Senator Abdul Ningi says the can of worms he opened in the Senate cannot be controlled.

The Senate slammed a 3-month suspension on Ningi, lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, over the allegations that N3.7 trillion was not traceable to any project in the 2024 budget.

The lawmaker made the claim in an interview he granted to BBC Hausa over the weekend.

Based on the wide interest generated by the issue, Ningi had addressed the media ahead of the next plenary sitting, saying although he was misrepresented in some quarters, he stood by what he said and was ready for any consequence.

Expectedly, when the upper legislative chamber sat on Tuesday, the issue was discussed as some of Ningi’s colleagues called for his suspension.

After Senator Olamilekan Adeola from Ogun West moved a motion for the issue to be discussed, the senate descended into chaos as Jarigbe Jarigbe, senator representing Cross River north, claimed that some “senior senators” got N500 million in the budget for constituency projects.

“Let us wash our dirty linen in public. If we want to go into those issues, all of us are culpable. Some senators here… so called ‘senior senators’… got N500 million each. I am a ranking senator, so I didn’t get. Did I go to the press?”

The discussion has dominated the media as many Nigerians have been asking their representatives at the senate to comment on the amount they got.

Speaking on the development when he featured as a guest on Arise TV after the suspension, Ningi claimed that members of the Senate were determined to get him silenced or arrested.

He said: “That is why I said I know this parliament very well, I have come a long way. And that is why we are speaking. Let’s speak. Have they ever asked me since the beginning of this so-called crisis, where are your findings? Where are the documents? I’m not using my head to come up with figures.

“Nobody has talked to me about evidence. Nobody has suggested even listening to me. All they are trying to do is to ensure that ‘how do we make sure that Ningi is silenced or arrested so that he doesn’t do anything?’. I have opened this can of worms. Neither they nor I will be able to control it.”

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reiterated his directives to security agencies and the ministry of defence that no ransom should be paid by the government to kidnappers, bandits, or any criminal elements for the release of abducted persons.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by the President at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is coming on the heels of the reported cases of kidnapped children in Kaduna State who are still held in captivity by their abductors and are demanding billions of money for their release.

He said, “In council today, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the ministry of defence to ensure that those of our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely.

“And Mr President has also reiterated his zero tolerance for payment of ransom. That was also mentioned by Mr. President at the council today. So the security agencies are working around the clock.

“So these children and people that have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon. The security agencies are working hard in that direction. And Mr. President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by government to any of these criminal elements. It is important that it be put out there.”

While fielding questions on the increasing wave of kidnapping in the country, the Minister said, “You’re also asking about the apparent surge in this kidnapping across the country. Now it is true that some of these are happening, we have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno, and then in Sokoto.

“Of course, the government is watching that very closely and not just watching but also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.

Now, like I said, Mr. President has said that it is an unacceptable situation, and the government will not condone abductions or kidnappings, or any kind of criminality in that direction. We’re seeing this happening, and the government is taking very proactive steps, first to mitigate that, and also to stop the spread of this apparently.

“We are seeing that the more the security agencies are also hitting these targets or criminals, the more they are pushed to also get some soft targets. But the government is not taking any excuses.

“The President has directed that security agencies must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back in safety and also in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.

“So it’s important to underscore that the government is not paying anybody any dime, and the government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety.”

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 13, resolved to investigate the arbitrary increase in the price of cement by cement manufacturers in the country.
The House resolved to invite cement manufacturers alongside the Ministers of Solid Minerals Development and Trade and Investment to brief the House at plenary on reasons for the increasing cost of cement and efforts being made to force down the price.

This followed a motion on notice sponsored by Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa) and Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos).

Moving the motion, Gbefwi said manufacturers of cement have increased the price of their products by up to 50%, leading to sharp hikes in building blocks, the cost of building, and consequently, the price of rent across the country

According to him, the raw materials for the manufacture of cement, which include lime, silica, alumina, iron oxide, and gypsum are all sourced locally and not affected by exchange rate volatility.

He said all the factors of production and elements of the cement production flow chart are also sourced locally and have not changed significantly year-on-year.

He alleged that the manufacturers of cement are capitalizing on exchange volatility to arbitrarily increase the price of the product, whose cost of production has not changed significantly since last year.

He accused those he called the cement cabal of unconscionably inflicting hardship on Nigerians as the prices of rent and associated services have increased.

He alleged further that the increase is a direct affront and sabotage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s effort to bring comfort to the populace and should be resolved immediately.

Contributing to the motion, Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa) said the parliament must not close its eyes and watch cement manufacturers inflict pain on the Nigerian people through arbitrary increases in the prices of cement.

Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) accused cement manufacturers of practically sabotaging the efforts of the government to provide affordable housing for the Nigerian people.

Gagdi said while the prices of cement were rising above the reach of the average Nigerian, people from neighbouring countries were enjoying the benefit of the products.

Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) wondered why cement manufacturers should be increasing the prices of cement almost daily and declaring billions of naira as profit. Pricing cement is above the reach of the average Nigerian.

George Ozodinobi (LP, Anambra) calls for mass importation of cement into the country, saying doing so will force down the prices of locally produced cement.

He said when licence was given to Ibeto to import cement by the Yar’adha administration he was frustrated out of the business by cement manufacturers in the country.

Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) accused cement manufacturers of sabotage and working against the provisions of the Constitution, saying what the cement manufacturers are doing was corruption.

But Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) cautioned against any drastic action against the manufacturers, saying Nigeria was operating a free market economy while saying that those contributing to the motion were speaking from the socialist point of view.

He said even though he was on the side of the Nigerian people, the point must be made that there is no monopoly in cement production in the country, adding that the cement plants were sold to the highest bidders, describing Nigeria as a net exporter of cement in Africa.

He said Nigerians must understand that the cement manufacturers were paying for the cost of energy as they have to generate their own power using gas which is priced at an international rate, but the lawmakers shouted him down.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed on Wednesday has expressed his displeasure at the action of thr Nigerian Senate to suspend Senator Ningi.

Describing him as one of the ‘best of us from Bauchi’, the Governor said he is saddened that the Senator was suspended for telling the truth and called for proper investigation into the alleged N3 trillion budget padding in the approved 2023 fiscal document.

Abdul Ningi, a senator representing Bauchi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the amount is strange to the lawmaker and has no allocation in the approved budget.

Ningi, was also the Chairman, Northern senators was deserted by his colleague for raising the issue, saying the claim did not represent the views of the Forum. He has come under fire and was suspended by the Senate for three months. The lawmaker also resigned his position as the leader of the Forum on Tuesday after the suspension.

Meanwhile, while reacting to the development, Governor Bala Mohammed while speaking during a meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday, said that he is in support of Senator Ningi.

He said: “We will continue as opposition to the Federal Government but that will be done in our own modesty and that is not to disparage our country. Yesterday, I was very sad that the Senate suspended one of our best in Bauchi for telling the truth, for standing to be the beacon of truth –Senator Abdul Ningi.”

“Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing. And that is the face of the opposition, especially if what he is saying is the truth. We will investigate that. I am not too quick to go to the media but, certainly, he has shown courage. He has shown he is from Bauchi and we have to be with him,” he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, again increased the exchange rate for calculating Customs duties at the country’s seaports by 1.9 per cent to N1.624.732 per US dollar amid the Naira crisis.

Data on the official portal of the Nigeria Customs Service indicated that the rate was raised from N1,593.888 to N1.624.732 per USD on Tuesday.

The implication is that importers who opened Form M on Tuesday will pay more to clear their goods as import duties are benchmarked against the dollar.

Meanwhile, port users have rejected the policy of using the exchange rate on Form M for import duty payment because it will add more challenges to the trade process.

The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Emenike Nwokeoji, said using the Form M rate will create a discrepancy in duties paid on similar imports.

According to him, it would further create uncertainties around the country’s pricing structure of goods and services.

“It will also create abnormal increases in the final sale prices of items, which is largely driven by uncertainties, rather than market fundamentals, and will have implications on inflations,” he warned.

DAILY POST recalls that the CBN had raised the exchange rate for import duties at least six times in the last six weeks.

On February 2, the CBN adjusted the exchange rate for calculating import duties from N951.941 to N1,356.883 per US dollar; on February 3, it was raised to N1,413.62/$; on February 10, it was raised to N1,417.635/$; on February 12, it was reviewed to N1, 444.56/$ and February 14, the rate has been raised to N1, 481.482/$.

Meanwhile, the CBN also reduced the exchange rate depending on the standing of the Naira against the USD in the forex market.

Earlier in a fresh guideline in February, the apex bank advised NCS to adopt a foreign exchange closing rate on the date of the Form M submission by importers for the clearance of goods and import duty assessment.

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned parents to desist from enrolling minors for the unified tertiary examination.

Naija News reports that this warning was issued in a statement by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Wednesday in Abuja.

It was in reaction to a suit filed by Mrs Ifeanyi Eke against the Board over inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter during her registration.

According to the Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB reported the event to security agencies so they could take the proper measures, but the mother didn’t care and sued for N100 million at the child’s expense.

Oloyede said the Board was ready to meet with the woman, insisting that the message sender was not a JAMB employee.

He said, “The person is not our staff, he is not even a staff of the centre, he is a co-student. He is just like a candidate, an undergraduate in one of the universities.

“And talking about our data, nobody has access to our data. The person got the information from the phone of the underage girl.

“How did your girl of 15 years get ready for university now? If she is law-abiding as she claimed. The law today is that you must spend six years before primary school, six years in primary school and six years in secondary school. By that time, you are 18.”

Recall that Eke had filed a N100m suit against JAMB and three others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged unsolicited and inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter.

Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke were among those who met the deadline for submitting application letters to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the vacant post of head coach of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles.

Naija News reports that the Super Eagles coaching job application was open until yesterday, March 12th.

Recall that the NFF had publicized an advert seeking a passionate and experienced coach with a winning mentality.

The ideal candidate would have experience managing at the highest level, with a proven track record of success. Knowledge of African football was a plus, but not mandatory.

The Super Eagles coaching position was declared vacant just last week following former gaffer, Jose Peseiro‘s contract expiration at the end of February 2024.

Reports emerging on Wednesday morning revealed that at least twelve coaches beat the deadline for submitting application letters yesterday.

According to Vanguard, among those who successfully submitted their applications to the NFF are the former head coach of Tanzania’s senior men’s team, Taifa Stars, and the ex-coach of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, Emmanuel Amuneke. Finidi George, who was Peseiro’s assistant coach, and former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh also submitted applications.

Others who filed their applications before the deadline are Samson Siasia, former Super Eagles head coach whose FIFA ban will soon be lifted, Sylvanus Okpala, ex-Super Eagles assistant coach under the late Stephen Keshi, and Michael Nsien, ex-USA U-16 team coach of Nigerian descent.

President Bola Tinubu joined the Muslim faithful at the State House mosque for the Ramadan Tafsir (translation of the Holy Qur’an) on Tuesday, appealing to Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in the country.

Declaring open the annual Tafsir, President Tinubu advised the Muslim faithful to demonstrate kindness to one another and their neighbours while also supporting the less privileged in society.

”We thank Almighty Allah for sparing us to see another holy month of Ramadan. We thank Allah for sparing us through the elections and giving us the opportunity to be Nigerians.

”Yes, things are tough, but Allah has ordained us to make sacrifices, to discipline ourselves, help others, and be kind to ourselves.

”May Almighty God, that gave us this opportunity, strengthen our resolve; help us change our country, and extend our love to our neighbours.

”We face challenges of kidnapping, banditry, and others. May Allah show mercy on all of us, the dead, and accept our good deeds.

”May Almighty Allah give us strength and good life to see the month of Ramadan through and to continue in good faith to worship him. I advise all of us to continue to pray for our country,” the President said.

President Tinubu told the Ulamas that God has given them the wisdom, knowledge, and the heart to teach others, emphasizing the importance of teaching forgiveness, patience, and endurance to the faithful, as well as sharing their blessings with others.

”It is in our hearts to make sacrifices and share whatever little we have with our brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble enough. The sacrifice that this period teaches us is enough.

”May Almighty Allah grant us the privilege and the strength; not the strength of hunger but the strength of character and attitude to love our country and make Nigeria great. As-Salaam-Alaikum,” the President prayed.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has deactivated 6,409 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Mele Kyari, made the disclosure at an interactive session with the EFCC’s chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, which was held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

Speaking about the efforts by NNPC Ltd to eradicate corruption from its system; stem the crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, Kyari contended that going by the volume of oil stolen daily and the brazenness with which the perpetrators operate, crude oil theft was the most humongous and virulent economic crime in Nigeria that must attract the attention of the EFCC.

He said: “Today, we have disconnected up to 4,846 illegal pipes connected to our pipelines, that is out of 5,543 such illegal connection points. That means there are a vast number of such connections that we have not removed.

“As we continue to do our best to deepen transparency and stamp out corruption from the system, there is one big challenge that you will need to help us with, Mr Chairman. That challenge is crude theft. It fits into everything you have said – the people, the asset, the opportunity and the absence of deterrence.

“I believe, personally, that the very purpose of your commission is to curtail economic crimes, and there is no bigger economic crime of this scale anywhere else than what is happening in this area.”

On corruption within the system, Kyari explained that by law, NNPC Ltd is required to maintain high ethical standards and has put in place structures and measures to curb discretionary actions which fuel corruption, stressing that most processes in the company have been fully automated to discourage arbitrary actions.

In his presentation, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, expressed satisfaction with NNPC Ltd’s commitment to issues of ethics and code of conduct.

He, however, challenged the management to ensure that the codes of ethics and regulations are complemented with monitoring and enforcement to enhance deterrence.

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate intelligence and security operations in the country, particularly in Kaduna State, following last week’s abduction of over 200 students in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state by suspected bandits.

The lawmakers also expressed worry that in spite of the N3.25tn security and defence spending approved by the National Assembly, the security situation in the country was far from the expectations of Nigerians.

This was just as the lawmakers in the Green Chamber called for the control of small and light weapons amid worsening insecurity in some parts of the country.

The House’s resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent public importance titled, “Urgent need to tackle the abhorrent abduction of over 200 students in Kuriga community of Chikun and secure lives and property in Kaduna State.”

The motion was moved by the member representing Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, Ahmed Munir.

The PUNCH had reported that on March 7, 2024, gunmen stormed the Local Education Authority Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga Community, taking into captivity over 200 pupils and students.

Leading the debate, the lawmaker noted that just two months ago, a school principal, Abu Sufyan, was killed and his wife and baby abducted, adding that the wife and baby were later rescued in a successful joint security operation on February 3, 2024.

He said, “The House is aware that on Friday, March 8, 2024, gunmen attacked worshippers in a mosque at Angwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with two persons declared dead.

“This worrisome trend of violence is seeping into other parts of the state affecting persons of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.”

He expressed concern that despite “The N3.25trn allocated to the defence and security sector on drones and other military equipment that could have tracked, located and rescued victims, there has been no respite as the bulk of the actions by security personnel are reactionary rather than proactive.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the Office of the National Security Officer to “coordinate and galvanize all security and intelligence networks to develop and execute a proactive master plan to restore security with defined plans on coordinating with neighbouring countries.

“The plan must include boots on ground land and aerial sweep of locations that include but not limited to Kuyambana forest in Zamfara, Kamuka forest in Kaduna, Falgore forest in Kano, Borgu and Zugurma forests in Niger State.”

The lawmakers also urged the Office of the NSA to “revisit and optimise fully the Acts passed for the National Counter-Terrorism Centre as well as the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and ensure that they fully serve the purpose of their establishment.”