National

By Ishaka Mohamed

As revealed in a statement released on Monday, January 6, 2025, the officers were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct.

According to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, the dismissals were necessary for the Commission to enforce integrity. “Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always be investigated.

The core values of the Commission would always be held in optimal regard at all times,” part of the statement reads.

The Commission further warned the public of the activities of impersonators and blackmailers using the name of its Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the EFCC. 

Two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, for allegedly contacting a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr Mohammed Bello-Kaka, and demanding $1 million from him for “Olukoyede to give him soft landing” on a non-existing investigation. 

The Commission reiterated that such characters are still on the loose, seeking victims.

By Anas Abbas

BUA Refinery and petrochemicals has dismissed a report claiming that its 200,000 barrels/day refinery is 90% complete, describing it as misleading and inaccurate.

In a statement, The Daily Reality, gathered that, the company urged the public to disregard these misleading claims, emphasizing that they did not originate from BUA company.

The company confirmed that construction is progressing steadily and remains on track to meet its delivery timelines in collaboration with partners.

The Akwa Ibom refinery project is seen as a significant step towards enhancing Nigeria’s refining capacity and energy security.

In addition to the refinery, BUA is also advancing other energy initiatives, including a mini-LNG plant and new hybrid power plants across the country, aimed at increasing its existing captive power generation capacity of over 1,000 megawatts.

BUA also, encouraged the public to verify information through its official channels to avoid being misled by false reports. The company reiterated its commitment to transparency and excellence, noting that it has successfully completed over 12 major industrial projects worth more than $3.5 billion in the last decade.

As the Akwa Ibom project progresses, BUA expressed appreciation for the publics’ interest and support, affirming its dedication to building a robust industrial and manufacturing base for a self-reliant Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) for extending an open invitation to him to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, describing it as disrespectful.

Reacting through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo expressed displeasure over the lack of a formal invitation, stating that such an approach undermined the dignity of his office.

“Is that the right way to invite a former president of the country? Who says Baba has even seen the statement or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president.

“Ask the NNPCL, as of January 2, have they written to him? Is there any official letter addressed to him, inviting him to the refinery? It is an absolute insult, and the former president cannot dignify such with a response,” Akinyemi stated.

The NNPCL had extended the invitation through its spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, following an interview Obasanjo granted on Channels Television, where he highlighted failed efforts to privatize Nigeria’s oil refineries during his presidency.

Obasanjo recounted that in his tenure, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, had assembled a team to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries through a $750 million public-private partnership deal.

However, his successor, Musa Yar’Adua, rejected the proposal, believing that the NNPC could manage the refineries despite clear evidence of inefficiency.

He remarked, “When I was president, I wanted to do something about the three refineries we have: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

“Aliko got a team together after I asked Shell to come and run it for us, but Shell declined. They wouldn’t take equity or even run it.

“Eventually, Aliko’s team paid $750m to manage the refineries. Unfortunately, my successor refunded their money, claiming the NNPC could run them. But we knew they couldn’t.”

Obasanjo lamented the mismanagement and wastage of over $2 billion on the refineries since 2007, with little to no improvement.

While acknowledging Dangote’s competence in managing his privately owned refinery, Obasanjo expressed doubts about the government’s ability to achieve similar efficiency.

In defense, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye insisted that the refineries were operational and undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation to meet global standards.

“We extend an open invitation to former President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries and witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited,” Soneye said.

The news of the reopening of the Warri refinery has sparked skepticism among Nigerians, with many questioning the effectiveness of government-led initiatives in the oil sector.

By Uzair Adam

The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed that nine people were killed and four others injured following a violent clash between communities in the state on Friday.

The incident, which occurred in Gululu village, Miga Local Government Area, reportedly began when a group of individuals suspected to be Fulani broke into a shop and stole hibiscus and other provisions.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, the villagers (Hausawa) traced the suspects’ footprints to a Fulani settlement in Yankunama village, Jahun Local Government Area.

Upon confrontation, the Fulani community allegedly attacked the villagers with bows and arrows, injuring four people.

The altercation escalated as the villagers retaliated, burning houses in various locations across Miga and Jahun LGAs.

Adam stated that police teams from the Miga and Jahun Divisions intervened to restore peace, recovering nine bodies from the scene.

The victims’ remains were taken to hospitals in Jahun and Miga, where medical personnel confirmed the deaths.

The state Commissioner of Police, A.T. Abdullahi, along with other senior officers, visited the affected areas to assess the situation and ensure calm.

Community leaders, including district heads, vigilantes, and representatives of Miyetti Allah, held an emergency meeting to address the crisis and prevent further violence.

SP Shi’isu Adam assured the public that the situation is now under control and that an investigation is ongoing to apprehend those responsible.

By Ishaka Mohamed

Edge Research Services Ltd has stopped accepting job applications just within 24 hours after advertising vacancies for data collectors across Nigeria.

The firm had called for applications on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and set January 20 as the deadline. However, an update by its LinkedIn handle in the early hours of January 4 declared the window closed after receiving over 2,000 applications.

Part of the statement reads: “WOW! We’re overwhelmed with gratitude! A huge thank you to everyone who commented, shared, and applied! We received over 2,000 applications in just 24 hours!”

After expressing gratitude and surprise, the firm stated its resolve to review only the applications received. “Due to this incredible response, we’re closing the job advert earlier than planned. Our recruitment team will now focus on reviewing applications and selecting the best fit…”

Edge Research Services Ltd, headquartered in Lagos and with a field office in Kano, Nigeria, is a data collection, research, and evaluation firm that offers qualitative and quantitative research services in sub-Saharan Africa.

It’s noteworthy that this is not the first time Nigerians’ interest in jobs has shocked an employer. A recent example was when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) application portal glitched just a few hours after calling for applications. “Due to unprecedented traffic to the NNPC Ltd. career page from applicants applying for vacancies, the site is currently experiencing slow load times,” the company said in a statement.

By Uzair Adam 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed optimism about brighter prospects for Nigerians in 2025 in his New Year message. 

He highlighted economic improvements, such as reduced fuel prices, strengthened foreign reserves, and increased foreign investments, and attributed them to his administration’s efforts.  

Tinubu acknowledged challenges like high food and drug costs and pledged to tackle inflation, aiming to lower it from 34.6% to 15%. 

He announced plans to expand credit access by establishing a National Credit Guarantee Company to begin operations by mid-2025 to boost economic growth and support underserved groups.  

The president called for unity, urging Nigerians to avoid divisive tendencies and remain focused on building a prosperous nation. 

He reaffirmed his commitment to reforms, emphasising his goal of achieving a one trillion-dollar economy.

By Anwar Usman

The Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory Command, recovered a total of ₦409,992,000 from criminals during various operations in 2024.

A breakdown of the recovered sum, according to the command’s scorecard made available to journalists on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, revealed that ₦36,850,000 was recovered from kidnapping suspects; ₦68,552,000 from armed robbery suspects; ₦19,590,000 from burglary cases and ₦285,000,000 from fraud cases.

Also, in 2024, Adeh stated that 1,426 cases were reported, leading to the apprehension of 1,077 suspects.

According to the scorecard, fraud cases were the most reported, with 385 cases and 422 suspects arrested. This was followed by armed robbery, with 268 cases and 132 suspects arrested.

One-chance robbery ranked third, with 263 cases leading to 71 arrests. Car theft came next, with 127 cases and 64 suspects arrested. Kidnapping took the top five position with 104 cases, resulting in the arrest of 216 suspects.

“For cybercrime, 32 cases were reported, and 15 suspects were arrested. For homicide, 68 cases were reported, leading to 78 arrests. Burglary saw 73 cases, with 20 suspects arrested, while cultism recorded 38 cases, leading to 59 arrests,” the scorecard stated.

The report also indicated that 376 firearms, including 13 AK-47 magazines and 187 rounds of live ammunition, were recovered.

The report further revealed that “Seventy-three vehicles were recovered from car theft cases, 24 from one-chance robbery cases, and two from cultism cases. The above statistics show a 15.1% reduction in crime incidents within the FCT, recorded between 2023 and 2024. Additionally, 68 kidnapping victims and 19 one-chance robbery victims were rescued”.

While highlighting the command’s readiness for 2025, Adeh explained that efforts would focus on enhancing community policing and conducting targeted operations.

“Building on the successes of 2024, the Command will intensify: Community policing engagements—intelligence-led policing strategies. Targeted clearance operations and public enlightenment initiatives were used to address the evolving security demands of the FCT.

“With a significant reduction in crime rates and a stable, peaceful atmosphere in the FCT, the Command is committed to sustaining the momentum in fighting against criminal activities,” she said.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an organisation focused on investigating global corruption and crime, has announced the list of the top individuals involved in corruption for the year 2024. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ranks third on this list.

OCCRP conducted this selection by gathering votes from people around the world to identify those who have significantly promoted corruption, dishonesty, and increasing poverty in their countries.

In this year’s list, President Tinubu secured the third position, following the former president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. The president of Kenya, William Ruto, received the most votes. 

However, the prestigious “Person of the Year” award was given to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is said to have fled to Russia after years of plundering his country’s wealth.

By Uzair Adam 

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has dismissed rumours suggesting he entered a power-sharing agreement with opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).  

In an interview with the BBC, Kwankwaso expressed anger over the claims, describing them as baseless fabrications intended to mislead the public. 

He alleged that Atiku’s camp had met with regional leaders, including clerics, to promote the false narrative.  

“This issue deeply angers me—to hear that respected elders are spreading lies about something that never happened. 

“I was told that nearly 45 clerics were gathered and informed about this fabricated story. I did not appreciate this at all,” he said.  

Kwankwaso further clarified the alleged agreement, which claimed Atiku would serve as president for four years, followed by Kwankwaso for another four years, and Peter Obi for eight years, stating categorically, “This is completely false; such an agreement never existed.”  

Reflecting on his departure from the PDP to join the NNPP, Kwankwaso said he left the party to escape the “humiliation” he and his supporters faced. 

He emphasised that such incidents reinforced his decision to forge a new political path.  

“Such lies and deceit are precisely why we left. Myself, Peter Obi, Wike, and others all left. Now they are coming back, asking us to help those who humiliated us to achieve their goals,” he said.

By Uzair Adam 

A video depicting Nigerian and French troops unloading supplies in a coordinated manner has garnered significant attention on social media.

The Daily Reality reports that the footage has sparked controversies surrounding France’s alleged intentions in Nigeria.  

The controversy intensified after Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, dismissed claims that the country had ceded any part of its territory to France. 

Idris issued a statement on Thursday addressing allegations that Nigeria was conspiring with France to destabilize the Niger Republic through terrorism.  

Mahdi Shehu, a public affairs commentator, had previously alleged plans to establish a French military base in northeastern Nigeria. 

He claimed the plans gained traction after Femi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), reportedly hosted French soldiers.  

In a video accompanying Shehu’s since-deleted social media post, Nigerian troops were seen offloading supplies, including bags of rice, from trucks while French soldiers unloaded a cargo plane. 

The scene included vehicles, personnel in uniform, and a bus displaying a French flag. In the video, a Nigerian soldier stated that the troops had recently left a counterterrorism training centre.  

However, investigations by TheCable revealed that the video has been online since January 2013. 

According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the footage shows ECOWAS troops, including 156 Nigerians, arriving at Senou International Airport in Bamako, Mali. 

The mission was part of a regional peacekeeping effort to stabilize Mali during a crisis.  

Reacting to Idris’ statement, Shehu urged the government to halt its denials. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s defence headquarters dismissed the allegations as “baseless.”  

The resurfaced video highlights the challenges of misinformation in public discourse, underscoring the need for careful verification before making conclusions or spreading claims.