NDLEA Destroys 255 Hectares Of Cannabis Farms, Arrests 13 In Ondo

 

NDLEA Destroys 255 Hectares Of Cannabis Farms, Arrests 13 In Ondo

Channels Television  
Updated February 23, 2022

NDLEA Destroys 255 Hectares Of Cannabis Farms

 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a major operation that lasted seven days, have destroyed a total of 255 hectares of cannabis farms spread across five local government areas of Ondo state.

In addition, 13 suspects were arrested and 250 kilograms of cannabis seeds as well as 63.85kg cannabis weeds were recovered during the operation deep inside five major forests: Omolowo/Powerline forest; Ipele forest; Ala forest; Ogbese forest; Utte and Okuluse forest that spread across five local council areas of the state.

The exercise codenamed ‘Operation Abub’, which began at Ogbese forest on Tuesday 15th February lasted till Monday, February 21, 2022.

At the Ogbese forest, a suspect, Olatunde Olaoluwa was arrested in his cannabis farm measuring 10 hectares, which was destroyed and burnt along with other cannabis farms spread across the Ogbese riverbank.

The following day, 16th of Feb, the Agency’s Strike Force operatives in their numbers stormed Ipele forest where they arrested Amos Mark; Luke Job; Monday Momoh, and Otunuya Waya while 19 hectares of irrigated cannabis plantations were destroyed. One of the suspects, who escaped during the farm destruction, was later arrested in his house.

The Omolowo community in Ogbese area was next on Wednesday 17th Feb when one Mary Udonije was arrested inside a 10-hectare farm with 16.5kg of cannabis seeds and 4.5 kg of processed cannabis. Also recovered in the farm was an irrigation pumping machine with over 700 metres of hose for watering the illicit weed.

NDLEA’s Media Director, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Wednesday that not less than 154kg of cannabis seeds was also seized at Ala forest, Akure North Local Government Area with over 30 hectares of irrigation cannabis farms destroyed and burnt. A suspect, John Mike who claimed to be a labourer was also apprehended with 2.5kg of cannabis seeds.

On day four of the operation, 54 hectares of cannabis farm was destroyed at Utte and Okuluse forest, Ose Local Government Area of the state. Also recovered in the farm was 95kg of cannabis seeds, 2.5kg of processed cannabis Sativa and a pumping machine with a long hose.

On the fifth day, one Anthony Agbe, 58, was arrested with 43kg of fresh cannabis inside a farm that was earlier destroyed at Ogbese.

He claimed he was contracted by one Henry Daniel, (a.k.a Calender) who is at large to help gather the destroyed cannabis weeds. On the same day, one Ahmadu Abubakar was arrested with three Dane guns in a hut within a farm where over three hectares were destroyed at Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

On the last day of the operation, February 21, over 50 clusters of cannabis farm spread across 47 hectares were destroyed and 2kg of cannabis seeds seized, while a suspect, Olorunlogo Lekan was apprehended inside a large cannabis farm measuring 10 hectares at Ala forest before it was destroyed and burnt by Strike Force officers drawn across Edo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states Commands of the anti-narcotic agency.

At least, 72 hectares of other cannabis farms in small clusters close to the identified ones in the five forests were also destroyed in the course of the operation.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Strike Force corps of the Agency for their sacrifices and commitment to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that all such cultivation and plantations in the forests must be located and destroyed. He charged them to look out for more of such farms in any part of the country for a similar response.

Buhari Visits Nasarawa To Commission Projects

 

President Muhammadu Buhari is on an official visit to Nasarawa state to commission some projects executed by the Federal and State governments.

He arrived in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital around 10:00am on Thursday.

The President will first inspect the Lafia cargo airport before inaugurating other projects.

He was received by the state governor Abdullahi Sule and other dignitaries in the state.

Governor Sule, earlier on Tuesday announced that the President is expected to visit the country and urged residents in the State to turn out en-masse to receive the President.

He listed some of the projects expected to be commissioned to include Loko-Oweto Bridge, CBN complex, Federal Secretariat complex, and Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi dual carriageway.

Others are Nasarawa Vocation and Skills Acquisition Institute, Karu and Lafia Bus Terminal, Keffi Square, and Neighbourhood Market.

Two Persons Confirmed Killed In Osun PDP Ward Congress

 

Two persons have been confirmed killed during the ad hoc ward delegate Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held across Osun State on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson in the state, Yemisi Opalola told Channels Television on Thursday that two persons were killed.

According to the police, one of the victims, Toib Mutallib, was killed by suspected political thugs that stormed his ward in Agberire, a community in the Iwo Local Government Area of the state.

Another victim who is aged 28 and resident in Agberire and simply identified as Sheriff was also injured in the attack. He died after he was rushed to the hospital.

Two other persons were also reportedly injured during the Congress in Oba Oke, in Olorunda Local Government, and Ipetumodu, in Ife North Local Government.

Another death was also reported in Koso Area of Ipetumodu, when one Olamide Aremu, was shot in the leg and rushed to a hospital, where he later died.

A vehicle said to belong to the suspect was reportedly razed down by a mob.

Sylvester Oromoni: Dowen School Doctor Testifies

 A medical doctor employed at the Dowen College, Lagos, Mojisola Bisiriyu on Tuesday testified that the late Sylvester Oromoni complained of a hip and not leg injury when he presented himself at the school’s sickbay on November 21, 2021.

The doctor was testifying as the 8th witness in the coroner’s inquest to unravel the circumstances behind the controversial death of the 12-year-old student.

The deceased’s father had alleged that his child was beaten by some senior students and forced to drink a liquid which killed him.

But the school denied the claim, alleging instead that he sustained injuries while playing football with his mates.

In her testimony before Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, and while answering questions from counsel to the Oromoni family, Femi Falana, the doctor said that she didn’t notice any visible leg injury and the deceased didn’t complain of any.

As the school Doctor, my duty is to take care of students in the school and for whatever we see that demands attention, we usually call the parents,” Bisiriyu said.

“I saw the deceased on November 22, 2021, he came in with pain on his right side and that was what I saw him for. He came in with a limp and no other complaints.

“I spoke with the deceased’s mother, Mrs Oromoni about his health status and she said his guardian will be coming to pick him up the next day. I didn’t refer him to our partner hospital, Lifeline Children’s Hospital in Lekki because his case was not considered an emergency.

“He told me he fell down while trying to pick his Bible and it was an injury to his hip. It was after much cajoling that he said he played football. We applied pain relief and massaged the part he complained about.”

The doctor who said she works on weekdays from 8 am to 3 pm also clarified that when her shift was over, the student was treated by the resident nurse, nurse Omobola Kayode.

When Mr Falana asked if she was aware that the deceased could barely walk and was “carried” to the car by his guardian on November 23, the doctor said, “He was assisted out of the sickbay,” adding that she also advised his guardian to take him to the hospital.

When Mr Falana asked if she gave the guardian a referral letter to a hospital, the school’s lawyer, Anthony Kpokpo objected.

He said that the issue of a referral note should not arise because the doctor does not work in a hospital.

Mr Falana also asked, “By your assessment, does the deceased’s health status warrant you taking him to the hospital?” The doctor said no.

“But it warrants you asking the parents to take him to the hospital?” Mr Falana asked. To which the doctor answered, Yes.

Referring to the pathologist who had earlier testified in the matter, Mr Falana asked “A medical expert, Dr Soyemi told the coroner that all the deceased needed was a dose of antibiotics which would have prevented the unfortunate incident? Do you agree?”

“I cannot answer the question,” the doctor said.

Why didn’t you apply antibiotics? The lawyer asked.

The doctor replied, “There was no fever, nothing. You don’t just admit antibiotics. We are not a hospital or a lab. We did not run tests. The complaint was pain in the hip”.

“Do you know whether he was suffering from any disease?” Falana also asked.

“None that I’m aware of,” the doctor replied.

“Are you aware that the deceased was taken home over a twisted tongue in March?” Mr Falana asked.

The doctor said she was not aware.

She also testified that even though the deceased still had pains, his lips were not scalding or peeling at the time he was taken away from the school.

Before the school doctor testified, the police investigator, CSP Bamidele Olusegun concluded his testimony under cross-examination from the previous day (Monday).

While answering questions from the counsel representing Dowen College, Anthony Kpokpo, the policeman reiterated his testimony from the previous day that he found nothing in his investigation which suggested that the student died as a result of bullying.

He added that though the three house masters were negligent, passive and failed to take action when cases of inappropriate behavior of some students were reported to them, all of those cases referred to previous cases and not the Oromoni case.

The Coroner also had a few questions for the witness. He asked the policeman if he conducted a comprehensive investigation to which the witness answered in the affirmative.

When asked if he investigated claims that the deceased was beaten and given a poisonous substance to drink, the police officer confirmed he did but found no proof of this.

The coroner also asked if he invited the students the deceased played football with as well as his roommates and even students in adjoining rooms.

The police officer said, “The deceased’s room had four bunkers for 8 students including Oromoni. Of the remaining 7 students, I was able to speak to only 4 out of the 7.

“I invited all the deceased roommates and even some in other rooms but only 4 room mates showed up. The school had been closed down at the time and some we invited did not show up because their parents said they were going through trauma.”

“You have informed the court that you queried 4 roommates and that the occupants are eight (Including the deceased), having not been able to interview the other 3 roommates, can it be said or suggested that your investigation into the allegations of being beaten, dragged down from the bed and being given a substance to drink, is not comprehensive?” the coroner asked?

“It is not my Lord,” the police said.

The coroner has adjourned further proceedings till February 28.

Fire Guts Part Of Finance Ministry Building In Abuja

 A fire outbreak has gutted part of a building at the Federal Ministry of Finance located in the Central Business District, Abuja.

Black smoke was seen billowing from a part of the building, following the fire outbreak on Wednesday morning.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, Olajide Oshundun told Channels Television that the fire started early morning around 6:50am. He added that some staff of the Ministry noticed smoke emanating from the room that houses the battery for an inverter.

Oshundun said the fire was put out with fire fighting equipment at the Ministry within twenty minutes and that the effect of the fire incident is minor as it only affected the basement of the Ministry.

Also, the Federal Ministry of Finance in a tweet explained the cause of the fire outbreak.

According to them, the incident occurred on the corridor in the basement involving an isolated battery pack and it has been put out by the security personnel on duty.

 

The fire outbreak is just the latest of many that have affected government offices in Abuja.

In May 2020, a part of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) building in Abuja was gutted by fire.

A month before that incident, a building housing the office of the accountant-general of the federation (AGF) was gutted by fire.

World Cup Play-Off: CAF Fixes New Dates For Super Eagles Clash Against Ghana

 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of a change in dates for the FIFA World Cup play-off round between the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana.

The opening leg at the Cape Coast Stadium, earlier scheduled to be played on March 24, will now take place on March 25, starting from 7:30pm Ghana time (8:30pm in Nigeria).

Also, the return leg previously scheduled for March 27 will now hold at the Moshood Abiola (MKO) National Stadium in Abuja on March 29. Kick-off time is 6pm local time.

Meanwhile, CAF has chosen Nigerien official Zouwaira Souley as the referee for Wednesday’s 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying match between Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria’s Super Falcons in Abidjan.

Souley will work in company with compatriot Hawa Douno Moussa (assistant referee 1), Lamouni Latiifah Laura Pare from Burkina Faso (assistant referee 2), and another Nigerien, Nafissa Sani (4th official).

Ayawa Mana Mawoufemo Dzodope from Togo will serve as match commissioner, with another Togolese, Latré-Kayi Edzona Lawson-Hogban as referee assessor.

The Super Falcons, the tournament’s defending champions, won the first leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium 2-0 on Friday. Ifeoma Onumonu scored both goals.

Nigeria’s contingent to the return leg landed in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Sunday evening, and trained at the Palais des Sports in the Treichville area of the city.

The 23-woman Super Falcons squad includes Captain Onome Ebi, Onumomu, defender Ashleigh Plumptre, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne and Rita Chikwelu, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo and Gift Monday.

Wednesday’s encounter will take place at the Stade Robert Champroux, also in Abidjan, and will commence at 4pm Cote d’Ivoire time. The Falcons are expected to have a feel of the match venue on Tuesday evening.

The winner on aggregate will join hosts Morocco and Uganda who have already qualified for the 12 –team finals holding in Morocco 2nd -23rd July this year.

Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Tunisia who scooped huge first-leg wins, as well as Botswana who won away from home, look good for spots in Morocco, and to some extent, Nigeria and South Africa, with decent home wins.

Burundi will expectedly pick their ticket on Monday when they visit Djibouti, while the winner takes all fixture between Namibia and Zambia, which first leg ended scoreless in Luanda, will be settled inside the Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

All the other eight matches will be played on Wednesday.

SUPER FALCONS IN ABIDJAN:

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Yewande Balogun

Defenders: Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre, Rofiat Imuran, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne

Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Regina Otu, Peace Efih, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene

Forwards: Uchenna Kanu, Francisca Ordega, Gift Monday, Christy Ucheibe, Mbadi Amanda, Ifeoma Onumonu, Esther Okoronkwo

FIRST LEG RESULTS

Wednesday 16 February: Burundi 6-1 Djibouti; Zambia 0-0 Namibia; Guinea-Bissau 0-6 Burkina Faso; Senegal 1-0 Mali

Thursday 17 February: Togo 2-1 Gabon

Friday 18 February: Zimbabwe 1-3 Botswana; South Africa 2-0 Algeria; Tunisia 5-0 Equatorial Guinea; Cameroon 8-0 The Gambia; Nigeria 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire

Holders Chelsea Beat Lille 2-0 In Champions League Last 16 First Leg

 

Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic scored as Chelsea beat Lille 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Havertz headed the reigning European champions into the lead in the eighth minute and Pulisic doubled their advantage on a breakaway just after the hour.

The result leaves the French champions up against it going into the return leg on March 16.

People Would Have Trekked If Not For Lagos-Ibadan Transport Projects – Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said Nigerians would have trekked if his administration did not embark on the Lagos-Ibadan transport.

Buhari who spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving a delegation from Kaduna State led by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balaraba, said that prioritising infrastructure projects ameliorated hardship in some parts of the country.

“My objective was very clear, despite the dwindling resources, I wanted to deal with infrastructure across the country,” Buhari was quoted via a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

“We should look at advancement in terms of Infrastructure. No country can advance without infrastructure. There used to be railways, especially people from Southern Kaduna who will remember this.

Which country can really advance without road, rail and power, that’s why I wanted to sort out infrastructure, knowing that Nigerians are competitive by nature, and they will face their businesses when there’s a road, rail and power.”

While noting that movement in the South-West has been improved, the President thanked China and others who supported the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects.

He added, “The people from South-West can tell better because between Lagos and Ibadan by now, if we hadn’t done what we did, people would have been trekking because the road was not there, the rail was not there and there was so much insecurity.

“But we thank the international community. We thank China and Chinese investors who came along to support the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects.”

The President also assured that the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure will be sustained, which include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Express Road being handled by Julius Berger to ensure good and long-term quality.

He equally commended the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, for the transformation of the state, with growing infrastructure and socio-economic projects, while noting the growing liberality, which welcomes all Nigerians.

“Please extend my gratitude to the Governor for doing so well. I have been living in Kaduna for many years before I came here, but now I will need a modern compass to go around because of the transformation,” he stated.

On her part, the Deputy Governor thanked the President for his working visit to the state, where he commissioned projects in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria.

She explained that the Urban Renewal Programme will be sustained and spread across the state for more impact on the lives of the people, with many already near completion, and will be ready by May, 2022.

APC Governors Back New Convention Date, Adopt Zoning

 

Governors of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday said they were in support of the party’s new date for its National Convention.

Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, revealed this after the Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

The Governors also agreed on a fair zoning formula for all geopolitical zones.

The APC on Monday had postponed its National Convention to March 26. It was earlier billed for February 26.

The Governors had met on Monday evening but declined to comment on the postponed convention at a press briefing later.

“Until we finish the meeting with Mr. President, we will rather not comment on any timetable or logistics,” Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said.

Delayed Convention

The APC’s delay in conducting a national convention may not be unrelated to internal party wrangling and factions in several states.

The party leadership had been quiet about the processes leading up to the convention and reasons why such processes have failed to happen.

Dates of purchase and submission of forms by aspirants and their screening also elapsed without any formal communication by the party

The APC Governors last week had been slated to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over party issues, but the meeting couldn’t hold as the president had to travel to Belgium on an official assignment.

‘United Governors’

“There were differences among [APC] Governors over timing of the Convention,” Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna said after Tuesday’s meeting, according to a series of tweets by presidential aide Tolu Ogunlesi. “This is what the media called ‘divided governors’.

“There’s no way you can have 22 Governors agreeing on every issue. You can have differences, but to call it division is taking it too far.

But after our meeting last night and our briefing with PMB today, we are all on the same page. We have agreed on a simple, equitable and fair zoning formula for all geopolitical zones. By God’s grace by March 26 we will hold the APC national convention.

“Let there be no doubt that the Progressive Governors are United in our resolve to ensure that the Peoples Destruction Party doesn’t come back to power.”

Strike: Reps Ask FG To Adhere To MoU With ASUU

 

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the ongoing warning strike in the interest of students and the education sector in the country.

During plenary on Tuesday, the House mandated the Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity and Tertiary Education and Services to liaise with the relevant ministries and stakeholders to address the outstanding issues that led to the current warning strike by members of ASUU.

The resolutions followed a motion titled, ‘urgent need to address the frequent strike actions by ASUU,’ moved by Dozie Nwankwo from Anambra State.

In sponsoring the motion, Nwankwo said the previous ASUU strike which lasted for nine months had inflicted pain on Nigerian students, parents and the education sector.

He lamented that the last industrial action disrupted the academic calendar and impacted negatively the teaching staff, their families and the depreciating standards of Nigeria’s public universities.

“Conscious of the benefits and advantages of the demands of ASUU on the overall interests of Nigeria’s public institutions and the well-being of the personnel which includes funding for the revitalization of public universities and signing and implementation of the renegotiated” 2009 FGN- ASUU Agreement, amongst others,” he said.

“Disturbed that shortly after the last horrendous experience by Nigerians, a one-month warning strike action by members of ASUU has commenced with effect from February 14, 2022, despite all previous efforts to resolve the contending issues, such efforts include that of the Speaker, House of Representatives and other stakeholders which included members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

“Further disturbed that the consequences of the strike action are embarrassingly becoming too frequent and with consequences too damning to the education sector as one-month strike action is a too much disruption to an academic calendar and too much time for an “idle man” to cause havoc, especially in the present university environment which is infested with cult activities and other social vices.

“Concerned that in the present circumstances, claims and counterclaims by both ASUU members and Government representatives are not helping the situation because the picture created is not clear and both Nigerians and foreigners are left to interpret it differently, regrettably tilting towards perceived/or deliberate intention to frustrate the genuine spirit of reconciliation and tertiary education in Nigeria widely seen as education for the ordinary Nigerian.”

In adopting the motion, the House directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

Senate To Present Review Report Of 1999 Constitution Amendment On Wednesday

 The Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment will lay the report of the 1999 Constitution review before the Senate on Wednesday, February 23.

Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege announced this during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Federal lawmakers are also expected to vote on the amendments on March 1.

Meanwhile, sources within the presidency have said President Muhammadu Buhari will also likely sign the re-worked Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law on Wednesday.

This comes a few hours after Mr Femi Adesina during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily said President Buhari will sign the bill any moment from now.

“It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be anytime, but within the 30 days. It could be signed today; it could be signed tomorrow. In a matter of hours, not days. Hours could be 24 hours, it could be 48 hours; not days, not weeks,” Adesina said early on Tuesday morning.

President Buhari had withheld his assent to the bill in November last year, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as part of the reasons for his decision.

He, however, noted that he will sign the bill when the necessary adjustments are done.

Strike: FG’s Meeting With ASUU Ends Inconclusive, Negotiation Rescheduled

The reconciliatory meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities has ended inconclusively.

Amid a warning strike declared by the lecturers, both parties failed to reach an agreement at the meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who convened the meeting, led the government delegation while ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, attended alongside other leaders of the union.

Addressing reporters at the end of the discussion, Ngige said the meeting has been adjourned till Monday next week when the government hopes to get back to the lecturers on some of the issues raised.

He stated that agreement was reached on the issues around payment platforms, adding that the government was inclined to the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS) payment system developed by the university lecturers.

The nation’s education sector was hit with another setback last Monday when Professor Osodeke announced that the union had embarked on a warning strike.

As a result of the industrial action expected to last one month, academic activities have been grounded in various government-owned universities in the country.

ASUU declared the strike to re-echo its demands of revitalisation of public universities, payment of earned allowances, improved funding of state universities, and promotion arrears for members.

Another concern raised was the replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with the UTAS in the payment of emoluments to members, among others.

A week after the strike commenced, Ngige, while addressing Tuesday’s meeting, said the government was surprised that the lecturers could take such a decision.

According to him, commencing an industrial action was unnecessary at a time when the government is doing its best to resolve the issues raised by the lecturers.

Buhari Chairs FEC Meeting, Swears In New INEC National Commissioners

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in six new national commissioners for the Independent National and Electoral Commission (INEC).

The INEC national commissioners are Mohammed Haruna from Niger State, Mary Agbamuche-Mbu from Delta State, and Ukaegbu Nnamdi from Abia State.

Others include Major General AB Alkali (Rtd) from Adamawa State, Professor Rhoda Gumus from Bayelsa State, and Mr Sam Olumekun from Ondo State.

The President swore in the national commissioners on Wednesday while presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja.

Physically in attendance were the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), were also present.

Ministers in attendance included Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment), Festus Keyamo (Labour and Employment – State), Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology), Mohammed Abdullahi (Science and Technology – State), Rotimi Amaechi (Transport), and Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture).

Also present were Olamilekan Adegbite (Mines and Steel Development), Uche Ogar (Mines and Steel Development – State), Abubakar Aliyu (Power), Jeddy Agba (Power – State), Jeddy Agba, Babatunde Fashola (Works and Housing), and Clem Agba (Finance, Budget, and National Planning – State).

The Head of Service, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, and other members of the President’s cabinet attended the meeting virtually from their various offices in the nation’s capital.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, led the electoral umpire’s national commissioners to the Aso Villa for the inauguration ceremony.