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Tag: Adeniyi

  • Tinubu’s investment policy will end smuggling, says Customs CG Adeniyi

    Tinubu’s investment policy will end smuggling, says Customs CG Adeniyi

    • ‘Era of accidental shooting in Customs over’

    Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s investment policy will end smuggling of contraband into the country.

    Adeniyi said this at the passing out parade of 956 General Duty Junior Officers who completed their Basic Course 1/2023 training at the Customs Training College in Goron Dutse, Kano.

    The NCS boss said the Tinubu administration has demonstrated the readiness to end smuggling through the renewed vigour to bring in investors and rebuild the economy.

    “I think smuggling, generally, is an act of sabotage. Mr. President has demonstrated his readiness to end smuggling by giving some kind of vigour, renewed vigour and renewed hope in our economy.

    “It is recommendable when you look at some of the policies that he has taken, in terms of making businesses thrive, bringing in investors, and things like that.

    “So, when you are having investors and we are having these efforts to rebuild our economy, then there would be no room for smugglers or those who want to sabotage us.”

    ÿþAlso, Adeniyi has said out of the over 500,000 applicants received for admission into the Customs training school, only 956 were admitted.

    Adeniyi urged the recruits to see their admission as a call to duty and diligent service to the Customs and the nation.

    “Out of over 500,000 applicants, you, the graduating recruits, represent the future of our organisation.

    “It is upon your shoulders that the responsibility of meeting the aspirations of our great nation rests. I want you to be mindful of the fact that your recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service was merit-based.

    “You were chosen from among over half a million applications received at the initial stage of the exercise. You have earned your place here, and it comes with great responsibility.

    “You are expected to serve your nation with diligence, discipline, and the highest level of integrity at all times. Upholding these values is not just a duty but a necessity. Always be smart in appearance, for it reflects the pride you take in your role as a Customs officer. Be the embodiment of excellence and service in every aspect of your conduct,” he said.

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    Adeniyi also said fighting smugglers and smuggling activities deserved concerted efforts from well-meaning Nigerians.

    He said: “It has to be a kind of concerted efforts by everybody concerned, particularly those communities living around our borders.  This was why I went to see many of them.

    “I visited them; I had engagements with them. I sought their support, sought their protection and understanding. I made them to understand that our economy will not survive if we allow smugglers to continue to perpetrate their heinous crimes.

    “We are happy that the narrative is changing, gradually. I was in Shaki, in Oyo State, some weeks ago, and I saw how the traditional rulers and leaders in those communities came out en masse, not only to welcome us but to give us assurance that they would be ready to support us in all our training activities and in our operations.

    “The story was not different when I went to the northwestern borders. I had very serious engagements with members of the communities. We are hopeful that with their support, we will significantly win the war against smuggling.”

    Also, Adeniyi has said the era of deficit in handling weapons and ammunition is over in the NCS.

    He said: “You represent the image and reputation of the service upon your shoulders as you move on with your own to discharge your assignments.”

    The CGC urged Nigerians to review their confidence and truth in the Customs officers holding weapons, as the era of rampant cases of shooting of innocent Nigerians was over.

    “I want to charge them to continue with that kind of spirit, the spirit of ‘we are ready to do it’, in spite of the challenges, and in spite of the obstacles around us.

    “We have seen it ourselves that in the past, there have been the challenge of deficit in capacity; either they were not adequately trained or we did not give enough attention to it.

    “But the incidents of the past few months have challenged us to ensure that we entrust our arms and ammunitions in the care of those who are properly trained to do so; those who have the capacity to do so; and those who have the right sense of mind, the right mental presence and capacity to do so.

    “These people are well-trained, they have the passion to do the job, and they are ready.

    “Let me assure Nigerians that the era of officers and men of the service shooting innocent citizens is over due to the training acquired during the six months intensive training.

    “You are expected to serve your nation with diligence, discipline and the highest level of integrity at all times.

    “Upholding these values is not just a duty but a necessity. Always be smart in appearance, for it reflects the pride you take in your role as Customs officers.

    “Be the embodiment of excellence and service in every aspect of your conduct,” Adeniyi added.

    The commandant of the college, Rasheed Adahunse, said the trainees covered topics on enforcement, revenue, valuation, export and import procedures, passenger selection, parcel post, administration, ITC and some other valuable things.

    He said the recruits have mastered the drills and excelled in academic activities within six months while they were committed to checking boarder activities with joint efforts of the communities.

  • Obasanjo was wrong, says Adeniyi

    Obasanjo was wrong, says Adeniyi

    Oba of Igbobi-Sabe, Yaba in Lagos State, Owolabi Adeniyi, has decried the affront on the institution of traditional rulers.

    He said people are denigrating the institution because it has no role in the constitution.

    Oba Adeniyi said, in a statement in Lagos, the institution has been recognised by political leaders.

    He said:” The whiteman did his bit with Overanmwen Nogbaise of Benin, Olu of Warri, Esugbayi Eleko, Kosoko, Ashantehene.

    “Fellow black men did so with Odemo of Ishara, Olowo of Owo, Emirs of Kano Sanusi I/11, Sultan Dasuki, Emir of Gwandu, Gen Jokolo. How many stools in Yorubaland where contenders never went to court?

    “Obaship is not even mentioned anywhere in the constitution since 1979. The whiteman gave us House of Chiefs as he has House of Lords. The blackman removed House of Chiefs from the bargain. Must obas have letters of appointment by government? Can’t a community that desires an oba take care of his needs? He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Obas are paid by governments.

    “How many obas were not imposed on their people, and how can such people fight for them?

    ” Obas have become so ubiquitous that we see them on hourly basis. How many obas have personal clout as Atobatele to call the bluff of government with the support of their people.

    “Obasanjo simply and openly sang the song that many had been singing for decades. Sorry to sound blunt.

    Read Also: We inherited over 2,600 road projects worth N14tn, says Umahi

    What is the state Order of Protocols. The obas come last, before gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen.

    “The cause is a battle between political office holders and traditional office holders, and the course has been on since colonisation.

    “I’m sure we have not run the full cycle, and the circle is a permanent roundabout. It’s sad and bad, but we made it so. When Rimi gave Emir Bayero a query in 1981, Kano City burned for days.

    “When Bisi Onabanjo queried Awujale in 1982, Ijebuland was quiet like a cemetery. It took the Buhari coup to save Awujale his crown. He was a gonner. LKJ gave chairmanship to Osolo above Eleko.

    “There is need for a review and reform of obaship to avert recurrence of Iseyin madness and to avoid the spate of further denigration.

    “Let the obas have a forum, independent of the government, to address the issues where they can determine the agenda, provide the funds, and send a position to the government.

    “The obas and chiefs laws should be studied to block the lacunae and unchain the arms of the royal fathers.”

  • Odunayo out, Adeniyi in race for medal

    Nigeria’s medal hopes at the ongoing 2018 Budapest World Wrestling Championship in Hungary seems to be fading each day as two-time medallist – Odunayo Adekuoroye was bundled out in the round of 16, while Aminat Adeniyi is still in the race for possibly a bronze medal in the 62kg of women freestyle event.

    It was indeed a firework of sorts in the women’s 57kg as Azerbaijan’s Alyona Kolesnik stunned reigning world and Olympic champion United States’ Helen Maroulis, earning a second-period fall.

    Kolesnik held a narrow 2-2 lead on criteria early in the second period when Maroulis shot a single leg, which was stopped.

    Maroulis immediately followed up another attack, which Kolesnik stuffed and ran the American over for the fall. Maroulis, who did not surrender a point at last year’s World Championships in Paris, was eliminated from the tournament when Kolesnik lost by technical fall (10-0) to China’s Ningning Rong in her next match. Maroulis has seen limited action this year due to a head injury.

    Maroulis’ loss was not the only surprising result at 57kg, as Nigeria’s Adekuoroye, a returning world silver medallist in 55kg, fell to India’s Pooja Dhanda 7-6 prior to the quarterfinal round. Adekuoroye led 6-5 with 10 seconds remaining before getting taken down in the closing seconds to lose the match.

    In the 62kg, Adeniyi fought well from the first stage before being beaten by an Olympic Champion but she remains the only Nigerian in the race for a bronze medal.

    For the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, the defeat Adekuoroye’s defeat was unfortunate. “I want to say that nothing went wrong in the tie against Pooja of India. They had wrestled twice earlier this year at 1-1. Adekuoroye led 6-5 with 10 seconds left before giving up two points take-down. I think it is a lesson for all the wrestlers. We move on from here to our preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” Igali said.

  • Adeniyi donates books to his alma mater

    Veteran journalist and literary icon Chief Tola Adeniyi has presented a set of 32 compendiums of Encyclopaedia Britannica to his alma mater Ago Iwoye Secondary School in Ijebu, Ogun State.

    Adeniyi, the Bobagunwa of Ago-Iwoye, graduated from the college 55 years ago, where he once served as the Chairman, of its Board of Governors.

    Adeniyi praised the former Principal of the school, the late Mr J.O.B. Adebambo, who inculcated the reading culture by compelling every pupil to read and summarise a novel weekly.

    As the school’s official reporter, weekly commentator and columnist on the Press board as well as being the president of the school’s Literary and Debating Society and Drama Club, Adeniyi stated that the college laid the foundation for his career in the arts and journalism.

    In addition to the Encyclopaedias shipped in from Canada, the veteran journalist also presented 100 novels donated to the school by Dr Raphael James, founder of the largest private/public library in Nigeria, Crimmd Free Public Library.

    Adeniyi also donated 10 of the books authored by him to the school.

    Receiving the books on behalf of the college were the principals of the Senior and Junior arms of the college, Mr Adekunle Fenuga and Mr Adegboyega Osunsami.

    Fenuga expressed profound appreciation for Adeniyi’s patriotic gesture and enjoined other old students to emulate his altruistic example.

    Both the National President of Ago Iwoye Old Students Association, Chief Babajide Oyeti, a retired Permanent Secretary, and the Secretary- General Dr Joke Sheyin, a university don, praised Adeniyi, urging the teachers and pupils of the institution to make the best use of the books.

    In his introductory remark, Otunba Yomi Bada, an old student and retired Customs boss, eulogised Adeniyi and made a brief citation of the literary giant who founded the school’s Press club in 1959 and was Editor of the school’s magazine The Spartan.

    Publisher, Femi Odugbose and entrepreneur Dele Owolowo were among the dignitaries at the event.

  • I did not ambush Jonathan, others, Adeniyi

    I did not ambush Jonathan, others, Adeniyi

    •Raises alarm on how online hackers hijacked new book

    The Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi,  yesterday said he did not ambush ex-President Goodluck Jonathan or any respondents in writing his book–Against The Run of Play.

    He said Jonathan went through  the text of the interview he had with him line-by-line.

    He asked other leaders to join him in writing their own accounts to have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election.

    But he expressed regrets that hackers have succeeded in breaking the code to the online edition of  his book and are already circulating it online.

    Adeniyi made these clarifications in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the Jonathan’s claims that there are distortions in his book.

    He said: “For the record, after my first conversation with President Jonathan, I asked for his email address and promised to send him the raw text of our conversation which he could then amend as appropriate.

    “ I sent it to him that very day. When I went for a second meeting, I took along a printed copy which we both went through line-by-line. Whatever he wanted removed, reworked or rephrased was done while in some areas he provided further context to what he said.

    ”Incidentally, a few hours after our second conversation, President Jonathan called me that he felt uncomfortable about a certain response he gave to a particular issue. He told me what to do and I reflected it immediately.

    “I went into all that length because he is a man for whom I have tremendous respect and my intention was/is not to embarrass him or anybody. I just wanted his side of the story told in a way he is comfortable with.

    ”I went through this same process with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, former NGF Chairman and current Transportation Minister, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and a few other principal actors who all have in their emails the raw text of our conversations.

    ”The reason I did that was so I would not misquote, misrepresent or distort the views of any of the people who spoke to me on trust.

    “My intention was not to ambush or set up anyone. This is why I gave them the opportunity to go over what they told me again before putting it in print.

    “ Fortunately, none of them has come out to say I distorted their views. Besides, I left out so many things in my book so as to avoid unnecessary controversies.

    “ For instance, President Obasanjo made some strong remarks about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar which I decided to remove even after he (Obasanjo) had approved it for publication.

    “I did the same to some of the things others told me that I believed could raise unnecessary dust or distract from the story at hand.

    ”Therefore, I did not distort President Jonathan’s view and he did not say I did. Now that he has reaffirmed what he told me that he is writing his own account, I will enjoin Nigerians to wait for his book.

    “I hope others will join him in writing their own accounts so that we can have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election. The more accounts and the more perspectives we have, the better for our education and learning.

    “In the same vein, I will also implore all the key actors in the major historical junctures of our national life to document their experiences for the present and for posterity.”

    He insisted that he did not distort Jonathan’s views in any manner whatsoever.

    He said: “Yesterday, President Jonathan said: ‘I have just read Segun Adeniyi’s new book, ‘Against the Run of Play’ which has so far enjoyed tremendous reviews in the media. My take on it is that the book as presented, contains many distorted claims on the 2015 presidential election by many of the respondents. There will obviously be more books like that on this subject by concerned Nigerians. However, I believe that at the right time, the main characters in the election including myself will come out with a true account of what transpired either in major interviews or books.’

    ”The respondents President Jonathan was referring to are the people who spoke to me and whose claims he apparently disputes or disagrees with. This should be clear enough to those who did not choose to read his statement with a tendentious accent. But apparently it is not. President Jonathan did not say I distorted his views and the fact that others may have presented him in ways he doesn’t like cannot be taken as an indictment of me or of my work.”

  • I did not ambush Jonathan, others, says Adeniyi

    •Raises alarm on how online hackers hijacked new book

    The Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi yesterday said he did not ambush ex-President Goodluck Jonathan or any respondents in writing his book–Against The Run of Play.

    He said Jonathan went through  the text of the interview he had with him line-by-line.

    He asked other leaders to join him in writing their own accounts to have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election.

    But he expressed regrets that hackers have succeeded in breaking the code to the online edition of  his book and are already circulating it online.

    Adeniyi made these clarifications in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the Jonathan’s claims that there are distortions in his book.

    He said: “For the record, after my first conversation with ex- President Jonathan, I asked for his email address and promised to send him the raw text of our conversation which he could then amend as appropriate.

    “ I sent it to him that very day. When I went for a second meeting, I took along a printed copy which we both went through line-by-line. Whatever he wanted removed, reworked or rephrased was done while in some areas he provided further context to what he said.

    ”Incidentally, a few hours after our second conversation, ex-  President Jonathan called me that he felt uncomfortable about a certain response he gave to a particular issue. He told me what to do and I reflected it immediately.

    “I went into all that length because he is a man for whom I have tremendous respect and my intention was/is not to embarrass him or anybody. I just wanted his side of the story told in a way he is comfortable with.

    ”I went through this same process with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, APC stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, former Governors’ Forum Chairman and current Transportation Minister, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and a few other principal actors who all have in their emails the raw text of our conversations.

    ”The reason I did that was so I would not misquote, misrepresent or distort the views of any of the people who spoke to me on trust.

    “My intention was not to ambush or set up anyone. This is why I gave them the opportunity to go over what they told me again before putting it in print.

    “ Fortunately, none of them has come out to say I distorted their views. Besides, I left out so many things in my book so as to avoid unnecessary controversies.

    “ For instance, former President Obasanjo made some strong remarks about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar which I decided to remove even after he (Obasanjo) had approved it for publication.

    “I did the same to some of the things others told me that I believed could raise unnecessary dust or distract from the story at hand.

    ”Therefore, I did not distort ex-President Jonathan’s view and he did not say I did. Now that he has reaffirmed what he told me that he is writing his own account, I will enjoin Nigerians to wait for his book.

    “I hope others will join him in writing their own accounts so that we can have the complete story of the 2015 presidential election. The more accounts and the more perspectives we have, the better for our education and learning.

    “In the same vein, I will also implore all the key actors in the major historical junctures of our national life to document their experiences for the present and for posterity.”

    He insisted that he did not distort Jonathan’s views in any manner whatsoever.

    He said: “Yesterday, President Jonathan said: ‘I have just read Segun Adeniyi’s new book, ‘Against the Run of Play’ which has so far enjoyed tremendous reviews in the media. My take on it is that the book as presented, contains many distorted claims on the 2015 presidential election by many of the respondents. There will obviously be more books like that on this subject by concerned Nigerians. However, I believe that at the right time, the main characters in the election including myself will come out with a true account of what transpired either in major interviews or books.’

    ”The respondents President Jonathan was referring to are the people who spoke to me and whose claims he apparently disputes or disagrees with. This should be clear enough to those who did not choose to read his statement with a tendentious accent. But apparently it is not. President Jonathan did not say I distorted his views and the fact that others may have presented him in ways he doesn’t like cannot be taken as an indictment of me or of my work.”

  • Adeniyi leads two others for medal chase in wrestling

    Adeniyi leads two others for medal chase in wrestling

    Commonwealth gold medallist, Aminat Adeniyi will lead the duo of Genesis Mercy and Hannah Rueben, as Team Nigeria begins its quest for medals in the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    Adeniyi, a double African champion, will compete against the world’s best in the freestyle event of the women’s 58kg. She is expected to compete for medal against 19 other wrestlers across the globe.

    Mercy Genesis, who is making her international debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, will jostle for laurel in the women’s 48kg against 19 others including former Olympic Games medallist.

    Experienced Hannah Reuben who is making her Olympic Games debut will have her hands full against 17 others in the women’s 69kg of freestyle event.

    Five female and two male wrestlers are expected to compete for Team Nigeria at the Rio Olympic Games with all eyes on Odunayo Adekuoroye, a bronze medallist at the 2015 World Championship and rated as one of favourites to clinch a medal in the freestyle event.

    Meanwhile, Cuba’s Mijain Lopez Nunez won his third straight Olympic Games gold medal at the weekend with a 6-0 victory over reigning world champion Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

    With the victory, Lopez becomes the third wrestler in the classic style to win three Olympic Games gold medals after Sweden’s Carl Westergren and Russia’s Alexander Karelin.

    After last year’s 1-0 loss to Kayaalp in the world championships finals, many wrestling fans were expecting a hard-fought struggle, but Lopez sealed his victory in the opening 30 seconds of the gold medal final.

    Lopez snapped Kayaalp down as the champ moved forward at the opening whistle.  With Kayaalp’s balance broken forward, Lopez wrapped up a tight chest-lock from in front and tossed the champ to his back for a sudden 4-0 lead. In the ensuring scramble, Lopez added a step-out point.

    As things got chippy with a frustrated Kayaalp in the second period, Lopez gained another penalty point and appeared to have technical fall within reach with one minute to go, but he chose to ease home with the victory.

    Earlier in the day, Lopez defeated London 2012 silver medallist Estonia’s Heike Nabi, bronze medallist Sweden’s Johan Euren and two-time junior world champion Russia’s Sergey Semenov – all by simple decisions.

  • Adeniyi, Ibrahim set for 3SC debut

    Adeniyi, Ibrahim set for 3SC debut

    3SC of Ibadan duo of  Alaba Adeniyi and Nurudeen Ibrahim from Ghana are among the newly signed players that may make their debut for the Oluyole Warriors this weekend away to Nasarawa United in a Match Day Four tie in Lafia.

    Shooting Stars have not had the best of times in the ongoing season as they are last with no point from two league games after two successive losses to Wikki Tourists FC and Heartland FC.

    A source in the team told SportingLife that the management of the Oluyole Warriors have told the technical crew headed by Franklin Howard to shape or ship out starting from the tie with the Solid Miners.

    The source hinted that some of the team’s high profile players are expected to start playing for 3SC from the away tie to Nasarawa United including Adeniyi who joined from Sunshine Stars and Ibrahim who was cleared from a Ghanaian club.

    SportingLife was also told that the duo of Dream Team VI players: Abiodun Akande and Femi Ajayi Junior are being awaited and may be with the squad to Lafia for the tie with the Soild Miners this weekend.

  • Adeniyi Panel to FG: Keshi caused bonus row

    Adeniyi Panel to FG: Keshi caused bonus row

    •Bans cash payment of bonuses; payment now through the bank

    •Abolishes draw bonuses

    •Coaches to be paid lump sum qualification bonuses

    The Segun Adeniyi-led probe panel on the Super Eagles bonus row, has fingered coach Stephen Keshi as part of the embarrassment and said he should be warned.

    “Keshi was part of the problem as regards the bonus saga in Namibia. He stood to lose money if the bonus was slashed as proposed by the NFF and so he needs to be warned about his role in that ugly episode,” a top official told MTNFootball.com.

    The African champions almost failed to turn up for the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in June, after they insisted they be paid more than what the broke Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) planned to pay them for two World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia.

    According to MTNFootball.com, the Adeniyi panel have submited the following recomendations-

    1) No more cash payments for match bonuses to the national teams. Players and officials will now be paid through banks.

    2) Draw bonuses should be abolished. Players will only be paid bonuses for winning a game, while participation fees will be paid for all national team engagements.

    3) Coaches will negotiate their bonuses and will henceforth be paid a lump sum as qualification bonuses and not match bonuses. This is to ensure that the coaches are more professional in the discharge of their duties and have set targets to meet.

    4) A code of conduct should be introduced for the national team. A draft of this has been produced by the panel.

    5) The NFF must announce the match bonuses for all their matches at the start of each financial year.

    6) Cash bonuses should be discouraged for the country’s junior teams with the plan for a special pension fund to be opened for these players and such monies paid into such a fund.

    The panel will submit several ground-breaking recommendations to the country’s sports minister in Abuja Thursday afternoon.

  • Man shot dead at Osun PDP meeting

    A 25-year-old man Kunle Olagoke, was on Sunday shot dead at a factional meeting of a political party believed to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edunabon, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State.

    It was gathered that he died during a clash of rival factions of the party in the area.

    Sources said there had been a leadership tussle between the two factions since last year in Ife North Local Government.

    The PDP in the area had been allegedly enmeshed in crisis since the assumption of office of the chairman of the party in the council, Mr. Sam Oyetade.

    A leader of the party in the state, who is also a governorship aspirant was not favorably disposed to the emergence of Oyetade as chairman and had made several efforts to get him impeached to no avail.

    Trouble started at the ward meeting of the party at the Local Authority Primary School, in Edunabon at about 4.00pm on Sunday when some loyalists of the governorship

    aspirant allegedly stormed the venue of the meeting and called for the removal

    of Oyetade as the party chairman.

    However, loyalists of Oyetade were said to have resisted attempts to remove him and this resulted in a bloody clash between the two factions.

    It was gathered that the deceased died before he getting to the hospital.

    A police source, who did not want his name in print, confirmed the incident.

    The Publicity Secretary of the state PDP, Prince Bola Ajao, said the state

    secretariat of the party was not yet briefed on the matter.

    He said that the matter would be properly investigated by the state executive council of the party.