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The Federal Government, on Monday, said the Education Tax under the Federal Inland Revenue Service would serve as one of the funding sources for the recently established Student Loan Scheme.
This was as it detailed the conditions that an applicant must meet to qualify for the loan.
It said the scheme would be fully automated to ensure zero human involvement in the application and processing of the loans to applicants.
“That is why the education tax fund is one of the sources of funding that we will use to execute this programme,” said FIRS Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, when he addressed State House Correspondents after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the impending launch of the scheme at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday.
Barely one week earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, revealed that the scheme was on track to start in January 2024 as the President promised last October.
Adedeji, who spoke alongside the Executive Secretary of the Student Loan Board, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, said channeling the education tax into the scheme was the administration’s way of being accountable to Nigerian taxpayers.
“This is in fulfillment of Mr President’s promise that we will make education accessible to all. This is one of the schemes where we will be applying the education tax that we collect.
“It is a way of being accountable to the taxpayers because the essence of education tax is to consolidate and restore education integrity and quality. In fulfilling that part of the Act, education tax fund is one of the sources of funding that we will use to execute this programme,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Scheme, Sawyerr, who gave his first public briefing on the programme said eligible applicants would route their requests through the loan app or website, affirming that the scheme would be devoid of human involvement.
He itemised the application process, saying prospective candidates must avail their JAMB registration number, date of birth, National Identification Number and Biometric Verification Number, among others.
“The applicant will go on to a portal, or they will engage with the app. They will have to put in certain pieces of information that make them eligible, such as their JAMB number and, of course, the tie-in to their date of birth.
“Further pieces of information include their NIN, which confirms that they are Nigerians. This loan scheme is being paid for by Nigerian taxpayers. So, it’s for Nigerians and the NIN helps verify and qualify them as such.
“Their BVN is for financial inclusion because this scheme in itself will, at some point, be able to empower students, so we need to know they have bank accounts. We need to know where their accounts are to be able to access those accounts.
“It will also have their matric number and admission number so that we can firmly establish which institution they are going to because one of the key elements of this is that once we have received applications and those applications are approved, the fees or the tuition requirements in terms of financials will be transferred directly to the institution. That in itself has benefits for the institution,” The Executive Secretary explained.
While likening the loan to a bridge linking the desire for further education and the funds to do so, Sawyerr explained that the FG was keen to ensure that young Nigerians do not fail to acquire tertiary education simply because they lack the funds.
He said, “The intention behind it is to ensure that the reason for not being able to go on and further your education at a tertiary level is not for the lack of finance. This law seeks to bridge the gap between the desire to study and the capacity to go further. It seeks to bridge that gap that is created by lack of finance and funding.”
The Loan Chief explained that the scheme would enable Nigerians to pick a career trajectory of their choice rather than being forced into other paths because they were unable to acquire vital education.
He also affirmed that the loan would help to stem the dangerous journey undertaken by Nigerian youths across the Sahel to Europe in search of a better life.
“Some of the opportunities provided by the scheme include enrolling intending students in teacher training programmes and vocational skills.
“The programme provides opportunities for Nigerian students who want to go into the academic and get a university degree or perhaps want the technical side and acquire some vocational skills and also in the teacher training space.
“This intervention will affect the lives of many Nigerian youths because that’s usually the bracket to further their education. It will enable us to intervene and support families, particularly the needy,” he explained.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the school fees for successful applicants would be transferred directly to their institutions.
On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loan Bill into law. The move was in “fulfilment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, told journalists. The law enables indigent students to access loans at interest-free rates.
Declaring the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja open on October 23, 2023, the President said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!”
President Bola Tinubu has justified his cabinet of 47 ministers saying the number reflects the diversity of roles required to run an efficient government.
The president expressed doubt about reducing his cabinet, saying no guarantee this would boost performance
He also urged the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria to propagate the message of tolerance and hope amongst Nigerians, warning that the opposite could damage the country beyond repair.
Tinubu, who emphasised the role of faith leaders in fostering unity and peace in the country, also said his administration would not relent in addressing corruption and other vices as such endeavour sets the country right for the prosperity of all Nigerians.
“If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results,” Tinubu said when he received a delegation of the CAN, led by its President, Daniel Okoh, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled, ‘President Tinubu to can leadership: we will continue to fight corruption; Nigeria is ours to fix.
Tinubu acknowledged criticisms over his heavily-staffed cabinet. However, he said merging portfolios would only heap some officials with more burdens than they can bear.
Former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Olusegun Obasanjo had maintained relatively smaller cabinets. In his first and second tenure, Buhari appointed 36 and 42 ministers respectively.
In 2011, his predecessor, Jonathan, named 33 ministerial-nominees, retaining nine persons from the Yar’Adua administration.
In 2007, Yar’Adua appointed 39 persons into his cabinet. Obasanjo initially named 42 ministers in 1999 but later shed two roles. He also reduced the number of ministries to 20 before the end of his tenure in 2007.
However, President Tinubu named 48 ministers, the highest in Nigeria’s 24-year return to democracy.
Justifying this move, he said, “I have had a number of criticisms, including the rationale behind the size of my cabinet. If you want efficient, mobile, and resourceful people, we have to give people a load they can carry.”
“If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results.
“Nigeria needs to turn the corner to grow, and we must give people challenges they can manage, and that is what we are doing,” the President added.
President Tinubu also called on Christian leaders to support the administration’s ongoing fight against corruption by encouraging Nigerians to have a change of mindset on money-related matters.
He said, “Let us dialogue because public condemnation of a nation is not what makes any citizen a good one.
“We must admonish Nigerians to have a change of mindset and not to make money our god or master. I believe we will get to the Promised Land, and Nigeria will flourish.”
The President also called for inputs from the clergy saying his administration will continue to maintain its open-door policy.
“We are here to listen, and if you observe any inadequacies in my government, let us know. I am here today because of your prayers and the will of God Almighty. What I have challenged myself to do each day is to be fair to all Nigerians.”
In his remarks, Okoh urged President Tinubu not to relent in providing good governance by ensuring security, inclusivity, and peaceful co-existence in the country.
He said, “You have extended a hand of fellowship to us, and we embrace you and your family with the love of Christ and promise to partner with you in nation-building, for the task is quite daunting. You will not stumble, and you will not fall.
“We believe that you have the sagacity to give leadership in battling our challenges and turning around the fortunes of our nation, Nigeria, within a short time. You have shown that you are a listening leader, and we appreciate this.
“CAN has maintained an active presence at all levels, from the national to the grassroots, and we have remained non-partisan. You will always find our association as a ready and willing partner in nation-building.”
Before the 2023 general election, many Nigerians expected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Labour Party to form an alliance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).However, the expectation couldn’t materialize over reasons best known to the political actors involved in the negotiation of the alliance and the ruling party retained the presidency. Since after the election, there have been talks of alliance between the opposition parties and most analysts believed that alliance will strengthen the country’s democracy by creating a strong and dynamic opposition against the APC. Others believed that the alliance will fail as it did in 2023 over personal interest of key political actors and the consolidation of governance by the President Bola Tinubu administration. Despite the divergent views on the planned alliance, some key actors in the formation of the Obidient Movement, one of the most vibrant political movements in the history of Nigeria’s democratic journey, believe that an alliance of opposition forces is necessary before the 2027 general election.
The Convener of the National Consultative Front (NCFront), Prof. Pat Utomi, who shares this belief, recently disclosed that the presidential candidates of the PDP, LP and NNPP in the 2023 elections – Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi – as well as Ralph Okey Nwosu, founder and pioneer national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have agreed to form a mega party that will wrestle power from the ruling APC in 2027. Noting that the coming together of the opposition leaders is in the interest of the country, Utomi said: “We’re not talking about names yet. Besides, these politicians I mentioned, I’m talking about leaders of social movements and the labour movement and so on. I have even been part of creating a new tribe; Nigerians who are committed to certain values, who say I will not give a bribe, I will not take a bribe. And you can then create a set of values that can lead to progress in the country. “The way we are today, a few people in the world are willing to engage with Nigeria. They think there’s a collapse of culture and values in Nigeria. You can’t trust Nigerians. All kinds of things are here. It’s a clean start. It’s a really clean start. You have to start from the premise that Nigeria has not had a political party since 1999. Let’s be very honest with ourselves, what we have managed is to create platforms that enable politiciams to grab power, usually for state capture. “If you want to test that, check how much the quality of life of a Nigerian has improved since 1999. It’s frightening, but the truth of the matter is that in 1999, a political class managed to build a certain coalition of accommodation to keep the military out and share the spoils of power. And somehow, they did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian people to improve the quality of their lives. “This is why you can see Nigeria deteriorating, becoming the poverty capital of the world, becoming the centre of widespread violence. And if you want to take some clear examples, I want anybody who is a political scientist, or economist in Nigeria to look at where India was in 1999 and where Nigeria was in terms of mood, violence in politics, the quality of life of people and where they both are today. “In 1991, India was technically bankrupt. Foreign reserves could not accommodate more than three weeks of trading. What has happened since 1999 is that India’s politics has managed to focus on the rational engagement of a developmental state. If you look at the numbers today, India is now speeding past the so-called miracle economies of South-East Asia. “Nigeria, on the other hand, has been travelling in the reverse direction. What better explanation can there be than the fact that Nigeria has not managed to organise the structures for political participation that can focus on the Nigerian people and lift their lives?”
Atiku’s proposition
Apart from Prof Utomi, Atiku has equally expressed willingness to lead a coalition of opposition parties to oust the ruling APC. In a congratulatory message to governors of PDP extraction whose elections were upheld by the Supreme Court, the former vicepresident reaffirmed his position that only a united opposition force can strengthen democracy in Nigeria. His words: “I am as prepared as ever to lead the charge, alongside all our leaders and governors, for the good of our country. Where justice is seen to have been substantially rendered, we, as patriots and citizens, will always applaud.” Describing the decision of the Supreme Court as good news for the people of Bauchi, Plateau, Cross River, and Zamfara states and, indeed, a win for constitutional democracy, Atiku also congratulated the governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, Atiku added that by the verdict of the apex court, there is a guaranteed continuation of the standards of good governance that the PDP has brought to the respective states. He urged the respective PDP governors, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Barr. Caleb Muftwang (Plateau) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) to see their wins at the Supreme Court as an opportunity to consolidate and expand the scope of the good governance they have already established. The former vice president noted that with the electioneering phase now concluded, he is certain that the PDP will now be able to focus on its role as the major opposition party in the country, with the party’s able governors at the helm along with his humble self.
It would be recalled that Atiku, who has repeatedly declared his resolve to continue to struggle with other Nigerians to deepen the nation’s democracy had earlier called for opposition political parties to come together and create a more formidable front that will salvage Nigeria’s democracy from sliding into a one-party state. He stressed that a formidable coalition is necessary to address the perceived decline in democratic values and to prevent Nigeria from becoming a de facto one-party system. He also noted that the project of protecting democracy in the country is not about just one man. “The project of protecting democracy in our country is not about just one man. But the truth of the matter is that our democracy is fast becoming a one-party system; and, of course, you know that when we have a one-party system, we should just forget about democracy. “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn,” he said.
Kwankwaso still contemplating next move
As Atiku and other key actors behind Peter Obi push for an alliance, Kwankwaso seems not to be interested in the 2027 general election discussion. The former Kano State governor has maintained that only time will tell if he will join President Tinubu’s administration. His words: “What happened at the Supreme Court is a lesson for all of us. I know that I mean well to everyone. Throughout the period, I have not done anything to anyone. And anybody would reap what he sows. “To the best of my knowledge, I have not reached an agreement with anybody. All I know is that President Bola Tinubu is my contemporary. I joined politics at the same time as him in the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Then he was a senator and I was serving as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1999, he was my colleague as the governor of Lagos State. “We founded the APC together and we participated fully in the struggles which followed up. People should know that a lie has a short life. Despite the machinations those people staged, the judges have done what is right. There is no problem. They have their party; we have our own. We will work together where necessary and on the issue of joining the government, only time can tell.”
Seven opposition parties hold talks
Apart from the revelation of Prof Utomi, seven opposition political parties have commenced talks for a possible coalition or merger. The coalition is made up of the PDP, NNPP, ADC, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The seven opposition political parties, which spoke under the umbrella of Coalition of Concerned Political Parties, expressed concern over the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria and national security as well as fear of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state. The coalition also expressed worry over the level of instability in the country, urging the judiciary to save Nigeria’s democracy and rid itself of political and executive interference. Speaking at a press conference after a preliminary meeting, the acting National Secretary of the PDP, Setonji Koshoedo, who represented the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said: “The coalition wants to offer strong opposition for the good of Nigeria. We have to offer alternative solutions to government policies.”
The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, on his part, noted: “We looked into the issue of the judiciary. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man if it still stands. We are worried about the level of instability the country is going through. “The judiciary should strengthen their conviction towards delivering judgements that can stand the test of time. They should not allow us politicians to infiltrate their rank, sanity and capacity to deliver judgements that are internationally sound and can be recognized.” On insecurity, Gabam averred that the security situation in the country is getting worse. “We have looked at the security situation in the country with a lot of concern. When the President came in, he promised to do everything humanly possible to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians. We want to urge him to do more than he is doing; the security situation is not improving. “For us to have a conducive environment, where people can invest domestically and internationally, the nation must be secured. Any nation that can’t secure the lives of citizens cannot think of attracting investors from anywhere. The environment is choked, it is not secured, people cannot move freely; they need to rejig the security system,” he said. Gabam urged the National Assembly to review and rejig the 2024 budget, lamenting that Nigeria is operating a theoretical budget and not an operational budget. He said: “We have also looked at the issue of the Renewed Hope Budget. We have analysed that budget and in our humble analysis and opinion, we believe strongly that the National Assembly needs to step in and review the budget. “Our population is over 200 million; we don’t want a budget that is theory-based. The budget must be operational. It is in the interest of the country for the leadership to develop an operational budget, not a budget based on projections and theories that cannot be realised.” The ADC National Chairman, Nwosu, who also spoke, said “the idea behind the coalition is to strengthen our democracy as we have seen that people in government are trying to stifle viable opposition.”
LP likely to key in
Although the Labour Party was not at the meeting, its National Chairman, Julius Abure, who spoke differently, said if a merger or coalition becomes an option, his party will consider the option. Abure, who assessed the outcome of the 2023 elections and the off-season Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections, said it was apparent that Nigeria is gradually sliding to a oneparty state. He said: “From the pronouncements of the courts, there are genuine fears being expressed that Nigeria is moving towards a one-party state. So, if a merger of the opposition parties will save Nigeria; why not! If it will save our democracy; why not! If it will help us have results; why not! If it will enhance our institutions and put food on our table; why not!” Abure, however, said that Labour Party is yet to consider the idea, but added: “It is an option we can look at. The Labour Party has not taken a position on the proposed, but if that becomes an option to save Nigeria, why not!”
Obi’s position
Despite the determination of these opposition parties to form an alliance, Obi has insisted that the Labour Party is committed to building a better and a new Nigeria where they would move Nigeria from consumption to production. The former Anambra State governor, who spoke at a mega rally in Edo State, said reports of a merger were rumours. “Labour Party will continue to grow. We will continue to get stronger and better. Half of the things you are hearing everywhere are rumours, don’t listen to them. We are committed to building a better and a new Nigeria where we will move Nigeria from consumption to production,” Obi said. Also, one of the spokespersons for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PCC), Yunusa Tanko, who spoke on the issue, described the rumoured merger between the PDP, NNPP and the LP as unattainable. He added that discussions with political parties of like minds who believe in the party’s ideology and principles remain open, reiterating that there is no foreclosure on the matter. “When you talk about merger, it means that political parties from different parts of the country submit their document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and then they will be pronounced as a new political party, which isn’t obtainable at the moment. So, the merger is out of the question technically. But, when you talk about discussion on the possibility of an alliance of opposition parties; that is possible.” He, however, acknowledged that talks about a possible merger were ongoing even before the 2023 elections but could not happen, reiterating that an alliance is possible.
A former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, on his part, said the PDP, LP and NNPP have realised they made a mistake. He noted that if the parties had remained together, they would have been able to beat APC in the 2023 presidential election. He said: “Well, I don’t think there is talk of a merger, but I think the three parties have realised they made a mistake. If they had remained together, they would have been able to beat APC hands down. It would have been a landslide victory for them. Therefore, it makes sense for them to begin to think about how to cooperate. That is simple arithmetic.” The Spokesperson for the Forum of State Chairmen of NNPP, Dada Olayinka Olabode, who also reacted to the report, dismissed it as a figment of the imagination of the discussants. Olabode in a statement acknowledged that the party had been inundated with reports on merger talks amongst the PDP, LP and NNPP. He, however, said that it would amount to a sell-out to think of a merger or alliance without proper consultation with the different organs of the party structure. He noted that NNPP is a growing political party whose prospects have brightened with mass acceptability amongst Nigerians. With the cacophony of voices surrounding the proposed alliance, many Nigerians are anxiously hoping and waiting that the move will materialize. But until then, Nigeria’s democracy requires a vibrant opposition party that will put the ruling APC on its toes.
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele said the federal government is currently meeting with state governors to suspend what he described as “nuisance taxes” nationwide.
Oyedele disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Monday.
The former PWC chief stressed that while waiting for the legal instrument that part of the reforms requires before implementation, some consultations were ongoing to ensure smooth execution.
Recalls that, in August last year, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the panel, saying it reflects his commitment to addressing challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.
The committee’s primary objective is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilisation of tax and other revenues to boost citizens’ tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.
But Oyedele argued that banning nuisance taxes, which do not even go to government coffers, will ensure that the government makes more money while relieving the taxpayer of the burden of paying multiple taxes.
He said, “We are not waiting for the instrument to be out. Some of it would be, for example, asking states and local governments to suspend nuisance taxes that just create problems with very little revenue to show for it.
“We are already meeting with the governors. In some cases, we will set off small committees to discuss with their team. So, we’re already working on that. Once the thing is signed, there’s no excuse, just implement it like the next day,” he added.
He emphasised that when the governors agreed, then more than 90 percent of the problem would have been solved, with the local governments following closely.
He said, “So, we’re discussing with the governors first and demonstrating to them why this is good for the local government, good for them and good for us as a people. Once the governors agree, then, we’re not going to ignore the local governments.
“We are now taking a top-down approach, but we will engage with everyone, including during the conference of speakers, and the forums of finance commissioners. We’re engaging with everyone,” he added.
The chairman stated that he believes that most of the levies that are charged by the collectors do not get to the government, stressing that the current chaos of multiple taxation nationwide will be eliminated when implantation starts.
Oyedele, while making reference to the Bureau of Statistics, he stated that for 2022, all the local governments in Nigeria that sent reports to them, didn’t even collect N50 billion naira in a whole year, even though a lot is taken by non-state actors.
According to him, if properly streamlined, just the collection of stickers on vehicles could attract as much as N50 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for just one of the big local governments in the country.
“I think only one local government should collect N50 billion. The amount of wastage is mind-boggling.
“You don’t want to fathom it. And the reason why it’s so painful is that these are the monies we are extracting from the poorest people.
“But when you extract money from people who are just trying to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis, it’s painful that those monies are pilfered and you know, they are extorted and all of that.
“The state is not benefiting, the local government is not benefiting and the people are sacrificing, they are going through pain. So, what we are proposing is vastly different and benefits everyone,” he said.
The committee chairman said he was as impatient as many Nigerians to see the results of the reforms and, more importantly, the impact on the people, particularly the small businesses.
“Unfortunately, fiscal policy matters are not as quick. So if you make a monetary policy decision today, you can see the impact tomorrow. Sometimes, fiscals take a little longer but even at that,” he said.
He stated that efforts were on to present some bills to the lawmakers so that Nigerian people could begin to feel the positive impact sooner rather than later, saying that by the end of the first quarter, the process would have been concluded.
According to him, when the new reforms take effect, payment of taxes will be easier.
“You can pay it once or you pay it in installments and electronically. It shouldn’t be that hard. It should not be harder to pay taxes than it is to buy pizza. So, the receipt comes on your phone.
“That way, the money gets to the government, and the people pay less. The government collects more and then we can then move on to the second phase of what we are also working on, which is how to spend that money to benefit the people,” he said.
According to him, the view of the committee is that the local government can collect more than 10 times what they are collecting now by following the recommendations.
“We are looking for sources where we can find at least N50 billion which we can then use to compensate them for suspending the taxes we’re asking them to suspend.
“We’re also thinking about how you bring all stakeholders on board because at the end of the day, if you stop the livelihood of anyone, whether they are earning it legitimately or not, you can create crises that would be difficult to manage.
“But once you bring everybody in, maybe we need to train those area boys and touts, give them uniforms and then they’ll be the ones to ask you to show the evidence on your phone.
“And then they get paid a decent salary. And if you give them the skills, some of them will on their own, move on from that job to something else. So, our strategy is to think about what’s best for our country and get all stakeholders to align,” he said.
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a man, Ademola Oladimeji to four life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his three children.
The children were aged five, seven and nine.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that the evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses were believable and truthful.
Soladoye, however, said that their evidence established the offence of sexual assault by penetration and not defilement.
According to her, the evidence of the three survivors was corroborated by the investigative police officer and their mother’s.
He said: “Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the children did not say their father inserted his penis into their ‘bumbum’, they only said he touched their ‘bumbum’.
“I observed the three of them. They did not lie against their father, they did not say he used his penis, he only used his fingers.
“The children gave an unshaken testimonies on how their father fiddle with their innocence multiple times by inserting his fingers into their vaginas.
“The wife of the defendant, in her testimony said the children complained of pain in their private and she was informed at the Mirabel Medical Centre that the children had been sexually assaulted.”
The judge added that defendant was desperate to distant himself from the allegation by denying the offences.
According to her: “To the mind of this court, I do not believe his narration though he denied fiddling his daughters but his testimony did not add up.
“His narration showed how desperate his is to get out of the charge against his own children.
“The court holds that there was penetration as oral and documentary evidence before the court pointed to the fact that defendant messed around with the purity of his three children.”
Soladoye said the conduct of the defendant was despicable, morally corrupt and incestuous and against the order of nature.
The judge, who said the prosecution failed to establish the three-count bordering on defilement, thereafter changed it to sexual assault by penetration and convicted him on each of the counts.
She also convicted Oladimeji of the fourth count charge of sexual assault by penetration and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each count.
The sentence, the judge held, would run concurrently.
Soladoye said that the name of the convict be registered in the Lagos State Sexual offences Register.
The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke called five witnesses in proof of its case while the convict testified as a sole witness. (NAN)
No fewer than 6,700 traders have been displaced following the fire outbreak that consumed a section of the Mandilas building, a popular marketplace on Lagos Island.
Daily Trust learnt that the fire also destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, including some law firms, two hotels and five restaurants.
The fire, which started from the first floor of the popular Mandilas house around 11am on Sunday, later spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market.
The Iyaloja of Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat, said goods worth billions were destroyed by the fire.
“Over 6,700 traders have been displaced from their business places following Sunday morning fire outbreak that consumed a section of the building. Also 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants, were destroyed,” she said.
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Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the affected houses had been sealed to avoid loss of lives.
Farinloye confirmed that the fire displaced about 6,700 traders and destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants.
“The fire which started at about 0011 hours began on the first floor where an alleged electric wielding activity was going on. It was alleged that the people around did not notice the fire until it was too late before fire service was contacted.
“The fire also spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market with equal extensive damage as the main main complex,” he added.
Farinloye further said officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission and Building Control Agency were on the ground to assess the integrity of all buildings at the scene.
According to him, all structures have been locked down to prevent access to the shop for the safety of traders and the public.
“Other agencies on the ground today (Monday) are Lagos Fire services, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Neighbourhood watch, Lagos Island Local Government Sanitation, Lagos State Business District are currently making efforts at making the scene safer for people,” he said.
Some football enthusiasts have expressed the hope that the Super Eagles will win their last group match against Guinea Bissau in the ongoing Total Energies African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The fans expressed their optimism ahead of the Monday encounter in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu.
They, however, warned the senior national team not to underrate their Guinea Bissau as such could be dangerous.
A fan, Johnpaul Okolo, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would win by a wide margin, “if they put their act together”.
“I am not afraid of Guinea Bissau because I know the Eagles will beat them even with a wide margin.
“My advice to the team is that they should go all out from the blast of the whistle and get quick goals and never to underrate their opponent,” Okolo said.
Also, Chidinma Ibezim, said she was not disturbed about the match, adding that the Super Eagles just needed a draw to qualify for the next round.
She, however, warned the team not to take things for granted.
“In football, anything can happen. So, there should be no room for complacency. The Eagles must play with full strength and avoid silly mistakes that could make them lose the match,” Ibezim said.
Obiora Edeh, another fan, said he believed the match would not be as easy as people would think.
“Though Guinea Bissau have lost their last two games, they still have hope. The team will fight with their last blood, if not for anything, at least to redeem their image as a country,” Edeh said.
He, therefore, admonished the Super Eagles to be in their best form to be able to beat their Guinea-Bissau opponents.
“I don’t see the game as easy as people think, I will not be surprised if it ends in a draw, even though I would love Nigeria to carry the day,” he said.
The Super Eagles currently occupy the second position behind Equatorial Guinea, who will also play hosts Cote d’Ivoire today (Monday).
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has said the ruling party is creating an atmosphere for its “electoral funeral”.
In a statement on Sunday, Lukman said APC leaders must be reminded that the party would be prone to electoral defeat if they do not adhere to calls for a leadership change.
The former vice chairman of the party said the refusal to listen to internal voices led to the formation of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in 2013.
He said: “Painfully, in the process, a party that emerged with so much promise, APC, winning the support of Nigerians is almost destroyed and on a daily basis creating conditions for its own electoral funeral.
“As loyal members of the APC, we must remind our leaders that parties become more prone to electoral defeat when they resist or block internal pressures for leadership change.
“APC’s electoral victory in 2015, for instance, could be partly explained based on the refusal of PDP leadership to recognise and respect the yearnings of party members and leaders.
“It was the inability to respect internal yearnings for change that produced the splinter group of New PDP, which eventually joined the merger that produced APC in 2013.”
Lukman said President Bola Tinubu and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who fought for democracy in the 90s, should ensure that Nigeria’s political parties are truly democratic.
He added: “Being leaders of APC, APC must emerge as a distinctly democratic party based on abiding respect for rule of law, which should be well reflected in a strong commitment to manage affairs of the party based on compliance with provisions of the APC.
“Anything short of this, will diminish the credentials of our leaders, including President Asiwaju Tinubu and Comrade Oshiomhole.”
Joseph Boakai has officially been sworn in as the new President of Liberia, marking a significant political shift in the country.
The 79-year-old leader, with four decades of political experience, secured his position after winning a closely contested run-off poll against former football star and Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, with a narrow victory margin.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in the nation’s parliament, was attended by notable figures, including Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Boakai, who previously served as vice president from 2006 to 2018 under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s first female president, assumes the presidency with the daunting task of addressing poverty, corruption, and a weak justice system.
Liberia, a country of five million people, has long struggled with these issues, exacerbated by years of civil war and an Ebola outbreak.
Additionally, the nation faces the challenge of impunity related to crimes committed during its civil wars.
During his election campaign, Boakai aligned with local power brokers, including former warlord Prince Johnson, who shifted his support from Weah in 2017 to Boakai in the recent election.
Johnson, a controversial figure under US sanctions, has been appointed to nominate Jeremiah Koung as the vice president.
The peaceful conduct of November’s election stands out in a region recently troubled by military coups.
Liberians now look to Boakai to fulfil his campaign promises of job creation, economic improvement, institutional strengthening, and fighting corruption.
His long tenure in politics raises expectations for significant progress in these critical areas.
The Acting Director-General, management and staff of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, celebrate with Festus Keyamo, SAN, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on the occasion of his 54th birthday.
Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a PR as statement weekend, stated, that Keyamo as the man responsible for an industry as critical as Aviation, that he has shown exceptional leadership and commitment towards positioning Nigeria’s aviation among the best in the world, and we at NCAA align with that vision.
“Your stoicism, reminiscent of social rights and justice crusaders from time immemorial, has pointed us in the right direction and the industry is once again filled with hope, excitement, and direction.
“As you commence this flight on a new age, may the wisdom that comes with experience and love guide your path. We at NCAA believe in your leadership and we have no doubt that God will fill your household with all of the beauties of a new age,” he stated.
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THE state government has placed a ban on the use of styrofoam and other single-use plastics.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued the ban on Sunday, January 21, in an announcement made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
Expressing the necessity of the ban, Wahab highlighted the alarming environmental impact caused by single-use plastics, particularly the non-biodegradable styrofoam.
According to the Commissioner in a tweet, “Following the menace which single-use plastics, especially non-biodegradable Styrofoam, are causing on the environment, the Lagos State government (@followlasg) through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (@LasgMOE) is hereby announcing a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State with immediate effect.”
This proactive measure by the Lagos State government underscores its commitment to combating environmental degradation and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future. The ban is expected to significantly reduce the adverse impact of single-use plastics on the state’s ecosystems and contribute to global efforts in curbing plastic pollution.
Reacting to the ban, environmentalists and residents applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu on the decision, saying it is a crucial step towards mitigating the long-term consequences of plastic waste and preserving the natural beauty of Lagos.
They added that the move aligns with international trends, where governments and communities are increasingly recognising the urgent need to address the environmental challenges posed by single-use plastics.
The ban is not only a commendable step towards protecting the environment but also serves as an example for other regions to follow suit in adopting responsible and eco-friendly practices.
[NaijaNews]
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has put in place effective mechanisms to track and trace narcotic products right from production, the manufacturing plant, to the end user.
A statement from the agency, Sunday said its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure while commissioning the narcotic drugs serialisation pilot project in Lagos.
Prof Adeyeye said the move was geared towards tackling the menace of drug and substance abuse in Nigeria, particularly amongst the teeming youth population.
She said that narcotics were chosen amongst other classes of drugs to mitigate drug abuse, adding that this will be replicated for all other NAFDAC-regulated drug products.
She said that one of the greatest challenges in the healthcare sector is the occurrence of substandard and falsified medicines.
She said that in Nigeria, the problem is further compounded by the chaotic drug distribution practices of unscrupulous elements who do not place a premium on human lives.
She added that these were the sharp practices that the Traceability Project (Track and Trace) sought to stop.
Through the scanning device on an Android phone, the NAFDAC boss said consumers can now verify the authenticity of the drug product they consume and be assured of the quality of medicines.
She added that the track and trace technology is a veritable tool to be deployed in the event of medication recalls.
Prof Adeyeye said that manufacturers must first commission the products they are registered to distribute into the NAFDAC Traceability System, and when it gets to the distributors or the wholesalers, they will also scan the products using a 2D Data Matrix barcode scanner to capture the event related to the movement of the product.
The Managing Director of the technical partner, GS1 Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Odunlami said that the journey started over ten years ago when the company started preaching the importance of traceability.
[DailyTrust]
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on Sunday, said it would prepay future royalties and taxes to the Federal Government from the $3.3bn financing deal it got from African Export-Import Bank last year.
NNPCL disclosed this in a document titled, ‘Frequently Asked Questions – Project Gazelle’, released by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Sunday night.
On August 17, 2023, The PUNCH reported that the NNPCL announced that it had secured a $3.3bn emergency crude oil repayment loan from the African Export-Import Bank.
It explained that the loan would be used by the oil company to support the Federal Government in stabilising Nigeria’s exchange rate.
Providing more details about the deal on Sunday night in the document, the oil company said, “Everything you need to know about the NNPC Limited’s $3.3bn loan, also known as Project Gazelle.
“There has been a lot of interest from the public and stakeholders in recent weeks regarding the $3.3bn crude oil pre-payment loan, also known as Project Gazelle. This is a financing agreement secured by NNPC Limited to prepay future royalties and taxes to the Federal Government.”
The company also stated that it adopted a lower price benchmark for the $3.3bn crude-for-cash loan to reduce the risk of default and ensure financial stability.
Giving details on the benchmark oil price, the company said the facility was using a conservative crude price of $65/barrel to calculate the allocated crude to be produced and sold in the future.
Brent, the global benchmark for crude, is currently at about $78/barrel.
Commenting on the benchmark oil price of $65/barrel for the $3.3bn deal, the national oil firm said, “This provides a safety margin for price fluctuations in the future.
“NNPC Limited has reserved up to 90,000 barrels of crude for Project Gazelle, ensuring sufficient cash flow for repayment and other financial obligations.
“If oil prices rise, more money will come in from selling the 90,000 barrels, allowing for faster repayment. However, if oil prices fall, the repayment may be slower.
“The quantity of crude earmarked (90,000 barrels) is sized to ensure enough cash is available for the repayment of the facility when it is due. This also ensures that NNPC Limited can meet other cash flow obligations, considering the expected future price of crude oil globally.”
NNPCL also said repayments were strategically planned and tied to future oil sales, with conservative pricing in oil sales contracts mitigating the risks associated with oil price volatility.
[Punch]
…Patients lament, skip medications, seek alternative treatment
…Experts worry, propose urgent solutions
In Nigeria, falling sick can be challenging in normal times but seeking treatment is currently a double blow as the financial implication has become increasingly unbearable for many Nigerians.
The cost of basic drugs, such as antibiotics, analgesics, anti-diabetics, and key medications for chronic conditions, has doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled in some instances, leaving many patients struggling to access the healthcare they desperately need.
The alarming rise in drug prices, its impact on healthcare access, and the urgent need for solutions have become overriding to ensure that falling sick does not become a financial death sentence.
Hardest hit by the exponential surge in prices of drugs are the poor, notably those on the minimum wage and below, those without steady sources of income, and particularly those without reliable health insurance, like Idowu Akinyemi, a single mother.
When Idowu, who is living with diabetes, went to purchase her insulin, she was shocked to discover the price had gone up for the second time within a fortnight.
“The last time I purchased my insulin, it was around N3,000, but now when I went to check at the pharmacy, it is over N5,000, almost double,” lamented Idowu who noted that with each passing month, the cost of her insulin climbs higher, forcing her to choose between medication and feeding her children.
Dokun Bolarinwa, diagnosed with high blood pressure, said he had been on regular treatment, but noted that the soaring price of his medication was gradually forcing him to default in adherence to the guidelines of his treatment.
“I’m a retired civil servant with no stable income. Over the past few years, I have been managing my condition with family support and goodwill, but these days, things are tough. I’m already skipping certain medications because I cannot afford them, and if care is not taken, I may be forced to abandon treatment altogether.
Ade Ogun who bought a medicated cream for his skin rash was amazed when he discovered the drug had doubled in price a week later.
“I bought a tube of Nixoderm for N500, but when I went back to the the same shop to purchase another one some days later, the price had gone up 100 per cent. It was an unexpected increase,” Ade noted.
Funmi Olaoye, a housewife and mother of an ashtmatic child was also concerned about the high cost of drugs. “My son needs medication for his asthma, but I can barely afford half the dose. It’s a constant struggle,” she lamented.
Among factors contributing to the increase in drug prices are rising production costs, delays in global supply chains and local supply challenges, as well as the declining value of the naira.
400-500% price increase
Findings from a recent survey by SB Morgen showed that over the last four years, the prices of different categories of paracetamol-based analgesics, common cold medicines, such as Actifed, and antibiotics, and antimalarials, rose dramatically.
The report found that between 2022 and 2023, Ampiclox and Amoxil recorded 340 per cent and over 400 per cent increases respectively, while antimalarials such as Lonart DS recorded cost and selling price increases of 110 per cent and 92.3 per cent respectively between 2019 and 2023.
From Vanguard’s investigations, the prices of all routine drugs in Nigeria have gone up astronomically. The most affected categories include genuine antibiotics, analgesics, anti-malarials and a number of prescription and specialized drugs.
A random check of prices in some pharmacies and in the open market in Lagos revealed that prices of all the popular genuine brands of antibiotics, including Ciprofloxaxin, Azithromycin, Amoxil, Ampiclox and Augmentin, have gone up by 50 – 150 per cent since the beginning of the new year.
Experts say accessing affordable insulin is crucial for managing diabetes effectively. However, it was gathered that the rising cost of insulin presents a significant challenge for people living with diabetes.
Insulin prices in Nigeria have been steadily increasing in recent times with ranges, depending on the brand, pharmacy, and location.
Findings show that for insulin, from rapid-acting, intermediate-acting or long-acting, the average depending on the type, ranges between N4,000 and N18,000 per cartridge/vial.
A silent rage of people grappling with undiagnosed or inadequately managed chronic diseases, such as cancer, is also underway as chemotherapy drugs have seen a 300 per cent price increase in recent times, pushing them beyond the reach of most patients.
Access to essential medications as anti-depressants is also restricted as they can cost up to N10,500 per month, leaving many resorting to traditional remedies or simply going untreated.
Data from the Global Cancer Observatory show that over 100,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nigeria, yet only five per cent of those affected can afford treatment.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation, WHO, backed by the Nigeria Association of Psychiatrists, reveal that an estimated 20 per cent of Nigerians suffer from mental health issues, but access to treatment is severely limited.
The consequences of the price hike are serious, with many Nigerians skipping doses, rationing medication, or even abandoning treatment altogether due to the prohibitive costs.
Women, children hardest hit
Those bearing the brunt more are the vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with underlying or pre-existing health conditions and those that require regular medication.
Experts say the consequences of this development could be devastating and could lead to undesirable complications, delayed diagnoses, and even preventable deaths.
The lack of insurance coverage is also there. Most health insurance plans in Nigeria do not cover chronic ailments comprehensively. So in most cases, the patient has to pay out of pocket.
Already, worries about affordability of treatment and drugs from delays in treatment or skipping of doses leading to complications, worsening health outcomes, and even becoming common.
Health watchers blame the development on a combination of factors, including depreciation of the naira, global supply chain disruptions, and increased drug production costs.
Beyond the high drug prices, they warn that left unchecked, the crisis could cripple the already overburdened healthcare system and worsen existing health inequalities.
In a conversation, President of the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Professor Akin Osibogun, said scarcity of genuine drugs will likely have significant effects.
“These include poor control of disease conditions due to non-availability of essential medications, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, among others, and this will result in the conditions becoming complicated.
“There will be escalation of costs of making drugs, even more unaffordable by the poor and the underprivileged further widening. There will be increased opportunity for faking of drugs, which may have increased adverse effects on the health of Nigerians and patients may turn to untested alternative treatment modalities.” he remarked.
Increased morbidity, mortality, looming
Also reacting, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said high cost of drugs was undesirable for the welfare of the average Nigerian.
“Nigerian citizens are already impoverished and cannot even afford to buy food to eat, if they are sick and need to buy drugs; in the near future we will have increased morbidity and mortality. So people will not be able to comply with their drug prescriptions. People will get sicker, and some of them may even die,’’ he said.
Also, people with mental health conditions are not also spared, according to a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Stephen Oluwaniyi.
He said: “As far as management of those who already have mental health conditions is concerned, many of the conditions are what we call chronic disorders, in the sense that they need to continue with maintenance treatment, taking medications in one form or the other., apart from the cost of transporting themselves to the hospital, they have to pay for medication.
“Now, an individual who has been struggling to spend N2,000 per month to obtain medication now requires to pay like N4,000, You know, a time comes that he or she may not be able to get the medication.
‘’Some of these disorders, once your medications are not consistent, symptoms tend to recur, which means the individual may become further incapacitated, may not be able to experience optimal state of mental health.”
He explained that he or she might not be able to continue to work or be productive in one way or the other.
“So, the high cost of drugs is negatively affecting the treatment of people with mental disorders. There’s no doubt about that. And again, I want to appeal to the authorities to make sure something is done quickly about this trend of medication costs skyrocketing. And that also points to the need why health insurance in Nigeria has to be robust.
“Some of these individuals with mental health conditions are not even working. So, for such individuals, there should be a way of providing for them, probably making some of these medications more affordable. If possible, free,’’ he added.
On his own part, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr Adedamola Dada, said a lot was needed to be done to address the situation.
“There are drugs available in the country. It’s the cost that has increased, in line with most things that are importation-dependent. And as with everything, Nigerians in the drug business are also taking advantage, seeing that there are limited options and little competition.
“The solution is fundamental, we need to start producing our own drugs locally using high-quality APIs to guarantee drug security, and we also need to eliminate or substantially reduce out-of- pocket payments for health care. These are the things the Federal Ministry of Health is doing now – fundamentally tackling the problem, and soon enough, it would yield results,’’ he said.
Speaking further, Dada noted that when patients were unable to afford their drugs,their condition does not get treated.
He said: “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Personally, however, I am not one for all this noise about the cost of drugs, it’s not the only thing whose prices have gone up. I think we should rather exert our efforts and energy at finding a long-term and enduring solution to it, and that’s what Ministers Pate and Alausa are doing now.
“We all need to support them, rather than use the problem as an albatross. It’s a surmountable problem and I am totally convinced that the approach they are taking on this will fundamentally change the game but like all programmes, it will take time.
It’s heart-breaking
But Dr. Aisha Abubakar, a paediatrician lamented: “I see children suffering from preventable illnesses because their parents can’t afford medication. It’s heartbreaking.”
Also worried was Dr. Olufemi Ademola, a pharmacist and pharmacy owner. He said: “We’re caught between our oath to help and the reality that many patients can’t afford basic drugs.”
He revealed that some customers are now buying smaller quantities of drugs as a way of conserving funds and even resorting to buying unregulated street drugs.
Kenechukwu Okoli, another pharmacist is worried about the impact on chronic illnesses, saying “diabetics, hypertensives, even cancer patients say they are forced to choose between medication and other basic needs.”
Seun Adegoke, a healthcare economist, emphasized the need for long-term solutions.
“Investing in local drug production and promoting generic alternatives can bring down costs in the long run,’’ Adegoke said.
On her part, Faith Solomon, a mental health advocate said: “Mental illness is often misunderstood and stigmatised in Nigeria. Even when people seek help, access to affordable medication remains a major barrier. This leaves many trapped in a cycle of suffering.”
Expressing concern for the well-being of Nigerians, health watchers are calling for urgent action to address the issue of high drug prices, even as they urge the government to prioritise healthcare accessibility, intervene in implementing price controls, support local drug production, and strengthen public healthcare infrastructure.
Among solutions proposed include improving access to affordable health insurance, encouraging the use of safe and effective generic drugs to reduce costs, educating communities about the issue and advocating policy changes.
[Vanguard]