Home Blog Page 127

LSSTF Unveils Second 2025 Newsletter, Launches Public Awareness Campaign on Safer Lagos

By
blacktalker
-
0
Sanwo-Olu Reconstitutes LSSTF Board, Durosinmi-Etti, Ogunsan Retain Positions

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF has released the second edition of its 2025 newsletter, highlighting its achievements in strengthening security across the state and unveiling a new public awareness campaign designed to foster greater collaboration with residents and stakeholders.

Reflecting on the Fund’s progress over the last decade, the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, expressed appreciation to partners, donors, and security agencies for their continued support in advancing the vision of a safer Lagos.

“For LSSTF, facilitating general security has been our primary goal, and since I assumed leadership of the Fund 10 years ago, we have remained steadfast in providing the needed crime-fighting equipment and logistics to boost the operational capacity of our security agencies,” Balogun noted.

Reiterating the Fund’s mission, he explained that LSSTF’s interventions are not limited to law enforcement but also extend to safety agencies such as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Command and Control Centre.

“Our vision is to make Lagos the safest commercial location in Africa because without robust security, businesses will not thrive. Safety and security go hand in hand, and that is why we have pursued this mission rigorously,” he said.

As part of its latest initiatives, LSSTF rolled out a series of billboards across strategic locations in the state. The campaign showcases the Fund’s contributions to security agencies through equipment donations and operational support, while also serving as a call to action for greater community involvement.

“These billboards are not just to tell our story, but to remind Lagosians that security is a shared responsibility and that the Fund thrives only through donations,” the LSSTF statement read.

Residents have been encouraged to support the campaign by engaging with the Fund on social media using the hashtag #ISawLSSTF, reinforcing collective ownership of security in Lagos.

Link to the news letter https://tinyurl.com/newslsstf

Zenith Bank Marks 35th Anniversary, Honours Pioneer Customers, Long-Serving Staff

By
blacktalker
-
0
Zenith Bank Marks 35th Anniversary, Honours Pioneer Customers, Long-Serving Staff

Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, on Friday, August 15, 2025, celebrated its 35th anniversary with a grand commemorative Chairman’s Dinner at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The glamorous ceremony brought together top dignitaries, customers, staff, regulators, and partners, with the bank recognising pioneer customers as well as long-serving employees who have dedicated 25 years and above to the institution.

Among the distinguished guests were Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shetima, GCON; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas; Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme.

Also in attendance were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, and former governors Peter Obi and Udom Emmanuel, an alumnus of the bank.

In her address, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, praised the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his vision and integrity in building Zenith Bank into a global financial powerhouse.

Describing him as “the Godfather of modern banking and the Nostradamus of our time,” she highlighted his foresight and commitment to excellence that positioned the bank as a trailblazer in the industry.

Vice President Kashim Shetima, an alumnus of the bank, lauded Ovia’s pioneering role in infusing technology into Nigeria’s banking landscape.

He noted: “Long before technology became the bloodstream of global finance, Jim Ovia had already woven it into the DNA of Nigerian banking. His greatest investment, however, has been in people transferring his experience and sense of adventure to generations of bankers and investors forged at Zenith Bank.”

In his remarks, Ovia expressed gratitude to the bank’s customers, shareholders, regulators, and staff for their unwavering trust and support over the years. He also acknowledged the leadership of Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji and thanked his family for their encouragement.

Founded in May 1990, Zenith Bank has grown from modest beginnings into Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital, with a presence across all 36 states, the FCT, and international subsidiaries in the UK, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, France, UAE, and a representative office in China.

FCID Annex Opens Probe into Alleged ₦2m Extortion, Assault by Officers in Lagos

By
blacktalker
-
0
Police Restore Calm After Clash Between Traders, Land Grabbers in Lagos

The Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Annex, Alagbon, has launched an investigation into allegations that some of its personnel assaulted a Lagos resident and extorted ₦2 million from him at Unity Estate, Egbeda.

The incident, reported on social media platforms including Oni Foto’s Facebook page and the Take It Back movement’s X handle, alleged that officers physically attacked the victim and teargassed his wife during the encounter on Tuesday, 12 August.

Responding to the outcry, the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the FCID Annex, AIG Ochalla, urged the victim, his family and the public to exercise restraint while the matter is investigated, assuring “personal” oversight of the case.

“Please accept our sincere apologies for the experience you may have encountered,” AIG Ochalla said in a statement to journalists. “Kindly be assured that the matter will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate disciplinary and legal actions will be taken against any officer found culpable.”

She added that Officer Kalu and others named in the complaint would face internal disciplinary procedures and, if indicted, sanctions in line with police regulations. The AIG also pledged efforts to recover any funds allegedly extorted.

The FCID Annex encouraged citizens to use the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), available across social media for swift redress where they prefer not to report physically at a station. For this case, AIG Ochalla provided a direct line for the complainant to share evidence and details: 0706 886 5833.

The victim had also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer to intervene.

The FCID Annex reiterated its commitment to professionalism, accountability and justice, noting that the Nigeria Police Force “has shown it can purge itself and expose anyone who undermines the integrity of the Force.”

Guber Ambition: Why Adelabu Needs Tutorial In Diplomacy To Be Relevant

By
blacktalker
-
0
Guber Ambition: Why Adelabu Needs Tutorial In Diplomacy To Be Relevant

By Faleye Oluwatosin

In politics, words carry as much weight as policies. Reckless speech is never harmless, and for leaders, it often comes with consequences that outlive the moment. Nigeria’s current Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, popularly known as “Penkelemesi” is once again in the spotlight for his choice of words.

Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria and one-time All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, has long been dogged by criticisms about his rhetoric. In 2019, when he contested the Oyo governorship on the APC platform, many political observers argued that his “loose talk” contributed significantly to his defeat against Governor Seyi Makinde.

During the recently concluded by-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency on August 16, 2025, Adelabu, now Minister of Power and leader of the APC in Oyo State, was captured on camera at a rally in Bodija Market making derogatory remarks about women in the party.

The incident has since sparked fresh debate about his communication style and its impact on both his political career and the image of the APC in Oyo State.

The damage of such speech is far-reaching. Careless words do not simply vanish after the rally—they leave behind an aftertaste that lingers.

They can weaken the party’s image, alienate potential supporters, and plant seeds of division within the political structure. In a state as politically competitive as Oyo, even a few misplaced remarks can cost dearly at the polls.

Beyond politics, reckless speech erodes public trust. Citizens expect leaders to embody wisdom and restraint, not reckless abandon. Words shape perception, and perception shapes credibility. Once people begin to view a leader as careless with speech, they may also doubt the leader’s ability to govern with caution and fairness.

Loose talk also provides easy ammunition for opponents. Every careless statement is recycled in the court of public opinion, replayed by rivals, and magnified by the media. A remark made in a moment of carelessness can follow a politician for years, resurfacing at critical points to damage electoral chances.

Leadership, at its core, demands vision, discipline, and emotional intelligence. Credentials and experience mean little when speech undermines both character and credibility. For Adelabu, whose political journey remains active as 2027 approaches, the lesson is clear: words can either pave the road to leadership or block the path entirely.

In the end, loose talk is more than mere noise, it destabilizes, divides, and destroys. Silence, or the discipline of thoughtful speech, often carries more strength than reckless outbursts. Leaders must always remember that in politics, words are not just spoken; they are recorded, remembered, and weaponized.

Public Reactions
The video of Adelabu’s remarks quickly circulated online, sparking mixed reactions from Nigerians:

“Maybe they were distracting him. Guess they saw someone among the gathering that is their sure banker. With his statement, they were hustling,” wrote Faleye Itunu Tosin-Eboigbe.

“Vote for a short man at your own risk? My husband must not see this o!” joked Esther Makinde.

“He is Kwam 1’s counterpart… too proud,” commented Sangodele Oluseyi Florence.

“Another ‘Constituted Authority’ in the making!” said Adeyemi Odedokun.

“What do you expect from someone power drunk?” asked Odusanya Tan Fe Ani.

“Band A or Rubber Band Man—Oyo awaiting you,” teased Olayiwola Saheed Adesina Oyodo.

“And he wants to contest for governor in Oyo State? See finish,” wrote Odebowale Abass.

“Though the question was cool, it’s very heavy coming from his mouth,” added Oluwatobi Adedeji Ajisunwon.

Clearly, Adelabu’s words have once again ignited controversy, underscoring the undeniable truth: in leadership, speech is power, and careless speech can cost everything.

Ogun Police Deploy Officers for Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Bye-Election

By
blacktalker
-
0
Ogun Police Debunk Viral Security Alert, Warn Against Spreading Panic

The Ogun State Police Command has announced the deployment of a substantial number of officers to ensure security during the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency bye-election scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, while briefing election duty personnel at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, stressed the need for professionalism, civility, and neutrality in the discharge of duties.

He said the Command, in collaboration with other security agencies and supported by additional manpower from Zone 2 Command, Lagos, had put robust measures in place to prevent election-related violence and guarantee safety before, during, and after the polls.

The CP reminded voters to comply with electoral laws, warning that activities such as campaigning, vote-buying, distributing flyers, or displaying political stickers at polling units remain prohibited.

As part of security measures, movement will be restricted in the affected areas from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on election day. Police patrol vehicles, stop-and-search teams, and other operational units will be strategically stationed to ensure a smooth and peaceful process.

The Command urged residents to cooperate fully and cautioned anyone planning to disrupt the exercise to stay away from polling centres or face decisive police action.

For emergencies or election-related assistance, residents can contact the Police Command via 0915 957 8888, 0803 860 9898, or 0813 984 4740.

Rite Foods Clears 40 Tons of Plastic Waste in Lagos Through ‘Riteonthebeach’ Project

By
blacktalker
-
0
Rite Foods Reiterates Commitment to Clean Energy

Rite Foods Limited, a market leader in the food and beverage sector in Nigeria, has removed 40 tons of plastic waste from the city during the global Plastic Free July campaign.

The initiative was championed through its multi-award-winning Riteonthebeach project, in partnership with Pop Beach Club, a renowned Lagos eco-resort, with support from the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, SDG.

The campaign featured vibrant community activations at the Ikeja City Mall and distributed over 30,000 recovery bags to residents, empowering them to collect and recycle plastics. This large-scale mobilisation builds on the company’s consistent beach clean-up exercises, designed to curb plastic pollution and promote a thriving circular economy.

Managing Director of Rite Foods Limited, Seleem Adegunwa, revealed that the company employees also played a hands-on role in the campaign by actively sorting and returning plastics, recovering 288kg of post-consumer PET bottles and saving the environment 293.76kg CO₂ equivalent emissions in July alone.

“This result reinforces our belief that collective and consistent actions yield lasting impact. Riteonthebeach is a lifestyle change that supports Lagos State’s vision for a sustainable, clean, and healthy environment,” Adegunwa stated.

Echoing this, Head, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Mr. Ekuma Eze, emphasized that Rite Foods takes responsibility for its product life cycle, from use to proper recycling.

“Our Plastic Free July campaign showed that sustainable solutions to plastic waste are possible when communities, companies, and governments work together. Every bottle recovered is one less hazard to our waterways, biodiversity, and climate. Plastic is not the problem, improper disposal is and we are leading the charge for a sustainable solution through our Riteonthebeach initiative” Eze noted. 

Highlighting the environmental stakes, Eze reiterated that: “By keeping plastics out of our waters, we protect ecosystems and open doors for recycling innovations that transform waste into valuable products.”

The partnership with Popbeach Club, according to the convener Akin Disu, has already resulted in the collection of thousands of tons of plastics from Lagos’ shorelines.

Beyond clean-ups, the collaboration is creating jobs and educational opportunities, allowing shoreline communities to exchange collected waste plastics for recycling, while the proceeds from sale of plastic waste is deployed to back-to-school program for children in underserved communities.

Rite Foods, recently crowned ‘Food Company of the Year 2024’ at the prestigious Independent Media Awards, continues to refresh Nigeria with its diverse product portfolio including 13 Bigi Carbonated Soft Drink variants, Bigi Premium Drinking Water, Sosa Fruit Drink (five flavours), the nation’s leading Fearless Energy Drink, and the much-loved Rite Spicy Beef and Bigi Beef Sausage Rolls all produced in a world-class facility using state-of-the-art technology.

Customs’ FOU Zone A Seizes ₦3.14bn Smuggled Goods in South-West, Arrests 13 Suspects

By
blacktalker
-
0
Customs' FOU Zone A Seizes ₦3.14bn Smuggled Goods in South-West, Arrests 13 Suspects

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, FOU A of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted contraband and wrongly declared goods worth over ₦3.14 billion in a sweeping anti-smuggling operation across the South-West.

Over a three-week period, officers of the Unit recorded 76 interceptions and arrested 13 suspects in targeted operations carried out in strategic locations, including Ilaro, Owode, Ajilete, Imeko-Afon (Ogun State), the Ondo/Ekiti axis, Shaki and Iseyin (Oyo State), as well as various points within Lagos metropolis.

The seizures include 4,068 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), equivalent to seven trailer loads, 22 used vehicles, including two Ashok Leyland drilling trucks, and 12,125 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 485 jerry cans.

Other items seized were 120 bales of used clothing, 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 47 cartons of foreign poultry products, and 770 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil.

Eight containers were also impounded for misdeclaration and duty evasion, containing used shoes, auto spare parts, tyres, vehicles, and furniture. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all items stands at ₦3,144,680,000.00.

Additionally, the Unit recovered ₦47,834,397.29 in revenue through Demand Notices issued for under-declared imports between July 18 and August 12, 2025.

Addressing journalists in Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu commended his officers’ dedication and reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and economy.

“We continue to support lawful commerce through intelligence-driven operations that balance security enforcement with economic growth,” he said.

The seized Cannabis Sativa has been handed over to relevant authorities for further legal action, in line with inter-agency protocols. Some suspects have been granted administrative bail, while others remain in custody pending investigation and possible prosecution.

Comptroller Shuaibu urged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the Nigeria Customs Service, stressing that combating smuggling is essential to protecting the nation’s economy and security.

Customs Seizes 16 Containers of Arms, Ammunition, Prohibited Goods at Apapa Port

By
blacktalker
-
0
Customs Seizes 16 Containers of Arms, Ammunition, Prohibited Goods at Apapa Port

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted 16 containers laden with arms, ammunition, illicit drugs, and other prohibited items at the Apapa Command, Lagos, in a major anti-smuggling operation.

Speaking during the handover of the seized goods, Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the operation underscores the Service’s resolve to block Nigeria’s borders against harmful imports and protect public safety.

According to him, the intercepted containers held expired pharmaceuticals, prohibited medicaments, cannabis products, frozen poultry, used clothes, unregistered toothpaste, and other contraband with a Duty Paid Value of ₦10.27 billion.

Among the seizures were a 40-foot container with 101kg of Canadian “Loud” cannabis, two pump action rifles, a pistol, ammunition, and accessories concealed and falsely declared as vehicles.

Two suspects, identified as Mr. Modi Azuka and Mrs. Lisa Akpedeme, were arrested in connection with the arms and drugs and are undergoing interrogation.

Other seizures included: three containers of expired margarine; two containers of used clothing; two containers carrying 2,401 cartons of codeine syrup; 1,290 sacks each in two containers of frozen chicken breast and 305 cartons of unregistered toothpaste and other concealed goods.

The Comptroller General noted that some of the suspects will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the Department of State Services, DSS for prosecution, while others will be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

“Criminal elements determined to make our country a hub for destructive substances will always have our operatives to contend with,” Adeniyi warned. “We will run them out of business and into jail.”

He stressed that the seizures were made possible through intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, and the vigilance of Customs officers, adding that the NCS will continue to deliver uncompromising enforcement at all entry points.

Bestman Nze Jumbo Highlights Security Gains, Inclusivity in Lagos

By
blacktalker
-
0
Bestman Nze Jumbo Highlights Security Gains, Inclusivity in Lagos

President of Team Nigeria for Change, Bestman Jumbo, has praised Lagos State’s security improvements while urging sustained job creation and community-based strategies to address lingering challenges.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Jumbo, who is also the publisher of Eko Mii Eko E and Managing Director/CEO of Image Expressions Limited, noted that the state has recorded significant progress in reducing crimes such as bank robberies and street gang activities, thanks to targeted interventions by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

According to him, a major security concern remains the influx of undocumented migrants from neighbouring West African countries, which can lead to cross-border crimes often misattributed to Nigerian groups.

“Security has improved in Lagos. I can’t remember the last time we heard of area boys snatching a car or committing a bank robbery. Whether we like it or not, Lagosians are better for it,” Jumbo stated.

He advocated for stronger collaboration between states on security, similar to the partnerships Lagos has established in agriculture, and stressed that unemployment and illiteracy remain root causes of crime.

On community policing, Jumbo expressed caution about state police but endorsed Lagos’s “alternative security” model, which integrates reformed youths into intelligence gathering and neighbourhood safety roles.

“These teams secure their communities and provide intelligence to the police. It has drastically reduced crimes like road hijacking in traffic,” he explained.

Speaking further, Jumbo lauded Lagos as a model for inclusive governance, citing the appointment of non-indigenes and women into senior government roles.

He credited the state’s approach to fostering unity among different ethnic and political groups.

“In Lagos public service, you’ll find directors, commissioners, and even a Deputy Chief of Staff from outside the state. Religion and tribe don’t determine governance here,” he said, predicting that this inclusivity would remain sustainable under future administrations.

LASG Empowers Ibeju-Lekki Residents Through Life Skills Programme

By
blacktalker
-
0
LASG Empowers Ibeju-Lekki Residents Through Life Skills Programme

The Lagos State Government has once again reinforced its commitment to grassroots empowerment with the graduation of a new batch of beneficiaries from the Life Skills Economic Empowerment Programme, LEEP in Ibeju-Lekki.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, described the ceremony as “yet another proof that the Lagos State Government is delivering on its promise to make empowerment accessible to every community, no matter the distance.”

Dada noted that the programme, which has recently been held in Lagos Island, Agbowa, and Alagbado, is transforming lives by equipping participants with practical skills for self-reliance, financial stability, and community development.

She recalled that only a week earlier, over 5,000 students from Skills Acquisition Centres across the state had graduated in a ceremony attended by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

The Commissioner highlighted that LEEP targets diverse groups, including women in faith-based organisations, widows, people living with HIV and AIDS, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASPODA), military and paramilitary spouses, internally displaced persons, and parents of out-of-school children.

“To our graduates, I say this, you are no longer just beneficiaries, you are builders, innovators, and role models for others to follow,” she urged.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, in her vote of thanks, commended the resilience of the graduands and the support of facilitators, community leaders, and WAPA directors.

She also lauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for his visionary leadership and Commissioner Dada for her dedication.

“This programme is more than just training, it is about building capacity, restoring dignity, and creating pathways out of poverty,” Onigbanjo said.

The event concluded with celebrations marking the achievements of the new graduates, who are expected to establish small-scale enterprises and contribute to the economic growth of Lagos State.

1...126127128...271Page 127 of 271