Barrister Frank Tietie, Executive Director,
Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has cautioned the Federal Government against compromising public procurement laws in the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) to improve the Nigeria’s security and boost its revenue base.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, Barrister Frank Tietie, appealed to Ministries of Transportation, Finance, Petroleum, Office of the National Security Adviser and that of Chief of Staff to the President to act in the national interest on the issue of Cargo Tracking policy.

It maintained that it is only strict compliance with relevant laws and deep sense of patriotism that would ensure accurate and efficient collection of import from the new policy regime.

It expressed displeasure that the implementation of such an all-important national security project with high revenue-yielding potentials has suffered massive setbacks on account of unscrupulous businessmen and Nigerian public officials who were determined to circumvent the public procurement guidelines.

The group emphasized that Ministries and the affected government agencies must resist opportunists by ensuring total compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the matter.

The group revealed that illegal weapons are daily streaming into Nigeria undetected through its ports while import and export agents are shortchanging the Nigerian government of accruable revenue from correct charges.

“Extremely worrisome is the level of crude oil theft mostly carried out by shippers in conjunction with unscrupulous government officials and several inspections agents, who often underreport crude oil volumes at various export terminals for corrupt enrichment.

“Therefore, when recently, in 2021, the Federal Ministry of Transportation attempted to implement the ICTN without due process, by handpicking certain companies that neither possessed any capacity nor an iota of cognate experience in the implementation of ICTN, CASER raised an alarm to the President, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“Thus, CASER had to initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1587/2021 when it became apparent that the erstwhile Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi was determined to use both his political influence and official privilege to override necessary inter-agency checks and the express provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the appointment of implementing agents for such a highly sensitive national security project as the ICTN.

“Consequently, the Federal High Court granted an order of injunction, restraining the Minister of Transportation himself and the Ministry from appointing such companies to implement the ICTN pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by CASER, seeking to set aside and nullify any such purported appointment of implementing companies on the ground of non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the Public Procurement Act which require transparent bidding where necessary, together with the capacity and competence in the implementation of ICTN.

“While the Federal Government is attending to the issues raised in the earlier alarm and subsequent suit by CASER, it is interesting to note that a certain Donnington Nigeria Ltd is bent on perpetrating the cycle of cronyistic opportunism and incompetence which have bedevilled the earlier failed attempts to implement the ICTN in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian authorities must refuse to be blackmailed in any way by a company that submitted an unsolicited proposal to it, claiming that it is capable of providing the services of the implementation of ICTN services in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government must ask questions and carry out the necessary due diligence about any company that not only claims to provide such sensitive service but such a company must have participated in the various forms of bidding as contained in the Public Procurement Act.

“Therefore, it is not enough and it must be guarded against where a company merely peddles insider connections in government and expect to be given such a sensitive national security contract as can be deduceable from media report of the 30th of October.

Chairman of Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has expressed disgust over the inferno which gutted his Lagos Secretariat,saying officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency,didn’t do anything to rescue the situation.

The secretariat located within the Humanity Centre, 610, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ijaye Bus Stop, Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos, was gutted on Wednesday.

A press release issued by CACOL and signed by Tola Oresanwo, the organisation’s Director, Administration and Programmes on behalf of its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, indicated that the Humanity Centre also houses headquarters of many civil society organisations.

It said that the immediate and remote causes of the inferno, which gutted the anteroom to the Director of Administration’s office, were not known, although an electrical surge was suspected.

It added: “Due to the fact that all doors to other offices were securely closed, the fire did not go beyond the office where it originated from, only the smoke passed through the openings around the entrances and left thick hoots on all the office equipment, furniture, fittings, walls and the floors of other offices.

“In their bid to curtail the fire, the first responders who happened to be the good people living around the area had to break the main access door and the windows of the office where the fire was raging, and eventually put it out.This was after the fire had destroyed office equipment, electronics, furniture and fittings valued at millions of naira. The only consolation is that no life was lost in the incident.

“Some of the residents of the area, the estate agent to the premises, Mr. Adeyemo and the Chairman of CACOL (Debo Adeniran), called the Lagos State Emergency number (112), but instead of getting a favourable response from them, they were being asked some frivolous and trivial questions.”

Comrade Debo Adeniran, was quoted in the statement as saying that: “I am still amazed at the level of mediocrity displayed by the personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

“I personally called the emergency number around 4:29 am and I was expecting to be attended to as someone who urgently needs help but unfortunately despite the claim that they now have improved response time to emergencies, they were asking if I am at the scene of the incident.

“I told them the place is our office and we don’t sleep at the office, they further asked what the magnitude of the fire was and how sure am I that the fire is really burning the building.We are still at a loss concerning the cause of the fire, though we are not suspecting sabotage but the men of the fire service would have used their expertise to decipher the real cause of the fire had it been they responded to our call.

“Though we are grateful that no life was lost in the incident and we appreciate all those living in the neighbourhood who tried their best to put out the fire, we would like to use this medium to call on the Lagos State government to go beyond the provision of safety and rescue infrastructures and equipment but also invest heavily in the area of training and retraining of the personnel of the emergency contact centre, who are the first line of contact so as to make them more efficient and responsive to the yearnings of the people during emergencies.”,the statement added.

The NAOC Joint Venture (JV)comprising Oando PLC, Agip and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC), delivered food and essential commodities to 260 communities affected by flood in Rivers Bayelsa, Delta and Imo states.

In order to assist the victims, Oando and its JV partners delivered food and essential goods such as beds and non-perishable food items, including bags of 50kg rice, bags of 100kg garri, cartons of tomatoes, vegetable oil, beverage drinks, milk and noodles as well as mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets.

The donation is premised on Oando’s belief that it must continue leaving positive and measurable imprints in the environments in which it operates. In dire situations like this, and with a burdened government, the private sector must rise to the occasion to support the government in providing relief to victims.

The JV expressed its empathy with the host communities, saying the gesture was to reinforce the existing collaborative relationship that had existed with the communities.

The communities of the area, represented by the traditional ruler and Prime Minister of Ogbaland, Louis Iyasira, expressed appreciation to the JV for the timely support.

This year, following the Oyo state church massacre, Oando employees partnered with the Red Cross to facilitate blood donation from its employees to bridge the blood supply gap for victims.

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd), Thursday,said his agency secured the conviction of 3000 drug peddlers and seized 5,452 metric tonnes of illicit drugs, with a street value of N420 billion,between January last year and now

He said 28 drug barons have also been arrested and are being prosecuted,while over 12,000 have been counselled in rehabilitation centres.

The agency has destroyed cannabis farms of 714 hectares,appropriated a total of 38, 933, 249, 197.18 for 2022 and during the year under review as well as completed the recruitment of 5000 additional personnel.

According to him, “This number was out of a total of 15, 000 which was approved by the President to be implemented incrementally.So even though the recruitment exercise started last year, the training was concluded this year. The 15, 000 approved by the president has been segmented into three phases of 5000 each. So we did 5000 last year, completed this year.

“The second 5000 has received Mr President’s approval and is in the process. We hope that within the next quarter or so, funding would have been released for it and we would fully engage ourselves in the process of the next 5000″

Marwa disclosed these at a budget defense session with the House of Representatives Committee of Drugs and Narcotics to defend the agency’s 2022 budget performance and 2023 budget proposal on Thursday.

He added that the agency recorded the largest seizure ever of pure cocaine in 2022.

“In the course of 2022, I am glad to mention that the agency made history by recording the largest seizure ever of pure cocaine weighing over 2.1 metric tonnes, which is worth $315 million or over N230 billion. We have received a court order and have already destroyed it. This was a unique operation because we were able to arrest the five barons involved who were located in different parts of Lagos, practically to the second, without firing a shot. We had to coordinate it properly so that none would be arrested one minute earlier than the others because they will alert the others and they would escape. But we were able to do it clinically for those five at the same time in one night.

“We have arrested and are prosecuting so far 28 barons with seizures worth billions of naira. Indeed one of the barons, we found, had 103 bank accounts with a total balance of over 20 billion naira, which we have frozen,” he said.

The former military administrator emphasized the need for the urgent provision of barracks for operatives of the Agency as a means of boosting their morale and improving their welfare.

“The barracks issue is very critical to us because as we all know the NDLEA is very aggressive now against drug traffickers and the drug barons and when you arrest and prosecute them and send them to jail, they are not happy. So they come after our personnel and with our personnel living in the towns and cities and among them, we have been recording casualties and assassinations against them,” he said.

He said with the President’s approval for the building of barracks, the Agency is in the process of building a barrack for NDLEA personnel for the first time.

He also disclosed that the agency was in the process of building three rehabilitation centres, two forensic laboratories and purchasing of security equipments.

According to Gen. Marwa, the agency has concluded the acquisition of land in Adamawa, Abuja and Lagos for the barracks and the Public Private Partnership process is rounding off.

He said N24 billion was allocated to the barracks project in the 2022 budget and that it had been slashed to N13 billion in the 2023 budget proposal.

He called for an additional N10 billion to augment what was originally approved for the projects.

“Like I said earlier the President had graciously approved the construction of barracks for the Agency last 2022. The barrack project is ongoing and the sum of N13 billion has been captured in the 2023 budget proposal. Last year it was N24 billion. Actually 24 billion cannot build a barrack, complete barrack. But we had to figure out certain key priorities in selected areas, bearing in mind the need to go round all the geopolitical zones and this year, we have been able to look at four zones. We have touched Lagos but it still needs more to be done.

“We pray that with more money for the barrack, because N13 billion would probably build half a barracks, but if we are able to achieve another 10 billion or more on this barrack, then we would be able to add three more of the geopolitical zones for us to complete six. Hopefully as the years go by and we have other chairman, the struggle for barracks would continue,” he added.

The federal government has said that it will source more loans from China and Portugal, for use in the completion of the ongoing railway project linking Kaduna-Kano, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and Kano-Maradi.

The Minister of Transport, Muazu Sambo,who disclosed this at the 2023 budget defence of his Ministry on Thursday in Abuja,said that the completion of the projects rests on the successful negotiation of loans on infrastructural development from China, Portuguese and Turkish institutions with the Finance Minister.

He said:”To finalize and sign the loan agreements, evidence of source of funding of the balance of the advance payment and other aspects of work to be financed directly by the Federal government, has to be made available to the financial institutions through adequate budget budgetary provisions in the 2023 budget.”

He noted that the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano and Itakpa to Warri railway projects are fully operational and receiving patronage from the general public.

“To reach practical completion on these projects, some aspects of works, including construction of overpass bridges, connection to the National Grid and other ancillary provisions have to be completed.Therefore, adequate funds need to be provided in the 2023 budget to facilitate the practical completion of the projects,” he said.

On the utilization of the 2022 budget of the ministry, the Minister explained that out of the N147.5billion an estimated sum of N52.1billion representing 35.33% has been released to the ministry to date.

He added that the sum of N389billion has been utilized as at October 25, 2022.

Sambo further noted that the sum of N358,799,998 was appropriated for overhead expenditure out of which N209,299,998.81 million was released.

Speaking on the 2023 budget proposal, the Minister said that a total capital budget of N92.2billion and Overhead of N382,185,472million were proposed for 2023 appropriation Bill.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Danjuma Goje lamented that the inability of the ministry to complete the capital budget at the fiscal year and the extension of the implementation of the capital budget by three months ( January to march 2023), has negated the January to December budget circle.

Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces in a joint operation with the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) have arrested a suspect with 67 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the custom Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Shuwari town in Maiduguri Local Government Area of Borno state.

The Director, Defence Media Operation (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami,who said this at the biweekly press briefing in Abuja on Thursday,didn’t disclose the identity of the suspect.

He also noted that, a known terrorist Mr. Lawan Yashin who attempted to escape upon sighting troops was neutralized at the same Camp.

He stated that troops of operation HADIN KAI in the North East Zone have sustained operational activities in villages, mountains, town and cities within their area of responsibility.

He added:”Between 20th October, to 2nd November, 2022, troops conducted ambushes, clearance operations, fighting patrols and cordon and search operations at different locations in Bama, Kukawa, Kaga, and Biu Local Government Areas in Borno State as well as Damaturu, Gujba and Geidam Local Government Areas in Yobe States.

“Troops arrested 27 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, neutralized 19 and recovered one RPG bomb, one GPMG, 2 x 36 hand grenade, six AK47 rifles, 61 rounds of 7.62mm special, 36 refilled 7.62 mm special, 3 AK47 magazines and three magazine holders.

“Others are six motorcycles, seven bicycles, pumping machine, six grinding machines, nine mobile phones, 6 x 25litres jerrican of PMS, bag of grains, motorcycle accessories, foodstuff, one baofeng radio and the sum of N10,660.00 Naira only as well as other sundry items.

“On the 20th October, 2022, troops in conjunction with Department of State Security personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force made contact with Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists in Buduwa and Banki villages in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State and neutralized one terrorist while other fled with gunshot injuries.”

He also disclosed that one terrorist surrendered to own troops and handover one AK47 rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one baofeng radio, two mobile phones, one camel pack amongst other items.

He said on the same day, two suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists were arrested in Damaturu, Yobe State.

According to him, “During the period in focus, which is between 20th October to 3rd November, 2022 a total of 145 Boko Haram Terrorists and their families comprising 30 adult males, 33 adult females and 82 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the North East theatre of operation.

“The air component of Operation HADIN KAI on 21st October 2022 conducted air interdiction mission on a terrorist convoy movement along Tunbum Aliyu, near Lake Chad, a terrorist location Southwest of Maiduguri.

“The strikes eliminated several terrorists as well as seven gun trucks and other materials. Similarly, based on credible intelligence of terrorist hibernating in enclaves in Abulum and Njibul near Sambisa forest, the air component struck the locations simultaneously and eliminated scores of terrorists while the injured ones were observed to be have scampered for safety.”

Troops in the North Central Zone of the Country have sustained the onslaught against terrorists and other criminal elements in their general area of operation which yielded tremendous success,he said.

This, General Danmadami said, “On 29th October, 2022, in a coordinated operation between the land component and the air component, troops repelled an attack by the Boko Haram Terrorist and Islamic State of West Africa State Province terrorists at Wawa Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

“Following the engagement, troops neutralized three terrorists and captured five. Additionally, troops recovered one HK 21 gun, 1 PKT gun, 598 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 676 rounds of 7.62 special, 3,902 rounds of AK49 ammunition, two RPG tubes, seven RPG bombs, one grenade and three cartons of Improvised Explosive Devices accessories.

“Other items include two vehicles, two motorola radios, two radio chargers, cartons of drip, motorcycles, mobile phones and other sundry items.”

He further revealed that, a follow up and exploitation operation was conducted by troops in conjunction with vigilantes at Tungan Gagara and Damala villages where contacts was made with the terrorist, following the fire fight, 13 terrorist were arrested while several others jumped into the river.

“Items recovered during the encounter include five AK47 rifles, 163 rounds of PKT gun, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special, and five AK47 magazines. Other items recovered are two mobile phones, two HH radio and the sum of N52,850.00 only.

“Consequently, he disclosed that a similar operation was carried out on 1st November, 2022 at Babusara village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during the encounter, troops neutralized three terrorists while other fled in disarray. Troops also recovered two AK47 rifles loaded with 112 rounds of 7.62mm special.

“Equally, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and NDLEA operatives on 28th October, 2022 raided identified drug peddlers hideout around North bank in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.”

During the operation, General Danmadami said, “14 suspected illicit drug peddlers were arrested, with large quantities of substance suspected to be hard drugs.

“Also, troops of Guards Brigade raided an illegal mining site at Tukashara Wasa, Apo in Abuja Municipal Area Council on 30th October, 22 and arrested 60 suspected illegal miners as well recovered four dane guns, one locally fabricated gun, 14 cutlasses, four sleg hammers, 25 motorcycles, one vehicle and other items. Troops on the same day also arrested 2 trailers loaded with illegal mined items.”

Between the 21st to 24th October, 2022, troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN were said to have conducted raid operation at Burgel town in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Tangur village and Dorowa Bukuru town in Bokkos and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

“During the raid operation, troops arrested five suspected kidnappers. Items recovered from the suspects were two wooden fabricated rifles, one round of 7.62mm special, one mobile phone, substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, and other illicit drugs.

“Troops also raided villages in Qu’an Pan, Jos South, Jos East and Jema’s Local Government Areas of Plateau and Kaduna States and arrested two suspected drug peddlers, three suspected armed robbers and two suspected kidnappers.”

Also, on the 23rd October, 2022, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE acting on intelligence on the movement of suspected kidnappers on Road Takun-Wakari in Taraba State, neutralized two suspected kidnappers as they attempted to escape on sighting own troops at their hideout. Items recovered were two mobile phones, one power bank, one identification card, one bag containing charms, one bag containing drugs and the sum of N865,460.00 amongst others.

“Similarly, on 29th October, 2022, credible information revealed that a kidnapper kingpin who was an escapee from the Jos prison break was at Farin Kasa in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“Troops responded promptly and the suspect was neutralized while trying to escape from his hideout. Troops also neutralized a notorious kidnapper identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi in Goro village of Plateau State while equally trying to escape from his hideout.

“Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN between 27th 30th October, 2022 conducted cordon and search and rescue operations following credible intelligence on kidnapping activities in Kafancha, Kaura, Zango Kataf and Jema’a Local Government Areas of Kaduna as well as Mangu, Riyon, Qu’anpan and Jos East Local Government Areas of Plateau States.

“During the operations, troops arrested three kidnappers, three suspected gun runners and rescued two kidnapped victims. Troops recovered four locally fabricated rifles, four rounds of 7.62mm special, two machetes among others.

“Equally, on 29th October, 2022, troops responded to information on kidnapping activity on road Jos – Abuja at Bindi village, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops discovered that the criminal had abducted five occupants in a Sharon vehicle, which was enroute Jos.

“Troops pursued and made contact with criminals, and exchanged fire with them. Troops neutralized two kidnappers and rescued the five victims. Troops also recovered one locally fabricated rifles loaded with one round of 7.62mm special, one dagger, two machetes and two mobile phones.”

According to Danmadami, troops of operation HADARIN DAJI and WHIRL PUNCH in the North West Zone of the Country have continued to sustain operational activities through the conduct of fighting and clearance patrols to clear terrorists enclaves.

The troops conducted operational activities at various locations within Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and Kebbi States between 21st October to 2nd November, 2022.

During the various operation, he said, troops neutralized 25 terrorists, rescued 19 civilians and arrested 18 terrorists.

He added:”Troops also recovered 10 AK47 rifles with three magazines containing 69 rounds of 7.62mm special, one round of 9mm, two pump action guns, three cartridges, 12 dane guns, three locally made pistol, 18 mobile phones, four motorcycle and recovered 441 rustled cattles.

“Notably, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH on 23rd October, 2022 responded to the presence of terrorist at Abasia – Amala villages, East of Polewire and Maidaro villages in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made contact with the terrorist.

“During the encounter, troops neutralized two terrorists, recovered one AK47 rifle, two magazines containing 38 rounds of 7.62mm special, 14 mobile phones, one dane gun, two baofeng radios as well as 11 motorcycles which were destroyed.

“Similarly, on 24th October, 2022 troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted fighting patrol along Road Buruku – Angwan Yako – Udawa in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made contact with terrorist. Following a fire fight the terrorist fled leaving their kidnapped victims.

“Troops exploited area and rescued 10 civilians and recovered three vehicles. Equally, on 27th October, 2022 troops conducted clearance patrol in Anka and Faskari Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States. Troops neutralized two bandits, rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered one AK47 rifle, four rounds of 7.62mm special, one motorcycle and two mobile phones.”

He added that on the same day, based on credible information on Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorist activities at Dumburum forest west of Kwari village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, the air component of HADARIN DAJI carried out air bombardment at the identified terrorists location. Feedback of the air strike revealed that scores of terrorists were neutralized with others badly injured following the air strike.

“On the 30th October, 2022, troops on fighting patrol along Road Bindi – Gobirwan, Chali village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State made contact with terrorist. During the encounter troops neutralized one terrorist while others fled with gun shot injuries. Troops also recovered one AK47 loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm special and one motorcycle amongst others.

“Also, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI on the 21st October, 2022 conducted an air strike at Maradum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on an identified terrorist leader’s location. Credible intelligence revealed that the terrorist leader and foot soldiers had scheduled an early-morning meeting in a location, while their logistics base where ammunitions, vehicles, motorcycles and other ill-gotten loots were stored in another location.