Connect with us

News

“Lt Gen Lagbaja A Visionary Leader Of Nigeria Army” says Maj Gen Minjiyawa

AMB Fatile stressed that despite his short stay as  COAS , his legacy of welfares, equipping the Nigerian Army , operational efficiency, and tackling insecurity across the board would be remembered.

Published

on

113 Views

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.Gen. Farouk Mijinyawa has described the deceased  former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja as a colossal loss to the Nigerian army and the nation at large who was an exceptional and visionary leader in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He made the remark at the 81 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Lagos while members of the Prayer and Support of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies paid a courtesy visit to the GOC today in Lagos.

Maj. Gen Minjinyawa noted that the legacy of the deceased gallant officer will forever linger on in the memory of the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces through his giant strides and accomplishments of Nigeria. He stated, “Lt. Gen Lagbaja was a great leader with great vision who dedicated his service to the army and the nation at large. A transformational figure who served his time with diligence, his effort will never be forgotten, as we pray for the repose of his soul, we pray for all the legacy he left behind “Lt.Gen. Lagbaja gave his meritorious service to the nation and we are grateful to the group for deeming it fit to come and condole with us.

He has served his time with diligence but his effort will never be forgotten, as we pray for the repose of his soul and the family he left behind. And we  will continue with the legacy he left behind”

The former Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was said to be highly revered and popular among the rank and files of the military passed away on November 5, 2024, in Lagos after a brief illness was described as a professional who was committed to serving the nation in his gallant fight towards the insurgency and transformation witnessed in the Nigerian Armed Forces and personnel.

During the courtesy visit, the Convener of #Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, Ambassador Mary Fatile, described the late COAS Lt. Gen Lagbaja as an astute professional with keen interest in human capacity building and development.

She stated, “His transformational workcan be seen around the army barracks in terms of provision of infrastructure, welfare and improving the morals of his officers and men.

AMB Fatile stressed that despite his short stay as  COAS , his legacy of welfares, equipping the Nigerian Army , operational efficiency, and tackling insecurity across the board would be remembered.

Fatile said “was a thoughtful and disciplined leader who inspired many . . He was a compassionate leader who put his soldiers first”

The Convener of the group pointed out that he drove the vision and gave advice on directions on how to let this advocacy group hit the ground running .” Fatile said,

“In Africa today, we know that Nigerian military is number one and doing well in the  fight against insurgency.

We are to collaborate with them using our prayer and support to boost their efforts and recognize the tremendous work they are doing.

AMB Mary Abayomi Fatile prayed to God to grant the Wife Children and entire family the Grace to bear the irreparable loss..

News

NNPC Trading Limited MD appointed as Nigeria’s OPEC representative

We congratulate Maryamu Idris, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, on her appointment as the National Representative for Nigeria at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Published

on

By

20 Views

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Trading Limited says that its Managing Director, Maryamu Idris , has been appointed as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

NNPCL announced the development on its X handle on Wednesday, and said Idris’s new role marks a pivotal step in representing Nigeria’s interests within the influential cartel of oil-producing nations.

“We congratulate Maryamu Idris, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, on her appointment as the National Representative for Nigeria at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),” the statement read.

The corporation hailed her achievements in many capacities in the oil sector.

Maryamu’s extensive experience in the energy sector includes leading Pricing and Valuation efforts within NNPC’s Crude Oil Marketing Division and serving as a Technical Advisor to Nigeria’s OPEC Delegation.

She also played a foundational role in Nigeria’s engagement with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and contributed to oil sector reforms through her work with the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Oil and Gas Implementation Committee (OGIC).

Continue Reading

News

FIRS loses 4 senior staff in Lagos Afriland Towers Fire

The deceased staff were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director; Mr David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director; Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager; and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager.

Published

on

By

35 Views

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS) has confirmed the death of four of its senior staff members in the fire incident that gutted Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The deceased staff were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director; Mr David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director; Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager; and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager.

In a statement confirming the incident, Mr Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, said that the victims were trapped while on duty at the two FIRS offices located on the sixth and seventh floors of the building when the inferno broke out.

“Our Security and Safety officials quickly mobilized and contacted the fire service as soon as they were alerted. On getting to the scene, thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building.

“The Management and entire staff are in deep shock and sorrow over the development,” he said.

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: President Tinubu lifts state of emergency in Rivers, as Fubara prepares to resume duty

Published

on

32 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lifted the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, restoring full democratic governance six months after suspending the Governor, Deputy Governor and State House of Assembly members.

In a statement on Tuesday, President Tinubu said the emergency, declared on 18 March 2025, had become “painfully inevitable” after a constitutional crisis paralysed governance in the state. He recalled that disputes between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly had left critical economic assets vulnerable and halted budget approvals.

Tinubu said his intervention under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution was to “arrest the drift towards anarchy” after mediation attempts failed. “Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State … it would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” he said.

The President thanked the National Assembly, traditional rulers and the people of Rivers State for their support throughout the emergency. He also acknowledged dissenters who challenged the declaration in court, saying such actions were “the way it should be in a democratic setting.”

Tinubu noted a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among stakeholders in Rivers State and said the conditions that necessitated the emergency no longer existed.

“With effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end,” he announced. “Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”

He urged governors and state legislatures nationwide to prioritise harmony and peaceful governance. “It is only in an atmosphere of peace, order and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” he said.

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE CESSATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State.

I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration.

The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together.

Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised. The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor.

The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State’s affairs. That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill.

Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State.

My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.

It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency.

The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.

I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State.

I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now.

I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration.

That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security.

Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.

As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level.

The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.

I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance.

This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.

I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times.

I thank you all.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House, Abuja
September 17, 2025

Continue Reading

Trending