Security
ICPC Chairman Aliyu Bags Award for Championing Anti-Corruption Reforms
ICPC Chairman Aliyu Bags Award for Championing Anti-Corruption Reforms
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has charged public relations officers and journalists to bring accuracy and fairness to their crisis-management and reporting duties, warning that irresponsible messaging on the scale of corruption in Nigeria can backfire and inadvertently normalise the very conduct it seeks to condemn.
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Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards in Abuja on August 13, 2026, themed “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication,” Aliyu described strategic communication as one of the most underestimated tools in the fight against corruption, telling the gathering of spokespersons, editors and communication professionals that citizens cannot support reforms they neither understand nor trust.
Citing guidance from the Basel Institute on Governance, the ICPC Chairman said messages that simply emphasise how widespread corruption is can breed fatigue and resignation rather than action, reinforcing the belief that corruption is inevitable and that “everyone is doing it,” which he said weakens individual resolve to resist it. He said this was not a call to understate the scale of the problem, but to pair honest disclosure with messaging that shows citizens what they can do about it, so that candour informs rather than paralyses the public.
Aliyu said communication that is specific, locally relevant and tied to citizens’ daily lives is far more effective than broad awareness campaigns about the evils of corruption. He added that highlighting the “true norm” — the fact that the overwhelming majority of citizens reject corruption — does more to inspire confidence and action than repeatedly reinforcing perceptions that graft is pervasive.
He said the media occupies a strategic position in the anti-corruption ecosystem, noting that investigative journalism has exposed major cases of corruption and driven institutional reforms across the country. However, he stressed that credibility remains journalism’s greatest asset, and that accuracy, professionalism, fairness and objectivity must always prevail over sensationalism if public trust and democratic accountability are to be strengthened.
On technology, Aliyu said artificial intelligence and digital tools offer significant opportunities for predictive analytics, fraud detection and procurement monitoring, but cautioned that emerging risks such as deepfakes and digital misinformation must be matched with stronger legal safeguards, so that innovation remains an instrument for transparency rather than a vehicle for more sophisticated corruption.
The Chairman also urged stakeholders and policy shapers at the event to look back to their educational roots and draw on their own life journeys as living references for integrity, saying such examples could help revive public hope in the system and anchor a more sustainable future. He said the Commission is consolidating related school-based interventions into a National Schools Integrity Programme, arguing that while enforcement addresses the symptoms of corruption, only a change in values addresses its cause, and that integrity must become Nigeria’s national culture rather than merely a legal obligation.
The Chairman commended the National Spokespersons Awards, organised by Economic Confidential, for recognising excellence in public communication, which he described as indispensable to national development. He said the ICPC itself has adopted this approach in its own public enlightenment work, tying its messaging to tangible outcomes and working through trusted, credible messengers such as traditional, religious and community leaders to sustain public confidence and citizen reporting.
Beyond communication, Aliyu briefly touched on the Commission’s enforcement and prevention record, disclosing that its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative tracked 4,582 public projects worth over N22.53 trillion between 2023 and June 2026, recovering stalled projects worth N507.04 billion and generating an estimated N385.62 billion in savings for government. He said court-ordered forfeitures, including the recovery of properties worth over N5 billion linked to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and N941.9 million tied to a 2024 payroll fraud scheme, continue to return misappropriated public funds and assets to the state. He said these outcomes reinforce the case for honest, evidence-based public communication rather than undermining it.

ICPC Chairman Aliyu
He also urged professionals in the room to see themselves as “shapers of perception” with a responsibility that goes beyond exposing wrongdoing, closing with a call for the fight against corruption to be paired with truth-telling that is “honest enough to be believed, and hopefully enough to be followed.”
In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), Mallam Yushau Shuaib, described Aliyu as an advocate of due process and a stalwart of anti-graft policy and asset recovery, and stressed the critical role communication professionals play in effective crisis management.
The event, organised by IMPR under its Economic Confidential platform, also featured the public presentation of a research report on Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Communication in Nigeria, and brought together government officials, spokespersons, editors, diplomats, security agencies and civil society representatives at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. Aliyu was honoured with an award for championing anti-corruption reforms, in recognition of his leadership of the Commission’s enforcement, prevention and public enlightenment efforts.
Eereporter.com
Crime
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
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The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.
The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Oil
The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
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Economy
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements
Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”
He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.
At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.
According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said
He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.
“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.
He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.
“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.
While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC
He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.
In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.
The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
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Security
Nigerian Air Force Celebrates Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day with Families in Lagos
Nigerian Air Force Celebrates Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day with Families in Lagos
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) marked Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary with a family-centred celebration at the ATO Field, NAF Base Ikeja, Lagos, bringing together children and families of personnel in an atmosphere of patriotism, unity and camaraderie.
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The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal AA Suleh, joined the celebration and presented gift items to the children. The event, facilitated by the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore MA Imam, featured games, music, cultural displays and other recreational activities.

Nigerian Air Force
The celebration reinforced the NAF’s commitment to personnel and family welfare as a key enabler of morale and operational effectiveness, in line with the CAS Command Philosophy, while reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to standing with Nigerians and contributing to a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria.
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