Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has disclosed that over 60,000 children are among the more than 120,000 Boko Haram members who have surrendered.

In an interview with Arise News on Monday, Musa detailed ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in Nigeria. He noted that not all individuals associated with Boko Haram willingly joined the group, as many were coerced, conscripted, or enslaved.

“Not everyone involved is a terrorist. Some were forced, some enslaved,” Musa explained. “Of the 120,000 who surrendered, over 60,000 were children.”

Musa highlighted that after losing their territorial control, Boko Haram shifted to a grim recruitment strategy. The group focused on impregnating women to produce a new generation of fighters, further exacerbating the crisis.

“In the past, they captured communities and forced men to join, often under threat of execution,” he said. “Now, without territories, they resorted to impregnating women repeatedly to create new fighters. These children, raised in an environment normalising violence, would have been extremely dangerous.”

The CDS expressed relief that many of these children are now in custody, reducing the potential threat they posed. He stated that those found culpable of crimes are being investigated and prepared for trial, while women, children, and the elderly are undergoing rehabilitation and care.

Musa reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to ensuring peace through deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and prosecution. “Nigeria is safe and will continue to be safe,” he affirmed.

The national electricity grid will remain prone to collapse due to the government’s inability to repair a crucial transmission line in northern Nigeria owing to persistent insecurity.

This is according to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who spoke during the 2025 budget defense session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power.

Adelabu highlighted the impact of the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line, which has been out of service since a vandalism incident in October 2024. This failure has placed immense pressure on the grid, leading to frequent collapses.

“The Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line was one of the two major lines transmitting power to the north. The second, the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line, was also vandalized but has been repaired. The Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line, however, remains down due to insecurity,” he said on Monday.

“This is why our grid is so fragile, as it relies on a single line, causing unnecessary strain.”

The minister emphasized that while grid collapses are expected to continue, the government is focused on reducing their frequency and ensuring quick restoration times.

He underscored that the collaboration especially with the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu is critical to addressing vandalism, which remains one of the most significant challenges facing the power sector.

The minister equally announced a N2 trillion budget for the ministry and its agencies, out of which N229 billion belongs to the ministry.

He revealed a N700 billion fund allocated to the Power Metering Initiative (PMI), aimed at significantly reducing the metering gap by next month, to particularly enhance billing transparency and reduce fraud in the system.

“We recognize the issues with full or partial grid collapses, but our focus is on reducing the time it takes to restore power. We are actively collaborating with security agencies to achieve this,” Adelabu said.

The minister also disclosed plans to invest N36 billion in the distribution of transformers across the six geopolitical zones.

As part of efforts to address insecurity, Adelabu has proposed the installation of solar lights and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on highways across the country, aimed at monitoring the movements of vandals and other criminal elements, enhancing security and protecting critical infrastructure.

The proposal is included under a N200 billion sub-head in the 2025 budget.

Mudasiru Obasa’s reign as speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was brought to an abrupt end on Monday after he was unanimously impeached by members of the Assembly.WALE AKINSELURE, writes on the hubris, battles and intrigues that sealed Obasa’s fate

On Monday, Mudashiru Obasa was impeached as the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly over multiple allegations of fraud, with keen followers of Lagos politics insinuating his removal was a fallout of underground intrigues and battles.

His removal came days after he was alleged to have overseen the withdrawal of N43.5bn for backup vehicles for lawmakers, among other multiple statutory and financial infractions. He was reportedly in Atlanta, United States of America when the lawmakers convened and embarked on processes leading to his impeachment. Shortly after his removal, some of his loyalists who stormed the Assembly were seen in a Black Maria parked in front of the House of Assembly complex with the inscription, ‘Lagos State Task Force.’

In the significant political shakeup that followed his removal, the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected as the new speaker, while the Deputy Chief Whip, Fatai Mojeed, was elected as the new deputy speaker. Until his removal, Obasa had served as the House speaker from June 2015.

The member representing Epe Constituency 1, Abiodun Tobun, described the decision to change the House leadership as unanimous. While announcing the new leaders of the House, Tobun added that all standing committees and principal positions had been dissolved. He said, “It is only death that is constant, so change is inevitable. Members of the Parliament today have decided to change the leadership of the House. The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the power to regulate its proceedings.

“The members of the House felt we had had enough of the leadership of Mudashiru Obasa. We unanimously agreed that Mojisola Meranda would become the new speaker and Fatai Adebola would be the deputy speaker. It was a resolution concurred by all members of the parliament. As we speak, all principal positions and standing committees of the House have been dissolved.

“The House has resolved to work together to move the parliament to the next level. We cannot sit back and watch the parliament fall into ruin. We owe our constituencies and Lagos State the duty of restoring the sanity and integrity of this House. That is why we have taken this action—to save our image and our state.”

One politician, several battles

During his nine-year reign as speaker, Obasa fought many battles, including allegations of misappropriation of funds and the battle to hold on to the position, term after term. However, he seemed irremovable until Monday.

In 2020, Obasa was invited to be questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of diversion of Lagos funds to his personal firms and bank account. However, he denied all the allegations.

The most recent allegation he shoved aside as “spurious and laughable” was that the Assembly spent N17bn in constructing a gate. In his defence, Obasa said the allegations were politically motivated, pointing out specifically that “such baseless claims will arise as the 2027 elections approach.”

He said, “It is funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in a whole year for anyone to claim we spent N17bn on a gate? They even alleged that we spent N200m on the recently organised 22nd Thanksgiving Service, which is untrue.

“We are aware that as elections in 2027 approach, such baseless claims will arise. It seems some people are scared, and I don’t know why. This House has not embarked on any such project. We are not reckless. Our Thanksgiving Service was held last Friday, attended by dignitaries from across the state.”

The unfortunate speech

But political observers are of the view that Obasa’s cup got filled with his remarks when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on November 21, 2024, presented the state’s 2025 budget of N3,005,935,198,401. During the presentation, Obasa pivoted from the issue of the day into a long comment about his purported ambition to succeed Sanwo-Olu. He remarked, imperiously, that despite ongoing speculation, he had not seriously considered running for governor. He emphasised that his primary concern was strengthening the party in the state. Observers say Obasa’s remarks, which some Lagos powerbrokers reportedly deemed haughty, were the final straw. The former speaker declared that while he had not given the matter a serious thought, he did not lack the experience to contest the governorship election. He also added that none of the past occupiers of the office, once held by his godfather, was better than him.

“Becoming a governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off.

“In addition, it is also important to correct the impression from some naysayers who have been insinuating that I made payment to seek blood relations in Ojo to validate my candidacy to run as governor.

“Of course, I have never denied the fact that I am Obasa. Rather, I have never claimed to be related to Onikoyi, Oniru, or any of the other popular Lagos families as the case may be. I can indeed never run (away) from the fact that I am related to my Obasa family in Ojo. But I do not need local validity to contest or run any election. If eventually, I am contesting, I will do so from Agege,” Obasa said.

In a show of political strength, Obasa’s allies in the Assembly rallied around him and the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in the embattled speaker. However, that show of confidence only lasted six weeks. Politics and how the tide could change in minutes!

The day things fell apart

The PUNCH learnt that Obasa’s fate might have been sealed during President Tinubu’s visit to Lagos for the festive season. Sources in the know said that the first sign of trouble for the speaker appeared when observers noticed a change in the President’s disposition towards him. The ‘powerful’ Governor’s Advisory Council had visited the President at his Lagos home to report Obasa to Tinubu, who in addition to being the national of the ruling party also doubles as the godfather of Lagos politics. The Chairman of GAC, Tajudeen Olusi, was said to have opened the discussion reminding the President of how highly the governor’s office was held in the state when he was governor between 1999 and 2007. Olusi was then said to have told the President that the disrespect that Governor Sanwo-Olu had suffered at the hands of the Speaker was no longer acceptable. According to sources, Olusi went on to reel off instances when the speaker disrespected the governor, including one instance where some elders had to physically intervene and reprimand the Speaker.

The President, a source at the meeting said, was quite displeased with the feedback given by the GAC leadership and went on to tongue-lash him. Tinubu reportedly excoriated Obasa for not just disrespecting the governor and his office, but also for poorly co-managing the politics of the state.

Tinubu allegedly cited the case of a bill being put forward by the Assembly to enable them to sack the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission. A source at the meeting said the President scoffed at the idea, describing it as a huge joke, presided over by the speaker. The President, the source said, amused by the very idea, wondered aloud, “Which governor will sign such a bill into law, anyway?”

After the meeting was dismissed and everybody made to leave, the speaker was said to have run after the President into an inner room, in a bid to tell his side of the story and probably pacify a visibly angry Tinubu. Suspecting Obasa’s move, a couple of other GAC members allegedly joined in that second meeting, where the issues were further discussed and the Speaker was still condemned, by the majority.

‘He saw himself as an Emperor’

A chieftain of the APC, Fouad Oki, justified the impeachment of Obasa, saying the ex-speaker was beginning to see himself as an emperor. Reacting to Obasa’s removal on a Channels Television programme on Monday, Oki said the removal of the sixth-term APC lawmaker representing Agege Constituency I, was not unexpected for any discerning watcher of Lagos politics.

Oki said, “He saw himself as an emperor. It became very obvious that there was a need for a change in the leadership of the parliament in Lagos. If you cast your mind back, you must have seen this coming in the last 18 months.

“Recall the events on the day when the governor presented the 2025 appropriation bill and the leadership of the party was invited to the convention.

“Not only was the governor kept waiting for over four hours, but the leadership of the party and all invited dignitaries were also kept waiting with no apology given. And when he came into the chambers, courtesies, too, were not extended to anyone.

“Rather, it was a situation or an event of letting people know that “I am the emperor here.” One of the ways to check such an irresponsible attitude is by stopping his excesses,” he stated.

The grassroots politician stressed that the impeachment was done in Tinubu’s best interest to see that Lagos continued to remain pivotal in terms of his political leadership. He added, “Before the President came home, this issue had been lingering. In the wisdom of members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, the President’s attention was called. The President, as father and leader, called a meeting wherein he tried to make a sense out of the observations raised by elders of the party. Unfortunately, the President saw the (former) speaker as recalcitrant. I think that is what broke the camel’s back.”

The 2027 angle

In the aftermath of the impeachment, Obasa’s travails have been linked to the 2027 race. There is speculation that Obasa was poised to battle for the All Progressives Congress ticket with Seyi Tinubu, immediate past Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Senator Tokunbo Abiru; and other heavyweights. Moreover, Seyi has been receiving a series of endorsements from many groups though Obasa, who was the longest-serving speaker of Lagos insisted he was not too young or inexperienced to run. Ahead of the 2027 poll, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, an umbrella body of youth groups across the six geopolitical zones, endorsed Seyi for the Lagos governorship position in 2027. Those angling for Ambode’s return say they want him to complete 16 years for Christians before power could return to the Muslims in the state.

In an interview with TVC on Monday, a former speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said there was more to the impeachment beyond the trending speculations.

When asked whether it had to do with Obasa’s intention to run for governor, Ikuforiji said, “I don’t think I will agree with that because the present governor is in his second term. He can’t run for that office again. So, there is no reason why he will be annoyed that the Speaker wants to run for the office of the governor. That cannot be part of this thing.”

When asked about the influence of the GAC and other political interests, he said, “Yes there are bigger interests but I don’t think anybody in the Governor’s Advisory Council will be annoyed with a Speaker wanting to run for the office of the governor.

“I got into the House together with Obasa in 2003 and I left almost 10 years ago and he is still there. So, what next? It’s an acceptable ambition. Though you may ask yourself, the time is still so far, why getting the whole polity heated up over the issue of 2027? I don’t think it’s right.”

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu has distanced himself from the impeachment of Speaker Obasa. Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, in an interview with The PUNCH,described Obasa’s impeachment as a strict legislative affair devoid of politics or the state government’s influence or interference.

“It is purely a legislative matter and the Assembly handled it the best way they could. It has nothing to do with the governor,” Akosile simply said, citing the separation of powers in the constitution, involving the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary.

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has expressed profound joy on social media as her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, breaks cinema records in West Africa.

The film has grossed over ₦1.6 billion at the box office, making it the highest-grossing movie in West Africa to date.

The announcement was made by the movie distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, via their official Instagram handle.

Sharing the exciting news, they celebrated the overwhelming support from audiences across the region.

“A billy gang, we’re up! Everybody Loves Jenifa has grossed over ₦1.6 billion at the box office! We can’t thank you enough for showing this movie all your love” the post read.

Reacting to the achievement, Funke Akindele took to her Instagram page to thank her fans and express her heartfelt appreciation.

In an emotional post, she credited her success to divine intervention and the unwavering love of her supporters.

“Na God do am o!!!!

I am so grateful to you all!!!!

I no know Wetin I go write again!!!” the actress wrote.

See below;

In

Nigerian singer May D has claimed that he used to be on the same level as his colleagues Wizkid and Davido.
According to May D, he, Wizkid, and Davido were the three biggest artistes in Nigeria years ago.

He claimed that he was even bigger than the duo at one point.

The singer featured in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast.

He said: “Then it was Wizkid, David, and I. I was even like bigger. Wetin be ‘Holla at Your Boy’ compared to ‘Soundtrack?'”

Recall that May D has previously claimed that his Grammy-winning colleague, Wizkid, wouldn’t have been on his level if he hadn’t fallen out with his former record label, Square Records.

May D rose to fame after signing with Square Records in 2011. In August 2012, it was officially announced that May D was no longer on the label. The singer believes that his fallout with P-Square significantly affected his career.

The naira continued its decline against the dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Monday.

FMDQ data showed that the naira weakened to N1,548.89 against the dollar on Monday from N1,543.03 exchanged last week Friday.

This indicated that the naira fell by N5.86 compared to N1,543.03 traded at the close of last Friday.

Similarly, on the black market, the naira closed at N1,667 per dollar on Monday from N1,665.

However, the naira had been fairly stable between N1,545 and N1,660 per dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets, respectively.

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria unveiled the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account, NRNOA, and the Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account, NRNIA, to boost diaspora remittances.

Information, communication, and technology firms, including telecommunications companies in Nigeria, owed Deposit Money Banks N1.69tn as of September 2024 amid telcos’ calls for a hike in the tariff payable by subscribers for data and voice calls.

Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s quarterly statistical bulletin indicate that the indebtedness of the telcos and the other ICT firms represents a year-on-year decrease of N68.04bn, or 3.9 per cent, compared to the N1.77tn owed in September 2023.

The decline reflects the impact of the CBN’s repeated interest rate hikes, which has tightened monetary conditions and discouraged borrowing within the sector.

Month-on-month, however, there was a slight increase of N31.61bn, or 1.9 per cent, from the N1.66tn recorded in August 2024.

The year-on-year analysis shows that credit to the ICT sector experienced mixed trends throughout 2024.

In January, credit stood at N2.47tn, marking a significant increase of N1.23tn, or 99.3 per cent, compared to N1.24tn in January 2023.

However, by February, credit had declined to N2.35tn, though it still represented an 88.4 per cent increase year-on-year, with a difference of N1.10tn compared to February 2023.

By March, the pace of borrowing slowed further, with credit falling to N1.67tn. This represented a year-on-year increase of N385.24bn, or 30 per cent, compared to March 2023.

The trend continued into April, where credit remained relatively stable at N1.66tn, up N241.90bn, or 17 per cent, year-on-year.

In May, credit rose slightly to N1.68tn, reflecting an N308.38bn, or 22.4 per cent, an increase compared to the same period in 2023.

From June, year-on-year figures began to show a decline. Credit to the sector dropped to N1.64tn in June, representing a decrease of N81.59bn, or 4.7 per cent, compared to June 2023.

July saw a further decline to N1.69tn, down N48.93bn, or 2.8 per cent, from July 2023.

In August, the decline deepened, with credit falling to N1.67tn, a reduction of N107.37bn, or six per cent, compared to the N1.77tn recorded in August 2023.

By September, the year-on-year decrease of N68.04bn drew attention to the cautious borrowing stance adopted by firms in response to persistent economic uncertainties and high interest rates.

The decline in credit to the ICT sector throughout 2024 can be attributed to the CBN’s tight monetary policies, which have raised the cost of borrowing.

The apex bank has consistently hiked interest rates in a bid to curb inflation, with its monetary policy rate standing at a record high for most of the year.

CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, who assumed office in September 2023, has overseen six interest rate hikes in 2024.

In February, the Monetary Policy Rate increased by 400 basis points, moving from 18.75 per cent to 22.75 per cent, the largest single hike of the year.

This was followed by another increase in March to 24.75 per cent. In May, the rate was raised again to 26.25 per cent, and by July, it reached 26.75 per cent.

The tightening cycle continued with an increase to 27.25 per cent in September, and the most recent hike in November brought the rate to 27.50 per cent.

These cumulative increases, totalling 875 basis points, are part of efforts to combat inflation and stabilise the economy.

This has had a direct impact on the borrowing capacity of firms, particularly those in capital-intensive sectors such as ICT.

Also, macroeconomic challenges, including exchange rate volatility and rising operational costs, have further constrained borrowing activity.

Despite these challenges, the ICT sector remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product growth and employment.

Activities in the ICT sector contributed 16.35 per cent to Nigeria’s real GDP in Q3 2024, a decline from the 19.78 per cent it added in the previous quarter.

The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed this in the Q3 2024 GDP report.

The contribution was, however, higher than the 15.97 per cent contributed by the sector in the same period of last year.

According to the NBS, the ICT sector comprises the four activities of Telecommunications and Information Services: Publishing, Motion Picture, Sound Recording, and Music Production, as well as Broadcasting.

In the third quarter of 2024, the sector recorded a growth rate of 5.92 per cent in real terms, year-on-year.

This was driven largely by activities in the telecommunications sub-sector, which contributed 13.94 per cent to the GDP in the real term.

According to NBS, the telecom industry was the third-largest contributor to the real GDP in Q3 2024, coming behind only crop production and trade industries, contributing 26.51 per cent and 14.78 per cent, respectively.

The telecom industry, which is dominated by mobile network operators including MTN, Globacom, Airtel, 9mobile, and Internet Service Providers, is also driving a lot of activities in every other sector of the economy.

The closest sub-sector to telecoms in the ICT sector in terms of contribution was Broadcasting, which added 1.37 per cent.

The NBS data further revealed that the ICT sector contributed 11.30 per cent to the total Nominal GDP in the third quarter of 2024, lower than the rate of 11.57 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2023 and lower than the 14.19 per cent it contributed in the preceding quarter.

In nominal terms, in the third quarter of 2024, the sector growth was recorded at 14.51 per cent (year-on-year), a 25.75 percentage points decrease from the rate of 40.27 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2023 and 2.65 percentage points higher than the rate recorded in the preceding quarter.

Despite being a major contributor to the country’s GDP, the Nigerian telecommunications sector recorded an 87 per cent decline in foreign investments for the third quarter of 2024, marking a significant downtrend from the previous two quarters of the year.

The NBS data for capital importation showed that the sector attracted only $14.4m in capital importation in Q3, a sharp decline from the $113.42m investments recorded in Q2.

Year-on-year, the Q3 2024 capital importation for the telecom sector also represents a 77 per cent decline compared to the $64.05m recorded in the same period last year.

Despite the decline in the third quarter, the telecom sector has had better foreign investments this year than in previous years.

The NBS data showed that the sector attracted a $191.5m capital inflow in the first quarter of this year, marking a significant 769 per cent increase compared with $22.05m received in Q1 2023.

The investments recorded in the first quarter alone surpassed the total investments recorded by the sector in the full year 2023, which stood at $134.75m.

This came after years of consistent decline in investments, even with a gaping infrastructure gap requiring billions of investments to bridge.

In Q2 2024, FDIs in the sector stood at $113.4m. While this is lower than the inflow recorded in the preceding quarter, it represents a 339 per cent increase over the $25.81m capital inflow recorded in the same period last year.

Between January and September 2024, MTN Nigeria’s core capital expenditure dropped 27.79 per cent to N217.64bn, while Airtel’s capex fell 36.59 per cent to $149m.

This investment decline is tied to a N514.93bn loss between January and September 2024 for MTNN and a 46.9 per cent decline to $755m in Airtel Nigeria’s revenue in the period.

To adjust to these harsh economic realities, telcos renewed their push for tariff hikes this year.

According to the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, telecom operators have advocated for higher prices for the last 11 years.

The telcos stressed the need for cost-reflective tariffs in the face of adverse economic headwinds like high inflation of 34.6 per cent in November 2024 and losses resulting from foreign exchange fluctuations.

However, telecommunications companies in Nigeria were mandated to increase their investments in network infrastructure following the approval of a tariff hike after 11 years of lobbying.

This follows an assertion by Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, that tariff hikes will happen in the interests of the industry’s sustainability. “Tariff will go up,” he said.

The condition of this increase has been tied to a commitment by telcos to increase investments in the sector.

New Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has expressed his desire to lead Nigeria to the ‘pinnacle of world football’ starting with the ticket to the 2026 World Cup as he takes the reign of the three-time African champions, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Chelle was unveiled on Monday at a brief ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Federation, one week after his announcement as the 37th coach of the Super Eagles.

He was handed a two-year deal with an option to extend if he gets the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket.

Since his appointment last week, the NFF has constantly hammered the coach’s task of leading Nigeria to the tournament which will be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico despite the precarious situation of the Eagles in the qualifying series.

After four rounds of matches in the series, Nigeria are fifth in Group C with just three points having only drawn three and lost one.

To avert the danger of missing out on a consecutive FIFA World Cup, the Eagles must win all their six remaining matches in the group or even hope for favourable results in other ties – a task Chelle fronted at his unveiling.

Asked if he would take responsibility at the end of the qualifying campaign, the ex-Mali coach said, “If you want to be a great coach, you need to take some risks, you need to make some sacrifices.

“I want to be in the history. The first thing, I need to talk to the players. I will be a big brother. It is my prayer that we are going to the World Cup.

“I want to thank my agent, the NFF, the NSC and indeed all Nigerians for this big opportunity. Coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is an amazing job; I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best.”

For most of the reactions that have trailed his appointment, the rallying point was his enterprising and attacking style with the Mali national team at the AFCON, which he emphasised he would be bringing to Nigeria.

“Football is about scoring goals, so I favour an attacking style. I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

The 47-year-old also relished his long-time dream of getting the Super Eagles job, having been a fan of the Nigerian national team in his boyhood.

“Nigeria’s team is more than a team. When I was young, this was my favourite team. I owned a shirt; I watched all the games at the World Cup in France. I was in Marseille and it was my team.

“From this very moment, I am already hard at work. My goal is clear: to restore the Super Eagles to the pinnacle of world football, where they truly belong. This will require hard work, discipline, and a strategy that is both ambitious and realistic. I will rely on the exceptional talent of our players, whether they play at home or abroad, and build a team that reflects the unity, strength, and excellence of Nigeria,” the coach added in a social media post.

Chelle, who took Mali’s Aiglons within breathing distance of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, left his job at top Algerian side MC Oran – 1989 African Champions’ Cup finalists – to team up with the Super Eagles.

The loading cost of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and other refined petroleum products at the depots increased on Monday.

The PUNCH gathered that marketers raised petrol and diesel prices at depots by N43 or 4.74 per cent due to the rising crude oil prices.

Recall that the cost of Brent, the global benchmark for crude, reached $79.76 per barrel on Sunday.

This current situation indicates that filling stations nationwide may adjust their pump prices to reflect the higher costs of refined products.

Data obtained by our correspondent while analysing petrol price movements at loading depots on Monday showed that Swift depot increased its loading price to N950 per litre from N907 last Friday.

Wosbab Depot increased its price to N950 from N909, while Sahara Depot made a similar change to N950 from the N910 it sold a litre of petrol last Friday.

Also, a private depot, Shellplux, increased its loading costs to N960 from N908. Chipet Depot asked retailers to pay N960 per litre to receive products. It sold at N908 per litre last week Friday.

Nipco Depot increased its price by N38 from N912 to N950 while the Matrix Warri Depot increased its cost from N925 per litre to N945.

Our correspondent also gathered that marketers who picked products from the Dangote refinery and resell to other retailers increased their costs to N923 per litre despite picking products from the refinery at N899 per litre.

For diesel, some loading depot prices including Stockgap depot increased its price from N1,080 to N1,150. Ibeto Depot approved an increase from N1,050 to N1,150 per litre. Sahara Depot sold its product at N1,150 from N1,045 last week.

Nipco Depot increased its price to N1,150 from N1,120 while Optima Depot approved a N72 increase to N1,120 per litre from N1,048.

The average increase in depot prices for PMS stands at approximately 7-10 per cent while AGO prices have surged by 5-10 per cent, depending on the depot and location.

Reacting in an earlier interview, an oil and gas expert, Olatide Jeremiah, said depots are poised to increase the loading price of refined petroleum products.

Jeremiah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of petroleumprice.ng, said, “It implies that there is a possibility of increased fuel prices, particularly diesel prices.

“As of Friday, when Brent crude neared $80, prices selectively increased in some depots in Lagos, and on Monday, prices might be jacked up by importers because a large chunk of oil marketers import petroleum products and Brent crude is a major determining factor in the refining process.”

Another marketer, Bayo Adelaja said, “Depot rates have escalated sharply, and this is directly affecting pump prices. Consumers should expect further fluctuations in the coming weeks,” he noted.

With depot rates showing no signs of stabilising, the coming weeks may bring further adjustments, emphasising the need for long-term strategies to mitigate the impact on consumers and the economy.

The Kano State command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five officials from the Katsina Internal Revenue Service in connection with an alleged fraud amounting to ₦1.3 billion.

The individuals, identified as Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, were taken into custody last Saturday, January 11.

The spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency, Dele Oyewale, confirmed their arrest in Abuja on Monday, specifying that the total amount allegedly misappropriated by the suspects is ₦1,294,337,676.53.

According to Oyewale, the arrests were made following a petition from the Katsina state government, which accused the officials of colluding to misappropriate the funds.

He noted that this amount was intended for the state government, having been sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

He explained, “Preliminary investigation by the commission showed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections of the Board and current Permanent Secretary of the Board authorized the opening of a bank account in the name of ‘BOIRS’ at Sterling Bank where he allegedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Director of Revenue Account and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as sole signatories to the account.

“Subsequently, the account became the primary channel through which all the funds were allegedly funneled to the main beneficiary NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned and controlled by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare of the Board.

“Investigation further revealed that Nura Lawal and his company ”NADIKKO” became the principal conduits used to launder the stolen funds. These laundered funds were traced to the various bank accounts of the suspects.”

The EFCC spokesman said the suspects had been detained at the Kano Zonal Command of the commission, adding that they would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.