The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has revealed the cause of massive hunger and hardship in the country.

He accused President Bola Tinubu of being the cause of the hunger.

Atiku, who stressed that Nigeria is in a dire situation, likened Tinubu to a quack doctor trying to treat a cancerous patient.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said: “The fallout of the shambolic policies of President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration is killing Nigerians even as there are no efforts to stem the tide.

“The unprecedented hunger, poverty, and hardship in Nigeria were part of Tinubu’s ultimate plan to decimate Nigerians and pauperise them until they have no shred of dignity left.

“Tinubu is like a quack doctor trying to treat a cancerous patient. But the quack doctor is likely to kill the patient even faster than the cancer itself.”

The former Vice president berated Tinubu for blaming ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for the current hardship.

“Rather than get to work, he continues to blame his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, for handing him an empty treasury and a weak economy and the opposition for instigating mass protests.

“He talks as if Buhari was not a member of their diseased All Progressives Congress. He also forgets that his own kabukabu policies and its fallouts are what is instigating the mass protests across the country,” he said.

Atiku also accused Tinubu of playing politics with the appointment of ministers, stressing that most of them should not have been appointed.

He lamented that the President’s economic perspective was limited by the fact that he had surrounded himself with his “Lagos circle”, putting loyalty ahead of competence.

Atiku insisted that the President knew little about Nigeria’s economy and nothing about security or building a national economy.

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Thursday called for a thorough investigation of the alleged financial impropriety against the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure.

Obi made the call at a media briefing where he rendered account of the 2023 Obi-Datti Presidential campaign organisation funding, on Thursday.

He said, “For the party (LP), I am a member of the party and they have chosen to say that I am the leader. What we need to do in the party and I have discussed it with the leadership is that we must now appoint a reputable audit firm to audit and be able to deal with the account of the part.

“When I am involved in money, it must be transparent. So the allegations and counter allegations now must be thoroughly investigated and verified and we would reconcile it and know what exactly to do.”

Naija News had earlier reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Oparah, for six months.

The party disclosed the decision during a press conference at the party secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja.

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, during the media briefing described Oparah as a mole who was being used by dissidents to cause disaffection in the party.

He said the party decided to sanction her after she failed to honour an invitation by the party’s NWC to resolve the crisis.

At the Thursday’s briefing, Obi also appeal to various support groups or individuals or parties that received funding to support the campaign, for which they were grateful, to account to those they received it from.

He said, “Because there are some people, like support groups, there are some people even abroad who collected monies that they are going to use it in the north and everywhere. We were not stringent that everything you collect must come to us, but we want whatever is collected to be accounted for. This is why we are appealing to the public to let us know.”

President Bola Tinubu, in the company of Vice President Kashim Shettima, met with the 36 state governors of the Federation on Thursday.

Naija News earlier reported that the President, on Thursday, met with the governors inside the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja to address the insecurity, economic situation and general hardship in the country.

The meeting also had in attendance the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the meeting agreed on common ground to address some of the challenges currently facing the country, especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.

He said after extensive deliberations the President and Governors agreed to work together to solve the problems and tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens.

Below are the key takeaways from the meeting:

1. On addressing insecurity which is also affecting farming and food production, President Tinubu made 3 key pronouncements.

A. More police personnel to be recruited to strengthen the force.

B. President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.

C. The President charged the Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals.

Modalities for State Police and addressing security issues to be discussed further at National Economic Council.

2. On rising cost of food: The President directed that the State Governments and Federal government should collaborate to increase local food production. The President advised against the idea of food importation and price control when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food.

3. President advised Governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants. He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Security Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.

4. President charged Governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products.

5. President pleaded with Governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue. Spend the money, don’t spend the people, he urged the governors.

6. President Tinubu implored Governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.

If members of the House of Representatives have their way stop sports betting said to be a pastime of 60 million young Nigerians may soon become a thing of history in the country.

This followed a resolution by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at the plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

The lawmaker had in the resolution complained that the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) is weak or has neglected regulations of sports betting in the country.

He said this have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

Nwogu added that it had also led to strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt.

“Betting has given rise to increased crime rate and eventual suicide,” he said.

He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

The House also mandated the Committee on Inter–Governmental Affairs to conduct a Public Hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria.

It urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of 15 dollars daily.

NLTF also said Nigerians spend an estimated 975 million dollars daily on online sports betting, which amounts to about 356 billion dollars annually.

It was estimated that about 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.

Many young Nigerians also engaged in sports betting to get succour from the hardship in the country

The NLTF lists 58 betting companies approved to operate in Nigeria on its website.
NAN

Nigeria’s inflation increased to 29.90 per cent in January 2024 from 28.92 per cent recorded in December 2023 amid rising food prices.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS disclosed this on Thursday in its latest Consumer Price Index.

According to the bureau, the figure is 0.98 per cent points higher compared to the 28.92 per cent recorded in December 2023.

Similarly, NBS said, on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 8.08 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in January 2023, which was 21.82 per cent.

”It said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate in January 2024 was 8.08 per cent higher than the rate recorded in January 2023 at 21.82 per cent.

In addition, the report said, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in January 2024 was 2.64 per cent, which was 0.35 per cent higher than the rate recorded in December 2023 at 2.29 per cent.

”This means that in January 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is more than the rate of increase in the average price level in December 2023.”

The report said the increase in the headline index for January 2024 on a year-on-year basis and month-on-month basis was attributed to the increase in some items in the basket of goods and services at the divisional level.

It said these increases were observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel, clothing and footwear, and transport.

Others are furnishings, household equipment and maintenance, education, health, miscellaneous goods and services, restaurants and hotels, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and kola, recreation and culture, and communication.

The bureau said the percentage change in the average CPI for the 12 months ending January 2024 over the average of the CPI for the previous corresponding 12-month period was 25.35 per cent.

“This indicates a 5.99 per cent increase compared to 19.36 per cent recorded in January 2023.”

The report said the food inflation rate in January 2024 increased to 35.41 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 11.10 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in January 2023 at 24.32 per cent.

“The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis is caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, meat, fruit, coffee, tea, and cocoa”.

It said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in January was 3.21 per cent, which was a 0.49 per cent increase compared to the rate recorded in December 2023 at 2.72 per cent.

“The rise in food inflation on a month-on-month basis was caused by an increase in the average prices of potatoes, yam and other tubers, bread and cereals, fish, meat, tobacco, and vegetables.”

The report said, “All items less farm produce and energy’’ or core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 23.59 per cent in January on a year-on-year basis.

“This increased by 4.71 per cent compared to 18.88 per cent recorded in January 2023.’’

“The exclusion of the PMS is due to the deregulation of the commodity by removal of subsidy.”

It said the highest increases were recorded in prices of passenger transport by road, medical services, actual and imputed rentals for housing, pharmaceutical products, accommodation service, and passenger transport by air, etc.

The NBS said on a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 2.24 per cent in January 2024.

“This indicates a 0.42 per cent rise compared to what was recorded in December 2023 at 1.82 per cent.”

“The average 12-month annual inflation rate was 21.15 per cent for the 12 months ending January 2024, this was 4.74 per cent points higher than the 16.41 per cent recorded in January 2023.”

The report said on a year-on-year basis in January 2024, the urban inflation rate was 31.95 per cent, which was 9.40 per cent higher compared to the 22.55 per cent recorded in January 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 2.72 per cent in January representing a 0.30 per cent increase compared to December 2023 at 2.42 per cent.”

It also said on a year-on-year basis in January 2024, the rural inflation rate was 28.10 per cent, which was 6.97 per cent higher compared to the 21.13 per cent recorded in January 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate was 2.57 per cent, which increased by 0.40 per cent compared to December 2023 at 2.17 per cent.’’

On states’ profile analysis, the report showed in January, all items’ inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi at 35.79 per cent, followed by Oyo at 34.58 per cent, and Akwa Ibom at 33.16 per cent.

It, however, said the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis was recorded in Borno at 22.57 per cent, followed by Taraba at 24.83 per cent, and Benue at 26.64 per cent.

The NBS, however, said in January 2024, all items inflation rate on a month-on-month basis was highest in Ondo at 3.79 per cent, followed by Osun at 3.77 per cent, and Jigawa at 3.58 per cent.

“Bayelsa at 0.45 per cent, followed by Yobe at 1.10 per cent and Ogun at 1.35 per cent recorded the slowest rise in month-on-month inflation.”

The bureau said on a year-on-year basis, food inflation was highest in Kogi at 44.18 per cent, followed by Kwara at 40.87 per cent, and Rivers at 40.08 per cent.

“Bauchi at 28.83 per cent, followed by Adamawa at 29.80 per cent and Kano at 30.08 per cent recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.’’
The NBS, however, said on a month-on-month basis, food inflation was highest in Ondo at 4.69 per cent, followed by Osun at 4.59 per cent, and Edo at 4.58 per cent.

“In Bayelsa it was at 0.24 per cent, followed by Yobe at 0.97 per cent and Ogun at 1.44 per cent, recording the slowest rise in inflation on a month-on-month basis.”

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation Afenifere has lauded the National Assembly for waking up to the reality of the need to cut governance costs and restructure Nigeria’s political system.

The organisation, in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, however, added that while the proposed change in the political system from presidential to parliamentary is welcome, the country needs more than ‘just a shift from one system of government to another.’

“There is a fundamental need to have the country return to the type of arrangement we had before the military incursion in 1966,” Ajayi stated.

DAILY POST recalls that a bill seeking to effect a change in Nigeria’s governance system from the present presidential to parliamentary system passed through the first reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The bill was sponsored by 60 members of the House of Representatives, led by Wale Raji (APC) representing Epe Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

Reacting, Afenifere posited that Nigeria’s socio-political problem is beyond the system of government being run.

“It weighs more heavily on the structure. This is why we are insisting that the country be restructured. Anything tinkering with the Constitution that fails to tinker with the present structure would be cosmetic,” Ajayi said.

The Afenifere Publicity Secretary applauded the lawmakers for recognising the fact that Nigeria was better governed in the First Republic.

The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission is in the process of relocating certain departments from Abuja to Lagos, three years after moving its headquarters to the nation’s capital.

Formerly known as the Department of Petroleum Resources, the NUPRC oversees the oil and gas industry, ensuring compliance with regulations and laws, and manages safety regulations for the import and export of products into the country.

In a memo titled “Movement to Lagos”, dated February 14, the relocation is driven by the commission’s desire to reduce operational costs and to also utilise its assets in Lagos.

“In line with our objectives of improving organizational efficiency. ctiving industry growth, and managing office accommodation in Abuja, we are ‘exploring the possibility of relocating certain units to Lagos.

“This initiative is driven by the need to enhance our service delivery and reduce operational costs. and make adequate utlisation of our assets in Lagos,” the memo stated.

Already, heads of departments have been asked to submit a list of units that can perform independently in preparation for the relocation.

A senior management staff told Daily Trust that about 200 staff members are expected to be affected by the move.

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria recently transferred of some its staff from Abuja to Lagos.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria also relocated its headquarters from the country’s capital to Lagos.

The move at the time caused disaffection from some stakeholders including a Senator representing Borno South in the 10th Senate, Ali Ndume, who cautioned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of the political consequences of such a decision.

Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up, Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by 14 spots to placed 28th in the world in the February FIFA ranking.

In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, the team garnered 1,522 points as against the 1,474 points garnered in December 2023.

The upward movement further shoot up the Super Eagles as the third placed team on the continent, behind Morocco and Senegal who have 1663 (12th) and 1620 (17th) points.

However, the newly-crowned African champions Cote d’Ivoire, reaped the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil by being in the 39th place having moved up by 10 spots.

AFCON second runners- up, South Africa climbed 8 spots to 58th, with Egypt (36th), Cameroon (51st) & Ghana (67th) dropping down after their early AFCON 2023 exits.

The Angolan side who were ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), are the biggest climbers in the latest installment of the global ranking.

In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings.

Senegal (17th, up 3), which suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON Round of 16, break new ground.

Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

Herbert Wigwe everyone knew, but not many knew the backbone behind his immense success. I called you Chiz Baby. Queenette Allagoa called you Chiz Burger. Most called you Doreen. I remember when you came back from the United States of America 31 years ago. You were just 26 years old, armed with your university degrees and ready to start life afresh back home. We immediately bonded over our unique family dynamics and love of trading. I remember marvelling at your capacity to switch back and forth from an American accent to a Nigerian English accent with ease. I was immediately drawn to your infectious laughter which could be heard from a mile away and your tremendous industry. You were born into privilege, but you were never afraid of hard work.

Your dad, the late Chief Cyprian Chukwuemeka Nwuba (Uncle CY) was a chartered accountant and had worked for Shell Petroleum Development Company where he rose to the position of African Financial Controller, before transferring to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation where he was the Group General Manager, Finance and Accounts, before his retirement. Your mum was a senior public servant who worked in the education ministry before she took you, Alex and Pauline to live with her in the United States.

Despite spending your impressionable years growing up in the U.S., we would head out daily to Oke-Arin market in the heart of Lagos Island where we tried our hands at wholesale trading. I would later drop my forays into Oke-Arin market and give up the shop that my parents had paid for me as I forged a new career in journalism. But you never did, frugally saving and turning around every penny that you made until you became an immensely wealthy and successful businesswoman with interests in construction, real estate and the hospitality sectors.

I remember the beginnings of your relationship with Queenette, which was to blossom into a lifelong unbreakable sisterhood. Today, she’s inconsolable without you, but remains thankful to God for your life. I remember your first meeting with Herbert, then a young, freshly minted General Manager at Guaranty Trust Bank, and the twinkle in your eye after introductions had been made. It was at Queenette’s house where we used to hangout as young women, laughing our heads off and without a care in the world. I remember your wedding to Herbert and the reception at the Muson Centre. I remember Chizi’s birth a few months after and Tochi’s four years later. We would still hangout at Queenette’s house where Herbert would often turn up after work to pick you up, but only after he had helped himself to a hearty meal of edi kai kong, afang or fisherman’s soup that were regular staples at Queenette’s abode.

I recall when you ventured into the construction industry. Just a few of us knew that Craneburg Construction Company was your baby. You would regale me with stories about size of the contracts your company was taking on and I was amazed at your trips all over the country, executing and monitoring road, infrastructure and building projects. You would sometimes call me from Bauchi or Sokoto State and I would ask, “Chiz Baby, what on earth are you doing there?” You would always respond with your trademark laughter, “Ijeoma, I am working.”

It was your construction firm that built the highways, bridges and toll plaza from Lekki Phase II all the way to and within Epe town, making the journey to Ijebu Ode in Ogun State less arduous. It was your construction firm that built roads and flyovers in Ondo, Imo, Adamawa, Ogun, Bauchi, Gombe and other states. You took on airport construction projects, oil and gas, and marine projects like fish to water. Today, Craneburg is one of Nigeria’s largest, diversified construction groups that employs 7,000 people working across all major sectors of the economy. When you were not travelling around Nigeria, you would take off to China or Hong Kong to import all sort of things that you sold. No enterprise was too big or too small for you to handle. You revelled in it like very few people could.

I once asked you how Herbert felt about your far-flung business interests. You responded, saying that your relationship with him was built on trust and he was a confident man who was very supportive of your business. Herbert was later to confirm this over ten years ago when he proudly confessed to a mutual friend that you were probably wealthier than he was. More recently, in an interview on Arise News Channel, when the interviewer Ojy Okpe asked Herbert what his most prized possession was, without skipping a beat, he said you were his most prized asset and his everything. This was how much you meant to him. You were anything but a trophy wife. You were an equal partner in a blessed union made on earth and now in heaven.

As I watched your relationship with Herbert thrive, I was later to understand that it was your independence, industry and mutual love of children that solidified your bond as a loving couple. Just like Herbert, you loved children dearly and I watched your family grow with the addition of David, Hannah and Okachi. I remember your love and dedication to your children. Despite your business interests, you always took off for several months at a time watching over Chizi and Tochi in the UK when they were at boarding school and university. When David and Hannah were old enough to go to boarding school, you did likewise. I remember when you told me that Herbert found it difficult to let go of David and how he cried like a baby when he was dropped off at prep school in the UK. You and Herbert absolutely adored children and were planning to have more because they brought both of you tremendous joy.

Barely a week before you embarked on your final journey to the United States, I called you to introduce you to a friend of mine who wanted to build two multi-storey buildings in Lagos. Irrespective of the numerous projects that you were already handling, you were very grateful and excited at the new prospect and within 24 hours had met with her and her team at their office in Ikoyi. My friend is very sad at your passing but has promised to go ahead with Craneburg Construction as a mark of remembrance of your dynamism and industry.

Chiz Baby, what will we do without you? You were a beautiful woman, not just in looks but in spirit. You never, ever flaunted your success. You were always God-fearing, humble, playful, shrewd and intelligent. Last Saturday evening when I heard that you, Herbert and Chizi had been declared missing after the helicopter crash, I kept calling Alex your brother who was extraordinarily brave that night. We held on to whatever glimmer of hope that we had that all three of you had walked away from the crash and would be found. But as the night wore on and we learnt that you were no more, I completely lost sleep.

All I could do was to go down memory lane of our early beginnings as I showed you the lay of the land and introduced you to the few friends that I had. I thought of our minor scrapes as young women and our ability to move past them. I thought of your interactions with my mum and dad whenever you came round to visit. I thought of your interactions with your parents and siblings Alex, Pauline, Tolly, the late Anana and Chinny and how much you loved them. I thought of Tochi, Hanana, David and little Okachi who you, Herbert and Chizi have left behind. It was like watching life through a kaleidoscope.

Chiz Baby, right now we can only console ourselves in the knowledge that you and your dearest Herbert left behind separate, yet intertwined sustainable legacies through which we shall remember both of you for eternity. Thankfully, Tochi is your daughter through and through. She is almost the same age today as you were when you returned to Nigeria over three decades ago. We believe in her capacity, with the support and guidance of her numerous uncles and aunties, to look after and bring up her younger siblings in a manner that would make you, Chizi and Herbert proud. Despite the heartbreak, they will grow, prosper, and carry on the baton of the Wigwe family. They will be fine!

Sleep on my dearest Chiz Baby. Sleep on my dearest Herbie. Sleep on my dearest Chizi. And may your souls rest in eternal peace.