society
Adhere strictly to law, group charges Tinubu on appointment of new IGP
Adhere strictly to law, group charges Tinubu on appointment of new IGP
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been advised and called upon to regard strict adherence to the provision of the law as the primary consideration in the appointment of the next Inspector General of Police.
A civil society organisation, the Nigerian Civil Society Contact Group, CSCG, an amalgam of many Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations, with a primary focus on good governance and human rights, made the submission at a media briefing on Thursday.
Tinubu is expected to announce a replacement for the current IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, who should have exited office in March after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60 years, but was retained by immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the statement titled, The Next Inspector-General of Police Must Be Appointed According to Law and in The Best Interest of Nigeria’s Security, Engineer Taiwo Akindolu, Director-General of CSCG, noted that while former President Buhari blatantly disregarded the provision of the law in the appointments of the three IGPs that served in his eight years governing the country, especially the current occupier of the office, President Tinubu must not emulate those unconstitutional steps that could re-ignite controversies and a judicial logjam that surfaced in the past administration.
Akindolu said the Police Act 2020 signed into law by former President Buhari clearly stipulates the requirements for the appointment of an Inspector General of Police, warning that any action outside of the provision of the law could breed controversy which the new government can ill afford.
He reckoned that Section 7 Paragraph 6 of the Police Act 2020 says that the person to be appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years while Paragraph 2 of the same section of the law also states that such appointee shall be a senior police officer not below the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police with the requisite academic qualifications of not less than a first degree or its equivalent in addition to professional and management experience.
Akindolu submitted: “We strongly advise President Tinubu to uphold the rule of law in the appointment of a new IGP. The former President was ignobly reputed for disobeying the law which he blatantly demonstrated in the appointment of Usman Baba barely one year after he signed the new Police Act into law. As of the date of his appointment, Usman Baba was 58 years old and stepped into an office with a four-year tenure when he had just two years left in the service. His appointment has since been nullified by a High Court in Anambra State, and we could have avoided the national embarrassment if Buhari had done the right thing by obeying the law.
Stressing further, he noted, “It behoves on Mr President not only to ensure a prudent adherence to the laws guiding the appointment of an IGP but must also take other fundamental variables into consideration, particularly with regard to Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 which states that the person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of the Police shall hold office for four years.
“In the wisdom of the drafters of this section of the Act, it follows that while making the choice of who to be Nigeria’s Police IG, the president and the Police Council must pay special attention to ensure that whoever is being chosen has at least four more years or above to serve in the Nigerian Police before retirement.
“We take this position because if policemen and officers, by law, are to retire at age 60 or after serving 35 years in the Police, for any officer to remain in service beyond the statutory age of retirement is tantamount to illegality and a direct violation of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
“Appointing a Police officer who has just a few months or two years or less to retire as Police IG defeats the purpose or the intendment of Section 7(6) of the Police Act, he noted.”
According to the group, an officer nearing retirement cannot have the same zeal, focus, and energy that the demanding office of the IGP requires and cannot aggregate the capacity to run the office productively.
The group further observed that the law, with the provision of a four-year tenure, it satisfied the need to appoint an IGP that will have the time frame to develop his plans and vision and execute the same in the interest of the Force and Nigeria.
“We urge President Tinubu to appoint only candidates who have up to four years and above in service and the process should be conducted in consultation with the Police Council as stipulated by both the Police Act and the Nigerian Constitution.
“Apart from acting in consonance with the Police Act, we hope the President will consider geopolitical balancing, managerial competence, merit, qualifications, capacity, and unblemished records.”
The group cautioned Tinubu against repeating the action of previous governments that promoted Commissioners of Police to the rank of AIG with the sole intention of making them IGP which inevitably led to the premature retirement of their seniors who are usually AIGs and DIGs.
Akindolu said in the statement that, “Such action has not only proved counter-productive but has robbed the country of fully taking advantage of the resources invested in these officers that were prematurely retired. We strongly advise the new government to run away from the unwholly practices of previous governments, which elevated parochialism and nepotism, and then lowered the standard of professionalism in the police.
“Therefore, we passionately appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to judiciously look into this concern and make sure that the next IGP has more than four years to remain in service. Not only that. The next IGP must be one with the intellectual capacity and the physical attributes to withstand the rigors of his office.”
“The democratic credentials of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu include fighting for the adherence to the rule of law, institutional, and constitutional due processes. Therefore, we believe that he will bring this to bear in considering all the factors that will inform the choice of the next IGP,” he said.
The group also urged the former Speaker, House of Representatives, and presently Chief of Staff to the President, Right Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila not to relent in calling the attention of the President to this salient point of law, considering the significant roles he played during legislation on this crucial matter by ensuring that the 4-year tenure Bill was passed into law.
According to the CSCG, it would be counterproductive if Gbajabiamila fails to play his role in ensuring that the rule of law is followed by the president.
society
From Houston to Africa: Cheron K. Griffin Is Transforming Black Storytelling Across Continents.
From Houston to Africa: Cheron K. Griffin Is Transforming Black Storytelling Across Continents.
From Houston to Africa, Cheron K. Griffin is building a bold brand centered on relationships, healing, and transformative storytelling for Black audiences worldwide.
As the creator and executive producer of the Preachers’ Exes franchise, Cheron is known for creating raw, conversation-shifting content that explores love, heartbreak, church culture, emotional healing, and personal growth. Through reality television, podcasts, books, and media platforms like Wild Horse Entertainment and Wild Horse TV, she continues opening doors for honest conversations many people are afraid to have.
Cheron is also the creator of Wild Horse, a powerful short film she uses while speaking at churches, organizations, and community spaces to spark conversations about relationship building, trust, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and human connection—whether in intimate relationships, business partnerships, or leadership teams.
Her global production company, Wild Horse Entertainment, Ltd, is based in Lagos, Nigeria, further expanding her international vision and commitment to culturally impactful storytelling across the United States and Africa.
More than entertainment, Cheron’s work focuses on helping women and men heal emotionally, navigate relationships wiser, and reclaim their confidence and purpose. Her upcoming expansion into Lagos and Johannesburg reflects her growing global vision for culturally driven media and authentic storytelling.
Her advice to young people who want to follow a similar path:
“Don’t let fear stop you from starting. Be consistent, protect your vision, and never underestimate the power of your story. What makes you different is what will make you unforgettable.”
Cheron’s niche focuses on relationship-centered media, emotional healing, women empowerment, and culturally driven storytelling.
Her mission:
“I Change Lives.”
Fear, Hopelessness Fuel Corruption in Nigeria, Says Amb. Steve Nwose
By Ifeoma Ikem
Ambassador Steve Nwose has said corruption continues to thrive in Nigeria because many citizens have surrendered to fear, hopelessness and weak institutions that reward greed while punishing integrity.
Speaking during an online interview while reacting to first quarter reports on corruption trends in 2026, Nwose said Nigerians are not inherently corrupt but have become victims of a system that often encourages dishonest practices.
According to him, corruption has evolved into a self-sustaining cycle where public officials act with impunity while ordinary citizens feel powerless to challenge wrongdoing.
He explained that many Nigerians have gradually normalized corruption because they believe speaking out could expose them to victimisation, intimidation or denial of essential services.
“Nigerians are not uniquely corrupt people. People respond to systems that reward greed and punish integrity. Impunity has led the populace to surrender and normalize corrupt practices,” he stated.
Nwose noted that real national transformation would only happen when citizens stop waiting for political messiahs and begin to build institutions that can outlive individuals.
He urged Nigerians to demand greater accountability from public office holders, support credible leadership and reject corruption at every level of society.
According to him, history has shown that meaningful reforms often begin with a few courageous individuals who inspire others to act.
“Real change has never come because everyone was brave. It came because a few courageous people inspired others to stand up little by little. Fear is real, but silence has never built a better nation,” he added.
The ambassador lamented that many Nigerians now fear the same institutions established to protect them, including security agencies, making it difficult for citizens to report corrupt practices.
He said this growing distrust has weakened public confidence in governance and further emboldened corrupt actors within the system.
Nwose also described corruption as a deeply rooted cultural and systemic challenge, noting that some citizens often participate in bribery simply to gain access to basic services.
He warned that such participation only strengthens the cycle of corruption and makes reforms more difficult to achieve.
He further expressed concern over the judiciary, describing it as an institution whose credibility has been damaged by widespread perceptions of compromised justice.
Highlighting the economic burden on citizens, Nwose said many Nigerian households now spend more than 70 percent of their income on food, leaving little for other necessities and forcing families to focus on survival rather than long-term economic advancement.
Customs, NDLEA Intercept N16.7bn Cannabis Shipment at Tin Can Port
By Ifeoma Ikem
The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Port Command, has intercepted a major consignment of illicit drugs valued at N16.7 billion at the Lagos Port Complex, in what authorities described as a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-smuggling operations.
The seizure, which occurred barely two weeks after a similar interception, involved 4,173.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica concealed in 8,347 packages and packed inside a 40-foot container.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, said the operation was carried out through intelligence sharing and strategic collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Onyeka explained that officers of the command’s Enforcement Unit intercepted the container marked HAMU 247034/8 after receiving credible intelligence reports from relevant security agencies.
He said the container was immediately flagged for detailed physical examination upon arrival at Tin Can Island Port.
According to him, the container originated from Canada and was discovered to contain large quantities of Cannabis Indica hidden among cargo items.
He disclosed that the illicit substance weighed 4,173.5 kilograms and carried an estimated street value of N16.694 billion.
The Customs boss said the interception highlights the increasing use of maritime trade routes by international criminal syndicates seeking to penetrate Nigeria’s market with illegal substances.
He noted that such criminal activities pose serious risks to national security, public health and economic productivity, particularly among young Nigerians.
Onyeka stated that the command would continue to strengthen surveillance systems, improve cargo profiling and enhance intelligence gathering to safeguard Nigeria’s ports.
He also warned that port insiders and other individuals aiding smuggling activities would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Comptroller commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for promoting inter-agency cooperation in anti-smuggling operations.
Receiving the seized consignment on behalf of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Director of Seaport Operations, ACGN Ibinabo Archie Abia, described the seizure as a major disruption of transnational drug trafficking networks.
She revealed that the operation followed months of surveillance and international intelligence collaboration involving Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Abia added that the latest interception, alongside previous seizures of 4,729 kilograms on April 27 and 610.5 kilograms on April 30, reflects growing efficiency in intelligence-driven enforcement operations aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime trade environment.
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