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ZONAL COORDINATOR ZONE A, ACG OG OSISANYA fdc VISITS LAGOS COMMAND

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ZONAL COORDINATOR ZONE A, ACG OG OSISANYA fdc VISITS LAGOS COMMAND.

 

 

 

 

 

The Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone A, ACG OG Osisanya today 8th of February paid a working familiarization visit to Lagos State Command. The visit which forms part of his inaugural tour of all Commands and Formations under Lagos Zone is designed to give the ACG a first hand assessment of the challenges and needs of the entire Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zonal Coordinator in his address to Officers and Men of the Command commended them for the warm reception accorded him and also distinctly expressed his delight at the professional performance of the Quater Guard Parade. He rehashed the Ag Comptroller-General, Idris Jere’s cardinal objectives but particularly expanded more on his commitment to implement a comprehensive welfare package for Officers and Men of the Service. He however, relayed the Ag CG’s demand for an improved commitment on the part of officers and men in the spirit of reciprocity.

 

 

ZONAL COORDINATOR ZONE A, ACG OG OSISANYA fdc VISITS LAGOS COMMAND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACG Osisanya conveyed the Ag CG’s warning against dissemination of official informaition through unofficial social media platforms. He described the act as a brazen violation of Public Service Rules as well as the Oath of Secrecy we are all signatories to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zone A Coordinator closed his address by highlighting the role Divisional Immigration Officers (DIO’s) play in the internal security of the country. He charged the DIO’s to double their efforts due to the fact that Lagos is a melting pot and cosmopolitan area with the trappings that attract’s all forms of economic migrants. He particularly, highlighted the dictates of the Ecowas Protocol which demands that all Ecowas nationals that wishes to explore the rights guaranteed in the Protocol must also abide by the conditions as clearly stated in it. ACG Osisanya instructed the Comptroller to implement a mechanism that will guarantee a routine weekly security reports of all activities in the twenty LGAs in the state.
He afterwards, dismissed the parade and promised to convey the uncovered parts of his address through the CIS and the Command’s Sectional Heads in the Management meeting that held afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Comptroller of Lagos State Command, CIS MD Bagiwa pcc in his welcome address promised to consolidate on the accomplishments of his predecessor who he said, “initiated several Corporate Social Responsibility sponsored projects which has significantly improved the conditions of the Command’s Provisional and Annex Office complexes.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIS Bagiwa expressed his “determination to ensure that the completed projects are duly maintained and optimally utilised as much as possible”. He declared his resolve to explore avenues that’ll facilitate the improvement of the Command’s Provisional and Annex Facilities, wherever and whenever necessity demands. He admitted that infrastructure wise, the Command is in a better condition than he left when he previously served here, and promised to ensure he will leave it in a better condition when his tenure his over.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Comptroller assured the Zonal Coordinator that he will ensure the nearly completed Personal Training and Resource Centre ,(PTRC) constructed by the International Organisation for Migration(IOM) will serve the purpose as intended for. He disclosed that the ever evolving digital transition of our services demands that all Officers and Men of the Command must take full advantage of the Centre to update their knowledge and keep pace with the evolving trends in our ever dynamic operating environment.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIS Bagiwa revealed to the ACG “he made it crystal clear to his Sectional and Unit Heads that they must observe rules of engagement and ensure that the Standard Operational Practice (SOP) is optimally observed. The rules of engagement which entails probity, professionalism, fairness, justice and discipline must be stoutly observed in all our engagements with members of the public, in line with the Ag Comptroller-General’s cardinal objectives. He also made it clear that there will be zero tolerance to extortion, undue harassment and exploitation of the public we are meant to dutifully serve. He disclosed to the Zonal Coordinator that he charged them to place a premium on the job as there can be no room for complacency in accomplishing the task of making Lagos Command, and by extension Lagos State investor-friendly in keeping with the ease of doing business mantra of the Federal Government.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lagos Command Comptroller “unequivocally assured ACG Osisanya that he is staunchly commited to ensuring that the Alausa Passport Control Office transparently adhere to the newly implemented Passport Administration Policy. He made it clear that the appointment system which has brought about order and reduced the stress mileage of our Passport Processing Officers will not be sabotaged for any reason whatsoever.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIS Bagiwa seized the opportunity of the ACG’s first official familiarization visit to the Command by tabling a number of requests. He did seek the Coordinator’s assistance to apply the necessary pressure required to expedite the completion of the Command’s Headquarter’s Building. He pleaded that the speedy completion of the building will greatly address the challenge of office space shortage currently affecting the Command. The CIS also entreated the support of his boss with regards to pulling together human and material resources required for setting up of a Music Band. The Band which is an important Unit in all Paramilitary Agencies will not only serve Lagos Command, but also by extension serve all other Commands and Formations within the state whenever necessity demands.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Comptroller concluded his address by “drawing the attention of the ACG to the need for the swift renovation and fixing of necessary utilities in the Command’s Screening Centre.” This he said is imperative, given the Command’s obligation to ensure we keep up with the minimum global acceptable standard. He revealed that the Centre in its present state, requires significant material and financial support to make it more habitable for the detention of suspects in the facility.”

 

 

 

The Zone A Coordinator in his response disclosed that the purpose of the visit is to acquaint himself with the ongoings in biggest and most important Command in the country. He commended CIS Bagiwa for his graceful acknowledgement of his predecessors accomplishments. He urged the Management of the Command to extend the unequivocal support they accorded his predecessor which he believes was fundamental to the success of the immediate past Comptroller to CIS Bagiwa.
He labelled his visit as a form of homecoming after having visited the state on several occasions as part of the immediate past Comptroller General’s entourage. He’s also represented the outgone CG in several functions hosted in the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ACG once again rehashed the need for the Command to place a premium on ensuring that the twenty Local Government Areas in the state are well monitored. He revealed that the only reason the NIS is accommodated in State Security Councils hinges on the fact that we have officers stationed in all 774 Local Government Areas in the country. He charged officers and men of the Command, particularly DIOs to double their efforts by ensuring that our inclusion in the State Security Councils is justified. He highlighted the importance of control after entry in order to rid the state of irregular migrants given the economic attraction embedded in Lagos.
ACG Osisanya urged officers to discharge their duties with the civility required of Officers of the Federal Republic as we imminently recommence inspection of companies with expatriates under their employment. He warned against embarrassment, exploitation and harassment of investors who come in with Foreign Direct Investments. He advised officers to use discretional latitude to correct documentation inconsistences when noticed rather than use it as an avenue to exploit for personal gains. He however instructed officers to force out any expatriate who refuses to comply with our attempt to correct and regularise their documents.

 

 

 

 

 

The ACG charged officers to dutifully protect the newly implemented appointment system for Passport applications introduced by the Service in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior. “He explained that the appointment system as currently implemented, is working as it has created order and reduce the stress mileage of Passport Processing Officers triggered by the rowdiness that was the norm in all Passport Control Offices before the appointment system. The Zonal Coordinator admitted that the challenges resulting from the appointment system due to fact that the autogenerated appointment dates assigned to some applicants may be too long. He assured that the top echelon of the Service is currently exploring measures to address the challenge. He concluded by revealing that the appointment system gives the Service ample time to verify the veracity of the documents presented by applicants as against the rumours that it is a pretext to mask our inability to provide booklets as demanded by the public.

 

 

The Tour was concluded after a guided tour of the entire infrastructure of the Command.

ZONAL COORDINATOR ZONE A, ACG OG OSISANYA fdc VISITS LAGOS COMMAND

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TYBLI Unveils 2025 Initiatives to Promote Reading Culture Among Nigerian Students

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TYBLI Unveils 2025 Initiatives to Promote Reading Culture Among Nigerian Students

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has launched its 2025 activities aimed at fostering a stronger reading culture among Nigerian students.

 

 

 

The initiative, founded and sponsored by Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), seeks to enhance literacy, encourage creative writing, and reward young literary talents across the country.

 

TYBLI Unveils 2025 Initiatives to Promote Reading Culture Among Nigerian Students  

 

 

Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Lizi Ben-Theanacho, Chairperson of TYBLI, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing literacy through book placements and literary prizes.

 

 

 

“Our foundational mandate is to contribute to a more literate Nigeria through book placements, ensuring quality, age-appropriate leisure reading materials for youths. Further, we exist to incubate literary potential through the TYBLI Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP). “TYBLI is an educational outreach and community give-back service initiated and sponsored by Lt. General TY Buratai (Rtd.),” she stated.

 

 

 

Reflecting on the successes of 2024, Dr. Ben-Theanacho highlighted key milestones, including the placement of TY Buratai Book Boxes in three schools—one in Nasarawa State and two in the FCT—and the expansion of literary awards in Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

She noted that the organization created the largest number of winners for a single literary prize in Nigeria, pushing the boundaries of creative recognition and reward. As part of its 2025 agenda, TYBLI plans to build on these achievements with a series of new initiatives: Publication of an Anthology: The best 10 entries from the 2024 YALP competition will be compiled and published at no cost to the participants, with copies distributed to secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide. Increased Prize Money: The Grand Prize for the 2025 YALP winner has been raised from ₦1 million to ₦1.5 million, thanks to sponsorship from Amb. Babagana Kingibe, GCON, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Additionally, each of the six geopolitical zone winners will receive ₦500,000, doubling the previous amount. Expanded Book Placements: TYBLI will place Book Boxes in five more schools, spanning Kaduna, Nasarawa, and the FCT.

 

 

 

 

Forerunners and Illustrators Award: This year’s honorees include Kola Onadipe and Frances Effiong, both pioneers in Young Adult Literature (YAL) in Nigeria. 2025 Timeline of Activities February 2025 – Flag-off Press Conference April 2025 – Call for YALP 2025 Submissions May 2025 – Book Placement Exercise June 2025 – YALP Submission Deadline July 2025 – Unveiling of Judges August 2025 – Announcement of Longlist September 2025 – Shortlist Adjudication October 2025 – Final Shortlist Announcement November 1, 2025 – Grand Winner Announcement & Award Ceremony.

 

 

 

Dr. Ben-Theanacho called on corporate organizations, government agencies, and individuals to support the initiative. “We are making an impact one reader at a time, transforming literary fortunes six winners at a time. With clarity and focus, we will continue working towards a more literate Nigeria as a vehicle for social transformation. Please partner with us,” she urged.

 

 

 

Also speaking at the event, Dr. M.S. Abubakar, Vice President of TYBLI, lamented the decline of reading habits among Nigerian youths, attributing it to the proliferation of digital entertainment and mobile gadgets. “It is a sorry state. People now prefer to watch movies instead of reading books. If you mention Things Fall Apart, they ask for the movie instead of the book. Unfortunately, there is no way you can compare reading with watching,” he said. Dr. Abubakar emphasized the need for early reading habits among children, noting that failure to cultivate such habits at a young age could have long-term consequences.

 

 

 

 

“Someone once said, ‘If you want to hide something from an average Nigerian, put it inside a book.’ But readers are leaders. This initiative should be encouraged and sustained,” he added. He also praised Lt. Gen. Buratai for his commitment to the literary initiative and urged more wealthy Nigerians to invest in literary development, similar to the way industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford funded educational projects in developed nations.

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Group Accuses Kaduna Governor of Keeping Political Prisoners

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Group Accuses Kaduna Governor of Keeping Political Prisoners

Group Accuses Kaduna Governor of Keeping Political Prisoners
…Urges Amnesty International, others to wade in

 

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as the Voice of Truth Nigeria (VTN) has accused the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani of keeping political prisoners in spite of valid and subsisting orders of court of competent jurisdiction granting them bail.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by VTN’s Programmes Coordinator, Dare Quadri, the group stated that the political prisoners are Jimi Adebisi Lawal, the former Senior Advisor and Counsellor to ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Umar Waziri, the former Accountant-General of Kaduna State; Bashir Saidu, a former Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance and Yusuf Inuwa, also a former Commissioner for Finance in the state.

The statement reads in part “It is worrisome that a man who parades himself as an activist and a member of the civil society would abuse his office and resort to using his position to compromise the judiciary and victimize political opponents who were charged on trumped on charges even when the court has granted them bail and they have since met the bail conditions. It is commonplace that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But, in Governor Uba Sani’s Kaduna State, the reverse seems to be the case.

“It is a sad commentary on our judiciary that the application for the variation of the bail terms have been stalled over one flimsy excuse or the other.

“According to credible information available to us, while Saidu was accused of laundering N155 million; Lawal, Waziri, Inuwa and a company known as Solar Life Nigeria Limited were charged for allegedly laundering N64.8 million by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on the 21st of January, 2025, contrary to the earlier unfounded claim of misappropriating the sum of N423 billion.

“After taking their non-guilty pleas, the Federal High Court heard their bail applications and consequently granted them bail.The court ordered the defendants to provide two sureties with N50 million each, who must have landed property in Kaduna with verified Certificates of Occupancy.

“Shortly after the defendant were granted bail, the agency responsible for the verification of Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O), Kaduna Geographical Information Service (KADGIS), suddenly suspended verification services for Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O), just as its Director-General was said to have suddenly travelled out of Kaduna to an unknown destination and without any information as to when he would return.

“All these schemes, we were reliably informed, were at the instance and under the direction of Governor Sani who has vowed to keep the defendants behind bars for as long as he desires. And to make through his boastings the defendants has remained in prison custody since the 21st of January, 2025 even when they have met all the bail conditions because KADGIS, acting on the instruction of Governor Sani, refused to verify the Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O) in spite of two letters written by Mrs Anthonia Layi Oyibo, the Deputy Registrar of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, seeking their verification. The first was dated 21st day of January, 2025 and the second was dated 3rd February, 2025.”

The group therefore urged all well-meaning Nigerians, the international community and foremost human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), among others, to prevail on Governor Sani to stop the abuse of power and free all the political prisoners “without further delay”.

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Rite Foods Partners NASRE Foundation to Support Ailing Journalists

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Rite Foods Partners NASRE Foundation to Support Ailing Journalists

*Rite Foods Partners NASRE Foundation to Support Ailing Journalists

 

Rite Foods Limited, a leading indigenous manufacturer in the Food & Beverages sector, has partnered the Noble Association of Social and Resourceful Editors(NASRE) Foundation to provide support for ailing journalists and widows of deceased media practitioners in the country.

 

 

This collaboration comes as part of NASRE’s ongoing efforts to assist journalists facing health challenges across the country, having embarked on three outreach programmes last year.

Rite Foods Partners NASRE Foundation to Support Ailing Journalists

The NASRE team was warmly received on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, by the management of Rite Foods at its Head Office in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Receiving NASRE team on behalf of the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Saleem Adegunwa, the Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management , Mr. Ekuma Eze was elated with the visit.

Earlier during the visit, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NASRE, Mr. Adeyemi Obadimu had outlined the foundation’s mission and the purpose of the meeting. He revealed the health and financial challenges facing most veteran journalists, who had, during their active years, served the country meritoriously, but are now struggling to survive.

Obadimu highlighted that NASRE’s outreach programme last year was a success, benefiting over 70 individuals, including journalists suffering from partial stroke, widows, and widowers of deceased practitioners . He emphasised the importance of taking care of journalists in need, especially, the veterans who have contributed greatly to the industry.

“Journalism is a thankless job, and as much as we may be appreciated in our bylines, it is crucial that we care for our colleagues who have dedicated their lives to the profession,” said Obadimu.

Butressing his point, the Director, Public Engagement, Mr. Bunmi Obarotimi who represented the President of the association, Mr. Femi Oyewale said: “NASRE’s intends to launch the Foundation officially in this current year and we are proud to have Rite Foods as our partner going forward.”

In his response, Ekuma Eze commended NASRE Foundation for its noble and impactful initiatives, recognising the significant difference it has made in the lives of journalists and their families. He praised the foundation’s efforts in providing assistance to over 70 journalists and their dependents last year. Eze reiterated Rite Foods’ unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that foster the well-being of the media community.

“At Rite Foods, we are deeply invested in contributing to the development of our society. We understand the importance of health and well-being, especially for those who dedicate their lives to sharing vital information with the public. We believe in the mission of NASRE and are committed to supporting your work in every way possible,” Eze stated.

“This partnership will go beyond just providing financial support; we are dedicated to helping create an ecosystem where journalists can thrive, even in the face of adversity,” he added.

He also spoke about the company’s long-term goals, highlighting Rite Foods’ plan to expand beyond Nigeria and into other African countries. “We have exciting plans for the future,” he added. “Rite Foods is committed to not only strengthening its footprint within Nigeria but also extending our reach to the wider African continent. We believe that our growth will not only benefit our business but also contribute to the national economy, creates job opportunities, and foster the development of the beverage and food sectors.”

Eze emphasised that Rite Foods has been actively involved in national economic development, focusing on reducing unemployment and improving service delivery. As one of the leading manufacturers in the beverage, drinks, and sausages sectors, Rite Foods remains committed to excellence in all its business operations, he said.

Through innovation, quality products, and partnerships like the one with NASRE, the company aims to continue breaking new ground in the industry.

He concluded that, “Our mission at Rite Foods is clear: to improve lives, deliver quality products, and contribute to the economic growth of Nigeria and Africa as a whole. We are proud to partner with organizations like NASRE that share our values of social responsibility and community development.”

The partnership between Rite Foods and NASRE marks a significant step in supporting the health and well-being of journalists, ensuring that those who have dedicated their careers to the industry receive the care and recognition they deserve.

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