Tinubu Pardons Herbert Macaulay, Vatsa, Ogoni 9, Lawan, Five Others

.Grants clemency to 82 inmates, reduces prison terms for 65 others

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has granted a posthumous pardon to former Nigerian nationalist and co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), Dr Herbert Macaulay and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Major General Mamman Vatsa
Vatsa, a poet, who was sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986 was among the 17 people who received presidential pardons following the endorsement of the National Council of State, which met in Abuja on Thursday.
According to a statement issued on Thursday evening by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu also granted a posthumous pardon to Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and co-founder, along with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). Macaulay was the party’s first president, which played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence. However, in 1913, Macaulay was believed unjustly convicted by the British colonialists and banned from public office. Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now.
The President also pardoned four former convicts, including former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.
They were pardoned to enable them to integrate into society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse. Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was pardoned, along with Dr Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud.
The Ogoni Nine: Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine were formally pardoned.
At the same time, the President awarded national honours to the Ogoni Four- Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.
In exercising his constitutional power of mercy, President Tinubu granted clemency to 82 inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. He gave a reprieve for seven inmates on the death row by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.
President Tinubu acted on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy(PACPM). The committee has 12 members, with the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, as chairman. The other members are Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, CON; Prof. Alkasum Abba; Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya; Justice Augustine B. Utsaha; and the Secretary, Dr Onwusoro Maduka, a former Permanent Secretary.
The institutional representatives on the Committee are: the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The committee’s final report was presented to the Council of State on Thursday in Abuja, as required by the constitution.
The report noted, “A total of 175 inmates were interviewed, and 62 applications were received on behalf of 119 inmates considered by the committee, making it a total of 294.
“One hundred and sixty of the inmates interviewed were male, while 15 were female. Eighty-two inmates were recommended for clemency; two (2) for pardon; sixty-five (65) inmates for reduction of their terms of imprisonment, and seven (7) inmates on death row for commutation to life imprisonment.
“Also, fifteen (15) ex-convicts were recommended for Presidential Pardon, eleven (11) of them are deceased (including Ogoni 9). The Ogoni four (4) were also recommended for the Post-Humous National Honours Award.
“On the whole, a total of one hundred and seventy-five (175) beneficiaries are recommended.’’
The committee had acted on the following criteria: old age (60 years and above); ill health likely to terminate in death; young persons (16 years and below); long-term convicts who have served prison terms of 10 years or more with a good record; and convicts serving three years or more
“Those who have been in Custodial centres, learnt sustainable vocational trades capable of keeping them away from crime; those who are adjudged remorseful; those who Correctional Officers recommended for exemplary behaviour and Nigerian prisoners deported from other countries.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) on January 15, 2025, as a significant step towards promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.

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    Tinubu to Service Chiefs: It’s Time to Defeat Terrorists, Bandits

    Tinubu to Service Chiefs: It’s Time to Defeat Terrorists, Bandits

    .Says govt won’t tolerate excuses again

    .CDS pledges armed forces support for democratic rule

    Deji Elumoye in Abuja

    President Bola Tinubu on Thursday read the Riot Act to the newly appointed service chiefs by charging them to intensify efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities across the country.
    For effect, the President emphasised to the service chiefs that Nigerians now expect results, not excuses from them.
    President Tinubu, who gave the charge at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja following the decoration of the service chiefs with their new ranks as four-star general and three-star generals declared:
    “We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. I charge you, as the heads of our nation’s armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal.
    “Nigerians expect results, not excuses. I also urge you to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace. Let us deploy technology where necessary”.
    The President tasked the new military chiefs to dismantle the activities of emerging armed groups that have regrouped in some parts of the country.
    According to him: “Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.
    “We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right at the head.”
    He assured the armed forces of the Federal Government’s readiness to support their efforts, reiterating that the safety and security of Nigerians remain paramount for national development.
    President Tinubu commended the courage and commitment of the military and their families for their sacrifices to the nation.
    “Over the years, our military has remained steadfast in defending our nation’s territorial integrity, with many soldiers paying the supreme price for their service. Their sacrifices will not be in vain.
    “We have restored peace to many areas previously under siege, rescued countless kidnapped citizens, and significantly diminished the capacity of terror groups.
    “There were times when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land; this is no longer the case,” the President said.
    He urged the service chiefs to ensure synergy and provide exemplary leadership in all their operations.
    His words: “I advise you to work together as a team. Compare notes, exchange information effectively, and follow up proactively to ensure a seamless process. Work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all. We need to clean them up, clear them out. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.”
    Responding on behalf of the service chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, thanked the President for finding them worthy of the appointments.
    General Oluyede urged Nigerians to support the military in the campaign to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and rid the country of terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities.
    He also assured the President of their determination to keep the country safe.
    “Security should be our business, but without the support of Nigerians, we can hardly achieve anything. I want to encourage Nigerians of all ethnicities to support us, and ultimately, we will make Nigeria a safer place. That’s our promise to you,” he said.
    Speaking with newsmen after the ceremony, General Oluyede pledged the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the sustenance of democracy and the preservation of national security, reaffirming absolute loyalty to President Tinubu and the Nigerian people.
    He assured that the military under his command would work relentlessly to rid the country of all forms of criminality and create a secure environment where socio-economic activities can flourish.
    His words: “I want to assure Mr president and all Nigerians today that we’ll do all our utmost best to ensure that we rid Nigeria of all forms of criminality and make Nigeria safer to ensure socio-economic endeavours can thrive.We pledge our loyalty to Mr. President, and we assure you
    that will continue to support the flourishing democracy and support all your government aspirations to make Nigeria better. That’s our pledge for you today”
    The Defence Chief further called on Nigerians to continue supporting the armed forces as they intensify operations to protect lives and property across the nation.
    “But in all, I want to thank all Nigerians for the support they give to the armed forces, and I expect that they give us more so that we can make Nigeria safer.”
    The Service Chiefs who were promoted and decorated with their new ranks include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke..
    The Service Chiefs were accompanied to the event by their spouses. The military chiefs drew applause from the audience when, after saluting the President, their Commander-in-Chief, they turned and saluted their wives.
    The ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Senator Olamilekan Adeola.
    Also present were the Governors of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    Other dignitaries in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Head of the Civil Service, Esther Didi Walson-Jack; Chairmen of Defence Committees in the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and Babajimi Benson; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu..

    ​  

    .Says govt won’t tolerate excuses again .CDS pledges armed forces support for democratic rule Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Thursday read the Riot Act to the newly

    FG Inches Closer To Implementing Single Window Policy For Efficiency At Nigerian Ports By 2026

    FG Inches Closer To Implementing Single Window Policy For Efficiency At Nigerian Ports By 2026

    * As Shettima demands roadmap for weight and measures framework

    * Tasks NPA, Customs, SON, NIS, others on inter-agency synergy

    Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

    Nigeria has intensified efforts to actualize the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports by 2026.

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the policy targeted at creating a single platform to harmonise documentation, minimise human contact, and bring full transparency to the cargo clearance process would be a game changer at the ports.

    Shettima, who stated this on Thursday during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the State House, Abuja, noted that the target is to reduce average cargo clearance time from 21 days to less than seven days by the end of 2026, and to position Nigerian ports among the top three most potent trade corridors in Africa.

    His words: “By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent. 

    “The forthcoming implementation of the National Single Window in the first quarter of next year will be a game changer, a single platform that harmonises documentation, minimises human contact, and brings full transparency to the cargo clearance process.”

    The vice-president also directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other relevant agencies to come up with a roadmap on how to make Nigeria’s weights and measures framework effective. 

    The weights and measures framework conducts regular surveillance and inspections across Nigeria to ensure that weighing and measuring equipment used in trade is accurate and that consumers receive the correct value for their money in line with standard global practice.

    The main objective is to ensure consumer protection, which is achieved by preventing fraud and misrepresentation in commercial transactions involving weights and measures.

    Demanding a roadmap for an effective weights and measures framework, Shettima said the target is to improve port operations, make cargo clearance faster and more efficient by reducing average cargo clearance time from 21 days to less than seven days by the end of 2026, as well as position Nigerian ports among the top three most potent trade corridors in Africa.

    The vice-president expressed dismay over cargo dwell time at Nigeria’s major ports, which he said “currently averages between 18 to 21 days,” compared to Ghana and Cotonou, Benin Republic, where it takes five to seven days and just four days respectively. 

    “The cost of clearing goods in Nigeria is estimated to be 30 per cent higher than in many of our regional peers. Our ports record cargo dwell times 475 per cent above the global average benchmark. 

    “These inefficiencies are not just statistics; they are symptoms of an economic ailment that costs us investments, drives up consumer prices, and weakens our export competitiveness. We simply cannot afford to continue down this path,” he noted.

    Shettima however expressed optimism that the Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, which is currently before President Bola Tinubu, “stands as one of the boldest and most decisive steps towards reversing these trends”. 

    “It marks the dawn of a new era, an era where agencies work together, where systems speak a common language, and where traders and investors can depend on predictability, transparency and speed,” he added.

    The vice-president demanded synergy among the NPA, Nigerian Customs Service NAFDAC, SON, NIS and other relevant agencies, saying the era of working in silo was over.

    He said: “But no reform succeeds without ownership. Every agency represented here, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Customs Service, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Immigration, the Quarantine Service, and all our partners must see ourselves not as isolated operators, but as links in a single, integrated value chain.

    “The era of siloed operations must end. Inter-agency rivalry must give way to inter-agency synergy. We are only as efficient as our collaboration allows, and our success will depend not only on what we do individually, but on what we achieve together.”

    Earlier, the Director General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, drew attention to the impact of inefficient port operations on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, underscoring the imperative for a collective resolve among stakeholders to improve port operations, making cargo clearance faster and more efficient.

    She decried the losses incurred as a result of the inefficiency at the nation’s ports while acknowledging the efforts of the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee, describing the committee as a platform that represents not only interagency collaboration but also a shared commitment to making Nigeria’s ports globally competitive, transparent and efficient.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, emphasized the import of synergy in revamping the nation’s ports, noting that: “Until there is collaboration and partnership you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports.”

    Highlighting the steps taken by the ports authority to address bottlenecks faced by importers and exporters at the nation’s ports, the MD said the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee established by the NPA is recording huge successes through the joint inspection and boarding by relevant agencies operating in the area.

    He identified adoption of technology, improvement in infrastructure, human capacity building and equipment and tools, as areas that can be improved to enhance port efficiency and ensure that Nigeria remains competitive and relevant in the sub-region, continent and beyond.

    ​  

    * As Shettima demands roadmap for weight and measures framework * Tasks NPA, Customs, SON, NIS, others on inter-agency synergy Deji Elumoye in Abuja  Nigeria has intensified efforts to actualize

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