The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday, stated that promotions for personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigerian Correctional Service would now be based primarily on merit.

According to him, the era of promotions influenced by lobbying and nepotism is over in the paramilitary services.

The minister, reacting to recent grumblings and petitions by some personnel regarding promotion issues, revealed that over 64,000 personnel had been promoted between 2023 and now.

Speaking at a retreat organised by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Services Board for senior officers of the paramilitary services, Tunji-Ojo warned personnel against lobbying him for promotions.

He assured them that any officer who diligently performs their duties and passes the promotion examinations would be promoted.

Tunji-Ojo said, “Over 64,000 people were promoted between last year and now. Promotions as of today are as and when due. I didn’t know anybody before they were promoted. And I don’t need to know you. Gone were the days when people would need to lobby to be promoted.

“Don’t lobby me. If you pass the examination and you perform well, then you will be prompted. That is it.
We can’t continue to run a service on the premise of who knows who. Nepotism? No way. It has to be professional.”

The minister lamented that some officers had been denied promotions in the past because they lacked connections at the top, vowing never to support such practices.

He also warned that those writing petitions and making false allegations would face disciplinary action if caught.

Tunji-Ojo said, “We must run our services professionally. There are a lot of people today who are ACGs. There are people today who are controllers in a normal scenario with their contribution, with their knowledge base, with their understanding of the job they should have been DCGs. That’s the truth. There are people like that, just because they do not have somebody to place a call to.

“They’ve been denied promotions for years, and you say that system should continue? May the day when I’ll be part of impunity, may that day never come. So, if you are writing petitions, I beg you, continue. But let me tell you, you make stupid allegations and we get you, we will discipline you.”

Recalling his experience in Lagos, where he asked some senior officers about their duties and they could not provide an answer, the minister stated that promotions would no longer be based solely on seniority.

He said, “Seniority qualifies you. Performance is what makes you cross the hurdle. I’ve spent five years. What value have you added? I was in the NIS office some time ago in Lagos. And I interviewed more than 20 officers, senior officers. I asked them What do you do here? Some of them do not know.

“And that kind of person will come to me and say, come and promote me. If you do not know what you are supposed to be doing, see, paramilitary is not a poverty alleviation job. The paramilitary agency is a career of pride. If you want to do poverty alleviation, go to NAPEP. And I mean it.

“No petition will stop us from doing what is right. Beneficiaries of an ill society will always protest when things are being said right. We will not, because of the ego, we will not, because of the aspiration of those people, sacrifice the lives of 200 million Nigerians.”

He also warned the correctional service against giving special treatment to wealthy individuals in custodial centres.

Tunji-Ojo said, “The correctional centre cannot be a bazaar. It cannot be a bazaar for the highest bidder. Your comfort level should not be dependent on your economic or financial status as an inmate. In the correctional centre, you are there to rehabilitate, reform, and transform people.

“You are not responsible for the decimation of Nigerians. Even an inmate has a right and this must be respected. “

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again slammed President Bola Tinubu’s seemingly insatiable appetite for foreign loans.

Atiku said this against the backdrop of Thursday’s National Assembly approval of the President’s request to borrow N1.7 trillion from external sources.

The Turakin Adamawa said in a statement released in Abuja that “the recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning.

“This report is coming just when the government has already sent a proposal to the National Assembly signalling an intention to borrow an additional N1.7tn being shortfall in the 2024 budget through Euro Bonds.

“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD.

“Nigeria is sinking further in debt, and the National Assembly has become an accomplice once more.

“Tinubu had, in July this year, boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch have collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget.

“Why then are they still borrowing? There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.

“These Tinubu’s loans are bone-crushing to Nigerians and bringing insufferable pressure on the economy, especially when they are not properly negotiated and utilised.

“It is concerning that the voracious appetite for these humongous loans is powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs.

“A report by Budgit, a budget watchdog, has disclosed that the 2024 budget is a mess because of the level of pork associated with it.

Ezigbo UmuChineke, please join me in celebrating this season of victory and divine vindication! My God, who fights my battles, has shown Himself mighty, turning what was meant for harm into a testimony of His power and faithfulness.

Song Credit: Ebere Emegburulam Ndi Irom by Odigi Wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0HOcRgsNiQ?si=rBaR7bB_TC4tjix-

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged world leaders to address global inequality, emphasizing the consequences of neglecting Africa during his speech at the G20 Summit in Brazil, News360 Nigeria reports.

Speaking passionately, Tinubu declared, “The neglect of Africa is a danger to the rest of humanity.” He called on the international community to go beyond rhetoric and take decisive actions to bridge the inequality gap that continues to hinder development and stability.

The President highlighted the need for tangible investments and collaborations to uplift Africa, stressing that sustainable global growth requires inclusive participation from every continent.

His address comes amid increasing calls for equitable resource distribution and a redefined approach to international partnerships. The G20 Summit serves as a critical platform for addressing such global challenges.

The Nigerian leader’s plea for action has resonated across Africa and beyond, reflecting the urgent need to tackle disparities in the global socio-economic landscape.

Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, has started discussions with some foreign banks to secure billions of dollars for crude oil importation.

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African development lender is one of the institutions involved in the talks to raise money, according to Financial Times, FT.

The report noted Dangote Refinery needs to purchase additional crude oil to hit 650,000 barrels per day full capacity.

Already, the Knightsbridge Strategic Group (KSG), a group of experts from US and UK, providing geopolitical intelligence, said it expected the refinery to hit full capacity in 2025, adding: “Assuming full capacity is eventually reached at the Dangote Refinery, KSG assesses that there will be long-term reductions in local fuel costs and increased market competition in Europe as Nigeria becomes a new fuel exporter.

“KSG assesses that Nigeria’s transition to reliance on domestic refined oil will likely allow European nations to de-risk their oil supply chains from Russia further, given the freed-up supply Nigerian refined oil demand will leave countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway with an oversupply.

“Once the refinery reaches full capacity, long-term reductions in local fuel costs and increased competition in Europe’s fuel market is expected. The government’s failure to address refinery issues may trigger political unrest, including violent protests, as the removal of fuel subsidies exacerbates the crisis.”