News
Wike Did Not Oppose My Posting – CP …Unveils 6-Point Strategic Plan
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, has said that the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike did not oppose his posting to the state as Commissioner of Police as being insinuated in recent times.
The Commissioner made this clarification while answering questions from journalists on Monday, when he led the police management team to pay a courtesy visit to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Port Harcourt.
The CP said the explanation became important following the public interest the story has generated in the state, adding that he will be apolitical and professional in the discharge of his duties in the state.
“I know very well that the state governor did not mention my name. I will give all political parties equal opportunity in the discharge of my duties”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya has unveiled a 6-point strategic mission plan to fight crime and other criminalities in the state.
The state police helmsman unveiled this plan during his inaugural press briefing held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Odesanya disclosed that his administration would ensure that crime and criminality were brought to the barest minimum, adding that he will encourage and promote intelligence-led policing and community partnership.
He also disclosed that the police under his watch will embark on visibility of policing, adding that the presence of the police would be felt across the state.
He said his adminis-tration will put in place some proactive measures aimed at preventing crime through stationing patrol vehicles at every strategic place in the state, adding that the presence of police scares criminals away.
“On a serious note, it has come to my notice that illegal arms are in circulation in the state. To this end, I will put necessary machinery in place to mop up illegal arms ammunitions in the state. I shall key in and support the state government’s efforts in re-integrating the repentant cultists and kidnappers who voluntarily embrace peace and surrender their arms and ammunition.
“I shall try as much as possible to insulate myself from politics, because to me, politics is a distraction to policing. I promise to be professional, focused and non-partisan in the discharge of my duties”, he stated.
He traced the crisis rocking the state to politics and crime, adding that the police will remain responsible in handling the crisis.
“But I shall put in place decent stop and search mechanism which shall aid us in tracking kidnappers and armed robbers with the sole aim of recovering stolen properties. Clearly, violent crimes, such as armed robbery, kidnapping, murder are all being energized by cultism.
“To this end, therefore, the command under my watch, shall fight these heinous crimes to their logical conclusion. The tactical units shall also be repositioned for better productivity”, he added.
The CP while appreciating the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for the confidence reposed on him, assured of his determination and commitment to provide security to all law abiding citizens in the state even as he said he was very open to constructive criticisms, and solicited for public cooperation especially in the area intelligence gathering and dissemination.
Christiana Edem
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”