News
Leaders Mourn Akhigbe’s Death
Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe (left) present a cheque of fifty thousand naira N50,000.00 to Miss Patience Jaja (right) during the Anual Presentation of Finance Support to Law Students going for Law School from the District last Monday in Port Harcourt.
Photo: Chris Monyanaga.
President Goodluck Jonathan has extended sincere condolences to the wife, children and relatives of the former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe who died on Monday, October 28, 2013
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, yesterday. Jonathan commiserated with officers and men of the Nigerian Navy which Akhigbe once led as Chief of Naval Staff, and with the government and people of Edo on the passage.
He described Akhigbe as a “very courageous officer who patriotically served his nation to the best of his God-given abilities through-out a most distinguished career in the Nigerian Armed Forces’’.
The president joined the Akhigbe’s family, colleagues and subordinates in the Nigerian Navy, friends, associates and all who knew him in mourning the former Chief of General Staff.
“President Jonathan believes that he will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched positively during his long and remarkable career of national service in military commands and in the political offices he held as a military officer.
“The president believes that Akhigbe will be especially remembered and honoured by present and future generations for serving with distinction as military governor of Lagos and Ondo States.
“He will also be remembered for serving as Chief of General Staff in the military administration that midwifed the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria and began the commendable re-professionalisation of the Nigerian Armed Forces after decades of involvement in politics.’’
He said that the president prayed that God would comfort all who mourn Akhigbe and grant his soul eternal rest.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has expressed his shock and sadness over the death of former Chief of General Staff, retired Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described Akhigbe as a gentleman officer whose contributions, and that of his peers, towards restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 will remain indellible in the annals of Nigeria’s history.
He said Nigerians will forever remain grateful to the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led regime which Akhigbe served as the Number Two officer, for their diligence and commitment to ensure the return of democracy to the country.
“As a proof of his commitment to democratic ideals, Akhigbe continued to render selfless services to the nation post-1999 until his death on Monday.
“Nigeria has lost one of it’s eminent sons. I extend my condolence to his family, Fugar community in Edo State, the Nigerian Navy and Nigerians as a whole,” the Speaker added.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo has commiserated with the family of the former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, describing his death as a great loss to the country’’.
Our correspondent reports Akhigbe died at the age of 68 in New York on Monday.
This information is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Umar Sani, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Sambo described the deceased as a disciplined military officer who rose to the peak of his profession by dint of hard work and commitment and served this nation selflessly.
“He was governor, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of General Staff to the military administration that ensured the smooth transition to a democratically elected government.
“As a statesman, his invaluable counsel will be greatly missed by us. Indeed, his loss is a sad and great loss to the country.’’
The vice-president prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for God Almighty to the give the family the courage and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Tambuwal also prayed to the Almighty God to give his family the fortitude to bear the great loss.
The Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday described the death of retired Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, as a loss of a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Mark recalled their days at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), noting that “Mike was fearless and very diligent in our course.”
“He took these attributes to all the formations where he was privileged to have been posted either in his core military postings or political offices,” he said.
The statement also said the late Akhigbe’s death was a huge personal loss to Mark, the members of Course 3, the Armed Forces, Edo and the nation.
“But we cannot question God. He alone gives life and takes it when he so desires. We are bound by His decision to take our brother and friend at this time.”
Mark, who is the Chairman of Course 3 Alumni of the NDA, said: “We are consoled that while Mike was with us, he lived his life in the service of God and mankind.”
He prayed that God would grant the family the fortitude to bear the very painful departure.
Meanwhile, activities at the Western Naval Command and NNS Beecroft, at the Naval Base, Apapa, were low-keyed on Tuesday following the dead of former Chief of General Staff, Vice Adm. Mike Akhigbe (rtd).
Akhigbe, 68, who served under the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led military government between 1998 and 1999, died in New York, U.S. on Monday.
Our correspondent who visited the commands in Lagos yesterday observed that officers and ratings were looking sober over the demise of the admiral, who had also served as a one-time Chief of Naval Staff.
Some of the officers who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, expressed shock over his death.
“We lost an officer and a gentleman whose exemplary life is worthy of emulation by every officer who aspires to be an accomplished naval officer,” a Navy Captain said.
Our correspondent, however, could not reach the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, and some senior officers, as he was said to be on tour of some formations under his command— outside of Lagos.
Similarly, the Command’s Information Officer was also not available to comment on the development, as he was said to be on the FOC’s entourage.
Meanwhile, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, the Director of Naval Information, who confirmed the death of the admiral, expressed the condolences of the service to the Akhigbe family.
He described the late Admiral as an elder statesman whose contributions to national development would remain indelible.
Akhigbe was Military Governor of Ondo State between 1985 and 1986, and Lagos state governor from 1986 to 1988.
He served as Chief of General Staff in the Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar-led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria in 1999.
Akhigbe attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; the Royal Naval School of Maritime Operations, Dryad, Southwick, UK; Command and Staff College, Jaji; the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and the University of Poitiers, Rouan, France.
He was one-time the Principal Welfare Officer of the Nigerian Navy Flagship, NNS Aradu; Director, Naval Plans, Naval Headquarters; Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, and Chief of Naval Staff.
After his retirement from the Navy, Akhigbe went to read law and became an attorney with specialisation in Maritime and Real Estate Law. He was a seasoned businessman with substantial interest in real estate.
Akhigbe hailed from Fugar, headquarters of Etsako-central local government council of Edo.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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