National
IPOB Lawyer Claims PA Murdered, Relatives Still Held by DSS
Lead Lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, to clean the mess perpetrated by his predecessor, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
He also advised that he should profile those wrongfully arrested and still detained illegally and order for their immediate and unconditional freedom.
Ejiofor said the trending video about the jubilation among personnel of the DSS following the announcement of a new DG has confirmed that Bichi was a tyrant and failure.
The lawyer in a statement in Abuja said under Bichi’s leadership, the DSS was operated as an entity separate from those established, defined and recognised by the existing laws of Nigeria.
He said, “Under Bichi’s watch, my Personal Assistant, Samuel Okoro, was brutally murdered during a bloody invasion of my ancestral home, and three of my wards namely- Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike and Okafor Lawrence Ugochukwu, were abducted in the dead of the night by those specifically assigned to carry out the hatchet assignment; they were briefly detained at the State Security Service Headquarters in Abuja, and despite subsisting court orders, were secretly transferred to Wawa Barracks in Niger State, where they are currently held in solitary confinement in clear violation of successive orders of court.
“I have been observing the overwhelming jubilation seen in this video among the personnel of the State Security Service following the announcement of the new Director General and the sudden removal of the former DG, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, who held sway at the helms of affairs of the Service, since his appointment by Buhari administration on September 14 2018, till his unceremonious resignation on August 26 2024.
“The loud celebration marking the departure of this despot, signals the unceremonious end of an infamous tenure; an era marked by the most egregious violations of citizens’ civil rights, disregard for constitutional orders, and blatant contempt for the rule of law.
“Also during his unpopular tenure, the Igbo people were particularly targeted, vilified, and subjected to enforced disappearances. Innocent individuals were ruthlessly hunted down, and many have been missing without a trace to this day.
“Today, thousands of Igbo men and women, young and old, are illegally detained in SSS custody under Bichi’s command, denied the opportunity to be tried in any court of law.
“Welfare of the personnel of the Service was grossly undermined during this despotic tenure, no wonder the wild celebrations that greeted his unceremonious exit.
“While I do not condone or support those who commit heinous crimes against humanity under any guise, I have always maintained that such criminals should be carefully identified and dealt with according to the law.
“Based on the reputable track record of the current DG, he appears to be a true democrat — tested, trusted, and deserving of support and encouragement from every quarters. Although it will require significant political will and courage to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, but the unprecedented jubilation among the personnel suggests that he will succeed and succeed overwhelmingly.
“As a member of the human rights community, I believe Mr. Adeola Ajayi should receive the full cooperation, respect, and support necessary to succeed, especially during these challenging times when insecurity is rampant across all spectrums of the Nigerian state.
“I respectfully appeal to the incoming DG to use the machineries of his good offices to profile those wrongfully arrested and still detained illegally, and to order for their immediate and unconditional release. We pray that the current DG will succeed and surpass all expectations.”
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
National
Nigeria Advocates for Collaborative Border Control Efforts with Sahel and West African Nations
Nigeria is seeking enhanced collaboration with Sahelian and West African nations to facilitate effective information and data sharing for improved border control measures.
During a press briefing on Tuesday at the Border Security Summit in London, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized the necessity for regional cooperation.
“There is a critical need for countries within the Sahel and West African subregions to collaborate more effectively for better international partnerships and information dissemination,” he stated.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the importance of proactive strategies to not only address ongoing issues but to prevent future occurrences. “The major takeaway from this summit is the emphasis on proactivity rather than mere reaction, as nations increasingly aim to criminalize irregular migration.”
He described the summit as a significant opportunity for border control ministers to collaborate in safeguarding their nations’ borders.
The minister pointed out that organized immigration crimes are not confined to individual countries but are a collective issue requiring shared solutions. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to combating border-related crimes through the implementation of effective strategies.
“Nigeria has developed a comprehensive border control solution, recognizing that we are not just a transit point. Our systems have been automated with numerous measures introduced to secure our borders and eradicate irregular migration,” he affirmed.
“We cannot afford to lose the battle before it begins, and we are confident that, through this summit, we can present a united front to effectively tackle this challenge,” Tunji-Ojo assured.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing its immigration policies and collaborating with global partners to combat transnational crimes, including human trafficking, smuggling, and document fraud.
According to NAN, the summit convened over 30 world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, to address significant issues related to border control and organized immigration crime (OIC). The event served as a platform for international cooperation on migration policies, security threats, and strategies to counter illegal immigration activities. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.