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Fake Graduates: FG Orders Varsities To Submit Admission Lists, Threatens Sanctions Against Defaulters
AFOLABI
The Federal Government has threatened to sanction higher institutions that fail to submit lists of students admitted immediately after matriculation.
This was revealed in a memo ‘CLARIFICATION ON DISCLOSURE OF ADMITTED CANDIDATES OUTSIDE CAPS( 2017-DATE)’ by the Jamb Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) obtained by Channels Television.
The initiative, according to JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, is one of the recommendations made by a committee set up by the Federal Government to combat fake degree racketeering in the country.
According to the memo, institutions are to “regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies.”
The list is expected to be submitted through the dedicated channel of JAMB.
“The Board has observed a large number of candidates thronging its offices to resolve issues related to the disclosure of candidates admitted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) from 2017 to date. While we appreciate the enthusiasm, we must correct the misconception that the focus is on candidates’ actions. The true emphasis lies with the institutions, which must disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS before the August 31st, 2024 deadline.
“This directive requires immediate attention and compliance. We urge institutions to carefully review our initial letter and ensure full compliance, as failure to disclose will result in severe consequences. Candidates are also reminded not to accept admissions outside CAPS.
“The Board reiterate that candidates not disclosed by institutions would not be entertained. The Board will not tolerate any condonement of undisclosed admissions moving forward.”
The development comes after the Federal Government set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling, to probe the activities of certificate racketeers following an investigative report published by Daily Nigerian which exposed the activities of fake degree mills in the Benin Republic.
In a similar development, a memo addressed to the JAMB on July 15, 2024, the education ministry said, “You may recall that following the publication of allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, especially in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and other countries, the ministry constituted an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations to find lasting solutions.
“The committee has submitted its report and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations for implementation.
“In that regard, I hereby convey the request of the honourable minister for the implementation of the following recommendations of the committee:
“Enforce the mandatory requirement for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to exclusively conduct their admissions processes through the Central Admissions Processing System under the auspices of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board; mandate all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies through the dedicated channel of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“You are kindly requested to implement the above recommendations and furnish the ministry with implementation updates.”
Channels had on Thursday, reported how the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), said a total of 54 corps members who were illegally mobilised by the University of Calabar, had been demobilised.
This is in addition to the earlier 101 certificates that were recently voided by the scheme, making a total of 178.
An investigation by a Daily Nigerian reporter Umar Audu revealed how he obtained a degree within six weeks, after which returned to Nigeria and embarked on the mandatory one-year NYSC service.
The investigation led to FG placing a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman then vowed to flush out holders of fake degrees from the Nigerian educational system.
Story highlights
- The deregulation of meter pricing has led to a significant increase in meter costs, with some three-phase meters now selling almost at N250,000.
- This has raised concerns not only about availability but also affordability, especially for consumers still subjected to estimated billing.
- While energy experts agree that this move may help address the metering gap in the country, they caution that it does little to tackle the broader challenges posed by high inflation and the rising cost of living.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) move to deregulate Meter Asset Providers (MAP) was hailed as the much-needed solution to the country’s persistent metering gap crisis.
However, this silver bullet has come with a price, and not just figuratively. The soaring cost of prepaid meters has added a new layer of burden for the average Nigerian household, making the dream of escaping the trap of estimated billing feel like an increasingly distant hope.
For millions of Nigerians, the sharp rise in metering costs from about N80,000 to over N200,000 in just one year has become as burdensome as the problem it was meant to solve: eliminating estimated billing.
Four months ago, NERC introduced a promising policy to deregulate both meter prices and providers, embracing a willing-buyer, willing-seller system aimed at opening up the market. This move was intended to empower customers, allowing them to obtain meters from any approved vendor without relying on the DisCos.
While this policy appeared commendable on paper, it has brought new challenges.
The most pressing of these is the increase in meter prices, exacerbated by the prevailing economic conditions and rising inflation.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of customers on estimated billing has surged from 5.83 million in Q4 2023 to 6.43 million in Q1 2024, marking a significant 10% rise.
These figures represent millions of households striving to escape the cycle of overbilling and other abuses by their distribution companies, only to find that the path to obtaining a prepaid meter has become even more difficult.
Latest Meter Prices
Following the announcement by NERC, DisCos and their meter providers partners have declared new meter prices, pointing to the deregulation policy and ailing economic conditions.
None of the new prices is below N100,000, a very sharp increase from the former price announced by NERC in September 2023.
According to the new prices by DisCos, the cost of a single phase meter rose from N81,975 to about N125,000, depending on the DisCo and the vendor the customer is purchasing from.
Different DisCos announced different prices from N120,00 for a single-phase meter to about N240,00 for a three-phase meter, a sharp increase that has made struggling Nigerians question their choices in obtaining meter and estimated billing.
The average prices announced by distribution companies across the country are as follows.
Abuja DisCo:
Single Phase Meter — Between N105,000 to N131,000
Three Phase Meter — N198,000 to N220,000
Kaduna DisCo:
Single Phase Meter — Between N120,000 to N132,000
Three Phase Meter — Between N206,000 to N215,000
Ikeja DisCo:
Single Phase Meter — Between N120,000 to N125,000
Three Phase Meter — N213,000 to N225,000
Eko DisCo:
Single Phase Meter — Between N117,000 to N135,000
Three Phase Meter — Between 145,000 to N247,000
This increase in price is true for all the eleven DisCos across the country.
How Nigerians are responding to the new meter prices
For Nigerians already grappling with soaring inflation, skyrocketing living costs, and the recent hike in electricity tariffs for Band A customers, the sharp increase in meter prices feels like an added weight to their already overwhelming burdens.
Beyond the persistent challenge of availability, there’s a pressing concern about the purchasing power of consumers—many of whom are struggling to make ends meet in today’s harsh economic climate.
A lingering question is the stability of these meter prices, especially with the deregulation of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
Ifeoma Ugbe, a Lagos-based energy expert, said NERC typically announces price hikes at regular intervals, sometimes within a year. But with deregulation, the situation becomes even more uncertain.
“Deregulation means prices will fluctuate based on market realities, so we can’t expect them to stay the same for long,” she said.
For customers who spoke to Nairametrics, the recent price increase has been met with frustration and concern.
Mr. Adetunji, a resident of Isolo, Lagos, expressed his disappointment, explaining that his household had been attempting to secure a prepaid meter for over a year before the price hike. “Now, we have to pay the new price. We don’t have a choice. And it’s not even as if the meter is readily available,” he lamented.
Usman Johnson, a landlord in Wuse, Abuja, shared a similar sentiment, noting that the increased cost of meters would only discourage customers like himself from obtaining one.
“Where do they expect us to find the money? First, you have to wait endlessly to get the meter, and now we’re expected to pay more. It feels like this government just enjoys raising prices on everything—tariffs have gone up, everything has gone up. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the common man,” Johnson said.
In Maryland, along Ikorodu Road, Mrs. Elizabeth Okiro, a store owner, shared her experience. She and other shop owners had been pooling funds to purchase five meters from their distribution company, only to discover that prices had increased significantly.
“Imagine spending over N1 million just to buy meters in this tough economy. We decided we’ll have to wait because after paying, you still have to cover installation costs. The economy is simply harsh. Our landlord eventually advised us to stop contributing—the cost is just too high,” Okiro explained.
Her store is one of about 20 in the plaza, meaning most tenants are forced to remain on estimated billing.
Deregulation of MAP won’t ease the burden of the Masses
Energy expert Ifeoma Ugbe argues that deregulating the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme alone may fall short of solving the challenges in the power sector.
“While the government aims to bring in more liquidity and investment, it is crucial that this is done with the interest of the masses in mind,” she says.
Ugbe emphasized that for any reform to truly benefit the public, it must strike a balance between attracting investors and ensuring affordability for everyday consumers.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has set an ambitious target: to eliminate estimated billing by the end of the year.
But this goal appears increasingly out of reach. Recent data from Q1 2024 indicates that estimated billing rose by 10%, affecting over six million households.
The federal government plans to address this with the move to purchase 3.5 million meters this year to bridge the metering gap.
However, with around seven million customers still unmetered, significant challenges remain.
This has raised concerns that the government may resort to tariff hikes and a stronger emphasis on cost-reflective pricing.
Lawyer and energy expert Nonso Ikechukwu warns that such a strategy could place a further strain on consumers. “For most Nigerians, higher tariffs are simply unaffordable,” Ikechukwu states.
He also highlights that rising inflation and currency instability will likely push meter prices even higher, potentially undermining the government’s plans.
“If meter prices continue to climb, it’s hard to see how this policy will succeed,” Ikechukwu adds, questioning whether the measures will actually ease the burden on ordinary citizens.
[Nairametrics]
There was no approval by the National Assembly before the procurement of the new presidential jet for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Daily Trust’s findings have revealed.
Late in June, an online news platform reported that the Nigerian government had acquired an Airbus A330 aircraft from a German bank.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the German bank had seized the aircraft from an unnamed Arabian prince and businessman, who reportedly failed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars he owed the bank.
Officials of the Presidency, according to the online news platform, had “kept their lips shut” about the planned purchase of a new aircraft for the Presidential Air Fleet.
And since then, there has not been any official statement from the Presidency on the matter.
The actual cost of the aircraft is yet to be ascertained. A report earlier by Premium Times had said it was learnt that government was negotiating to acquire it for $100 million.l, but said it could not establish th actual price it was procured.
Speaking on the matter during a plenary session of the upper legislative chamber, however, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the request for purchase of the craft had not been tabled before the parliament, but that once done, members would consider and approve it.
“We care about the president and we care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people”, Akpabio had said then, in respect of the bid to acquire the presidential aircraft.
Akpabio, who alleged that the National Assembly was being “blackmailed” over the matter, said: “But I can tell you that when you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result of a defective plane, and then the death of the president of Iran as a result of defective aircraft; we shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be at the ocean. It wouldn’t be.
“The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.
“Irrespective of anticipatory blackmail, because those people know very well that something like that might come in the future; and if it’s a necessity, the Senate will look into it.
“But there is nothing like that before us now”, he said pointedly.
Nothing was heard about the matter until the recent controversy broke about the seizure of three Nigerian aircraft by a Chinese firm, acting on an order of a French court.
The French court had ordered the seizure of the three jets amid a long-standing dispute between Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment and the Ogun State government, over a massive industrial park that was to be developed to attract investors.
The planes were said to be undergoing “routine maintenance” at the time of the seizure.
Meanwhile, the Chinese firm said on Friday that it had released, “as a gesture of goodwill”, the Airbus A330 for President Tinubu to travel for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
It was not immediately clear whether it was the same aircraft President Tinubu would use for his trip to France today.
A presidential spokesperson yesterday confirmed to Daily Trust that the new aircraft was purchased for the president.
“That is settled. Something that is now released (referring to the seized aircraft Airbus A330). If it was not purchased, how could it be withheld by the Chinese company? There’s no controversy around it. Almost everything has been concluded and it was out in the media”, the aide who declined to be named said.
On whether an approval was obtained from the National Assembly before the procurement of the presidential jet, the spokesperson said, “There was a story that the National Assembly directed that the aircraft should be procured for the President. There are a number of windows to the National Assembly.”
The government official also hinted that the aircraft could have been purchased under the Service Wide Vote, which he said, may not require the parliament’s assent.
Our National Assembly correspondents found that though the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence led by Satomi Ahmed had, earlier in June, recommended a new aircraft be procured for the president, the lawmakers did not approve it before they proceeded on their annual recess on July 23.
No approval request from the president for the procurement of a new presidential was considered on the floors of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives had, on July 23, passed the supplementary bill which sought to raise the 2024 Appropriation Act from N28.7 trillion to N35.06 trillion.
The chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, who presented the harmonised joint Senate and House report on the budget, had said, “As you can see, we have passed the N6.2 trillion budget of Mr President, the budget of Renewed Nope.
“N3.2 trillion is for capital expenditure; while about N3 trillion will go to the current. And as I said last time, the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a critical road infrastructure that Mr President wants to actualise.”
We’re not aware of approval for new presidential jet – Lawmakers
Some lawmakers, who spoke to our reporters on condition of anonymity yesterday, said the National Assembly neither considered nor approved any request for the procurement of a presidential jet before proceeding on recess.
A credible source in the Senate said: “At no time was deal discussed at the plenary meeting. It was not tabled. But then, there is the probability that the president had sent the letter.”
Another source also said he was not aware of any approval by the Senate for the purchase of a new presidential jet.
“The last time we heard something about the new aircraft was when the Senate president, Akpabio, said no communication about it yet from the Villa, but that the National Assembly would not hesitate to approve it.
“I read it in the media that the aircraft had been purchased, and as I speak with you, no one has denied that the deal was sealed,” he said.
A member of the House of Representatives also told Daily Trust yesterday that no correspondence from the president was presented to them about the purchase of a new aircraft for the president.
He said: “We’ve not seen anything in the main budget or the supplementary budget about the purchase of a new presidential aircraft. Another thing is that, there is no detail of the supplementary budget passed. So, we don’t know whether it is in the 2024 supplementary budget because we have not been availed with the detailed breakdown. It was presented as a lump sum.
“We don’t know about the purchase of the aircraft because it was not presented to us and we have not seen any details about it. So, we cannot say anything. So, I won’t have any comments until I see the details”.
It can’t be true – NSA’s spokesman
When contacted on telephone last night, the spokesman of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, told one of our reporters that it could not be true that the new presidential plane was purchased without an approval of the National Assembly.
“It cannot be true. This is the time I am hearing this whether in government or outside government,” he said.
Later in a telephone call to Daily Trust, Mijinyawa said he was informed by someone “within the system” that the purchase by captured in the Service Wide Vote.
Presidency, Defence ministry, Senate, Reps mum
The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Bashir Lado, did not respond to WhatsApp and text messages seeking his comment. His phone line was busy several times one of our reporters called yesterday.
The chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and Honourable Akin Rotimi respectively were contacted yesterday by Daily Trust via phone calls and text messages to confirm whether or not the purchase of the new presidential jet was authorized by the legislature, but they did not oblige.
In the same vein, the chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola and Honourable Abubakar Bichi respectively, neither answered phone calls nor replied to messages sent to their mobile lines telephone mobile line for enquiries.
Several calls and a text message to Mati Ali, the media aide to the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, were also not answered.
[DailyTrust]
There were long queues of vehicles yesterday at the few filling stations selling petrol in the commercial city of Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
It is the same situation in many state capitals, cities and towns across the country.
Major roads in Lagos were empty because motorists did not have petrol to move around.
Black market boomed with the scarcity of the product.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the scarcity of the product to a distribution glitch.
It cautioned against panic buying.
“The NNPC Ltd regrets the tightness in fuel supply witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT, which is as a result of distribution challenges,” Olufemi Soneye, spokesman of the NNPCL said yesterday.
He urged motorists to shun panic buying as it works round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.
He added that the challenge was temporary.
The product sold yesterday for between N840 and N1,000 in many places nationwide.
Lagos:
Fuel queues resurfaced in Lagos as many filling stations ran out of stock, leading to closures and long queues at the stations.
Along Ikorodu Road, many filling stations were not selling.
However, there were long queues at the NNPCL and NIPCO stations at Fadeyi Bus Stop, which sold to commuters.
Along Bank Anthony/Airport Road in Maryland, Total, Northwest, and NNPCL stations were beset by long queues while the Mobil Station at Salami Shaibu in Somolu closed abruptly due to chaotic scenes caused by commercial vehicles.
Illegal fuel hawkers were spotted along Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Gbagada, and Ogba, taking advantage of the situation.
Also, fares paid by commuters along Iyana-Ipaja/ Ikotun rose from N300 to N400. Commuters along Ajao Estate/ Obalende paid N1,000 instead of N800.
A bus driver, Jimoh Saka, who ply the Onipaanu/Ilaje/ Bariga route, spoke on the struggle to obtain fuel, justifying the fare hike from N200 to N300 for trips from Bariga to Onipaanu.
He said: “The increase in transport costs is not our fault. We sleep at petrol stations just to buy fuel and continue our business. Things are hard, and people should understand it is not our fault.”
Another driver, Gbenga Saliu, expressed frustration over the stress of waiting in long queues, saying: “It’s seriously stressful.”
At the three NNPCL outlets in the Ojodu-Berger axis, only one had a 45,000-litre truck waiting to discharge its content while anxious motorists formed queues at its entrance causing traffic snarls.
The RainOil petrol station sold to motorists, amid the chaotic queue.
From Berger through Alapere to Iyana Oworonshoki, to Anthony on Ikorodu Road, none of the filling stations opened for business. TotalEnergies, ConOil, AP, and Heyden on Ilupeju Bypass, were all closed.
Abuja
Petrol remained scarce in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) yesterday.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) President, Dr. Billy Harry attributed the shortage to a “supply challenge.”
Apart from some NNPCL retail outlets, only a few independent filling stations sold the product.
While NNPCL sold for N617 per litre, some independent marketers sold for between N625 per litre to N996 per litre.
Black marketers sold 10 litres at N1,000 per litre for N11,000 in plastic containers.
Some drivers sacrificed their Sunday worship for petrol sourcing, leaving their homes as early as 6:00am to queue in different stations.
Plateau
Many filling stations in Jos, Plateau State capital, did not open.
Commercial drivers expressed worry over the scarcity, and hiked the price at the few stations dispensing the product
Motorists said they bought the product for N950 per litre at independent oil marketers’ stations and N620 at NNPCL stations in the metropolis.
A commercial driver, Pam John, said he would rather join the queue at the NNPCL station instead of paying over N900 for a litre.
Another motorist, Kateng David, said he parked his car because he could not afford to buy a litre of petrol for over N900.
Along Bauchi Road, a station sold the product for N900; while at A.A. Rano Station, petrol was dispensed at N730.
An independent oil marketer in Jos, who pleaded anonymity, attributed the supply shortage to marketers’ reluctance to bring the product from Lagos because of the possibility of the price crashing when Dangote Refinery begins supplying to the market.
According to him, marketers buy petrol for N900 per litre in Jos and sell for N950 after considering transportation costs.
Black marketers are in brisk business as a gallon of the product is sold for N5,000, while a litre is sold for N1,250.
Akure
Fuel scarcity hit, Akure, the Ondo State capital, with the price rising to between N800 and N900 per litre.
Some major marketers sold for between N600 and 680 per litre.
Sources said the non-availability of fuel was due to low sales of fuel to independent marketers.
Osun
Due to scarcity in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, a few independent marketers sold for N900 per litre.
Many stations were shut while others sold for between N850 to N900.
There were queues at the NNPC stations in Lameko and Abere areas.
Similarly, there were long queues at NIPCO stations in Ogo-Oluwa, Technical and Lameco areas.
Also, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Ikirun experienced fuel scarcity.
Owerri
As the pump price rose to N950 per litre in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, transport fares rose by 100 per cent.
“This is a nightmare for us drivers,” said Emeka Uzoma, a commercial driver. “Our income hasn’t increased, but fuel prices have doubled. We’re struggling to survive.”
Commuters are also feeling the pinch. “I’m a student, and my transport fare has doubled,” lamented Nneoma Okorie, who added: “This sudden increase will affect my ability to attend classes. The government needs to act fast to address this crisis.”
Transporters appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, while residents fear potential protests and disruptions.
A resident who simply gave his name as Jonathan urged the authorities to address the crisis and regulate prices to ensure affordable transportation.
Rivers
Filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State sold a litre for between N890 to N900.
Many of the filling stations were not open, a situation that created some queues in others.
At the popular Ada George Road, only one filling station was open.
Residents complained about the rising cost of fuel and appealed to the government to reduce the price.
A resident, who identified himself as Adulphus, said many filling stations in his area did not open for business.
Katsina
Fuel price jumped to N1,050 in Katsina, leading to increased transport fare
At Dan Manna filling station, a motorcyclist, Abdulkadir Mohammed, said the situation was worse as most passengers now preferred trekking.
He said: “The government must do something about the fuel situation; the people are suffering.’’
Akwa Ibom
Consumers groaned in Akwa Ibom State following the hike in the price to N970 per litre.
The NNPC filling station along Ikot Ekpene Road sold the product at N840 per litre.
Some filling stations have remained closed.
A fuel pump attendant in one of the stations in Uyo, the state capital, said the proprietor of the station cannot afford to restock the product.
He complained about low patronage as one of the reasons why some filling stations were out of business.
Ekiti
Motorists and commuters in Ekiti State lamented the increase in the pump price, which has been fluctuating at stations across the state.
Most independent petrol stations visited in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, sold petrol for between N850 to N900/litre while major marketers sold for between N650 and 680 per litre.
The situation has forced motorists to jerk up the transportation fare.
A motorist simply identified as Yaro, who plies the Ado Ekiti/ Ilesha route, lamented the situation, saying he purchased fuel at the rate of N850 in a private petrol station in Ado-Ekiti.
Jigawa
Filing stations sold petrol for N950 per litre in Dutse, the state capital, and many towns in the state.
Enugu
In Enugu and its environs, petrol was sold for between N880 and N920 per litre and N1,300 on the black market.
But the product was available in most petrol stations in the Enugu metropolis.
Mobil, Total, among other mega stations sold for between N690 and N760 per litre.
The hike in the pump price of PMS has led to an increase in transport fare by commercial drivers, as those plying Agbani Road / Holy Ghost Roads, who charged N200, increased the fare to N400.
From Obiagu to Ogui Road, passengers who previously paid N100 paid N200 yesterday.
Ogun
Scarcity hit Abeokuta, the state capital, where petrol was sold for between N850 and N900.
Major marketers like MRS near the Grammar School in Oke Igbein area of Abeokuta did not open.
But AP in the Adatan area of Abeokuta sold for N635 while Fatgbems located near the NNPC Mega station area sold for N645.
However, a long queue was observed at the NNPC mega station beside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta because it was dispensing the product to consumers at N580 per litre.
In Ijebu Ode, BOVAS filling station sold a litre for N665 while others sold for between N850 and N900 per litre.
Anambra
The price of fuel hit N950 in Anambra State at most filling stations.
Black marketers sold a litre for between N1000 and N1,200
The situation led to a hike in transport fares.
One of the commuters who spoke with The Nation Sunday, Stella Achikwu, said a journey from Awka to Achina in Aguata where she used to spend N1,500 now costs between N6,700 and N7,100.
Asaba
Scarcity of petroleum products resurfaced in Asaba and its environs, forcing a spike in pump prices and long queues at many filling stations.
With many filling stations under lock and key, pump price increased to between N815 snxN900 per litre.
Although the NNPC mega station along the Benin- Onitsha Expressway sold at N591 per litre to motorists, there were long queues.
Oyo
In many petrol stations in Ibadan, the Oyo State, capital city and its environs, there was no fuel.
The majority of the stations were under lock and key as the attendants claimed they did not have the product.
The few independent marketers sold at different prices which ranged from N680 to N920 per litre.
The NNPC stations that sold at N580 per litre had long queues.
Edo
Most filling stations in Benin and its environs sold at N880 per litre without any queue.
However, the independent marketers sold at N900 per litre in Benin and its environs.
The product was available at most filling stations, but motorists complained about the high price.
Cross River State
The NNPCL price was N591 naira per litre, while North West Petroleum, an independent private marketer, sold for N650 per litre.
Other marketers sold between N650, N700 and N750. Some sold for N800 and N900.
On the black market, it was sold for between N1,200 to N1,500.
A female Taxi driver and Chairman of the Female Taxi Drivers Association in Cross River, Ms Philomena Ifeoma Asibe, said the solution is to bring back subsidy to stabilise fuel prices.
She said: “Some days, we buy fuel, go out and we cannot make any profit or even get the capital back. The solution is that they should bring back our fuel subsidy. The only way to stabilise fuel price is to return fuel subsidy.”
A taxi driver, Mr Ettah Godson, said: “Fuel is now N900 in my area. I bought fuel for N8000 and the whole day I made N6,000. The government needs to do something.
“The fuel is there, but it is too expensive. We can’t buy much and the passengers won’t accept to pay according to the fuel price.”
Jalingo
Some petrol stations sold the product while others were closed. Fuel was sold for N930 per litre.
Minna
Minna, the capital of Niger State, was not hit by fuel scarcity, although a litre sold for between N780 and N950 at various filling stations.
At Rano and Shafa filling stations, fuel was sold for N820; at Rainoil, it was sold for N780. Other non-independent marketers sold for between N900 and N950.
Also, NNPC sold a litre for N617, amid long queues.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi, the product sold for between N830 and N850. However, it sold for N900 on the black market.
However, the NNPC filling station along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway sold fuel for N600. There were long queues.
Also, the Total filling station on the old Ogoja Road sold at a cheaper rate.
Sokoto
Most filling stations in the Sokoto metropolis did not sell.
At the independent marketers’ filling stations, commuters paid N1,000 for a litre,
The NNPCL mega station along Kano-Gusau Road sold at N620 per litre amid long queues.
Residents resorted to trekking to their destinations.
Delta
Major marketers sold for N900 per litre at filling stations in Warri, Effurun and its environs.
Some fuel stations reportedly sold petrol for N1,170 in the Uvwie council area.
Despite the high cost, the product was not readily available at fuel stations.
A commercial vehicle operator who claimed to have bought a litre at N1,170 said he had to do so after failing to get fuel at two other stations visited.
Also, a resident of Warri who bought the product at N920 per litre, said most fuel stations in the Warri/Effurun metropolis were selling above N900 per litre.
Abia
Some petrol stations in Abia State sold a litre for between N930 and N960.
Some of the petrol station owners attributed the hike to the cost of purchase and transportation to their dump.
In Aba, Total Energy and the only NNPCL outlet were without products.
Some tricycle operators said the NNPCL outlet on Asa Road, near Cemetery Market, sold for ₦596 per litre.
[TheNation]
The Nigeria Labour Congress has hired forensic experts to comb its national secretariat in Abuja for possible bugs planted by the police, The PUNCH was told.
The union said the forensic security audit would facilitate the return of its workers to their offices following the recent raid by the police.
The PUNCH reported that security agents, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.”
The police took responsibility for the operation, saying it was aimed at uncovering incriminating documents that could help build a case against an international “subversive” figure considered a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Last week, the NLC rejected the explanation offered by the police on the raid and demanded the release of its arrested members and seizes documents.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the National Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, said the union had hired foreign experts to comb the office for possible bugs planted by the police.
“The police stormed and raided NLC’s headquarters in the nation’s capital and carted away documents.
“The NLC, in its National Executive Council meeting, deliberated and agreed that there is a need to conduct a forensic security audit to ensure that the people were safe, and nothing was planted in its headquarters, among other things before they resume back to their offices.
“As a result of this, the NLC has initiated a thorough forensic security audit of the national secretariat. The security checks are being conducted by international experts, who have already begun working to secure the premises against any potential surveillance devices,” Onyeka said.
He insisted that the explanation offered by the police was untenable.
“The NLC met in their National Executive Council meeting and demanded an apology from the Federal Government and the police which has not been offered till now,” he said.
[Punch]
Following the outbreak of violence over what worshippers of a church in Abuja called legalisation of practices alien to christian culture, police from the FCT Command reportedly fired tear gas to disperse Church members on Sunday.
Sources said trouble started at the United Methodist Church, Durumi, when members engaged in a fight over the decision of the parent church, said to be based in America, to impose certain practices which the Abuja Church goers were not confortable with.
“The parent church in the US legalised some practices that are not part of our culture.
“Some elders kicked against it and demanded that the church in Nigeria should pull out, and give the church another name.
“Another set of elders kicked against the move. This created a faction in the church and this fight is the outcome,” a source said.
Some elders of the church are vehemently against imposition, legalising of such practices and calling for a breakup from the parent church.
However, the presiding pastor was said to have kicked against the breskup with the backing of some other elders. Hence a fight ensued, leading to th3 police being invited to quell the violence.
During the service, the pastor had reportedly said he and some elders would head to the court to stop those calling for a break up of the church. He also vowed to ensure the church remains with the parent headquarters.
This led to heated arguments and the church service ending abruptly with fighting between members, and the police were called in.
Police step in
Eyewitnesses disclosed that on arrival at the scene, police operatives made efforts to stop the fight. But when things got out of hand, tear gas had to be fired to disperse the fueding members.
The police later whisked away some elders of the church with a view to conducting investigation
FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Josephin Adeh, confirmed the incident.
She noted that the Command CP, Benneth Igweh invited all the elders of the church to
the Command over the incident.
The Economic Community of West African States Parliament is stepping up diplomatic efforts to prevent Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from leaving the regional bloc.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, confirmed that parliamentary diplomacy mechanisms are being deployed to engage the three nations, emphasising the importance of unity within ECOWAS.
He spoke in an interview on Saturday, August 17, 2024, with newsmen in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the sidelines of a meeting of the parliament’s Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, of which he is Chairman.
Kalu assured that letters had been sent to the governments of the concerned nations, and visits by parliamentary representatives would soon follow.
He expressed confidence that dialogue would lead to their reintegration into the regional body.
“There are already mechanisms in place, through what is called parliamentary diplomacy, to reach out to them.
“Letters have been sent to them, and very soon, some of us will start visiting those countries to engage the heads of government.
“We will open up the doors for them to come back to the family; We need them.
“We will tell them, for instance, that, granted, maybe they were offended by one or two things, but let us sit down again and discuss,” the deputy speaker stressed.
Kalu also noted that even in a worst-case scenario where the three countries proceed with their exit, ECOWAS’s financial stability would not be at risk.
He highlighted the organisation’s multiple revenue streams, including the Community Levy and contributions from development agencies.
“There are many other sources. So, we want to make sure that we streamline it and know where monies are coming from.
“If these are not enough, we will increase because there are so many development agencies, there are so many people who are interested in the sub-region.
“There are multiple ways of raising funds for the parliament, as well as the community,” he said.
In addition to addressing the potential exits, the ECOWAS Parliament is pushing for reforms to strengthen legislative independence.
Kalu, who also chairs the country’s House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, said that the laws governing ECOWAS need updating to reflect the changing political landscape.
The proposed amendments would bolster the separation of powers and enhance the credibility of the institution on the international stage.
“Rightly put, we need to amend the Supplementary Act.
“The protocols that brought the ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Parliament into existence need to be overhauled.
“This is because these laws are not cast in stones; Indeed, no law is cast in stone”, the two-term lawmaker (APC-Abia, Bende Constituency) added.
Since January 28, 2024, when the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS, the regional body has attempted to negotiate their return through sanctions relief and invitations to technical meetings.
However, these attempts have been met with silence.
Fuel queues have resurfaced in several parts of Lagos as scarcity of petroleum hit Nigeria’s commercial centre.
Channels Television observed that in some areas of the state, motorists were spotted in the queues that snaked into the streets. The development caused gridlock around filling stations.
A litre of the product now sells for between N800-N1,000 in some filling stations, a move that has resulted in an increase in the cost of transportation
Some filling stations are not selling the product while black marketers have taken advantage of the situation to do brisk business.
The situation is not limited to Lagos. Some states in the northern region have experienced persistent scarcity of the product.
FG Reads Riot Act
But in a bid to tackle the situation, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) threatened to withdraw licenses of filling stations hoarding fuel.
“NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licences,” the agency said in a tweet on its handle.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) last month blamed the scarcity of petroleum on a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels.
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” the NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye said.
But he assured Nigerians that the NNPCL is working to resolve the situation.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes, which has constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” he said.
LASTMA Deploys More Officers
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed its officers to monitor traffic around filling stations.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department Adebayo Taofiq quoted the agency’s general manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki as warning motorists against obstructing the flow of traffic.
He said the deployment became necessary due to reports of long queues at filling stations caused by motorists who park indiscriminately, thus blocking roads.
“We want our roads to be free-flowing; fuel queues should not become a burden for other road users in Lagos,” the LASTMA chief said.
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has disassociated himself from campaign posters on social media, claiming he would be contesting for the presidency in 2027.
In a statement on Sunday by Edwin Olofu, chief press secretary (CPS), to the APC national chairman, Ganduje said the campaign posters are “malicious pieces of fake news”.
The campaign poster featured Ganduje as a presidential candidate in 2027, with Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, as his running mate.
The poster also showed the two politicians will contest the presidency on the platform of the APC.
Ganduje said “mischief makers” linked with the Kwakwassiyya movement were behind the posters.
He added that the perpetrators are working to cause discord between him and President Bola Tinubu.
“This is to inform the general public that the poster currently circulating on social media, claiming that the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is contesting for the presidency in 2027 with Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, as his running mate, is entirely false and a malicious piece of fake news,” the statement reads.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to categorically state that this is the work of mischief-makers, likely in collaboration with certain elements within the Kwankwassiyya movement, who are determined to create disaffection between Dr. Ganduje and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains unwaveringly loyal to President Tinubu and is fully committed to supporting the president’s vision and leadership.
“Dr. Ganduje believes that President Tinubu is on the right trajectory to steer Nigeria towards greater prosperity and unity.
“We urge the public to disregard this fabricated story and refrain from spreading unverified information.”
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Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says he receives threat calls from unknown persons who are against the progress in the power sector.
Adelabu spoke on Saturday in Oyo state during Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ programme.
He said all problems in the power sector are surmountable.
“There will be resistance, people stand in your way, saboteurs and others. Let me say this for the first time. I receive threat calls,” he said.
“I am the 49th power minister in the country. The past ministers were probably bullied and intimated in their work. It does not take ordinary people to blow up a power transmission substation with dynamites, and pull down a power line.
“It is an organised crime. It is a cabal and cartel. We are all Nigerians but we are all Nigerians, we will not run away from ourselves.”
Speaking further on the significant development attained in his one year in office, he said Nigeria had struggled with electricity generation of 4,000 megawatts (MW).
He added that in less than a year in office, his development plans have added more than 1,000MW of electricity to the capacity of the national grid.
“We have raised the electricity generated capacity from 4,000MW to 5,155MW recorded on the 8th of August, 2024. In the past, it took the country over 25 years to achieve 2,000MW of power and it took between 1984 and today to achieve additional 2,000MW,” he said.
“When we resumed as minister, the electricity generated was 4,000MW and within a year, we have added over 1,000MW. Our target is to hit 6,000MW with the support of the Federal Government before the end of this year.”
‘IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKABLE PROCESSES’
Adelabu said a comprehensive diagnosis of the entire ministry “with many organised retreats to find workable and practical solutions to the quagmire in the ministry”.
“First we needed an underlining legislation that will decentralise control and make states as players in the value chain,” Adelabu said.
“It took the effort of President (Bola) Tinubu who signed the Electricity Bill into law which allowed states and private sectors to join and invest in the sector.
“We implemented the supportive policies to act as guiding principles. Then we moved to the market where we looked at the cost reflective tariff as well as infrastructural development, enhancement and upgrade. Extension to remote areas with the adoption of renewal energy and power asset security against saboteurs.”
The minister added that energy consumers must be ready to pay their bills for continuity and sustainability of the many achievements in the power sector.
Adelabu emphasised that, in contrast to the overall cost of running generators, Nigerians can afford to pay their energy bills regardless of cost.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria would have been much better and occupied a place of pride in the world but for its problem of self-centred leadership.
Apart from being self-centred, Nigerian leaders, according to Obasanjo, also have a knowledge deficit.
The former President spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital during the 2024 edition of the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.
The conference featured the conferment of Doctor of Leadership and Theology awards on some Nigerians by South-African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in conjunction with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc. based in Nigeria.
“There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent and the world.
“And if you asked me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.
“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. That is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is doing, which is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based institute, Prof.Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.
Earlier, Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible And Responsive Leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it was responsible for Nigeria’s under-development almost 64 years after independence.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s problems would continue to defy solutions until the country began to feed itself.
He stated this when a delegation from Niger State, comprising commissioners and Special Advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago, paid him a courtesy visit in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home at the weekend.
Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, made this known on Sunday in a press statement.
“The former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ policy of 1976. He emphasised that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can be even greater than before.
“Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, ‘Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb’.
“He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food,” Wakaso stated.
The Special Adviser disclosed that the former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices, expressing his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavors.
“Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity,” she stated
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.
The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.
According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.
Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.
Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.
“Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.
Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State.
Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.
Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.
A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.
The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.
“Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.
During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.
A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems.
A Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.
The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).
The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.
Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.
During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.
Due to the current economic crunch in the country, payments by Nigerian students for the new academic session starting in September, this year, in universities in the United Kingdom have dropped by 65 per cent compared to last year, a report by the Financial Times of London has said.
The report also indicated that payments by students from India also dropped by 44 per cent, compared to last August.
The two nations are among the top three contributors to the League of International Students in the United Kingdom.
The paper, quoting data from Enroly, a web platform used by one in three international students for managing enrolment, said there was a 35 per cent drop in deposits for places on UK university courses overall by foreign students this month, compared to August 2023.
‘’Some will likely need to take further significant action to secure their financial sustainability,’’ said Paul Kett, senior education and skills adviser at PwC UK.
The number of international students applying to UK universities has remained far below recent levels, despite signs of a slight recovery this month, leaving some institutions facing financial crisis.
This shows a slight improvement in May when the drop was 57 per cent, compared with a year earlier.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said last month that the new Labour government wanted to welcome international students.
She criticised the negative rhetoric of the previous Conservative administration which successive Tory ministers had deployed as they tried to cut overall migration figures.
The data showed a significant decline in students from Nigeria and India, two of the three largest international markets for UK universities.
Deposits from Nigerian students fell by 65 per cent, and from Indian, students were down by 44 per cent, when compared to August 2023.
Smaller markets, such as Kenya and Nepal, showed increased demand against a year ago.
Jeffrey Williams, Enroly’s Chief Executive, said the “early signs” of recovery reflected efforts by the new government to stabilise immigration policy.
“Concerns regarding the potential elimination of the postgraduate route work visa have been assuaged,” he said, adding that this had been helped by “continued political uncertainty” in other markets such as Australia and Canada.
Harry Anderson, Deputy Director of Universities UK International, the sector lobby group, said the international environment remained volatile for universities as they continued to look to diversify the range of countries from which they recruit students.
Labour has so far retained the Conservative’s ban on most graduate students bringing family members, which Anderson said would still present competitive challenges for UK institutions.
“Most of our competitor destinations do allow students to bring their family members, and most of the growth in recent years has been in postgraduate taught courses where students typically tend to be older and have family members.
“Still, the hope is that stability signalled by the new government will benefit the next admissions cycle after the turbulence of the last 18 months. But the sector needs to be working hard with embassies to communicate this,” Anderson added.
The regulator, the Office for Students, has already started to prepare for a potential wave of university insolvencies, advertising for a contract of up to £4million for professional services companies to handle restructuring programmes.
It made the move after financial accounts revealed over-optimistic assumptions about the growth of overseas’ recruitment in the next few years.
In its annual report this May the OfS accused universities of “optimism bias” for using projections of 35 per cent growth in international entrants in 2022-26.
Meanwhile, a recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s balance of payment compilation spanning the first six months of 2023, showed that Nigerians spent $896.09million on foreign education, with a large chunk going to the UK.
Foundation courses in the UK go for between £10,000 and £15,000 and an average student would need about £8,000 for other expenses yearly.