A group known as Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) says summits and conferences on insecurity will not end the menace in the north-west geopolitical zone.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Sani Shinkafi, the group’s executive director, said governors in the north-west need the political will to exterminate banditry and other vices behind insecurity in the zone.

“The problems in the zone require political will and pragmatic actions, not empty rhetoric as obtainable in the past 12 years, which has not changed the narrative,” the statement reads.

Shinkafi said the governors should “accelerate the development of the zone through education, wealth creation, and social amenities that will impact the lives of the people”.

He urged them to “stop dissipating energy and resources in organising peace and security summits and conferences within and outside Nigeria, as they are not the solution to the insecurity confronting the zone”.

“The zone is neglected by past and present leaders. Agriculture, which is the mainstream of the region, is neglected in spite of the abundant, fruitful land mass,” Shinkafi added.

“The recent North West summit on the security of life and livelihoods was a welcome development if governors would be spurred to implement people-oriented projects and ensure the security and welfare of the people for rapid development of the zone.

“It is obvious that the UNDP and other development partners cannot solve the problem of insecurity in the region.

“The remote causes of insecurity in the zone include corruption, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, poor governance, a weak judicial system, a weak security apparatus, porous borders, drug abuse, weak traditional institutions, the influx of illegal Fulani aliens through land borders, and the proliferation of small and lighter arms and ammunition by unauthorised persons.

“It is amazing that governors in the region have been receiving monthly statutory allocations from the federal government since the inception of democratic governance in 1999, yet the region is underdeveloped. The resources are carelessly misappropriated, misapplied, and siphoned for personal enrichment.

“Illiteracy is one of the major causes of armed banditry and related crimes. Most of the bandits are uneducated both western and Islamic education.

“Leaders in the zone failed to invest in education, in building primary and secondary schools, adult education, and Almajiri schools. They left the children to roam about the streets begging; sadly, many of them were recruited into armed banditry, terrorism, and other social crimes. The existing schools are not renovated and equipped, let alone building new schools.

“Due to widespread armed banditry, cattle rustling, herders-farmers clashes, kidnapping for ransom, and displacement of innocent people from their ancestral homes, millions of small and large-scale farmers deserted their farmlands, which exacerbated the food crisis in the region in particular and the nation in general.

“The Bureau of Statistics recently released data that showed the North West geopolitical zone has the highest poverty rate in Nigeria. The activities of bandits have brought economic stagnation to the region, as people can no longer go about their legitimate business for fear of being kidnapped or killed by bandits.

“Many who were kidnapped sold their farmlands and houses to pay the ransom demanded by their captors. This further impoverished the people. Governors lack the political will to tackle the problem; instead, they divert funds for development to use to buy votes during elections and bribe electoral officers to hang on to power.

“It is obvious that corruption is the root cause of bad governance, unemployment, and banditry.

He asked the north-west governors to be proactive and create jobs for the youth to reduce unemployment and poverty.

Shinkafi also called for the overhaul of security architecture in the geopolitical zone, adding that modern crime-fighting equipment should be provided, including scanners, CCTV, surveillance drones, communication gadgets, operational vehicles, and quarters in the border areas to fight insecurity.

Nigeria’s debt to petrol suppliers has surpassed $6 billion, doubling since early April, Reuters is reporting.

According to the report on Thursday, the development comes as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited strives to cover the gap between fixed pump prices and international fuel costs.

The report noted that the NNPC started struggling early this year when late petrol payments were over $3 billion.

“The company has still not paid for some January imports, traders said, and the late payments amount to $4 billion to $5 billion,” the publication said. 

Under contract terms, the report said the NNPC is obligated to pay within 90 days of delivery.

“The only reason traders are putting up with it is the $250,000 a month (per cargo) for late payment compensation,” an industry source told Reuters.

According to sources, at least two suppliers have already withdrawn from current tenders after reaching their self-imposed debt exposure restrictions to Nigeria. 

This means they would not provide any more petrol unless they are paid, Reuters added.

“Traders thrive in risky environments, but they place limits on how much credit they allocate per trade in order to avoid too much exposure on one borrower. These limits vary by company based on their size and where they operate,” the publication said.

Nigeria’s tenders to buy petrol in June and July were consequently smaller, traders told Reuters.

Two sources said the NNPC will import about 850,000 tonnes in July via tender — down from the typical 1 million tonnes in previous months.

President Bola Tinubu had announced the removal of the petrol subsidy when he took over in May last year, saying “its ever-increasing costs” could no longer be justified “in the wake of drying resources”.

Prior to the removal, the federal government had said it would spend up to N3.3 trillion on petrol subsidy between January and June 2023.

Petrol subsidy has remained a controversial issue in Nigeria as spending continues to deplete the country’s revenue. But the removal has since worsened the living conditions of Nigerians as petrol prices, coupled with a weak currency have stoked inflation to unbearable levels.

While there are speculations that subsidy has been reintroduced partially, the federal government has dismissed the claims on many occasions.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s power generation capacity at about 4.5 gigawatts is shameful.

According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu spoke during the inauguration of the presidential economic coordination council (PECC) on Thursday.

Since powered generation is measured in megawatts in Nigeria, 4.5 gigawatts would translate to 4,500 megawatts.

Speaking at the event, the president called for the collaboration of the members to increase Nigeria’s on-grid electricity capacity.

”We have the challenge of energy security in Nigeria. We need to work together to improve our oil and gas sector, and we must also increase electricity generation and distribution throughout the country,” Tinubu said.

“We are determined to do that with your cooperation, collaboration, and recommendations. As a nation, it is so shameful that we are still generating 4.5GW of electricity.

”We must increase our oil production to two (2) million barrels per day within the next few months and we are determined to remove all entry barriers to investments in the energy sector while enhancing competitiveness.”

Tinubu highlighted the need for innovative solutions to the country’s economic challenges, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic reforms.

Additionally, Tinubu announced measures under the economic stabilisation programme, aimed at stabilising the economy, enhancing job creation, and fostering economic security.

On energy security, the president said the initiative — which includes power, oil and gas — aims to increase on-grid electricity to be delivered to homes and businesses from about 4.5 gigawatts to 6 gigawatts in six months.

The scheme, according to the president, also aims to increase oil production to 2 million barrels per day within the next 12 months.

On Thursday, Tinubu announced a N2 trillion economic stabilisation plan to revive Nigeria’s struggling economy.

Phillip Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, has said he has been vindicated by the Federal High Court judgment which invalidated the governorship primary election of Edo State.

In a reaction on Thursday to the judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, Shuaib claimed that what PDP tagged as a primary election on February 22, 2024, was nothing but a tea party with no force of law.

He said he had consistently and persistently cried out loud and clear that the PDP killed internal democracy with the fraudulent ways its purported primary election was conducted at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

The former Deputy Governor maintained that those who voted for him at his parallel primary election were the authentic delegates lawfully chosen by the people to nominate the governorship candidate for PDP.

On the move by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for him to defect to the party, Shaibu claimed that there was nothing wrong as long as democracy remains a game for the vast majority of people.

“When you see a political party wooing people to its group, that party wants to win but when you see a party chasing people away as in the case of the PDP, that party is planning nothing but rigging of election.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo had in his judgment invalidated the February 22 PDP primary election on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote in the election were unlawfully excluded.

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A former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said that the ex-goalkeeper Joseph Dosu ‘housed’ John Obi Mikel before he became famous.

Dosu was the only home based player to be included in Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic team, which won gold at the tournament.

However, his career was short-lived as a result of an automobile accident.

In a recent interview with Elegbete TV Sports, Oliseh said Dosu was one of the people who helped Mikel to attain glorious status.

He said: “Before Obi Mikel made it in football, Dosu Joseph housed Obi Mikel and fed him. I bet you all didn’t know this. He helped Obi Mikel become what he is today.

“In spite of all the help he gave Obi Mikel, please let’s ask ourselves: has Obi Mikel ever once gone to say hello to Dosu? And with all the millions you’ve made, help the guy (Dosu).”

Responding to the ex-Chelsea midfielder’s recent criticism of his coaching ability, Oliseh said “I think the kid needs help”.

Mikel had criticized Oliseh’s coaching ability on his podcast, calling him “the worst manager I played under.”

“He was bitter, jealous, and disrespectful to everyone, including the physio”, he added.

Speaking during the interview, Oliseh, who spent eight months as Super Eagles coach, after being appointed in 2015, said: “I think the kid needs help. You cannot achieve what you were not able to achieve on the pitch outside the pitch by talking on a podcast”.

While defending his coaching abilities, he mentioned his award for best coach in the Jupiler Pro League, voted by players and coaches.

He said: “I think the kid(Mikel) needs help, to be honest. There’s something I’ve not really shown much, I won the best coach for the first period of the Jupiler league, which is in the Dutch league.

“That was not voted by the press, that was voted by the players and the coaches of the league.

“I’m the only, and the first coloured man from Sub-Saharan Africa to ever win this title with a club like Fortuna Sittard, who had very average players who were able to qualify from the second division from last position to the first division, where they still are now.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to penalise deposit money banks (DMBs) that reject mutilated naira notes.

In a statement on Thursday signed by Solaja Olayemi, CBN’s acting director of currency operations department, the apex bank said several reports have been made against the banks.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has received several reports of rejection of dirty/mutilated Naira banknotes by some Deposit Money Banks (DMBs),” the bank said.

“Consequently, it has become imperative to remind DMBs that the CBN circular dated July 2, 2019, reference number COD/DIR/GEN/CIR/01/006, which prescribes penalties for the rejection of Naira banknotes, is still enforceable and binding on erring DMBs.”

The apex bank said it will not hesitate to impose strict sanctions on banks reported to have rejected naira deposits from the public, under any guise.

Also, on July 2, CBN warned banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers against rejecting old series and lower denominations of dollars.

The apex bank said all relevant parties must adhere to and comply with the instruction, emphasising its disapproval of selective acceptance of deposits.

CBN said it discovered old series and lower denominations of dollars are still being rejected during a consumer market survey.

The senate has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the “importation of hazardous petroleum products and dumping of substandard diesel into the country”.

During plenary on Wednesday, the upper chamber also appointed Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, to lead other 14 lawmakers to unravel the masterminds behind the illicit practice and transaction.

Members of the ad hoc committee comprise lawmakers Adams Oshiomhole, Abdul Ningi, Osita Izunazo, Ifeanyi Uba, Diket Plang, Mohammed Monguno, Abdullah Yahaha, Olamilekan Solomon, Khabeeb Mustapha, Shahabi Ya’u, and Tokunbo Abiru.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio set up the ad hoc committee at the plenary after Asuquo Ekpenyong, a lawmaker, moved a motion on the urgent need to probe the issue.

Ekpeyong cited a report on June 16 as stating that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo for “further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria”.

He said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), despite revising diesel importation standards in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, has been “unable to enforce compliance”.

The politician said a ban on the importation of diesel would be beneficial to the Nigerian petroleum industry and indeed the entire nation and as such, “NMDPRA should cease import licenses in order to address all concerns”.

Consequently, Akpabio highlighted the need for the senate to immediately investigate and unravel those behind the hazardous practice.

On June 23, Devakumar Edwin, vice-president, oil and gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), lamented the activities of the NMDPRA in granting licences indiscriminately to marketers to “import dirty refined products into the country”.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), says Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is in prolonged detention because of ethnic bias.

Okonkwo spoke on Wednesday when he was featured on NewsDay, a programme of Arise TV.

The IPOB leader has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was extradited from Kenya in June 2021.

He is currently facing terrorism charges filed against him at the federal high court.

In recent months, there have been calls for Kanu’s release, particularly by stakeholders from the south-east region.

In June, 50 members of the house of representatives asked President Bola Tinubu to order Kanu’s release.

On Tuesday, governors under the umbrella of the South-east Governors’ Forum also resolved to meet with Tinubu to seek the release of the separatist leader.

The south-east region has witnessed an uptick in the activities of gunmen who violently enforce a sit-at-home order on Mondays to demand Kanu’s release.

‘KANU KEPT IN JAIL OVER ETHNIC BIAS’

Okonkwo claimed that Kanu is being held in detention due to “ethnic bias,”  adding that he has not committed worse crimes like other separatists whose cases in court have been dropped.

“Nnamdi Kanu has not done anything that other people from other zones have done,” he said.

“We know about Sunday Igboho of the Yoruba nation agitator. We know of the Boko Haram people who say that they want a different country where Western education is an abomination.

“These people have been released, not just that they have been released; in the case of Boko Haram, they have been reassimilated into society and given plum jobs.

“Why is Nnamdi Kanu’s case different? There is an ethnic and some unnecessary bias that is keeping that man in jail.

“The government should be wise enough to release this man. You can release him conditionally or unconditionally.

“As a lawyer, I have watched the legal issues very clearly, and I saw that even in the courts, from the high court to the supreme court, there are discordant tunes amongst them.

“Even in the issue of bail, some of the tiers of the court have granted him bail. Even in the issue of the charges, some tiers of the court have quashed all the charges.

“So, you can see that the government has a lot of places it can stand to release the young man and bring peace to the south-east.

“He is now more like a political prisoner. The longer Nnamdi Kanu is in prison, the taller he becomes and the shorter the government becomes.”

Okonkwo asked the federal government to “take the intelligent way out” by releasing Kanu as it did to other separatists.

The naira further weakened against the dollar at the foreign market on Wednesday.

FMDQ data showed that the naira slumped to N1512.61 against the dollar on Wednesday from N1509.45 on Tuesday.

This represents a N3.16 loss against the dollar compared to N1509.45 traded on Tuesday. 

Similarly, at the parallel foreign exchange market, the naira depreciated to N1520 per dollar on Wednesday from N1515 the previous day.

The development comes as foreign currency transaction turnover dropped to $114.91 million on Wednesday from $213.31 million on Tuesday, according to FMDQ data.