Within the diverse pantheon of African rulership, something curious is emerging.  In many ways, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is fast emerging as a model of the transformation of democracy into authoritarianism in Africa. While Museveni has retained his nationalist streak in the fight against the global LGBTQ epidemic as well as his isolated battles against Western multinational exploitation and blackmail, his practice of democracy and adherence to the rule of law would disappoint pundits of African democratic enlightenment.

He has repressed basic freedoms, violated the rights of his political opponents, bludgeoned opposition political figures and jailed those who disagree with him. He has enthroned what is easily a personality cult of leadership that is easily a combination of draconian military dictatorship and crass authoritarianism. That is not strange in a continent that has produced the likes of Nguema, the Bongos and Paul Biya.

In addition, Museveni  now displays some of the worst excesses of Africa’s famed authoritarianism, dictatorial indulgence and the dizzy materialism of its leadership. For instance, the president is reported to travel around with an interminable motorcade that includes a luxury airconditioned toilet.  Worse for Uganda’s democracy are the recent stories of Museveni’s manouvres towards self-succession. Specifically, he has appointed his son as Chief of the army, a move which many observers of Uganda see as a pointer to his succession plan.

For me,  the unfolding Museveni  authoritarianism is a classic instance of the transformation of African leaders from revolutionary nationalists  to authoritarian emperors. I once met and spoke with the early Museveni. He had emerged from a bush war as a liberator and valiant popular soldier that was heralded into Kampala as a liberators. He came to mend a broken nation from the locust ears of Idi Amin and Milton Obote.

The Museveni that I sat and conversed with in the early 1990s  was a committed socialist. He was an African nationalist. He was a social democratic politician  with a strong social science background. His primary constituency was the people most of whom fired his liberation movement in the countryside. We exchanged ideas freely on the thoughts of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney and Amilcar Cabral among others.

As the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the new Daily Times under Yemi Ogunbiyi, I initiated and conducted a one on one interview with Yoweri Museveni in his early days after the overthrow of Obote with the backdrop of the Idi Amin carnage. What follows is both a travelogue and a reminiscence of the Museveni before now. Is it the same Museveni or are there two Musevenis?

In 1991, I scheduled a trip was to Kampala to interview Yoweri Museveni. I travelled alone through Addis Ababa and Nairobi. In those days, inter African flight connections were a nightmare of stops and delayed connections. I arrived Kampala and found my long standing friend, Dr. Manfred Nwogwugwu,  a demographer who was based in Kampala as head of the United Nations Population Commission. We had been together at Ife where he and his lovely wife, Ngozi, hosted me for the weeks it took me to find my own accommodation as an apprentice academic at Ife.  He took me on a tourist trip around Kampala. The city was broken and bore fresh bullet holes and bomb craters, the marks of war. From Biafra, I knew this ugly face well enough. Kampala had just been liberated by Museveni’s forces after ousting Milton Obote and remnants of Idi Amin.

I knew as a background that Mr. Museveni had been helped in his guerilla campaign by both M.K.O Abiola and General Ibrahim Babangida, then president of Nigeria. He therefore had a very favourable disposition towards Nigeria. He was also quite influential with African leaders from whom Nigeria was seeking support as General Obasanjo was lobbying to become United Nations Secretary General when it was deemed to be the turn of Africa. As a matter of fact, I was joined at the Museveni interview by Obasanjo’s media point man, Mr. Ad Obe Obe, who had come to interview Museveni as part of the Obasanjo campaign.

Museveni’s Press Secretary, a pleasant but tough woman called Hope Kakwenzire, kept in touch while I waited in Kampala for my appointment. She was sure the interview would hold but wanted to secure a free slot on the President’s choked schedule. She promised to call me at short notice to head for the venue.

When she eventually called, it turned out that the interview venue had just been switched from the Kampala State House to a government guest house in Entebbe, close to the airport and by the banks of Lake Victoria. Entebbe brought back memories of the famous Mossad raid to free hostages of a Palestinian hijack of an Israeli plane. At the appointed time, I was picked up from my friend’s residence. As we headed for Entebbe, memories of the dramatic Israeli commando rescue of airline hostages at Entebbe during the Amin days kept flashing through my mind. When I arrived Entebbe airport on my way in, I was shown the warehouse where the hostages were kept ahead of their dramatic rescue. The rescue had made world headlines in those days. It reinforced Israel’s military prowess and the intelligence dexterity and detailed planning  of the Israeli DefenCe Force (IDF) but the operational dexterity and intelligence excellence of Mossad in particular.

We arrived a nondescript white bungalow tucked amidst trees and vegetation. It was a colonial type sprawling white bungalow.  The entrance gate was a long drive from the building itself. When your car is cleared through the first gate, you drive along a bushy drive way towards the building. The first gate has normal military sentry who already know you are expected. As you drive along the bushy driveway, some surprise awaits you. Suddenly some small figures in full combat gear dart onto the drive way and wave your vehicle to a sudden stop at gun point. They are too young and too small to be regular  soldiers. But their moves are rather professional and smart. They are ‘child soldiers’ or rather ‘baby soldiers’ who had fought alongside Museveni’s liberation forces in the bush war that led to the freedom of Uganda. No emotions, No niceties. They screen the vehicle scrupulously for explosives. These small men  have apparently been trained to trust no one. They ignore the escort and Press Secretary both of whom are familiar faces. They insist I answer their questions for myself. I explain I have an interview appointment with the President. They briefly return to their tent at the wayside and briefly confer by radio communication.

They wave us through to the building.  I am taken through a rather unassuming hallway and a colonial looking living room and dining areas that opens into a simple sit out at the back of the building. The sit out at the back of the building opens into a vast courtyard with well manicured green gardens. The extreme end of the green is Lake Victoria. At its banks, there are tents with simple garden chairs. The serenity of the location is striking. Even more chilling is the eerie silence of the location except for the flapping of the wings of flamingos and pelicans playing by the lakeside. I quickly framed it in my mind: “Conversations by Lake Victoria!”

Seated alone in one of the tents is President Yoweri Museveni, the new strongman of Uganda. His simplicity beleis the mystique of courage and valour that now define his reputation. He was a leading figure in Africa’s then latest  mode of political ascension: the strong man who wages a guerilla movement in the countryside and marches from the forest into the city center of the capital after toppling an unpopular sitting dictator and his government with its demoralized army . After him, Joseph Kabilla of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Charles Taylor of Liberia followed the same pathway of political ascension but with differing outcomes.

The man in the tent was dressed in a simple black suit. He welcomed me very casually and warmly. “Nigeria is a long way from here, I imagine!”, he said jovially as he ushered me to take a seat. As we settled down to exchange views, it turned out that our exchange would be more than an interview. It was more of a radical social science conversation.

We compared notes on the class struggle in Africa, the burden of the political elite far removed from the masses, the alienation of the rural masses, the working class in Africa’s imperialist inspired industrialization. Museveni was very knowledgeable and sharp. His intellectual exposure was impeccable. He knew a lot about  Nigeria, about our cities and the structure and general disposition of our elite. He had very kind words about M.K.O Abiola and his commitment to African unity and liberation which he was supporting with his vast resources. In particular, he supported Abiola’s ongoing campaign for reparations from the West to Africa for the decades of pillage during the slave trade and the subsequent colonial expropriation and haemorrhage of resources.

I still managed to pierce through his armour of social science and dialectical materialist analysis to ask him a few worrying questions about Uganda and Africa’s political future. He was generally optimistic about the turnaround of Uganda after the devastation of war and the rampaging carnage of dictators.

He added that he was facing the tasks of reconciliation among Ugandans after decades of division and distrust just like Nigeria did after our own civil war. He invited me to return to Kampala a few months hence to witness what the will of a determined people can do towards post war reconstruction. He told me he was out to fix not only the broken landscape of the city but more importantly the destroyed lives of many poor Ugandans. When I mentioned what I had seen of the devastation of AIDS in the countryside, he nearly shed tears but sternly reassured me that he would contain the scourge of the epidemic by all means.

I left Museveni on a note of optimism on the prospects of Africa’s comeback after the days of the Mobutus, Amins, Obotes and Bokasas. Given my own left leaning ideas, I found Museveni a kindred spirit and an unusually enlightened and progressive African statesman. He questioned everything: African traditions, beliefs, the assumptions of African history, the political legacy of the colonialists and the neo colonial state. He discussed pathways to Africa’s future economic development  and the urgent need to question and possibly jettison old development models being peddled by the West through the World Bank and the IMF.

That was Museveni back in 1990-91.

Anytime I remember this story, I laugh and shake my head. In 1994, a Nigerian music promoter organised a concert, dubbing it “The Greatest Show”. There was plenty of hype built around it. Shabba Ranks, the Jamaican dancehall artiste and one of the biggest international acts at the time, headlined the concert, which was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). There was a modestly attended VIP-only event at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, but the TBS event was a total disaster. Only a handful of people showed up. Waziri Adio was then my colleague at TEMPO. After covering the concert, he crafted this scathing headline: “From the Greatest Show to No Show”. Wicked!

This came to mind again after Justice Abubakar Kutigi, a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ruled on March 28, 2024 that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had failed to prove that there was corruption in the transfer of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd’s interest in OPL 245 to Shell and Agip in 2011. It had been billed as “The Biggest Corporate Scandal in History” but after intense scrutiny by the US department of justice, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Court of Milan in Italy, the commercial court of England and Wales, and now the FCT high court in Nigeria, they all came to just one verdict: no evidence of corruption whatsoever. Anticlimax.

The EFCC took its latest loss at the FCT high court quite badly and there were soon WhatsApp rumours that its prosecutor, Mr Offem Uket, was bribed to scuttle the case — although the commission has denied making such an allegation. But if, indeed, the EFCC prosecutor was bribed, were the Italian prosecutors bribed to lose the case in Milan too? In fact, the prosecutors are now facing criminal charges for allegedly hiding vital evidence that would have exonerated Shell and Eni during trial. Were the officials of the US department of justice and SEC bribed as well? It seems the EFCC was working to an answer all along and did not properly plan for how to handle possible defeat.

I started hearing of “Malabu scandal” over a decade ago but, honestly, I never paid attention to it. After all, Nigeria is a huge scam yard. Only God knows how many scams are planned and executed per hour across the length and breadth of Nigeria — both in private and public sectors, and even in religious houses, media and civil society. It takes something of monumental proportions for us to open our mouths and scream. I read that $1.1 billion “that should have gone to the federation account” had been paid to Malabu, a company owned by Chief Dan Etete, a former minister of petroleum, and his friends. Now, $1.1 billion is mouthwatering! I started reading the stories.

In 2017, I had a phone conversation with Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, the former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and a big figure in the OPL 245 affair who was accused of authorising the transfer of the first tranche of $810 million to Malabu. He told me he was not a signatory to the account and did not have powers to issue payment instructions. He said Dr Yerima Ngama, then minister of state for finance, authorised the payments. Mr Danladi Kifasi (then permanent secretary, ministry of finance) and Mr Babayo Shehu (then director of funds) also issued instructions. He sent me a bundle of documents on the entire OPL 245 affair, dating back to 1998. His claims checked out.

The EFCC also accused Adoke of taking a bribe of N300 million (around $2 million at the time). The alleged bribe was said to have been paid into his Unity Bank account in 2013 — two years after the OPL 245 deal was signed, sealed and delivered. Something did not click. The Nigerian officials I know do not wait for two years to collect gratification. Pardon me, but I would also expect a corrupt Nigerian minister to get more than $2 million “thank you” in a $1.3 billion deal. Adoke swore and sternly denied collecting a kobo from the deal, saying the N300 million was a loan he took from Unity Bank to buy a property from Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu that was manipulated by the EFCC as bribery.

According to him, when he could not pay up his own N200 million equity to complete the property purchase, Aliyu returned the N300 million to the bank, retrieved the land documents and sold the same property to the CBN in 2013. It was the N300 million refunded by Aliyu that the EFCC classified as a bribe in the trial at the FCT high court. Ironically, in another case filed against Adoke and Aliyu in a federal high court, the EFCC classified the N300 million as mortgage. It was the same prosecution witness presented by the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, that made the contradictory claims. This was one of the facts stated by Justice Kutigi in dismissing EFCC’s charges, which he described as “frivolous”.

Adoke, sounding surprised by my line of questioning during the phone call, said the major role he played in the OPL 245 resolutions was to give legal advice to President Goodluck Jonathan who wanted to know if the consent judgment entered into with Malabu by the Obasanjo administration in November 2006 was valid. President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the oil block in 2001 without stating any reason. He then gave it to Shell. Malabu sued the government, lost on technical grounds and appealed. Obasanjo opted for an out-of-court settlement and agreed to return the oil block to Malabu. Adoke said he studied the consent judgment and advised Jonathan that it was binding.

Jonathan subsequently set up an interministerial committee to implement the settlement agreement. OPL 245 was returned to Malabu in 2010, with Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, then minister of petroleum, re-issuing the licence to the company fronted by Etete, who was previously convicted of money laundering in an unrelated case in France before the conviction was quashed on appeal. In 2011, Shell and Eni teamed up to acquire Malabu’s interest in OPL 245 for $1.1 billion. All the funds totalling $1.3 billion — including the signature bonus of $210 million paid to the Nigerian federation — were then deposited by the oil companies in Nigeria’s account at JP Morgan in London.

This was where the story became convoluted. According to anti-corruption campaigners, Malabu’s  proceeds of $1.1 billion from selling its interest in OPL 245 should have been paid to the federation account. That was the origin of the “Malabu scandal” narrative. But if a company sells off its interest in an oil block, how can the proceeds go to the federation? It sounded even sleazier when it was reported that Etete bought a private jet from the proceeds — which is not unusual with those who hit windfalls. I doubt anyone would make that kind of money and not buy a yacht and even the sea. Gen Theophilus Danjuma also bought a private jet from OPL 246. It seems to be a status symbol.

My major misgiving was that Etete awarded an oil block to himself in 1998 — a clear case of conflict of interest. Surprisingly, every president, except President Muhammadu Buhari, recognised Etete as the owner of Malabu. Buhari appeared to recognise Mohammed Abacha, who said Etete outwitted him. The EFCC wrote twice to Aso Rock that the son of the former head of state should be compensated before the trial of Adoke, Aliyu and the oil companies could be terminated. Also, Etete used a pseudonym in registering Malabu. Mohammed used “Mohammed Sani”. This was apparently to mask their identities. These issues were not raised by the EFCC during trial. I am still at a loss.

Now that all the court cases on OPL 245 have been dispensed with (although the EFCC has hinted that it may appeal the FCT high court ruling — but having studied it with my “unlearned” eyes, I don’t see an appeal going anywhere), my interest is how Nigeria can put the enormously rich oil block to productive use. By some estimates, the block can produce over 200,000 barrels per day when it finally gets in the groove. Similar deep offshore acreages are producing hundreds of thousands of barrels daily. But for the long-drawn crises in the quest to expose “The Biggest Corporate Scandal in History”, the acreage could have gone into full production ages ago. 

On coming to power in 2015, the Buhari administration had commenced a slew of litigation, trying to get Shell and Eni convicted for corruption. The licence issued for prospecting in 2011 suffered a serious knock. By 2021, the OPL should have been converted to a mining licence but Buhari declined to give the go-ahead, perhaps still hoping the court cases would yield a result, even though the headline trial in the Court of Milan had gone against Nigeria. We had also sued JP Morgan in the UK, asking for a compensation of $1.7 billion under the “Quincecare duty” doctrine for transferring some of the proceeds of OPL 245 sale to Malabu’s bank accounts. Nigeria lost for lack of evidence.

We went on a wild goose chase while the enormously endowed economic asset was wasting away. Top government officials engaged their friends as lawyers to be pursuing OPL 245 cases globally and netting millions of dollars in fees and commissions. They eyed huge cuts if Shell and Eni were to be improbably ordered to pay another $1.1 billion to Nigeria or if the UK court awarded $1.7 billion against JP Morgan. OPL 245 litigation became an oil block on its own. In the end, we woefully lost everything: the lawsuits; and inflow of investments to, and revenue from, the oil block; and JP Morgan won its £22.25 million libel case against us. Total waste of time and energy (pardon the pun).

We were kobo wise and naira foolish. We delayed production from the acreage because we wanted $1.7 billion compensation, whereas we could make far more than that if drilling was allowed to start. More so, Nigeria badly needed higher oil output to be able to earn more from taxes, royalties and export, plus the inflow of lifesaving FX. What’s more, producing deep offshore was the sanest and safest option — with minimal risks of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and host community issues. Our production was dwindling severely but we were comfortable locking up OPL 245. Now that the litigation market has closed, may we kindly allow OPL 245 to commence the process of pumping oil?

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

TRIPLING TARIFF

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Wednesday approved a new electricity tariff plan. The elite consumers — classified as Band A — now pay three times higher than the former tariff. Other consumers will keep paying old rates. The deal, as announced, is that Band A consumers would be enjoying a minimum of 20 hours electricity per day. There is so much to say, but what the government just did was to pass N1.5 trillion of the electricity subsidy to Band A consumers. The dark side is that while Band A may indeed enjoy more hours, other bands will most likely get less. In essence, the sector’s foundational problems will remain unsolved, at least in the short run. Grief.

PEACE MEAL

Great news: Air Peace is now flying to the UK. Reviews so far have been very encouraging and exciting. It had been a thing of shame that the route was left entirely to foreign airlines for so long since the exit of Arik. Nigerians have been suffering from paying extortionate fares — and in dollars. Sadly, I read the comments about the Igbo-style outfit of the cabin crew members. This is so unnecessary. I don’t know when we are going to get over the election mode so that we can free our minds. Rather than celebrate our little successes, some would rather be playing the ethnic card. I don’t care if they wear Kanuri dara. All I desire is for Air Peace to make Nigeria proud. Godspeed!

RISKY BEHAVIOUR

Idris Okuneye, the social media celebrity better known as Bobrisky, was the unusual guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday. The influencer, who identifies as a female, was arrested, detained and charged to court for abusing the naira after being caught on video manhandling (womanhandling?) the national currency. There is actually a law that criminalises this very Nigerian culture but it is mostly observed in the breach. There is a feeling the conviction of Bobrisky will send a strong signal to other celebrities and party goers that the EFCC will enforce the law going forward. Some say it will be nice to see celebrity billionaires face the music too. Cynical.

NO COMMENT

Kano state is full of drama, especially under the current governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf. But I am very much interested in the charges filed against Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for allegedly collecting $200,000 bribe from a contractor in 2018. The video purporting to show Ganduje collecting the cash and stuffing it in his babanriga went viral at the time but nothing came out of it, apart from the backlash on Daily Nigerian, the newspaper that published it. Ganduje has kicked, describing the charges as “trumped up”, but won’t it be quite some sight to see the national chairman of the ruling party being sent to jail for corruption? Wonderful.

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

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Topic: Electricity Tariffs Hike

Date: 6th April, 2024                       

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In an interview with Liverpool’s official website, Jurgen Klopp who is expected to leave the Anfield club at the end of this season said the only way his team can beat Manchester United at Old Trafford is if his team plays a very good game.

Manchester United have been very inconsistent this season as they have recorded 12 defeats, 3 draws, and 15 wins which left them on the 6th spot with eight games in their hands.

Amidst their inconsistency, they have managed to knock out in-form Liverpool from the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup with a man down on March 17. The thrilling encounter ended in a 4-3 victory for the Red Devils.

Hence, their meeting at Old Trafford which is a must-win for both sides (for Liverpool’s title hopes, and Manchester United’s European spot hopes), is expected to be more or less a final.

Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Manchester United are a very strong team especially while playing in front of their home fans. Hence, he urged his team to double their output if they want to stand a chance against the Red Devils coached by Erik ten Hag.

“United is a top side playing at home, we all know that,” Jurgen Klopp said.

“Football is not that easy. We have to find a way to cause United problems and they will try exactly the same.

“On that level, with this opponent, in this stadium, we better play a really good football game, to be honest, if we want something there.”

[NaijaNews]

Following the increase of electricity tariff for customers under Band A category of consumers, some Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction over the haphazard implementation of the hike.

They said customers that are not enjoying up to 20 hours had been lumped up with those enjoying the services.

The situation has led to confusion, protests and complaints, with consumers alleging deliberate exploitation by some distribution companies (DisCos).

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on Wednesday announced a 300 per cent hike in the electricity tariff to be paid by Band A customers.

Their tariff was moved from N68 per kilowatt hour to N225.

The vice chairman of the NERC, Musliu Oseni, who made the announcement, said the increase was to reduce the burden on the federal government following the increase in gas price and the huge collapse in the value of the naira against the United States dollar owing to what the Bola Tinubu Administration called “forex unification.”

However, many electricity consumers who spoke with Daily Trust Saturday, lamented the implementation that saw them paying for what they were not consuming.

Some residents of the Federal Capital City, Abuja and its satellite towns, who get their electricity from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), expressed outrage as some of them in the same neighbourhood were classified on different bands.

Some of the residents, who were placed on Band A, said they might consider relocating to other areas.

Madam Aminat Adeola, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment at Plot A7, Shagari Quarters, Dei Dei, under Bwari Area Council, said the AEDC placed her on Band A while all her co-tenants were placed on B and C.

“I cannot cope with this. This is unfair to me. Why would they put only me on Band A in this compound? This is an area where we don’t enjoy regular power supply. I will first go to complain in their office in Kubwa before I decide on what to do.

“But honestly, this may force me to go and rent a house in another place,” she said.

Another resident in the area, Mrs Iyabo Ganiyu, who was placed on Band A while other people in her neighbourhood were placed on C, said she had told her husband to go and lodge a complaint at the Kubwa office of the AEDC.

Obas Emmanuel, who resides in Kubwa, said he found out that he was in Band A after purchasing a N3,000 electricity token for his meter.

“I was given 12 units instead of 40. That was when I realised I am on Band A despite not getting the Band A (20 hours) electricity,” he said.

He added that he learnt that his area was in Band A before the NERC downgraded his feeder as they were not getting the service.

Yakubu Lawal is another AEDC customer who said he purchased 40 units at N10,000, which, before now, would secure him 135 units. 

He also said his feeder in Kubwa was downgraded to Band B and was surprised that he is now being asked to pay for Band A services. 

He urged the NERC to look into his plight by asking for a refund for him from the AEDC.

Consumers in states lament

Eze, a web designer, who lives at Kay Farm Estate, Lagos, in an interview with Daily Trust Saturday said, “I normally enjoy regular electricity in my estate, to be honest.

“I woke up yesterday to recharge N1,000 and was surprised to get only four units. Now, I can’t even use the air conditioning system. I am currently using an electric fan.

“I have recharged twice since yesterday, and I don’t think I would be able to cope with this new rate,” he said.

Another resident of Ojodu Abiodun in Lagos who recharged on Thursday, said she got 22 units at N5,000. Another resident in the area also complained of getting 52 units for the same amount although he is oblivious of his band or category.

A resident of Obalende, under the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said she got 20 units at N5,000 instead of 74 units with bonus included, asking, “How can this be?”

The manager, Goodluck Stores Surulere, who simply identified himself as Dubem, lamented that the increase in electricity tariff would affect his expenditure on power supply.

“I hitherto bought N30,000 worth of units, which lasted approximately two months, but with the current increase, what they would give me will not last for a month. The implication is that we might have to increase the prices of our stocks,” he said.

He said that Eko Distribution Company, which supplies power to his area, only provided electricity twice in a week.

“We hardly have light here. In a week, we may have two days of constant supply, while on other days we run on generators. On average, within those two days, the light may stay between 4 and 5 hours, but most of the time, we run on generators,” he added.

Meanwhile, officials of some of the distribution companies confirmed that there were system glitches in some areas, which wrongly classified some customers not under Band A, saying those customers had been identified and would be refunded.

An official of Eko DisCo said, “We are about doing a message and all the customers wrongly classified are going to be refunded their excess money. We are working on communication, which will go out today (yesterday).

“We have identified the customers and we have pulled them from our system and all of them would be reached out to,” the official said.

However, Kingsley Okotie, the spokesman for Ikeja Electric, in an interview with our correspondent, said it was not true that some consumers were wrongly classified under Band A as they were thoroughly reviewed before the implementation of the new cost reflective tariff.  

He said, “I am not aware of such complaints about being wrongly classified under Band A feeders under IE network. The exercise was thoroughly reviewed before classifications under Band A got regulatory approvals. But I can assure our customers that we will live up to their expectations in terms of the hours of supply in line with the feeder arrangement. 

“We have also put in place rapid response teams to speedily resolve complaints as they arise. We appeal to our customers to give us maximum co-operation to ensure the success of this tariff regime, a game changer that will ultimately lead to improved service delivery for all,” he added.

It’ll be difficult to pay – Kebbi residents

Some residents of Gesse Phase 1, GRA and the new settlements at the bypass in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, have complained about the recent increase in electricity tariff.

Those who spoke to our correspondent alleged that they were already paying heavily before the increase.

One of them, Alhaji Abubakar Abbas, told our correspondent that he and others in the area were made to pay hugely on a monthly basis.

“Every month I paid nothing less than N60,000, sometimes N70,000, so with the recent increase, it will be difficult to cope with my electricity bills,” he said.

The industrial area of the town, along Kalgo, and some areas at the bypass are said to be on Band A, and some business owners at the area complained that they may find it difficult to pay for the new tariff.

“Our businesses around here are no longer doing well because of the recent economic situation. I am not sure many of us would be able to pay the new tariff,” Suleiman Babagoro, who owns a mini rice mill in the area said.

Customers will bear the brunt – Kano tailors

Alhaji Abdulhameed B. Adamu, a tailor in Badawa Quarters, Kano, said, “The increase in electricity tariff will force us to increase our charges. A set of plain cloth with no decoration, for which we hitherto charged between N1,500 and N2,000, will now jump to N3,500 and N4,000.

“Also, a set of cloth with decoration that we charged between N3,000 and N6,000 for sewing, depending on the type of decoration a customer chooses, will now cost between N7, 000 and N8,000,” he said.

 Ice block makers at Sharada Industrial Estate also described the latest increase as “unprecedented, shocking and devastating.

Abubakar Abdullahi Umar said most of them became confused when they heard of the increase.

He said he used to pay about N500,000 monthly to settle electricity bills before the latest development, and wondered how they would cope.

“We are just discussing this increase because we are all confused. Everybody is lamenting. How do you explain over 300 per cent increase to a customer? Certainly, we will transfer the cost to those patronising our products,” Umar said.

When contacted to speak on the disparities witnessed in some areas, the Head of Kano Distribution Company’s Corporate Communication, Sani Bala, could not be reached. But an official who does not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak, explained that it is basically technical when customers on other bands were charged using Band A threshold, adding that this can easily be rectified.

Only 1.5 million customers will be affected

Speaking on the widespread complaints by Nigerians, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja Friday, said the tariff hike would ultimately benefit the poor.

He said that from the policy formulation perspective, the recent increase would affect just 15 per cent of electricity consumers in Nigeria. 

He said that based on the latest statistics, there are a little above 12 million customers in the sector but this would only affect about 1.5 million customers.

He said the remaining 10.5 million customers would continue to enjoy government’s subsidy at 70 per cent.

The minister added that the federal government was investing heavily on infrastructure, which will ultimately lead to better services, assuring that even manufacturers would have a fair deal compared to what they currently spend on diesel to power their machinery.

“A journey of thousand miles starts today,” the minister said.

NERC fines AEDC N200m 

The NERC vice chairman, Oseni, said yesterday that the AEDC was fined N200 million because it implemented the new tariff for all customers.

He said this was a breach of trust, and that the fine against the company was to sound a warning that erring DisCos would be punished.

Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on Friday, he said the N200 million would go to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

“What led to that is that some customers have complained that they are not enjoying 20 hours of supply, they went to vend and they were charged the new rate.

 “The Abuja scenario that led to this is unpardonable. The AEDC was saying it was an error. Why didn’t they make an error that would reduce the tariff for all customers? he queried.

He said that in the second scenario, after the review, what the DisCos did was to try and protect their revenue and have three options.

“One was to shut down the platform until they effect the rate change. The second option was to limit the amount the customers can vend, and the third one was to change the tariff for Band A before they will start to clean the system to know who are actually on Band A,” he said. 

When contacted for a reaction on the fine, AEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mimi Angyu, did not respond to calls or messages sent to her line. 

[DailyTrust]

Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia has come hard on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, advising him to reduce his propensity for power and greed and allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to do his work.

According to him, an undying inclination for power is tormenting Wike and serving him unstable moments.

Omehia made this assertion in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday in response to the live television interview which the former governor of Rivers State and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike hosted in Abuja recently.

DAILY POST reports that Wike had at the media parley, in Abuja, on Tuesday, described Uche Secondus, Sen George Sekibo and other PDP leaders in Rivers State as “expired politicians and buccaneers” owing to their support for Fubara.

Reacting, Omehia described Wike’s uncontrolled outbursts as product of a confused mind, saying Wike’s anger was that his ambition of a 3rd tenure has crashed and the people of Rivers State have realized that his quest for power is personal and not for the interest of Rivers State or the South-South at large as claimed.

“The FCT Minister thought that he would continue to control and abuse the resources and governance of the state but God, through the people, resisted the impeachment plot by his members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Wike is notorious for lying against anyone, anytime and disrespects elders at will, so there is no surprise about his outburst and criticism against innocent personalities in Rivers State.

“Wike speaks from both sides of his mouth, he says something today and denies it tomorrow like a clown. I am not a buccaneer and my capacity to contribute to the growth and development of my state and country is not impaired.

“I wonder why he is pained by our support for the Governor and the Federal Government under President Tinubu. Does he want us to perpetually be at political war with everybody, even long after elections are over and governance taken over? Is it not madness?” Omehia queried.

He noted that Wike’s excesses, inconsistencies and hallucinations had reached a shameful peak and advised him to face his job in Abuja as the state was not missing his presence and nuisance value.

[DailyPost]

Four people have been feared killed and 20 others injured when members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites clashed in Kaduna.

The Nation gathered the Shi’ites trooped out in a large number on Friday for a peaceful procession to mark the International Quds Day in the state capital when the law enforcement operatives, particularly the Nigeria Police, stormed the scene to disperse the procession.

The Shiites assembled near the Katsina roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way prior to the arrival of the Police, who attempted to disperse them.  

This situation caused tension and unease among the citizens, especially those with businesses situated along Ahmadu Bello Way as shots were fired by the police to disperse the protesters.

Eyewitnesses said shots were fired during the clash and in the process, four members of the IMN were killed, while about 20 others were injured.

Kaduna State Police Command’s  Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hasan confirmed that three Police personnel were injured during the incident and taken to the hospital for treatment.

ASP Hassan also debunked the allegations that the Police operatives killed members of the IMN, noting that no live ammunition was used to dispense the procession.

Speaking earlier during the procession, one of the leaders of IMN, Professor Dauda Nalado, said the Quds day is celebrated annually during the month of Ramadan.

According to him: “The great global leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imaam Ruhullah Al-Musawi Al-Khomeini, Invited Muslims and non-Muslims with humanity at heart to show solidarity with the innocent and oppressed people of Palestine and against the brutality of the usurper, apartheid, and the illegal state of Israel. The imam declared the last Friday of each Ramadan as the International Quds Day.  

“Since 1980, the Quds in Britain, France, Sweden, America, Germany, Canada, Australia, and numerous countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, etc. The Islamic movement, under the leadership of his Eminence Sayyid Dr. Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H), has been observing this event for decades in Nigeria.

“In fact, one of the reasons of the Zaria massacre executed by the Buhari regime in 2015 was to kill Sayyid Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and crush this noble movement for justice, all due to the staunch support for the Palestinian course. Hitherto, the public could recall that on 25 July, 2014 Nigerian soldiers attacked the Quds Day procession in support of Palestine in Zaria, resulting in the assassination of 34 people, including three biological children of this great African leader.” He added, 

“For six months now, the Zionist State has killed almost 33,000 Palestinians and wounded almost 80, 000, of whom more than half are women and children. They have destroyed buildings and turned Gaza City into rubble. They have violated all international human rights rules and committed war crimes with impunity.’

“It is pertinent to remind us that since the illegal state was carved out in 1948, the Palestinians have been subjugated and subjected to oppressive rule, controlling and humiliating every aspect of their daily lives. This current brutality by the Zionists was launched after a retaliative “Aqsa storm operation” by the Palestinians on 7th October 2023. These developments signal the final blow to Zionism.”

He called on all people and nations with humanity to condemn the genocide against the Palestinian population and stop it saying, “Unfortunately, the United States and the United Kingdom are supporters of this genocide.”

He thanked South Africa and the axis of resistance comprising Iran, Lebanon (Hizbullah) Syria, Iraq, and Yemen for their support and condemned the continued brutal genocide of the Palestinian population and support the oppressed people of Palestine in their just struggle.

He called on the Nigeria to severe diplomatic ties with the “genocidal Zionist”state of Israel and also called for a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive package for the freedom of Palestine.

[TheNation]

Black marketers make brisk business amid queues, NNPC says Apapa depot empty

Queues will ease off before Sallah break next week, say MEMAN, IPMAN

Petroleum marketers say the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit in filling stations located in Lagos and Ogun states is as a result of shortage in supply.

Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed that there were no products in its Apapa depots.

Saturday PUNCH reports that long queues resurfaced in filling stations across the two states on Friday, creating fear of impending fuel scarcity.

Our correspondents, who went round some parts of Lagos and Ogun states, reported that the queues of desperate motorists in some of the filling stations affected the free flow of traffic.

At the Oando filling station in Alapere, Lagos, commuters were held in traffic as motorists struggled to buy fuel. The station stopped dispensing fuel later in the day.

There were long queues at the Conoil filling station, while the TotalEnergies station in the same area was not dispensing fuel to customers.

It was observed that many stations did not dispense fuel and this increased the pressure on the few ones where the product was available.

The NNPC station at Fadeyi did not sell petrol as of noon on Friday, while the NIPCO station recorded a long queue of vehicles waiting to get Premium Motor Spirit.

There were also long queues of motorists at the AP filling station in Onipanu.

The Mobil filling stations at Palmgrove, Alausa and Mile 2 areas of the state did not open for business.

The Enyo filling station at Ojodu junction had long queues when one of our correspondents got there.

It was the same scenario at Eterna filling station at Oworonshoki, Northwest in Oju-Elegba, TotalEnergies and MRS in Surulere.

The NNPC, Mobil, TAS, NIPCO, Enyo, As-Salam and other filling stations along the Mowe-Ibafo route in Ogun State did not sell petrol too.

Similarly, the Capital and Enyo filling stations at Berger did not sell PMS as at the time of filing this report.

The Rain Oil and NNPC stations in Ibafo, Asese and Mowe areas had long queues of motorists, while other stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were shut.

The situation affected the number of commercial vehicles on the roads.

At Mile 2, some young men engaged in the sale of the product in jerrycans at N800 per litre.

Commercial motorcyclists, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH, said they had been buying from the black marketers since Wednesday.

A customer on the Ikotun Idimu Road in Lagos, who gave his name as Mr Ejiogbu, said, “I just noticed there are long queues in filling stations around here and I don’t know why it is only the NNPC station that is dispensing fuel in the area.

“I started noticing the scarcity and queues everywhere two days ago and I don’t know why.”

It was observed that the scarcity has started affecting transport fares.

A trader, Mrs Ada Herbert, said, “Ikotun to Cele Express used to be between N400 and N500, but today, drivers pegged it at N600; I don’t know if it was as a result of the fuel scarcity.”

At the Mobil filling station at First Gate along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, there was a short queue of motorists waiting to buy fuel in jerrycans.

One of the fuel attendants said the station managed to get fuel after three days of no supply.

“They just came to supply fuel for us now. We didn’t have fuel for over three days. I don’t know why they didn’t bring it earlier. What matters is that we have fuel to sell now,” the attendant, who declined to give his name, said.

Motorists also queued up to buy fuel at the Mobil station at Alakija, where PMS was sold fuel for N605 per litre.

The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, had said on Monday that there was a little hiccup in the distribution of the product and expressed optimism that normalcy would be restored after the Easter break.

Fashola stated, “Yes, I think there was a little infraction in supply. The Easter holidays from Friday to Monday also added to the situation. I think from Wednesday it will ease off.

 “There was little problem with supply even before the holidays. There was a little hiccup in supply, and the holiday added to it. I am sure will start getting better after the holidays.”

However, the situation seems to be getting worse four days after the Easter break.

NNPC, marketers speak

The spokesperson for the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, in a message on Friday, confirmed that there were queues at NNPCL stations, saying there were no products at the company’s Apapa depots.

According to him, the NNPCL has carried out a review and there is no sign of scarcity in Lagos.

Soneye stated, “There were no products at our Apapa depots. We have carried out a review and there was no sign of scarcity in Lagos.

“It is only the NNPC Retail stations that have queues due to our price differential.”

However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria differed with the NNPCL as it confirmed queues at its filling stations.

The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, said there was low stock over the Easter weekend for some of the members, adding that this resulted from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at its depots.

Isong said this led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week.

However, he stated that the depots were currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and would continue to do so throughout the weekend.

Isong said, “Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent concerns about fuel scarcity. We understand the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently to provide clarity to the public.

”There was low stock over the Easter weekend for some MEMAN members resulting from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at our depots.

“This led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week. Depots are currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and shall continue to do so through the coming weekend.

”Moving forward, we want to assure the public that supplies have resumed and all MEMAN members are collaborating closely to expedite the distribution process. Members are working tirelessly at our depots, including extended hours and weekends, to ensure that retail outlets are adequately stocked.

”Our collective goal is to eliminate fuel queues and stabilise the supply chain before the upcoming Sallah holidays next week.”

Fashola also confirmed that the depots had started loading fuel.

He said, “It is good not to allow queues to occur at all because to arrest the queues usually takes a little time. But from what I saw yesterday (Thursday), over 400 trucks went to the MRS depot to load fuel. So, I am very confident that the queues will soon ease off. You know when it starts, we have to double efforts to address the situation.

“Like I said before, there was a little shortfall in supply and the Easter holidays compounded the issue for us. But with the way they have started working yesterday throughout the weekend, I am sure by Monday we should have a relief.

“When things like this happen, people will start engaging in panic buying. You see people with jerry cans going to stations to buy fuel just to keep. This is very bad and dangerous. People must be sensitised to this.”

He debunked rumours that marketers were hoarding fuel because the Federal Government wanted to reduce prices.

[Punch]

The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to fight President Bola Tinubu in at least two courts, Saturday Vanguard can report.

The prospects of the battle are to be staged in the courts of the land where El-Rufai expects to clear his name of the allegation of being a security risk, and also in the court of public opinion where political actors expect him to be a major barricade to the president’s re-election in 2027.

The stage for the coming battle follows what both friends and foes of the former governor assert as his public humiliation by the Tinubu administration of being a security risk unfit for ministerial office.

In a way that has garnered public interest, Mallam as he is fondly referred to by his close associates, has excited the political class with gyrations across the North in the last two weeks.

Besides two public meetings with the Social Democratic Party, SDP chiefs, the former governor has consolidated his identity with the political opposition with a visit to the suspended lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi.

The proclivity towards the opposition follows what friend and foe describe as the public humiliation served on the former governor.

El-Rufai according to multiple sources despite his immense contributions both strategically and financially to the emergence of Tinubu as president had pledged not to serve in the new government.

The former governor had reportedly preferred a sabbatical in academia.

He was, however, courted by the president with a plea to help revive the energy sector. Even before his ministerial announcement, El-Rufai it was gathered had started laying down plans and processes to tackle the sector. His preparation flowed from his years as director-general of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, where he was involved in the energy reform programmes of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

However, to the shock of all El-Rufai was dropped during the Senate ministerial screening on the claim that he failed security clearance.

The shock of the failure to get a security clearance numbed several political actors given his strategic role in moving the hands of Northern governors to back Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC convention. Besides, it was gathered that the former governor played key roles in facilitating the election of the president in some Southwest states not controlled by the APC.

A senior government official from one of the Southwest states on the condition of anonymity said:
“He played a key role in funding us in my state and I can tell this because I was personally involved,” the official from one of the Southwest states said.

Besides the significant contribution as attested by the official from the Southwest State, El-Rufai in the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration also shocked many with his decision to, along with others challenge the Federal Government over the naira redesign project of the federal government.

Defending why he opposed the Buhari government on the naira redesign policy, El-Rufai had claimed it was meant to instigate the polity against the APC by those around the former president who failed in their bid to stop Tinubu from getting the presidential ticket.

“They also sought to achieve any one or more of the following objectives: create a nationwide shortage of cash so that citizens are incited to vote against APC candidates across the board resulting in massive losses for the Party in all the elections.”

However, despite his stellar role in helping Tinubu to power, a source close to El-Rufai disclosed that the camp of the former governor believed that it was wrong for him to have been so publicly humiliated and to have been tagged a security risk.

One of the confidants of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard:

“You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court.
El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source said in revealing the prospects of court action to enable the former governor to clear his name.

Besides the resort to the court of law, the former governor it was gathered is also mobilising to play a role against Tinubu in the court of public opinion ahead of 2027.

Whether El-Rufai would stand as a candidate or mobilise against the president in 2027 in the same way he did in supporting him in 2023 is, however, a matter that is yet to be determined.

Saturday Vanguard reports that the strategic facilitation provided by El-Rufai to Tinubu came after he had in the past lampooned Tinubu as a godfather. He had at a lecture in May 2019 averred that it was possible to defeat the godfather of Lagos.

A year later at a webinar to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Rauf Aregbesola in May 2020, El-Rufai had said that Tinubu was not his man.

While congratulating Aregbesola, El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”

Vanguard News Nigeria

Nigerians were welcomed to the new month with a new hike in electricity tariffs. Many Nigerians thought it was an April Fool’s joke, but when they saw the new rates, nobody was laughing.

Then, all of a sudden, we realised that some of us were placed in different bands of electricity consumption. For the band A consumers, the increment was a staggering 300 percent. I think by now, many Nigerians are waiting for the trumpet to sound, signalling the end of the world.

I believe that increasing electricity tariff at this time is insensitive and sinful on the part of the government. I remember saying on this page that the major reason for the astronomical rise in the price of goods and services is the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira at the same time. Because most goods and services in the country depend on the price of fuel and the exchange rate, this has caused the inflation rate to shoot up through the roof.

Recently, we have started to see some gains in the exchange rate, and Nigerians were expecting to see a drop in the price of goods and services. However, what did the government do? They increased the price of electricity, further eroding the gains. I can bet that the new increase will naturally affect businesses, and they will pass the price of goods and services to the consumers.

Sometimes, I ask myself, “is it a sin for good things to happen to Nigerians?” No Nigerian will buy the reasons given by the federal government for the increase. Why increase electricity tariff when you have poor electricity infrastructure?

The collapse of the national grid is no longer news; it has become a frequent occurrence.

The government should have waited until at least next year before even thinking of a hike in electricity. This is the worst time to increase the tariff.

I think President Bola Tinubu should reverse it immediately before he earns the moniker of the most insensitive Nigerian president ever. No matter his good intentions of turning the fortunes of the country, giving a hat-trick of harsh policies in less than a year that are strangulating the masses will only make him unpopular.

Again, I am tempted to ask why place Nigerians on different bands of electricity. In my view, that’s discrimination. Every Nigerian should have 20-24 hours of electricity. This is a basic necessity that should be provided to all citizens, regardless of their economic or social status.

The government’s decision to increase electricity tariff at this time is not only insensitive but also detrimental to the well-being of the Nigerian people. The country is already struggling with the high cost of living, and this additional burden will only exacerbate the situation.

It is worth noting that the electricity sector in Nigeria has been plagued by a myriad of challenges, including poor infrastructure, inefficient management, and a lack of investment.

The government has been promising to address these issues for years, but the results have been disappointing. Instead of tackling the root causes of the problem, the government has resorted to passing the burden onto the citizens.

This move is not only short-sighted but also counterproductive. By increasing the cost of electricity, the government is effectively discouraging businesses and individuals from using it, which could lead to a further decline in the already poor electricity supply.

This, in turn, could have a ripple effect on the entire economy, leading to job losses, reduced productivity, and lower economic growth.

Moreover, the decision to place Nigerians in different electricity bands is a clear case of discrimination. It is unfair and unjust to charge some citizens more for a basic service that should be equally accessible to all. This move is likely to further exacerbate the already-existing inequality in the country, which could lead to social unrest and political instability.

The government’s justification for the increase, which includes the need to improve the electricity infrastructure and ensure a reliable supply, is understandable.

However, the timing and the manner in which it has been implemented are highly questionable. The government should have taken a more holistic approach, addressing the underlying issues in the sector and involving the citizens in the decision-making process.

Instead of increasing tariffs, the government should have focused on improving the efficiency and management of the electricity sector, attracting more investment, and exploring alternative sources of power generation.

This would have not only improved the quality of service but also reduced the burden on the citizens.

As I previously said, the government’s decision to increase electricity tariff at this time is insensitive and detrimental to the well-being of the Nigerian people. It is a short-sighted move that is likely to have far-reaching consequences on the economy and social fabric of the country.

The government should reconsider this decision and instead focus on addressing the underlying issues in the electricity sector in a more comprehensive and inclusive manner. The well-being of the Nigerian people should be the top priority, and any policy decision should be made with their best interests in mind.