News

IGP Vows To End Impunity, Upgrade Traffic Warden Unit

Published

11 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, on Friday declared that the era of impunity in the Nigeria Police was over, just as he promised to upgrade the traffic warden unit of the Force.

The IGP spoke in Benin during his official visit to the Edo State Command where he had an interactive session with officers of the state command.

Disu, who said until the interactive session, he never imagined some of the points raised by the officers of the Command, noted: “I am living here with what they have told me in confidence. And they have been able to open my thoughts.”

“Now I have one or two things to do when I get back to Abuja. Things I never gave thought to. For example, an officer of the traffic warden stood up and said, for many years now, there have not been recruitments into the corps of traffic wardens. That got me thinking. The traffic warden unit should be upgraded. So when I get back home, we are going to talk about it.”

Speaking on an end to impunity, the IGP, who made reference to the recent incident where a police officer shot dead a civilian who did not struggle at the point of arrest, said: “That’s impunity. You arrested somebody who was not struggling with you, you brought him out in daylight and you shot him.”

He added: “The police rose up to the occasion immediately, tried them, dismissed them, and they are going to charge them in court. That is the meaning of impunity.

“Like I mentioned earlier, the era of impunity is over. We have to have the new Nigerian police force. I know I cannot do it alone, that is why I have come here to talk to them, so that all of us will be on the same page.”

He disclosed that “they gave me their word that they will have a new police. A new police that the community, the state, the Nigerian people own as our own police.”

Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, urged the IGP to extend his support “to this command in the area of logistics, tactical support, and personal development.”

According to him, “the command intensified high visibility policing, aggressive bush combing, operations, confidence building patrols, and intelligence driven raids across identified criminal hideouts and flash points within the state,” hence the IGP support is needed.

News

SEC Cautions Against Investing In Illegal Outfits, Platforms

Published

16 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned Nigerians against investing in illegal online investment schemes promoted across social media platforms.

According to the SEC, many of them exhibit characteristics of Ponzi and prohibited investment operations.

In a public notice issued yesterday, the commission was worried about “the increasing promotion of unregistered online investment schemes on social media applications and websites, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Facebook, TikTok and other digital platforms”.

“Many of the investment schemes exhibit characteristics of Ponzi or prohibited investment schemes, while some operators of such schemes also provide unauthorised investment services to members of the public,” the commission said.

It advised Nigerians to refrain from investing in platforms promising unrealistic returns.

It stated: “Accordingly, the Commission hereby advises the public to refrain from investing or participating in any unregistered online investment platform or scheme promising unrealistic or guaranteed returns.”

SEC also cautioned members of the public against relying on investment advisories circulated online by unregistered persons or entities.

It reminded Nigerians that under the Investments and Securities Act, only entities registered by the SEC are authorised to promote investment services, provide investment advisory services or solicit funds from the public in the Nigerian capital market.

News

Nigeria Reciprocate Rwanda’s 30-day Visa Free Entry

Published

37 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

Nigeria has reciprocated Rwanda’s 30-day visa free entry, expanding travel access between both nations.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced this on Friday, saying it has finished all arrangements for the implementation following President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had diclosed that Nigeria will put into consideration reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free status for Nigerians.

The Gurdian Nigeria reported Tinubu said this in a talk with Rwandan president, Paul Kagame in Kigali at the ongoing Africa CEO Forum.

This was made known by the Minister of Fpreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, via her X handle on Friday.

News

Lagos Sanctions 15 Money Lending Companies For Sharp Practices

Published

42 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

Lagos State government has sanctioned 15 money lending firms for violating operational guidelines and engaging in practices considered detrimental to residents of the state.

Speaking, on Friday, during the 2026 ministerial press briefing to mark the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, said the action formed part of the government’s efforts to sanitise the money lending sector and protect Lagosians from exploitation and fraudulent financial practices.

He added that the state government would continue to enforce strict compliance among money lenders operating within Lagos. “The firms were sanctioned to ensure strict adherence to guidelines and to protect Lagosians from sharp practices by financial firms,” he said.

The commissioner also said money lending remains a critical component of the economy because it provides quick access to credit for petty traders and small-scale business operators who often struggle to secure loans from commercial banks due to stringent conditions and requirements.

“Moneylending business is one of the vital parts of the economy which allows people in the small-scale industry and petty traders to have stress-free access to quick loans to finance their businesses,” Layode stated.

He explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for processing applications, issuing and renewing licences for money lenders operating in the state, while also monitoring and supervising their activities.

The commissioner said the government regularly organises stakeholders’ forums for operators in the sector to expose them to global best practices and strengthen professionalism within the industry.

“We also conduct stakeholders’ forums for Moneylender operators in order to bring them up to speed on the latest world best practices,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the ministry works closely with federal regulatory agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, and the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, to ensure compliance with financial regulations.

Layode further explained that the ministry profiles and monitors money lending firms to ensure that residents are protected from dubious operators and fraudulent schemes.

“In addition, the Ministry registers, profiles and monitors the viability of such companies with a view to ensuring that while the money lenders are in business, the general public is also protected from being scammed by fraudulent people of questionable characters,” he said.

He added that the activities of licensed money lenders have contributed significantly to the growth of micro and small businesses in Lagos by providing alternative financing opportunities outside conventional banking institutions.

“This partnership has greatly assisted small-scale business owners in Lagos to keep their petty businesses afloat without having to contend with high interest rates and clauses of the big commercial banks,” Layode said.

According to the commissioner, within the 2025–2026 period under review, the ministry received 112 new applications from money lending operators, while 214 existing licences were renewed.

On naturalisation and special immigrant status applications, Layode said the ministry, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Interior, continued to process applications from foreign nationals seeking Nigerian citizenship or permanent residency status.

He explained that naturalisation is granted to foreigners who have lived continuously in Nigeria for at least 15 years and have established investment interests in their states of residence.

“The objective of the exercise is to grant citizenship rights to foreigners who have lived in the country continuously for fifteen years and above with investment interests in their states of residence,” he stated.

Layode added that special immigrant status is designed for foreign nationals married to Nigerian citizens as part of efforts to promote integration and economic development.

He disclosed that applicants undergo screening and verification processes involving agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police, Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

According to him, 68 applications for naturalisation and special immigrant status were received during the period under review, while 20 applicants were cross-examined and screened for onward transmission to the Federal Ministry of Interior for final clearance.

(GUARDIAN)