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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said those antagonising his administration are envious and frustrated, saying he is currently building a psychiatric hospital for the benefit of his detractors.
He said his opponents and detractors were pained because he had achieved within one year what they did in eight years.
This came 24 hours after the former governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at a reception on Saturday in his honour by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress, mocked Fubara for resorting to joining the Action Peoples Party, saying he would teach the governor how to play politics.
At the event, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Boma Iyaye, apologised to Wike for Fubara’s alleged misdeeds.
Reacting, however, on Sunday, Fubara said he had always stood on the path of truth and would not need anybody to apologise on his behalf for doing the right things for the good of the state.
He said his administration stood firm to secure Rivers commonwealth from the grip of those who were determined to lay hold on its soul.
The reply came as the Rivers Ijaw Foundation lampooned Wike over his utterances against the Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
The group said the recent attacks on two prominent Ijaw sons were crude, divisive and disrespectful to them, the Ijaw and an incitement of hate against the tribe.
Fubara, speaking at the inter-denominational church thanksgiving service organised as part of activities marking the 64th Independence Day celebration of Nigeria, held at St. Paul’s Cathedral of the Anglican Communion at Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, said he would continue to do his best without fear.
He said, “They even say, they don’t know what we are doing. Let me remind them that it is Fubara who signed the paper to borrow from Zenith Bank the N200bn for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project.
“It is Fubara that awarded the Trans-Kalabari Road that they couldn’t do. They only did a bridge from Krakrama, but I am the one doing it: the complete span, and it is N22bn. I didn’t borrow.
“It is this same Fubara that is building a General Hospital, which I also included a psychiatric hospital because they will need it very soon. So, tell them that what I did in one year is what they did in eight years.
“It is only empty containers that make noise. If God has given you an opportunity, eat your plantain and keep quiet. God will continue to give us the strength to do the best for our people, without fear.”
Fubara insisted that if his political enemies continued to deride the grace of God in his life, they would continue to struggle for needless public recognition that depicted how much they had fallen out of grace.”
He said his policy was not to embark on a mere jamboree of groundbreaking for projects as he assured that any project he started would be inaugurated and put to public use.
“Very soon, you will see what we are doing. It is not about doing roads for your business interest. I don’t have any business interests. Whatever I am doing, I am doing it for the people of Rivers State.
“We will not take any decision that we cannot defend. We won’t be part of anything that will bring any form of disgrace to our dear state. This state is important to us. It is the only thing that we have.
“It is a beautiful pride. That is why they are struggling, coupled with the improvement in internally generated revenue we have done. That is why they are struggling, we know. But, do it with modesty, you don’t need to destroy the house.”
He said God had not taken away some of the people disturbing the peace of the state because He wanted them to repent, adding that if they refused, God would come heavily.
“The frustration you are seeing in their faces today is about this point we have gotten. So, please, be strong. All the Babylonians that we are seeing today, you will not see them again.
“God has a reason for allowing the devil or the evil one to stay long. It is not that He can’t take him or take them away but He gives them time to repent.
“And when they continue, He will come heavily, and then, they would say, it would have been better that they had left when they had time. That will be our story in this state.
“But, you see, anybody that is making noise for recognition, it is a sign that he has lost it. By the special grace of God, I don’t need an introduction. I have the name, and I am the one standing here.”
He reiterated that he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, as he assured the people that the most difficult stage of the political crisis in the state was over.
“I will beg every one of you, God has given us this opportunity, we must safeguard it. They are the ones looking for a way to destroy it.
“They didn’t believe we would get to this point, and I can tell you I had a reason for inviting all the candidates for the local government election for this service.
“I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, but I know that there will be an election that I am conducting. So, I have to invite you to come and receive prayers. And little did I know, the Bishop gave you the prayers.
“For those of you participating in the election, please, I want the election to be peaceful, very important. When you emerge, our major concern is the people. Care for the people. We have taken Rivers State into a different driveway,” he said.
The governor said most of the decisions taken by his administration may not have been popular but added that they were necessary if the state must be protected from detractors.
He urged everyone to join hands with his administration to tackle the big task of securing the soul of the state and making it a proud place for all Rivers people.
He added, “And I tell you, with due respect my Dean, when you said our National Anthem was changed, for me, I like this new one, more especially where it says – ‘a nation built, where no man is oppressed’ – it is so unique.
“And if that is where I stand, you should understand, I can’t be a party to oppressing anybody. And for the fact that I can’t be a party to oppress anybody, by the special grace of God, nobody can oppress me. Please, we need to join hands together to sustain and develop our state.”
He lamented the issue of oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the state, as he called for such an act of economic sabotage should not continue.
“The security agencies are doing their best. As a government, we are also planning to have a special committee to tackle this problem.
“We need to improve the level of our production. That is the only way that we can get out of this situation. The situation is bad. There are no two ways about it. But we must come together as one to support what the centre is doing, so our lives can change,” he said.
The governor added, “As a matter of fact, I belong to that school of thought that if I am the only person that needs to stand on that side of right, I will stand there. I don’t need anybody to stand with me.
“I cannot give my kidney or liver to anybody, I won’t. If that is the only reason for me to be loyal, I will not be. But, I will not do the wrong thing. I will stand for the side of the right.
“I make bold to say it, there is no security agency in this state that I have called any day to go and do something wrong. I have never. I don’t need it. But I know what they do, and they keep failing because God has left them.”
In his sermon at the service, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Reverend Blessing Enyindah, bemoaned Nigeria at its 64th Independence anniversary, saying it seemed like a country under siege, wherein its citizens were held up as captives with no hope brighter than noonday to expect.
Enyindah, who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, and Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, blamed leaders across sectors, particularly political leaders for the nation’s woes.
He said instead of liberating the people from social, economic and political imprisonment, the political leaders accentuated poverty, economic hardship and soaring prices of goods.
He asked them to stop enacting irrelevant policies and resist the temptation of perpetuating themselves in office for Nigeria to become the country it should truly be.
He also asked judicial officers to break away from issuing conflicting judgments that could promote a miscarriage of justice.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by the Director of Publicity, Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo and sent to newsmen, the Rivers Ijaw Foundation said, “Wike repeatedly disrespected the revered national leader and father of the Ijaw nation, Chief E.K. Clark, on national television. He maligned former Governor Rufus Ada-George and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. He incited hatred against Ijaws in Rivers State.
“In the same manner, the communique of the so-called Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly contained disrespect for the Ijaw national leader, Chief E.K. Clark and the people of Opobo-Ijaw.
“After an extensive review of the utterances made by former Governor Nyesom Wike and his cohorts, the Rivers Ijaw Foundation considers it a duty to put the records straight as follows:
“The Rivers Ijaw Foundation considers the utterances of former Governor Nyesom Wike and the so-called Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly as crude, rude, cultureless, insensitive and divisive.
“We condemn in the strongest terms, the disrespect to our highly revered national leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and former Governor Ada-George by Nyesom Wike and his political cronies. We are utterly disgusted by the attack on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the unwarranted incitement of hate against the Rivers Ijaw people by Nyesom Wike and his cohorts.”
The group requested President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order, adding that the President must not give the impression that he prioritised political exigencies above the peace, happiness and prosperity of Rivers people and Ijaw.
The foundation said former President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw son, never had ministers who publicly disrespected elder statesmen like Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Olu Falae and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, though his greatest critics were from the South West.
“President Bola Tinubu must call Nyesom Wike to order or risk being asked to choose between Wike and the entire Ijaw nation,” the statement said.
Dangote Group has said that it plans to transport refined petroleum products by sea.
This announcement was made in a statement on Sunday by the Senior Adviser to the Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman.
She noted the construction of a jetty in the Lekki Free Zone to handle bulk cargoes during the refinery’s development.
“Today, we are exporting our products to many African countries through the seaport. We also plan to ease the pressure on the roads from the refinery by transporting finished petroleum products to other ports along the Nigerian coast by sea, for further distribution to the hinterland,” she said.
According to the group, this initiative aims to alleviate pressure on road networks while facilitating exports to other African countries.
The statement also stated that the Dangote Group, a major sponsor of the trade fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attracted a large crowd eager to learn about its state-of-the-art oil refinery, which recently commenced discharging petroleum products.
The statement added that many attendees explored the company’s various business units, including Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement.
Wali-Abdurrahman said participants were keen to discover opportunities within the company.
The statement quoted a participant, Peter Ibrahim, as saying, “I am here at the Dangote booth to find out what business and job opportunities are available at the Dangote Refinery. We know the company must have created several opportunities.”
Similarly, cement dealer Sale Sagir, remarked, “Let me be honest. I came to this trade fair because of the Dangote Group. I sell cement, but now I have come to find out what it takes to be a distributor of other products, especially the Dangote Petroleum products.”
Wali-Abdurrahman also highlighted the company’s investment in Compressed Natural Gas, stating, “To reduce our carbon footprint and costs, over the past decade, we have converted about a third of our fleet. This is an ongoing process, till we convert the entire fleet.”
The ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, commended the Dangote Group for its significant role in Nigeria’s industrialisation.
Represented by Vice President Legal, Aisha Abdullahi, he remarked on the company’s “unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development, adding, “The taxes paid by the group have contributed significantly to national revenue, funding infrastructure projects and social programmes that benefit millions of Nigerians.”
The Technical Sub-Committee on Domestic Sales of Crude Oil in Local Currency, on Sunday, confirmed that the supply of crude in naira by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is to begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
On September 13, 2024, the committee announced that the Federal Executive Council under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu approved the sale of crude to local refineries in naira and the corresponding purchase of petroleum products in naira.
“From October 1, NNPC will commence the supply of about 385kbpd (385,000 barrels per day) of crude oil to the Dangote refinery to be paid for in naira,” the committee had declared.
The Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee is Zacch Adedeji, who doubles as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
When contacted on Sunday and asked if the plan for the crude oil supply to the $20bn Lekki-based plant is still intact, the Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Mr Dare Adekanmbi, responded in the affirmative.
He said, “I can confirm to you that the Chairman, Sub-Technical Committee, Zacch Adedeji, is working day and night to ensure that things go according to plans. He knows how important it is to have the agreement implemented as has been planned for the benefit of Nigerians.”
This implies that NNPC is to supply about 11.5 million barrels of crude oil to the Dantote refinery monthly, and based on the deal, the plant will release equivalent volumes of refined diesel and petrol to the domestic market also in naira.
The panel explained in September that this initiative would help reduce pressure on the naira, eliminate unnecessary transaction costs, and improve the availability of petroleum products across the country.
“Since then, the implementation committee chaired by the Minister of Finance and we, the technical committee, have worked intensely with NNPC and Dangote refinery to fashion out the details of the modalities for the implementation of the FEC approval,” Adedeji had stated.
While stating that crude would be sold to Dangote in naira from October 1, the committee chairman and FIRS boss said, “In return, the Dangote refinery will supply PMS (petrol) and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market to be paid in naira.
“Diesel will be sold in naira by the Dangote refinery to any interested off-taker. PMS will only be sold to NNPC. NNPC will then sell to various marketers for now. All associated regulatory costs (NPA, NIMASA, etc.) will also be paid in naira. We are also setting up a one-stop shop that will coordinate service provision from all regulatory agencies, security agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation of this initiative.”
Adedeji explained that the technical committee that worked to flesh out the initiative would transition to an implementation execution and monitoring committee that would be working out of Lagos for the next three to six months.
The committee, which includes the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Jafiya; the FIRS boss, as well as representatives from NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria, AfreximBank, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, was set up to craft a robust template that will ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
Meanwhile, modular refineries have called on the government to work out modalities for the supply of crude to their plants as well.
About 24 hours before the commencement deal, the modular refiners told one of our correspondents that they were not involved in the scheme of things.
The Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, said, “The committee is only discussing with Dangote at the moment.”
According to Idoko, the committee, at its inaugural meeting, said it would start the naira sale of crude with refineries producing petrol, noting that at the moment, only the Dangote refinery is producing the commodity.
He said the association made a case that the committee should extend the sale to other refineries to avoid discrimination, “but they haven’t given us any feedback”.
Idoko stated, “Perhaps, during the October date, they will disclose more in terms of the modus they want to adopt. But at the moment, we have not received any clear communications as to how the naira sale will be administered other than the fact that they said they will start with PMS-producing refineries.”
The CORAN spokesman disclosed that many of the modular refineries have been facing serious crude challenges, preventing them from producing fuel.
He noted that some refineries with 10,000 capacity currently produce a little above 3,000 barrels per day due to the unavailability of crude oil.
“A 6,000-capacity refinery now produces 1,000 barrels, but productions are off and on because of erratic crude supply,” he stated.
He added, “Our modular refineries are facing a serious crude crisis. Nothing has changed for modular refineries. There are talks with the government but there hasn’t been any definite arrangement for supplies.”
Nigerians are hopeful that the naira crude sale scheduled to start on October 1 will bring down the price of petrol.
Since it commenced the sale of petroleum on September 15, the Dangote refinery has refused to announce the price of the product.
The company denied selling at N898 per litre to the NNPC, saying the claim by the NNPC was misleading and mischievous, deliberately aimed at undermining the milestone achievement recorded.
The Dangote refinery urged Nigerians to await a formal announcement from the presidential committee.
“We urge Nigerians to disregard this malicious statement and await a formal announcement on the pricing, by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, appointed by President Bola Tinubu, which will commence on October 1, 2024, bearing in mind that our current stock of crude was procured in dollars,” the Dangote Group stated.
However, the Federal Government has said it would not interfere in the price controversy between the NNPC and Dangote, saying the petroleum sector had been deregulated.
The Ministry of Education has said it is working to prevent another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The Director of Press in the ministry, Folasade Biriowo, stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday.
“I can assure you that everything is being done to prevent the strike from happening. The minister has teams working already so I can give you that assurance,” Birjowo said.
ASUU had last week given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve several lingering issues, failing which it would proceed on another strike.
Among other things, the varsity lecturers are seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, as well as the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action.
Additionally, ASUU is demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
The union is also seeking funding for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
Other issues include the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacements by the for IPPIS.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement issued last Wednesday, expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, stating that these actions were fuelling a crisis in the public university system.
“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, 23rd September 2024 during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union. The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from government’s failure to seize the new opportunity,” Osodeke said.
The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, said on Sunday that more than 40 percent of Nigerians now enjoy 20 hours of power supply daily across the country.
Adelabu, in a statement in Abuja, said the feat was achieved through revolutionary measures taken by the Ministry of Power, with the support of President Bola Tinubu, as part of his renewed hope agenda to galvanise the economy.
He credited the achievements in the power sector to radical and bold steps taken by his administration, with President Tinubu’s consistent advocacy for a stable and consistent power supply as a means to achieve a breakthrough in industrialisation.
Adelabu said the generation of more than 5,500 megawatts of power was one of the ministry’s significant achievements in the last year, with plans to improve further by the end of the year.
“Most developed nations achieved reliable, functional, and affordable electricity as a fundamental step.
“This is crucial for industries, businesses, institutions, and households. That’s why we must prioritise this for Nigeria to drive economic growth and industrial development.
“President Bola Tinubu emphasised this in his New Year’s speech on January 1, stressing the need for stable electricity to power critical sectors.
“This is the only way to achieve requisite economic growth and industrial development, as none of these sectors can function without it.”
Adelabu outlined the administration’s vision to provide stable electricity supply to households, businesses, and institutions, including educational and health institutions, as well as industries.
According to him, this initiative aims to empower these entities to power their infrastructure, enhance their capacity, and create additional job opportunities.
He said that the ministry works with agencies, 27 power generating companies, and 11 Electricity Distribution Companies to achieve its goals.
He added that with the support of President Tinubu, the ministry was committed to providing Nigerians with stable and regular electricity supply.
As Senators Nwoko, Izunaso push for additional States
WITH the commencement of another phase of review of the 1999 Constitution by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Senators are presently on the same page on the issue of Local government autonomy, but sharply divided over the establishment of State Police across the thirty- six states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Recall that the Senate had in May this year during a plenary session concluded that the 774 local governments across the country are dead, accusing state governors of misappropriating funds allocated to Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
According to the Senate, the dream of achieving the objectives of the local government system has encountered harsh realities as successive governments have often eroded local autonomy, limiting their financial resources and control over decision-making, and adding that corruption scandals and mismanagement have often tarnished the image of some local governments, thereby fueling public cynicism.
Also, recall that the Supreme Court had on 11th July barred the 36 governors of the federation from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for the 774 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the country.
The apex court had ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
Move by the Senators to save the third tier of government from total collapse following the abuse of their roles by the state governors, may not be unconnected to the recent Supreme Court verdict and the pledge by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that the National Assembly would tinker with the constitution to legalise their full autonomy.
As members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review rounded off its two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 constitution on Saturday night in Kano, they unanimously agreed to include full autonomy for local governments in the nation’s legal document, but they however expressed divergent views on the issue of state police.
Senators from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones at the forum, advocated for the creation of additional states.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South; Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North; Osita Izunaso, APC, Imo West and Ned Nwoko, PDP, Delta North in their various submissions insisted that full autonomy for local governments was long overdue.
The Senators spoke at the sidelines of the Retreat which was organised jointly organised by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC.
Speaking on the issue, Bamidele who noted that the current constitution has put the administration of local government in the hands of the state government, said that the exigencies of the current situation have made it necessary to make the third tier of government, completely independent.
The Senate leader said, “The independence of the autonomy of our local governments cannot be taken away. The debate is raging as to whether or not local government should be considered as a tier of government.
“Law is made for men and not men for law. Regardless of what is in our constitution, what is important is that certain realities have come to terms with us.
“So, if we’re talking about local government autonomy, the way some of us have looked at it, in the Senate and the National Assembly, is that we need to complement what the Supreme Court has said.
“The Supreme Court didn’t say anything that is not in our constitution. The Supreme Court only gave it some further clarity. Arising from that, it’s also important that as much as possible, we also ensure that the fear that governors will not allow local governments to function can also be addressed through further tinkering with our constitution.
“For instance, a lot of stakeholders are concerned that for as long as local governments elections are conducted through state independent federal commissions, there could be a highway to nowhere.”
On his part, Chairman, Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, Senator Ned Nwoko who noted that local government autonomy, was very critical, said, “The local government has almost but died, there is nothing happening there, it is just as a mere third tier of government.
“So any reforms that support what the Supreme Court had already done, will help to reintroduce the ideals of having a local government.
“If we have an independent local government where elections are conducted by INEC for instance and they have their own money and they are able to take care of local securities and deal with hospitals and the rest of them, a lot will happen for good.”
In his contributions, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa who noted that the process of restructuring had started with the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy, said, “When you are talking about restructuring, we should be able to give the local governments, the autonomous power to be able to run their administration from the grassroots level so that the impact of governance can reach the grassroots.”
In his submission, Osita Izunaso who stressed that arguments about the possibility of local government chairmen becoming too powerful to the extent of impeaching governors if granted full autonomy does not hold water, said, “When we started in this country, local governments had full autonomy then and they were developing their areas. I believe in the full autonomy of the local government.
“I am sure it is going to work. I don’t believe that LG autonomy would empower council chairmen to impeach the governors. The fear does not arise and I don’t even believe in it.
“The governors have immense constitutional powers. Only the state assembly can move against the governor. The council chairmen don’t have the power. Governors and council chairmen should face their work.”
Senator Abdulfatai Buhari who threw his weight behind the position of the Senate Leader who postulated that the election of council chairmen and the councillors should be conducted by an independent body not constituted by state governments, said, “Local government autonomy could only be achieved if their elections are conducted by an independent body. If that is not done, states will continue to siphon their money, through threats, through blackmail.
“If I just put you there as local government chairman, as the governor, definitely you will be answerable to me, but if am contesting my election people’s eyes will be on me and when I can perform, you can’t force me to take the money to the governor.
“If we want that Supreme Court judgement to hold water, we should expunge from the Constitution, that aspect of Joint Account.
On the issue of state police, the Senators were divided, just as those in support are of the view that insecurity would be tacked effected with state police while others said political opponents would be targeted by state governors.
Supporting State Police, Senator Sani Musa said, “This retreat, we are going to deal with the issue of State Police, Local Government autonomy. But when you are talking about restructuring, in the context of it, we are doing a restructuring. We are already doing the restructuring. By my understanding of what restructuring should be, we should be able to give the LG the autonomous power to be able to run their administration from the grassroots level so that the impact of governance can reach the grassroots.
“When we are talking about State Police, every state in this country is facing one insecurity or the other and I believe that if we look at the issue of State Police, and we look at it: is it good for us? What are the advantages and disadvantages, that may have in the interest of this country, I think, we will come out with an outcome that Nigerians will want. So, I think this is the reason why we are here.”
However, Senator Ali Ndume said, Personally, I don’t support state police. Right now, we have less than 400,000 Police nationwide, and you are clamouring for the creation of state police, why don’t you increase the number and Train, Equip, Armed and Motivate them, what I call TEAM. And also adopt the United Nation recommendation on policing. We are about 230 million Nigerians, and we have less than 400,000 police, less than 200,000 armed forces and all our security agencies and paramilitary are barely 1 million or more. We don’t have an army or police reserve and you are saying we should have a state police.”
Both Senators Nwoko and Osita Izunaso, maintained that the creation of additional states in their geopolitical zones was long overdue.
Nwoko said, “The Anioma state creation for me is something that has to be done, if that is the only state that is created in this period, I will not be surprised.
“Agitation for Anioma state had been going on for almost 50 years, it is the oldest agitation for a state.”
On his part, Izunaso said, “The most important agenda the South East Caucus in the National Assembly has is to push for equity and justice.
“We need an additional state in the South East so that we come to terms with other zones in the country that all have six each.
“A situation where the South East have five states when others have six, does not go well for balancing. I believe that our colleagues from other zone will see the reason why we need the state support us.
“There are bills in that regard. For instance, I have my own Bill for the creation of Orlu State. There are two other bills from our colleague for the creation of two other states. We are going to sit back as a zone harmonise our positions.”
![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] FG Hands Over 64 CNG Buses To Labour Unions, NANS](/media/k2/items/cache/a0c3aa0547cc8c710b692e1747593a78_S.jpg)
The Federal Government has handed over 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
When deployed for commuter service, the buses will significantly reduce transportation costs in the country, bringing hope for a more affordable and efficient public transport system.
The handover of the buses took place on Sunday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, led the government delegation that included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Edun described the distribution of the buses as fulfilling President Bola Tinubu's promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi).
He emphasised that this initiative aims to alleviate the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability.
The Minister further explained that the symbolic handover of 64 buses on the eve of Nigeria’s National Day marks the beginning of a broader national rollout, with the plan to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the first instance.
He added that the CNG initiative aligns with Nigeria's commitment to cleaner energy while leveraging its energy resources for industrialisation.
''Today marks another critical milestone in the policies of President Tinubu. It is a transition to cleaner fuel. It is for Nigerians. The emphasis is on mass transit. The minister said there is an emphasis on intervening on the side of workers so that they have cheaper transport to cope with rising prices.
He also highlighted the CNG initiative’s impact on inflation, saying:
''We've had an initial spike in inflation, now it has peaked, and it is coming down. Mr President and the whole team are determined to ensure that we keep inflation coming down, and this is one of the major ways.''
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy noted that the fuel cost for CNG-powered vehicles is about one-third of the fuel for petrol-powered vehicles.
He said motorists can now pay as low as N15,000 to fill a tank instead of N50,000 or more.
''Today, it is CNG. Tomorrow, it will be helping farmers to cope with the remainder of the wet season planting and then the dry season planting, starting from November, with fertiliser, inputs, seeds, and herbicides.
''This is all to get prices down and get the economy moving again, '' he said.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC, Comrade Nuhu Toro; NANS president, Comrade Lucky Emonefe; and the Head of International Desk, NLC, Comrade Uche Ekwe, commended President Tinubu for the gesture. They called for more CNG buses to be made available to the public.
Toro thanked the President for implementing the N70,000 new national minimum wage.
''This move is a significant step in alleviating the economic burden of Nigerian workers.
NANS president Comrade Emonefe praised the government for its commitment to education and student welfare, citing the provision of a student loan scheme for higher education.
"Nigerian students are happy to be celebrating the 64th anniversary of independence. We are not only happy with the CNG buses; we believe that the current President loves the welfare of students and has shown his commitment to this.
The NLC representative noted that the benefits of the CNG buses would become more apparent once more buses are deployed across the country.
''If we get more buses, the effect will translate immediately to Nigerians. If people start entering these buses, they will publicise it in the public and their neighbourhood,'' he said.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director/Chief Executive of PCNGi, said that since its establishment one year ago, over 125 conversion centres have been established, compared to the initial seven.
He said investment in the sector has exceeded $175 million, with 12 new mother stations commissioned and 75 more under construction.
Technician training is being ramped up, with 40 new technicians trained weekly. Over 34,000 conversion kits have been ordered, with more than half already distributed.
He said vehicle conversions are taking place at 53 centres in eight states.
He said the centres would be expanded to all the 36 states and the FCT.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, test driving one of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses donated to labour unions and the student union body in Nigeria, on Sunday, September 29, 2024.
Some of the 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses donated by the Federal Government to labour unions and the student association in the country.
Second from L-R: The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Secretary General and Chief Executive of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Nuhu Toro; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Lucky Emonefe, at the handover ceremony of 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of labour unions and NANS by the Federal
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Pantami has revealed that despite the federal government’s substantial funding for security, only a small portion reaches soldiers on the battlefield. He made this statement during the Young Professionals Colloquium in Katsina State, while discussing the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage and issues contributing to insecurity.
Pantami highlighted that the primary issue with Nigeria’s security challenges is not the lack of intelligence gathering but rather the failure to act on the intelligence that has been collected. He stressed that most of the federal government’s security budget remains with top officials, leaving very little for the soldiers facing the dangers on the frontline.
He pointed out that sending soldiers into battle without proper life insurance or adequate death benefits demoralizes them. Pantami added that soldiers know their families’ futures may not be secure if they die in service, which discourages them from fully committing to the fight against terrorists and kidnappers.
Pantami emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges will persist unless the government establishes mechanisms to ensure that more security budget reaches frontline soldiers and takes care of their families. He urged the government to put in place systems that guarantee proper support for soldiers’ families if they lose their lives in the line of duty.
He explained, “The government is spending huge amounts on security. Unfortunately, a very small percentage reaches our security officers on the battlefield. Most of it stays at the top. You ask a soldier to fight terrorists, but if he dies, his death benefit is less than 10 million naira, while he might have many children. Who can risk their life for that?”
Pantami concluded by calling for a system where soldiers on the battlefield receive proper compensation. If they die, the government takes responsibility for their families’ welfare, ensuring their children’s education or success in business.
He said, “We must work on the system to ensure that what is budgeted reaches those on the battlefield. They should be the highest earners in Nigeria, and their families must be cared for if they sacrifice their lives for the country.”
The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has expressed his frustration over the pervasive corruption in Nigeria, noting that those who steal public funds are often celebrated.
Speaking to journalists in Kano on Sunday, Ndume voiced his concerns, highlighting the nation’s lack of effective laws to combat corruption.
He stated, “Our major challenge in this country is corruption. Up till now, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption in the country.
“If you see somebody in our system, especially in politics or government and he is not corrupt, then he is lucky to be God-fearing. Otherwise, it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated.”
Ndume explained how, in many cases, individuals who gain sudden wealth are not questioned about its source.
“If you come into an area like this, people would start lobbying you and prostrate before you even when they know that the money was stolen.
“It is only in this country that somebody had no money yesterday or last week, but the following week he buys 10 cars; buys jets and his brothers would fly with him, his mother would fly with him, his uncle would fly with him, and they would say Allah has blessed our son,” he remarked.
The senator also revealed his efforts to pass legislation targeting unexplained wealth in Nigeria, which were unsuccessful. He recalled approaching a former head of state to support an executive bill on the matter, only to be turned down.
“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it,” Ndume added.
In addition to corruption, Ndume also raised concerns about the growing hunger crisis in the country.
He urged for greater investment in agriculture, pointing out that Nigeria has vast arable land that remains underutilized.
“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land, Nigeria is blessed with massive arable land,” the senator stressed.
The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday confirmed that a 35-year-old zoo worker at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, was on Saturday killed by a lion.
The spokesman for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Sunday.
The Bauch State born lion handler was said to have forgotten to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
This reportedly allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in injuries to his neck and eventual death
The victim’s body was said to have been removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.
Details later
[Punch]
More...
Organisers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have declared that the police, Department of State Services, and the military would not stop them from embarking on the demonstration as planned.
The organisers have also written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to request security during the demonstration, noting that protest is a fundamental right they would not submit to any state agent.
Nigeria will celebrate its 64th independence on Tuesday, October 1, the day some Nigerian youths have taken to protest the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation of the group, Damilare Adenola, said mobilisation efforts had begun, adding that Nigerians were mobilising from different parts of the country for the protest.
“We have also written to the Inspector General of Police, informing him of our protest locations and reminding him of the constitutional duty of the police to protect protesters as opposed to the repression we have witnessed in times past,” said Sanyaolu.
The group explained that the FCT protest would be held at the Eagle Square, the same venue of the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos protest would take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
The organisers noted that the protest would be across the country, adding that only ‘immediate reversal of fuel subsidy removal’ would dissuade them from the demonstration.
The IG, Egbetokun, had directed the Force zonal and state commands to deploy men from Monday to strategic locations until a stand-down order was given.
Egbetokun also directed that the policemen should dress in camouflage with hats, even as he asked the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to engage and discourage available civil society groups and individuals from participating in the protest.
We are not afraid – Sowore, Adeyanju
However, a leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, said the youth were not afraid of the police, adding that the protest would hold as planned.
Sowore explained that the reported fear of some people about the possibility of violence during the protest was not true.
“Nobody has expressed to us or anyone that they’re afraid because they know we are not violent protesters; maybe you should ask that of the government,” he added.
Lawyer to the organisers, Deji Adeyanju, said it was wrong for the police to summon protesters who were exercising their right.
“The police do not have the right to summon protesters like they are currently doing. It is the responsibility of the police to protect the protesters anytime they embark on a demonstration. The protesters are not political parties; security agencies should not harass them,” he stated.
The counsel noted that the crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters in August was to discourage people from participating in further demonstrations in the country.
He, however, said the arrest and detention of some of the demonstrators would not deter youths from joining the #FearlessOctober1 protest.
Adeyanju said, “The government plans to discourage people from coming out to protest; that is why they are still detaining our comrades who participated in the August protest. But that will not dampen the morale of the youths on the #FearlessOctober protest.”
Eight groups to join Lagos protest
On his part, Adenola said the organisers would not be deterred by the deployment of security agencies.
He added that the #FearlessOctober1 demonstration was a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place in August, adding that the demonstration was necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands.
He listed some of their demands to include the reversal of the subsidy removal policy, amendment of the constitution, overhauling of the legislature, and the unconditional release of protesters in police custody.
Adenola said, “We are unperturbed by the threats issued by security agencies. What we have seen so far is that they (security agencies) don’t respect the rights of protesters; they may end up instigating violence against protesters.
“But we will keep warning them to ensure that they respect people’s right to express their grievances as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are also using this opportunity to call on the Nigerian people to come out unafraid and express their grievances. When we have enough protesters on the ground, the police and other security agencies will dare not harass them.
“People are experiencing hardship, and the government is telling them not to protest. It is just natural; people have to speak up against this hardship inflicted by President Bola Tinubu’s government,” Adenola said.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Peluola Adewale, said no harassment or intimidation from any security agencies would stop the protest, disclosing that about eight civil society groups would participate in the demonstration in Lagos State.
He warned the government against sponsoring hoodlums to infiltrate genuine protesters during the protests, stating that the demonstration would be peaceful in Lagos.
“We cannot rule out the fact that the government can sponsor violence to discredit the protest, but we want to warn them against that. People should not be deprived of their freedom of expression and assembly. Protest is our fundamental right, and we cannot surrender it to the police or anyone. We are not afraid of the police, DSS, or military,” he added.
Another leader of the protesters, Taiwo Hassan, said Nigerians had the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly.
He said, “We are never going to submit our rights. Yes, you know many people might be afraid of what will happen if they are shot or what happens if they are arrested. But increasingly as people are thinking of that, people are also realising that our condition in this country is one between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you come out to protest, yes, maybe there is a chance that you might be arrested or you might be killed.
“But people also realize that even when you stay at home and don’t come out to protest, it doesn’t mean your life will be safe. Hunger is killing people right there in their bedroom. People are committing suicide and the state of insecurity means that none of us is safe.”
Police assure Katsina protesters
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command has said it had implemented measures to ensure the planned nationwide protest does not descend into chaos.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, on Saturday, said the command had mobilised both human and intelligence resources to guarantee safety before, during, and after the protest.
Sadiq said, “We have taken proactive measures to ensure public safety and security. Adequate personnel have been deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order, with enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance, and patrols across the state.
“While we recognise the rights of citizens to protest, we urge protesters to exercise these rights responsibly and within the framework of the law.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company says the country can get up to three million barrels per day of crude if all the stakeholders in the oil sector work in synergy.
The country currently produces an average of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd), according to data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, spoke at an interactive session with reporters covering the national assembly in Abuja on Saturday.
Soneye said the country is now averaging 1.7 million bpd because of a recent directive President Bola Tinubu gave to security agencies.
“Three million barrels oil production per day is achievable in Nigeria if all the stakeholders work in synergy for that purpose from the security agencies both government and private owned, to oil companies and host communities,” he said.
“With the expected synergy from all the relevant stakeholders in the war against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, the enabling environment would be in place for optimal oil production to the volume of 2.5 to 3 million bpd.
“At a time, we felt that Nigeria was in trouble as far as oil theft was concerned, but with the intensity of the war against it (crude oil theft) has allayed our fears.”
Murtala Muhammad, NNPC’s deputy manager, command and control centre, said in six months, over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 illegal oil pipelines were found and destroyed
THE Federal Government has made clarifications on the recent increase in passport fees, saying it is not feasible for the government to subsidise the issuance of the travel document.
Many Nigerians had criticized the government for increasing the passport fees by about 45 per cent.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, speaking at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, said the fee adjustment was caused by the high exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.
Recall that in August, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) announced an upward review of the fees for Nigerian Standard Passports.
With the new payment structure, the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity was hiked from N35,000 to N50,000, while a 64-page passport booklet with a 10-year validity rose from N70,000 to N100,000.
Tunji-Ojo maintained that the Federal Government could not subsidise passport fees for Nigerians, stressing that the travel document is an individual thing and not the same as National Identity Card that is produced free for Nigerians.
While also noting that the government was not exploiting Nigerians but simply covering the cost of passport procurement, the Minister, however, explained that the price increase did not affect the fees for Nigerians living abroad.
He said: “The increase in passport fees is a matter of cost-benefit analysis, especially when considering the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.
“If the government were to subsidise anything, I don’t think it should be passports. The increase is just from N35,000 to N50,000 —only about 45%. There has been no increase for Nigerians abroad,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He added that Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, would soon enjoy more seamless passport acquisition processes.
“We are going to pre-launch these automated systems very soon. By October, they will be fully operational. In London, for instance, we have 16,000 Nigerians applying for passports, while the capacity of our systems at the Embassy is about 200.
“But now that we have this system in place, Nigerians will no longer need to undertake multiple journeys across the world to acquire a passport,” he stated.
He debunked claims on passport booklet scarcity while responding to a question, saying the NIS current has over 80,000 passports in stock.
He also noted that all passport backlogs had been cleared and that the Nigeria Immigration Service no longer owes its service providers for the printing and supply of passports.
David Umahi, minister of works, says the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project will be completed on May 29, 2025.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during an inter-ministerial press briefing as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the minister said after the project is completed, it will be tolled for five to 10 years to recover construction costs.
The construction of the highway began in March. The first phase of the project, made up of 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway, was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.
“We started the coastal highway, 700 kilometers that is traversing Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, ” Umahi said.
“People did not understand the merits of this project. People did not see this project as an investment. And so today, the first section is going to be completed by May 29 and we’re going to toll it, and we’re going to get back our money within five to 10 years.”
According to the minister, the federal government is planning to implement additional initiatives, including developing land along the corridor for tourism, factories, and housing, as part of efforts to further enhance returns on the project.
“We also acquired a number of land within the corridor, because we’ve seen that tolling of roads alone is not just going to give you return on investment immediately,” Umahi said.
“So, along these corridors, we are acquiring land where we use for tourism, where we use for factories, where we use for housing and so on and so forth.”
Umahi also said the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is designed to relieve the strain on Apapa Wharf.
“This has long faced challenges due to its shallow berths that limit cargo handling capacity. These constraints have necessitated the costly process of transloading, where goods are shifted between vessels, resulting in significant daily financial losses for Nigeria,” he said.
The minister further said the importance of the seven axle road under construction is to facilitate the seamless transportation of goods from the Dangote refinery, fertilizer plant, and other major industries within the Lekki free trade zone.
“This critical infrastructure will connect to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, ensuring smoother logistics and supply chains across key regions, including the North, south-west, south-south, and south-east,” the minister said.
Umahi added that the project is set to tap into the renewable energy potential along the coastal corridor, with plans to harness wind energy for future development.