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Raid on Ibadan markets: Residents lament as Customs favours Kastina traders
• urge senate president, Lawan to intervene
Residents of Oyo state have lamented the failure and reluctance of men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to return the bags of rice and other valuables allegedly carted away during the recent raid on Ibadan markets as they favoured Katsina traders whose goods were returned.
It will be recalled that operatives from the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had earlier stormed Bodija and Oja’ba markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, and went away with an unknown number of bags of rice, loaded in trucks. They were alleged to have broken into warehouses, stores and shops containing the bags of rice to carry out the act.
The residents, also urged the senate president, Mr. Ahmed Lawan and other lawmakers at the National Assembly to intervene as the affected traders are just recovering from the last year’s economic meltdown caused by COVID-19, only to be witnessing this.
They raised the alarm shortly after the senators had instructed men of the NCS to return all the goods seized from the traders in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
One of the residents, Zacchaeus Taiwo who expressed concern over the failure of the officers to return the goods to the traders, noted that while Katsina traders’ goods were returned to them after they had been allegedly carted away by the Nigeria Customs Service , there’s no need to continue withholding the goods seized in Ibadan, not even when the senators’ had directed the agency to return the goods it seized from shops of rice traders in Ibadan.
Taiwo, however maintained that the operatives should not give preferential treatment to Katsina traders only, adding that continuous seizure of Ibadan traders’ goods at their disposal amounts to injustice and unfairness.
Also, Adewale Qassim submitted that the action taken by the NCS to return the goods belonging to Katsina traders justifies that they only cared for the traders coming from the state at the expense of the ones in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Qassim stressed that the officers who led the Katsina’s shops’ raid had been dismissed, while same decision has not been taken against the ones who led similar raids on Ibadan markets.
“Men of the NCS only returned the Katsina traders’ goods because they are from President Muhammadu Buhari’s state”, he alleged.
Another resident that chose to be anonymous requested that operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service who carried out the dastardly and illegal act should be brought before the temple of justice.
He maintained that an action taken by them could make people resort to self-help and self-defense, while governments fail to do the needful.
He, however enjoined the national assembly to caution men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) so as to avoid carrying out an act, which is an aberration to the act that established and sustains the agency.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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