Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the country’s challenges, emphasising that these obstacles are surmountable.

Speaking in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the weekend during the commissioning of the Soybean Plant and Refinery of the CSS Group and the birthday celebration of Prof. John Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Jonathan weighed in on the importance of collective effort in nation-building.

The event was attended by dignitaries including former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma; Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri; former Cross River State Governor Prof. Ben Ayade; former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen; and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy.

Jonathan cautioned against the increasing trend of migration, popularly referred to as “Japa,” urging Nigerians to contribute to the development of their homeland.

“You don’t need to Japa. Those countries you are running to were built by people. We must build this country together, and invest in it so that the youths can get jobs. We must not run away from our responsibilities. This country belongs to all of us, and we must not abandon it,” he said as quoted by DAILY TRUST.

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri echoed Jonathan’s sentiments, stating, “There is hope in Nigeria. So those who want to Japa, please, don’t Japa. Nigeria is a blessed country. If we all key into what the private sector is doing, no one will Japa.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), addressed the nation’s food security issues, calling for urgent action to tackle hunger caused by high food price inflation.

“The level of hunger in Nigeria is too high due to very high food price inflation,” he said, emphasizing the need for accelerated efforts to expand food production, lower food costs, reduce import dependency, and support local farmers.

Adesina recounted, “There is no doubt that Nigerian farmers can feed Nigeria. They did when I was Minister of Agriculture under President Jonathan. The price of rice at the time was N8,000 per bag; today it is over N100,000 per bag.”

He called for bold programmes and policy support for farmers and agribusinesses to develop agricultural value chains.

He also revealed that the African Development Bank, in partnership with the federal government and other stakeholders, is implementing a $538 million programme to develop special agro-industrial processing zones in eight states: Cross River, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, and the FCT.

He added, “The second phase of the special agro-industrial processing zones will cover all remaining 28 states in Nigeria. The SAPZ-Phase II is planned with a financing target of $1 billion, from the African Development Bank, the Arab Bank for African Economic Development, and the private sector.”

Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma expressed optimism about Nigeria’s role in Africa’s progress, stating, “If positive things happen in Nigeria, we are happy because Africa can only get it right when Nigeria gets it right.”

No fewer than three septuagenarians and 15 other kidnapped victims have been rescued by Troops of the Three Division Nigerian Army and Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State.

Briefing newsmen about the latest developments in Jos, Operation Safe Haven Information Officer, Major Samson Zhakom, revealed that the rescue operation was carried out between the borders of Taraba and Plateau States while the rescued victims have been reunited with their families after profiling and documentation by relevant agencies.

Zhakom revealed that some of the criminals were apprehended with ammunition and firearms recovered during the counter-terrorism operations.

In a related development, Troops of Sector Five on Golden Peace Operations said they captured five bandits at a criminal hideout in the Tarangol In Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau with several items recovered from the criminals which include fabricated rifles, rounds of 7.62 mm (special), cartridges and daggers.

Similarly, the troops intercepted bandits at Jannaret in Mangu local government area while attempting to cause mayhem in the general area.

He said the released victims have been reunited with their families after profiling and documentation by relevant agencies.

Also, troops of Sector Five on Golden Peace Operations said they captured five bandits at a criminal hideout in the Tarangol In Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau with several items recovered from the criminals which include fabricated rifles, rounds of 7.62 mm (special), cartridges and daggers.

The troops intercepted bandits at Jannaret in Mangu local government area while attempting to cause mayhem in the general area.

The apprehended suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution while investigations are ongoing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Monday arraign the Chairman, Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, over alleged N12.3bn fraud.

The suit also names a former Managing Director of First Bank, Olabisi Onasanya; an ex-Honeywell board member, Soji Akintayo and Anchorage Leisure Ltd as defendants.

In a suit marked: FHC/L/20C/2025, the anti-graft agency filed 13 charges against the defendants at the Federal High Court in Lagos, bordering on fraud and forgery among others.

They will be arraigned alongside, a former member of the board of directors of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Soji Akintayo and a company linked to Otudeko, named Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

All four were listed as defendants in the suit filed by an EFCC prosecutor, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala on Jan. 16, 2025.

According to the EFCC, the four committed the fraud in tranches of N5.2b, N6.2b, N6.150b, N1.5b and N500million, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos.

In proof of the charge against the defendants, the EFCC intends to call representatives of First Bank including Cecelia Majekodunmi, Ola Michael Aderogba, Abiodun Olatunji, Raymond Eze, Abiodun Odunbola and Adeeyo David all of whom are expected to give evidence of the fraudulent misrepresentation of the Defendants and tender relevant documents.

The EFCC will also rely on the testimonies of representatives of Central Bank of Nigeria, representatives of Stallion Nigeria Limited and representatives of V-tech Dynamics Ltd.

Also included in the EFCC’s list of witnesses are one Farida Abubakar and Adaeze Nwakoby.

According to the Commission, the offences contravene Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and were punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Count 1 of the charge says that Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo and Anchorage Leisure Limited between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to obtain the sum of N12,300,000,000.00 (Twelve Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira Only),from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied * for by V- Tech Dynamic Links Limited and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

In Count 2, it was alleged that the defendants, on or about 26th day of November, 2013 in Lagos, “obtained the sum of N5.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V Tech Dynamic Links Limited which representation you know to be false.”

The 3rd count claims that the defendants, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, obtained N6.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”

County 4 reads, that you, Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo and Anchorage Leisure Limited on or about 26th day of November 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the total sum of N6,150,000,000,.00 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only.), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Count 5 accuses Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo and Anchorage Leisure Limited on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1.5 billion, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.