The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has declared that reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration have started manifesting in the resurgence of the nation’s economy.

Speaking while playing host to a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum led by former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, Alake asserted that Tinubu’s progressive leadership and courage in taking difficult decisions is turning the tide, putting the economy on a strong footing.

” The President has chosen to leave a legacy of taking difficult decisions that will herald enduring structures that will not only outlast the administration, but also make it impossible for successive administrations to deviate from. The society would have become used to a certain standard of service delivery at the end of the Tinubu administration that Nigerians will no more settle for anything less, “Alake affirmed.

According to the Minister, it has become evident that the temporary pains of reforms are beginning to ease, citing the resurgence of the naira and emerging stability in the forex market.

Speaking further, the Minister highlighted the administration’s efforts towards infrastructural renewal, citing the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which he stated on completion will shorten travel time to the Cross-River state capital to two and half hours.


” On completion of that coastal road, the amount of tourism that will be generated along that axis is unimaginable. It will be one of the longest tourism coast town drive in Africa, not to talk of the ease of movement of goods and services; the economic impact of ports along the route, and it will finally link up to Sokoto – a project which has been in the pipeline for more than 30 years”, Alake asserted.


The Minister charged the forum as a repository of knowledge and diverse professionals within the APC to contribute their quota to the success of the administration, reiterating that the APC-led Federal Government is open to innovative ideas in its quest to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In his remarks, HE Yuguda congratulated the Minister on his appointment, commending his efforts to sanitise and attract global attention to the mining sector, emphasising that solid minerals remain the key to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

The former governor urged Nigerians and the federal government to support Dr. Alake with all that is required to transform the mining sector, stressing that solid minerals have all it takes to overtake oil as the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

Throwing light on the mission of the APC professionals forum, Yuguda stated that the group is a foremost group of patriotic professionals in diverse fields committed to nation building. He assured the forum will lead enlightenment of the populace on government programmes and also advance suggestions, where necessary.

On the entourage of HE, Isa Yuguda were the former governor of Adamawa State and member of the Forum’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Barr. James Ngilare; former Deputy Governor of Anambra state and Vice-Chairman BOT, Dr. Nkem Okeke; Secretary, Akeem Akintayo amongst others.

…Calls For Use Of Technology To Tackle Banditry, Terrorism

The Ogun State Government on Thursday donated 25 operational vehicles and surveillance drones to the State Police Command, for effective policing of the state.

The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, handed over the vehicles to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who was on a three-day working visit to the state.

At the handing over ceremony, held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun, said the equipment and patrol vans would assist the Police in discharging their duties effectively.

The Police boss lauded Governor Abiodun for the kind assistance to the Police and informed him that he had given approval for the establishment of three additional area commands and Police stations and police stations

Egbetokun said he would not relent on his effort to put in place a professionally competent police force and change the policing narrative in the country for the better.

“We are going to create more police stations to match the development that is going on in Ogun state. We will establish more area commands, we are going to bring an additional mobile police squadron into the Ogun state.

“We must do everything to secure this state because Ogun State is very important to Nigeria.”

Speaking about the ongoing police reform, Egbetokun said, “I came in to put in place a professionally competent police force we intend to change the policing narrative in this country for the better.

“We need a police force that is service driven, that is rule of law compliance, that is people friendly. We need a police force that will be so well-positioned to respond appropriately and adequately to the dynamics of crimes in our society.

“We cannot achieve this without the support of state governments, we cannot achieve this without the support of the people of Nigeria. So I’m here today, not to ask you for your support because you have been giving that support but to plead that you don’t get tired of supporting the police in this state.”

Governor Abiodun while handing over the vans and drones to the IGP said the gesture was in line with the Federal government’s motive of zero tolerance for insecurity.

The governor promised to continue to support security agencies to win the war against crimes and criminalities in Nigeria

He applauded the innovative and transformational leadership style of Egbetokun, promising to continue to support Nigerian Police to enhance Community Policing so as to win the war against insecurity in Nigeria.

……Says It’s Criminal Obstructing Their Operations

Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State has been declared wanted on Thursday.

He was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.

This was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday.

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station,” the notice read.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerians against obstructing its operatives during the course of their duties.

The warning came after security aides attached to embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday, obstructed operatives from arresting him at his Abuja home.

In a Wednesday statement signed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the commission said, “The EFCC wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties,”

While quoting the provisions of the law, Oyewale noted that culprits are liable to a jail term of not less than five years.

He added that on several occasions, operatives of the EFCC have had to exercise restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

He further noted that, regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

Oyewale noted, “Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

“On several occasions, operatives of the commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”