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![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] VP Shettima To Represent President Tinubu At CHOGM 2024](/media/k2/items/cache/308d131ad4e809fe62c275cfe217c0ed_L.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed and lead Nigeria's delegation to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
VP Shettima will join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held in the Pacific small island of Apia, Samoa from October 21 to 26. They will deliberate on the theme, "One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth."
The theme will focus attention on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the 'Commonwealth Advantage', and fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.
At this meeting, Nigeria and other member countries will also elect and appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
In line with the Agreed Memorandum on the Establishment and Functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat (revised 2022) and the principle of regional rotation, the next Commonwealth Secretary-General will come from the Africa Region.
The candidates for the role are from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, while Nigeria will have a major role to play as the largest African member in this regard.
Consolidating the progress made at CHOGM 2022, VP Shettima and other world leaders will also deliberate on the global economy, environmental and security challenges, discussing how Commonwealth countries can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth, and empower the Commonwealth's 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
The Vice President is expected to use the platform provided by the Commonwealth Business Forum to further attract investors to Nigeria, as global experts from businesses and the private sector convene to recommend and champion solutions to global challenges.
Senator Shettima will also participate in the People's Forum, the single largest opportunity organized by the Commonwealth Foundation for people to engage with leaders on global development issues. He will also engage in bilateral meetings and other executive sessions.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
(Office of The Vice President)
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman noted that the country has recorded a drop in the performance of female students in examination.
Mamman gave the expression at the end of a technical and vocational education training camp for girls in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
Although he did not state the reason for the decrease in performance, however, the minister further noted that the camp would trigger female students’ interest in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
Mamman urged female students to show commitment to their studies.
According to him, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was determined to produce students with both certificates and skills.
He also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards providing knowledge and skill-based education for Nigerian youths.
According to him, implementing knowledge and skill-based education would promote rapid economic and industrial growth of the nation.
290 students drawn from 29 federal science technical colleges, participated in the two-week programme with the theme: “Painting for the Future”.
Addressing participants, Mamman said that the purpose of the camp was to stimulate innovative and creative abilities in female students, and to encourage healthy competition among them.
He commended the African Development Bank for partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education on the project.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education in Akwa Ibom, Idongesit Etiebet described the programme as timely and well-intended.
Etiebet urged the participants to take the lessons from the programme seriously, and to use it to add value to themselves in the interest of their future.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 election, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that he is preoccupied with issues affecting Nigerians.
Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his collaborators of playing politics with the sufferings of Nigerians.
Atiku stated this in response to Wike, who had at an event in Rivers State, said having contested the presidential election in 2019 and 2023 as the PDP candidate and lost, Atiku has been rejected by Nigerians.
He said, “We never contested local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick form? I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh they have rejected me in Rivers State. Okay, assuming though not conceding, he had lost so many times, Nigerians have also rejected him.”
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, noted that the former VP won’t descend into the gutters where the FCT Minister feels at home.
He stated that while Wike may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, Nigerians must remain focused on the genuine issues affecting them.
Ibe said it is clear that Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.
“However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.
“Mr. Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.
“While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. It is clear that Mr. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.
“Mr. Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.”
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has blamed the most recent national grid collapse on the explosion of a transformer at the Jebba Transmission station.
Several parts of the country were thrown into a blackout in the early hours of the day, the third time in a week.
NERC said it is concerned by the “escalating incidence of grid disturbances” which is “reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability”.
“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load,” the NERC said in a Saturday statement. “However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.”
NERC said it is working to ensure a more “discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure”.
“In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidences of grid disturbances and widespread outages,” it said.
“The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate.”
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending two weeks in the United Kingdom (UK) for vacation.
The president arrived at the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Saturday evening.
Olusegun Dada, special assistant to the president on social media, announced Tinubu’s arrival in a post on his X page.
“The eagle has landed. Welcome home Mr President,” he wrote.
On October 2, the presidency announced the president’s departure from Abuja for a two-week vacation in the UK.
Ten days later, Kabir Masari, the senior special assistant on political matters to the president, said Tinubu had left the UK for France.
Tinubu has embarked on a series of trips to the UK and France since he was elected president in March 2023
On Wednesday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima also left the country for a two-day working visit to Sweden.
Nigerians have raised concerns over their absence, claiming that no one is in charge of the country’s affairs.
The presidency had stated that the absence of the country’s first and second citizens does not translate to a vacuum in the nation’s leadership.
The Federal Government has proposed a five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, and betting activities as part of a new bill to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.
The bill, titled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters,” was dated October 4, 2024, and obtained from the National Assembly.
An analysis of the proposed legislation on Friday showed that it seeks to introduce excise duties on services such as telecoms, gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting provided in Nigeria.
A section of the bill read, “The amount of an excisable transaction is the amount chargeable for the service by the service provider, both in money or money’s worth.
“Services, including telecommunications, gaming, gambling, betting, and lotteries however described, provided in Nigeria shall be charged with duties of excise at the rates specified under the Tenth Schedule to this Act in a manner as may be prescribed by the Service.”
A breakdown of the excise duty structure in the bill indicates that telecoms services, including postpaid and prepaid services regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, will attract a five per cent duty.
The same rate will apply to gaming, gambling, betting, and lottery services.
The bill also introduces guidelines on currency transactions, specifying that any difference between the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate and the actual transaction rate will be subject to excise duty.
The new tax regime forms part of the government’s strategy to boost non-oil revenue amidst fiscal pressures.
With rapid growth in the telecoms and betting sectors, authorities are looking to widen the revenue base.
The bill also aims to ensure that currency exchanges align with official CBN rates, with any excess payable as excise duty under a self-assessment model.
On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced inflation rate rose in September, ending a two-month consecutive decline.
The decline started in July when inflation rate dropped to 33.40 percent — the first drop in 19 months.
The development followed 11 consecutive increases in the monetary policy rate (MPR) — which benchmarks interest rates — by the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curb inflation.
It was increased from 11.5 percent to 26.25 percent between May 2022 and May 2024.
According to the NBS consumer price index (CPI), the decline extended into August, with inflation rate dropping to 32.15 percent.
However, data from the NBS showed that several factors, such as food prices and house rents, drove the inflation rate back to an upward trajectory in September, with inflation rate rising to 32.70 percent.
On a year-on-year basis, the September inflation rate is 5.98 percentage points higher than the 26.72 percent recorded in the same month in 2023.
Also, on a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in the review period stood at 2.52 percent, which is 0.30 percent higher than the 2.22 percent recorded in August.
Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the report:
URBAN VS RURAL INFLATION
There is a notable difference between inflation in urban and rural areas.
Urban inflation in September 2024 was 35.13 percent, which is 6.46 percentage points higher compared to the 28.68 percent recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 2.67% in September 2024, this was 0.28% points higher compared to August 2024 (2.39%),” NBS said.
“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 33.95% in September 2024. This was 9.84% points higher compared to the 24.10% reported in September 2023.”
In the rural area, inflation was 30.49 percent last month, against the 24.94 percent recorded in September 2023 — a difference of 5.55 percentage points.
“On a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 2.39%, up by 0.33% points compared to August 2024 (2.06%),” the bureau said.
“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 29.76%. This was 7.97% higher compared to the 21.79% recorded in September 2023.”
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FOOD INFLATION REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN
Food inflation continues to be a critical driver of overall inflation, with the rate for September reaching 37.77 percent, up from 30.64 percent in the same month last year.
The increase in food prices is attributed to the rising cost of staples like rice, maize, beans, yam, and vegetable oil.
“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: Guinea Corn, Rice, Maize Grains, Beans, etc (Bread and Cereals Class),” NBS said.
“Yam, Water Yam, Cassava Tuber, etc (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Beer (Local and Foreign) (Tobacco Class), Lipton, Milo, Bournvita, etc (Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Class) and Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class).”
On a month-on-month basis, food inflation also rose to 2.64 percent last month, higher than the 2.37 percent recorded in August.
RESIDENTS IN SOKOTO, GOMBE PAY MORE FOR FOOD
In September 2024, food inflation showed significant regional disparities.
On a year-on-year basis, the highest food inflation rates were recorded in Sokoto (50.47 percent), Gombe (44.09 percent), and Yobe (43.51 percent).
In contrast, Kwara (32.45 percent), Rivers (32.80 percent), and Kogi (32.83 percent) experienced the slowest year-on-year increases in food prices.
Month-on-month, Sokoto again led with the highest rise in food inflation (5.94 percent), followed by Taraba (5.76 percent) and Bayelsa (4.44 percent).
However, Kwara (0.88 percent), Cross River (1.29 percent), and Kogi (1.45 percent) saw the smallest month-on-month increases.
HOUSE RENTS, BUS FARES INCREASED
Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, stood at 27.43 percent in September, up from 21.84 percent in the corresponding period in 2023.
The NBS report showed that the cost of rents and transportation, amongst others. is the reason for the increase.
“The highest increases were recorded in prices of the following items: Rents (Actual and Imputed Rentals for Housing Class),” the bureau said.
“Bus Journey intercity, Taxi Journey per drop, etc (under Passenger Transport by Road Class), Meal at a local Restaurant (Accommodation Service Class), Laboratory service, Consultation Fee of a medical doctor, etc (under Medical Services Class.”
On a month-on-month basis, core inflation was 2.10 percent, slightly down from 2.27 percent in August 2024.
ALL ITEMS INFLATION BY STATE
The report also highlights significant variations in all items inflation by state.
Bauchi recorded the highest inflation rate (44.83 percent), followed by Sokoto (38.74 percent) and Jigawa (38.39 percent).
In contrast, Delta (26.35 percent), Benue (26.90 percent), and Katsina (27.71 percent) experienced the slowest rise in inflation.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Celebrates Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, As He Clocks Eighty Years On The Throne
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Celebrates Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, As He Clocks Eighty Years On The Throne](/media/k2/items/cache/3e3c9f6cdd1dabff15a6a056d1bc433e_S.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu congratulates the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on his 71st birthday on 20 October, which also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the King’s ascension to the throne of his ancestors.
He notes that since the coronation of the 40th Oba of Benin in 2016, his kingship has heralded a new era of peace, understanding, and civility among the people.
The President believes that Ewuare’s illustrious career in diplomacy has influenced his leadership style and reassured the people of his ability to lead with wisdom and grace.
Oba Ewuare served at various times as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark, the Republic of Finland, and later Italy.
President Tinubu extols the Oba’s courage and unwavering commitment to preserving his domain's rich cultural heritage and tradition.
He says the King’s relentless efforts and exploration of international networks to return priceless and timeless artefacts, which carry the weight of the Benin Kingdom's history, identity, and nationality, reflect his love for his people.
The President says this cultural preservation work is a source of pride and connection for all who share the Benin Kingdom's rich history.
The President commends Ewuare II for his wise counsel to leaders in the private and public sectors and strong advocacy for participatory democracy and development. His sustained efforts in promoting civic responsibility and participatory democracy inspire hope for a brighter future.
President Tinubu offers his heartfelt prayers for the continued well-being of the Oba of Benin, his family, and the entire kingdom.
May the Kingdom continue to prosper under the wise and benevolent leadership of Ewuare II, and may he and his family be blessed with health and happiness.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
Nigeria gets $100m for establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank - AfDB announces
AFOLABI
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $100 million for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria.
Akinwunmi Adesina, AfDB president, spoke on Friday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the 90th birthday lecture of former head of state Yakubu Gowon.
“I am delighted to announce here today that just three days ago, the African Development Bank’s board of directors approved $100m for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank for Nigeria,” he said.
Adesina said the initiative highlights AfDB’s commitment to supporting youths who he believes are critical to the development of the country.
The AfDB boss said the new bank will support the youths’ businesses in Nigeria using technical assistance, business incubation, quasi-equity, and debt.
Additionally, the bank will deploy guarantee instruments to de-risk the lending to the businesses by financial institutions in Nigeria.
“It will be a new day and a new dawn for Nigeria,” he added.
On June 25, 2023, Adesina said his institution was ready to establish an entrepreneurship investment bank in Nigeria.
Adesina said the establishment of such a bank is in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s plans and vision for young people in Nigeria.
The Rivers State Government has approved a new minimum wage of ₦85,000 for its civil servants.
George Nwaeke, the state’s Head of Service, announced that Governor Siminalayi Fubara granted the approval during a private meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials.
Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new wage would take immediate effect.
“He (Governor Fubara) has set a figure that is higher than the national minimum wage, approving ₦85,000.00. This is a significant development for civil servants in Rivers State, who have never had it this good since the state’s inception,” Nwaeke said.
When inquired about the payment of arrears, Nwaeke disclosed that a technical committee has been formed to devise a feasible payment plan that will also tackle issues concerning the outstanding arrears.
“The committee, which I will serve as Deputy to the Secretary to the State Government, will iron out the details regarding the payment of arrears and inform the public accordingly,” he explained
In response, Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta, commended Governor Fubara for fulfilling the expectations of Rivers State workers and appreciated his commitment to their welfare.
“For the governor to approve this new minimum wage amidst all the difficulties is a clear demonstration of his commitment to the well-being of the workers. We are overjoyed by this decision,” Emecheta remarked.
Similarly, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, remarked that the new minimum wage would significantly ease the financial burdens faced by workers in the state.
“With Lagos and Rivers both approving ₦85,000, but given their differing IGRs, this places Rivers State at the forefront. The governor has proven once again that he is the most labour-friendly governor in Nigeria, and we fully support him,” Agwanwor said.
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A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has intensified his criticism of Nigeria’s economic situation under President Bola Tinubu, expressing deep concern over the nation’s weakening currency.
Igbokwe, who was an active campaigner for Tinubu during the 2023 elections, took to social media on Friday to voice his frustration following a recent report from the World Bank that declared the Nigerian naira as the weakest currency in Africa.
In his Facebook post, Igbokwe highlighted the paradox of Nigeria’s economic potential, stating that the country’s abundant resources and demographic advantages do not align with the current economic assessment.
Igbokwe wondered why the “currency of the most endowed and populous country in Africa with the most educated people, huge and fertile landmass, favourable weather and excellent talents among other advantaged factors, has the weakest currency in Africa.”
He attributed the dire economic situation to widespread nepotism and a self-serving approach to governance, lamenting that “almost everybody is working for themselves; nobody is working for this great country.”
This is not the first time Igbokwe has raised concerns about the administration’s policies. In September, he criticized the new electricity tariffs and urged President Tinubu to take action to alleviate the burden on citizens.
The NNPC Limited and Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV) has announced a significant oil discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 well in Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 49, located in the shallow offshore region of the Western Niger Delta.
The area, which now operates under the terms of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, remains a vital component of Nigeria’s energy production sector.
In a statement released on Friday, Chevron’s General Manager of Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, Olusoga Oduselu, confirmed the development, stating that the well was spud on September 2, 2024, and reached a total depth of 8,983 feet by September 13.
The well encountered approximately 690 feet of hydrocarbons within Miocene sands, extending the productive Meji field.
The drilling operations were completed on October 2, and the rig has since departed the location.
“This achievement aligns with Chevron’s commitment to advancing its Nigerian resources,” the statement read, highlighting that the discovery fits into the company’s broader global exploration strategy. This strategy focuses on “discovering new resources that extend the lifespan of existing production assets and reduce development cycle times.”
The discovery marks a positive development for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, reinforcing the offshore region’s potential.
The NNPC-CNL JV reiterated its commitment to partnering with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to ensure continued progress in the country’s oil and gas development.
“We remain dedicated to collaborating with the Nigerian government and stakeholders to support the growth of the oil and gas industry and the overall Nigerian economy,” the statement emphasized.
The Kano State Hisbah Board has confirmed the arrest of Auwal Danladi Sankara, the Commissioner of Special Duties in Jigawa State, for allegedly engaging in a romantic relationship with a married woman, Tasleem Baba Nabegu.
The arrest took place on Friday after Hisbah operatives caught Sankara in the act in an uncompleted building that reportedly belongs to him.
Hisbah, known as the Sharia police, made the announcement following intelligence tracking and a series of complaints received about Sankara’s alleged misconduct.
Abba Sufi, the Director General of the Hisbah Board, confirmed the arrest, stating, “Yes, it is true we have arrested Auwal Danladi Sankara with a married woman in an uncompleted building. Unknown to him, we were tracking him based on reports we received against him.”
The allegations surfaced after Nasiru Bulama, the husband of the married woman, lodged complaints with multiple authorities, including the Kano State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Bulama accused Sankara of engaging in illicit sexual activities with his wife, who is also the mother of his two children.
The Hisbah DG revealed that Sankara would face multiple charges in court on Monday, not only related to the alleged affair but also for operating illicit drug centers disguised as hotels, known by names including “Picklock” and “360.”
Sufi added, “We have been having problems with Sankara because he is operating illicit drug centers in the names of hotels, involving prostitution and drug addiction activities.”
The remains of that great daughter of Igbara-Oke Kingdom, ACP Ayodele Fadairo (Nee Salotun), were buried today (18/10/24) in Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.
ACP Fadairo, popularly known to her many fans as Aunty Ayo L’alagbon, retired from the Nigeria Police Force more than a decade ago.
Her tomb is now adjacent to the the premises of the
Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.
That command is simply known as Alagbon.
Aunty Ayo served meritoriously there in the course of her distinguished career in the Force.
Legendary highlife muscian, Orlando Owoh, sang about his experience at Alagbon and his encounter with Aunty Ayo among other police officers. It was Orlando who actually registered the sobriquet “Aunty Ayo L’alagbon” in popular consciousness. Orlando paid compliments to Aunty Ayo in the music for her professionalism and humanity as a police officer.
It was learnt that the organisers of her admirably curated funeral deliberately chose the spot, separated only by a fence from the Alagbon police station, as the resting place of Aunty Ayo.
The well-attended funeral service conducted at the cemetery was preceded earlier in the week by a Service of Songs and a Christian Wake.
During the Wake yesterday there were testimonies to Aunty Ayo’s remarkable life of impact, selflessness and generosity of spirit.
A colourful reception was later held for guests in Ikeja.
Different groups, donned in the _aso-ebi_ uniform presented guests with lavish souvenirs and food packs.
Many serving and retired police officers were at Aunty Ayo’s grave side to pay their last respects just as many members her church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM) and others were also there to say farewell to the lady and officer.
Aunty Ayo was also a noble alumna of the Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke (AGSI). Among the old students of the great school at the occasion were a former president of the AGSI Alumni Association, Chief Wale Taiwo, SAN, and a former national officer of the body, Mr. Dele Oyedokun.
The Igbara-Oke Community in Lagos was, of course, well represented by its members including former Chairman of Igbara-Develoment Council (IDC), Siji Ijogun, and the Chairman of Igbara-Oke Citizens in Lagos, Barrister Toyin Bankole.
Not a few observers of the funeral activities said Aunty Ayo’s was a lesson in living a good life.