The price of crayfish has skyrocketed by 180 per cent in major markets in Lagos State, making many consumers resort to rationalising the popular seafood due to low purchasing power.

A paint bucket of crayfish sold for N4,000 and N5,000 in early 2024, now costs between N12,500 and N14,000.

Similarly, a measurement that once went for N40,000 now sells for N75,000 to N80,000.

A ‘Derica’ cup, formerly N1,000, now sells for N3,000 to N4,000.

Also, a basket of crayfish currently goes for between N260,000 and N350,000.

The traders and consumers who spoke to journalists in separate interviews on Sunday in Lagos expressed concerns over the price hike of the popular seafood staple.

The treasurer of Oyingbo Foodstuff Market Association, Lagos, Abigail Onu, said the high cost was because crayfish were currently out of season.

“Crayfish is scarce and expensive during the off-season, affecting both quantity and quality, with partially filled bags and reduced freshness.

“At the moment, a measurement of crayfish costs between N75,000 and N80,000, depending on the type. In contrast, when in season, that same measurement can drop to as low as N40,000.

“Dealers are struggling to meet demand. The majority of our dealers don’t even have crayfish to sell,” Ms Onu said.

She noted that the price hike began in February but was not new to the market.

“It is a trend that repeats every year; from June, the crayfish season begins, and buyers can expect better quality and significantly lower prices,” she said.

A crayfish seller at Oyingbo Market, Ugomma Maduekwe, attributed the development to the off-season and increased export demands.

“The export of crayfish is impacting local supplies, as many buyers now export in bulk to markets offering higher prices, reducing availability in domestic markets

“It means we have less for local consumers, and that’s affecting prices,” Ms Maduekwe said.

Another trader at the Alimosho Market, Idaya Mashika, highlighted poor storage conditions as a challenge for sellers.

“Crayfish spoils easily when not stored properly, especially in this kind of humid weather. If you lose a bag, that’s tens of thousands gone. We sell at higher prices to cover the risk and potential losses,” Ms Mashika said.

She added that traders were being cautious with supply because of spoilage.

“Most of us don’t stock too much anymore. We buy in smaller quantities, and that makes prices unstable,” she added.

A consumer, Adebanke Agbo, said she had to reduce the amount of crayfish she buys.

“I used to cook with crayfish in nearly every meal. Now, I measure it carefully. I still buy it because no seasoning cube can give that traditional taste that crayfish gives, but it’s getting harder to afford,” Ms Agbo said.

Another consumer, Oluyemisi Akewushola, said nothing can replace the taste you get from cooking with crayfish.

“I had to buy a derica of crayfish at the Oyingbo Market for N3,000 when I couldn’t afford to buy a small paint bucket that was going for N12,500.

“I bought it for N10,000 last month, now it’s N12,500. And I heard it might go up again. I can’t stop using it completely, so, I just buy less and make it stretch,” she said.

The Akwa Ibom government has urged journalists in the state to acquire skills and knowledge that will enable them to tap into the emerging opportunities in the maritime sector.

Ini Ememobong, the Commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, made the call at a workshop to prepare journalists and other stakeholders for the take-off of the Ibom Deep Seaport.

Mr Ememobong said the workshop was organised by the state government to prepare stakeholders to understand their roles in the project.

He said that Governor Umo Eno was diligently working to bring the project to reality, saying, “The workshop is to position and prepare ourselves to be active players in the maritime sector.”

The commissioner said that when on stream, the deep seaport would accelerate the state’s socio-economic development.

“Currently, Lagos and Rivers States are the players in the maritime sector because of their seaports. Akwa Ibom is set to join this league with the construction of the Ibom Deep Seaport.

“While the state government is working this out, we should have a pool of highly skilled manpower for employment at the port and the industries that will be set up,” he said.

Mr Ememobong further said the workshop was to enable stakeholders to gain deeper insights into the maritime and blue economy sector.

“We need to assess the lucrative nature and viability of this sector, and see how we can be a part of this industry. Success only happens when opportunity meets with preparation,” he said.

Aniefiok Oton, the president of Brightflow Conglomerate, said the maritime sector held immense potential that would surpass that of oil if harnessed properly.

“There is a need to also maximise the benefits of maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism and renewable energy,” he said.

Some social media users across the country have advocated for the establishment of an indigenous social networking platforms following Meta’s threat to exit Nigeria.
Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The users made the call in separate interviews with journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

They said establishing an indigenous social media platform would ensure easy regulation and implementation of data protection policies in the country.

Moses Atuegwu, a WhatsApp user, said the exit threat by Meta was uncalled for, given the huge number of users and patronage they had received in Nigeria.

Mr Atuegwu said it was worrisome, as citizens were at the mercy of foreign-dominated social media platforms; hence, there was a need for homegrown ones.

”We cannot continue to be controlled by these foreign platforms. We should have an alternative which is indigenous based,” he said.

Pearl Adekunle, another user of WhatsApp and Instagram, said setting up home-grown social media platforms would help the country to scrutinise the content consumed by users.

Ms Adekunle said the establishment of home-grown platforms would help promote indigenous technology and the country’s economy.

”China and Russia have their own indigenous social media platforms, and this enhances the data protection policy of their government. Nothing stops Nigeria from adopting the same to promote and advance indigenous technologies,” she said.

Esther Indiana-Obong, a Facebook subscriber, said establishing an indigenous social media platform would help encourage competition and promote innovation in the country’s information technology (IT) sector.

Ms Indiana-Obong said it would also help to reduce dependence on foreign social media brands.

Aminu Zakari, also a social media user, said the home-grown platform would help the government to effectively regulate what goes out on the social media.

Meta had warned that it may shut down operations in Nigeria following the tribunal ruling that upheld a $220 million fine imposed on them in July 2024.

Meta said that it may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures.

Responding to the threat, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had said the threat would not exonerate the company from the fines.

The police in Ondo State say a kidnap victim, Semiu Ogunniyi, has been rescued and four suspected kidnappers arrested across the state.

Wilfred Afolabi, Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, made this known while briefing journalists on the command’s recent achievements on Sunday in Akure.

Mr Afolabi said eight other people were arrested for armed robbery, cultism and stealing.

He also said three single rifles, one cut-to-size pistol, two Volkswagen Vento, three motorbikes, among others, were recovered from the suspects.

According to the CP, the victim was kidnapped on May 14, 2025, around Iku Quarters, Ikare-Akoko.

He said a combined tactical team of operatives and hunters rescued the victim unhurt without paying a ransom, and arrested one of the suspects.

“The joint team strategically laid an ambush in a forest area near Supare in Akoko, believed to be a rendezvous point for the suspects, who had demanded a ransom of N14 million.

“During the interception, the suspects engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel. In the exchange, several of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries.

“One of them, Babuga Muhammed ‘m’, from Igana, Iseyin, Oyo State, was apprehended.

“He is currently receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at the state Specialist Hospital. Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing suspects who escaped with injuries,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Afolabi said three other suspected kidnappers, who confessed to their involvement in various kidnapping cases across the state, were arrested.

According to him, 25-year-old Ibrahim Umar and 38-year-old Paul Osanyiduro were arrested at Sabo Soja and Africa Kingdom Restaurant, both in Owo.

He explained further that 30-year-old Abubakar Bamoh, an indigene of the Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was apprehended at one of the Fulani camps in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area.

The CP said Mr Bamoh was alleged to be a major logistics provider for suspected kidnapping syndicates operating across state lines.

Mr Afolabi said the suspect played a significant role in a kidnapping incident, which occurred in Osun state, while the victim was abducted and held hostage in a forest in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State.

He, therefore, reiterated the command’s commitment to continue tackling crime, ensuring public safety, and fostering peace across communities.

“We urge residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with security agencies. Together, we can and will build a safer Ondo State,” he said.

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a female suspect notorious for scamming vendors by purchasing goods using fake and edited bank transfer receipts as proof of payment.

In a statement on X, on Saturday, the command said following her arrest, some of the items she bought through the fake method had been recovered and some of the owners had claimed their goods.

It read, “A 31-year-old woman, Freda Omakhone, has been arrested by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Edo State Police Command for multiple scams in luxury boutiques within the state metropolis. Her modus operandi was to purchase goods running into hundreds of thousands, edit bank transfer receipts to show false amounts and business names, and send them via WhatsApp. Many items including Luxury hair, kitchen utensils, luxury wears, electronics, cosmetics etc, were recovered from the suspect, and some of the owners have come forward to claim them. The suspect has since confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court.’’

The command urged residents, especially business owners, to be cautious when transacting business and to always confirm payments before handing over goods to customers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, therefore implored the public, especially youths, to rather than venture into crime, seek legitimate means of earning their living because the long arm of the law would always reach every criminal.

Hypertension Society of Nigeria
The Hypertension Society of Nigeria has provided free blood pressure measurement and tests to 120 traders at Shehu Shagari International Market in Sokoto, in commemoration of World Hypertension Day 2025.

HSN President, Prof. Simeon Isezuo, led a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health workers on a road walk through Sokoto township on Saturday to raise awareness about hypertension.

Speaking at the start of the outreach programme, Mr Isezuo explained that the society’s mission was to promote awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and control of hypertension, as well as to encourage research in the field.

He emphasised that hypertension was so prevalent in Nigeria that everyone was either affected or knew someone who was.

Mr Isezuo expressed concern over the lack of awareness among people with hypertension, noting that many remained undiagnosed or did not seek proper treatment.

He highlighted that the theme for 2025’s World Hypertension Day, “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!” encouraged early detection and prompt treatment.

To demonstrate the risk, Mr Isezuo shared an alarming case of a person with a blood pressure reading of 211 over 112, who was unaware of the condition until the outreach.

He added that many individuals were diagnosed during the event and enrolled in medication or referred for further checks at hospitals.

According to him, hypertension is a leading cause of non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and heart attacks, all of which contribute to high mortality and disability.

Mr Isezuo called on the media to help raise awareness, stressing that hypertension had silently caused more deaths and disabilities in Nigeria than any other disease.

He also voiced concern about the rising costs of medication in Nigeria and commended the Federal Government for its plans to pool medicine procurement.

He described the move as a step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and urged the private sector and philanthropists to fund health insurance schemes for less privileged Nigerians with hypertension.

Mr Isezuo advocated a return to traditional African lifestyles, with an emphasis on consuming natural diets and engaging in physical activity as a preventive measure against hypertension.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor, Garba Manager, lauded the event as a valuable initiative for less privileged individuals.

He noted that the free medications provided supplemented the efforts of the Hypertension Society members and the public.

Beneficiaries of the outreach expressed gratitude, having undergone blood pressure and sugar level tests and received free medications.

The World Hypertension Day, observed on May 17 every year, is dedicated to raising global awareness of high blood pressure and its potential health risks.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two octogenarians, Ashiru Ayuba, 80 and Uloma Uchechi, 82 as well as her daughter Chisom Uchechi, 32 for alleged drug peddling.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja stated that one of the suspects, Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug dealing offences.

Mr Babafemi said that Ayuba was convicted and served a 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024.

He said that he was again arrested on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Barazana street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State by NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence.

He said, “A total of 2.3kilograms of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes were recovered from him. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.’’

Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Abia State on Saturday, May 17 raided the home of 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village.

Mr Babafemi said that different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk, a strain of cannabis as well as a cash exhibit of N130,600 were recovered from her.

He said that her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, was also involved in the alleged illicit drug peddling.

He stated, “The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago.’’

In another development, Mr Babafemi said that about 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday, May 16 in Kwara.

He said that this followed their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin, Kwara State by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital.

He stated, “An HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef was arrested. 650grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students were recovered from him.’’

Benue State Commissioner of Police Emenari Ifeanyi has ordered an investigation into the death of Emmanuella Ahenjir, a final-year student of the Kwararafa University in Wukari, Taraba State.

Spokesperson for the command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the death of the student in a statement on Saturday.

It was gathered that the student, who was among the passengers in a vehicle, died after being hit by a stray bullet from an officer during a stop-and-search operation at Wurukum roundabout, Makurdi, around 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

The police spokesperson said, “On 16/5/2025 at about 4:00 a.m. a radio message was received from a police team deployed at Duku park, Wurukum that the team flagged down a vehicle coming from Benuelinks area but the driver turned back, drove through the opposite lane shooting sporadically at them but they responded with a shot and the driver drove away.

“The police were on the trail of the vehicle until about 10:00 a.m. this morning when information was received that a lady named Emmanuella Ahenjir, a student of Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, had died at Benue State University Teaching Hospital from a gunshot. Upon arrival at the hospital, the detectives were briefed about the deceased and the corpse deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.”

Ms Anene quoted Apase Keghter, an occupant in the vehicle, as saying they were returning from club activities at Newcastle Event Centre when they drove on the opposite lane and passed the checkpoint without stopping, but did not shoot. Mr Keghter was seen at the hospital.

“They were shot by the police, but they drove to Welfare quarters with the victim. They stopped when they noticed a flat tyre and called a commercial vehicle that took them to the hospital. His belongings, the exhibit car and other occupants of the said vehicle are nowhere to be found at the moment,” Ms Anene added.

Ms Anene said the police commissioner assured friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth and ensure the rule of law prevails.

The police command in Anambra State has confirmed a gas explosion at the Onitsha Head Bridge market that claimed one life leaving six others injured.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday in Onitsha.

Mr Ikenga explained that the explosion happened at a plumbing market, along Uga Street, on Friday.

According to him, preliminary information revealed that the welding gas cylinder exploded as the welder was working on a metal due to exposure to excess heat.

He said, “The police operatives attached to the Onitsha Head Bridge Divisional Police Headquarters on May 16 complemented the rescue efforts by good-spirited individuals on the six victims of a gas cylinder explosion. The incident took place at a plumbing market, along Uga Street, which regrettably recorded one death. The six rescued victims are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while the deceased has been deposited in a morgue.’’

He noted that the police operatives have taken steps to secure the area and prevent criminal-minded persons from taking advantage of the situation to commit crimes.

Ikenga said the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, was concerned about the unfortunate incident, and emphasised on the need for a regular inspection and maintenance of the gas cylinder equipment.

The commissioner stressed the need for gas cylinders to be stored securely and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines to forestall future occurrence.

The Muslim Ummah of the South-West of Nigeria has said the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, deserves commendation and not condemnation.

MUSWEN, the umbrella organisation for all Muslim groups and associations in the geo-political zone, stated this following the technical hitches that affected segments of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The group, in a statement on Friday signed by Rasaki Oladejo and Prof. Muslih-Tayo Yahya, President and Executive Secretary, respectively, said “it stands in solidarity with Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.”

It said while it acknowledged the genuine concerns of candidates, parents, and other stakeholders over the disruptions caused by the computer network glitches during the examinations, it cautioned against any rush to impugn the integrity or commitment of the current JAMB leadership.

The group said, “Prof. Oloyede has, over the years, distinguished himself as a man of immense capacity, transparency, and accountability. Since assuming office, he has restored confidence in the examination body, improved institutional efficiency, returned billions of naira to the national treasury, and embraced technology as a tool for sanitising the conduct of public examinations.

“We urge all stakeholders—especially the media, civil society, and policymakers—to avoid playing into the hands of cynics and detractors who see every temporary setback as an opportunity to undermine institutions and scapegoat public servants.”

MUSWEN called for calm, constructive engagement and systemic support for JAMB to continue on its path of reform, in the spirit of justice and fairness.

It stated, “Prof. Oloyede deserves commendation, not condemnation. The glitches, though regrettable, do not define his track record—they merely remind us of the continuous work needed in building resilient institutions in our country. May Allah (SWT) continue to guide, protect, and strengthen all public servants working conscientiously for the betterment of our nation.’’

Nine people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a minibus carrying civilians in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region on Saturday, the local military administration said.

“Unfortunately, as a result of a cynical attack by Russians on a bus with civilians, there are dead,” the administration said in a Telegram post.

“Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to nine,” they added later, alongside a photo of a mangled blue minibus that had apparently been torn apart by the blast.

Four people were wounded in the attack, the administration said.

In the earlier post, the authorities had said that eight people were killed.

The bus, which was attacked near the city of Bilopillya while travelling towards Sumy, was “targeted by the Russians”, the military administration said.

The blast came hours after Russia and Ukraine concluded their first direct talks in almost three years in Istanbul on Friday, but without a significant breakthrough.

The two sides agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange but no ceasefire, saying instead that they would commit to trading ideas on a possible truce.

After the talks, Kyiv said it was seeking an “unconditional ceasefire” to pause the conflict, which has destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and displaced millions of people.

But Moscow has consistently rebuffed those calls, and the only concrete agreement appeared to be a deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.

Ukraine’s top negotiator, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, said that the “next step” would be a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Both Moscow and Washington have also talked up the need for a meeting on the conflict between Putin and US President Donald Trump.

The Rector of Kogi State Polythecnic Professor Salisu Ogbo has described it as a “rare course and uncommon decision of the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede to accept responsibility surrounding the 2025 UTME result glitch which affected over 300,000 candidates that participated in the exercise.

In a letter written to the registrar sighted by our correspondent on Friday in Lokoja, Professor Ogbo said Oloyede has demonstrated rare courage by admitting the error.

“As an institution, we are not celebrating the glitch and the associated issues, but your sincerity of purpose, strength of character and proven integrity for not trading the blame even with the obvious opportunities and the traceable link to the error.

“I wish to appreciate you most sincerely for not disappointing your mentees, which I am privileged to be one, in your handling of the affairs of JAMB and the overall conduct of UTME over the years. As someone whose style of leadership I have always admired, I wish to urge you to see the current challenges as a natural part of human fallibility.” the letter read in part.

He said that as a budding administrator, he has learnt significant lessons from the present circumstances most importantly, Oloyede’s depth of leadership courage, selflessness, team spirit and rare ability to openly accept responsibility without bulk-passing.

“As we appreciate the Board for taking the necessary corrective measures by giving the affected candidates that deserved opportunities to retake the examination, we are also confident that, the Board under your leadership will do all it can to avoid future occurrence.

“We pray for God’s guidance and protection now and always.

“Please, accept my warmest regards now and always, sir”, the rector added.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria said it airlifted 20,515 Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 hajj in one week.

NAHCON disclosed this in a statement by its Principal Information Officer, Shafil Mohammed, in Abuja on Thursday.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima had on May 9 declared the inaugural flight open in Owerri, Imo.

Mr Mohammed, while providing an update on the ongoing 2025 hajj airlift operations, said that within six days, 50 flights successfully conveyed 20,515 Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said that the commission would regularly update the public on the progress of the exercise.

NAHCON is a government’s agency that regulates and coordinates hajj and umrah activities for Nigerian Muslims to ensure a smoother and more efficient pilgrimage experience.

This includes licensing and supervising organisations involved in hajj and umrah operations, and coordinating with government authorities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The wife of Ondo State Governor, Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, has pledged her support to the fight against human trafficking in the state.

Mrs Aiyedatiwa stated this during a meeting with the state’s Comptroller of Immigration, Felicia Anara, at the command headquarters in Akure on Friday.

According to her, the meeting is aimed at fostering stronger collaboration between the state government and the Nigerian Immigration Service.

She said, “We need to be united and at the front against human trafficking, it is a serious threat to the dignity and future of the population of the state’s youth.’’

Mrs Aiyedatiwa highlighted the importance of proactive measures, community sensitisation, and stringent enforcement of immigration laws to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

She also called on governments at all levels to encourage the appointment of more women into key public offices, noting that women play crucial roles in shaping policies that protect vulnerable groups and strengthen family values.

Speaking, the state comptroller of immigration commended the governor’s wife for her proactive stance, reiterating the command’s commitment to collaborating with the state government in the fight against human trafficking and related crimes.

Ms Anara assured that the command would intensify its surveillance and enforcement activities to disrupt the operations of human traffickers.

She noted that the meeting would pave the way for more coordinated efforts and innovative strategies to tackle human trafficking.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called on governments at all levels to take steps to curb human trafficking in Nigeria.

She made the call at a strategic meeting with Binta Bello, the director-general (D-G), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Friday, in Abuja.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa said that more needed to be done to curb the menace.

She said that the traffickers should be named and shamed while enforcing stricter penalties as a deterrent to other criminal actors.

She called for closer collaboration between NAPTIP, NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other sister agencies to curb the menace

The NiDCOM boss also pushed for more flexible policies and better funding to help NAPTIP fully carry out its mandate against the menace.

The NiDCOM boss also pushed for more flexible policies and better funding to help NAPTIP fully carry out its mandate against the menace.

She lauded the support of the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), neighbouring governments, Nigerian Diaspora Communities, Wema Bank and NGOs for helping to rescue and reintegrate trafficked victims.

She commended the NAPTIP D-G for her dedication, and pledged NiDCOM’s continued support in the fight against human trafficking in the country.

“We will continue to do our best to save these young ones and encourage safe and regular pathways for migration,” she said.

Earlier, the NAPTIP boss thanked Ms Dabiri-Erewa for NiDCOM’s support, especially in the recent rescue of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana.

She said that tackling human trafficking required joint action from government, society, and key stakeholders.

The D-G also stressed the need for more awareness across all levels to highlight the dangers of trafficking,

“We rescued last week 19 girls all pregnant for one man in an estate in Abuja, we received nine girls from Cote D’ivoire, and many others,” she said.

Recognising NiDCOM’s role in engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora, she expressed her commitment to strengthening the NiDCOM-NAPTIP relationship.

Ms Bello assured that the Agency would continue to protect the rights and dignity of Nigerians against trafficking in persons.Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called on governments at all levels to take steps to curb human trafficking in Nigeria.

She made the call at a strategic meeting with Binta Bello, the director-general (D-G), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Friday, in Abuja.

Yiaga Africa
Acivil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has kicked against a bill before the National Assembly seeking to introduce compulsory voting in Nigeria and prescribe six months jail term for any eligible voter who refuses to vote.

Executive director of the NGO, Samson Itodo, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, described the bill as draconian.

He acknowledged the fact that the bill was conceived as a legislative intervention to address what he called an abysmally low voter turnout in the county.

Mr Itodo also said that the rationale behind the bill was to address one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria’s electoral system.

He, however, said that the strong-arm approach adopted by the bill was draconian and that constituted a gross violation of constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental human rights.

“Indeed, the right to abstain from voting is itself a legitimate form of political expression protected under domestic and international human rights law.

“Voter turnout in Nigeria has fluctuated significantly over the years, reflecting a complex interplay of political and systemic factors that influence electoral participation.

“In 1979, turnout stood at 34.6 per cent, increasing slightly to 38.9 per cent in 1983 and holding at 35 per cent in 1993.

“A notable surge occurred in 1999 with a turnout of 52.3 per cent, followed by a peak in 2003 when 69.1 per cent of registered voters participated,” he recalled.

Mr Itodo noted that the upward trend, however, got reversed in subsequent elections; 57.5 per cent in 2007, 53.7 per cent in 2011, 43.7 per cent in 2015, 34.7 per cent in 2019 and a historic low of 27.1 per cent in 2023.

According to him, the sharp decline has positioned Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa with the lowest voter turnout.

“Democracy thrives on freedom which includes the choice to participate or abstain from voting.

“Compulsory voting undermines this democratic freedom and punitive sanctions for not voting erodes the foundational principles of voluntary democratic engagement.

“The bill, in its entirety, fails to address the drivers of voter apathy, such as distrust in the electoral process, election manipulation and poor governance.”

Rather than compelling voting, Mr Itodo said that the National Assembly should prioritise electoral reforms that would rebuild public trust, improve election integrity and remove structural and systemic barriers to participation.

“These include reforms that guarantee mandatory electronic transmission of results, review of the mode of appointments into INEC, early voting, diaspora voting and improved transparency in the management of elections,” he said.

The executive director said that voter apathy should not be addressed with imposing punishment for not but through trust, electoral justice and accountability.

He, therefore, urged the national assembly to reject the proposed bill and channel its legislative efforts toward passing the electoral amendment that would expand access to voting, guarantee electoral transparency and protect the political rights of Nigerians.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested a former Kaduna State government contractor and an official of Formal Act Legacy Limited, over alleged N30 billion fraud.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement, on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Oyewale said that the suspect was formerly a consultant with the state government but had his contract terminated due to alleged fraudulent activities.

He explained that in spite of the termination of his contract, the official (names withheld) paraded himself as the authentic contractor to the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State.

Mr Oyewale said the official also allegedly defrauded Athena United Charity Foundation, FICCORD with affiliation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office.

According to him, the official has no less than 251 complaints received by the commission against him.

”It is also alleged that the suspect informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government.

”The MoU, according to him ,is for the purpose of sourcing intervention grants from global donor agencies for the funding of LGA projects in the state and supporting the actualization of SDGs within the state.

”While investigations revealed that the suspect is not a consultant to UCF, his 2020 MoU with Kaduna State government was terminated by the state government in October 2023 as a result of default on the terms of the MoU by the suspect.”

He said that in spite of the termination of the MoU, the suspect anll engaged in unauthorised award of fictitious contracts to the tune of approximately N30 billion.

Mr Oyewale alleged that the suspect did this by convincing his victims to supply items meant for construction of hospitals, motorised boreholes, hospital beds and mattresses, drugs and vaccines.

He said the suspect allegedly received the items on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, sell some and diverted their proceeds to his personal use.

”From investigations, it was discovered that when he took delivery of the supplies, he would warehouse them, keep the local government areas in the dark about the delivery.

“He does not also pay the contractors the value of what they supplied.

”It is also alleged that the suspect was selling contract award papers using proxies with whom he shared the proceeds.

”These fraudulent acts coupled with his unilateral alteration of the nature of the contracts and their terms, allegedly led to the termination of the MoU he had with the state government in 2023.”

He said that items recovered from him included Toyota Hilux pick up vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, caches of drugs and vaccines for children, stacks of hospital beds and mattresses and heavy duty generators.

”Found in his office store are large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, infusions, ointments/creams; medical consumables that include hand gloves, syringes, and mucus extractor.”

He said that the commission was collaborating with NAFDAC and the Kaduna State ministry of health in the evaluation of the cache of medicines found in his storage facilities as well as in carrying out qualitative analysis on them.

Mr Oyewale said following the inspections, Umar Suleiman, investigation and enforcement officer, federal task force, NAFDAC, confirmed that some of the drug manufacturers were registered with NAFDAC, while some were unregistered.

He quoted Mr Suleiman as saying that some of the medicines were still within shelf life, while some had expired with some being outright counterfeits.

”Corroborating the position of the NAFDAC official, Abubakar Balarabe, a pharmacist and Team Leader, Ministry of Health Kaduna State said that some of the medicines had expired.

He noted also that the warehouse, where the medicines were stored, fell below standard.

“The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept,” he said.

According to Mr Oyewale, the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern about rising violations of the right to food, emphasising its importance for overall human rights.

The NHRC Senior Rights Adviser, Hiliary Ogbonna, expressed his concern at the monthly presentation of April dashboard report on human rights violations across the country.

The dashboard is a monthly analysis and graphical presentation of the human rights situation in Nigeria.

Similarly, the observatory is for monitoring, reporting and analysing the human rights violations.

The concern, he said, is particularly acute given the impact of economic hardship on access to nutrition and healthcare, leading to increased vulnerability to disease and mortality.

“The right to life is meaningless without the right to food and gainful employment.

“The commission believes that these rights are fundamental and should be upheld, emphasizing the need for policies that address poverty and ensure access to essential resources,” he said .

He called for economic reforms that prioritise human dignity and social justice, advocating for policies that ensure decent work, fair wages, and access to essential services

”There were killings of four farmers in Akure North, two female farmers in Delta and 14 in Borno.

”Kidnapping has spread to practically every part of the country. And for us, it is something that is very important” he said.

He said in the month of April the commission received complaints of 139 killings in Benue, 119 in Plateau and 227 in other parts of the country.

Mr Ogbonna said that the killings took place in communities where the greater percentage of the food consumed in the country are produced.

”This is worrisome because the people behind these acts are not held accountable.

”There are no conclusive investigations and prosecutions of these people who commit these heinous crimes,” he said.

He called on the military to step up the security networks in Nigeria to ensure that those responsible are apprehended.

He also said that the constant increase in violations of child and women’s rights was worrisome.

Mr Ogbonna noted that the commission completed 863 investigations, 60 visits to correctional centres and places of detention.

He added that it also gave 33 summons and letters to Nigeria police as well as 12 visitations to military formations.

Mr Ogbonna noted that the commission received 261,483 complaints with North Central at the top of the chart.

He said also that the April report recorded a 20 per cent increase compared to the March report.