2024: Warri South, Deltans should sustain support for Gov. Oborevwori policies, programmes- Amb. Agbolaya

The foremost Chairmanship aspirant for Warri South Local Government Council in the forthcoming Delta LGCs elections, Amb. Dr. Toyin Agbolaya JP has urged Warri South residents and Deltans to continually sustain their support for Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori government policies and programmes in order to enjoy more development dividends.

Amb. Dr. Agbolaya said Governor Oborevwori in just few months on the saddle of the state leadership has brought light to the state making Warri and its environs to be brighter through the street light powered project.

The Warri South Chairmanship hopeful described Governor Oborevwori as the light of Delta, revolutionizing all sectors of the state economy for positive growth and development in his MORE agenda of advancing Dejta state.

Dr. Agbolaya in his new year message January 1, also appealed to PDP leaders in Warri South and the masses to support his ambition to become the next Warri South Local Government Council Chairman, assuring that his emergence will sustain the good legacies left by past chairmen of the council which include operation keep Warri south clean as well as environmental sanitation and boosting of the council’s revenue for more productive development.

He wished Warri South residents a prosperous new year and expressed optimism that year 2024 will be better and greater.

Read Full text of President Tinubu’s New Year January 1, 2024 address

Dear Compatriots,

It gives me immense joy to welcome each and everyone of you – young and old- to this brand new year 2024. We must lift up our hands to Almighty God, in gratitude, for His grace and benevolence to our country and our lives in the year 2023 that has just gone by.

Though the past year was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy.

It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agricultural production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.

The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.

Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.

Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades. Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and businesses.

I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.

From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.

I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their h ope.

Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.

Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors. While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.

Having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, we are now poised to accelerate the pace of our service delivery across sectors.

Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.

Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country.

My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply. In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream.

To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

In my 2024 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, I listed my administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. Because we take our development agenda very seriously, our 2024 budget reflects the premium we placed on achieving our governance objectives.

We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected. It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this new year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do.

I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough.

It is the reason I put in place a Policy Coordination, Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Unit in the Presidency to make sure that governance output improves the living condition of our people.

We have set the parameters for evaluation. Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves.

Fellow Nigerians, my major ambition in government as a Senator in the aborted Third Republic, as Governor of Lagos State for eight years and now as the President of this blessed country is to build a fair and equitable society and close the widening inequality. While I believe the rich should enjoy their legitimately-earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in life. I must add that because God didn’t create us with equal talents and strengths, I can not guarantee that we will have equal outcomes when we work hard. But my government, in this new year 2024 and beyond, will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive.

For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone. Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.

We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.

I wish all of us a happy and prosperous year 2024.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

January 01, 2024

Warri Federal Constituency to experience more development, robust representation, Empowerment in 2024 – Rep Ereyitomi assures

By: Celestine Ukah 

The Member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and  Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources Training Funds.. Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi. JP has assured his Warri Federal constituents of more development, robust representation and continuous empowerment of the people in 2024.

Hon. Chief Thomas Ereyitomi gave this assurance in his New Year message to the people of Warri federal constituency.

He urged the people in the three Warri to support the National Assembly and its leadership as well as the State and all levels of government as they are all out working together to better the lives of the masses.

Chief Ereyitomi appreciated Warri federal constituents for their fervent support and and expressed deep congratulations to Deltans, Warri federal constituency and Nigerians at large as they celebrate new year 2024, with an assurance of attracting more projects to the area.

Dr. Ereyitomi appealed to religious, political and traditional institutions to work toward a common goal of an indivisible and prosperous Delta State and Nigeria, adding that Nigeria’s united remain topmost bond for the country’s progress.

He charged Warri federal constituents, Deltans especially youths to remain focus and laws abiding, urging them to shun social vices and show love to one another.

The Warri Federal Lawmaker, Hon. Chief Ereyitomi concluded his message by wishing the three Warris, Deltans and Nigerians a prosperously and sure possibilities in 2024.

Lagos maintains lead with $308.83m investments; FCT, $194.66m; Abia, $150.09m

Nigeria’s total capital importation declined by 36.45 per cent to $654.65 million in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 compared to $1.03 billion in the preceding quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a report released yesterday.The data showed that capital importation further dropped by 43.55 per cent compared to $1.16 billion recorded in Q3 2022.

The report of the dip in foreign capital inflow was released at a time the President Bola Tinubu administration was making frantic efforts towards attracting foreign capital into the country amid the current FX shortages, which had impaired investors’ confidence.According to the ‘Nigeria Capital Importation Q3 2023’ report, which was released by the NBS, Lagos State remained the top destination for foreign capital inflows with $308.83 million, accounting for 47.18 per cent of the importation.

This was followed by Abuja (FCT) with $194.66 million (29.73 per cent) and Abia State, which attracted $150.09 million (22.93 per cent).However, the other investments accounted for the largest capital inflows of $507.77 million or 77.56 per cent of total receipts for the review period.This was followed by portfolio investment which recorded $87.11 million, representing 13.31 per cent of inflows.

On the other hand, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) accounted for $59.77 million or 9.13 per cent of foreign capital.While Akwa Ibom and Ekiti states received insignificant amounts in terms of investments during Q3, the report showed that 31 states did not attract any foreign investments in the third quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, the report further revealed that the production/manufacturing sector recorded the highest inflow with $279.51 million, representing 42.70 per cent of total capital imported in Q3.The financing sector accounted for $127.93 million or 19.54 per cent while shares amounted to $85.49 million, representing 13.06 per cent of total foreign capital.By source of origin, capital importation during the reference period originated largely from the Netherlands, which accounted for $175.62 million, or 26.83 per cent share of the total value of capital import.

Senate increases  2024 budget by N1.2tn. Passes it at N28.7tn

The Senate has increased the 2024 budget by a total of N1.2tn, moving the budget from N27.5tn to N28.7tn.

According to the report submitted by the Appropriation Committee led by Senator Solomon Adeola, aggregate expenditure was pegged at N28,777,404.073.861; statutory transfers -N1,742,786,788,150; recurrent expenditure- N8,768.5330,852; capital expenditure-N9,995,143,298,028 and GDP at 3.88%.

President Bola Tinubu, on November 29, presented a total of N27.5tn budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The President pegged the budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year at N9.18 tn.

He said the deficit represents 3.88 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product

Tinubu stated, “The N9.18 trillion deficit is lower than the N13.78 trillion deficit recorded in 2023 which represents 6.11 per cent of GDP.

“The deficit will be financed by new borrowings totalling N7.83tn, N298.49BN from Privatisation Proceeds and N1.05 trillion drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects.

Probe Nigerian Navy over alleged crude oil theft, economic sabotage, Arewa Youths tell President Tinubu

Arewa Intelligentia Caucus, a group based in the Northern part of the country, on Thursday, called on President Bola Tinubu to probe the Nigerian Navy under Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, over alleged crude oil theft, economy sabotage and promoting insecurity in the nation’s waterways.

The group in a statement by Abubakah Ciroma and Nasir Adamu, President and Publicity Secretary respectively, and made available to newsmen accused the Nigerian Navy of providing security for oil thieves.

The group therefore implored President Bola Tinubu to set up a probe panel like that of the Obaze investigative team that has exposed the rot in the Central Bank of Nigeria, to probe the Navy over the sea of allegations against it.

They also called for the immediate sack of the Chief Naval of Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla to prevent interference with the investigation.

The said the Naval Chief despite glaring evidence of his men being caught red handed colluding with oil thieves has failed to discipline them.

The Arewa Intelligentia Caucus noted that the allegations levelled against the Nigerian Navy must not be swept under the carpet, saying that “they are serious, damaging and demands a thorough investigation to establish their veracity.”

The group also accused the Nigerian Navy of sabotaging the efforts of private security outfits, especially Tantita Security Services Limited, engaged by the Federal Government to protect the nation’s oil assets.

The group noted that since Tantita Security Services Limited took on the job of providing surveillance over oil assets so much have been achieved.

They said reports available to them showed that crude oil production has improved dramatically to over 1.7 million barrels per day, from below 700 thousand barrels it was before Tantita Security Services Limited stepped in.

They said the Navy feels humiliated and angry for the assignment of its function to private companies, adding that this was why it is out to continually find fault with the companies and get their contracts revoked.

According to the group, the Navy wants to be solely incharge of pipelines’ security in the nation’s territorial waters.

The group lamented that rather than support and lend a helping hand to the security companies in their operations, when the need arises, the Navy is busy, maligning, mudslinging and fabricating stories to tarnish the reputation of the private security services.

“There are recent reports and evidence that seriously compromised the Navy. Its denial of the accusations has similarity with the crocodile, whose head is deep in water, while its back appears pronounced above water.

“The Navy a while ago provided security for oil thieves in the Ondo coastal waters. Its men fired shots sporadically in all directions to prevent men of a private security company backed by amphibious soldiers and men of the NSCDC from approaching a wellhead where criminals siphoned oil,” the Arewa group stated.

According to the group, “About two weeks ago we read a publication made by a group based in Ibadan, Oyo State: The O’dua Integrity Network. It is in reaction to their damming revelations that we are prompt to write to you. Their publication was revealing enough on the Navy’s sabotage of the nation’s oil assets and actions that border on instigating insecurity.

“The Navy despite its abundant manpower and equipment could not protect the nation’s oil assets from being over run by a cartel of illegal crude bunkerers and thieves.

“The security companies – Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Pipelines Infrastructures Limited ( PIL) managed by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase ÌII are placed under the supervision of a Project Management Office- the Inter – Atlas Synergy Limited ( IASL).

“These companies were hired because right under the nose of the Navy, massive oil theft took place unresisted on a daily basis for years.

“This crippled oil production and denied the federal government the much needed revenue to run the country.

“Had the Navy been equal to its duties, it wouldn’t have been necessary for the government to look elsewhere.”

Below is the full statement by the AREWA INTELLIGENTIA CAUCUS:

WE DEMAND PROBE OF THE NIGERIAN NAVY UNDER ADMIRAL EMMANUEL OGALLA OVER CRUDE OIL THEFT, ECONOMY SABOTAGE AND PROMOTING INSECURITY IN THE NATION’S WATERWAYS

Mr. President sir, we join all Nigerians in wishing you compliments of the season.

We have absolute confidence in the capacity of your government to deliver democracy dividends. Despite all the current teething problems, we are sure you will pull the nation out of the woods and bring succour to the citizens.

All the steps you have taken so far point in that direction.

Just a week after your inauguration, you made some moves that no one contemplated. These moves will bring sanity into the affairs of government, turn the wheels of progress around and galvanize the nation towards a better tomorrow.

We note in particular, the setting up of the Obaze investigative team to look into the books of the CBN. This panel has exposed the rot in the system.

The findings of the panel are in public domain and available to Nigerians.

We pray you adopt the report and go to work with it immediately. It should not be left to gather dust. The culprits, who wreaked such monumental havoc on the nation’s financial system must account for their recklessness.

A certain individual who abused the privilege of holding public office, and thereafter escaped abroad, is eagerly confessing her misdeeds, she is now asking to return home to aid in the recovery of looted funds, which are in billions of dollars.

This has never happened in the annals of our existence. It is out of the blues.

Your Excellency sir, Insha Allah, this administration is on course, Nigerians in the not too distant future shall reap the benefits of your policies, innovations and hardwork.

Sir, please be resolute, never let others with alternate mindset derail you from track.

The national interest must outweigh other considerations.

About two weeks ago we read a publication made by a group based in Ibadan, Oyo State: The O’dua Integrity Network. It is in reaction to their damming revelations that we are prompt to write to you. Their publication was revealing enough on the Navy’s sabotage of the nation’s oil assets and actions that border on instigating insecurity.

The contents were quite shocking.

The allegations levelled on the Nigerian Navy must not be swept under the carpet. They are serious, damaging and demands a thorough investigation to establish their veracity.

An institution established by government for national defence, cannot turn around to work in contrast to its mandate.

The Nigerian Navy is an apex security institution, alongside the Nigerian Army and Airforce. It is funded by taxpayers money. It therefore cannot be a law unto itself, nor be overlooked while it denigrates the national interest.

Allowing the Navy free rein is granting it permission to shoot the nation in the foot.

The Federal Government contracted the surveillance and protection of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region to private security companies when the Nigerian Navy abysmally failed in its duty.

The previous administration engaged three private security companies to compliment the responsibility of the Nigerian Navy because it had no choice.

The Navy despite its abundant manpower and equipment could not protect the nation’s oil assets from being over run by a cartel of illegal crude bunkerers and thieves.

And not engaging them could have brought Nigeria on her knees.

The security companies – Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Pipelines Infrastructures Limited ( PIL) managed by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase ÌII are placed under the supervision of a Project Management Office- the Inter – Atlas Synergy Limited ( IASL).

These companies were hired because right under the nose of the Navy, massive oil theft took place unresisted on a daily basis for years.

This crippled oil production and denied the federal government the much needed revenue to run the country.

Had the Navy been equal to its duties, it wouldn’t have been necessary for the government to look elsewhere.

Since the companies took on the job of providing surveillance over oil assets so much have been achieved.

Reports available showed that crude oil production has improved dramatically to over 1.7 million barrels per day, from below 700 thousand barrels it was before they stepped in.

It is therefore ridiculous that the Nigerian Navy is paranoid and uncomfortable with the remarkable achievement.

The question now is: What does the Navy want?

Rather than support and lend a helping hand to the security companies in their operations, when the need arises, the Navy is busy, maligning, mudslinging and fabricating stories to impugn their reputation.

It smells a rat where there is none. It has never given the security companies a breathing space, most especially Tantita.

The Navy is either sabotaging their work to criminalise them, give them a bad name, or it directly engaging and aiding thieves to siphon crude.

Thereafter, it tries to pin the blame on security companies.

There are recent reports and evidence that seriously compromised the Navy. Its denial of the accusations has similarity with the crocodile, whose head is deep in water, while its back appears pronounced above water.

The Navy a while ago provided security for oil thieves in the Ondo coastal waters. Its men fired shots sporadically in all directions to prevent men of a private security company backed by amphibious soldiers and men of the NSCDC from approaching a wellhead where criminals siphoned oil.

The Navy feels humiliated and has become reckless in cutting its nose to spite its face. It is angry for the assignment of its function to private companies.

It is out to continually find fault with the companies and get their contracts revoked.

The Navy wants to be solely incharge of pipelines’ security in the nation’s territorial waters.

Mr. President sir, through security briefings the government is aware of the Navy’s clandestine schemes.

We advise that you thread with caution. A tsetse fly perched on the scrotum must be tackled with wisdom.

Even people outside official circles know the Nigerian Navy is misbehaving.

It is no secret that those who facilitated the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla PSC, FSS, through proxies in corridors of power, are members of cartels in the oil black market.

They have him in complete restraint, hence he can’t discipline his men.

The Naval Chief despite glaring evidence of his men being caught red handed colluding with oil thieves has failed to discipline them.

While the Nigerian Army, the Airforce and security agencies give needed assistance to the private security companies in their job, the Navy scuttles their work.

It is on the offensive to rid the security companies off the waterways, so that the era of unregulated illegal oil business will return.

We know Mr. President sees through the antics of the Navy.

On this note, we ask that an unassailable penal like the one headed by Obaze is constituted to probe the Navy over the many allegations against it.

There is no smoke without fire.

The Chief Naval of Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla should be relieved of his duty to prevent interference with the investigation.

May Allah protect and guide you in the task ahead.

Yours sincerely,

Abubakah Ciroma
President

Nasir
Adamu
Publicity Secretary.

*Agbolaya is over due for Chairman, Hon. Omimi declares

*We are with him – Agbateyiniro stresses

By: Celestine Ukah

As the race for the 2024 Delta Local Government Councils elections gears up, one of the topmost contender to the seat of the Warri South Chairmanship office, Amb. Dr. Toyin Orighomisan Agbolaya JP has began his official consultation to top Peoples Democratic Party PDP leaders in Warri South with massive turnout of supporters accompanying him to the leaders residences in the city.

Dr. Agbolaya at the residence of Chief Roland Oritsejafor presented his five point agenda booklet as well told him his political ambition of wanting to become the next chairman of Warri South LGC he was prayed for to succeeded in his ambition by Chief Dr. Roland Oritsejafor another chieftain of the PDP in Warri South, Mr. Victor Agbateyiniro made it frantically clear that Dr. Agbolaya’s project is his project and that he’s behind the aspiration of Dr. Agbolaya to be the next chairman of Warri South LGC because he has worked as a very loyal seasoned and vibrant party member for victory of the PDP since 1999 till date.

While at the residence of Chief Dr. Joseph Otumara, the same increased number of supported stormed with their principal Amb. Dr. Toyin, who triumphantly entered the area with excitement and jubilation from more supporters in the community.

The Warri South foremost Chairmanship aspirant, Amb. Dr. Toyin Agbolaya presented his five point development agenda to the leaders of PDP and other critical stakeholders, he appealed for their support to achieve his goal as the next chairman of Warri South local government council.

He stated he is from Bowen Ward one of the biggest Ward in Warri South, most loyal ward where politics of Warri began and also delivered highest and that Bowen Ward has never lost any election, he therefore appealed for the leaders support to give him from Bowen ward the opportunity to be the next chairman of Warri South LGC, assuring them that they would be proud of him from Bowen becoming the next council Boss

According to Dr. Agbolaya the people believe in his ability that’s why they turned out enmasse to show massive and colossal solidarity for his ambition

He listed his give point development agenda in line with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori M.O.R.E agenda to include ; “To restore the city through the promotion of peace and unity for development and progress through innovations,
-To provide more, and maintain existing infrastructures for the convenience of
my Warri people.
-To create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
-To align with the state government MORE agenda for Meaningful
development, Oppotunites for all, Realistic reforms and enhanced Peace and
Security.
-To maintain a clean, healthy and environment friendly Warri.
In line with these objectives, the “FIVE POINT AGENDA” geared toward the rapid development and progress of our Warri.
-Health/Infrastructural Development
-Rural Development And Empowerment
– Peace/Security
– Environmental Sanitation and
– Education”.

He posited that he will tap from past chairmen experiences to and make use of it to Warri south a greater place.

Hon. Chief Dr. Joseph Otumara, while praying for Dr. Agbolaya said “God is already with you , He will promote, your desire God will bring it to pass”.

Other PDP leaders who spoke include : Hon. Augustine Uroye member representing. Warri South 1 state constituency, DTHA, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Hon. Matthew Opuoru, Hon. Clement Erewa, Hon. Kenneth Afejuku, Snr. Apostle Yemi Omaghomi, Mrs. Bobmanuel Tsitse they all described Amb. Agnolaya as a man due for chairmanship of Warri south LGA Council.

Anambra: Gunmen In Military Uniform Kill 2 Policemen

Two policemen have been gunned down in Anambra State by some suspected kidnappers wearing military camouflage.

The command in a statement on Friday said the officers were killed around Uga roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

The assailants were reportedly on a kidnap mission, when a team of policemen attached to a motorcade ran into them on Thursday night.

The command said the officers were trying to clear the traffic gridlock, when the gunmen shot two of them dead and fled the scene.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed that the assailants wore military fatigues, said the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, had directed an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

He said that police-led Mobile Forward Operating Base, which had been patrolling th area during Christmas period, promptly responded to the incident, adding that a Lexus SUV the gang used, and AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain officers were recovered.

The PPRO noted that an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was recovered and defused.

“The CP Aderemi Adeoye had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all officers and men in the command

“He commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.

“The CP has urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant while assuring that technology would be deployed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on police personnel,” the statement said.

Ikenga said the CP urged operatives of the command not to be demoralised by the incident, but to draw inspiration from the bravery of the late officers in confronting the criminal gang.

The CP also condoled with the families of the deceased officers and vowed that they would not die in vain.

Late ex-Speaker HoR Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Buried in Kano

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, has been Buried in Kano Today, Wednesday December 27, 2023.

The former speaker, who died early today, passed on at the age of 65 years.

“The former Speaker died in the early hours of Wednesday at the National Hospital, Abuja,”

Na’Abba represented Kano Municipal Federal Constituency and won election to the National Assembly on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in1999.

He became the Speaker of the House of Representatives after Alhaji Salisu Buhari was forced out of the Assembly over certificate and age issues.

He left behind one wife, 10 children and three grandchildren.

Fraudsters paid $374.6m in 2023 -Report

Victims lost $374.6m to approval phishing scammers from January to November, Chainalysis has revealed.

In a preview of its upcoming ‘2024 Crypto Crime Report,’ the blockchain firm noted that the last two years have seen a significant growth in approval phishing, with victims losing $516.8m in 2022, according to Punch.

It explained that approval phishing differs from other crypto scams because scammers trick victims into sending them cryptocurrency, usually through a phony investment opportunity or by impersonating somebody else.

It stated, “But in an approval phishing scam, the scammer tricks the user into signing a malicious blockchain transaction that gives the scammer’s address approval to spend specific tokens inside the victim’s wallet, allowing the scammer to then drain the victim’s address of those tokens at will. Some victims have lost tens of millions to these scams. It is important to note that in general, approval phishers send the victim’s funds to a separate wallet from the one granted approval to make transactions on the victim’s behalf.”

The firm highlighted that suspected approval phishing revenue peaked in May 2022, but has continued to sustain momentum in 2023.

It continued, “Like many forms of cryptocurrency-based crime, the vast majority of approval phishing theft is driven by a few highly successful actors.”

The firm’s breakdown revealed that the most successful approval phishing address may have stolen $44.3m from thousands of victim addresses, representing 4.4 per cent of the total estimate stolen during the period studied.

It added, “We believe that the industry can address the approval phishing scam problem in a variety of ways, from user education to employing pattern recognition tactics similar to those we used to compile this data.”