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Police ask hoodlums to return looted firearms from 205 police stations

The committee set up by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Adamu, to assess the level of damage to police formations during the #EndSARS protest has warned hoodlums who carted away firearms from 205 police stations in 17 states to return them or face prosecution.
The committee has also raised the alarm that the looting of the weapons at the end of the year when the rate of crime is potentially high is dangerous.
Speaking to THISDAY, the Chairman of the nine-member committee, Commissioner of Police (CP) Abutu Yaro, also urged parents to encourage their children in possession of the looted police firearms to return them.
Adamu had set up the nine-man committee to evaluate police losses during the #EndSARS protests.
Apart from Yaro, the committee has Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Atayero Patrick as vice-chairman and Adedeji Julius, a superintendent of police, as secretary.
Others are: ACP Sulaiman Gulma, ACP Samuel Dang, CSP Kehinde Ope, SP Chijioke Kalu, SP Ajibade Sunday, and DSP Mahmud Haruna as members of the committee.
The committee, which has visited police formations at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State, will visit Ogun State Police Command today.
Yaro told THISDAY that it had become imperative to alert members of the public on the need to return the looted firearms to the police, implying that those who voluntarily return the looted items immediately will be spared.
He said: “We need to alert members of the public on the need to return looted police firearms in their possession. If you see people in possession of firearms, you should report to us.
“Parents, who see their children in possession of firearms, they should have the courage to report to us because we want to recover them. If they (hoodlums) make it impossible for us to recover them, if it’s found with them at a later time or in other locations, it may have some severe consequences.
“It’s important for you to help us educate some members of the public because anybody who is part of the arms’ loot can return it incognito because if it is found with them, there will be consequences. They will face prosecution.”
According to him, the IG led the committee to inspect sites of destruction in Lagos.
He said. “The inspection of some sections of the damage was undertaken by the IG himself. On the first day, the IG was able to go to Makinde, Ebute Ero and the destroyed palace of Oba Akiolu and some other places. We continued the next day because the damage in Lagos is extensive in 36 locations. So far, we have been able to see all. It’s a frightening scenario.
“Not only buildings were destroyed, police equipment, arms and ammunition were carted away.
“Carting away arms and ammunition when the year is ending, not a normal time, but a time of potential higher criminality is dangerous.
“It’s a grave situation but we have made some recoveries.
I think we are making progress.”
He urged community leaders to assist the police to recover stolen arms.
“There are many ways of returning these things. Community leaders could also help by reporting any firearms seen anywhere. They should help because it is important to retrieve these things because it is for the safety of everybody. If they are not checked, if we Nigerians do not react collectively at the end of the day, they may move from house to house and order you to bring out all your property. We are in a Hobbesian state and we need to checkmate it before it consumes everybody,” he stated.
Abutu said the committee would visit 17 states.
The terms of reference of the committee include physical visit of the scenes of incident and capture of pictorials of all damages done to police infrastructure and personnel; verify the fatalities suffered by the police; establish the weapons holdings that were lost during the incidents, among others.
-Thisday
News
Nigeria seeks fresh $300m W’Bank loan for health security

Nigeria seeks fresh $300m W’Bank loan for health security
The Federal Government has engaged the World Bank for a new $300 million loan aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health security infrastructure.
According to World Bank documents, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will implement the project, with the Federal Ministry of Finance acting as the borrower.
The initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies.
The project is currently in the pipeline stage, with a disclosure date set for February 6, 2025.
The World Bank Board is expected to approve it on July 30, 2025, after necessary appraisals and assessments. Implementation will commence in the 2026 fiscal year.
The Nigeria Health Security Programme (HeSP) will focus on expanding molecular laboratory capacity, upgrading primary healthcare centres, establishing emergency operation centres and deploying mobile laboratories.
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Others are constructing warehouses for medical supplies, installing water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and integrating solar energy systems to power health infrastructure.
The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s public health infrastructure, following lessons from past outbreaks, including COVID-19.
This latest loan request comes as Nigeria continues to rely heavily on external financing. Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Government has secured $6.95 billion in World Bank loans over the past 18 months.
Data from the Debt Management Office shows that Nigeria owes the World Bank $17.32 billion, with the International Development Association (IDA) accounting for $16.84 billion.
In the first nine months of 2024, Nigeria spent $3.58 billion servicing its foreign debt, a 39.77% increase from $2.56 billion during the same period in 2023.
Nigeria seeks fresh $300m W’Bank loan for health security
News
CBN to sanction banks limiting ATM withdrawal below N20,000

CBN to sanction banks limiting ATM withdrawal below N20,000
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has threatened to sanction banks that limit Automated Teller Machines (ATM) withdrawal to less than N20,000 per transaction.
The apex bank disclosed this in a document addressing concerns over the reviewed fees on ATM withdrawal.
Recall that CBN on Tuesday increased ATM transaction withdrawal fees, saying, from March 1st, bank customers will pay N100 charge for every N20,000 withdrawal from the on-site ATM of other banks.
The CBN in a circular to banks and other financial institutions, the CBN said, “ATM Transaction Fees On-Us for customers withdrawing at the ATM of the customer’s financial institution in Nigeria with No charge.
“Not-On-Us for withdrawal from another institution’s ATM in Nigeria; On-site ATMs will attract a charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal.
“Off-site ATMs will attract a charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.
“The surcharge, which is an income of the ATM deployer/acquirer, shall be disclosed at the point of withdrawal to the consumer.
“International Withdrawals (per transaction) whether debit/credit card: Cost Recovery – exact charge by international acquirer.
“Furthermore, the three free monthly withdrawals allowed for Remote-On-Us (other bank’s customers/Not-On-Us consumers) in Nigeria under Section 10.6.2 of the Guide shall no longer apply.”
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However, following widespread concerns over the limit on ATM cash withdrawal by banks, the apex and yesterday released a list Frequently Asked Question, FAQ, to clarify implementation of the new charge.
CBN to sanction banks limiting ATM withdrawal below N20,000
News
Google CEO meets Tinubu over AI skills expansion in Nigeria

Google CEO meets Tinubu over AI skills expansion in Nigeria
The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met with Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in Paris, where both leaders discussed a partnership to expand Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills in Nigeria.
Pichai first shared a picture of the meeting with Tinubu on X, noting that the discussions centered on the immense potential of AI in Nigeria.
“It was great meeting with President Tinubu @officialABAT.
“We talked about the immense potential of AI in Nigeria, and how we can partner to expand AI skills, enable innovation, and support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem,” Pichai posted.
Commitment to AI in Nigeria
Responding to the post, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who was also at the meeting, described the discussions as “extremely productive”.
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According to him, the meeting demonstrated the Nigerian government’s commitment to AI and Google’s ongoing support towards developing AI skills and innovation in critical sectors in Nigeria.
Last year, Google announced two separate AI initiatives in Nigeria in partnership with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, both aimed at empowering Nigerians with AI skills.
In the first initiative, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), a N100 million AI Fund backed by Google to support Nigerian startups that are leveraging AI to develop innovative solutions.
The second initiative was a N2.8 billion support from Google to accelerate AI talent development across Nigeria.
According to the Ministry, the support, which was provided as a grant from Google.org to Data Science Nigeria, would bolster its ongoing AI-driven initiatives to upskill youth and under- and unemployed Nigerians, with a focus on AI skill development and education.
Google CEO meets Tinubu over AI skills expansion in Nigeria
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