Latest News
FEATURES
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.
Foreign affairs ministry’s officials write Tinubu, list ‘offences’ of perm sec accused of sexual harassment
AFOLABI
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”.
Police Decline To Reveal Identities Of Alleged Nollywood Actor, Other Suspected Kidnappers Killed In Lagos
AFOLABI
The Lagos State Police Command has resolved to conceal the identities of nine suspected kidnappers who invaded the state on July 4.
Seven of the alleged kidnappers were killed in an intelligence-driven ambush. However, the reason for this decision by the police is unknown.
The quest to unravel their identities followed controversies surrounding the involvement of a Nollywood ‘actor/producer’, Henry Odenigbo, alleged to have been killed during the ambush.
According to the police, seven alleged kidnappers that invaded the state were killed, and two escaped with bullet injuries. The syndicate were said to have targeted residents or business persons in the Ladipo area of the state before the ambush.
The area is a host to the popular Ladipo market ranked as the largest auto spare part market in the country, and is likely to house successful business traders, dealers or residents.
The said Nollywood ‘actor/producer’ is alleged to have been among the syndicate, thus questioning the authenticity of the controversy as well as the personalities and the source of wealth of some Nollywood actors.
The Lagos Police Command when contacted by THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, declined to give out the identities of the slain suspected kidnappers.
Its spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin also declined any future plan to make public, the profile of the slain kidnappers. “I am not speaking about it… I decline to address any allegations,” he said, reacting to all questions asked by our correspondent.
Interestingly, the ambush of this syndicate occurred after eight months of surveillance.
A statement shared via Hundeyin’s X handle, concerning the matter, partly read, “It is worthy of note that the command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Ikolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo of the state.”
The non-disclosure of the suspects’ identities by the police, is likely to incite sustained disinformation and defame the individual in question if not addressedz
Videos and pictures circulating on X showed the slain suspects, in a relatively identifiable state, sandwiched in a Hilux trunk.
Those who claimed to have identified the said ‘actor’ through a particular picture allegedly showing him in his blood, further raised concerns among many Nigerians.
THE WHISTLER contacted the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Ejezie on the matter. He said he had only gotten wind of the circulated information on Tuesday evening and had plans to investigate the situation.
In addition, Ejezie said, “I am going to the national secretariat to check whether we have such people as members of the guild.”
Checks on the Instagram page of the said actor showed that he operates a movie production company called Ason-Rich, and is a member of the Association of Movie Practitioners (AMPRAC).
His sparse following Instagram page features movie content shared either daily or in close succession since he actively commenced movie-related content in December 2022.
Advertisement
While his last post on Instagram was shared on June 28, the same content was also shared via his Facebook page on June 29.
At the time of this report, some Nigerians had taken to his comment session to hurl painful statements, pointing out his connection to the reported kidnapping incident.
At the close of trading on June 9, 2024, Access Holdings’ share price stood at N19.35, which is 2% lower than the N19.75 price set for the bank’s ongoing rights issue.
On July 8, the opening day of the rights issue, the share price opened at N19.20, then appreciated by 2% to close at N19.60. However, today, July 9, Access Bank declined by N0.25 to close at N19.35.
The fluctuations in Access Holdings’ share price raised significant concerns among shareholders, who voiced their apprehensions during the group’s “Facts Behind the Issue” presentation at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
Why it is an anomaly: Typically, in share offering programs, whether through a rights issue or a public offering, the offer price is set at a discount to the market price to attract investors.
In a rights issue, the discount on the issued shares is generally more substantial than in a public offering. For instance, Fidelity Bank priced its rights issue shares at N9.25, while its public offering shares were priced at N9.75.
Companies typically offer a larger discount on rights issues because they are exclusively available to existing shareholders, making the discount an additional incentive for these shareholders.
Reasons for the price disparity
In Access Holdings’ case, the Chairman of the Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, tried to explain the reason behind the departure from the norm, putting forward the strong earnings profile of the bank.
Aig-Imoukhuede noted, “There are certain things I look at when investing in a business or considering an investment. When evaluating a business, if the business’s annual earnings run rate matches the amount I invested, I consider it a strong indicator.”
“For example, analyzing Access Bank’s earnings profile, even without accounting for currency devaluation profits, shows significant earnings potential. If devaluation occurs, the earnings forecast could double or triple.”
“Currently, the analysis shows a potential earnings value of about 17 naira per share, with a trading price of around 19.75 naira per share. This is not a bank that needs further reinvestment to make that money, meaning it won’t seek additional capital that could dilute its earnings.”
He then noted that the recent rights issue was essential to reward long-term investors who have supported the bank through difficult times, as the bank is poised to generate significant profits in the future.
Recall that in FY 2023, Access Holdings Plc hit earnings per share of about N17.23, based on its net income of N619.3 billion. The group’s earnings per share represent a 288% increase from the N4.44 earnings per share posted in 2022.
Using the offer price of N19.75, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 1.15 for the issued share is notably lower compared to its industry peers.
For instance, FBNH shares have a P/E ratio of 2.62, GTCO shares are at 2.36, UBA shares stand at 1.32, and Zenith Bank shares are at 1.74.
This disparity suggests that Access Bank shares trading in the market with a 1.12 P/E ratio may be significantly undervalued.
[Nairametrics]
The Edo State Government has voiced significant concerns regarding the current socio-economic state of the nation under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
In a recent address, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, outlined the challenges faced by Edo residents and Nigerians at large, despite state-led interventions.
He stated that the Edo State Government has implemented several initiatives to alleviate the hardships faced by its citizens.
Despite these measures, Nehikhare emphasized that Edo residents continue to suffer due to what he described as the “gross mismanagement of the economy” by the APC government over the past nine years.
Criticism of Federal Policies
Nehikhare specifically criticized the federal government’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidies on May 29, 2023, which he claims plunged the economy into disarray and heightened the risk of starvation among citizens.
Additionally, he highlighted the negative impact of the policy to unify the exchange rate, which he argues has devalued the currency, spiked inflation, and stifled business growth through increased taxation and burdensome regulations.
Rising Insecurity
He also touched on the escalating security concerns, noting a resurgence in terrorist activities, including suicide bombings.
Nehikhare attributed these issues to the APC’s failure to effectively manage national security.
Political Landscape in Edo State
Nehikhare accused the APC in Edo State of being disconnected from the prevailing hardships.
He criticized the party for allegedly spreading misinformation and engaging in propaganda, including baseless fraud allegations against the state government.
The Commissioner also took aim at the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo, questioning his literacy and ability to articulate a clear vision for Edo State.
“The governorship election in Edo State is around the corner and just the way they fooled the entire nation into bondage, they are hoping to replicate the same in Edo State, parading a hardly literate candidate, who finds it difficult expressing himself in public fora and without the verve to share his vision for the people.
“But you, our Edo people are wiser than that. We know who our friends are and who are oppressors are and cannot submit ourselves to them again to inflict the pains and sufferings of these last few years on our people the second time.
“Our people are determined to break from this bondage come September 21, 2024 by sustaining the leadership of the PDP at the State level. They know that the PDP is the best choice for the continued progress and prosperity of the State and will not allow lies and propaganda by their oppressors to cloud their judgment and stop them from making informed decisions for a better future for themselves and their unborn children,” he said.
With the governorship election in Edo State scheduled for September 21, 2024, Nehikhare expressed confidence in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) continued leadership.
He urged Edo residents to reject the APC’s tactics and support the PDP for the state’s progress and prosperity.
“Come September 21, it is PDP or nothing, and there is nothing the APC can do about it,” Nehikhare declared, reflecting the government’s resolve to maintain its leadership in Edo State.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has urged politicians to spend the money with them on uplifting the standard of living of the people.
He insisted that government funds should not be used for personal endeavours, adding that they belong to the people.
Obi spoke on Monday at the Grimard School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ayingba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to him, “We politicians should realise that the money in our care does not belong to us but to the people and we should spend it to uplift their standard of living.
“The money is not our own, it belongs to the people, we are under obligation to spend it on the people.”
Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Anthony Adaji, eulogised Obi’s passion for education as exemplified in the performance of schools when he was the governor of Anambra State.
“His investment in education was legendary and that reflected in the performance of students throughout his tenure as the governor,” Adaji said.
Obi also visited Ankpa and Olamaboro local government areas where he inaugurated two boreholes to serve the communities.
[NaijaNews]
Hardship: ‘The people are hungry and angry’ - Senate Warns FG On Possible Hunger-Induced Protests
AFOLABI
The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, engaged in an urgent debate addressing the widespread hunger and economic hardships faced by citizens, fearing potential backlash and unrest from the increasingly desperate populace.
The debate was spurred by a motion titled “Urgent Need to Address Food Insecurity and Market Exploitation of Consumables in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West and co-sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South.
Senator Karimi highlighted the escalating prices of food and basic goods, citing factors like high inflation and currency devaluation. He referenced recent data from the Bureau of Statistics showing food inflation had surged to 40.66% year-on-year, up from 24.82% in May 2023.
Karimi noted that prices of staples such as beans, maize, rice, yam, tomatoes, and onions had increased dramatically, in some cases by over 100% to 300%, exacerbated by the removal of petroleum subsidies.
He also condemned a prevalent “get rich quickly” mentality, where traders exploit market conditions for profit, paralleling corruption seen among political and corporate elites.
Senator Ndume emphasized the severity of the situation, referencing a report by Action Against Hunger World Food Program predicting over 32 million Nigerians could face critical hunger crises between June and August.
Senator Ndume said, “I don’t know about some other countries, but there in the north, or here in the north, we have started seeing it visibly. People are hungry, very, very hungry.
“Many cannot go to their farms. All of us know this. In the North Central, the North East, and the North West. Even in the South East, we still have crises among the farmers and the herdsmen.
“Even in the South West, we still have this crisis. As it is now, a bag of rice is selling at about 100,000. A bag of maize, the same thing. Even prices of tomatoes, onions, and other basic food are high”
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan warned that Nigerians’ patience was wearing thin, and without swift action, there could be severe repercussions.
He shared observations from his recent travels in the north, witnessing firsthand the struggles of those not engaged in civil service or business to secure even a single daily meal.
Lawan pointed out the need for immediate food imports, noting the nation’s empty silos and the requirement for foreign exchange to facilitate imports.
“Our constituents are facing real, real anger. I traveled to two states last week, in the north particularly, and I’ve seen firsthand how people, especially those who are not in the civil service, nor in any business, are suffering, fighting, and struggling to have food at least once in a day.
“Under normal circumstances, Mr. President, in the rainy season, from maybe June up to September or October, when there will be harvests of new foodstuff, prices of foodstuff are not expected to escalate, now we don’t even have that truth.
“If you come and tell us, they will distribute foodstuff from our silos. The silos are empty, Mr. President. So it means we have to import food. And if we have to import, it means we need foreign exchange.
“And that is because we have to engage with the administration. We have to help the administration. Mr. President, we are the most vulnerable in the leadership arrangements of this country.
“Members of the National Assembly, everybody looks up to Senators or members of the House of Representatives. In fact, people see Senators as Messiahs. Any problem, they say, go for your Senator.
“So if we don’t take immediate action, we will lose the power and our citizens under the situation of increased fuel price, increased electricity price, increased everything and we are yet to get the right measures to provide questions for our constituents.
“We wouldn’t like the kind of thing that we see in our streets and it is time that we take every possible action to get out of the arms of the government to ensure that food floods our country, the right food,” Lawan stated.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio attributed the current crisis to prolonged security issues, including herders’ attacks on farmers in the North Central, banditry in the North West, and Boko Haram insurgencies in the North East.
He stressed the necessity for government intervention to prevent the looming food shortage.
“My opinion was that there was calamity when herders were pursuing people from their farms in the North Central; when bandits were pursuing people in Katsina and all over the North West zone and after the attack the people were moved to IDP camp and abandoned there. In the South there was insecurity and this has been for the past nine years and that is why there is scarcity of food in the country.
“Nigeria is now included among the countries that will experience acute food shortage. There is no doubt that the government must rise to the occasion”, he stated.
The debate concluded with a call for urgent and coordinated efforts to alleviate the growing food insecurity and economic challenges facing the nation.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the University of Abuja and their counterparts in other states of the federation have protested the federal government’s failure to pay their four-month withheld salaries.
The workers, who trooped out in their campuses yesterday to express their grievances over the matter, told the government that they were hungry.
The protest marked the beginning of a series of union actions that could lead to a complete shutdown of universities across Nigeria next week.
During the hours-long protest around the University of Abuja, SSANU chairman Comrade Nurudeen Yusuf and Comrade Sadiya Ibrahim Hassan, chairperson of NASU, expressed the unions’ frustration at the government’s broken promises and demanded the release of their withheld salaries.
They warned that they would no longer accept empty promises from the government over the non-payment of their hard-earned salaries, insisting that promises alone cannot feed their families or pay their children’s school fees.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing NASU and SSANU, has been grappling with longstanding issues related to welfare and university education.
During yesterday’s protests, the unions highlighted the non-payment of salaries for four consecutive months, which they said has been exacerbated by the government’s selective implementation of directives, favouring academic staff over non-teaching personnel.
It should be recalled that in March 2022, the unions embarked on a strike due to the government’s failure to honour multiple agreements. However, in 2023, President Bola Tinubu directed the payment of withheld salaries and excluded universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Nine months after the presidential directive, the unions accused the federal government of Orwellian implementation, where “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
They called on the minister of education to address these issues promptly and cease playing the ostrich. Additionally, they urge the minister of labour and employment to prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.
SSANU and NASU also implored members of the National Assembly, royal leaders, and opinion influencers to intervene.
They said, “This repeated reneging on agreements is eroding the trust of our members in government and its officials, and one wonders if they are truly committed to a qualitative education for the children of the masses.
Our hope was renewed when the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the campaigns assured all Nigerians that there will be no more strikes in Nigerian universities”.
“Today’s protest signals the beginning of a series of union actions which will culminate in the shut all universities in Nigeria. This action is preventable and avoidable; we therefore call on the minister of education to sit up and stop playing the ostrich.
We equally call on the minister of labour and employment to use her good office to prevent industrial disharmony and disaffection in our universities, causing unnecessary disruption in our academic calendar and activities.
“We can no longer accept empty promises. They don’t put food on our tables nor pay our children’s school fees.”
Yesterday, workers at the University of Ilorin said that they could no longer afford the basic necessities of life due to poor wages.
The workers claimed that they can no longer afford food, transportation, and other basic needs of life.
The local NASU chairman, Mr Zubair Ibrahim, who led his colleagues in a peaceful protest on their demand for a living wage, said their agitation is over salary arrears owed members.
“We are hungry and we cannot die in silence. Members are finding it difficult to survive,” Ibrahim declared.
He lamented the failure of the federal government to address their demands even after their warning strikes some months back, adding that appeals for the payment of their withheld four-month salaries fell on deaf ears.
He explained that NASU and SSANU had earlier giving the federal government a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands or face industrial action.
Ibrahim demanded the immediate payment of the four months withheld salaries to members and the 25 per cent allowance.
The local chairman of SSANU, Mr Olushola Falowo said that the government is not sensitive to their plights.
The national financial secretary of SSANU, Alh Jimoh Akanbi stated that the minimum wage for Nigerian workers is constitutional and should be of priority to the government.
“ASUU has been paid their withheld salaries and we appeal that our own should be paid too, he said.
Also, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi staged a protest and called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the ministers of labour and education.
SSANU said that the two Ministers have failed to address the two unions’ plight.
The protesters lamented that the Tinubu administration has failed to address their demands such as wage awards, four months’ arrears withheld salaries and other allowances.
Speaking with journalists during the protest on Tuesday, the Joint Action Chairman, Sulisma Jatau, said, “Tinubu’s government is a failure. We have given him enough time. He promised that he was coming in to fix the nation. He has been longing to govern this country and with what he is doing, it means he never had plans on how to govern this country.
“Hardship in the country is too much, suffering is too much. We are suffering, people are dying. They have money to buy private jets, they have money to build a house for the Vice President when people are dying of hunger.
“Our entitlements should be paid to us. That is all, we are tired of empty promises. You can see all of us, we are looking haggard, we are not happy and this time around, we are serious and we won’t take it lightly. He has failed, that’s all.”
[Leadership]
The House of Representatives Committee on Women’s Affairs and Social Development, on Tuesday, grilled the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, over the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors after the release of funds for the purpose.
The committee was investigating the alleged diversion of the N1.5bn meant for the payment of contractors after it received a petition from the contractors over non-payment for contracts they executed for the ministry.
The committee had at its last sitting summoned the minister to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the non-payment.
The committee also ordered the stoppage of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs until the whereabouts of the money for the said contracts are determined.
Chairperson of the committee, Rep Kafilat Ogbara, at the resumed hearing, said the committee’s investigative hearing was not a witch-hunt but to unravel the truth behind the matter.
When asked why the contractors were not paid their money, the minister said funds were not released to the ministry, but the committee faulted her claim, saying the Director Finance and Accounts had earlier confirmed the release of funds for contracts.
On his part, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Aloy Ifeakandu, said only 25 per cent of the contract sum was released to the ministry.
The committee, while going through the documents submitted by the ministry, queried the N45m said to have been expended in organising New Year celebration for children and another N20m to buy soap and sanitary pads for New Year babies.
The committee also raised eyebrows over the N1.5m she said she spent on fuelling vehicles on a trip to Anambra State, but the minister justified the expenditure.
As the panel dug further into other alleged infractions by the ministry, it became a shouting match between the minister and the panel, as she kept on raising her voice, accusing the committee of not being given a fair hearing.
The panel’s Chairman, Kafilat, who described the attitude of the minister as rude and insulting to the parliament, adjourned the hearing indefinitely.
She said the committee would report to the house that the minister was uncooperative and had no regard for the parliament.
[DailyTrust]
American rapper, Kanye West has said he’s retiring from professional music.
He said he’s unsure of what to do next.
The ‘Ye’ crooner stated this in a recent chat with Rich The Kid.
Rich The Kid shared the screenshot of their conversation via his Instagram story on Tuesday.
In the screenshot, YE wrote, “I am retiring from professional music. Not sure what else to do.”
In a bid to persuade him to shelve his plans, Rich The Kid wrote, “Retire? Why? How? The people need you. The music you, TY [Dollar $ign] and we have made was the biggest stamp in culture to this date in 2024.
“Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again. The kids need you, big bro. Fashion maybe some time to chill but retiring ain’t it.” [Sic].
He didn’t share whether West accepted his advice or not.
Kanye West is one of the most prominent figures in hip-hop; he is known for his varying musical styles.
He started his music career as a producer in Chicago after dropping out of college.
He gained prominence after co-producing Jay-Z’s 2001 album ‘The Blueprint’ and was later signed as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records.
In 2004, West released his debut album, ‘The College Dropout,’ which was met with critical acclaim and yielded the Billboard Hot 100-number one single ‘Slow Jamz.’
He went on to become the joint most-awarded hip-hop artist in the Grammys’ history along with Jay-Z with 24 golden gramophones.
[DailyPost]
More...
The Man Died, a feature film inspired by the ‘Prison Notes’ of Africa’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, will have its ‘special premiere screening’ on Friday, July 12, in Lagos.
The screening, a strictly by invitation event, is designed as a flagship of the global celebration of the 90th birthday anniversary of Soyinka (who is 90 on July 13); and it is expected to be witnessed by a gathering of eminent dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, industry stakeholders, family, friends and associates of the Nobel laureate as well as key members of cast and crew of the film.
“This is not the premiere yet but a special screening to commemorate the 90th birthday of Prof Wole Soyinka,” stated the organisers, stressing that guests would only be admitted based on their invitation and RSVP. A later date will be set for the formal premiere of the film, assured the managers of the event.
Shot entirely in Nigeria – Lagos and Ibadan – late 2023, the 110-minute feature is directed by the cineaste and culture scholar and academic, Awam Amkpa and produced by the ace storyteller and media content producer, Femi Odugbemi for the renowned film company, Zuri 24 Media.
A fictionalised adaptation of the stories narrated in the prison memoirs, the screenplay written by young but tested writer, Bode Asiyanbi, is ‘not a bio-pic of the prison life of Soyinka, but an expanded narrative on his prison experiences, and includes stories that you would find in his subsequent memoirs on his life stories,’ stated Amkpa, the director in an earlier released The Making of The Man Died, produced by Odugbemi.
Amkpa, a former student and long-standing associate of Soyinka, said stories from Soyinka’s subsequent memoirs, Ibadan Penkelemes Years; and You Must Set Forth at Dawn, are also accommodated in the film. A trained theatre artist, filmmaker and culture scholar, Amkpa is currently Professor of Drama, Film and Social and Cultural Analysis, and Dean of Arts and Humanities and Vice Provost for the Arts at New York University Abu Dhabi.
Produced by ZuriMedia24, with generous financial support from the New York University, Abu Dhabi, the film is shot by an entire Nigeria crew with no input from any foreigner, except in the post-production. The director of photography is Agbo Kelly while the Production Designer is Theo Lawson, an architect who has, however, been involved in other film projects in recent years.
On reason for relying entirely on an local production resource to realise the film, unlike projects of its status, which usually bring certain crew members from outside, Amkpa said this was a deliberate and intentional choice. He said in making such a film based on the ‘colourful and fascinating life of enigma who is also an eminent global citizen, authenticity is very important. We need to stress on the input of people intimately familiar with the cultural and political environment that shaped the Nobel laureate and his narratives, irrespective of their skill sets.’
He continued, “I have an army of former students who are big-time filmmakers in Hollywood and elsewhere that I could just call on a whim to make the film and shoot it in Nigeria but that for me, there’s no learning curve. For me, every creative project is like going back to the basics and building back upwards. That was why for me it was very educational to come here.”
Odugbemi, a veteran of the Nigerian movie and television sets, stated in an interview, “As you probably know, it is a very intimate account of Soyinka’s 22 months in solitary confinement for his role in trying to bring a halt to the civil war. I hope this narrative of resistance and courage inspires this generation.
“It is also an ambitious adaptation that brings to life an iconic literary work offering a deep, personal perspective on Nigeria’s conflicted political history and the intense challenges of nation-building. By transforming Soyinka’s poignant narrative into a visual medium, I hope to reach a broader audience, particularly young people, who might be less inclined to engage with the written text but can be profoundly impacted by the film.”
Over 100 film workers of varying specialties and industry experiences featured in the project with notable performers including Wale Ojo in the lead protagonist role of Soyinka, and Sam Dede as the main antagonist, Yisa, Soyinka’s interrogator and torturer. Aside the Hollywood rising actor, Abraham Amkpa, who played Soyinka’s bosom friend, Femi Johnson, other lead actors are Nobert Young (Prison Superintendent), Francis Onwochei (Prison Controller), Edmund Enaibe (AIG), Christina Oshunniyi (Laide Soyinka), Similoluwa Hassan (Emeka Ojukwu), Segilola Ogidan (Morenike), Dili Ezugha (Agu Norris), Ropo Ewenla (Olusegun Obasanjo), Henry Diabuah (Yakubu Gowon), Temilolu Fosudo (Bola Ige), William Idakwo (Victor Banjo), among others.
Odugbemi, renowned for his indelible signature on many successful movies and TV series projects, including Maroko, Gidi Blues, Eve, Code Wilo (movies) and Tinsel, Battleground, Movement JAPA, The Covenant (TV), continues: “Of course, this is not just a memoir; it is a testament to the resilience and courage of the human spirit in the face of oppression. It vividly chronicles Soyinka’s experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, highlighting the brutal reality of political imprisonment and the relentless struggle for justice and freedom.”
Odugbemi, a voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar Awards) and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards), among other film service roles, continued on the making of the film: “Through this film, we aim to inspire young people to embrace their role in demanding humanistic ideals from our nation’s political leadership. In a world where authoritarianism and corruption often threaten democratic values, we hope the film will resonate as a call to action for citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in pursuing justice and equity. We hope it sparks meaningful dialogue to inspire positive change in our country.”
The July 12 premiere in Lagos is supervised by the film’s Associate Producers Makin Soyinka and Jahman Anikulapo with the Production Manager, Adewale Emmanuel Orosun, and managed by ONE Management. Admission is strictly by Invitation. It is supported by Lagos State Government, Providus Bank, Dr. Kayode and Erelu Fayemi, among others. The partners are Arise and Afia Tvs.
After the Lagos premiere, the film will be screened next on July 25 at The Africa Centre (TAC), London, where it will feature as part of WS90 — a 9-day programme of events, jointly organised by the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange and the TAC, also to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of the poet, playwright, essayist, memoirist, human/civil rights activist and global cultural icon. It will thereafter go on a tour of select festivals around the world, before hitting the public cinema screens in Nigeria, the UK, the USA, Europe, UAE and other centres around the African continent.
The Organised Labour still insists that the N250,000 benchmark remains the ideal minimum wage for workers in Nigeria, the President, Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, declared on Tuesday.
Osifo also stated that TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress were meeting with officials of the Federal Government to reach an agreement on the minimum wage.
He disclosed this at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Women Commission maiden Annual Convention in Abuja, with the theme, ‘The Dynamic Woman: Navigating Challenges in a Constantly Evolving World.’
Discussions on a new national minimum wage has paused following the decision of President Bola Tinubu to consult with stakeholders before sending the bill to the National Assembly.
The Federal Government and Organised Private Sector have agreed on N62,000 as the new minimum wage, but labour is insisting on N250, 000.
Speaking at the event, Osifo said negotiations on the new minimum wage has not been abandoned, rather labour and the government were fine-tuning the matter.
“The minimum wage negotiations cannot be dead. The 2019 minimum wage (that has expired) took about two years to see the light of day. We started the negotiations in 2017.
“We promised you when we started in January (this year) that we will ensure this one is fast – tracked for us not to be in the conundrum that we were in 2019 which took two years,” the TUC president stated.
He insisted that the minimum wage was receiving attention, adding that the President wanted further consultations before submitting it to the National Assembly.
“So where we are today, we submitted the divergent position in June, when we did that you know clearly that Mr President came out to say that he wanted to consult across board which is the governors, Local Government chairmen, organised private sector and labour, so we are doing some level of reach-out and conversations.
“So that what will be submitted to the National Assembly will actually be a minimum wage that will cater for the poorest of the poor, so for the fact that in the media we are not shouting, we are doing some level of internal work so that this bill will be submitted in earnest soon. We still insist on the N250,000 benchmark as ideal minimum wage,” Osifo stated.
[Punch]
With Nigeria’s oil production consistently failing to meet budget benchmarks and allotted OPEC quotas, the industry’s regulators and operators have come under severe pressure to fix the hostile operating environment that has seen both investors and international contractors move away from the country.
Against the backdrop of the OPEC oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day, the latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, shows that the country has recorded over 3.011 million barrels production shortfall in the first five months of the year, amounting to over $264.97 million (about N400 billion) revenue loss using an average Bonny Light price of $88 per barrel.
Vanguard’s finding also shows that the country’s oil output has dropped to around 1.2 million barrels per day, down from a peak of 2.5 million barrels per day in the early 2000s.
Industry experts say the circumstances leading to output decline are still much within the system, adding that it might even worsen in the months ahead if nothing drastic is done to arrest the slide.
They are projecting that the production shortfall might push the attendant oil revenue shortfall to N1.0 trillion by the end of the year, a situation which would have significantly reduced the government’s budgeted N15.7 trillion revenue for the 2024 fiscal year.
Already, the Federal Government has hinted that it may not achieve its proposed revenue estimate for the fiscal year due to factors, including under-performance of the oil sector.
In its report, titled ‘’Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP)’’, the Finance Ministry stated: “Our ability to achieve the 2024 budgeted revenue step-up of 77.4 per cent from 2023 actual is at risk should oil production remain 27.0 per cent below budget.
“50 per cent of the annualised YTD (year-to-date) variance suggests a lower-than-budgeted revenue of N15.7 trillion at the current run rate.”
Output constraints
Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria’s oil industry is grappling with output constraints arising from infrastructure decay and a lack of investment in exploration and production.
A breakdown of the data showed that average oil production in January was 1.43mbpd, February 1.32mbpd, March 1.43mbpd, April 1.28mbpd and May 1.25mbpd.
Speaking of the sustained slide in oil production, industry operators and regulators have said the challenges facing the sector needed to be urgently addressed.
According to the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, IPPG, Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, the country is producing at a level significantly below its capacity.
He pointed out that despite Nigeria’s world-class hydrocarbon resource base, with over 37 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and 207 tcf and 600 tcf of proven and contingent gas reserves respectively, it had found itself “in a situation where our daily production has significantly dropped and lies at about 1.3 million barrels of oil and 8.5 bcf of gas today.
Isa said: “This is way below our capacity as a nation and by all globally acceptable standards, this reserves-to-production ratio is extremely low and a clear indicator that the industry is in a dire situation.
“In addition, we now run the risk of partial implementation of our national budget considering an estimated deficit of 400,000 bpd from the forecasted 1.78 million bpd.
“This trend in production portends another frightening dimension when we consider that in the not-too-distant future our overall installed domestic refining capacity, currently closing in on about 1.2million barrels per day, may soon outstrip our current crude oil production level with the risk of Nigeria finding itself in a position where it is unable to meet its domestic refinery crude demand or even become a net importer of crude oil.”
4 priority areas to improve oil production
He listed four priority areas that must be fixed for oil production to improve and meet the government’s target.
The areas include the conclusion of all pending IOC divestment transactions including those involving its member companies – Seplat, the Renaissance Consortium and Oando; untangling of issues around deepwater development, particularly in terms of the competitive fiscal regime being negotiated with Shell, Total Energies, ExxonMobil and Chevron; adoption of a national value-retention strategy; and the development of Nigeria’s gas resources to catalyse economic growth and complement decarbonisation drive.
The challenges, according to the Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, have pushed not just investors away but also international contractors, disclosing that there was only an international contractor now playing in the deep water space.
Kyari also disclosed that lack of activities and new projects had also led to a low number of active rigs in the Nigerian environment.
While listing lack of investment and oil theft as some of the limiting factors, he noted that the obsolete pipeline network was also a major challenge.
He said NNPC led the push for the complete replacement of the two export pipelines to Excravos and Bonny.
He said: “We are talking about increasing production but rigs come here, stack up in deep water and they drill one well and leave. This is why there are no guarantees around rigs in this country.
Nobody will come here, mobilize for one week and leave. That’s why you are seeing the scarcity of the right rigs coming into the country.
“We have also taken another step, we will set up a rig share club with our partners. So that everyone can put on the table drilling programme so that we can all align and when rigs come here they can stay three to five years. Then we can be sure that the trend in production can increase.”
He explained that the practice was what was obtainable in many jurisdictions, lamenting that it was not happening in Nigeria because many people had turned the procurement process into a business.
‘Attract more projects in Nigeria’s deep waters’
On his part, the Chairman and Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria, Mr Jim Swartz, who called on the government to do more to attract projects into Nigeria’s deepwater, pointed out that operating in the deepwater is very expensive with a high level of uncertainty.
He said the issues of cost and long-drawn-out project procurement circle have to be addressed urgently, noting investment would only go to jurisdictions where cost is low and contracts are adhered to.
Speaking on what President Bola Tinubu’s administration had done to improve the operating environment, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, said the three Executive Orders issued in February 2024 were a major boost for the industry.
The three Executive Orders, which became effective from February 28, 2024, are: Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc.) Order, 2024; Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024; and the Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines.
Verheijen noted that the directives will instil confidence and stimulate the economy by making the Nigerian environment more appealing for energy projects.
According to her, the first order “was establishing a clear and transparent regulatory framework. A stable regulatory environment and clearly defined agency roles are crucial to unlocking our untapped potential as an industry and making it more transparent, efficient and competitive now and in the future.
“The second directive is focused on providing fiscal incentives for oil and gas projects and making us more competitive for investments. Directives 40 and 41 offer incentives for midstream gas utilisation, projects and non-associated gas projects.”
She said the government has also completed a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s deepwater competitiveness compared to 13 peer countries to attract investments, adding the government is “working on new fiscal incentives that will facilitate deepwater projects will be critical to Nigeria’s four million barrels per day target”.
NUPRC adds 17 new blocks to the 2024 oil bid round
As part of efforts to boost activities in the sector and improve production, NUPRC has added 17 new deep offshore oil blocks to the 2024 oil bid round, bringing the total blocks on offer to 36.
The blocks which are located across the onshore Niger Delta, Continental shelf, and deep offshore are expected to increase the country’s reserves and boost its oil production.
NUPRC had in April unveiled 12 new acreages for the 2024 bid round with another seven deep offshore blocks from last year’s bid round.
The commission in a document released recently signed by its Chief Executive, Engr Gbenga Komolafe, titled: Nigeria oil block licencing round- Updates on 2022/2023 and 2024 licencing rounds, also reopened the commercial bid for the 2022/2023 licencing round.
Engr. Komolafe explained that the reopening was to allow investors to take advantage of improved fiscal incentives approved by President Bola Tinubu who doubles as the country’s minister of petroleum resources.
Speaking on the issue, oil and gas governance expert, Henry Adigun, said there were a lot of issues in the Nigerian environment which have led to investors abandoning the country.
He harped on the need for the country to tackle oil theft and pipeline vandalism to bring confidence back to the sector.
“The government has a lot to do to improve incentives and get the majors investing again. We need a lot of production to meet domestic demands and also for export,” he added.
Global Affairs Canada, ActionAid laud Gov Mbah on empowerment programmes
Global Affairs Canada, GAC, and ActionAid Nigeria have commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the series of empowerment programmes initiated by his government to improve the standard of living of women, promote gender equality and protect both women and children from gender-based violence and other forms of abuse.
They gave the commendation when a delegation, led by the GAC Head of Development Cooperation, Djifa Ahado, and the Country Director of ActionAid in Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, paid a visit to the governor at Government House, Enugu, yesterday.
Expressing the desire of GAC to continue its partnership with the state government, Ahado said the organization had 15 implementing partners who were engaged to address gender-based violence, women’s peer education programmes to eliminate gender mutilation, women’s political participation and leadership, and women’s economic empowerment, among other programmes. She added that GAC, through ActionAid Nigeria, had invested ¦ 261,382,261.29 as grants to its partners, which had impacted over a million beneficiaries.
Calling for more collaboration between the body and the state government, Ahado lamented that among the challenges faced by GAC included rising violence against women, limited support for gender equality initiatives and insufficient funding and resources to support the women’s rights movement.
On his part, Mamedu of ActionAid lauded the effective and strong collaboration between the state government and ActionAid in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, saying that deliberate investment in women’s rights had a profound impact on sustainable development.
The Country Director, who was represented by the ActionAid Head of Programmes, Celestine Odo, further underscored that one of the laudable projects of the two bodies that had achieved significant results in the empowerment of women and girls was the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) made possible by the cooperation of all the organs involved.
According to him, the achievements made so far by the organisations in the state were a result of the resilience and collective effort of all their partners and the communities that benefitted from the projects.
Reacting to the visit, Governor Mbah appreciated the development organisations for selecting Enugu as one of their project states, a decision he believed must have been informed by his administration’s policies of transparency, accountability and integrity.
He said the state recently passed the ranching law to end open grazing, introduce a modern method of grazing and ensure the safety of farmers across the 17 LGAs of the state.
While reassuring that the administration had zero tolerance for gender-based violence, the governor cited several occasions where the government had arrested culprits of gender-based assault and promised that justice would continue to be served as they were already facing prosecution.
Governor Mbah also disclosed some of the critical steps being taken by the government to eliminate maternal and child mortality through the strengthening of the primary healthcare system, the construction of 260 type-2 primary healthcare hospitals with modern facilities, and the recruitment of thousands of healthcare workers that would be deployed across all the health centres in the state.
He also stressed that the administration, right from the inception of office, had a principle that supports Affirmative Action with women constituting more than 28 per cent of his appointees.
[Vanguard]
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says only three of the 22 airports in Nigeria are profitable.
Speaking on Channels television on Tuesday, Olubunmi Kuku, FAAN’s managing director, said several states in the north and south-west are developing new airports.
She said the authority is cross-subsidising the other 19 airports and will continue to do so for some of the new airports being developed.
“I started off by saying that we have 22 airports which we own and manage,” Kuku said.
“We also have about six or seven airports that are either owned by state governments or private individuals or entity which we also support with either aviation security or fire and rescue services.
“We have a number of states in the north as well as in the south-west that are coming up with new airports.
“I would say that based on the stats today, only three of the 22 airports are actually profitable and contribute largely to the sustenance of the airport companies that we run.
“I would also say that we are actually cross-subsidising the other 19 airports today and in most instances, we will substitute or cross-subsidise for some of the airports that are coming on board as well.”
Kuku said the FAAN contributes 50 percent of its revenue to the federal coffers which is a major challenge, adding that the authority is in discussions with the various arms of government to seek some relief.
‘ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES DRIVE PASSENGER TRAFFIC, NOT NEW AIRPORTS’
The FAAN boss said passenger traffic is driven by gross domestic product (GDP) growth and economic activities rather than the construction of new airports.
Kuku said it is important to focus on key activities such as trade, manufacturing, and tourism to increase airport traffic.
“Rather than building new airports, we need to look at the bottom of the value chain to determine what activities can drive traffic into these airports,” Kuku said.
She said FAAN is collaborating closely with international organisations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the federal ministry of aviation, to expand both domestic and international routes.
Kuku said there are initiatives in place to transform Nigeria and specific airports within the country into transit hubs.
“What that means is that we start to build a network of airports where we can push our feeders to some of the other states or to some of the other locations and start to utilise our airports,” she said.
The FAAN boss said nearly 4 million passengers currently travel internationally from Nigeria, stressing that the efficient use of infrastructure is essential for sustaining and maintaining the facilities.