Chief Akinsanya Sunny Ajose, a former Lagos State Head of Service, has passed away at the age of 78. He died early Thursday, January 16, 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended his condolences to the Lagos State Government, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the people of Badagry, where Ajose was a respected leader.
Tinubu recalled working with Ajose during his tenure as governor, acknowledging his contributions to reforming the civil service and supporting development efforts in the state.
Ajose’s influence extended beyond his civil service role.
He was a key representative of Badagry in the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council and a trusted figure within the APC.
Born on February 10, 1946, in Badagry, Ajose pursued higher education in the United States, earning degrees from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and Governors State University.
He joined the Lagos Civil Service in 1979 and rose to become Head of Service in 2004.
President Tinubu offered prayers for Ajose’s family and described him as a committed leader who made lasting contributions to Lagos State.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged lawyers to emulate the virtues of the late Gani Fawehinmi.
He described Fawehinmi as an embodiment of good character and virtues.
Sanusi spoke on Wednesday at the 21st Memorial Lecture of Fawehinmi, organised by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch in Lagos, as the chairman of the occasion.
The lecture’s theme, `Bretton Woods and the African Economies: Can Nigerians Survive Another Structural Adjustment Programme’, sparked interesting discussions.
According to Sanusi, the legal profession is currently lacking the good character and virtues that the late Fawehinmi embodied.
Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN
Sanusi also announced that he would no longer offer advice to President Bola Tinubu’s administration on how to tackle the country’s economic challenges.
He stated that he had initially tried to help the government but had now resolved not to do so again.
“I can give a few points here about what we are going through and how it was predictable and avoidable.
“But I am not going to do that because I have chosen not to speak on the economy, reforms or to explain anything because if I explain it, it will help this government.
“But I do not want to help this government.
“They are my friends but if they do not behave like friends, I will not behave like a friend,” he said.
Sanusi added that he will only speak about the state of the economy whenever he is ready to do so.
Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), expressed regret over the situation in Rivers, which he said had two speakers.
Falana emphasised that this situation must not be allowed to continue.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), described Fawehinmi’s legacy as one of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice for the common man.
Keyamo was represented by Mr Henry Agbebire, a Director in the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote fairness, human rights, and socio-economic advancement.
Keyamo also commended the NBA Ikeja branch for ensuring that the spirit of Fawehinmism lives on.
Other prominent guests at the event included the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), and the Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro
Ms Rose Lereece, Director Customer Finance, Boeing Commercial Airplanes has said that security structure is crucial in obtaining aircraft lease.
Lereece made the assertion at the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Global in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday.
The Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Global event commenced on Jan. 12 to end on Jan. 15.
The director described the security structure as a “Stand-by Letter of Credit (SBLC),’’ serving as a security provided by a commercial bank and covered by a confirming Banking and an Insurer.
According to her, SBLC provides a short-term guarantee (immediate and irrevocable) which allows the lender or lessor to cash-in an amount to the value of six to 36 months of payments ( in USD).
Lereece said that the payments were envisioned to include both rentals and maintenance reserves.
She listed SBLC Security features to include, immediate availability and irrevocable funds, US Dollar settlement and further security in the form of confirming and or third-party insurance.
She said that others were more entities that implied more security and fees, giving lessor or lender the ability to cure and continue or severe and repossess.
“`Collateteralisation by the airline of a fraction of the agreed SBLC value may be required by the commercial banks, “ she added.
According to her, airline pays commercial banks a single rate that embeds all fees including insurance where applicable while commercial banks pay lessor in the event of an issue.
The director explained that commercial banks obtained SBLC insurance support from the confirming bank while the confirming bank obtained SBLC insurance support from the insurance provider.
She further explained that the insurer provided insurance for the confirming bank or the commercial bank.
Contributing, Mr Moor Ibekwe, Boeing Sales Director Africa Region Commercial Airplanes, said that the value of the SBLC, measured in payments due, could be six to 36 months for both rental and maintenance reserves.
He explained “playout term“ as one-off or monthly according to the severity of the underlying issue.
“Continued utilisation or restoration would be at the behest of the lessor or the lender, confirming bank support needed for the lease or loan traction.
“Insurance support needed for the lease/ loan transaction while tenor is the period for which the SBLC must be available to the lessor or lender in the first five years of a 12-year lease“ he added.
The Centre for Wounded Servicemen and Fallen Heroes Support Fund (CFWS&FHSF) has urged Nigerians from all sectors to remember the sacrifices and valour of fallen military heroes.
The group’s Board Chairman, Retired Gen. Cecil Esekhiagbe, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, marking the upcoming 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
January 15 is observed annually as Armed Forces Remembrance Day to honour fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Esekhiagbe described the day as an opportunity to reflect on the courage, dedication, and selflessness of these heroes, emphasising that their sacrifices highlighted the true cost of freedom and the high price paid for the nation’s liberty.
He also encouraged Nigerians to show support for the families of fallen and wounded servicemen.
Esekhiagbe prayed for the families of the fallen heroes, asking God to provide them with strength and peace.
“We will never forget the service they gave; we owe them an incalculable gift of gratitude, “he said.
The Board Chairman commended President Bola Tinubu, the Military Service Chiefs, and other security heads for their role in securing the nation, especially highlighting the successes under Tinubu’s leadership in combating security threats.
He lauded the military’s efforts in addressing the Lukurawa insurgency in the North-West and noted the military’s success in containing terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.
Esekhiagbe also acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers and security personnel, including the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, and NSCDC, who continue to work tirelessly to protect the nation.
He expressed heartfelt sympathy for the families of fallen heroes, particularly widows and orphans, underscoring the critical role these individuals played in ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians.
“Their sacrifice will never be in vain,” he assured.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed a global audience at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Speaking on the topic “From Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa with the Global Energy Future,” he emphasized the importance of international cooperation to tackle climate change and build a sustainable future.
Tinubu stated that sustainability is not achievable by any one country alone and requires global unity, knowledge exchange, and shared efforts.
He highlighted that addressing climate change presents an economic opportunity, which can reshape Africa’s future and the global energy landscape.
The Nigerian leader reaffirmed his government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
He detailed Nigeria’s strategies focusing on energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development, while also ensuring they align with both local and global objectives.
Nigeria aims to diversify its energy sources, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and invest in renewable energy as part of its national growth plan.
Tinubu also discussed Nigeria’s efforts in promoting clean energy through initiatives like Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicles, as well as using solid minerals for the green energy transition.
The Nigerian government is also implementing climate-smart agricultural practices to improve food security and reduce environmental damage.
Additionally, Nigeria’s National Clean Cooking Policy seeks to advance clean energy for health and socio-economic benefits.
Recognizing the impact of environmental challenges such as deforestation and flooding, Tinubu called for international cooperation to address these issues and implement sustainable practices across sectors.
He urged global partners to support Africa’s green economy initiatives, noting that such projects require substantial investment and collaboration.
Nigeria has already taken steps towards financing green projects, becoming the first African nation to fund these initiatives through Sovereign Green Bonds.
The third issuance of these bonds is currently in progress.
In conclusion, President Tinubu praised the UAE for hosting the event, which brought global leaders together to discuss solutions to the world’s pressing environmental challenges.
In a gesture that demonstrates his commitment to walk the talk, former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa his quit partisan politics to focus on youth empowerment.
Towards this end, Alhaji Bafarawa, yesterday in Abuja, turned in his letter of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The letter dated January 13, 2025, addressed to the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, Bafarawa stated that his decision was motivated by his dedication to a new initiative aimed at empowering the youth.
He explained that his vision for uplifting humanity through youth development no longer aligned with his role in the party.
Bafarawa expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he had during his time in the PDP, acknowledging the party’s contributions to Nigeria’s political scene.
However, he emphasized that his new focus would be on supporting and inspiring the country’s youth, who he sees as crucial to the nation’s future.
The term governor of Sokoto State noted that his resignation would prevent any potential conflicts of interest.
The challenge posed by a ballooning youth population in Nigeria has been a trending talking point on national development discourse.
However, many are of the opinion that the Nigerian youth challenge is essentially a phenomenon that is most rife in Northern Nigeria.
This arises from the fact that the region accounts for most of the negative indices that characterise the youth population.
Such indices include high out-of-school population, drug abuse, violent crimes, destitution and unemployment.
Danladi Ibrahim, an agricultural economist and youth empowerment advocate told Nigerian Anchor that the move by Alhaji Bafarawa may be the game changer that the north has being waiting for.
He urged other accomplished individuals to join the move by the former governor as, according to him, “it was high time we taught our young people how to fish rather than hand them bowls of fish meals.”
The House of Representatives has directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to provide a detailed breakdown of its 2024 allocations.
The House also instructed TETFund to refrain from disbursing or authorising any funds until the detailed breakdown of its proposed 2025 budget has been scrutinised and approved by the House.
It also urged TETFund to present the 2025 budget estimates to beneficiary institutions before further implementation.
Furthermore, the House mandated the FIRS to submit a list of Education Tax payers and the total yearly amounts collected from 2011 to date.
This resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Sulaiman Gumi (PDP-Zamfara) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.
Presenting the motion, he noted that Section 1 of the TETFund Act, 2011, authorises the assessment and collection of the Education Tax from the assessable profits of all companies registered in Nigeria.
He further stated that the tax is to be assessed and collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for remittance to TETFund.
He added that TETFund, among other statutory responsibilities, is tasked with administering and disbursing the tax funds to eligible public tertiary institutions for the advancement of education, knowledge, and skills.
The lawmaker expressed concern over reported cases of discrepancies in tax collections, accruals, remittances, transfers, and issues surrounding the judicious utilisation and equitable disbursement of the Education Tax Fund.
He added that TETFund’s 2024 budget lacked the necessary breakdowns and details of its expenditures and approved guidelines required for legislative scrutiny, as stipulated by law.
Adopting the motion, the House directed TETFund to submit reports of audited accounts of the fund, along with the receipts of beneficiary institutions, from 2018 to date.
The Committee on TETFund and other relevant committees were tasked with implementing the resolutions and reporting back to the House within four weeks.
Ahead of the 2025 Hajj season, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to ensure smooth operations for Nigerian pilgrims.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Saudi Arabia.
The agreement covers key areas such as accommodation, transportation, and healthcare services, aiming to improve the experience and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
The signing event was attended by several officials, including Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Muazam Ibrahim Nayaya, the Consul General of Nigeria in Jeddah.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed two Assistant Superintendents of Police for misconduct and corruption, among other offenses.
This decision came during the commission’s recent meeting at its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
In addition, six other officers faced disciplinary action, with their ranks reduced. These included two Superintendents demoted to Deputy Superintendents, one Deputy Superintendent lowered to Assistant Superintendent, and three Assistant Superintendents reduced to Inspectors.
The PSC also reprimanded 10 senior officers for unauthorized disclosure of secrets and other misconduct. Nine others received formal warnings, while one Deputy Commissioner was exonerated after an investigation.
The meeting also approved several promotions within the police force.
These included elevating 11 Commissioners to Assistant Inspectors General, 16 Deputy Commissioners to Commissioners, and over 2,300 other officers to higher ranks.
The PSC chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu, emphasized the need for discipline among officers to ensure effective law enforcement. The decisions have been communicated to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.
As part of efforts to boost the morale of the forces, the CDS disclosed that starting this year, the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day shall be changed to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in order to reward the gallantry of existing combatants.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa has attributed the delay in winning the war against terrorism to the absence of good governance at the sub-national levels.
He said the armed forces’ efforts must be complemented by good governance at the federal, state, and local government levels.
He also revealed that the armed forces is mainstreaming welfare packages to motivate the combatants.
In that regard, he said there is a proposal to change the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
He said the name change is informed by the objective “of celebrating both the dead and the living.”
According to him, “this year’s event of Armed Forces Day entails celebrating those combatants on active duty, families of the deceased and the dead officers.”
Speaking this morning on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, General Musa said a situation where some Nigerians live in conditions that make it seem like they are not part of an organised modern society makes them vulnerable to the manipulation of those that come to recruit them into violent crimes like terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
The CDS therefore, calls on leaders at the sub-national levels to up their games to make it sync with governance efforts at the federal level.
“So when you go and see people living in a manner as if they are not part of an organised modern society, they will be open to other interests to manipulate,” he said.
Another factor, he said had made the war to linger is the access of the terrorists to foreign funding.
He said the Nigerian armed forces had found a cache of foreign currencies on some of the arrested terrorists.
In a bid to eliminate this causative factor, he said the armed forces are collaborating with relevant government agencies to track the source of these funds.
“So, that’s the oxygen we want to cut off,” the CDS disclosed.
General Musa also cited “the nature of the enemy the army is dealing with” as another reason why the war on terror has lingered. According to him, the enemy appears like every normal citizen.
He explained that this was the reason the army adopted “the non-kinetic approach that is based on the understanding that the war can not be fought by the armed forces alone but by all citizens and other stakeholders.”
“Also, there are saboteurs who provide support for the non-state actors just to make it seem as though Nigeria is ungovernable.”
General Musa disclosed that it was based on these discoveries that the country is working closely with countries in the Sahel to fortify the international boundaries.
He said the window was still open on the possibility of convincing the three member countries that recently left the ECOWAS to reconsider their stance.
