…As NSCDC moves to end critical infrastructure vandalism in Edo

 The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will collaborate with the Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote a safer driving culture and reduce road crashes across the state.

Mr Yahaya Sabo-Adikwu, Nasarawa State Sector Commander of FRSC, stated this on Friday in Lafia when members of the NUJ State Executive Council, led by their Chairman, Mr Salihu Mohammed-Alkali, paid him a familiarisation visit.

He said many motorists in the state often disregard traffic regulations, adding that the Corps would intensify sensitisation and enforcement to change that mindset.

“This is a new challenge we must confront. Our goal is to change the psyche of motorists and help them understand that obeying traffic rules is in their best interest,” he said.

Sabo-Adikwu said the Corps had expanded its advocacy to churches, mosques, markets, motor parks and through mass media campaigns.

“We will take the advocacy to traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, motorists’ unions and other stakeholders in all the 13 Local Government Areas of the state,” he added.

The Sector Commander also announced that, for the first time, the Corps would publicly celebrate and reward drivers who demonstrate exemplary conduct and compliance with traffic rules.

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He said deserving drivers would receive both cash and material rewards to motivate others.

“Drivers, whether private or commercial, often face criticisms from their bosses, security agencies or passengers. Nobody celebrates them for doing good.”

“We want to change that narrative and show that driving is a noble profession, not an occupation for thugs or irresponsible people,” he said.

Sabo-Adikwu said recognising responsible drivers would help discourage drug use and other negative behaviours among motorists.

He disclosed that the planned drivers’ award ceremony would be organised in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, the State Traditional Council and other stakeholders.

The FRSC boss also assured the NUJ of his commitment to working closely with journalists to reshape motorists’ attitudes and promote safer road use.

Earlier, Mohammed-Alkali congratulated Sabo-Adikwu on his appointment as the first indigenous FRSC Sector Commander in the state and pledged the union’s support in publicising the Corps’ activities aimed at reducing crashes.

In another development, the Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Friday, held an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate on better ways to safeguard Critical National Information Infrastructure in the state.

Addressing the meeting, the State Commandant, Saidi Akintayo, said the engagement was to “deliberate on pressing issues that affect the safety, stability, and resilience of our critical infrastructure”.

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Akintayo also said that the corps’ mandate is to protect key physical and digital assets, such as power installations, data centres, communication masts, and transport systems.

“Our responsibility includes safeguarding physical facilities from vandalism, sabotage, and unauthorised access.”

“We also conduct continuous threat analysis to identify vulnerabilities and develop proactive mitigation strategies before they escalate into a crisis,” he said.

The commandant underscored the importance of collaboration, intelligence-sharing, and synergy across sectors to effectively curb rising threats.

“We will continue to engage stakeholders, develop capacity among our personnel, and deploy innovative strategies to prevent acts of vandalism, sabotage, or cyber threats that may endanger national security.”

“The complex and evolving nature of threats – whether physical, technological, or cyber – requires strong partnerships among government agencies, private organisations, security operatives, and the public,” Akintayo said.

He also said that the meeting provided a platform “to share ideas, coordinate actions, and develop a strategic roadmap that will enhance the resilience of infrastructure in Edo and beyond”.

In a remark, the Assistant General Manager of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Benin Region, Mr Olusesi Ariyibi, commended NSCDC for consistently responding whenever the commission’s facilities were vandalised.

“This kind of synergy is good because if there are issues affecting any sector, they can easily know who to reach to address them,” Ariyibi said.

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He warned the public to desist from tampering with TCN’s towers, pointing out that vandalism can lead to power outages, loss of lives, and destruction of property.

MTN Security Supervisor, Endurance Iyamu, also applauded the initiative, urging scrap dealers to work closely with telecom operators to protect fibre optic cables from vandalism.

“We need scrap dealers to collaborate in protecting our fibre lines to avoid communication disruptions,” Iyamu said.

A representative of the Arewa Scrap Dealers Association, Alhaji Sani Muhammed, said the group had begun to profile its members “to distinguish legitimate operators from vandals”.

“We will take what we have learnt here and enlighten our members on how to protect critical assets in the state,” Muhammed said.

Sarahaisu Musa, the Chairman of the Heavy Truck Owners, Marketers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria in Edo, also commended the corps for convening the meeting.

Musa said that the meeting would help members to better identify suspicious activities.

“We have already instructed our members across the state to be vigilant and raise an alarm when someone engages them to transport questionable scrap items,” he said.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Edo Ministry of Communication, major telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, Glo and Smile, amongst others. 

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…Says President Tinubu is deploying trade as a key driver of economic development, job creation, and poverty reduction

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has highlighted that hosting the maiden Customs–Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference in Abuja will accelerate economic growth and strengthen Africa’s intra-continental trade.
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‎He also observed that NCS remained committed to fast-tracking Nigeria’s full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
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‎The conference, conceived by the NCS in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), will be held from Monday to Wednesday.

‎“President Bola Tinubu has made it very clear that his administration intends to use trade to promote economic development and alleviate poverty”

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‎Briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, Adeniyi said President Bola Tinubu had issued clear directives to deploy trade as a key driver of economic development, job creation, and poverty reduction.
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‎“President Bola Tinubu has made it very clear that his administration intends to use trade to promote economic development and alleviate poverty.”
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‎“Seeing the potentials we have in trade, and in the policy thrust documents, you will see specific policies that speak to the promotion of Nigeria re-establishing itself as a trade hub,” he said.

“We need to invest more in port infrastructure and join the league of Customs administrations leveraging the single window”

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‎The Customs Boss said the administration’s priorities include port decongestion, infrastructure renewal, and the deployment of modern platforms such as the national single window to enhance competitiveness.
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‎“That policy thrust talks about the fact that we need to decongest our port areas.”
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‎“We need to invest more in port infrastructure and join the league of Customs administrations leveraging the single window.”
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‎“These are all elements that speak to one major issue: we need to give more attention to intra-African trade,” he said.
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‎Adeniyi said AfCFTA implementation formed part of the key performance indicators assigned to him by the President.
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‎He added that engagements had been held with customs administrations across Africa and the AfCFTA Secretariat to ensure customs agencies played their central role in the agreement.
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‎“Last week, I was in Ghana to have a brief meeting with the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA to let him understand that Customs is now ready to play its role and fulfil its mandate in the implementation of the regional economic grouping,” he said.
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‎The NCS boss said the customs authorities remained pivotal in enforcing rules of origin, granting trade preferences, and implementing the phased elimination of duties across African countries.
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‎The Customs CGC said lessons from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme underscored the need for stronger collaboration between customs agencies, economic operators, and institutions involved in cross-border trade.
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‎Adeniyi said Tinubu’s emergence as Africa’s Champion of Intra-African Trade and Nigeria’s selection to host the next Intra-African Trade Fair had further boosted the drive by agencies such as NEPC and NEXIM to push more Nigerian exports into African markets.
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‎He confirmed that more than 30 African customs administrations had registered for the conference, several at the Director-General level, while private-sector participation remained the largest bloc, including manufacturers, logistics firms, airlines, and shipping companies.
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‎Adeniyi said the conference would open with a session dedicated to the private sector to address non-tariff barriers and operational challenges affecting cross-border trade.
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‎On revenue performance, he said that while revenue collection remained key, the NCS had also strengthened its national-security and trade-facilitation roles through modern tools that enabled major interceptions of drugs, arms, and ammunition.
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‎He stated that these reforms contributed to revenue increases of 70 percent in 2023 and 101 per cent in 2024.
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The C-PACT, supported by the World Customs Organisation, seeks to reposition African trade by promoting cooperation, transparency, and agility within customs systems to expand lawful trade and drive sustainable development.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the conduct of its National Convention on Saturday in Ibadan is sacrosanct.

The Chairman, 2025 National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and Adamawa Gov. Umar Fintiri stated this while addressing journalists after the party’s stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

The stakeholders who attended the meeting included members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, National Working Committee (NWC), and Board of Trustees, among others.

“We’ve just come out of our critical stakeholders meeting, where a lot of elaborate decisions were taken.”

“I want to tell you here that we are going to Ibadan for our convention and the convention is sacrosanct,” Fintiri said.

The meeting took place at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Some of the stakeholders present at the meeting included Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo, PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Others are former Minister, Tanimu Turaki, who is the consensus candidate for the position of national chairman at the convention.

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Also at the meeting were Senator representing Kogi Central, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairman, PDP South-South Caretaker committee, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, among others.