Latest News
Over 100 property owners in Lafiaji community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, are planning legal action against the Federal Government as they are being issued demolition notices to evacuate their properties for the Lagos- Calabar Highway construction.
This was made known in a statement titled, ‘Being the text of a press conference addressed by Property Owners and Residents of Lafiaji Community, Eti Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State on the distortion in the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway by arbitrary deviation from the long-established right of way by the Hon. Minister Of Works and the threatened unlawful demolition of their property at Lafiaji Community, Eti Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State,’ on Tuesday.
The property owners accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of altering the original right of way to shield prominent politicians.
In the statement, they claimed that they followed due process in acquiring their lands, adding that in the acquisitions of their plots of land and in building their property, they were well informed about the Right of Way, clearly marked, beaconed, and established for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and, therefore, ensured that they did not encroach on or trespass to the established Right of Way.
The statement read in part, “In the acquisition of our plots of land and development of our respective homes and property, we obtained requisite consents of the Lagos State Government to our deeds of assignments, had our respective survey plans hewed from the approved Ojomu Family Layout Plan, and obtained all the necessary building approvals and development permits from the relevant agencies of the Lagos State Government.
“However, there are those who, overtime, have built on the said Right of Way and constructed huge estates crisscrossing same in the illusion that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would never be built, without any valid legal title to the land on which they built; or with government officials-assisted fabricated certificates of occupancy with embossed survey-plans (the area coordinates of which truly are that of lands adjacent and proximate to the Right of Way, but which are passed off as that of lands situated within or covered by the Right of Way, to obtain certificates of occupancy). These persons also either did not obtain valid building approvals and development permits from the relevant agencies of the Lagos State Government or were assisted by corrupt officials of government to obtain doctored documents.
“As an outcome of the recent visit of the Honourable Minister of Works and Federal Controller of Works to the communities affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, especially regarding compliance with the enforcement of the Right of Way, valuation of affected landed property, service of removal and demolition notices, and compensation, the Honourable Minister of Works and the Federal Controller of Works decided to deviate from the scrupulous implementation of the Right of way by specifically directing surveyors of the Federal Government of Nigeria (Ministry of Works) on the project to establish a fresh Right of Way, create a new alignment and alter the road-course into the area where our clients’ plots of lands and houses are situate, an area which was not covered by the long established Right of Way.”
The project, designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passes through the coastal states of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, before culminating in Cross River.
It is crucial for enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities along Nigeria’s coastal region and is expected to cost N4bn per kilometre, with the government awarding contracts for two sections of less than 100km at a total cost of N2.46tn.
But the coastal highway has been a subject of public scrutiny and controversies since the government commenced construction in March.
In May, Umahi disclosed that 750 houses on the path of the highway had been marked for demolition but owners of affected property were displeased with the government compensation, claiming it did not match their investments.
According to them, the compensation is grossly inadequate and there is the need for the government to review the payment.
The founder of Leisure Games, Olanrewaju Ojo, who got N1.3m compensation, told The PUNCH that the amount was what he could generate in a week.
He said, “This is ridiculous! What am I supposed to do with this? I will make this in a week.”
Stakeholders and experts also condemned the road procurement process, stressing that the contract awarded to the construction company was shrouded in secrecy and bypassed the proper procurement process.
The Lafiaji community residents noted that they wrote protest letters to President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, amongst other public officers, to seek redress.
“Surprisingly, our relief was short-lived as the officials of the Federal Ministry of Works subsequently resumed in our community to mark our buildings afresh, and to inform us that our property and homes are still very much within the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway course and that the new alignment had not been jettisoned as far as our lands and property were concerned.”
Petrified, they stated that they immediately embarked on an investigation, visiting the Lagos State Lands Bureau, Lagos State Office of the Surveyor-General, and the Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos.
They posited, “We have discovered to our chagrin that the Honourable Minister of Works has disregarded and rebuffed the clear directive of the President of Nigeria, as far as our lands in the Lafiaji Area is concerned. From our findings, we make bold to say that the Honourable Minister of Works has an improper and less than patriotic reasons for arbitrarily directing a departure from the long-established Right of Way for the construction of the Coastal Highway, in the Lafiaji Area.
“This is the reason, from our findings, the minister has found it difficult to follow the presidential directive in the Lafiaji Area. We discovered that amongst some huge housing estates that allegedly have sprung up illicitly on the long-established Right of Way are Ocean Bay Estate and others. The developers of these estates and some of the owners-occupiers of buildings therein are alleged to have strong political connections, ethnic ties, and social links with the powers that be.
“Therefore, the Minister of Works, in an unabashed display of nepotism, as alleged, “ruled” that the property and buildings in these estates are too valuable to be demolished, and that demolishing them would attract huge compensation from the Federal Government. In consequence, it is being alleged that the Minister of Works directed that the Right of Way be altered away from the established path and the said estates and that this new alignment be made through our lands which were never established as the original Right of Way.”
They asserted that after deciding to alter the Right of Way, the Minister of Works found a pretext for their actions by labeling their property as shanties to create the false impression that they were unlawful settlers and illegal occupiers.
“It is our considered but firm position that the decision of the Minister of Works to change the Right of Way and, therefore, the course of the Highway is an abuse of power and unlawful exercise of ministerial discretion. The Minister has no latitude of executive prerogatives to do what he has directed should be done. We dare say that, after the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has specifically directed a reversion to the old, long-established Right of Way, the adamancy of the Minister amounts to an act of ministerial lawlessness!
“As a result of the action of the Minister of Works, we are now being confronted with the prospect of being rendered homeless. The landed properties affected are not just realty investments but also the homes of many of us. Some of us currently are overseas and, therefore, are in no position to vacate and yield up possession of our property for demolition within the unreasonable time we were unconscionably given to flee our abodes.
“We appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Minister of Works to order and direct him to abandon his whimsical and capricious new alignment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway at Lafiaji, Eti Osa Local Government Area, and revert to the original long-established Right of Way, as the President had earlier directed.”
The Federal Government had in June said it had rerouted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway path to avoid any possible damage to subsea cables belonging to telecommunication companies.
The government also said it had reduced the project’s size from 10 lanes to six as a cost-saving measure for the legacy project.
Umahi, who made the announcements at a meeting with contractors on Tuesday in Abuja, also said the government had disbursed a total sum of N10bn as compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
This was as it announced that the first 47km of the project would be open to the public by May of next year.
The legal practitioner representing the community, Jiti Ogunye, said there were so many obstacles involved in proceeding to court on the part of prospective litigants because of the need to reform the judicial process.
He said, “The rules of court are one of the major obstacles, and our courts are congested because our justice dispensation infrastructure is small. However, we want to give it the best shot we can give it because right and morality are on our side, and if we fail, it will not be that we did not try but the system is hostile to success.
“Hence, if we are left with no other choice and if push goes to shove, we will go to court.”
A resident, Bonojo Olalekan, said over 100 property owners were affected by the rerouting.
In a brief call with the Federal Comptroller with the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Keisha, she referred our correspondent back to the Honorable Minister of Works.
She retorted, “I said you should go to the Honorable Minister.”
Also, several attempts to reach the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna Orji, through calls and texts were not responded to.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Environment has announced a 21-day public display of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
This was disclosed on the agency’s website on Tuesday.
It stated, “Public display exercise on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Section 1 (0km – 47.5km) By Federal Ministry Of Works.
“Following the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act CAP E12 LFN 2004, which makes it mandatory for proponents of all new major developmental activities to carry out EIA for their proposed projects, the Federal Ministry of Environment hereby announces twenty-one (21) working days public display for information and comments on the draft ESIA report for the above-stated project submitted by Federal Ministry of Works.
“This display is to enable the public to make inputs that shall facilitate informed decision taking by the Ministry on the proposed project.”
The report noted that the project required an ESIA due to the potential environmental and social impacts associated with its construction to comply with international standards and Nigerian regulations.
“The ESIA is a crucial tool for identifying, assessing, and mitigating the potential negative impacts of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project while maximising its benefits. Alongside the ESIA is the preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan for the Highway. A Resettlement Action Plan is essential for a highway due to the potential for involuntary resettlement.
“The ESIA aims to ensure the project is developed and implemented sustainably, protecting the environment and benefiting the local community. The primary goal of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is to identify, assess, and mitigate potential negative impacts on the environment and society.”
The report further noted that the highway was a significant infrastructural development spanning over 700km and divided into nine sections.
It added, “Work will begin with Section 1, which spans from 0km to 47.5km in Lagos. Section 1 includes development activities related to transportation, coastal resort facilities, hotels, and recreational facilities in national parks and marine parks.
“The project’s impact assessment has a phased approach to demonstrate a commitment to environmental and social considerations. This ESIA report specifically focuses on Section 1, providing a foundation for subsequent sections. The ESIA evaluates the environmental and social impact of a plan, policy, program, or project before deciding to proceed with the proposed action.
“It covers various aspects, including the environment’s physical, biological, socio-economic, and health elements. The ESIA will describe project activities and identify potential impacts on air, water, soil, vegetation, wildlife, land use, and affected individuals and assets.”
The United Kingdom has increased the number of organisations licensed to sponsor workers on the worker and temporary worker immigration routes.
Checks by The Nation, show that the list which was updated on Friday, August 23, has 119,195 approved companies.The approved updated list now contains 119,195 companies.
Interested Nigerians are advised to visit the listed company’s website and search for available vacancies.
A breakdown shows that the approved companies are in technology, commerce, education, media and advertisement, and engineering sectors, among others.
According to the UK government, a Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK for an eligible job with an approved employer.
The UK government, in a note on its website, said: “The skilled worker route includes charity workers, skilled workers, creative workers, global business mobility: senior or specialist workers, and international sportspersons.
“You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
Approved employers are also known as sponsors, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.”
Here is a list of some of the approved companies:
1. McMullan Shellfish
2. (IECC Care) Independent Excel Care Consortium Limited
3. *ABOUTCARE HASTINGS LTD
4. £ ESS LTD
5. @ Architect UK Ltd
6. @ Home Accommodation Services Ltd
7. @ Home Accommodation Services Ltd
8. @ Ur Eaz Ltd
9. @@@ FILER LIMITED
10. [AI] INFINITI LIMITED
11. `Brunswick Stores Limited
12. #NAME?
13. 003 Ltd
14. 007 Taxi Limited
15. 0086 Ltd
16. 00Nation Limited
17. 00Nation Limited
18. 01 ACCOUNTING SERVICES LTD
19. 012 Global Ltd
20. 023 LTD
21. 09 Care Limited
22. 0xA Technologies Ltd
23. 1 ACE TRAINING LIMITED
24. 1 ALS LIMITED
25. 1 AND 1 ROUGAMO LIMITED
26. 1 And 5 Tech Ltd
27. 1 Answer Insurance Services LTD.
28. 1 Bishops Avenue Limited
29. 1 Digitals Europe Limited
30. 1 Eclipse Care Solutions Limited
31. 1 Green Foods Ltd
32. 1 Homecare ltd
33. 1 Indus Limited
34. 1 Key Solution Limited
35. 1 Kings Dental Limited
36. 1 Life London Limited
37. 1 MODEL MANAGEMENT LONDON LIMITED
38. 1 Oak Home Care
39. 1 Oak Leisure Ireland Ltd
40. 1 PhysioUK Limited
41. 1 REPAIR LTD
42. 1 Stop Print Ltd
43. 1 STOP REC LIMITED
44. 10 Europe Limited
45. 10 Europe Limited
46. 10 Squared Ltd
47. 100 Percent Cornwall Ltd
48. 100 SHAPES LTD
49. 100% HALAL MEAT STORES LTD
50. 1000 Trades Limited
51. 1000heads Ltd
52. 100Starlings Ltd
53. 101 A+D Ltd.
54. 101 Harley Street LTD
55. 101 Healthcare ltd
56. 101 Ways Limited
57. 1010 Restaurant @ The Blacksmiths arms
58. 105 West Architects Ltd
59. 1066 PLUMBING AND HEATING LTD
60. 107 Cannon Street Limited
The full list of approved companies can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66c84b0007733cc4df618245/2024-08-23_-_Worker_and_Temporary_Worker.csv
[TheNation]
A Texas judge on Monday ordered a temporary pause on a policy that would streamline the process for spouses of US citizens to obtain legal status in the country, a blow to one of US President Joe Biden’s biggest immigration reform policies.
Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay in a case brought by the Republican attorneys general of 16 US states challenging the Biden administration’s policy.
In June, Biden announced the new policy, which streamlined a pathway to citizenship for an estimated half a million immigrants married to US nationals.
The 16 states bringing the lawsuit, however, say the policy is costing them millions of dollars in public services — including healthcare, education and law enforcement — used by the immigrants.
“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Judge Barker wrote in his order.
“This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose state is party to the case, in a post on social media platform X after the order.
The Biden administration has been struggling to address immigration, a hugely divisive issue for many Americans ahead of November’s presidential election, which will see Vice President Kamala Harris take on Republican Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party is walking a fine line of seeking to be tougher on illegal migrants while also introducing reforms to the country’s inefficient immigration system.
Trump’s campaign for the White House has centred on portraying the United States as under assault by what he calls a migrant “invasion.”
• ‘Extreme measure’ –
The new rules would streamline the process for those who already qualify for permanent residence by removing a requirement that they leave the country as part of the application process.
The rules applied to those in the country for at least 10 years and married to a US citizen before June 17, 2024, and also applied to an estimated 50,000 stepchildren of US citizens.
Those approved would be granted work authorization and the right to stay in the United States for up to three years while they apply for a green card, which is a pathway to full citizenship.
Monday’s ruling suspends the granting of this “parole in place” status, but does not halt the government from continuing to accept applications for the status.
In a statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed it would continue to take applications but would not grant any until the stay was lifted.
“The District Court’s administrative stay order does not affect any applications that were approved before the administrative stay order was issued,” USCIS said.
Immigrant rights group Justice Action Center said the order was an “extreme measure.”
“To halt a process for which Texas has not been able to provide an iota of evidence that it would harm the state is baffling,” said group founder Karen Tumlin.
“This is heartbreaking for our clients and the thousands of couples who hope to benefit from this process and be able to live without fear that their family will be separated.”
The Justice Action Center earlier Monday filed a motion seeking to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the programme.
Barker wrote that the court did not “express any ultimate conclusions about the success or likely success” of the plaintiffs’ case while the stay is in place.
The court announced an expedited hearing schedule in the case, but Barker noted that the two-week stay would likely be extended while proceedings are underway.
AFP.
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has attributed the continuous hike in the prices of fertiliser products in the local market to multiple problems of exchange rate fluctuation, high inflation rate that is currently at 33.4 percent and the cost of transportation of the products from the factory to the end users.
NSIA disclosed this yesterday at the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI-NPK) stakeholders’ roundtable themed ‘The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative: Imperatives for Food Security’. NSIA’s team lead for the project, Mr Iruwansi Itoandon said the logistics for the movement of fertilisation costs about N60,000 per ton. “That is what you have to add,” he said.
He said the retail price of fertiliser is determined by domestic and external factors, some of which are not controlled by the authority.
President of Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, Sadiq Kassim said the standard price from the factory is between N29,000 and N32,000 depending on the factory’s location and the order’s destination.
According to some stakeholders at the meeting yesterday, the price of 50kg of generic MPK fertiliser (both MPK 20.10.10) sells for between N46,000 and N54,000.
The PFI was conceived to address challenges in Nigeria’s fertiliser sector, which had long been hampered by inefficiencies and an over-reliance on imports.
To date, the initiative has delivered 90 million bags of locally blended high-quality fertilisers to farmers. Notably, despite the disruption of supply chains during global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the initiative ensured a steady supply of fertilisers across the country. Still, the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on key imported raw materials persists in exacerbating cost pressures, adding another layer of complexity to the value chain. Recognizing these challenges, the NSIA is actively working with its partners to ensure that the PFI continues to deliver on its mission to support Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Managing director and CEO of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, represented by head, corporate planning, Sybil Etuk said PFI aligns with the authority’s mandate to strengthen the agricultural sector, uphold import substitution as a critical lever for National development and ultimately create shared value for all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) has said it is planning to convert the PFI into a company with all the structures of a corporate organisation for the greater achievement of its objectives.
“We are planning to make it into a company because noting that it’s an initiative, it will not reach the level we are all now praying or imagining it will be so that is why I initially said corporate governance and what this means is we are going to set a well-fledged company with a strong board consisting of people that know what they are doing in the industry to manage this fertiliser business/production very well that will satisfy all,” executive director, portfolio management at MoFI, Tajudeen Datti Ahmed stated.
FEPSAN president proposed that the PFI, with FEPSAN, establish a fertiliser institute to build the technical and financial capacity of players within the ecosystem.
“As we celebrate the PFI’s achievements in improving agricultural productivity and bolstering food security, greater inter-agency collaboration is envisioned to direct the initiative into full private sector control for its continued success and the sustained development of our country Nigeria,” he said.
[Leadership]
The Federal Government says it is working on introducing a training scheme equivalent to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for graduates of the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Olawande Wisdom, made this revelation during the opening of the BEMORE OYO 2024 Summer Bootcamp in Ibadan on Monday.
Wisdom said the ministry would partner with the Ministry of Education to introduce new training reforms, one of which is the equivalent of NYSC training for NCE holders and others.
According to him, social vices had been around for long but the training of youths by organisations such as the Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides and others had kept many away from them.
“The major priority of the ministry is citizenship and training, and we are bringing them back.
“We have NYSC for those who finished from universities, but what of those who finished from NCE and others?
“So, we want to set up training such that you don’t need to go to other states to have it – you can have it in your state and the camp.
“A lot of reforms are going on and we are trying as much as possible to bring a renewed hope to people; to the girls and boys,” he said.
[DailyPost]
Many filling stations operated by independent oil marketers have now fixed the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, at between N900 and N1,000/litre.
Owners of these stations seem not to care about the cost of the product at retail outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. Petrol prices at NNPC stations range from N568 to N617/litre. This often leads to queues at the stations.
As Nigerians raise concerns about the high cost of the commodity by independent petrol dealers, the Federal Government has also vowed to shut down filling stations that will be caught dispensing PMS at exorbitant rates.
It declared this through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stressing that it was not in the interest of Nigerians for marketers to profiteer in the sales of PMS.
Independent oil marketers claimed that they’ve been buying petrol from private depot owners for as high as N850/litre since last week and that this was why the pump prices were high.
However, the spokesperson of the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, argued that the petrol price reports that the regulator gets from its officials at the depots were different.
“Our depot people see a different price because we ask them to publish the prices at the depots every day and it is not N850/litre. Our field agents at the depots give us a different figure,” he said.
When told that some filling stations operated by independent marketers in Lagos and many other states dispense their products for as high as N900 and N1,000/litre, the NMDPRA official said such outlets would be brought to book if apprehended.
“If we get these outlets, all we do is to try and shut them down, because NNPC is the company that brings in the product and they tell us how much they sell as their ex-depot prices to off-takers. And we sit down together and work out the margins and there is no way it should be that high,” Ene-Ita declared.
The NMDPRA official further noted that there was no way the agency could reconcile the high cost of petrol sold by independent marketers.
“Do you have these stations displaying the high prices on their pumps?” Ene-Ita asked.
Our correspondent responded in the affirmative, and the regulatory agency’s official declared again, “Once we get these outlets, we are going to shut them down. NNPC tells us how much they sell and there is no way the pump prices should be that high. We don’t expect it to be higher than N650/litre.”
The NMDPRA spokesperson warned marketers involved in profiteering to desist from the act, stressing that the agency would not fold its hands and allow operators to cheat Nigerians.
Findings by our correspondents show that marketers are making more profit as the fuel crisis rocking the country has refused to end.
The PUNCH reliably gathered that owners of filling stations have seized the opportunity to add to their margins as regulators could not enforce any particular price.
Due to the low supply from NNPC, private depot owners were said to have hiked the price of petrol as high as N850/litre
The depots sell to independent marketers, who could not get the product directly from the NNPC at about N570/litre like the major marketers.
In return, the independent marketers sell a litre of petrol to motorists and other Nigerians at prices ranging from N850 to N900 or even N1,000 in some remote areas.
“That is why no marketer is complaining of low margins again. This is the time for them to make money. The only issue is that getting the product is not that easy,” a source told The PUNCH.
“The price is high because the supply is low. It is a matter of demand and supply. The price will continue to be up, at least for now. It Is an opportunity for the filling stations to add to their margins. This is an abnormal situation. Normalcy is restored, and the regulatory authority can monitor. Can the regulator monitor anybody now?
“Imagine when you pay about N30m to NNPC to order petrol and it takes about one month to get the product. Assuming you take N30m from a bank with this interest rate, is that not a problem?’ a marketer stated.
Sources at the Lagos depot informed our correspondent anonymously that the NNPC is still rationing the product despite assurances that normalcy would be restored last Wednesday.
It was gathered on Monday that marketers could only get half of whatever metric tonnes they bid for.
A depot operator said though the situation had improved a bit, the supply is still far below what is required to ease off the queues and make the product available for all Nigerians.
Another source hinted that the Federal Government is now prioritising the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to reduce the long queues in filling stations.
“The queue is easing a little bit in Abuja. Almost 70 per cent of the trucks are going to Abuja. The directive is that they should go to Abuja,” the depot operator confided in The PUNCH.
Contrary to claims that the marketers might be hoarding fuel, the manager of a filling station in Ogun State, who identified himself simply as Adeyanju, said no one hoards fuel because it will continue to dry up.
“The way PMS is, if you put 33,000 litres in a tank, if you hoard it for too long, by the time you want to haulage it, it may not be more than 31,000 or 32,000 litres. It will be evaporating. No tank operator will ever hoard fuel, not even at this time when people are making money,” the manager disclosed.
He added that no miracle could clear off the queues in this new week, asking the NNPC to ramp up supply.
On Monday in Osogbo, Osun State, petrol was sold by filling stations owned by independent marketers at prices ranging from N900 to N1000 per litre.
However, the few major marketers that dispensed petrol, sold the product for N700 per litre.
Many filling stations within the metropolis did not open to customers, as commercial intra-city bus operators increased their charges by 50 per cent due to the high cost of fuel.
Petrol was priced between N980 and N1000 at stations owned by independent dealers in Damaturu and its surrounding areas.
The same scenario played out in parts of Lagos and Ogun states, where petrol went for as high as N950 and N1,000/litre at independent marketers’ stations.
Following the reluctance of many marketers in Kano State to open their filling stations despite having the commodity in stock, black markets continued to thrive.
A litre of PMS at filling stations owned by independent marketers still sold for N980 and N1000/litre in Kano.
Following this negative development, black marketers have fully returned to the business and are having a field day. PMS at the black market sells for N1200 and N1300.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, on Sunday, said underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations.
Mamman stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
He said the Federal Government has instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) which administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) which organises the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to comply with the directive on 18 years age limit for any candidate to be eligible for the two examinations.
Mamman also insisted that the age limit for any candidate to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remained 18 years.
The minister said, “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.
“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.
“So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.
“In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”
The minister went further to give a breakdown of the number of years pupils are expected to spend between child care and senior secondary school.
According to him, early care is expected to last for the first five years. Pupils are expected to begin primary one at the age of six, spend six years in primary school and move to junior secondary school at the age of 12, spend three years, before moving to senior secondary school at the age of 15, to spend three more years and leave for university at the age of 18.
The Federal Government has stated that only eight universities have been accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, made this known on Sunday night while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
Mamman, during a press conference last Friday to mark his one year in office, disclosed that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries, and such certificates would be cancelled.
The minister said the revelation was part of a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council by a committee with a mandate to probe degree certificate racketeering by foreign and local universities in Nigeria.
He added that the development follows the undercover investigation report in which a Nigerian journalist acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic in under two months and used it to get deployed for the National Youth Service Corps.
Speaking during the programme, the minister said the federal government only recognised three institutions in Togo and five in Benin Republic while identifying others as illegal institutions.
Mamman listed the public universities below as the federal government-approved institutions to offer degree programs in Togo for students from Nigeria.
1. Universite De Lome
2. Universite De Kara
3. Catholic University of West Africa
The minister also listed five accredited universities authorized to provide degree programs in Benin Republic of Benin for students from Nigeria.
1. Universite D’abomey-Calavi
2. Universite De Parakou
3. Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques
4. Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture
5. Universite Africaine De Devlopment Cooperatif
The minister also insisted that there is no going back on the decision of the federal government to cancel about 22,700 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.
Mamman maintained that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not harsh as Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such “illegal” tertiary institutions dent the country’s image.
He said, “Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.
“The “fake universities” capitalised on the “gullibility” of Nigerians patronising such fake schools.
“The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.”
[Punch]
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has called on President Bola Tinubu to revisit his economic policies, noting that Nigerians are no longer at ease with them.
DAILY POST reports that Ugorji, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri, stated that the economic policies put in place by President Tinubu have caused Nigerians more harm than good.
He made the call on Sunday while delivering his welcome address at the opening session of the 2024 Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN held in Auchi, Edo State.
He said the socio-economic problems of the nation were unmistakably beyond what economic reforms alone can effectively resolve, no matter how well thought-out and how meticulously implemented.
Most Rev. Ugorji, who opined that it seemed that the policies were no longer working, however, advocated for the return to a regional system of government to checkmate corruption and put the nation at the right footing.
He said the calls to return to the regional system was because the problems in the country have gone beyond mere economic reforms.
“When all is said and done, we must admit that the cost of running our military imposed presidential system of government with so many elected officials assisted by numerous support staff is staggering and unsustainable.
“We must also acknowledge that the corruption level of many Nigerian politicians have gone beyond scale and measure and that controlling our national resources at the federal government level creates more opportunities for corruption to flourish.
“Having experimented on the presidential system of government for over 25 years and having groped in the dark in search of solutions to our socio-economic problems, now seems to be the opportune time to heed the advice of some of our best minds canvassing for our return to the former regional system of government as envisaged by the founding fathers of our nation or devolve power to the present six geo-political zones”, he said.
The Archbishop, who said the bishops acknowledged the feats enumerated by President Bola Tinubu on his 4th of August speech, noted that they cannot fail to admit that the present state of the nation was worrisome.
He listed the numerous problems bedeviling the nation to include increased debt burden of $2.25 billion loan facility from the World Bank in June 2024, with a repayment period of 40 years.
He said the debt increased the nation’s public debt profile by 2.46 percent to $93.7 billion.
Ugorji also listed multiple taxation, hunger and hardship induced by insecurity as the major challenges faced by the citizens.
He posited that proactive steps must be taken urgently to address the situation before it snowballed into a huge crisis.
Earlier in his homily, Most Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dunia, Bishop of Auchi Diocese, called on those in authority not to lord it over those whom they have been called to serve.
Dunia noted that the led must know that they were duty bound to respect those in authorities because God had placed them there to lead
He contended that banditry, corruption, and bad governance can come to an end through fasting and prayers.
The Bishop of Auchi Diocese, who disagreed with the insinuation that God has stopped hearing the prayers of His people, assured that He hears but that Nigerians have to pray more.
He explained that the bishops were in Auchi to pray for the country and that they believed that God in His infinite mercy would turn the fortune of the country around for good.
The Federal Government has said it is practically impossible to put an end to the twin challenges of petrol smuggling and oil theft.
It disclosed that the problems are caused by the products subsidy and corroded expired pipelines.
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri made the disclosure at the just-concluded Energy and Labour Summit 2024 organised by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in Abuja.
According to him, fuel smuggling from Nigeria to neighboring West African countries continues to thrive because the Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited sells the product below the landing cost.
“Nigeria plays a very critical role in the energy security in Africa. That is why whatever PMS we import into Nigeria finds its way to the whole of West Africa. That is why smuggling cannot stop”, he said.
He added, “If NNPC imports PMS and sells to marketers at perhaps N600 or below, there’s no way that smuggling can stop”.
Speaking further on the menace of pipeline vandalism and oil theft, Lokpobiri said that most of the country’s crude oil pipelines were too old and worn out.
“The reason why pipeline vandalism is very easy to do is that the pipelines have all expired; they completely corroded and so, anybody can just go and tap it and the thing is busted.
“But there are better technologies which are more expensive, there are better pipelines that other people are using in other countries, but they are not cheap, We also need to change our model”, he stated.
Consequently, Lokpobiri called for public-private partnerships to fix the old pipelines.
“That is why we have to go for the global model – PPP. We have to get the private sector to come in”, he said.
In July, Nigeria Customs intercepted and confiscated a total of 41,425 liters of petrol from smugglers operating in the country’s border.
Recently, NNPCL announced that it destroyed dozens of illicit oil pipeline connections and uncovered 63 illegal refineries in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
More...
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to help “end illegal arrest and detention of innocent citizens by law enforcement agencies in the country”.
Falana said this in a statement welcoming lawyers to Lagos for the 2024 Annual Conference of the NBA.
Some youths who participated in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest have been arrested and remanded.
Falana asked the NBA to ensure that the “right to protest is not criminalized in Nigeria by Judges and magistrates who have been issuing remand orders for prolonged detention of protesters”.
He also appealed to the NBA to use the conference as a springboard for the implementation of extant laws abolishing illegal arrest and detention, such as the Administration of Police Establishment Act and Criminal Justice Act.
Falana said the police and other law enforcement agencies have continued to breach the fundamental rights of suspects.
He added that the NBA should direct members of its human rights committee to accompany chief magistrates during monthly visits to police stations across the country.
“Such visits will end the incessant arrest and detention of suspects and other people as the Magistrates are empowered to grant bail to suspects, order the release of suspects or direct that suspects be arraigned in appropriate courts,” he said.
“Nigerian lawyers should apply the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 to end the torture of suspects and other people in Nigeria.
“Let the police and other law enforcement officers be made to know that the penalty for subjecting suspects to torture is 25 years imprisonment without any option of fine and that officers who torture suspects to death are liable to be tried for murder.”
He also implored lawyers to provide free legal services to indigent citizens with genuine complaints.
“Instead of rejecting the complaints of indigent citizens on account of impecuniosity, lawyers should refer them to the offices of the Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights Commission and the Public Defender in each of the States of the Federation,” he said.
[TheCable]
FG Releases List Of Universities In Togo, Benin Republic Approved To Award Degrees To Nigerians
AFOLABI
The federal government has disclosed that only eight universities are accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in both Togo and Benin Republic.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, on Sunday.
The Minister also insisted that there is no going back on the decision of the federal government to cancel about 22,700 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Mamman maintained that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not a harsh one as Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such “illegal” tertiary institutions are denting the country’s image and the authorities in the neighbouring Francophone West African countries also adjudged the concerned schools as fake.
Recalls the Minister, during a press conference on Friday to mark his one year in office, disclosed that over 22,700 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries and such certificates would be cancelled.
Mamman narrated that the development was part of a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by a committee with a mandate to probe degree certificate racketeering by foreign and local universities in Nigeria following the undercover investigation report in which a Nigerian journalist acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic in under two months and used it to get deployment for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
During the programme on Sunday, the minister said the federal government only recognised three institutions in Togo and five in Benin Republic while identifying others as illegal institutions.
He lamented that most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.
The minister added that the “fake universities” capitalised on the “gullibility” of Nigerians who patronise such fake schools.
According to him, the government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, would fish out those in the employment of the government with such fake certificates. He urged the private sector to follow suit.
Mamman identified three universities which the federal government approved to offer degree programs in Togo for students from Nigeria as:
1. UNIVERSITE DE LOME
2. UNIVERSITE DE KARA
3. CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF WEST AFRICA.
He also listed five accredited universities that have been authorized to provide degree programs in the Republic of Benin for students from Nigeria.
1. UNIVERSITE D’ABOMEY-CALAVI
2. UNIVERSITE DE PARAKOU
3. UNIVERSITE NATIONALE DES SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGIES
INGENIERIE ET MATHEMATIQUES.
4. UNIVERSITE NATIONALE D’ AGRICULTURE.
5. UNIVERSITE AFRICAINE DE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIF.
The five officially recognized universities in Cotonou, Benin Republic, are all public universities.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, challenged President Bola Tinubu to be brave and admit the return of fuel subsidy months after the President declared that subsidy was gone.
Atiku, who lost to Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, insisted that fuel subsidy had returned and alleging that it “has become an even wider conduit pipe through which money for funding the 2027 election will come from.”
The ex-Vice President stated this in a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu.
“Tinubu visited the FMDQ in New York, Qatar and France, where he told lies about removing petrol subsidies. This is not a man who is serious about attracting FDI.
Meet Samuel Jubril, The Incredible Five-Year-Old Pianist0.00 / 0.00
“More worrisome is that he is not even brave enough to admit that subsidy is being paid. The NNPCL admits that N7.8tn is owed to the national oil company by the Nigerian government.
“IMF estimates that subsidy payments this year will constitute three per cent of GDP, which is about $7.5bn. This will be about N11.8tn. Yet, the petrol scarcity continues to linger while the Tinubu administration continues to frustrate the Dangote Refinery and even its own NNPCL facilities.
“Obviously, the subsidy regime has become an even wider conduit pipe through which monies for funding the 2027 election will come from,” Atiku said.
The Adamawa politician also challenged the Federal Government to clarify how Oando Plc, owned by President Tinubu’s nephew, Wale Tinubu, received accelerated approval to acquire the onshore assets of AGIP and ENI.
On Thursday, Oando PLC announced the successful completion of its acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares in Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company stated, “Today marks a significant milestone for Oando Plc as we proudly announce the finalisation of our agreement with Eni to acquire the entire shareholding of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).”
In a response issued on Sunday, Atiku alleged that Oando received unfair and preferential treatment in the oil and gas sector, which he claimed harmed more capable investors.
“Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Federal Government to explain why Oando Plc, owned by the President’s nephew, got an accelerated approval to buy the onshore assets of AGIP and ENI, while other transactions such as the Shell/Renaissance deal and the Mobil/Seplat continue to suffer delays,” he said.
Atiku also condemned the House of Representatives for failing to act properly on the NNPCL, which has allegedly moved to “mortgage the country’s national oil assets to vested interests.”
Atiku said, “Within just eight months, the Nigerian Upstream Production Regulatory Commission approved a deal which saw the divestment of ENI/AGIP onshore assets to Oando.
“Within that same period, Nigeria controversially withdrew all litigation against Shell/ENI in the OPL 245 scandal in what has been described as a quid pro quo.
“However, the attempt by Seplat to buy Mobil’s onshore assets has continued to stall for the last three years, even as the consent letter remains on Tinubu’s table. The deal between Renaissance and Shell continues to stall.
“In fact, the only deal that has fully scaled through so far is the one involving Oando. We now know why it got accelerated approval.
“Ideally, democracy ought to be the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. But democracy in Nigeria has become the government of Tinubu, by Tinubu, and for Tinubu and his family members.”
He noted that in July 2023, the House of Representatives, following a motion by Miriam Onuoha, instructed the NNPC Ltd to halt the acquisition of OVH assets until its committee completed an investigation.
According to the former Vice President, the committee requested detailed information from NNPC Ltd, including registration documents, board resolutions, audited financial statements, management accounts, and evidence of tax payments.
He alleged that despite these requests, the oil company ignored them and proceeded with transferring ownership and properties in its retail arm to OVH, thus compromising the future of Nigerians.
“Despite the rot in the oil sector, the head of the NNPC, the head of the NUPRC, and the head of the NMDPRA continue to keep their jobs. This is clear evidence that they are fulfilling the mandate given to them by Tinubu.
“Furthermore, Atiku pointed out that the NNPC lied in its vacuous response to their statement last week, as it is on record that the Kyari-led management appointed Huub Stoksman, a former Chief Executive Officer of OVH Energy, as Managing Director of NNPC Retail, and Mumuni Dangazau, the former Chief Operating Officer of OVH Energy, as his Special Adviser Downstream, long before the consummation of the incestuous marriage of the entities.”
Also, Atiku criticised the Tinubu administration for allegedly increasing human rights abuses.
He said the President betrayed his claims of being a freedom fighter by allowing the Department of State Service, police and the military to violate citizens’ rights without accountability.
The former Vice President also argued that the Cyber Crime Prevention Act 2015 had been misused by Tinubu’s officials to detain citizens, with the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre effectively becoming a replacement for the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Atiku added, “The dangerous trend of enforced disappearances has become a national embarrassment for a country which claims to be practising democracy.
“On May 1, 2024, Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism went missing and was presumed abducted by kidnappers until he was later discovered to be in police custody on the orders of IGP Kayode Egbetokun. Ojukwu’s crime was that he exposed the corruption of a government official who currently serves in Tinubu’s administration.
“On July 23, the DSS arrested one Aliyu Sanusi in Sama Road of Sokoto, the state capital, for printing and distributing materials ahead of the #EndBadGovernanceProtest.
“Even the arrest and release of the former BBC Pidgin Editor and current West Africa Regional Editor of the Conversation, Adejuwon Soyinka, clearly show a pattern, whose objective is to intimidate journalists for speaking truth to this government.
“Now, the police have arrested Bristol Tamunobiefiri, who owns the PIDOM Nigeria blog on X, formerly Twitter. After detaining him for over two weeks, he was granted an administrative bail, which would be impossible to meet.
“This is despite the fact that the Appeal Court, in the case of EFCC V. Emem Uboh (2022) LPEIR – 57968 (CA) held that administrative bail is illegal. Bristol should, therefore, be arraigned in court immediately or released.”
The Kogi State chapter of the People Democratic party has asked the local executive committee in Ijumu to initiate immediate suspension proceedings against Senator Dino Melaye, following his recent outburst when he declared the party dead.
The party said the move was necessary to restore its integrity and focus on viable leadership.
The party’s elders, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Dansofo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
“Melaye’s political ambitions have crumbled to the point where he can no longer secure even a local councilor position
“Senator Melaye has become a burden to the party. His accusations against the current leadership are hypocritical, as he himself was granted a governorship ticket despite the party’s awareness of his inability to win even a primary election.”
The Kogi PDP placed the blame for the party’s current struggles squarely on Melaye’s shoulders, claiming that his nomination was a significant misstep that led to the party’s present predicament.
They called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to reevaluate their support for Melaye, urging them to distance themselves from someone they described as a “bondage” and a “big-time liability” for the party.