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By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are moving towards concluding a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA) aimed at strengthening cooperation on trade, compliance and information sharing.

The proposed agreement, which has been under negotiation for about six months, is expected to establish a formal framework for the exchange of customs information and intelligence between both countries.

It is also expected to strengthen compliance measures and support the facilitation of legitimate trade between Nigeria and the UK.

The development followed a two-day high-level meeting between officials of the NCS and HMRC at the Customs headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, from September 25 to 26, 2026.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the meeting, Assistant Comptroller-General Nafi’u Isyaku, who oversees the Strategic, Research and Policy Department, said the physical engagement was organised to resolve outstanding issues before the agreement is signed.

Isyaku said negotiations had been conducted virtually for six months but both administrations considered a physical meeting necessary to move the process towards completion.

He said the agreement was expected to be signed in the first week of December during the World Customs Organisation Policy Commission meeting, subject to the completion of the remaining processes.

Senior Policy Adviser at HMRC, Syed Moinuddin, said the meeting provided an opportunity for both customs administrations to address areas of mutual interest and develop a framework for stronger cooperation within the international customs community.

Louisa Bentley, Head of Bilateral Relations and Agreements at HMRC, also described the negotiations as successful and said the two sides were close to finalising the agreement.

According to Bentley, the proposed pact would enhance compliance and information sharing while creating better conditions for trade facilitation and greater participation by Nigeria and the UK in global trade opportunities.

The HMRC delegation also inspected key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Trade Modernisation Project Limited office, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report office and the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network station.

Bentley commended the NCS for its ongoing reforms, particularly its deployment of technology and investment in personnel development.

She said the initiatives demonstrated progress towards more modern and efficient customs operations.

The engagement concluded with a tour of other departments and operational units, which gave the British delegation an opportunity to observe ongoing reforms and technological innovations within the Nigeria Customs Service.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of worsening poverty and economic hardship in Nigeria.

Atiku said he would continue to challenge the policies of the Tinubu administration, arguing that they had reduced Nigerians’ purchasing power.

The former vice-president made the remarks in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, amid an ongoing political dispute over criticism of the President.

Atiku said: “A President who can inflict this much pain on Nigerians should be able to survive hearing his own name.

“If Tinubu feels disrespected by being called his own name, he should imagine how Nigerians feel after being stripped of their purchasing power, crushed by inflation and instructed to endure hardship while those in power live extravagantly at public expense.

“Respect for the presidency cannot be demanded through intimidation. It must be earned through competent leadership, compassion and results.

“And he certainly does not have to wait for the campaign trail before demanding relief for millions of Nigerians whom Tinubu’s policies have pushed into poverty.

“Opposition is not seasonal. Accountability does not observe an electoral timetable.

“If Tinubu’s government can impose hardship every day, Atiku has the right to challenge it every day.

“Only people insulated from hardship by public funds could describe the daily misery of millions as “transient discomfort.”

“For the hungry child, this is not discomfort. For the bankrupt trader, this is not reform. For the unemployed graduate, this is not a foundation. It is failure.

“Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy without a coherent plan to protect Nigerians from the consequences.”

The former vice-president’s comments come amid continuing political exchanges between the Tinubu administration and opposition figures over the impact of the government’s economic reforms.

Atiku is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform, while the Tinubu administration has maintained that its economic reforms are intended to address structural problems and place the economy on a stronger footing.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with shortlisted applicants undergoing documentation, physical fitness checks and medical examinations in Abuja.

The two-week screening began on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Training and Doctrine Command, Gwagwalada, and is scheduled to end on September 19.

The exercise covers candidates shortlisted for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.

To ensure an orderly process and avoid overcrowding at the screening venue, applicants are being attended to in batches based on the alphabetical order of their states of origin.

Speaking to the candidates, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the recruitment process would assess applicants beyond their physical fitness.

“On behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, I congratulate you on reaching this stage,” Onyeka said. “I urge you to remain orderly and strictly adhere to the guidelines. Beyond physical requirements, your attitude, discipline, and conduct are critical factors in deciding who ultimately joins the Service.”

Onyeka added that the NCS was collaborating with the Customs Police and other relevant units to protect the credibility of the recruitment exercise.

The Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, also said improvements in administration and cooperation among relevant agencies had helped to make the screening process more efficient.

“Everything happening here reflects the policy vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, which emphasised continuous operational improvement, collaboration, and innovation,” Gaura stated. “The process has been seamless, hitch-free, and conducted without any casualties.”

Screening for candidates in the Assistant Superintendent of Customs cadre is expected to end on Thursday, September 10, while the assessment of applicants for the Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres will continue until September 19, 2026.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said his proposed fuel subsidy policy will focus on supporting crude supplied to Nigerian refineries rather than subsidising imported petrol if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said the policy is designed to lower the cost of petrol through cheaper crude feedstock for domestic refineries.

He made the clarification in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Friday.

The statement followed criticism of Atiku’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy, particularly concerns over whether such a policy could compel private refineries to sell petrol below their production costs.

Atiku said recent comments from Dangote Refinery about government-imposed petrol prices had been misrepresented by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“Dangote raised a legitimate business concern. The presidency turned it into a campaign of fear,” the statement reads.

“A refinery that has invested billions of dollars cannot be commanded to sell indefinitely below cost and absorb the losses.

“That would be reckless, economically destructive and unfair to any private investor. But that is precisely why our proposal is different.”

‘We’ll Subsidise Production, Not Imports’

According to Atiku, his proposed model would redirect fuel subsidy towards crude supplied to local refineries instead of imported petrol.

“We are restoring subsidy through a production subsidy model, not an import subsidy model,” he said.

“The difference is simple enough for every Nigerian to understand. Import subsidy spends public money supporting petrol refined abroad and brought into Nigeria.

“Production subsidy supports crude refined here in Nigeria so that Nigerian refineries can produce fuel more cheaply and Nigerians can pay less.”

The former vice-president compared the proposed approach to government support for farmers, where assistance is provided to reduce the cost of producing food rather than subsidising imported food.

“That is exactly what we are proposing for fuel. We are restoring subsidy but moving it from importation to production. The subsidy follows the barrel refined in Nigeria,” he said.

He said qualifying domestic refineries would receive support through a transparent and capped system subject to independent verification. The arrangement, he added, would reduce the cost of crude used by the refineries.

“If the crude entering a refinery becomes cheaper, the cost of producing petrol should also come down,” he said.

“That reduction should then reach the average Nigerian while preserving legitimate refining costs and a reasonable commercial margin.”

Atiku also rejected the suggestion that his proposal would require private refineries to sell their products at a loss.

“The Tinubu Presidency knows this. If it pretends otherwise, then it is not confused. It is deliberately misleading Nigerians,” Atiku.

‘No Subsidy For Foreign Refineries’

Atiku said his proposed intervention would be restricted to crude refined within Nigeria, with local refineries, workers, businesses and consumers expected to benefit from the policy.

“Under our plan, support will be tied strictly to crude refined in Nigeria. Nigerian refineries will benefit. Nigerian workers will benefit. Nigerian businesses will benefit. Nigerian consumers will benefit,” he said.

“If you do not refine in Nigeria, you do not qualify. This is not a subsidy for foreign refineries. It is not a subsidy for importers. It is not a subsidy for middlemen. It is a subsidy for Nigerian production.”

The ADC candidate further said his administration would not dictate an arbitrary petrol pump price to domestic refineries.

“If government wants to provide additional relief beyond what lower crude-input costs can sustainably deliver, then government must pay for that relief openly,” he said.

“It must be budgeted. It must be capped. It must be audited. Nigerians must know exactly what is being spent and what they are receiving in return.”

Atiku said the government should not set a politically attractive petrol price while leaving private refiners to absorb the resulting losses.

“You cannot announce a politically convenient petrol price and quietly dump the cost on the refinery,” he said.

“That is not policy. That is confiscation by another name.”

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has commenced a four-day training for key stakeholders on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, management and resolution.

The training, organised in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja, is aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ capacity to prevent conflicts, manage grievances and promote sustainable peace, particularly between farmers and pastoralists.

The Daily Reality reports that the training, which began on Monday, September 7, brought together farmers, pastoralist leaders, security personnel, traditional and religious leaders, government officials, women and youth representatives, among other stakeholders.

The programme focuses on the third component of L-PRES, which deals with crisis prevention and conflict mitigation, with particular attention to conflicts and grievances that could arise from interventions targeting farmers and pastoralists.

Speaking at the event, the Kano State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, who was represented by the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Sule Saleh, said the training was important because development interventions could sometimes create disagreements among beneficiaries and communities if not properly managed.

Saleh explained that L-PRES provides various forms of support to farmers and pastoralists, including interventions involving grazing areas, water and infrastructure, which could sometimes lead to disagreements between the two groups.

He said the third component was therefore designed to prevent or minimise such conflicts and grievances, particularly those arising from interactions between farmers and pastoralists.

According to him, farming and livestock rearing had traditionally coexisted, but the movement of pastoralists in search of grazing land and water could bring them into cultivated farmlands and trigger disputes.

“The programme looks at the reasons why pastoralists move from one location to another. Is it because of inadequate grazing land, lack of water or market-related issues?” he said.

Saleh said identifying the underlying causes of pastoral movement would enable stakeholders to develop appropriate solutions and reduce situations that could escalate into conflicts.

Also speaking, Paul Andrew Gwaza, an official of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja, said the institute was collaborating with L-PRES to implement the conflict prevention and mitigation component of the project in 20 states, including Kano.

Gwaza said the training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate dialogue, mediation and conflict resolution within their communities.

He stressed that the objectives of L-PRES could not be fully achieved in an environment where conflicts and crises continued to disrupt relationships between farmers and pastoralists.

“The essence is that you cannot achieve component one and component two when there are conflicts and crises, especially between farmers and herders, which is affecting livestock productivity,” he said.

He said the participants were also being trained on stakeholder mapping, conflict-sensitive investment, gender and social inclusion to ensure that development interventions promoted unity rather than create divisions within communities.

Gwaza explained that conflict-sensitive investment was particularly important because development projects must be implemented in ways that do not create new grievances or deepen existing divisions among communities.

He added that the programme also sought to ensure that minority groups were not marginalised in the implementation of L-PRES interventions.

On the collaboration between L-PRES and IPCR, Gwaza said the partnership was intended to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and ensure their sustainability beyond the lifespan of the project.

He said the institute was also working with relevant peacebuilding agencies at the state level, where available, to build local capacity and ensure continuity after L-PRES exits.

According to him, the direct beneficiaries of the training include pastoralist and farmer leaders, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, women and youth leaders and civil servants.

He said the participants would subsequently take the knowledge and skills acquired to their respective communities, making the wider population of Kano State the ultimate beneficiaries.

The training, which is being held under the L-PRES conflict prevention and mitigation component, is expected to strengthen stakeholders’ ability to identify potential sources of conflict, promote dialogue and contribute to peaceful coexistence between farmers, pastoralists and other communities across Kano State.

By Paul Liam

The true character of a person, they say, manifests in how they treat others, especially those at the margins of society or occupying the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Such treatment, when genuine, is not a performative exhibition of humility or kindness, but an empathetic demonstration of measuredness and good-naturedness that emanates from a place of deep consciousness, even in the most daunting and provocative times.

Not many people in privileged circumstances remember their humanity, yet there are exceptional individuals whose lives embody this rare virtue of genuine empathy. Chidinma Chidoka, Executive Director of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and wife of Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre and former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, epitomises the humanity and dignity in leadership that Nigeria is in dire need of today.

Madam Chidoka is proof that you don’t need to know someone for a lifetime before they make an impact on your life. In person, I have only met her once, yet she is perpetually present in my consciousness even when she is not physically present. It didn’t take months or years for me to connect with her humanity; it happened in a single experience.

In the heat of planning a high-level convening, when it looked like everything was falling apart, she came in calmly and warmly and shepherded the team to excellence. She didn’t shout or call anyone out. She simply took charge and led from the heart, and everyone else followed. It turned out to be one of the most successful events, as the programme lead later confided.

Sometimes, all a team needs is a leader who listens with empathy.

I remember that encounter on the eve of the event, at the NOI Polls office in Mabushi. She sat down with grace when Sarah and I walked into the hall. She was holding a pen and notepad, taking stock of what had been done and what was left to be done. In the heat of the conversation, she gently said, “Everyone, calm down. Take a deep breath and relax,” when she sensed tension in the air.

What is telling about Madam Chidoka is not simply that she is humble and kind; it is her ability to serve as an icebreaker even in the most difficult situations, with a calmness that frightens fear itself. Even when she is visibly upset over certain lapses, she handles it with grace, never allowing her anger to dehumanise her staff or subordinates.

This is not to say that Madam Chidoka romanticises failure. It is to say that a genuine leader can discipline and show frustration while still preserving the dignity of everyone involved, not a common practice in the Nigerian workforce, where ordinary unit heads become lords unto themselves, bullying and abusing their subordinates, and where managers sometimes take joy in dehumanising colleagues to prove a needless point about authority.

Madam Chidoka’s life is a lesson in leadership. Even though she is usually away, many wish she were more involved and present, because with her, correction does not mean devaluing the person — it means helping them see the consequences of their actions in a way that makes them reflect on their errors. That is the power of leadership: being fully present even when absent.

If Nigerian leaders took a cue from Madam Chidoka and applied the same tact, wisdom and empathy in the administration of Nigeria, Nigerians would experience what it truly means to have a leader who listens, cares, and corrects with love. Showing empathy does not mean weakness; it means understanding that humans are capable of errors that can be corrected with dignity and respect.

This is why I admire Madam Chidoka. Her decency and grace overflow and are unmistakable. Everyone wants to be listened to; everyone wants to be counted and seen. Madam Chidoka creates an atmosphere where this happens with respect and dignity.

As Madam Chidoka turns 50 this year, I cannot help but reflect on her impact on me, despite having known her for less than a year. Her humanity gives me hope that Nigeria can still be a better place someday. If people like her held power, society would be a better place.

What is a leader without empathy?

So, Madam Chidoka, I am truly honoured to have met you and to watch you lead from the heart, with grace, without noise or airs. Thank you for listening, and for being the difference in the room.

I wish you many more beautiful years, filled with God’s abundant blessings.

Happy 50th birthday, Madam Chidinma Chidoka.

Paul Liam is the Media and Communications Officer of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of Sector 2, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have recovered two AK-47 rifles and other military-related items after a suspected terrorist was killed during a stop-and-search operation in Plateau State.

The incident occurred at Zak village in Wase Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Counter-terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a statement shared on X on Saturday.

According to the statement, the incident happened at about 9:50 a.m. when troops carrying out security checks in the area stopped a green-coloured Golf vehicle with registration number DKA-808XM.

A search of the vehicle reportedly revealed a concealed compartment inside the dashboard.

The driver was asked to open the compartment but allegedly refused and escaped into a nearby bush. While some soldiers went after him, others stayed behind to secure the vehicle and continue the search.

The fleeing suspect was later apprehended but reportedly attempted to disarm one of the soldiers. The troops reacted immediately, and the suspect was killed.

A further search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two AK-47 rifles bearing registration numbers 506034 and 4690, alongside one magazine.

The troops also recovered two wooden rifle butts, nine magazine pouches, two camel bags, six jungle hats, one mobile phone and an ATM card.

Zagazola said the discovery had heightened concerns about the movement of arms through the region.

“The recovery of the weapons and military-style accessories from a vehicle fitted with a concealed compartment has raised further security concerns over attempts by criminal and terrorist elements to move arms through the region.

“The operation forms part of sustained stop-and-search activities by troops of Operation Enduring Peace aimed at disrupting the movement of armed groups, illegal weapons and other threats across Plateau State.

“Security forces have continued to intensify patrols and intelligence-led operations across vulnerable communities and major access routes in the state as part of efforts to prevent attacks and protect civilians.

“The latest operation also demonstrates the importance of routine vehicle checks and vigilance by security personnel in identifying concealed weapons and preventing their movement into communities,” Zagazola said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to choose former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate as the greatest regret of his political career.

Obasanjo made the remark on Friday during a fireside chat with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the launch of Charly Boy’s foundation and the presentation of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, in Lagos.

Obasanjo and Atiku served together as Nigeria’s president and vice-president between 1999 and 2007. Their relationship, however, deteriorated during Obasanjo’s second term in office.

Reflecting on that period, the former president said he was grateful that Atiku’s actions did not affect his administration or the country.

“The man I picked as my running mate, my number two, if I had known as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” he said.

“I mean my vice-president. What I know about him later makes me… thank God because God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me or to divert my focus from Nigeria or to harm Nigeria.”

Despite his criticism, Obasanjo said he no longer harbours resentment toward his former deputy.

“And then, there is no bitterness because he did things that he believed he should do and God did things He had to do, which made me achieve what I was able to achieve,” he said.

The relationship between the two leaders has remained strained since they left office. Over the years, they have repeatedly exchanged accusations over corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal.

In his 2014 memoir, My Watch, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption, disloyalty and placing personal ambition above national interest. Atiku rejected the allegations. He accused the former president of attempting to rewrite history and portray himself as the victim of political persecution during the final years of their administration.

The dispute resurfaced recently after Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, N5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first term in office. Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba on events that preceded the 2003 general election.

In response, Atiku accused Obasanjo of fabricating the allegation to benefit his kinsman ahead of the 2027 general election.

Although Atiku did not identify the individual, President Bola Tinubu shares the same Yoruba ethnic background as Obasanjo. However, Obasanjo has publicly declared his support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The House of Representatives has uncovered fresh details in its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, admitted that her office failed to conduct sufficient checks before approving requests linked to the agency.

Lawmakers are investigating allegations that Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, obtained official recognition for the agency with fake appointment letters, fabricated legislative documents and other forged government records, despite the organisation lacking legal backing.

The House Ad-Hoc Committee also said its investigation had exposed what it described as a network of fake appointment letters, fabricated legislative documents and fictitious government offices allegedly used to secure recognition from federal institutions.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) also admitted that an official diverted a letter meant for the Permanent Secretary, State House. The committee believes the action helped sustain the alleged scheme.

The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, who represents Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, has continued to examine how the purported agency secured approvals from several government institutions despite having no legal foundation.

Joshua Luka, Director of the Federal Project Financial Department in the OAGF, told the panel that the office issued an administrative code only after receiving what appeared to be an official request from the State House.

“As part of our due diligence, what we did was to convey the administrative code to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and not to the so-called agency. The idea was that if it was not genuine, the whole thing would be unravelled,” Luka said.

The committee, however, rejected the explanation after evidence showed that the letter never reached the Permanent Secretary. Instead, it was reportedly collected by Adeniyi.

Gagdi further stated that investigators discovered the Directorate of Administration and Support Services, which appeared on the correspondence, did not exist within the State House.

“There is no Directorate of Administration and Support Services in the State House. That office does not exist,” he said.

He criticised the OAGF for allowing the suspect to collect official correspondence intended for another government office.

“You allowed the fraudulent DG to come and pick the letter from your office instead of allowing someone from the Permanent Secretary’s office to receive it. If the letter had reached the Permanent Secretary, the fraud would have been unraveled immediately,” Gagdi said.

Luka maintained that the incident resulted from the actions of one official rather than a failure by the institution.

“The problem here was not an office lapse; it was an individual lapse. Somebody was supposed to deliver that letter to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and it was not delivered there,” he explained.

He identified the official as Bello Abdullahi, who admitted handing the letter to Adeniyi before the committee halted his explanation.

Appearing before the lawmakers, Walson-Jack acknowledged that her office relied on documents that were later discovered to be false.

“We now, having seen all the facts and observed all the documents, concede that we ought to have carried out more due diligence in the discharge of the duties of the office in issuing an authorised establishment and a recruitment waiver to the PEAC/PFIPC,” she told the panel.

She explained that representatives of the purported agency attended the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence with what appeared to be an Establishment Act and a letter appointing a Director-General. She said civil service procedures required such documents before an agency could obtain recruitment approval.

Walson-Jack described the incident as unprecedented.

“In over almost a century of the Federal Civil Service, we have never encountered a situation like the current one. Criminals always try to be a step ahead of law enforcement,” she said.

She later disclosed that she personally examined the documents and concluded that the supposed Establishment Act was not authentic.

“I requested to see the documents myself and I saw that the Establishment Act was not really an authentic Act. I have almost 30 years of legal practice experience and immediately I saw it, I knew it was not real,” she stated.

The HoSF also questioned the authenticity of the letter said to have been issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

“I’m not a forensic expert, but I can clearly see that the signatures are not the same,” she added after comparing the signature on the appointment letter with other official documents.

Gagdi said forensic experts from the Nigeria Police Force had already confirmed that the signatures were different.

“The Police Forensic Department has already analysed the signatures and confirmed that those signatures are not the same. In fact, according to them, there was not even an attempt to imitate the signature,” he said.

He insisted that both the appointment letter and the purported Establishment Act were fake.

“You have clearly stated that you acted on false documents. You have now established, just like we have, that the letter of appointment of the so-called DG is not only forged, it is fake.

“If something is forged, there will be an attempt to imitate the signature. But in this case, the signatures are completely different. So, I will not call it forged; I will say it is fake,” Gagdi declared.

The committee chairman also pointed out that the document presented as an Act of the National Assembly lacked essential features of valid legislation.

“Our Acts have citation numbers, Supreme Court numbers, Gazette numbers and Gazette titles. The Act presented here has none of those features,” he added.

Although she accepted responsibility for the shortcomings, Walson-Jack said officials acted in line with existing procedures based on the documents submitted.

“Everything was done in accordance with the practice in the office. Out of the 88 ministries, departments and agencies processed, we are really surprised that we were unable to detect that PEAC/PFIPC had actually given us a false Establishment Act and what has now been proved to be a false letter of appointment,” she said.

She also assured lawmakers that measures would be introduced to strengthen internal safeguards.

“We take full responsibility and we will definitely review our processes to make them more fraud-proof,” she said.

The committee also heard from Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. He explained that Adeniyi could not be produced before the panel because he remained in lawful custody under a subsisting court order.

“The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant. The Nigeria Police Force recognises the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and remains committed to cooperating with the committee in the discharge of its mandate.

“However, in this case, it will be appreciated if a reproduction warrant could be sought from a court of competent jurisdiction to enable the police to comply with this request,” Akinola said.

The committee accepted the explanation and said it would seek the necessary court order before the suspect is brought before the panel.

Lawmakers said the investigation is nearing completion. They plan to present preliminary findings to the public next week before submitting a final report to the House of Representatives after the National Assembly resumes from recess.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted illicit drugs with a combined estimated street value of more than ₦10 billion in separate operations in Lagos.

The agency disclosed that its operatives recovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at over ₦7.1 billion during an inspection at the Apapa Seaport.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the consignment weighed 2,388.5 kilogrammes and had been concealed inside three vehicles.

Babafemi added that the seizure took place during a joint examination of a shipment on Monday.

The agency also said it confiscated 2.24 million pills of 250mg Tapentadol, estimated to be worth more than ₦2.2 billion, from a consignment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight on Friday.

“The exercise was based on an intelligence received and processed by NDLEA,” the statement reads.


“This came on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK.


“The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday 22nd July.”


The agency also announced the arrest of a 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an attempt to export 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cartons of food items destined for the United Kingdom.

According to the statement, Chinedu, who trades in clothing at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, after the cocaine shipment had been intercepted a day earlier at the export section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday 23rd July 2026 following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.


“In the course of investigation, three cargo agents: Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment were initially arrested leading to the arrest Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.


“Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.”


The NDLEA further disclosed that its operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo in Surulere, Lagos, after seizing 2.80 kilogrammes of Loud allegedly imported from the United States.

The agency also reported the arrest of two suspects found with military-grade ammunition in Katsina State and along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

“A suspect Mustapha Sani, 30, was on Wednesday 22nd July nabbed by NDLEA operatives on patrol operation at Baure, Safana LGA, Katsina state where he was found with 323 rounds of military grade ammunition consisting of 200 pieces of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm neatly concealed,” the statement added.


“Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested by NDLEA officers on stop and search operation at Jere, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway where he was found with 73 RLA, 7.62mm ammunition hidden in kegs of red oil. Both suspects have been handed over to the relevant security agency for further investigation.”


Babafemi said the agency has continued to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes in schools, places of worship and workplaces.

The statement added that NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) as well as personnel in the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina commands for the successful operations. He also urged commands across the country to sustain the agency’s strategy of combining enforcement with drug demand reduction initiatives.