The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has collaborated with the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, and received support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, FCDO, to prepare the ITU Collaborative Regulation Report on Nigeria.
The report reviews Nigeria’s approach to regulating Information and Communications Technology, ICT.
The report was officially launched on July 22, 2024, at the NCC Mbora Annex Office by the Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The report highlights Nigeria’s collaborative regulatory efforts in the ICT sector.
In his speech at the launch, Dr Bosun Tijani said “15-20 years ago, NCC was just regulating the telecommunications sector.
“Today, NCC regulates the foundation for which any economy will be prosperous. Without communications technology, there is absolutely no nation today that is prosperous.”
The report is available for download at the following link:
NCC hosts national launch of ITU collaborative regulation report on Nigeria
NCC hosts national launch of ITU collaborative regulation report on Nigeria
Brother’s hired thugs beat man to death for stealing doors in Anambra
Some yet-to-be-identified thugs have beaten a 28-year-old man identified as Kingsley Okoye, to death for allegedly stealing and selling his elder brother’s foreign doors from a construction site.
The incident happened in the Okpuno Umuogali community of Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.
The deceased was accused of selling some foreign doors he removed from a yet-to-be-completed building belonging to his elder brother, Joseph Okoye who lives abroad.
His brother was said to have invited the thugs to torture him, only for them to beat him to death.
An eyewitness and a cousin to the deceased, Kosisochukwu Uzoekwe, who disclosed the development to journalists on Tuesday, said there had been a lingering issue between the two brothers over the sale of a family property.
He said, “My cousin, Joseph Okoye, the elder brother of Late Kingsley Okoye from Okpuno Umuogali in Oba, who lives abroad earlier sold one of their immediate family property and had since refused to share the money realised from the sale of the property with his brother.
“Since then, life had been so difficult for Kingsley because he thought he could have used his own share from the proceeds as capital to establish himself.
“Recently, his elder brother began to build a house in Oba here. So, out of hunger and frustration, when Kingsley learnt that his elder brother just purchased some foreign doors to install in his new house, he went to the site, removed three doors and sold, saying that he needed the money to buy food for himself.
According to him, on hearing that Kingsley sold three of the doors in his building site, Joseph sent some money to his sister and instructed her to arrange for some thugs to beat up Kingsley and teach him the lesson of his life.
“So the sister contracted two notorious thugs and they came to Okpuno Umuogali to beat Kingsley. When the people intervened, they whisked him off on a bike. The thugs took Kingsley to an unknown destination where they beat him to a pulp.
“When they discovered that Kingsley was no longer responding, they took him to Sahara Hospital, Oba, where the doctor confirmed that he was brought in dead. As the doctor rejected him, they took his corpse to FAH Hospital and Embalment Centre, where he was deposited in the morgue,” he said.
Uzoekwe further noted that the trio have been at large and switched off their mobile phones since after the incident, making it difficult to contact or reach them after the heinous crime.
When contacted, a sister to the deceased, identified as Ebele, who was said to have mobilised the thugs on the instruction of Joseph, did not deny that her brother sponsored the torturing of Kingsley for selling the doors.
She, however, claimed that she was not the person who was given the money to contract the thugs, adding that it was Joseph’s fiancee from Umuorabem village, Oba, who was around on the day of the incident.
“I am very sad because of the turn of events. Despite the several pleadings I and my mother pleaded with Joseph to forgive Kingsley for selling just three pieces of his doors, he went ahead to arrange with his fiancee from Umuorabem who told his brother to contact people I do not know to beat up our brother, resulting to his unfortunate death.
“Everyone is pointing accusing fingers at me that I was the one who received money from my brother, Joseph, to arrange the people that beat Kingsley to death; but it is not so.
“I went for the graduation ceremony of my children that fateful Sunday, only for Joseph to call me on the phone from abroad, informing me by himself that Kingsley died in the hands of the people his fiancee and her fiancee’s brother called to discipline Kingsley by Joseph’s instructions,” she said.
Reacting to the allegation, when contacted, the accused, Joseph, who regretted his actions said that he never intended to hurt or kill his younger brother, but only wanted some boys to find out from his brother where he kept the three doors, to recover them for his building project.
He said, “I have already tendered my statement to the Oba Divisional Police Officer at the police station. My brother has been stealing from my building site, and last Friday night, July 19, 2024, my workers discovered that three foreign doors which I bought for N85,000 each were missing; and all fingers were pointing at my brother, Kingsley.
“I told my mother and sister to help me beg Kingsley to bring back my doors or tell me who he sold the doors to, but he denied stealing them. On Saturday, July 20, 2024, I now contacted some boys from Umumpama Oba to beat him and find out the whereabouts of the doors; and then Kingsley confessed that he stole those doors with two of his friends and sold them to a wielder at N15,000 each.
“While they were beating him, I was with them on video call that Saturday and they assured me that Kingsley was still alive. I told them to take him to the nearest hospital for treatment after his confession.
“Surprisingly, I was shocked to hear from one of those boys on Sunday, July 21 2024, that my brother Kingsley was dead. I asked them what happened and I could not configure their story. I later heard from the doctor that he was brought in dead and that one of the thugs identified as ‘Jukwaaese’ and his boys ran away as soon he was confirmed dead.
He noted that his sister said that there were matchet cuts all over Kingsley’s body, dripping with blood at the mortuary, but that was not the case on Saturday when he was following up the interrogation on a video call.”
He said, “I insist that ‘Jukwaese’ who is now at large must be apprehended to tell me why he killed my brother because I only told them to beat him a little so that he would reveal where my doors were so that I could recover them, but I do not know the motive why Jukwaaese and his boys killed my brother.”
“Wherever Jukwaese runs to, he must be fished out to explain why he killed my brother,” Joseph said.
When contacted, the police division in Oba, confirmed that the matter had been reported to the station and investigations had begun.
A police source at the station said, “The matter was reported at the Oba police division and investigation is ongoing. Right now, anticult operatives have picked some suspected cultist s in Oba. Some things cannot be said now in order not to jeopardise investigation.”
Edo Guber: INEC engages CSOs to conduct voter education for electorates
Ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has engaged the services of Civil Society Organizations as voters educators, influencers and advocates for free, fair, credible and peaceful electoral processes.
TVN reports that Dr Anugbum Onuoha, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed this at a one-day INEC dialogue with Civil Society Organizations and People with disabilities on peaceful participation of the electorate ahead of the governorship election in the state.
Onuoha, who said peace is a critical factor in any electoral process, noted that without peace elections would not be conducted.
While noting that CSOS are critical stakeholders in electoral processes, he added that the commission is collaborating with them to help educate the electorate on the need to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.
He said for the CSOs to be able to carry out their duty successfully they must detach themselves from active politics.
He, however, appealed to all stakeholders in the electoral process to help educate the electorate and mobilize the public on the need for them to vote during the election.
In her remarks, Mrs Hembadoon Akaayar, Assistant Director, CSOs, INEC, Abuja, opined that the partnership with the civil society has assisted the commission in shaping and improving its policies, ranging from expansion of voter access to polling units.
Akaayar, represented by Mr Bukar Maikwada, Head of Unit, programme, CSOs, Abuja listed other policies to include deployment of technology, provision of assistive materials for persons with disabilities and others targeted at the marginalized groups in the electoral process.
She added that the dialogue would provide the platform to interface and equip CSOs with the requisite knowledge needed to become better public influencers and ultimately guide the electorate on the best ways to ensure peaceful conduct of the Edo governorship election.
On his part, Timidi Wariowei, Head, Voters Education, Edo State, INEC office said the commission had engaged six CSOs to help it in conducting voter education in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Wariowei, who gave an update on the preparations for the Edo Governorship election, added that the commission has adequately prepared to conduct an election that would be credible, free, fair and violence-free.
He also added that the commission would be engaging the 18 CSOs across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state to help INEC educate and sensitize voters especially those at the grassroots on the need to exercise their civil responsibilities and franchise.
In his remarks, Bartholomew Okoudo, President of the Conference of Non-governmental Organizations, CONGOS, posited that civil society organizations play a crucial role in promoting peace.
Okoudo listed some of the contributions of CSO activities in electoral processes to include increased voter turnout, improved electoral credibility, reduced electoral violence, enhanced civil engagement, strengthened democratic institutions and promotion of peaceful democratic transitions.
Edo Guber: INEC engages CSOs to conduct voter education for electorates
Ex-Edo commissioner denies involvement in attack on Shaibu’s convoy
A former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Efe Stewart, on Tuesday, denied involvement in last Thursday’s political violence in the state.
The convoy of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was attacked by gunmen last Thursday which led to the death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh.
The incident has pitched the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC in the state against each other, with both calling for a probe while indicting opposition members as those involved in the mayhem.
Stewart, who dumped the PDP for the APC after moving to the PDP with Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, was one of those that the PDP and the state government accused of being behind the shooting.
However, Stewart told newsmen in Benin, the state capital, that the allegation by the state government in a petition to the Inspector General of Police was targeted at tarnishing his rising political profile and reputation following his defection to the APC.
He noted that he left the ruling PDP to the APC due to irreconcilable differences after putting in so much resources and energy in his capacity as a chieftain of his former party.
He said that having served the Obaseki-led government as a commissioner, he remained committed to enthroning good governance and leadership in the state.
He explained that while some politicians in his locality, and Egor Local Government Area were pursuing their selfish interests by running the party aground, the party failed to rein in the likes of such disgruntled politicians and he found it unacceptable and dumped the PDP.
He said, “This is to let Edo residents know that I was not involved in last Thursday’s political violence, which claimed the life of a police officer.
“I left the PDP when it became obvious that I could not work with the person spearheading the PDP activities in my local government in Egor..”
He urged the public to disregard the falsehood in a statement by the state government which allegedly dragged him into the violence adding that he has no business whatsoever with the PDP and their co-travellers who are busy disturbing the peace of the state instead of focusing on winning the September governorship election.
Kidnapped 8 Month-old Baby: Mother cries for help, begs Police to intervene
Following the disappearance of her 8-month-old baby, Ikechi Kelechi from Amuzi Umuofor in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Imo State, has asked members of the public, especially, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to come to her aid and find her child
Kelechi alleged that the infant was snatched from her by one Uche and others who are still at large.
Speaking to our correspondent, an Activist, Chikezie Erege, said the incident caught his attention and he decided to wade into the matter.
He narrated that the lady and her baby were ambushed along the road by the said Uche and his cohorts who had called her to deliver some drug supplement she sells to him at Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA Imo State
The activist maintained that a search for the whereabouts of the baby had commenced but appealed to security agencies to help apprehend the kidnappers and retrieve the infant.
Erege hinted that the lawyer of the victim, U.D.Ibeneto Esq. has also written a petition to the Commissioner of Police Imo Police Command CP Aboki Danjuma requesting the arrest of the suspects, Uche and one Drn Obinna, who is said to be Trado medicine practitioners and reside in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA.
He, however, said it was disappointing that no arrests had been made since the incident.
Part of the petition that was written to the police which was also extended to our correspondent read:
“Our client works with New Life Company which has its office at 46 Tetlo Road Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, that specialises in selling and distribution of supplement drugs as a temporary sales girl.
On the 23rd of June 2024, our client got a call from Mr Uche to deliver some drugs (Supplements) to him at Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA Imo State Nigeria.
After delivering the drugs to him at his house and while our client was returning to Owerri where she resides, the above-named Uche in the company of one person known as Dr Obinna(Trado medicine) and other persons who are unknown to our client, attacked her at Afor Ekiri, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, inflicted serious bodily harm on her dumped her in the bush leaving her in a coma”.
It was further revealed by the petition that after beating her to a coma, they snatched her baby from her and left her for dead.
The petition said the baby is yet to be found and those people mentioned are still at large even when the matter has been reported to the Police station at Ezinihitte Mbaise.
Mr Egere has joined the victim’s lawyer in urging the police authority to effect the arrest of the alleged suspects said to be known according to the petition.
Kidnapped 8 Month-old Baby: Mother cries for help, begs Police to intervene
Why Nigerians should support Dangote — Otedola
Billionaire business mogul, Femi Otedola, has explained why Nigerians, particularly the government should support the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, by creating an enabling environment to ensure businesses thrive.
He argued that Dangote’s contributions which extend beyond industrial facilities to critical infrastructure, must be recognised and supported by all means.
Otedola, who rose in defence of his friend and business ally in a post on his X account on Tuesday, described Dangote as a “titan that God created specially for mankind”.
“In Nigeria, we have our own titans, and it is imperative that we recognise and support them. Aliko Dangote has broken every boundary in worldwide business and industry. His contributions are not just a testament to his brilliance but a beacon of what is possible when vision meets opportunity.
“Supporting local champions like Dangote is crucial for our national development and economic independence. Let us continue to foster and support these visionaries who drive our nation’s progress,” Otedola said.
He added, “My brother, the visionary, has built the largest single train refinery in the world, not in Kano, but in Lagos State. He is the owner of the second-largest sugar refinery in the world, also in Lagos State, and the largest cement factory in the world, not in Kano, but in Kogi State. Additionally, he has established one of the second-largest fertilizer plants in the world, soon to surpass the biggest one in Qatar, also in Lagos State. Furthermore, he has built a fertilizer plant in Lagos that already exports globally. Aliko Dangote is a titan that God created specially for mankind.
“Aliko Dangote is also the largest private sector employer of labor in the country, and his companies are among the largest taxpayers. In fact, the Dangote Group often pays more in taxes than the top banks combined. If not for him, we would still be importing cement.”
According to him, Dangote’s contributions extend beyond industrial facilities to critical infrastructure, having built major roads such as the Apapa Oshodi-Owonrosoki Express Road, Wharf Road, and the Obajana-Kabba Road.
Otedola said, “Countries in the nascent stages of industrialization require visionary leaders. This is why it’s no surprise that the United States was built by the vision and tenacity of a few remarkable individuals—Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Henry Ford—The men who built America’s industrial landscape. These men left the world without these assets but left behind a legacy that has kept their country thriving generation after generation. Their contributions were immortalized not in the material wealth they amassed but in the enduring institutions and industries they established. These visionaries were also supported by their government, which recognized the importance of fostering local champions.
“Similarly, today’s tech giants like Microsoft and Tesla received substantial support from the US government. For example, in January 2010, the Department of Energy issued a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors to produce specially designed, all-electric plug-in vehicles and to develop a manufacturing facility in Fremont, California to produce battery packs, electric motors, and other powertrain components for powering these innovative vehicles. This initiative is part of broader efforts, such as the federal EV-charging program supported by the infrastructure law known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI.
“In India, the government has been instrumental in supporting business titans like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. Their companies have received significant backing to grow and expand, contributing substantially to India’s economic growth and global business footprint.
“There are also records of emerging market countries like Vietnam, South Africa, Brazil, and China where their governments have supported local businesses to jump-start industrialization. In Vietnam, the government has provided various incentives to tech companies, fostering a rapidly growing technology sector. In South Africa, government support for the mining industry has been crucial in maintaining its global competitiveness. Brazil has seen substantial government investment in its agricultural sector, transforming it into one of the world’s leading food exporters. In China, government backing for companies like Huawei and Alibaba has propelled them to global leadership in technology and e-commerce.”
Dangote has been in the news lately after claims that a cabal was blocking his moves to import crude and how it has been difficult to get the products, slowing down operations.
Last week, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the Federal Government was yet to license the Dangote refinery to begin operations in the country.
The NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the State House on July 18, 2024.
According to Ahmed, the claims of ongoing efforts to scuttle the operations of Dangote refinery due to lack of supply of crude oil by International Oil Companies were not true, adding that the refinery was still at the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet.
Ahmed added that the diesel product of Dangote was below international standard, a claim which the businessman had refuted.
Also, Dangote has made an offer to sell the refinery to the NNPCL. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Premium Times on Sunday, the businessman expressed his willingness to sell the refinery to address allegations of monopoly in the industry.
“Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labelled me a monopolist. That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s OK. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way.
“We have been facing fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery,” Premium Times quoted him as saying.
Obi demands apology, 5bn from Tinubu’s aide, threatens defamation lawsuit
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a 72-hour ultimatum to apologise for his claim that Obi was behind the planned nationwide protest.
Obi vowed to file a defamation libel lawsuit if Onanuga failed to apologise.
Obi, through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme, demanded that the public apology be published in four national newspapers – Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable – as well as Onanuga’s verified X handle #aonanuga1956.
The demand comes after Onanuga alleged on July 20, 2024, that Obi’s supporters were planning mayhem in Nigeria, linking him to anarchy.
Obi’s counsel described the allegation as a “calculated plot” to demean and embarrass their client, causing significant harm to his reputation and emotional well-being.
The counsel noted that the allegation went viral on social and mainstream media, maligning Obi’s hard-earned reputation.
He stressed that Obi abhors violence and has a long record of law-abiding and constructive engagement in private and public life.
The Obi’s counsel letter read in part, “The said statements are in every sense malicious and convey with them the potentiality of an ostracisation of our Client by well-meaning citizens of Nigeria. It should be stated without any form of equivocation that our Client is an elder statesman, a diplomat, and an unwavering democrat.
“He has always tailored his affairs according to the dictates of Nigerian law. Where there has been any dissatisfaction with any process or procedure, our Client’s first and only resort has been to invoke the appropriate legal mechanisms to ventilate his grievances.
“As a matter of fact, our Client has severally urged his teeming supporters to abide by the rule of law and to abstain from any actions which could result in a breakdown of law and order. He refrains from associating himself with protests and has constantly persuaded Nigerians to persevere.”
Continuing Obi’s counsel in the letter said, “Our Client has expressed dissatisfaction with certain policies and has voiced the same through constructive criticism, without malice or resentment.
“It is our Client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of society. It appears you have achieved your insipid motive, as well-wishers from all around the globe have inundated him with calls to register their shock.
“His appellation as ‘Okwute’ (the Rock) notwithstanding, the demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused serious emotional injury to our Client, given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life.”
Obi demands a retraction of the defamatory statements and an unreserved apology within 72 hours, along with the monetary damages.
“Consequently, we have our Client’s mandate to demand that you retract the statement made in the publication and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter in no fewer than four National Dailies, to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable, including your verified ‘X’ handle ‘@aonanuga1956’.
“Our Client is also making an unequivocal demand for monetary damages of ₦5,000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) only for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.
“Take Notice that in the event of your failure to meet the demands set out above, our Client shall be constrained to approach a Court of competent jurisdiction and take legal action against you for defamation and libel.”
“Be advised accordingly. While looking forward to your response, accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”
Tinubu’s aide Dada Olusegun under fire for anti-protest comment
Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has faced backlash following his controversial statement regarding potential protests in Nigeria.
Olusegun’s comment, which many perceived as a threat, has ignited controversies about the right to protest and the current economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
Olusegun in a post on Tuesday via X stated, “Those who want to burn the country down under whatever guise will meet the strongest resistance of their lives. Not from security agencies, but from the silent majority that gave their mandate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for four years in the first instance. We are waiting.”
This statement comes in the wake of calls for nationwide protests from August 1-10 against the rising cost of living and economic hardship.
President Tinubu, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday, appealed to citizens to shelve the planned protests and give his administration more time to address their concerns.
However, Olusegun’s comment has been met with widespread criticism on social media. Many users pointed out the apparent hypocrisy, recalling that members of the current administration, including Olusegun himself, had participated in protests during previous governments.
Twitter user #cartermillz highlighted this contradiction, saying, “I am sure D.O was on the street with other protesters during the Jonathan government and no one threatened them back then, But today he is dinning with government and do not longer feel the pains of ordinary Nigerians that they felt during Jonathan years.. hypocrisy 2.0.”
Another user, Aremu Ridwan #REALLUCAS20, emphasised the right to protest, stating, “Those who gave mandate to GEJ didn’t resist Tinubu and co, when they protested against GEJ govt in 2012. Let the individuals willing to register their displeasure against the hardship, carry on without being intimidated. Protest is a fundamental human right.”
The backlash also highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by many Nigerians.
Ben Samuel #flourish007 shared a personal anecdote stating, “One of my brothers voted for BAT, but today, he can barely feed his family under BAT’s government despite being a businessman. He’s now joining the peaceful protest and comparing it to Buhari’s administration.”
Some users, like Alli Moshood #bigmorsh, called for a balanced approach, acknowledging the right to protest while emphasising the need to differentiate between peaceful protesters and those who might cause mayhem.
#bigmorsh wrote, “”There is hunger in the land obviously only if we all want deliberately shy away from the truth. Those kind of people have a right to protest. What we must focus on now is how to separate those who want to protest peacefully and those who want to use the avenue that they lost election to cause mayhem.”
Meanwhile, X users went further to dig up old tweets of Olusegun stating his support for protests. Some of the tweets are dated 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
On September 2, 2012, Dada Olusegun posted, “Every Nigerian has a right to protest. Its a fundamental right! If u don’t buy the opinion, don’t instill fear into them. That’s evil!”
On January 1, 2012, He posted, “Special S/0 to dat policeman that will shoot me when I protest, ur corpse and dat of ur kids wil b eaten by Dogs.”
Troops arrest 10 suspected terrorists, recover AK 47 rifle, 10 military camouflage
The valiant troops of Headquarters 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS in conjunction with other security agencies have arrested 10 suspected terrorists in Taraba State.
Captain Oni Olubodunde, Acting Assistant Director of the 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, said in a statement on Tuesday that the operations took place on Monday.
He said some of the operations were carried out at the Galeri and Kwondo Villages of Ardo-Kola and Bali Local Government Areas of the state.
In the first operation, two suspects, namely; Ali Ibrahim aka Yellow and Wetti Alhaji Ibrahim were arrested by the troops while an AK 47 rifle and 3 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered.
The statement added that in another operation, about 8 suspects, who have been attacking the Southern Taraba were also apprehended after weeks of covert intelligence-led operation.
It said that during a preliminary investigation, “it was revealed that the gang leader was part of Terwase Akwaza aka Gana’s gang.
“Items recovered include 10 Military Camouflage uniforms, the sum of Sixty Thousand Naira 60,000 and 30 rounds of 7.62MM Special ammunition after a search was conducted at one of the arrested suspects’ houses.
“The suspects are currently in custody and will be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigations and possible prosecution”.
Troops arrest 10 suspected terrorists, recover AK 47 rifle, 10 military camouflage
NSCDC nabs seven for selling sand as fertiliser in Gombe
Gombe State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Tuesday paraded no fewer than seven suspects for adulteration of fertilizer in the state.
Recall that over time farmers have lamented the poor performance of fertilizer on crops.
The State Commandant Muhammad Bello, while leading a raid at their factory in the Nasarawa area lamented the economic sabotage on unsuspecting farmers who patronised their product.
According to Bello, the suspects specialised in fetching limestones from Katsina State for their business.
Bello said, “Our attention has been drawn to the wicked activities going on here where these people sell sand as fertilizer in this hardship. This is simply wickedness how can you sell in the place of fertiliser.”
While urging farmers to confirm the product before buying, Bello noted that they should buy only from authorised dealers.
“Members of the public especially farmers must desist from arbitrarily buying fertilizer without checks. You should be able to see what you want to buy. You can’t just go anywhere to get fertilizer so that you won’t fall victim to such adulterated product,” he added.
Speaking, the Plant Manager of the adulterated fertilizer, Usman Abubakar said they have so far produced no fewer than 1000 bags, adding that the raw materials for the products come from Katsina State.
“We used to get it from Kankara Local Government Area. We used to get red limestone, white limestone, potash, etc.
“We started production in Kano State but in the last two years, we have been producing in Gombe State. We have produced over 1000 bags in Gombe State,” he confessed.
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