News
Wike Advised to Ensure Adherence to Guiding Rule of VIO
Wike Advised to Ensure Adherence to Guiding Rule of VIO
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has been advised to ensure that the guiding rule of appointment and career progression of Vehicle Inspection Officer are adhered to under his watch.
A letter addressed to the Minister by one Ismaila Abdullahi and made available to journalists read: “The National Council on Establishment (NCE) at its 40th meeting held from 12th -16th March 2018, approved the creation of Vehicle Inspection Officer, Cadre Graded on SGL 08-17 for candidates possessing relevant university degree, vehicle officer/ vehicle inspection Superintendent Cadres Structured on SGL 6th – 14th the National Diploma / Higher National Diploma holders and vehicle Inspection Assistant Cadre SGL 03-07 for secondary school certificate holders and technical certificate such as electrical mechanical and Auto mechanics. “
The letter added that: “In the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Road Traffic Services Directorate has failed to adhere strictly to the approved Scheme of service both in the areas of appointments, career progression and assigning of responsibilities in terms of assigning of professional duties as stated in the
public service scheme of service.
“This is seriously observed and becomes a
matter of concern to the entire vehicle inspection officers in the FCT,
Directorate of Road Traffic Services as the level of disservice is gradually set
in as they are made to be taking professional instructions from the
Administrative Officers who did not possess the required skills and knowledge even at the Various Zonal offices in the Federal Capital Territory.”
The letter further read that: “The Hon Minister is hereby invited to note that the non-adherence to the schemes of service is a great violation of the Public Service Rules and it has serious implications on both the Road Traffic Services and Professional Vehicle Inspection Officers as they are not allowed to exercise the skills and knowledge acquired from the school and training. Most of these major
implications are stressed further for proper understanding.
“The appointment of non-professionals as Heads of Directorate and Units in the various Operational Units will give room for disorderliness and confusion as the Professional Vehicle Inspection Officers are not expected to be taking
directives from the administrative officers who talk the skills and knowledge, yet they are assigned to oversee the inspection of the vehicle even at the zonal
levels.
“The Directorate of Road Traffic Services in FCT and throughout the country is
a professional organisation which is expected to be guided by its own
professionals’ rules for uniformity and effective operations, contrarily the FCT Directorate has been manned by the Administrative Officers who have not undergone any requisite training apart from the Administrative procedures training and general rules such as Public Service Rules. “
It however lamented that: “The recent effort by the FCT Management for repositioning of the Directorates to achieve its core mandate is far from the truth as the practice on ground cannot improve Service delivery as the necessary rules and guiding actions of Road Traffic services has been abandoned or eroded.
“The major focus of the
FCT Management, which is generation of revenue has been placed higher on
the other Road Traffic matters like safety on FCT roads which is the core
mandate of the Service.
“The Professional Vehicle Inspection Officers are being demoralized and
subjected to disrespect as the Administrative Officers who are made to oversee the Professional Units are not ready to yield to the Professional advice from the Vehicle Inspection Officer who process the required skills and knowledge.”
“It is therefore pertinent to remind the FCTA that the public service is structured
in such a manner that no “CADRE” should be put at disadvantage in order to
favour another Cadre. In the real sense and going by current operations of
Directorates of FCT Road Traffic Services, the vehicle Inspection Officers
Cadre had been put at disadvantage over Administrative officers cadre as they are no longer allowed to progress to the position of the Director in the Directorate of FCT Road Traffic Services as such vacancies had been filled by
the Administrative Officer’s contrary to the approved scheme of service,” the letter further revealed.
It stated that: “Finally, there is urgent need to bring to the notice of the FCTA that the recent lunch of the “SELF SERVICE PORTAL” that the motive had been defeated as it has failed to accomplish the purpose. Instead, the plate numbers are allocated to the highest bidder and the excess money are not remitted to the revenue account as earlier proposed.
“In the light of the afore-mentioned obstacles and challenges militating against the effective operations of the FCT Road Traffic Services, the management is
requested to note and review the needed activities of FCT, Road Traffic
Services, Department to be in line with the operation of other States in the
country and enhance the effective service delivery in the Federal Capital
Territory.
“The operation should be structured to fall in line with one public Service in which cadres of all professionals are followed strictly from the bottom to the top.”
The Minister is advised to take immediate action to ensure that the approved scheme of service for vehicle inspections officers is being followed., stating that: “This is vital to ensuring the safety of motorists and pedestrians in the FCT.”
Wike Advised to Ensure Adherence to Guiding Rule of VIO
News
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
By: Michael Mike
A former coordinator of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has called on the political class across party lines to support ongoing security efforts of the federal government.
Onaiwu in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday noted that insecurity is colour blind, has no party affiliation and was religious neutral, therefore, the need for politicians to eschew partisan slant on security matters.
He cautioned that failure by the political elite to support the fight against insecurity leading to several ungoverned spaces could disrupt elections, stressing that except there is a country, then elections are guaranteed.
The former NGF coordinator particularly commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his coordination and strategic efforts in streamlining security policies and engagements in tackling insecurity.
According to him, the recent delivery of military hardware by the United States Government to Nigeria is a demonstration that the NSA was working and his recent foray to the U.S. is yielding the desired results.
“The season requires patriots and this means that irrespective of party affiliations, every politician worth his name needs to support ongoing security efforts as coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“Insecurity is colour blind, has no party affiliation, it is religious blind and those not respect societal status. Therefore, Nigerians, especially our political class, should lend their support, proffer solutions and galvanise the people to back the government’s security initiatives.
“Only on Tuesday, the federal government received critical military hardware from the United States Government. This is cheering and it shows that the NSA’s recent visit to the United States and the subsequent hosting of delegations in the country is bearing the desired results.
“Also, renewed military and police onslaughts against terrorists and bandits show that the federal government is taking the fight to those who are intent on denying us our peace and well-being.
“The least we can do as citizens is to support the government, provide real time intelligence from our communities and do not engage in fake news on social media against government’s efforts,” Onaiwu stated.
He further called on governors to match the energy of the federal government by supporting the NSA to address the various security challenges in their states as well as continued logistics and equipment to the military and police.
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
News
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
By: Michael Mike
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, is facing possible committal to prison following contempt proceedings initiated over an alleged failure to comply with a Federal High Court order relating to the abduction and disappearance of Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie.
The action was instituted by legal counsel to Mr. Anozie’s wife, Mr. Vincent Adodo, who accused the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the IGP of willfully disobeying a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 24, 2025.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/865/2025 between Mrs. Nnenna Anozie v. Inspector General of Police, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the IGP to produce for prosecution operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) alleged to have abducted Mr. Anozie from his Lekki residence in Lagos on June 15, 2017.
The court also directed the police authorities to forward the investigation report and legal advice on the matter to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for appropriate action.
The court further awarded ₦2 million in damages against the IGP for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Mrs. Anozie seeking details of investigations into her husband’s disappearance.
The SARS operatives listed in the judgment include officers attached to the former SARS unit in Akwuzu, Anambra State, who were accused of involvement in the alleged abduction.
According to court documents, despite being served with the judgment in October 2025, the IGP has neither complied with the orders of the court nor paid the damages awarded. This development prompted Mrs. Anozie’s legal team to initiate contempt proceedings by serving the IGP with Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) and Form 49 (Notice of Committal to Correctional Centre).
The applicant is now seeking an order of court committing the IGP to Kuje Correctional Centre until he complies fully with the judgment.
The motion for contempt has been scheduled for hearing on February 9, 2025, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official response to the contempt proceedings.
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
News
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
Urges African entrepreneurs to close ranks to fully harness continent’s huge potentials
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has lauded the transformative impact of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the global entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem that has raised over $1.5 billion dollars and created over 30,000 direct jobs in 20 years.
He, however, urged African entrepreneurs to close ranks in order to fully harness the continent’s huge potentials, leveraging MIT’s resource mobilization network and job creation opportunities.
The Vice President made the remarks on Wednesday when he received a delegation from Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025-2026 led by MIT’s Executive Director for the Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, Dina Sherif, on a courtesy visit at the presidential villa.

Senator Shettima called for unity of purpose among African professionals and entrepreneurs, saying “Africa is the new frontier and future belongs to the continent but its people must unite to transform potentials into tangible results that impact lives and livelihoods.
“Africa is blessed with enormous human and material resources but its people must fuse into one to benefit from the tremendous opportunities that abound across the continent,” he added.

He disclosed that Nigeria President Bola Tinubu is daring to leverage available opportunities to transform the entire economy, noting that “President Tinubu is not afraid of taking bold decisions that will reposition Nigeria’s economy and better the lives of the livelihoods of the people.”
Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Sherif, said the delegation was at the Presidential Villa to brief the Vice President on the activities of MIT’s Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, assuring that the Centre is dedicated to “fueling the engine of entrepreneurship across the world”.
She noted that the team was in Nigeria in view of the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship programme, which, according to her, has helped to entrench the spirit of entrepreneurship across the continent.

Sherif underscored the significance of collaboration among African startups, noting that Nigeria is a leading country, as evidenced in the progress recorded by startups across the continent.
She further assured of improved support for African-based startups from the centre through its various initiatives.

Also present at the meeting with the Vice President were the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and some fellows of the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025 – 2026 Session across Africa.
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
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