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As the governor of Sokoto deposed 15 traditional rulers, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed concern over the sour relationship between the governor and the Sultan of Sokoto as well as the rumour of impending dethronement of the Sultan.
According to the human rights organization, Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposition of the Sultan.
MURIC’s position was articulated in a press statement issued on Monday, 24th June, 2024 by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
He said, “The governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, deposed 15 traditional rulers on 23rd April 2024. That was two months ago.
“However, feelers in circulation indicate that the governor may descend on the Sultan of Sokoto any moment from now using any of the flimsy excuses used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier.
“MURIC advises the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s stool is not only traditional. It is also religious. In the same vein, his jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto. It covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.
“Therefore, any governor who tampers with the stool of the Sultan will have Nigerian Muslims to reckon with because the Sultan combines the office of the Sultan of Sokoto and that of the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
“Governor Ahmed Aliyu should not force Nigerian Muslims to take a drastically revolutionary measure. Having a traditional ruler as leader has been a condition Nigerian Muslims accepted a long time ago as a necessary weakness in the structure which they have to live with.
“A military governor, Colonel Yakubu Muazu, exposed this soft underbelly when he deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki on 20th April, 1996. Nigerian Muslims will be forced to make a hard decision if Sokoto governors continue to diminish the authority of the Sultan.
“For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Sultan of the Nigerian people. His performance and style of leadership have warmed him into the hearts of Nigerians.
“Nigerian Muslims North and South of the country may be constrained to pick Islamic scholars only as President General of the NSCIA and overall leader of Nigerian Muslims. It will be farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s priviledged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Colonel Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.
“That will make it impossible for any governor to harass or intimidate the leader of Nigerian Muslims. The power and influence of governors over traditional rulers have become absolute and totalitarian in recent time. Nigerian Muslims must be given space to breathe some air of freedom like all other associations.
“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, the third time is enemy action. If the deposition of a Sultan and NSCIA leader happens a second time, Nigerian Muslims will not allow the embarrassment to happen a third time.
“MURIC reiterates its call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to either repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws by adding the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to Section 6, Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria which empowers the state governor to depose the emirs including the Sultan.
“We urge Northern elites and Islamic scholars based in the North to intervene before it is too late. This is the time to lobby the Sokoto State House of Assembly and the governor himself. If the chieftaincy laws of Kano State can be repealed within 24 hours, nothing stops that of Sokoto State from being reviewed in favour of immunity for the office of the Sultan in a single day to save Nigerian Muslims from humongous embarrassment.
“It is arbitrary, irrational and condescending for a state governor to possess the power to dethrone the leader of all Muslims in Nigeria when even an ordinary chairman of a local government cannot sack the president of a campus students union. It is unacceptable. Enough is enough.
“In the same manner, it is tactless, reckless, myopic and senselessly audacious for any governor of Sokoto State who has the power to remove the Sultan of Sokoto and head of all Nigerian Muslims to actually use that power. Well, once bitten, twice shy. Nigerian Muslims travelled this road once, under military rule. We will not ply the same road again.”
As academic and non-academic workers in the university system have threatened to embark on another round of industrial action, students and parents have said they don’t want another closure of universities, calling on the workers and the government to find a way out of their face-off.
According to them, incessant closure of universities is one of the reasons the schools are not faring well in global rankings.
The students spoke under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and the parents under the auspices of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN.
Speaking in a chat with Vanguard newspaper, the National President of NANS, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, noted that students were always bearing the brunt in cases of industrial actions by university workers.
“Government should listen to the lecturers and university workers generally. Some of the things the lecturers are complaining about are genuine.
“Look at the issue of the composition of Governing Councils for higher institutions in the country, many people who have no job being put into such positions were included. Such sensitive positions should be for technocrats in the education sector and academicians.
“Why would the government not honour an agreement it willingly entered into. Honour an agreement you signed.
“However, I would appeal to ASUU members to also give room for mediation and negotiation because in the long run, all parties would still come to the table to talk. Let the parties give room for negotiation and mediation. Students are always at the receiving end of such fight between the sides and nobody wants to waste his or her precious time,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy National President of NAPTAN, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said government should honour its promise to the workers.
“Government should pay them and fulfil their obligations. When they went on strike the other time, part of what was agreed to making the workers suspend their action was that nobody would be victimized on account of the strike.
“So, if you are not paying them their dues, are you not victimizing the workers? If ASUU goes on strike, SSANU and NASU do so, the university system would collapse. The other time parents had to keep their children at home for about a session, that is not good for the system.
“Look at the recent global ranking of universities, the best ranked university in the country was in about 1,000th position. All these incessant stikes are parts of the poor ranking of our universities. Government should just be alive to its responsibilities and avert another round of industrial disharmony, ” he noted.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is already warming up for another strike, following the inability of the government to meet some of their demands.
The union, last week, started nationwide press briefings and sensitisation on issues it said could disrupt academic activities on campuses.
Top on the list of their demands is the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement and its implementation.
The agreement is about better welfare packages, funding of the universities, better facilities among others.
Also, ASUU is demanding the payment of four months withheld salaries of members.
Eight months salaries were withheld following the 2022 strike by the union, but only four months have been paid by the Bola Tinubu administration.
On the other hand, non-teaching staff under the umbrella of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, National Association of Academic Technologists,NAAT and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions, NASU, are also demanding the payment of their withheld salaries of between three and a half months and five and a half months.
They are also calling for the implementation of an earlier agreement entered into by their unions and the government.
The academic and non-academic unions have given various timelines as when their demands must be met or they would go on strike.
Former Council Chairmen of 21 out of the 23 Local Governments Area (LGA) in Rivers State, on Monday, defied police order and staged a protest at their various council areas.
The pro-Wike former LGA bosses protested in their local councils despite an advisory against protests issued by the Rivers State Police Command.
In Buguma, council headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George, alongside his supporters, marched through the streets of the town as they gyrate to songs in solidarity with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
They waved placards with inscriptions asking the police to continue occupying the council headquarters.
Some of the inscriptions read, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council”.
Also, in Abonnema, the Akuku-Toru LGA council headquarters, some persons staged a protest, backing the continued closure of council premises by the police.
The police took over the council secretariats of the 23 LGAs in the oil-rich South-South last Tuesday following the crisis that erupted over the three-year tenure expiration of the former LGA chairmen.
Three deaths have been recorded in the wake of the pandemonium.
The state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, last week sworn in 23 caretaker chairmen but the police have continued to barricade the council premises in all the LGAs preventing both parties from gaining access to avert possibilities of break down of law and order.
The Ogun state government has cautioned residents as it officially reported 25 cases of Cholera across seven local government areas in the state.
One person, according to the government, died recently in the Ijebu North local government in the Ogun East Senatorial district.
The state commissioner for health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this information in Abeokuta, the state capital, during a press conference at the Olusegun Osoba press centre.
She mentioned that comprehensive surveillance and emergency medical care have been initiated in all 20 local government areas of the state.
The areas most affected by the outbreak were identified as Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Obafemi/Owode, Ijebu North, Ado, and Odo/OTA local government areas.
While ensuring the public of the state government’s and its partners’ readiness, she urged residents to uphold good personal and public hygiene practices to curb the spread of the disease.
“The Ogun State Government is cognisant of these threats hence we are at all times prepared for outbreaks and other Diseases of public health importance.
Our robust preparedness and our resolve to protect the lives and health of all residents have helped minimise the impact of the Cholera Outbreak in the state in comparison to many other states in Nigeria.
“At the inception, we received the alert on June 12th, 2024, about the first 2 cases. Both cases tested positive with a Cholera rapid diagnostic kit and were managed at the State Hospital, Ota.
“The 2 cases had travel history to Lagos state 24hrs before presentation, as of today, 24th, June 2024, the Ogun state has recorded 25 suspected cases of Cholera in 7 LGAs, namely, Adoodo/Ota, Remo North, Odeda, Sagamu, Ijebu North, Ewekoro, and Obafemi Owode, with 9 confirmed case and unfortunately, 1 death.
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“Consequent upon these findings, it is imperative to declare an ongoing Cholera Outbreak in Ogun State.
“Before this outbreak, as part of the state preparedness, a robust surveillance system was in place in all 20 local government authorities, which ensured prompt detection of cases.
“The initial 8 cases originated from Lagos state, the reported epicentre of the Cholera outbreak and a state that shares a border with 4 of our local governments. The 8 cases had travel history to Lagos and 6 of them reported taking tiger nut drink while in Lagos. Furthermore, we also promptly diagnosed cholera in 5 of the contacts of the patients with a travel history to Lagos State,” Coker noted in the press release on Monday.
In response to the situation, she mentioned that the state’s Epidemiology team is on heightened alert and that every Local Government Area (LGA) Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer has also ramped up their monitoring efforts throughout all 20 LGAs.
The statement added: “Our private health facilities and citizens have been sensitized to heighten their index of suspicion and report any suspected case immediately to the LGA DSNO, and the State response Team by calling the following phone numbers 08038642812, 07034214893, and 08084250881.
“All our 20 LGAs have trained rapid-response teams ready to respond to your call at short notice in collaboration with Ogun State Emergency and Ambulance Service.
“Also, cholera test kits and other consumables needed for treatment have been distributed to all LGAs and designated treatment centres to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment. The treatment of Cholera is free across all government facilities in Ogun State.
“Ogun State Ministry of Health is coordinating this outbreak response in collaboration with stakeholders from the Ministry of Environment, Information, and Education, WES at the LGA (water, environment, and sanitation), RUWATSAN (Rural water and sanitation), Water cooperation, Private hospital owners, Emergency services (OGSAES) and partners.
“The Emergency Operations Centre was activated earlier and is now in the response mode, tracking evolving situations and acting accordingly. Each ministry’s Departments and agencies involved in the response are carrying out its statutory responsibilities to curtail and control the outbreak. The Ministry of Environment and LGA Waste and Environmental Sanitation department is carrying out activities to curb open defecation and improve environmental hygiene.”
According to Coker, Cholera sensitisation materials are being shared via all electronic platforms, including social media, Radio, and Television. The Ministry of Information and the risk communication pillar of the EOC are working hard to engage the public on prevention practices, good hygiene, and sanitation.
“Medications and essential consumables have been prepositioned at LGAs and other strategic health facilities to provide hitch-free, quality treatment that is free in all government health facilities.
“Some of its LGAs have been identified as high-risk LGAs and hotspots in Ogun state, these are Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ijebu North, Obafemi Owode, Ifo, and Adoodo Ota.
“As a way of warning, the Risk factors for cholera include eating contaminated food and drink, unhygienic sanitary conditions, and poor personal hygiene,” She added.
Naija News reports that symptoms of Cholera include diarrhoea, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting.
Cholera can lead to intense, watery diarrhoea that can be fatal within hours without proper treatment. Symptoms can appear between 12 hours and 5 days after exposure.
To prevent and control Cholera, a comprehensive strategy is necessary, involving monitoring, access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene practices, community engagement, medical care, and the administration of oral cholera vaccines.
However, she emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of personal and environmental cleanliness among the community members.
“Our Expectation from the public is Proper personal hygiene ( particularly Hand Hygiene), Washing food/fruits/vegetables properly before eating, Drink only clean water (Boil if the source is not trusted), Discourage Open defaecation, cook food thoroughly, go to the nearest health facility if you pass watery stool more than twice within 8 hours and report any suspected case in your locality. Please call the following phone numbers 08038642812, 07034214893, and 08084250881,” she added.
Naija News reports that the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Ogun State, Kunle Ashimi, highlighted the extensive reach of cholera in a press release issued on Thursday, noting its presence in 30 states nationwide, including Ogun.
Meanwhile, Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported that the death toll from the cholera outbreak in the state has climbed to 24, with 350 suspected cases.
President Bola Tinubu has directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.
The President also directed that the supervisors and department heads of the culprits must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.
Tinubu’ gave the directive on Saturday at the award night organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.
The event was also to honour some outstanding civil servants in core ministries.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the President expressed dismay over the attitude of the ghost workers.
“During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities.
“I was particularly struck by the revelations the Head of the Civil Service shared regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning.
“It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made.
“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.
“Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch,” Tinubu said.
He reiterated that the government would take appropriate measures to ensure they were punished and the money refunded to the government treasury.
The President acknowledged the challenges in the civil service sector and reiterated his commitment to address them for optimal performance.
“Our administration acknowledges the challenges the civil service is facing.
“I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation.
“Over the past year, I have provided all the necessary support to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to ensure the continued stability of the civil service.
“I also supported the office in implementing far-reaching policies and reforms capable of improving efficiency and service delivery, ” the President said.
The PUNCH reports other activities to mark the night were the presentation of the top three prizes to the winners and an additional N500,000 cash prizes to 40 workers.
Making the presentation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the HOCSF announced the top three prizes won by three lucky officers at the event.
“The Star Prize is a Brand New 2023 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV; the second is a two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow; and
the third top prize is a serviced plot of land measuring 400 sqm.
“I am also pleased to announce that the Nigeria Customs Service has graciously committed to donating six Toyota Camry cars in support of the 2024 Civil Service Week.
“The office has started receiving the vehicles, and these will be presented as prizes to the next set of runner-up best-performing officers,” she said.
The Federal Government has spent a total of $15.55bn on debt servicing between 2019 and 2024, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In 2019, Nigeria paid $588.33m in debt service between January and May, while the payment for 2020 was $5.40bn.
The debt service payments continued to rise in subsequent years, with $2.02bn paid in 2021, $2.34bn in 2022, and $3.43bn in 2023.
Between January and May 2024, the country has paid $2.18bn in debt service, according to the CBN’s data.
This is 270.9 per cent increase compared to the first five months of 2019 which was $588.33m.
The $2.18bn, in May 2024 is nearing half of the $4.8bn projected by Fitch Ratings for the year.
This increase is despite the government’s assertions that it is shifting its focus towards domestic borrowing.
Fitch Ratings also predicts that the country’s external debt servicing will escalate by $400m to $5.2bn next year, raising concerns about Nigeria’s debt sustainability.
According to the CBN International Payments Data, the FG spent the highest on debt financing within the last five years in 2020 which amounted to $5.40bn.
Nigeria’s external debt service payments saw a significant increase of $1.1bn, reaching $3.5bn in 2023, according to FBNQuest Research.
This breakdown comprises $1.9bn in market debt payments and $1.6bn in non-market debt payments. Furthermore, the Federal Government plans to take on additional external debt, including N1.8tn in commercial borrowing and N1.1tn in concessional loans, as outlined in the 2024 budget.
FBNQuest Research expects a further increase in external debt service payments, mirroring Fitch Ratings’ predictions, due to the government’s plans to access commercial debt markets and anticipated growth in borrowings from concessional sources.
Recently, the government received $2.25bn from the World Bank to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
The two-fold packages include $1.5bn for the Nigeria Reforms for Economic Stabilization to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing Program and $750m for the Nigeria Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms Program-for-Results.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said, “We have undertaken bold and necessary reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and put Nigeria on a path to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. These reforms will create quality jobs and economic opportunities for all Nigerians.”
This loan, described as “virtually a grant” by Edun, is expected to support the government’s economic reforms and development initiatives.
The report noted that the principal programme development objective is to raise non-oil revenues and safeguard oil and gas revenues.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has lost his mother-in-law, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir.
She passed away in Kano on Sunday evening after a prolonged illness.
She was aged 69.
A statement issued on Monday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, stated that Hajiya Maryam, the mother of the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, will be laid to rest today afternoon in Kano, in accordance with Islamic traditions.
According to the statement, “The late Hajiya Maryam was known as an exemplary and kind-hearted mother in her community and also a devoted Muslim. She was respected for her wisdom, compassion, and dedication to charitable causes. Many remember her as a source of guidance and support, both within her family and in the wider community in Kano.
“The nation extends its condolences to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hajiya Nana Shettima, and their family during this difficult time, while appreciating the life and legacy of the late Hajiya Maryam Albishir.”
Labour Party has reiterated its support for Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 election, dismissing rumours of a potential replacement.
In a statement jointly signed yesterday by the Director-General of the Directorate on Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei; the Deputy Director of Media and Communications, Ambassador Aju Elumelu; and the Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, Sheikh Rufai Al-Saddiq, the party denied reports of a rift and affirmed its commitment to Obi’s candidacy.
The directorate acknowledged efforts to reconcile aggrieved groups within the party but emphasized that no agreement had been reached to replace Obi.
It emphasized the party’s unity and cohesion behind Obi, who has been ratified as the presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The directorate said: “The leadership and members of our great party recognize the importance of peaceful coexistence among brothers and acknowledge the fact that there’s a bigger target—liberating Nigeria from the shackles of greedy politicians and building a nation that protects the interests of its citizens.
“The party has decided to follow a peaceful approach to resolving internal misunderstandings. This effort within the Labour Party and its successes have elicited different reactions; we have also seen an attempt by the opposition to make a false spin for their own selfish interests, misinforming the general public with the aim of causing more crises in our party.
“For the record, this directorate was set up to facilitate reconciliation and help mobilize and integrate Labour Party stakeholders toward electoral victory for our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in 2027.
“The party leadership recognizes the need for unity and cohesion within the party as a requirement for internal stability and improving the winning chances of H.E. Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 elections.
“We have reached out through various channels to different stakeholders, and discussions are still ongoing on various fronts; we are also making great progress in this endeavor. To misconstrue this effort as being against our presidential candidate is unfortunate.
“To set the record straight, Peter Obi remains our presidential candidate for 2027 as ratified, and all the party leadership are behind him and committed to his message of a new Nigeria.”
With this clarification, the Labour Party has put to rest speculations about Obi’s candidacy, reaffirming its faith in his leadership and vision for Nigeria.
Tinubu deserves commendation for emulating me — Obi
Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu deserved commendation for heeding his call on wealthy Nigerians to join him in sinking boreholes to provide access to water for the downtrodden.
Obi said this via a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach, in Abuja, yesterday.
This was in response to the Presidential directive that 400 boreholes be constructed nationwide as part of a charity initiative to honour the memory of his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.
Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who signed the statement, said: “The office of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for harkening to the call of our principal, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to wealthy Nigerians to join him in ensuring the provision of boreholes across the country for the oppressed in our midst.
“Obi embarked on the project after witnessing what many Nigerians go through trying to get basic needs such as drinking water.
“He had already installed some boreholes as a short time solution in some Northern states, including Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kano, Zaria, Kebbi, Suleja in Niger State and Sokoto, where the situation is acute.
“At the special anniversary of the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji in Abuja at the weekend, the President announced a nationwide project to construct 400 boreholes as a continuation of charity in the late mother’s memory.
“The POMR commends this spirit of charity from the President as it aligns with our principal’s desire to attend to the poor in our midst.
“POMR would like to advise that this new line of thinking from the President should be reflected in government projects which at the moment are not addressing the yearnings of the poor in our midst.
“It remains shameful that in a nation where millions have no access to clean drinking water, millions of children are out of school and have no access to decent healthcare with millions of youths out of jobs, yet the government is placing priority on bogus projects such as coastal highway, mansions, flyovers and buying of jets etc as a priority.
“The President’s new spirit of charity, if it continues, will help in pulling many Nigerians out of poverty if it’s diversified.”
Labour Party has reiterated its support for Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 election, dismissing rumours of a potential replacement.
In a statement jointly signed yesterday by the Director-General of the Directorate on Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei; the Deputy Director of Media and Communications, Ambassador Aju Elumelu; and the Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, Sheikh Rufai Al-Saddiq, the party denied reports of a rift and affirmed its commitment to Obi’s candidacy.
The directorate acknowledged efforts to reconcile aggrieved groups within the party but emphasized that no agreement had been reached to replace Obi.
It emphasized the party’s unity and cohesion behind Obi, who has been ratified as the presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The directorate said: “The leadership and members of our great party recognize the importance of peaceful coexistence among brothers and acknowledge the fact that there’s a bigger target—liberating Nigeria from the shackles of greedy politicians and building a nation that protects the interests of its citizens.
“The party has decided to follow a peaceful approach to resolving internal misunderstandings. This effort within the Labour Party and its successes have elicited different reactions; we have also seen an attempt by the opposition to make a false spin for their own selfish interests, misinforming the general public with the aim of causing more crises in our party.
“For the record, this directorate was set up to facilitate reconciliation and help mobilize and integrate Labour Party stakeholders toward electoral victory for our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in 2027.
“The party leadership recognizes the need for unity and cohesion within the party as a requirement for internal stability and improving the winning chances of H.E. Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 elections.
“We have reached out through various channels to different stakeholders, and discussions are still ongoing on various fronts; we are also making great progress in this endeavor. To misconstrue this effort as being against our presidential candidate is unfortunate.
“To set the record straight, Peter Obi remains our presidential candidate for 2027 as ratified, and all the party leadership are behind him and committed to his message of a new Nigeria.”
With this clarification, the Labour Party has put to rest speculations about Obi’s candidacy, reaffirming its faith in his leadership and vision for Nigeria.
Tinubu deserves commendation for emulating me — Obi
Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu deserved commendation for heeding his call on wealthy Nigerians to join him in sinking boreholes to provide access to water for the downtrodden.
Obi said this via a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach, in Abuja, yesterday.
This was in response to the Presidential directive that 400 boreholes be constructed nationwide as part of a charity initiative to honour the memory of his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.
Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who signed the statement, said: “The office of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for harkening to the call of our principal, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to wealthy Nigerians to join him in ensuring the provision of boreholes across the country for the oppressed in our midst.
“Obi embarked on the project after witnessing what many Nigerians go through trying to get basic needs such as drinking water.
“He had already installed some boreholes as a short time solution in some Northern states, including Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kano, Zaria, Kebbi, Suleja in Niger State and Sokoto, where the situation is acute.
“At the special anniversary of the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji in Abuja at the weekend, the President announced a nationwide project to construct 400 boreholes as a continuation of charity in the late mother’s memory.
“The POMR commends this spirit of charity from the President as it aligns with our principal’s desire to attend to the poor in our midst.
“POMR would like to advise that this new line of thinking from the President should be reflected in government projects which at the moment are not addressing the yearnings of the poor in our midst.
“It remains shameful that in a nation where millions have no access to clean drinking water, millions of children are out of school and have no access to decent healthcare with millions of youths out of jobs, yet the government is placing priority on bogus projects such as coastal highway, mansions, flyovers and buying of jets etc as a priority.
“The President’s new spirit of charity, if it continues, will help in pulling many Nigerians out of poverty if it’s diversified.”
Says first commercial transaction added $5m foreign reserves
President commends ministry’s major milestone in administration’s drive to diversify economy
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the latest gold bars sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by an agency of the Ministry, Solid Minerals Development Fund, to meet the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery Standard.
At the presentation at the State House Abuja, Alake praised President Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the National Gold Purchase programme will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value.
Alake said the refined gold would be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria to bolster foreign reserves.
He said the presentation marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), the centralised offtake scheme supported by a decentralised aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.
“The successful completion of the first commercial transaction clearly demonstrates the National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness. It has increased the nation’s foreign reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy. This transaction has also underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and monetary stability,” the minister said.
Alake said the first commercial transaction had delivered +US$5 million increase in Nigerian’s foreign reserves assets, 70+ kilograms of gold refined to the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard and successful aggregation of locally mined gold thereby injecting about NGN6 billion into the rural economy.
Receiving and displaying a symbolic bar, President Tinubu commended the Ministry for achieving a major milestone in the administration’s drive to diversify the economy.
“This is another concrete step towards the diversification process under the Renewed Hope Agenda” the President said.
Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatimah Shinkafi, in her presentation said the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard was the globally recognised stringent and trusted standard that enables the global trade in gold and silver bars.
“Only gold and silver bars that meet our Good Delivery standards are acceptable in the settlement of a Loco London contract – where the bullion traded is physically held in London,” she said.
Shinkafi said through the efforts of the National Gold Purchase Program under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria had joined a select group of countries bolstering their gold reserves by purchasing gold in local currency to foster economic confidence, enhance currency stability, and create a more attractive environment for foreign investment.
dislodge local guards protecting Sanusi
The police have reportedly stormed the emir’s palace in Kano state and displaced the local guards protecting Muhammadu Sanusi, the recently reinstated emir.
According to Premium Times, the hunters who served as local guards left the palace as soon as the police officers took over the security of the building.
This was said to be a move aimed at securing the main palace for the relocation of Aminu Bayero, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, following a court order that faulted his dethronement.
On Thursday, a federal high court in Kano nullified all actions of the state government repealing the Emirates Council Law of 2019.
In his ruling, Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, said the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the law.
BACKGROUND
On May 23, the Kano house of assembly passed the amended bill, which Abba Yusuf, the governor, signed into law.
The law repealed the 2019 version, which divided the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and was relied upon to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi as emir in 2020.
On the same day the law was repealed, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor.
Aggrieved, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi and Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate approached the court to restrain the respondents from enforcing, implementing, and operationalising the law that reinstated Sanusi.
On May 23, Liman ordered the defendants to “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created according to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019”.
The Kano police command had also said it would not comply with the directive of the state government on the eviction of Bayero from the Nassarawa palace which he moved into after he was replaced by Sanusi, the new emir, who moved into the main palace in Kano.
Since then, Bayero, who is said to have the backing of some federal government officials, has been under the protection of a retinue of soldiers and police officers at the Nassarawa palace.
More...
Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia north, says President Bola Tinubu has done well in certain areas of the economy.
He added that the president needs to do more in other areas because citizens are starving.
Speaking with Channels Television, Kalu said the country needs fiscal policies that would lead to the production of more food.
“I’m sure the president has done well in some areas and he also needs to improve in many other areas. I’m a very practical person, I fear nobody and I support the truth,” he said.
“President Tinubu has done so well in some areas, and in some other areas of feeding our people, people are hungry so I cannot say.
“He has done well in economic policy, monetary policy. Very good.
“But in fiscal policies we haven’t grown more food. I want us to grow more food.”
The former governor said the proposed N62,000 minimum wage would not address the ongoing inflation.
“I’m a proponent that local governments should be getting their money fully,” he added.
“I also believe that N62,000 cannot do anything. N90,000… and why I’m proposing N90,000 is very simple. We have not increased the minimum wage in five years.
“I’m a practical person. The civil servants need good treatment.”
EXCLUSIVE: Senate probe in limbo as documents show ways and means under Buhari was N7.5trn not N30trn
AFOLABI
Ways and means advances by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari amounted to N7.5 trillion as at December 2022, according to official documents seen by TheCable.
This is significantly lower than the N30 trillion reported by the senate joint committee on banking, finance, national planning, agriculture and appropriation which led to the setting up of a probe panel headed by Isah Jibrin (Kogi east).
Ways and means is a loan facility through which the CBN finances the federal government’s budget shortfalls.
The CBN law limits advances under ways and means to 5 percent of the previous year’s revenue, but this has been observed mostly in the breach over the years.
This way of financing government deficits usually results in macroeconomic instability, leading to inflation and high exchange rates because of the excess liquidity injected into the economy.
THE BREAKDOWN
Documents seen by TheCable show that as at December 19, 2022, the total outstanding overdraft to the federal government in its “treasury subtreasury account” at the CBN was N22,719,703,774,306.90.
This was made up of N7,531,819,048,929.66 as ways and means, N13,725,408,432,557.50 as total costs of transactions on federal government securities in the capital market, and N4,618,829,652,047.41 as interest charges on the overdraft facility.
The loans were not reflected as part of the debt stock of the federal government until December 2022 when the Buhari administration officially requested the national assembly to do so.
TheCable understands that there were only three requests for ways and means by Buhari throughout his tenure, even though the facility was disbursed more than thrice — some automated because of the sovereign risk on securities.
The biggest amount — nearly N2 trillion — was disbursed in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak when government revenues fell as a result of the lockdown. The federal government got loans from the CBN for intervention programmes during the pandemic.
The next biggest amount was in 2022 when N1,473,618,756,185.62 was advanced to the federal government. It was the same year Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to a spike in food prices globally.
In 2019 — the year Buhari was elected for a second term in office — N1.4 trillion was provided to the federal government via ways and means.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the overdraft was the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), which got N1.3 trillion under the “payment assurance facility” to keep the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI) “liquid”.
Two private power generation companies — Azura Power West Africa and Accugas Limited — got steady payments from the federal government under the controversial “take or pay” arrangement.
Azura gets $30 million monthly while Accugas receives $10 million, also monthly.
Nigeria’s credit rating is at risk if there is a failure to meet up with the payment obligations to Azura and Accugas in two of the most curious cases of sovereign guarantee hanging on the nation’s neck.
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) also got huge funds from the overdraft.
SENATE PROBE IN LIMBO
Olayemi Cardoso, who succeeded Emefiele as CBN governor, said in February 2024, that the bank would no longer grant ways and means advances to the government “until all outstanding debts are refunded”.
This was after the senate approved the securitisation of an outstanding debit balance of N7.3 trillion ways and means in the first six months of the Bola Tinubu administration.
On March 11, 2024, Senate President Godswill Akpabio inaugurated a 17-member ad hoc committee of the red chamber to probe the “N30 trillion Ways and Means” secured under Buhari and report in “six weeks”.
The deadline is now past by nine weeks and the panel is yet to submit its report.
TheCable has contacted Jibrin for an update on the probe but he is yet to respond.
At its inauguration, Akpabio charged the committee to be confidential and “keep investigations away from the prying eyes of journalists”.
… laments as Regulator (NMDPRA) continues to grant licences to import banned dirty diesel, jet fuel
Vice President, Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin, has accused International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria of doing everything to frustrate the survival of Dangote Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals. Edwin said the IOCs are deliberately and wilfully frustrating the refinery’s efforts to buy local crude by jerking up high premium price above the market price, thereby forcing it to import crude from countries as far as United States, with its attendant high costs.
Speaking to a group of Energy Editors at a one-day training programme, organised by the Dangote Group, Edwin also lamented the activity of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in granting licences, indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty refined products into the country. He said, “the Federal Government issued 25 licences to build refinery and we are the only one that delivered on promise. In effect, we deserve every support from the Government. It is good to note that from the start of production, more than 3.5 billion litres, which represents 90 per cent of our production, have been exported. We are calling on the Federal Government and regulators to give us the necessary support in order to create jobs and prosperity for the nation.”
According to him: “While the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) are trying their best to allocate the crude for us, the IOCs are deliberately and willfully frustrating our efforts to buy the local crude. It would be recalled that the NUPRC, recently met with crude oil producers as well as refineries owners in Nigeria, in a bid to ensure full adherence to Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligations (DCSO), as enunciated under section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). It seems that the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our Petroleum Refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for ridiculous/humongous premium or, they simply state that crude is not available. At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production…
“It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country which exports Crude Oil and imports refined Petroleum Products. They (IOCs) are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their GDP, and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria - thus making us to be dependent on imported products. It is the same strategy the multinationals have been adopting in every commodity, making Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to be facing unemployment and poverty, while they create wealth for themselves at our expense. This is exploitation - pure and simple. Unfortunately, the country is also playing into their hands by continuing to issue import licences, at the expense of our economy and at the cost of the health of the Nigerians who are exposed to carcinogenic products.
"In spite of the fact that we are producing and bringing out diesel into the market, complying with ECOWAS regulations and standards, licences are being issued, in large quantities, to traders who are buying the extremely high sulphur diesel from Russia and dumping it in the Nigerian Market. Since the US, EU and UK imposed a Price Cap Scheme from 5th February, 2023 on Russian Petroleum Products, a large number of vessels are waiting near Togo with Russian ultra-high sulphur diesel and, they are being purchased and dumped into the Nigerian Market.
"In fact, some of the European countries were so alarmed about the carcinogenic effect of the extra high sulphur diesel being dumped into the Nigerian Market that countries like Belgium and the Netherlands imposed a ban on such fuel being exported from its country, into West Africa, recently. It is sad that the country is giving import licences for such dirty diesel to be imported into Nigeria, when we have more than adequate petroleum refining capacity locally...”
It would be recalled that in May, Belgium and Netherland adopted new quality standards to halt the export of cheap, low-quality fuels to West Africa, harmonising its standards with those of the European Union. These measures synchronise fuel export standards with the European domestic market, specifically targeting diesel and petrol with high sulphur and chemical content. Historically, these fuels, with sulphur content reaching up to 10,000 ppm, were exported at reduced rates to countries like Nigeria and other West African consumers.
Belgium’s Minister of Environment, Zakia Khattabi, announced that his country followed the Netherland, which in April 2023 also prohibited the export of low-quality petrol and diesel to West Africa via the ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Khattabi emphasised that the Netherlands’ decision to restrict dirty fuel exports had redirected the trade to Belgium, now used by oil producers and traders to export gasoline with excessively high levels of benzene and sulphur.
“For far too long, toxic fuels have been departing from Belgium to destinations including Africa. They cause extremely poor air quality in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon and are even carcinogenic,” said Khattabi.
In September 2017, an investigation by an international organisation, Public Eye revealed that polluted and toxic fuels were being exported on a large scale from the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam for export to African markets. As much as a quarter of the petrol and diesel available in West Africa originates from the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. These fuels contain sulphur and other pollutants, such as cancer-causing benzene, in quantities up to 400 times the limits permitted in Europe. The Netherlands and Belgium were enjoined to enforce regulations to shield millions of Africans from exposure to toxic fuels.
The decision of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in granting licenses indiscriminately for the importation of dirty diesel and aviation fuel has made the Dangote refinery to expand into foreign markets. The refinery has recently exported diesel and aviation fuel to Europe and other parts of the world. The same industry players fought us for crashing the price of diesel and aviation fuel, but our aim, as I have said earlier, is to grow our economy.
He noted that because the refinery meets the international standard as well as comply with stringent guidelines and regulations to protect the local environment, it has been able to export its products to Europe and other parts of the world.
While appealing to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently intervene for speedy implementation of the PIA and to ensure the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians are protected, he said: "Recently, the government of Ghana, through legislation has banned the importation of highly contaminated diesel and PMS into their county. It is regrettable that, in Nigeria, import licences are granted despite knowing that we have the capacity to produce nearly double the amount of products needed in Nigeria and even export the surplus. Since January 2021, ECOWAS regulations have prohibited the import of highly contaminated diesel into the region.”
A collaborative effort involving the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar and a Senegalese NGO has led to the rescue of 24 Nigerian girls from s*xual exploitation in the Tamaccounda and Kedougou regions of Senegal.
The collaborative effort successfully freed the girls from their exploitative situation.
The acting Ambassador of the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, Salihu Abubakar, revealed the details to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.
According to him, the victims, mostly girls and women aged between 11 and 24, but predominantly underage girls, were trafficked to Senegal through Cotonou, Benin Republic, via the Mali-Senegal border for s*xual exploitation.
"These girls and many more are being trafficked to Senegal through Cotonou, Benin Republic via Mali to the Senegal border for prostitution," Abubakar explained.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the majority of the girls and women were school dropouts from Edo and Delta states, with a few others from Imo, Abia, and two from Plateau. Abubakar confirmed that out of the 24 girls and women, 22 had been repatriated weeks earlier, while the remaining two returned safely to Nigeria on Saturday.
The health status of the victims and details regarding the duration of their exploitation remain undisclosed. However, the diplomat emphasised that the successful repatriation highlights the strong international cooperation between the embassy and the NGO, "Free the Slaves" (La Lumiere in French), in combating human trafficking.
"Our main goal and number one priority is to discourage the trafficking of our Nigerian girls to any part of the world for prostitution under any guise," Abubakar said.