The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched rescue and flood assessment operations in Kaduna State following intense rainfall that triggered flooding in several communities.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, activated the agency’s Kaduna Operations Office to deploy a response team for immediate intervention. The team, led by the Chief Search and Rescue Officer, Mr. Abdulkadir Mohammed, is working with the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) and other stakeholders to rescue stranded residents and conduct rapid damage assessments.
Flood-hit areas already covered include Kigo Road, Nassarawa, Bashama Road, Haliru Dantoro Road, Kabala Constain, Rafin Guza, and adjoining communities.
The flooding, caused by torrential rainfall and the overflowing of River Kaduna, displaced several families and destroyed properties. Many affected persons are currently taking shelter with relatives and friends in safer areas.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments are ongoing as NEMA coordinates with relevant agencies to mitigate the disaster’s impact and provide humanitarian support to victims.
The South West Youth Alliance has strongly criticized Omoyele Sowore over what it described as false and misleading claims against the Inspector-General of Police.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Adenike Ajanlekoko, the group said its attention was drawn to a social media post in which Sowore alleged that the IGP was “wicked” and “illegal,” and accused him of setting up a team within the Force Intelligence Department (FID) to torture, extort, and dismiss Inspector Adebisi Adenusi after 23 years of service.
The Alliance dismissed the allegations as baseless and mischievous, insisting that no such directive or team was constituted by the police leadership.
“It is gross misconduct, tantamount to mutiny, for any serving officer to plan or lead a protest against the institution to which he belongs,” the group said, faulting Inspector Adenusi for actions it claimed violated the ethics and discipline of the Force.
On Sowore’s additional claim that a female officer arrested alongside Adenusi was brutalized and lost her pregnancy, the Alliance stated there was no medical or official record to support the allegation, describing it as fabricated and intended to mislead the public.
The group also rejected Sowore’s assertion that Adenusi was maliciously charged with sedition, noting that it is not within the activist’s authority to declare offences unlawful or pronounce verdicts outside the courts.
Calling on Nigerians to disregard what it termed Sowore’s “reckless publications,” the Alliance urged continued support for the police under the IGP’s leadership, stressing that discipline, professionalism, and the rule of law remain guiding principles of the Force.
The statement further advised Sowore to desist from “propaganda and half-truths” that could undermine public institutions and judicial processes.
The lingering controversy surrounding the alleged forgery of a West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rita Odichinma Orji, has resurfaced following concerns raised by the petitioner, Mr. Uche David Esomonu, over the slow progress of investigations.
Hon. Orji, who represented Ajeromi–Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State between 2015 and 2019 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arrested by the Nigeria Police on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Her arrest stemmed from allegations that she presented a forged WAEC certificate during her tenure in the Green Chamber. After making an initial statement, little has been heard of the matter, leading to speculation that the case may have been deliberately stalled.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Esomonu expressed shock that, despite what he described as “overwhelming evidence” against the former lawmaker, the case appears to have been swept under the carpet. He accused the police of selective justice and called for renewed action to restore public confidence in the institution.
“I wonder why this case has been swept aside despite clear evidence. The Nigerian Police must restore their dignity by reopening the case file and pursuing it to its logical conclusion. I will not relent until justice is served,” Esomonu stated.
It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, had earlier ruled that Hon. Orji has a case to answer. Delivering judgment, Justice Kawu Bello held that the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to investigate petitions brought before it, in line with Section 200 of the Constitution. The court consequently dismissed Orji’s attempt to halt police investigation and ordered her to make herself available for questioning.
The petitioner noted that, while the police had swiftly handled other cases involving certificate forgery and impersonation, the Orji matter had curiously stagnated. He cited the recent case of one Engineer Chukwubuike Azubuike, who allegedly paraded himself falsely as the “Obi of Lagos” while attempting to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of N1.5 billion under the guise of building a palace and hosting a new yam festival. Esomonu argued that if such cases could receive prompt attention, the matter against Hon. Orji should not be treated differently.
Court records indicate that Orji, upon being petitioned, initially resisted police invitations for interrogation. Instead, she approached the High Court seeking an order to restrain the police from investigating her, citing the need to protect her fundamental human rights. However, the court dismissed her suit and directed her to cooperate with law enforcement.
Despite these legal pronouncements, the petitioner insists that no meaningful progress has been made since her arrest. He warned that silence on the matter could encourage impunity and erode trust in Nigeria’s justice system.
As the controversy lingers, public interest in the case remains high, particularly within Ajeromi–Ifelodun, where Hon. Orji once wielded significant political influence and even contested again in the last general elections. Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the police will revive the investigation or allow the matter to fade into obscurity.
….. We’re Complementing Tinubu’s Development Agenda For N’Delta- Otuaro
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed over 140 beneficiaries it awarded scholarships for post-graduate studies across universities in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the pre-departure briefing/orientation ceremony for the foreign scholarship beneficiaries at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, the Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, expressed the hope that they would add value to the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria when they complete their studies.
At the event, brand new laptops were distributed to the post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries aimed at enhancing their studies and research.
Otuaro said the human resource base of the Niger Delta would be enriched when they finished their programmes, and also contribute to efforts at reducing the region’s human capital development gap.
He stressed that the massive deployment under the PAP’s formal education component complemented President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the region.
Dr Otuaro (middle in suit) in a group photograph with the beneficiaries awarded post-graduate scholarships by the PAP for studies across universities in the UK during their pre-departure briefing at the Amnesty Programme head office, Abuja, on Thursday, 11th September, 2025. Photo Credit: PAP.
Otuaro explained that the beneficiaries were deployed for studies in industry-competitive and professional disciplines, noting that “with the knowledge they will acquire, they will contribute to the development of the region and the nation in general.”
The PAP boss further said, “If you put the number of beneficiaries we are deploying today together, over 140, all of them are going for post-graduate studies in universities in the United Kingdom.
“We are confident that when they complete their studies and return, they will add value to the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta, and the human capacity resource of the region will be enriched. They will add value to our communities, the region, and the nation.
“What we are doing today is a deliberate effort to take the development agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to the people in the communities of the Niger Delta.
“When the President appointed me last year, he gave me a mandate and that is to take this programme to the people. That is what we are doing.
“We have other aspects of the PAP. However, this foreign post-graduate scholarship deployment takes cognizance of professional areas that are industry-competitive. We also deploy beneficiaries for other programmes in-country.”
He, therefore, advised them to shun distractions and take their studies seriously in order to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education, and be good ambassadors of their families, communities, the Niger Delta and the country.
Also, the Technical Assistant to the PAP Administrator, Edgar Daniel; the Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. M.O Erebulu; and the Head of PAP’s Education Department, Dr Charles Ariye delivered talks on cultural/social dynamics of studying in the UK and Europe, the diplomatic and security implications of studying abroad, and the academic dynamics of studying in the UK, respectively, to guide the beneficiaries’ conduct.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Gift Gbaminido and Amadimati Greatman, thanked the PAP Administrator for awarding them post-graduate scholarships to study abroad, and pledged to make good use of the opportunity.
A few weeks to his inauguration as governor of Enugu state on May 29 2023, I had my first meeting with Peter Mbah along with a few other colleague media personalities. The meeting, which was at the instance of my good friend, brother and perhaps one of Nigeria’s best media relations guru, Uche Anichukwu, held at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton. Present at the meeting was also my good friend Ifeanyi Ossai, then deputy governor- elect of Enugu state. For many years, I have been deeply connected to the political leadership of Enugu state to the extent that the state has become my second ‘’state of origin’’. And in these years, I have come to appreciate a leadership value system that is firmly hinged on a deep connection between the political leaders and the people of Enugu state. In my close interaction with leading lights of Enugu state such as former Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi , former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu, former house of representative members Patrick Asadu and Toby Okechukwu among many others, I have come to the realization that if there is one state in Nigeria where democracy is truly work in progress then it is my second home state.
But throughout my years of involvement in Enugu affairs, I never met Peter Mbah, who by then was busy carving a niche in the ecosystem of Nigeria’s organized private as a leading player in the oil and gas industry as the chairman of Pinnacle until the Abuja meeting. At the meeting, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a lawyer, business man and politician who previously served as chief of staff in the administration of former governor Chimaroke Nnamani, in a very calm, composed and stoic mien, took us through his vision for the state. In fact, he reiterated his campaign promises including the creation of a 30billion dollar economy, resuscitation of urban water supply, ending sit at home, upgrading of health facilities and most importantly the building of smart schools to usher Enugu children into a future that is today. Listening keenly to this gentleman, I saw a serous minded man who means the business of governance.
Satisfied that Peter Mbah knew exactly what he wanted to do as governor, I decided to quip in a little suggestion on the need for him to run a government that should be inclusive of all Nigerians resident in the state irrespective of ethnicity and religion, especially given the fact that Enugu was the former regional capital of the old Eastern Region. I specifically made this suggestion to the incoming governor, because of the widespread perception that the Igbo people of Nigeria are not accommodating of other groups as they are accommodated outside their eastern heartland home region and this issue is often weaponized against individual politicians seeking the highest office in the land from one of Nigeria’s most important sections. As I made this appeal, Governor Peter Mbah, an otherwise straight-faced man with an expressionless mien, let out a smile of appreciation without saying a word. Little did I know that I was preaching Catholicism to the Bishop of Rome.
The recent controversy surrounding the abandonment of a multi-billion naira contract for the construction of Governor Mbah’s smart schools across the state, which was awarded to Olasijibomi Ogundele, a Lagos based Yoruba property developer has clearly revealed Peter Mbah as a detribalized pan Nigerian nationalist who is leading and living out the vision of the Great Zik of Africa of one united Nigerian nation of citizens away from a fractured country of disunited tribesmen. After all it all began in 1952, when Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NCNC party threw up Mallam Umaru Altine, a Hausa speaking Muslim from northern Nigeria, who was resident in Enugu city as the Mayor of the regional capital of the Nigeria’s Igbo homeland; a feat in national integration that has remained a reference point in national unity for more than half a century.
This commentary is not about the business dispute between Brethren Olasijibomi Ogundele and Enugu state government but more about the fact that Governor Peter Mbah has shattered the myth or if you like the fallacy and falsehood about Ndigbo not being accommodating of others as they want others to accommodate them. By entrusting some of his most important project in the hands of ‘’others’’ Governor Mbah’s action has clearly vindicated the Igbo people of Nigeria and rebranded their image as a people who truly believe in the philosophy of ‘’Nwanne di na Mbah’’ [a brethren can be found in foreign land]. Interestingly, Olasijibomi Ogundele is not the first and only beneficiary of Enugu state government patronage within the context of this commentary.
Recently, the Governor commissioned five ultra-modern bus terminals in Enugu state as part of his administration’s transportation master plan to provide affordable and seamless interconnectivity across the state’s major towns and city centre. Four of those terminals were constructed by Planets Projects; a Lagos based construction whose major promoter is Eng Biodun Otunola. The modern Oshodi Bus terminal in Lagos was constructed by this firm. Similarly, the multi-billion naira Enugu state Command and Control Centre, which is reported to be the biggest in Nigeria with AI-enabled surveillance cameras across the state vide fibre optic cables, was built by Hajaraisan Nig LTD. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company is Aminu Uba Miko, an indigene of Kano state, while Ibrahim Shehu from Jigawa state was engaged to develop the Enugu State Vehicles’ Identification System Software. And XEJET, the operator of the recently launched Enugu Enugu Air; an Enugu state owned airline was founded by Emmanuel Izah from Kogi state.
The good thing about these engagements is that they were competitively bided for but the Yoruba or Hausa ethnicities of Enugu state government’s preferred bidders did not limit or diminish their chances of winning the contract in Peter Mbah’s Enugu. Just as Planets Project has a track record in transport infrastructure construction and management, so does Olasijibomi’s Sujimoto Property construction firm have a solid track record as pioneers of smart buildings in Africa. That the Enugu state government has taking steps to sanction Olasijibomi Ogundele clearly shows that Governor Mbah has no incestuous relationship with the young man and that his engagement was purely based on the belief that he can deliver on the job.
Away from these few cases amongst many others, Governor Mbah in making strategic appointments in Enugu state has demonstrated the oneness of Nigeria, where the principles of inclusion, equity and justice reigns supreme. The Managing Director of Enugu state Broadcasting Service is Ladi Akeredolu-Ale, a veteran broadcaster from Ondo state, while theman helping Governor Peter Mbah to drive his vision for available, accessible and affordable healthcare is Dr Yomi Jaye, his Special Adviser on Health Matters. To boost the IGR of the state, Governor Mbah hired Adenike Okebu as his Senior Special Assistant on Revenue. While Alh Abubakar Yusuf Sambo serves as the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, the Commander of Enugu Forest Guard is Olamitisoji Akinbamilayo, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police who served in the Enugu state Command. The retired DCP was in charge of operations when Governor Mbah directed the full implementation of the ban on sit-at-home and other violent activities by miscreants. For his meritorious service to the state, DCP Akinbamilayo was retained by the state as part of its security management team.
Peter Mbah’s Enugu state is the Nigeria of our dreams. And when the Igbo people of Nigeria are accused wrongly, they should point in the direction of Peter Mbah’s Enugu State. Like I have consistently maintained, Nigerians are essentially one people and the various ethnic groupings are simply members of the same family that are living in different parts of the family compound. A movement from one part of the family compound to another should not render a member of the family an outsider inside his/her family compound. This is called citizenship. And as citizens of Nigeria, we should be free to reside in any part of the federation without the dichotomy of ‘’indigene and settler’’ wherein one’s ethnicity can enhance or diminish access to state provision and protection. The fundamental condition preceding national development and security of any sovereign entity is the social cohesion, national integration and unity of the constituent peoples. Now we know why Peter Mbah’s Enugu State is working progressively.
“If we want to boost border security, we have to help law enforcement agencies beef up their resources to meet this demand. We cannot have one without the other” – Henry Cuellar
On Thursday, 11th September 2025, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, hosted a landmark conference with commanders of all border patrol units across the country.
This gathering was not just another meeting; it was a timely intervention and a moment to renew the Nigeria Police Force’s shared commitment to the sacred task of defending our nation’s borders and protecting Nigerians from threats that exploit our weaknesses.
There is no doubt that the porosity of our borders has long been a national vulnerability. We have witnessed the inflow of small arms and light weapons fueling violence in villages and cities. Contraband goods continue to sneak in, crippling our local industries and weakening economic resilience. Vulnerable women and children have been trafficked across borders by ruthless syndicates.
Terrorists and criminal groups have taken advantage of these loopholes to infiltrate and destabilize communities. These realities make the IGP’s conference not only timely but necessary.
It is encouraging to note the recent successes of our security agencies in responding to these challenges. Only recently, the interception of a shipping container from Turkey carrying over 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition, concealed among furniture, was a remarkable feat.
This operation exposed the scale of the threats we face and, at the same time, highlighted the capacity of our security architecture when vigilance and collaboration are applied. Such achievements deserve commendation.
Particular praise must go to the officers of the Border Patrol Section. They bear an enormous responsibility not just of policing boundaries, but of shaping the very future of Nigeria. Each interception, each prevented infiltration, is an act of service that protects lives, secures livelihoods, and strengthens national stability.
However, success cannot be sustained without adequate support. I therefore call on the Federal Government to provide the Nigeria Police Force with sufficient funding to embrace technology in border management.
Surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and real-time data analysis tools are no longer luxuries, they are necessities in the fight against insecurity. With these tools, the goal of policing will not be to wait for crime to occur, but to prevent it, disrupt it, and dismantle it before it matures.
Beyond funding, seamless collaboration is essential. Border security cannot be handled in isolation. The Police must work hand in hand with the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Armed Forces, and other stakeholders.
Intelligence-sharing, joint operations, and coordinated responses are the only way to ensure that no weak link undermines the entire chain of security.
IGP Egbetokun’s vision, reflected in this conference, is one that deserves commendation. It signals that the Nigeria Police Force understands the magnitude of the challenges at our borders and is willing to confront them with renewed vigor and purpose.
Now, it is up to the government, relevant agencies, and indeed all Nigerians to support this effort.
Nigeria’s future depends on secure borders. With leadership, technology, and collaboration, we can close the gaps, safeguard our communities, and strengthen the sovereignty of our nation.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole 08166240846
The Delta State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against crime with the arrest of a suspected cultist and armed robbers in separate operations, leading to the recovery of firearms and ammunition.
According to a press release signed by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) on September 10, 2025, trailed and arrested one Oluwatobi Olugbemi, 29, a native of Ikenne-Remo in Ogun State but resident in Ibusa, Delta State. A search warrant executed at his residence led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol loaded with one round of ammunition. The suspect confessed to being a member of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as “Arrow Barger.”
In a related development, operatives of Safe Delta arrested suspected armed robbers in two separate incidents. On September 9, 2025, during a surveillance patrol along DBS Road, operatives intercepted a group of young men engaged in a fight. One of the suspects, identified as Raphael Chukwuemeka, 23, was arrested with a cut-to-size double-barrel pistol and seven live cartridges.
CP Abaniwanda Surajudeen Olufemi
Similarly, on September 10, 2025, at about 10:30 a.m., Safe Delta operatives on stop-and-search duty at Head Bridge, Asaba, arrested three suspects—22-year-old Solomon Offor, 19-year-old Ifesinachi Nwankeze, and 23-year-old Ambrose Ugwuba. A locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, cartridges, and a dagger concealed in a bag were recovered from them.
All suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling cultism, armed robbery, and other criminal activities across the state.
Tier-one lender Fidelity Bank Plc will host a high-profile panel session titled “Digital Railroads: Powering U.S.–Africa Commerce Through Fintech” at the upcoming Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) in Atlanta, USA.
The session, scheduled for Friday, 19 September 2025, will explore how fintech is reshaping cross-border trade by enabling seamless payments, improving access to finance, and driving financial inclusion across Africa and the diaspora.
The panel will bring together some of the brightest minds in digital finance including: Aisha N. Ahmad, CFA, Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Seyi Ebenezer, Founder of Payaza Africa, and a seasoned fintech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience scaling payment gateways across 20 African countries, Canada, the USA, and UAE; and Charles Oligbo, Founder & CEO of Sawport, an AI-powered platform designed for real-time customer engagement in the diaspora and on the continent.
Speaking ahead of the session, Isaiah Ndukwe, Divisional Head, Agric. and Exports, Fidelity Bank Plc, highlighted fintech’s unique role in unlocking Africa’s trade potential, “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is projected to boost intra-African trade by more than 50% by 2030. But challenges like fragmented payment systems, currency conversion, and limited trade finance continue to hold businesses back.
“Fintechs are uniquely positioned to address these gaps—enabling real-time, low-cost cross-border payments, offering alternative financing for SMEs, creating digital identities for exporters, and facilitating diaspora remittances and investments. This is why we’re putting fintech at the heart of discussions at FNITCC Atlanta.”
Hosted in partnership with AFRICON—the premier global gathering of African innovators and changemakers—FNITCC Atlanta will run from 18 to 20 September 2025 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park, Georgia, USA. The event is expected to attract over 3,000 participants, including investors, trade agencies, exporters, and diaspora professionals, with projected trade and investment deals of more than US$400 million.
Building on the success of previous editions in London (2022) and Houston (2023), this year’s conference underscores Fidelity Bank’s commitment to leveraging fintech as a catalyst for U.S.–Africa commerce, while creating new opportunities across commodities, technology, and the creative industries.
According to the African Development Bank, Africa’s fintech revenues are projected to hit US$30 billion by 2025—a clear sign that digital finance is not just powering transactions but also rewriting the future of trade.
Interested businesses and participants are encouraged to register for the conference at www.fidelitybank.ng/fnitcc .
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial bank with over 9.1 million customers who are serviced across its 251 business offices and various digital banking channels in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
…. Nigeria Assures Angola On Revived Joint Commission
The Nigerian government, on Thursday, facilitated a landmark twinning agreement on socio-economic and cultural development between Bayelsa State and Namibe, a province of Angola.
It also midwifed another economic cooperation deal between Nasarawa State and the Angolan province of Bengo.
A press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Friday, stated that the agreements on Sister-Cities development as well as bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Angola were part of activities of the three-day fifth Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Joint Economic Commission meetings, which was revived after 24 years, in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, who led the Nigerian delegation, signed on behalf of the Federal Government and the Angolan Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Amb. Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes, signed for his country.
Governor Douye Diri equally signed for Bayelsa while his Namibe counterpart, Dr. Archer Mangueira, represented his province at the ceremony.
The twinning agreement entails both Bayelsa and Namibe cooperating on economic and environmental development, urban city management as well as agricultural manpower training.
It also includes citizenship relations between local communities, social and economic agents as well as cooperation on energy, education, culture, tourism and sports development.
Addressing the media with his Namibe counterpart after the signing ceremony, the Bayelsa governor, who described the agreement as historic, said it marked the concretisation of a relationship that began early this year when he first embarked on an exploratory visit to the coastal province.
Governor Diri commended the Federal Government for considering Bayelsa in the bilateral cooperation arrangement with Angola, saying it would open new vistas for economic growth and development of the state.
He noted that both states had commonalities in natural resource endowment and that the cooperation would boost the economic potential of the littoral states.
He said: “Signing this important agreement between our two countries and two states is very historic for us from Bayelsa State, coming at a time our host, Angola, was marking its 50th independence anniversary.
“I recall that early this year I was in Namibe and I saw the level of natural endowments in that province. That also goes for Bayelsa. Both states are naturally endowed and there is so much we can do that would be mutually beneficial to us as states and our countries.”
Diri appreciated Mangueira for the hospitality during his visit and the Angolan government for the warm reception accorded the Nigerian delegation.
The Namibe governor also commended the government of both countries for the twinning agreement, saying it was the beginning of a milestone cooperation between the two states.
“This agreement provides an opportunity to establish areas of comparative advantage. We have common geographical features as Bayelsa. On behalf of the government and people of Namibe, I welcome this agreement and my brother from Bayelsa.”
Earlier, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Angolan counterpart, Amb. Lopes praised both countries for resuscitating the joint commission.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, while recalling the historic bonds between Nigeria and Angola, dating back to 1975 when Angola became independent, noted the significance of the joint commission.
L-R: Director, Economic, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Angolan Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Amb. Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Director-General, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Dr Yusuf Yakub, during the fifth Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Economic Joint Commission meeting in Luanda Photo: Bayelsa State Government
She said: “This joint commission reaffirms the friendly and cooperative ties between Nigeria and Angola as important partners. As such, there is the need to continuously work together to realise the fullest potential of our bilateral cooperation. Our long bilateral relations since the establishment of the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Luanda in 1975 has brought us to where we are today.
“Our meeting in the last three days was not only to reflect on the state of our bilateral relations but also to identify new areas of cooperation in keeping with our collective desire to enhance partnership for a better future. We deserve to achieve sustainable economic growth, job creation, people-to-people contact, and poverty reduction for our peoples.
“The joint commission between our two countries thus provides a good framework to develop strategies with a view to strengthening and broadening our bilateral relations. The signing of the three agreements, including the historic twinning agreement Bayelsa State of Nigeria and the Province of Namibe in Angola in areas of cooperation, not only signal our collective desire to promote economic, political, cultural, social, educational and scientific cooperation. It also marks a strategic partnership to boost economic growth and create employment opportunities thus making a contribution in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment in our two countries.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the contributions of the delegates at the meeting were indicative of the resolve of the two countries to effectively collaborate.
“We brought to the table 28 Memoranda of Understanding, which various sub-committees carefully deliberated and will continue to further deliberate upon. The long hours spent by our officials underscore the seriousness and importance that the two delegations attached to the subjects under consideration. I thank both sides for their sacrifices in this regard.
“In negotiations, no side gets completely what it wants or desires. Therefore, what we have in the document before us is a measure of the shared responsibilities our two countries owe each other as we move our relationship to the next level.
“Let me on behalf of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria assure the Republic of Angola that we will deploy the necessary political will in implementation of the content of the document as it is in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu. We also expect the same from the Republic of Angola to sustain the level of relationship in the interest of our two nations.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has tasked Commanders of the Nigeria Police Border Patrol Section to renew their commitment to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and combating cross-border crimes.
Speaking at the Conference of Commanders of Border Patrol Bases held in Abuja, the IGP emphasized that Nigeria’s borders, stretching over 4,000 kilometers of land and maritime corridors, remain critical to national security, trade, and stability. He warned that their porosity has long been exploited by criminals for arms smuggling, drug trafficking, contraband trade, terrorism, and human trafficking.
“Our borders are Nigeria’s doors. If they are weak, every danger walks in freely. You are the guardians of those doors and the sentinels at the edges of our sovereignty,” he declared.
Egbetokun cited recent successes, including the interception of a shipping container from Turkey carrying over 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition, as proof of what intelligence, vigilance, and inter-agency collaboration can achieve. He stressed that policing can no longer be reactive, urging officers to embrace modern technology such as drones, biometric scanners, surveillance systems, and data analysis to match the sophistication of transnational criminal networks.
The IGP also highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, community trust, and seamless collaboration with the Customs Service, Immigration, Armed Forces, and international partners including ECOWAS, the African Union, INTERPOL, and the UNODC.
On welfare, Egbetokun assured officers that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed, pledging continuous efforts to improve mobility assets, housing, insurance, and general welfare support. He also honored fallen officers who had paid the ultimate price in defending Nigeria’s borders.
In a directive to all Commanders, the Police Chief ordered the submission of monthly reports detailing arms seizures, narcotics interceptions, human trafficking rescues, and other notable operations, warning that failure to account for activities would be treated as dereliction of duty.
He concluded with a charge: “Every patrol you order, every checkpoint you strengthen, and every network you dismantle must show the world that Nigeria’s borders are defended. Let history record that the Border Patrol Section stood firm when Nigeria needed them most.”
