

    He was also said to have urged them to promptly disclose fraudulent activities about illicit deposits and the movement of money through deposit money banks.

    Bawa advises dealers

    Bawa further advised the banks’ compliance officers and BDC operators to be wary of the activities of criminals who might want to use the financial institutions to hoard monies for the purpose of vote buying.

    He stated, “The EFCC cannot do the job alone. We need to work with you as critical stakeholders, particularly in ensuring a seamless exchange of relevant information to forestall the commission of economic and financial crimes.

    “We need better cooperation, synergy, collaboration, intelligence sharing and, if need be, joint operations with you.

    If there is better management, in terms of communication about the people bringing in monies or the modus operandi being used to disguise this origin of the money, it will go a long way in tackling the issue of money laundering and financial crimes.

    “In view of the recent move by the Central Bank of Nigeria to redesign and re-issue higher denominations of the Nigerian currency, the naira, there is a need for us to be proactive and be circumspect of the actions of the criminals who will use the financial institutions to launder illicit funds and commit other nefarious activities.

    “It is important for you to understand what this policy is all about, considering the fact that a lot of activities will happen, particularly as the 2023 general elections approach.

    We want to work with you to get more information on how to deal with these issues.

    “You are very critical in the fight against economic and financial crimes. This is because, at the end of it, money leaves the bank and money goes in, either for deposit or withdrawal.’’

    He further advised the financial institutions to take seriously the issue of ‘Know Your Customer’ and improve intelligence sharing with the Commission.

    “The issue of KYC must go beyond sighting utility bills and receipts of customers. This needs to be taken further to forestall cybercrime,’’ he admonished.

    In the meantime, the New Nigerian Peoples Party candidate for the Kogi State House of Assembly, Ismaila Atumeyi, who was arrested by the EFCC in Abuja for a mega bank fraud, has been moved to Lagos.

    The politician-cum cyber fraud suspect was flown into Lagos in the early hours of Wednesday in continuation of the investigation into the scam, the EFCC disclosed in a statement.

    He is billed to be interrogated by another team of operatives at the Lagos command of the Commission.

    Atumeyi and two others, Joshua Dominic and Abdulmalik Femi, a former bank employee, were arrested by the EFCC for allegedly hacking into the system of a commercial bank and defrauding the institution of over N1.4bn.

    The EFCC had in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that it recovered N326m and $140,500 from Atumeyi during a sting operation at his hideout in Queens Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, while $470, 000 was recovered from Abdulmalik in Lagos.

    Obaseki’s allegation

    The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has described the proposed plan by the CBN to redesign naira notes as political, noting that the move was a ploy by the All Progressives Congress-led government to sway voters ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Obaseki stated this while inaugurating the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign Council at the Presidential Campaign Secretariat in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Wednesday.

    Lambasting the Federal Government over the move, Obaseki said the redesign of the nation’s currency shouldn’t be a priority as the majority of citizens are suffering from hunger, poverty and economic hardship.

    He said, “They say we should all bring our naira and give it to them because they want to change it for us. Is that our priority now? Does changing of currency reduce the price of food in the market? They say they want to change our currency and dollars are going higher every day. We can’t even see dollars again.

    “I am an economist and I can tell you categorically that this policy by the CBN and Federal Government has no basis in Nigeria’s economy. There is no reason to do this; the move is purely political as there is no urgency in changing our currency.

    “The urgency is on how to get food for our citizens to remove starvation and hunger from the land. The urgency is on how to maintain discipline in our monetary policy so that we can manage our foreign exchange rate because we are import-dependent.”

    (Punch)

  • FG, states, LGAs share N760bn as revenue allocation for September

    FG, states, LGAs share N760bn as revenue allocation for September

    The federal government, states, and local councils on Thursday shared N760billion as revenue allocation for September.

    The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Abuja.

    A breakdown of the figure revealed that N502.135 billion was for statutory revenue, N189.928 billion for Value-Added Tax (VAT), and N8.172 billion for Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL).

     

    The federal government received N294.244 billion, the states got N233.223 billion and the local councils collected N172.776 billion.

    The oil-producing states also received N59.992 billion as 13 percent derivation from mineral revenue during the month.

    According to the communiqué, the gross revenue available from VAT in September was N189.928 billion.

    From the figure, the federal government got N28.489 billion, the states collected N94.964 billion and local councils took N66.475 billion.

    From the gross statutory revenue of N502.135 billion, the federal government took N232.921 billion, states collected N118.141 billion while the local councils pocketed N91.081 billion.

    FAAC revealed that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as of October 26 was $472,513.64.

    (Ripples)

  • Flood: Bayelsa Govt receives over N500m donation from Akwa Ibom, Lagos, others

    Flood: Bayelsa Govt receives over N500m donation from Akwa Ibom, Lagos, others

    Bayelsa State government, yesterday, said it has received over N500million in cash and pledges from Akwa Ibom and Lagos governments as well as top politicians and philanthropists to assist flood victims.

    Governor Douye Diri disclosed this during the State Executive Council meeting.

    He said Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, donated N50 million; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, N100 million, while a concerned indigene, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, visited and pledged food items worth N350 million.

    The governor also expressed appreciation to Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for visiting the state last weekend, during which he made a pledge to support victims of the flood.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as stating that the support received so far has helped the state in its recovery process while also assuring that funds and items received will be published in line with the transparent posture of his administration.

    Meanwhile, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, has assured flood victims across the Niger Delta that there would be a comprehensive intervention to ameliorate their sufferings.

    Speaking during a working tour of one of the devastated areas at Ihuike community in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday, Umana expressed shock at the level of devastation.

    He pledged that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will commence remedial action on the road.

    The minister, who was accompanied by the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, and other directors of the commission, described the flood disaster as a national emergency.

    “I have directed the NDDC to engage SETRACO, the construction company working on the road, to quickly assess the damages at the Ahoada section of the East West Road, so that they can commence remedial repairs to restore the link between Rivers and Bayelsa States.”

    He said that his ministry was collaborating with the NDDC, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other Federal Government parastatals, as well as state governments, to offer medical and infrastructural assistance to impacted communities in the affected states.

    •PAP donates to Rivers IDPs

    Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), yesterday, distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by flood in various communities in Rivers.

    Interim Administrator of PAP, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (Retd) delivered the relief items to the state task force on flood management in a ceremony in Port Harcourt.

    Relief materials distributed included 300 cartons of Indomie noodles, 40 bags of 50kg rice and 30 bags of 100kg garri.

    Ndiomu, represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Fraston Akpor, said PAP was worried over the plight of those affected by flood in the country.

    Ndiomu said PAP was planning to commence the second phase of distribution of relief items to IDPs when the flood water rescinds.

    He said the second phase of the exercise would include medical outreaches to cater for the health needs of victims in the various states affected by flood.

    (Sun)

  • Atiku needs Kano, Lagos, Rivers to win – Wike

    Atiku needs Kano, Lagos, Rivers to win – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fails to take advantage of the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by doing the right thing, then the outcome of the 2023 presidential election will be a shocker.

    In a media chat on Friday in Port Harcourt, Wike, who has insisted that the national chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu, should resign so that his position can be zoned to the South opened a Pandora’s box on the brewing crisis between him and Atiku on one hand and between him and Ayu, on the other. He said Nigerians have showed the PDP much support due to the failure of the APC. But he warned that the PDP would pay dearly for it if it takes for granted that Nigerians would vote for it in next year’s election.

    He said: “What Nigerians are saying is that the APC has failed and the country has not been this polarised before. Now, instead of you to capitalise on the failure of APC by doing the right thing, so that you can continue to enjoy the support of Nigerians and win the election – that is why we are taking it upon ourselves not to allow this opportunity to go to waste. If we allow this opportunity that Nigerians are giving us to waste, then we would pay dearly for it and that is what I try to let people know. If we continue this way and take for granted that APC has not done well, then we will go in for a shocker. That I can tell you.”

    The Rivers governor also accused those around the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, of arrogance and deception, saying many of them are telling the former Vice President to ignore those calling for Ayu’s resignation, assuring him that he can win without Rivers votes.

    He warned: “President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t win Rivers State in 2019. But he won Lagos and Kano. Does Atiku have Lagos now? Does he have Kano? The only state he has always had is Rivers. Yet those who do not have electoral value are saying they don’t want us and can do without us. So you have zero. Would a President of Nigeria who doesn’t have the governors of Rivers, Kano and Lagos be comfortable? That also tells you what they have in mind about the stability of Nigeria. I don’t think that Atiku will listen to those kinds of suggestions from politically irrelevant people. In 2015 and 2019, Buhari didn’t get up to 25 per cent in Rivers despite the fact that there was a serving governor and Minister from the State who was the Director General of his campaign.”

    Wike did not spare Ayu, accusing him of receiving N1bn from someone in Lagos without disclosing or remitting it into PDP’s account.

    His words: “Look, will he (Ayu) deny that he collected N1 billion in Lagos? Let him deny, then I will tell you who gave him the money; but it is not the Lagos government. The money was given to him in Lagos. He met one of the presidential aspirants and told him that he is not sure these governors will want to sponsor the party.

    “Let Ayu deny this, then I will even call the names of some of the businessmen involved and how the money was arranged in Lagos. That money did not enter into the account of PDP. But we are not attacking Ayu on that basis.

    “I am not any governor. I am a very serious governor. I can’t just come here and begin to say anything. I say I challenge Ayu to deny this.”

    Wike attributed the genesis of the crisis in the PDP to its failure to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South, accusing the party of deliberately sowing seed of discord by leaving the ticket open for all to contest.

    He said: “Those who thought they are too powerful, highly connected, and that they own the party said there should be no zoning of the presidential ticket. They left it open and said the best candidate should emerge because they felt they have the numbers. We jettisoned our constitution not knowing that we are laying the foundation, the seed of discord in the future.”

    The Rivers governor also revealed that when the PDP started selling forms for the primaries, he reminded the national chairman that they had set up a committee on zoning headed by the governor of Enugu State. But he added, however, that Ayu went ahead with the sale of forms without first resolving the issue of zoning. He also revealed that the PDP chairman threatened to resign if he (Wike) won the presidential primary election, He also alleged that the PDP national chairman also asked other hopefuls to withdraw for Atiku.

    He explained thus: “There was nothing Ayu didn’t do, including manipulation of delegates list. A whole national chairman threatened some of the presidential aspirants at that time that if Wike wins, he was going to resign. In fact, he was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. Meetings after meetings were called to put pressure on aspirants to step down. Some retired generals were involved and some of the meetings were held in their houses. You must withdraw, if not we will lose. Wike will win. Some of them said but the issue is not about Wike, ‘we want to run.’ This is the national chairman of a party who is supposed to be the chief umpire. The primary was supposed to start at 11am. We started at 5:30pm to 6pm. Who were the delegates? They were from 774 local government areas where we used to have 4,000 or 5,000 delegates. But even in the committee of the convention, when we met in Benue Governor’s lodge with the National Working Committee, I raised it. I said, ’National Chairman, these people you are forwarding as chairmen of these committees are all known supporters of Atiku. We are an opposition party; we are not in the ruling party. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves in such a way that there should not be internal crisis that may not be resolved before the general elections.”

    When asked if he does not fear being thrown out of the party, Wike dared the party’s leadership to suspend him, saying they know what he is capable of. He also said that the PDP could not do without him if the party seeks to get massive support in Rivers State. He insisted that the PDP could not boast of pulling its weight in Rivers State, without him playing a driving role as a governor.

    (Sun)