News
PANDEF Hails Tinubu Over Ogbuku’s Reappointment
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his timely nomination of members for the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
According to PANDEF, this singular action of the President has provided a glimmer of hope that his administration will depart from what it described as the gross nonchalance of the immediate past administration, and devote the much-needed attention and seriousness to issues of the Niger Delta Region.
In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by the National Publicity Secretary of the body, Dr. Ken Robinson, PANDEF particularly described the reappointment of Samuel Ogbuku as a good development for the Niger Delta region, saying that the step was, undoubtedly, taken to avoid the frequent disrupting changes in the management of the Commission, witnessed in the recent past.
The statement read, “The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the apex socio-cultural body of the Niger Delta Region, for fostering unity, peace, and development, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely nomination of Members for the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
“The Forum puts on record that the new nominations largely satisfy its expectations and that of a vast majority of the people of the Niger Delta Region; noting that the President’s action complies with the law, and fundamental principles behind the establishment of the Commission.
“PANDEF recalls that, during an interactive visit by Presidents of Ethnic Nationalities, Key Critical Stakeholders, and Leaders of Professional Bodies of the Niger Delta Region, to the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, on July 5, this year, which was led by the PANDEF National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, the delegation had expressed its pleasure with, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for retaining the Managing Director and the Executive Directors of the Commission, after the dissolution of Boards of Agencies and Parastatals of the Federal Government. The delegation, at that time, called on President Bola Tinubu to speedily reconstitute and inaugurate the full Board of the NDDC for the proper functioning of the Commission.
“It is, therefore, for the Forum, quite gratifying that Mr. President has, within his first one hundred days in office, reconstituted the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
“PANDEF notes that this singular action of the President provides a glimmer of hope that, perhaps, President Bola Tinubu’s administration would depart from the gross nonchalance of the immediate past administration, and devote the much-needed attention and seriousness to issues of the Niger Delta Region.
“PANDEF further notes that the President also acted promptly, in a similar manner, by assigning a Minister to the Ministry of Niger Delta, after the denunciations, from the Region, which greeted the initial non-assignment of a Minister to the all-important Cabinet.
“PANDEF is particularly pleased with the reappointment of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, in an acting capacity, pending the Senate’s confirmation of Mr. President’s nomination of the entire team. This step is, undoubtedly, taken to avoid the frequent disrupting changes in the management of the Commission, witnessed in the recent past.
“PANDEF further observes that the management of the NDDC under Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has, within the last few months, demonstrated the character, competence, and drive required to reposition the Commission to actualize the core mandate for which NDDC was established. The wide consultations with a broad spectrum of critical stakeholders, strengthening of the Commission’s budgetary process, and collaborative engagements with development partners and donor agencies, towards speedy development of the Region have been highly commended by most of our people.
“PANDEF stresses that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, remains the major vehicle to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta Region, and therefore, urges the Presidency, the incoming Board, and Management to stringently avoid the disturbing incidents in the past that provided avenues for critics and cynics to undervalue the vital imperative of the Commission as a critical vessel for ensuring that the Region remains the “golden egg” of the country.
“PANDEF, likewise, calls on the people of the Niger Delta Region to shun actions that would undermine the smooth running of the Commission, and indeed, all other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government, with a direct bearing on the Region, but instead, support the Board and Management to work in the best interest of the Region, in particular, and the country as a whole.
“PANDEF restates that it remains strongly committed to the promotion of peace, unity, and sustainable development, not only in the Niger Delta Region but, also, in the entire Country.”
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.”
-
News2 days agoRivers NUJ Seeks Recruitment Into State Media Houses …Urges Govt To Reposition Public Service
-
News2 days agoFamily Seeks Police Help As Woman Goes Missing After Fleeing Female Circumcision Threat
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNCDMB Partner Renaissance To Train 300 Youths On oil, gas Skills
-
News2 days agoTinubu, Fubara Condole Amaechi Over Mother’s Death
-
News2 days agoNigeria Hosts World Public Relations Forum Sept …As Experts Seek Inclusion Of PR In Decision Making
-
News2 days agoNDLEA Intercepts 1.63m Tramadol Pills, Arrests 80-Year-Old Suspect
-
News2 days agoUphold Principles Of Dev, Rivers SSG Charges Tertiary Institutions
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAbia Secures $145m Investment Commitment To Establish Solar Manufacturing Plant