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The Federal Government through the Nigerian Customs Service has begun a fresh move to clamp down on operators of improperly imported private jets into the country, findings by The PUNCH revealed.
Consequently, no fewer than 80 operators of private jets are expected to appear at the headquarters of the NCS in Abuja with their aircraft import documents.
The special aircraft import verification exercise, which begins on Wednesday (tomorrow), is expected to last for 30 days, according to a public notice issued by Customs.
The notice, sighted by one of our correspondents, read in part, “The Nigeria Customs Service announces a verification exercise for privately owned aircraft operating in Nigeria. This exercise aims to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation, ensuring proper imports and maximum revenue collection.”
According to the notice, owners and operators of private jets in the country are to come with some relevant documents.
These include aircraft Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights, and Temporary Import Permit (if applicable).
The latest plan to clamp down on operators of improperly imported private jets came more than one year after the Federal Government suspended the action.
In the past three years, the government had planned to recover import duty running into billions of naira from some private jet operators who had used certain technical loopholes to evade the payment of import duty.
A few private jet owners paid the mandatory import duty after the Hameed Ali-led NCS took some significant steps to recover the revenue. However, several owners and operators of private jets in the country have yet to pay the statutory duty.
Many private aircraft operators in the country have allegedly explored technical loopholes in the regulation to fraudulently obtain a Temporary Import Permit from the Nigeria Customs Service instead of paying the statutory import duty on their imported aircraft.
The TIP, which is valid for an initial period of 12 months, can be extended by six months twice, according to the regulations.
However, several operators of private jets in the country have continued to extend the TIP indefinitely, a development that prompted the Customs to effect past clampdowns.
According to new findings by our correspondents, no fewer than 80 private jet operators are expected to present their aircraft import documents for verification during the one-month exercise.
“Based on the data we have, we are expecting no fewer than 80 private aircraft operators for the verification exercise. These include operators of about 20 private aircraft that have been imported since the last verification exercise,” a top official close to the verification exercise told The PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter
The exercise is expected to lead to the payment of the mandatory import duty, while aircraft operators who fail to pay may have their jets grounded.
The TIP has been described by some stakeholders as a fraudulent means of evading the mandatory import duty. Importers of private jets, especially foreign registered private jets, are expected to pay five per cent of the value of the private jet as import duty.
However, due to the high cost of private jets, some owners often prefer not to pay the import, according to Customs officials.
Instead, the operators prefer to obtain a TIP under the guise that the aircraft is coming into the country for a temporary period, quoting the International Civil Aviation Organisation Convention Article 24 which focuses on Customs waiver for commercial aircraft operating in a country temporarily.
But the new leadership of Customs appears poised to get all operators to pay the import duty.
Unconfirmed sources said the government might get close to N100bn in unpaid import duty on imported private aircraft due to the high exchange rate.
This analysis is however dependent on whether the Customs chooses to implement the 25 per cent penalty fee such aircraft owners are meant to pay for delayed payment. The 25 per cent penalty fee is in addition to the statutory five per cent import duty.
It is unclear If the private aircraft operators will be willing to cooperate with the government to pay the duty.
Some operators had in the past gone to court to stop the government from collecting the revenue.
Meanwhile, National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday, confirmed the verification exercise, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
In response to enquiries by The PUNCH on what actions the agency would take after the verification exercise, Maiwada simply said, “All we are doing is to ensure maximum revenue collection for the Federal Government. Relevant sections of our extant laws and regulations will guide our actions and inaction during and after the exercise.”
Sometime in 2021, about 17 owners of foreign-registered private jets, comprising top business moguls, leading commercial banks, and other rich Nigerians, dragged the Federal Government to court, seeking to stop the grounding of their planes over alleged import duty default.
This came after the Federal Government approved the decision of the Nigeria Customs Service to the ground about 91 private jets over their alleged refusal to pay import duties running to over N30bn.
The NCS had in a letter directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to ground the affected private jets with immediate effect.
However owing to issues bothering on inter-agency rivalry and disagreements, the relevant government agencies could not ground the private jets.
The jet owners who sued the government were seeking a judicial review as to whether it was lawful for them to pay the controversial import duty on their private jets or not.
They had sued the government using the foreign shell companies and trustees through which the foreign-registered jets were purchased.
Oftentimes, Nigerians and corporate bodies buy their foreign-registered private jets through foreign shell companies and trustees. Experts believe Nigerians prefer to register their jets in foreign countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Isle of Man, among others, to preserve the value of the aircraft in the event they want to sell it. This also helps them to pay cheaper insurance premiums.
According to the court document, the 17 applicants, which are mostly foreign companies of the Nigerian jet owners are Aircraft Trust and Financing Corp Trustee, UAML Corp, Bank of Utah Trustee, Masterjet AVIACAO Executive SA, and Cloud Services Limited.
Others are MHS Aviation GmbH, Murano Trust Company Limited, Panther Jets, SAIB LLC, Empire Aviation Group, and Osa Aviation Limited.
The list also includes BUA Delaware Inc., Flying Bull Corporation Limited, Air Charter Inc., Sparfell Luftahrt GmbH, WAT Aviation Limited, and ATT Aviation Limited.
The NCAA and Customs were listed as respondents to the suit.
However, in a written address in support of the first respondent’s objector notice of preliminary objection, the court paper had read in part, “The brief facts of this case are that the first respondents, having discovered that some operators of aircraft imported them under the guise of Temporary Importation Permit, were permanently imported into Nigeria and given TIP status to evade payment of lawful customs.”
The NCS had in 2021 embarked on a review of import duties paid on private jets brought into the country since 2006.
Following the alleged discovery that several private jet owners, under the guise of Temporary Import Permit, had failed to pay the statutory import duty to the coffers of the government, the then CG of Customs, Hameed Ali, set up a verification panel to review all TIPs and the relevant aircraft import documents of all private jets in the country.
At the end of the 60-day exercise, 57 private jets, which had licences for commercial charter operations, were cleared and issued Aircraft Operators Certificates by the Customs.
However, 29 private jets, whose owners came for the verification, were found to be liable to pay the import duty.
The Customs also compiled a list of another 62 private jets whose owners failed to appear for the verification exercise but were found liable for import duty payment.
However, other private jet owners seeking to pay their import duty were given a 14-day ultimatum to clear the debts.
The number of jet owners who later paid the duty is still unclear. It is still unclear to what extent the new management of Customs is willing to get the powerful private jet owners to pay their import duty.
Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said the party has done badly in meeting its campaign promises.
Lukman stated this in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.
This is coming after Lukman resigned from the party.
He said APC’s performance on key campaign promises like security, economic stability, and anti-corruption, has been poor.
The former APC chieftain said he hoped that the new leadership would depart from the practises of the previous administration of President Buhari.
He said: “I admit that in terms of meeting up with our campaign promises, we have done badly, no doubt about it.
“And what are those campaign promises? Issues of security, the economy, fighting corruption. We have done badly and people are free to reach the conclusion whether or not APC is worse than PDP.
“But as of 2023, before the election, I had the hope that because our leaders were not in denial of the challenges facing us, they would be humble enough to admit that we have not done what we needed to do between 2015 and 2023.
“That’s why I was practically very very confident that he would not really do business as usual the way President Buhari did.
“Unfortunately, here we are. He’s doing business as usual. And as it is, we are going to end up in a worse situation.
“So to that extent, you might be right in criticising some of us who were in APC and who supported President Asiwaju.”
Faults subsidy policy
The former national vice chairman of the APC noted that one of the most contentious decisions made by President Tinubu was the immediate declaration of the end of the petroleum subsidy with its lack of planning and preparation.
Lukman said the abrupt decision has led to a significant deterioration in the country’s living conditions.
He said, “One of the biggest mistakes that President Asiwaju made was making that declaration on his inauguration day, declaring petroleum subsidy is gone without even sitting down to put up a plan and today. No plan to respond to that challenge.
“And that is why the living condition in the country is crashing and the government is just grandstanding.
“All of us in the party have become onlookers. We are not able to even access President Asiwaju and influence decisions in terms of what needs to be done.
“From the way things are going, my prediction — which is why I had to act the way I acted — is that by the end of this year, if we don’t take time, the campaign for 2027 will start and people will be forced to just queue behind any leader.
“And out of anger, out of frustration, with the reality before us, we’ll end up even electing a worse successor to President Asiwaju and all the challenges of the country will even get worse.”
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway…
Lukman also cristisised the government’s major spending on infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, while neglecting urgent needs in education and health.
He highlighted that the allocation for education is insufficient to address such a critical issue.
“APC was founded on the vision of being a social democratic party. A social democratic party prioritises the wellbeing and condition of living of the citizens.
“So, issues of education, issues of health, issues of social welfare should have been the priority and that should be reflected in public investment driven by government.
“Unfortunately, what are the first steps President Asiwaju took? Apart from the fact that on account of corruption, social investment has been suspended, which is why the question of responding to hardship is so weak, also look at the major decisions of President Asiwaju.
“Spending 15 trillion naira on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Imagine if a fraction of that amount is invested in education and in terms of education, we talk about 10 million out-of-school children in the North.
“You cannot solve that problem by business as usual, allocating a pittance in education and expect classrooms to work, teachers to be recruited, teaching material to be procured with the pittance that is going on now.
“So you need extra-budgetary activities to be able to respond to that and mop up the out-of-school children out of the street.
“In terms of mopping up, the advantage of it is that it will also reduce the vulnerability of the nation in terms of insecurity.
“Imagine a fraction of 15 trillion naira invested in our armed forces by way of procurement of military hardware, and training.
“And talking about even responding to security challenges, we’ve been deviating as a nation for God knows how long about (whether or not to have) state police.”
Ramaphosa was re-elected as South Africa’s president after a historic coalition deal between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.
After losing its controlling majority in last month’s election for the first time in 30 years since the end of apartheid, the ANC struck a merger with the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition, and smaller parties.
Following two weeks of intensive talks with opposition parties, the decision to re-elect Ramaphosa was reached on Friday.
A statement issued Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Tinubu will depart Lagos, where he is observing the Eid-el-Kabir festival, for Ramaphosa’s inauguration.
Tinubu and Ramaphosa last met in New York at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2023.
The Nigerian president asked Ramaphosa to deepen the economic relations between the two countries.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria and South Africa are the countries with the most potential to improve Africa’s economic outlook when they partner effectively.
Ngelale said Tinubu will return to Nigeria after the inauguration ceremony.
The federal government has denied renaming the Murtala Mohammed expressway in the federal capital territory (FCT) after Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate.
On June 4, President Bola Tinubu named the just inaugurated arterial road N20 from the northern parkway to the outer northern expressway (ONEX) in the FCT, the Wole Soyinka highway.
In a statement on Monday, Rabiu Ibrahim, special assistant on media to Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said “rumours are being circulated” that the Murtala Mohammed expressway has been renamed as Wole Soyinka Way.
Ibrahim said the renaming of the Murtala Mohammed expressway “has never been contemplated by this administration”.
“For the record, on June 4, 2024, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a new road in the FCT codenamed Arterial Road N20 (from Katampe to Jahi), which links the existing Outer Northern Expressway (also known as Murtala Mohammed Expressway) to the Northern Parkway (also called Ahmadu Bello Way),” the statement reads.
“During the inauguration of the N20 (which is a new road), FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, proposed to the President that the road be named after Prof Wole Soyinka, and the President agreed.
“Therefore, it is the Arterial Road N20 that is named after Prof Soyinka. The Murtala Mohammed Expressway remains unchanged and continues to bear the name of our esteemed former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed.”
Ibrahim asked Nigerians to disregard “any misinformation regarding the renaming” of the Murtala Mohammed expressway.
“The report is entirely false and only exists in the imagination of its purveyors,” he said.
‘Stop This Insensitivity And Shamelessness’ – Peter Obi Blasts FG Over Plan To Acquire New Aircraft For Tinubu, Shettima
Admin
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has berated the Federal Government over the move to acquire new jets for President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima.
Naija News recalls that the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Friday backed the Federal Government’s plan to purchase new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima.
However, in a statement via his X handle on Monday, Peter Obi cited the current economic hardship bedevilling the nation, stressing the move demonstrates the government’s extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.
The former Anambra governor described the decision as unacceptable, noting that the situation in the country demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare.
Obi noted that instead of adding to luxuries, the FG should focus on alleviating the suffering of the masses and finding lasting solutions to their problems.
He wrote, “At a time when our country is trending on the global media for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government’s plan to buy new presidential jets demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.
“With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect between the government and the people. It is unacceptable and demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare. It’s on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford basic necessities. Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need.
“Instead of adding to our luxuries, we should be focused on alleviating their suffering and finding solutions to their problems. For long, our bad leadership has made our priorities, as leaders, to be at variance to the needs of society, which is why we are headed now south, as a nation. To elucidate further, despite dropping down to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252 billion and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, yet, we are spending $15 million for our Vice President’s residence, while the USA, the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $25 trillion, about 100 times our GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times ours, still houses their Vice President in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and whose value is obviously less than the $15 million we are spending on our VP’s residence. A reputable real estate company, actually, reports that the US Vice President’s Official Residence is valued at about $7.5 million today.
“While we had earlier refurbished the old VP residence with $2 million, the over 100 years old US Vice President’s house has only undergone widescale renovations twice, funded by tax payers money; in 1993 and in 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his personal funds. It’s, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few. Let’s rise to the challenge, and build this new Nigeria which is now more possible than ever before.”
[NaijaNews]
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State have repelled an attempted attack on its state Command in Lafia by suspected bandits.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Victor, who confirmed the development to LEADERSHIP in Lafia, said the attack occurred in the wee hours of Monday at about 3am.
Victor said the attackers came in their large numbers and attempted to break into the facility.
He explained that operatives of the Command on surveillance noticed the movement and alerted their colleagues and a gun duel ensued.
The spokesman said due to superior firepower of the NSCDC men, the suspected bandits beat a retreat and escaped.
He disclosed that the attack might be connected to a bid to released other suspected bandits who are in detention.
The spokesperson further revealed that five notorious suspects were being detained by the Command for various crimes including two informants in the kidnap of an 82-year-old father of a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Daniel Umaru Lagi.
The victim was killed by his abductors after payment of ransom recently.
The NSCDC’s image maker in the state also noted that the gunmen who came in large numbers with iron rods attempted to break some part of the Command’s fence to gain entry into the facility while some of them took different positions around the building.
He, however, said no casualty was recorded during the gun battle between the attackers and operatives while assuring that calm has since been restored.
Victor added that the Command has in response to the incident, increased surveillance while also fortifying the headquarters with more personnel to forestall any attack in the future.
Our correspondent reports that the rise in kidnap incidents within the state capital has led to imposition of curfew, restricting movement of motorcycles and tricycles recently.
[Leadership]
The Reverend in charge of Ibara Baptist Church, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr Timothy Olatunbosun, has expressed concern that many Nigerian fathers are not given the honour and celebration they deserved despite their relentless efforts at providing and securing the family.
“They are dying in silence”, Olatunbosun said, on Sunday, in his sermon, titled ‘Fathers Are Superheroes.’
The Sunday service coincided with this year’s Father’s Day celebration.
The cleric said fathers sacrifice for the family, offer unconditional love, provide security, wise guidance and teach children the way to go, yet they are not celebrated.
He said the present crop of youths are the worst culprits.
“Everything is about their family and family will still look at them as if they have not done anything.
“Why do we say this, when a child is telling the father what have you done that nobody has ever done? What have you done?. And that is the language of this generation, please this young generation be careful.
“Some of you don’t appreciate the labour of your father, the labour of your parents, and your guardians. If you do not appreciate it, by the time it gets to your turn, it will become worse because you never prepared for it,” Olatubosun said.
He, however, said some fathers have not been leaving up to their responsibilities in the society.
He turned to the congregation and asked: how many of you, the youths, want to be like your fathers? There was a silence in the congregation.
The clergyman said no child will like to emulate a father who is a drinkard and or fraudaters.
He urged fathers to be role models to their children in order to build and develop a better Nigeria.
[DailyTrust]
The Police have stationed armed operatives at the secretariats of four local government councils in Rivers State following the expiration of the tenure of LG chairmen in the state.
DAILY POST reports that police vans are currently positioned at the entrances of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ahoada East and Ogu/Bolo LGAs.
Earlier, youths in Degema and Asari/Toru LGAs occupied their respective council secretariats in protest against the extension of the tenure of the LG chairmen.
The youths were seen in viral videos on social media chanting solidarity songs in support of those Governor Siminalayi Fubara is expected to appoint to manage the local councils on a temporary basis.
The outgoing LG chairmen, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, had their tenure extended by an amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018 by the faction of the State House of Assembly headed by Martins Amaewhule.
However, the extension was nullified by a Rivers State High Court ruling on May 21, 2024, which declared the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 as inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
Despite the court’s ruling, the chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike, has vowed to remain in office.
Two LG chairmen from Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro, who are loyal to Fubara, celebrated the expiration of their tenures with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Fubara has yet to release an official list of Caretaker Committee Chairmen to manage the affairs of the various LGAs following the tenure expiration.
[DailyPost]
The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi said the spate of kidnapping and demand for ransoms in foreign currency has allegedly worsened socio-economic implications for the country.
Obi stated this in a statement via his X handle on Sunday.
He also expressed sadness over the kidnap of the Managing Director of Fouani Company, Mohamed Fouani, alongside other three Lebanese, in Lagos.
Obi lamented that insecurity had continued to rage through the country, causing severe economic instability and threatening the national existence.
He also condemned the reported attack on Dudun Doki village of Gwadabawa local government area of Sokoto State, where gunmen killed over ten people and abducted many.
The former Anambra State Governor said the country must strive to put an end to the terror attacks and the attendant loss of lives.
Obi said, “Again, insecurity has continued to rage through the country, causing severe economic instability and threatening our national existence.
“I was saddened to hear about the kidnap of the Managing Director of Fouani Company, Mohamed Fouani, alongside other three Lebanese, in Lagos.
“The use of boats for kidnap, and demand for ransoms in foreign currency, marks a new and more ugly dimension to the heightened insecurity we are combatting with, and have worsening socio-economic implications.
“Similarly, today, which is supposed to be a holy day, it was also reported that gunmen attacked Dudun Doki village of Gwadabawa local government area of Sokoto State, killing over ten people and abducting many.
“We must strive to put an end to these terror attacks and the attendant loss of lives. I continue to urge that more concerted efforts be made to safely rescue Mr Fouani and other many abductees, from the hands of their captors.
“I also encourage the government, and the security agencies, to employ more stringent measures against insecurity in our country. May Almighty Allah accept our prayers for our nation on this day, show us mercy and intervene in our situation.”
[EagleOnline]
Although the Lagos State government is making efforts to encourage investment in real estate and improve the ease of doing business in that sector, investors are still uncomfortable with the multiple requirements that the state demands for registering property.
When, in January this year, the state launched a land administration portal, some of the reasons for that initiative, according to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, were to improve the ease of doing business, fast-track property registering process, reduce corruption in the process and ensure security of titles and operations.
But with 17 steps for registering property which involves multiple agencies of government, some of which are new additions, real estate developers are saying the state is not only discouraging investment but also hurting investors and “making ease of doing business in the state uneasy.”
According to the investors, these 17 different steps contrast with what obtains in mature property markets like London where a developer has only 9 steps to go through and does so from the comfort of his office or home. This ensures minimal or no interface with state officials.
“Nigeria needs to cut down on the bottlenecks in giving approvals to developers, especially as it concerns the requirements to meet for planning, thereby fostering diaspora investment,” Gbenga Olaniyan, chairman of Estate Links, said in Lagos recently.
The 2023 Nigeria Subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Report has shed light on the varying degrees of business-friendliness across different states in the country. The report’s indicators and data collection methods and metrics were clearly defined within six indicators, including infrastructure, transparency and accessibility of information, skills and labour, secure and stable environment, regulatory environment, and economic opportunity.
According to the report compiled by Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), “overall EoDB satisfaction in Nigeria has seen marginal improvement, but dissatisfaction remains.”
Gboyega Familehin, the founding partner of Diya, Fatimilehin & Co, believes that Nigeria has the potential to be a global leader but challenges like corruption, poor infrastructure, security concerns, and limited economic diversification are hindering the country’s progress.
Using London as a case study, Olaniyan said: “You have nine different requirements. So, you conceptualise your drawings, pay a fee online, the local authorities will acknowledge, register and it goes all the way to discharging conditions. But in Lagos, we have 17 different steps, which is almost double those of London.”
In Lagos, he said, there are several agencies that a developer has to see for approvals, including the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority otherwise known as Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA); Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC); Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD); Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
There are also other agencies such as Lagos State Fire Service (LSFS) (for a building that is just being constructed); Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA); Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC); Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
“Very recently, another law came up that even for the signage in front of your property, showing who all the consultants are, you have to go to Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), pay some money and get your permit to put up the signage,” Olaniyan noted.
He cited what happens in London where developers put together all their documents and submit them online, pay online and they go through his paperwork, and if everything is in order, he gets an email that he can start his construction.
“But if you’ve got problems, they come back to you, and inform you of the changes that you need to make, and then you send a mail back to them when you’re ready, and they come for inspection,” he said.
Experts are of the view that the cumbersome processes that define property registration in many states of Nigeria affect not only the economy of the respective states, but also that the country as a whole. This bellies all the claims by politicians across the country on the dividends of democracy.
“Our economic trajectory has been disturbing. As at 1962, our GDP was $4.91 billion which was more than the GDP of South Korea which stood at $2.24 billion at that time. While we are still hovering around $400 billion, South Korea is now around $1.7 trillion with a per capita income of $33,170 compared with our own $1,700,” according to Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State.
Mimiko, who was once a minister of Housing and Urban Development, said Nigeria is plagued with capacity and financial deficits hindering its development as a nation, noting that economic development can only be possible when there is security of lives and property, attributing the low investment in the country to rising insecurity, among other things.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region has urged President Bola Tinubu to recontest in the 2027 presidential election.
The party praised Tinubu for his policies, projects and programs, maintaining that his policies were targeted at repositioning the country.
This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the APC South-South Zonal Executives after a meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers, on Sunday.
The party reaffirmed its unwavering support for the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration in areas of good governance, economic reforms, national security and infrastructural development.
They also praised the president for his commitment to the coastal road project, and the commencement of the construction from both ends of the project.
The committee said it has resolved to set up a reconciliation committee in the South-South region, to be headed by the Coordinator of the South-South geo-political zone, Sen Bassey Otu.
They said that the move is meant to bridge any existing gap, foster collaboration and work towards a common goal of strengthening the party’s presence and influence in the region.
It also resolved to mobilise available party assets towards winning more states; particularly using the forthcoming elections in Edo State as a test case.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday, insisted that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State lacks the power to crown the new Olubadan of Ibadan land.
He also dismissed insinuations that Governor Makinde deliberately delayed the coronation of a new Olubadan to target him.
Recall that Makinde had announced that he would crown the new Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin when he is medically fit.
Ladoja said this while speaking with journalists at his Ibadan residence during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The former governor maintained that there is a cordial relationship between him and Governor Makinde.
His words: “I am not the target of Governor Seyi Makinde. He is not delaying the coronation because of me. The governor sent a huge cow and many bags of rice to me for the Sallah. He had called to greet me for the festival.
“It is the people of Ibadan land who will crown the new Olubadan, and the governor’s role is only to present the staff and instrument of office to the new monarch.
“It is the Oluwo of Ibadan land who crowns a new Olubadan and not the governor.
“The Olubadan will be crowned at lle Ose-Meji, from where he will go to Mapo for the governor to present him the staff and instrument of office.”
On the health condition of the Olubadan-designate, Ladoja said: “To me, the new Olubadan is fit. He had been on the journey of becoming the Olubadan since 1983. The new Olubadan is fit, but only old.”
Abia State government has warned citizens against unhealthy hygiene following an alert from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the increasing incidence of cholera cases nationwide.
The government through the State Ministry of Health in a statement said a total of 109 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in the state from January to June 2024, across six local government areas.
According to the ministry Ohafia recorded one case, Ikwuano: 9 cases, Osisioma 1 case, Bende 17 cases, Umunneochi 39 cases and Arochukwu 42 cases.
The ministry further stated that only two of the samples collected tested positive using rapid diagnostic testing (RDT), adding that both samples were sent to the National Reference Lab in Abuja, and were confirmed negative for cholera.
“The Abia State Ministry of Health emphasizes that Abia State has not recorded any confirmed positive case of cholera within the period under review.
“Nevertheless, in light of the ongoing outbreak reported in some states, the Ministry has instituted response measures towards prevention and identification of any suspected cases, and appropriate treatment.
” As part of the intervention, citizens are advised to continue to observe preventive measures to stay safe.
“Preventive measures include ensuring access to safe drinking water, practicing sanitation including proper hand washing and maintaining personal hygiene, handling food safely and washing fruits and vegetables properly before consumption.
“The Ministry of Health urges citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of cholera. Further updates will be provided as necessary” the release said.
Governor Abba Yusuf has explained why he ordered arrest of deposed emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, for which the court awarded N10 million damages to the monarch.
Speaking through his spokesman, Sunusi Bature, the Governor said he called for Bayero‘s arrest because he (Bayero) returned into two days after his dethronement to reclaim the palace, creating unrest in the state.
Bature was reacting to an article: ‘A Rendezvous with Recklessness and Executive Rascality,’ by Bala Ibrahim who accused Governor Yusuf of rascality and recklessness in power.
The Federal High Court in Kano recently ordered the state government to pay Bayero the sum of N10 million for breaching his fundamental rights, personal liberty and freedom of movement.
Citing Sections 35(1) and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the court, presided by Justice Simon Amobeda, held that it was wrong for Yusuf to order Bayero’s arrest without lawful justification, which he said forced the applicant into house arrest for fear of been arrested.
Bala Ibrahim had used the ruling to mock and criticise the governor of being power drunk and taking reckless decisions, including demolition of buildings and the order to arrest Bayero in which the court granted compensations to all the applicants.
But Bature said: “Does Bala Ibrahim actually understand the workings of government and governance?
“I do not want to go into judicial pronouncements, but the point I want to make clear is that the issue of Kano Emirship is straightforward with the repeal of the Kano Emirate Law (2019) and enactment of Kano Emirate Law (2024), which gave Governor Yusuf the power to abolish the five emirates and return Kano to its glorious and historic position of one emirate.
“This is the wish of the people of Kano state.
“The reappointment of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II did not also come to anyone as a surprise, because his dethronement and consequent banishment by Abdullahi Ganduje and his co-travellers was done out of malice.
“Now, calling for the arrest of dethroned Emir Aminu Bayero was only done for public good as his entrance into Kano, shortly after his dethronement posed a serious security threat which is being managed up till today.
“Governor Abba Yusuf remains the Chief Security Officer of Kano state, and no sane leader would fold his arms and watch Kano snowballs into a state of anarchy without taking action.”
On demolition, the governor said: “Again, the demolition of buildings and structures illegally acquired by former governor Ganduje, his family and friends, was an exercise carried out in good faith.
“It was an exercise pegged on the efforts to recover public property from the hands of very few individuals who believed they could pocket public funds, structures and resources and get away with them without giving a wink.
“We will not be deterred by propagandists like Bala Ibrahim doing the bidding of their paymasters, at the detriment of the welfare of the good people of Kano state and the socio-economic development of our dear state.”
[TheNation]