News
We’re Doing Our Best To Defeat Boko Haram – FG
Vice President Namadi Sambo has assured the Nigerian community in Tanzania that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to check the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Malam Umar Sani, the vice president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, said such efforts had started yielding positive results.
Sambo gave the assurance during an audience with members of the Nigerian community in Dares Salam, Tanzania.
The statement stated that Sambo noted with satisfaction the concerted efforts of the security agencies in the fight against the terror group in the North East zone of the country.
The vice president, according to the statement, said government was particularly proud of the security agencies’ commitment to ending insurgency in the country.
He said the Federal Government was doing everything possible, including cooperating with neighbouring countries, to check the insurgents.
‘‘I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that the Federal Government is doing everything to ensure that the Boko Haram menace is addressed in Nigeria and we are getting positive results.
‘‘I must say that we are very proud of our security agencies. They have been doing very well and this issue, by God’s grace, will be a thing of the past very soon.
‘‘I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to end this; we are co-operating with our neighbouring countries to bring this to an end soon,’’ the statement further quoted the vice president as saying.
Sambo, who commended the good reports on Nigerians living in Tanzania, urged them to re-dedicate themselves in the true Nigerian spirit to contribute immensely to the growth of the economy of their host country.
‘‘In doing so, you are in many ways also contributing to the development of your fatherland.
‘‘Our determined industrious and enterprising nature is recognised all over the world. We must put to bear this God-given quality in the pursuit of our daily lives.
‘‘I am, therefore, happy to note that we have not had any negative report concerning Nigerians in Tanzania. We cannot but remind ourselves that with good image comes sacrifices,’’ he said.
The statement quoted the vice president as informing the audience of the successes of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
Sambo said Nigeria’s ýrebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1990 to 2010 resulted in the increase by 40 to 70 per cent of the GDP.
The GDP, which was initially put at $262.6 billion by the World Bank, was increased to $510 billion.
‘‘This favourable economic indicator confirms Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
“ This is a clear testimony of the prudent management of government’s scare resources and sound socio-economic policiesý.
‘‘This growth is amplified in the agriculture sector; this is leading the pace in Africa today in wholesale and retail trade, entertainment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as in the Oil and Gas sectors of our economy,’’ he said.
Sambo also listed the successes recorded in the agriculture and transport sectors.
He said aside the remodelling of some of the countries airport , the administration was also focusing on terminals, safety facilities, infrastructure, towers, runways and fencing.
Responding to a question ýon Nigerians in Diaspora being able to vote, the vice president said, ‘‘until every Nigerian is registered and known, only then will the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) be able to allow Nigerians in Diaspora to vote.
‘‘But for now, if we don’t have your record in the country, that means anybody can vote and claim to be a Nigerian.
‘‘So, something is being done and soon Nigerians abroad will be able to vote.’’
On the concerns about the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, Sambo said that government was addressing the situation with a view to ending crisis.
‘‘We have taken the decision to establish grazing reserves which will grow into ranches. The ranches will also have different businesses.
‘‘We want to in fact fully participate in the Halal meat business which is over $1 trillion today and Nigeria is not benefiting.
‘‘We want to be transporting our beef in refrigerated trucks or trains after being killed in a standard abbatoirs.
The statement said Sambo welcomed the suggestion that government should form a think tank of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers with a view to sharing experiences with seasoned technocrats in an attempt to contribute meaningfully to addressing some of the country’s enormous challenges.
Earlier in his remarks, ýthe High Commissioner, Dr Ishaya Majambuý, said there were 14 Technical Aid Corps volunteers serving in Zanzibar.
He said the Tanzanian government and people regarded Nigeria as a critical factor ýon the African continent.
The statement quoted Majambu as expressing regret that the relationship between Nigeria and Tanzania had not been consummated into socio-economic gains such as bilateral investments.
According to him, Tanzania is endowed with natural and mineral resources and only recently discovered gas in commercial quantity estimated to last for more than 100 years.
The high commissioner said efforts were being made to attract foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
He noted that three Nigerian companies—Dangote Cement factory, Tony Elumelu Farms and the United Bank for Africa— had already established presence in Tanzania.
Majambu said the population of Nigerians in Tanzania were between 100 and 200 with 70 per cent of them living in Dares Salaam.
According to Majambu, the affected Nigerians were made up of retail traders, students, contract workers and United Nations employees, while those not registered with the High Commission were engaged in illegal activities.
The statement said among those at the meeting were the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, Sen. Zego Aziz and other principal aides of the vice president.
Sambo was in Tanzania as representative of President Goodluck Jonathan at the golden jubilee celebration of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibarý on April 26, 1964.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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