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Jonathan, Mark, Others Hail Moslems
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday solicited the continued support and understanding of Nigerians towards his administration’s efforts at transforming the nation.
Jonathan made the appeal in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslim faithfuls and Nigerians in general.
In the message, the President noted that Eid-El-Kabir is a festival of sacrifice that commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to the will of Allah.
Jonathan said that his administration’s efforts to transform the country would require that Nigerians make more sacrifices to build a better nation for present and future generations.
He, however, assured Nigerians that such sacrifices would not be in vain as his administration’s efforts to positively transform the nation would soon begin to yield fruits.
The president also said that the anticipated progress would be more readily achieved with peace and security in all parts of the country.
He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to continue to work for the peace and stability of the nation.
The President conveyed greetings and felicitations to all Nigerians, especially Islamic faithfuls on the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.
He also congratulated all Nigerians who had undertaken the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina this year and wished them Allah’s mercies as they travel back home.
He urged them to seize the opportunity of the Eid-El-Kabir holidays to reflect on how the ideals and virtues of peace, harmony and brotherly love, taught by Islam and other religions could be more harnessed in addressing challenges confronting the nation.
In his own message to moslems, Senate President David Mark, has called for dialogue and persuasion as a means of solving grievances rather than violence.
Mark made the call in Abuja last Saturday in a Sallah message to Muslim faithfuls on the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir.
A statement signed by the Senate President’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, quoted Mark as saying: “the outright taking of another man’s life cannot be a solution to any problem.
“The ugly picture of occasional outburst by some radical groups, especially the violence orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect, is a challenge not just to the security operatives but to all citizens.
“No matter the grievances in a man’s mind, resorting to violence, arms struggle or outright taking of another man’s life cannot be and has never been a solution to any problem”, he said.
Mark urged Moslems faithful not to allow the security challenges to prevent them from celebrating.
He also urged Muslims to pray for continued peace, unity and progress of the nation and face the current challenges with new hope and vision.
Also, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged Nigerian Moslems to renew their prayers for the country.
In his Sallah message yesterday in Benin, Oshiomhole congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah festival.
He said: “This is an occasion to rejoice with the Muslim Ummah and identify with them on the observance of a major religious festival, with a profound spiritual essence.
“While it is important to rejoice and celebrate with families, friends and community, the profound spiritual essence of Eid-el-Kabir must not be lost on Muslim faithfuls.
“Eid-el-Kabir should provide an opportunity to deepen faith in Allah. It is an occasion to renew the spirit of obeisance to the will of our creator in accordance with the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim Khaliullah.’’
According to him, Allah’s abiding faithfulness in His beloved Prophet Ibrahim reminds us that there is abundant reward in fidelity to His injunctions.
He said that the nation needed to be renewed and nourished with prayers and fervent spiritual intercessions in the light of its multifarious crises, some of which threaten the fabric of its stability.
The governor, therefore, enjoined the Muslim Ummah to pray for the country, saying: “I believe in the power of prayer and have faith in Allah’s incomparable majesty as a God that heals wounds, raises nations, unites people and punishes the unjust.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged Muslim leaders to manifest the teachings of sacrifice and love for their fellow countrymen as Islam demands.
Oritsejafor, in his Eid-El-Kabir message to Muslims, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the occasion to continue to preach peace and unity to their followers and display love toward one another.
The CAN President called on Islamic leaders in the country to use the occasion to re-orientate the minds through the preaching of tolerance and the fear of God to the militants.
He also urged members of the Boko Haram sect to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir to embrace permanent peace.
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.”