POLICE PRESS RELEASE, LAGOS STATE COMMAND, DATED 11TH JUNE, 2021.

JUNE 12: LAGOS POLICE ASSURE RESIDENTS OF NORMAL COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, ORDERLINESS Debunk Rumour of Sit-at-Home Order The Lagos State Police Command has assured residents of Lagos State of adequate security of lives and property and orderliness in the state on Saturday 12th June, 2021, as against the news making waves that the state will be shut down for the June 12 Democracy Day Celebration. The Command wishes to state categorically that normal commercial and social activities in the state stand on Saturday 12th June, 2021, as the Command is not aware of any planned protest neither is it aware of any curfew being imposed by the Lagos State Government to warrant any Sit-at-Home order to Lagos residents. The command therefore urges members of the public to disregard any rumoured sit-at-home order or lock down of markets and total paralysis of economic and social activities in the state on June 12. It is a mere mischievous rumour and calculated attempt to create fears in the minds of Lagosians and disrupt peaceful atmosphere in Lagos State. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore appeals to members of the public to go about their lawful businesses as the police and other security agencies have made necessary arrangements to maintain law and order across the state on 12th June, 2021 and beyond. While the Commissioner of Police felicitates with Lagosians on the 2021June 12 Democracy Day, he however warns those who might want to hide under the Celebration or whatever disguise to foment troubles in the state, to steer clear of Lagos State as anyone caught engaging in any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order and jeopardising the security system of the state will be caused to face the full wrath of the law. E-SIGNED CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI (mnipr) POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER LAGOS STATE COMMAND IKEJA-LAGOS DATED 12TH JUNE, 2021

Avoid June 12 protests, US advises citizens in Nigeria by Eniola Akinkuotu

The United States Mission to Nigeria has advised its citizens in the country to avoid the June 12, 2021 protests which will take place on Saturday in several parts of the country. The US said this in an advisory on Friday titled, ‘Demonstration Alert: US Mission Nigeria (June 11, 2021) – Nationwide Protests on Democracy Day.’ It said it is likely that the protests will take place at the Unity Fountain, Abuja; and Lekki tollgate plaza and Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos. The embassy advised American citizens to keep a low profile and avoid the areas where the protests will hold. The advisory read in part, “Several groups have announced their intentions to protest nationwide on June 12, Democracy Day. Police presence and response can be expected nationwide, including in Abuja where government events are scheduled to celebrate the national holiday and in Lagos where simultaneous protests are planned. “The likely locations for the protests in Abuja will be at Unity Fountain (Hilton Hotel area), Wuse, Berger Roundabout, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Airport Road, and British Circle. In Lagos, the likely locations for protests will be Lekki Toll Gate and Gani Fawehinmi Park. Calls for the protests suggest they may begin as early as 7am. “Actions to Take: Avoid the areas of the demonstrations. Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests. Monitor local media for updates. Keep a low profile.” Several groups are expected to hold protests against maladministration, insecurity, the suspension of Twitter and other issues. However, some others like the #RevolutionNow led by Sahara Reporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore, are expected to hold a rally tagged, ‘Buhari Must Go’ which some state governments have kicked against.

Amaechi: Obasanjo spent €400m on maritime equipment — but it all disappeared by Haleem Olatunji

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo spent between €300 million and €400 million on equipment for fighting insecurity in the maritime sector. The minister alleged that the equipment purchased is nowhere to be found. Amaechi said this at the inauguration of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure in Nigeria (also called the Deep Blue Project) at the ENL Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos. The event which took place on Thursday was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari. Amaechi said Obasanjo spent up to €400 million on a similar project to fight insecurity in the maritime sector. But he claimed that the equipment “disappeared”. The minister accused the Nigerian elite operating in the sector of unpatriotic acts. The minister said a war was waged against him during the implementation of the project by stakeholders in the industry, but that he was determined to complete the task. “Just because of this project, three committees were set up against me; one led by the vice-president, one by the minister of defence and another by the EFCC,” he said. “While they were set up and all of them were cabinet committees; the accusation was this is Amaechi’s contract. Mr. President, I don’t do contract. “But I want to tell you why I did it. Nigerians are not patriotic, most elites are not. They were making billions of money in insecurity. Anybody who wants to fight insecurity, they will fight the person and I was very determined. “I am surprised that the MD of Shell read his speech without saying that the oil companies met and promised me a gift if I can survive in this war. This war has sacked two ministers, they were taken to the EFCC and they were sacked. “This war, under President Obasanjo; they spent between €300 million and €400 million to buy the same equipment we have bought and they have disappeared. “Until the day you sack me or I leave office, I will make sure that this equipment remain because Nigerians who do business on the water are not good people. Most unpatriotic Nigerians are not good.” In his address, Buhari expressed confidence in the project, saying it will boost maritime security infrastructure and improve law enforcement. Advertisement “I am confident that the project, which provides a robust maritime security architecture, will enhance maritime domain awareness capability and improve law enforcement action, particularly in the prosecution of suspects under the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act which I signed into law in June 2019,” he said. “This flag-off is an important step in the continuing shift in strategic action about regional maritime security. “It will serve as a benchmark for member states in the Gulf of Guinea and other relevant stakeholders to further develop innovative strategies and align efforts with the subsisting framework to improve maritime security in the region.”

NANS suspends June 12 protest, distances self from ‘Buhari-must-go’ campaign by Kayode Oyero

The National Association of Nigerian Students has suspended its planned June 12 nationwide protest, The PUNCH has learnt. NANS President, Sunday Asefon, made this known in a statement on Friday morning. It was titled, ‘NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians – Comrade Sunday Asefon’. According to the NANS president, the planned protest was aimed at decrying the insecurity in the country, especially the serial abductions of students. However, Asefon said some politicians with “different agenda” have perfected plans to hijack the protest to “ventilate their political opinions and sentiments”. He also said the students’ body was not associated with the secessionist campaign or the ‘Buhari-must-go’ campaign slated to hold on Saturday by some politicians and activists. He said, “Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12. “The suspension of the protest is necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies that are on red alert to protect the nation’s infrastructure from security breaches on the proposed date as a result of many other protests slated for the date. “We intend to protest for better security and improved welfare for our students, we must therefore not put the life of any of our students at risk to ventilate our grievances.” Asefon further noted that the protest was not cancelled but postponed, adding that a new date would be announced for the demonstration.

CDS meets military chiefs, prepares 70 generals for exit by Eniola Akinkuotu

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Thursday met with major-generals, Air vice Marshals and the rear admirals who are members of the Regular Course 36 and senior to the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya. The meeting was convened with a view to tactically easing out no fewer than 70 major generals, AVMs and rear admirals out of the service, The PUNCH can authoritatively report. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had skipped 29 major-generals and appointed Yahaya who is a member of Regular Course 37, a move which has been generating controversy in the last two weeks. Irabor subsequently asked members of Course 36 to proceed on courses of their choice and to no longer report at their duty posts. The Thursday meeting was sequel to a letter marked DH/ABJ/401/38/ADM dated June 4, 2021 which was marked ‘restricted’ but was obtained by our correspondent. The letter was signed by Rear Admiral AB Adamu on behalf of the CDS. It read in part, “Ref A (NOTAL) under the cover of Ref B (NOTAL) approved the commencement of annual leave in respect of Maj Gen JB Olawunmi (N/8795) and 28 others who are members of 36RC in the NA. The snr offrs (senior officers) were to proceed on the annual leave wef 1-30 June. However, I am directed to invite all serving members of 36 RC in the AFN (Maj Gen and equivalent) to a meeting with the CDS as follows. Thursday, June 10, 21; DHQ Conference Hall; 11.00hrs prompt.” It was learnt that Irabor, based on approval from the Federal Ministry of Defence, asked all the members of regular course 36 across the three services to proceed on courses of their choice for the next one year. Read Also Wike urges CDS to tackle insurgency Insecurity: Fear, despair shall be extinguished from Nigeria, says Irabor Ekiti bye-Election: INEC asked to ban parties, candidates involved in violence A general, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said, “Gen Irabor made it clear to everyone that because all course 36 members of the army who are seniors of the current Chief of Army Staff, are being eased out, it would be wrong to retain their course mates in other services. “To this end, all air vice marshals in the air force and all rear admirals in the navy that are members of Course 36 have been affected. They will not be allowed to continue to report at their respective services or at DHQ. The intention is to get all to resign without forcing them to do so.” The source said some of the generals would go to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies while others would go to the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria on course. When asked why the military was taking the action, the general added, “The military now has a tradition whereby when a new chief of any of the branches is appointed, all those who senior him, including those who are in other arms of the military, are eased. This was how members of the Regular Course 35 were all eased out in February.” Copyright PUNCH.

CBN’s digital currency’ll begin before 2022– Bankers’ Committee by Nike Popoola

The Director-Information Technology Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Rakiyat Mohammed, has said that the banking regulator will launch a digital currency before the end of 2021. Muhammed disclosed this during a press briefing on the Bankers’ Committee meeting on Thursday. “As I said before the end of the year, the Central Bank will be making special announcement and possibly launching a pilot scheme in order to be able to be able to provide this kind of currency to its populace,” she said. She said about 80 per cent of central banks in the world were exploring the possibility of issuing central bank digital currency and Nigeria could not be left behind. For over two years now, she added, the CBN had been been exploring technology and had made tremendous progress. Explaining what the Central Bank digital currency would be, she said there were currently two forms of money in the country. She added, “We have in two forms in Nigeria as of now, there are the notes and there are the coins. “So the Central Bank currency is to be the third form of money which means just as we have electronic money, digital money is not new in Nigeria. “Just as we are about the third or fifth in the whole world as far as advancement in the use of digital money is concerned. “So this is going to compliment the coins and cash that we have. “The Central Bank digital currency will just be as good as you having cash in your pocket and even as you have the cash in your pocket, you are going to have the cash on your phone.” She said the Central Bank was looking at different use cases such as remittances. The director said, “We all know how money has to travel for someone to send money from Nigeria to abroad and it is a huge money in Africa. “We also know that recent report by EfiNA was that our target was to achieve 80 per cent financial inclusion. We are about 60 per cent and at the rate at which we are going, we are not going to meet this target. “Central Bank digital currency will accelerate our ability to meet this target.” PUNCH.

You can’t sit in Lagos and determine zoning in APC, says Buhari by Eniola Akinkuotu

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), says the issue of zoning in the All Progressives Congress will be determined by the party and not any single individual. READ ALSO: I’m not surprised by my husband’s death, TB Joshua’s widow declares He added that no one will for instance sit in Lagos and determine what the party will do. The President said this during an interview with Arise Television which aired on Thursday. Buhari added that the caretaker committee of the APC led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State was working to reposition the party. He said, “I told the acting chairman and a committee to give me the report by the end of the month on the convention they are going to conduct and then arrange general elections until 2023. And we started this from bottom to the up, so that members of the party will be sure they are involved in decision making. “Nobody is just going to sit in Lagos and tell them what to do. This is what we are arranging.” Several supporters of APC leader in Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, have been clamouring for the party to zone the Presidency to the South, adding that there was a gentleman agreement for such when the party was being formed in 2013. Tinubu is believed to be nursing a Presidential ambition although he has yet to confirm or deny it. However, the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee last year was believed to have been orchestrated by those opposed to Tinubu’s ambition.