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Tag: Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu

  • Nigeria records major security gains in September — NOA DG

    Nigeria records major security gains in September — NOA DG

    The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has announced that Nigeria’s security agencies recorded significant progress in the fight against insecurity in September 2025.

    Speaking at the Monthly Joint Security Press Briefing for October 2025 in Abuja, Issa-Onilu said security agencies demonstrated improved coordination and proactiveness, shifting from reactive responses to preventive operations.

    The briefing, organized by the NOA in collaboration with security and regulatory agencies, aims to provide a cohesive, data-driven account of Nigeria’s security efforts.

    Issa-Onilu highlighted that the Nigerian Army conducted 196 operations nationwide in September, neutralizing terrorists, rescuing kidnapped victims, and dismantling illegal arms networks.

    “This month, intelligence services moved more decisively from response to prevention,” he said. “By intercepting arms couriers across Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Katsina before weapons could reach terror cells, the intelligence community demonstrated maturity in proactive surveillance. Smugglers using hidden compartments and disguised consignments were apprehended through real-time tracking, community intelligence tips, and sophisticated profiling.”

    READ ALSO; CREDICORP wins “Consumer Credit Access Company of the Year”

    He further disclosed that 76 hostages were rescued in Katsina, while 30 terrorists surrendered with their families in Borno State, adding that the Armed Forces effectively combined precision operations with humanitarian safeguarding through better logistics and local collaboration.

    The NOA boss also reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 1,703 drug suspects and seized over 212,000 kilogrammes of narcotics, while NAFDAC confiscated several fake and unregistered products nationwide.

    In the same period, the Nigerian Correctional Service foiled drug smuggling attempts into the Kuje Custodial Centre, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) responded to 589 road crashes, rescuing 3,848 people.

    The Nigeria Customs Service generated N658.6 billion in revenue, intercepted firearms and contraband, while the Immigration Service thwarted several human trafficking and illegal migration attempts.

    Additionally, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered over N600 million and secured three convictions, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) flagged illegal mining as a source of terrorism financing.

    Issa-Onilu said the coordinated actions of Nigeria’s security, enforcement, and regulatory agencies demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to national safety, transparency, and inclusive governance.

    He emphasised that security is a shared responsibility requiring active citizen participation, mutual trust, and access to accurate information.

    “From conflict zones to correctional reforms, our focus remains citizen-centered,” he said. “The public must work hand in hand with the government to secure our nation.”

    Issa-Onilu cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified information on social media, warning that misinformation fuels panic and undermines confidence in security operations.

    He urged citizens to report suspicious movements, illegal activities, and substandard products through official hotlines and digital platforms of agencies such as the Police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and Immigration Service.

    The NOA boss also appealed to the media to verify reports before publication and to amplify factual updates from credible sources, stressing the need to promote messages of unity, resilience, and national security.

    “Securing the country goes beyond military operations — it rests on collaboration, vigilance, and mutual trust. Your vigilance saves lives. Your voice matters. Your cooperation strengthens national security,” Issa-Onilu stated.

  • Party dismisses media reports on appointments

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed media reports that it has selected principal officers for its caucus in the National Assembly, saying such reports were false.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, said in a statement that the party was still consulting with relevant stakeholders and would make their consultation public once that is concluded.

    There have been reports that the party has zoned the principal officers’ positions in both the Senate and House of Representatives, with a former Nasarawa State governor picked for the position of Senate Leader and the House Leader is zoned to Kano State.

    Read Also: APC challenges PDP to offer quality opposition

    Onilu said the party has always been open in all its decisions and will not act differently in to case of principal officers of the National Assembly

    “Consultations are ongoing and in our typical style, we will come out to formally announce the party’s decision on the appointments.

    “With the prevalence of fake news, we urge the media to always wait for and rely on official statements from the party other than unofficial sources. The media should please take due note of this on future issues that involve our party,” the statement said.

  • No rift between Oshiomhole, Amaechi on Rivers, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday lashed out at a section of media, accusing it of twisting the statement by National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to suit what it described as a jaundiced narrative.

    The party said there was no disagreement between the Oshiomhole and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on the adoption of the governorship candidate of the AAC for the governorship election in Rivers state.

    National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, in a statement explained while the party has no formal alliance with the AAC, it has not foreclosed any local arrangement that may have been made by any local chapter of the party.

    READ ALSO: Oshiomhole’s statement on Rivers being twisted, says APC

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some reports in the media purporting a disagreement between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over the alignment of the Rivers State APC with the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Awara Biokpomabo.

    “It is regrettable that the APC National Chairman’s statement is being twisted to suit a jaundiced narrative. This narrative is at best, mischievous, pedestrian and should be disregarded.

    “The APC Chairman’s statement is unambiguous as to the effect that the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) does not have any formal alliance with AAC. This is without prejudice to any local arrangement that may exist.

    “Oshiomhole and Ameachi are above the petty insinuations being orchestrated by a section of the media.

    “Like many leaders of the party, APC National Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole and the Minister of Transport, Hon. Amaechi enjoy cordial relationship and do share mutual respect; therefore, deliberate misinterpretation of issues and statements from the party or between the two of them would continue to fail.”

  • Non-issuance of Certificate of return: Okorocha is on his own, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday spoke on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision not to issue Certificate of Return to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    The commission said it has no official position on the issue since the governor is still under suspension.

    National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu spoke at an interactive session with reporters that the governor has also not informed the party of the problem he is having with the electoral management body probably because he is aware of his suspension.

    INEC has said it will not issue Certificate of Return to Okorocha, because, according to the commission, he was declared winner under duress by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state.

    Asked whether the party planned to intervene in the matter, Onilu said Governor Okorocha is still under suspension, adding that until such is vacated, the party will not intervene.

    Read also: I’m not owing any bank, Okorocha insists

    “On the refusal of INEC to issue Certificate of Return to the governor, who was announced winner of the Imo West senatorial ticket, this party cannot take any action. Don’t forget that he is on suspension and as far as this party is concerned, that situation remains because there is no way we can say that somebody is on suspension and still go ahead to intervene in his case.

    “In any case, he has not even come up to inform the party of his problem because he has realised that he is on suspension. Therefore, until it is vacated, the party will now step in to intervene as a party member who has problem to resolve.”

    On whether former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Ameachi had committed anti-party activity for allegedly supporting governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Onilu said: “I will emphatically say no because if you liken it to the situation in Imo and or Ogun states, it will be wrong. In Rivers State, APC does not have any candidate and as a party, Rivers State is very important to us. The state has been in the hands of pillagers for too long.

    “If we have the opportunity of working with a party willing to abide by our principles, then it is within our right to work with such a party to ensure we free the people of Rivers State from the locust. In this case, he has not abandoned a particular candidate that belongs to the APC for a candidate of another party. They are entirely different issues and in that case, there is no anti-party. Whatever Amaechi has done is completely normal and acceptable to this party as far as working with other party is concerned.”

    On the supposed suspension of Senator Kabiru Marafa by his ward in Zamfara, Onilu said: “It s within the powers of the party executives at the ward level.

  • Okorocha on his own on non-issuance of certificate of return, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday reacted for the first time to the decision of the independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue certificate of return to Imo state Governor Rochas okorocha.

    It said the party has no official position on the issue since the governor is still under suspension.

    National publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, said at an interactive session with reporters that the governor has also not informed the party of the problem with the electoral management body probably because he is aware of his suspension.

    INEC has said it will not issue certificate of return to Okorocha, who was declared Senator-elect, insisting he was declared winner under duress.

    Asked whether the party planned to intervene in the matter, Issa- Onilu said Okorocha is still under suspension, adding until such is vacated the party will not intervene.

    “On the refusal of INEC to issue Certificate of Return to governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who was announced winner of the Imo West senatorial ticket, this party cannot take any action.

    “Don’t forget that he is on suspension and as far as this party is concerned, that situation remains because there is no way we can say that somebody is on suspension and still go ahead to intervene in his case.

    “In any case, he has not even come up to inform the party of his problem because he has realised that he is on suspension.

    “Therefore, until it is vacated, the party will now step in to intervene as a party member who has problem to resolve.”

    On whether former Rivers state governor Rotimi Ameachi had committed anti-party activity for allegedly supporting governorship of African Action Congress (AAC), Issa- Onilu said: “I will emphatically say no because if you liken it to the situation in Imo and or Ogun states, it will be wrong.

    “In Rivers state, APC does not have any candidate and as a party, Rivers state is very important to us. The state has been in the hands of pillagers for too long.

    “If we have the opportunity of working with party willing to abide by our principles, then it is within our right to work with such a party to ensure we free the people of Rivers state from the locust.

    “In this case, he has not abandoned a particular candidate that belongs to the APC for a candidate of another party.

    “They are entirely different issues and in that case, there is no anti-party. Whatever Amaechi has done is completely normal and acceptable to this party as far as working with other party is concerned.”

    Read also: Kwara PDP passes confidence vote on Saraki

    On the supposed suspension of Senator Kabiru Marafa by his ward in Zamfara, Onilu said: “It’s within the powers of the party executives at the ward level.

    “If they have good reason to take punitive action against a member that they considered to have flaunted the rules of the party.

    “In this case, we don’t have all the facts because it has not been brought to NWC attention and they don’t really need to come that far before they can take that decision.

    “Whoever that has happened to has the window to seek redress. So, we are watching to be sure that they stay within the rule.”

  • 2019: PDP planning to induce INEC, security to win, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged plot by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to induce Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and the security agents to pave the way for them to rig the Saturday’s election.

    The party also alleged that the PDP has concluded plans to distribute between five and ten million dollars to the states for logistics and mobilisation for the polls.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement on Thursday that the new plot was hatched at a strategic meeting held by the party on Thursday to review a confidential report from the election consultant that asked the party to work out ways of winning the Presidential elections.

    The statement reads, “Following the leaked confidential report by the foreign elections strategists/consultants contracted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which stated that the PDP’s presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar will lose the forthcoming elections, we have received credible intelligence on some of PDP’s ominous plans ahead of the elections”.

    “The apparently orchestrated arson attacks on some facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); syndicated fake news and planted false reports on the elections are part of the PDP’s strategies ahead of the Elections”.

    Read also: 2019: We will send Atiku into retirement on Saturday – Tinubu

    “The confidential report by the foreign elections strategists/consultants has recommended that the PDP take “urgent steps to rectify the situation”.

    “At the PDP’s strategy meeting held a few hours ago, the opposition party resolved to monetarily induce major actors and institutions in the electoral process with a view to compromising them ahead of the elections”.

    “In this regard, the main opposition party has perfected plans to share money to persons and actors considered critical to the success of the elections. The PDP has also perfected plans to distribute between 5 and 10 million dollars to the States for “logistics and mobilisation” on election day”.

    “PDP’s targets in the well-oiled machinery are INEC officials, security agencies and observers. This is expected to make such persons agreeable to their rigging plots and other evil machinations. The PDP is also using faceless bloggers to attack frontline security agencies in the social media as part of their plan to discredit the agencies”.

    “We must all be on high alert and resist this real and imminent threat posed by the PDP’s uncovered plans during the Elections.”

  • Why CJN must face trial, by APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) on Monday asked Nigerians to caution the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over what it called virulent attacks on the party and institutions of government saying Nigeria was bigger than any political party or any political interest.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu also faulted the decision of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnenghen  not to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to answer charges false asset declaration preferred against saying the decision could have been based on the suggestions of PDP Governors from the south south.

    He said while the APC will not be drawn in debating the legality or sponsored conspiracies of the CCT trial, the party believe that it was an opportunity for the Chief Justice to exonerate himself and prove his innocence in the matter, adding that the issue concerning the CJN should be allowed to follow the due process of law.

    He said the APC believe and insist that our democratic and constitutional institutions must be allowed to operate without interference and undue pressure from partisan and sundry interests as being done by the PDP and its cronies.

    According to him, PDP’s attempt to hoodwink Nigerians into believing that there is a political motive behind the allegation brought against the CJN might itself be indicative of some unholy alliances between the party and the judiciary.

    He said: “Following the notice of the charges preferred against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been on overdrive vituperating over an issue that should at best be left to the judiciary to resolve.

    “While we would not want to be lured into discussing issues that are presently before the courts and for which any respectable political party hoping to hold positions of responsibility should restrain itself, we regret to suggest that the PDP’s attempt to hoodwink Nigerians into believing that there is a political motive behind the allegation brought against the CJN might itself be indicative of some unholy alliances.

    “The likely affinity existing between the PDP and a section of the judiciary is further accentuated by the nonappearance of Justice Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday in line with the suggestions made by the PDP governors from the South South on Sunday.

    “Are Nigerians expected to see this as a mere coincidence? Is the PDP and their governors acting a script? Haven’t we missed an opportunity to show confidence in an institution headed by the CJN?

    “This becomes more worrisome knowing that the PDP’s campaigns have been receiving a cold shoulder everywhere they have gone to and it has become apparent the party and its Presidential candidate are facing imminent defeat in the February 2019 elections and may be searching for some unorthodox means of forcing itself on the Nigerian people.

    “If this were not so, the PDP should, before coming to these distracting conclusions, have taken cognisance of the facts of the allegations made against the CJN and his admission to the facts so stated.

    “The only logical conclusion in the circumstance is that realising the refusal of Nigerians to allow the deception of the PDP con them into returning the party to power, the opposition party has alongside some pliable human rights activists devised a plot to distract the APC and indeed the good people of Nigeria from addressing the very important issues on the APC’s manifesto in the electioneering process.

    “We have also noticed the very dangerous attempt to designate the CJN’s arraignment along ethnic and religious lines thereby trying to heat up the polity by evoking primordial sentiment which would do the country no good. This is an ungodly ploy when we consider that the CJN is an officer of the federation rather than that of any region.

    “We, therefore, urge all Nigerians of good conscience to caution the PDP as the country is bigger than any political party or the interest it represents, and nothing should stop the country’s steady march into sustainable democratic governance.

    “In our earlier statement on the CJN’s CCT trial, we had noted the PDP’s shocking and innate proclivity to defend cases of corruption anytime it arises. The call by the PDP’s South South Governors for the CJN’s boycott of the CCT trial further cements our position. Let it be reiterated that nobody no matter how highly placed should be above the laws of the land.

    Read Also: No schemer can turn Buhari against me- Amosun

    “We wish to put on record that the virulent attack that has come from the PDP in the wake of the trial of the CJN over alleged false asset declaration is particularly worrisome and suspicious when the PDP has in fact called for the removal of virtually all heads of government’s arms, particularly the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of the Police over frivolous issues.

    “While we will not be drawn into debates on the legality and sponsored conspiracies of the CCT trial, we insist that our democratic and constitutional institutions must be allowed to operate without interference and undue pressure from partisan and sundry interests as being done by the PDP and its cronies.

    “The CCT trial is a legal matter, let the law run its course. The CJN must go through the instrumentalities of the courts, more importantly as an institution he represents. Indeed, this is the true test of our constitution, rule of law and will deepen democracy.

    “Where there are contestations on institutional procedures, we must allow same institutions perform their functions unhindered, autocorrect if necessary and set good precedence on future matters. This is the only way we can build strong and lasting institutions.”

  • APC to PDP: Stop dancing on the grave of Nigerians

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to stop dancing on the graves of innocent Nigerians who were killed while they were at the helm of affairs in the country.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in a statement that the main opposition party should also stop playing politics with the nation’s security and campaign on issues.

    Read Also:500 Fayose’s loyalists dump PDP for APC

    He said the PDP and indeed, all Nigerians owe victims of those gruesome killings solemn conducts in their honour and in empathy with the bereaved families.

    The APC spokesman who was reacting to a statement credited to the PDP national Chairman said: “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in its latest ignominious campaign of falsehood is attempting to distort facts on the security record of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    “The PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus in a recent television interview declared that under the APC administration, more Nigerians have been killed than during the Civil War that ended in 1970. Sadly, this kind of blatant falsehood has become the favourite pastime of the PDP.

    “If we are to join the PDP in their mindless game of playing politics with the state of insecurity, we would be pitching the number of casualty during the civil war with what Nigerians witnessed under PDP. As a Party, we would rather engage the PDP on the number of completed projects and pro-people policies we have embarked on as a government for the benefit of the country.

    “The APC understands governance to be serious business and is focused on finding lasting solution to the state of insecurity. Notably, significant successes have been recorded in the last three and half years.

    “For instance, the Niger Delta violence that was prevalent under the PDP government has not only been tackled, the APC government has now embarked on the environmental cleanup of Ogoniland to restore the ecosystem of the area, which was of no concern to PDP during its 16 years of ignoble rule.

    “Besides guerrilla attacks and hitting at soft targets, Boko Haram has been seriously degraded such that it lacks any capacity to hold territory. Most Nigerians, especially, the people of the North East are still smarting from the monstrosity of Boko Haram attacks on the innocent citizens and control of large swathes of the country’s territory under PDP.

    “However, in view of the PDP’s distortion of facts, it is necessary to catalogue some of the many unresolved political assassinations, state sponsored military attacks against Nigerian citizens and unchecked ethno-religious conflicts that led to the gruesome deaths of hapless Nigerians in their thousands.

    “We sadly recall military attacks on communities such as Odi and Zaki Biam; resultants deaths from riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North; unchecked internecine killings in Plateau State and other states in the North Central claimed thousands of lives.

    “The Niger Delta militancy that emerged under PDP made the region a hotbed of expatriate kidnappings, killings, illegal bunkering and other criminal activities. With the emergence of Boko Haram under the PDP administration, the sect was allowed to gain ground and control 14 local governments, turning states like Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory into killing fields.

    “The least PDP can do in this circumstances is to resist the urge to dance on the graves of the hundreds of thousands of people who were gruesomely murdered while it was in charge. PDP and indeed, all of us owe victims solemn conducts in their honour and in empathy with the bereaved families.”

  • APC threaten to sanction members who take party to court

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to sanction party members who failed to utilise internal mechanism to resolve perceived grievances before heading to court, saying such action is capable of undermining the party and hurt it’s interest.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in a statement in Abuja that the party was concerned about the action of the members, asking such members to withdraw all such cases in court or face disciplinary action.

    Several members of the party have taken the party to court as a result of the outcome of the party primaries which produced it’s candidates for the 2019 general election.

    Some of those in court with the party include serving ministers of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, and his Niger Delta counterpart, Usani Uguru Usani, Senator Magnus Abe, Chief of Staff to Imo state Governors, Ogumba Uche Nwosu and several other who lost out in the lost out in the power play during the primaries.

    The statement said that members who have taken the party to court should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules.

    It said such members should take  warning very seriously as failure to comply with the party’s dispute resolution procedures would be met with the stipulated disciplinary actions.

    The statement reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has frowned at the actions of some Party members who have resorted to litigation as a way of addressing their perceived grievances and disputation without exhausting the party’s dispute resolution mechanism.

    “This growing trend is viewed by the party as a manifest indiscipline. The actions, it should be noted, is considered as anti-party as it goes against our Party’s constitution.

    “For emphasis, according to Article 20, Subsection 10 of our Party’s Constitution, offences against the Party include the following: “Filing an action in a Court of Law against the Party or any of its Officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the Party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided for in this Constitution.”

    “The Party intends to activate constitutional provisions to penalise such members as their action is capable of undermining the party and hurt the Party’s interest.

    “We hereby strongly advise such members to withdraw all court cases, while approaching the appropriate party organs with a view to resolving any outstanding disputes. In addition to this, aggrieved members are urged to take full advantage of the reconciliation committees the party has just put in place.

    “APC members should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules.

    “We therefore advise such members to take this warning very seriously as failure to comply with the party’s dispute resolution procedures would be met with the stipulated disciplinary actions.”

  • APC nullifies suspension of North East Zonal Vice Chair

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) on Monday nullified the reported suspension of the National Vice Chairman, North East of the party, Comrade Mustapha Salihu by the Zonal Working Committee.

    The New National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in his first official statement that the Zonal Working Committee of the party does not have the power to suspend a national officer as such power lies only in the National Executive Committee.

    The Zonal Working Committee of the party had in a letter to the National Chairman announced the suspension of Comrade Salihu, accusing him of inability to run the party judiciously, prudently, democratically and accountably in the zone.

    The statement reads “Our attention has been drawn to the purported suspension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu by the “North East Zonal Office”.

    Read Also: Alleged N17.3b debt: Court blocks INEC’s funds with CBN

    “We state categorically that the purported suspension is a nullity as the “North East Zonal Office” does not have such powers to suspend a National Officer. According to the Party’s constitution, such powers reside with the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    “Whatever issues there might be, the party structure and constitution provides ample avenues for redress and dispute resolution.

    “If the “North East Zonal Office” is unable to achieve a resolution, the National Working Committee (NWC) can and will wade in the matter to achieve amicable settlement.”