The naira further appreciated on Thursday, trading at N1,553.11 against the dollar in the official foreign exchange market.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed the naira gained N12.35, representing a 0.79 per cent appreciation when compared to Wednesday’s trading at N1,565.46 per dollar.

The naira has been on a steady appreciation, trading at N1,579.27 on Tuesday and N1,581.58 against the dollar on Monday.

The naira, which also closed the previous week bullish, opened the new week with a gain of N4.56.

These steady gains were recorded even as the recapitalisation for bureau de change operators began on June 3.

The chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Thursday, described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex as the brainchild of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Dangote gave the credit during the president’s visit to the complex in Lagos.

“It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Your Excellency on your visit to the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex and to commission this concrete road and other roads which you graciously approved.

“I must emphasise that the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex is in many ways your brainchild.

“The Lekki Free Trade Zone, the site of this industrial complex, was established during your tenure as governor of Lagos, and I think, Your Excellency, today, you are witnessing tangible fruits of that vision,” Mr Dangote said.

He described Mr Tinubu as a visionary leader.

“I can tell you for a fact that what you have seen today is nothing. We have just started,” added Mr Dangote.

According to him, one of the Tinubu administration’s most transformative initiatives is the ‘Naira for Crude Policy’.

He stated that the policy stood out as a clear testament to the administration’s commitment to economic recovery and national sovereignty.

‘’This bold policy has enabled us to reduce product prices consistently and guarantee availability for the overall benefit of Nigerians. It has also helped significantly in stabilising the prices of petrol, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, and polypropylene to their lowest levels ever.

“The effect of this development is the stabilisation of our currency, a critical element in the development of economic policy and budgeting by businesses,” Mr Dangote explained.

He also lauded the administration’s recently introduced ‘Nigeria First Policy’, which aimed to drastically reduce reliance on foreign goods and services, prioritising local patronage in investment decisions, business operations, and consumption habits.

“This aligns with our group’s corporate vision of producing what we consume to promote self-sufficiency in meeting the basic needs of our people.

“Importation means import of poverty and export of jobs. We all have to align with this policy of ‘Nigeria First’,” Mr Dangote stated

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, ordered the remand of 10 persons in a correctional facility over alleged armed robbery and murder.

The defendants include Sheriff Lawal, 27, Lawal Bashit, 23, Oyewale Sodiq, 30, Akeem Ogunyemi, 41, and Kazeem Afolayan, 40.

Others are Akeem Raji, 37, Olabode Hammed, 25, Yusuf Lekan, 26, Ayomide John, 23 and Samuel Okezie, 32.

They are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and murder.

The Magistrate, Gladys Oladele, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

She adjourned the case until July 21 for mention.

The Prosecutor, Sergeant Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 15, at about 9.30 p.m, at Oak Hotel, around Moniya, Ibadan.

Mr Owolabi said the defendants robbed one Shuaibu Adam of the sum of N100, 000, while armed with sticks and cutlasses.

He said the defendants also unlawfully caused the death of one Abdul Isah, 23, by beating him with sticks and inflicted injury all over Adam’s body.

He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 319 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has commended journalists for demonstrating maturity, professionalism and ethical conduct while covering the 2025 hajj.

NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information, Fatimah Usara, gave the commendation on Thursday at the plains of Arafah as Nigerian pilgrims joined their counterparts from across the world to perform the peak of Hajj rites.

The NAHCON spokesperson conveyed the commission’s appreciation on behalf of the Chairman, Commissioners, and Management.

She expressed satisfaction with the comportment of the media representatives, urging them to sustain the same high standards through to the end of the pilgrimage.

Ms Usara reaffirmed that NAHCON’s relevant departments and units remained accessible to the media for information, clarification, advice and constructive feedback.

According to her, the commission is committed to ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims receive full value for the significant resources they invest in the pilgrimage.

Acknowledging the complexity and challenges of organising the hajj, she said that no operation of such magnitude was free from hitches.

She said, “We do not claim perfection but there is no deliberate intention whatsoever to inconvenience pilgrims. Allah Himself enjoins patience and perseverance during Hajj, and we echo that call.’’

She further conveyed the deep respect of the Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh and the entire commission for the press, whom they regard as vital partners in progress.

“NAHCON believes that no amount expended in support of the media is too much, given their crucial role in the success of public institutions and parastatals. However, financial constraints and other compelling logistical issues have limited our ability to fully reward the diligence and commitment of journalists, who serve God, the nation and pilgrims well,” Ms Usara said.

The NAHCON spokesperson said that the commission would continue to engage the media in its activities, particularly in educating, sensitising, and enlightening the Nigerian public and the Muslim Ummah.

She announced that after the pilgrims’ stay at the sacred sites—Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah—a post-Arafah stakeholders’ meeting would be held.

She stated, “Thereafter, the final phase of the pilgrimage, the return journey, will commence.”

She urged journalists not to relent in their efforts until the entire exercise was successfully concluded.

Azu Ishiekwene: Understanding the flight announcer
is it also possible for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to authorise the use of pidgin English as the second language for flight announcers, at least for domestic routes?

Azu Ishiekwene • June 5, 2025

Boarding announcements were not an issue when I used to commute in Lagos by danfo, the ubiquitous yellow buses, or molue, the mass-transit lorries, which were improvised for public transportation.

The conductors often had a melodious and entertaining way of calling passengers that was enjoyable to hear.

They called out in a drawl, accompanying each announcement with a warning for passengers to board with their change in hand or risk a “forced marriage,” which meant giving a fixed sum, usually a banknote, to two or more passengers to share at disembarkation.

Flying is a luxury – or should be – with no room for bus conductors and their outrageous threats of forced passenger marriages. But vehicle conductors across the country might be surprised to know that, however lowly their jobs, there are several areas where they do far better than their cousins at airports across the country, who, for want of a better description, carry the elegant titles of flight announcers, when quite frankly, they perform the job of conductors.

A conductor’s life
There is no intention to deride or demean, please. Conductors, whether at the motor park, opera, or the airport, provide the vital link that helps us understand and enjoy the moment, as we make a rite of passage.

But that vital function is threatened at many airports nationwide, even among crew announcers onboard several flights.

I could have missed a recent flight from Asaba to Abuja because I wasn’t sure what the announcer said: “This is a broaden hannouncement on Flight PA7861 from Hum, Hum, Hum, to Ham, Ham, Ham…all persongers on this flight should phulease proceed to the gate to broad…a phust departure call phulease…”

I didn’t understand.

The babble was neither British, American, nor trans-Atlantic. It was not even Ingili-Igbo (a variety of standard British English mixed with Igbo phonemes) as Chief Zebruddaya Okorigwe-Nwogbo alias 4:30 might have called it in the New Masquerade.

It was indecipherable.

But I noticed some passengers rushing to line up or scampering in different directions. I stayed put, waiting for a second, hopefully clearer announcement.

It was the same thing.

Accra bound?
I looked at my colleague with whom I was travelling and asked, “Did you hear what the announcer said?” “I think she said something like it’s a flight to Accra,” he responded. “No way,” I replied. “You mean that flights now depart from the Asaba Airport to Accra? And see the number of passengers lining up.”

Time was ticking. We hurried to the line, which is often the typical response when there’s no airline staff in sight, where a passenger smiled a knowing smile and told us it was a flight to Abuja, not Accra. At that time, something that sounded like the final boarding announcement had been made.

I had experienced a similar thing on my outbound trip from Abuja, where the flight announcer seemed more concerned about her fake imitation of an Oyinbo accent than the clarity of what she was saying.

I got up twice to ask at the desk.

Suupri…suupri…suupri
The second time, the announcer, who faked an Oyinbo accent, told me in plain, audible language that my flight had not been announced.

“Is it impossible to announce as you have just told me, Ma?” I asked.

She smiled and adjusted the PAS: “This is a boreding (sic) announcement on Flight PA74862 from suupri, suupri, suupri, to ham, ham, ham…all persongers on this flight should phulease proceed to the boreding gate…a phust departure call phulease…”

I gave up.

Sometimes, the noise in the departure lounge can make things worse. At other times, the lack of coordination and/or the poor sound quality of the PAS can also compound the problem. There’s hardly such a thing as a level key. The volume is too high, too low or a garbled screeching static sound. As for the tone of voice, that’s something else altogether.

What was that, pilot?
It happens onboard, too. For aerophobics like me, a pilot’s calming voice before departure, midflight, or shortly before landing has a huge calming effect. Often, however, you’ll have to strain to hear. There’s such a deafening noise in the inflight PAS that it’s difficult to decipher what even the pilot says, whether it will be fair weather or you should brace up for a bumpy ride. On this last trip to Asaba, it wasn’t very different, but it was the attendant who had me cracking a rib.

From her appearance, she seems to be a full-blooded Nigerian woman, likely from the South-East. As we neared landing, she unleashed a torrent of fake accents. She concluded by welcoming passengers to “Asaaabhaaa,” pronounced like a JJC would say Asaba, with enough drawl of the “Icheku” variety (the Nigerian TV drama series based on the foibles of the colonial courtroom) to spice the miserly inflight passengers’ lunchbox.

Where did she acquire that accent from?

Oyinbo blues
I might be a latecomer to this flourishing business of phonemical jiggery-pokery. Farooq Kperogi flagged it in an article two years ago, entitled ‘Fake Accents on Nigerian Airplanes and Airports’, in which he narrated how an Oyinbo man approached a passenger to interpret what the flight announcer said. It was his second article on the subject in seven years.

Although recent aviation concerns have focused more on air traffic control staffing shortages, technology and flight delays, it would be interesting to see statistics on how indecipherable announcements may have contributed to passenger misery, including, perhaps, missed flights.

It wouldn’t be a big issue if the humour of Oyinbo wannabes were all there was to it. It would, in fact, be a good source of entertainment when flights are delayed, as they frequently are. But passengers who bank on in-flight announcers who use them to practise phonology risk missing their flights.

Lessons from the motor park
In many parts of the world, airports are enhancing the quality of announcements. Tools like PAXGuide, for instance, can monitor every announcement, including who made it and when. Instead of terminal-wide announcements, announcements can be targeted and localised to specific gates, while automation through display boards and technological upgrades can also help to improve the passenger’s experience.

There’s also something that airports, with a bit of humility, can learn from the motor parks. I’m serious about this. The conductors in the motor parks hardly ever pretend to be someone they’re not or borrow a language they’re uncomfortable with.

Apart from the points suggested, is it also possible for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to authorise the use of pidgin English (perhaps the most widely spoken language across the country) as the second language for flight announcers, at least for domestic routes? It would take a truly wayward flight announcer to nasalise pidgin English and not sound ridiculous in his or her own ears.

Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book, Writing for Media and Monetising It

Authorities have blocked X in Tanzania over the proliferation of pornographic content on the microblogging platform.

Jerry Silaa, the country’s ICT minister, told local media Wasafi TV on Wednesday that President Samia Suluhu ordered the shutdown of X over pornographic content that violates the “laws, culture and values” of Tanzania.

“There are rules on what kind of content should be published on social media. X’s content policies went against Tanzania’s laws: pornography, content on same-sex relationships,” Mr Silaa said.

The minister stated that the clampdown was not limited to X alone, as it would be extended to other platforms that violate the country’s rules.

“It is not just X, even YouTube. If you try finding something and you can’t find it, know that it is the government enforcing compliance to protect consumers,” Mr Silaa stated.

Earlier in May, Ms Suluhu’s government blocked X after hackers compromised the Tanzanian police official X account, using it to spread fake news.

The hackers deployed the handle to spread fake news that the Tanzanian president was dead, amongst others.

China has called on the United States to abandon its generalised and excessive use of the national security concept and to work collaboratively with all parties to uphold a rules-based multilateral trading system.

The call was made on Thursday by the Ministry of Commerce.

Speaking at a regular news conference, ministry spokesperson He Yongqian made the remarks in response to the U.S. decision to raise tariffs on imported steel, aluminium, and their derivative products from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

He stated that such actions by the U.S. not only harmed other countries but also negatively impacted its own interests.

He warned that the tariff hikes would severely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

“The U.S. should abandon the zero-sum mentality, address concerns through equal dialogue, and work together to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains,” he said.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday restricted Harvard University’s international students from entering the U.S. in the latest showdown against the Ivy League institution.

Barely two weeks after barring Harvard from enrolling international students, a decision that U.S. District judge Allison Burroughs has temporarily reversed, Mr Trump issued a proclamation to deny visas to international students admitted to Harvard University.

“I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,” Mr Trump wrote in the proclamation on Wednesday.

“Harvard University has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students’ ‘known illegal activity, ‘known dangerous and violent activity, known threats to other students or university personnel, known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel, and whether those activities occurred on campus,’” Mr Trump stated.

Jason Newton, the institution’s spokesperson, called Mr Trump’s proclamation “illegal”.

“This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” said Mr Newton. “Harvard will continue to protect its international students.”

U.S. attorney general Pamela Bondi defended her principal’s proclamation, asserting that attending a U.S. elite school is a privilege, not a right, for international students.

“Admission to the United States to study at an ‘elite’ American university is a privilege, not a right,” Ms Bondi wrote in a statement on X. “This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the President’s proclamation suspending the entry of new foreign students at Harvard University based on national security.”

The Trump and Harvard fiasco began earlier in the year over antisemitic concerns but came to a head in April after the prestigious institution failed to cave to the administration’s demands for admission and disciplinary measures against its international students.

In retaliation, the Trump administration cancelled billions of dollars in funding from the school and threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.

Last month, Mr Trump’s administration paused visa appointments for international students, asserting that authorities are working on how to scrutinise their social media accounts for antisemitic posts.

The U.S. State Department on May 29 announced it would work with the Department of Homeland Security to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students”.

The United States has vetoed the UN Security Council resolution demanding an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in Gaza.

This came after 14 members voted in favour of the document, which demanded the release of all hostages and the resumption of full-scale humanitarian aid deliveries to the enclave.

Ten non-permanent members of the 15-seat council had put forth the resolution for a vote.

It was the first time since President Donald Trump took office that the council had considered a ceasefire resolution on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to a New York Times report.

The U.S. was the only member to vote against the measure, while the other 14 members of the council, including Russia, voted in favour.

The development has highlighted Washington’s isolation on the global stage over its policy of unconditional support of Israel.

“We believe this text reflects the consensus shared by all Council members that the war in Gaza has to come to an immediate halt, all hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released, and civilians in Gaza must not starve and must have full and unimpeded access to aid,” a joint statement from the 10 non-permanent members said.

The statement was read by Slovenia’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Zbogar, at the council meeting ahead of the vote.

Speaking on the move, Dorothy Shea, U.S. ambassador to the UN, revealed that the resolution would “undermine diplomatic efforts” to reach a ceasefire, adding that the UN has not labelled Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

“We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” Ms Shea said.

According to the UN, the move came amid growing concern over the distribution of aid in Gaza, with more than two million people at risk of starvation after a total Israeli ban on shipments of food and other aid that lasted 11 weeks.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a philanthropist, has stated that Nigeria’s healthcare budget is far too small to tackle the crisis faced by the sector amid foreign aid deficit.

Mr Gates, at a media chat with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, called for more investment in the health sector by the Nigeria authorities.

“When you look at the numbers, the amount Nigeria spends on healthcare is very, very small,” Mr Gates said. “It is not just about percentages; in absolute terms, Nigeria’s budget for health is insufficient to tackle the crises it faces.”

While commending Lagos and Kano for improving their health budget, Mr Gates said, “In states like Kano and Lagos, you are seeing some positive movement. But if you take the country as a whole, the funding just isn’t there yet to achieve universal health coverage or even deliver basic services equitably.”

Mr Gates, who was conferred with a national award by President Bola Tinubu for his philanthropic support for health in Nigeria, said the government should invest more in healthcare instead of depending on aid to fund such a crucial sector.

“We can assist as partners, but the foundation of a functioning health system has to be built and maintained by the government,” Mr Gates said. “In the long run, you can’t depend on aid to fund your essential health systems. Countries need to build resilience internally.”

President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into his predecessor’s actions, Joe Biden and his staff, during his administration in the latest attempt to stoke outlandish “conspiracy theories”.

Mr Trump, in a move to discredit Mr Biden, issued an executive order to examine whether some of his predecessor’s presidential actions were legally invalid because his aides had allegedly enacted those policies without his knowledge.

“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” Mr Trump said on Wednesday.

A central claim of the conspiracy theory, as described by Mr Trump himself, is that Mr Biden’s use of the “autopen system”, which reproduces a person’s signature to be affixed to official documents, can legally invalidate those documents.

The development came after Mr Trump shared a media post over the weekend, claiming Mr Biden had been “executed in 2020” and replaced by a robotic clone, according to a New York Times report.

But Mr Biden slammed his successor, describing his claims as “ridiculous and false”.

In a statement on Wednesday, the former U.S. president said Mr Trump was only aiming to distract Americans as his administration works to extend tax breaks for the wealthy.

The executive order was issued after a recent disclosure that Mr Biden, 82, had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Mr Trump and his Republican allies have long questioned Mr Biden’s mental acuity and have attempted to overturn some of the presidential pardons and federal rules issued at the end of his term in office.

At least were killed and dozens left injured in a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on the evening of Wednesday, as a massive crowd gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever Indian Premier League title.

What started as a historic moment for the city and the club quickly spiralled into panic when an estimated 200,000 fans surged toward the stadium gates, which hadn’t even been opened.

The crush led to the deaths of 11 individuals, including four teenagers, and left dozens more injured.

With little crowd control in place and far more people than anticipated, those at the front were overwhelmed in the chaos.

Emergency services struggled to reach the victims due to the dense crowd, and some fatalities were confirmed upon arrival at local hospitals.

“The crowd was very uncontrollable,” said Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. “No one expected such a huge turnout.”

Officials said over 200,000 fans had attended despite the stadium’s capacity being only 35,000.

In response to the incident, the planned victory parade was cancelled over safety concerns. Authorities have launched an investigation into the event’s planning and crowd management failures.

RCB had landed earlier that day at the old HAL airport and were scheduled to travel in a procession to the stadium for a grand reception.

Instead, tragedy struck just as the team was en route, with fans piling into narrow entry points and metro platforms becoming dangerously overcrowded.

“This was meant to be a moment of joy for the people of Bengaluru. Now it’s a day of mourning,” said an official, who described the incident as “deeply shocking”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also described the crush as “heartrending”, offering condolences to the families of the victims.

Vietnam has ended its longstanding two-child policy, which barred families from having more than two children amid declining birth rates.

On Tuesday, Vietnam’s national assembly abolished the policy, which had been in place for decades since 1988.

The abolition of the policy, which now allows couples to have as many children as they want, is to tackle the low birthrate and ageing population.

Dao Hong Lan, Vietnam’s health minister, according to the Hanoi Times, said the birth control policy was reversed to tackle the declining population, among other issues that threaten the country’s economic, social, and national security sustainability.

“This reform aims to tackle growing disparities in birth rates across regions and social groups and to prevent population decline below the replacement level, a trend that threatens Vietnam’s sustainable economic and social development, as well as its national security and defence in the long term,” said Mr Lan.

Additionally, the country’s health ministry has expressed concern over gender-based sex selection as the growing preference for male children persists.

Performing sex-selective abortions or choices are statutory violations, and the country’s health ministry is proposing to raise a maximum fine worth 100 million Vietnamese dong ($3,800).

Vietnam’s population experienced a low birthrate of 1.91 children per cent per woman in 2024, a drop from 2.1 children per cent per woman in the previous years.

A32-year-old man, Daniel Thomas, on Wednesday appeared before a Wuse Magistrates’ Court over alleged N3.5 million fraud.

The defendant, who resides at Gwarinpa in the Federal Capital Territory is standing trial on a four-count charge of joint act, breach of trust, cheating and intimidation.

The prosecutor counsel, C. C. Okafor, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2024.

She alleged that the defendant conspired with two others, now at large and fraudulently swindled one Emokpaire Enahoro of N3.5 million for a land purchase at Jikwoyi area in FCT.

Okafor said that the dependant and two others refused to buy the land and ran away to an unknown place.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The Magistrate, M. A. Saddeeq, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1.7 million with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until June 25 for hearing.

President Bola Tinubu has approved N2 billion for the immediate reconstruction of homes of people affected by the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this when he visited the victims in Mokwa town, Mokwa Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

He assured that the federal government would address issues raised by the affected victims of the flood disaster.

He said, “The President specifically instructed me to come to Mokwa to commiserate with the people over the tragedy that befell the town. His heart is with the grieving people of Mokwa. All issues raised will be addressed by the federal government in collaboration with the Niger State government.’’

Mr Kashim disclosed that the President also directed the ministers for environment and state for agriculture to relocate to Niger State to ensure immediate intervention under the ACRSAL project for drainage issues in Mokwa town.

He added that 20 trucks of food items had been approved by Mr Tinubu for distribution to the victims in collaboration with the village head of Mokwa.

He commended the deputy governor and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency for their proactiveness in handling the situation.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, appealed to the federal government for quick intervention to address the impact of the disaster.

“We are saddened as s state due to the flood disaster; we commend NEMA DG for promptly responding to the disaster. We need quick intervention as the four collapsed bridges have cut down social and economic activities especially in Rabba as students cannot come to Mokwa when there’s rainfall, the bridge needs to be fixed,” he said.

He disclosed that over 2,000 houses were destroyed, and victims managing with people, adding that the state had available land that could be used to build houses for them.

Earlier, the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, appealed to the federal government to intervene in several road projects in Mokwa and across the state.

“There is an ongoing road project bypassing Mokwa town, but because of compensation, the work has stopped. We appeal to the FG to fast-track the project as it is making life unbearable for the people,” he said.

He also appealed to the federal government to complete the Mokwa-Brini-Gwari Kaduna Road, Lambata-Bida road, Bida-Patigi road, and Agaie-Match Boro roads.

He further called for the deployment of an ecological team to address ecological issues in the town, while appreciating Mr Tinubu for directing the vice president to visit the area to commiserate with the victims.

Also speaking, Village Head of Mokwa (Ndalile of Mokwa), Mohammed Aliyu, appreciated the federal government for the show of support to the community since the flood disaster.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, restated his administration’s commitment to the safety of lives and property with the distribution of 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in the state.

According to Mr Aiyedatiwa, it is important to build a safe and more secure state by placing a premium on safety of the residents amid the escalating security challenges bedevilling the country.

He stated that the distribution of the high-grade operational Toyota Hilux vehicles to security agencies in the state was a clear demonstration of his administration’s resolve to enhance the capacity and responsiveness of security formations across the state.

The governor spoke on Wednesday at the Government House ground in Akure, the state capital, where he distributed the vehicles as part of activities, marking his first 100 days in office.

“This event underscores our administration’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and capacity of our security agencies to respond to any security alert or acts of criminality in the state. These vehicles are a token of our appreciation for your dedication and service. Furthermore, I wish to reiterate that the distribution of vehicles to security agencies is one of the ways by which we are strengthening our security apparatus in the state,” Mr Aiyedatiwa said.

The governor recalled that in July 2024, the state government distributed 25 units of Toyota Hilux vehicles to security agencies, highlighting the latest presentation as a continuation of that initiative.

He added that providing operational tools to security operative was not only a constitutional responsibility but also a practical demonstration of the government’s appreciation of their sacrifices.

Stressing the importance of synergy among security stakeholders, Mr Aiyedatiwa said that collaboration between the security agencies is also critical to tackling the security challenges facing the state.

He described the event as a significant step in the collective quest to build a safer and more secure state. He expressed delight at the opportunity to once again equip security agencies with essential logistics.

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre says the creation of the ‘Nigeria Coast Guard’ may overlap and duplicate the mandates of other maritime agencies.

SEREC’s head researcher, Eugene Nweke, said on Wednesday in Abuja that though the maritime space could benefit from a coast guard that specialises in coastal security and law enforcement, it was imperative to address concerns about duplication of functions and cost implications and ensure effective coordination with existing agencies.

“SEREC recommends that the proposed bill for the creation of a Nigeria Coast Guard be stepped down for now.

“We recommend the conduct of a thorough analysis of the proposed Coast Guard Bill and stakeholder engagement to define the Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities clearly to avoid overlap with other agencies.

”Experts should consider national interest above pecuniary or group interest,” he said.

The SEREC head researcher also highlighted the complexity of the Nigerian maritime domain with multiple agencies operating within it.

He stated that the Nigerian Navy had the primary responsibility for maritime security, defence, protection, and enforcement of maritime laws.

He added that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, the Nigeria Police Marine Unit, and the Nigeria Customs Marine Unit were responsible for regulating maritime safety and security.

He stressed that with the activities of the Nigerian Navy, the creation of a coast guard would bring redundancies, wastage of limited national resources and inefficiencies.

He recommended adequate funding for the navy to enhance its capabilities rather than establishing a new agency.

“This will ensure that the navy effectively performs its roles, as overlapping roles between the coast guard and Nigerian Navy could lead to conflicts and inefficiencies.

“Setting up a coast guard will require significant investment in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel, which can be challenging given the current economic climate,” Mr Nweke added.

Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Arabia’s chief of general staff, on Tuesday inspected the readiness of the armed forces to respond to a security breach during the Hajj operations in Mecca.

Following defence minister Khalid bin Salman’s directives, Mr Al-Ruwaili reviewed the Air Forces group at Arafat Airport.

He stated that the Saudi air force provided advanced air support, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and airspace security over the holy sites.

The Saudi naval forces secure the seaports, handle suspicious materials, and support rescue efforts with diving teams and specialised units.

For health services, the defence ministry has rolled out a comprehensive medical plan for pilgrims in 36 health centres.

They have a capacity exceeding 1,040 beds and are supported by over 1,790 healthcare personnel.

The Risk Managers Society of Nigeria has issued an urgent call for intensive orientation in disaster prevention, readiness, and mitigation at both national and local levels.

The society’s president and chairman of the governing board, Abbas Idris, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

RIMSON’s call followed the May 27 downpour that led to flooding the following morning, claiming 160 lives so far, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Mr Idris attributes the incident to heavy rainfall, poor drainage systems, deforestation, land use changes, soil erosion, river overflow, and climate change.

Condoling the government, the people of the state, and the victims, the president advocated for strengthening Niger’s early warning system, reforestation programme, community education, and land use planning.

He also recommended the development of emergency response plans and strengthening partnerships with non-governmental organisations.

These, according to him, will help strengthen the state’s preparedness and mitigation, drastically reduce the risk of flooding, and improve recovery efforts.

The recommendations will also help the Niger government to significantly reduce the incidence and impact of future flooding in the state.

At the national level, Mr Idris recommended the creation of the ‘Office of Risk Management of the Federation’ to coordinate and monitor risk management efforts across the country, considering it a national security issue.

RIMSON’s president also called for an upward review of budgetary allocations towards disaster prevention and providing relief to survivors.

He expressed confidence that implementing the recommendations would enhance existing disaster management efforts and proactively reduce avoidable tragic human and economic losses.

He commended the sustained efforts of all stakeholders, especially NiMet, in providing regular weather forecasts.

He reiterated RIMSON’s commitment to sustained advocacy in promoting risk management awareness and education till it becomes a national culture that results in a more resilient, safe and prosperous nation.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has sealed off the facilities of 39 illegal packaged water producers in Ogun.

NAFDAC coordinator in Ogun, Mawo Benu, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday in Ota.

Mr Benu explained that a total of 43 packaged water facilities were inspected during the period. He stated that out of these, 39 were found to be unsatisfactory due to various violations of Good Manufacturing Practices.

He said the affected facilities were subsequently sanctioned.

Mr Benu stated that NAFDAC’s enforcement activities from February to date demonstrated clearly that there was no hiding place for producers of unwholesome and unregistered regulated products.

“NAFDAC has vowed to crack down on the activities of illegal producers and non-compliant facilities within its jurisdiction,” Mr Benu said. “The agency earnestly seeks the collaboration of the public and all concerned stakeholders in our relentless pursuit to rid the nation of unregistered and unsafe products.”

Mr Benu added, “In addition, members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal production sites or suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office to help safeguard public health.”

Benu explained that some facilities, although registered, were found during routine inspections to have fallen below acceptable hygiene standards.

The NAFDAC official noted that the facilities were no longer maintaining the minimum requirements under which they were originally registered.

He listed the observed violations to include operating with expired licenses, production of unapproved pack sizes, swapping facilities to unapproved manufacturing sites, and the use of fake NAFDAC registration numbers for unregistered products.