news
SECURITY ISSUES : SANWO-OLU GETS LAGOSIANS’ BACKING TO TACKLE SECURITY CHALLENGES
… Stakeholders Seek Action on Okada, Abandoned Buildings, Others*
… Residents Renew Demand for Special Status*
Lagosians have asked the State Government to take decisive actions on some security issues to rein in what they describe as a disturbing trend.
Among others, they demanded action against what many described as the menace of commercial motorcycles, otherwise known as Okada, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult clashes, and violent assaults.
It was all at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Security held at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and leading lights in security circles listened to a group of panelists who highlighted the state’s security challenges.
In the audience were religious leaders, the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, military chiefs, traditional leaders, community leaders, students, unionists and members of the State Executive Council.
Governor Sanwo-Olu listed his administration’s efforts in security and assured his audience that a decisive action would be taken on commercial motorcycles, which speaker after speaker described as a means for criminals. Its operators, they said, are unruly, uncouth, rude and brutal. But those who patronise them and the motorcyclists will not be left in the cold.
The Government, Sanwo-Olu said, will be inaugurating the First and Last Mile buses next week, which will ply the routes the motorcycles are plying. Besides, those who have taken up Okada riding for lack of jobs were advised to grab the opportunities in agriculture, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and other government programmes.
Sanwo-Olu said the meeting was convened in response to the growing threat posed by some lawless activities to the safety and security of lives in the State.
The Governor said the string of lawlessness daily witnessed from the confrontation between commercial motorcyclists and law enforcement agencies required an urgent action, stressing that the Government would be announcing reforms in transportation, which will further make changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations.
He said: “We have noted with dismay the fact that Okada riders are disregarding and flouting the restrictions we imposed on their activities in certain areas of the metropolis. We have also observed with dismay, the ongoing violent confrontation by commercial motorcyclists against our law enforcement agencies.
“Based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple of weeks, as well as the increasing threat posed by the activities of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations in the State in the coming days. No society can make progress amid such haughty display of lawlessness and criminality.”
Sanwo-Olu made it known that the Government would fully implement the State’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended, which will enable the Government take over and demolish abandoned buildings and construction sites turned into safe haven for hoodlums and miscreants.
He added that the State would strengthen its clean-up exercise of shanties and spots unapproved for settlement, but which had turned to hideouts for criminals.
The State Government, Sanwo-Olu said, would be recruiting more personnel into the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LSNC) to boost intelligence gathering at the community level.
The Governor said the consultative meeting with the stakeholders was necessary to make the State’s security strategy effective and sustainable, noting that all hands must be on deck to work with the Government in collecting, sharing and evaluating credible intelligence that would strengthen security of lives and property in Lagos.
He said: “Lagos must continue to enjoy an atmosphere of peace, safety and all-encompassing security. We are determined to arrest the current security challenges being faced in the State, and we will take every step necessary to deliver on our promises on a safe, secure and livable state. We will also continue to communicate regularly with key stakeholders, and all the residents for updates on the progress we are making.”
Appraising security situation in Lagos, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, raised alarm over rising security breaches resulting from the menace of Okada operations in the State.
Between January and early this month, Odumosu disclosed, 320 commercial motorcycles were arrested in 218 cases of criminal incidents in which 78 suspects were detained and 480 ammunition recovered.
In the same period, the Lagos police boss said Okada accounted for 83 per cent of 385 cases of avoidable fatal vehicular accidents in Lagos.
He said: “The menace of Okada operators does not end with avoidable accidents. Crime reports from the field have shown that a greater percentage of crimes, ranging from armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, murder, burglary and stealing, traffic robbery to carjacking and cash snatching from bank customers, are attributable to armed hoodlums who operate on Okada.
“The nuisance constituted by the Okada operators on Lagos roads has become a danger to law abiding citizens. Sections of Lagos populace have come to regard commercial motorcycles as a necessary evil, it has become imperative for the Government to take more drastic measures against their notoriety.”
“The State Police Command strongly advises the State Government to immediately review the current guidelines guiding the operation of Okada as a means of commercial transportation in the State and take decisive legal and administrative steps and policies that will curb their traffic, criminal and other nefarious activities in the State.”
There was a panel of discussion chaired by an award-winning Television Show host, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, in which residents aired their views on the current state of security in Lagos and across the country.
The discussants expressed concerns on the security implications of allowing operations of Okada and demanded a ‘Special Status’ for Lagos as ethnic melting pot. They also urged the Government to create economic opportunities and vocational engagement for unemployed residents to further lessen crime rates.
Addressing the complaints about criminals hiding in uncompleted buildings and abandoned vehicles within communities, Vice Chairman of Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, Mr. Rotimi Ayoku-Owolawi said the CDC was ready to support the Government and the police in identifying dark spots and lock-up markets from where criminals launch their nefarious activities.
Commissioner for Information Mr. Gbenga Omotoso described the stakeholders’ engagement as proactive, given a string of security breaches in the country.
He said gone were the days when citizens were at the mercy of pickpockets and amateur criminals; the contemporary crimes, he said, are being committed by armed robbers, bloodsucking bandits and daredevil gangsters.
“We don’t want our Lagos to become an epicenter of evil and criminality,” Omotoso said.
At the end of the stakeholders’ meeting, a 12-point resolution was reached and agreed upon by the participants in public interest.
The resolution reads in part: “Attacks on law enforcement officers and agencies should not be handled with kid gloves. Culprits must be arrested and the full weight of the law brought to bear on such persons.
“Government must take stringent measures to ban the use of Okada as means of transportation in the State; alternatives must be provided by the State Government in Agriculture, Wealth Creation, Women Affairs Empowerment programmes and others.
“Government should take control of abandoned and uncompleted buildings used as hideouts of criminals in the State immediately. The State must take control of abandoned vehicles in its nooks and crannies and seal off houses, hotels and event centres where hoodlums are found to hibernate or where arms are stored.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
Nigeria’s quest to secure a Category ‘C’ seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026/2027 biennium received a major boost today as the Government of Switzerland formally pledged its support.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, received the letter of endorsement during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Patrick Felix Egloff, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing his delight, Oyetola described the Swiss government’s backing as “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s campaign and a strong testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding international maritime standards.”
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council would further strengthen global efforts towards building “a more robust, safe, and sustainable maritime industry.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s maritime potential, Oyetola disclosed that the country boasts 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone and an extended continental shelf of 16,300km, positioning it as a strategic maritime nation.
“With these vast endowments, Nigeria, by any standard, is a maritime nation. That’s why the Ministry, in collaboration with the World Bank, AU-IBAR, the Kingdom of Norway, and other stakeholders, has developed a comprehensive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy capable of standing the test of time,” he stated.
Oyetola further revealed that the Federal Government is adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive rapid investments in the maritime sector. These include inland waterways development, supply of boats, dredging, and navigation infrastructure.
On maritime security, the Minister emphasized the success of the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria’s state-of-the-art surveillance initiative:
“For the past three years, there has been zero piracy in our waters, and we’re committed to sustaining this achievement. We’re also working with other Gulf of Guinea countries to extend safety and security beyond our national waters.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Egloff noted that Switzerland’s decision to endorse Nigeria followed an earlier request from the Ministry in April 2025.
“I’m very glad to convey this letter of support. Switzerland is very happy to stand with Nigeria. You’re a strong candidate, and we appreciate your commitment to multilateralism and the maritime sector. Nigeria plays a very important role globally,” he affirmed.
With Switzerland’s endorsement, Nigeria’s campaign for the IMO Category ‘C’ Council seat gains further international momentum ahead of the elections slated for October/November 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja around 1:20am on Thursday after concluding a three-day state visit to Brazil that yielded a raft of bilateral agreements and high-level engagements aimed at deepening Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with South America’s largest economy.
The President, who arrived aboard the presidential jet, was received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a high-powered delegation of political leaders and senior government officials.
Among those present were Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara).
Also on hand to welcome the President were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and some Ministers, including Nyesom Wike (FCT); Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning) and Bello Matawalle (Defence, State).
President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil was marked by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, trade, science, diplomacy, and finance.
At a joint press conference in Brasília, he welcomed the imminent return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria—five years after it halted its joint ventures.
“We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done,” he said.
The agreements also included a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the way for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace.
Other MoUs targeted political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing through Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
Beyond the MoUs, President Tinubu underscored his administration’s economic reforms, assuring Brazilian investors of a stable, transparent financial climate.
He cited Nigeria’s capital market growth as evidence of renewed investor confidence and pledged continued reforms to “unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation.”
In a meeting with Nigerians in Brazil, Tinubu called on the diaspora to contribute actively to nation-building, pledging technology-driven development and food security as the pillars of a prosperous future.
“We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he told the gathering.
The visit, which featured red-carpet honours, bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and cultural engagements, signalled what both leaders described as a new era in Nigeria–Brazil relations.
Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil was preceded by his participation at the recently concluded ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
news
Symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation, Air Peace clearance, Oil giant Petrobras return is key gain of Tinubu’s Brazil visit, Says Onanuga
……Air Peace clearance for Lagos-Sao Paulo direct flights excites President
The return of Brazil’s oil giant, Petrobras, to Nigeria’s upstream is a major breakthrough recorded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the largest economy in South America, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said yesterday.
Besides, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, was given the right to commence Lagos-Sao Paulo flights to underscore the renewed economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Sao Paulo is Brazil’s economic powerhouse and largest city.
Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, said the airline would deploy a Boeing 777 from its fleet to service the route.
A symbolic flight was planned for last night.
These agreements are part of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the two countries during the President’s third visit to Brazil in less than one year.
His two earlier visits were on invitations extended to Nigeria by G-20 and BRICS.
“Air Peace is now cleared to run flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo”, Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, declared to the excitement of President Tinubu at a joint news conference at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília to round off the visit.
According to Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the resumption of Petrobras’ operations five years after it halted joint ventures in Nigeria, would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector.
“We have the largest gas repository. So, I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” Tinubu said.
The President praised his Brazilian counterpart for committing to revitalising the partnership between the two nations.
“Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, full of opportunities for Brazilian companies,” Tinubu said, while acknowledging Embraer’s role in boosting local airline operations through plans for a service centre in Nigeria to support maintenance and repairs.
Reflecting on his past engagements in Brazil, Tinubu urged a shift from symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation.
“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage.
“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today, we say that is the end of that,” he said.
Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s readiness to partner Brazil in technology transfer, food security, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
“Today, we are fighting and working hard to bring our sovereignty to the level of expectation that we, as a nation, the most populous, the most dynamic country, share with Brazil. We need to share—technology transfer, energy, economy — so Brazil can continue to widen opportunities for us to embrace Africa. Africa is the new frontier,” he said.
The President also called for knowledge sharing in pharmaceuticals, saying “we have elevated this promise to the path of reality, as you have seen in various MOUs. I don’t know why the manufacturing of generic drugs, which Brazil has done deeply and far, cannot be in Nigeria.
“I don’t see why the technological superiority of Brazil is not shared with Africa. We assured each other that only we can develop our economies to help our sovereignty”, President Tinubu said.
Highlighting the reforms at home, Tinubu assured Brazilian investors of a new era in Nigeria’s economy.
“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming. It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy, and there will be no more corruption.
“We have the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria here. You don’t have to know him before getting the foreign exchange you need. The speculators are out. In our currency market, the door is open for businesses,” he said.
President Lula described the renewed Brazil–Nigeria engagement as timely in an era of rising protectionism.
“At a time when protectionism and unilateralism have returned, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their bet on free trade and productive integration. We continue to be dedicated to building a world of peace, free from hegemonic impositions.
“There are many possibilities for synergy between the world’s two largest countries with black populations. Agriculture and livestock, oil and gas, fertilisers, aircraft, and machinery, among others, represent wide avenues for cooperation.
“Increasing direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo,” he said.
The following MoUs were signed between the two countries:
*Bilateral Air Services Agreement by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos.
*Diplomatic Training Cooperation and MoU on political consultations were signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Brazilian counterpart, Ambassador Mauro Vieira.
Nnaji, and Brazil’s Luciana Santos.
*The Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MOU for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects.
Nigeria is currently Brazil’s 49th largest export destination, with trade between both countries reaching $2.1 billion in 2024.
Following the agreements, President Tinubu attended a state luncheon, hosted at the Itamaraty Palace.
Mohammed Idris: BASA to deepen ties
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Brazil as a significant breakthrough that will reconnect the two countries economically, socially, and culturally.
He described BASA as representing more than aviation.
“The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil is being looked at again by the two leaders. And one way of looking at it is to ensure there is now a reconnection – economic, financial, social, cultural, whichever sphere. I think this is the best way to really go past what has happened during the period of slavery,” the minister said.
He noted that President Tinubu’s fourth meeting with President Lula in just over a year underscored the growing partnership between the two nations, which he said would also benefit Africa.
The minister said immediate “quick wins” from the agreement were already being realised, with a symbolic flight planned from Brazil to Abuja at midnight on Tuesday.
He noted that the direct link would reduce travel time between the two countries from more than 24 hours through European routes to about seven hours.
“Once this becomes commercially viable, it will not just enhance trade between the two countries, it will also improve the cultural and social cooperation that already exists,” he added.
Onyema, who described the BASA agreement as “a milestone,” said: “We cannot start daily flights for now, but we want to start with three weekly flights. As we go on, we develop the route and we’re going to increase the frequency. We told the Brazilians that we want to do Lagos, Rio, São Paulo and back to Lagos”.
The Air Peace chief emphasised that aviation would serve as a catalyst for unlocking the economic potential of both nations.
“The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is one of the largest in Africa. They need to tap into this. But without aviation, it’s very, very difficult for some of these things to be actualised,” Onyema said.
Boeing 777 for route
Speaking in an interview, Onyema said: “Nigerian aviation is grateful to President Tinubu for all he has been doing for the industry.
Air Peace has had long relation with Brazil as the biggest customer to Brazillian airplane maker, Embraer.
Air Peace signed a firm order for 13 Embraer E195-E2 jets in 2019, with the delivery of the first aircraft in early 2021. This was part of a larger agreement that included purchase rights for 17 additional aircraft of the same type, bringing the total potential order to 30 jets. The airline is the first African carrier to operate this new generation of Embraer aircraft.
Besides buying aeroplanes, Air Peace is fine-tuning strategies for the setting up of an aircraft maintenance facility in Nigeria.
Embraer, a few years ago, unveiled plans to establish an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility in Nigeria, in partnership with Air Peace. This initiative is part of a broader maintenance deal with the Nigerian airline to provide local maintenance support for its growing fleet of Embraer aircraft, aiming to conserve foreign exchange for airlines and create jobs in Nigeria.
As one of Nigeria’s biggest flag carriers , Air Peace is designated on Lagos/ London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, China, Mumbai, Antigua and Barbuda,
Air Peace serves 20 major cities in Nigeria and many regional destinations throughout West Africa (Accra, Dakar, Douala Freetown, Banjul, and Monrovia.
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., better known by and trading as the portmanteau Petrobras, is a Brazilian majority state-owned multinational corporation in the petroleum industry headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. The company’s name translates to Brazilian Petroleum Corporation — Petrobras.
Petrobras began operations in Nigeria in 1998 in the deep waters off the Niger Delta. It sold its stakes more than 10 years ago to raise cash for domestic projects. Since then, Nigeria has been working to address some of the problems that have limited oil and gas output.
Petrobras stopped business in Nigeria five years ago.
The company was ranked #71 in the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list. In the 2023 Forbes Global 2000, Petrobras was ranked as the 58th-largest public company in the world.
Petrobras was created in 1953 under the government of Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas with the slogan “The Oil is Ours”. It was given a legal monopoly in Brazil.
In 2000, Petrobras set a world record for oil exploration in deep waters, reaching a depth of 1,877 metres (6,158 ft) below sea level. In 2002, Petrobras acquired the Argentine company Perez Companc Energía (PECOM Energía S.A.) from the Perez Companc Family Group and its family foundation for $1.18 billion.
-
news5 years agoUPDATE: #ENDSARS: CCTV footage of Lekki shootings intact – Says Sanwo – Olu
-
lifestyle5 years agoFormer Miss World: Mixed reactions trail Agbani Darego’s looks
-
health4 years agoChairman Agege LG, Ganiyu Egunjobi Receives Covid-19 Vaccines
-
lifestyle4 years agoObateru: Celebrating a Quintessential PR Man at 60
-
health5 years agoUPDATE : Nigeria Records 790 new cases of COVID-19
-
health5 years agoBREAKING: Nigeria confirms 663 new cases of COVID-19
-
entertainment7 months agoAshny Set for Valentine Special and new Album ‘ Femme Fatale’
-
news3 months agoBREAKING: Tinubu swears in new NNPCL Board