The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will arraign the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, for alleged N10bn fraud on Friday, The PUNCH has learnt.

Credible sources in the anti-graft agency said the ex-governor would be dragged before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

“He is going to be arraigned on Friday at the Federal High Court in Ilorin for diversion of funds, amounting to N10bn,” the source told our correspondent.

The ex-governor has been detained by the EFCC since Monday when he honoured an invitation for interrogation.

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His Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji AbdulWahab Oba, confirmed his principal’s visit to the EFCC office on Monday, stating that it was only “procedural and routine”.

“Dr Ahmed’s visit to the EFCC is procedural and routine. He was invited and he honoured them as he’s always done. He’s always ready to respond to any query or question regarding his tenure as a governor of the state.”

On Tuesday night, Oba lamented that the EFCC was still holding on to Ahmed, saying he was given stringent bail conditions.

“Yes, he is still with the EFCC and we are now in a dilemma over the issue because they keep changing the goalpost during the match. The case is taking a new dimension, which we don’t really understand for now.

“Initially they said they wanted him to produce two sureties who are federal directors. The sureties came and were asked to provide landed properties in Abuja. We see this as a contradiction. The case was initially handled by the EFCC office in Abuja before it was transferred to Ilorin over the issue of jurisdiction. Additionally, he has been denied access to his doctors, medication and direct access to his cook,” Oba said.

Meanwhile, members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to the EFCC zonal office in Ilorin, where Ahmed was being detained.

The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, expressed displeasure over Ahmed’s detention.

Led by the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olusegun Adewara, the party members alleged that the All Progressives Congress in the state was behind Ahmed’s troubles.

Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “EFCC should stop being a tool in the hands of Abdulrazaq led-APC”, “Governor Ahmed was very transparent”, “EFCC is not a department in the APC, EFCC, stop the harassment”, “The opposition cannot be silenced”, “Maigida will not join the APC no matter the persecution”, “EFCC, don’t instigate political crisis in Kwara State”, “No to illegal detention. Respect the rule of law”, among others.

But addressing the protesters, the zonal commander of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe, said Ahmed had been given an administration bail but he could not meet the conditions.

“We’re wrapping up. Once we wrap up, the law will take its course. The anti-graft agency, being a creation of law, would not go contrary to law.

“Everything we’ve done is within the ambit of the law. The former governor is cooperating with us and we’re making good progress following rules of law. As I speak, he’s with his lawyer, a SAN; he attends to everyone who comes to see him, and he has a doctor who has attended to him. He eats what he wants to eat. I urge us to allow the law take its course. We’re not partisan nor prompted by anybody. This body is solely sponsored by the Federal Government,” Nzekwe said.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, says Binance and other crypto platforms should be banned from operating in Nigeria.

In an X post on Wednesday, he also said foreign exchange (FX) aggregator, abokiFX, should be banned again.

Onanuga made the statement while reacting to a comment by Mikael C. Bernard, an X user, who shared posts on cryptocurrency and FX rates.

The presidential aide said Bernard stated in an X post that “Naira is going to zero”.

Onanuga’s statement is coming amid the continuous depreciation of the naira, which fell to N1,900/$ at the parallel section of the FX market on February 20, 2024.

The naira declined by 9.83 percent from N1,730/$ recorded on February 19.

In his post, the special adviser said Binance is “blatantly setting exchange rate for Nigeria,” and hijacking the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said the cryptocurrency trading platform is facing restrictions in multiple jurisdictions, such as the United States, Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“According to Data Wallet, Binance is prohibited in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority from conducting any regulated activities. In Japan, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) banned Binance for operating without the necessary regulatory approval,” the presidential aide said.

“Ontario, Canada, has also suspended Binance services following its inability to meet the province’s securities regulation criteria. The Monetary Authority of Singapore also banned Singaporean investors from accessing Binance’s services.

“Binance, facing regulatory showdown in many countries, and causing disruptions in the currency market, should not be allowed to dictate the value of the Naira, not on its crypto exchange platform.

“Other crypto platforms such as Kucoin, Bybit should be banned from operating in our cyberspace. FX platform Aboki should be re-banned.”

Onanuga called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the CBN to move against the platforms, adding that the firms are trying to “manipulate our national currency to ground zero”.

He also said crypto should be banned in the country “or else this bleeding of our currency will continue unabated”.

Onanuga’s call for a ban on cryptocurrency trading platforms followed the directive of the CBN on February 5, 2021, to banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs), to close accounts of persons or entities involved in crypto transactions.

The regulator also warned local financial institutions against dealing in crypto assets or facilitating payments for crypto exchanges.

CBN cited concerns over money laundering, terrorism financing, cybercrime, and the volatility of cryptocurrencies as reasons for the ban.

In a report on April 7, 2022, CBN fined six banks N1.31 billion for flouting the directive on crypto accounts.

However, on December 22, 2023, CBN lifted the ban on cryptocurrency transactions and issued operational guidelines on virtual assets service providers (VASPs) to all banks and other financial institutions (OFIs).

Also, on September 17, 2021, Godwin Emefiele, former CBN governor, said the financial regulator was investigating abokiFX, a forex rates tracker, and Oniwinde Adedotun, the founder.

Emefiele alleged that Oniwinde uses his website for forex manipulations and speculations by purchasing forex to make a profit.

CBN, however, on July 25 2023, asked banks to vacate a post-no-debit restriction placed on AbokiFX account.

The Trade Union Congress has backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country.

The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

The TUC in a letter dated February 19, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the NLC unilaterally took the decision on the planned protest.

Etim in the interview with one of our correspondents, confirmed the letter addressed to the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, adding that “by the virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest.”

This is happening as the Department of State Services warned organised Labour against the planned mass action, saying it could be hijacked.

The NLC had on February 16 declared a two-day protest which would begin after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 22 (today).

The warning was on account of the alleged failure of the government to implement the agreements reached on October 2, following the removal of the fuel subsidy and other economic reforms which had triggered higher transportation costs, inflation, and general hardship.

The situation had provoked protests across the country with youths, and women taking to the streets over the food inflation and higher cost of living.

The NLC and TUC earlier on February 8 gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities and accused it of failing to uphold pledges to soften the impact of reforms.

Briefing journalists in Abuja after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, also accused the Federal Government of failing to implement the agreement reached in October.

On Monday, the Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, said the NLC affiliates were being mobilised for the protest just as state chapters of the congress vowed to join the nationwide demonstration.

The PUNCH had on Tuesday reported that one of the NLC affiliates, National Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors, and Allied Workers Union, in a letter dated February 18, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Duro Adebisi, directed its members to join the NLC planned protest.

But in a new twist, another Labour centre, the TUC, in the letter written by its Secretary General, Toro, faulted the process adopted by the NLC in fixing the dates for the protests.

Confirming the latest position of the TUC, the Vice-President, Etim, noted, “We cannot join the protest because the decision was not taken collectively. It is very clear that by virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest.”

In the letter obtained by this newspaper on Wednesday, Toro recalled that the decision to issue a two-week ultimatum to the government was jointly taken by the NLC and TUC.

He noted that the right thing after the expiration of the warning on Thursday (today) was for the leaders of the two unions to review the situation and agree on the way forward prior to convening their respective national executive councils’ meetings.

TUC tackles Ajaero

It read, “We are writing to address a matter of mutual concern and our disappointment regarding the recent unilateral issuance of two days’ national protest with specified dates.

“You will recall that both centres issued a joint statement with a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. This ultimatum will expire on Thursday, February 22nd, and the right thing to do was for both leaders to review the situation and agree on the way forward prior to convening our respective NEC meetings.

“Our respective NEC is made up of highly intelligent individuals who are desirous that we both work together always in our collective interest. Even if we didn’t anticipate our NEC decision meetings, it is our responsibility as leaders to harmonise our positions before jointly going to the press.

“It was our understanding that decisions of such magnitude would be made collectively, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of all parties involved are duly considered.

“This is the way other leaders of both centres have worked together from the time of SECSCAN to when TUC was formally registered.’’

The TUC further complained that this was the third time Ajaero would be taking a unilateral decision, adding that various interventions to correct the anomaly had failed.

“It is important to stress that this is the third time such a unilateral declaration has happened under your leadership; we are therefore constrained to formally put this on record as various discussions, communications, and interventions have failed. A first and second time could pass as human error, but a third time would, in our opinion, translate to an intentional act to undermine us.

“Again, recall that we requested that both congresses jointly develop an MOU (memorandum of understanding) that will clearly guide and define our collaboration on issues of mutual interest to avoid situations like this, which have not seen the light of day,’’ the TUC stated.

Though the TUC said it was not opposed to the protest declaration, Toro emphasised that the TUC had an issue with the NLC taking a decision on an issue the two unions agreed to work on.

The letter noted, “Comrade President, also note that we are not averse to the issuance of your resolution because our members equally feel the pain, even if it’s a weeklong national strike, but we have a huge problem with the unilateral declaration for a process we both mooted and agreed to.

“Because our members are equally concerned about the rising cost of living and not particularly the ultimatum, why can’t we see through the ultimatum that expires within the same period before jointly addressing other issues of mutual concern or, at worst, consolidating them?

“At best, when the NLC conveys its NEC meeting on a subject of mutual concern, courtesy demands that we ought to have been informed so we can synergize on the way forward and not jump the gun.

“We cannot be seen to undermine the process of synergy and collaboration between both centres that predates the current leadership of both congresses.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we fully understand that NLC is an independent labour centre that has the right to make independent decisions. It is pertinent that when such decisions are taken unilaterally, there is a need to go ahead and implement them unilaterally.’’

The union further said, “We wish to postulate that both centres have demonstrated severally that we both have the capacity to go solo, but my comrade President, you will agree with the slogan we couched for this unity that “we are always stronger together,” and that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

“We want you to always remember that we have teeming members that we lead and are answerable to, and when such an abnormality happens, the leadership has the right to defend the sanctity of its congress.

“Recall that this same issue of unilateral decision was what made us stay away from the two-day warning strike that you staged in September last year.

“The entire world noticed our collective strength when the governor of Imo State overstepped his bounds, and we rose to the occasion.

“That is the kind of synergy and collaboration that we yearn for, and we strongly believe the Nigerian working people and the downtrodden are looking forward to our collaborative efforts to work together.

“As you are aware of our previous discussions that cumulated into a late-night meeting at the NUEE Lodge, Utako last year after the unilateral decision of a two-day warning strike and several other interventions that emphasised the importance of mutual respect, collaboration, and effective communication in matters affecting workers and the masses.

“Congress was greatly taken aback and dismayed to learn that you addressed the press and announced the dates for the nationwide protest without consulting us. Making arrangements for the press is even an indication that you have an idea of what the outcome of the NEC meeting will be. This action undermines the spirit of solidarity and cooperation that we have worked hard to foster.

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“Nonetheless, we wish to state that such unilateral actions are contrary to the principles of our shared understanding and collaboration. In order to uphold the integrity of our partnership and ensure that the voices of all workers are heard, it is imperative that decisions of this nature be made through open dialogue and consensus-building.

“We kindly urge you to reconsider your approach and to engage in meaningful consultation with all parties moving forward, as we will always do the same when the table turns. By doing so, we can reaffirm our commitment to working together for the betterment of workers’ rights and welfare.”

The NLC could not be reached for comment on the TUC’s position last night as its spokesperson, Benson Upah, did not take phone calls. He also did not reply to a message requesting his response to the development.

DSS warns Labour

Speaking on the planned protests, the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Wednesday called on the NLC to shelve the plan.

He urged the NLC not to embark on the protests in the interest of peace and public order, stating that going ahead with the protests could increase tension across the country.

The statement read, “The attention of the DSS has been drawn to plans by sections of the organised labour to stage protests between 27th and 28th February 2024 in parts of the country over sundry economic issues.

“While the service recognises such an action as the legitimate right of the labour movement, it, however, urges the body to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order.

“The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions.

“This is more so that the service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence. The development, without doubt, will worsen the socio-economic situation across the country.”

It urged opposition groups, religious and traditional institutions, civil society, and non-governmental bodies to eschew violence.

“Making political capital out of the current situation or involving in divisive utterances at a time like this, will be of no benefit to any peace-loving Nigerian. Citizens are advised to be vigilant and not allow fifth columnists and hostile forces or agents to use them to destabilise the peace of the nation, “ it warned.

Ajaero faults DSS

Reacting to the DSS advisory, the NLC President, Ajaero, accused the agency of blackmail, noting that it was concerned by the unsolicited advice from the security outfit.

Ajaero said the DSS could not blackmail labour to halt the planned mass action which he said was called to protest against “the unprecedented high cost of living despite the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US dollar.’’

According to the NLC, the DSS’ statement presupposed that the action was intended to be violent and disruptive “even when we have a history of peaceful protests.’’

“Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the service are also victims. We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive,” the labour leader submitted.

He took a swipe at the secret police for allegedly making wild allegations and speaking as the mouthpiece of the government.

Ajaero stressed that it was more worrying that the DSS had a new role assigned to itself as the chief spokesperson of the government.

“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of peace and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and, on our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security,” Ajaero said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it had reviewed the commitments made with the organized Labour in the agreement signed on October 2, 2023.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister of State Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on Wednesday.

The minister said the government had paid four out of six months of the minimum wage award of N35,000, adding that the minimum wage committee, which was inaugurated on January 30, 2024, had held two meetings and discussions were ongoing.

Onyejeocha said, “On the payment of wage award of N35,000 for six months, the government has so far paid for four months up to 31st December 2023. The remaining two months of January and February 2024 are being processed.

“On the minimum wage committee, the government has on 30th January 2024, inaugurated a 37 -member tripartite committee on national minimum wage to review and come up with an acceptable and sustainable minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

“The committee has so far held two meetings and discussions are ongoing. The government has constantly engaged various state governments and the private sector on the issue of the implementation of wage award for their workers and this has been receiving favourable compliance by state governments. The government will continue to use all relevant channels to ensure the sustainability of the programmes.

“With respect to the suspension of collection of value added tax on diesel for six months beginning from October 2023, this was effected immediately. It is on record, that no one has been subjected to this form of taxation since October 2023.”

On the provision of CNG buses and conversion kits, she explained that the government had so far made substantial financial commitments in this area.

She added that the buses would be rolled out very soon to alleviate the transportation challenges being faced by Nigerians.

The minister further stated, “On the issue of various tax incentives as contained in the agreement, the government has commenced a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders while all necessary machinery is being put in place for effective implementation.’’

She added the crises rocking transport unions had been amicably resolved.

The minister added, “Concerning the outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal institutions, the government disclosed that it paid in full the four months outstanding salaries to the Academic Staff Union of Universities as approved by the President.’’

Onyejeocha added that 3,140,819 households including vulnerable pensioners had benefitted from the N25,000 monthly conditional cash transfer amounting to N68.3bn before the programme’s temporary suspension.

To ascertain the level of rehabilitation of the refineries in the country, the minister noted that a joint visitation by the government and organized Labour was successfully carried out on Wednesday and “it was established that the Port-Harcourt Refinery is 80 per cent completed. Production of Premium Motor Spirit will commence before the end of the year.”

Speaking further on food security, she said “With respect to the issue of subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country, the government has made tremendous progress in this regard to ensure effective distribution to farmers to boost agricultural production.

“In order to encourage micro and small enterprises as contained in Mr President’s broadcast on 1st August 2023 to the nation, plans have reached an advanced stage to accelerate the process of job creation through the release of funds to micro and small-scale businesses.”

She stated that the Federal Government was committed to social dialogue with organised labour and other stakeholders towards achieving industrial peace and harmony while prioritizing workers’ welfare.

The Senate has kicked against plans by the Ministry of Power to approve the proposed hikes in electricity tariff by Distribution companies.

The Senate also rejected plans to remove electricity subsidy given the present hardships in the country.

The Senate then called on the government to step down the idea of an increase in electricity tariff.

The upper chamber also directed the committee on power to investigate the N2tn required for electricity subsidy payment, other debts owed in the sector, and the state of metering in the country.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion moved by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) during plenary on the need to retain subsidy on electricity in the country for the foreseeable future.

Last week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed at a press conference in Abuja that Nigeria was not likely to sustain the current electricity subsidy payment.

He explained that the indebtedness of the country’s power sector to electricity-generating companies (GenCos) and gas companies (GasCos) had risen to over N3tn.

He said, “Today, we owe a total of N1.3tn to the power generating companies, out of which 60 per cent is owed to gas suppliers. Today we have a legacy debt, before 2014, to the gas companies of $1.3bn; at today’s rate, that is close to N2tn.”

Sunday PUNCH had reported the spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adraamodu, as saying that it would not allow any hike in the price of electricity that might add to the woes of Nigerians.

Abbas in his lead debate said the “Senate notes with greatest dismay the plan to increase electricity tariff by the relevant statutory authority in gross disregard of increased economic challenges with attendant widespread poverty and high cost of living.”

He added, “The Senate may note that the Hon. Minister of Power was reported saying ‘the nation must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as the country is currently indebted to the tune of N1.3tn naira to generating companies (GenCos) and $1.3bn owed gas companies.

“According to him, over N2tn needed for subsidy, only N450 billion was budgeted this year. The same electricity businesses are collecting money from customers for services not rendered. When they have not added anything to the equipment, they inherited it from PHCN.

“Communities buy transformers to replace damaged ones in addition to overburden bills and arbitrary estimates for unmetered customers.”

Senator Abbas further stated, “Cognizance that in a country where a greater population live below the poverty level, with stagnant wages, rising inflation and depreciating currency, the prospect of higher electricity bill is unattainable.

“The issue of arbitrary energy charges on unmetered customers has become worrisome given the February 2024 report of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on the non-compliance with energy billing caps by DisCos and the penalty of N10.5bn imposed on the distribution companies that over-billed its unmetered customers.

“Aware that in 2018, the then Hon. Minister of Power, Works, and Housing directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to issue a regulation that facilitates signing of meter agreements between the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Ziglaks company and other meter asset providers to address the metering gaps in the power supply industry.”

He further noted, “Further aware that as far back in 2020 the president then, ordered the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to commence Mass pre-paid Metering to end estimated billing, and that Funds were released to that effect

“Disturbed that the multiple sanctions declared to be imposed by NERC against DISCOs for failing to comply with the scrapping of estimated bills for unmetered customers which include credit adjustments to overbilled unmetered customers for the period January – September, 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle, publication of the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies, and deduction of N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the eleven DisCos during the next tariff review seemed to have been in futility given the continued violations by Discos.”

It would be recalled that this Senate via a motion called on the Federal Government and NERC not to increase tariff on electricity for customers and citizens of this country at this time.

Abbas further noted, “Regret that in addition to the high cost of living being experienced in the country, the unmetered customers who are owners of small and medium enterprises are adversely impacted by this level of exorbitant electricity charges and by implication have their businesses affected.

“While the prospect of the new Electricity Act, 2023 of ensuring accurate electricity charges will be negated if DisCos are not investigated to ascertain the current statistical data on unmetered customers, poor provision of electricity service despite exorbitant tariff and regulatory role of NERC which leaves much to be desired.”

Contributing to the debate, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, (PDP, Sokoto South) said it was abnormal for the government to “consider hiking electricity tariff in the face of hardship,” stressing that “such action should not even be contemplated in the first place.”

Similarly, Senator Orji Kalu, (APC, Abia North), noted that even advanced economies subsidise electricity.

He said, “Why should people be paying for what they did not use? Our focus should be on transmission and distribution.”

There were long queues in many filling stations across Lagos State though the National Association of Road Transport Owners has called off its strike.

The queues, The PUNCH gathered, started building up in some parts of Lagos on Tuesday.

The queue was borne out of fear by Nigerians that premium motor spirit might become scarce as a result of the now-suspended NARTO strike.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nigerians stormed filling stations to engage in panic buying.

It was learnt that the refusal of the tanker drivers to lift fuel on Monday and Tuesday also had affected filling stations owned by independent marketers, many of whom had run out of supply.

In major areas in Lagos, the queues continued to build up, causing traffic gridlock on major roads.

Our correspondents observed that the filling stations along the Alausa axis of Lagos, including, Mobil, Total, Conoil and others had long queues.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations in Ogunnusi, Ojodu-Berger and Ikorodu Road had long queues, including Bovas.

Around the Isolo axis, the filling station at Apata Round-about was not selling fuel; it was the same scenario at the Total Filling station located close to Isolo General Hospital.

At Ishaga, an attendant at NPOG filling station told our correspondent that they had run out of fuel in the past three days.

The PUNCH also observed that the NNPC and Mobil filling stations at the College Bus stop were also out of fuel.

The Quest fuel station along Asuani Road was the only filling station that dispensed fuel on Wednesday, with a long queue of cars and customers struggling to buy at N640 per litre.

Along Gbagada Road, the NorthWest had a long queue of cars and was selling at N610 per litre, while Eternal at Gbagada Bustop was not selling at the time of filing this report.

When our correspondent visited a fuel station belonging to NNPCL in the Ikotun area of Lagos State, it was observed it was not selling fuel.

On Wednesday, a long queue was noticed at God’s Decision, along Governor Road, Ikotun.

“We learnt that there may be a fuel scarcity soon. They said tankers drivers are going on strike,” one of the customers at God’s Decision told The PUNCH.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Vice National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Hammed Fashola, said the queue was caused by the two-day strike embarked upon by the tanker drivers.

“The fuel queues were caused by the two-day stoppage of operations by the tanker drivers. By Monday, everything will clear off. The NARTO members called off their strike yesterday (Tuesday) and they resumed loading of fuel today (Wednesday). All the depots are working now,” Fashola said in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, Lagosians have lamented over the fuel scarcity that struck many neighbourhoods in the state.

On X (formerly Twitter), @EricaNlewedim on Wednesday described the development as bad news that was becoming too much.

“The bad news is just too much. What is it? Ahah! And now fuel scarcity, I’m really tired of being an adult in this generation,” the user wrote.

@mhs4lyf, who lamented the situation in Lagos, said he had to trek.

He tweeted, “Fuel scarcity in Lagos and hold up. (I) trekked almost 10km to go home. Thank God for life.”

A user, @honeymiixx, called on President Bola Tinubu to call oil marketers to order, saying, “There’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people. Please, talk to the oil marketers.”

@notsocialallen said just at the weekend, he was too lazy to go and buy fuel and “suddenly there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos”.

“There is fuel scarcity in Lagos and they are selling black market fuel for N1,200 and no light since the day before yesterday. Nah this place is hell,” @Thelengygirl posted.

@AAAlatishe wrote, “All the candidates literally said they were going to remove it. But then, you phase it out while having a better power supply everywhere. The subsidy has been removed, now, fuel scarcity everywhere with less or zero power supply. I believe most Nigerians will be okay at buying a litre at N1k, if they will only be using it in their vehicles. This brings me to this question, will we ever witness an uninterrupted 24/7 electricity in this country?”

“Fuel scarcity on top of all these problems is just crazy. Is it that they don’t think we have a breaking point?” @omosalewasmiles asked.

@Dxx_machina wrote, “No light, there is heat. Now, fuel scarcity and we can’t run gen. What the actual heck is wrong with this freaking country?”

“I’m lost, please what’s this fuel scarcity about? These guys are extremely wicked,” @Jaaayyyy__ posted on X.

@iamkvngdavid_ lamented he was in a long queue while “trying to buy fuel at N650 per litre, just this evening alone, I’m witnessing fuel scarcity”.

“Is it just me but I find some things very weird. There are no buses due to the fuel scarcity, then traffic,” @DarknSweetheart wrote.

“Fuel scarcity in Lagos. High pump price plus scarcity is hell. Which way Nigeria?” @MfonEssien lamented.

The fuel queues on Wednesday left commuters stranded, forcing car owners to turn to the black market to purchase fuel at inflated prices.

Bobagunwa stated, “Fuel scarcity is intensifying in Lagos. One litre is currently being sold for N1,000 on the black market. I always wonder what if Nigeria doesn’t have crude oil.”

Iniete expressed, “It’s my first time queuing for fuel all alone under the scorching heat in Lagos during this time of fuel scarcity. God, please seriously punish the people, past and present, who ruined this country.”

Babudere lamented, “There is fuel scarcity in Lagos, and black market fuel is being sold for N1,200. Also, there has been no electricity since the day before yesterday. This place feels like hell.”

Oyíndàmọ́lá conveyed, “Dear @NGRPresidentn @officialABAT, there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people; please talk to the oil marketers.”

Ade shared, “I saw the crowd at bus stations this morning as well. I helped the ones I could, but I still got fuel today for 605. Yes, there’s scarcity currently, and the queues are long. But no one is selling for 1000 here in Lagos.”

The PUNCH recalls that the tanker drivers on Monday parked their trucks, refusing to lift fuel over the high cost of operations.

NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, in a letter to truck drivers, said NARTO had made several efforts to secure negotiations for appropriate and commensurate freight rates for its operations from all authorities concerned in the industry, especially the major marketers, without any positive result.

However, the major marketers said the decision of NARTO to stop transporting fuel may not have much effect on them, some of whom have separate transporters.

The Peoples Democratic Party will today (Thursday) hold its governorship primary in Edo State, with 10 aspirants battling for 563 delegates votes in the indirect primary.

The primary, holding at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, is expected to produce the PDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.

The 10 PDP aspirants include Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu; a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; and Blessing Igbinedion, daughter of Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Other aspirants are Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Dr Earl Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.

A party guideline released on Wednesday by the state Organising Secretary, Tony Anenih Jr, said delegates are to report at the Edo Hotel Marque, GRA, Benin City, where their accreditation will kick off at 8 am.

Also, each delegate will be given security access cards upon accreditation after which all accredited delegates will be conveyed in dedicated buses to the venue of the governorship primary.

According to the guidelines, only designated buses carrying accredited delegates shall be allowed into the primary’s venue.

Also, all vehicles conveying governorship aspirants will drop them and their guests off at the gate and depart thereafter.

“Delegates will be seated at the venue, local government by local government, while each aspirant will collect two security tags from the Edo PDP Secretariat, 59, Airport Road, Benin City. Each card admits one guest only.

“Only delegates, invited guests and aspirants will be allowed into the venue, while delegates, aspirants and their guests must be seated at the venue of the primary by 11 am prompt.

“Accreditation of journalists and civil society organisations will also be at the Marque. Only accredited pressmen and media outfits will be allowed into the venue,” the guideline added.

The guidelines noted that all security agencies have been activated to ensure that these guidelines are strictly followed.

The Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, said the party was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will be a reference for future primary elections in the country.

He said, “What the NWC (National Working Committee) and the party owe the aspirants is to ratify the results of the delegate elections, which they have done and the list of delegates has been given to all the aspirants to enable them to have access to the delegates and start lobbying them before the primary election.

“Once the party does that, I don’t know what else any aspirant will want. What we know is that the list will never be altered and it is those on that list that will vote on the day of the primary election. I also enjoin our members to conduct themselves well so we can have a hitch-free primary election.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has described last Saturday’s delegate primary election of the All Progressives Congress, as an eye-opener for it, saying would no longer treat such election as just a party affair.

The APC primary election ended in a crisis as it produced three ‘winners’.

The party is set to conduct a fresh primary today (Thursday).

The police spokesman in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, while speaking to journalists, said, “You could remember that we had a little hitch with a particular party delegates election. That has been an eye-opener for the Edo State Police Command; that we should no longer see it as a party affair.

“They delegates are people with diverse interests, people with diverse behaviours, people with different attitudes and characters. So, this time around, we are going to ensure that the right thing is done and protect the lives and properties of these party members.”

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested some currency exchange operators in the famous Kano currency exchange market, WAPA, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Naija News reports that the latest development comes after the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ordered a crackdown on currency speculators.

An eyewitness, Malam Isma’ila Zico, who spoke with Daily Trust, said officials of the EFCC surrounded the dollar exchange section of the market and apprehended many operators.

Zico said, “They were so tactical in the operation, it was after the apprehension that we found out that they have been in the market since morning. When it was time for them to strike, we then saw their operatives with crested vests and some other security agents, and they surrounded the Dollar exchange section of the market. I can’t say how many people were apprehended but they have taken away many operators.”

Confirming the raid, the WAPA currency exchange market Chairman, Alhaji Sani Salisu Dada, said the operatives of the EFFC were in the market to address the issue of dollar hoarding and operators that were yet to register as certified bureau de change operators.

He explained that EFCC had made some arrests, and those arrested were taken away for further investigations.

The chairman added that normal activities had returned in the market, and the association was ready to comply should the need arise.

The operatives also raided Bureau De Change operators in Sabo, Ibadan, over an alleged naira/dollar exchange hike.

Confirming the raid, an eyewitness said the current trading rate in the market is around N1900 to N1,940, adding that the operatives confiscated a lot of cash and arrested ten people.

He said, “They took about ten people. Amongst the arrested are people who don’t deal in exchange business, innocent people. They said they hiked the dollar to naira rate.”

The operatives also raided BDCs in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that each state governor has been allocated an extra N30 billion to address the challenges of food scarcity and hardships confronting Nigerians.

Akpabio said each state should properly utilize the money towards ensuring the availability of food.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Akpabio said: “I must say that unverified report has it that each of the state government in the last few months received additional N30 billion from Federal Inland Revenue Service, outside their normal allocation from the federation account to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.

“We believe that every state government should utilise the funds so received towards ensuring that food is available.”

The current economic hardship has led to a hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.

The shortage of foodstuffs was also linked to the hoarding by some people and illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries.

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had disclosed how security operatives discovered 32 illegal routes being used to smuggle foodstuffs and other items to neighbouring countries from Nigeria.

Shettima said security agents intercepted 45 trucks smuggling maize to neighbouring countries.

He noted that the price of “maize” came down by N10,000. The price of maize allegedly came down from N60,000 to N50,000″ when the trucks were intercepted.

Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), says the administration of President Bola Tinubu is not communicating hope to Nigerians amid mounting economic hardship.

In an interview on Wednesday, Agbakoba said the presidency is failing to lead by example by cutting down on the high cost of governance and showing empathy for citizens’ struggles.

“The government ought to be communicating hope. They ought to be saying ‘we are going through this difficult period but there is light at the end of the tunnel.’ This government is not communicating that at all, which I think is a big error,” Agbakoba said.

He noted that while Nigerians can endure tough times, the failure to provide reassuring messaging is worsening conditions across the country. Agbakoba warned of a “slow revolt” brewing among citizens frustrated by the rising cost of living.

The senior lawyer called on the Tinubu administration to take action to address people’s growing discontent and communicate a hopeful vision to rally citizens through this economically challenging period.

“The problem we have is that the government is not communicating hope,” Agbakoba reiterated. He urged the presidency to clearly spell out plans for economic recovery and say “in two or three months, we are likely to be in a better state.”

Jurgen Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, has played down any chance of the German manager joining Bayern Munich as replacement for departing Thomas Tuchel.

Kosicke has swiftly looked to stop any rumours before they even begin.

Thomas Tuchel and Bayern Munich on Tuesday announced their decision to move on, meaning that the former Chelsea boss will not be at club next season.

The agent told Sky Germany: “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season. “That remains unchanged.”

Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp had earlier announced his decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

[DailyPost]