News

Nigerian Legion To Build Mini-Estate For Veterans In Lagos

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2024

The Nigerian Legion, Lagos Chapter, says it has plans to build a mini estate, to ease the accommodation needs of its members in the state.
The State Chairman of the legion, Deputy Commandant General (DCG), Akeem Wolimoh, said this in an interview with The Tide’s source in Lagos, yesterday.
The source reports that the Nigerian Legion is a non-profit veterans’ organisation founded in 1964, which members include people who served in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The Nigerian Legion is not a para- military organisation, but an off-shoot of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
It is a statutory body, as outlined in the Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazette No. 64 vol. 75 of Sept.30, 1988. It is designed to address the welfare needs of veterans.
Ironically, many ex-service men are faced with many challenges, the worst being lack of decent accommodation to retire to after their service years.
Wolimoh, however, told The Tide’s source that the body was concerned and worried about the pitiable condition of most of their colleagues, hence, the move to create a mini estate in Epe, where decent accommodation would be provided for members.
He said the body had recently sealed a deal to acquire 283 acres of land in Epe, a fast growing metropolitan area in Lagos State, to berth the decent accommodation for military veterans.
According to Wolimoh, there are many ex-service men, who are living in one room shanties and slums in very unfavourable conditions, as a result of lack of accommodation.
“We want to support the needs of military veterans, especially in the area of accommodation because living in unfavourable conditions has negatively impacted their health.
“As recommended in the Nigerian Legion Act, the legion is saddled with the responsibility to provide hostels and accommodate those veterans, who are perceived to be in need of accommodation.
“It is also recommended that the legion shall provide necessary support to the families of fallen heroes and deceased ex-service men, in one way or the other,” he said.
According to him, the plan of the legion is to build an all encompassing estate that will have a resort centre, medical facility, farmland, market, among other things.
He, however, says that financial constraints was slowing down the pace of achieving the body’s lofty idea.
“We have, however, met with a financial mortgage institution and we were advised to register a cooperative, which we did in the name of Nigerian Legion Multipurpose Organisation in January 2023.
“Efforts are ongoing to get the necessary approval from the government and then bring in investors because it is a huge project that the legion cannot financially handle on its own.
“We already have the land, all that is remaining now is government’s approval; once that is done, construction will start,” he said.
Wolimoh told The Tide source that the first phase of the project would be the construction of 30 housing units, to be completed under the public-private partnership initiative.
“This is of utmost urgency to meet the accommodation challenge of veterans.
“It will enable us to quickly provide accommodation for 30 families and get them off the deplorable conditions, which they presently live in.
“By the time the financiers have completed all formalities, we should be able to provide enough accommodation that will address this challenge within a span of between 10 years and 20 years.
“The housing project that will provide decent shelter for ex-servicemen will be a continuous one,” he said.
DCG Wolimoh, told The Tide source that the idea to build an encompassing estate to be likened to a farmyard housing estate, was conceived when he was young.
“As a young man growing up in Epe, I experienced how wives of soldiers then from the military barracks in Epe contributed significantly to stabilising the prices of food in the market.
“Whenever they came with their farm produce to Ayetoro market, which is the central market in Epe, the market price of farm produce would significantly fall.
“As a result of cultivating their farmlands in military barracks, they were able to harvest large quantities of crops, which greatly impacted on the society, to the benefit of the consumers,” he said.
The chairman said that it was a scenario worth recreating in the Nigerian Legion’s proposed housing estate.
“All we need are capable retired veterans, who can still supervise farming activities in a corporate way , where each one will be responsible for certain portion of farmland.
“So, the estate will serve as both accommodation for the veterans, means of sustenance as well as a source of economic relief to the community through their farm produce,” he told The Tide source.
Wolimoh said that the Lagos chapter of the legion would soon perform the ground breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Legion, Training Institute at Itokin, Epe.
“Within that place, we already have plans to build a secondary school and mini health centre for ex-service men.
“We need a health centre for ex-service men where they can be admitted, especially for those who do not have people taking care of them at their old age.
“This challenge is not only peculiar to Nigeria but also other countries of the world where ex-service men suffer because they don’t have family members to take care of them,” he said.
The chairman said that they had already invited people to register as caregivers and that enough people had already shown interest in the job of caring for veterans.
“In addition we have about 350 registered widows of fallen heroes in Lagos State, that we reach out to during every festival to cushion the effect of the high cost of living.
“So, we have taken steps towards achieving this plan, we have already set up our machinery, especially in the aspect of housing and provision of medical facility.
“We are presently responsible for five military veterans on sick bed, paying their bills and buying drugs that are not covered by their NHIS,” Wolimoh said.

News

NDLEA Arrests Four Notorious Female Drug Dealers In Four States

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four notorious female drug dealers in Edo, Imo, Kano, and Gombe states.

The Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that in Edo, an intense sweep of notorious drug hotspots within Benin City by NDLEA operatives on June 2 led to the arrest of four key traffickers, including three females.

“At Uyosa, Benin City, two female suspects were nabbed with a cocktail of illicit substances, including 176 grams of skunk, 65g of Loud, and 5 grams of Methamphetamine.

“Along Agbor road in Benin City, another female suspect, 21-year-old Anita Abraham, was apprehended with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.

“At Upper Mission, Benin City, a male suspect was arrested with a diverse cache of psychotropic substances consisting of Loud, Colorado, Swinol, and Methamphetamine.

“A swift operation by operatives in Kano State on Thursday, June 4, led to the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan at the Kafi area of Madobi, with 40 blocks of skunk weighing a total of 38 kilograms,” NDLEA said.

In a related development, Babafemi said, operatives in Gombe state intercepted a 28-year-old suspect on June 1 near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of Gombe.

“The suspect was caught with 15,000 capsules of tramadol,” he said.

He said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands and formations equally continued across the country in the past week.

Reacting to the string of successful operations, the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers, men and women of the Imo, Edo, Kano, and Gombe commands for their resilience and vigilance.

Marwa also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

He re-emphasised that the agency remains fully committed to dismantling drug supply chains and would continue to target traffickers regardless of age, gender, or concealment methods.

News

Navy Intercepts Over 135,000 Litres Of Stolen AGO In Rivers

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy says its operatives under Operation Delta Sentinel have intercepted over 135,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during separate operations in Rivers State waterways.

Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations were carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder around the Onne and Abonema axis.

He said the seizures were made during routine patrols aimed at curbing crude oil theft and illegal fuel transportation across creeks in the state.

In one of the operations, naval personnel intercepted a fibre boat at the entrance of Owogono Creek in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area carrying drums and jerrycans filled with suspected stolen AGO.

According to him, the occupants abandoned the boat and fled into nearby creeks, while the vessel and about 63,000 litres of product were recovered.

In another operation around Abonema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, patrol teams intercepted a wooden boat conveying about 72,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sacks.

The Navy said the products were being transported through waterways for onward distribution before the operation disrupted the movement.

Folorunsho said the recoveries highlight the continued exploitation of creek networks by criminal elements for illegal petroleum product transportation.

He added that all recovered items were handled in line with established procedures on anti-crude oil theft operations.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks and protecting Nigeria’s maritime economic assets.

News

PERM SEC Tasks PUBLIC SERVANTS TO EMBRACE ACCOUNTABILITY

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo mni, has charged public servants to embrace accountability and prudent management of public resources, stressing that government funds must be utilised responsibly.

Dr. Sirawoo made the assertion during the 41st anniversary of The Rivers State Television (RSTV), in Elelenwo.

He noted that public service demands commitment and sacrifice, urging workers to justify the opportunities entrusted to them through diligengence and productivity.

“All I try to do is to see that we have value for every kobo that we spend and value for our time.

“Government has a social responsibility to provide opportunities, but when you have one, you must guard it through hard work and ensure your presence is justified,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary further appealed to workers to see themselves as ambassadors of their respective institutions, adding that government remains committed to creating employment opportunities and improving public service delivery.

Also speaking, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr (Mrs.) Christiana Atako, praised the station’s professionalism and consistency despite operational challenges.

“We have never been disappointed. In spite of all the challenges RSTV had at that time, they never failed us. They carried our stories very well,” she said.

Dr Atako encouraged staff members to continually improve themselves through training, education and professional development in order to remain competitive in the evolving media industry.

Earlier, Acting General Manager of RSTV, Ambassador Paul Damgbor, described the anniversary celebration as an opportunity to reflect on the station’s journey of over four decades and appreciate those who have contributed to its development.

Pastor Damgbor said that the station had recorded remarkable improvements in recent months through the acquisition of digital cameras, computers as well as upgrades in audio and visual production facilities.

“We have seen great change. We were able to get new brand digital cameras and improve on our audio. We have also provided new computers for key departments, including News, Programmes and the Library,” Damgbor remarked.

He also unveiled a commemorative magazine chronicling the history and achievements of the station, describing it as a valuable reference material for preserving RSTV’s heritage.

The Acting General Manager, however, expressed concern over the theft of critical equipment from the station’s transformer, a development he said had forced the organisation to rely heavily on generator power supply.

The Senior Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunma, who gave a short charge during the event, urged media practitioners to uphold the ethics of journalism and remain committed to accuracy in reporting.

“You are pressmen. You are okay to doubt, but verify,” he advised, stressing the importance of credibility and responsibility in the profession.

He equally highlighted the need to “ask the help of God, sow a seed of help, and step into something as if you have help” stressing the need to move by faith for growth.

Some participants at the event also raised concerns about employment opportunities while commending RSTV’s growth and contributions to public enlightenment in Rivers State.

A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of an award to the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications in recognition of its diligence and service to the people of the state. Dr Honour Sirawoo also received a special award for his contributions to the growth and development of RSTV.

Awards were equally presented to outstanding members of staff of RSTV for exemplary performance and their dedication to duty.

The event also featured the unveiling and launch of the RSTV commemorative magazine as well as a tour of the station’s newly built cafeteria and other facilities.

The celebration marked another milestone in the station’s 41-year history and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in public broadcasting.