Ihyi Abdul, the most recently released victim of the April 2014 abduction in Chibok, Borno State, says she was married to eight men while in Boko Haram captivity.

Daily Trust had reported how the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, handed over the rescued Chibok girl and 332 other individuals to the Borno State government for rehabilitation.

The 332 individuals, including 110 women and 220 children, were rescued from the Bama-Pulka axis during a clearance operation in Sambisa Forest.

At a presentation at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj-Gen. Waheed Shuaibu, said 27-year-old Ehi Abdul, who is three months pregnant, was rescued on June 23, 2024, along with her two children in Sambisa Forest.

Briefing journalists at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai Theater Command, at Maimalari barracks Maiduguri, she said, “I trekked for days before getting to a military checkpoint in Nigeria where they took me and my children in.

“I married eight men and gave birth to three children for different husbands. I did not escape all the while because I did not want to escape earlier until now.

“We the Chibok girls are not kept in the same camp, and I don’t know why they are still in captivity but those of us have chosen to remain in Sambisa, while others have not had the chance to escape.

“As for education, I cannot say anything for now but am not sure I can continue with education.”

President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon has invited Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, to invest in his country.

According to Dangote Industries Limited, the billionaire was asked to explore investment opportunities in Cement and Fertiliser (Urea and Phosphate).

“President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon has invited the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote to invest in Cement and Fertiliser production in Gabon,” Dangote Group said in a statement.

“The President urged Dangote to explore potential investment opportunities in the country’s cement and fertilizer sectors, specifically urea and phosphate production.

According to the statement, Dangote conversed with Nguema and other top government officials during the visit.

“The talks focused on how Dangote Industries could contribute to Gabon’s economic growth by establishing cement and fertilizer plants, which are vital for the country’s infrastructure development and agricultural productivity,” Dangote Group said.

“President Nguema expressed enthusiasm about the potential partnership, highlighting Gabon’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for foreign investments.

“He noted that the collaboration with Dangote Industries would bring significant benefits, including job creation, technology transfer, and enhanced industrial capacity.”

The invitation from Gabon, an oil-rich nation, comes amid the rift between Dangote, oil marketers and top government officials.

Dangote had earlier disclosed how a cabal was blocking his moves to import crude, saying that had slowed down operations at his petroleum refinery.

But the situation took a worse turn when the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) claimed that the Nigerian government was yet to license the Dangote Refinery to begin operations.

Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NMDPRA, said this while speaking with State House correspondents, on Thursday.

According to Ahmed, the claims of ongoing efforts to scuttle the operations of Dangote refinery due to lack of supply of crude oil by International Oil Companies were not true, adding that the refinery was still at the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet.

He said, “There are lots of concerns about the supply of petroleum products nationwide and the claims by some media houses that we were trying to scuttle Dangote refinery; that is not so.

“Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet. We have not licensed them yet.

“I think they are at about 45 percent completion. So we can not rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop all importation of petroleum products, especially automotive gas oil (AGO) or jet kero and direct all marketers to the refinery.”

Ahmed maintained that the request would promote monopoly in the market and was not good for the nation in terms of energy security.

“So, in terms of quality, currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulfur in the lowest as far as a West African requirement of 50 ppm.

“Dangote Refinery, as well as some major refineries, like Walter Smith’s refinery, other refineries, they produce 650 to 1,200 ppm. So, in terms of quality, their quality is much, much inferior to the imported commodities,” he added.

But Dangote kicked back, saying his products were of international standard, emphasising that tests had been done to that effect.

He also wondered why he was under attack, saying a friend who counselled him against pumping billions of dollars into the Nigerian economy taunted him over the turn of events.

“Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began to invest his money abroad. I disagreed with him and urged him to rethink his action in the interest of his country. He blamed his action on policy inconsistencies and shenanigans of interest groups. That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right,” the businessman said in an interview.

On Monday, Heneiken Lokpobiri, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum, invited Dangote and top officials in the oil sector to a meeting, with a view to resolve the crisis in the oil sector.

The United Nations (UN) department of safety and security has warned that the planned protests in Nigeria may be hijacked by groups with ulterior motives.

Recent reports indicate that various Nigerian groups are planning a nationwide protest from August 1 to 10, dubbed “10 days of rage,” to address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship.

In a threat and risk assessment finding dated July 19, the UN expressed concerns about the possibility of violence, citing past instances where similar protests in Nigeria escalated.

“Recall that in the 13–16 February 2023 interval, tensions generated by the paucity of new Naira currency (financial crisis) reached high levels amongst the civilian population, which materialized in violent protests in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria, in the states of Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers,” the threat and risk assessment reads.

“During the civil unrest in the different states, several bank branches and ATM points were vandalized, and major roads were blocked.

“As the turnout for the ’10 days of rage’ protest is expected to be high, large-scale disruptions to normal economic and social activities cannot be discounted.”

The threat assessment also showed that confrontations between groups supporting the government and those disagreeing with its policies cannot be ruled out from the end of July towards August 10-15.

“While acknowledging the economic hardship in the country, some organizations and leaders of ethnic groups (especially in South-South and South-East) were discouraging participation in any of the 1-10 August protests (E.g. Ọhanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organization in Nigeria, claiming to represent the interests of all Igbos),” the UN said.

“This highlights the possibility of the events being hijacked by other interest groups/detractors, thus complicating the security landscape of different areas.”

Those calling for the protests are asking for a reverse of some policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu believed to have engendered hardship in the country.

Some of the demands include the reinstatement of petrol and tertiary education subsidies, restoring affordable electricity tariffs, and reducing import duties to previous values established before the economic crisis.

Others are declaring a state of emergency on inflation, more transparency in public administration, publicly disclosing and reducing the salaries and allowances of political office holders, and reforms to the judicial system.

In a statement addressed to Tinubu, Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said it would be hard to prevent Nigerians from expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s policies.

BY MAYOWA TIJANI


In 2019, I was covering the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend, where Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, sat with British-Sudanese billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, to discuss everything from investing to passports, to even Dangote’s status as Nigeria’s most eligible bachelor.

At this event, Dangote complained about needing 38 visas to travel across Africa. By 2024, while speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, the Nigerian billionaire said he now needs 35 visas to travel the continent. In five years, Africa’s richest man could only reduce his needed visas by 3. This is the best picture of how slow progress is on the continent.

Despite this knowledge, Dangote has continued to build in the continent. His admirers say it’s because he believes in the continent, but his detractors say it is because he gets undue incentives in Africa and knows how to crush the competition in Nigeria. The events of the last few days have widened that division. Some believe the challenges Dangote and his most prized asset are facing is punishment for offending someone or some people high up in government, while others say he is now facing what the average Nigerian eats for breakfast in the hands of the Nigerian state.

Whatever the case, we know it’s Dangote’s biggest fight on the record.


ENTER TINUBU’S SILENCE

If you have watched President Bola Tinubu closely since he took office, he has made it a duty to make sure any war he fights is a proxy war. You will never find him on the battleground. Nyesom Wike Vs. Sim Fubara, the two-fighting of Rivers state, appeared before the president but the fight continued. Tinubu has never taken a side on the matter.

Muhammadu Sanusi II Vs. Aminu Ado Bayero, the “two emirs” of Kano, have had their cronies go from one court to the other with the hope that the federal might step in and pick a side, but the battle has continued for two months with no end in sight. Minister of Women Affairs Vs. Niger State Assembly on the planned marriage of 100 orphans, Mr President did not intervene.

The most recent is Ali Ndume, recently removed chief whip of the senate Vs Umar Ganduje, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr President did not say a word. Tinubu has lived in the shadows while his boys pull the trigger to the shots he may be calling. This is the Tinubu style. In Burna Boy’s words “Them they call me the Godfather, Move like an Italian“.

I could go on and on with critical issues that previous presidents would have stepped into, but the president has stayed away from — at least in public.

This is the same deck of cards dealt to Aliko Dangote, who has been the man in the news for the last two weeks. Dangote Refinery Vs. Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is in full swing. And while the minister of petroleum resources has called for a truce on Monday night, my history lessons on Nigeria tell me we have not seen or heard the last of this matter.


WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

When politicians play politics, I always ask myself: Are the Nigerian people gaining or losing? The answer to this decides where I stay on every issue. Sadly, this time, we are losing. We are losing big.

For almost 10 years, we have watched every government say “when Dangote refinery comes on stream, Nigeria will stop spending scarce FX on importing petrol”. We have seen friends of Dangote, members of the APC, and agencies of the federal government campaign with Dangote Refinery.

We all watched former President Muhammadu Buhari shut down roads in Lagos to “commission” the Dangote Refinery before his exit from office, only for Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who was also at that commissioning, to say the refinery is 45% ready with its product inferior.

The message is loud and clear to every intending investor in Nigeria; if the Nigerian state could maltreat its biggest entrepreneur this way, then your business stands no chance.

My second problem is the “I told you so” challenge. With this open battle between the many hands of octopus NNPCL and Dangote, the failure of the refinery will be a good chance for NNPCL to gloat, while the triumph of that massive investment will be Dangote’s last laugh. If a good win-win is not sought, both parties could sabotage themselves into heavy losses for Nigeria.

Sadly, when it is a fight between the federal government and anyone else, we know who wins. Dangote sourced lots of forex from Nigerian banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele. And doing forex business with Emefiele is perceived as a cardinal sin to Tinubu. It would not be hard to punish.

All of this is just the politics of building something big in Nigeria. As long as politics trumps economics, this opera has a lot more episodes to offer. Hopefully, I can tease out the economic part of it at a later date.

Till then, let this be a reminder to us all that in Nigeria, when great care is not taken the man whose head is used to break coconut does not live to partake in the eating.

A priest in the Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Linus Okwu, has reportedly flogged women, girls and other choir members of his church for allegedly failing to clear grasses within the church premises.

Okwu, who is the parish priest of St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, allegedly whipped the parishioners, comprising mothers, young men, ladies and teenagers.

Trouble was said to have started when the angry priest, armed with canes, interrupted a choir practice in his parish and demanded an explanation on why the church field was yet to be cleared.

Not satisfied with the responses he got, he ordered the choir members to kneel and started flogging them mercilessly.

One of the victims who pleaded anonymity said she went home with bruises.

She further stated that the shock would continue to live with her for a lifetime.

The source said: “The Priest, who was visibly furious while addressing the choir members told us that since we hardly comply with the teaching and instruction of the church, that he would apply the stick approach to ensure compliance.

“I was sitting on a row of seats where teenage members of our choir were, so, when he started flogging, I withdrew to the back seat with the hope that he wouldn’t flog adults and mothers amongst us, but to my surprise, he flogged everybody, including myself.

“When I tried to put up resistance, he told me that if my father flogs me at home when I wrong him, he also reserves the right to whip members of his congregation as the father of the church if they falter. I was badly bruised when he finished with me.”

Our correspondent attempted to contact the director of communication of the Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke, but he was not available.

By Abdulqudus Ogundapo


Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has recounted how former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu ordered him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) some years ago.

Mr Ndume, a member of the APC, disclosed this in a viral video posted by Channels Television on Friday.

He was removed as Senate Chief Whip on Wednesday following a letter from Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC national chairman and Basiru Ajibola, the party’s national secretary.

In the letter, the APC leaders referenced an interview Mr Ndume granted in which he criticised the Bola Tinubu administration and subsequently recommended that the Senate should relieve him of his position.

The APC leaders also advised Mr Ndume to quit the party and join the opposition.

Responding to the advice, Mr Ndume said he is a founding member of the ruling party and had been a member before Mr Ganduje joined.

He explained that he and 21 other senators allied to establish the APC.

The senator, a member of the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Messrs Buhari and Tinubu ordered him to sign a document inside the Imo State Lodge that he would be a member of the APC.

“I am a founding member of APC. In fact, I can say I was in APC before the national chairman because I am a member of the PDP that formed the APC, and I did not do just like that; it is in consultation with my people that I joined APC.

“We were the 22 senators that joined to form the APC. We were called nPDP then and if you check history and look at the list of the senators, my name is number 21 out of 22. That was because I initially did not want to join APC because of some people that are in the coalition, but I was ordered by Buhari and current president Tinubu to sign to join the APC in the Imo government lodge.

“And it was Rochas Okorocha who was hosting us that was sent to summon me to Imo government lodge where Buhari came with the list and asked me to sign. Tinubu was sitting there; I was sitting there; only the three of us were called aside to sign,” he explained.

Mr Ndume, however, said he would consult with his people about quitting the party before taking the final decision.

“So I am not a new member. I did not join the APC just like that; it was in consultations with my people that I joined APC. I take his advice and I will get across to my people. I am here in Maiduguri as you know, because I am bereaved, and I did not issue an immediate statement because I did not want to show or overreact to what has happened” he said.


I was begged to accept chief whip position

In the video, Mr Ndume also said some people begged him to accept the position of the Senate Chief Whip because he successfully led the campaign that brought Godswill Akpabio as the senate president.

He added that he was also allowed to choose whichever committee he preferred to be vice chairman of, and he chose the appropriation committee.

“Still, the appropriation committee was given to me not because I was desperate about it; no, it was because I was begged to accept the position of Chief Whip, knowing fully that I led the campaign for the emergence of Akpabio as the senate president and I was begged to choose whichever committee I want to be the vice chairman and I choose appropriation in order to stand for my people and make sure that there is justice in whatever they do. It is not like I am desperate that I have been removed,” he explained.

Mr Ndume, who was once the minority leader of the House of Representatives as a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), also noted that he accepted the decision of the Senate in good faith.

“The party that recommended to the Senate that I should be removed from being the chief whip of the Senate, I take that as an act of God because it is God that gave me that position. It is God that took it through APC, so I bear no grudges about that.

“After all, I did not contest to be the Chief Whip. I did not contest to be the vice chairman of the appropriations committee. I contested to be one of the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Alhamdulillah, God granted me that victory and I am happy to get what God has given to me,” he said.

Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says some tertiary institutions in Nigeria were found to have illegally admitted candidates as young as 10 and 12.

The ministry of education earlier pegged the minimum age for university, polytechnic, and college of education admissions at 18.

Oloyede, during JAMB’s policy meeting in Abuja, spoke on why it became necessary to adopt a minimum age for admissions.

He said some universities had admitted candidates as young as 12 and 10 outside JAMB’s central admission processing system (CAPS).

Oloyede cited the case of a Nigerian institution he did not name and a postgraduate applicant who was looking to study in Germany.

He said the student, documented to have enrolled in the university at 12 to graduate at 15, was discovered after they attempted to pursue a postgraduate degree in Germany.

Oloyede said the European Union, whose scholarship grant the student attempted to apply for, had contacted the board to verify the student’s credentials.

“The candidate applied for a postgraduate scholarship under Erasmus Mundus. The body found it strange that the candidate’s date of birth was 2007,” he said.

“By her passport, she started studying at a university in Nigeria when she was 12 and graduated at 15. The selection committee contacted Nigeria to confirm whether the candidate studied at a university.

“The EU asked if it was possible to graduate candidates at such a young age.”

Oloyede said such cases could negatively affect the perception of the larger pool of degrees awarded by Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“In the next two to three years, the EU could tighten its requirements and all graduates of Nigerian universities would suffer it,” he said.

“We found that [JAMB] never admitted the candidate because she was underage. The university admitted and registered the candidate. I couldn’t respond to the EU because I was embarrassed. I didn’t know what to write.

“Ignorantly, the vice-chancellor confirmed that the student attended the school but that they weren’t the VC at that time.”

TheCable cannot independently verify the identity of both the student and the institution cited in Oloyede’s anecdote.

A child who begins basic school at 6 and undergoes 12 years of education is expected to be around 18 when they get into university.

At the policy meeting, Oloyede said JAMB was alarmed at the participation of a large number of underage candidates in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“The enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system,” he added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, told the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that the Senate chamber was not a night club, therefore, she must be recognised before speaking during plenary.

The Senators were debating a bill for an Act to establish National Road Transport Council, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC Kwara South).

The bill titled, ‘National Road Transportation Council (Establishment) Bill, 2024’, was aimed at “regulating the road transport industry and the transport profession and other related matters in Nigeria.”

While many senators supported the bill, others including Senators Victor Umeh and Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), kicked against it.

Opponents of the bill argued that creating the Council would be a duplication of the functions of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO).

They argued that the bill shouldn’t be passed at a time the government was trying to implement the Oronsanye report by merging some of the agencies with similar functions.

When Akpabio subjected the bill to voice vote to determine its acceptance or rejection, many senators said ‘aye’ and many others said ‘nay.’ This happened twice.

Senator Natasha who earlier contributed and suggested that the issue of water transportation should also be looked into, to relieve the roads of serious burden stood up again without Akpabio’s permission.

The female Senator said, “Mr President, we don’t want the bill to be killed, we just want a bit of clarification. We don’t want the bill killed, but it should be slightly modified.”

But responding, Akpabio said, “Distinguished Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognised before you speak. We are not in a night club.” Senator Natasha responded saying, “Oh, pardon me.”

After that, the debate continued and the bill was eventually rejected by senators.

BY BUNMI ADULOJU


The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) is experiencing sabotage and acts of vandalism, hampering efforts to commence production, TheCable understands.

Speaking to TheCable on Wednesday, sources in the know said there have been organised acts of vandalism at the plant.

Vandals were said to be caught cutting cables and stealing equipment from the refinery.

According to an insider, presently, there is also an ongoing blockade at the entrance of the refinery preventing work from commencing.

“Hundreds of people are currently gathered at the PHRC entrance, preventing workers from doing their jobs and vowing that the refinery restart will not proceed,” the source said.

On December 21, 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced the completion of the mechanical rehabilitation on a section of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, had said the refinery would begin production by the end of March, but this has not happened.

TheCable had reported on July 9 that the presidency expressed concerns over the NNPC’s failure to deliver critical projects including the Port Harcourt refinery.

But Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said such projects often take time, adding that the refinery is at its final rehabilitation stage.

On July 15, the national oil company said the Port Harcourt refinery would begin operations in early August.

Kano State Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata lost three family members to a fire outbreak on Wednesday.

Kofar-Mata, who narrowly escaped the disaster, lost his daughter, Maimuna, his elder sister Khadija, and a close relative Juwairiyya, a family source told The Guardian.

The commissioner’s residence in the Kofar-Mata metropolis in Kano was gutted by fire early Wednesday while the family was asleep.

Our correspondent gathered that several valuables were destroyed.

The spokesperson of the state fire service, Abdullahi Saminu, said the level of damage and cause of the inferno could not be ascertained immediately.

Meanwhile, Kofar-Mata expressed grief over the loss of three of his immediate family members.

“Unto Allah we came and to him we shall return. I mourn the loss of my daughter Maimuna (Islam), my senior sister Hajiya Khadija, and my brother’s wife, Juwairiyya, who were all perished in the fire accident this morning,” he said.

“Their funeral prayers will be conducted at 11 am at Kofar-Mata quarters, Kano City today.”

THE Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume sustained criticism of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu style of governance may have courted the anger of certain forces in the Presidency who have vowed to make him pay for his “sins”.

Nigerian tribune gathered that peeved by the lawmaker’s recent comment that President Tinubu had been caged by a new cabal in the Villa, the forces during the weekend, in a coordinated plot reportedly reached out to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to ensure that Senator Ndume was reprimanded over his perceived antagonism of President Tinubu’s administration, which they described as embarrassing to the President and the ruling party.

The senator representing Borno South had, last week, claimed that President Tinubu had been hijacked by forces in the Presidential Villa whom he alleged do not allow people outside their fold, including ministers have access to the President.

The federal lawmaker further claimed that the President does not have the true picture of the economic challenges facing Nigerians occasioned by his policies.

He said: ”The President should wake up, it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats. He should open his doors and meet those who will tell him the truth. Unfortunately, the people who will tell him the truth won’t struggle to meet him. I am very worried not only for the President himself but myself.”

Investigation revealed that the APC National Working Committee at the weekend upbraided the Senate Chief Whip, accusing him of making outlandish allegation against the present administration.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, issued, on Saturday, dismissed Ndume’s allegation that Tinubu has been caged in the Villa and further described the lawmaker as an attention seeker.

A party source, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that a former lawmaker and now presidential aide, who was said to have instigated the party to issue the statement to condemn Senator Ndume, is also putting pressure on the president of the Senate to take certain reprisal action against Ndume in order to jolt him to withdraw what the Villa forces described as his needless antagonism of the President.

Akpabio in dilemma

Multiple sources revealed that Akpabio has been told to announce a re-jig of existing Committees of the Senate to remove the Senate Chief Whip from the Committee on Appropriation, where he is the current deputy chairman. Ndume may also lose his exalted position as Senate Chief Whip.

According to the sources privy to the plot, “Akpabio is, however, in a dilemma. Ndume was the Director General of the Stability Group, the campaign team that ensured his emergence as Senate President. Moving against Ndume could polarise the rank of his loyal team.

“Few months after Senator Ningi suspension and recall, it could also send a wrong signal to the Northern Caucus that they have been marked for annihilation by the Tinubu presidency, using its foot soldiers in the National Assembly,” a source said.

The sources revealed that some senators from the South-West whom their colleagues often referred to as Tinubu boys in the Red Chamber, have been railroaded into the orchestrated plot against Ndume..

Said a source: “These same set of lawmakers, who ensured that the senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi was suspended despite pleas from their colleagues are putting Akpabio under pressure to submit to the demand to checkmate Ndume.”

Ndume could however not be reached for comment. He neither picked his calls nor responded to text messages sent by the Nigerian Tribune reporter.

Meanwhile, a group, under the aegis of Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has thrown its weight behind Ndume.

A statement by its national coordinator, Mallam Abdulkadir Kura, which maintained that the Forum has no relationship with Ndume, declared that the group was impressed by what it called the patriotic stance of the Senate Chief Whip on pressing national issues.

He said the nation economy was in a precarious situation and well meaning Nigerians must not be afraid to say the truth in the face of the excruciating pains thrown up by the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

He said: “We members of CNF deem it necessary to address some of the issues that surrounded the interview Senator Ndume had with Arise TV last Thursday. In that interview, Ndume came clear without recourse to political affiliation and said nothing but the truth.

“Although, this was not the first time the Chief Whip criticised or challenged policies of the federal government, as he has done so consistently during the past administration of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, such criticisms by Ndume have led to positive changes by the listening governments at that time.

“Presently, it is true that millions of Nigerians cannot even have two square meals a day due to exorbitant rises in the prices of foods items such as common Gari, Maize, tomatoes etc, and most importantly, people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed due to insecurity, such as kidnapping, Banditry, terrorism among other criminalities in the land.

“We however found it unfortunate and condemnable that some people, particularly those who have been milking from the national cake under the present administration join forces in attacking Ndume’s truthful and realistic statement on the current situation in the land.

“It is on record that Ndume is a critical stakeholder of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a close ally of President Tinubu. Therefore, if he can take such a bold step in saying the truth about the economic and social reality on the ground, then the Southern Borno senator needs to be celebrated by all and sundry, just like the NCF strongly backed him in all ramifications.

Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned Thursday meeting with leaders of organized labor, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a one-month shutdown if the minimum wage is expunged from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution by Nigerian lawmakers.

NLC President Joe Ajaero gave the warning on Monday while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the 2024 annual Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Ajaero issued this warning against National Assembly members’ proposed decision to remove wages from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution.

He added that if National Assembly members proceed with the move to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive list—a law that would allow each state governor to determine the minimum wage—he would mobilize labor and shut down Nigeria’s economy for a month.

Although the National Assembly’s decision is yet to be made public, Ajaero said, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that the state governors can determine what to pay you and so that there will be no minimum wage again.

“When they finish that meeting, they will collect minimum wage, I promise all of you that. The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month.

“Comrades, I am putting you on standby. If that committee comes up with such a policy, for one month nobody should come out. They are the major threat to democracy in this country. Democracy is not all about starving and punishing people. That’s not the democracy we fought for.

“They were not there when we fought for this democracy, and now they are trying to make laws to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list. So, comrades, as I have talked to you here, I have talked to everybody. We are waiting for them to come up with such hypocritical laws. And from today, let them abolish the security vote,” he said.

The development comes as the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu will meet with organized labor leaders on Thursday to finalize a decision on the country’s minimum wage.

This follows last Thursday’s decision on a harmonized minimum wage, which ended in a deadlock.

Recall that the government had proposed a 62,000 naira minimum wage, while organized labor insisted on 250,000 naira.

The National Minimum Wage Tripartite had earlier submitted the minimum wage proposal to the President.

While the minimum wage impasse persists, Nigerians have continued to groan over hardship occasioned by the rising headline and food inflation, which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively, in June 2024.

Labour Party, LP, has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC of colluding with the Federal Government to demarket its presumptive 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and undermine the opposition.

The party’s Directorate on Mobilization and Integration made the accusation in a statement signed yesterday by the Director General, Mr. Marcel Ngogbehei, who was reacting to a statement by the NLC National Transition Committee, NTC.

The Labour Party also refuted the NLC NTC’s claim that Julius Abure was no longer the party’s national chairman, stating that Abure remained the authentic chairman recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the party’s highest decision-making organ.

The party called on the NLC NTC to respect the reconciliation move initiated by Peter Obi or seek legal redress if they had any case.

The statement read: “We are calling on the NLC Transition Committee to stop demarketing our party and our 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

”We maintain that Barrister Julius Abure remains the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and our party’s highest decision-making organ.

“We urge the NLC NTC to be responsible enough to respect the reconciliation move initiated by His Excellency Peter Obi or seek legal redress if they have any case. Instead, the NLC NTC has become a destructive agent seemingly working for the government to eliminate any perceived opposition structures in the country.

“The citizens are groaning under government policies that have left Nigerian workers poorer. Rather than learning from the Oshiomole years of courageous leadership and engaging the government to protect the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC NTC is busy meddling in political party affairs, attempting to demarket the only true opposition party in the country.

“To discerning minds, the NLC NTC is making itself a meddlesome interloper, with no place in law. If they have a case, it’s more responsible to approach the courts than carrying out destructive actions that benefit the current government.”

Following the mechanical completion of the Old Port Harcourt Refinery in December, last year, a total of one million barrels of crude oil has been supplied to the plant by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd as refining of petroleum products from the facility is set to commence.

Daily Trust gathered that the NNPCL is pushing for a phased commencement following the increase pressure for the plant to start production before the end of the year.

Our reporter gathered that the NNPCL is looking at August as possible date of the partial commencement of full refining activities.

The one million barrels of crude oil were supplied to the refinery in two tranches with the latest coming in last Wednesday.

About 170 litres of refined petroleum products can be obtained from a barrel of crude oil. This implies that the one million barrels supplied by the NNPC to the Port Harcourt refinery can provide an estimated 170 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol and other refined products.

The license for the refinery had been issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The PHRC rehabilitation project, which costs about $1.5bn, is a national project that covers Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and commissioning phases.

Imo plans LG poll for Sept 21

Meanwhile, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) announced September 21 for the conduct of local government election in the 27 local government areas of the state.

ISIEC chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu equally announced the recruitment of ad-hoc staff as part of their preparation for the election in the state.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has pegged its Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms at #150,000 and #50,000 for Chairmanship and Councillorship Positions respectively.

This was disclosed by the state chairman of the party, Ambassador Dr. Eluwa Ifeanyi Henry, in Owerri while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune.

Also, the ruling All Progressives( Congress APC) pegged its chairmanship and councillorship forms to N3 million and N1 million respectively.

The chairman of the party in the state, Honourable MacDonald Ebere, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the weekend, also announced the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the upcoming Local Government Council Elections.


Anambra: APC demands immediate conduct of LG polls

The South-East Organising Secretary, of the APC, Mr. Dozie Ikedife (Jnr) has welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court and charged Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to immediately conduct local government election in the state.

In a chat with the Nigerian Tribune in Nnewi, at the weekend, Ikedife said that the financial autonomy of LG will boost development at the grassroots.

“I am delighted that finally the APC-led Federal Government of Senator Bola Tinubu through the recent Supreme Court judgment on the Autonomy of the third tier of government will finally force Governor Soludo of Anambra State to conduct local government area elections.

“Governor Soludo, will despite his lies, conduct LGA elections which he promised to do in six months from assumption of office but failed to do so.

“I wish to congratulate President Tinubu for this bold step in using the court to enforce the constitution of our country.

“Anambra voters are excited and we in the APC are happy with this new development as Anambra citizens will exercise their franchise to elect their council Chairmen and councilors, “he said.


Scenario in Kebbi

In Kebbi State, the state Independent Electoral Commission had fixed a new election for the dissolved executives in the 21 local governments for August 31, 2024.

Recently, the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), demanded a comprehensive electoral guideline from KESIEC towards the elections, advising that the election should be transparent and credible for all parties in the state.

The tenure of the executives elected in the last local government poll held on March 3, 2021, expired on April 3, 2024. Consequently, the councils were dissolved and caretaker committee members were sworn in


Rivers CTC chairmen busy dispensing perks of office, despite S’ Court judgment.

The recently appointed chairmen and members of the caretaker committees in the 23 local government councils in Rivers State seem to be oblivious to the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the illegality of the caretaker committee system in the administration of the local government areas.

The caretaker chairmen were preoccupied with dispensing the perks of their new offices with a seeming competition of who would appoint the most number of aides ranging from 300 to as many as 1,000 per chairman, even though their interim period is expected not to last more than three months.

The CTC members were appointed in June after the expiration of the three-year tenure of immediate past elected chairmen and councillors.

Days after the last Thursday’s judgment of the Supreme Court which granted autonomy to the local governments the newly appointed Caretaker Committee Chairmen have not made any comments on the ruling. Many of them have however been busy announcing the appointment of hundreds of special and personal aides to work with them.

They are however equally concerned about the continued occupation of the local government secretariats by the police despite the ruling of a high court last week, which nullified the extension of the tenure of the former elected local government officials by a Port Harcourt High Court.


Question marks over federalism, restructuring

Though a number of Nigerians have hailed the ruling of the Supreme Court because of its possibility to free the 774 LGAs from financial control of the governors, the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political Organisation, Afenifere, and the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo have rejected the ruling, describing it as a stab at the back for true federalism.

Afenifere, in a statement by the leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the National Public Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, said that the ruling of the apex court amounts to “a mere judicial conspiracy.”

“Rather than interpret the constitution to uphold its elementary but overriding federal principle which recognises only a two-tier federal structure of the central government and federating states, the Supreme Court played to the gallery and wittingly allowed itself a most retrogressive declaration that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government.

“While Afenifere frowns at corruption and misuse of public funds at levels of government, it condemns in most unmistaken terms the subjugation of the states and its constitutional roles, including the local government system to the whims and caprices of the federal government by any means, including obvious manipulation of the federation account as in the present case,” Afenifere said.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is, however, of the view that for the judgment to enhance grassroots development, elections into the councils must be removed from the closets of the state independent electoral commissions.

The body’s National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia had said: “So we are very much interested in grassroots development. However, for the Supreme Court judgment to have full meaning, it must be independent and the state’s independent electoral commission has to be reviewed. So long as the electoral body is managed by the state government, it will become very difficult for any other person to win an election in a state where the state government is in charge of the electoral body. In a nutshell, Ohanaeze is in support of the grassroots development.”

“What the Federal Government is looking for is unachievable if the state electoral body conducts the local government election, what they are looking for will be unattainable. As long as the state government is in charge of the electoral body that conducts the election into local government councils.”

A panic button about the funds for the running of local governments appeared to have been pressed in no fewer than 437 local governments areas spread across 19 states of the federation, following the imminent suspension of their federal allocations as a result of last Thursday’s ruling of the Supreme Court.

The apex court, had in its ruling pursuant to the suit brought before it by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas (LGA) recognised by the 1999 Constitution and outlawed the penchant of state governors to institute caretaker committees or dissolve democratically elected structures in the councils.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that uncertainty now pervades the scenario in no fewer than 19 states of the federation which are currently running one caretaker system or the other, a development that meant that they have run foul of the ruling of the apex court, which has empowered the federal government to withhold allocations to councils without democratically elected administrations.

The Supreme Court had in a unanimous ruling of its seven-man panel, whose lead judgment was read by Justice Justice Emmanuel Agim, held that it was unconstitutional for state governments to tamper with the allocations due to the local governments, while also outlawing the operation of the caretaker system in the councils among other declarations.

The judgment ordered the federation account to henceforth pay all monies including shares from taxes and other sources meant to the councils directly to their accounts. The court barred governors from dissolving democratically elected officials of local governments, while also declaring that it is unconstitutional for governors to tamper with council funds. The court said the 774 local government councils should be allowed to manage their funds. Aside from that, the court also barred the operation of caretaker officials in the councils. The federation account was empowered to withhold funds meant for councils that operate the caretaker system.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, had while commenting on the judgment of the apex court declared that the ruling takes immediate effect, an indication that councils that failed to comply will start having their funds confiscated from the next meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee(FAAC), this month.

Investigations revealed that the 437 LGAs hammer is set to fall on are in the following states: Rivers(23); Jigawa (27); Anambra (21); Zamfara (14); Benue (23); Bauchi (20); Plateau(17); Abia(17); Katsina (34); Enugu (17); Cross Rivers(18); Sokoto (23); Kano(44); Yobe (17); Ondo(18); Osun (30); Akwa-Ibom (31); Imo (27 and Kwara (16). Delta State, which held elections for its 25 local governments on Saturday might be able to escape the hammer if the democratic structure is put in place before the next FAAC meeting.

Investigations further revealed that even as the governors prepare for a meeting to fully dissect the implications of the July 11 judgment of the apex court, some government houses are already contemplating likely ways out of the possible financial squeeze.

For instance, several states which have entered into what they termed “joint projects” which tied the funds accruing to the local governments to such projects were said to be panicky as such projects may be difficult to fund henceforth.

Though the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdurahman Abdurazaq, had in an initial response declared that the Supreme Court ruling had lifted a big burden off the shoulders of the state governors, whom he said had been bailing out the local governments financially, not a few Nigerians believe that the situation has been the other way round.

However, the Chairman, of the Senate Services Committee, who is the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi, has said that Nigerians should expect a fightback from some state governors over the Supreme Court ruling.

Karimi stated that a key gray area in the management of the local governments is the need for the transfer of responsibility for the conduct of elections to the local councils from the various state electoral bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said: “The battle is not yet over; some state governors will fight back. President Tinubu allowed the judiciary a free hand to operate in this particular instance, irrespective of the fact that he is but a first-term president who may desire a comeback in 2027.

“I thank Mr President for mustering the courage to do the right thing. Since 1999, the third tier of government, literally speaking, has been nonexistent. State governments treated them as appendages of the state governments.

“No president has been able to change that. But, within one year, however, President Tinubu has returned the local government to its owners—the masses. Local governments, if well-operated, will ensure a better existence for our people. President Tinubu took due cognizance of this and courageously took the bull by the horns.”

Caretaker Committee members at crossroads in states

Members of the caretaker committees set up by some state governors to run the affairs of the local governments in their domain are now at a crossroads, following last Thursday’s judgment of the Supreme Court which stopped federal allocations to local councils without democratically elected executives. The court also declared as an aberration to have a caretaker committee administer the local government, ordering the stoppage of federal allocations to states that failed to conform to the constitutional provision that elected chairmen and councilors must run the councils.

Reports from the states of the federation indicated mixed feelings in the affected states where local government executives have been dissolved, and replaced by caretaker committees or even civil servants.

The feeling of uncertainty is equally prevailing in states where governors conducted elections that produced chairmen and councillors in Local Government Development Areas, created by states from the existing local governments listed in the 1999 Constitution.


We are at a crossroads —19 Ekiti LCDAs chairmen

The chairmen of the 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ekiti State at the weekend expressed worry and concern over the running of their affairs following the judgment of the Supreme Court on the recognition of the 774 LGAs listed in the 1999 Constitution in terms of financial autonomy.

In 2021, the administration of a former governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi through the House of Assembly, created the LCDAs, in addition to the existing 16 LGAs contained in the 1999 Constitution.

A cross-section of the chairmen, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune and pleaded anonymity, said there is a need for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, to call an extended meeting where the implications of the judgment would be discussed.

They argued that since the Supreme Court ordered that federal allocation should be sent directly to the 16 recognised LGAs in the state, without mentioning the LCDAs, the issue of accountability would make it extremely difficult for the LCDAs to function optimally under them.

One of the chairmen said, “Since last week’s judgment, we, as chairmen, are at a crossroads because the Supreme Court did not capture us in its judgment. We were created by the state House of Assembly.

“Now that allocation will be given directly to the original 16 LGAs as in the case in Ekiti, the issue of accountability will be brought to bear, especially since it will be on record what they will get going forward.

“I think it is going to involve a lot of discussions and analysis and we are hoping the governor will call us and other stakeholders to talk about the way forward. We need to know what will happen in the interest of the people.”

In his reaction, the Ekiti state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON) Olusegun Ojo, commended the judgment; adding that it would further help in bringing dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

Ojo, who is the chairman of Ekiti East LGA, explained that the administration of Oyebanji had, over the years, supported the financial autonomy of the council areas, which he said has resulted in the series of projects and programmes by the chairmen for the people.

He said: “The judgment is a welcome development, as a nation that is law-abiding. It is going to bring good development to the communities. It is something that every lover of the rule of law has to embrace. For us in Ekiti, we don’t have a problem with the judgment.

“If you recall recently, Ekiti was described as one of the three states in which the Local government operation could be compared to a situation where we have autonomy.

“This judgment will only complement the efforts of Governor Biodun Oyebanji at ensuring fiscal independence for local governments.”


Uncertainty surrounds LG/LCDAs in Ondo

Following the Supreme Court judgment, uncertainty appears to surround the fate of the caretaker committees in the 18 local government areas and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ondo State.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had on Wednesday last week constituted Transition Committees for the 18 local government areas and 33 LCDAs in the state, saying the move became necessary because of the inability of the state Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), to conduct the local government elections after a series of postponement.

He said that the committees are to oversee the affairs of the local governments and the LCDAs in the state until the local government election is held by the state electoral body. The Supreme Court judgment has now left members of the caretaker committees. officials and workers of the local governments and the LCDAs are at a crossroads, especially as the judgment is to take immediate effect.

In its reaction, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Aiyedatiwa’s action as a flagrant disrespect to an earlier judgment by an Ondo State High Court.

“It is the height of lawlessness and impunity for Aiyedatiwa to appoint committees for LCDAs that are non-existent in the eyes of the law,” the party said.

The Labour Party in the state has also kicked against the appointment of the caretaker chairmen and transition committees for the 18 local governments, and the 33 LCDAs, saying that the action amounts to illegality.

LP chairman in the state, Honourable Abiodun Agbaje, said: “Ondo Labour Party vehemently rejects the action of the Ondo State government for appointing new caretaker chairmen and transition committee for the 18 local governments across the state as well as the newly created 33 LCDAs which were already scrapped by a court judgment.”

However, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Amidu Takuro, argued that the local government election cannot be held immediately and that the transition committees were constituted to run the affairs of the local government and LCDAs.


Sokoto LG caretaker members worried by S’Courts ruling

Members of the local government caretaker committees in Sokoto State have expressed worries over the implementation of the ruling of the apex court.

A member of the caretaker committees who spoke on behalf of his colleagues under the condition of anonymity, however, said that the judgment, if implemented, will improve the living conditions of the people at the grassroots level.

“I just believe the Federal Government, having secured this landmark judgment, will have the political will to ensure the full implementation.

“When implemented, the judgment will definitely free local governments from the grip of state governors, who have turned us to cash out.

“It will aid development at the grassroots as well and we as members of ALGON nationwide, will intensify efforts to ensure the judgment is fully implemented,” he added.

Also speaking, Akibu Abubakar, a civil society activist on good governance, commended the Federal Government for initiating the court case in the first instance but warned both the federal and state governments not to tamper with the judgment, while calling for its full implementation to boost development at the grassroots.


Sole administrators run affairs in Jigawa, NULGE welcomes S’Court ruling

Local government councils in Jigawa State are presently being led by the Directors of Administration and Strategy (DAS) as sole administrators, following the dissolution of the 27 local government executives by Governor Malam Umar Namadi.

The governor, through his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, announced the dissolution on June 30, at the expiration of the three-year tenure of the elected chairmen and councilors.

Malam Umar Namadi has directed the director of administration to take over immediately with a plan to constitute local government councils caretakers committee pending the time the elections will be conducted, the commissioner had said.

However, the governor has neither set up the caretaker committee nor commenced any preparation for fresh council elections as of the time the Supreme Court gave its ruling on July 11.

While speaking on the judgment of the apex court, the chairman of the Jigawa State branch of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Abubakar Garba Shitu said it would bring succour to the people, as “It is something that we were expecting a long time ago.

“Though this did not affect us in Jigawa state as local government councils are autonomous; all the councils are receiving all their federal allocations in full,” he said.


Katsina to hold LG election in 2025

Though the tenure of the local government executives in Katsina state expired in April this year, the state government has only fixed the conduct of the local government election for February 2025. That development puts the state in the bracket of those that might receive zero allocation once the judgment of the Supreme Court comes into effect.

The decision by the state government has also drawn flak from opposition parties in the state, with Alhaji Lawal Dan-Ade, spokesperson of PDP in Katsina State saying that any decision to withhold local government allocations by the Federal government is welcome.

He said: “As far as we are concerned, the present local government chairmen in Katsina State are not elected, they are simply caretaker chairmen. We suspect, shifting the date of the elections by one year, is just to find grace of manipulations during the elections.

“It’s evident, how the ruling party, the APC allocated the slots to the people who are loyal to the governor; from that, you know he is preparing ground for the 2027 general elections.

“Now that the Federal government has decided to withhold the local governments’ monthly allocation, let us see whether they are going to reverse the election date; we live to see how the local governments are going to be administered.”


Caretaker chairmen in Kano raise concerns

Mixed reactions among stakeholders in Kano State are still trailing the Supreme Court decision granting financial autonomy to the local governments.

However, most of the interim caretaker chairmen, who preferred anonymity when contacted by the Nigerian Tribune, were split on the autonomy for the local governments in the country.

While a few of them said it was a welcome development, others said it could pave the way for elected chairmen to spend recklessly without proper checks and balances.

“We are not disturbed because our tenure was just six months since we were appointed by the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf,” one of them said.

Others stated that the judgment will fast-track election process the moment the governor is aware that unelected caretaker chairmen will not be given federal allocation.


Osun to conduct LG poll in Feb 2025

In Osun, the state Independent Election Commission (OSSIEC) had earlier announced that the local government election will be held in February 2025 without giving a specific date.

Reacting to the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local councils, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described it as a welcome development.

The chairman of the party in the state, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, explained that the situation would catalyse, fast track and percolate the development of the rural areas as there would not be any excuse for any of the local government council chairmen not to perform.

Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it “welcomes the judgment as a law-abiding political party; the judgment came from the final and the highest court of law in Nigeria and it behooves every law-abiding citizen to respect the judgment.”

PDP’s spokesperson in the state, Mr. Oladele Bamiji, said in a statement: “The judgment to us, is a landmark development that we believe, will breed conversations capable of shaping our national life and necessary restructuring the nation requires for even development from top to the bottom of all tiers of governance in the country.”


Zamfara: Stakeholders divided over LG autonomy

In Zamfara, members of the local government caretaker committees in the state described the financial autonomy granted LGs as a good omen that would bring more development to the grassroots.

According to the caretaker committee chairman of Gusau Local Area, Yahaya Garba, the development will bring more dividends of democracy to the people.

However, he explained that caretaker committee members were appointed based on their track records, stressing that they were screened by the state House of Assembly, and the final list assented by the governor.

“My fear is that I believe stopping allocation to caretaker committees will bring a setback in some local government councils, where developmental projects initiated by caretaker committees are ongoing,” he said.

A former sole administrator of Gusau local government, Hon. Aliyu Umar Nasko, however, claimed that many of the caretaker committee members were appointed on the basis of political godfatherism.

He said: “The provision of appointing council caretaker chairman is that a civil servant of not less than GL 13, but now, the case is not as it should be. Governors mostly appoint politicians, not educationists.

“I’m of the opinion that due process should be followed in the local government; federal allocation should only be given to elected chairmen, not caretaker committees.”

US law enforcement sources have reportedly revealed that the gunman who shot at former President Donald Trump in an assassination attempt on Saturday had explosive material inside his car and in his residence.

Multiple sources made the revelation to CNN on Sunday as the FBI and the Secret Service commenced investigation into the attack on the former President and Republican presidential nominee in the country’s 2024 presidential election.

A gunman identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday attempted to assassinate Trump during his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The gunman from the rooftop fired some gunshots which injured Trump in one ear before he (the shooter) was shot dead by the Secret Service.

CNN reports that law enforcement sources said that authorities used the gun recovered from the shooter to help determine his identity as he did not have identification on him.

A person familiar with the investigation reportedly said that the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style weapon.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to import a cargo of Brazilian crude, Bloomberg is reporting.

On Friday, the publication said this adds to the large number of overseas barrels of crude feedstock that Nigeria is importing.

According to traders with knowledge of the matter, Dangote refinery, which is still ramping up to full capacity, will receive a shipment of one million barrels of Tupi crude from Brazil for delivery in the second half of next month.

“The refinery, billed as pivotal in ending Nigeria’s dependence on foreign fuel, has already snapped up millions of barrels of American crude,” the publication said.

“The purchases of non-Nigerian barrels likely reflect the most competitively priced, suitable cargoes.”

The traders said the cargo was sold by Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation.

Bloomberg said officials at the company, and one at Dangote, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Quoting data from the Latin American country’s commerce ministry, the publication said it is the first time that Brazil has exported oil to Nigeria.

On July 11, Dangote refinery purchased five million barrels of US crude scheduled for delivery next month and in September.

In May, the refinery planned a purchase of 24 million barrels of crude from the US for over a year.

A 17-year-old resident of Lagos State has been reportedly raped inside Ogudu Police Station in the Ojota area of the state.

According to PUNCH, an officer attached to the station had promised to help the teenager retrieve her phone, which was stolen by ‘one chance’ robbers.

The suspect was said to have overheard the victim recounting her ordeal to her mother at her shop and offered to help track the phone.

Narrating her ordeal to the publication, the teenager said: “On June 29, officer Owolabi called my mum on her phone and told her he had arrested the person with my phone and my mum should send me to his police station and I went there. On getting there, I was told they made a mistake with the tracking, and that the person caught wasn’t the one with my phone.

“The officer sent his personal assistant to call me into his office and he showed me directions there. When I entered his office and greeted him, he replied and got up to lock the door and put the key in his pocket. I shouted, ‘Sir, why did you lock the door?’

“He started trying to pull my clothes off and I shouted, then he brought out a gun, cocked it, and threatened to shoot me if I shouted. Then he began harassing me and when I struggled with him he hit me on the back of my head with the gun and raped me.

“I saw his phone ringing and the caller was my mum, but he told me since I didn’t have a phone with me, I should tell her I didn’t get to his office and from now on I should be reporting at his office by 12 pm every day during school break or while returning from school that he had been watching me for two years and now I just fell into his trap.”

Mrs Aramide Olupona, mother of the victim, however, accused the police of trying to cover up the allegation.

“The suspect’s wife and the rest of his family have come to my shop to plead with me saying he would soon retire, but what about my daughter that was raped? Is it because I am a poor woman?”

“The Area Commander of the station too invited me and pleaded with me to bury the case, now they are saying the suspect has fled and his whereabouts are unknown, but my daughter is distraught and has said she wants to commit suicide. My girl needs justice,” she was quoted to have said.

When contacted on Saturday morning, Benjamin Hundeyin, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, asked our correspondent to contact some numbers about police action.

“Sorry, I can’t take this call right now. For complaints about police action, call 08090277714, 08090277712, 08090277711, 08090277713, 091111111151, 0911199116, 09111111150. Or send a text,” Hundeyin said.

But when our correspondent contacted one of the numbers, the respondent said: “I don’t deal with such. This is police misconduct. Maybe you should call the PRO later, he might be in a conference.”

Daniel Bwala, a lawyer and public affairs analyst, has said President Bola Tinubu will unveil a new cabinet in a few weeks.

Bwala said this while responding to recent comments by Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume.

In an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, Ndume had said the federal government’s inability to address security challenges and other issues is a major challenge, adding that some ministers are unable to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the matter.

He had said: “The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies.”

Ndume later told journalists at the National Assembly that the president had lost touch with reality as some forces had caged him at Aso Rock.

Weighing in, Bwala in a piece titled, ‘Ali Ndume, the rant of an expert in grandstanding’, said Ndume was unfit to criticise Tinubu.

He asked the lawmaker what he had achieved for his people in over two decades that he has been representing them.

“Senator Ali Ndume has continued to show lack of leadership quality by any standard. He is just a beneficiary of a system that promotes Stockholm syndrome. Otherwise, how could a man with relatively less political value continues to represent people for 21 years, yet enmeshed in endless controversies with little or nothing to show in his Senatorial District?”

“Of course, he knows his people too well. Like Maxwell clearly stated in law 20 – The Law of Explosive Growth, John Schnatter, one of America’s best makers of pizza had said, “It is my job to build the people who are going to build the company.” The question therefore is, how many people has Senator Ali Ndume built in his 21-year sway at the National Assembly? As a 2-term House of Representatives member from 2003 through 2011, and now a 4th term Senator representing people of Southern Borno in the Red Chamber, who are his mentees who have gone on to excel in life?

“Senator Ndume has thrown caution to the winds with his continuous attempt to mudslide, denigrate, asperse and besmirch the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He continues to make it look like the situation Nigeria finds herself is President Tinubu’s making. He is quick to forget that whatever Nigeria is growing through today, the seed was planted by his Northern brother, President Muhammadu Buhari’s unfortunate leadership for 8 years. He is oblivious of the fact that it is the mess of his brother that the present administration is trying hard, in the midst of excruciating economy situation, to clean up. He has forgotten that it is easier to destroy than to build. The humongous revelations with odious and odoriferous ooze of financial recklessness of appointees of former President Muhammadu Buhari is why Nigeria is the way it is today. It is unfortunate that Senator Ndume expects a miracle-performer or a man with the magic wand to correct the many anomalies of the past administration. Of course, he has been a beneficiary of the endemic system for many years. He does not believe in laying good foundations, like the Tinubu administration is currently doing to put the country on a trajectory of economic prosperity and socio-political wellness of the common man.”

Bwala added that recently, the assessment of the current crop of Ministers was done and in a couple of weeks President Tinubu would unveil a new cabinet reshuffling

He said: “Senator Ndume constantly disparages President Tinubu’s administration over his cabinet members. He is quick to forget that many of the so-called cabinet members were brought by people like him, governors and party leaders from across the states of the Federation.

“And Mr. President has repeatedly told whoever cared to listen that he would not run a cabinet that is not prone to reshufflement like Nigerians witnessed under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Only recently, the assessment of the current crop of Ministers was done. And in a couple of days or weeks from now, President Tinubu would unveil a new cabinet reshufflement.

“Why cannot Senator Ndume wait till that time to know if he will continue with his wailing and ululation? Senator Ali Ndume has continued to show that he is an overrated political beneficiary of our system and in endless search of his self-discovery.”

In May, President Tinubu vowed to drop any member of his cabinet whom he feels falls short of the expectations of Nigerians.

Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said he would continue to do his best for the country.

“I thank the cabinet members for their efforts, but I will relieve any of them of their duties anytime I feel that they are failing Nigerians,” the president had said.

Governors from the 36 States of the Federation under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum have scheduled a crucial meeting next week to review the judgment of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to local government councils in the country.

Addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and Governor of Kwara, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, said governor who have been using their resources to bail out local governments have been relieve of a burden.

The NGF Chairman also affirmed that the state chief executives were comfortable with the Supreme Court judgment.

“We welcome the ruling of the Supreme and our Attorney Generals have applied for the enrollment order, which we’ll study carefully.”

“But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect to local government autonomy. It relieves the burden on governors. Our people really don’t know how much states spend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there.”

The Kwara governor affirmed that the NGF had requested for the enrollment of the judgment and would be reviewing it to decide the way forward.

“The forum will meet next Wednesday, to look at the issue wholly and then come up with a resolution on that.”

“Like I said, we haven’t seen the enrollment of the court order and so we really don’t know what is in there,” he stated.

As for Kwara State in particular, AbdulRahman said the judgment would not negatively affect it as the state has not been tampering with council funds.

“It’s not going to affect the state we’ve never tampered with local government funds. So it’s going to continue. What the local governments have to do is to manage themselves, especially with the oncoming minimum wage, to manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid, traditional rulers get their 5% and those are the main issues,” he said.

The NGF boss, who was flanked by his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, and Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, said they were at the Presidential Villa to see the president on various issues, adding: “We’ve seen the President on various issues from minimum wage, which he met with labor yesterday, the Supreme Court ruling and other national issues that concern states as well. It’s omnibus.”

Dangote has purchased 5 million barrels of US crude scheduled for delivery next month and in September, Bloomberg is reporting.

According to the report on July 11, the refining company also started a tender process in which it intends to buy a further 6 million barrels of American crude for September.

Dangote refinery, according to the report, has bought more than 16 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude oil so far this year.

In August and September, the proportion it will purchase from the US may increase, according to tenders for new supply seen by Bloomberg.

“For Nigeria and Dangote, the use of US crude likely reflects where there are spare barrels available to buy in the world and the most competitive price,” the report reads.

“The refinery has been billed as a way of helping Nigeria wean itself off foreign fuel supplies.

“The refinery near Lagos mostly runs on local crude supplies that can reach the plant from offshore terminals in as little as a couple of days.”

The report said tracking data indicates that the refinery took in more than 41 million barrels of feedstock in the first half of the year as it completed test runs and gradually raised processing rates.

About a quarter of that has been American supply, according to Bloomberg.

With the latest purchase, Bloomberg said the inflows of American feedstock may increase significantly.

In May, the refinery planned a purchase of 24 million barrels of crude from the US for over a year.

The Nigerian government abused the rights of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in October 2020, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has ruled.

In a landmark verdict delivered on Wednesday, the court flayed the government’s particularly “disproportionate use of force” in response to the #EndSARS protest at the tollgate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.

The court also found that live rounds were shot into the crowd of unarmed protesters.

It mandated the Nigerian government to pay a total of N10 million in compensation to each victim named in the suit.

Brought before the ECOWAS Court by a coalition of human rights activists and organisations, the case alleged severe violations of fundamental human rights by Nigerian security forces.

Amnesty International also submitted an Amicus Brief, which was declared admissible by the court. After thoroughly examining evidence and testimonies, the court concluded that the Nigerian government’s actions breached several international human rights standards, including Articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Among many other key findings, the court found credible evidence of disproportionate use of force and violations of the right to liberty and security, assembly, free speech, and dignity. It stated that the use of force was not necessary and contravened the Respondent State’s obligations under the African Charter.

The court also agreed that the applicants had suffered torture at the hands of the Nigerian government. It that the situation at the Lekki tollgate, where live rounds were shot into the crowd of unarmed protesters, created a situation of fear, and the Nigerian government did not present evidence refuting those allegations.

The court further held that the government failed to allow and afford the applicants their rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, therefore violating the applicants’ rights under Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter.

The government’s actions were deemed inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The court held that the quasi-mechanism set up by the government to investigate the allegations of abuse at the Lekki toll gate lacked independence and was questionable.

It therefore ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay N10 million each in compensation to the applicants.

It also mandated the Nigerian government to conduct investigations into the human rights abuses, with a view to implementing the outcomes of said investigations.

The government was also ordered to report to the court in six months with an update on the compensation and progress of the inquiry.

Reacting to the judgment, Bolaji Gabari, lead counsel for the applicants, described the ruling as a significant victory for the #EndSARS movement, an acknowledgement that citizens’ rights were violated and that abuses occurred at Lekki tollgate.

“We urge the Nigerian government to comply fully with the court’s orders and take immediate steps to address the systemic issues identified in the judgment,” Gabari said.

Mojirayo Ogunlana, one of the counsel to the applicants, said recalled that the Nigerian Government failed to show up to put in a defence until 2023, when, in its address, it claimed, amongst others, that the EndSARS peaceful protest was unlawful and perpetuated by hoodlums.

“The landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Court in favour of EndSARS victims is a powerful affirmation of justice and a significant step towards healing and accountability for the Lekki Tollgate tragedy,” added Nelson Olanipekun, Executive Director at Gavel, coordinating organisation for the coalition.

On 20 October 2020, peaceful and unarmed protesters were fired at by Nigerian security agents at the Lekki tollgate, bringing the landmark #ENDSARS protests to a violent end.

The protest had begun organically in Delta State 17 days earlier, expanding to other parts of the country with calls for justice against police brutality in Nigeria.

In December 2021, three victims brought a case before the ECOWAS Court, Obianuju Catherine & 2 Others v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (ECW/CCJ/APP/72/2021), to seek justice for themselves and those impacted by the violations

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the return of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, seven years after it was discontinued.

Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources in the state, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the governor would officially announce the reintroduction later in the month.

Wahab, in a 21-second video posted on the Lagos State environmental updates X handle on Monday, stated that the exercise would resume in July.

“Our governor and the State Executive Council have approved the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercise in Lagos state, beginning from this month,” Wahab said in Yoruba adding “The governor will personally make the announcement.”

The decision comes amid growing concerns over clogged drainage channels and roads littered with refuse which have worsened flooding issues in the densely populated city.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the Lagos State government canceled the sanitation exercise in November 2016, which traditionally took place from 7am to 10am on the last Saturday of every month.

A former Commissioner of Information, Steve Ayorinde who served under former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, explained that the decision was made during an Executive Council Meeting.

While cancelling the exercise, Ayorinde noted that restricting movement for three hours was no longer suitable for a megacity like Lagos.

The government had decided on the cancellation to allow for “a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state in order to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment.”

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo said labour and the Federal Government were in talks before the bill on a new national minimum wage was forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.

Osifo confirmed that labour has had meetings with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other government officials to ensure that the new minimum wage would “cater to the needs of the poorest of the poor.”

He spoke at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Women Commission maiden Annual Convention in Abuja on Tuesday with the theme: “The Dynamic Woman: Navigating Challenges in a Constantly Evolving World.”

Talks on a new national minimum wage has stalled following the decision of President Tinubu to consult with stakeholders before send the bill to the NASS.

While the Federal Government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) agreed on N62, 000 as the new minimum wage, labour insisted on N250, 000.

Osifo said some level of “internal work” was ongoing before the bill would be submitted in “earnest.”

He stated: “The minimum wage negotiations cannot be dead. The 2019 minimum wage (that has expired) took about two years to see the light of day. We started the negotiations in 2017.

“We promised you when we started in January (this year) that we will ensure this one is fast – tracked for us not to be in the conundrum that we were in 2019 which took two years.

“So where we are today, we submitted the divergent position in June, when we did that you know clearly that Mr President came out to say that he wanted to consult across board which is the governors, local government chairmen, organised private sector and labour, so we are doing some level of reachout and conversations.

“So that what will be submitted to the National Assembly will actually be a minimum wage that will cater for the poorest of the poor, so for the fact that in the media we are not shouting, we are doing some level of internal work so that this bill will be submitted in earnest soon.

Osifo also said the country would continue to experience fuel scarcity until some logistics problems are addressed.

He said: “About a week ago, if you are driving between Aviele and Auchi you will realise that some people sleep on that road for days, the road is completely cut off, so if you are bringing fuel from Port Harcourt and coming to Abuja, you need to pass through that road depending on where you are bringing the products from.

“The roads as of today are very bad, if you check different part of the world, how many countries are using tankers to supply premium motor spirit (PMS) or AGO, it is not done. Naturally, what is done is the use of pipelines and in some cases they use rails and if you go to some western world, you see rails that are having over 2,000 tanks, railway lines whether it is rainy or dry season, it is okay.

“So until we imbibe technology and fix our pipelines and oil depots because that is also key, if the depots that we have in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria are all working we could have had reserve stocks in these depots, so that when our roads are bad, we can use those depots that are closer to the cities for supplies, then when the roads are good, you can restock them and go back to business as usual.

“We must be able to deepen the facilities of the oil and gas logistics because if we don’t do that, perennially we would have these challenges. Last year we had the whole of Lokoja cut off, so for tanks coming from Lagos, Calabar, Abeokuta, Port Harcourt where are they going to pass, it will be difficult so we must be able to sit down and define our distribution value chain in the oil and gas sector.”

National Chairperson of PENGASSAN Women Commission, Comrade Ada Mbanaso said the commission had positively impacting the lives of many women and children in various communities.

“Initiatives such as ‘Back-to-School’ projects, donations to orphanages and old people’s homes, empowerment of widows and small-scale business owners, celebration of boy/girl child on children’s day, skills acquisition programs for women in rural areas, and menstrual hygiene/mental health campaign, exemplify the commission’s commitment to social responsibility and community development,” she said.

Mbanaso said the PENGASSAN women commission was committed to championing the advancement of women within PENGASSAN and beyond.

“We are passionate about expanding our advocacy efforts, promoting gender equity, empowering more women to take up leadership roles, fostering a supportive environment for professional development, and addressing emerging challenges faced by women in our industry,” Mbanaso said.

Concerned residents of Rano town in Kano State have raised the alarm over the presence of armed hoodlums at the headquarters of the Emirate on Sunday.

In a letter addressed to the state Police Commissioner, a copy made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday revealed that the hoodlums had been camped at the Emir’s palace since Sunday by yet-to-be-identified persons.

It noted that the motives of the armed youths remain unknown, as their incursion is generally considered a threat to the security of lives and property.

The letter read in part, “In the evening of Sunday, July 7, 2024, Rano town, the headquarters of our beloved Rano emirate, was invaded by armed hoodlums, believed to be sponsored by a yet-to-be-identified person (s), who camped at the Emir’s palaces (both the Main Place and historic Tsohon Gari Palace).

Although the motives of these arms-carrying machinery remain unknown, their intrusion is generally considered a threat to the security of lives and property and, at the same time, a disrespect to the ban by the Commissioner of Police on June 20, 2024, that all non-state security actors, including vigilance members and hunters, should desist from providing security services in the state.

According to the letter, residents of the Rano emirate are peaceful people known to always go about their businesses without creating trouble.

“It said over the years, the Rano emirate has experienced uninterrupted peace, and security agencies can testify to this.”

“The recent emirates tussle in Kano State, however, had brought about a lot of tension and discontent to the residents, as many felt that their opinions, as stakeholders, were not respected, the letter stated.

“This is connected to the fact that public hearings were not conducted throughout the State to establish whether there was a need to dissolve the four additional emirates (Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and Bichi) upgraded by the administration of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje in the state.

“Even with the above development, the residents of Rano emirate were able to control their emotions and acted within the confine of the law, as only legitimate peaceful demonstrations were carried out.’’

“The people exercised restraint because they believe in the judiciary since the Emirates case was before a competent court of justice.

“The good people of Rano emirate, as usual, had opted to respect the court’s order issued by the Federal High Court Kano on the case, which we believed is a constitutional duty of all citizens.”

The use of Compressed Natural Gas in automobiles is 40 per cent cheaper than using Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced on Thursday.

NNPC also announced that 100 CNG stations would be functional nationwide in 12 months, as it simultaneously inaugurated 11 CNG stations across various locations in Abuja and Lagos on Thursday.

Speaking at one of the locations in Abuja, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Huub Stokman, said the stations represent a major step in extending the national oil firm’s CNG presence in Nigeria, marking an important moment in its efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix.

“Adding CNG to NNPC stations provides Nigeria with an affordable alternative to existing fuel products. CNG will be about 40 per cent cheaper than petrol in Nigeria. And with continued investments, it could become a significant part of our energy mix,” stated.

On the expansion of the stations, Stokman said, “In the next 12 months, NNPC Retail will have launched over 100 CNG sites.”

He said NNPC was “also supporting our implementation partners to set up two mechanical training centres combined with conversion centres in Abuja and Lagos.

“And it is fantastic that Nigeria is utilising its own natural resources to bring affordable energy to the people of Nigeria, and NNPC Retail is very proud to be part of this journey.” Nigeria has abundant gas reserves of about 209 trillion standard cubic feet.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the company and its partners were developing infrastructures to further bring CNG closer to end users.

Kyari said, “I can see the benefits, people are saying that it works for them, it is cheaper and cleaner fuel and it is accessible. What we are going to do is to roll it out across all the states of the federation and it is already a work in progress.

“We will construct six CNG mother stations across the country between now and December and you will see this happen. We are also taking another step, we are building three LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) stations in Ajaokuta, one of them belongs to us and the two others are done in partnerships.

“What this does is to bring gas closer to consumers because distance matters in transporting gas, which is why we are doing this so that it becomes accessible and easier. And this is for the short term because as soon as we complete the AKK pipeline it gets much closer to end users and ultimately as you reduce the distance, the cost will come down and you see cheaper fuel across the country.”

The Executive Vice President, Cleanergy Innovation Ltd, partners of NNPC in the design and installation of the CNG stations, Shettima Imam, said the retail outlets represent a significant step forward in Nigeria’s journey towards affordable, sustainable, locally sourced and environmentally friendly fuel solutions.

“These CNG filling stations show the commitment to diversify Nigeria’s energy offerings and promote Mr President’s CNG initiative. These new facilities are designed to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient service to all customers, aligning with global best practices.

“The CIL team’s expertise and dedication with the full support of the NNPC Retail team and its senior management, after meticulous planning and safeguards, have ensured the successful completion and delivery of this first step of the project, in a record time from the arrival of the equipment in Nigeria.

“Thus setting a new benchmark for CNG infrastructure in the region. These CNG stations are a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and innovation,” Imam stated.

It was further explained at the event that the government had been subsidising the petrol consumption of an average car owner by about N6m to N9m per annum. But with the deployment and use of CNG, an average car owner would save about N12m annually.

Long queues are snaking back at petrol stations across Africa’s biggest economy, raising fresh concerns about shortages as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) struggles with a staggering $6 billion petrol payment backlog.

BusienssDay reports that NNPC owes around $6 billion to international traders for imported petrol as traders said the state-owned company is taking more days to make payment instead of within 90 days. It quoted Reuters as saying that NNPC’s mounting debt, which includes overdue payments exceeding $4 billion-$5 billion for January imports alone as several international petrol suppliers have ceased participating in recent tenders.

“The only reason traders are putting up with it is the $250,000 a month (per cargo) for late payment compensation,” one industry source told Reuters.

The payment delays underscore the creeping return of fuel subsidies – scrapped in May 2023 – that sap NNPC’s cash for imports and what it can send to President Bola Tinubu’s government.

At least two suppliers already stopped participating in recent tenders after hitting self-imposed debt exposure limits to Nigeria, the sources said, meaning they will not send more gasoline until they receive payments.

NNPC’s suppliers, including international traders like Vitol, Mercuria and Gunvor as well as Nigeria-based trading houses declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media. The trading firms declined to comment.

BusinessDay’s findings showed traders thrive in risky environments, but they place limits on how much credit they allocate per trade to avoid too much exposure on one borrower. These limits vary by company based on their size and where they operate.

As a result, Nigeria’s tenders to buy petrol in June and July were smaller, traders told Reuters.

NNPC will import via tender about 850,000 tonnes in July, two of the sources said, down from the typical 1 million tonnes in previous months.

The above development means Nigerians are once again facing long queues and petrol scarcity across major cities, according to findings by BusinessDay.

Reports indicated that queues have reappeared in Lagos, Abuja, and other major cities across the country.

The United Nations (UN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to make dedicated budgetary allocation to curb food insecurity.

The UN Director of World Food Programme (WFP) Africa Union Global Office, Dr. Hameed Nuru, made the call in Ilọrin, Kwara State capital, on Wednesday.

He spoke as the Guest Speaker at the maiden annual lecture of the University of Ilorin’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine themed: “Navigating nexus of food security, safety and diseases: a holistic sustainable future and economic economic prosperity”.

The programme was in honour of a former deputy vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and first professor from Ilorin Emirate, Professor Saka Nuru.

According to him, statistics at the UN shows Nigerians spend over 65 per cent of their salary on food consumption as against 5-6 per cent acceptable rate, adding that “This is unacceptable”.

He said the country’s future is bleak without food security, adding that, “It’s not the oil, gold, diamond and other natural resources that can guarantee Nigeria’s future but food security which is now directly linked to national security.

“In Nigeria, you see budget for health, education and infrastructure among others but not on food security. It’s is only spread between budgets of other ministries. We need a dedicated budget for food security because time has come for it. Nigeria is a hotspot on food insecurity among other nations.

“We have about 36 active conflicts in Africa with some more that 30 years old. This is the single most important challenge to food insecurity in Nigeria and other affected countries”, he said.

Dr Nuru said Nigeria is predicted to have one million malnourished children from August this year due to conflicts, insecurity, and climate change, especially, in the North East, replica of the situation in Somalia.

He said there is need for Nigeria to harness indigenous foods adding that over $60.8 billions was spent to import food to Nigeria and other African countries in contrast with $15 trillion spent on conflict globally to buy guns and ammunition. This is sad”.

“Government should come up with policy that will make citizens have access to food. It’s undignifying to always hand over food to people without developing their economic capacity to be able to access the food themselves”, he said

“Africa should move away from agriculture for the stomach to agriculture for wealth and strengthen agriculture production to address food security.

“Government policy should attract more youth into the agricultural sector, encourage and support the African Free Continental trade agreement:

“WFP is prioritising its operations to reach 1.1 million vulnerable people every month in northern Nigeria. Those receiving assistance include displaced people living in camps or host communities, as well as vulnerable members of host communities and people returning home after months of displacement”, he submitted.

In her remarks, the Dean, faculty of veterinary medicine, Prof Oyebisi Azeez, said the occasion was to celebrate the legacy of Prof Nuru and reflect on impact of his work on the faculty, university and humanity/animal globally.

By Tola Owoyele


In August 2023, GSK UK PLC, formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline PLC, a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, announced plans to discontinue its operations in Nigeria.

This was after the company, known for producing household and medicinal products like Panadol and Sensodyne, had spent 51 years in the Nigerian market.

While exiting, the company, known as GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria PLC in Nigeria, gave factors like scarcity of forex, increased competition from local firms, and a strategic review of their African drug and vaccine supply operations as reasons for the exit.

Some Nigerians have also attributed the exit of GSK and some other foreign companies to the economic policies of the Bola Tinubu administration.

Insiders within the organisation would, however, talk to FIJ on the incident, making it clear that GSK UK, the pharmaceutical giant’s mother company, exited the Nigerian market solely for profit.


INITIAL EXIT PLAN

The first insider, who spoke with FIJ on condition of anonymity, said he joined GSK at a time when its watchword was putting the patient first.

“Unfortunately, the value changed over time, and it was eventually abandoned for profit-making,” said the source.

“Presently, the public is being made to believe that the company left Nigeria due to a shortage of forex.

“That is not the case. GSK’s plan to exit Nigeria was put in motion about 11 years ago, way before the issue of a forex shortage came up.

“I must also let you know that the company was quite deceitfully methodical while executing the plan.”

The source told FIJ that GSK first attempted a “hostile takeover” of the majority of the company’s shares in 2013 but the move was rejected by its local shareholders.

“With this resistance, GSK could only retain 46 percent of shares in the Nigerian business, while local shareholders held on to 54 percent,” said the source.

“After the failed attempt, GSK approached the shareholders, proposing the global sale of its drink business in Nigeria.

“The shareholders were approached twice before they eventually agreed to selling the business at a record $79.2 million to Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria Ltd. This happened in 2016.”

One of the conditions the shareholders gave GSK Nigeria before the drink portfolio was sold was that part of the proceeds would be spent on the local manufacturing of drugs and vaccines, especially antibiotics.

“After selling the drink portfolio that included products like Ribena and Lucozade, to Suntory and after GSK had also cleared all its debt, the company was still left with about $40 million. The sum could have been used in building an antibiotics factory in Nigeria,” said the source.

“Unfortunately, GSK reneged on the agreement it had with the shareholders and never built the factory. That is why it would be hard to argue that its exit from Nigeria was not pre-planned.

“Rather than build a factory, the company advised the shareholders to share the proceeds as dividends. In the end, they all agreed to a one-time N7-per-dividend payment.

“This then left GSK Nigeria with little foreign exchange in its accounts. The money could have been used to manage transactions when the forex shortage issue later came up.

“In reality, GSK seized the moment to reduce its footprint in Nigeria.”


2017 HERALDED THE EXIT OF GSK FROM SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES

In 2017, there was a change in GSK UK’s leadership. Andrew Witty, the erstwhile CEO, stepped down and was replaced by Emma Walmsley, the current CEO.”

When Walmsley took charge, GSK came up with the narrative that its channels in African countries were no longer profitable.

“So, the distributor model was introduced under a scheme called Project Accelerate,” another former GSK staff member, who also asked not to be named, told FIJ.

“With the project, GSK no longer promoted its products on its own. The plan was now just to distribute and make profit by eliminating GSK local employees and company-sponsored local health programmes.

“This move ultimately delivered approximately 13 to 25 percent profit margins to GSK at the expense of the African patient.”

The strategy also led to the company exiting 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.


HOW AND WHY THE NIGERIAN BUSINESS WAS ELIMINATED

In addition, the company subsequently exited Kenya and South Africa.

“After exiting these 17 countries, the only country left in Africa, and the one they had difficulties leaving, was Nigeria,” said a third source, who also asked not to be named.

READ ALSO: How Abeokuta Farmer Kazeem Dosumu Single-Handedly Built a Bridge for His Community

“Under Walmsley, GSK went into contract manufacturing with Fidson in 2019. The move made the shareholders believe GSK had a plan for Nigeria. That was, however, not the truth.”

The source added that the action was followed by GSK’s decision to stop shipping pharmaceutical products to Nigeria. This happened in 2022, while the company was working on its final plan to exit Nigeria in 2023.


THE FINAL EXIT STRATEGY

Recommendation to the GSK Nigeria Board
Recommendation to the GSK Nigeria Board
“For its final exit, the first important step GSK UK took was have its senior executives travel down to Nigeria in January 2023 to have a meeting with Edmund Onuzo, the chairman of the board, alone,” said the source.

“If anything, the team was supposed to meet with the entire board on company transactional matters and not with the chairman alone.

“It was a clear divide and conquer move.”

According to the source, Onuzo was informed of GSK UK’s plans to stop the supply of products to Nigeria at the meeting. He was also asked to agree to the company’s planned exit.

“In response, the chairman advised the delegation to officially write the entire board, informing them of the exit plan,” said the source.

“When it was time for GSK to send the letter, however, the company cleverly stated that it was having problems in its operations because of a forex shortage and, as a result, would have to exit the country.

“Interestingly, the same GSK consistently supplied Ukraine drugs while at war with Russia. As we speak, drug supply to Ukraine hasn’t stopped.

“Clearly, the reason GSK stated in the letter was not valid.”


CHI PHARMACEUTICALS’ OFFER TO GSK

“Interestingly, CHI Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and a handful of other private equity companies, having noticed the trend of GSK UK shutting down companies in Africa, wrote the company, offering to buy its shares so that the continuous supply of drugs to Nigerians could be ensured,” said the third source.

“They also offered to assist with the provision of adequate forex to prevent the company from exiting Nigeria, but GSK rejected the offer.

Letter from GSK UK rejecting an offer from another private equity company
Letter from GSK UK rejecting an offer from another private equity company
“GSK UK’s ultimate plan was to change the model, shut down business and implement the distributor model in Nigeria. This was clearly at the detriment of the average patient, who constantly needs the company’s products to survive.”


WHEN THE BOARD MET ON THE ISSUE

When the board met again on the matter, some members raised concerns on the way the process was being managed by GSK. These board members felt they were being rushed into making a decision.

“They also felt all options of getting forex to ensure continued business in Nigeria had to be explored before the decision to wind down was taken,” said the source.

“GSK, however, insisted that exiting Nigeria was its best option.

“At that point, the board members requested professional guidance, and GSK was quick to recommend Chapel Hill Denham (CHD), an investment management firm serving as GSK’s financial adviser, to them.

“This same CHD had been advising GSK UK on business decisions and matters since 2022. GSK UK manipulated the system by getting the board members to use the same executors who had been advising it in the past to reach a much desired decision on its exit plan.

“In the end, GSK, through CHD, got the board to take the exit request to the rest of the shareholders at an extraordinary annual general meeting.”


PROTESTS OVER GSK’S EXIT PLANS

Samuel Kuye, an experienced member of the board, sensed GSK UK’s move reeked of coercion and resigned his position in protest.

After Kuye’s resignation, GSK UK promptly appointed two of its employees as board members, and this resulted in the company having majority representation on the board.

In reaction to Kuye and other shareholder’s protests, GSK, through its communications and government affairs director, rebutted the claims and gave the same forex challenge excuse as the reason for the company’s exit.


AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING WITH ALL GSK SHAREHOLDERS IN ATTENDANCE

A court-ordered extraordinary general meeting was subsequently held on December 5, 2023.

“At the meeting, the fact that multiple private equity companies approached GSK with offers to save the Nigerian business was never brought to the entire shareholders’ attention,” said the third source.

“The shareholders, while at the meeting, were also mildly threatened to take GSK’s monetary or risk an additional loss in their stocks’ value as the company would be forced to incur additional expenses while still running its business locally.

“Subsequently, the shareholders voted in favour of the exit, and they were settled at a premium of N17.42 for every share they held. The entire process ended up being in favour of GSK UK.”

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TOPAZ DELIVERY AND ACTION PLAN

To ensure that the plan to exit Nigeria was duly executed, GSK came up with an internal action plan called the Topaz Delivery Plan in early 2023.

In the plan, it was stated that the annual general meeting (AGM) earlier scheduled for early July 2023 would have to be postponed to the end of the same month. The shift in date became necessary because GSK UK felt it could take a while before the entire GSK Nigeria board could be convinced or made to align with its exit plan.

Another strategy stated in the plan was to ensure that announcements were thoroughly reviewed before they were made public. It was also stated in the plan that messaging had to be spot on because shareholders might not be privileged to have full access to the entire transaction details.

Company directors’ remuneration and staff severance packages to be paid were also outlined in the plan.

“The truth is, the shift in date was GSK UK’s way of buying enough time that would enable it to work the board to submission,” said the third source.

“It was a way of getting the entire board to do its bidding.”


THE 2014 CHINA BRIBERY SCANDAL

Ironically, while GSK UK was taking baby steps aimed at exiting the Nigerian and African markets, the pharmaceutical giant was being investigated for bribing Chinese doctors and hospitals in order to have its products promoted in China.

In July 2013, the Chinese government first announced it was investigating the multinational for what it termed the biggest corruption scandal orchestrated by a foreign firm at the time.

The company was also accused of making an estimated $150 million in illegal profits through the scheme.

In September 2014, after a court in China found GSK UK guilty of bribery, the government of China ordered the firm to pay a $490 million fine.

The court also gave Mark Reilly, GSK’s former head of Chinese operations, a suspended three-year prison sentence. Apart from this, his deportation was also ordered.

Some other GSK executives were also handed suspended jail sentences by the court.

GSK would later publish a statement, apologising to the Chinese government and its people for its actions.


GSK’S EXIT TAKES ITS TOLL ON NIGERIAN PATIENTS

As of the first quarter of 2023, prior to GSK’s eventual exit announcement in August 2023, the pharmaceutical company’s products, like the Ventolin and Seretide inhalers, had already become scarce.

In 2022, the Ventolin inhaler used by asthmatic patients sold for between N2,500 and N4,000.

As of May 2023, however, the same product’s retail price had risen to as much as N9,000. This was because it had become scarce at pharmacies and other drug stores nationwide.

Seretide, a brand of inhaler used by patients whose attacks can no longer be controlled or tamed by Ventolin, sold for N6,000 as of the first quarter of 2022.

By May 2023, and because of its scarcity, the same inhaler sold for N30,000 at pharmacies and drug stores that had a few units in stock. By August of the same year, the price had increased to N40,000.

Seeing the desperation of asthmatic patients in ensuring they had access to the few brands of GSK inhalers in circulation, criminal syndicates profited from the situation and started selling unregistered and adulterated inhalers.

The development later forced NAFDAC to issue a public statement in January 2024, advising the public to be weary of such products during purchase.

At a point, the two products were no longer available, leaving patients to fight for their lives during asthma attacks. This left patients with no choice but to use alternative inhalers that have strong and harmful side effects.

“Technically, GSK put the lives of over 200 million Nigerians at risk for profit-making reasons,” the source said.

“Despite controlling 85 percent of the inhaler market in Nigeria, the company made sure the commodity became scarce during the period.

“You can imagine a company making bold plans of exiting the country since September 2022, and when they made their exit, questions were also never asked by the regulators. They did this without thinking of the patients who depended on their drugs.

“While GSK still had its presence in Nigeria, the cost of marketing its products was about 25 percent of its profit line.

“The 25 percent that would no longer be spent as a result of the exit automatically becomes an addition to the profit margin realised at the end of the business year.”

“GSK stands making about $30 million profit on a yearly basis from Nigeria, and without its presence in the country. That is clearly at the expense of the average patient.”


GSK RESPONDS

On June 26, GSK UK responded to an email sent by FIJ through Dan Smith, its global corporate media relations director.

The company began its response by citing forex paucity as the major reason it exited Nigeria.

“After extensive and constructive engagement with the board of GSK Consumer Nigeria about GSK’s strategic intent to transition the business model from GSK-controlled local operating companies to a third-party distribution model, the board decided to cease trading and ultimately recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the scheme, which was made possible with support from GSK,” the mail reads in part.

“All of the above information was clearly set out in a ‘Scheme of Arrangement’ that was shared with shareholders ahead of a shareholder vote to determine support for the proposal. On 5 December 2023, the shareholders returned near unanimous support for this scheme.

“It’s worth noting that under the scheme, GSK shareholders received a total cash distribution of N17.42 for every share of GSK Consumer Nigeria they held and N11.16 billion in aggregate. This represented a 134 percent premium on the 90-day volume-weighted average price of the company’s shares as of the close of business on July 31, 2023. GSK did not take its share of the cash distribution and had taken no returns from the company since 2017.”


DISSECTING GSK’S VISIT TO THE BOARD CHAIRMAN

Since GSK UK failed to address the question posed to it on whether its officials first visited the chairman of the GSK Nigeria board in 2023 alone or not, FIJ consulted Abimbola Ojenike, its legal counsel and Managing Partner of Slingstone LP, on the legality of such moves.

“Management lobbying through the board chairman is not strictly a violation of corporate laws or the Companies and Allied Matters Act,” Ojenike said.

“While there may be implications for corporate governance practices or decision-making processes, no law is expressly breached by lobbying the board chairman.

“Ultimately, the board chairman doesn’t act alone, and management can’t validly bypass board approval regarding those reserved board matters. Playing the boardroom politics to consult with the chairman or board leadership can work out either way.

“It can facilitate and strengthen the quality of decision-making as the leadership is better informed. In the same way, it can provide the avenue for compromising the appropriate level of scrutiny that would have helped to prevent poor decision-making.

“The consideration is more nuanced and involves looking at the constitutive documents of the company to know if there are provisions on management-board relations and if any of those principles are violated by direct communication between the management and the board.

“It also depends on the underlying policy proposal that the management is lobbying the board leadership for. What is the management seeking to do, and what is the effect on shareholders, employees, the business environment and regulations? Those are some of the key questions in looking at the propriety of lobbying the chairman.”

On the allegation that GSK had a hand in the selection of CHD to achieve its exit plan, Ojenike said no clear rule has been violated.

“No law is violated by retaining the services of the same financial adviser if there are no breaches of fiduciary duties or any ethical consideration,” the lawyer told FIJ.


IMMENSE PROFIT FOR A FEW, AGONY FOR MANY

The part of the email that emphatically addressed the N11.16 billion payment (134 percent premium) the company made to its shareholders underscores the sources’ claims that GSK did not take the average Nigerian patient who needed its products for survival into consideration.

It also reflected a shrewd business decision that only profited a few businessmen and led to immense distress and agony for many Nigerian patients who depended on the company’s drugs and vaccines to survive. The company’s exit also led to a rise in the cost of drugs and vaccines, forcing patients to settle for inferior and harmful drugs.

More importantly, GSK failed to respond to the question raised on whether the forex shortage issue could have been resolved by way of raising fresh market capital (through accepting forex assistance from Chi Pharmaceuticals and other interested private equity companies).

Some clerics, rights activists, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria are furious following the decision of the federal government to sign the controversial Samoa Agreement.

The agreement reportedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as condition for getting financial and other supports from advanced societies.

Named after the Pacific Island Samoa, where it was signed on November 15, 2023, the agreement is gradually gaining traction, despite opposition by many countries that cherish Islamic and Christianity values, in addition to the sensitivity of their cultures.

Information about the ratification of the deal by Nigeria came to public knowledge on Monday, July 1, when the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu confirmed the development at a reception organised by the European Union (EU) in Abuja.

But when contacted on Wednesday, Bagudu’s media assistant, Bolaji Adebiyi, said the documents signed by the federal government, which the Minister of Budget made reference to during the reception by the EU, were strictly for economic development of Nigeria.

He said nowhere in the documents were LGBT or same sex marriage mentioned even remotely, and emphatically stating that it would be wrong for anyone to imply that Nigeria had accepted those tendencies.

He insisted that what Bagudu signed was in relation to $150 billion trade component.

When contacted yesterday to know whether they were aware of recent controversies surrounding the Samoa Agreement, Kamarudeen Ogundele, who is the spokesman of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, said he had to make some findings.

He did not call our reporter back to share the information requested up to press last night.

Daily Trust reports that a Lagos State based lawyer and Chairman, Human and Constitutional Rights Committee, African Bar Association (AfBA), Sonnie Ekwowusi, had raised an alarm on the development on Wednesday, in an article on the matter.

He said that the development was nauseating, occurring despite several meetings held with Nigerian officials, and memoranda sent to them. He questioned the judgement of the Nigerian officials in proceeding to sign the Samoa Agreement.

“The Samoa Agreement, named after the Pacific Island, Samoa, where it was signed on November 15, 2023 is a celebration of perversity. Certain Articles of the Agreement especially Articles 2.5 and 29.5 legalise LGBT, transgenderism, abortion, teen sexual abuse, and perversity in African countries. The signing of the Agreement by Nigeria constitutes a threat to the sovereignty of Nigeria and Africa. It further debases our democracy.

“I can wager that neither Minister Atiku Bagudu nor the Nigerian officials or diplomats who signed the Samoa Agreement on our behalf, understand the import of the agreement to Nigeria’s sovereignty, let alone the destructive impact of the Agreement in Nigeria. This explains why many African bodies including the AfBA have condemned the agreement and respectfully urged African countries not to sign it.

“Not infrequently, Nigerian officials in Geneva, New York, and other places sign international agreements or treaties over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with little or no knowledge of their contents,” Ekwowusi said.

He further queried: “Were the Nigerian officials who signed the offensive Samoa Agreement representing their own interests or the interests of the Nigerian people? Having refused to sign the Agreement earlier, why did Nigeria change its mind and proceed to sign the Agreement?”

He recalled that on November 15, 2023, Nigeria, to the bewilderment of the EU, refused to sign the “offensive” deal.

He also said that apart from Nigeria, 34 other African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries, including the Republic of Benin, Senegal, Liberia, Botswana, Burundi, Jamaica, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Namibia, Grenada, Eritrea, Malawi, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Maldives, Mauritania, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, Saint Lucia, the Republic of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Tuvalu, also refused to sign the LGBT Agreement.

“In fact, on that fateful November 15, 2023, Nigeria not only refused to sign the LGBT Agreement but was conspicuously absent in Samoa on the day of the signing. Frustrated by the refusal of these 35 countries to sign the Agreement, the European Union issued a significant threat dated November 24, 2023,” he said.

He said that the signing of the Samoa Agreement was completely unacceptable and Nigeria must undo the damage, by immediately withdrawing from the LGBT agreement.

He also urged the National Assembly to invite the Nigerian officials who signed the agreement to explain why they did so.


It won’t stand –NSCIA

When contacted Wednesday night, an official of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said that the council’s stance on same sex marriage or LGBT remained unchanged.

Abubakar Akande, who is the Administrative Secretary of the council, said that though they were invited and attended the meeting in March this year, it was not for them to ratify or oppose the draft shared with them.

He said that the 403-page document containing 104 articles was given to the Legal Director of the NSCIA, and that there was no same sex marriage in the draft.

“We (NSCIA) would not welcome such agreement. Our stance remains the same since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. We cannot agree to what is against the injunction of our Creator, Allah, on this matter, and which also disrespects Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he said.

On his part, the Ameer (leader), Abuja Muslim Forum (AMF), Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ajani, said that the African civil society organisations (CSOs), which the AMF is a part of, had met top government officials and members of the two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday, especially the chairmen of the relevant committees in the House of Representatives, and also the administrative leadership of the legislators.

He said they rejected the move completely.


N/Assembly didn’t consider Samoa Agreement – Rep Yusuf

When contacted yesterday, Rep. Rabiu Yusuf, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements, said that the Samoa Agreement had not been brought before the National Assembly for consideration.

“To the best of my knowledge, nothing has happened in the National Assembly regarding the Samoa Agreement,” he said.


It’s a disgrace, if true-African CSOs

Speaking with Daily Trust Wednesday night, a coalition of some African CSOs said that it will be a huge disappointment for Nigeria and its citizens, if it turns out to be true that the deal was signed, and that it is toxic to the moral standing of the citizens of Nigeria.

Barrister Richard Kakeeto, a Kenyan lawyer with Family Watch International, Africa Region, told Daily Trust that Africa was counting on Nigeria when it decided not to sign the Samoa Agreement, initially.

“Many African countries, people of goodwill, were hoping that Nigeria will remain in that situation of not signing and probably even withdrawing from the Samoa Agreement totally.

“However, we have received information that on the 28th day of June 2024, the Ambassador of Nigeria in Brussels was given a go-ahead but we don’t know who signed the Samoa Agreement.

“As a result, Nigeria has committed itself to the human rights agenda of the European Union that involves the mainstreaming of sexual and reproductive health and rights, a term or a euphemism that is used to talk about abortion on demand, the sexualization of our children through comprehensive sexuality education, and the proliferation of reproductive sexual and reproductive health services, including hormones to sustain the homosexual lifestyle and transgender practices.

“The word LGBTQ++ that Nigerians have been contesting is now part of our law because Nigeria has decided to sign it. So, Nigerians should be very bitter with what is going on. They should challenge their legislators and policy makers to explain why they chose to commit to this dangerous agreement,” Kakeeto said.

On her part, Mrs. Omoye Olaye, Media Coordinator, World Council for Health (WCH) International and Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), said the federal government must rescind the deal.

“Our stand is very clear. Whoever signed on behalf of Nigerians needs to apologise to Nigerians. But we need more than the apology. We need Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rescind that signature.

“All he (Tinubu) needs to do is to apologise on Nigeria’s behalf very nicely and tell them that the truth is we have not signed. We are withdrawing from the ACP EU Treaty. That is all we ask the President to do. That is all we will accept. Anything less than that will not be accepted,” she said.


Minister’s speech wrongly interpreted – Spokesman

Speaking more on what the budget minister said, Adebiyi said Ekwowusi’s article was misleading.

“The article does not represent the content of the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria. The Articles 2.5 and 29.5 cited made no mention of LGBT rights but rather 29.5 guarantees “support [for] universal access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and health care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes”, he said.

“Article 2.5 states that: “The parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies.

“I fail to see how these articles imply the protection of LGBT rights. Please, note that this is a negotiated agreement among the 27 EU countries and 79 OACPS, which is subject to domestic laws. All 27 EU countries and 74 of the 79 OACPS have signed. Nigeria was the 73rd to sign last Friday, 28th June, in Brussels.

“Following the controversy around the agreement, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning organised a stakeholders meeting in March in Abuja, comprising NGOs and religious bodies during which concerns were addressed.

“Meanwhile, the EU reception the Minister attended was for the 9th Nigeria-EU Business Forum. It was held in Abuja (not Enugu) on July 1,” he said.


Ex-President Jonathan signed anti-gay law in 2014

Daily Trust reports that it was former President Jonathan who, in January 2014, signed into law a bill that criminalises same sex relationships, defying western pressure over gay rights and provoking United States criticism.

The law contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same sex ‘amorous relationships’ and membership of gay rights groups.

Various religious bodies across Nigeria have reiterated their commendations to past administrations for maintaining Nigeria’s strong objection to the LGBT tendencies.

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, on Wednesday, vowed that many structures obstructing the free flow of rain water will be removed.

He said those structures would be removed “irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are.”

Wahab spoke in the wake of the ravaging flood which submerged many houses, communities and properties in Lagos.

Some of the affected areas include Epe, Eredo, Bogije, Labora, Abijon, Sangotedo, Awoyaya and Ibeju-Lekki.

A primary six pupil simply identified as Joshua was swept away by flood in Ikosi, Ketu area of Lagos State.

Daily Trust reports that some miscreants also took advantage of the crisis as they charged passers-by N100 to access a makeshift bridge at the Tradefair under-bridge in Lagos.

The commissioner, however, unleashed his anger on a post on social media asking him to explain if “the Igbo-owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered?”

@PureStanley1 posted that “Can we all now agree that the Igbo owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered? and we were told that some of the buildings were built on canals, thereby blocking the flow of water and causing flooding in Lagos.

@tokunbo_wahab can u explain to us why there was a flood in Lagos again yesterday and the early hours of today, after going on demolition spree on IGBOS owned properties?

“Take the Microphone sir, we await ur response!.”

But Wahab fired back and accused the social media user of pushing ethnic narrative.

“Many more structures obstructing the free flow of rain water in Lagos will still be removed irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are. Prepare your mind to make your usual aimless and empty noise. If turning it to ethnic narrative makes you happy, go ahead! TW,” he posted.