General
NPC Inaugurates Advisory Group to Implement Nigeria’s Population Policy
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Population Commission (NPC) has inaugurated the Population Advisory Group (PAG) to drive the implementation of the Revised National Population Policy (NPP) to improve the quality of life and standard of living of everyone in Nigeria.
This is as Nigeria is expected to be among the set of countries to drive population growth in the next few years.
The Executive Chairman, NPC, Mr Nasir Kwarra, tasked the members to support the National Council on Population Management (NCPM) to drive the implementation of the Revised National Population Policy.
“The PAG is a laudable group saddled with the responsibility of advising the National Population Commission and National Council on Population Management
“On the most appropriate way to coordinate the implementation of the National Population Policy and to manage the population,” he said.
The Executive Chairman, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the launch of the National Population Policy, said it was vital to improving the quality of life in Nigeria.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that on the occasion the Revised National Population Policy was an innovative and transformative document that required the support of stakeholders.
Mr Mustapha, who was represented by Mr Shehu Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) urged the members to live up to expectations.
On behalf of the federal government, he expressed gratitude to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other international donors for their support of Nigeria.
The SGF, which urged the UNFPA and its partners to sustain their support, expressed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving a quality population.
Ms Ulla Mueller, Country Representative, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) described the inauguration as a great step towards mobilising resources for the implementation of the National Population Policy.
Ms Mueller, who was represented by Dr Collins Opiyo, Chief Technical Adviser to the National Population Commission and official of UNFPA, said that the inauguration demonstrate the country’s commitment to harnessing the potential of young people.
On his part, Mr Durunguwa Abdulmalik, Chairman of Population Management and Development (PMDD), said that coordination and full implementation of the National Population Policy required a holistic advisory guide.
While congratulating the members of the group, he described them as persons with intellectual capacity and proven integrity capable of rendering fruitful advice to NPC.
Responding, Mr Usman Sarki, on behalf of the members of the group thanked NPC for finding them credible enough to serve in the group and affirmed their commitment to delivering on their mandate.
National Population Policy (NPP) provisions, the Population Advisory Group (PAG) has 15 members and is chosen from different spectrums of society. The Chairman of the group is the Executive Chairman, National Population Commission with eminent persons in the field of population development constituting the membership and the membership of the group reflected geo-political spread and gender considerations.
By Abiodun Alade
At sixty-eight, a legacy stands tall,
A testament to vision, strength, and resolve.
Aliko Dangote, a name renowned,
A builder of empires, a force unbound.
By hard work, you carved your way,
With perseverance that turned night to day.
Through trials and triumphs, you have grown,
A titan whose empire is deeply sown.
In realms of business, you lead with grace,
A mind that sees the future, a steady pace.
Cement, oil, fertiliser—and ventures galore,
Each triumph a legend, each success a lore.
Your wisdom, like a river, flows deep,
In markets and minds, your influence keeps.
With each brick laid, with each step taken,
A legacy of progress, never shaken.
At sixty-eight, your journey’s clear,
A tale of triumph, without fear.
For wealth is more than gold and gain—
It’s a legacy, a lasting reign.
Aliko Dangote, you stand as a guide,
A figure of dignity, with nothing to hide.
May your influence grow, spreading all around,
For your life is a story, in gold, profound.
As you celebrate this milestone, so grand,
May your light shine bright, across the land.
For your life is a tale of the brave, the wise,
A legacy that forever will rise.
Abiodun, a communications specialist, writes from Lagos
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.
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