It is a tale of woes as an acute scarcity of one of Nigerians’ most popular staple foods, bread, has hit Kaduna, Katsina and Kano States.

Checks by the Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the most-favoured staple was now as scarce as petrol or the highly-prized precious metal, Gold.

It was observed that whereas the commodity was very hard to come by, its prices have hit the roof.

Many of the residents could no longer afford their darling food, as such had turned to other not-too-cheap alternatives like noodles, millet porridge and bean cake, as well as bread and beans, among others.

The prices of the commodity have also been increased by between 20 to 40 per cent.

Many shop owners and consumers have vehemently lamented the obnoxious development, appealing for an urgent action to redress the ugly trend.

One of the bakers told NAN in Kaduna, “”It is not that we are on strike, but we have had to stop production since 1st July, 2024.

“This unfortunate development was necessitated by the scarcity of wheat flour and its high cost, as well as sugar, oil and other additives.

“For instance, in June, we were buying a 50kg bag of flour for between N53,000 to N55,000, but it has now regrettably skyrocketed to between N67,000 to N70,000.

“How can we produce bread and also break even under this precarious situation?, “he told NAN anonymously.

Some bread sellers and consumers in Kaduna State decried the scarcity of bread around the state metropolis, saying that it had affected their businesses and daily lives.

Haidar Basiru , a tea and bread seller, said he usually buys 100 loaves of bread but due to the ongoing paucity, he was able to get only 30 loaves, which had finished already.

” The bakeries are saying they are on strike due to a hike in flour and sugar.
“This development has seriously affected our businesses as we usually operate in the mornings and evenings.

” But, from the look of things, we may not come out in the evening due to bread shortage.

“In fact, most of my colleagues operating around this axis in Kasuwan barci have not opened today, “he said.

Similarly , Mrs Kafayat Sadiq, a provisions seller, stated that she couldn’t get bread to stock in her shop since Tuesday, saying that her supplier had complained of the high cost of flour.

Abdullahi Muhammad, a bread consumer said, “I went to the shop in the morning to buy bread, which would be eaten as breakfast in my house but unfortunately, I couldn’t get it.”

” I had to buy spaghetti for the children to eat and go to school since there is no bread;

”I hope the issue would be alleviated soon.”

A resident of Funtua, Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, Aliyu Idris, told NAN that the prices of bread have also gone up in the state.

He said, ”For instance, a loaf of bread that was selling for between N 200 before now goes for N 400. This has affected all the sizes of the bread.”

Idris also stated that tea sellers and shop owners were now finding it very hard to get the commodity for sale to their customers.

In Kano State, a resident of Kano also corroborated the unfortunate scenarios in Kaduna and Katsina States, saying,’ a loaf of bread formerly selling for N600 before now goes for N 800.”

”Also, a loaf of sliced bread that was selling for n 1200 before is now selling for N 1600,” Haruna Salisu told NAN.

(NAN)

The House of of Representatives was on Wednesday thrown into a mourning mood following the death of a member, Hon. Akinremi Olaide popularly known among members and his supporters as Jagaban.

Akinremi was said to have died in the early hours of Wednesday at 51 after complaining of a slight ailment.

He is the third member of the House to have died since the inauguration of the House on June 13, 2024.

Spokesman of the House, Hon. Akintubde Rotimi, confirmed the death of Hon. Olaide who represented Ibadan North Federal constituency of Oyo State.

A statement in Abuja, Rotimi said the APC lawmaker who served as Chairman of the House Committee on Science Research Institutions, passed away on Wednesday.morning after a brief illness.

According to him: “Until his demise, the Oyo legislator was a dedicated public servant known for his unwavering commitment to the development of his constituency and the country at large. His passion for service, coupled with his deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of his people, earned him the endearing title of ‘Jagaban.’

“Throughout his tenure, he was a staunch advocate for policies and initiatives that promoted social welfare, economic growth, and scientific research. His contributions to legislative debates and his active participation in committee activities were a testament to his dedication and hard work.

“Rep. Akinremi was as much a grassroots politician as he was an astute statesman who leveraged his goodwill and network of relationships to attract positive impact to the people of his constituency.

“He built friendships by being intentional about reaching out and sending goodwill messages to all colleagues at special occasions, fostering camaraderie and unity within the House.

“As a ranking member, Rep. Akinremi had keen institutional memory and was a mentor to many first-time parliamentarians, guiding them with wisdom gained from his extensive experience in legislative affairs.”

He said Speaker Abbas Tajudeen expressed his profound sadness over the loss.

He quoted the Speaker as saying that “Rep. Akinremi Olaide Adewale was a beacon of dedication and service. His contributions to our legislative work, especially in the area of science and research, were invaluable. His passing is a great loss to the House, his constituency, and the nation. We will miss his leadership, wisdom, and the unique passion he brought to his work.

“The entire House of Representatives mourns this significant loss and extends its heartfelt condolences to the Akinremi family, the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, the Government and People of Oyo State, and the entire APC family. Rep. Akinremi’s legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire those who had the privilege of working with him and benefiting from his leadership.

“We pray that the Almighty grants his family and loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.

Health workers in Kaduna State have suspended the five-day warning strike they began on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the workers embarked on the strike to press home demands for the improvement of their welfare package.

This is contained in a communique signed by the State Secretary, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nassa Yashi, issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.

He said, ”The health workers engaged in a frantic and meaningful discussion with the government, which resulted into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

”The suspension is to also give room for more negotiations and await the government to fulfill her own side of the MOU.

“The strike is hereby suspended and the workers are expected to resume their normal duties immediately.

” The state administrative council (SAC) sincerely appreciate your massive support and resoluteness in making this struggle for the betterment of our welfare a huge success.”

Yashi assured of their readiness to represent their members, adding, ”and to do that very well without fear or favor.

” Do not forget, it is suspension, meaning if the promises made are not fulfilled, we shall resume the industrial action at the appropriate time.”

(NAN)

Bashir El-Rufai, son of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has sent a cryptic message to President Bola Tinubu over his reelection in 2027.

Bashir specifically said that nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people, warning that it will happen with no consequences.

He said that people should forget all the intimidations flying up and down, saying they should be patient.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Bashir seemingly referred to Tinubu, when he said that even the IMF and the World Bank will not save the “people” when the time comes, adding quickly: “Political strategist una. That one na for Lagos.”

Recall that Tinubu was largely referred to as a master strategist during the 2023 presidential campaign.

DAILY POST recalls that the younger El-Rufai’s father has been enmeshed in alleged misappropriation of public funds while serving as a Kaduna State governor.

He said: “Nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people. It will happen & wallahi nothing will happen. So forget all these intimidations flying up and down. Let us be patient.

“Even IMF & World Bank no go save una that time. Political strategist una. That one na for Lagos.”

Following up his earlier post, Bashir said he didn’t mention any name, doubling down on his stance that nobody will force him to support utter failure of governance disguised as useless, dangerous ethnocentric political strategy.

“I didn’t call names o, but due to their guilt, they already know who is being spoken about. Wallahi, none of you will force anyone to support this utter failure of governance disguised as useless, dangerous ethnocentric political strategy.”

Nigerian disc jockey Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has sparked mixed reactions after revealing her intention to pursue a fourth degree at the age of 31.

DJ Cuppy recently shared her plans to further her education, despite already holding multiple degrees.

Her announcement stirred diverse responses from the public, with some questioning the need for additional academic qualifications when she already possesses significant educational achievements.

In a recent post on Twitter (now X), DJ Cuppy acknowledged the reactions she received, humorously stating that people are urging her not to pursue another degree.

She wrote;

“People are really begging me not to go back to school for a 4th degree [laughing emoji]. LMAO.”

The famous DJ’s educational journey includes a degree in Business and Economics from King’s College, London, which she completed in July 2014.

Following this, she obtained a master’s degree in music business from New York University in 2015.

Most notably, DJ Cuppy graduated from Oxford University in 2023 with an MSc in African Studies.

Netizens Reactions…

@badlieutanant said: ” DJ Cuppy, earning degrees and master’s degrees shouldn’t be your priority at this point. You’re already 30+, you should focus on getting married and starting a family. Time is not on your side.

@Official_Ogiis said: “I’d definitely go back for a 4th if I have the money, opportunity and luxury for it. Create more opportunities for myself. So please go for a fourth or even a fifth, you never know when it’ll be needed and in all I wish you luck my dear ❣️

@stritmotivation said: “Shey u no wan marry, yoruba men plenty outside ohf Lagos ?”

@Tee_Classiquem1 said: “Don’t mind them, pls chase your dream.”

@Dr_Pharouk said: “Don’t listen to them, you need it for your future Rita Sunshine

@MeetSunshineMay said: “I think it’s boredom pushing you into these areas of study cos what’s the use? Your DJ career has been left hanging, man you don’t have, I honestly need to step in from here.

@EbiraConnect said: “Those people maybe just want you to get married first and then, you can pursue your 4th degree. After all, you can combine both marriage and education together since there is money. But at the end , do what makes you happy. “

See below;

Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has accused the late MKO Abiola and his wife, Simbiat, of framing his father, Fela Kuti, for armed robbery during Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime.

According to Seun Kuti, the alleged conspiracy was part of a plan to have Fela executed under the regime’s harsh laws against armed robbery.

Seun Kuti detailed how the Abiolas fabricated a story, claiming that Fela and his associates had stolen Simbiat’s Ferrari at gunpoint.

This accusation came at a time when Buhari’s Deputy Head of State, Tunde Idiagbon, was enforcing strict laws that made armed robbery a capital offense, punishable by death.

In his words;

“Abiola and his wife, Simbiat, lied against Fela that he and his boys robbed her of her Ferrari at gunpoint under Idiagbon’s regime. This was Abiola and his wife’s plan to kill my dad because, under Idiagbon, armed robbery was punishable by death.

“Abiola and Simbiat wrote a statement at a police station that they saw Fela and his gang rob her at gunpoint. This led to Fela’s arrest which is punishable by death, but luckily for Fela, he was performing in Cameroon the very day Simbiat was lying about the theft. Fela escaped the case because he can’t be in two places at the same time; its either he’s on a stage in Cameroon or robbing in Lagos.

“Responding, Fela and my elder brother, Femi, took 12 buckets of faeces go and listen to his song – give me shit, I give you shit – then you will have a better understanding. They took it to Abiola’s house in the middle of the night and smeared his compound.

“The next day, the police visited my father’s house saying they came to investigate the shit-show in Abiola’s house the previous day. But Fela denied the act saying if given the opportunity, he would smear Abiola’s house with faeces.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has secured a plum job in president Bola Tinubu government.

Tinubu appointed Jega as co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms.

The committee was inaugurated at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday shortly after the creation of the livestock ministry.

In his new position, Jega will oversee the surmounting of the challenges and barriers that plague agricultural productivity and creating new opportunities for farmers, herders, processors, and distributors within the livestock-farming value chain.

The President emphasized that the successful implementation of these reforms would require the collective efforts of committee members from both the public and private sectors, state governors, and all Nigerians.

“I appeal to everyone to remove any element of partisan politics from this. I will assume the chairmanship of the committee as President and appoint Professor Attahiru Jega as my deputy or co-chair,” Tinubu stated. “This is not about politics; this is about opportunity and our nation. While I may be absent, Jega will preside and continue to promote our objectives.”

During the inauguration at the Council Chamber of the State House, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for gathering experienced experts to ensure the harnessing of opportunities in the livestock sector.

“With the calibre of people here, this presents a unique opportunity to establish a central ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. It will enable our veterinary doctors to access research and cross-breeding opportunities and help us stop the wanton killings,” Tinubu added.

The President noted that the traditional methods of livestock farming need to be reviewed and repositioned with the support of stakeholders, including state governments, to open new opportunities for growth and prosperity.

Tinubu said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), will remove legal impediments to the reforms, while the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, will support automation efforts.

“Modern technology is available to us. We are ready to work. With all of you, the solution is here, and we must run with it. Any law that might inhibit our objectives, the Attorney-General will prioritize its removal. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning will create a budget for growth, and the Minister of Finance will work out the funding,” Tinubu stated.

The President called for comprehensive and collective reforms, urging the support of all stakeholders.

“We need to provide incentives to enable Nigeria to take advantage of livestock farming. Dairy products and cold-chain logistics collectively offer substantial commercial and economic advantages. Despite the adversities we have faced over the years, I believe prosperity is within our reach,” Tinubu concluded.

OB3 gas pipeline project

The presidency is concerned over the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to fulfill milestones critical to the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, TheCable understands.

According to insiders, Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to Tinubu on policy and coordination and head of the central results delivery coordination unit (CRDCU), expressed these concerns during a review of the quarterly performance assessment of the ministry of petroleum resources (oil).

Usman said the government is worried about key uncompleted projects by NNPC, a source told TheCable.

Specifically, the government official said the NNPC has continued to delay the completion of state-owned refineries — including the Port Harcourt refinery.

This, according to Usman, followed the “mechanical completion” of the rehabilitation work on a section of the refinery on December 21, 2023 — with assurance that operations would commence after the Christmas break.

The NNPC shifted the commencement of operations to April 2024 — of which Usman noted that there has not been any update on whether production at the refinery would commence this month, the source said.

Usman was said to have stressed that the endless changes in timelines for the commencement of production at the refinery was concerning to the government and Nigerians.

“This continued shifting in timelines is eroding the confidence of Nigerians in the government, and as an administration, we cannot allow that,” Usman was quoted as saying.

“This is why Mr President mandated the CRCDU to track the deliverables and performances of all MDAs, and we have no option but to identify and engage the Ministry of Petroleum NNPC Ltd on the situation at hand.”

According to the source, Usman also said the rehabilitation of the refinery was meant to bring the facility to optimal capacity for production rather than “attain tokenistic and marginal production milestones”.

Furthermore, she expressed worry about the decline in crude oil production from 1.351 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023 to 1.265 million bpd in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

In addition, the source said the government official emphasised the need for the NNPC and the security agencies to work together to improve daily production and achieve the government’s target of 1.65mbpd for the second half of 2024.

She also identified the importance of ramping up efforts to expedite the speedy completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project, which has been lingering.

Usman, it was learnt, said the CRDCU would employ the support of all stakeholders to ensure that the NNPC delivers on its performance indicators as directed by the president.

Some officers of the federal ministry of foreign affairs have accused Ibrahim Lamuwa, permanent secretary in the ministry, of “multiple cases of sexual harassment and other infractions”.

In June, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, a married female aide of Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, accused Lamuwa of sexual harassment.

Lamuwa has since denied the allegation, claiming that he turned down Ajayi’s request to pay her bills during an overseas trip.

However, in a letter dated July 3 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the employees, under the aegis of “concerned and patriotic foreign service officers,” claimed that the accusation against Lamuwa by Ajayi was not the first of its kind.

They added that sexual harassment allegations against the permanent secretary have become “a recurring feature in his entire public service career,” including harassment of children.

“His unbridled sexual assaults and harassment on minors and women is legendary,” the letter reads.

“Cases include harassment of neighbours’ children, as a young officer, while occupying government property at the foreign affairs quarters in Gwarimpa, Abuja; the inglorious removal from his post in Canada to avoid an impending declaration of persona non-grata (PNG), and sexual assault cases involving a large number of locally-recruited staff in our mission in Dakar, Senegal.

“In Senegal, while serving as ambassador and principal representative of Mr President, ambassador Lamuwa threatened a female bank official, saddled with the management of the embassy’s account, that he would ensure the movement of the mission’s account to another financial institution in the event that she does not agree to engage in sexual activities with him.

“It took the voice recording of the incident before Ambassador Lamuwa could withdraw from his inherent evil intentions.

“More recently at the ministry’s headquarters, a married female policy officer tasked with the implementation of presidential reforms could not resist the intense pressure, and she succumbed to Ambassador Lamuwa’s threat and was duly rewarded for her compliance in the yet-to-be-released 2024 posting exercise without due diligence.

“All these incidents could have been avoided if a system of checks and balances was in place in the administration of the ministry, with the appointment of under-secretaries.”

Aside from the issue of sexual harassment, the group also accused the permanent secretary of sabotaging the ministry.

“In the last 24 months, all Nigerian missions abroad have received 20 percent of their budgeted allocation,” the ministry’s officers said.

“The affected missions wrote to Amb. Lamuwa, more than 21 months ago, to appeal for the budget shortfall, a result of the government’s policy on the unification of the exchange rate, to be brought to the attention of Mr President, but Ambassador Lamuwa rather devised a plan to suffocate missions and utilize the untoward situation for his personal gains.

“With the assistance of the director of finance and account (DFA), Amb. Lamuwa suppressed all missions’ desperate appeal and began to peddle a misrepresentation to the honourable minister of foreign affairs and other high-level government officials that missions are financially buoyant and the only reason they were writing was that officers at posts, who are diligently serving the country, wanted an excuse not to return. Even with several inquiries from the state house, Amb. Lamuwa remained obstinate in his covetous plot.

“The far-reaching implication is that the jaundiced posting, as he had orchestrated and implemented, will give him unimpeded control over all the missions more than Mr President and the honourable minister of foreign affairs.”

They said embassies and offices in Asia—Rome, Geneva, Brussels, Tehran, and Bern—are drawing in debt and unable to pay rent and salaries.

They accused Lamuwa of demonstrating impunity by claiming to be well-connected to principals at the State House, particularly the office of the vice-president.

“Ambassador Lamuwa is not an example of what the civil service should promote or be proud of, as he has indeed shown great disrespect and disregard for the service and government processes,” the group added.

“Such individuals are a potent threat to society and should be confined to the walls of rehabilitation or correction facilities.”

The concerned ministry of foreign affairs officers asked President Tinubu to “direct a wider investigation of the issues stated in the letter to ascertain the facts and for necessary actions”.

Bandits have released the remaining three children of Janet Gimba, a customary court judge, who were abducted in Kaduna, after spending 15 days in captivity.

Godwin Ochai, chairman of the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), confirmed the children’s release on Tuesday.

Family sources also confirmed the development to TheCable via telephone chat.

However, it was not immediately clear if a ransom was paid for their release.

The judge and her sons were reportedly abducted at their residence in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on June 23.

The abductors, numbering up to 15, invaded the home of the judge at night when her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.

The bandits were said to have demanded N300 million ransom for their release and threatened to start killing their victims one after the other if payment was delayed.

One of the children, a 14-year-old boy, was, however, killed by the bandits when the N298 million ransom demanded could not be delivered at the stipulated time.

On July 4, the abductors released Janet, holding the three children captive.

She said the bandits had reduced the ransom demand to N150 million upon release.