The ruling All Progressives Congress has knocked governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party for blaming President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor for destroying the country’s economy and institutions built during the 16-year reign of the PDP.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, the 13 governors of the opposition party condemned the government’s economic policies, which they believe have led to widespread hardship among Nigerians.

The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, presented their position after the four-hour meeting.

Reacting in a statement issued in Abuja titled ‘PDP governors – barefaced heirs of a legacy of sleaze and ruin,’ the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, said the opposition party deserved to cover its face in shame over the rot it accommodated during the 16 ‘inglorious’ years it ruled Nigeria.

He said, “It is a sad irony that the PDP governors who congregated to discuss the newly won financial autonomy of local governments, the most remarkable breakthrough in democratic transformation in our country since 1999, ended their meeting pointing their scabby political fingers at the APC government that accomplished a reform that the PDP did not and could not initiate, let alone deliver, in all of its desolate 16 years in government.

“By their statement, it is now obvious that the PDP governors lack understanding of their place and responsibility in our system of government. They do not understand the seriousness of the responsibility they bear as chief executives of their states to justify the resources at their disposal to build and bolster their domestic economies for the good of their people.

“The same PDP governors, many of whom have failed to pay legal minimum wage to their workers, hurdled together, without any sense of shame, to accuse the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of delay in approving a new minimum wage for workers. These are the same governors that, only a few weeks ago, publicly proclaimed their inability to pay the proposed new minimum wage due to their workers.”

Continuing, Morka emphasised that with the N70,000 new minimum wage agreed on Thursday, the president has further shown Nigerians voted for him at the last election.

According to him, it is becoming clear that the ongoing reforms in the country have started yielding the desired results.

“As of the time of preparing this statement, President Tinubu has approved the sum of N70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the country. This outcome is the result of the president’s determined leadership of discussions with leaders of Organised Labour. This will, no doubt, help to ameliorate the transient economic hardship that our people have had to endure in patriotic contribution to building a stronger and more vibrant economy for our country.

“Nigerians do not need to be reminded of the PDP’s inglorious 16 years of odious rule during which the party built nothing that can be remembered or destroyed. The APC-led administration has only saddled itself with fixing the PDP’s mess and institutionalized debilitating corruption of nearly two decades.

“The APC-led administration, through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is now completing and commissioning numerous road projects in the FCT awarded, paid for as far back as 2003 and 2010 but recklessly abandoned by successive PDP administrations.

“The petroleum subsidy regime and parallel foreign exchange regimes sustained by the PDP for the reckless pillaging of our commonwealth blew a gaping hole in the nation’s economy that the APC government continues to work assiduously to revitalize. The enduring dividends of the reforms of President Tinubu’s APC administration are sure as they are imminent,” he stated.

Philip Shaibu, the former deputy governor of Edo, and Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, escaped death on Thursday when their convoy was attacked in Benin City by suspected gunmen.

Witnesses said the incident happened Thursday afternoon near the Benin airport, shortly after the two politicians arrived to a rousing welcome by their supporters.

TheCable understands that their convoy came under attack at the exit gate of the airport when some gunmen in a Sienna car opened fire at them.

There was an exchange of fire between the assailants and the security operatives attached to the APC candidate and the former deputy governor, according to a witness.

“The intervention of the mobile squad of the Nigeria Police brought the situation under control,” a witness said.

Several officers continued shooting to disperse the attackers as they fled in a Toyota Sienna bus.”

However, a police officer identified as Okon, attached to the APC candidate, died during the shootout.

On July 17, a federal high court in Abuja nullified the removal of Shaibu as deputy governor of Edo state.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that Shaibu’s impeachment violated the provisions of the law.

The court declared that Shaibu’s ouster on April 8, 2024, by the Edo state house of assembly was politically motivated.

Consequently, the judge ordered his reinstatement and directed the inspector-general of police (IGP) to immediately restore the plaintiff’s security.

In June, Shaibu declared support for the APC candidate, noting that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is parading an outsider as its flagbearer.

The off-cycle governorship election in Edo is slated for September 21.

The Zone A Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, announced that it intercepted 150 cartons of bulletproof jackets worth N1.687bn.

Addressing journalists in Ikeja, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Kola Oladeji, said the contrabands were intercepted along the Ijebuode-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.

Oladeji explained that each carton contains 10 packs of the jacket, adding that these contrabands were seized in June.

He explained that under Schedule 4 of the Customs Common External Tariff, the importation of all kinds of military wares by individuals was under absolute prohibition.

“An end-user certificate is required for the importation of controlled items and products into Nigeria and it comes from the Office of the National Security Adviser,” Oladeji said.

Oladeji vowed that the unit was working on credible intelligence to get the importers of these contrabands.

“These seizures were unique because it was a breach of security, no end-user-certificate.

“Because you get the certificate before you can bring your cargo and if you bring it after importation we will arrest you,” he said.

Oladeji said the unit also intercepted kilograms of cannabis sativa and expired drugs within the period under review.

“Our dedicated officers also intercepted 989kg of cannabis sativa and 5,229 cartons of expired drugs,”

According to him, some of the interceptions took place at various times and locations within states in the South-West.

“Other items seized include, 343,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, 3,560 cartons of poultry products,” the  Oladeji said.

He stated that four suspects were arrested in connection with the various offenses, “including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives,”

He disclosed that the cumulative duty paid value of the various intercepted goods amounts to N3.6bn.

Oladeji said the unit also recovered the sum of N62m as revenue for June 2024 through documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate duties.

He urged Nigerians to provide the service with useful and timely information that would lead to the arrest of illegal importation of military wares, illicit drugs, and counterfeit goods.

“Importers and licensed agents are also urged to make sincere declarations, adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their goods,” he said.

Mohammed Ali-Jajari, the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Borno State, has decried the spate of insecurity in the state, saying the threat makes rubbish of the Federal Government’s victory claim over the Boko Haram insurgency group.

Ali-Jajari made this declaration via a press statement obtained by Arewa PUNCH while condoling with the families of the last Gwoza bomb blasts in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the government had confirmed the loss of over 20 lives, resulting in the triple suicide bomb blasts resulting from the offensive launched by the insurgents.

The statement partly read, “My heart goes out to the people of Gwoza, there has been terrible news and great sadness in our dear state Borno and Nigeria at large.’’

“A bomb blast in Gwoza has killed dozens and so many injured. Indeed, it was a terrible affliction.

“While the present government is claiming to have disrupted and dismantled criminal networks, Boko Haram, Kidnapping and banditry continues to ravage the lives of many ordinary citizens of Nigeria.

“Whereas, from the President to the lowest political office holder in Nigeria are protected by security personnel, the ordinary masses whom they the (political office holders) swore to protect their lives, provide security and welfare are left unattended.

“The debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts us all. There’s utter disconnect between ordinary Nigerians and public office holders.

“We call on the Federal Government, States and Security agencies to stop the empty rhetoric and act now,” Ali-Jajari advocated.

… As Naira Falls To N1,640/USD

The Central Bank of Nigeria has resumed foreign exchange sales to Bureau de Change operators as FX scarcity deepens.

The sales are coming a few months after the bank stopped selling forex to BDCs and subsequently withdrew all their licenses.

But in a fresh twist, the CBN has commenced FX intervention to traders at N1,450 per dollar as part of a move to tame the rate at which the currency depreciates.

CBN disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday signed by the acting director of the Trade and Exchange Department at the CBN, AA Mahdi.

The CBN said, “Following the ongoing reform in the foreign exchange market with the objective of achieving an appropriate market-determined exchange rate for the naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria has observed the continued distortion in the retail end of the market which is feeding into the parallel market and further widen the exchange rate premium.

“To this end, the CBN approved the sales of FX to eligible Bureau De Change to meet the demand for invisible transactions. The sum of $20,000 is to be sold to each BDC at the rate of N1,450/$ (representing the lower band of the trading rate at NAFEM in the previous trading day).”

The CBN warned beneficiaries against selling to in-eligible end users. The bank also warned BDCs not to sell the FX more than 1.5 per cent of the purchase price from the CBN.

The central bank was also forced to intervene in the official market by selling $123m to authorised dealers.

The naira has depreciated to N1,640 per dollar since the bank announced a new recapitalization exercise for BDCs.

The CBN issued a ‘Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau on Change Operations in Nigeria 2024’ for compliance by all operators and promoters of proposed BDCs in Nigeria

The guideline mandated BDCs to “Re-apply for a new license according to any of the Tiers or license category of their choice as provided in the Guidelines.

“Meet the minimum capital requirements for the license category applied for within six months from the effective date of the Guidelines.”

THE WHISTLER reported that operators are expected to apply for either of the two categories- ‘Tier one’ or ‘Tier two’ with a minimum capital requirement of N2bn and N500m respectively.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako has disclosed that traditional open fire cooking causes over 77,000 deaths in Nigeria annually through lung and heart diseases.

The Minister who said this at the National Clean Cooking Fair in Abuja on Thursday, also stated that open fire cooking also causes vision impairment, low birth weight and put people at a higher risk of suffering burnt injuries.

“The gathering of firewood exposes women and girls to gender based violence, snake bites and other physical injuries,” he said.

Salako added that cooking with firewood in open fire is a major driver of deforestation in the country which contributes to the loss of nearly 400,000 hectares of forests annually.

“Emissions from residential cooking represent about 55 million metric tonnes of CO2e and about 700,000 metric tonnes of harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. This constitutes a significant proportion of Nigeria’s total greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

He stated that Nigeria has pledged to provide access to cooking gas for 28.8m households and improved biomass cook-stoves for 7.3m by 2030, adding that the intervention when delivered is expected to save over 30,000 lives per annum, build a domestic clean cooking industry and create new jobs, reduce deforestation.

He added that the intervention will assist the government in meeting its climate change commitments like the pledge to reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) and improve the lives of women and girls in general.

“To achieve this clean cooking targets, a strong regulatory framework is needed. The Federal Ministry of Environment has therefore developed a National Clean Cooking Policy which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council to provide a clear direction and specified pathway for Nigeria to achieve clean cooking outcomes,” he said.

Salako hinted that the Federal Ministry of Environment developed a National Clean Cooking Policy which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council in order to provide a clear direction and specified pathway for Nigeria to achieve clean cooking outcomes.

…As Police Await Mental Assessment Result

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner, Bennett Igweh and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju will empower Shaibu Yusuf, who attempted to commit suicide 10 days ago with funds to start a business.

Yusuf had attempted to create awareness of the sufferings of Nigerians by climbing a broadband mast, at ASO Radio in Katampe, Abuja.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the command released Yusuf to Adeyanju on bail on Thursday.

The FCT Police command released the Borno-born nine days after it referred him to the Social Development Secretariat for mental assessment.

Adeyanju’s latest post shared across social media also confirmed this. The post was accompanied by pictures of him at the office of the FCT CP, Benneth Igweh along with the suspect and the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh.

The caption of the post further read: “We have secured the release of Shaibu Yusuf who protested climbing a mast in Abuja after a week of back & forth. Let me appreciate the collaborative effort of the FCT CP, Benneth Igwe and FCT PRO, @Jossy_DANNYKING in this regard. CP Igwe & I are supporting Shaibu to start a POS business.”

Recall that the FCT command said that Yusuf’s mental assessment and evaluation were relevant following his troubling action, which stirred apprehension in the polity.

The incident which attracted wide attention had the presence of security agencies, and government agencies like the FCT Emergency Department at the scene, pleading to Yusuf to climb down and halt any attempt to take his life.

However, THE WHISTLER gathered that at the time of Yusuf’s release, “he was sane”. He was only said to have suffered personal and financial setbacks, making him suicidal.

Speaking to our correspondent on the matter, the spokesperson of the police command, SP Josphine Adeh said, it was the state of Yusuf’s living that led the FCT CP to assist the suspect in starting a POS business to gain a certain level of financial freedom to avoid suicidal thoughts.

When asked about Yusuf’s mental assessment result, Adeh said, “It is not out yet”, noting that the command had released Yusuf on bail under the supervision of Adeyanju pending the outcome of his mental assessment.

Adeh did not also reveal when the mental assessment report was scheduled to be out but pointed out that Yusuf’s action was due to the economic situation of the country.

…ask Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s government

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to support the Federal Government with N648 million for six months by cutting down their salaries by 50% to support food sufficiency across the country and to address the high cost of food.

This is also as the lawmakers begged Nigeria to exercise more patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardships faced by citizens.

The House further mandated it’s Committee on Appropriation, Humanitarian affairs, Finance and Budget to ensure compliance.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House tittled “An appeal to the proponents of proposed nationwide protest to maintain peace, eschew violence and open the windows for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels in order to address their issues”, by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) during plenary in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Isiaka said though Nigerians have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances, the house presents with a humble plea, a plea for reason, understanding, and unity in the face of adversity.

According to him, maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government is crucial for the resolution of issues facing the nation.

“This honourable House appeals to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest in Nigeria to consider a different path, a path of patience, dialogue, and collaboration, prioritize peace and open channels for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels.

“All stakeholders should uphold the principles of democracy, respect human rights, and uphold the rule of law in their actions and engagements; we trust that through peaceful engagement and dialogue, we can collectively work towards building a better and brighter future for Nigeria.

He further admitted that it is undeniable Nigeria is facing significant challenges, challenges that have plagued the nation for far too long, adding that the issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weigh heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian.

“Further aware that the challenges we face are not unique to Nigeria alone. These are issues that countries across the globe grapple with on a daily basis. In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, no nation is immune to the complexities of governance and development.

“The road to change is not easy, and the journey towards a brighter future is often fraught with obstacles. But we must not lose sight of the incremental steps that have been taken, the reforms that have been implemented, and the strides that have been made towards a more prosperous Nigeria. Belief that change does not happen overnight It requires patience, perseverance, and a commitment to working together towards a common goal. While peaceful protest is a fundamental right in a democratic society, it is also important to allow the government the space and opportunity to consolidate the progress that has already been achieved.

“Let us engage in constructive dialogue, let us seek solutions through peaceful means, and let us stand united as one nation, one people, with a shared vision for a better Nigeria. Together, we can overcome the challenges that lie before us. Together, we can build a future that we can all be proud of.

“We plead with our fellow Nigerians to consider the broader perspective, to act with wisdom and foresight, and to support efforts towards a more stable, secure, and prosperous Nigeria. Let us reason together. let us listen to one another, and let us work hand in hand towards a brighter tomorrow. 

Contributing to the motion, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu who moved the motion for lawmakers to support the federal government with 50% of their salaries for six months said Protest is not a Solution to solving the problem of hunger in the country.

He said “Solution not found in raising placard, Rome is not built in a day. Let us give support to all policies of govt to better the lives of citizens.

“This time is calling for sacrifice. People here are willing to make sacrifices. Please bear with the government a little. Let’s make sacrifices with our salaries.

On his part, Ahmed Jaha (APC- Borno) said that it takes a reasonable period to correct what has been damaged for a reasonable period.

He said “Remember, tough times do not last forever for tough men. And there is always a light at the end of every struggle. Mr Speaker, Honourable members, this government is doing what we have hoped. We are appealing to our young men to give the government the benefit of the doubt. Bearing in mind the people’s oriented policies, and programs that are laid down for this government to pursue especially in the area of school and student loans. 

“Just yesterday, the President launched, under the distinguished leadership and chairmanship of a distinguished financial engineer and banker, Jim Hogan. And he stated categorically that in the next one or two weeks, students will be allowed to have access to apply to that and that has been transmitted or presented to some schools in the country.

“Secondly, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we should understand that President Tinubu can not do anything to destroy his hard-earned reputation and theocratic capabilities.

“We should give him and any other stakeholder in this government the benefit of the doubt. So that at the end of the day, we can come out of the cock-map the country is in. In addition to this, I am calling on the collaboration between the tiers of government, the federal, the state and the local government to be on the same page, to bring an end to the current crisis we are facing.

“Lastly, I want to use this opportunity to tell us that if you compare the cost of living, even among West African countries, you will appreciate the cost of living in Nigeria.

“We must appreciate this. Last two months, I cooked breakfast. I had to pay 25 pounds. In Nigeria, that particular breakfast cost me less than 2,500 naira. So what I’m trying to say is actually, it’s a global issue. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria at all. Our young men should understand this. We are appealing.

“We are pleading on our knees. As young men, we are pleading for peace in the country. So that at the end of the day, we will be out of our current situation.

Another lawmaker, Hon Usman Basiru (Sokoto- APC) said organizing protests will undermine the peace and unity of the country.

According to him, the young people who are calling for the protest have not taken the necessary steps to make their own money. In that way, most Africans are calling protests directly to the streets.

“We must consider the atmosphere that we call a protest and a peaceful protest. The present atmosphere, whose demonstration, any story, or any form of demonstration that is organizing protests is undermining the peace and unity of our dear country.

“It is contrary to how you must consider the national interest about individual or group interest. Most Africans, these people that are calling for protests, I believe don’t know what will happen when they go ahead to call for the protest.

“Yes, we have a lot of challenges. But at this very critical time, it is a matter of fear. What I want you to do, is understand the situation and allow the policies to drive and see where there is a way forward.

“We ask people to please exercise plenty of patience to see where the police’s direction of the present administration is heading before taking any further compensation. Please consult with the foundation before taking any further compensation.

President Bola Tinubu has started the distribution of the first batch of cheques to beneficiaries of the student loan scheme, launching the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.

Yesterday, the President presented cheques to students from the six geopolitical zones.

Mr Akintunde Sawyer, the Executive Secretary of NELFUND, announced that N32 billion was currently available for disbursement to kickstart the programme.

He added that over 110,000 had applied, and more than 160,000 had visited the Fund’s site.

According to the President, the student loan is key to fighting poverty.

Who can apply for how much, how to

In May, Sawyer said the loan scheme will start with students of federal universities.

Eventually, he said, state-owned institutions, and then a programme on loan provision for those who want vocational skills or vocational qualifications will follow.

He urged students of state-owned institutions to apply, but that they would have to wait until it was their turn.

Also, how much you can apply for depends on your tuition fees and other payments you need to make. This is because NELFUND will pay the institution directly.

Besides, the Fund will also pay a monthly stipend. However, Sawyer did not say how much it will be.

To apply, you have to visit the NELFUND website and create a profile.

You then enter the name of your school, your matriculation number, upload the required documents, and verify your student status.

Disqualification …

NELFUND will run background checks. And you can be disqualified if you have borrowed money from any financial institution and have not paid.

Also, you won’t be eligible for the loan if you submited fake documents, or engaged in exam malpractices.

Again, if your institution does not upload students’ data on the NELFUND portal; or you are involved in fraud, forgery, drug offences, cultism, felony, or any dishonest dealings, you won’t get the loan.

How to pay back the NELFUND loan

Beneficiaries will start to pay back the loan two years after participating in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme.

If the beneficiary gets a job, the Federal Government will deduct 10% from the person’s salary until the loan is repaid in full.

However, when the person is without a job, but is self-employed, the government will take 10% of his monthly profit. In this case, the NELFUND beneficiary will be paying the money into the appropriate government’s bank account.

Failure to repay the loan attracts a fine of N500,00 or two years imprisonment or both.

Salihu Lukman, former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Senate Chief Whip and his alleged expulsion from the party.

Lukman claimed that President Bola Tinubu may not stay for a second term in office due to these actions.

On Wednesday, July 17, Ndume was replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno as Chief Whip of the Senate.

The decision came via a directive from the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola, citing Ndume’s alleged rabid outbursts against President Tinubu.

In a statement titled “Fanatical Mindset” released on Thursday, Lukman expressed concern over the attack on free speech in Nigeria, comparing the current situation to the era of Nigeria’s late military dictator, Sani Abacha.

“The way things are, it is almost as if President Asiwaju Tinubu has resolved that he will only be a one term President. Under his watch living conditions of Nigerians is continuously getting worse. Instead of making effort to develop clear plans to address the situation, the government is becoming more intolerant to criticism.

“In the last one week, the government has developed a fanatical mindset of condemning and criminalising criticism so much so that it is resorting to bribing religious leaders to declare that protests are ungodly. Everything is being done to suspend free speech in the country. It is almost as if we are back in the Abacha era, or even worse. As it is, personal liberties of citizens are being threatened. Fair hearing is no longer guaranteed. Sadly, we are having democracy without democrats,” said Lukman.

According to him, the APC Constitution does not grant party officials, including the National Working Committee, the authority to summarily remove National Assembly principal officers.

He condemned the APC Senate Caucus for allowing this “act of illegality,” warning it sets a dangerous precedent undermining the National Assembly’s independence.

“Any democracy that cannot accommodate criticism is no democracy. A democracy that subverts fair hearing is a dictatorship. A democracy that permits a ruling party to demobilize its organs and inadvertently expel its members is worse than a military government,” he stated.

Lukman further called on patriotic Nigerians to ensure the defeat of the APC and Tinubu’s government in 2027, and suggested that their current trajectory is self-destructive.

“So long as APC, its leadership and Asiwaju Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027!,” he added,