The 36 state governments received a total sum of N72 billion from the federal government in August 2023 to provide palliatives for the people following the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

However, five months after the funds were released, the state governors are yet to account for the money or show any evidence of how it was utilised.

The palliatives were meant to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on the people, especially the vulnerable ones. However, reports suggest that the funds have been largely mismanaged, misappropriated, or diverted by the state governments.

The people are still faced with hardship as they struggle to make ends meet amid high cost of foods and services and rising inflation.

The situation is worse now than it was five months ago when the federal government released the first tranche of the palliatives, worth N72b billion.

The country’s inflation rate is now at 28.9 %, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The lack of transparency as well as improper utilisation of the funds by the state governors has led to widespread criticism from members of the public, who are calling for accountability.

The situation has sparked outrage and demands for action from the federal government to hold the state governors accountable and ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose.

As the country continues to battle economic hardship, it is imperative that the state governments prioritize the welfare of the people and ensure that the palliatives provided by the federal government and other funds are not misused or diverted. The people deserve to know the truth about the whereabouts of the funds and the actions taken by their elected leaders to alleviate their suffering.

LEADERSHIP had in December 2023 written to the 36 state governments to inquire about the N2 billion they each received from the federal government in August, last year, to help alleviate the economic hardship that most Nigerians were facing due to the removal of fuel subsidy.

As a newspaper, we made the inquiry in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, asking them to provide us with a detailed account of how the money was spent because we were eager to ascertain how the money was spent towards helping those most in need.

But six weeks after, most of the state governments have failed to respond to LEADERSHIP’s inquiry, not even acknowledging the receipt of the letter.

Only four state governments have so far responded.

In Osun State, the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi explained that the N2 billion received by the state was disbursed for food palliatives, transport services and refurbishment of health centres.

Alimi stated that for transparency and in line with Governor Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to meeting the needs of the people, a committee consisting of stakeholders across labour, religious, civil society organisations, student body, market men and women, among others, handled the distribution of food items cross the local governments of the state.

According to him, the distribution at local level and, by extension, the teeming beneficiaries were also handled by stakeholders under local government council monitoring.

In Benue State, the commissioner for information culture and tourism, Mathew Abo, disclosed that out of the N5 billion proposed as palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Benue citizens, the state government has been able to access only N2 billion.

The commissioner who disclosed this in his office during an interview with our correspondent explained that the Benue State Government had distributed the N2bn received as follows: registration of WAEC and NECO examinations for graduating students in all government approved secondary schools across the state for the 2023/2024 academic year which is ongoing; provision of intensive computer and ICT training for 10,000 youth of the state to enable them acquire jobs within and outside the state, with training ongoing; provision of grants to 5,000 women in the state based on revised social register of the women cooperatives, etc.

Meanwhile, Kwara State government has so far received N2bn, being the first tranche of the N4bn of the federal government palliative, the chief press secretary to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, revealed.

He said: “With that, the government purchased and distributed at least 250,000 10kg bags of rice across the state. This was done through a nonpartisan committee headed by a commissioner of police and peopled by community and religious leaders.”Similarly, the government received N1bn worth of maize from the CBN. This is not free. This maize was then distributed to the general public, especially (poultry) farmers, at 50% subsidised rate.

On its part, the Delta State government said rice was distributed to the people from the local government level down to the community level. It said the aged, people living with disabilities and the vulnerable households were all captured.

According to the secretary to the state government, Dr Kingsley Emu, the 696 bags of rice were distributed along the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) wards, comprising 20 wards in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.

He said farmers were advised not to pay money to anybody for the palliatives, saying that all genuine farmers received their share of maize and fertilisers without hitches.

However, Sir Festus Ahon, chief press secretary to the governor of Delta state said the palliative from the federal government to states was a repayable loan and not a grant as being speculated in some quarters.

According to him, there was a distribution model by the state palliative committee which, in its wisdom, set up a subcommittee made up of local government coordinators, traditional rulers or their representatives, and representatives of faith groups, among others.

On whether the state would get a loan to further continue the palliative, he said the state didn’t go for the loan in the first instance.

“The federal government gave all the states, and Delta is not contemplating asking for a loan from the federal government. Just for the record, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has not borrowed since he came on board on May 29,” Ahon disclosed.

Three suspects have been taken into custody by men from the Edo State Police Command for allegedly stealing two cars during a state church campaign.

The state commissioner of police, Funsho Adeboye, paraded the suspects with other suspected criminals over the weekend. He claimed the suspects were apprehended after tracking down the stolen phone and the cars that one of the suspects had given as a gift to a female acquaintance.

The suspects are Augustine Ikponmwoba (62), Roland Ibizugbe (63), and Blessing Joseph (36).

According to Adeboye, Joy Mordi and Peter Abiwo told the police that they had parked their N3.5 million Toyota Camry cars with the license plates MUS 791GA and USL 93AM at Garrick Memorial Ground in order to attend a crusade. However, when the crusade came to an end, they realized that their cars had been stolen from their parking spot.

Naija News reports that he said that over the course of the inquiry, one of the phones from Mordi’s car was found on a female suspect named Joseph.

During questioning, the suspect admitted to the police that she had received the phone from her male acquaintance Ikponmwoba 62.

“Ikponmwoba’s arrest led the police to Ibizugbe. The suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” he said.

With four points already and second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, Nigeria are out to finish their group campaign on a high as group leaders at the 2023 AFCON on Monday (today), but they have been advised by ex-internationals and fans to thread carefully against their opponents, Guinea-Bissau.

The Super Eagles play the bottom-placed side at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny, Abidjan needing a win to go top of the table, given that Equatorial Guinea are unable to beat Ivory Coast in the other last game of the group.

After a 1-1 draw in their first game against Equatorial Guinea, Jose Peseiro’s men got their campaign back on track with a spirited 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast, while their opponents today, Guinea-Bissau, lost both of their games and are eliminated from the tournament.

Guinea-Bissau stunned the Eagles courtesy of a 1-0 win against the Eagles in Abuja during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON.

Eighteen players who featured in the defeat to the Wild Dogs March 24, 2023, including Osimhen, are with the team in Ivory Coast and are seeking revenge against the team coached by Baciro Cande.

Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, said the Eagles would study the tape of the loss to Guinea-Bissau and come up with a strategy to beat the fellow West Africans.

“We know them, we played them in the qualifying series. They are a dangerous team if you let them play,” Osimhen told reporters in Abidjan

“I think we’ll go back to the last game in which they won and then we’ll start the game and come up really strong against them. It’s not going to be an easy game but we’re ready to give everything for our fans and country to make them happy.”

Midfielder Alex Iwobi echoed Osimhen’s desire to give everything for the fans as he also promised the Eagles would win to make Nigerians happy.

“The sort of players we have will always create chances and we were able to get the one against Ivory Coast and if we are able to get at least one and defend well, we’ll win the game (against G-Bissau).

“Nigerians aren’t happy if you don’t win, for them to be happy you have to win, so, we are going to win to make them happy,” he said in an interview with journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Sunday.

“We want to take the first place and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission,” Eagles coach Jose Peseiro said at the pre-match conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there have been reactions back home, ahead of the crucial tie.

Ex-international, Tijanii Babangida, an AFCON finalist on home soil in 2000, said, “Any of the three teams among Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast can qualify. So, the win is important but they must know there are no pushovers. It’s a competitive game and I expect them to grow in every game, regardless of the fact that they have won against us before.”

“I know we are going to play with caution, and again, if we could beat Ivory Coast, the morale is high but I know they will play with caution because we have a lot of experienced players in the team. So, it will be very good for them to top the group,” 2013 AFCON winner, Azubuike Egwwuekwe, noted.

Given theEagles inconsistent run under Peseiro, some fans are wary of the Wild Dogs.

“Let’s not underestimate a wounded team, besides, we don’t have to be in a hurry to win. Let’s calm down, hold the ball and the opportunities will come,” a fan, Adetuwo Suji, said.

If Nigeria finish top of the group, they are poised to face any best losing side from Group C, which could be Cameroon or even Algeria from Group D as well as Namibia, Tunisia or even South Africa from Group E in the round of 16.

A second-place finish will pair the Eagles against the second-place team from Group C, which is likely going to be Guinea, which beat Peseiro’s men 2-0 in a pre-tournament friendly in Abu Dhabi last week.

The most unlikely outcome is qualifying as one of the best losers, and that will be a date with the winners of Group B, Cape Verde.

Nigeria’s game against Guinea-Bissau kicks off at 6pm Nigerian time – simultaneously with the other game between Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.

The last time the Eagles and Wild Dogs clashed at the AFCON (2022), the Eagles defeated their foes 2-0, thanks to second half goals from Umar Sadiq and Wiliam Troost-Ekong.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is to supply fuel to about 150,000 retail outlets operated by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria following a meeting between the management of the refinery and executives of IPMAN.

Last week Monday, The PUNCH exclusively reported that IPMAN had scheduled a meeting with the management of Dangote refinery as regards the supply of products to independent marketers.

When contacted on Friday evening to confirm if the meeting was held, the President, IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, stated that the association had finally met with the management of the refinery, adding that the latter agreed to supply products to the over 30,000 members of IPMAN.

This came as it was further gathered that the regulator of the downstream oil sector was currently examining the refined products from the refinery before the facility would be given approval to dispense fuel to the market.

Recall that seven major oil marketers in Nigeria had registered with the refinery for the lifting and distribution of refined petroleum products produced by the $20bn plant.

The report stated that dealers under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria confirmed on Sunday that with the registration, they would commence the distribution of fuel produced from the facility once the commercial terms were sorted.

The seven major marketers include 11 Plc, Conoil Plc, Ardova Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, OVH Energy Marketing Limited, Total Nigeria Plc and NNPC Retail.

Similarly, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria had also stated that PETROAN was engaging the management of the multi-billion dollar refinery for the supply of products from the facility.

On January 12, 2024, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced that it had commenced the production of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, and JetA1 also known as aviation fuel.

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting between IPMAN and the Dangote refinery during a conversation with our correspondent on Friday, the association’s president said the management of the plant would be supplying products to the 150,000 stations of IPMAN nationwide.

“The meeting went well, so right now we are just expecting their reply in terms of products that they are going to give us. They have agreed to dispense products to IPMAN members,” Maigandi stated.

Asked to state the number of oil marketers that are members of IPMAN, he replied, “We have 30,000 members as of our last census, which was done two years ago. And they agreed to supply products to us. Also, our retail outlets are 150,000 stations across the country.”

Probed further to tell whether every member and station of IPMAN would be able to get supply from Dangote, Maigandi said, “What he (Dangote) is producing is for Nigeria’s consumption. He can supply Nigeria and can export some of the products.

“It is not a small refinery. It is a very big refinery. I was there to see things for myself and it is a massive refinery.”

When told that Dangote promised to get the products to the market in January, and whether this was realistic based, the IPMAN President stated that there was hope.

“There is hope since they have started production. Immediately when they finish production, the next thing is to sell. I can confirm this because I was there myself. And I know immediately he gets approval to sell, he can start selling at any time.

“So it is not a small project. It is a very good thing for Nigeria. They are to start with aviation fuel and diesel. You know that independent petroleum marketers also buy diesel.

“Therefore by God’s grace, our 30,000 members are ready to buy and distribute across the 150,000 retail outlets nationwide. So anywhere you go you will see fuel. The issue of scarcity of fuel will be no more once he (Dangote) starts,” Maigandi stated.

On whether IPMAN discussed pricing with the management of the refinery, he said, “No we didn’t discuss the price, but all that we know is that the price is going to be a little bit lower than what we have been selling.”

The Dangote refinery, located in Lagos, has so far received six million barrels of crude oil at its two SPMs located 25km from the shore. The first crude delivery was done on December 12, 2023, and the 6th cargo was delivered on January 8, 2024.

The refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries. The products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications, according to the firm.

“The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources emission/effluent norms, employing state-of-the-art technology,” the company had stated in a statement.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Project, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, is a 650,000 barrels per day crude oil refinery, located in Dangote Industries Free Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is an industrial plant that transforms crude oil into various usable petroleum products such as diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and kerosene.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery with a capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day covers an area of approximately 2,635 hectares in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

Regulators examine products

Officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources said the regulator of the downstream oil sector had been visiting the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to carry out the processes required to issue regulatory approvals before the release of diesel and aviation fuel into the market.

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had stated on Friday that the products would be released to the market after regulatory approvals.

“We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market within this month once we receive regulatory approvals. This is a big day for Nigeria.

“We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects. This is a game changer for our country, and I am very fulfilled with the actualisation of this project,” Dangote had stated.

When asked whether the regulatory approvals had been issued to the facility to release products into the market, an official of the petroleum ministry replied in the negative.

The official, who pleaded not to be named due to lack of authorisation, was, however, quick to state that the process was ongoing, as officials from the NMDPRA had been visiting the plant.

“There is no licence yet. But it is in the process because the licence is not just issued like that. There are things that should be done and these things must be completed, and they (regulatory officials) are there right now as we speak.

“The issuance of a licence goes through a process. So we have to go through that process. But it is said that the products are to be in the market before the end of this month and so before it comes to market, it is expected that they would have issued it,” the source stated.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Dangote refinery in May 2023. The facility missed its crude oil refining target a number of times due to the non-supply of crude to the plant by oil producers.

It, however, started receiving crude oil batches of one million barrels each in December 2023 and got the 6th batch of one million barrels of crude this month. Officials at the plant had explained that the refinery required six million barrels of crude to commence production.

A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has insisted that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, remains expelled from the party.

The faction added that Buba Galadima, as well as the entire membership of the old National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Alhaji Abbah Kawu, has also been expelled.

The position of the faction was contained in a statement on Saturday, by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Dr. Temitope Aluko.

He further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop dealing with the affected persons, update its records and recognize the expulsion of the affected persons.

“Once again, may we use this public space to remind the INEC, through its chairman, that we have requested the urgent need to update their records of the National Executive Committee of the NNPP.

“It is instructive to indicate herein that the constitution of the NNPP is supreme and binding on all members, without prejudice to the overarching Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act.

“With the nation’s Constitution being the unquestionable ground norm, every other establishment in Nigeria derives its powers of establishment and operations from the said Constitution,” Aluko said.

He added that INEC does not have the power to meddle in the internal affairs of a party as such powers are not constitutionally granted to the electoral body.

“However, INEC does not have powers to meddle in the internal administration and management of political parties.

“Otherwise, it will be equivalent to an avoidable breach of the constitutional rights of Nigerians to associate freely.

“What we try to put across herein is simple and unambiguous.

“The extant powers of the board members of the NNPP about resolution of the party’s internal matters are very clear.

“The board has powers to call to order, any member who acts contrary to its norms,” he said.

The BOT chairman submitted that the unceremonious exit of the NNPP’s former National Chairman, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Prof. Angwe Samuel, and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, among others, were pointers that all was not well with the internal administration of the party.

He accused the former NNPP NWC members of corruption, high-handedness, lack of transparency, and accountability.

“All these avoidable acts of gross misconduct led to the invitation of the concerned persons by the Board of Trustees for explanation but they refused to provide answers to the queries.

“Indeed, the board had to invoke its inherent powers by calling them all to order and decisively expelling them.

“The action of the board, having subsequently been ratified by the General Assembly of the Party, has been communicated to the Chairman of INEC, and the commission duly acknowledged the same and pledged to update its records.

“The surprising and very embarrassing thing today is that INEC is still dealing with the expelled members of the party.

“This is aside from the fact that this matter is pending before a Federal High Court, with INEC duly served and notified,” Aluko said.

Aspirants hoping to clinch the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the September 21 Edo State governorship polls have rejected the N30 million charged by the party for expression of interest and nomination forms.

This was made known by one of the aspirants, Dr Egbe Omorodion, who told newsmen in Benin on Sunday that all the governorship aspirants want a reduced fee and have scheduled a meeting for Monday, to take a stand on the matter.

According to him, if the Labour Party could reduce the fees for Imo State to N15m, then the same should be done for Edo State.

Naija News recalls the party had announced that interested aspirants in the party’s ticket for Edo State would pay N30 million for nomination and expression of interest forms. The party also fixed February 22 for the conduct of the primary election.

But according to Omorodion, the fee is outrageous and the party leadership should consider a reduction of the amount.

“I, as an aspirant, am saying that this amount is outrageously ridiculous.

“I see the move as a strategy to stifle the voices of those who joined LP with a genuine desire to serve the Edo people.

“If the party’s leadership reduced the fee to N15 million for the Imo election, why can’t it do the same for the Edo election?”

“My appeal is that I don’t think my voice and those of others who believe in my project should be muted by this huge amount.

“A good number of aspirants and supporters may become disgruntled and may just take a walk if the party leadership refuses to budge,” he said.

Omorodion, who is the LP Chairman, UK chapter, said edo State could be robbed of imminently qualified persons if the fee is not reduced.

He added, “Edo people may be denied the opportunity of my dream and desires to take the state to the next level.”

“Yes, other aspirants are also dissatisfied with the fee. We will be meeting on Monday.

“Hopefully, we will be able to come up with a position on the matter.”

If you are last seen with a person before the person turns up dead in a circumstance looking like murder, you will be presumed to be the killer of that person. This is known as the doctrine of last seen. This doctrine of last seen, in basic terms, simply means that the law presumes that the person who was last seen with a deceased individual bears full responsibility for their death.

In the case of Madu v State, (2012) LPELR-7867(SC) the Supreme Court declared that this doctrine is indeed of global application, that is to say that this doctrine is applied in most criminal jurisdictions around the world. The apex court stated that in some other jurisdictions, it is called “the last seen theory”. In support of this, the Supreme Court cited an Indian case where the Indian Supreme Court applied and upheld this principle. The Indian case is the case of Rajesh Khanna Vs. State of A.P (2006) 10 SCC 172, where the Indian Supreme Court noted as follows: “The last seen theory, comes into play when the time gap between the point of time when the accused and the deceased were last seen alive and the deceased is found dead is so small that possibility of any person other than the accused being the author of the crime becomes impossible”. 

In the case of NJOKU V. STATE (2012) LPELR-20608(SC), the Supreme Court held that this principle of last seen is usually invoked where there is no explanation as to what happened to or caused the death of a deceased who was last seen in the company of the accused except the accused explains to the satisfaction of the Court as to what really happened or caused the death of the said deceased.

It is noteworthy that the criminal justice system and the evidence act have placed the duty to prove the guilt of an accused beyond a reasonable doubt on the prosecution, so even as this principle of last seen has been judicially noted and serially applied by the court in a plethora of cases, the prosecution still has it as a magnanimous duty to prove before the court that the accused who was last seen in the company of the deceased indeed caused the death of the deceased. When the prosecution has successfully executed this duty of proving beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused, the onus is then shifted to the accused to satisfactorily explain to the court what happened to the deceased or for him to prove his innocence. 

The accused who was last seen at the company of the deceased proving his innocence was the position of the court of appeal in the case of Madu v state (2000) LPELR-9875(CA) when his Lordship, IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD, JCA stated thus, “…If the prosecution proves the commission of a crime beyond reasonable doubt, the burden of proving reasonable doubt is shifted on to the accused.”

In summary, the doctrine of the last seen or the last seen theory only raises the presumption (although rebuttable) that the last person who was in the company of the deceased caused the death of the deceased and/or if he did not cause the death of the deceased will have a solid explanation as to what caused the death of the deceased.

Stan Alieke is an Abuja based legal practitioner.

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The announcement by the British energy giant, Shell PLC, that it is selling off its operations in Nigeria’s onshore oil and gas sector to a consortium of mostly Nigerian companies is a welcome opportunity for further indigenization of a sector that had long been dominated by foreigners. The transaction bodes well for the industry because Nigerians’ ownership and operatorship of the oil fields will enable local solutions to be deployed to multiple issues peculiar to the Niger Delta. Opening up production with domestic expertise will have multiplier effects in the economy. In this essay, I will explain the various dimensions of the exit of Shell and how it is good for both the company and the country.
I commend President Bola Tinubu for endorsing the transaction after a long delay due to his predecessor’s refusal to approve it. I congratulate the new Nigerian owners of the oil fields as I look forward to improved relations with the host communities.

Shell is selling off its subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd (SPDC), which has operated in this country for close to a century, to a consortium of five companies, one foreign and four Nigerian-owned. The four are owned and managed by former Shell managers. The consortium, known as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd (RAEC), is made up of ND Western; Aradel Energy; First E&P; Waltersmith and Petrolin. They are paying $2.4 billion for the acquisition, of which $1.3 billion would be paid immediately, and $1.1 billion, primarily relating to prior receivables and cash balances in the business, in a later date. In simple terms, the $1.3 billion is for the oil blocks, while the $1.1 billion is for the use of Shell’s pipelines and Forcados Terminal as well as the use of Shell’s offices and assets in Warri. The chief executive of Renaissance is Tony Attah, former CEO of Nigeria LNG. He leads a strong team of other shell veterans like Samuel Dossou-Aworet (representing ND Western/Petrolin Group); Abdulrazaq Isa (Waltersmith Group); Ademola Adeyemi-Bero (First E&P) and Gbite Falade (Aradel Energy).

But why is Shell quitting the onshore business? Onshore operations have been very problematic to SPDC for a long time. Vandalism of oil pipelines; the attendant oil spills and environmental degradation; community restiveness and now oil theft are the major problems. In addition, the company faced huge costly lawsuits from host communities and embarrassing campaigns from international environmental groups like Greenpeace. The killings of Ogoni 4 and Ogoni 12, including the hanging of Ken Saro-wiwa by the Sani Abacha junta in 1995, resulted in the worst moral nightmare and greatest PR disaster for Shell. The rising wave of oil theft was the last straw that broke the camel’s back, and so in 2012, the company initiated the exit process. We should also note that as far back as over 30 years ago, Shell had started developing its offshore deep-water production, the Bonga oil fields. So, selling off its onshore fields is part of a long-term business decision.

The beauty of this transaction is that Shell is loaning the Renaissance Consortium $1.2 billion to part-pay the $1.3 billion purchase price, and is also providing the Consortium additional finance of $1.3 billion to continue the development of the HA field – the shallow water oil block off Nembe area of Bayelsa State - which supplies gas to NLNG. ‘’I reckon that Shell’s business strategy is to handover 100% of its onshore shallow-water oil fields, which provide the bulk of the feed gas to NLNG, to tested and trusted hands, and in addition, give them money to operate the oilfields too’’, says Engr. Ani Udott, a retired Shell veteran who is not involved in this transaction, but is quite knowledgeable about Nigeria’s oil industry. He added matter-of-factly: ‘’When you have built a reputation of competence and the right rapport with the right people at influential positions, this type of favour lands on your lap. It is a good deal for Shell; and a good deal for the Renaissance guys’’. This deal therefore saves the consortium from the huge headache of sourcing for funds, especially funds of this magnitude, which is one of the major problems indigenous producers continue to confront.

But make no mistake, Shell is not packing up and fleeing Nigeria as some people erroneously believe. It is only selling off one part of its business empire in the country. It is natural for multinational companies to sell off one of its subsidiaries for some strategic business reason. Recently, Union Bank sold off its UK subsidiary to Fidelity Bank because the new owners of Union Bank want to concentrate and grow within Nigeria.

Shell still has three main businesses in Nigeria. They are: SNEPCO (produces oil and gas in the deep-water Gulf of Guinea); Shell Nigeria Gas (provides gas to domestic industrial and commercial customers) and Daystar Power which provides solar power to industrial and commercial users across West Africa. In addition, Shell holds 25.6% stake in NLNG.

The acquisition of SPDC by RAEC has been a long and tedious process. Four Nigerian companies (Seplat, Heirs Oil & Gas; Sahara Energy and ND Western) first bided for it in 2021. As of June, last year, the Renaissance Group and Tony Elumelu’s Heirs Oil & Gas were serious contenders, but Renaissance’s track records, as I have outlined earlier, paid off for them. The fact that Renaissance is led by former Shell stars is also a strong factor.

This deal is coming at a very difficult time in the nation’s energy industry. Nigerians who acquired marginal oil fields many years ago are still struggling financially; many are yet to strike oil and are shackled with huge debt burdens. There are no new investments; technical skills are scarce and expensive and revenues are yet to be realized, yet the government is breathing down on their neck for royalty and tax. It is a tough business. But Renaissance is banking on the fact that they are inheriting very active wells and they are hoping to keep production costs far below SPDC’s.

Shell’s divestment from onshore and shallow-waters production is coming after Eni, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Equinor left. The fact that their assets are being acquired by Nigerians is an indication that our people are now ready to participate actively in the core business of oil exploration and production. But I am surprised that the Buhari administration had refused to approve the Shell-Renaissance deal, thus delaying it for a long time. President Tinubu is allowing the sale to proceed, apparently because he has a better understanding of business than his predecessor.

Many state governors voted themselves humongous pension payments and allowances. Many of the same governors actually chose not to pay the pensions and gratuities for their former workers whilst they were in office. Not less than 20 of them are in the Senate where they also receive jumbo salaries and allowances.

Lagos was the first state to implement a pension law for its former governors. The Lagos State Pension for Ex-Governors was enacted in 2007. Since then, majority of States adopted the Lagos model. But the pension laws for Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are the most scandalous.
The details of the pension enjoyed by former Governors of Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are set out below:

1. PENSION FOR LAGOS STATE EX-GOVERNORS :

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One residential house in Lagos and another in FCT.

iii. Transport: Three cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car every three years.

iv. Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every two years.

v. House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

vi. Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

vii. Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and members of their families (not just spouses).

viii. Security: Two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor.

ix. Personal Assistant: 25% of annual basic salary.

x. Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

xi. Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

xii. Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

xiii. Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

2. PENSION FOR RIVERS STATE EX-GOVERNORS:

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One residential house “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”.

iii.Transport: Three cars every four years.

iv.Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

v.House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

vi. Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be non-pensionable.

vii. Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and members of their families (not just spouses and no cap).

viii. Security: Two SSS operatives, four policemen (two each for house and personal security).

ix.Personal Assistant: 25% of annual basic salary.

x. Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

xi. Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

xii. Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

xiii. Drivers: Non-pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

3. PENSION FOR AKWA-IBOM STATE EX-GOVERNORS:

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One house not below 5-bed maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom.

iii. Transport: One car and one utility car every four years.

iv. Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

v. Domestic staff: Amount not above N5 million to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.

vi. Medical: Free treatment and spouse not exceeding N100 million per year (this provision will soon be reverted to “free” without limit following outcry).

vii.Security: “Adequate” (not specified).

viii. Personal Assistant: One.

ix. Car maintenance: 300% of annual basic salary.

x. Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.

xi. Utility: 100% of annual basic salary.

xii. Drivers: Amount not above N5 million.

xiii. Severance gratuity: 300% annual basic salary.

Conclusions

In the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Attorney-GeneraloftheFederation, (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 and Alhaji Garba Umar v Taraba State Government (Suit No: NICN/JOS/26/2016, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.

In 2022, the Lagos State Government announced the 50 percent reduction in the pension. Senators Daniel and Dankwambo have directed the Governments of Ogun and Gombe to stop paying them the pension since they are receiving salaries and allowances in the National Assembly. The Governments of Kwara, Imo and Zamfara States have abolished the payment of the pension. We call on other state Governments to abolish the pension as soon as possible. Nigeria can no longer afford to pay scandalous pension to ex-governors while workers are owed arrears of meagre pension. Therefore, the pension laws applicable to other public officers should also apply to all ex-governors.

Femi Falana SAN, The Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB)