Latest News
Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, collapsed outside the courtroom on Thursday, moments before his arraignment trial were set to begin.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 12-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC alleges that Mamman committed money laundering offenses to the tune of N33bn. As he was about to take a plea, Mamman suddenly collapsed, forcing the court to pause proceedings.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, informed the court that there was a development outside the courtroom, and Ate confirmed that Mamman collapsed “upon being brought into the court premises and had to be resuscitated by the Federal High Court’s medical personnel”.
Ate requested an adjournment for the arraignment to be done on Monday, but the judge fixed it for September ending due to the court’s workload.
Olumide-Fusika had filed an amended charge earlier in the morning, correcting an error in Mamman’s name, but the judge declined to read the fresh charge to Mamman.
After receiving treatment, Mamman told the court that he was fit to continue with the arraignment despite the health issue, explaining that he collapsed due to taking drugs on an empty stomach, which caused his blood pressure to drop. The judge however acknowledged that such incidents can happen to anyone.
The court has adjourned the case to a later date, pending further developments.
LG Autonomy: Cross River, Kano, Rivers, 17 Other States That Will Not Receive LG Allocations From July
AFOLABI
The Federal Government will from July withhold local government allocations to Cross River, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, and 16 other states in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement.
The apex court on Thursday delivered a judgment in the local government autonomy suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the Nigerian Government, barring the Federal Government from releasing allocations to local governments governed by unelected officials appointed by the state governors.
In the judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim barred the Federal Government from further paying LG allocations through the state governments, noting that the practice had been abused by the governors.
Justice Agim accused the state governors of retaining allocations and utilising them as they please, to the detriment of the local government councils.
Following the judgment, 20 states that have no elected local government chairmen stand barred from receiving local government allocations from July until they conduct elections.
THE WHISTLER reports that in June, the government of Jigawa State dissolved the elected council chairmen of the 27 local governments after the state house of assembly amended the local government law.
Similarly, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, appointed caretaker chairmen, dissolving those appointed by his predecessor Nyesom Wike following their political tussle.
In June, Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo, through the state’s House of Assembly, also appointed transition committee chairmen and councillors for the 21 local government areas of the state.
By implication, these states will not receive further allocations per the Supreme Court judgment.
The 36 states and the FCT received N293.82bn from the federal government on behalf of the 774 local government areas in the country for the month of July.
OPEC Lists Dangote Refinery Among Top Diesel, Jet Fuel Suppliers That Will Disrupt Europe’s Oil $ Gas Industry
AFOLABI
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said supplies from Nigerian-based Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will put pressure on the performance of North West Europe (NWE) Gasoil.
OPEC said this in its monthly Oil Market Report for June 2024.
“Upside potential for higher production levels from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, coupled with strong flows from the Middle East and new supplies from the Mexican Olmeca refinery, will likely exert pressure on NWE gasoil performance in the mid-term,” OPEC said.
Europe is one of the world’s largest purchasers of refined petroleum products and relied on imports from Asia and the US after the European Union banned the use of Russian diesel in the bloc.
However, the 650,000-capacity refinery which is owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is eyeing the wider European market after International Oil Companies stopped supplying it crude oil
Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin announced the company has exported its first jet fuel cargo to Europe as it rapidly scales production.
The refinery has exported 90 per cent of its 3.5 billion litres of jet fuel and diesel to Europe over alleged lack of support from the government.
“It is good to note that from the start of production, more than 3.5 billion litres, which represents 90 per cent of our production, have been exported,” Edwin said.
BP is currently transporting its first jet fuel cargo to Rotterdam from Dangote, after being awarded part of a 120,000 metric tonnes tender offered for the end of May, according to S&P Global.
OPEC said, “In June, the jet/kerosene crack spread in Rotterdam against Brent showed a slight decline, influenced by supply-side dynamics. Despite signs of improving air travel activities, subdued jet fuel demand from the aviation sector weighed on the product market.
“Going forward, European jet/kerosene demand is expected to see upward pressure as consumption levels from the aviation sector continue to pick up in the coming months.”
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, 10th July, presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
According to details of the meeting shared on X by presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, the council meeting took off with the swearing-in of eight new permanent secretaries. Thereafter, council members congratulated President Tinubu on his re-election as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States for another one-year term.
The meeting, among other things, deliberated on the Procurement Act, Samoa Agreement, separation of universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform, the establishment of a University of Technology in Abuja as well as the new Ministry of Livestock Development.
Here are the takeaways:
PROCUREMENT ACT
The council deliberated on the need to align project costs with the budget heads and avoid augmentation after the awards of contracts. Council learnt that the augmented contracts are those inherited by the Tinubu Administration, with most of them awarded more than 10-15 years ago.
The Council decided that the Attorney-General of the Federation should review the Procurement Act in operation since 2007 to bring it in line with contemporary demands.
Henceforth, ministries were urged to reconcile project costs with budget provisions and where extra funding is needed, get the clearance of the Minister of Budget and Minister of Finance. The two ministers will now serve as a clearing house for capital projects, requiring extra-budgetary spending.
SAMOA AGREEMENT
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Minister of Information and National Orientation reported to the council about the misinformation being disseminated by a Nigerian newspaper against the EU-ACP agreement to sow disaffection against the Tinubu Administration.
The Minister of Budget reiterated that there is no issue of LGBTQ in the international agreement signed by the Nigerian government. He and the Attorney General also reported that the agreement does not contain any clause that conflicts with our laws and the Constitution, citing the position of the Nigerian Bar Association. Minister of Information reported on the complaint filed against the newspaper with the Ombudsman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
ASUU AND IPPIS
The council asked the Secretary of the Government of the Federation to expedite the implementation of the council decision made months ago, separating the universities from the IPPIS platform.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABUJA
The Council ratified the anticipatory approval given on 28 May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to establish the university in the Federal Capital. The university is the first of the network of Pan African Institutes of Science and Technology dedicated to teaching African scientists and technologists.
MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT
Council decided that the Ministry be excised from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and developed along the lines suggested by the Presidential Livestock Development Committee, now headed by Professor Attahiru Jega.
Although many contract memos were stepped down, the FEC approved some others. Among them were:
1. Facility Maintenance Service submitted by EFCC, in favour of Julius Berger at a cost of N392 Million. The contract sum was less than the N533m approved in 2018 for the yearly maintenance of the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.
2. Procurement of 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers and assorted spare parts. The items to be supplied are for the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) to strengthen national food security. Aftrade DMCC, which has done a similar job in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery, in the second stage of the contract.
3. Contract for the engineering audit of upstream measurement equipment and facilities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector in favour of Messrs. PE Energy Limited. Completion will be 180 days.
4. Contract for the procurement of pre-field development studies for advanced declaration solution Technology in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector, in favour of Messrs. P-Lyne Energy Limited. Completion will also be in 180 days.
5. Two Contracts for the supply of SUVs and other operational vehicles to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The contracts are in favour of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Lanre Shittu Motors and Vinicius Global Link Ltd.
6. Contract for the procurement of low and high-voltage substation connectors in favour of Messrs. Maglous Enterprises Limited. The connectors are for the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
At the end of Wednesday’s meeting, the council adjourned till Monday 15 July.
The Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not aware of events happening outside the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
According to him, the Nigerian leader has been trapped and confined by specific groups.
Lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district made this remark during a press conference on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Ndume expressed his frustration that President Tinubu’s administration has not taken significant steps to address the ongoing security issues plaguing the nation.
He stated that the public’s dissatisfaction stems from the government’s inability to effectively address the issues of poverty, insecurity, and hunger, among others, which have severely impacted the nation.
Ndume said: “Mr President is not in the picture of what is happening outside the Villa. He has been fenced off and caged. So many of us won’t go through the backdoor to engage him.
“Now they have stopped him from talking, and he doesn’t have public affairs managers, except his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who writes press statements. Nigerians are getting very angry.
“The government is not doing anything about the food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve. There is an unavailability of food. The food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to the security crisis, it will be severe.
“The President should wake up; it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats. He should open his doors and meet those who will tell him the truth.
“Unfortunately, the people who will tell him the truth won’t struggle to meet him. I am very worried not only for the President himself but myself.”
Regarding the crisis involving farmers and herders, Ndume mentioned that those involved have not shown genuine commitment to tackling the problem, pointing out that efforts have consistently been influenced by ethnic feelings.
During a conversation with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, Ndume highlighted the federal government’s struggle to deal with these problems as a significant obstacle, further stating that certain ministers find it difficult to have discussions with President Tinubu about the issue.
He had said: “The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies.”
The Federal Government has declared that the ongoing food crisis will subside in the next one hundred and eighty days.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, announced this via his social media platform on Wednesday, July 10.
This announcement comes at a time when Nigerians are expressing frustration over the hardship and hunger in the country.
Kyari, however, has outlined the strategies that will be put in place during this period to address the issue.
He said: “Our administration has unveiled a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting our nation. These measures will be implemented over the next 180 days.”
His publication reads: “150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities:
“Suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders. These commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
“Imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP). We understand concerns about the quality of these imports, especially regarding their genetic composition. The government assures that all standards will be maintained to ensure the safety and quality of food items for consumption.
“The Federal Government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize. These semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
“Engagement with relevant stakeholders to set a GMP and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve.”
It added: “Ramp-Up of Production for the 2024/2025 Farming Cycle:
“Continued support to smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season farming through existing government initiatives; Strengthening and accelerating dry season farming nationwide;
“Embarking on aggressive agricultural mechanization to reduce drudgery, lower production costs, and boost productivity.
Collaborating with sub-national entities to identify irrigable lands and increase land under cultivation; Working closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.
“Developing strategic engagement for youth and women for immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and pepper to increase production volume, stabilize prices, and address food shortages; Fast-tracking ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme and encouraging other para-military establishments to utilize available arable lands for cultivation.
“Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee; This committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, to develop and implement policies prioritizing livestock development in alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan, and a ministry of Livestock Development has been created.
- Enhancement of Nutrition Security
- Promoting the production of fortified food commodities.
- Supporting the scale-up of the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Kyari also explained that “Over the next 14 days, in close collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), we will convene with respective agencies to finalize the implementation frameworks. We will ensure that information is publicly available to facilitate the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.”
According to him, the success of these measures hinges on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders.
“As our nation confronts this critical food security challenge, I reiterate President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.
“My team and I will work swiftly and diligently to actualize these crucial policies, ensuring food security for everyone in the immediate term while continuing our strategies for long-term interventions to address underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria,” the Minister added.
![Seven New States Proposed By Lawmakers In The National Assembly [Full List]](/media/k2/items/cache/87862c1b3c5bddfda8cc44283e0cacac_S.jpg)
The National Assembly have commenced moves to make significant changes to the Nigerian constitution.
One of such changes is the creation of new states in some parts of the country.
Seven new states have been proposed at the National Assembly, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Below are the list of proposed states:
Oke-Ogun State
The proposed Oke-Ogun state will be carved out of the present Oyo state. It comprises 12 local government areas, which are: Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, and Iseyin.
The bill for the creation of the Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesha states was sponsored by Honourable Oluwole Oke, a lawmaker representing the people of Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun state.
Etiti State
The new state is in the southeast region.
The bill was proposed on Tuesday, July 2. The House held the first reading of the bill seeking to establish the new state, which was sponsored by five lawmakers: Miriam Onuoha, Chinwe Nnabuife, Amobi Ogah, Anayo Onwuegbu, and Kama Nkemkama.
According to the bill, the proposed Etiti state will be carved out of the five southeast states, namely Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, and Imo.
Ijebu state
Like, Oke-Ogun state, Ijebu state was also sponsored by Honourable Oke in the lower chamber.
Ijebu state, as proposed, will be carved out of the present Ogun state.
It comprises nine local government areas: Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North, Sagamu, and some parts of the Ogun state capital, Abeokuta (partially).
The proposed Ijebu state is situated in southwestern Nigeria, bordering Lagos State to the west and Ondo state to the east. The region is known for its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and economic importance.
Ife-Ijesha
Another state the Osun lawmaker proposed is Ife-Ijesha, which would be carved out of the present Osun state.
The proposed state comprises nine local government areas: Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, and Ilesa West.
Adada state
The bill for the creation of Adada State passed its first reading on July 2. It was sponsored by Senator Okey Ezea.
The state is to be created from the existing Enugu North senatorial district.
The proposed Adada state would comprise six local government areas: Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Nsukka, Igga, and Uzo-Uwani. Nsukka, a major urban centre in Enugu state, would serve as the new state’s capital.
Orlu State
The proposed state is in the southeast region. Orlu will have 28 local government areas.
Anioma State
The state is also in the southeast region.
Anioma will have nine local government areas.
Nigeria’s external reserves increased to $35.05 billion on July 8 — the highest since May 30, 2023.
According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the foreign reserves rose by $280 million from $34.77 billion on July 5.
TheCable Index observed that the country’s foreign reserves recorded steady increases in July — reaching the highest so far in the year.
The foreign reserves rose from $34.34 billion to $34.43 billion, 34.55 billion, and $34.66 billion from July 1 to 4, respectively.
The latest data is also the first time Nigeria’s external reserves would reach such levels since May 30, 2023 (at $35.09 billion) — a day after the present administration took office.
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, the federal government, through the CBN, has introduced several policies to improve the foreign exchange (FX) market and strengthen the naira.
One of the latest interventions is the apex bank’s directive to banks to transfer all excess foreign currency notes to its Lagos or Abuja branches.
“In order to deepen the foreign exchange market, boost liquidity and attain convergence in the exchange rates of the parallel and official markets, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved that DMBs may deposit their excess foreign currency notes with Lagos and Abuja branches of the Bank,” CBN had said.
“The approval is a response to the increasing demand by DMBs to deposit their forex cash with CBN for onward credit to their off-shore accounts with the correspondent banks.”
Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN, on June 25, said the apex bank is “relatively pleased” with the progress it has made in stabilising the naira.
Meanwhile, despite the positive movement in foreign reserves, the naira weakened at the close of Wednesday, trading at N1,561 against the dollar in the official window.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has called for prompt action on its earlier decision to remove public universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform.
Naija News reports that the Council has instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to expedite the implementation of this decision, made several months ago.
This move aims to address a long-standing grievance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has consistently opposed the use of IPPIS for university staff salaries.
ASUU argues that the system fails to accommodate the unique peculiarities of the academic environment.
Additionally, the Council has approved the establishment of a new National University of Science and Technology in Abuja. This decision follows an initial approval granted by former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 28, 2023, during the final days of his administration.
The new university is set to be a pioneering institution, marking the first in a planned network of Pan-African Institutes of Science and Technology.
Its primary mission will be to educate and train African scientists and technologists, thereby boosting the continent’s capacity in these critical fields.
The move to exempt universities from IPPIS and the creation of the new university signal significant steps towards resolving long-standing issues within Nigeria’s higher education system and advancing scientific and technological education in the region.
[NaijaNews]
The federal government has said that it is awaiting the report of the ombudsman, following the complaint it made challenging a report by the Daily Trust on the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria.
This was part of the issues discussed at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday.
Addressing reporters after Wednesday’s FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said: “There was also a discussion on the report by Daily Trust and the position of government on that report is that the federal government insisted that the report was misleading, it was false and designed to create confusion in the land.
“We expect that the industry’s ombudsman will look at the government’s complaint dispassionately and FEC will be patient to await the report of the ombudsman,” Idris said.
Idris noted that the present administration “believes in the freedom of expression, believes in the role of the media in ensuring that there is continuous and uninterrupted democracy in our land.
“So, the government is not desirous of doing anything that will harm that freedom of expression. But like we have said, where we feel there is an infringement, where we feel that the media itself or a section of it, in this case, Daily Trust has erred, because the government still believes that the report by Daily Trust is not correct, Nigerians have been misinformed, and in the process, a lot of damage has been done on the psyche of our people.
“We have made a complaint to the ombudsman to look at the report and we have sighted examples of where Daily Trust got it wrong so that Daily Trust can come clean and also mention or apologise to the nation and the government”, he said.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said: “The disturbing report by Daily Trust is being handled because we are conscious of press freedom, and if you notice this administration has not and will not tamper with press freedom because if you know the President, he has been an ardent supporter and believer in press freedom, in fact that is what got him up to this point.
“He is conscious of that, not only in press freedom but in fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
“Generally, government MDAs are available if there is any area that members of the Press would like to clear and the Freedom of Information Act is alive and is being rigorously honoured and in operation. So, I will advise that if there is any information that the members of the press require, it should be channelled to the appropriate MDAs before going to press”, he said.
Reps make U-Turn
In a related development, the House of Representatives yesterday made a U-Turn, saying it did not call on the federal government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement.
The clarification was made by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi.
Rotimi, who represents Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, said that contrary to media reports, lawmakers resolved to investigate controversial clauses in the agreement to ensure that they do not violate the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker noted that the House urged the government to engage in widespread consultations and stakeholder engagement concerning the agreement.
He said, “During the debate, concerns were raised regarding alleged clauses purportedly mandating support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community as a prerequisite for financial and other aid from developed nations.
“Additionally, apprehensions were expressed about several specific articles within the agreement, including Articles 2.5, 29.5, 36.2, and 88, which some lawmakers believe may not align with Nigeria’s national interests and values, especially in the absence of a reservation clause.
“Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki had argued that Article 97 of the agreement, which asserts the supremacy of the agreement over any conflicting treaties involving European Union member states or the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, potentially infringes upon Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“In response, House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) clarified that the agreement, as officially presented, does not include provisions related to a $150bn fund or any clauses promoting LGBT rights in Nigeria, contrary to public speculation.
“Emphasising the importance of parliamentary oversight, House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) underscored the need for transparency in treaty negotiations, citing Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), which mandates parliamentary involvement in such matters.
“It is important to clarify that the House of Representatives did not resolve to call for the suspension of the agreement nor the suspension of its implementation, as has been erroneously reported by some media houses.
“Instead, the House resolved to thoroughly scrutinise the Samoa Partnership Agreement for all contentious clauses through legislative hearings,” he said.
[DailyTrust]
More...
Only anti-graft agency can disprove our findings - Kaduna assembly replies el-Rufai’s ex-appointees
AFOLABI
The Kaduna house of assembly has responded to comments by ex-commissioners in the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor, defending their principal concerning the alleged financial mispropriation during his regime.
The Kaduna assembly asked the former commissioners to save their energy to respond to questions from anti-graft agencies on the alleged corruption during their administration.
BACKGROUND
On March 30, Uba Sani, the incumbent governor of Kaduna, said his administration inherited a debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the el-Rufai administration.
He said the huge debt burden is eating deep into the state’s share of the monthly federation allocation.
Subsequently, the Kaduna assembly recommended that el-Rufai be probed over alleged N423 billion misappropriation.
The assembly made the recommendation after receiving the report of the ad-hoc committee set up to probe the administration of the former governor.
However, el-Rufai denied the allegations and took legal action against the state house of assembly.
In a statement on Tuesday, eight former commissioners under the el-Rufai administration described the probe as an “attempt to inflict maximum reputational damage on certain selected members of the Kaduna State Executive Council, Class of 2015–2023.”.
The former cabinet members said the committee’s report “oozes malice and patent unfairness” toward the administration of the former governor.
‘ONLY ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES CAN DISAPPROVE OUR FINDINGS’
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Henry Magaji, deputy speaker of the house, the Kaduna assembly said the former commissioners refused to address the “systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting”.
Magaji said anti-corruption agencies have been called upon to invite those indicted in the report.
“The press conference was just a rehash of the vituperations and innuendoes heaped on us by the former political appointees in their first press briefing,” the statement reads.
“There was nothing new that should warrant our response. They failed to address the main issue, which is the systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.
“The state house of assembly, in line with its constitutional mandate and in response to public demand, carried out a thorough probe into the humongous debts incurred by the immediate past administration without commensurate projects.
“We dug deep and unearthed the monumental heist carried out in Kaduna State in the guise of project execution.
“It is the anti-corruption agencies that can either validate or disprove our findings, not individuals who spent their days in public office cornering the common patrimony of the people of Kaduna state and mortgaging the future of its children and grandchildren.
“Our findings revealed a litany of poorly executed projects, abandoned projects, and projects that exist only in the imagination of executive scammers.”
The Kaduna assembly said the lawmakers have performed their duties to the people, adding that the indicted persons should answer questions on the allegations against them.
The Nigerian naira fell to N1,561 against the dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Wednesday.
The rate represents a loss of 1.88 percent from the figure (N1,532) recorded on July 9.
According to data from FMDQ Securities Exchange, a platform that oversees foreign exchange (FX) trading in Nigeria, the local currency hit an intra-day trading high of N1,585 and a low of N1,475.
The current FX figure represents the lowest since March 18 when the naira exchanged at N1,572 to the greenback.
At the parallel section of the market, the local currency traded at N1,550 on Wednesday — depreciating by 0.65 percent from N1,540 on July 9.
Currency traders, known as bureau de change (BDC) operators, quoted the buying rate at N1,530 and the selling price at N1,550 — leaving a profit margin of N20.
TWO-DAY DEPRECIATION
The local currency has witnessed marginal fluctuations in both the parallel and official markets within the last two days.
At the official market, the local currency depreciated to N1,523 on July 8 — from N1,509/$ on July 5 — and further tumbled to N1,532 on July 9.
It recorded a marginal appreciation to N1,523 per dollar on July 8 at the parallel market — from N1,525 on July 5.
However, the rally was quickly reversed on July 9, with the currency sliding to N1,540.
The two-day depreciation of the naira comes amid a recorded a rise in the external reserves of Nigeria.
The external reserves of one of Africa’s largest economies increased to $35.05 billion on July 8 — the highest since May 30, 2023.
The federal government has officially announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of food commodities.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, announced the development in a post on social media on Wednesday, detailing the federal government’s measures to address the high food prices currently affecting the nation.
Part of the measures, according to the statement, is a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities, which involves the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of food commodities — maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas — through land and sea borders.
The minister said the measures will be implemented over the next 180 days.
“Imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP),” Kyari said.
“We understand concerns about the quality of these imports, especially regarding their genetic composition. The government assures that all standards will be maintained to ensure the safety and quality of food items for consumption.
“Over the next 14 days, in close collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), we will convene with respective agencies to finalize the implementation frameworks.
“We will ensure that information is publicly available to facilitate the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.”
OTHER INTERVENTION PLANS
Outlining other intervention plans, Kyari said the federal government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize, noting that these semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
The government will engage with relevant stakeholders to set a “GMP and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve”.
He said there will also be a production ramp-up for the 2024/2025 farming cycle, which would include continued support to smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season farming through existing government initiatives; strengthening and accelerating dry season farming nationwide; embarking on aggressive agricultural mechanisation to reduce drudgery, lower production costs, and boost productivity.
“Collaborating with sub-national entities to identify irrigable lands and increase land under cultivation,” he said.
“Working closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.
“Developing strategic engagement for youth and women for immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and pepper to increase production volume, stabilize prices, and address food shortages.
“Fast-tracking ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme and encouraging other para-military establishments to utilize available arable lands for cultivation.
“Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee
“This committee has been inaugurated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, to develop and implement policies prioritizing livestock development in alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan, and a ministry of Livestock Development has been created.
“Enhancement of Nutrition Security, Promoting the production of fortified food commodities, Supporting the scale-up of the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Kyari said the success of the measures hinges on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders.
The minister reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s “unwavering commitment” to achieving food security and “ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry”.
Kyari said he would work swiftly and diligently with his team to actualise “these crucial policies”, ensuring food security for everyone in the immediate term, “while continuing our strategies for long-term interventions to address underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria”.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its National Vice Chairman, South-South, Mr Dan Orbih for anti-party activity.
The party in a statement by its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, said Orbih’s activities have been affecting its campaign to retain the state in the governorship election to be held later in the year.
Orbih is a member of the Legacy Group that formed the Edo State Chapter of the PDP and has been at loggerheads with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki for the choice of the party’s candidate for the governorship election.
The PDP had set up a committee headed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed to reconcile the various groups in Edo State following the crisis the governorship primary caused.
However, the committee failed to reconcile the groups and decided to suspend Orbih on Wednesday after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.
The statement said the party “considered all issues, including complaints on the activities of the National Vice Chairman (South-South) Chief Dan Orbih concerning the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.”
The statement further said the “NWC at the meeting unanimously condemned the embarrassing actions and utterances of Chief Dan Orbih relating to the Edo State Governorship Primary Election of our great Party which actions and utterances are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the demand of his office as a national officer of the Party.
“Consequently, the NWC has set up a six-member committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issue pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Party,” the party said.
It announced that the “NWC forthwith suspends Chief Dan Orbih from participating in all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee.
“The NWC acknowledges the support and solidarity of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State who are rallying with our Party and Candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, whose vision is in tandem with the Will and aspiration of the people for continued massive development of the State on the platform of the PDP.”
It charged “all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Edo State to remain united, focused and continue to work hard for the victory of our Party and Candidate in the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.”