By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mr Idris Olalekan Kusimo, has described the officials who extorted the crew of BBC Yoruba some days ago as fake, dissociating his administration “from this shameful act.”

In a statement he signed, Mr Kusimo stressed that the alleged council officials were not authorised to collect fees and taxes on behalf of the council despite operating on the premises of the local government secretariat.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2025, BBC Yoruba posted on its Facebook page and website about the ordeal of its crew in the hands of persons believed to be working for the local government.

The media platform’s vehicle was stopped, and N60,000 was fined for not having a Joint Tax Board (JTB) levy. The fine was negotiated to N45,000, and when it was time to pay, the council officials demanded cash and not a transfer, which raised suspicion.

Apparently embarrassed by the reactions to the report and comments by other victims of the extortion, Mr Kusimo released a statement exonerating the council from the alleged fraud.

He described those who stopped the crew as “some unscrupulous individuals” who “falsely presented themselves as officials of Ifo Local Government and unlawfully accosted motorists, including your reporter, along the Ojodu-Abiodun axis.”

According to him, the persons “do not represent the council in any capacity” as Ifo Local Government does not sanction, condone, or benefit from their illegal activities, which include the forceful removal of vehicle number plates and extortion of motorists.”

“While the accused persons operate from a rented space within the Ojodu-Abiodun Office Complex, their actions are entirely self-motivated and criminal,” he noted, adding that a “thorough investigation into the activities of these impostors” has been initiated.

Mr Kusimo urged “affected motorists, including the BBC Yoruba team, to provide further details to assist in prosecuting these fraudsters,” advising members of the public “to report any such incidents directly to the council or security Agencies and to request proper identification from anyone claiming to be an official of Ifo government.”

He stated that Ifo Local Government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State government has sealed 13 markets across the state for persistent violations related to illegal waste disposal in the Ketu area and its environs in an effort to promote environmental cleanliness and safeguard public health.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the closure of the affected markets in a statement on his X handle on Friday.

Mr Wahab said the enforcement actions were in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017, aimed at ensuring responsible waste management and maintaining public order.

Notably, Ketu and Mile 12 markets were sealed last night due to consistent violations, including the improper disposal of waste on roads, medians, and highways.

The 13 markets shut down by the government were Erukan Market, Mile 12; Oja Oba Market, Ketu; Owoseni Tundas Market; Oba Ogunjobi Market, Mile 12; Shops Owners (BRT Terminal), Mile 12; and Mile 12 Bus Stop Shops; Ketu Terminal Market (6 plazas); Ifesowapo Shop Owners Market, Mile 12; Demurin St Plaza Shops, Ketu; The Occupant, 6 Demurin Road, Ketu; Ifelodun Market, Ketu; Ibadan Unit 1 Park (in-between Babajide Sanwo-Olu Market and Ikosi Fruit Market); and Ketu Tipper Garage.

The closure of the market was necessary to restore cleanliness and public safety in these busy commercial areas, according to Mr Wahab.

The Lagos State government emphasized that market stakeholders must take full responsibility for proper waste management going forward to avoid further disruptions.

“These enforcement actions are necessary to safeguard public health and restore order to our public spaces,” Mr Wahab was quoted as saying.

The Lagos State government also called on residents and market stakeholders to collaborate in building a cleaner, safer, and more responsible Lagos.

The enforcement is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the city remains livable and sustainable for all.

In continuation of its 2025 Annual National Food Intervention Programme, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), has distributed 50,000 bags of rice to poor and vulnerable families in Kebbi and Gombe States.

Flagging off the distribution of the intervention in Aliero Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Thursday(yesterday), the Kebbi State Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Zayyanu Aliero, said the gesture was in line with the core values of the Foundation’s founder, Aliko Dangote.

“This is commendable gesture, especially as it will improve the living conditions of the poor and most vulnerable people in the state.

“The distribution is in collaboration between the Foundation and the state government to ensure that the food reaches the most vulnerable individuals in each of the 21 LGAs of the state,” he said.

The commissioner lauded the Foundation for the kind gesture, saying it was the second edition of the foundation’s gesture to the vulnerable people in the state.

He disclosed that,”Out of the 25,000 bags of the rice allotted for the 21 LGAs of the state, 20 LGAs would get 1,000 each while Birnin Kebbi LGA, which is the highest in population, will get 3,000 bags and the other vulnerable people will get 1,000 bags of the rice.

“The distribution formula we have adopted for all the LGAs is, 150 bags for persons living with disability, 100 for deaf, 100 for blind, 20 for leper, 10 for albino people; 120 for imams, 100 for traditional rulers, divorcees 100, widows 150, Dan-Agaji group 50, and other vulnerable 100,” he noted.

Zayyanu Aliero explained that the partnership had helped the government to reach vulnerable residents efficiently, through community structures that understood local needs.

The commissioner revealed that Gov. Nasir Idris,” has introduced various initiatives to mitigate the economic challenges facing the people in recent times in the state.”

On their part, the Chairman of Aliero and Gwandu LGAs, Abubakar Jadi, represented by his Vice Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, and Alhaji Atiku Ahmad-Mandiya, lauded the foundation and the efforts of the state government for providing succour to the needies and the less- privileged members of the LGAs in the state.

They urged the beneficiaries to continue praying for the state and the nation, saying Gov. Nasir Idris’ administration remained committed to supporting vulnerable communities.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Anas Gwandu, thanked Alhaji Aliko Dangote for providing the food item, while praising him for thinking it wise to intervene in the lives of the beneficiaries.

Anas appealed to other well-to-do individuals to emulate Dangote by supporting those in need.

“As I am talking to you now, we have more than 600,000 people living with disabilities and they need special attention and assistance.

“The gesture as such will alleviate some of the challenges face by the poor, widows, divorcees, and most vulnerable people in the society, hence they need for all our wealthy individuals to emulate the foundation’s gesture,” he urged.

Meanwhile, in Gombe State, the donation was handed over to the state government, through Abubakar Inuwa Kari, the Chief of Staff to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, to oversee its distribution to the targeted beneficiaries, which includes widows, orphans, and other disadvantaged groups.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Abubakar Inuwa Kari, expressed profound appreciation to the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his continued generosity in assisting the needy, particularly in Gombe State.

He noted that the foundation’s intervention is in line with his administration’s commitment to supporting the poor and vulnerable, especially during the sacred month of Ramadan.

He further commended the timeliness of the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s donation, emphasising that the distribution would follow the existing framework used in previous exercises to ensure equitable reach.

“When the commodities were handed over to the state government, we already had an established distribution structure with standing committees that had successfully handled previous exercises,” he noted.

Governor Yahaya directed that the rice be distributed using the same formula, which has consistently ensured efficiency and transparency in reaching the intended beneficiaries.

He urged the committee members to ensure that this round of distribution benefits a different set of vulnerable persons from those who received aid in previous exercises.

“Let this palliative go to a different set of beneficiaries so that more people can also benefit from this gesture,” he instructed.

He further charged committee members across the LGAs and wards to uphold transparency and accountability in executing their duties, while calling on the general public to continue praying for the progress and prosperity of Gombe State and the nation.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Haruna, reaffirmed that all donated food items would be distributed directly to the intended beneficiaries.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairmen of the 11 Local Government Areas of the state, Chairman of Gombe Local Government, Sani Ahmad Haruna, expressed appreciation to the Aliko Dangote Foundation for the continued support

Sani Haruna assured that the successes recorded in previous Ramadan distribution exercises would be replicated, guaranteeing that the items reach those in need.

In their separate remarks, representatives of various beneficiary groups, including the Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Gombe State, Saleh Damburam; Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Shinga ; the Acting Chairman of the Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Abdullahi A. Bello; and representatives of civil society organisations, lauded the Dangote Foundation for the initiative.

They appreciated the foundation for recognising the targeted groups and coming to their aids, especially at this critical time.

“We are forwarding our appreciation to the Dangote Foundation, who in their wisdom donated these rice to be distributed to the people of Gombe state, particularly those in dire need,” Saleh Danburam, the state JNI secretary stated.

Also, Chairman of the state chapter of CAN, Joseph Shinga said, “I wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Aliko Dangote Foundation for extending this gesture to our people. On behalf of CAN, the youth wing and the ‘Zumuntan Mata we thank you all who sat down and brought out the sharing formula.”

Representative of the Gombe Network of Civil Society (GONET), Ibrahim Yusuf (3000) stated that the donation comes at a crucial time when the targeted beneficiaries are grappling with food and economic hardship.

The event featured the symbolic allocation of palliatives to six organizations, namely: JNI, CAN, FOMWAN, PWDs, CSOs, and Hisbah alongside the formal handing over to state and local government committees for onward distribution across LGAs, wards, and polling units.