News
Customs To Deploy Drones At 1,500 Illegal Routes To Check Food Smuggling
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In a move to tighten the noose on food smugglers, the Nigeria Customs Service has deployed drones and more operatives to restrict the diversion of foodstuff to neighbouring countries through about 1,500 identified illegal border crossings.
The National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that the NCS had increased its presence across the borders, including the illegal routes.
The development, he added, was in compliance with the Presidential directive to the security agencies to stop the smuggling of food out of the country as part of decisive measures to stem the food crisis in the country.
Amid the falling value of the naira, traders who deal in grains have been taking grains and other staples to Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon for higher profits.
But this had driven up the prices of food in Nigeria, resulting in protests by citizens and attacks on food trucks by desperate citizens in some states.
Worried by the situation, President Bola Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director, Department of State Services to go after food hoarders and smugglers.
The government ruled out the importation of food as part of strategies to address the high costs of foodstuffs and the economic hardship troubling the country.
Following the directive, dozens of food trucks leaving the country had been intercepted and sent back.
Giving an update on the measures against food hoarding and smuggling, the NCS spokesman,Maiwada, explained that the deployment of drones was under the Trade Modernisation Project of the Federal Government, noting that the equipment needed for the protection of the borders was being provided through the TMP.
“The deployment of drones and other software is part of our Trade Modernisation Project, which has been concessioned. The TMP was approved by the Federal Government for 20 years. So any development that has to do with what you are asking is part of the contract,” he stated.
In July 2023, it was reported that the NCS was collaborating with the Trade Modernisation Project Limited under a public, private partnership arrangement.
Speaking at the inauguration of the NCS Trade Modernisation Project management office in Abuja at the time, Saleh Ahmadu, chairman of the project, said the TMP would invest a total of $3.2bn in the aforementioned period.
“The project would result in efficiency in NCS’ service delivery. Under the terms of the concession agreement, TMP will invest a total of $3.2bn over a 20-year period, which will generate more than $200bn in revenue for the Federal Government.
“As trade becomes increasingly complicated, the project will equip the NCS with the necessary technology tools and platforms to drive trade harmonisation,” Ahmadu had stated.
Asked about the number of personnel that would be recruited, the Customs spokesperson said, “We have recruited a large number of personnel in the last few years in terms of human resources. And even this year, based on the approved budget, there is going to be the recruitment of more junior staff to be able to effectively manage the border areas. I may not be able to give the exact figure now, but I know that over 2,000 officers have been recruited from 2019 till now.
“In terms of equipment, modernisation, the use of drones and other sophisticated technologies in managing the borders that are contained in our Trade Modernisation Project which is concessioned for 20 years.
“The concession agreement is between the Federal Government and Trade Modernisation Limited. They are providing scanners, software and all necessary technologies required at the seaports, airports and borders.”
On whether the concession was already in place, Maiwada stated that the concessionaires had started working.
“It is in place and they are working assiduously. They have started working and very soon we will see the manifestation of what they are doing,” he stated.
On the deployment of technology to check food smuggling, the chief superintendent of Customs admitted “There is still room for improvement.’’
He added, “However, very soon you are going to see the deployment of Non-intrusive Inspection Technology across our borders. I think they are providing about 74 of them or more. These are to be deployed on the seaports, airports and land borders.”
NIT technologies are force multipliers that enable Customs officers to screen or examine a larger portion of the stream of commercial traffic while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade, cargo and passengers.
They include digital X-ray and vibration monitoring, ultra-high frequency analysis and dynamic contact resistance measurements.
Maiwada had earlier told our correspondent on Saturday that the agency had intercepted food smugglers in Kano, Katsina and Sokoto states.
The agency recently revealed that it intercepted 15 trailers that were fully loaded with food items and were heading out of the country through the Sokoto State border.
News
Hartland Nigeria Completes 41 Projects, Reaffirms Commitment To Infrastructure Delivery
● Construction firm says “reputation is built, not claimed” amid ongoing road, bridge works nationwide
ABUJA — Hartland Nigeria Limited says it has completed 41 major infrastructure projects across Nigeria, positioning the civil engineering firm as one of the country’s leading players in roads, bridges and critical public works delivery.
In a statement issued on September 3, 2026 and signed by Management, the company said its record was built on “technical competence, professional discipline, uncompromising quality, and integrity.”
“In Nigerian construction, reputation is not claimed. It is built,” the company stated. “Each of those 41 projects represents more than concrete and asphalt. It represents a responsibility accepted. A contract executed. A commitment honoured.”
—TRACK RECORD ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR—
Hartland said its clients have included Federal and State governments, international organisations and leading private entities. The firm noted it has invested heavily in personnel, equipment and systems to manage complex projects, with over 1,700 direct employees and several others engaged through contractual arrangements.
The company emphasised that it has “never abandoned a project entrusted to us.”
Where contractual or financial challenges arose, it said it worked with clients and partners to find solutions and keep projects moving towards completion.
“We value the confidence and cooperation of those we work with and remain committed to the timely progress and completion of all our ongoing projects,” Management said.
—GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES—
According to the statement, Hartland’s operations have been guided by four core principles: Excellence in execution, Integrity in every dealing, Innovation in approach, and Respect for clients and host communities.
“A contract is a commitment. Public infrastructure carries a public trust. And the strongest reputation is earned one project, one site, one delivery at a time,” the company said.
Management added that infrastructure delivered by Hartland is intended to “connect communities, enable commerce, and support a stronger Nigerian economy.”
—“FULLY COMMITTED” TO ONGOING PROJECTS—
Looking ahead, Hartland said its record of 41 completed projects deepens its sense of responsibility for current assignments.
The firm affirmed it has the experience, technical capacity, professional personnel and organisational discipline to meet all contractual obligations.
“Hartland Nigeria Limited remains fully committed to delivering all current projects in line with the specifications, timelines, and standards of our contracts,” the statement read.
It concluded: “We remain committed to our clients. We remain committed to the communities our projects serve. We remain committed to building the infrastructure that powers Nigeria’s growth. Because this is who we are.”
Hartland Nigeria Limited started as Hartland Enterprises and now operates as a leading civil engineering and construction company focused on roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.
News
Three casualties, 20 injured in Osun auto crash
Three lives were lost in an auto crash that occurred on Saturday along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway in Osun State, while about 20 people were injured in the crash.
The Osun Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Sunday Adebayo, who confirmed the casualty figure during a telephone interview, said the two vehicles involved had a head-on collision.
Adebayo, who said the FRSC team arrived at the scene of the crash about five minutes after it occurred in the Tonkere area, blamed speeding and dangerous driving for the accident.
The Osun FRSC boss further disclosed that the two vehicles involved in the accident had been taken to the nearest police division to the scene of the accident, adding that the remains of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa.
He also said the 20 injured commuters were taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, also located in Ife, for medical attention.
Giving other facts about the accident, Adebayo said, “Three people died. Altogether, we have about 20 others who were injured in the crash.
“The deceased were two females and one male. We have 11 females in that vehicle and nine other males. Three children: two males, one female. All the other 20 sustained different degrees of injury.
It was a head-on collusion involving a Toyota Hiace and a car. The incident happened around Tonkere between Ife and Ilesha. We mobilised our patrol vehicles from Ilesha and Ife for the rescue operation.
“Some of the survivors sustained minor injuries and were discharged. The vehicles have been moved to the police station in Ife, and the road has been cleared for movement. The response time from FRSC was five minutes. Our boys got to that place through one of the members of the public, and they quickly moved on because we were already on the road by the time the incident happened.”
Advising the road users against acts that can lead to accidents, Adebayo urged drivers not to engage in acts that would lead to avoidable loss of lives.
“If you look at the road structure at the time of the occurrence, you see that there is no reason for that high fatality. Nigerians need to change their attitudes on the road. Excessive speeding is killing. The accident happened due to over-speeding and dangerous driving
“There was no need for such an accident on the road if Nigerians can change their attitude. But we will continue to tell road users that they should change their attitude to the way they usually speed on the road,” the Sector Commander said.
He continued, “If you go at a lower speed, if you have cause to be involved in a crash, the fatality will not be as much as what we saw this morning. Nigerians should respect other road users.
“They should have this shared responsibility that everybody has a right to use the road. The person who is safe on arrival is the person who knows how to drive.”
News
Total darkness looming from today as parts of Abuja undergo maintenance -TCN
TOTAL darkness looming as several parts of Abuja will experience a temporary power outage on Sunday, September 6, 2026, as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carries out scheduled maintenance at the 132kV Apo Transmission Substation.
TCN announced the planned outage in a statement shared on X on Saturday, saying the maintenance would take place between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
According to the transmission company, the exercise will involve the stringing and latching of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on the two 132kV Katampe–Apo Transmission Lines, Lines 1 and 2, between towers T130 and T132.
TCN said the maintenance would temporarily affect electricity supply to residents and businesses in Lugbe, Garki, Area 1, National Hospital, Guzape, Asokoro and surrounding areas.
The company explained that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) would be unable to off-take electricity for distribution to customers in the affected areas during the exercise.
“Consequently, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will be unable to off-take electricity for supply to customers in Lugbe, Garki, Area 1, National Hospital, Guzape, Asokoro, and surrounding areas during the exercise,” TCN said.
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