The Tinubu-led Federal government has reacted to the hike in the cost of cement in the country.

The government threatened to open the borders to force down the price of the product.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, who dropped the warning on Tuesday, said key components of cement manufacturing were locally sourced and the recent increase in the price of the product was unreasonable and unacceptable. 

He threatened that the government might open the borders for cement importation if manufacturers of the product failed to heed the pleas for a price reduction.

According to him, major input materials for cement production, such as limestone, clay, silica sand, and gypsum, are available and sourced within Nigeria, and hence, the final price of cement should not be dependent on the dollar.

Dangiwa made this known in Abuja at an emergency meeting held with cement and building materials manufacturers.

He said the price of gas that manufacturers are using as an excuse should not be because gas is a raw material found within the country, and the excuse of an increase in mining equipment should not come up because equipment bought by these manufacturers has been used for decades and not just purchased every day.

The Minister who called on the manufacturers to be more patriotic said BUA cement for instance, has been willing and is still willing, as at the last time he spoke with them to crash the price of their cement, lower than the N7000, N8000 agreed by the manufacturers and he sees no reason why the others should not do same.

In his words, “The challenges you speak of, many countries are facing the same challenges and some even worse than that but as patriotic citizens, we have to rally around whenever there is a crisis to change the situation.

“The gas price you spoke of, we know that we produce gas in the country the only thing you can say is that maybe it is not enough. Even if you say about 50 percent of your production cost is spent on gas prices, we still produce gas in Nigeria it’s just that some of the manufacturers take advantage of the situation. As for the mining equipment that you mentioned, you buy equipment, and it takes years, and you are still using it.

“The time you bought it maybe it was at a lower price but because now the dollar is high you are using it as an excuse. Honestly, we have to sit down and look at this critically. The demand and supply should be good for you because the government stopped the importation of cement, they stopped the importation in order to empower you to produce more.

“Otherwise if the government opens the border for mass importation of cement, the price would crash but you would have no business to do and at the same time the employment generation would go down. So these are the kinds of things you have to look at, the efforts of government in ensuring things go well.”

President Bola Tinubu is yet to give Nigerians any information weeks after he suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu and ordered her probe.

Recall that she was alleged to have engaged in financial impropriety within her ministry.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and the initial swift action taken by the presidency, updates on the investigation’s progress remain scarce.

The suspension, announced on January 8, was prompted by public outcry over two controversial memos and a consultancy contract linked to Edu’s ministry.

One memo revealed an appropriation of N72,374,500 for air travel to Kogi State—a location without an airport—for the minister’s “advance team”.

Another document requested the transfer of N585 million to the private account of a government official, further intensifying scrutiny on Edu’s financial dealings.

Additionally, the discovery of a N438 million consultancy contract awarded to New Planet Project Limited, a company founded by the Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo, complicated matters.

Despite Tunji-Ojo’s assertion of having resigned from the company in 2019, his continued shareholding raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, prompting the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to invite him for questioning.

In response to the escalating controversy, President Tinubu tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with delving into the financial transactions of Edu’s ministry.

A panel led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun was also established to conduct a diagnostic on the financial architecture of the social investment programmes overseen by Edu’s ministry, with the aim of initiating comprehensive reforms.

Despite these measures, the silence from the presidency on the investigation’s findings or any steps taken thereafter has left many Nigerians in the dark.

Attempts to obtain updates from presidential spokespersons have been met with no response, raising questions about the transparency and outcome of the probe.

The bill to introduce state police has scaled second reading before the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by 13 members of the House, received overwhelming support from the majority of lawmakers who prioritized addressing the current state of insecurity in the country over concerns of political victimization by state governors.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and 36 state governors had met earlier to deliberate on state police as a viable solution to the prevalent security challenges such as kidnapping and banditry.

Despite being a controversial subject since the Seventh National Assembly, state police have finally made progress in the amendment phase.

Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reiterated their stance on state policing as the key to improving the country’s deteriorating security situation, warning that Nigeria is heading towards a situation similar to Venezuela.

Furthermore, various regional socio-political organizations, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have consistently advocated for the implementation of state police as a viable solution to the escalating security challenges faced by the nation.

Moreover, states within the South-West geopolitical zone have already established the Amotekun, while their counterparts in the South-East have created their own state-owned security outfit called Ebube Agu.

Additionally, the Benue Guards has been actively operating in Benue State located in the North Central region. Similarly, states like Katsina, Zamfara, and other areas prone to banditry have also introduced similar state-established security initiatives.

Nevertheless, these attires have proven to be ineffective as expected due to the lack of support from the Federal Government or the Presidency.

States are persistently requesting permission for groups like Amotekun, Ebube Agu, and others to be authorized to carry assault rifles such as AK-47s in order to combat dangerous armed attackers.

The Tinubu-led Federal government has disclosed that it has uncovered 32 routes through which food items are smuggled out of the country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this while addressing a conference on Public Wealth Management held in Abuja on Tuesday, February 20.

He said on the midnight of Sunday, February 18, 45 trucks loaded with maize were intercepted while making their way to neighbouring countries.

“Just three nights ago, 45 trucks of maize were caught being transported to neighboring countries. Just in that Ilela axis, there are 32 illegal smuggling routes. And the moment those food stuff were intercepted, the price of maize came down by N10,000. It came down from N60,000 to N50,000. So, there are forces that are hell-bent on undermining our nation but this is the time for us to coalesce into a singular entity,” he said.

Shettima, who acknowledged that Nigeria is passing through turbulent time, assured the people of the country that the pain will not last forever.

He, however, condemned a situation whereby some persons fuel the embers of division and violence because of the current situation.

“We have to make this country work. We have to move beyond politics. We are now in the face of governance. Sadly, some of our countrymen are still in the political mode. They are the practitioners of violence, advocating that Nigeria should go the Lebanon way. But, Nigeria is greater than anyone of us here. Nigeria will weather the storm. Forces are hell-bent on plunging this country into a state of anarchy. Those who could not get to power through the ballot box, instead for them to wait till 2027, are so desperate,” he said.

The Nigerian Government has disclosed that the N23 trillion Ways and Means debt that has now stuck in its throat like the proverbial fish bone will be reviewed and audited.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, made the disclosure on Tuesday at the ongoing Public Wealth Management Conference organized by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

Edun ststed the Federal Government would soon send a bill to the National Assembly that would authorize the removal of “all taxes and levies that constitute nuisance from the country’s tax system”.

This he said was a measure to free the government from future Ways and Means indebtedness.

According to the minister, the government will vigorously pursue policies that will allow it to harvest revenue in real time from Government Owned Enterprises and Corporate entities

The Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Gbenga Daniel, has said the myriad of problems Nigeria is grappling with today are caused by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of former president, Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Tinubu can’t speak on these challenges, especially the hunger and hardship ravaging the nation, because his political party is the one responsible for the country’s woes.

He said he wished President Bola Tinubu could tell Nigerians about the already failed economy that was bequeathed to him and what he’s doing and has done to salvage the situation.

Speaking during his tour of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun state on Monday, the senator appealed to Nigerians to be patient and preserve, expressing confidence that this administration would turn things around.

Daniel, who admitted hardship in the country, hinted that the menace was caused by the past government but hoped for better days.

“Our president Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot. I wish he could talk now but he can’t talk because this is the same party he stood for, so he can’t, but from what I know we just have to praise his courage. We know things are very difficult but we need to encourage Mr President, we urge our people to be patient, by the special grace of God everything will be alright.”

Nigerian singer, Flavour, has issued a public advisory regarding people using his name and photos to defraud unsuspecting victims.

He disclosed via his official X account that fraudsters are still impersonating him online and noted that he will never ask fans for money.

The ‘Nwa Baby’ crooner said anybody who has come in contact with such impersonators should report them to the appropriate authorities.

Flavour wrote;

“Scammers are still in the business of impersonating me online. Please be aware that I will NEVER ask fans for money or any personal information.

If you’re contacted by someone claiming to be me, DO NOT engage with them and please report the account to the appropriate authorities.”

In a similar post in 2023, a scammer impersonating popular actor, IK Ogbonna was arrested and charged to court after defrauding unsuspecting victims.

Also actor Frederick Leonard reacted to the arrest of a scammer who impersonated him and scammed a woman of N104m.

The imposter identified as Kelvin Aisosa Orhue was arrested by the EFCC and arraigned before the FCT High Court in Kuje.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has declared his administration’s dedication to establishing tuition-free schools across the three senatorial zones, with a focus on providing skills currently lacking in the state.

Prince Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, revealed this after the state executive council meeting in Umuahia on Monday.

The one-year residential program will encompass skills like solar power assembly, POP designing, painting, masonry, tiling, and more. Graduates of the program will receive financial empowerment to kickstart their businesses, aligning with the government’s emphasis on self-sufficiency.

Kanu also announced the suspension of the monthly sanitation exercise due to the commissioning of a geometric power plant on February 24, urging residents to clean their immediate surroundings on that day.

Furthermore, the information boss also disclosed that the government has banned “One way traffic” across the state, warning that driving against traffic would now be considered a serious offense, aligning with efforts to enhance road safety and discourage reckless driving practices.

“A special task force would be established to enforce traffic regulations and crackdown on traffic violations in the state

“This is in keeping with the culture of doing things right as being preached by this government.

“We don’t like people who engage in unwholesome acts, people who revel in impunity and drive against traffic causing accidents and all kinds of confusion on the roads.

“Going forward, driving against traffic will be a very serious offence in the state, and like I informed you not too long ago, some special taskforce is being set up.

“It’s a one-stop task force that will handle every form of enforcement in the state.

“So in the days and weeks ahead, those of us who are in the habit of driving against traffic should be prepared to face the full wrath of the law,” the Commissioner noted.

Some days ago, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), sealed up some supermarkets in Abuja. One of their reasons for doing that is that the stores did not attach the prices of the items displayed on the shelves which is in breach of the law. 

Section 115 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCP) Act has mandated vendors (both offline and online vendors) to attach the price of any item they display or advertise for sale. 

Here are the full provisions of Section 115 of the FCCP Act; 

“115(1) An undertaking shall not display any goods or services for sale without adequately displaying to the consumer a price of those goods or services.

(2) For the purposes of this subsection, a price is adequately displayed to a consumer if, in relation to any, particular goods or services, a written indication of the price, expressed in the currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is annexed or affixed to, written, printed, stamped or located upon, or otherwise applied to the goods or services or to any band, tickle covering the label, package, reel, shell or other thing used in connection with the goods or services, or on which the goods or services are mounted for display or exposed for sale, or published in relation to the goods or services in a catalogue, brochure, newspaper, a circular or similar publication available to the consumer

or to the public generally.

(3) An undertaking shall not require a consumer to pay a price for any goods or services higher than the displayed price for those goods or services, or if more than one price is concurrently displayed is higher than the lower or lowest of the prices so displayed. 

By implication of this s. 115 of the FCCP Act, posting an item for sale without affixing the price is an offence and asking interested buyers to dm you for the price as online vendors usually do is an offence as well. You are expected to charge in Niara so far your patrons or customers are residents in Nigeria or your business is conducted within the territorial jurisdiction of Nigeria. If your price tag is in any other currency other than the Niara, you have run a breach of subsection 2 of this section 115. 

The intention of this law and the reason for the establishment of the consumer protection agency is for the protection of the final consumers; to ensure that consumers are not exploited by greedy sellers who can Jack up their prices at any time and charge exorbitant prices. The agency is to ensure that dealers and sellers charge consumers a market fair price for the items, any price charged for an item which is above what is considered to be the fair price of the item is extortion and it is illegal. 

Sellers are therefore expected to charge customers the prices that were attached to the item, once a seller charges a customer a price different from the displayed price, it becomes an offense. If there is a change in price, it is expected of the seller to quickly update the price change to avoid running a breach of the law.

Stan Alieke is an Abuja based legal practitioner.