Defence Minister Dribbles Journalists  

The Minister for Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, on Thursday night reneged on a promise he made to Defence reporters in Lagos, after keeping them waiting for three hours. The minister, was in Lagos alongside the Chief of Defence, General Gabriel Olonisakin, for the 61st Nigerian Navy anniversary, held at naval dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos. After the traditional ceremonial sunset held at the jetty of the dockyard, the minister was led by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ette-Ibas to the mess located in the administrative building of the dockyard. After liaising with the Media Adviser to the MOD, Colonel Tukur Gusau, the defence reporters on ground had converged at the entrance of the administrative building to wait for the minister for an interview. When he finally came out at about 7pm, he promised reporters that he would answer their questions after the navy dinner, which was the next thing on the agenda. Citing the ongoing Ramadan fast, the minister and his entourage urged the journalists to allow him break his fast first, afterwhich he will attend to them.