FrontLineNews

  "Arrests 4 notorious trans-border traffickers in Adamawa, 51 in Kano; seizes tons of illicit substances in Kebbi, Kwara, FCT" No fewer than Two Million Seven Hundred and Fifty (2,750,000) tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 1,650 kilograms worth One Billion Three Hundred and Seventy Five Million Naira (N1, 375, 000,000) have been intercepted at the Apapa port in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.  The consignment packed in 55 cartons of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol types of Tramadol was seized during examination of a container number SUDU 7538656 on Saturday 30th July following credible intelligence.  This comes on the heels of similar efforts by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja that thwarted bids by drug traffickers to export various psychoactive substances to London, UK and Dubai, UAE through the Lagos airport in the past week. At least, five suspects have so far been arrested in conne...

  A Chieftain of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) and an Aspirant to the house of Assembly,Ikeja Constituency 1, Hon Adegboyga Kuku, has embarked on massive mobilization of the youth for the candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.   The Politician from Lagos Ikeja constituency 1,also doubles as the south west Youth Coordinator of The Asiwaju Group (TAG),a group supporting the APC candidate ,while addressing the youth leaders of the six south west states, he disclosed that the APC candidate is the best for the presidency of the country come 2023.  He opined that from the array of candidates ,the jagaban of Borgu kingdom is the most qualified,most competent and most connected with passion for development and growth of the country.  Hon Kuku,equally enjoined the south west states youth leaders to join TAG in the mobilization programmes,empowerment initiatives and informed agenda for the Asiwaju presidency, stressing that their future is guarant...

In an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and proficiency, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command,  instructional and staff appointments across NA formations and units.  Those affected in the redeployment released on Thursday 28 July 2022, include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers,  amongst others.  Some of the senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Major General UT Musa from Headquarters 81 Division to Headquarters 82 Division and appointed GOC,  Major General TA Lagbaja from Headquarters 82 Division to Headquarters 1 Division and appointed GOC, Major General OC Ajunwa from Nigeria Defence Section Brasilia to HQ 81 Division and appointed GOC...

  The allegation of gross impersonation and assault over a landed property in GRA Ikeja against Mr. Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is untrue. The accusation against Ayinde by some online publications, including Sahara Reporters over a landed property allegedly belonging to Chief Adetunji Omisore and one Tajudeen Mohammed, at No. 4, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja, was debunked by multiple sources, who revealed with necessary documents that the property belongs to the Lagos State Government and not Tayo Ayinde as alleged by Omisore and Mohammed in the online publications.   It was gathered from multiple sources that the property which Ayinde was accused to have ‘forcibly obtained’ was one of the properties the Federal Government returned to the Lagos State Government, which was subsequently recovered from Omisore and Mohammed when the government needed to make use of it.   Our correspondent learned further that the Go...

 Lagos Declares Work-Free Day For Civil Servants To Register, Collect PVC The Lagos State Government has declared four work-free days to different categories of public servants to encourage state workers to register or collect their Permanent Voters Card ahead of the 2023 general elections.   In a statement signed by the state’s Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, he said this move by the state government is to ensure that workers are encouraged to perform their civil rights. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission recently disclosed that only seven million of the over fifteen million Lagos residents have registered for PVC. Staff in grade levels 01, 03, 07 and 15 will take off Tuesday, 26th July while grade level 02, 04, 08 and 13 will register on Wednesday 27th July.   Thursday 28th July is reserved for staff in grade level 05, 09, 12 and 17 while staff in level 06, 10, 14 and 16 will register on Friday, July 29th. “Consequently, it is notified for g...

  By Kayode Olasekun A perfect example of a sincere and grateful friend, We became friends in the same secondary school we attended, haven  grew up and raised in the same community in the 70s.   ALABA Julius Ropo is a friend with leadership qualities, an attribute that became noticeable since our growing up days.   Ropo was well brought up with good parental influence. Little wonder he started doing well for himself at the very early stage of his working age. He was already an administrator and intellectually inclined before I facilitated his change in career and moved him into Federal Government employment from his State Govt level where he had risen significantly to senior staff. At the Federal level, he became committed and loyal as a friend despite his both sound academic and emotional intelligence. Last month in Oka Akoko, his Station. I had traveled to join my friend to celebrate his Dad's burial. Fortunately, Ropo had led a team of Operatives to the ...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested six men and two women over attempts to import hundreds of cocaine pellets into Nigeria and export thousands of tramadol 255mg tablets among other illicit drugs to Europe via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. According to the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the streaks of arrests and seizures began on Sunday 17th July when a 52-year-old father of three, Okwo Okechukwu, was arrested upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via an Ethiopian airline flight at the Abuja airport for ingesting 76 pellets of cocaine. Babafemi said during preliminary interrogation, Okechukwu said he was into selling women’s wigs and hair attachment before veering into the drug trade. Okechukwu excreted all the 76 wraps of the drug he swallowed while under observation at the NDLEA’s facility in Abuja. In ...

  Officers of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on patrol of Orile Iganmu, early hours of yesterday recovered two locally made shot gun from robbers.   Commander RRS, CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, acting on credible intelligence had directed one of the squad’s tactical teams to patrol the area to forestall criminal activities in the environ.   The directive was premised on the sighting of nocturnal movement of some strange faces in the area.  The team had during patrol of the area around 2:00 a.m. heard sounds of gun shots and raced to the scene.   The suspects on sighting the team dropped an object and fled the scene.  On combing the area, the policemen recovered two locally made shot guns and one live cartridges near the point the men were spotted.   The Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi while commending the team has ordered full scale investigation and a sustained hunt for the fleeing criminals; assuring Lagosians that, no stone will be left unturned as the c...

      Billionaire industrialist and Africa’s foremost philanthropist, ABDUL Samad RABIU has donated 3million Dollars development grant to the Republic of Niger. The presentation of the Grant was done personally by the Billionaire philanthropist himself at the Nigerien State House in the country’s capital, Niamey this weekend. Speaking at the presentation, Abdul Samad Rabiu disclosed that himself and his conglomerate has a long standing relationship with the country. He also revealed that he was indeed very pleased to come and visit the Nigerien President who he described as his brother. He also added that the President has been a close family friend for many years and he was therefore gladdened by the warm reception he was given in the nation’s seat of government.   Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative was established by the Billionaire industrialist and Africa’s foremost philanthropist to ginger development across the continent. The ASR AFRICA was established in 2021...

  Background The late Nelson was born to the family of Tinubu-Meredith and Laja on February 9, 1956.  She was a teacher at Corona School Apapa for a short period of time before enrolling for Nursing and Midwifery courses at the University College Hospital Ibadan. She was the former Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Job Creation. Olukemi Nelson was a Nigerian politician and socialite. She was the Executive Director of the Nigerian Insurance Social Trust Fund (NSTIF). Kemi Nelson Early Life, Education Nelson was born in Lagos and had her primary school education at Anglican girls Primary school Surulere and Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode for her secondary education. For her tertiary education, she attended school of Nursing in the University College Hospital Ibadan where she qualified as a registered Nurse and Midwife. She got an MBA in Financial Management and a Diploma in Law from the Lagos State University Ojo. Kemi Nelson Career In the 1980s,...

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has allocated 259 houses in Maiduguri to the Nigeria Police. The governor equally released a total sum of N110m lifeline to help boost the morale of the Nigerian Police. Zulum gave out the houses and financial commitment during the commissioning of Borno’s branch of the Nigerian Police Force Microfinance Bank (NPFM Bank) on Thursday in Maiduguri. The Microfinance bank is designed to provide financial services to aid small and medium enterprises for police families, their affiliates and civilians in Borno State. The Bank’s unveiling in Maiduguri was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali.  Before the unveiling, Zulum explained that the allocation of over 259 houses to the police was meant to compensate the state command for government’s use of some portions of land belonging to the police, for development of some infrastructures in the state capital.  On the N110 million he announced, the governor said that 50% ...

  Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Thursday sentenced a Nollywood actor, James  Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as  Baba Ijesha, to sixteen (16)years imprisonment for assaulting a teenager.  Baba Ijesha is facing six counts of child defilement that include indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration. The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, which proffered the charges against the actor, argued that the offences contravene Section 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, which stipulates life imprisonment for offenders. Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the counts. However, a Closed-Circuit Television video recording detailing his relationship with the victim said to be a minor was played in court. Delivering the judgement, Justice Taiwo said that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasona...

   …queries officer for boycotting due process  Nigerians have been advised to follow due process in their passport application and shun patronizing touts who will end up disrupting the standardized procedure. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated this on Wednesday when he paid a surprise visit to the Alausa Passport Office of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Lagos. “I have said it for the umpteenth time that Nigerians must stop patronizing touts either in uniforms or in civilian clothing. The only way for you to apply for your passport is online. “The attempt to get passport on-the-go and boycott the standardize collection timeline of three weeks for reissue and  six weeks for fresh application after capturing, which is the main reason why many patronize touts, will only end up in disappointment.  “Our appointment-based system for capturing applicants data and standardized passport collection procedure has made nonsense of promise by touts to ...

      The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Abdul-Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, on his reappointment as President of the France-Nigeria Business Council by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Tinubu’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement shared via his verified social media channels on Wednesday. According to the former governor of Lagos state, the BUA chairman over the past decades has continued to build industries across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The statement reads, “Today, I celebrate one of Nigeria’s biggest industrialists and philanthropists, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group on his reappointment by President Macron of France as President of the France Nigeria Business Council in Paris.   “This reappointment reaffirms Alh. Rabiu’s commitment to the economic development of Nigeria, and the con...

  The Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin local government,Engr Valentine Oluwaseyi Buraimoh has commiserated with the family of former speaker of the Lagos state house of Assembly,Rt Hon Abayomi Kiyomi on his  passage.   While reacting to the death of the former Lagos speaker, Engr Buraimoh described him as a firm,assertive and disciplined politician,community leader and a great son of the state. The council boss stated that he had interaction severally with the deceased and was always about the progress and development of the local government area..  The council boss prayed for the repose of the soul of Rt Hon.Kiyomi, stressing that the local government is with them in their trying period.  In his words " the demise of Rt Hon Abayomi Kiyomi came to us in the local government as a shock. He was a disciplined politician, dependable community leader and  pride of Lagos. I want to place on record our condolences to the the people of Amuwo Odofin , especia...

Death has been announced of a former speaker of the Lagos state house of Assembly,Rt Hon. Abayomi Kiyomi. Rt Hon Kiyomi passed on Tuesday at a private hospital in Festac area of  Amuwo Odofin area of the state after a brief illness at the age of 82 years.  His remains will be committed to mother earth today Wednesday according to a message by the former chairman of Amuwo Odofin local government,Hon. Ayo Adewale. Rt. Hon. Abayomi Kinyomi, Speaker  Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly under the administration of Sir Michael Otedola, the former Executive Governor of Lagos State from January 1992 to November 1993.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, on his reappointment as President of the France-Nigeria Business Council by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. The President commends Rabiu for his very pivotal role in nudging forward the objectives of the association inaugurated a year ago, and for retaining the trust and confidence of members of the strategic Council. The President acknowledges with delight that under one year of Rabiu’s leadership the Council has recorded appreciable progress in plans by some of Nigeria’s biggest banks to set up subsidiaries in France, BUA’s partnership with Axes France to build a 200,000bpd refinery in Akwa Ibom State, among others.   President Buhari assures the Chairman of BUA and Pioneer President of the Council of  Federal Government’s  unflinching support as top business leaders continue to build strategic partnerships aimed at improving  business relations between th...

              Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, one of Africa’s largest foods, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure companies, has been re-appointed as President of the France Nigeria Business Council by President Emmanuel Macron of France. This was announced at the July 2022 Meeting of the France Nigeria Business Council held in Paris. Addressing the council, Abdul Samad Rabiu thanked members for coming and remarked that it was a personal honour for him to be a part of the France Nigeria Business Council, and also a privilege to serve as the pioneer President of the Council which was inaugurated just over a year ago and now, be reappointed as President.   He also thanked President Macron for his support and, for reappointing him as well as Jean Haas of Relais (France) as President of the Council, and Head of the Secretariat respectively.The France Nigeria Business Council brings together the top businesses in Nigeria and F...

  The Chairman of Borno State, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Mohammed Naga has applauded the selection of former governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2023 Election. Shettima was against the norm in the nation’s politics selected to run on the presidential ticket of the ruling party with another Muslim, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and expectedly his selection received a backlash from some quarters in the country. In what seems like a great support for Shettima’s candidacy from a group outside his religion, the Borno Chapter of CAN led by it’s chairman described the decision as very good and welcome by the Christian community in the Borno State. Bishop Naga, in a statement on Monday said the Christian community in Borno State have never had a better deal than under Shettima who was at the helm in the state between 2011 and 2019. Naga, who described Shettima as a co...

  IGP Addresses Stakeholders on July 12, Deploys Election CP to Osun The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered the deployment of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, psc(+), mni for the Osun State Gubernatorial Election scheduled to hold on Saturday 16th July, 2022. He is to be assisted by 4 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, 4 Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police. Adequate police personnel of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below have equally been deployed for the election. The IGP in a statement signed by Force public relations officer,CSP Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat As...

  The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described security men deployed to protect the Kuje Prison before Tuesday attack by Boko Haram as men that could not hold their ground despite the amount of fortification they had. Aregbesola who undertook a tour of the facility to assess the level of the attack by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, said he cannot just describe what happened at the custodial facility in the open. He said: “We have a world class facility here by any standard. I am disappointed with the level of defence, we had enough men to protect this facility but unfortunately they couldn't hold their position effectively for defence and that was the reason for the breach. “Now my position is so clear, I have declared since April last year  that all our facilities are red zones and that whoever attempt an attack must not live to tell the story. I still maintain this.  “Kuje is the most fortified in the country if fortification for security is the dete...

  ...attributes her election to her good character  ...Charges her to see new office as another call to service The Executive Chairman, Isolo LCDA Olasoju Adebayo has sent his congratulatory message to the Iyaloja-elect of Oba Faronbi Aswani Int'l Market, Alhaja Salawat Olasumbo Olusesi. Olusesi who currently holds the office of the LGA Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Isolo LCDA Chapter emerged as the new Iyaloja at a well-attended family meeting of Aregbesola family of the Kobolu branch of Isolo earlier today. In a statement issued by the council boss' media office, he warmly felicitated the seasoned politician while seeing her nomination as a reward of her good character and humble nature. His words:  "Permit me to congratulate our able LGA Woman Leader, Alhaja Salawat Olusesi who's just emerged as the Iyaloja-elect of Aswani market. Her election is but a  confirmation of her popularity before all and sundry. In expressing his confidence in Olu...

  The Federal Government has declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July, 2022, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Thursday, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion. Aregbesola said: “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment.” The Minister assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools.”  The Ministe...

  ...say 'no room for inconclusive this time around' ...as Oyetola re-election campaign moves to Odo-Otin LGA The co-chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship poll, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, have expressed confidence that the APC will secure a landslide victory in the July 16 contest.  The trio maintained that the APC governorship candidate and incumbent governor of the State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will emerge victorious on the first ballot saying "there is no room for inconclusive this time around."  They spoke on Monday when the Oyetola re-election campaign trail moved to Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the State. Speaking at the palace of Olokuku of Okuku, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the entire structure of the APC and its members were aware of the outstanding performance of the Governor hence the c...

  The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday, practically turned a commercial tricycle rider in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, in demonstration of safety of the means of transportation just as he urged youths to embrace every opportunity with hardwork and dedication. The ride, which took the former President from his Pent House residence at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential  Library (OOPL), through Kuto under bridge, was done amidst greetings and jubilation by shocked onlookers along the road. In a release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the onlookers expressed surprise at the former president riding the keke, a reaction Obasanjo said was fuelled by wrongful societal classification of all keke riders as miscreants and the tendency of young people avoiding the virtue of starting small business. The president, along the route, stopped and picked a male passenger to demonstrate that riding in the tricycle is safe, if used properly and for peop...