By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has tasked the newly inaugurated governing board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on transparency and efficiency to boost the nation’s maritime objectives.

Mr Bolaji Akinola, the special adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the inauguration in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the former governor of Katsina State, Mr Ibrahim Shema, was named chairman of the board.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Oyetola described the ceremony as a milestone in strengthening governance and accountability in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector, “in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda”.

Before the inauguration of the current board, the NSC operated under an ad hoc management arrangement for nearly three years, following the dissolution of federal boards in mid-2023.

The minister said the board’s role would enhance institutional effectiveness and reposition the maritime sector to drive economic transformation.

He said the NSC, as the port economic regulator, plays a key role in promoting efficiency, fairness, and transparency in port operations.

Mr Oyetola said effective regulation is essential to reducing port costs, boosting trade, and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness.

The minister asked the new board members to provide strategic direction, offer oversight, and work closely with management to uphold professionalism.

Other members of the board include Mr Pius Akutah, executive secretary and chief executive officer of the council, and Mrs Emi Membere-Otaji, representing the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

The board also includes Mr John Aluya, representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Chiji Collins, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olaseinde, Mrs Funmilola Rashidat Adeoti, and Mrs Mele Kofo Gladem.

Additional members are Mrs Hafsatu Mohammed, representing Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited , Mrs Maharazu Adamu Dayi, and Mrs Uzoamaka Okereke, representing the ministry of marine and blue economy.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Last Sunday, scores of worshippers were kidnapped in three churches in the Kajuru area of Kaduna State.

The police and the government authorities earlier denied the incident, describing those who raised an alarm on the kidnapping as “conflicts merchants,” but they later made a U-turn, admitting that some terrorists actually raided the churches to forcefully go away with some worshippers at ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2.

As rescue efforts intensify, the community affected by this adoption, Kurmin Wali, has released the names of about 177 persons still in captivity as it was gathered that some victims had earlier escaped.

According to reports, entire households were abducted, with families such as the Jonathan household having 12 members kidnapped.

Further, the Amos family had 13; the Markus/Makudis had 10, the Ishayas and Danisas have seven each, the Bawas with six, the Danjumas and the Musas having five each.

Other families saw four, three, or two members taken away. The oldest victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is a child of six.

Other children include Likita Amos, 6; Jumota Idris, 7; Tessy Amos, 8; Yahaya Joshua, 9; and several 10-year-olds, including Sussana Idris, Synthah Amos, Hezibah and Hezikaiah Jonathan.

The list also includes;

41. Zahaya Joshua
42. Nabilah Makudi
43. Hajara Makudi
44. Rebecca Hosea
45. Ahmad Ahmad
46. Liyu Ezekiel
47. Vivian Ezekiel
48. Goodluck Ezekiel
49. Beauty Ezekiel
50. Matina Maiyashi
51. Bridget Maiyashi
52. Vivian Linus
53. Mary Amos
54. Hamid Amos
55. Patricia Amos
56. Hamisu Amos
57. Luka Amos
58. Tacy Amos
59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)
60. Mercy Isaac
61. Augustine Makudi
62. Matthew Samaila
63. Adam Musa
64. Malika Sule
65. Abu Ahmad
66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)
67. Akinyi Sadiu
68. Dangata Amos
69. Helen Jonathan
70. Asinwa Jonathan
71. Faith Joseph
72. Gloria Kennet
73. Happiness Danisa
74. Fidelis Jacob
75. Tobias Markus
76. Istu Paul
77. Hassana Paul
78. Charity Chindo
79. Christiana Danisa
80. Everest Danima
81. Thomas Philip
82. Catrina Danbosi
83. Halima Hassan
84. Hassan Lukumi
85. Mary Sadiu
86. Franca John
87. Henry Danbiyi
88. Genesis Lawal
89. Ayuba Lawal
90. Solomon Ayuba
91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)
92. Charles Sambo
93. Rahila Charles
94. Gambo Danisa
95. Talent Danisa
96. Nehemiah Danjuma
97. Maijima Shekarau
98. Matina Maijima
99. Laraba Maijima
100. Musa Danjuma
101. Ishaya Danima
102. Lulu Danisa
103. Clement Ahmad
104. Destiny Ahmad
105. Nehemiah Ishaya
106. Simon Ishaya
107. Nasty Muku
108. Helena Joseph
109. Joseph Bawa
110. Sarah Joseph
111. Bulus Mariya
112. Musa Samaila
113. Bulus Bawa
114. Halima Bawa
115. Beture Hosea
116. Sati Hosea
117. Titus John
118. Dogara Bawa
119. Lories Bawa
120. Adamu Aminu
121. Ezekiel Adamu
122. Tenah Markus
123. Tina Danbosi
124. Patricio Bawa
125. Janet Tsuda
126. Amina Danjuma
127. Sandra Danbosi
128. Bridget Sunday
129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)
130. Alex Sunday
131. Beauty Peter
132. Samisa Paul
133. Joy Joseph
134. Methole Johanna
135. Genesis Johanna
136. Maria Johanna
137. Merozdu Adonu
138. Karimi Jangbe
139. Sunday Martela
140. Santina Hershinga
141. Keuna Michael
142. Hassan Bulus
143. Marzeta Maisoni
144. Mainwa Dominic
145. Godwin Karimi
146. Amos Akijo
147. Nathan Amos
148. Joseph Chindo
149. Lydia Godwin
150. Hamna Maiyangi
151. Toletu Maiyangi
152. Esther Godday
153. Godswill Godday
154. Godlive Samson
155. Goodluck Aliga
156. Madaki Tabawa
157. Tabawa Abba
158. Tabawa Iyamye
159. Samuel Amos
160. Daniel Amos
161. Deborah Amos
162. Ruth Amos
163. Emmanuel Danjuma
164. Joshua Danjuma
165. Rejoice Danisa
166. Blessing Danisa
167. Ibrahim Lawal
168. Zainab Lawal
169. Sadiq Ahmad
170. Aisha Ahmad
171. Yakubu Musa
172. Suleiman Musa
173. Rahama Musa
174. Daniel Jonathan
175. Samuel Jonathan
176. Peter Jonathan
177. Grace Jonathan

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

For disrupting Nigeria’s democratic path and weakening its institutions, the military must tender an apology to the nation, foremost public commentator, Mr Ope Banwo, has submitted.

The legal practitioner, who called for a national reckoning, insisted that an apology would acknowledge the harm caused by repeated military interventions and reaffirm the supremacy of the constitution.

Speaking on the recently commemorated Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Mr Banwo argued that decades of political intervention by the military disrupted the country’s democratic growth.

According to him, repeated military takeovers did not rescue the country from early post-independence challenges but instead deepened instability and entrenched authoritarian governance.

‎‎While acknowledging that Nigeria’s early civilian leaders contributed to political chaos through electoral malpractice and ethnic tensions, he maintained that military coups worsened the situation, noting that the first coup in 1966 triggered a cycle of interventions that culminated in civil war, institutional breakdown, and long-term political trauma.

‎He emphasised that successive military regimes promised to fight corruption, restore discipline, and sanitise governance, but failed to deliver lasting reforms.

‎‎“Rather than ending corruption, they professionalised it,” he posited, adding that military rule created a powerful elite class that continues to wield influence in politics and business long after the return to civilian rule.

Mr ‎Banwo further argued that the military never fully relinquished power, but merely exchanged uniforms for civilian attire, leaving behind a culture where constitutional authority is often treated as optional, stressing that in democratic societies, the armed forces must remain subordinate to civilian leadership, warning against any renewed appetite for military intervention in governance.

‎‎“The military is not Nigeria’s emergency solution to political failure,” he disclosed, urging the armed forces to focus on their constitutional responsibility of securing the country amid rising insecurity.

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