President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending two weeks in the United Kingdom (UK) for vacation.

The president arrived at the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Saturday evening.

Olusegun Dada, special assistant to the president on social media, announced Tinubu’s arrival in a post on his X page.

“The eagle has landed. Welcome home Mr President,” he wrote.

On October 2, the presidency announced the president’s departure from Abuja for a two-week vacation in the UK.

Ten days later, Kabir Masari, the senior special assistant on political matters to the president, said Tinubu had left the UK for France.

Tinubu has embarked on a series of trips to the UK and France since he was elected president in March 2023

On Wednesday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima also left the country for a two-day working visit to Sweden.

Nigerians have raised concerns over their absence, claiming that no one is in charge of the country’s affairs.

The presidency had stated that the absence of the country’s first and second citizens does not translate to a vacuum in the nation’s leadership.

The Federal Government has proposed a five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, and betting activities as part of a new bill to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.

The bill, titled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters,” was dated October 4, 2024, and obtained from the National Assembly.

An analysis of the proposed legislation on Friday showed that it seeks to introduce excise duties on services such as telecoms, gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting provided in Nigeria.

A section of the bill read, “The amount of an excisable transaction is the amount chargeable for the service by the service provider, both in money or money’s worth.

“Services, including telecommunications, gaming, gambling, betting, and lotteries however described, provided in Nigeria shall be charged with duties of excise at the rates specified under the Tenth Schedule to this Act in a manner as may be prescribed by the Service.”

A breakdown of the excise duty structure in the bill indicates that telecoms services, including postpaid and prepaid services regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, will attract a five per cent duty.

The same rate will apply to gaming, gambling, betting, and lottery services.

The bill also introduces guidelines on currency transactions, specifying that any difference between the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate and the actual transaction rate will be subject to excise duty.

The new tax regime forms part of the government’s strategy to boost non-oil revenue amidst fiscal pressures.

With rapid growth in the telecoms and betting sectors, authorities are looking to widen the revenue base.

The bill also aims to ensure that currency exchanges align with official CBN rates, with any excess payable as excise duty under a self-assessment model.

On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced inflation rate rose in September, ending a two-month consecutive decline.

The decline started in July when inflation rate dropped to 33.40 percent — the first drop in 19 months.

The development followed 11 consecutive increases in the monetary policy rate (MPR) — which benchmarks interest rates — by the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curb inflation.

It was increased from 11.5 percent to 26.25 percent between May 2022 and May 2024.

According to the NBS consumer price index (CPI), the decline extended into August, with inflation rate dropping to 32.15 percent.

However, data from the NBS showed that several factors, such as food prices and house rents, drove the inflation rate back to an upward trajectory in September, with inflation rate rising to 32.70 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, the September inflation rate is 5.98 percentage points higher than the 26.72 percent recorded in the same month in 2023.

Also, on a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in the review period stood at 2.52 percent, which is 0.30 percent higher than the 2.22 percent recorded in August.

Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the report:

URBAN VS RURAL INFLATION

There is a notable difference between inflation in urban and rural areas.

Urban inflation in September 2024 was 35.13 percent, which is 6.46 percentage points higher compared to the 28.68 percent recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 2.67% in September 2024, this was 0.28% points higher compared to August 2024 (2.39%),” NBS said.

“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 33.95% in September 2024. This was 9.84% points higher compared to the 24.10% reported in September 2023.”

In the rural area, inflation was 30.49 percent last month, against the 24.94 percent recorded in September 2023 — a difference of 5.55 percentage points.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 2.39%, up by 0.33% points compared to August 2024 (2.06%),” the bureau said.

“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 29.76%. This was 7.97% higher compared to the 21.79% recorded in September 2023.”

FOOD INFLATION REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN

Food inflation continues to be a critical driver of overall inflation, with the rate for September reaching 37.77 percent, up from 30.64 percent in the same month last year.

The increase in food prices is attributed to the rising cost of staples like rice, maize, beans, yam, and vegetable oil.

“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: Guinea Corn, Rice, Maize Grains, Beans, etc (Bread and Cereals Class),” NBS said.

“Yam, Water Yam, Cassava Tuber, etc (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Beer (Local and Foreign) (Tobacco Class), Lipton, Milo, Bournvita, etc (Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Class) and Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class).”

On a month-on-month basis, food inflation also rose to 2.64 percent last month, higher than the 2.37 percent recorded in August.

RESIDENTS IN SOKOTO, GOMBE PAY MORE FOR FOOD

In September 2024, food inflation showed significant regional disparities.

On a year-on-year basis, the highest food inflation rates were recorded in Sokoto (50.47 percent), Gombe (44.09 percent), and Yobe (43.51 percent).

In contrast, Kwara (32.45 percent), Rivers (32.80 percent), and Kogi (32.83 percent) experienced the slowest year-on-year increases in food prices.

Month-on-month, Sokoto again led with the highest rise in food inflation (5.94 percent), followed by Taraba (5.76 percent) and Bayelsa (4.44 percent).

However, Kwara (0.88 percent), Cross River (1.29 percent), and Kogi (1.45 percent) saw the smallest month-on-month increases.

HOUSE RENTS, BUS FARES INCREASED

Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, stood at 27.43 percent in September, up from 21.84 percent in the corresponding period in 2023.

The NBS report showed that the cost of rents and transportation, amongst others. is the reason for the increase.

“The highest increases were recorded in prices of the following items: Rents (Actual and Imputed Rentals for Housing Class),” the bureau said.

“Bus Journey intercity, Taxi Journey per drop, etc (under Passenger Transport by Road Class), Meal at a local Restaurant (Accommodation Service Class), Laboratory service, Consultation Fee of a medical doctor, etc (under Medical Services Class.”

On a month-on-month basis, core inflation was 2.10 percent, slightly down from 2.27 percent in August 2024.

ALL ITEMS INFLATION BY STATE

The report also highlights significant variations in all items inflation by state.

Bauchi recorded the highest inflation rate (44.83 percent), followed by Sokoto (38.74 percent) and Jigawa (38.39 percent).

In contrast, Delta (26.35 percent), Benue (26.90 percent), and Katsina (27.71 percent) experienced the slowest rise in inflation.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $100 million for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria.

Akinwunmi Adesina, AfDB president, spoke on Friday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the 90th birthday lecture of former head of state Yakubu Gowon.

“I am delighted to announce here today that just three days ago, the African Development Bank’s board of directors approved $100m for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank for Nigeria,” he said.

Adesina said the initiative highlights AfDB’s commitment to supporting youths who he believes are critical to the development of the country.

The AfDB boss said the new bank will support the youths’ businesses in Nigeria using technical assistance, business incubation, quasi-equity, and debt.

Additionally, the bank will deploy guarantee instruments to de-risk the lending to the businesses by financial institutions in Nigeria.

“It will be a new day and a new dawn for Nigeria,” he added.

On June 25, 2023, Adesina said his institution was ready to establish an entrepreneurship investment bank in Nigeria.

Adesina said the establishment of such a bank is in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s plans and vision for young people in Nigeria.

Days after the cancellation of the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Libya’s national team, members of the Nigerian community in Libya have lamented maltreatment in the country.

The Nigerian contingent was held at the Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours upon arrival on Sunday, following their earlier 1-0 victory in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

The team was scheduled to land at the Benghazi Airport and travel for nearly four hours by road to Benina, where the match was to be played.

However, less than an hour before landing, the Tunisian pilot flying the plane reportedly received a directive from “Libya’s highest authorities” to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, located 150 miles away from the destination. 

The development sparked widespread outrage, forcing the Nigerian Football Federation to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifying match.

The National Assembly condemned the Libyan government for subjecting the Nigerian team to dehumanising treatment and called for stiff penalties for the Libyan authorities.

The Libyan government had claimed that its national team faced similar maltreatment on Nigerian soil before the first leg of the game. 

In separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, members of the Nigerian community in Libya said there had been increased maltreatment of Nigerians after the incident.

Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian living in Tripoli, the country’s capital, said, “For those of us who have been in the country, we know them. Libyans always one you to feel pain. They said what happened to their players in Nigeria was intentional, and they vowed to revenge. They called it ‘an eye for an eye.’ So, what the Libyan government did to the Super Eagles was intentional. Moreover, 95 per cent of their citizens supported it. We saw the reports on their blogs,Facebook posts, and news platforms. It was very clear that the people supported it. And that is how they behave.

“Since the game was cancelled, their maltreatment of Nigerians has not changed. They don’t like us; the inhuman treatment has worsened. That’s why many Nigerians here are battling depression.

“Libyans don’t value us. They just enter our houses, round people up, and take them to prison. Many Nigerians are currently  languishing in prisons across Libya without having committed any offence. Most times, we complain to the Nigerian embassy, but nothing tangible happens.”

The International Organisation for Migration has facilitated the return of thousands of Nigerians from Libya in recent years.

In 2024 alone, no fewer than 2,467 Nigerians were evacuated from the North African country after being stranded. Many of the victims, particularly ladies, usually return with tales of abuse and maltreatment.

The president of the Nigerian community, Peter Omoregbie, said since the failed game with the Super Eagles, Libyans had continued with their harsh treatment of Nigerians in the country.

He said, “As foreigners in this country, there is a way they maltreat us. The Libyans act as if Nigerians don’t exist at all. Since the match was cancelled, the situation has not changed.”

Omoregbie said before the Super Eagles left Nigeria, the Libyans had already threatened to treat the team poorly upon arrival.

“The news had spread all over Libya before the Super Eagles left Nigeria. All the local Libyan news outlets reported it. Their blogs also widely shared the news. They claimed the NFF purposely made the Libyan national team players endure physical discomfort so they could be weak before the match and unable to either draw or win against the Nigerian team.

“The Libyans’ game plan for the two-leg matches was to draw with the Super Eagles in Nigeria then win at home. They saw the Nigerian game as their last hope for qualification. But their loss fuelled their resolve to seek revenge.

“So, before the Nigerian team arrived, it was common knowledge that the Libyan national team was maltreated in Nigeria, and they planned to make the Super Eagles experience the same treatment on Libyan soil,” Omoregbie added.

When asked if the incident would impact diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said, “Libya doesn’t always fulfill its diplomatic obligations to other countries. I’m telling you the truth. For instance, if you leave this country, there is no way they will allow you to return. That has been the ordeal we face here.”

Similarly, a former Secretary of the Nigerian community in Libya, Mr Ukpong Christian, noted that it had been difficult for Nigerians to integrate into Libyan society because the country was not friendly.

“Before the Nigerian team landed, the Libyans had already made plans, spreading it across blogs, news platforms, and Facebook pages, saying that because their national team was treated badly in Nigeria, the Nigerian team would experience worse when they came. So, it was a concerted and intentional effort. And since the game was cancelled, Nigerians have continued to receive the usual inhuman treatment from their Libyan masters,” he lamented.

Efforts by our correspondent to speak to the Libyan embassy in Abuja proved abortive.

A representative of the embassy, identified by TrueCaller as Rose, declined comment, saying she was not authorised to speak on the matter.

She promised to get back to Saturday PUNCH, but was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Ex-envoys weigh in

Reacting to the issue, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, said diplomacy is based on bilateral relationships and mutual respect between countries.

“I bow to you because you bow to me. Diplomatic relationships between two countries are based on reciprocal action,” he stated. 

Farounbi noted that what happened between Libya and Nigeria was not only an affront to bilateral relations but also a violation of multilateral relations between the African Union and the Confederation of African Football.

He explained that going to such extremes to win a psychological battle as a prelude to winning on the football field, was pathetic.

The ambassador added, “It shows the uncivilised and undiplomatic level to which Libya has sunk. On a bilateral level, it would be perfectly in order for Nigeria to reciprocate accordingly. It would not be unusual if the Libyan government’s behaviour impacts negatively the relationship between the two countries.

“At the multilateral level of CAF, it would be appropriate and indeed expected that Libya be sanctioned with a heavy fine or possibly, a suspension from CAF-organised competitions. The diplomatic misbehaviour could have been ameliorated if Libya had shown remorse and apologised.”

He stressed that Libya compounded the issue by distorting facts and manipulating the situation.

Also speaking, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, advised that the matter should not be allowed to escalate.

He said, “It can only become a diplomatic issue if it goes beyond the control of the Confederation of African Football.

“It was a CAF qualifier game. They should be able to weigh in and settle the issue. If either Nigeria or Libya is found guilty, they should be sanctioned. There’s no reason to let this matter escalate into a diplomatic dispute. We’re not a banana republic; CAF should provide a solution.”

CAF’s involvement

Meanwhile, CAF has set a deadline for Libya and Nigeria to submit reports on the dispute.

The Secretary-General of the Libyan Football Federation, Nasser Al-Suwaie, confirmed the October 20 deadline in a statement.

He mentioned that the LFF had appointed a lawyer to gather evidence and raised concerns about possible collusion between some parties within CAF.

Al-Suwaie also clarified that the LFF had no role in diverting the plane to Al-Abraq Airport, explaining that the decision was made by the Libyan state, which he said must be respected.

A sports analyst, Godwin Enakhena, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, emphasised the need for patience as CAF works through the case.

He said, “They have set a department to work on this case. So, I think we should just wait for CAF’s verdict before jumping to conclusions.

“However, as a Nigerian, I think the rules are very clear when you are hosting a team. The hosts are supposed to ensure that everything is sorted, but the Libyans did not do all of this. I think there will be a fine for Libya, and after that, they will play the game on a neutral ground.”

A veteran sports presenter, Charles Anazodo, viewed the situation as a deliberate act by the Libyan side, orchestrated from the beginning of their visit to Nigeria.

“I think it was a deliberate act orchestrated right from when they came to Nigeria with the lies they spread about things that happened in Uyo or Port Harcourt. They orchestrated all that so they would have reason to do what they have done,” Anazodo told Saturday PUNCH.

Meanwhile, a former Super Eagles defender, Mobi Oparaku, believes that CAF will ultimately refrain from imposing sanctions on Nigeria regarding the cancellation of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

While the decision from the disciplinary body is still pending, he is optimistic about the outcome and believes that Nigeria’s historical reputation as a gracious host to visiting teams will play a significant role in the deliberations.

Former Real Madrid defender, Vinicius Tobias, who got his baby’s name tattooed on his arm, has discovered that he is not the biological father of the child.

The 20-year-old Brazilian right-back, now playing for Shakhtar Donetsk, and his ex-girlfriend Ingrid Lima welcomed their daughter, Maite, on October 8, 2024.

To celebrate her birth, Tobias had the words “Maite, I love you” tattooed on his arm.

However, Ingrid has revealed that she did not have a stable relationship with the footballer.

According to The Sun UK, the influencer said that her relationship with Tobias was on and off around the time Maite was conceived.

She also confirmed that a DNA test showed Tobias is not the biological father of the child.

Speaking via a social media post, Ingrid wrote,  “I came to give a statement about something that is getting annoying and that, unfortunately, I would have to come out on publicly to give you an explanation.

“Vinicius and I haven’t been together for a while. During that time, I was in a relationship with someone and so was he.

“We both moved on with our lives. In the meantime, Maite came along.

“We decided to do a DNA test, and Maite is not Vinicius’ daughter.

“I sincerely ask everyone to stop attacking him. It was my request that he not attend the birth or post anything about Maitê until the DNA results were in. Vinicius and I have already discussed everything and reached an amicable understanding.”

Tobias had a short loan spell with Real Madrid earlier this year and made just one appearance for the senior team before returning to Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Rivers State Government has approved a new minimum wage of ₦85,000 for its civil servants.

George Nwaeke, the state’s Head of Service, announced that Governor Siminalayi Fubara granted the approval during a private meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials.

Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new wage would take immediate effect.

“He (Governor Fubara) has set a figure that is higher than the national minimum wage, approving ₦85,000.00. This is a significant development for civil servants in Rivers State, who have never had it this good since the state’s inception,” Nwaeke said.

When inquired about the payment of arrears, Nwaeke disclosed that a technical committee has been formed to devise a feasible payment plan that will also tackle issues concerning the outstanding arrears.

“The committee, which I will serve as Deputy to the Secretary to the State Government, will iron out the details regarding the payment of arrears and inform the public accordingly,” he explained

In response, Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta, commended Governor Fubara for fulfilling the expectations of Rivers State workers and appreciated his commitment to their welfare.

“For the governor to approve this new minimum wage amidst all the difficulties is a clear demonstration of his commitment to the well-being of the workers. We are overjoyed by this decision,” Emecheta remarked.

Similarly, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, remarked that the new minimum wage would significantly ease the financial burdens faced by workers in the state.

“With Lagos and Rivers both approving ₦85,000, but given their differing IGRs, this places Rivers State at the forefront. The governor has proven once again that he is the most labour-friendly governor in Nigeria, and we fully support him,” Agwanwor said.

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has intensified his criticism of Nigeria’s economic situation under President Bola Tinubu, expressing deep concern over the nation’s weakening currency.

Igbokwe, who was an active campaigner for Tinubu during the 2023 elections, took to social media on Friday to voice his frustration following a recent report from the World Bank that declared the Nigerian naira as the weakest currency in Africa.

In his Facebook post, Igbokwe highlighted the paradox of Nigeria’s economic potential, stating that the country’s abundant resources and demographic advantages do not align with the current economic assessment.

Igbokwe wondered why the “currency of the most endowed and populous country in Africa with the most educated people, huge and fertile landmass, favourable weather and excellent talents among other advantaged factors, has the weakest currency in Africa.”

He attributed the dire economic situation to widespread nepotism and a self-serving approach to governance, lamenting that “almost everybody is working for themselves; nobody is working for this great country.”

This is not the first time Igbokwe has raised concerns about the administration’s policies. In September, he criticized the new electricity tariffs and urged President Tinubu to take action to alleviate the burden on citizens.

The NNPC Limited and Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV) has announced a significant oil discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 well in Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 49, located in the shallow offshore region of the Western Niger Delta.

The area, which now operates under the terms of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, remains a vital component of Nigeria’s energy production sector.

In a statement released on Friday, Chevron’s General Manager of Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, Olusoga Oduselu, confirmed the development, stating that the well was spud on September 2, 2024, and reached a total depth of 8,983 feet by September 13.

The well encountered approximately 690 feet of hydrocarbons within Miocene sands, extending the productive Meji field.

The drilling operations were completed on October 2, and the rig has since departed the location.

“This achievement aligns with Chevron’s commitment to advancing its Nigerian resources,” the statement read, highlighting that the discovery fits into the company’s broader global exploration strategy. This strategy focuses on “discovering new resources that extend the lifespan of existing production assets and reduce development cycle times.”

The discovery marks a positive development for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, reinforcing the offshore region’s potential.

The NNPC-CNL JV reiterated its commitment to partnering with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to ensure continued progress in the country’s oil and gas development.

“We remain dedicated to collaborating with the Nigerian government and stakeholders to support the growth of the oil and gas industry and the overall Nigerian economy,” the statement emphasized.

The Kano State Hisbah Board has confirmed the arrest of Auwal Danladi Sankara, the Commissioner of Special Duties in Jigawa State, for allegedly engaging in a romantic relationship with a married woman, Tasleem Baba Nabegu.

The arrest took place on Friday after Hisbah operatives caught Sankara in the act in an uncompleted building that reportedly belongs to him.

Hisbah, known as the Sharia police, made the announcement following intelligence tracking and a series of complaints received about Sankara’s alleged misconduct.

Abba Sufi, the Director General of the Hisbah Board, confirmed the arrest, stating, “Yes, it is true we have arrested Auwal Danladi Sankara with a married woman in an uncompleted building. Unknown to him, we were tracking him based on reports we received against him.”

The allegations surfaced after Nasiru Bulama, the husband of the married woman, lodged complaints with multiple authorities, including the Kano State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Bulama accused Sankara of engaging in illicit sexual activities with his wife, who is also the mother of his two children.

The Hisbah DG revealed that Sankara would face multiple charges in court on Monday, not only related to the alleged affair but also for operating illicit drug centers disguised as hotels, known by names including “Picklock” and “360.”

Sufi added, “We have been having problems with Sankara because he is operating illicit drug centers in the names of hotels, involving prostitution and drug addiction activities.”