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“My Unforgettable Experience As a Police Officer” – Lagos PPRO, Badmus shares touching story
Dolapo Opeyemi Badmus a Superintendent of Police (SP) has been appointed as the new Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Lagos State Police Command. She replaced Joseph Offor who has been in the saddle. The new PPRO joined the force on 15 August 2002, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (course 21 batch) trained at Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.
She is a graduate of Accounting and also a post-graduate degree holder in Public Administration.
Badmus has served in various capacities since she joined the force. She was once Aide de camp to number 4 citizen of Nigeria, Divisional Traffic Officer (DTO) Alakuko and until now she was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Isokoko Division, Agege. Her appointment was announced on 8 January, 2016.
Badmus is married and has children. In a chat with Sahara Weekly, she opened up on her career and life
As spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, how do intend to sustain the relationship between the police and members of the public?
Like I do tell people, as the spokesperson, I see myself as a bridge linking the public to the police and vice-versa, and if you think on that line, you will know that there is going to be a cordial relationship when the inflow and outflow correspond, and basically that is what I want to do. So it depends on the members of the public to judge our performance. But we are going to work effectively and we shall meet all expectations.
For every glory, there is a story to tell. Personally, what are the challenges since you took up the post?
I don’t want to say I’ve any challenge because, for my own organisation, there are things expected of you; there are laid-down rules and regulations. It’s just a matter of you abiding by them and you will flow. Although there might be obstacles, I don’t want to see anything as obstacle because it is my own job, I have passion for it. Basically, I don’t see anything that is too hard to deal with.
You assumed office of the PPRO some months ago; what can you say are the Command’s major challenges in combating crime?
It’s the Nigeria Police Force; an organisation set up to combat crime. There are rules of engagement when you are combating crime. I think we’ve been able to surmount what we take as a problem, security-wise. If you follow the trend of events, just like the Governor said at the town hall meeting, the crime rate in Lagos has reduced to 65% and I think we are getting there. The logistics released by the Lagos State Government late last year is also helping out. We can now combat crime on air, sea, and on ground and the only thing I think is slowing us down is the public not coming out to give us that information. You will agree with me that law enforcement agencies overseas are excelling because they get information and that is why we are telling the public to come out to give us information.
I found out that when people have information, they prefer to put it on social media, and they think that is where the solution lies. No! Some will say if they give information to the police, they will be sold out No! The mentality of our men, because of the leadership of the organization, now has changed and there are so many platforms you can give information to the police without being known. If you call into our control room, no one will ask you who is speaking. The farthest question they can ask is to know where you are calling from so they can know where it is happening. We also have Police smart application on google right now. You can pass any information from there. If you are in distress, you can send distress call from there. Basically, I want everyone to give information to the police and they should rather report incidents to police rather than social media because if it’s not reported to the police, it won’t be recorded, and if there is no record that such incident happened, how do we combat it? It’s a cycle and we still want members of the public to talk to the police directly so that we can achieve.
As a follow-up to what you said, recently something happened and I was telling the person that he should go and report to the area command and he was like, if he should go, even as a complainant, at the end of the day he would be asked to bail himself. And bail isn’t free in Nigeria and this thing is happening every day. What’s your take on this?
My take on this is that in the Police Force, under the leadership of the IGP, and Lagos State Command under the Commissioner of Police, Al-Fatai Owoseni, bail is free. If you ever go to any division, even as a complainant, if anyone asks anything from you, text the IGP; that is why he distributed his phone number. People should get up. We created a unit, Corporate Response Unit, CRU. We have distributed flyers to educate people on how to channel any complaints they have. The only thing we are telling members of the public is that they should get beyond sitting down, talking and complaining. Why can’t we move into action by reporting? It is only when people have acted and there is no corresponding action, then people should complain to the authority and see if there won’t be action. As at now, the leadership isn’t aware that bail isn’t free in some places because nobody has ever complained. And at the same time, we want to implore members of the public that they shouldn’t give money.
There is a popular belief that Nigerians lack maintenance culture and recently, government gave some equipment to the Police Force. To what extent has the equipment helped? And what are the maintenance measures?
The equipment has gone a long way in combating crime, in fighting criminalities. During the festive period last year, you saw that there was no serious incident. And about the maintenance measures, a lot has been put in place. Starting from the fueling, the command is filling it; the NPF has a workshop where the cars are been serviced and the Command CP has orientated those handling it on how to be conscious and cautious while using it.
The issue of extra-judicial killings by some of your men has raised a lot of concern. What is the Command doing to curb this?
For every misbehaviour, there is a specific punishment. What the Command is doing about that is that if you commit such an offence, you are dealt with according to the law of the Police Force, and according to the laws of the country. If you have taken a life, you will face it. The police isn’t going to hide you because you have been trained; and if you decide to go against the law, you will face it. If you as a member of the police misbehave, you are on your own. We are re-orientating them that they are to protect life and property, not to snuff out lives.
Interestingly, you are cool and calm, and a lot of people wonder what led you to joining the Police Force…
Well, the Police Force isn’t for the crooks, the rugged. The police need people that are calm, cool but at the same time, firm. Personally, I have ever wanted to be a medical doctor because I want to save lives and rescue people, but as the saying goes: Man proposes, God disposes. I think being in the Police Force is even far more of a duty than a doctor. I’m still in line with what I dreamt of. I’ll say it’s by the grace of God.
Can you tell us about an unforgettable experience since you joined the Police Force?
There are so many but as a police officer, you are not meant to be emotionally down. You are bound to see a lot but your ability to stand firm is what makes you a trained officer. But I would like to say there was one that actually brought tears to my eyes; that was when I was a DPO in Isokoko. That will be an unforgettable experience for me. It made me shed tears.
It was the story of a three-year-old girl living with her aunt. The aunt had been married for 10 years but had no child, and there is a belief that if a child comes live with you, his or her head will bring another one up.
This girl went through lot of beating, and the saddest one was when the woman said the three-year-old girl passed excreta on the bed around 1 a.m. and the aunt said: ‘Don’t you know you are no more a baby?’ The woman started beating her till daybreak. The most painful thing was that in the morning when she continued the beating, she hit her head on the wall and the girl passed out, just for her to wake up in the hospital; she couldn’t talk, she couldn’t use her limbs, she couldn’t walk again and after some time, they couldn’t get money to pay hospital bill and they had to take the girl back home. She couldn’t talk again, so the landlord had to come and report the case. We rescued the child and at the sight of her, I wept like a baby because that is the highest level of inhumanity. We called the Lagos State Government and the girl was taken care of. I made sure the woman faced the wrath of the law. I charged her to court against all odds. And even when the family members and the mother of the girl came all the way from their village to beg, we resisted. The woman is still under prison custody up till now and the girl has been taken over by the LASG.
That was touching! Can you tell us how growing up was like for you, because a lot of people want to know?
Growing up was beautiful. I’m the second of six children. My mom was a disciplinarian and my father was a gentleman. I think I carved a niche for news from him. He is a man of news. You don’t watch any other thing when it’s time for news. He doesn’t joke with his newspapers and magazines. He opened my eyes to news. I grew up like every normal girl. My mom was a teacher so I grew up with a disciplinary mother and a subtle father. It was a beautiful experience.
Many people say the Nigeria Police Force is corrupt. What is your take on this?
It’s a perception. Not everyone will say the NPF is corrupt. Some will still say well about them. Whatever perception we have, why can’t we team up with the NPF so that we can do that which is expected of us. I want us to go beyond lamentation, to the level of action. For every 12 disciples, there is a Judas.
If you go to government hospitals, some people will tell you they are corrupt. So it’s your experience that will make you talk. The question is, are we doing anything to curb every form of menace? If the leadership is doing something, we need to move from lamenting and be hopeful. The question we should be asking is, what are the people at the helm of affairs doing even if there is corruption? Are they fighting it? We should dwell more on what they are doing than what they have done wrong in the past.
What do you intend to do to combat the issue of rape?
There is no increase of rape from all indications, but we cannot wish it away, that there is no rape. Let me tell you what the Lagos State Command is doing to curb the issue. In the Command, we have four divisions, apart from the Lagos state CID, Panti. We map out four divisions where we have our men specifically trained to attend to issues of gender and sexual-based violence like rape, domestic violence, stabbing of wife, beating of wife, beating of husband. We have Isokoko division in Agege, Ilupeju police division, Adeniji Agbele police station. These are places where if you go with issues like this, they don’t compromise, they know the steps. For you to be sure that you will get whatever is supposed to be done, we have referrals to those divisions, we have medical organisations that can partner with the police to prove the offence of rape. So we want people to be aware that there are specific divisions. You can report to any of them.
What should Lagosians expect from your Command in the next one year?
In the next one year, they will be more secure than they are today because we are stepping up our own game of protection of life and property. Members of the public should also partner with the police .
Partnering with us – giving us information, giving us prompt report – will also help us to build on what we are doing. In the next one year, Lagosians will look back in Lagos State and say crime has been reduced to the barest minimum.
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NNPCL and Corruption’s Final Throes
By Pius Olasanmi
In the twilight of the Obasanjo administration, when Nigerians were still capable of being outraged, when Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries was a buzzword that still held some mysticism to bamboozle citizens, during a conversation, a certain man said something profound. The man said, “As a businessman, if I were the owner of these refineries, knowing that they are three decades old, I would take the last money I have, hire bulldozers, raze them to the ground, and obtain loans to build new ones.”
When we pressed him further on why he would engage in such waste, he explained that repairing the refineries is the real waste. He explained that even if the TAM were honestly carried out, a thirty-year-old refinery would never compete favourably with a new one that would integrate contemporary technology. Operating at its best, such a refinery would never be comparatively more efficient. It is therefore pointless to have spent another one naira on the refineries at that point.
A few months later, I had a conversation with a then-lawmaker on an entirely different matter. I mentioned that the National Assembly has failed by not crafting legislation that would criminalise and punish public office holders who foist wrong decisions on the country. The logic: a public office holder need not steal to be punished, wrong decisions should attract penalties for an office holder who opts for the worst of all options when there are less injurious ones.
These established premises speak to the ongoing nauseating efforts at revisionism by those who wrecked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its previous iteration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Notably, this campaign to rewrite history is traceable to Engineer Mele Kolo Kyari, the disgraced immediate past Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL and his hirelings. They have suffocated the news and the public opinion space with even more lies than they spun while in office.
The Saint Kyari campaign is anchored on convincing Nigerians that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries were fully functional when he was booted out of office. So brazen is the campaign that one of its talking heads challenged the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to “inform Nigerians categorically what happened to the functioning refineries he inherited from his predecessor, Engr. Mele Kyari.” The effrontery.
We have not forgotten so soon the charade that followed the baffling claim that Nigeria has spent $2.8 billion on the repair of the refineries, while they are not churning out even a single litre of refined product among them. Saint Kyari and his goons played all manner of tricks, all of which embarrassed President Bola Tinubu, who had counted on ticking off the return to productivity of the refineries as part of his achievements, only to realise that he was deceived into celebrating phantoms. Tragic.
Lest we forget, 200 trucks were arranged as props in a well-directed video clip to celebrate the re-streaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The disappointment. Nigerians were to learn from several reports that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing and was instead using old, stored petroleum products to load trucks. Worse still, the Kyari crew was passing off sanction-tainted Russian-sourced crude oil refined in Malta as locally refined products. More insult was piled on the assault on our collective sensibility with the lies that the Port Harcourt Refinery exported semi-finished products. Brazen.
Meanwhile, Kyari and his hirelings called those who pointed out or protested these glaring scams all manner of names. They hid behind industry technicalities and jargon to create the impression that those of us who knew Nigerians were being robbed did not understand what we were saying. The point remains that a $2.8 billion investment can potentially build a refinery with a capacity of around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Of course, the actual capacity of such a refinery will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the refinery, the technology used, and the location. That is the amount that Kyari’s regime at the NNPCL took and did not give Nigerians refined products.
Fast forward to Kyari’s sack and the appointment of Engineer Bayo Ojulari, who has demonstrated that things can indeed be done differently. Kyari’s exit was expectedly followed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) going after him and his associates. The extent of the theft is better understood against the backdrop of N80 billion being found in the bank account of one of his associates. They went on the run.
Perhaps because the EFCC was biding its time on securing international warrants for the arrests of these characters on the lam, they have become emboldened. They have decided to fight back and rewrite the story of their participation in the greatest fraud against Nigerians. Engineer Ojulari’s renewed mindset, which is entrenching a semblance of the transparency Nigerians demand, became their natural target. The demons that once roamed around the corporation came out with malevolence. They started spinning stories of corruption to tarnish the incumbent who refused to hide their crimes. The objective: bring Ojulari down. But alas, he is winning the war as it stands.
His innocence is proven, and it is glaring that those who want him out are mere charlatans who can no longer ply their corrupt wares because of the impact of the new reforms. Corruption in the NNPCL is in its final throes. The fake news being unleashed against the incumbent leadership is akin to corruption’s last kicks as reforms in the sector strangulate it and its practitioners. The reforms must take place in the NNPCL, whether the industry demons like it or not.
As a parting shot, Kyari and his associates would do well to prepare their defence. In addition to accounting for the $2.8 billion they laundered in the name of repairing the moribund refineries, they must also answer for the poor decision to fix that which is irretrievably broken. Awarding contracts for Turn Around Maintenance of 59-year-old refineries that a right-thinking person had suggested should be demolished almost twenty years ago, when they were only 30 years old, is criminal. Trying to deceive Nigerians that the fake repairs worked is treason.
Olasanmi is a public affairs analyst writing from Lagos.
GRANDIS 5STAR LUXURY APARTMENT & SUITES SET TO REDEFINE LIVING IN VICTORIA ISLAND
Set to Rise elegantly against the Lagos skyline, is the Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites. According to Adejuwon Ademola, The General Manager of the Development company, it is more than just a residential building
“it’s a lifestyle statement. Standing 17 floors high in the heart of Victoria Island, this revolutionary masterpiece of modern architecture will offer a panoramic 360° view of Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, transforming every apartment into an exclusive penthouse experience for the world’s most discerning elite.”
Developed by Dumarco Construction Limited, a globally acclaimed company with decades of delivering complex, high-value projects in the highly regulated petroleum, oil, and gas industries, Grandis 5Star brings unmatched international safety standards, uncompromising quality, and timeless elegance into Nigeria’s luxury property market.
> “When you live in Grandis, you’re not just buying a home—you’re investing in peace of mind, world-class safety, and an effortless luxury experience that will remain pristine for decades,” says Adejuwon A. Ademola, General Manager of Dumarco Construction Limited.
The Gold Standard in Safety and Quality
Dumarco’s roots in the oil and gas sector mean the company operates to some of the strictest safety protocols in the world. Every stage—from conceptualization, design, construction, to long-term maintenance—follows internationally accepted procedures and quality assurance measures. Cutting corners is simply not in Dumarco’s vocabulary.
> “In the oil and gas industry, there’s no room for compromise. We’ve brought that same discipline and zero-tolerance for mediocrity into property development,” says Ademola. “That’s why Grandis will be one of the safest and most enduring residential developments in Nigeria.”
To ensure transparency and prevent (project complacency), Dumarco deliberately separates the developer, contractor, and consultant roles, engaging only the most competent professionals in each respective field. Dumarco’s project team includes globally recognized contractors such as Julius Berger, Cappa & D’Alberto, and Elalan, Migliore Construczione & Tecniche (MC&T) and their partners VENCO IMTIAZ CONTRACTING COMPANY (VICC) based in Dubai, UAE, Business Contracting Limited, alongside leading consultants like Morgan Omanitan & Abe, LAMBERT, and James Cubitt.
Grandis – Investments, appreciation, returns and profitability
Our selection process for the location of the project alone was pains-taking and completely thorough scientific process. Top professional companies were employed to conduct a scientific data acquisition and analytical survey of the entire Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Eko Atlantic before a project site is selected. Analyzing and acquiring areas developmental charts and trends, studying and gathering historical and present sale prices, rental charge and occupancy rates over a 50 year period from every individual street before the selection of the location of any of our developments especially true for the Grandis Project
He adds,
“Our clients and residents can be rest assured that the location of Grandis has been scientifically proven through all existing data to provide our clients with a 100% occupancy rate, highest developmental location, highest rental income and investment returns. ”
The Grandis Experience
Located minutes away from international corporate headquarters, embassies, and landmarks such as Eko Hotel, Radisson Blu, and the Radisson Red, Grandis offers unmatched convenience for professionals, diplomats, and high-net-worth individuals. Every residence is designed for both indulgence and efficiency, with high-grade finishes, smart-home systems, and private amenities that ensure seamless living.
From sunrise over the Atlantic to the glittering Lagos night skyline, residents will enjoy uninterrupted luxury, supported by discreet and highly trained staff, advanced security systems, and a design that prioritizes comfort and privacy.
> “We designed Grandis for people who want everything—security, elegance, convenience, and the assurance that their home will look as spectacular in 20 years as it does on day one,” Ademola notes.
A Legacy That Lasts
With its combination of visionary architecture, peerless safety, and meticulous maintenance planning, Grandis is built to remain iconic for generations. Thanks to Dumarco’s meticulous approach, the building’s service charges are expected to remain low while its value and appeal continue to appreciate over time.
In a market often marred by shortcuts and substandard practices, Mr Ademola says
Grandis stands as a beacon of what luxury living should be—safe, spectacular, and built to last.
“Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites — Where safety meets sophistication, and every detail is designed for a life well-lived.”
He added
Website -www.dumarcoltd.com
Project website – www.26idowutaylor.com
Email [email protected]
Tel / WhatsApp +234 9077777883
GM – Adejuwon A. Ademola
celebrity radar - gossips
Nationwide Talent, One Broadcaster: Tinubu Picks Pedro, Bello, Din, Mohammed to Lead NTA
Tinubu Overhauls NTA Leadership: Media Powerhouse Rotimi Pedro Takes Helm as DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a major shake-up at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), appointing renowned media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the new Director-General in a move widely seen as a bold step toward modernising the state broadcaster.
Pedro, a Lagos native, brings nearly 30 years of expertise in broadcasting, sports rights, and marketing communications across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, he also holds an MSc in Investment Management and Finance from City University Business School, London.
In 1995, Pedro founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which rose to become one of Africa’s leading sports content providers—distributing premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in over 40 countries.
His career highlights include top roles at Bloomberg Television Africa and Rapid Blue Format, as well as advisory work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB). At the AUB, he was instrumental in securing exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.
Alongside Pedro’s appointment, Tinubu named Karimah Bello from Katsina State as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din from Plateau State as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Issa Mohammed from Adamawa State as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
Industry insiders credit Pedro with building commercially viable broadcast platforms, driving sponsorship growth, and delivering world-class content to African audiences. His appointment marks one of the most significant leadership changes at NTA in years—signalling the government’s intent to strengthen the broadcaster’s competitiveness in a fast-evolving media landscape.
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