General
EU Tasks Nigeria on Seaport Security
By Adedapo Adesanya
The European Union (EU) has advised Nigeria to tighten security architecture at the seaports to help reduce its vulnerabilities and risks.
The call was made at the closing ceremony of the Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) first mission training in Nigeria for ports in Lagos.
The mission, which started in August 2022, was sponsored by the EU and driven by Expertise France (EF) with the collaboration of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The team leader of WeCAPS, Mr Nico Vertogen, said strengthening the security and safety of the West and Central African ports would help reduce vulnerabilities and risks, thereby increasing skills and vigilance.
He called for perimeter fencing of the ports, installation of CCTVs and access badges, among others, as a means to tighten the nation’s port security.
He explained that the WeCAPS project is a partner project with experts giving their opinion on safety and security accompanied by training.
On his part, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, commended the EU for the WeCAPS training mission to strengthen the security and safety of ports in the West and Central African region. He said the training mission in Nigeria came at a time when the authority was prioritising safety and security to achieve a hub status within the region.
Mr Bello-Koko said the commitment is in line with the authority’s vision to be the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa, which also prioritises the delivery of efficient port services in a safe, secure, and customer-friendly environment.
Also speaking, the General Manager of Security at NPA, Mr Mohammed Khalil, said ports are part of a nation’s critical national infrastructure and assets. He said the ports are also gateways to the nation’s economy as they serve as transportation hubs connecting and facilitating the movement of goods to support businesses for wealth creation and economic growth.
He noted that, as an integral part of the global maritime logistics and supply chain, which controls over 80 per cent of world trade, the safety and security of the ports are of paramount importance to the well-being of the global economy.
He added the safety and security of ports became a priority after the 9/11 attack by acts of terrorism in the United States and its aftermath that brought huge changes in global maritime and port security management.
Mr Khalil also said due to the impact of attack at the global level, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reviewed the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (1974), which gave rise to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
According to him, the convention, which came to effect in July 2004, was to tackle the global threat of terrorism on international shipping and related supply chain infrastructure.
He said Nigeria, being a signatory to the convention, has, over the years, worked tirelessly to ensure compliance with the code through collaborative training with WeCAPs.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu has been asked to urgently investigate allegations that more than N128 billion cannot be accounted for by the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc.
This call for a probe was made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a statement issued on Sunday.
The group urged Mr Tinubu to give directive to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to look into the allegations of the missing N128 billion.
It declared that anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, especially if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.
In the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on September 9, 2025, it was claimed that the funds could not be accounted and may have been diverted by some persons.
In its statements today, SERAP said Nigerians continue to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector, stressing that there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.
“Tackling corruption in the power sector would go a long way in addressing the persistent breakdown of transmission lines in the country, and improving access of Nigerians to regular and uninterrupted electricity supply,” a part of the statement read.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All the terrorists behind the deadly attack on the Kasuwan Daji community in Niger State must be apprehended, President Bola Tinubu has directed.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the attack as well as the abduction of women and children in the community.
He asked the Minister of Defence, Mr Christopher Musa, to mobilise the security apparatus to hunt down the perpetrators of the act.
In the statement, Mr Tinubu stressed that the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) must track down and apprehend them, ensuring they are swiftly brought to justice.
He also directed security agencies to rescue all the abducted victims urgently.
President Tinubu issued the directives on Sunday in response to the recent killings of several villagers in Niger State by terrorists suspected to be fleeing from Sokoto and Zamfara following the United States’ air strike on Christmas Eve.
He sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Niger State.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions. No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down. They, and all those who aid, abet, or enable them in any form, will be caught and brought to justice,” he declared.
Mr Tinubu assured the people of Niger State that security agencies have been mandated to intensify operations around vulnerable communities, particularly those near the forests that have served as hideouts for criminal elements, urging Nigerians to remain united and resolute in the face of this tragedy and cautioned against divisive rhetoric that could undermine national security and cohesion during this challenging period.
“These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison. United, we can and must defeat them, deny them any sanctuary. We must reclaim the peace and security of these attacked communities,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering.
Recall that the same court had ordered the remand of Mr Malami at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Mrs Bashir Asabe, are standing trial predicated on a 16-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio, who are accused of laundering N8.7 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
Following their plea of not guilty, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre till January 2, 2026, when their written bail application would be argued by his legal team.
In the charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants were accused of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities.
The indictment claimed that they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences took place between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s time as the country’s Attorney-General.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025.
They were also accused of depositing an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties in question include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, bought for N700 million; and another in Jabi District for N850 million.
Additional acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).
The EFCC further alleges that Mr Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023.
The acquisitions were allegedly made through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.
The commission claimed that the alleged actions violate the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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