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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other stakeholders have condemned the arrest of its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, threatening a showdown with the government.
While calling for his immediate and unconditional release, the labour movement has alerted its members for a possible confrontation.
LEADERSHIP reports that Ajaero was arrested by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom to attend an event by Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
After an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC), the NLC described the arrest as illegal and unjustified.The council expressed grave concern over what it termed an “affront to the rights of workers” and a violation of Ajaero’s democratic freedoms, particularly his right to movement and expression.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by the labour centre’s Deputy President Adeyanju Adewale, the NLC demanded Ajaero’s release before midnight and warned that his detention was a deliberate attempt to stifle the labour movement’s voice.
The council linked the arrest to broader issues affecting workers and demanded the reversal of the current hike in petrol prices to N617 per litre,
The Congress has also put all its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on high alert, hinting at a potential nationwide strike if Ajaero is not freed.
The NLC emphasised that Ajaero’s arrest is an attack not only on the labour leadership but also on Nigerians’ broader rights to organise and protest freely.
In anticipation of further action, the NLC has called for an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) today to decide its next steps.
The Congress vowed to defend the rights of Nigerian workers. It urged the government to respect democratic principles, including implementing the recently signed National Minimum Wage law.
The communiqué reads in part: “The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before midnight today.
“The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria. NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617 per litre.”
“The Congress places all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert.
“The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organise, protest, and express themselves freely.”
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has also expressed concern over the arrest of the NLC president and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
In a statement issued shortly after Ajaero’s arrest, TUC President Festus Osifo described the arrest as a violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of association and expression, which are essential to any democratic society.
Comrade Osifo condemned the arrest as an unjust act that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian Labour movement but also undermines the rights of millions of working-class Nigerians who depend on unions to defend their interests.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana said that the arrest of his client, Joe Ajaero, is not connected with the earlier invitation by the Nigerian Police Force.
Falana said the secret police had failed to provide a reason for Ajaero’s arrest.
“The police rescheduled the invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation,” he said.
“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”
SERAP Asks Tinubu To End DSS Intimidation, Harassment Of Its Directors
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to end the Department of State Services’ (DSS) intimidation, harassment, and attacks.
SERAP also said there is a threat of arrest for its directors and employees.
SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare made this call in a press statement issued on Monday after some officers from the DSS allegedly invaded its Abuja office, requesting to see their directors without any prior notification.
He claimed that the raid on the organisation’s office occurred after they urged President Tinubu and his government to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the unauthorised increase in the pump price of petrol and to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
Oluwadare said the invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the -*/ harassment and intimidation of its staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.
He stressed that the escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those in need, undermine access for Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity for perpetrators.
The SERAP deputy director, while maintaining that the government must support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders, expressed grave concern about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.
Oluwadare said, “President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and bring to justice those involved.
“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognised under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff.”
Air Peace Petition Against Ajaero Long Withdrawn
Meanwhile, the management of Air Peace Airlines has distanced itself from the petition allegedly used by the DSS to arrest NLC President Joe Ajaero on Monday.
Air Peace Airlines, in a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP by its spokesman Omotade Makinwa, acknowledged that Air Peace submitted a pe tition against the union leader to the Nigeria Police in September 2023 but stated that the two parties had resolved the issue, and the petition had been withdrawn.
He expressed surprise at the sudden arrest of the NLC president after the police failed to take prompt action against him despite repeated follow-ups on the petition in 2023.
“Air Peace Airlines expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in connection with a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. This development has led to negative publicity and does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.
“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On 3rd May 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government. Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.
“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.”
Omotade, in the statement, said the airline and the NLC had reached an amicable resolution.
However, over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president. Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution. Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship between the two organisations to resume.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said those found guilty of corruption should not be granted state pardon.
Fagbemi, who also advised law enforcement agencies against shoddy investigations, tasked them to have their facts before summoning anyone for questioning.
In a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, on Monday, in Abuja, the AGF stressed that the cooperation of everyone was needed to fight corruption.
According to the statement, the AGF spoke at a roundtable organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for state attorneys general in Abuja on Monday.
The statement quoted the minister as saying, “I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘prerogative of mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the AGs, is crucial in the fight against corruption.”
The PUNCH reports that under the immediate-past administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, respectively, who were convicted and jailed for corruption, were pardoned by the Federal Government.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also granted state pardon to his political godfather and ex-Bayelsa State governor, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted of corruption.
Faghemi, according to the Monday statement, advised the state attorneys general to eschew nepotism, political witch-hunt, rivalry, and bigotry in the fight against corruption just because they want to please their governors.
While adding that there should be no basis for rationalising corruption or crimes, Fagbemi noted that legal opinions on cases must be based on the facts as practised in the advanced countries.
“We should not give in to public sentiments. In Nigeria, we are polarised along political lines,” he said.
The AGF advised participants and anti-graft agencies to conduct thorough investigations of cases before arresting suspects to avoid media trials.
He said: “Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning. Don’t do a shoddy job and be quick to say we have caught a big fish…You will catch a big fish. If it is two or three big fishes you are able to get in a year and you are thorough, it is alright.”
The AGF also counselled against filing bogus charges against defendants just to generate frenzy in the public against the suspect.
“Nobody wants 50 counts…make it five or six and be sure. Make sure you get him (suspect) in,” he advised.
as NLC plans showdown
The Department of State Services has granted administrative bail to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.
He was released a few minutes before the 12midnight ultimatum issued by the organised labour.
Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, announced his release in a tweet on Monday night.
“BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail,” he wrote on X.com.
The Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and Social Democratic Party on Monday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration following the arrest of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the raid on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Abuja office by the Department of State Services.
Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today.
Also, the DSS raided the Abuja office of SERAP in Abuja.
Reports indicate that the officers were seeking to speak with the directors of the rights group.
In response to its president’s arrest, the NLC held a closed-door meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Monday, demanding Ajaero’s immediate release and instructing all chapters to prepare for a potential nationwide strike.
The NLC’s National Administrative Council in a statement issued after its meeting by Adeyanju Adewale, NLC’s deputy president, described the detention as “brazen and illegal” and an “affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles.”
The council demanded Ajaero’s release by 12 midnight on Monday and also called for the reversal of the recent petrol price hike to N617/Litre.
The NLC disclosed that it had placed its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on red alert, warning that it would not stand by while workers’ rights were trampled upon.
The congress reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and opposing oppression, urging the government to reverse its “dangerous trend” and implement the new National Minimum Wage.
The communiqué read, “The National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress convened an emergency meeting today to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian Government.
“Comrade Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.
“After extensive deliberation, the NAC resolved as follows: The Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian state without any legal warrant or justification. The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action.
“His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.
“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today. The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria. NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/litre.
“The congress places all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert. The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely. The NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the State to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.”
Speaking earlier, Benson Upah, Head of Public Relations for the NLC, stated that Ajaero was taken by state agents without a legal warrant or formal documentation, adding that his current location and health status remained unknown.
Reacting to the development, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called for caution, stating that Nigeria has now entered a full-blown dictatorship under President Tinubu.
Ologunagba urged the Federal Government to tackle the underlying issues like hunger, rather than targeting individuals who didn’t support their policies.
He stated “There is a need for caution. There was a protest in this country, and the government did nothing. You arrest some people, label them terrorists, and charge them to court. You claim some individuals are sponsors of the protest.
“We know who sponsored the protest: it is hunger. The President and his administration should address hunger, and there will be no problem. Let your draconian policies that bring people to their knees be re-evaluated. With school resuming, we understand the struggles of those with pupils in school.
“You wake up one morning unable to plan because the government is so insensitive and irresponsible, implementing policies that destroy people’s plans and their pursuit of happiness without consulting the National Assembly.
“Why does the government exist? For the welfare and security of the people. Currently, there is no welfare or security. This is breaking news. We need to see and understand what is happening. The government should address the country’s welfare challenges to prevent protests.”
The PDP Publicity Secretary expressed discontent with President Tinubu for focusing primarily on his comfort.
Ologunagba added, “Nobody really cares who the president is if the government provides the opportunity to pursue our goals and aspirations. As a party, we will investigate this breaking news and respond accordingly. If the government is about welfare and the people are suffering, it is reasonable to review these policies.
“You must show leadership by saying, ‘Okay, you are telling me to tighten my belt while you are buying a new belt.’ This is a country that cannot pay N70,000 minimum wage but can purchase a N150 plane. The President seems to be testing it, flying everywhere. This is a country where N21bn was spent to renovate the Vice President’s house, yet according to them, there is no money.”
The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, remarked that Tinubu’s administration was sliding into ‘’a hotbed of corruption and tyranny.’’
He stated, “Tinubu’s administration is not sliding into authoritarianism, we are already in a full-blown dictatorship.
“The APC and indeed the Tinubu-led government have finally degenerated into a cesspool of corrupt and tyrannical monsters. The contraption is no longer pretentious about its anti-democratic posture, a development we are not surprised about because of the background and disposition of the elements.”
The National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, described Ajaero’s arrest as shocking.
Johnson, however, disclosed that the Tinubu administration must urgently explain why the Labour leader was whisked away to douse the tension.
He said, “We need to wait to find out why he was arrested. That way, we can have an informed opinion. Otherwise, people will start believing that it is some form of authoritarianism we are seeing.
“But as a legal practitioner, I will wait to officially hear the reasons they think it is necessary to pick Ajaero in the manner they did.”
SDP national chairman Shehu Gabam, who labelled the operation as “Gestapo-like”, stated that the nation was descending into gangsterism.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Gabam warned that this approach will not benefit the country.
He stated “What happened symbolizes the nation jumping into gangsterism and Gestapo-like operations against those who disagree with the government. I want to caution the government to be extremely careful.
“The composition of the nation will not support Gestapo-like operations simply because there are differing opinions on how the government is run. The right of citizens to express their dissatisfaction with government policies and programs is constitutionally protected. The government should learn from other systems that have used similar tactics and ended up collapsing.
“Given the current level of consciousness in Nigeria, as well as the high levels of poverty, insecurity, hunger, and unemployment, the leadership must be extremely careful not to provoke the system further. You cannot target institutions simply because they disagree with you. If you have any evidence, you should find a decent way to arrest or interrogate people. Subjecting them to appear as if they are hiding criminals is unacceptable.
“It reflects poorly on the quality of leadership and responsibility. My advice to this government is to apply extreme caution in how they handle those who disagree with them. This approach will not benefit the country.
“It will not create an environment that protects our cherished institutions and democracy, which we have chosen by choice, not imposition. The government must be extremely cautious and sensitive in its operations.”
But the National Publicity Director of the ruling APC, Bala Ibrahim, called for restraint.
The spokesman insisted that the DSS could not have gone after the NLC president without a reason.
According to him, it is too early for people to start venting their anger without finding out whether his arrest has something to do with the ‘treason’ charge or another issue entirely.
He stated, “Governance is all about ensuring law and order in the country. When the President took the oath of office and allegiance of office, he swore to respect the constitution of the country. In respecting the constitution of the country, you must not tamper with the law. Whatever is the provision of the law should be followed to the latter.
“In matters of investigation, especially one that has to do with insecurity, we must set aside sentiment and look at the position of the law. If a matter has to do with treason, it means the constitution of the country is under challenge. On this issue of the NLC president, he has appeared before security agents more than once and he came with his lawyer.
“If the need arises for him to be invited again, he must continue to turn up until he proves himself innocent. For now, we have not received the substance or details on why he was arrested by the DSS. Until we do, we must not inject sentiments into the issue because the Constitution is supreme.
“Anybody who defies the constitution is threatening peace and unity of the people and putting the country in jeopardy. Let us not look at it from the angle of the president being dictatorial. No, it is the question of protecting the constitution and the law.”
The National Union of Electricity Employees strongly condemned the arrest of the NLC president and the raid on SERAP’s office.
NUEE in a statement issued by its acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, on Monday, expressed concern over the detention of Ajaero.
According to NUEE, the brazen act of intimidation and harassment is a violation of his fundamental rights and freedom as a Nigerian citizen.
The statement read, “We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Com. Joe Ajaero and we are saying to the government to desist from its unscrupulous harassment of labour leaders and Nigerian workers who speak out on the crushing hardship they are battling with caused by the irresponsible acts of the government that has turned deaf ears to the groaning of the people that they are governing.”
On its part, the Trade Union Congress demanded the unconditional release of Ajaero in a statement signed by its president, Festus Osifo.
Osifo said, “This unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society.”
He noted that the Congress “firmly condemns the arrest and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
“This arrest sets a dangerous precedent that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement but also the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to represent and protect their interests.
“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their representatives. The labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.
“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation over harassment. We stand in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.”
The United Action Front of Civil Society described the arrest as a “needless show of force” and an attempt to cause national anarchy.
The UAFCS argued that Ajaero, as a high-profile citizen and leader, should have been treated with decorum and courtesy, rather than being subjected to “dehumanizing tactics”.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Secretariat, Hamisu Santuraki, it called for Ajaero’s immediate release, warning that his detention could lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience.
It also announced plans to commence national consultations on halting the growing “police state” in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, Amnesty International Nigeria mentioned that Ajaero’s unlawful arrest by the DSS signalled a troubling new standard for impunity.
The Director of AI Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.
“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.’’
“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters, and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop,” Sanusi added.
According to Sanusi, President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.
“Amnesty International has observed, in the last year, the increasing crackdown by Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponise the police and DSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.
“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities,” he noted.
“Under international human rights law, workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse,” the organisation further argued.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria also condemned the arrest of the NLC president.
In a statement on Monday by the Head of Media at MWUN, John Ikemefuna, the union said it would comply with decisions taken by the NLC to ensure Ajaero’s immediate release.
“The MWUN under the leadership of Adewale Adeyanju has kicked against the abduction of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security apparatus at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his invitation to attend workers congress by the Trade Union Congress of Britain,” the statement read in part.
MWUN stated that it is in the public domain that Ajaero is not a fugitive anywhere in the world, therefore, his arrest without warrant and detention is condemnable in its entirety.
It stated “It’s also on record that Ajaero is a Nigerian citizen and not in any way a wanted person by the Nigerian state. Therefore, his abduction was just a deliberate act to humiliate, and dehumanise him; and a wholesome act of intimidation of the labour president, which by all measure is unjustifiable by the laws of the land.”
“Given the foregoing, the union would have no other option if he’s not released but to comply with directives that may come from the NLC on this matter,” the union warned.
In a related development, SERAP has urged the President “to immediately direct Nigeria’s DSS to end the intimidation and harassment and attack against our organization and the threat of arrest against our directors.”
In a statement by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “We condemn the invasion of our Abuja office today by Nigeria’s Department of State Services. The Tinubu administration must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members.”
SERAP’s statement read in part: “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.
“The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders. We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.
“President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved.
“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognized under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
SERAP charged Nigerian authorities to end the harassment and intimidation against its staff.
Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, said, “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government. Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
AI also lambasted Tinubu for the ‘unlawful’ invasion of SERAP’s office by DSS operatives.
AI, in a post on X on Monday, said the president was going too far in his administration’s efforts to gag dissenting voices.
The post read, “Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by operatives of DSS. President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to gag dissenting voices.”
Our correspondent’s attempts to reach the DSS were unsuccessful, as the service had closed its Directorate of Communication and reassigned its director, Peter Afunaya.
When The PUNCH contacted the agency’s operational phone number, an officer instructed our correspondent to send an email. As of this report, the email has not been responded to.
However, a source, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak on the matter, informed our correspondent that Ajaero was arrested for not responding to the service’s invitation.
The source said, “An invitation was sent to him last week following a petition against him. The petition borders on national security and his presence was required to clear the air on the allegations against him. A senior officer handling the matter called him on his telephone line and he promised to show up but failed to.
“No responsible security organisation will fold its hands in the face of such contempt. The law setting up the DSS empowers us to defend Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal and state law-enforcement organs.”
Reacting, Falana challenged the DSS to provide evidence against the labour leader.
Falana said, “Let the DSS provide details of the petition. If they say it is a matter of national security then let them give you a copy of that petition. It is very simple.”
'Unjust, Clear Violation Of Rights ' - TUC Condemns Ajaero’s Arrest Demands Immediate Release
AFOLABI
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has condemned the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero was arrested and detained by officers from the Department of State Services on Monday on his way to the United Kingdom.
In a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, on Monday, the TUC said the arrest of the NLC President is unjust action that represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society.
The statement reads, “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has received with grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) earlier today. This unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society.
“Congress, firmly condemns the arrest and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. This arrest sets a dangerous precedence that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement but also the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to represent and protect their interests.
“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their representatives. The labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.
“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation over harassment. We stand in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.”
Following the arrest of the national president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, the union has placed all Nigerians workers and affiliated unions on red alert.
DAILY POST earlier reported that operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, arrested Ajaero on Monday morning.
He was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while boarding a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment when DSS operatives picked him up.
In a post on its official X handle, NLC demanded immediate release of its national president.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero,” it wrote.
The union further urged “all affiliate unions, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians should be on red alert”.
DAILY POST recalls that the NLC president was recently invited by the Nigeria Police Force for questioning over alleged link to terrorism financing and other related offences.
The union, after the invitation, vowed to shut down the nation’s economy if Ajaero is arrested.
The faction of the Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure as its National Chairman, has ruled out an automatic ticket for Peter Obi as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The faction also ruled out an automatic second-term ticket for the current Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, on the party’s platform.
The developments were announced during a press briefing on Monday by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC has now announced that these nominations, and all others for which the party would contest, will be open to all candidates.
Also speaking during the press briefing, Abure, in what appears to be a direct response to the stakeholders’s meeting convened by Governor Otti last week in which a caretaker committee for the party was appointed, said no governor can harass them out of office.
In his words, “No governor that we gave ticket can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how highly placed, will come and with a fiat, dissolve the NWC, dissolve state councils, or dissolve LG councils; even a military government would not do that.”
Abure argued that the mandate given to him and his team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention of the party held on the 27th day of March 2024, will be defended.
Naija News recalls the Labour Party (LP), at its stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State capital, last week Wednesday, appointed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party.
Usman, a former Minister of Finance, represented Kaduna South senatorial district from 2011 to 2015.
Immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha from Abia Central, was picked as the Secretary of the 29-member committee, expected to complete its assignment in 90 days.
Nigerian Army admits mass resignation of soldiers - says joining, quitting Military voluntary
AFOLABI
The Nigerian Army says that voluntary retirement, discharge of personnel is routine and in line with laid down procedures as contained in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers) alike.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, gave the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Mr Nwachukwu faulted the recent publication by some media platforms, alleging mass resignation of soldiers over corruption, low morale and the like.
He said the publication was not only misleading, but also a deliberate attempt to sow the seeds of disaffection and acrimony, as well as denigrate the patriotic service of personnel and reputation of the Nigerian army.
According to him, it is crucial to clarify that service in the Nigerian Army, like most militaries the world over, is voluntary and not conscription.
“This, therefore, provides that individuals are free and at liberty to disengage at will. The situation is the same as the Nigerian Army.
“Personnel are at liberty to disengage from time to time in accordance with laid down procedures
“Discharge from the Nigerian Army is routine and in line with laid down procedures.
“Only in an unorganised army would the discharge of personnel be handled haphazardly; hence, the compilation and release of names routinely, as must have been observed in the case of the Nigerian Army over the years.
“This process allows for personnel who are about to either mandatorily or voluntarily disengage to adequately prepare and process entitlements, emoluments, pensions, and gratuity for the period of service to the nation,” he said.
Mr Nwachukwu described the report as hasty and haphazard, adding that due diligence was not taken to ascertain reasons for the discharge of the personnel, other than the spurious allegation of low morale and corruption.
He said that reasons for the discharge of personnel were confidential, as they range from voluntary disengagements, medical grounds, and pursuit of other professions of interest and endeavours, and community service, amongst others.
According to him, the notion that soldiers are resigning en masse due to welfare issues is a gross misrepresentation of reality and certainly not the true picture.
“Instead, Nigerian Army recruitments are highly competitive and even oversubscribed.
“Contrary to the insinuations in the report, Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is top priority under the visionary leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
“Suffice to state that within one year of the current leadership, significant strides have been made to improve the standards of living and the overall well-being of personnel and their families.
“A prime example is the Affordable Housing Option for All Soldiers Scheme, aka AHOOAS, which has been inaugurated across the nation, allowing personnel to choose where to live and own decent post service accommodation.
“This initiative underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring that personnel enjoy dignified post-service life,” he said.
The Army spokesman said the army was currently undertaking massive rehabilitation of existing and construction of new infrastructure across formations, units, and barracks in the country to ensure conducive working and living atmosphere for troops and their families.
He added that allowances had been regularly paid as and when due for soldiers deployed in operational theaters.
“This is aside the regular free airlifting of troops proceeding on leaves and passes, as well as free medical evacuation of injured troops for both local and foreign treatments.
“Military hospitals and medical centres are equally receiving remodeling and upgrading of equipment for efficient service delivery to personnel and their families.
“These are in addition to combat enablers injected into all theatres of operations across the country to enhance troops’ operational effectiveness and ensure adequate force protection.
“Personnel capacity development is also receiving adequate attention, as both officers and soldiers are engaged regularly in training activities to build their capabilities in consonance with global best practice,” he added.
Mr Nwachukwu said the allegation of widespread resignation due to poor welfare was unfounded and irrational, urging media organisations to avoid being tools of disinformation.
He said the army would continue to prioritise the welfare and morale of its personnel and ensure that they remain motivated and fully equipped to carry out their duties in defense of the nation.
NAN
…Says Ajaero’s arrest not connected to police invitation
Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has reacted to the arrest of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero.
The human right activist on Monday said secret service that arrested Ajaero has not given any reason for his arrest, noting that Ajaero’s arrest had no connection to police invitation.
I spent 24 years in prison for refusing to join in murder, money ritual plot — Ismaila Lasisi0:00 / 0:00
Vanguard had reported how Falana, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju accompanied Ajaero to Force headquarters for questioning over allegation of terrorism financing among others.
However, reacting to his arrest Falana opined: “The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation.
“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
The arrest was carried out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja this morning.
According to sources, Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment when he was picked up by the DSS personnel.
The reasons behind his arrest are still unclear, but sources revealed that he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The reasons behind his arrest are still unclear, but sources revealed that he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Recall that Ajaero was scheduled to attend the conference of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, which is slated to be held today.
More to follow…
[politicsnigeria]
The Faculty of Engineering and Informatics (FoEI) at the University of Bradford has unveiled a substantial scholarship to the tune of £11,645. equivalent to N24,000,000 to support Nigerian, and other international students.
The scholarship for the Applied Artificial Intelligence B.Sc programme represents a significant opportunity for prospective students worldwide.
According to the University of Bradford, international students will be granted a scholarship at 50% of the advertised tuition fee, equivalent to £11,645, meaning that as of the 2024/25 academic year, students will only need to pay £11,645 per year in tuition fees.
The institution announced that the reduced fee of £11,645 represents a significant decrease from the regular tuition cost.
It aims to reassure prospective students of its dedication to improving the accessibility of higher education.
The scholarship is open to students from a wide range of countries, including Nigeria, Afghanistan, Canada, Germany, India, and the United States, among others, and the scholarship automatically applies upon enrolment, so students do not need to submit a separate application.
However, the university expects scholarship recipients to remain engaged with their coursework, including regular attendance and timely submission of assignments.
Failure to meet these expectations could result in the withdrawal of the scholarship and a potential requirement to repay the awarded amount.
Information supplies that the scholarship is available to all new, full-time international students who begin their studies in the Applied Artificial Intelligence BSc program during the 2024/25 academic year.
Furthermore, the opportunity is not restricted by country, as it encompasses a broad list of nations from the Solomon Islands to Zimbabwe, ensuring that a diverse cohort of students can benefit from this initiative.
The Dean of FoEI, Professor Alex Johnson, in the statement, expressed enthusiasm about the new scholarship, stating, “We are thrilled to offer this significant scholarship to our international students.
“It reflects our commitment to attracting global talent and supporting students who are passionate about advancing their knowledge in artificial intelligence. We look forward to welcoming a diverse group of scholars to our programme,” he said.
Additionally, prospective students should note that while the scholarship is automatically applied, they must still complete the necessary enrolment procedures by October 25, 2024.
Interested students need to ensure they meet all academic and administrative requirements to benefit from this opportunity.
For more information on the scholarship and the Applied Artificial Intelligence BSc programme, prospective students are encouraged to visit the University of Bradford’s official website or contact the admissions office directly.
[Leadership]
More...
Oil marketers may begin the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, following the recent declaration by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited that it would only fully offtake the product from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery if the market prices of the commodity were higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.
NNPC also declared that Dangote and other domestic refineries were free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, adding that it had no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment.
This is, however, contrary to what the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, stated last week. The owner of the $20bn refinery had stated that the refinery was waiting for NNPC, adding that the national oil company would be the only off-taker of its petrol domestically.
Reacting to the slowdown in discussions between Dangote and NNPC, oil marketers stated that they would only source the product from wherever they found it cheaper, as this could be through importation.
Commenting on the price of Dangote petrol, the National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mustapha Zarma, said, “We have not contacted Dangote for now, but we may contact the refinery’s sales department this week to find out the price.
“If the price is competitive enough for one to buy and get his return on investment and the required margin, then we wouldn’t mind purchasing directly from him to complement what NNPC is bringing in or what NNPC would buy from Dangote.”
Zarma confirmed that since the Federal Government and NNPC had said the Dangote refinery would sell its product at the market price, this implied that the government would not intervene in the pricing of the commodity from the plant through subsidy.
Based on this, he noted that other dealers now had the opportunity to source the product from any producer at a cheaper price, whether locally or internationally.
He noted that some oil marketers currently imported diesel, while others bought the product from Dangote, adding that a similar situation would play out in the purchase of petrol, going by NNPC’s recent position on Dangote petrol.
“I believe that we are going to analyse the price of Dangote petrol and see the advantages of buying from Dangote viz-a-viz importation. Whichever we feel is cheaper will automatically attract everybody, especially if importation is cheaper.
“That will bring about competition and I don’t think the government will allow price monopoly. They would want a competitive market where the laws of demand and supply would determine the local price of refined petroleum products, just like diesel is right now.
“And with that, there is going to be some kind of equilibrium in the pricing and there is going to be guaranteed sustainability of supply,” the IPMAN official stated.
Industry observers say the Federal Government seems not ready to stop fuel importation following the refusal of NNPC to be the off-taker of Dangote’s petrol.
They, however, noted that with the recent hike in the pump prices of petrol, the government was systematically stopping subsidies on the commodity, following the recent revelation by NNPC that it spent over N7.8tn subsidising petrol.
At the presentation of the audited report and accounts of NNPC for the 2023 business year in Abuja last month, NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, admitted that the oil firm was shouldering a heavy subsidy burden on petrol imports.
He said the government directed NNPC to sell the petrol it imported at a price that is half the landing price. According to him, at times the Federal Government paid the money and it could as well net off for it.
While the official pump price of petrol is about N600/litre, the average landing cost is about N1,200/litre. Ajiya said the company covered about N7.8tn in “shortfall” in the first seven months of this year.
“What has been happening is that we have been importing PMS, landing at a certain price, and the government is telling us to sell it at half price. So, that gap between that landed price and the half price is what we call shortfall or we call it a subsidy,” the CFO had stated.
Foreign producers
Also speaking on the development, the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Ukadike Chinedu, said though marketers were ready to buy from Dangote, the revelation from NNPC showed that dealers were free to source their products from any cheaper source.
“From what is happening now, it means that the Petroleum Industry Act is being implemented, the removal of subsidies has come to stay and the price of petrol is to be determined by the economics of demand and supply.
“Now that NNPC has said they are not the sole off-taker of Dangote petrol, it then means that the price of the product would determine where we are going to buy it. If NNPC imports the product and its price is cheaper than that of Dangote, we will buy from NNPC. If Dangote’s price is cheaper than that of NNPC, then we will buy from Dangote. So, right now, competition will set in. Remember that diesel price rose as high as N1,600/litre and Dangote came in with his own at N1,200/litre, and the importers reduced their price to N1,100/litre.
“It further dropped to about N950 and now revolves between N950 and N1,100 for both the imported ones and the ones produced locally. By the time competition sets in, the product will sell cheaper,” Ukadike stated.
On whether marketers had started making plans to import if the imported product would be cheaper, he replied, “Our National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, has commenced discussions with some investors who are now in the process of securing funds going by the current trend in the business.
“So, we are talking with some foreign partners because you need to understand that independent marketers are the highest buyers of diesel from Dangote refinery because we control about 80 per cent of the filling stations nationwide. So, if Dangote PMS is cheaper we will buy it, but if importation is cheaper, we will go for it.”
President Bola Tinubu recently directed that NNPC should sell crude to Dangote and other domestic refineries in naira.
The President’s Special Adviser on Revenue, Zacch Adedeji, who also serves as Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, explained that the move would mitigate Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign exchange for crude oil imports, accounting for roughly 30 to 40 per cent of its forex expenditure.
The revenue chief said that by denominating crude oil transactions in naira, the government expected to significantly lighten its forex burden, with estimated annual savings of $7.3bn. It is also expected to reduce monthly forex expenditure on petroleum products to $50m from approximately $660m.
“Monthly, we spend roughly $660m in these exercises, and if you analyse that, that will give us $7.92bn savings annually,” he stated.
Earlier, the President stated that Nigeria spent N2tn monthly on fuel importation.
The PUNCH reports that while licensed individuals have been importing diesel into Nigeria, NNPC remains the sole importer of petrol under the current administration.
Despite being the largest oil producer in Africa, Nigeria depends on imported petroleum products due to low refining capacity.
In May, Dangote said Nigeria would no longer import fuel the moment his refinery commenced production of petrol.
But unless there is an intervention from the President, Dangote’s plan to end fuel importation may not be achieved anytime soon, even as the $20bn refinery unveiled its PMS last week.
The NNPC, in a statement by its spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said on Saturday that it would not buy Dangote PMS unless it was cheaper than that of the international market.
This is contrary to claims by Dangote that the refinery was waiting for the NNPC to roll out its product.
On Saturday, NNPC stated that it would only fully offtake petrol from the Dangote refinery if the market prices of PMS were higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.
The NNPC also declared that Dangote and any other domestic refineries are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, saying it had no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment.
“The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on the DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market. In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market,” Soneye stated.
Soneye added that Dangote refinery could lower its price if it felt the new prices were too high.
“We emphasise that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL. The NNPC Ltd will only fully off-take PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria,” the NNPC said.
This statement from the NNPC could be an indication that the NNPC was not ready to stop importation, especially as its refineries ere yet to become operational.
Since the unveiling of its PMS, the NNPC appeared to have turned its back against the Dangote refinery.
While unveiling the 650,000-capacity refinery, Dangote stated that the facility would roll out petrol whenever NNPC was ready.
Dangote disclosed that the petrol would get to the filling stations in the next 48 hours (from Tuesday) after all arrangements with NNPC were concluded, saying the queues would be over soon.
He emphasised that the NNPC would sell and distribute the product, under the current naira crude sale arrangement.
“Once the NNPC is ready, we roll,” Dangote said.
But it seems that talks between the two companies have collapsed and this means fuel importation might continue.
In the past few days, the NNPC has in different statements denied that it would fix the price for Dangote or be its sole distributor.
This was after the state-owned energy firm said it was given a September 15 timeline by the refinery to lift its petrol
‘NNPC evading responsibilities’
A reliable source close to Dangote refinery expressed concerns over the turn of events.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to speak on the matter, said NNPC had been the one fixing petrol prices over the years, wondering why it was trying to relinquish that duty now.
The source also denied that Dangote refinery gave NNPC a September 15 deadline to lift its fuel.
She added that those making money from fuel importation were the forces trying to stop the sale of Dangote PMS locally.
“Dangote is not a regulator, those in NNPC are just trying to be clever, they want to shift the blame to somebody else. This is something they have been doing for many years.
“Some people are embittered, this is what they have been doing over the years, embezzling money,” our source said.
On pricing, she added, “I don’t know if there is any price for now. We all know what is going on. These is propaganda from these NNPC people. They know what they have done and they want to cover up. Very soon, everybody will know the actual quantity of fuel we consume in this country.”
IPMAN awaits loading
IPMAN president Abubakar Maigandi told one of our correspondents that the independent marketers were waiting for PMS from NNPC Retail.
“We are still collaborating with NNPC. I’ve called their officials and my marketers are supposed to have started loading. They said they would start loading them. So, we are still waiting.
“According to the information from the NNPC, we learnt that there is enough supply. So, we are waiting for them if they truly have enough supply because we already paid,” Maigandi stated.
The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, will today (Monday) arraign 10 suspects for terrorism over their alleged connection with the N4bn illegal firearms and ammunition imported into the country in June.
The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that the arms centre had concluded its investigation into the large cache of arms and ammunition intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service in Port Harcourt in June.
The Nigerian Customs had, during one of its operations in June, intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 844 rifles and 112,500 live ammunition at the Onne Port in Port Harcourt.
The arms and ammunition were said to have been skillfully concealed within items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings and leather bags.
The intercepted container was also reported to have originated from Turkey and its duty-paid value was put at N4bn.
A top source at the centre told our correspondent that 10 suspects arrested in Abuja in connection with the importation of arms and ammunition would be charged in court today (Monday).
The source added that the matter had been assigned to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The source said, “Investigation has been concluded on the matter. Ten suspects were arrested while others are at large. The suspects will be taken to court on Monday. The case is before Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja.’’
In the copy of the charge sheet sighted by a correspondent on Sunday, the defendants are Ali Ofoma; Okechukwu Charles; Kingsley Chinasa; Oroghodo Maxwell; Akinkuade Segun; Augustine Elechi; Osumini Kennedy; Ajala Ojo; Faboro Oluwatimilehin and Tolulope Ogundepo.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR /463/ 2024, four charges, bordering on acts of terrorism, illegal importation of prohibited firearms, and forgery, among others, were preferred against the defendants.
The defendants were accused of intentionally conspiring with others at large to illegally import prohibited 844 firearms and 112,500 rounds of cartridges concealed in plumbing materials and other items loaded inside a 1 x 40ft container with Registration Number MAEU- 9165396.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The FG also accused the defendants of altering a bill of lading of the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Services to read Dan Autos Limited and diverted the movement of the container from the West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited to cover up their illegal intention to import prohibited arms and ammunitions.
By doing this, the FG said the defendants committed “an act of uttering of the forged document with the intent that it may anyway be used or acted upon as genuine contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
“That you Ofoma, Charles and others at large on or about June 20, 2024, at Onne Port Terminal and your subsequent arrest in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did, knowingly and intentionally with others now at large, commit an act of terrorism to wit: you transported prohibited weapons and other dangerous substance on board a Maersk Vigo Ship with a bill of lading number 238921355 conveying a container number MAEU-9165396 into the country thereby committing an act prejudicial to national security and in violation of ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and you thereby committed-an offence punishable under Section 39(1) (a) (i) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022,” the charge sheet added.
Ofoma, Charles and others at large were accused of importing the arms and ammunition into the country without the required license or authority, contrary to Section 18 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 27 (a) (iii) of the same Act.
Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory are struggling to locate the sales points for the N40,000 subsidised rice that was officially launched by the Federal Government last week.
The launch, which took place on September 5, 2024, saw the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, flagging off the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Kyari revealed that the initiative was driven by the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to ensuring that “Nigerians do not go to bed hungry.”
He acknowledged the various challenges that contributed to the current high cost of food in the country, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, climate change, and local economic factors.
“We are all aware that in the recent past, especially after the mass of COVID-19, and due to the Russian-Ukraine war, climate change and other localised factors, challenges food prices, have made it difficult for Nigerians,” Kyari said.
He assured the public that the government has put in place mechanisms to ensure transparency and the smooth sale of the subsidised rice.
He urged citizens to cooperate with government agencies to make the initiative successful, stating, “I, therefore, urge our dear citizens to cooperate with the relevant agencies of government who will try to serve you to achieve this great initiative of the government.
“Let us work together to ensure that the dream of the present administration to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians is achieved.”
Kyari also stated that to ensure fair distribution, the rice sales would follow a “one person, one bag” policy.
But despite the fanfare around the launch, FCT residents have expressed frustration over their inability to locate designated collection or payment points for the rice. Many say they have not seen any distribution points set up in their local areas.
A resident of Kuje Area Council, Mrs Yunusa Eleojo, shared her disappointment. She recounted buying a bag of rice from a wholesale vendor for N84,000, more than double the price promised by the government.
“I only heard the government is selling rice at N40,000 per bag, I don’t know where the stores are located, not to talk of how to buy,” she said.
“I had to buy a bag of rice for N84,000 on Friday from a wholesaler who even claimed it was a wholesale price,” she added.
Another resident from Bwari Area Council, identified as Mama Twins voiced similar concerns.
“We saw them showing rice on the television saying the government is selling rice for N40,000 but up till now, we are not aware of anywhere to buy the rice here,” she said.
She also raised concerns that middlemen might take advantage of the distribution chain, further complicating access to the subsidised rice.
Another FCT resident, Salami Taiwo expressed skepticism about the entire initiative.
“The day I heard about the N40,000 per bag of rice I knew it would not be realistic because of the way the government has been treating us,” he said.
Efforts to get a response from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security regarding the matter were not successful as of press time.
Officials at the Public Affairs Department of the ministry did not respond to enquiries on the matter.
As the public awaits further clarification from the government on where and how to access the subsidised rice, the frustration among residents continues to grow.
Many hope the distribution issues will be resolved soon so that the subsidised rice can reach those who need it most.
The Dangote refinery may resort to exporting its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) following the refusal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to be the sole buyer of its product.
The NNPC, in a statement by its spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said on Saturday that it would not buy Dangote fuel unless it was cheaper than that of the international market.
This is contrary to claims by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, that the refinery was waiting for the NNPC to roll out its product.
On Saturday, the NNPC stated that it would only fully offtake petrol from the refinery if the market prices of PMS were higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.
The NNPC also declared that Dangote and other domestic refineries were free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, adding that it had no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment.
The company was reacting to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern, which claimed that the Dangote refinery was being undermined by the NNPC.
MURIC stated that recent changes to the pump price of petrol by the NNPC would prevent the refinery from offering lower prices, and that the corporation had become the sole offtaker of all products from the refinery.
Responding, the NNPC said, “The pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including Dangote Refinery Limited, is determined by global market forces.
“The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market. In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.
“Furthermore, we emphasise that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL. The NNPC Ltd will only fully offtake PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria. The DRL and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which is the current practice for all fully deregulated products. NNPC Ltd has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment, and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole off-taker does not arise.”
Soneye added that the NNPC could not undermine a business in which it held a billion-dollar investment.
Dangote’s wait
While unveiling the 650,000-capacity refinery on Tuesday, Dangote had stated that the facility would roll out petrol whenever the NNPC was ready.
Dangote disclosed that petrol would get to the filling stations in the next 48 hours (from Tuesday) after all arrangements with the NNPC were concluded, adding that the queues would soon be over.
“Our PMS can be in filling stations within the next 48 hours, depending on NNPCL,” he said.
He spoke further, “We are ready. I pray that within the next few days, you won’t see any petroleum queues as soon as we finalise with NNPC. We are ready, we are waiting for them (NNPC) and I hope they will be ready like yesterday.”
Dangote told newsmen that he could not disclose the price of the petrol because the NNPC was in a position to control it.
“On the pricing, I can’t say anything because we don’t control the pricing. At the moment, it is controlled by NNPC, not Dangote. We will wait for them. But, our own for now is to make sure that the product is available and round-tripping is stopped,” he noted.
The businessman emphasised that the NNPC was the company that would sell and distribute the product under the current naira crude sale arrangement.
“Once the NNPC is ready, we roll. We are even ready to load a ship this week,” he added.
Product export
But it seems the talk between the two companies have collapsed, which may result in the company selling its petrol abroad.
The NNPC has issued several statements denying that it will fix the price for Dangote or be its sole off-taker, even as the refinery has yet to roll out its product.
Nigerians have wondered why the NNPC decided to hike the pump price of petrol the same day Dangote refinery unveiled its petrol, after several months of implicit subsidy payment.
The masses, who were hopeful that the Dangote fuel would crash the price of petrol, may be losing hope.
Speaking on the Brekete Family live show on Monday, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said Dangote petrol would be exported if the NNPC and other petroleum dealers in the country refused to patronise it.
Asked if the petrol would be sold locally, Edwin replied, “There has been a kind of a blockade from lifting our products within the country. The traders have been trying to blockade, and so now, we have been exporting our petroleum products. We are ready to pump in PMS as much as possible to the country.
“But if the traders or NNPC are not buying the product, obviously we will end up exporting the PMS as we are doing with the aviation jet and diesel,” he declared.
Edwin expressed surprise that the company started facing challenges it never expected when the refinery was set to commence operations.
He recalled that the philosophy initially was to add value to the raw materials available in the country, regretting that Nigeria was still exporting crude and importing refined petroleum products after over three decades.
Despite having a gantry that can load 2,900 tankers per day, Edwin disclosed that the refinery had not loaded up to five per cent of the gantry’s capacity owing to low local patronage.
In an interview with our correspondent, a professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan and President of the Nigerian Economics Society, Adeola Adenikinju, advised that the government and the NNPC should buy PMS from the Dangote refinery instead of importing from another country.
“Dangote refinery is a private business; he will export to where he can make money. He cannot be subsidising our economy. It is still going to be cheaper for the NNPC to buy from Dangote than to import from Europe. Dangote has to run the business and pay his debts, he can’t subsidise us,” Adenikinju noted.
IPMAN ready to buy fuel
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Saturday said it would buy PMS from Dangote at any price, even if the NNPC refused to buy.
The National President of the association, Abubakar Maigandi, told our correspondent that the independent marketers were ready to patronise Dangote.
“Whatever the case, if Dangote starts selling his product, we are going to patronise him; if at all he wants to do business with us.
“We are ready to buy at any price because the NNPC is saying that they don’t want to involve themselves in fixing prices. So, at any price that he wants to sell, we are ready to buy and discharge and sell at a good price,” Maigandi stated.
Members of IPMAN own about 80 per cent of the filling stations in Nigeria, especially in rural communities.
On Thursday, the NNPC also said it was waiting for a September 15 timeline given to it by the refinery.
However, the latest comments from the NNPC indicate all is not well with the negotiations between the two companies.
The spokesman for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, did not answer calls or reply messages sent to him by our correspondent on Saturday.
Black marketers sell fuel N1,400 in Benue
Meanwhile, black marketers are making brisk business as most filling stations in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, closed for business.
Since the hike in the price of the petroleum product, many filling stations have been shut down while the black market has resurfaced.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Makurdi on Saturday, observed that several filling stations were not operating while black marketers were using their frontage to sell the product to motorists.
The product was sold between N1,300 and N1,400 per litre.
This development resulted in few vehicles plying the roads, while transport fares skyrocketed and people resorted to trekking.
Motorists crowd NNPC stations for fuel
Despite the promise made by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, that fuel would be available in filling stations by the weekend, the situation in Ondo State has not improved.
A visit to some filling stations in Akure, the state capital, showed that many petrol stations were still under lock and key following unavailability of the product, while NNPC stations with the product had long queues.
Also, some stations of the independent marketers were selling for between N950 and N1,100 per litre.
In Ekiti State, many petrol stations dispensed petrol to customers, while a few did not have the product.
But the price was between N950 and N1,200 per litre at the stations dispensing petrol.
Long queues of vehicles were at the few stations selling the product at between N950 and N960 per litre.
A self-employed man, Mr Abel Olode, who said he bought some litres of petrol for N960 per litre on Friday, said, “I parked the car at home and boarded a motorcycle to my place of work today. Using it daily will drain my finances.”
Filling stations belonging to major marketers in Ogun State sold fuel for between N868 and N890 per litre, while independent marketers sold for between N950 and N1,200 per litre.
The NNPC outlets, however, sold at N865 per litre.
A motorist, Adeolu Bashir, said, “Nothing has changed with the fuel situation. The independent marketers are selling the fuel for N1,200; meanwhile, not many of the filling stations are selling the product.”
As of September 7, 2024, independent marketers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were dispensing fuel at N1,100 and N1,200 per litre. There were no long queues in most of the filling stations in the city
Long queues still persisted in most of the filling stations in Zamfara State, despite the hike in fuel price.
Most of the filling stations, controlled by IPMAN in Gusau town and other parts of the state, were selling a litre of fuel between N1,100 and N1,150.
There was no fuel in all the mega stations visited by Sunday PUNCH as of the time of filing this report.
Despite the scarcity of PMS in some states, the product seemed to be available in most filling stations across the 13 LGAs of Nasarawa State.
When our correspondent visited some of the stations in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday, it was observed that there were no queues.
The prices of PMS in Obi, Awe, Keana, Doma, Toto and Nassarawa Eggon LGAs had skyrocketed to N1,100 per litre.
Filling stations such as Sandaji, Hayattu, Alh Dauda Muhammadu, Nagoda, Rainoil among others, all sold at N990 per litre.
Meanwhile, the product is currently being sold between N1,200 and 1,400 by the black market dealers in several locations across the state.
In an interview with our correspondent, one of the black marketers, Musa Inusa, said getting the product had become “extremely difficult” for him because of the strict restrictions and increase in price.