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Showing posts from February, 2026

CRAN Congratulates Olatunji Ridwan Disu on Appointment as IGP

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The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) has congratulated the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Ridwan Disu, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu. In a statement signed by its President, Olalekan Olabulo, the association described the appointment as strategic and well-considered, anchored on merit, competence and proven performance. CRAN noted that the decision reflects confidence in IGP Disu’s professionalism, integrity and leadership capacity, especially at a time when the country requires strengthened policing and enhanced internal security. The association highlighted Disu’s distinguished career, citing his tenure as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, where he implemented proactive, intelligence-driven crime-fighting strategies that improved public safety and operational responsiveness. It also referenced his leadership of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), where he coordinated complex and sensitive operations with t...

Nigeria Police Force Gets New Acting IGP as Olatunji Ridwan Disu Assumes Office

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The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Ridwan Disu, has assumed duty as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police, taking over the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. He succeeds Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun (Rtd), who served as the 22nd indigenous Inspector-General of Police from June 19, 2023, to February 24, 2026. Born on April 13, 1966, Disu hails from Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State. He holds multiple academic qualifications, including an MSc in Entrepreneurship from the National Open University of Nigeria (2023); MSc in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University (2022); an Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence from the University of Lagos (2019); MSc in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University (2010); PGD in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lagos State University (2000); and a B.A. in English (Education) from Lagos State University (1990). He joined the Niger...

Enugu Police Arrest 42-Year-Old Suspect, Recover Large Quantity of Suspected Illicit Drugs

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CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa and the recovered illicit drugs  Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested a 42-year-old man, Musa Zuberu, for alleged drug peddling and recovered a large quantity of substances suspected to be illicit drugs. The suspect was apprehended on February 11, 2026, at about 1:40 p.m. by operatives attached to the Command’s Crack Tactical Squad during a routine patrol along Camp 1, Iva Valley, Enugu. According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of a large quantity of weed suspected to be marijuana, including synthetic variants popularly known as “Canadian Loud” and “Colorado” (“Colos”), as well as other suspected illicit substances. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected drug network, with a view to dismantling illicit drug distribution channels across the state. The Com...

CAPPA Unveils Report on Emerging Nicotine Products

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... Warns of Rising Youth Exposure and Regulatory Gaps (L-R) Olamide Martins, Ogunlade Associate Director Climate Change and Extractives at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA; Ummi Musa Umar, Executive Director, Call Off Cancer Initiative; Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director CAPPA; Mary-Anne Etiebet, Executive Director and CEO of Vital Strategies; Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director CAPPA; and Aaron Schwid, Public Health Executive at Vital Strategies during the media presentation of CAPPA's latest report 'New Smoke Trap: Emerging Nicotine & Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria.' in Lagos on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised alarm over the rapid proliferation of new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products in Nigeria, warning that regulatory gaps and aggressive marketing are exposing young people to addiction and long-term health risks. Sp...

CRAN Urges AIG Disu to Uphold Integrity, Transparency at FCID Annex Alagbon

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AIG Olatunji Disu The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) has urged the newly appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, AIG Olatunji Disu, to uphold integrity, transparency and professionalism in the discharge of his duties. In a statement by its President, Olalekan Olabulo, the association said the position demands ethical leadership and strict adherence to the rule of law, given the strategic importance of the FCID Annex in the country’s criminal investigation architecture. CRAN noted that AIG Disu’s appointment by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, comes at a critical time when public confidence in investigative processes must be strengthened through accountability and high professional standards. The association acknowledged AIG Disu’s extensive experience spanning over three decades, including his service as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad, Head of the Intelligence...

Motorist Killed, Wife Critically Injured as Granite Truck Topples on Car in Lekki

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  A male motorist has been killed and his wife critically injured when a granite-laden articulated truck toppled onto their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, that the fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday, February 12th, 2026.  According to preliminary reports, the truck, which was travelling from the Epe axis at high speed, reportedly suffered brake failure as it approached Eleko Junction. The mechanical malfunction led to a loss of control, causing the truck to veer off course and collide with the Toyota saloon car heading inward Epe from the Ajah axis. The impact forced the truck to overturn and fall on the smaller vehicle, crushing it. Officials said the driver of the Toyota car, who was trapped in the wreckage, was later extricated through a joint rescue effort by ...

AIG Disu Assumes Duty as Head of FCID Annex, Alagbon

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Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assumed duty as the 55th AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos. AIG Disu, whose appointment takes effect from February 9, 2026, succeeds AIG Margaret Ochalla, who is currently undergoing a short-term professional training programme in the United States, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, ASP Mayegun Aminat. AIG Disu, a native of Lagos State, is a senior police officer with more than three decades of experience spanning operational, investigative and strategic policing.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University, in addition to multiple Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology. He also possesses an Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation. He joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 and has served in several key leadership positions acro...

CAPPA Hails Nigeria’s First PCBs Treatment Facility, Calls for Enforcement and Expansion

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CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has welcomed the commissioning of Nigeria’s first dedicated Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) treatment facility, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s chemicals and waste management framework. The facility, inaugurated on December 18, 2025, in Abuja, was established under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In a statement issued on Monday, CAPPA said the facility represents a significant step towards addressing the long-standing challenge of managing hazardous chemical wastes in Nigeria, particularly persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs. Polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic chemical substances known for their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and long-range transport. CAPPA noted that PCBs have been scientifically ...

World Cancer Day 2026: Tackle Cancer by Fixing Nigeria’s Broken Food System, CAPPA Urges Govt

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The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has expressed solidarity with millions of people affected by cancer worldwide, while urging Nigerian authorities to confront the growing link between cancer and the country’s broken food system. In a statement to mark the World Cancer Day 2026, themed “United by Unique,” the public interest organisation warned that cancer is no longer a distant threat in Nigeria but a rapidly growing public health crisis.  It cited figures from the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment showing that the country records no fewer than 72,000 cancer-related deaths and over 120,000 new cases annually. CAPPA noted that while genetic and environmental factors contribute to cancer risk, mounting evidence increasingly links the rise in colorectal, breast and prostate cancers to unhealthy diets, ultra-processed foods, and the way food is produced, marketed and consumed in Nigeria. The organisation therefore called on federal ...

CAPPA Urges Policymakers to Regulate Festive Food Marketing in Public Interest

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The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on Nigerian policymakers to urgently regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, warning that weak oversight is allowing corporate interests to undermine public health, particularly during festive periods. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos while presenting a new report titled Unhealthy Food Hijack of Festive Periods in Nigeria, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said incremental policy responses were no longer sufficient given Nigeria’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Oluwafemi noted that food and beverage companies increasingly exploit festive periods such as Christmas and New Year to aggressively promote sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods, embedding them in cultural and religious celebrations through advertising, sponsorships, and branded donations. He warned that reliance on industry self-regulation has failed, describing it as largely cosmetic and ineffecti...

CRAN Hails Hundeyin’s Promotion, Cites Impact on Police-Media Relations

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The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) has congratulated the Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), describing the advancement as a recognition of professionalism and effective public communication. In a statement signed by its President, Olalekan Olabulo, the association said ACP Hundeyin’s elevation reflects his role in strengthening engagement between the Police and the public through transparent and responsible information management. CRAN noted that during his tenure as Force Public Relations Officer, Hundeyin demonstrated a balanced approach to security communication, ensuring operational sensitivity while promoting the public’s right to accurate and timely information. The association also commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for approving the promotion, stating that the decision underscores the Police leadership’s commitment ...

Three Passengers injured as LASTMA Arrests Dangote Truck Driver After Badagry Expressway Crash

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The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for traffic violations following the arrest of a Dangote truck driver involved in a serious head-on collision along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway that left three passengers critically injured. According to a statement by Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the crash occurred at Mosafejo-Aradagun when the articulated truck reportedly attempted an illegal U-turn and collided with an oncoming commercial Mazda bus.  Taofiq confirmed that the impact caused severe injuries to three male passengers, who were rescued and rushed to a General Hospital for urgent medical care. He said officials of LASTMA working in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), swiftly secured the scene, apprehended the truck driver, and coordinated the evacuation of the accident vehicles to prevent further disruption and secondary crashes. The Special Ad...

FCTA Warns Health Facilities of Sanctions Over Negligence in Snakebite Cases

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FCTA's Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to public and private healthcare facilities across the territory, vowing to impose sanctions on any institution found negligent in the management of snakebite cases. The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said in a statement that the Administration would no longer tolerate breaches of approved clinical protocols, especially in cases involving medical emergencies that are largely preventable with timely and appropriate care. Speaking against the backdrop of the recent death of Ms. Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene from neurotoxic complications following a snakebite, Dr. Fasawe described the incident as a painful reminder of the consequences of delayed or inadequate medical response. She stressed that all snakebite cases must be treated as medical emergencies and presumed veno...

Nigeria Prizes Open for 2026 Entries, Spotlight AI, Poetry and Documentary Film

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The Nigeria Prizes have opened entries for the 2026 competition cycle, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Poetry, and Documentary Filmmaking. The organisers announced that the Call for Entries officially commenced on Sunday, marking the start of the 2026 edition of the competition, which remains one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for recognising excellence in science, innovation, literature and the creative arts. According to the organisers, the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation will retain the theme “Innovations in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Technologies for Development”, following a no-winner outcome in the 2025 cycle. Speaking on the launch, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Ms. Sophia Horsfall, said the themes were chosen to reflect global shifts driven by digital technologies and creative expression. She noted that adv...