By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Lagos State government has offered to treat the nine victims of an early morning fire on one of the boats operated by the Lagos State Ferry Services (LagFerry) for free.

At about 6:45 am on Thursday, April 3, 2025, one of the boats of the agency known as Igbega Eko was involved in an inferno at the Ipakodo Terminal in Ikorodu.

It was gathered that all the 19 passengers on board were rescued alive but nine of them suffered burn injuries and are receiving medical attention at the Ikorodu General Hospital.

A preliminary report indicated that the fire happened after passengers had boarded the boat to depart the terminal and emergency protocols were promptly activated at the scene.

In a statement this afternoon, the agency thanked all responders, including the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), private boat operators, and other rescuers who worked tirelessly to contain the situation. It also commended the passengers for their cooperation during the evacuation.

LagFerry revealed that a full-scale investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire and prevent future occurrence, noting that in the meantime, additional safety measures and inspections will be reinforced across all our fleet to underscore its commitment to safety on waterways.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), has praised President Bola Tinubu for firing Mr Mele Kyari as the chief executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and replacing him with Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Mr Tinubu announced the removal of Mr Kyari from office in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

Reacting to the sacking of the erstwhile NNPC chief, the CNPP said the next step is for President Tinubu to order a forensic audit of the state-owned oil organisation to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s oil sector.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema, the group noted that the removal of Mr Kyari is a vital step toward restoring accountability, efficiency, and transparency in a sector that has long been shrouded in allegations of corruption and mismanagement, adding that Nigerians have endured years of economic hardship fueled by inefficiencies and alleged large-scale corruption within NNPC.

It noted that these challenges have exacerbated the country’s struggles, with high transportation costs contributing to soaring food prices that have burdened millions of families.

According to the CNPP, this bold move by the President signals a readiness to confront deep-seated issues in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

The organisation emphasised that merely replacing Mr Kyari is insufficient to address the root causes of the oil sector’s problems, reiterating its long-standing demand for a thorough forensic audit of NNPC’s operations during his tenure.

It emphasized that without such an investigation, the new management would inherit a foundation weakened by years of alleged financial irregularities, inefficiencies, and questionable practices.

The CNPP has raised serious concerns about the management of NNPC under Mr Kyari, asserting that the Nigerian people deserve transparency and accountability regarding the operations of the national oil company.

The group urged President Tinubu to authorize an independent forensic audit covering all aspects of NNPC’s accounts, crude oil sales, and subsidy disbursements during his tenure, arguing that this audit is crucial not only for understanding the extent of mismanagement but also for implementing reforms that will stabilize the oil.

In its statement, the CNPP underscored the critical importance of Nigeria’s oil industry to the nation’s economy, warning that without urgent and radical reforms, the suffering of Nigerians would persist. It called on anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and the National Assembly to support its demand for justice, urging all stakeholders to play an active role in ensuring accountability within NNPCL.

The group affirmed its commitment to monitoring developments in the oil sector and holding all stakeholders accountable to the Nigerian people.

“The oil sector cannot remain a black hole where billions of dollars disappear without accountability. The time to act is now,” it declared.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Customs Service has debunked the widespread reports about the alleged tenure extension of the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, the customs spokesman, said that the news was inaccurate and misleading.

He stated that the appointments and tenure extensions of the CGC are made solely at the discretion of the President, in line with the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 and other relevant regulations governing public service appointments.

“The attention of the NCS has been drawn to a fake release allegedly from the State House regarding an extension of the tenure of the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi. The NCS wishes to categorically state that this information is inaccurate and misleading,” Mr Maiwada said.

Mr Maiwada noted that at the moment, no such directive has been communicated to the NCS by the appropriate authorities.

He emphasised that the leadership of the service remains focused on fulfilling its statutory mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.

Under the guidance of the current CGC, Mr Maiwada explained the NCS has continued to implement key reforms aimed at, “modernising customs operations, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and enhancing national economic growth.”

The customs spokesperson called on the public and all stakeholders to rely only on official channels for accurate information regarding the NCS. He added that updates regarding appointments or tenure decisions will be formally communicated through the appropriate government authorities.

“The service appreciates the continued support of stakeholders and remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and service to the nation,” he said.