SA News

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally fabricated pistol and assorted charms during a routine patrol in the Igando area of the state . The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Olajunja Segun Samson, was apprehended after a police patrol team intercepted a motorcycle carrying three men who reportedly acted suspiciously.  The command in a statement by its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi on Wednesday said the trio attempted to flee on sighting the officers, but one of them was arrested while the other two escaped, abandoning the motorcycle. SP Adebisi said a search of the suspect and the abandoned motorcycle led to the recovery of the locally fabricated pistol and assorted charms.  She said the suspect is in police custody, while efforts are underway to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation into the case is ongoing. The state Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the officers for their vigilanc...

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, has been named the Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief in West and Central Africa for 2025 in recognition of the crime-fighting strategies he introduced during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State. The award, conferred by the Security Watch Africa Initiative Network at the 19th African Security Watch Awards in Banjul, The Gambia, was presented to Jimoh at his Lagos office by the organisation's International Coordinator, Patrick Apambu, and National Coordinator, Elizabeth Ndanku.  The senior police officer was unable to attend the award ceremony in The Gambia due to official engagements. Receiving the award, AIG Jimoh described the recognition as a tribute to the collective efforts of officers and personnel under his command.  He attributed the success to initiatives such as the establishment of the Eko Strike Force, which expanded from two patrol vehicles to more than 18, compl...

President Bola Tinubu   By Seye Oladejo, Lagos APC Chieftain The debate over national borrowing has once again dominated public discourse following the approval of additional borrowing requests by the National Assembly. Predictably, critics have seized on the figures to paint an alarming picture of a nation sinking under the weight of debt. While vigilance over public finances is both necessary and commendable, it is equally important to separate political rhetoric from economic reality. Borrowing, in itself, is neither a virtue nor a vice. It is simply an instrument of economic management. The real issue is whether the borrowed funds are deployed productively to create assets that stimulate growth, expand the productive base of the economy and improve the quality of life of citizens. Judged by this standard, the borrowing strategy of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration deserves a more objective appraisal. President Tinubu inherited an economy confronted by multiple stru...

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Africana League and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) have cautioned the Federal Government against relying solely on state police to tackle Nigeria's worsening insecurity, saying broader governance and socio-economic reforms are needed to address the root causes of violence and crime. The civil society organisations made the submission during a webinar organised by CAPPA titled "Insecurity and State Policing in Nigeria: The Way Forward."  They called for a comprehensive approach that combines policing and justice sector reforms with good governance, economic opportunities, stronger accountability mechanisms and meaningful youth participation. Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said insecurity is driven by governance failures, poverty, unemployment, corruption, impunity and weak institutions, stressing that police reforms alone cannot solve the country's security...

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, has decorated Dr Opeyemi Ojo with his new rank following his promotion from Inspector to Superintendent of Police. The decoration ceremony, held at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, followed the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the approval of the Police Service Commission for the conversion of the medical doctor from the Inspectorate cadre to the rank of Superintendent of Police. Speaking at the event, CP Fatai described the promotion as a recognition of Dr Ojo's professional competence, dedication and contributions to healthcare service delivery within the Nigeria Police Force.  He urged the newly promoted officer to remain committed to his duties and uphold the ethics of the medical profession and the core values of the Force. The Lagos State Police Command congratulated Superintendent (Dr) Opeyemi Ojo on his promotion and wished him continued success in his career and servi...

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to police reform, state policing and stronger inter-agency collaboration to address the country's evolving security challenges. The IGP gave the assurance on Wednesday while receiving the Commandant, management, directing staff and participants of the National Defence College (NDC) on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.  Discussions focused on police reform, state policing, command and coordination protocols, and other emerging internal security issues. The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral A. Ahmed, said a research paper presented during the visit was produced entirely by police officers undergoing training at the College, with faculty members providing only academic guidance.  He said the study offers practical and implementable recommendations that would contribute to the national conversation on police reform and strengthen the ca...

The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have pledged to deepen collaboration in tackling money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes through enhanced intelligence sharing and joint operations. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajia Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.  Bakari said the partnership between both agencies was critical to Nigeria's security architecture, noting that the 2027 Mutual Evaluation would assess how effectively the Police uses NFIU intelligence to investigate financial crimes and secure convictions. She commended the Inspector-General for approving a joint stock-taking exercise between the two institutions and called for expanded Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) awareness across police commands nationwide....

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has announced plans to expand its operations beyond the ongoing Train 7 project, saying Nigeria must urgently unlock its vast gas resources to maximise economic opportunities and strengthen its position in the global energy market. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Adeleye Falade, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos during the presentation of the 2026 NLNG Facts and Figures, where he outlined the company's achievements and long-term growth strategy. Falade said the completion of the Train 7 project would increase NLNG's production capacity by 35 per cent from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, while domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production would rise by 50 per cent. He revealed that the company had already commenced exploratory discussions on further expansion projects beyond Train 7, noting that Nigeria risks losing relevance in the global LNG market if it fails to monetise its abunda...

Public health advocates from 12 African countries have converged on Lagos for a five-day training programme aimed at strengthening the continent's capacity to monitor and counter tobacco industry interference in public health policies. The training, organised by the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM), is being hosted in Nigeria for the first time and has attracted participants from Kenya, Nigeria, Benin, Botswana, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal and Zimbabwe. Speaking at the opening of the programme, ATIM Director and Head of the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria, Prof. Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, said tobacco industry interference remains a major obstacle to effective tobacco control across Africa. He said the course was designed to equip advocates with the skills needed to proactively monitor, document and counter industry tactics through evidence-based research and ...

Governor Umo Bassey Eno ‎ By Lucy Daniel ‎ ‎ For decades, crude oil sustained Nigeria's economy, funding infrastructure and government programmes. But fluctuating global oil prices and the reality that petroleum is a finite resource have underscored an important truth: the future belongs to economies that can feed themselves. Agriculture is no longer just a rural occupation; it is fast becoming the new oil of the 21st century. ‎This vision is reflected in the Agricultural Revolution pillar of Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD's ARISE Agenda. His administration's distribution of agro-inputs to schools and support for farmers is more than a government programme. It is a strategic investment in food security, economic diversification, job creation and shared prosperity. ‎The distribution of cassava cuttings, hybrid maize seeds, improved coconut seedlings, pepper, pumpkin, tomato and okra seeds, alongside fertilizers, to 164 public secondary schools and 30 primary schools, a...

By Tunde Rahman When the 2023 presidential election results were announced, many analysts and commentators gave a largely unanimous verdict regarding the voting pattern in the South-east. The region had voted almost entirely along the ethnic line. The figures told part of the story: Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party swept the zone with over 1.8 million votes. In comparison, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress recorded just about 127,000 votes across the five South-east states. Three years into the President Tinubu administration, that electoral map is already being redrawn - not by rhetoric, but by landmark projects, appointments in strategic positions and deliberate political engagement. The South-east has historically complained of federal neglect, specifically in relation to federal presence. President Tinubu has moved to close that gap with visible infrastructure projects.  The federal projects, completed or ongoing in the zone, are now too numerous for one to l...

By Seye Oladejo,  Lagos APC Chieftain One of the recurring criticisms against successive governments in Nigeria has been the inability of millions of hardworking young people to access affordable financing for their businesses. Across the country, countless brilliant business ideas have remained on the drawing board, not because of a lack of talent or determination, but because conventional financial institutions have erected nearly insurmountable barriers in the form of collateral requirements, guarantors, and prohibitively expensive lending conditions. The launch of the YOUTHCRED for Entrepreneurs Initiative by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is therefore much more than another government programme. It is a strategic intervention that addresses several socio-economic challenges simultaneously. It is, indeed, an initiative that kills several birds with one stone. The programme’s design reflects a deep understanding of the realities facing Nigeria’s youth. By making ...

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced disciplinary proceedings against four officers captured in a viral video allegedly displaying unprofessional conduct and making derogatory ethnic remarks during a stop-and-search operation on the Lagos-Benin Expressway. The Force in a statement by its spokesman, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the officers, comprising one Assistant Superintendent of Police and three Inspectors, have been identified and taken into custody pending an orderly room trial. Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation to determine the level of involvement of each officer and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures. According to the Police, the conduct seen in the video does not reflect the values and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force. The Force stressed that ethnic profiling and disrespect towards any citizen would not be tolerated, warning that o...

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has stressed that responsible handling of personal data is central to its anti-corruption mandate, saying public confidence depends on the Commission's ability to protect sensitive information. ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), stated this while declaring open a one-day sensitisation and awareness programme on data protection and privacy for officers and staff at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja. Represented by the Director of Legal Services, Henry Emore, the chairman said the Commission handles large volumes of personal information relating to petitioners, suspects, witnesses, complainants, employees, contractors and members of the public in the course of its investigations. He noted that every personal record in the Commission's custody represents an individual's dignity, privacy and trust, making it imperative for officers to process and safeguard such information lawfully a...

With 21 days to the Osun State governorship election, a coalition of civil society organisations has scheduled a Citizens' Town Hall to promote electoral integrity and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process . The event, organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity, will hold on Sunday, July 26, in Osogbo, bringing together electoral officials, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, persons with disabilities, media practitioners and other stakeholders. The network comprises the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre, the International Press Centre (IPC), the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) and YIAGA Africa. According to the organisers in a statement signed by the IPC's Communications Officer, Olutoyin Ayoade,  the non-partisan town hall is designed to provide a platform for citizens to engage directly with key institutions responsible for the...

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports claiming that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu directed officers to "shoot anyone with illegal firearms," describing the reports as false and misleading. In a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Inieduon Saturday, the Force said the police chief's remarks at a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, were taken out of context and did not amount to a "shoot-on-sight" directive. According to the statement, the IGP merely reminded officers that only legally authorised security personnel are permitted to carry firearms and expressed concern over the proliferation of illegal weapons used in kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, cultism and other violent crimes. The Police explained that Disu also drew the attention of officers to Force Order 237, which outlines the legal conditions under which police personnel may use fir...

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu with other stakeholders in Makurdi, Benue State. The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports claiming that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu issued a "shoot-on-sight" order during a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State. In a clarification issued on Saturday, the Force said the IGP's remarks had been taken out of context, insisting that he never directed officers to shoot suspects on sight. According to the police, Disu merely reminded officers that they had been briefed on Force Order 237, which outlines the legal and operational conditions governing the use of firearms by police personnel. https://sulaymon07.blogspot.com/2026/07/igp-disu-pledges-tougher-security.html The Force said the Inspector-General emphasised that officers understand when the use of firearms is lawful and must always act in line with the established Rules of Engagement. It added that the IGP also warned that illegal posses...

The Nigeria Police Force has commissioned a new Armourer Office, Provost Office and a fully equipped Sick Bay and Pharmacy at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 7 in Abuja as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and personnel welfare. The projects were inaugurated by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit, Olufemi Haruna, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu. The facilities were conceived and executed under the leadership of the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 7, CSP Hassan Adamu. Speaking at the ceremony, Haruna said the projects align with the Inspector-General's vision of strengthening infrastructure and enhancing the welfare of police personnel across the country. He commended the commanding officer for his initiative, describing the facilities as a significant contribution to improving the operational readiness and well-being of officers. The AIG urged other police commanders to emulate th...

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has pledged intensified security operations in Benue State as part of efforts to tackle the persistent farmer-herder crisis and other violent crimes. The police chief made the commitment during a strategic meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia and key stakeholders at the Benue State Government Banquet Hall in Makurdi. The meeting brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, as well as representatives of farmers' associations to discuss solutions to the state's security challenges. Addressing participants, the IGP identified the proliferation of sophisticated firearms as a major factor fuelling recurring violence across communities. He urged residents, particularly young people, to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities, assuring them that the identities of informants would be protected. Disu also called for stronger collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, othe...

By Seye Oladejo, Lagos APC Chieftai n There are moments in the life of a nation when a single diplomatic communication transcends protocol and assumes profound political significance. The recent letter from the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one such moment. Far from being a routine exchange of courtesies between Heads of State, the letter is a resounding endorsement of President Tinubu’s leadership, particularly his commitment to confronting terrorism, protecting vulnerable communities and strengthening Nigeria’s strategic partnership with the United States. For the opposition, however, the letter could not have come at a more inconvenient time. For over two years, they have spared no effort in projecting Nigeria as a country adrift-isolated diplomatically, overwhelmed by insecurity and devoid of purposeful leadership. They have sought to convince Nigerians that the international community has lost confidence in the Tinubu administra...

By Seye Oladejo, Lagos APC Chieftain Since assuming office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked Nigerians to endure difficult but necessary economic reforms in pursuit of long-term national prosperity. Predictably, public discourse has focused largely on the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate unification, fiscal reforms and efforts to restore macroeconomic stability. While these bold economic decisions have dominated headlines, another, quieter transformation has been unfolding-one that directly impacts the everyday Nigerian. It is the emergence of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as one of the most responsive and people-oriented institutions of government. If there is one agency that increasingly represents the human face of the Renewed Hope Agenda, it is undoubtedly the FCCPC. For decades, Nigerian consumers endured exploitative business practices with little confidence that any public institution would stand firmly in their defence. Arbitrary ...