News

Delta: Call Tompolo to order – Itsekiris cry to Tinubu, Oborevwori

Published

2 weeks ago

June 12, 2025

Itsekiri people in Warri, Delta State have called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and relevant security agencies to come to their aid, following alleged threat by the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Oweizide Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo and his people.

Communities allegedly affected by the threat include Ijaghala, Kantu, Obodo, Omadino, Ugborodo and other Itsekiri towns.

A stakeholder, who spoke on behalf of the Itsekiri people, Alex Oritsegbeyiwa Eyengho, in a Save Our Soul message to the government, alleged that there was an existential threat to his people in the hands of the Ijaws, particularly those of Gbaramatu, under the watch of Tompolo.

He said, “The urgent Save Our Souls cry is a cry borne out of Ijaghala and Kantu existential threat in the hands of the Ijaws, particularly those of Gbaramatu, under the watch of Tompolo.

”The death and arson threats reportedly issued to Ijaghala, Kantu, Obodo, Omadino, Ugborodo and other Itsekiri communities became intense recently when videos made by the Spokesman of Gbaramatu-Ijaw, Godspower Gbenekama and one other Ijaw youths began to trend on various social media platforms.

“The unacceptable gun-on-the-head reprieve conditions given by Tompolo and his gang to Kantu and Ijaghala communities is that the leadership of both communities should compulsorily address a press conference, where they must announce to the world that the Gbaramatu-Ijaw own both communities, failing which both communities shall be pulverized, sacked and the occupants killed!

“They have successfully got some Kantu people under duress to address the said press conference, and have fixed Friday, June 13, 2025, for the Ijaghala community to follow suit. Since the very unwilling Ijaghala community is next, there is palpable tension everywhere. I am not in doubt whatsoever of the capacity of Tompolo and his gang to carry out their threat against Ijaghala community.”

Eyengho also said, “During the wake of the endless fratricidal Warri crisis in the late 90s, Ijaghala community was the first community along the Escravos River to be completely pulverized and sacked by Tompolo and his Gbaramatu-Ijaw gang, and as such made indigenes and residents of the community to become internally displaced persons in Nigeria for over a decade. They did it before. They can do it again.

“A few years ago, the Ijaws did everything to enforce their burial culture on Ijaghala to the extent that they forcefully exhumed the corpse of my brother who was buried in the usual Itsekiri culture and reburied him in tandem with Ijaw burial culture! What could be more bizarre? The Ijaws have continued to use force of arms and intimidation from time to time on Ijaghala community as if the people are conquered!

“At some point, the leadership of Ijaghala community was pressurized to publish that the community wished to leave Mandagho Ward in Ugborodo federated communities and join Gbaramatu Ward allegedly as directed by their king Tompolo.

”Apparently, the Ijaws are vexed that Ijaghala was captured by INEC and other Government official documents as an Itsekiri Community. The community, of course, warded off the pressure.

“Our position has always been that the three(3) units currently in Ijaghala community are an integral part of Mandagho Ward in Ugborodo federated communities. We cannot exit this Ward for any reason and join Gbaramatu. If anything, we are pushing for a distinct Ward from our 3 units to be known as Ijaghala Ward.

Eyengho urged President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori to call Tompolo to order and ensure he stops tormenting the people of Ijaghala and Kantu Communities with an alleged threat to forcefully evacuate and pulverize the communities if the leaderships refuse to abide by their “weird” and “insane” orders.

In a swift reaction, the National President of Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo warned the Itsekiri people to be mindful of their utterances saying,”Tompolo does not have any gun to threaten anybody or community.” In a chat with Our Correspondent,Ozobo said the Kantu, Ijaghala and Omadino Communities as claimed by the Itsekiris belong to the Gbaramatu-Ijaw people. He said, the Itsekiri people learn to live in peace with their neighbours who accommodated them. According to Ozobo, said the Itsekiri people are customary tenants of the Ijaws. He emphasized that,”Ijaws are the landlords of the Itsekiri.”

Tompolo’s Media Consultant, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo in a reaction dismissed the allegations raised by the Itsekiri people.

Up Next

Police rescue 4-year-old kidnapped girl in Katsina

Don't Miss

Nigerian govt sets date for paperless civil service, announces activities for workers’ week

Click to comment

News

Nigeria Customs, India Strengthen Bilateral Ties at WCO Policy Commission

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with the Indian Customs Administration, as both sides advanced discussions on key customs issues on the margins of the 92nd Session of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Policy Commission on 25 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.

Led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Nigerian delegation met with Mr Surjit Bhujbal, a senior member of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), to evaluate progress made under the Customs Mutual Administrative Agreement (CMAA) signed between both countries on 16 November 2024.

The bilateral engagement focused on enhancing cooperation in customs valuation, transfer pricing, and ongoing conversations around the integration of customs and tax systems — key areas identified in the CMAA. The meeting also addressed growing concerns over the international trade in substandard pharmaceutical products, with both countries acknowledging recent successful seizures in Nigeria as a direct result of improved intelligence sharing and operational synergy.

According to CGC Adewale Adeniyi, “Today’s dialogue is a continuation of the strong foundations laid during the signing of the CMAA in November 2024. We are intensifying efforts to tackle undervaluation, abusive transfer pricing, and to improve system integration between customs and tax authorities. Additionally, our joint actions in curbing the importation of substandard pharmaceuticals yield results and protect public health.”

The CGC further reiterated Nigeria’s interest in expanding cooperation through joint technical missions, training programmes, and shared data mechanisms, which would contribute to more efficient risk management, enhanced revenue assurance, and stronger trade controls.

“This partnership reflects our vision of a smarter, collaborative, and globally connected customs administration,” Adeniyi said.

The CMAA was signed during the Prime Minister of India’s state visit to Nigeria last year, a landmark moment that underscored both countries’ commitment to advancing trade, security, and institutional collaboration.

In his remarks, Mr Surjit Bhujbal said, “India regards Nigeria as a crucial partner in Africa. The CMAA has opened a structured channel for mutual assistance, information exchange, and capacity building. We are keen to deepen technical cooperation on valuation, combat revenue leakage through transfer pricing schemes, and share our experience integrating customs with tax systems.”

The WCO Policy Commission is a high-level platform where customs leaders worldwide deliberate on policy direction, global trade facilitation, and enforcement standards. Nigeria’s active participation highlights its dedication to international best practices and the modernisation of its customs systems.

News

Reps Approve N1.132 Trillion Budget for NCS

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has approved the sum of N1.132 trillion as the proposed 2025 budget of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), marking a significant step forward in the Service’s commitment to enhancing national revenue, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling.

The budget proposal, presented on Monday, 23 June 2025, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, DCG Mohammed Jibo, was favourably received and adopted by the committee.

According to the Comptroller-General, the NCS has an ambitious revenue target of N6.584 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. This includes N3.853 trillion for the Federation Account, N1.081 trillion for the Non-Federation Account, and N1.650 trillion from Import Value Added Tax (VAT).

Adeniyi explained that the projected revenue will be drawn from legitimate sources, including 4% of Free-On-Board (FOB) value, totalling N1.070 trillion, the 2% VAT share accruing to the NCS, estimated at N33.01 billion, and N29.05 billion earmarked for ongoing capital projects.

In terms of expenditure, the proposed budget allocates N247.16 billion for personnel costs, N239.97 billion for overheads, and N645.42 billion for capital projects. According to him, the allocations underscore the NCS’s drive to improve operational capacity and infrastructure for more effective service delivery.

At the end of the sitting, the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to legislative compliance and fiscal transparency. The Service further expressed appreciation for the continued support of the National Assembly and reaffirmed that it would work closely with relevant authorities to ensure its operations remain within the ambit of the law, while also exploring legally sustainable avenues for funding its critical reform and modernisation initiatives.

News

Stakeholders seek legislative reforms for effective CSOs’ operations in Nigeria

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Stakeholders from the Civic space and government actors have called for legislative reforms that would remove every regulatory hurdle and improve efficient operations of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Nigeria.

The stakeholders made the call in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital during the 2025 South South Regional Conference on Improving Regulatory Environment for CSO operations in Nigeria organized by Global Rights with support from European Union Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa.

The theme of the 2025 conference is ”Scaling Policy to Action- Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations at the Sub-national Level.”

The Former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, Dr Ini Adiakpanin observed that CSOs had complained about multiplicity of registration requirement with government agencies with their attendant financial burden.

She called for a one-stop shop where one registration would cover everything about the government.

Adiakpan also noted that necessary policies should be made and laws reviewed to allow CSOs in each state pay a fixed amount for registrations given the dearth of funding for most of them and humanitarian nature of their services.

She said, ”CSOs complain about multiplicity of registration with government, some with women affairs, the other one would be youth development even environment. The issue had been, why don’t we have like a one stop shop where we register once so that from one registration you can use it to deal with everything about government? Not paying in different places.”

The Keynote speaker, KufreAbasi Edidem, in his address explained that before initiating reforms, there must be holistic review of the existing laws and regulations affecting CSOs, which according to him includes, understanding their objectives, there applicability, and areas needing revision.

Edidem who is the Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House Assembly further explained that experts such as lawyers , journalists, policy analyst should be engaged in the process while data driven and well articulated report is presented to both legislative and executive stakeholders.

He encouraged the CSOs to embark on a wider consultations with the Senate, House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly as well as Law Reform Commission stressing that the commission is mandated to review outdated laws and advise government accordingly as only after proper consultations can the legislature be guided on which law to amend or repel.

He admitted that while the state houses of Assembly play a role especially in oversight the primary responsibility lies with the National Assembly because many of the laws regulating CSOs especially the Company and Allied Matter Act 2020 CAMA falls under the exclusive legislative list and once the National Assembly legislates on a subject, the state legislature cannot enact conflicting laws except in areas not covered.

”It is also important for CSOs to understand legal exceptions that already exist for example, section 10(f) of the tenement rate law cap 151 law of Akwa Ibom State, 2000 exempts non profit organisations from paying tenement rate, section 3 of the business premises registration law cap 124 also empowers the commissioner to grant exemptions to CSOs, similar provisions exist at the federal level under CAMA and VAT act.” He added.

He, however promised to use relevant legislative tools at his disposal to ensure enabling policies are enacted for effective operation of CSOs in Akwa Ibom state and South South region at large

Earlier in her remarks, the executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu recounted the significant progress made by the organisation within one year after the 2024 regional conferences especially in the area of partnership for a sustainable operational environment for CSOs.

Baiyewu also expressed hope that the 2025 conferences would create actionable steps that will allow civil society actors optimize their impact and function freely in their humanitarian services to communities.

”This year’s conferences seek to continue the conversation started last year and consolidate the implementation of a harmonized regulatory framework either via the pathway of a policy or law to eliminate redundant registrations, enhance funding opportunities and foster inclusive policy development.

The 2025 conferences will also introduce the CSO community to tools expected to improve CSO compliance, to extant laws and establish a regional task force for coordination,” Baiyewu noted.

On the import of the conference, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said it was aimed at strengthening partnership and regular interactions between CSOs and State government agencies for a favorable regulatory environment to operate.

”These conferences are designed to be meeting points for civil society stakeholders, state and federal government actors to meet, discuss and agree on key issues relating to laws and regulations that affect civil society operations.” She stated.