Category Nigeria News

Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, an elder statesman, business mogul, and philanthropist, passed away in the care of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Dantata was a well-known and successful businessman who passed away at the age of 94 on Saturday.

President Tinubu described Dantata’s passing as a monumental national loss because of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth and development in a statement signed by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday.

The late Dantata served in the old Kano State’s planning and development committee, among other positions, in addition to his reputable and long-standing business acumen.

READ MORE:  Business Icon Aminu Dantata Dies At 94.

Dantata received a public rebuke for his public-spirited philanthropy, which had a significant impact on the delivery of healthcare and education.

The President recalled his friendship with the late mogul, praising his wise counsel and support as incredibly positive and encouraging.

We lost a prominent business mogul, patriot, and elder statesman who had a significant influence on our country’s growth and development with Alhaji Dantata’s passing today.

The President declared that Alhaji Dantata will be remembered for his work, diligence, steadfastness, and great commitment to the unity of the country through his numerous business and philanthropic endeavors, which have affected many lives of Nigerians.

The passing of Nigeria’s illustrious son, the Dantata family, the government, and the Kano State people has been the subject of President Tinubu’s sincere condolences.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of the country, expressed his condolences over Dantata’s passing, claiming that it was a priceless institution.

Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, calling him “a living bridge that connected us to our past,” in a condolence message released by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.

Senator Shettima described Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history,” whose demise marks the close of a crucial chapter in the country’s economic and democratic development, saying, “We have not just lost a leader, we have lost an irreplaceable institution.”

A significant chapter of our history departs with such an elderly person, according to African tradition. He was a living bridge that connected our past, according to Vice President Shettima, who was indeed one of the greatest titans.

The Vice President expressed his condolences to the Dantata family, saying that he hoped the family would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” as well as praying that Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.

Alhaji Aminu, who was born into the legendary Dantata family in Kano, grew up one of Nigeria’s most influent businessmen based on his father’s business legacy. His empire includes those in the oil and gas industries, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and construction.

CGC Bashir Adeniyi was chosen unanimously as Chairperson of the WCO Council, the highest decision-making body in global customs administration, just two years after President Bola Tinubu made his historic appointment as Comptroller-General of Customs at a meeting of the WCO Council in Brussels in June 2023.

The 145th/146th WCO Council Meetings, which took place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, were held as part of the final session.

The South African Revenue Service Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, is succeeded by CGC Adeniyi, who becomes the first Nigerian to hold this prestigious position since the WCO’s founding.

CGC Adeniyi responded to the appointment by thanking the Council members for their trust in his leadership, describing the experience as historic and humbling for both Nigeria and the African Customs community as a whole.

He said, “This honor is not my own; it is a reflection of the Nigeria Customs Service’s collective progress and the transformative agenda we have pursued over the past two years.” In response to the complex realities of global trade, I pledge to uphold the WCO’s core values while also encouraging innovation, equity, and greater collaboration among member states.

Additionally, CGC Adeniyi thanked the Council for choosing him as chair. He affirmed his unwavering support for the World Customs Organization’s ongoing modernization efforts and his commitment to the implementation of its strategic plan for 2025-2028.

Adeniyi continued, “We are at a critical point in the evolution of global trade, where customs must strike a balance between sovereignty and cooperation, transparency with innovation, and facilitation with enforcement.” Working closely with member administrations and stakeholders to make the WCO a dynamic, forward-thinking institution that is appropriate for the challenges of today.

CGC also applauded the guidance and stability that his predecessor, Edward Kieswetter, had provided to the Council, and commended his efforts. He cited the solid foundations that his administration had for the success of the current reforms. The CGC added that he was confident in the Council’s upcoming sessions and that he was ready to encourage meaningful dialogue and progress among the world’s customs community.

The Convention on the Establishment of a Customs Co-operation Council established the WCO Council as the organization’s supreme governing body. Its primary goal is to promote global best practices, uniformity, and modernization among the customs administrations. The Council is informed by all WCO working bodies, whose policy decisions govern the activities of the 185 member states’ customs administrations.

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CGC Adeniyi is expected to lead the WCO Policy Commission in a strategic manner, leading the global trade agenda, and facilitating cross-border cooperation and digital transformation discussions.

He will also work closely with the WCO Secretariat, Mr. Ian Saunders, and Mr. Ian Saunders, to ensure that the organization’s Strategic Plan is carried out while supporting greater inclusivity, capacity expansion, and sustainability in customs operations, especially in developing nations.

The Chairperson also plays a significant diplomatic function, strengthening relationships with external partners, including the Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), international donor organizations, and multilateral trade organizations, as well as representing the WCO at high-level global forums.

The South African flag was respectfully lowered shortly after the Council Session while the Nigerian flag was hoisted at the WCO headquarters, a powerful gesture recognizing Nigeria’s leadership as Chair of the Council. This symbolic moment captured the significance of Nigeria’s ascent. Delegates applauded the scene, confirming Nigeria’s expanding influence in global customs affairs and praising the continent in its own right.

From June 2024 to date, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken 353 suspects into custody for various illicit drug-related offenses.

A total of 3, 125, 875 kg of various hard drugs, including cannabis sativa and psychotropics, were seized by the agency.

The state commander of NDLEA, Ali Umar, disclosed that the command also identified and destroyed cannabis sativa farms in eight local government areas of the state to mark this year’s UN International Day of War against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

He reaffirmed that the organization must win because they have 53 illegal drug dealers convictions, which have resulted in varying jail terms for some of the defendants, some of whom are still awaiting trial.

Read more about the court’s arrests of 14 Chinese for internet fraud and cyberterrorism in Lagos.

“Three in four suspects, out of which 18 were women, were successfully apprehended by the command.”

The command was successful in obtaining 53 illicit drug dealer convictions in total, with the federal high court, Jalingo, and various jail sentences for the other cases still pending.

The commander cited the communities’ inability to provide useful information on drug dealers as one of their problems.

Most painfully, communities enjoy staging mob attacks on police during operations to shield criminal elements and increase state insecurity.

The commander claims that there are other issues, including a lack of housing, operational logistics, treatment, counseling, and a rehabilitation facility.

He emphasized that the state has a strong, cordial relationship with all of its sister security organizations, particularly those that deal with suspect transfers, intelligence sharing, and exhibits to their respective jurisdictions.

The command recorded a total seizure of 1, 275, 538 kg of various hard drugs, including cannabis sativa and psychotropic substances (the latter weighing 1, 046, 934 kg, the latter weighing 228. 604 kg, and the latter destroying farmland in the local government areas of Gembu, Yorro, Ibi, Zing, Takum, Kurmi, Ardo-Kola, and Karim Lamido).

President Donald Trump boasts of securing mineral wealth while Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a peace agreement on Friday in Washington to put an end to the thousands of fatalities.

Trump addressed the two countries’ foreign ministers to the White House, saying, “Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity.” “This is a wonderful day,” the message continued.

The agreement comes after the M23, a rebel force that is related to Rwanda, invaded the mineral-rich east of the DRC this year, seizing vast land, including Goma, a crucial city.

The agreement, which has been negotiated through Qatar since before Trump took office, calls for Rwanda to take action to put an end to “defensive measures” it has taken, does not explicitly address the gains of the M23 in the region torn by decades of on-off war.

Rwanda has pleaded with ethnic Hutus to end the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was established in response to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

The “neutralization” of the FDLR is stated in the agreement, with Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe calling for the “first order of business” to be the “irreversible and verifiable end of state support for the Hutu militants.

At a signing ceremony held at the State Department, Nduhungirehe said, “the process will be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures.”

He continued, “We must acknowledge that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region and beyond, because many previous agreements have not been put into action.”

Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, his Congolese counterpart, made a point about the state’s obligation to respect state sovereignty.

It offers a rare opportunity to turn the page with profound change occurring on the ground, not just in words. Some wounds can heal, but they never completely vanish,” she said.

A joint security coordination body will be established to track progress, as well as a vague call for a “regional economic integration framework” within three months.

Trump accepts credit;

Trump has praised the diplomatic maneuver that led to the agreement and introduced a journalist who claimed he merited the Nobel Peace Prize at his White House event.

Trump stated earlier on Friday that the United States would be able to “award a lot of mineral rights from the Congo”.

With US rival China now playing a key role in securing the resources, the DRC has vast mineral reserves, including lithium and cobalt, which are important for electric vehicles and other cutting-edge technologies.

Trump appeared to make reference to the horrors of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which saw the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Tutsis, in just 100 days. He claimed he had been unaware of the conflict.

“I didn’t know too much about that one, so I’m a little out of my league.” They had been using machetes for many years, according to Trump, and I was aware of this.

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Although not widely praised, the agreement was nonetheless notable.

The deal, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, represents “a significant step toward de-escalation, peace, and stability” in the region’s eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.

In a statement, Guterres urged the parties to fully fulfill their obligations under the Peace Agreement, including ending hostilities and all other agreed actions.

Germany praised the “excellent news” and demanded that it be implemented.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, praised the “historical step forward” and said that “peace must hold.”

Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to stop the DRC’s epidemic of sexual violence in conflict, expressed concern about the agreement, saying it had had a positive impact on Rwanda and the United States.

The signing of the agreement would result in the victim “invoking the legal system to punish their aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and imposing on them the victim to alienate their national heritage,” he said in a statement prior to signing the agreement.

Physicians for Human Rights, a group that has worked in the DRC, applauded the de-escalation, but claimed there were “major omissions” in the agreement, including accountability for rights violations.

In the Kwesati community of Ussa local government area of Taraba State, A. K. 47 rifle has been recovered and a suspected bandit has been neutralized by soldiers from Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke.

The incident is a part of a larger clearance operation to remove bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements from Taraba state.

The success reported in a press release by the Brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Olubodunde Oni, was a follow-up to reliable information about the bandits’ movement.

“Trusted forces stationed in Kwesati quickly deployed and tactically established a position along a suspected crossing route,” according to the statement.

“The troops engaged the criminals with superior firepower during the operation. The bandits were forced to flee in disarray as a result of the engagement’s high level, with some suspects claiming to have escaped with gunshot wounds into the nearby forest. During the confrontation, one bandit was rendered invisible.

READ ALSO: The Army begins discussions over resolution of conflicts between Tiv and Fulani in Taraba.

One AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine containing three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and two mobile phones were recovered following the operation, according to the statement.

Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, commander of the Nigerian Army, praised the soldiers’ gallantry and professionalism while expressing the company’s commitment to carry out aggressive operations until all state-wide threats are eliminated.

He urged people to continue providing security agencies with timely and reliable information in order to support ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal elements.