Oduduwa News

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent comments, accusing him of being disconnected from the daily realities faced by Nigerians.

In response to Tinubu’s remarks during the commissioning of the Lagos railway red line project, where he questioned the moral ground of the organized labour to challenge his administration’s policies, the NLC urged the president to prioritize addressing the ongoing hardships faced by citizens.

The NLC, through its president, Joe Ajaero, expressed deep concern over Tinubu’s focus on partisan issues and future elections rather than the pressing needs of the populace.

Ajaero emphasized that the NLC’s primary objective is advocating for effective governance that prioritizes the welfare and security of all Nigerians rather than seeking political positions.

Ajaero urged Tinubu to redirect his efforts toward fulfilling the fundamental duty of public office, addressing substantive issues under discussion since June 2023, including wage increases, social welfare programs, infrastructure development, and the revitalization of critical sectors like education and healthcare.

Ajaero said: “It is regrettable that the president seems oblivious of the profound hardship endured by millions of Nigerians. The pervasive hunger, unemployment, housing insecurity and escalating cost of basic necessities, such as food and health care, demand immediate attention and decisive action.

“Yet, instead of addressing these pressing concerns, President Tinubu appears preoccupied with political calculations and future electoral prospects.

“The NLC wishes to emphasize that our primary objective is not to vie for political positions, including that of the president; rather, our sole focus is on advocating effective governance that prioritises the welfare and security of all Nigerians.

“We urge President Tinubu to redirect his efforts towards fulfilling this fundamental duty of public office rather than engaging in political rhetoric.

“It is imperative that we refocus our collective energy on addressing the substantive issues that have been the subject of engagement between Labour and the government since June 2023.

“These include critical matters such as wage increases, social welfare programmes, infrastructure development and the revitalisation of key sectors, such as education and health care.

“In any case, to avoid the dissipation of energy, it is important that we focus on the real issues because we have engaged the government since June 2023 after the ‘subsidy is gone’ statement.

An Ejigbo magistrate court in Lagos has remanded four residents of the state who were attacked by police officers for “gambling”.

On Thursday, some police officers on mufti from the Area P command in Lagos state had stormed a shop in the area to arrest some youths who were playing ludo.

The officers, who were armed with Ak-47 rifles, invaded the area with a yellow commercial bus to arrest the youths, but some residents resisted the arrest, saying the officers were not identifiable and playing ludo was not a criminal offence.

The police officers, however, phoned their colleagues at the Area P command around the Gate bus stop in Ipaja, alleging they were under attack.

A few minutes later, about 15 police officers stormed the area in three yellow commercial buses and attacked the residents with machetes and bottles.

A police officer had broken an empty bottle on a car mechanic’s head. The mechanic, who was repairing a vehicle in his workshop, was carted away with some other residents.

A police officer also hit a lady with a machete on her buttocks.

Four of the residents were, however, released before others were taken to court. A resident who spoke with this reporter said they were released after they parted with N80,000 at the police station.

On Friday, the court remanded the remaining four residents in prison till March 25.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, has intercepted sacks of counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs valued at over N1.8 billion.

This was made known by the Customs Area Controller Comptroller Ben Oramalugo during a press briefing at the Command headquarters on Thursday, February 29.

The Nigerian Customs issued a statement on its X handle on Friday, March 1, to make this known.

Part of the statement reads:” The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, has intercepted sacks of fake Pharmaceutical drugs worth over N1.8billion.

“Customs Area Controller Comptroller Ben Oramalugo disclosed this to reporters during a press briefing at the Command headquarters on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

“Comptroller Ben stated that the Commands anti-smuggling activities have been strategically positioned to ensure the Federal Government’s policy on border closure is totally enforced by preventing the importation of prohibited items harmful to the great citizens of Nigeria. He also expressed the effort to prevent the exportation of essential food resources for individual economic gains by some economic saboteurs.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureaux De Change Operators.

According to the apex bank, the affected institutions failed to observe regulatory provisions.

These, according to the bank, include payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period in line with Guidelines, rendition of returns in line with the Guidelines, and compliance with guidelines, directives and circulars of the CBN, particularly Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Counter-Proliferation Financing (CPF) regulations.

This was made known in a statement by Sidi Ali, Hakama, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications.

CBN said the action is in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Act No. 5, and the Revised Operational Guidelines for Bureaux De Change 2015 (the Guidelines).

President Bola Tinubu will, today, inaugurate the Lagos red line train project.

A statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the train is the first phase of the project, which will run from Agbado, in Ogun State, to Oyingbo, in the heart of Lagos.

Omotoso said: “The train, when fully operational, will run 37 trips and convey about 500,000 passengers daily.
“The commissioning will signal the take-off of another major game changer in the state’s transportation infrastructure.

“It brings to two the rail lines owned and operated by the Lagos State Government. The first, The Blue Line, runs from Marina to Mile 2.

“The first phase of the Red Line has eight stations, namely Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Oyingbo.

“The train will reduce drastically travel time on the corridor, abate stress-induced health challenges and increase the productive capacity of the economy. It will also reduce traffic gridlock and road accidents, and ensure the safety of commuters.

“As part of the inter-modal connectivity of our public transportation infrastructure, the Red Line is integrated with Bus Terminals at Ikeja, Oshodi, Oyingbo, Yaba and Iju.

“To guarantee the safety of commuters and Lagosians, the rail corridor has 10 vehicular overpasses and pedestrian bridges to separate the train from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.”

President Bola Tinubu visited Owo on Wednesday to condole with the family of the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.

The President, accompanied by Baba Bisi Akande and Chief Pius Akinyelure, was received by the widow of the late Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.

During the visit, the President, who had a closed-door meeting with Mrs. Akeredolu, also visited where the late Governor was laid to rest.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Chief Olayide Adelami, were also at the Akeredolu’s residence.

In his tribute to Akeredolu after the news of his demise in December 2023, the President described him as a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses—brother, confidant, and political soulmate.

At the Akeredolu’s residence on Wednesday, the President condoled with the widow of the late Governor, his children, as well as his siblings.

Family members who received the President alongside the former First Lady are Late Akeredolu’s First son, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Jnr; Dr. Teni Micheal and her husband, Olatunde Micheal; Mrs. Yejide Rusewe, Esq, and her husband, Engr. Lakunle Rusewe; and Babajide Akeredolu.

Also present were Akeredolu’s siblings, Prof. Wole Akeredolu and Toyin Akeredolu. The Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, also joined the family during the meeting.

Speaking after the visit, Mrs. Akeredolu appreciated the President for the condolence visit.

She said, “As you are aware, the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, paid his condolence visit to my family. Present at the visit are my children and extended family members.

“On behalf of my family, I appreciate Mr. President. We understood he couldn’t attend the burial ceremony due to the dictate of Yoruba culture. He couldn’t have attended the burial of his younger brother.

“Coming today is a big deal because we are in a better atmosphere. I also express my profound gratitude to the Southern Governors for their immense financial contributions to the burial. Most especially, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, who singlehandedly brought Aketi’s remains back to Nigeria. We appreciate this huge show of love and we are grateful and forever indebted to him.

“I requested that Mr. President see where Aketi has been laid to rest and he followed me. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for coming. He’s indeed, Aketi’s brother and friend.

“I told Mr. President, yes, Aketi has left but he lives because he left behind legacies. It is our wish that those legacies continue and are built upon where necessary.”