General
Nigerian Military Ends Crocodile Smile Operation
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Army has announced putting an end to its Crocodile Smile II exercise in the southern part in the country.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director Army, Public Relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, said the exercise has greatly achieved its main objectives in the areas of training, operations, inter-agency as well as civil-military cooperation.
According to him, the exercise has been adjudged as one of the most successful military exercises conducted by the Nigerian Army in recent times.
He said the Crocodile Smile II can in existence in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directives 2017, and was conducted simultaneously across the Areas of Responsibility (AOR) of 2, 6, 81 and 82 Divisions of the Nigerian Army covering parts of South-West, South-East and South-South geo-political zones of the country from October 7 to 28, 2017.
The exercise was officially flagged off at Takwa Bay, Iti-Osa Local Government Area, (LGA) Lagos State in 81 Division AOR on October 6, 2017 by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, while the official closing ceremony was conducted by the Minister of Defence, Mr Muhammad Dan-Ali, at the 6 Division Step Up Headquarters in Igwuruta, Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State on October 30, 2017.
Present at the closing ceremony were the COAS, the representatives of the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States, Chairman Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Principal Staff Officers from the Army headquarters among other dignitaries.
According to the Army, in 6 Division AOR, a total of 46 illegal oil bunkering camps were discovered across Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. The vigilant troops were able to locate and destroy all the illegal refining camps as well as Cotonou boats and wooden barges loaded with stolen crude and other illegally refined products.
The troops also destroyed illegal oil dump sites, arrested vehicles involved in transportation of illegal products as well as persons found to be complacent in the perpetration of such illegal activities.
Also, a total of 13 cases were recorded across the AOR of the Division in which suspects were arrested and in most cases firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered.
In addition, the reinvigorated Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Division which works round the clock succeeded in busting nine kidnap syndicates during the period under review with significant arrests that led to useful information about criminal hide-outs, modus operandi and sources of weapons for their heinous acts.
“These successes could be attributed to the cooperation of law-abiding citizens who utilized the Division’s dedicated phone lines (09072509436, 09072509437 and 09072509438) to report incidences and volunteer tip-offs,” the Army said.
It noted that “despite the initial futile attempt by some callous and mindless propagandists and other enemies of state to mislead the teaming would-be beneficiaries of the free medial outreaches, free educational outreaches and other community relations activities planned to take place during Exercise Crocodile Smile II, 6 Division Nigerian Army countered their narrative by going ahead to launch the free medical outreach at Igbo-Etche and Elele communities of Rivers State, Obama and Ozagbene communities in Bayelsa State with a record 10,000 beneficiaries across the Division’s AOR while 16 Brigade, one of the Division’s subordinate formations made a huge donation of medical and healthcare materials to the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.”
It said a total of 1000 students of Igbo Etche Community Secondary School (Junior and Senior) benefited from the educational outreach with mathematical sets and branded note books.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army Major General Enobong Okon Udoh also pledged to renovate some of the class rooms at Community Secondary School Igbo Etche as part of his Division’s contribution towards the development of education in the community amid cheers by both the staff and students of the school.
In a related development, some of the troops of 6 Division were equally at hand to offer community services by conducting sanitation exercises at Elele, Igbo-Etche and Mile 3 in Rivers State, Opolo round about and Elebele Road in Yenagoa.
Among these activities was the face lift given to the location of the first ever oil well in Nigeria designated Oloibiri Oil Well 1 at Oloibiri Bayelsa State by 16 Brigade.
Troops of 16 Brigade also assisted the return of 176 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among them women and children who had been displaced from their homes at Premabiri in Bayelsa State since 2015 due to crisis that engulfed the area.
During the exercise, a total of 49 suspects were arrested in 19 separate incidences on various offences ranging from cultism related activities, illegal oil bunkering, illegal possession of arms, narcotic activities, financing criminalities and kidnapping among others.
All arrested suspects and exhibits were handed over to relevant security agencies for possible prosecution.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A hotline number, 0800 123 5264, for Nigerians to report any MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, above the approved pump price of N739 per litre, has been released by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The private refiner said the number was now active nationwide, enabling consumers to promptly report violations and help maintain fair pricing across over 2,000 MRS stations.
This measure follows the refinery’s recent commencement of nationwide PMS sales at N739 per litre—a strategic intervention aimed at stabilising fuel prices and easing the financial burden on Nigerians during the festive season.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid purchasing PMS at inflated prices when locally refined fuel is available at N739 per litre.
“Report any MRS station selling above this price by calling our hotline. Together, we can ensure that the benefits of this price reduction reach every consumer,” the company stated in a statement.
The organisation stressed its mission to deliver affordable, high-quality fuel while safeguarding national economic interests, reaffirming its commitment to steady supply, backed by a guaranteed daily output of 50 million litres, and warned against attempts to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply.
Regulatory authorities have been urged to remain vigilant and take decisive action against unpatriotic practices.
By refining locally at scale, Dangote Refinery is reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange, stabilising the Naira, and strengthening energy security. This initiative represents a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable energy solutions and economic recovery.
The refinery also issued a stern warning against attempts by unscrupulous operators to create artificial scarcity in response to the price reduction, calling on government agencies to act decisively.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable. We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the statement added.
Consumers were advised to resist purchasing fuel at inflated prices when cheaper, high-quality alternatives are readily available.
By Bon Peters
The Airport Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Omagwa Rivers State has praised the Customs Area Controller for Customs Area 1 Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku.
At the end-of-the-year party attended by stakeholders, including the leader of the association’s chapter, Mr Charles Onyema, said the customs officer has done well in stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation.
At the event held last Friday, he said his association has been enjoying a very cordial relationship with other organisation in the ecosystem.
“You can see what is happening today, everybody is working together and our operations here are seamless,” he noted.
He stated that apart from creating a very robust business environment for his members and other stakeholders to operate, he has taken a decision to build and commission a befitting ANLCA Secretariat which would be completed soon and be commissioned by the ANLCA national president, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji.
The ANLCA chapter chief said since “Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku assumed office at Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt Command, it has been a different ball game, facilitating trade and increasing Revenue generation.”
“I remember I told her she was a mother during her maiden visit to the airport.
“You know when you have a woman in charge of an affair, food will not lack, compassion will not lack and motherly love will not lack.
“She is very wonderful in stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and trade facilitation,” Mr Onyema enthused.
Projecting into the future, Mr. Onyema said the year 2026 would be better for his members, adding that he has advised them on financial discipline which he said would help them during the trying period.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the Minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Business Post reports that on these public holidays – the foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), as well as the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange will not open to trade.
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