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  • DICON committed to dominating defence market — D-G

    DICON committed to dominating defence market — D-G

    The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is the premier defence company in Nigeria based in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    It is responsible for the production of military equipment, ammunition, and other defence-related products.

    DICON had however faced significant challenges and criticisms over the years, with some describing it as ‘moribund’ or inactive.

    The firm has however reiterated its commitment to meeting the immediate needs of its clients while positioning itself for long-term successes in the defence market.

    Its Director-General (D-G),  Maj.-Gen. Anaedi Edet, made the commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Kaduna.

    Edet said, “The DICON’s Act 2023 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu is working effectively.”

    He said that DICON was established with the  visionary mandate to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces  by ensuring Nigeria’s self-reliance in essential military hardware.

    Edet said, “By doing so, we can ensure that DICON not only meets the immediate needs of our clients but also positions itself as a dominant force in the defence market for years to come.

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    According to him,  sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security compel countries to establish defence and security forces as a necessary and sufficient condition for peace and stability.

    Edet added, “For the military and security forces to function optimally, they have to be resourced and equipped with the right mix of hardware, which could be imported or produced domestically.

    “Nigeria did not miss the opportunity to establish its local defence production system in 1964 through DICON and 60 years down the line, the dream still lives on.

    *In market expansion and sustainability at  DICON, we see immense potential for market expansion, particularly in the West African defence sector.

    “There is a high demand for defence products, not only from the Armed Forces of Nigeria but also from various security and governmental agencies.”

    On strategic vision, he said that the firm would establish a strategic blueprint with a view to ensuring that the effectiveness of production and all endeavours were quantifiable.

    Edet said, “They must also be aligned with this plan, which should also integrate into our national strategy to effectively address challenges, promote sustainable production and local industry empowerment.

    “DICON is a key player in producing defence materials in Nigeria just as several other local companies are also involved.”

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    He added that DICON was also committed to meeting the increasing demand by focusing on sustainable Production practices.

    Edet added, “This means prioritising long-term strategies over short-term gains.

    “Our aim is to establish a robust and reliable supply chain that can consistently deliver high-quality defence products.

    On the challenges and solutions,!he said the primary challenges at DICON were the obsolete equipment and the pressing need for modern production lines.

    Edet said”To address this, we are replacing out-dated machinery with advanced production lines capable of producing various calibres of ammunition.

    The director-general said funding has remained a significant hurdle, adding, “the DICON Act 2023 provides for strategic alliances.

    “This can facilitate technology transfer, funding and expertise from both local and international partners to overcome these financial challenges.

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    “By leveraging these opportunities, we can ensure that DICON is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to meet both current and future demands efficiently.”

    Edet said DICON’s strategic objectives were enhancing production capabilities,  Investing in modern equipment and technology to improve production’s efficiency and quality.

    He reiterated it’s commitment to meeting the immediate needs of its clients while positioning itself for long-term successes in the defence market is a testament to its vision and mission..

    ” By achieving its strategic objectives, DICON can become a leading defence manufacturer, drive economic growth, and enhance national security, “Edet said.

    Meanwhile, DICON’s functionality can be gauged from various recent developments.

    The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, recently visited the United States to explore potential collaborations with NEANY, a leading military equipment manufacturing company.

    This suggests that DICON is actively seeking partnerships to enhance its capabilities.

    Additionally, Edet had conducted a routine working visit to the DICON Ordnance Factory, Drone Centre, and Research and Development Centre in March 2024.

     This indicates that DICON’s leadership is engaged in overseeing its operations and identifying areas for improvement.

    However, its worth noting that DICON had faced challenges in the past, including the need to revamp its production lines and address issues related to funding and local content development.

    In spite of these challenges, the corporation appears to be taking steps to enhance its functionality and contribute to Nigeria’s military industrial complex. 

  • NAPTIP Rescues 13 trafficking victims, seals Abuja hotel

    NAPTIP Rescues 13 trafficking victims, seals Abuja hotel

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday shut down a hotel in the Kwali area of Abuja after uncovering a human trafficking operation.

     The agency also rescued 11 underage girls suspected to be victims of sexual exploitation.

    Officials arrested the hotel owner, while other staff members managed to escape.

     The operation took place a month after NAPTIP rescued another group of trafficking victims from a private apartment in Abuja.

    In a separate incident, NAPTIP intercepted 13 young women at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as they were about to board a flight to Iraq. 

    The women, aged between 19 and 39, were reportedly deceived by illegal recruiters who promised them jobs abroad.

     The agency received a tip-off about their suspicious movement at the airport and intervened.

    NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the growing number of trafficking cases. 

    She warned parents to be cautious about job offers that sound too good to be true.

     Investigations revealed that the victims were promised $250 monthly wages but were required to surrender a large portion of their salaries to agents in both Nigeria and Iraq. 

    Many victims in similar situations have ended up being exploited, underpaid, or even harmed by their employers.

    Bello assured that NAPTIP would continue to track and arrest those behind these illegal activities.

     She called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, airlines, and airport officials to prevent more people from falling into trafficking traps.

  • Name a national monument after Edwin Clark: Senate pleads with Tinubu

    Name a national monument after Edwin Clark: Senate pleads with Tinubu

    The Senate has asked the Federal Government to honour the late Chief Edwin Clark by naming a national monument after him.

     Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and a well-known South-South leader, died on February 17, 2025, at 97.

    During Tuesday’s plenary, lawmakers observed a minute of silence in his memory and shared tributes to his contributions.

     They also agreed to send a delegation to his family and attend his burial.

    The motion, sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and 16 other South-South senators, recalled Clark’s long service to Nigeria. 

    He was a nationalist, lawyer, administrator, and strong advocate for the Niger Delta. 

    His political career started in 1953 as a councillor, and he later became a senator and a key figure in the fight for regional development.

    As Midwestern Commissioner for Education and Finance, he helped establish the Midwest College of Technology, which became the University of Benin. 

    He also served as Federal Commissioner for Information in 1975 and played a role in national unity efforts.

    Several senators praised his courage and commitment to justice. Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that Clark remained a strong voice for equity even in his old age.

  • Reps Urge INEC to Conduct Bye-Elections for Vacant Seats

    Reps Urge INEC to Conduct Bye-Elections for Vacant Seats

    The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize bye-elections for vacant seats in the National and State Houses of Assembly.

    This decision came after a motion was presented by Hon. Jafaru Leko, who represents the Dass, Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro federal constituency in Bauchi State. 

    Lawmakers also directed the Committee on Electoral Matters to look into the delay and invite INEC leaders to explain the situation.

    Leko pointed out that since the 2023 general elections, several seats have become vacant due to resignations, deaths, or appointments of former lawmakers to executive roles.

     He referenced constitutional provisions that require INEC to conduct bye-elections within a month of any seat becoming vacant.

    Lawmakers expressed concerns that the delay in filling these seats is leaving some constituencies without representation, affecting legislative activities. 

    They warned that such delays go against democratic principles and could weaken the electoral system.

  • DRC crisis worsens amid M23 violence

    DRC crisis worsens amid M23 violence

    Humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has worsened, with reports of serious human rights violations, including summary executions of children and widespread sexual violence.

    The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Tuesday confirmed that Rwanda-backed M23 fighters killed three children in Bukavu, South Kivu, which fell to the group on Sunday.

    OHCHR spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, stated, “Our office confirmed cases of children being summarily executed by M23 after they entered Bukavu last week. Some children were carrying weapons.”

    She urged Rwanda and M23 to ensure the respect of human rights and international humanitarian law in the region.

    Shamdasani also condemned attacks on hospitals and humanitarian warehouses, along with threats against the judiciary, linked to the M23’s advance in North and South Kivu.

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    The crisis has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in eastern DRC, with 10,000 to 15,000 fleeing into Burundi in just a few days, according to UNHCR.

    Most of those arriving in Burundi are Congolese, primarily from Bukavu’s outskirts, where the situation is rapidly worsening.

    These new refugees join over 91,000 others who arrived in Burundi years ago, according to UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh.

    “The situation remains extremely volatile, with recent clashes forcing over 150,000 people to flee,” Saltmarsh added.

    “At least 85,000 people are living in makeshift camps for internally displaced people, where there is a severe lack of basic services such as water and healthcare.”

    Eastern DRC, rich in minerals, has faced instability for decades due to armed groups, forcing many to seek refuge in camps or neighbouring countries.

    Fighting escalated in January as M23 fighters seized parts of North Kivu and advanced towards South Kivu and Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city.

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    Further troubling developments include the Feb. 14 prison breaks from Kabare and Bukavu central prisons, according to Shamdasani.

    “We’ve received protection requests from victims and witnesses, fearing retaliation from escapees involved in trials for serious human rights violations,” she said.

    Shamdasani expressed concerns for the safety of lawyers, judicial staff, journalists, and human rights defenders threatened by the ongoing violence.

    “Some are trapped in Bukavu and Goma, fearing for their safety due to their work on human rights and denunciations of abuses by Rwanda and M23,” she added.

    In response, UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged Rwanda and M23 to protect all individuals in their control.

    “He condemns the events in South and North Kivu and their devastating impact on civilians.

    “The violence must cease immediately. All parties must adhere to international humanitarian law and resume dialogue within the Luanda and Nairobi processes,” Shamdasani said. 

  • Bedlam in Lagos Assembly following DSS, Police Invasion

    Bedlam in Lagos Assembly following DSS, Police Invasion

    It was bedlam at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday following invasion by officials of the DSS and the Nigeria Police, sparking outrage among the lawmakers. 

    The invasion occurred during a plenary session where 36 members were present. 

    The lawmakers immediately condemned the action, describing it as an attack on democracy and an embarrassment to the country.

    The Assembly demanded an explanation from the Director of the Lagos DSS, asking why the security forces took such drastic action. 

    They also called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to look into the matter and provide a detailed report to the public.

     Additionally, the lawmakers appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop the situation from worsening.

    The lawmakers expressed strong disapproval of the invasion, arguing that it was an attempt to disrupt the legislative process and undermine the state’s democratic institutions. 

    They also reaffirmed their loyalty to the Speaker, emphasizing that no one could force them to remove him from office.

    Suspecting that influential individuals or groups may be responsible for the invasion, the lawmakers insisted on a full investigation to uncover those behind it.

     They made it clear that they will not allow such actions to diminish the independence of the legislature or threaten democratic governance in the state.

  • Return to the party: Gov. Mbah appeals to aggrieved PDP members

    Return to the party: Gov. Mbah appeals to aggrieved PDP members

    Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has appealed to aggrieved PDP members to seize the opportunity presented by the ongoing reconciliation process to come back to the party.

    The governor also called for peace and unity among the members of  PDP)
    in the Southeast Zone and the entire country.

    Mbah made the appeals when he received members of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee,led by a  former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Enugu Government House on Thursday.

    The PDP National Reconciliation Committee visited  the governor to brief him on efforts  being made by the committee to resolve a number of issues in the party.

    Mbah, who described Enugu as the bastion of PDP, enjoined the committee to ensure genuine and lasting peace with a view to bringing back  aggrieved members into the party.

    He insisted that the only way the party could win elections was through a united front, built on true reconciliation and justice.

    Mbah further added that the party in the Southeast operated as  members of the same  family.

    He stressed that the party in the zone had done extensive work to ensure those who left the party were brought back.

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    “We also believe that the Southeast is a stronghold of the PDP and if we have people who are out now, it is not necessarily their desire to be out. So, what we need at this time is to bring back our aggrieved members to where they belong.

    “The PDP is still largely the party with the spread that is required to win any election in this country and still appeals to the people of this country.

    “I have no doubt in mind that those our brothers who are just waiting for moments like this will be brought back to where they belong and we can forge a strong alliance going into the next general elections,” the governor added.

    Speaking earlier, the PDP National Reconciliation Committee Chairman said that the disunity in the party was one of the reasons the party lost the 2023 presidential election and other election cycles in the country.

    Oyinilola appealed to aggrieved  members of the party in the Southeast to sheathe their swords and embrace the idea behind the peace and reconciliation process for the good of the party.

    According to him, Nigerians need to invest their trust in PDP to do things right in the country.

    Also speaking, the State Party Chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, said the reconciliation move would rejig the party’s ongoing efforts in the state and bring back disgruntled members.

    He expressed optimism in the leadership of Mbah , noting that the party was already witnessing mass return of members who had  left for other parties.

  • Adesina Denies interest in 2027 Presidential Election

    Adesina Denies interest in 2027 Presidential Election

    As expected, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has denied reports suggesting he is preparing to contest Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

    The speculation began after his recent interview on Arise Television, where he mentioned that he would be available for national service after his tenure at AfDB.

     He stated that he is open to serving in any role, whether globally, in Africa, or in Nigeria. 

    His remarks led to widespread interpretations that he might be considering running for president.

    In response, Adesina took to X on Thursday to clarify his statement, saying his words had been misrepresented. 

    He maintained that while he expressed willingness to serve in various capacities, he never declared an intention to contest the presidency. 

    He urged the public to listen to his full interview for proper context.

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    Adesina, who was Nigeria’s minister of agriculture before becoming AfDB president in 2015, secured a second term at the bank in 2020. 

    His leadership at AfDB has focused on economic growth, infrastructure, and development financing across Africa.

    While his statement sparked political discussions, he emphasized that his priority remains his current role at AfDB, and he has no plans to enter the 2027 presidential race.

  • Court Shifts Ganduje’s Bribery Case to April 15

    Court Shifts Ganduje’s Bribery Case to April 15

    A Kano State High Court has moved the bribery and misappropriation case involving Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others to April 15, 2025.

     The court will address pending preliminary objections before the main trial begins.

    The Kano State Government has filed an eight-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of bribery, mismanagement, and the diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.

     Other individuals and businesses involved in the case include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

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    During the hearing on Thursday, the prosecution, led by Adeola Adedipe (SAN), was ready to continue the case.

     The legal representatives of Ganduje, his wife, and Umar also confirmed their preparedness. 

    However, some defense lawyers asked for more time to complete their filings.

    Adekunle Taiye-Falola, who represents the 3rd and 7th defendants, requested an extension to submit a reply to a legal document. 

    Sunusi Musa (SAN), representing the 5th defendant, also sought extra time through a motion supported by an affidavit and a written address.

     Meanwhile, Abubakar Ahmed, the lawyer for the 6th defendant, was prepared to proceed, having already filed a preliminary objection. 

    Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, representing the 8th defendant, was not ready and needed more time to submit his legal response.

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    After listening to the arguments, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu approved the requests for additional time and scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2025. 

    The court will first resolve the preliminary objections before proceeding to the full trial.

    The case has drawn public interest, with many closely following the legal developments.

  • Court Dismisses Defamation Case Against Dele Farotimi

    Court Dismisses Defamation Case Against Dele Farotimi

    The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti has dismissed a defamation case against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi. 

    The case was withdrawn after the police prosecutor, Martins Akala, filed an application to discontinue it.

    Farotimi had been charged on December 4, 2024, over claims in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he accused legal icon Afe Babalola of influencing Supreme Court justices.

    The court had granted him bail on December 20, 2024, and scheduled a hearing for February 13, 2025.

    The decision to drop the case followed a request from Afe Babalola, who agreed to withdraw all criminal defamation charges after discussions led by traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

    During the court session on Thursday, the police prosecutor informed the court that authorities had instructed the withdrawal of the case. The defense counsel, Kembi Adejare, had no objection.

    Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled that the case be struck out, marking its official end.

    Following this development, some have expressed the view that the claims in the book by the author had been validated.