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Tag: IADI

  • IADI, Others Set to Protest Against Customs Boss Over Smuggling Allegations, Promotion Scandal

    IADI, Others Set to Protest Against Customs Boss Over Smuggling Allegations, Promotion Scandal

    • Calls on Tinubu to Reverse Tenure Extension

    • As Groups Decry Nepotism, Favoritism, and Disregard for Due Process

    Amid rising concerns over governance failures within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest and press conference against the leadership of the agency, particularly the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

    According to reports, the planned civic action stems from a series of unresolved allegations, including collusion with rice smugglers, promotion irregularities, nepotism, and a growing culture of impunity and administrative silence within the Service.

    In a statement released on Wednesday, signed by IADI’s Executive Director, Comrade Christopher Ofomhi, the group disclosed that the protest is officially scheduled for Friday, 15th August 2025. The procession will begin at Unity Fountain, Abuja, and proceed to the Customs Headquarters, where demonstrators will demand accountability and comprehensive reform.

    The group also revealed that a formal petition dated 6th August 2025 has been submitted to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, requesting approval and security coverage for the protest. IADI emphasized that the protest will be peaceful, lawful, and focused on drawing national attention to deep-rooted issues in the Customs Service that have long been ignored.
    Of particular concern according to the group, are fresh allegations that officers collect ₦250,000 per boat to facilitate rice smuggling through the Badagry waterways. These illegal activities, reportedly carried out in full view of Customs patrol boats, raise grave concerns about complicity at the highest levels.

    The coalition also decried alleged favoritism in special promotions, opaque examination procedures, and violations of seniority protocols, all of which they say are eroding morale within the Service and undermining public trust.

    Comrade Ofomhi lamented that despite repeated petitions and public outcries, the Comptroller-General’s office has remained silent. “We can no longer be quiet while due process is consistently trampled upon. It is our constitutional responsibility to demand accountability where there is silence and to challenge abuse where negligence thrives,” he declared.

    Ofomhi also disclosed that the protest will be an avenue to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider and reverse the recent tenure extension granted to CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which he insists was not based on merit or transparency.

    “The extension appears to be a product of favoritism, not competence,” the group alleged, warning that such practices must not be tolerated under an administration committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    They further stressed that bad leadership must be confronted, not rewarded, and vowed to escalate civic pressure if the authorities fail to act. While expressing openness to dialogue, the civil society groups made it clear that continued inaction would prompt a broader nationwide campaign to restore accountability and integrity across Nigeria’s security and revenue-generating institutions.

  • CBIAMEC Writes JAMB, Threatens Civil Action Over Exam Failures

    CBIAMEC Writes JAMB, Threatens Civil Action Over Exam Failures

    The Civil Society Budget Implementation Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has formally demanded the immediate resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, citing widespread failures and alleged administrative lapses in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    In a letter dated 16th May 2025 and addressed to the Registrar, CBIAMEC referenced a petition from the Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), led by Comrade Ofomhi Christopher, which raised serious concerns over what was described as gross incompetence and financial mismanagement within JAMB. The letter, signed by CBIAMEC Chairman, Ambassador Agbonkpoloir Splendour, stressed the urgent need to uphold transparency, accountability, and justice for the thousands of candidates affected by the alleged examination anomalies.

    The petition attributed the mass failure of candidates to administrative errors reportedly originating from JAMB, raising alarm over the credibility of the examination body and the potential long-term impact on the future of Nigerian youths. It also cautioned that repeated occurrences of such failures could erode public confidence in national institutions and damage the reputation of the current administration as the country approaches another election cycle.

    “The basis for this action is the widespread failure reported among candidates in the 2025 JAMB examination. These failures have been attributed to alleged administrative lapses within JAMB… Such a situation, if left unaddressed, could tarnish the reputation of the current government and potentially influence public perception during the upcoming elections,” the committee stated.

    When contacted by our correspondent, the Chairman of CBIAMEC, Amb. Agbonkpolor Splendour, confirmed that civil society organizations and other concerned youth groups, would commence mass protests and civil actions in seven days should there be no response or visible action from the JAMB leadership.

    “We are giving the Registrar an opportunity to respond, but failure to act within seven days will lead to nationwide civil actions. The affected candidates and their families deserve answers and justice,” Splendour said.

    The committee reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting a sane environment, national integrity, and responsible leadership for the Nigerian youth, adding that only a transparent and accountable examination system can foster trust in educational processes.

    Meanwhile other stakeholders across education, civil society, others have also expressed serious concern over the same issue.

    More details to follow…..

    See Letter:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • IADI Applauds NSCDC Leadership for Exemplary Professionalism and Transformational Strides

    IADI Applauds NSCDC Leadership for Exemplary Professionalism and Transformational Strides

    The Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), a foremost non-governmental organization, has commended the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to professionalism, and transformative initiatives that have repositioned the corps as a formidable force in maintaining national security and safeguarding critical infrastructure.

    In a statement signed and released to newsmen on Tuesday, IADI’s Executive Director, Comrade Chris Ofomhi, described Audi’s visionary leadership as a beacon of hope, particularly in an era where many public stewards are found wanting in areas of leadership. He noted that the NSCDC boss has led significant reforms and implemented innovative strategies aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, improving personnel welfare, and fostering community engagement.

    Comrade Ofomhi specifically commended the NSCDC for its exemplary handling of the recent hunger protest, where protesters were peacefully managed without incident. He noted that none of the protesters complained or fingered the NSCDC in allegations of harassment, intimidation, or threat, a testament to the corps’ professionalism and commitment to protecting human rights. This, he said, is a clear indication that the NSCDC has embraced international best practices in crowd control and management.

    IADI praised the NSCDC’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, and community-based security initiatives, which have earned the corps the trust and confidence of the public. He also acknowledged the corps’ proactive approach to addressing security threats, such as pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, and banditry, which have posed significant challenges to national security.

    “We are impressed by the NSCDC’s transformation under Commandant-General Audi’s leadership. His dedication to service, professionalism, and community engagement has set a new standard for security agencies in Nigeria. We urge the NSCDC to continue building on its achievements and call on other security agencies to emulate its exemplary leadership and transformational strides.

    “The NSCDC’s success in managing the nationwide hunger protest is a clear indication that the corps is committed to upholding the principles of democracy and human rights. Their action during the protest demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.” He added.

    The Executive Director, however, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to supporting the corps in its efforts to promote national security, safety, and development.

  • Fuel Scarcity: IADI Faults Kyari, Threatens Mass Protest

    Fuel Scarcity: IADI Faults Kyari, Threatens Mass Protest

    • …Says Kyari secretly discrediting Tinubu’s administration
    • …Tags fuel scarcity an agenda of fifth columnists
    • ….Mele Kyari must go for fuel crisis to end- says Comrade Ofomhi

    A foremost civil society organisation, Integrity Advocacy For Development Initiative (IADI), has demanded the immediate removal of the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over allegations of mismanagement, gross misconduct and lingering nationwide fuel scarcity that has caused widespread hardship and economic losses.

    In a statement signed issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Executive Director, Comrade Christopher Ofomhi, accused Kyari of discreetly discrediting the President Tinubu’s administration with his continued gross incompetence and mismanagement, while presiding over a corrupt and inefficient system that has led to the decline of the oil sector and plunged the country’s economy into further doom.

    The group in a bid to further justify its rallies and calls, specifically alleged that Kyari’s leadership has been marred by failure to ensure adequate fuel supply and distribution, inability to address the decay of Nigeria’s refineries and infrastructures, lack of transparency and accountability in the management of fuel subsidies, corruption and nepotism in the award of contracts and appointments, mismanagement of the NNPCL’s finances, leading to a debt burden of over $6.1 billion and fuelling a fifth columnists agenda.

    It also alleged that this same fuel scarcity strategy, was what was used prior to the 2023 general elections as an attempt to stop Bola Ahmed Tinubu from emerging as president.

    IADI demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sack Kyari and appoint a new MD who will transparently manage the NNPCL and address the fuel crisis.

    The group also called for an immediate investigation into the causes of the fuel scarcity and the role of NNPCL officials, prosecution of those found culpable, a detailed and comprehensive audit of the NNPCL’s finances and operations and the implementation of reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in the oil sector.

    They further warned that if their demands are not met within two weeks, they will mobilize concerned Nigerians for a rally/mass protests and other civil disobedience actions to demand the sack, accountability and good governance because it is their sole rights as citizens of this great nation.

    This development comes as the fuel scarcity has continued to linger, and no change is in sight, with many Nigerians struggling to access fuel for transportation, power generation, and other essential needs.

    The NNPCL through its chief corporate communications officer Olufemi Soneye, told newsmen last Thursday that the challenge in the supply of petrol/ scarcity currently being experienced in some areas across the country is a result of logistics issues and they had been resolved. However, IADI and many Nigerians believe that the root cause of the problem lies in the mismanagement, gross incompetence, and corruption within the four walls of NNPCL.

    As at the time of filing this report, the group had already written to the Department of State Services to intimate them on the scheduled civil action against the MD. (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    • Says Ude’s allegations, baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading
    • Commends Tinubu on Steve Oronsaye’s report.

    The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) and Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), has reacted to reports emanating from the twitter handle of controversial journalist, Jackson Ude, where he alleged that the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), looted 3 billion naira via contract racketeering in one month.

    Reacting to this allegation during a press briefing, at the weekend in Abuja, the coalition led by Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, and Chris Ofomhi, described the allegations as another attempt on blackmail, campaign of calumny.

    While providing detailed explanation to the issue, they said one had to have a deeper understanding of how NEMA operates, adding that “NEMA is an interventionist organization whose major mandate is to address issues that require urgent and prompt responses and in doing so, the agency most times carries out emergency procurement in line with the stipulations of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other extant regulations.”

    They,however, said the DG should be commended for initiatives he had brought to reshape the agency.

    They said: “The allegations that the DG of NEMA looted over N3 billion between January and February is baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading.

    “Mustapha Habib Ahmed’s tenure as the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been a tenure marked by a series of commendable achievements, commitment, leadership showmanship, dedication, strategic and sterling vision in handling emergency response and disaster management in Nigeria.

    “Overtime, he has played a pivotal role in raising public awareness about disaster preparedness and mitigation whilst through commitment to innovation and collaboration, positioned NEMA as a key player in disaster management not only within Nigeria but on the global stage.

    “The DG deserves much better than to be placed on twitter if not a social media grill. Under his leadership, the Agency developed solutions to emerging challenges that will enable performance of its functions in line with international humanitarian standards.

    “In a world where integrity and sincerity can, at times, be scarce, it is crucial to note that the expository in question lacked detailed facts and credibility, as it heavily relied on hearsay and not absolute fact.

    “It therefore poses on the readers and digesters of such cancerous reportage to pose crucial questions before accepting false information as infallible truth.”

    In a related development, the coalition also frowned at a recent publication on one of the online news outlets on calls to probe NEMA over alleged failure to refund $4.8 minion unspent after Nigerians’ evacuation from Ukraine.

    “What is unknown to them is that NEMA actually refunded unspent balance of the approved fund to the tune of $648,600 USD in two batches of $450,300 and $198,300 respectively to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “From the above finding, it is obvious that the allegation is frivolous and baseless. Instead of the frivolous allegations, the National Emergency Management Agency deserved to be commended for being diligent in carrying out the national assignment of safely bringing stranded compatriots back home, and also being prudent in the application and expending of the allocated fund for the project”.

    The coalition also in same vein, commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which came with gratifying reforms, one of which is the implementation of the Steve Oronsaye Report, an action scheduled to restructure and rationalize federal government agencies and parastatals to reduce costs of governance, streamline operations, and improve efficiency.

     

  • Group Drags FCT Minister, Alleged Taskforce over Demolition of Properties in Asokoro

    Group Drags FCT Minister, Alleged Taskforce over Demolition of Properties in Asokoro

    • Your action is a breach to fundamental human right, injury to democracy- Chris tells Minister

    Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative IADI, have condemned in entirety the demolition of structures and properties of natives of in Asokoro Extension of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, by the officials of the Task Team under the approval of the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello.

    In a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the Executive Director, Comrade Chris Ofomhi who disclosed that majority of the properties destroyed by the Minister and his foot soldiers located at Kpaduma Guzape along Bala Mohammed Highway were lands belonging to the Gbagi Indigene/Communities. He alleged that the act was carried out under the guise of public interest.

    According to the statement, the team leader Mr. Attah Haruna and the Police CSO to the minister revealed that the directive was from President Muhammadu Buhari citing an attempt to destroy the same place over 10 years ago.

    It read: “We condemn the demolition and destruction of properties of natives of Asokoro communities by the Federal Minister and his team task force, the process has been ongoing for quite a while now and it looks like a witch hunt from the FCTA Administration on innocent indigenes.

    “The simple question is, are the buildings theirs at the time? the Police CSO to the minister said that all these lands were already allocated to people; Who are these people? Is it because of a few influential Nigerians that the FCT Minister decided to render some people homeless? The minister said that the demolition isn’t targeted at Abuja natives but the “squatters”. Are these “squatters” not Nigerians? and why would soldiers who are supposed to be busy fighting Boko Haram, be the ones parading themselves as task force men, destroying and demolishing these properties?

    “The FCT land user act states clearly that government cannot takeover any land from an individual and re-allocate to another person without considering first the owner of the property. The alleged task force officials, demanded for some kickback to delay the devilish act but the indigene ignored and told them categorically that, they are not ready to give anybody a dime because they did not contravene any law, these are community lands that the Minister has allegedly allocated to his political allies as parting gift.

    “This injustice will not stand, if they are claiming that the place was allocated 10years ago, where are the reports of the committee setup as at that time and who was the chairman, what are the names of the members of the committee and who inaugurated the committee?” it added.

    The group further stated that it is in the best interest that the public know that the development control machine is not serviceable but were supplied by the friends and cronies of the minister who got the land as parting complimentary gifts from the latter.

    IADI appealing to the FCT Administration to respect the rule of law as their actions constitutes a breach to the fundamental human rights of the indigenes and an injury to democracy; however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other agencies to set up an investigative committee to checkmate the action and ensure that the political gimmick orchestrated by the minister fail, while lands snatched and properties destroyed be returned back to the affected indigenes.