General
Nigerian Army to End Operation Python Dance II October 14
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Army has said it would conclude its Operation Python Dance II in the south east region of the country on Saturday, October 14, 2017.
Deputy Director of Public Relations at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sagir Musa, disclosed in a statement that the field training exercise code named Exercise Egwu Eke (Python Dance) II, which kicked off on September 15, 2017, is meant to sharpen the skills the troops in the conduct of internal security operations.
Colonel Musa further said the exercise was also aimed to combating the security challenges in the South East, pointing that the army was well equipped to deal with the rising cases of insecurity such as kidnappings, farmers-herdsmen clashes, cultism, armed robbery, communal crisis, violent secessionist agitations, insurgency among others.
“For emphasis, it is necessary to restate that the exercise and similar ones with different coded names in some parts of the country were deliberately initiated and conducted with an overarching aim of checkmating identified security challenges prevalent in the regions where they were carried out.
“Some of the successful military exercises include: Operation Sharan Daji in tackling livestock rustling and armed banditry in the Northwest; Operation Awatse to tackle militants and oil installation vandals in South-West, especially in the creeks between Lagos and Ogun States; Operation Shirin Harbi in addressing restiveness in the North-East, especially Bauchi and Gombe States; Op Shirin Harbi in containing the rein of killers in Southern Kaduna; Op Harbin Kunama in resolving rustling and armed banditry in forest along Sokoto-Zamfara axis and Op Crocodile Smile, popular in the South-South to combat Criminal elements engaged in the destruction of oil pipelines and installations,” he said.
The army spokesman urged law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses without fear, emphasising that the exercise “is not targeted at any individual or group.”
Recall that the first Python Dance exercise was carried out in the South Eastern Region from November 27 to December 27, 2016.
The peculiar security challenges in the region such as kidnapping, abduction, armed robbery, farmers/herdsmen clashes, communal crisis, traffic gridlock and violent secessionist agitation among others as the targets of this exercise were successfully addressed.
The concept of the current exercise, like the previous one is purely Command Post, Field Training and Real-Time Exercise, the army said.
It added that the exercise is aimed to enhance troops’ agility and preparedness across the spectrum of contemporary and emerging security challenges peculiar to South Eastern region.
The statement pointed out that the exercise is three in one, in that – it was – deliberately designed as – a Command Post Exercise that transmuted into Field Training Exercise and where necessary dovetailed into real-time mission or activities such as anti-kidnapping drills, patrols, raids, cordon, and search, check points, road blocks and show of force.
The army said one interesting aspect of the exercise is that it is multi-agency in nature and execution.
Relevant para-military organizations such as elements of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Services and Federal Road Safety Commission synergized and collaborated to ensure successful execution and attainment of outlined objectives.
Also, the non-reliance on only military line of operation to achieve the end states of the exercise was part of the texture of the strategy.
For this reason, an elaborately generous civil-military cooperation line of operation had been successfully planned and executed during this exercise, the statement said.
“In this regard, some relevant Nigerian Army Corps and Services such as the medical corps and engineers corps carried out medical outreaches, roads and schools repairs across the South Eastern region.
“On the whole, the exercise has numerous objectives. Some of which are; to practice participating units on planning, preparation and conduct of internal security operations, intensify training on counter terrorism and internal security operations as well as to deter the activities of kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and violent secessionist agitators.
“Others are – synergizing with relevant Para- Military services to address the identified threats and sharpening the skills of troops towards curtailing current and emerging security challenges peculiar to the South Eastern region,” the Army noted.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A new community recreational park has been commissioned by IHS Nigeria in Omole Estate Phase 1, Lagos, delivered within a four-month timeline through collaboration with the Omole Estate Executive Committee, the Lagos State Government representatives, and the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK).
The Head of Partnerships for LASPARK) Ms Temitope Okumuyide, said the project aligns with the agency’s mandate to promote healthy and safe environments across Lagos State.
“This park contributes to creating functional and enjoyable green spaces for the citizens of Lagos,” she said, thanking IHS Nigeria for helping in promoting a greener environment across the metropolis.
The chairman of Omole Phase 1 Residents Association, Ms Abimbola Osikoya, expressed gratitude for IHS Nigeria’s generous donation.
“In a city as dynamic as Lagos, spaces like this are essential. This park will serve as a place for relaxation, family bonding, healthy living, and neighborly interaction. The measure of a society is how it cares for its people, and IHS has demonstrated this through meaningful community investment,” she said.
Also, the chairman of the Titilayo Adedoyin Community Development Association, Mr Segun Fayemi, described the park as a landmark achievement, adding, “Out of the 18 sectors in this area, only mine has such a facility. I am the happiest man today.”
During the commissioning of the project, the Director of Sustainability for IHS Nigeria, Ms Titilope Oguntuga, described the project as more than infrastructure, highlighting the social and human value of shared public spaces.
“At IHS Nigeria, we believe infrastructure goes beyond connectivity and technology. It is about people and the environments in which they live, work, and thrive. Recreational and green spaces are critical to promoting well-being, inclusion, and stronger communities,” she said.
She noted that the presence of the IHS team at the event reflected the company’s dedication to the project and the host community, adding that, “The turnout today also shows our commitment and excitement to witness the commissioning of this park.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has attributed Tuesday’s national grid collapse to a voltage disturbance at the Gombe transmission substation.
A statement issued by the system operator, while providing updates on repair and restoration efforts, stressed that the incident did not amount to a total system collapse, contrary to reports by some media organisations.
Recall that for the second time this year, the national grid recorded a disturbance that left all distribution companies unable to serve their franchise states. It followed a similar occurrence last Friday.
NISO said electricity supply across the affected areas has since been fully restored following immediate corrective actions by its technical teams, adding that the disturbance originated from the Gombe transmission substation before spreading to other parts of the network.
“The national grid has been fully restored, and electricity supply across the affected areas has since returned to normal.”
“The incident only affected part of the national grid, therefore not a total collapse,” NISO added.
“The event was accompanied by the tripping of some transmission lines and generating units, resulting in a partial system collapse.”
The system operator said restoration efforts commenced shortly after the disturbance and were completed within hours.
NISO disclosed that the voltage disturbance quickly propagated across the transmission network, affecting multiple substations.
The disturbance impacted power infrastructure beyond Gombe before stabilisation measures were implemented.
The voltage disturbance spread to the Jebba Transmission Substation, Kainji Transmission Substation was also affected, while the Ayede Transmission Substation experienced disruptions as the disturbance propagated.
According to NISO, although corrective actions were immediately deployed to stabilise the system and restore normal grid operations, some transmission lines and generating units tripped during the incident.
Nigeria’s power grid has continued to experience recurring disturbances in recent years, raising calls for alternative and proper power infrastructure in the country.
In 2025 alone, the national grid collapsed 12 times, with the last recorded incident occurring on December 29.
Tuesday’s incident represents the second grid collapse recorded in 2026, as well as the second in five days.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the federal government to intervene and restrain the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from renewing its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles.
The Director-General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who made the call in a statement, stressed that NAFDAC’s action contradicted directives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) issued on December 15, 2025, suspending the implementation of the ban.
Mr Ajayi-Kadir said the renewed enforcement also runs contrary to a March 14, 2024, resolution of the House of Representatives, which followed a public hearing with stakeholders, restrained NAFDAC from banning sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages.
According to him, the conflicting directives from government institutions have created confusion among operators in the wines and spirits sector and are disrupting legitimate businesses, stating that sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages were introduced to serve adult consumers with low purchasing power.
He added that smaller portions could help curb excessive consumption rather than encourage abuse.
Mr Ajayi-Kadir noted that locally produced sachet alcohol was manufactured under hygienic conditions and duly certified by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC, warning that an outright ban could fuel the proliferation of illicit and unregulated products that pose greater health risks.
He also dismissed claims that the products promote underage drinking, saying such assertions had been contradicted by empirical research.
“We would like to further place on record that the untested assertion of abuse by minors as the basis for the ban has been debated by credible and empirical research that was independently conducted.
“The industry, on its own, has even gone further, notwithstanding the report of the survey, to initiate a series of campaigns in respect of responsible alcohol consumption to discourage underage abuse.
“This has so far cost the operators over a billion Naira in advertisements at all levels of media outreach across the federation.
“This has been very impactful in discouraging abuse by underage persons and has deepened the access restriction landscape,” he said.
Mr Ajayi-Kadir added that the ban threatened jobs, livelihoods and government revenue, while also encouraging smuggling and importation of unregulated alternatives.
He reaffirmed the commitment of MAN to working with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with standards, while appealing to the Federal Government to direct NAFDAC to halt actions that disrupt members’ operations.
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