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The rising profile of Dupe Olusola , An Inspiring Head of Marketing of UBA

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The rising profile of Dupe Olusola , An Inspiring Head of Marketing of UBA
Dupe Olusola
Head of Marketing of UBA

[dropcap] U[/dropcap]ntil  she was appointed, Head of Marketing of the United Bank of Africa, regarded in financial circles as a pan African Bank , founded on a solid foundation , some years ago, not much was known about Dupe Olusola in her private life.  Her appoint as the UBA head of Marking from  her private business , appears to have brought out the best in her in marketing that she has become a household name in sporting and Entertainment circles because of her role in ensuring  UBA, sponsorship of events in such sectors of the economy.

She is not only a household hold name in the sports and Entertainment Industry but in the  nation’s financial sector, particular, the UBA, family. She has become so popular in the UBA; family that staff sees her as a rising Star in the financial behemoth. Her activities are even noticed outside the nation’s Banking Industry.

For the fifth consecutive time, she was said to have been listed among  one  of Nigeria’s  inspiring women  in 2019 by different Organisations. The good news was these are women drawn from   a diverse range of backgrounds  and sectors of the economy. They are women who were said to have impacted positively on their Communities  through the power of their strength and ideas as well as their achievements.

According to the  leading Ladies Africa,  these women who have giant strides   in the world of business, politics, advocacy, governance and enterprise. Many believe that the UBA Head of Marketing the list was not unexpected. This is because of her visionary  leadership  with  the aim of development  and delivery  of integrated strategy  for the Bank and its subsidiaries.

Note, ‘’  she  is always passionate  on matters concerning involving women and  empowerment,  Economic Development of underdeveloped economies  and financial inclusion of  the disadvantaged  in the society.

Prior to her  her appoint ment as UBA Head of Marketing, , She was into private business , where she was the Chief Executive Officer of Terago, a flourishing business. To show her skills in marketing, She was said to have spearheaded  a partnership   with  the multi-national  soft drinks giant, Coca- Cola to produce Five Alive  Pulpy Orange Juice, thus  making  Terago, the sole local raw material  for producing the Juice, which is in high demand  in Nigeria and other countries in the West and Central African sub-regions.

The list of other Organisations founded by him which made her an asset in UBA Marketing Department includes Abisoye Ajayi Akinfolarin, Pearls African Youth Foundation, a Non-Governmental  Organisation, NGO, aimed at educating  young girls  in ungoverned area  within the country, particular ,  Communities in the north eastern states of Adamawa, Boro and Yobe states with  technological skills.

Recall that  on November 1, 2018,  Abisoye  was named  one the 10 CNN heroes  of the year. The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, may have  also noticed her achievements as she was listed as one of the Corporation’s women of note.Mrs. Olusola, the UBA , Head of Marketing may  not have concentrated her entire efforts in the Bank to marketing as  she has used her spare  time to write books is  Building a Conscious Career, a book that  equips career enthusiasts  with necessary knowledge and resources  to build a career that not only excites  and rewards but  also positively  a affect the lives of others.

Close associates describe  her as  a ‘’tri-sector leader   with several years of experience  working  different sectors of the economy from the non –profit, private  to public sectors of the economy  as a development professional. She was said to have started a career in development   over a decade  ago   with Actionaid International Nigeria .

Given  her connection in the business world,  She led  Corporate  Citizenship  for  Samsung  Electronics West Africa   and currently sits   as  Director of Strategy, Lagos state Employment Trust Fund. With such towering achievements and several others more , Dupe Olusola,  had not allowed it to enter into head as  she remained very humble  and accommodating.

The UBA, enterprising woman, according to sources owe   her success and   development  of her   skills  as   talented marketer to Tony Elumelu,  Chairman,  UBA and Founder Eluemelu Foundation who gave Staff  the Staff the free hand  to excel.

She  gave kudos to Kennedy Uzoka, the UBA, Group Managing Director, for  all the support and encouragement that had brought out the best in her over the years  to contribute to  the growth and development of the Bank  which had turned out  to be one of the most financially solid in the  African Continent.

By:  Emeji Noble

How CCG Customs Strike Force uncover warehouse stockpile with tramadol, Codeine and the other fake Pharmaceutical products

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How CCG Customs Strike Force uncover warehouse stockpile with tramadol, Codeine and the other fake Pharmaceutical products

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he bubble  appear to have  burst when  the  information about the use of the  alleged  Innonson’s warehouse to stockpile the  prohibited tramadol, Codeine and the  other fake Pharmaceutical products filtered out to the ears  of  Usman Yahaya, a former  Deputy Comptroller of Customs  in-charge of Enforcement  , Federal Operations Unit, FOU, and who had Headed  various  anti- smuggling  Patrol teams in the Command in the past but now the  Coordinator of the Comptroller General  CCG,  Strike Force, Team, Zone A, Lagos .

A source confided to us  that instead of acting on the information immediately to    to seal up the premises, Yahaya had  detailed  Jack Okpabi, a Chief Superintendent of Customs,  and the  Strike Force, Head of Operations and Lagos Roving to ensure that the drugs  did not get out of Lagos. Yahaya , who wants to restore himself back to reckoning as a thorough bred  enforcement officer  did not want to miss  the opportunity.

For two weeks, Jack   and his Team members were said to kept  the information  a closely guarded secret  to avoid filtering out into the ear of  officials of Innonson’s   Motors that the game is up  which might force the importers  to  evacuate the hard drugs worth billions of naira to another  location.

Hameed Ali: Customs CG

Acting on the information that the  smugglers would  take advantage of the Eid  Kabir Festival period, which falls between Monday, August  12 and Tuesday, August 13, 2019,  to push the drugs into the northern  markets where it was needed mostly by Bandits in the north west and the Insurgents in the North eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, it  strengthened the resolve of the Jack led Team to Strike by keeping vigil on the Lagos-Ibadan road.

Investigation by the us shows that the banned  Tramadol and Codein drugs are in high demand in the north. It was learnt that  Bandits  in the north west  demand  for a carton of Tramadol or Codein as  ransome to free a kidnapped victim in their Custody, an indication that the north was their major market for the Indian Manufactured  pharmaceutical   drugs dealers who have their agents everywhere in the region.

When it became  clear  that the smugglers had perfected plan to move from the their Lagos base, Jack , who had served under Comptrollers Muhammed Ubah Garba, in FOU, Zone  C, Owerri, Imo state  and Mohammed Aliyu, in FOU, Zone A, Ikeja,  and knows how such  closely guarded  information  were handled , was said to  have put  his experience  to bear on the Operation  without any mistake.

Unknown to the smugglers, the CCG’S Strike  Force Team members have been positioned  at Strategic locations  along the Lagos  – Ibadan –Expressway in readiness to intercept the trucks .  The fallout was that  one of the  trucks load of the tramadol, Codein  and other drugs  fell into the waiting hands of the team on the road on Tuesday , August 13, 2019.

It was said to have been seized and was quickly transferred  to the Customs Training School, the Strike Force , Operational base in Lagos. The Truck driver was said to have been promptly arrested and detained  in FOU , Zone facility. The information  allegedly volunteered by  the driver during interrogation, may have given the  CCG Strike Force Team a clue    that the drugs were loaded from  one of the Innonson’s Motors Warehouses along the Oshodi –Apapa Express way.

Armed with the information , Jack was said to have alerted  the Yahaya, the Coordinator  of  the Strike Force   about the  information.  With his support and approval, the Team  was said to have  invaded the warehouse   stocked  with cartons of tramadol , Codein and other unregistered  NAFDAC drugs  in order to evacuate the items.  As at the last count, the team had evacuated  21  trucks load of the  items valued  over  N5 billion  to the  Customs Training School and the Government warehouse in Ikeja. The Valuation may have been done in a hurry as   Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel has  ordered the Valuation experts to  come out with a proper Value for the items.

The discovery of the Warehouse , which was used to stockpile  Tramadol,  Codein and other NAFDAC unregistered pains illicit drugs may have forced  the Customs Coordinator to mobilise his  senior  Team members   to begin a preliminary investigation ton the warehouse along the Oshodi –Mile two road. Given what was found in the warehouse which confirms the information given by the informant  and the arrested  driver,  the  warehouse was sealed  by  a detachment  of heavily armed  soldiers engaged by the Customs Authorities  to  guard the place from infiltration of  Area boys who may be engaged by the smugglers  to move the items to another location.

Joseph Attah, a Deputy Comptroller and the Customs Spokesperson, who was elated by the seizure  made by the CCG , Strike Force, Team, Zone A, Lagos, disclosed that  Ali, the customs Comptroller General, who could not hide his feelings  over the multi-million naira  drug seizure by the Strike Force Team,  has  ordered  a thorough investigation  into it  with a view to bringing  all those connected  with  the drug  found in the warehouse  to Justice.

A Customs  source  had  informed the us  that  officials of Innonson’s  Motors, had claimed ignorance   that the Company’s warehouse along the Oshodi-Mile 2 road was used to stockpile banned Tramadol, Codein  and other NAFDAC , unregistered drugs.

The question on the lips of most people is: how did the drugs found their way to the warehouse? This is where   the Customs Comptroller General had to invite the immediate past the  present  Comptrollers  of Apapa and Tin-Can Island  Commands  for  questioning.

Business watchers believe  that the drugs could not  have fly  into the warehouse  without passing through the seaports, an indications that there must have been a high level Customs Collaboration in the deal which may not have not started today.  Recall that Aliyu , the FOU, Zone  A, Comptroller , at  a recent Workshop , organisied by  the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders , NAGAFF, at the NAGAFF  village, Apapa, had indicted the Area Comptrollers  at the seaports of taking a closer look at what the officers are doing at the Bonded terminals. The  Customs   Comptroller  may have been emboldened to speak out based on the spectacular seizures  that had been made the  Command Operations and Lagos Roving Team in different parts of Lagos.

There is no gainsaying the fact that in  recent months, several  Containers  load of Tramadol had been seized at Apapa port  under the close watch of Abba- Kura, the Area Comptroller. There are fears  in both official and unofficial circles that nothing  would come out of the  Ali, initiated   Investigation  into  the 21 trucks load of drug seizures by The Strike Force in a  Ware House in Lagos..

Nigerians have every reason to worry. This is because there  had been  cases of such investigations in the past that had to do with arms and  tramadol  importation through Apapa and Tin Can Island ports but Nigerians are still kept in the dark over the outcome of the report.

Maritime watchers  believe that  Heads would roll in Customs   if  the Customs Comptroller, could implement the report that may  be submitted to him by the Committee  looking into the  drug saga.  President Muhammadu Buhari, according to insider sources,  was said to have Congratulated and his officers  for  a job well done and  urged them  to continue in that spirit  of working  to rid the society  of illicit drugs.

Our Next level Ministers

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Our Next level Ministers

Babatunde Fashola

Fashola born June 28, 1963 in Lagos State is a lawyer and a politician. He won the governorship election of Lagos State in 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the defunct All Progressives Congress (APC). He was appointed the Minister of Power, Works and Housing by President Buhari in 2015 and has been re-nominated as minister.

Olorunnibe Mamora

Mamora, a medical doctor, is a former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He was elected senator for the Lagos East constituency in 2007. He was appointed Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in 2018.

Mohammed Abdullahi

Abdullahi was born on December 11, 1956. He began his career in the civil service and rose to become the Bauchi State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice. He won election as governor of Bauchi in 2015 but could not secure a second tenure in 2019.

Godswill Obot Akpabio

Akpabio served two terms as governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015, after which he was elected to the Senate to represent Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District; he served as the Senate Minority Leader of the until he resigned in August 2018 when he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Earlier in his political career, he had also served as Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as Lands and Housing between 2002 and 2006 during the administration of Obong Victor Attah.

Akpabio was born on December 9, 1962 and attended Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State, the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law.

Chris Ngige 

Ngige was born on August 8, 1952. He graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1979 and joined the civil service, serving at the National Assembly and State House clinics at different times before he retired in 1998 as a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health.

He contested the governorship election in Anambra State in 2003 and won. In August 2005, the Election Petition Tribunal nullified his victory. He challenged the verdict of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal. In March 2006, the appellate court upheld the tribunal’s verdict. In 2010, he contested for governor again and lost. In April 2011, he won senatorial election to represent Anambra Central, on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Ngige lost his re-election bid in April 2015 and was appointed minister of Labour and Employment in November same year.

Sharon Ikeazor

Ikeazor obtained an LLB Hons in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. In her career, she worked with international oil companies, international consulting and engineering firms, and rose to become the senior vice president of an international consulting firm. She joined politics in January 2011, contested and won the post of the national women leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). On the formation of the APC in 2013, she emerged the interim national woman leader of the party.

Adamu Adamu

Adamu was born on May 25, 1956 in Katagum, Bauchi State. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University and a master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He is the immediate past Minister of Education. Before his appointment in November 2015, he was a backpage columnist with Media Trust’s titles.

  Timipre Sylvia

Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State from May 27, 2008 to January 27, 2012 was born July 7, 1964. Before, he was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the 1990s. He served as a Political Adviser to former Bayesla State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and resigned in 2002. He attended the University of Port Harcourt in Choba, Rivers State where he studied English and Linguistics.

George Akume

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Labour Relations from the University of Ibadan. He became a career civil servant and rose to become a permanent secretary. He became governor of Benue State in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003. In 2007, he won election to represent Benue North-West senatorial zone and was re-elected in 2011 and served as the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015. He won a third consecutive term in the 2015 election before he lost in 2019.

Mustapha Baba Shehuri

Shehuri was the immediate past minister of state Power, Works and Housing. He graduated from the University of Maiduguri in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Anthropology. Between 1996 and 1997, he served as a Councillor representing the Lamisula/ Jabbamari Ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan under the old non-party electoral system. He was born on July 4th , 1961.

Goddi Jeddi Agba

Agba was born on August 20, 1958. He bagged his first degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1983 and a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, Akoka. He joined the Federal civil service in September 1984 as an Assistant Secretary II. He has worked in various capacities including personal assistant to the minister of special duties under the presidency, and personal assistant to the minister of state on foreign affairs, personal assistant to the secretary of the state. He joined the Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1995 where he rose to the position of head market research, crude oil marketing department and later became the head gas/gas liquids/condensate sales, GGLU Crude Oil Marketing Department. In 2014, he left NNPC to join politics.

Festus Keyamo 

Keyamo was born January 21, 1970 in Ughelli, Delta State. He attended Model Primary School and Government College, Ughelli, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1986. He later proceeded to Ambrose Alli University at Ekpoma, Edo State where he received a Bachelor of Law degree in 1992 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on December 1993.

He began his legal career in 1993 at Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers before establishing Festus Keyamo Chambers. He was counsel to the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari in his trial for treasonable felony and lead counsel in the treason trial of Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). He was also a counsel in the murder of Bola Ige. Keyamo was elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in July 2017. In April 2018, he was appointed as the Director of Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) of the 2019 re-election bid of President Buhari.

Ogbonnaya Onu

Onu was born December 1, 1951. He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate Examination. He also sat for the High School Examination at College of Immaculate Conception (C.I.C) Enugu, graduating as the overall best student. He proceeded to the University of Lagos and graduated with a first class degree in Chemical Engineering in 1976. He went for his doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley and obtained a PhD in Chemical engineering in 1980.

He started his political career as an aspirant for a Senatorial seat in the old Imo State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He also contested for the governorship seat of Abia State in 1991 under the umbrella of the National Republican Convention and won. In 1999, he was the Presidential flag bearer for the All People’s Party (APP) but relinquished the position to Chief Olu Falae after a merger of his party with the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He became the national chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) in 2010. In November 2015, he was appointed Minister of Science and Technology.

Osagie Ehanire

Born November 4, 1946, Ehanire attended Government College Ibadan, Oyo state and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany where he studied medicine. He went on to the Teaching Hospital of the University of Duisburg and Essen and to the BG Accident Hospital in Duisburg, Germany for his post-graduate education.  In 1976, he attended the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where he obtained postgraduate Diploma in Anaesthetics. He got his Board Certification in both General Surgery and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at the Medical Board of North Rhine Westphalia in Duesseldorf, Germany. In 1984, he became a Fellow of West African College of Surgeons.

Clement Agba

Agba attended the then Bendel State University, now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and graduated with a B.Sc Economics degree in 1985. He also holds two Masters Degrees in Business Administration, one from the University of Benin, Benin-City with specialization in Management and the other from Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA with specialization in Supply Chain Management.

Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo

Adebayo is a former governor of Ekiti State May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003. Born February 4, 1958, he attended University of Lagos where he studied Law and obtained (LL.B Hons). He is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA).

Geoffrey Onyema

Onyeama is the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs. Born February 2, 1956. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Political Science from Columbia University, New York in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Law from St John’s College, Cambridge in 1980. He holds a Masters of Law (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982 and a Masters of Arts (M.A) in Law from St John’s College, Cambridge in 1984. Onyeama was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and was also called to the English Bar of the Grey’s Inn in 1981.

Isa Ibrahim Patami

Pantami was October 20, 1972. He attended Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi from where he obtained BTech and MSc degrees. He is a fellow of both British Computer Society (FBCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS). He was the Director General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Nigeria before his appointment.

Emeka Nwajiuba

Nwajiuba was born on August 20, 1967. He holds an LLM from University of Lagos and PhD University of Jos. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 and served as chairman, House committee on Land, Housing and Works from 1999 to 2003 before contesting for the Imo governorship seat on the platform of APP/ANPP in 2003, 2007 and as CPC candidate in 2011.

Suleiman Adamu

Adamu is the immediate past Minister of Water Resources. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna state

Zainab Ahmed

Ahmed, an accountant is the immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.  She attended Queen Amina College, Kaduna, and later proceeded to have her A’Level in Zaria. She obtained a degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 and an MBA from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye in 2004.

Ahmed has served the Nigerian public in various high ranking positions, including as managing director of the Kaduna State of Nigeria’s investment company, and also the Chief Finance Officer of the Nigeria mobile telecommunications company.

Mariam Kategu

Katagun is Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Mohammed Mahmud

Mahmud is a former member of the Kaduna House of Assembly and the current chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC ). He is also the chairman of the Buhari Support Organisation.

Sabo Nanono

Nanono was born in April 11, 1946 and he comes from Tafai-Zakiria district, Kano. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and later began his career as a clerk in the Central Bank of Nigeria. He worked at the African International Bank for many years but at present, he is retired.

Major Bashir Sani

Sani was appointed governor of Sokoto from August 1990 to January 1992 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida but he was retired along with other military chiefs in 1999. He was a legal adviser for the defunct All Nigeria’s People Party (ANPP) and governorship candidate of Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in Kano.

Hadi Sirika

Sirika is from Katsina. He is a former pilot, former member of the House of Representatives and former Senator who represented Katsina North Senatorial district on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011. He assumed office as the Minister of State on Aviation in November 11, 2015.

Abubakar Malami

Malami was born on April 17, 1967 in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State. He studied law at the Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto and was called to the bar in 1992. He was the legal adviser of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and assumed office as the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation in 2015.

Ramatu Tijani

Tijani was born June 12, 1970 and hails from Kogi State.  She graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University and later worked at the Federal Ministry of Housing. She was the national woman leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but later emerged the national women leader of the APC, a position she held from 2014 to 2018.

Lai Mohammed

Mohammed was born in 1952 and is a native of Oro in Kwara State. He studied French at the Obafemi Awolowo University but later got a degree in law from the University of Lagos. He later co-founded Edu and Mohammed law firm in 1989. In 2003, he contested for governorship of Kwara on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and lost. He then went on to serve as chief of staff to former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu. He was the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress but was later appointed as the minister for information in 2015.

Gbemisola Saraki

Saraki represented Kwara Central Senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2003 to 2011 but was succeeded by her brother, the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki. She defected to the APC in 2015 and in February 2016, she was appointed as the pro chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Zubairu Dada

Dada was born March 28, 1952 in Minna, Niger State and attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was the former Nigerian ambassador to Poland under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Olamilekun Adegbite

Adegbite is the immediate past Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

Omotayo Alaosuadura

Alaosuadura was born in 1949 in Akure, Ondo State. He was appointed the Commissioner for Finance and Planning from 2003 to 2009. In 2015, he won election to represent Ondo Central District at the Senate.

Rauf Aregbesola

Aregbesola born May 25, 1957, served  previously as the Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure. He also served as the governor of Osun State between 2010 and 2018.

Sunday Dare

Dare born May 29, 1966 is a veteran journalist. He hails from Ogbomosho in Oyo State. He was nominated by President Buhari as the executive commissioner at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in August 2016.

Pauline Tallen

Tallen hails from Plateau State and was born January 8, 1959. In 1999, she was appointed Minister of State for science and technology by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, she became the deputy governor of Plateau State. She is presently a member, Board of Trustees of the APC.

Chibuike Amaechi

Amaechi born May 27, 1965 served as the fifth governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 on the platform of the PDP. Before then, he was the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the platform of the PDP from 1999 to 2007.

Sale Mamman

Mamman is a long standing member of the APC in Taraba State but not much is known about him besides the fact that he is an engineer.

Abubakar Aliyu

Aliyu was appointed deputy governor of Yobe State in 2009 after the death of his elder brother, the late Governor Mamman Ali and he served as deputy governor for 10 years, making him the longest serving deputy in the country’s history.

Sadiya Umar Farouk

Farouk from Zamfara State graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1998. She is the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

Uchechukwu Samson Ogah

Ogah was born on December 22, 1969. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from Ogun State University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Fellow, Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Shipping; Fellow, Employment & Career and member, Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Mohammed Musa

Bello

Bello from Adamawa is the immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  and was born January 8, 1959. He holds a B.Sc. in Management with bias for Banking and Finance as well as an MBA in the same field from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He was the officer in charge of credit and marketing at the ICON Merchant Bank Plc and later served as a Director at Habib Bank Plc, and Managing Director of the Bakabure Industrial Complex, Yola. He was Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) from 2007 until May 2015 when President Buhari first appointed him a minister.

Lauretta Onorchie, Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu Reappointed by Buhari

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Lauretta Onorchie, Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu Reappointed by Buhari

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]auretta Onorchie, Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu have been reappointed as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, respectively by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also reappointed were Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President and Ms Lauretta Onochie and Bashir Ahmad both as his social media aides.

The reappointments were contained in a letter dated August 14 signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The appointments take effect from May 29, 2019.

Also appointed are Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant (Digital Media) and Mallam Buhari Salihu, Special Assistant, Online Media.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has appointed Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, while Senator Babajide Omoworare is now the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate).

Mallam Umar El-Yakub has been reappointed the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

Sanwo-Olu constituted the state’s Executive Council

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Sanwo-Olu constituted the state’s Executive Council

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ll roads led to Alausa – the seat of Lagos State Government – on Tuesday for an August occasion. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu constituted the state’s Executive Council, with the swearing in of 35 cabinet members who took the oath as Commissioners and Special Advisers.

The event, held at Adeyemi Bero Hall in the Secretariat, was witnessed by the leaders and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) from all Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the state.

Also at the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, his deputy, Mr. Gboyega Soyannwo, and Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

At exactly 12:18pm, Mrs. Yemisi Ogunlola of the Ministry of Justice administered the oath on the appointees, signaling the official take-off of their tenure.

The cabinet, Sanwo-Olu observed, was unique in leadership qualities and gender diversity, adding that its members were selected through a rigorous process based on their track records in service delivery in their respective fields.

The Governor charged them to bring their years of leadership and administrative experience to bear in handling affairs of the state, stressing that the people of Lagos could not wait any longer to benefit from his administration’s programmes.

He said: “It is with pride that I congratulate the new Commissioners and Special Advisers on your well-deserved appointments. It is a testament to your capacity, your accomplishments and your track record of hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism in your private and public endeavours.

“Today, all of you are inducted into a singular administration, unique in its diversity – both of heritage and of creed – made up of technical and politically skilled men and women who understand the challenges of our State, grasp the grand vision of our administration, and are sensitive to the yearnings of our citizens, whom we must ultimately serve.”

Sanwo-Olu said the ultimate goal of his administration was to ensure Lagos remained the top destination for business, work and living in Africa, reiterating his government’s commitment to build on the foundation laid by his predecessors through Lagos Development Blueprint initiated by the government of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Governor charged the appointees on innovation, commitment and exemplary leadership in the assigned roles, while also advising them to be prepared for the challenges ahead and be ready to pay any price for the development of Lagos.

He said: “Great opportunities for employment and wealth creation can only be realised sustainably if we are able to enhance governance with creativity, innovation and technology, while embracing collaboration with the private sector and continual dialogue and partnership with all relevant stakeholders.

“This is the task we have been called upon to undertake in the next four years on behalf of our people who are relying on us to support their dreams and aspirations. I charge you all to show commitment, diligence and exemplary leadership as the necessary virtues needed to achieve the greatness we desire for our State and to deliver the prosperity our people deserve.”

Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, described the event as “a major milestone” in the history of political development in Lagos.

She said the choice of the cabinet appointees was a testimony to the determination of the Sanwo-Olu administration to tackle the challenges facing the state and build a prosperous society.

She presented the cabinet members to the public and urged them to keep their focus on service delivery.

Giving a vote of assurance on behalf of the cabinet members, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the team would foster unity of purpose and dedication to enable the Governor realise his vision.

Other Commissioners sworn in include: Mr. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo (Finance), Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo (Education), Prof. Akin Abayomi (Health), Dr. Idris Salako (Physical Planning and Urban Development), Mr. Gbenga Omotoso (Information and Strategy), Mrs. Bolaji Dada (Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation), Mr. Lere Odusote (Energy and Natural Resources), Dr. Frederic Oladeinde (Transportation), Mr. Gbolahan Lawal (Agriculture), Moruf Akinderu Fatai (Housing), and Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN, (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice).

Also, Commissioners are Mr. Hakeem Fahm (Science and Technology), Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle (Establishment, Training and Pension), Engr. Aramide Adeyoye (Works and Infrastructure), Mr. Segun Dawodu (Youth and Social Development), Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (Home Affairs), Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke (Local Government and Community Affairs), Mrs. Lola Akande (Commerce and Industry), Mrs. Olufunke Adebolu (Tourism Arts and Culture), and Mr. Sam Egube (Economy Planning and Budget).

The Special Advisers are Dr. Wale Ahmed (Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations), Ms Ruth Bisola Olusanya (Agriculture), Princess Aderemi Adebowale

(Civic Engagement), Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo (Political and Legislative Affairs), Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka (Housing), and Joe Igbokwe (Drainage and Water Resources).

Others Advisers are Olatunbosun Alake (Innovation and Technology), Arc. Kabiru Ahmed Abdullahi (Urban Development), Anofi Elegushi (Central Business Districts), Bonu Solomon Saanu (Arts and Culture), Oluwatoyin Fayinka (Transportation), Oladele Ajayi (Commerce and Industry), Tokunbo Wahab (Education), and Solape Hammond (Sustainable Development Goals).

By : Emeji Noble

India Govt Accuses Nigerian Based In Delhi For Using Policemen To Peddle Drugs

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India Govt Accuses Nigerian Based In Delhi For Using Policemen To Peddle Drugs

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ismissed head constable Gangandeep Singh alias Gaggi, who was arrested for drug peddling had created a network for smuggling with the help of accused arrested in different criminal cases.
Posted as munshi of Sadar police station at Khanna, Gaggi used to deal with criminal cases. Around eight months ago, Gaggi came in contact with Amandeep Singh alias Mauli of Kidwayi Nagar, Ludhiana, when the latter was arrested for drug peddling. Gaggi then offered to help him in the case on the condition that he starts working for him.
A Nigerian national based in Delhi would send drugs to the head constable through a courier, which would further be supplied to Amandeep, who along with his accomplices Vikas Kumar alias Lara of Rishi Nagar used to sell the contraband further among addicts.
Cops privy to the investigations say that Gaggi had been working as a munshi for the past eight months. He had joined the police force eight years ago and used his connections to get to the post.
Earlier, he had worked as a reader of several police officers. Sources said that earlier, Gagandeep Singh used to commute on his motorcycle. All of a sudden he bought an i-20 car, which raised suspicion.
Also, the STF has been investigating to know his assets.
He, along with his drug peddlers Amandeep and Vikas, were arrested on Sunday along with 785 gm heroin. Hours after his arrest, Khanna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gursharandeep Singh had dismissed him.
Ludhiana special task force (STF) in-charge inspector Harbans Singh stated that Gaggi was produced before the court of duty magistrate on Monday and sent to two days in STF custody.
With the arrest of head constable, other police personnel of Sadar police station of Khanna have also come under scanner, Hindustan Times reports.

Security: FG sets up joint border task force in 4 geopolitical zones

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Security: FG sets up joint border task force in 4 geopolitical zones

[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he Federal Government has set up inter-security task force to conduct joint border security in four geopolitical zones of the country to tackle insecurity. The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Joseph Attah, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Attah said that the joint border task force, codenamed “EX-SWIFT RESPONSE”, comprised members of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
He said the exercise would be done in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Attah said the affected zones were South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West.
He said that the joint exercise was being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to him, it is expected that the exercise will promote interagency cooperation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges.
He added that the joint task force was expected to check security problems like terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others.
“The exercise will also involve the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country.
“Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic and should continue to engage in their normal duties.
“The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our national security,” he said

Navy,NUPENG Exonerates Members From Bribe Over Apapa Traffic

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Navy,NUPENG Exonerates Members From Bribe Over Apapa Traffic

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said that its tanker drivers were not part of articulated trucks responsible for the ever present traffic gridlock in Apapa. The union also exonerated its members from bribe giving allegations, saying that tanker drivers do not bribe security agents before they can access tank farms in Apapa.

This is even as the Nigerian Navy has also defended its officers, saying that allegations of bribe taking, which has been reported against its officers was all false.

Chairman of NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, denied the bribe allegation, saying that its members do not offer anyone bribe to allow them park their vehicles or move on the road. The union, which spoke through the , “The allegation that our members bribe law enforcement agents with N150,000 to N200,000 is not true. Where do we get such money to bribe?

“The NUPENG tanker drivers or owners do not give bribe to anybody to allow their tankers block the highway. Any tanker you see on the Apapa axis is on its way to load. And due to the activities of other trucks laden with containers on that road, our members’ vehicles usually get stuck too.”

Speaking in the same vain, the Nigerian Navy denied claims that its personnel are involved in bribe taking from tanker drivers at Apapa, adding that it has “complied fully with the Presidential directive.”

The Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, told one of our correspondents that the public should come forward with evidence if such existed.

He said, “I have to tell you this; we have complied fully with the Federal Government’s directive that we should withdraw from traffic management in the Apapa area. It (bribery) is not true and if you have evidence of our boys engaging in any illegal activity, please forward it to us. It is not good for anyone to wake up and concoct lies against the Navy

“I have spoken with the Western Naval Command and they confirmed to me that we have complied fully with the government’s directive. It is a false allegation.” he said

Police Arrest IPOB Members Who Attacked Ekweremadu In Germany

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Police Arrest IPOB Members Who Attacked Ekweremadu In Germany

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he police in Germany have arrested some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who attacked Senator Ike Ekweremadu earlier today in the country.
Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM made the revelation in a tweet.
“I condemn in its entirety the attack on former DSP Ike Ekeremadu at an event in Nuremberg, Germany, nobly put together by Ndi Igbo Germany, where he was attacked.
“I hope the culprits, some of whom have been arrested, will face consequences for their shamefully pathetic actions,” she wrote. It is reported that Senator Ekweremadu, who currently represents Enugu West, was pelted with stones on Saturday, by members of the IPOB in far away Germany.
The former Deputy Senate President was seen in a viral video being assaulted when he attended the second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention of the Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nuremberg.

Hausa, Yoruba Clash In Lagos Over Control Of Dumpsite

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Hausa, Yoruba Clash In Lagos Over Control Of Dumpsite

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]andemonium broke out today, at Ilepo market, Oke-Odo, along the Lagos /Abeokuta expressway, following a clash between Hausa and Yoruba traders.
Although there was no loss of life but several persons were severely injured, while goods worth millions of naira were destroyed, with some makeshift shops burnt.
There were different accounts as to how the trouble started.
A version of the account said a fight broke out Saturday night, between some suspected cultists and Hausa scavengers around the dumpsite, during an argument over an attempt by one of the parties to molest the other.
It reportedly continued today (Sunday), as one of the parties was said to have overpowered the other, the previous day.
Another version of the account had it that some Hausas attempted to extort money from some Yoruba scavengers around the dumpsite, claiming that the area belongs to them ( Hausa), a claim that led to a verbal confrontation which degenerated into violence.
One of the tomatoes sellers who spoke with Vanguard, Tanko Mohammed, said “ I came out this morning ( yesterday) to sell, when some Awawa boys came from nowhere and started destroying our wares. Over 20 baskets of tomatoes were destroyed. While everyone was running, I remained in my shop, to know what was happening. They came with cutlasses and sticks, attacking anyone at sight.
They said some of our people beat one of theirs. But how is that my business, when the person in question is neither my brother nor sales boy”.
Another Yoruba trader who simply gave her name as Iya Modinat, said, “ these people (Hausa) have taken over the whole place, claiming it is theirs. They have dominated the dumpsite, depriving other people space there. They had a confrontation with one Yoruba boy yesterday (Saturday) and before you knew it, all of them came out to fight with the person.
“ His people (Yoruba boys) came to his rescue. Also yesterday, there was a fight at the foodstuff section. But I can not say if that was what caused today’s fight.”.
The situation caused a hitch in the free flow of traffic, as motorists were trapped for hours, on both sides of the ever-busy expressway. But for the intervention of Mobile and conventional policemen, the situation would have got out of hand.

By : Emeji Noble

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