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CDS says protests hijacked, warns hoisting foreign flags treasonable, vows military will resist any attempt to topple democratic govt Soldiers, protesters clash on Abuja-Kaduna road as police, DSS deny using live bullets Kano to establish inquiry commission over killings, displeased with use of Russian flag Sani imposes 24hrs curfew on Kaduna, hoodlums attack bank, vandalise vehicles
Mobsters confront security in Jos despite restricting movement Obi revisits Tinubu’s speech, insists it failed to address critical issues that triggered protests
our Correspondents
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met with all heads of security agencies in the country to review the state of the nation amid ongoing protests embarked upon by aggrieved Nigerians, which had turned violent in some parts of the country.
The situation in many northern cities had become precarious, with daily reports of violence since the protests against hardship and hunger began some five days ago countrywide.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who briefed newsmen at the end of the security meeting, described as a treasonable offence the hoisting of the Russian flag by protesters in some Nigerian towns.
Musa also ruled out the possibility of a coup to remove the democratically elected government of Tinubu,
EFCC warns it won't be business as usual BudgIT: N17.5tn disbursed
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Stakeholders from the public service, academia, civil society and the antigraft agency, among others, have called for the enthronement of a truly autonomous, democratic, effective and efficient as well as accountable and people-oriented local government system in the country following the recent Supreme Court verdict.
In a landmark ruling, the apex court had on July 11, 2024, declared that disbursement of federation allocations to the local councils should be paid to local councils directly, also affirming that it was illegal for local governments to be run by caretaker committees appointed by state governors.
Converging yesterday on Abuja, at a policy conversation hosted by Agory Policy and five others with the support of MacArthur Foundation, the stakeholders regretted that the local government administration which should be the most impactful on the people had failed to live to its constitutional role.
To set the tone for the event with the theme, “Enthroning Accountability in Local Governance in Nigeria," the founder of Agora Policy, Mr. Waziri Adio, noted that a lot was expected of local governments from the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the literature.
Adio, listed the roles of local governments to include service delivery, development function, resource mobilisation role, regulatory role, political participation and security roles, among others.
He lamented that despite the heavy responsibilities vested at the local council level, it was the least trusted, least interested in and the least capacitated.
According to him, enthroning accountability at council level was a critical touchpoint, adding that it was not just horizontal accountability, but also vertical and diagonal.
Adio, explained that the goal should not just be better elections and less corruption, but also about going from representative to participatory and deliberative democracy, stressing that the people needed to be in the front and centre of making local governments work better.
In his goodwill message at the event, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, stated that good governance was anchored on three critical elements, including accountability, transparency and citizen participation.
Olukoyede, who was represented at the event by one of his top officials argued that for citizen participation to be effective and for accountability and transparency to be entrenched, solid development-minded people were needed to run local government administrations.
"It's on this note that the EFCC serves local government administrations notice that it's not going to be business as usual. Their activities will be scrutinised.
"We must make sure there is a deliberate effort to ensure the presence governance to the people. People must feel the presence of governance at the local governments," he said.
Also, in his goodwill message, the founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, stated that the issue of accountability was key in local governments, adding that there was need for credible, free and fair elections at local government
councils to ensure accountability.
He cited some mechanisms that must be in place for effective local government administrations, including what he described as internal system within the government, legislative oversight, independent mechanisms for monitoring local governments such as the EFCC as well as the media and citizens.
In a presentation on the state of local government administration in the country, the Head of Tracka, BudgIT, Ms. Ayomide Ladipo, recalled that since 1999, local governments have been plagued by a myriad of issues such as weak leadership, poor delivery of governance and infrastructure to citizens, excessive control/undue influence by state governors as well and personnel capacity, and statutory revenue hijack.
Others are lack of democratic participation via regular elections and citizen engagement, corruption and mismanagement of scarce resources. She disclosed that a total of N17.5 trillion had been disbursed to local governments between July 2014 - June 2024 (a period of 10 years), which is almost equivalent to the N17.9 trillion revenues the federal government generated between 2015 and 2020.
In a panel discussion on "Accountability and Local Governance in Nigeria," discussants argued that the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, was a means to an end and not entirely an end to the problems bedeviling grassroots administrations in Nigeria.
The acting Director General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Salawu
to councils in 10 years
Ozigi, who represented the National President of ALHON, Aminu Maifata stated that the local government system has an internationally recognised system of administration.
Noting that there was a need to give local governments a template for budgeting, he also explained that the state governments were expected to provide a framework for accountability at the council areas.
For the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, 'electoral coronation' has been the norm in terms of leadership of local governments instead of elections as prescribed by the Constitution.
He lamented that the state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) were everything but independent, and only do the bidding of governors.
He stressed that they are neither
financially nor operationally independent, adding that he would rather prescribe the strengthening of the SIECs instead of creating new bodies for council elections or saddling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with conducting council polls.
Commenting on the recent Supreme Court ruling vis--a-vis local government autonomy, Prof. Remi Aiyede, of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan urged dialogue between the federal government and the state governors to ensure a seamless implementation of the ruling.
According to him, the state governors were displeased on the manner President Bola Tinubu, went about taking the matter to the apex court.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued guidelines on tariff plans, bundles and promotional activities.
The directive for the guidelines was issued to telecommunications operators, asking them to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.
The NCC, in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, stated that the directives would provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about
the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to subscribers.
The directive, titled, "Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector," was issued on July 29, 2024. It mandates Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table showing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.
NCC said the table should contain all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, including details on addons, their prices, how consumers can opt-in or out, terms and conditions
for renewal, and rollover policies.
According to the statement, the guideline was the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness of promotional elements of tariff plans, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information so that they make informed decisions, and promote
fair competition among licensees by standardising tariff structures.
"Service providers are required to display all relevant information about their tariffs, such as the name of the plan, price, validity period, price-per-second for on or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
“Operators can maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans till 31st December 2024, within which period operators are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans,” the directive stated.
The federal government has urged the Enugu State government to begin the construction of the flyover bridge at Abakpa junction in Enugu Capital City to minimise traffic challenges and enhance the economic fortunes of the state.
Speaking during a visit to some projects in the Southeast, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who pledged the collaboration of the federal government, stressed that through the MTN Tax Credit
Scheme, the state government will be refunded its funding of the project. At the site of the collapsed bridge at New Artisan Market, near NNPC Mega Filling Station, Enugu State, Umahi, who was with the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, commended the governors of the region for their efforts in the development of road infrastructure for the economic advancement of the area.
With the ongoing construction works, he said the economy of the region would begin to boom.
Other projects he visited included:
The construction of 23-span twin flyover bridge at Eke-Obinagu Junction, Emene handled by Reinforced Global Ltd, the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge along Enugu-PH Expressway at New Artisan Market, handled by CCECC Ltd, and the ‘dualization’ of 107km section of Enugu- Onitsha Expressway handled by RCC Ltd.
He lauded the governor for the initiative to handle the dualization of 24km of Enugu axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Trans-Sahara Highway and noted that the intervention had closed the gap in the road
infrastructure intervention efforts of federal government in the state.
“He (Umahi) expressed the readiness of federal government to collaborate with Enugu state government in the construction of a flyover bridge at Abakpa junction in Enugu Capital City to minimise traffic challenges and enhance the business fortunes of the state.
“He directed immediate soil tests and design of the bridge for consideration by the Federal Ministry of Works. It is expected that the state government will fund the execution of the project and
afterwards get a refund from the federal government through the MTN Tax Credit Scheme,” a statement by Uchenna Orji, the minister’s spokesman said.
Umahi directed RCC Ltd to re-mobilise immediately to the site and free the roads to reduce the hardship suffered by the road users because of the uncompleted section of the road.
He urged the people to keep faith with the federal government's programmes for economic recovery, as reiterated in his recent nationwide broadcast.
The guidelines further mandate that MNOs must communicate tariffs to subscribers in clear language and a user-friendly format, with full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).
"Additionally, the operators must offer stand-alone data bundles at fair prices to avoid tying consumers with products they do not need; bonuses on promotions must be stated in actual value; access fees and asymmetric fee structures must be eliminated, among other conditions," the guidelines further stated.
The NCC emphasised that while complying with the guidelines, operators must also meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) standards set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) regulations.
and
from
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday announced the introduction of Utapate crude oil blend, a new crude grade into the international oil market.
The new blend is from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 and is fully operated by NNPC Exploration and Production (NEPL), the national oil company’s upstream subsidiary.
A statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, said that the Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July 2024, with its first
cargo headed for Spain. Located offshore Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, Utapate's current crude oil production is at 28,000 barrels per day, the NNPC said, with potential to increase it to 50,000 barrels per day.
In addition, the national oil company stated that the sulphur content of the new crude is 0.0655 per cent.
According to the NNPC, Spanish oil giant Repsol, won the tender for the initial cargo of the new crude blend which is comparable to the much sought after Amenam crude. Besides, it noted that Gulf Transport and Trading, another leading crude oil dealer, had also secured
the cargoes' tenders for August and September 2024.
During the Argus European Crude Conference in London last year, NNPC announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo operated OML 29 Joint Venture (JV).
“Similar to the Nembe crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.
“This remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC to increase Nigeria’s crude
oil production and grow reserves through the development of new assets,” the statement added.
Although there are three key crude oil blends, namely: West Texas
50,000bpd
Intermediate (WTI), Brent Crude and UAE Dubai Crude, there are tens of other little known grades. Typically, crude oil is grouped according to its chemical properties, that is mainly by its density and sulphur content. Crude is said to be sweet when it has a sulphur content of less than 0.5 per cent and sour if it’s higher than 1.0 per cent.
Kuni
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has commenced the disbursement of N20,000 for the month of July to
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
Stakeholders at a two-day workshop have analysed how extraction of crude by oil by the federal government and multinationals in the Niger Delta is hurting the region and its environment.
The workshop organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in collaboration with the Niger Delta University (NDU) Ammasoma, all agreed and declared that the Niger Delta region and many other regions in African are sacrificed zones by oil firms and the federal government.
Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, who spoke at the two-day discussion with the theme: "School of Ecology Recovering Oil Sacrifice Zone,” stated that apart from the Niger Delta, the cold mines of South-Africa, the gas fields of the phosphate fields of Togo and Western Sahara have all been sacrificed for profit.
The environmental activist deplored the state of the environment and living conditions of the host communities, especially the Niger Delta, as a result of oil activities, describing the region as a "sacrifice zone."
He said the oil belt of Nigeria, which is the Niger Delta, "has been completely sacrifice and privatise sacrifice in the sense that the exploitation has not shown any sense of responsibility or accountability."
He said the government has sacrificed the region for foreign exchange which explains why the federal government does not frown at destructive activities of multinational oil companies particularly oil spills.
The environment activist urged
the government to stop expanding crude oil exploration and invest more in other sectors like agriculture, adding that the oil in the Niger Delta is drying up hence the divestment by multinationals.
Bassey said: "So the whole zone (Niger Delta) has been sacrificed for profit, for capital, for the benefit of oil companies and the benefit of those who are working, of those who are benefiting from the actions of the oil company, which is the Nigerian government.
"The government has sacrificed the Niger Delta for foreign exchange. This is why no matter what the corporations do, it's very hard for government to really frown on them. Even when they say they are divesting, they say, okay, you want to divest, bring the papers, you sign it.
"When they do oil spills sometimes for months they don't clean up. There is one oil spill that is going on off the coast of Ondo State, more than four years, the well blew up and its burning and spilling.
"There's no better way to describe a zone that has been sacrificed than that. So, it's a zone of always taking from, not giving back or not keep not giving by way of money. Money doesn't solve this, not caring what happens to the people. So both the people and the environment have been sacrificed.
"We have to stop expanding the sacrifice zone. Nigeria's oil wells are drying off. There's no point pretending that, that is not the case. This is why oil companies always look for new wells, always look for new reserves. But we have not heard of any new reserves being added to the Nigeria
stock of reserves.
"So clearly something is pointing to the fact that Nigeria should begin to invest more in other sectors. So, this is the solution. Stop, don't open any more oil wells or gas wells because the ones we have has damaged us, not just damaging
the environment."
On his part, Head of Department, Environmental and Management, Niger Delta University, Dr. Charles Oyibo, said the lecture would help students to be better informed and help them to be aware of what to do in the future.
20,371 students in six institutions.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday committed the sum of N50 billion to the student loan programme. A statement released by the Fund listed the institutions to include Bayero University Kano; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma; University of Ilorin; University of Benin; University of Ibadan and the University of Maiduguri.
Signed by its Director of finance, Ibom Uche, the Fund stated that it was working towards the commencement of the payment process for students from approximately, “55 additional tertiary institutions.
“It is anticipated that this will be concluded within the next two weeks as the fund is committed to ensuring that all eligible students receive their stipends promptly.”
“It is noteworthy that the President only Sunday committed a further 50 billion Naira from recovered proceeds of crime.” The student loan scheme is Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector. Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Tinubu had signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which creates a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions. NELFUND is saddled with the responsibility of handling all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.
The Fund, according to the Act, is to be funded from multiple streams and would engage in other productive activities.
Wale Igbintade
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, granted a N50 million bail sum to alleged fraudsters who were said to have defrauded MTN Nigeria Communication of the sum of N1.9 billion.
The trial judge granted them bail after hearing two separate bail applications filed by the defendants.
In addition to the bail sum, Justice Aluko also ordered the defendants to provide two sureties each one of the sureties must be a civil servant either in the federal or Lagos State employment, who must be grade level 14 and above, while the second surety, must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court, provide evidence of ownership, and must swear to an affidavit of means.
In the case of the civil servant, he/she must produce reference letter of his place of work, and letter of last promotion, while the defendants must submit two recent passport photographs to the registrar of the court.
Justice Aluko ordered that the pros-
ecution should verify all documents submitted by the sureties including their residential addresses.
The court further ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the fulfil- ment of their bail conditions
It would be recalled that men of the Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road Ikoyi, Lagos, had last week arraigned the duo of Timothy Fashina Oluwabukola and Anthony Imonina Odemerho, said to be a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, Ogun State, and proprietor of Resign Regal Academy in Benin City, Edo State, respectively, for allegedly hacking into MTN web-based platform known as Application Programming Interface (API) stole N1, 900, 000, 000 worth of airtime and data.
The defendants were arraigned on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unauthorized access into the company’s web-based platform known as Application Programming Interface (API) and unlawful conversion.
The two men and others said to be at large, were alleged to have committed the offences between
January and April this year, in Lagos and Edo States.
The prosecutor, Justine Enang, said the defendants and others at large, conspired among themselves and gained access into telecom’s Application Programming Interface (API) and obtained data from the said application, which they used to defraud the company (MTN) to the tune of N1.9 billion.
He also submitted that the alleged illegal acts of the defendants, contravened Section 27(1)(b); 6(2) and 28(1) (b) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, but punishable under Section 8(2) of the same Act.
He further submitted that the offences are contrary to section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 but punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
However, the two defendants pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and urged the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS)
till the determination of the charge. But, the defence lawyer informed the court that he has filed two applications for bail and same have been served on the prosecutor. In response, the prosecutor confirmed being served with the bail applications, but told the court that he was served while the proceedings was on.
Charges against the defendants are: “That you, Timothy Fashina Oluwabukola, Anthony Imonina Odemerho and others at large, between January and April, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to intentionally and without authorization, gained access into MTN Nigeria Communications Plc computer system/network, with intent to obtain data from the said computer system/network, which you subsequently used to defraud the company (MTN) to the tune of one billion, nine hundred million Naira (N1, 900, 000, 000), and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, but punishable under Section 8(2) of the same Act.
L-R: Member, Governing Council, Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, Engr. Femi Omotayo; Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Wole Sowole; Ogun State Governor, Prince
other members, Maj. Gen. Bamidele Shafa (rtd) and Rev. Bola Oyeledun, during the inauguration of the new Council at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan,
Wale Igbintade
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, declared null and void the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airline.
The court ordered that the proposed establishment of a national carrier – Nigeria Air, by the federal government, should be suspended.
The judge made the order while granting the reliefs sought by the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five others in the aviation industry.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs except for relief number eight demanding for N2billion as damages.
The plaintiffs in the suit were the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators, Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited and Topbrass Aviation Limited, who were the first to sixth plaintiffs.
However, the first to fourth defendants were Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Senator Hadi Sirika (former Minister of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Aviation) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The plaintiffs had filed the suit asking the court to make an order setting aside the entire bidding/ selection process(es) for the “Nigeria Air” project as well as the approval, grant or selection of the 2nd defendant by the 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants in the process.
The Plaintiffs claimed the bidding process for Nigeria Air, facilitated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, was fraught with irregularities and favoured Ethiopian Airlines, a foreign
entity wholly owned by the Ethiopian Government.
The plaintiffs argued that the Federal Ministry of Transportation representatives, who hold significant control in Nigeria Air, failed to comply with the request for proposal guidelines, leading to the exclusion of local airlines from the bidding process.
The plaintiffs submitted that the 3rd and 4th defendants, who are
key government officials, facilitated a skewed bidding process, granting the 2nd defendant and its consortium unprecedented privileges.
These included a 15-year tax moratorium, exclusive terminal buildings in Lagos and Abuja, and significant financial support, which they argue will undermine local airlines and the Nigerian economy.
According to the plaintiffs, the consortium led by Ethiopian Airlines
was discreetly allowed to be the sole bidder and winner, contrary to the principles of free and fair competition. They claimed that the 2nd defendant's business plan also proposed strategies that could stultify the operations of local airlines, further jeopardising the Nigerian aviation industry.
Besides, the plaintiffs argued that Tianaero Nigeria Limited, the transaction advisor for the deal, was
inadequately qualified and lacked the necessary experience, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of the bidding process.
The plaintiffs asserted that the entire process has been marred by politics and personal interests, designed to achieve an outcome detrimental to Nigerian airlines and the broader public interest.
They sought an order to nullify the entire bidding and selection process
for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants. In the judgment, delivered yesterday Justice Lewis-Allagoa, discountenanced the sole issues raised by the 2nd defendant (Ethiopian Airlines).
The Judge held, "All the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are granted except for relief number eight for damages"
Chinedu Eze
Labour unions in the Nigerian aviation industry have jointly written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu on the grounding of Arik Air’s aircraft by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), urging the President to intervene and review the consequences of shutting down the operations of the airline.
The unions which included the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), expressed dismay over the grounding of the airline’s fleet.
In the open letter dated August 1, 2024, signed by Ocheme Aba, General Secretary, NUATE; Frances Akinjole, Principal Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN, and Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NAAPE, made
available to THISDAY, the unions said they were shocked by the grounding of the operations of the airline over the indebtedness between Arthur Eze and Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, the founder of Arik Air.
The unions also stated that the aircraft in question belonged to secured creditors as lien and wondered how such equipment could be taken over by another creditor.
They argued that the aircraft could not have been used as writ for the loan.
According to the unions, the action created anguish and severe frustration among Arik’s passengers and had exacerbated the present air travel challenges in the country.
The unions also stated that no fewer than 2,000 direct staff of the airline would be affected, while no fewer than 16,000 dependents would also face the current hardship of the grounding of the airline by
the agency.
“Under the current severe socioeconomic upheavals, throwing such large numbers of citizens into economic quagmire can only worsen the forbearance strains.
“This is apart from losses of the other third party vendors and service providers – airports, aviation agencies, ground handlers, fuellers, caterers and many more. This will also have a significant negative impact on the earnings of aviation agencies.
“Against the background of the negative consequences of the earlier similar grounding of Dana Air for which the industry is still counting the losses, we consider this avoidable situation to be truly worrisome,” the statement said.
The unions also appealed to the President to intervene in the crisis by calling all parties in the matter, especially the government agencies to order and allow the airline to continue its operations, even while the issues are being resolved.
The unions also pointed out that there was an order of court directing all parties to maintain status quo ante on the issue.
“Your Excellency, Sir, while we cannot arrogate the review of any judicial decision regarding the matter to ourselves as trade unions, we are strongly of the opinion that the mentioned fleet of aircraft cannot be subject of attachment to any writ that might have occasioned the grounding of the airline as the fleet of aircraft do not belong to Arik Air as such, it being lien belonging to secured creditors.
“While we await your expeditious intervention in this matter, we most passionately request that you use your esteemed office to call all parties in this matter, especially government agencies, to order and allow Arik Air continue their operations even while the issues are being resolved. “This is in the national interest, especially considering that there is an order of court directing all parties to maintain status quo ante.
“We trust in your renewed hope agenda to bring succor to our troubled dear nation, and we hope that your administration will always carry our Unions along in matters connected with the aviation industry,” the unions stated.
On Tuesday last week, NAMA issued a statement explaining that in line with court order, it had to ground four aircraft in Arik Air’s fleet, pending when the Court resolves the case between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum.
“The Judgment Creditor registered the Judgment of the Lagos State High Court in The High Court of FCT and On the 26th day of June, 2024, Honorable Justice O. A. Adeniyi, then sitting in Court 8, Maitama, Abuja) made an order after hearing Motion No: M/9785/2024 filed on behalf of Atlas Petroleum attaching all the moveable properties belonging to the Judgment Debtor, including the Judgment Debtor’s aircraft with Registration No: B737-700/ 5N-MJF, B737-800/ 5N-MJQ, DASH8-Q400 and 5N-BKX in satisfaction of the judgment debt. Copies of the Order and Certificate of Judgment were also served on us and the Minister,” NAMA had stated in the statement. The statement had also clarified that the airline’s fleet of aircraft were grounded over the $2.5 million debt to one Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.
The leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.
The decision to reconstitute another ad-hoc committee might not be unconnected with the clash of interest among the members of the joint committee and other lawmakers in the Green Chamber. It would be recalled that recently, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese had asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd
(NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.
However, no less than fifty members of the House of Representatives kicked against the call describing it as premature.
The lawmakers led by Hon. Billy Osawaru while addressing a press conference last Thursday in Abuja said the call for the sacking of Kyari when an investigation was currently being carried out was premature and done in bad faith.
But the spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a
statement issued Monday said the joint committee initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, would be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.
He said: “To ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee's operations will be provided in due course.”
In a bizarre twist, the State Working Committee of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Monday, suspended the former governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, for his choice of the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 election and his statement calling on Benue PDP to vote for APC in the 2027 Presidential election and Hon. Azua Ashongo for alleged gross insubordination and indiscipline.
In a statement signed by a media consultant to the party, Mr. Conilius Hwande, and released in Makurdi, added that the party’s working committee has equally suspended Chief
Isaac Mffo and Bemgba Iortyom from the party.
The suspension of the duo, Hwande alleged, follows their involvement in the snatching of congress materials meant for the conduct of last Saturday’s ward congresses in Buruku and Ushongo Local Government Areas, respectively. Hwande said the suspension takes effect from Friday, 2nd August 2024. However, before Hwande's statement, another statement from the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Bemgba Iyortyom, said the party has suspended three members of its State Working Committee from office for a period of one month with immediate effect.
The affected officials are State Chairman, John Ngbede; State Secretary, Joseph Nyam and State Organizing Secretary, Moses Audu. The action was carried at an extraordinary meeting of the State Working Committee of the party on Saturday, 3rd August, 2024, at which 9 out of the 13 members were present and assented to the decision. The suspended members are accused of forging and impersonating the State Working Committee to achieve their individual aims, instigating violence and crisis during the just concluded ward congresses of the party, and mismanagement of the finances of the party, among other things.
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
Since November, 2023 when the Court of appeal sitting in Lagos voided the election of Hon Destiny Nwagwu and pronounced Hon aaron Uzodike as the duly elected member to represent aba North in the abia State House of assembly, the Speaker, Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa has refused to comply with the ruling of the appellate court. Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo reports.
The Eighth session of the Abia State House of Assembly has crossed one year of legislative work since its inauguration in June, 2023. But of all the 24 state constituencies represented in the Assembly, Aba North has no representation. The seat has been vacant since November 27, 2023 when the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos voided the mandate of Hon Destiny Nwagwu. In his place the appellate Court declared Hon Aaron Uzodike as the rightful person to occupy the Aba North seat in the Eighth Abia House. Uzodike, who was a member of the seventh Abia House on the platform of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had wanted to revalidate his mandate for a second term. He lost to the Labour Party candidate, Hon Nwagwu, who benefitted from the Peter Obi wave in the 2023 general election. Uzodike challenged his loss at the Abia State Governorship and House of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal but lost to Nwagwu, yet again. However, Uzodike didn’t agree with the verdict and went to the Appeal Court for redress.
And so on November 27, 2023, Uzodike realised his dream of returning to the Abia Assembly as the Appellate Court ruled in his favour and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Nwagwu and issue a fresh one to him. The electoral body promptly complied with the court order and on December 13, 2023 issued Uzodike a certificate of return with reference number SHA/0648/2023. Armed with the certificate of return, Uzodike returned to Abia but could not take up the seat vacated by Uzodike. Politics took over the seat.
After his state assembly mandate was upturned, Nwagwu rushed to the Abia State High Court in Ukwa and obtained an ex-parte order restraining the Speaker, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa from inaugurating Uzodike. In fact, his inauguration was said to have already been scheduled for December 18, 2023 well before Nwagwu came and waved the court injunction before the Speaker. Probably for political exigency, Emeruwa chose to obey the curious injunction from a lower court in a matter the appellate Court had already pronounced its verdict. In petitions pertaining to the State and National Assembly election, the Appeal Court
is by law the final court of arbitration.
The Abia Assembly Speaker, who represents Aba South state constituency, had in defending his action argued that the appellate Court did not make any order for him to swear-in Uzodike. He also stated that since he was served the court injunction restraining him from inaugurating Uzodike as a member of the Eighth Abia House, he had to obey the court.
Eventually, the case Nwagwu filed at the high court marked HUK/1/2023 was dismissed on March 19, 2024 by Justice C. H Ahuchaogu, who hitherto issued the ex-parte order. Despite the outcome of Nwagwu’s misadventure at the state high court, Uzodike’s dilemma still persisted. His efforts to be admitted into the eight Abia House remained a dream.
On June 13, 2024 during his maiden press conference to mark the first anniversary of the eight Abia House under his leaders. hip, the Speaker revealed other reasons for not inaugurating Uzodike. He said that the PDP lawmaker-elect had filed forms 48 and 49 meant to commit him to prison for contempt of court(ostensibly for not inaugurating him). “If I was jailed, will I be in prison
and swear him in,” the Speaker wondered aloud in palpable anger.
In all these hide and seek game, high wire politics was at play. Uzodike’s victory at the Appeal Court meant that PDP has increased its majority in the 24-member House to 12.
At inauguration on June 14, 2023, the Eighth Abia House was composed of 11 PDP members, 10 LP, two members of Young Progressives Party(YPP) and one from the All Progressives Congress(APC).
The slim majority of PDP counted for nothing during the election of principal officers of the House. The ruling LP outwitted PDP and produced the House Speaker with the support of YPP and APC members. The PDP was further humiliated as it was not allowed to produce the Majority Leader of the House even when it was so obvious that the former ruling party produced the highest number of legislators in the Eighth Abia House. It was therefore a very bitter pill for LP to swallow when Hon Nwagwu lost at the appellate Court thereby reducing its number in the House to nine.
Though the two YPP lawmakers, Hon Fyne Ahuama of Osisioma Ngwa South and Hon Iheanacho Nwogu of Osisioma North state constituencies have now defected to LP, the addition has not altered the majority status of PDP. With Uzodike still waiting in the wings, PDP will have 12 legislators to LP’s 11. No
On November 27, 2023, Uzodike realised his dream of returning to the Abia Assembly as the Appellate Court ruled in his favour and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Nwagwu and issue a fresh one to him. The electoral body promptly complied with the court order and on December 13, 2023 issued Uzodike a certificate of return with reference number SHA/0648/2023. Armed with the certificate of return, Uzodike returned to Abia but could not take up the seat vacated by Uzodike. Politics took over the seat.
doubt, the ruling party may not feel comfortable being outnumbered in the House by the main opposition party, even though it is not a commanding majority. While PDP is enjoying its bragging right of having the slim majority, LP boasts of total control of the House and keeping Uzodike at bay would diminish the accentuation of PDP majority.
The ruling party has not hidden its intention to retain the Aba North seat even after losing it in court. Some traditional rulers in Aba North were enlisted and instigated to sign a statement calling on the Speaker to declare the Aba North seat vacant. They alleged that Uzodike had fled abroad hence INEC should hold a by-election to fill the “vacant seat”.
The game plan was for the ruling party to leverage its incumbency to retake the seat lost in the court. The devious plan collapsed following the outrage it generated.
Emeruwa’s persistent foot dragging has been frustrating to both Uzodike and his party, PDP. But the former ruling party is not giving up on the struggle to get its lawmaker-elect into the Abia Assembly. It has continued to mount pressure on the Speaker to allow Uzodike take his seat. The party leadership and stakeholders have variously condemned Emeruwa’s action, urging him to uphold the rule of law.
In a statement signed by the Abia PDP Vice Chairman, Elder Amah Abraham, who also doubles as the Acting state publicity secretary, the party insisted that every condition necessary for Uzodike to take his seat has been complied with.
The main opposition party has been blowing red hot, accusing the Abia Speaker and his party, LP of playing politics with the mandate of Aba North State constituency, warning that disobedience to the rule of law portends danger to democracy and Abia State.
“The delay is not only arbitrary, but also illegal, disrespectful to the judiciary and laws of the land and also dangerous because it is capable of leading to a breakdown of the law and order not only in Aba North constituency where they have been denied a voice in the way they are governed but also in the entire Abia State,” the PDP said.
‘…Security Operatives should continue to maintain peace, law and order in our country, following the necessary conventions on human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians, are paramount.’ - HE Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
‘Despite our suspicions, we showed good faith through professional conduct by providing security at strategic locations, all aimed at ensuring peaceful conduct during the protest….Regrettably, events in some major cities today, showed that what was being instigated was mass uprising and looting, not protest. Those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the protest, were not around to lead it.’ - Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, Inspector General of Police
PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIArb, PH.D. LLD
Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.
This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.
The writer of this column, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Prof Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.
No one had to be Nostradamus, to see that the #Days of Rage aka #EndBadGovernance (EBG) Protest would turn violent, at least in some parts of Nigeria. And, indeed, in various States, violence and looting occurred on the very first day. EBG doesn’t seem to have taken off as well as #EndSARS did, even though, at the end of the day, not much was achieved from the #EndSARS Protest. In fact, it ended in monumental losses, with not much in terms of institutional reforms as far as the Police is concerned, (which was one of the main demands of the Protest), aside from a change in nomenclature of the offending Police Department from SARS to SWAT.
#EndBadGovernance Protest: Looting, Carnage and Violence
On the first day of EBG, we saw live videos of people looting recklessly in Kano; and it was obvious that it was the people of Kano in action, not any Government sponsored thugs, at least not at the Rufaidah Building where there is a yoghurt shop located on the ground floor. Even teenagers and children were present at that particular scene of looting; the about-to-be launched NCC Industrial Park, was also ransacked and looted, and we saw other young ones, making away with executive office chairs and other gadgets stolen from there.
In Kaduna, 25 suspects who were arrested for their alleged involvement in damaging Government offices, happened to be members of Sheik El-Zakzaky’s Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). A news report that I read, stated that an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
In Bayelsa State, the Governor, Douye Diri, gave a press conference alleging that the opposition that lost the election in 2023, was responsible for violence in the State during the protest. The Governor openly accused former Bayelsa Governor and APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the 2023 election, Timipre Silva, Joshua Maciver and some others, of being behind the violence.
In short, the narrative that was repeated by some like learned Senior Advocates, Femi Falana and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, that the violence that had erupted during past protests like #EndSARS, was mainly because of the insertion of Government sponsååored thugs and agents into the mix to foment violence and disruption, didn’t quite seem to be the case, at least not in these three States and several others. It was the people themselves, that went on a rampage! As the saying goes, ‘a hungry man, is an angry man’. However, law enforcement agents must remember that while there cannot be use of force against peaceful protesters, in extreme and exceptional circumstances where force may be necessary, it must be proportionate. For instance, opening fire on unarmed protesters who may be disruptive or even throwing stones at the Police, is using disproportionate force. Such response, is unacceptable.
Some EBG Demands
My point? Like I said last week, these days, in Nigeria, a call to protest means different things to different people. For some, they genuinely use it as a means of airing their grievances, a right which is guaranteed by Sections 39(1) & 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023) (the Constitution), that is, the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, peaceful being the operative word here (see Section 45 of the Constitution). See the case of IGP v ANPP 2007 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1066 Page 457.
For those who were engaged in peaceful EBG protest, some of their demands are: 1) revert petrol pump price to N100/litre (so that transportation costs will be greatly reduced, prices of food stuff will once again become affordable and cost of living will decrease generally); 2) security; 3) combat hunger; 4) effective fight against corruption; 5) no more unjustifiable and unnecessary Government expenditure on things like ridiculously expensive renovations of government buildings, luxury vehicles, State-owned aircrafts, foreign trips with huge entourages etc, while Nigerians are asked to tighten their belts and sacrifice; 6) reduction in electricity tariff; 7) good governance, accountability and transparency; 8) reversal of the hike in fees for public tertiary institutions; 9) immediate release of #EndSARS Protesters still in detention; 10) closure of all IDP Camps and the resettlement of the IDPs; 11) children of all public office holders should attend public schools; 12) transition to a unicameral Legislature. The Protesters in Edo State, also demanded for a downward review of the remuneration of political office holders. Generally, the argument is that, if there are funds available for No. 5, then there must be funds available for the first leg of No. 1 and other things that benefit the people. The counter-argument by the pro-subsidy removal people, is that there really was no other option - the fuel subsidy had to go, if not Nigeria would sink. And that, in any event, the Buhari administration made no provision for the fuel subsidy beyond June 2023; that all the country was doing was borrowing left, right and centre to stay afloat. Majority of the people don’t understand all this, neither do they find it plausible, particularly if they do not seem to be enjoying any benefits from the gains and savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy, and instead, an unprecedented level of suffering has been unleashed on them. It is the responsibility of Government to communicate their
onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com
“The worse the living conditions, the more likely that a protest will turn violent…Good governance is simply meeting the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, set out in Chapter II of the Constitution.Though we now have a Humanitarian Ministry, there doesn’t seem to be a coherent welfare policy in place for Nigerians, even though their security and welfare is the primary purpose of government….”
side of the story to the people, in a language that they will understand. Additionally, Government must show good faith, by tightening its own belt along with Nigerians. When the people see Government and its officials spending lavishly while they are starving, naturally, it breeds resentment, suspicion and distrust.
Some Reasons Why Nigerian Protests Turn Ugly: Lack of Coherent Welfare Policy for the People The worse the living conditions, the more likely that a protest will turn violent. At the time of the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ Protest of 2012 for example, living conditions were better. So, unfortunately, for some, with the present harsh living conditions, protest is an opportunity to pursue their sinister motives - to loot, settle political scores, destabilise the environment, for violence and other criminal activities. This time around, we even saw people hoisting the Russian flag and calling for military takeover (à la neighbouring Niger) - sounds like Treasonable Felony - see Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act 2004 (CC). See the case of Omisade & Ors v Queen (1964) LPELR-25119(SC) per Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, JSC (later CJN).
Part of the reason for this kind of bad behaviour during protest, is that Nigeria doesn’t have a proper welfare system, nor do we effectively impose sanctions for a lot of this undesirable behaviour (the standard of education in public schools is also low, the healthcare system is almost nonexistent, there’s a high rate of unemployment and poverty in the land). I watched some Protesters on television, on the first day. When they were asked why they were on the road in Ikeja, they stated that they are homeless and sleep under Ikeja bridge; they were trekking from there to the Ojota Protest location. It is highly unlikely that people who are protesting in London against climate change or the rising cost of living for example, will go on a rampage and start breaking into Sainsbury’s or Tesco Supermarkets to loot. UK has a proper welfare system; the unemployed receive benefits,
there’s Public/Council housing, good public education and healthcare system in place. The less privileged may not be able to afford caviar and champagne, but, mostly, they are not starving. Usually, they have a roof over their head, food to eat, and their children get a good standard of education from the public schools, possibly comparable to that of the private schools, just without the frills and thrills. It is common for people in the UK not to further their education after Secondary School, and acquire skills instead; some training to be Bus or Train Drivers, because they will still live a decent life. The British Government has always made the welfare of its citizens a priority; if not, you will be voted out!
Examples of Bad Governance
Good governance is simply meeting the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, set out in Chapter II of the Constitution. Though we now have a Humanitarian Ministry, there doesn’t seem to be a coherent welfare policy in place for Nigerians, even though their security and welfare is the primary purpose of government (see Section 14(2)(b) in Chapter II of the Constitution). Isn’t it bizarre, that successive administrations have consistently failed to deliver on the most important mandate and essence of government? If Government takes this mandate as seriously as it should, possibly protests will become more civilised in Nigeria, or there would be no need for them.
The Tinubu administration appointed a Humanitarian Minister who was allegedly caught diverting into personal accounts, funds meant for suffering Nigerians, the poorest of the poor; and to date, the Minister has faced no sanctions, nor has she been prosecuted. Maybe they believe that as time passes, Nigerians will forget about her alleged misdeeds. This particular Humanitarian role is crucial, it goes hand in hand with the welfare of the people, the second leg of the primary purpose of government.
The Protesters are shouting from the rooftops, that they won’t stand for this kind
of behaviour on the part of Government anymore - it is bad governance - to still keep in office, someone whose hand may have been caught in the cookie jar of the poor and needy, and to let them go scot free without any punishment. In fact, in some cases, such wrongdoers are promoted instead; maybe that’s what the suspended Humanitarian Minister may be hoping for. Tah! Even in our own administration of justice sector, in the last year, we have witnessed the elevation of several judicial officers to higher courts, soon after delivering perverse judgements. It was therefore, rather confusing, to hear the Chief Justice of Nigeria declaring that judicial officers who treated our jurisprudence with mockery would not be spared, around the time of their elevation to the higher Bench! The Federal Government distributed rice as palliatives for the people, to all the States in Nigeria. Undoubtedly, sound policies are preferable to palliatives, but if has to be palliatives, maybe they should be handed over to the Mike Adenuga, Dangote or BUA Foundations for instance, for onward distribution to the people instead, because we know the palliatives will definitely reach the suffering Nigerians they are meant for, instead of using government channels filled with cruel, greedy officials, who simply convert palliatives meant for the people to their own use and financial benefit. We saw this happen, during the Covid-19 pandemic. A former Lagos State House of Assembly member, who instead of distributing Government provided palliatives to her constituents, distributed them as party packs to guests at her birthday party. The former member, instead of facing criminal prosecution, has apparently been given a Federal appointment - a person who is unsympathetic and cannot be trusted, has been appointed into a position that requires a trustworthy person! This isn’t good governance culture, rewarding misconduct with higher office. It is one of the perfect ingredients, for bad governance.
A few days ago, in Kogi State, where rice bagged by the Federal Government and clearly marked as ‘not for sale’, but to be distributed to the people to ease their hunger, were cornered into a warehouse by some government criminals who were attempting to re-bag the rice for sale! Aside from the fact by virtue of Section 15(5) of the Constitution, the State is mandated to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, some of the unholy activities of government officials amount to criminal conversion, theft, stealing contrary to Section 383 of the CC and other offences. But, as usual, none of the culprits will be exposed, and even if they are, they won’t be sanctioned - lack of accountability (see Demand No. 7). See AG Ondo State v AGF & Ors (2002) LPELR-623(SC). While we cannot expect the President to go and deliver and distribute the palliatives himself nationwide, Government will continue to earn itself a bad name, if it continues to use corrupt employees who intercept its messages of succour to the people, because it translates to doing nothing for the people when they receive nothing. See the case of Psychiatric Hospital Management Board v Ejitagha (2000) LPELR-2930(SC) per Samson Odemwingie Uwaifo, JSC.
Governors
The Tinubu administration, has increased the FAAC Allocations to the States. What do the Governors do with these funds? Why should the people be starving to this extent, if those funds are being applied properly? The Governors account to no one, for how they use or misuse these monies. It is time to start to question Governors who are the direct leaders of the people in their States and shed the light on them, instead of only calling out the President.
Conclusion
In Nigeria, we like to copy and paste, and both Government and the people are guilty of it. But, not everything that works properly in the UK and Germany, works in Nigeria. Clearly, protests as they are now, do not seem to work as well here, even though it is within our constitutional rights to hold them. One way or the other, looting, violence and killing, have surely become part and parcel of our protests. Granted, successive governments have failed to play their part, so much so that, today, Nigerians have sunk to this deplorable level of hunger, and if the policies that have brought on this level of hardship are unleashing such disastrous consequences on Nigerians, it may be time to tweak them, or definitely find something to do, to permanently relieve Nigerians.
If protests in Nigeria have become a call to anarchy, and we all know that they will end in blood, tears and sorrow, then it behooves the Government not to let the situation in the country deteriorate to the point that Gari, our staple food, has become a luxury for many. In the case of EBG, the anger of the people and the threat of holding the protest alone, seemed have had some effect on Government. A few Governors came out to address their people, and so did the President on Sunday. Communication with the people should be done on a regular basis, and not because of a threat of or an actual protest; after all, by virtue of Section 14(2)(a) & (c) of the Constitution, sovereignty belongs to the people and they have a right to participate in their government.
Finally, let us not forget that when infrastructure is destroyed and people are killed during protest, the country loses; but, more importantly, the common man who doesn’t have the luxury of alternatives that those who are more privileged can enjoy, suffers the impact of the mayhem caused by protests the most.
The Respondent was employed into the service of the Oyo Branch of the Co-operative Bank Plc now Skye Bank Plc, as an account officer on 3rd July, 1995. He was subsequently, promoted to the position of an officer on the Bank’s Salary Group 12 in April 2005. On 29th November, 2005, inspectors from Bank’s head office visited the work station of the Respondent, to inspect the Bank Books in that Branch. Following the inspection, they discovered that between August 2004 and December 2005, some of the Bank’s funds amounting to N16.8million were fraudulently withdrawn, and were actually paid by the Respondent to unidentified beneficiaries. As a consequence of the fraudulent withdrawals, the Bank queried the Respondent’s participation in the illegal withdrawals, and requested his reply to the allegations against him via a letter dated 6th December, 2005.
The Respondent replied by a handwritten letter dated 6th December, 2005 in which he denied participating in the fraud, and promised to be more vigilant and to report any irregularities to the Bank. On 15th December, 2005, the Bank wrote a letter to the Respondent, giving him a long service award and appreciating him for a noble and selfless service to the Bank. Subsequently, on 30th December, 2005, the Bank wrote to the Respondent to convey its decision on his response to query issued earlier by the Bank. The Bank indicted the Respondent, and issued a caution against him to be more alive to his responsibilities.
Subsequently, the Co-operative Bank Plc merged with other financial institutions to form Skye Bank (the Appellant). After the merger, the Appellant transferred the Respondent to its Inspectorate Department as Resident Internal Control Officer by a letter dated 25th January, 2006. During the said period, the Appellant constituted an Integration Team which reviewed the Respondent’s case and other similar cases. On 29th March, 2006, the Appellant wrote a letter to the Respondent summarily dismissing him from the service of the Bank, on the basis of the allegation of fraudulent withdrawals made against him before the merger between Co-operative Bank and Skye Bank.
Aggrieved, the Respondent filed an action against Appellant at the High Court of Oyo State, seeking inter alia, a declaration that his summary dismissal is illegal, null and void and an order setting aside the same; an order that he is still in the employment of Appellant until his employment is properly and validly determined. He also sought for payment of N6,600,000.00 as his basic salary and allowances from April 2006 to April 2008; payment of N550,000.00 per month from March 2006 until the delivery of judgement, payment of N550,000.00 per month from the date of judgement until the proper determination of his appointment by the Appellant; payment of N600,000.00 as his unpaid leave bonuses for the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and payment of N521,000.00 as his gratuity pursuant to his transfer from Co-operative Bank to the service of Skye Bank.
The Appellant on its part, counter-claimed against the Respondent for the sum of N209,572.62, being the sum it claimed to have advanced to the Respondent as its employee.
After the conclusion of trial, the trial court delivered its judgement in which it held that the Respondent’s dismissal is wrongful but, albeit effective, and that he was entitled to damages in terms of salary for one month in line with the agreement of parties that the contract can be terminated by either party following one month notice. On the other hand, the trial court dismissed the Appellant’s counter-claim.
Being dissatisfied mainly with the quantum of damages applied by the trial court, the Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision allowed the
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja On Tuesday, the 27th day of February, 2024 Before their lordships
John Inyang Okoro uwani Musa abba aji Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Tijjani abubakar emmanuel akomaye agim SC.406/2018 Between
SKye BaNK PLC aPPeLLaNT And adedOKuN OLuSeGuN adeGuN ReSPONdeNT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC)
appeal, and held that the Appellant after meting out the disciplinary measure of caution in the letter of 7th December, 2005, thereafter investing the Respondent with a long service award for 10 years noble and meritorious service, then training him and re-assigning him as Resident Control Officer, is without the emergence of new facts, estopped from summarily dismissing him on the same facts as the facts that formed the basis of the initial caution letter. The Court of Appeal however, held that even though the dismissal was wrongful, it is effective with a resulting liability on the part of the Appellant to pay the Respondent’s entitlement in lieu of the contract of service. The Court of Appeal set aside the award of one month salary in lieu of notice made by the trial court, and ordered that the Respondent be paid all the entitlements he claimed for till the date the suit was filed . Dissatisfied, the Appellant filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.
“….an employer who brings a contract of employment to an end in breach of the contract, cannot restrict the quantum of damages awardable to the employee to the terms prescribed in the contract; and the quantum of damages awardable to the employee in such a situation, should be in accordance with the general law on contract on award of damages for breach of contract…..”
The Supreme Court considered the following issue in its resolution of the appeal: Whether there was any material basis whatsoever, for the Court of Appeal to have upturned the assessment of damages made by the trial court.
Counsel for the Appellant argued that there was no material basis for the Court of Appeal to have set aside the award of one month salary in lieu of notice made by the trial court, and proceed to grant Respondent’s claims to payment of the entitlements he sought in his statement of claim. He submitted that the assessment made by the trial court was based on a proper evaluation of evidence led before it, and the Court of Appeal wrongly interfered with the same.
Conversely, Counsel for the Respondent argued that the summary dismissal of the Respondent by the Appellant, was in breach of terms of the Respondent’s contract of employment. He submitted that the Court of Appeal rightly ordered that the Respondent be paid all the entitlements he claimed against the Appellant, for breach of his contract of employment.
Court’s Judgement And Rationale
The Court held that where a contract of employment is brought to an end by the employer contrary to the terms agreed therein, the quantum of damages awardable therefore, cannot be based on the remuneration of the employee during the period of notice prescribed in the agreement
for either party to terminate the agreement.
The Court held that the employer cannot enjoy the benefit he would have enjoyed if the contract had been brought to an end in accordance with the contract, and to limit the damages payable by the employer to one month salary in lieu of notice as in this case, would amount to enabling it to benefit from its wrongful act in breach of the contract.
The Apex Court held further that an employer who brings a contract of employment to an end in breach of the contract, cannot restrict the quantum of damages awardable to the employee to the terms prescribed in the contract; and the quantum of damages awardable to the employee in such a situation, should be in accordance with the general law on contract on award of damages for breach of contract, which would involve a consideration of the consequential loss that has arisen or would arise from the breach of the contract of employment, having regard to the monthly wage, current age of the employee and the due date of retirement.
The Court held that it is implicit in the terms of the Respondent’s contract of employment tendered before the trial court, that the Respondent was entitled to continue in his employment with the Appellant until the employment is brought to an end in accordance with the terms of the contract of employment by one month notice. Therefore, having summarily brought the Respondent’s employment to an end in breach of the terms of the contract of employment and contrary to Article 4 Procedural and Main Collective Agreement between the Nigerian Employers of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions which binds the Respondent’s employment as the Appellant had admitted, the Appellant cannot expect to pay damages based on the quantum prescribed in the contract of employment where the Appellant simply terminates the Respondent’s service contract by giving him the requisite one month notice as agreed between them.
The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Appellant was estopped from re-disciplining the Respondent after it had led the Respondent on to believe that he had been left off the hook by the initial caution letter, and the Appellant’s summary dismissal of the Respondent on the same facts amounted to wrongful dismissal.
The Apex Court held that the Respondent in his statement of claim had specifically pleaded facts and led evidence to show the consequential losses he suffered as a result of his wrongful dismissal by the Appellant, and these included his inability to get employment in another organisation for having been dismissed for purportedly committing a criminal offence, his inability to earn an income to support his family and dependents, the material and emotional damage he suffered, and what his cumulative entitlement would have been if he had not been wrongfully dismissed by the Appellant. The Court held that it is obvious that it was on the basis of the averments and the oral testimonies of the Respondent’s witnesses, that the Court granted the reliefs sought by the Respondent for the payment of all the entitlements till the date the suit was filed. The Court found further that there is no ground of appeal complaining against the grant of these reliefs by the Court of Appeal on the basis of the oral testimonies of the Respondents, and by not appealing against the award of those reliefs, the Appellant accepted the grant as correct, conclusive and binding. The Court referred to IYOHO v EFFIONG (2007) 4 SC (PT. III) 90 and NBCI v INTEGRATED GAS (NIG.) LTD and ANOR (2005) LPELR -2016 (SC). On the basis of the foregoing, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Appeal Dismissed.
Prince Adeyemi Adekile for the Appellant. Prince Abioye Oloyede–Asanike, SAN with Mayowa Adeyemo for the Respondent.
Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)
Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia’s daughter, Dr Aribemchukwu Ajumogobia, fondly known as Chuchu, was found dead under suspicious circumstances outside the gate of their Parkview, Lagos home on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
According to sources who spoke to our Correspondent, the newly hired domestic staff employed by the family less than a month ago, were fingered in the staging of the scene to make it appear as though Chuchu was outside the house when the incident occurred. The source further stated that the evidence suggested an attempt to clean up blood inside the house and within the compound, indicating a different narrative.
Chuchu’s father, Soboma Ajumogobia, is the brother of Odein Ajumogobia, a former Minister of State for Petroleum and later, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Following the arrest of the domestic staff on a directive from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, 21-year-old Abigail Peter (Housemaid), who was arrested by the Police alongside two others: Olatunji Oluwasegun (Driver), 35, and Umaru Mamman (Security
Guard), 45, is said to have confessed to their killing the Dr Chuchu during interrogation according to Police sources. The Housemaid is said to have informed detectives that Dr Chuchu was gagged and stabbed in the neck, and that they killed her because they wanted to collect some cash and other valuables.
She further told Detectives that the plan was to leave her unconscious and flee with the valuables, but that on realising that Dr Chuchu was dead, Oluwasegun and Mamman dragged her body out of the apartment under the cover of darkness, before they cleaned the blood-stained floor.
The Housemaid also told Detectives that they killed Dr Chuchu because they wanted to collect some cash and other valuables, and thereafter, they ransacked the deceased’s room and collected what they wanted, this was after they had concluded their plan to escape by morning.
Speaking on the incident, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, said Detectives traced the blood that was not properly cleaned to where they perpetrated the crime. He stated that:
“The Driver tried to deny it, but the maid insisted they did it together.
Signs of an attempt to clean up blood inside the house and in the compound, were there. Besides that, they were found in possession of the deceased’s valuables that they had attempted to escape with”.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the immediate freezing of all Bastanchury Power Solutions Accounts, in all commercial Banks in Nigeria. The court also ordered the compulsory scheduling of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited, in compliance with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (as amended) within days of the order.
The court presided over by Hon. Justice Kehinde Ogundare, ordered that the AGM must be held within 14 days, from the date the Order of Court is made. Apart from compelling the company to hold the compulsory AGM and audit the first and second Defendant’s accounts, Justice Ogundare also made an order compelling the Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) of the Court, to appoint an external and independent auditor to audit the company’s accounting books and the operations of its Funds Manager, African Plus Partners Nigeria Limited.
The Judge further made an order of injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, privies,
representatives or the like from unilaterally dealing with the assets, shares, funds or any of the first Defendant’s assets, shares, funds or chose in action; in any manner whatsoever with all commercial Banks including the following to wit: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, First City Monument Bank Plc, Globus Bank, Heritage Bank Limited, Jaiz Bank, Keystone Bank Limited, Polaris Bank Limited, Providus Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Sterling Bank Plc, Suntrust Bank Limited, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, on any accounts whatsoever maintained by the Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited, with the said commercial banks until the final audit report on the accounting books and operations of the company is presented to the Deputy Chief Registrar of this Honourable Court.
“An order of Injunction restraining the defendants from selling, charging,
mortgaging or otherwise encumbering in any way any of the assets, shares, funds or any of the Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited’s assets, on behalf of the Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited Company, all the assets which include landed properties belonging to the Company, until the final audit report of the accounting books and operations of the Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited is submitted to the Deputy Chief Registrar of this Honourable Court.
The court also ruled thus: “An order of this Honourable Court compelling the third and fourth Defendant to disclose before this Honourable Court all the funds belonging to the first and second Defendant in their custody and/or funds pertaining to the first and second Defendant, for the purpose of determining the funds due to the Plaintiffs in this suit”.
The above orders were made by Hon. Justice Ogundare on July 22, 2024, while delivering judgement in a suit marked FHC/L/ CS/319/2023, filed by
the Plaintiffs; Fenchurch Energy Nigeria Limited, Mr Funsho Adeyemi and Mr Femi Bakare through their Lawyer, Adedoyin AdetunjiAdeniyi of AAA Chambers, against the power solution firm, Bastanchury Power Solutions Nigeria Limited, FBNQUEST Trustees Limited and Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited, Trustees of Africa Infra Plus Funds, listed as first to third Defendant. The Plaintiffs had approached the court by way of an Originating Summons pursuant to Rule 2(1) of the Companies Proceedings Rules and Sections 344 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (as amended), and asked the court for the determination of the following questions: “whether the second Defendant, who did not register its shareholdings with the Corporate Affairs Commission but hijacked the Board of the first Defendant, can unilaterally manage the affairs of the first Defendant’s Company and make incidental and crucial decisions, without due regard to provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020, amongst other demands.
Introduction
In our last outing, we examined impunity and disobedience to court orders as affronts to the rule of law. In this feature, we shall focus on enhancing the role of law in maintaining sanity and forestalling impunity in a democracy, with special emphasis on the anti-graft agencies. Enjoy.
Enhancing the Role of Law in Maintaining Sanity and Preventing impunity in a Democratic Setting
Independence of the Judiciary
In the quest of successfully fulfilling its role in maintaining sanity and preventing impunity in a democratic setting, an independent Judiciary must be guaranteed. By independence of the Judiciary, we simply mean that the Judiciary is free from all negative influences, that may act as hindrances to clog the wheels of justice. Ibrahim Abdullahi defines it as, the ability of a Judge to decide a matter free from pressures or inducement. The Judiciary is very important in maintaining sanity and preventing impunity; therefore, Section 4(8) of the Constitution provides thus:
"Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the exercise of legislative powers by the National Assembly or by a House of Assembly shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts of law and of judicial tribunals established by law, and accordingly, the National Assembly or a House of Assembly shall not enact any law, that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of a court of law or of a judicial tribunal established by law." (See Section 4(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended).
In furtherance of establishing an impartial Judiciary, the Constitution of Nigeria also provides that:
"The independence, impartiality and integrity of courts of law, and easy accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained." (See Section 17(2)(e) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended).
In light of this, therefore, it is very important in the appointment of Judges that only honest, diligent, competent, ethical and highly trained and qualified people are appointed as Judges. The importance of the sanctity of the process of appointment of Judges is so important, because if the process is not properly handled, people with impediments in their character and without merit will be made Judges, the consequence being that justice suffers. Chief Afe Babalola, SAN states it thus:
"When appointment of men and women to the Bench is premised on extraneous considerations such as god-fatherism, political connections, religious leanings, "federal character" (without any regard for merit and competence) and monetary inducements,
the ultimate victim is Justice. The society is bound to suffer, and bear the brunt of the consequences of having incompetent Judges on the Bench.
So also, the tenure and remuneration of Judges should be guaranteed, as this will spur them to uphold the Constitution and do justice always. The Executive must further strive not to impress upon the Judiciary its will, without recourse to justice. In the recent past, there has been a great onslaught against the Judiciary as the executive have attempted to intimidate the Judiciary howbeit unjustly, to cow the Judiciary and cause it to succumb to its will and jail indicted persons without due process of law. Lastly, the Executive must obey court orders; if this is not done, impunity will continue to reign.
In maintaining sanity and preventing impunity in a democratic setting, the independence of anti-graft agencies must be guaranteed. Since, 1999, anti-graft agencies such as EFCC and ICPC have always been used as an instrument of witch-hunt, to clamp down and hunt opposition or perceived enemies. Selective prosecution has made the fight against impunity vindictive and an abuse of
“A State where the rule of law is lacking, is bound to degenerate to dictatorship and authoritarianism, which of course connotes grave impunity and abuse of power by the government, to the oppression of the masses”
the rule of law, for example, when the Nigeria's EFCC was set up by the Obasanjo Government in 2003 to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, including fraud and corruption.
The EFCC earned plaudits from many Nigerians and from the international community in its first few years, for aggressively pursuing corruption allegations against a range of prominent government officials, including several sitting Governors.
One of the EFCC's greatest and most unprecedented successes came in securing the conviction of former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun on charges of corruption in 2005 (See “Nigerian ex-Police Chief Jailed,” BBC News Online, November 22, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.Uk/2/ hi/africa/4460740.stm (accessed July 12, 2007)). In the months leading up to the 2007 elections, the EFCC quickly snowballed into a handing instrument of manipulation, in enforcing the will of those in power against perceived opponents.
This was done so openly, that it destroyed much of the institution's credibility and effectiveness as both a deterrent and a mechanism of accountability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sanity of any setting is largely a product of the law in place. Law curtails the excesses in human behaviour, and prevents rule by the whims and caprices of those in authority. Strict obedience to the rule of law is, and will remain a prerequisite to the existence of a democratic setting, free of impunity. This is so, since the rule of law is
the linchpin for the protection and/or preservation of the rights of the citizens from tyrannical and anarchical governments, by providing guiding principles and checks to those in power.
There is therefore, no doubt that the role of law in maintaining sanity and preventing impunity in a democratic setting cannot be over-emphasised. Where there is no law or obedience to rule of law, impunity will surely take the centre stage. As observed by Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, (Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School, and currently the Chairman of Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission, a transitional justice initiative established to address the crises of violence and agitation in the States of South-East Nigeria), in the absence of obedience to the rule of law, rule of war is enthroned at the expense of the economy, as the atmosphere will be unconducive for investment. This, of course, depicts an undemocratic setting.
Democracy floats on the rule of law, which provides the general framework for a democratic setting. A State where the rule of law is lacking, is bound to degenerate to dictatorship and authoritarianism, which of course connotes grave impunity and abuse of power by the government, to the oppression of the masses.
Moreover, it is through the instrumentality of cardinal principles, such as "separation of powers and ultimately, "checks and balances" that the rule of law achieves its role of maintaining sanity and preventing impunity in a democratic setting. Under the relevant principle, while the Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements policies across the State, and then, the Judiciary undertakes the critical role of holding both the government and individuals accountable to the rule of law.
In Nigeria, there are adequate and germane provisions in our laws, that would ensure that those in power conduct the affairs of government within the bounds of law, and that our democracy is rid of impunity and abuse of all kinds. In other words, the problem with our democracy practiced in Nigeria is not the absence of laws, but the absence of the enforcement of same with all sense of responsibility.
This article, therefore, concludes that, to a large extent, Nigeria has in place, adequate laws to maintain sanity within its democratic setting. However, that not notwithstanding, successive governments have been found guilty of impunity of one kind or the other. This no doubt, has a lot to do with some structural and institutional problems, as well as poor enforcement of our laws, that have bred strongmen rather than strong institutions. The trend of "strongmanism" and weak institutions has made it difficult if not impossible to hold some individuals, especially those in the corridors of power, accountable for their deeds and actions.
There is, thus, an immediate need to overhaul our institutional structures and enhance our law enforcement system, to ensure the existence of strong institutions capable of holding both the government and individuals accountable to law, otherwise our dream of a democracy free of impunity or abuse of powers, will remain a pipe dream. (The end)
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“I firmly believe in the rule of law, as the foundation for all of our basic rights.”
(Sonia Sotomayor)
Memorial Tribute to Chief Adebowale Joseph Akande, SAN, JP
The 20th Memorial Anniversary of this great man, better and usually known as Chief Debo Akande, SAN, my beloved father, friend and mentor, brings home the reality of shortness of time in this life. It is unbelievable that 20 years have passed since the shocking news of his passing on the 8th of August, 2004, at St Thomas’s hospital, London, UK.
Chief had a larger than life personality and presence. As a typical Gemini born in June on the 9th day of that auspicious month in 1938, you could not miss him when he is the room. An advocate par excellence, I honed my practice skills working with him for over 16 years before my elevation to the High Court of Lagos State Bench. I recall that he was much admired by many, including Judges who appreciated the brevity of his Written Addresses and Briefs, and emulated by younger Lawyers who liked his bow-tie style of formal western dress, amongst other characteristics.
A frank, loyal, straightforward man who stood for fairness and equity, he did not suffer fools gladly in his lifetime. Initially, this may not have endeared him to some, but many of these same people knew to reach out to him if they needed someone in their corner to fight for their rights, or resolve their issues or disputes fairly.
As a Father, he was very interested in every step I took in my education and career trajectory, and was proud to introduce me to all or any of his friends or work associates. This has stood me in good stead, and I look fondly daily at the plaque he gave to me just before he passed which states “Ranti Òmò èni ti wòn șe’ - meaning Remember the Child of who you are. As they say, a good name is worth more than gold or silver!
Chief Debo Akande, SAN was also a good and caring grandfather to his grandchildren in his lifetime and they loved spending time at his residence with my beloved late mother, his dear wife Professor Jadesola Akande, OFR. He was also a rallying point for his extended family, and was at peace with God at the point of his passing.
To say we miss him in the legal stratosphere or within the family, is an understatement. DASAN & Associates legacy in your honour keeps the flag flying as best as it can.
Continue to rest in perfect peace Chief Debo Akande, SAN in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.
Hon. Justice Adenike J. Coker (Mrs), Judge, High Court of Lagos State; Head, Criminal Division, Ikeja
20 Years Without You, Daddy Daddy, the pain and void from your loss remain fresh. You were very dedicated to God, your family, the legal profession, and those you loved. I am grateful for your love and all the sacrifices you made until your last day. You were a true role model, very hardworking, and extremely principled. I am thankful to God for all the memories, even though I wish we had more time.
Family meant everything to you. Growing up, I remember our mandatory weekly family meals. It was your opportunity to ask us questions about school and the week, and it was also the time for any offender(s) from the previous week to be scolded. Now, I understand and appreciate the importance of that weekly tradition.
I enjoyed your trips to California, when I was in school. I was looking forward to your yearly visit 20 years ago, just after my summer school. But, sadly, I came home for your funeral. It was tough and extremely painful, especially for Mummy. Watching her hurt was heartbreaking; she loved you unconditionally.
Thank you, Daddy, for being such an excellent example of love, loyalty, and hard work. I miss you every day, but I know you are resting peacefully with your maker and beautiful wife.
Your legacy as a great father, Lawyer, philanthropist, and human lives on.
I love you, Daddy, aka CDA.
Sun re, Adebowale Durojaiye Akande, SAN.
Love, Adejoke Oyatolu
Chief Adebowale Joseph Durojaiye Akande, SAN, joined the saints triumphant on august 8, 2004. 20 years on, his daughters, Hon. Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos State High Court and Adejoke Oyatolu, Margaret Egbe, John Adeleke and Yusuf Hammed pay tribute to this legal icon. May his soul continue to rest in peace. amen
Chief was not just an exceptional boss, leader and mentor, but a wonderful father.
As a boss, his guidance, wisdom, and unwavering support had a profound impact on my professional journey. As a leader, his dedication, expertise, and kindness inspired me, and helped mould me for the journey ahead.
As a Father, he never distinguished between Nike and us, and whenever he travelled abroad and returned with presents, he would ask the oldest to choose before the youngest. I still retain my LV bag to this day. His home was open to us all, and he was a loving father. I'm grateful for the opportunities provided, and the trust he placed in me. When Nike was appointed to the Bench, he insisted l gave the toast, a great honour from a loving father.
A disciplinarian, an outstanding boss and role model. It was an honour to have been mentored under Chief’s leadership. He remains engraved forever in my heart. Our very own Chief Debo Akande, SAN.
Sincerely, Margaret Egbe
Tribute to Chief Adebowale Durojaiye Akande, SAN
When, the Hon. Justice ‘Nike Akande-Coker, informed me about the forthcoming 20th Memorial Anniversary Tribute for her dear father, Chief ‘Debo Akande, SAN, a few weeks ago, I had absolutely no hesitation in wanting to pen a few words, about the late Chief, as the kind and considerate man, I came to know. He left an indelible mark, in my life, as well as in the ‘sands of time’.
From Chief’s unique semi-Afro hairstyle complete with its pronounced parting, to his jaunty gait, as he arrived at Western
“….is this not the epitome of this great man, who, as far back as 1974, became the Director of Operations for the Nigerian Legal Aid Association, an organisation that had been set up to provide legal aid to all who needed representation?”
House after court sessions, in his pin-striped trousers, waistcoat! carrying his gown. There was a caring greeting for everyone, from the car park attendants to the the “characters” at the reception, to the bored and half-asleep lift attendants, as well as those tenants (and visitors), whose eye he would catch, or those of us who would gravitate towards him to respectfully offer our own greetings. He had time for everyone, and it was common for me to have gone from accommodating a planned brief greeting downstairs, to accompanying him up to the 17th or 18th Floor, I forget which, and finding myself spending an impromptu hour or two with him in the Chambers.
Chief Akande was not only an intellectual, but also a great raconteur. Despite the age gap, I like to think that we had much in common, not least of all that we were also both members of the Inner Temple, in London, where I had started out out as a Pupil Barrister at The Cloisters, No.1 Pump Court, thanks to the late John Platts-Mills Q.C. (a former Labour MP and notably, defence counsel to the likes of the “Great Train Robbers” and Ronnie Kray, the other half of the “Kray Twins”). One would leave feeling all the better for the interlude, invariably enlightened about Nigeria’s past, present and with an indicator of what was supposed to have been its future. I’m not so sure that he, and the likes of the late great Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN (another of my father’s Lawyers), would be particularly enamoured by the outcome, all these years later.
Chief Debo Akande, SAN, had been one of my father’s many Lawyers, but, was also a dear friend. He very kindly transferred that friendship to the young me, after 1987. I remain particularly touched that when I returned to Nigeria upon my father, Chief Adebayo Adeleke’s untimely passing at the age of just 54, Chief Akande promptly reached out to me, and we bonded. Memorably for me, a few years later, when I encountered a Landlord & Tenant issue, that I briefly discussed with him in passing in the lift, he sent a message down to myself and Mrs Shirley Fiberesima, requesting that he have a chance to look through the documentation, to give me some advice. He later said that he would file the necessary court papers. About a year later, he sent down a note to say that the case was over, and that we had won. I rushed upstairs to thank him, a great weight lifted off my shoulders. Upstairs, he made a point of saying that I owed him nothing, that it was the least he could do for his departed friend, my father. Talk about “walking the walk” and not just “talking the talk”, I may not have been
underprivileged, but, is this not the epitome of this great man, who, as far back as 1974, became the Director of Operations for the Nigerian Legal Aid Association, an organisation that had been set up to provide legal aid to all who needed representation? Thank you once again, to the memory of this wonderful man, and to his children and well-wishers who have arranged this opportunity for the airing of many fond and enduring memories again. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
John Adeyemi Adeleke
(On behalf of the family of the late Chief Adebayo Adeleke)
Tribute to My Boss, Chief Adebowale Durojaiye Akande, SAN
I am Yusuf Hammed from Lagos Island! I started working with Chief Debo Akande, SAN in December 2002, as a Litigation officer, now DASAN & Associates, and to date, I’m still with the firm as the Office Manager.
CDA was a good role model to me, he gave me confidence at all times. I am always proud to mention that I work with Chief Debo Akande & Co (SAN). CDA was a father, a good defender, and a good fighter at the Bar. I always try to emulate him at all times, so his memories will surely live on.
Memories
Chief played with everyone when it was time to play, so everyone has a nickname like: Biodun liews aka Mr Tombolo
Yusuf Hammed aka Mr Campos
Tope Afolabi aka Sisi Konga Mrs Ikechukewe aka Sisi
Just like his slogan, “YES”.
For example, if anybody made a mistake, Chief would jokingly say that the person would not accompany us to Igbosere, our new office then, and we would all laugh at it. Daddy, we miss you so much, the way you supported us financially, your impact has gone a long way in our lives. I miss you so much, especially the way you used to call my name, Mr Campos. May Almighty God continue to grant you eternal rest. I personally miss you because, the day you were traveling to London, you promised me so many things when you came back, but I didn’t know you would never return from that trip. Your legacy still remains Sir, continued by your daughter Hon. Justice Adenike Coker.
Yusuf Hammed (Mr Campos)
The just concluded NBa elections for national officers has again, thrown up unending complaints and recriminations over what two of the three Candidates allege as infractions and imperfections in the electoral system. This year’s election is the fourth in the cycle of elections by means of electronic balloting and universal suffrage. Many thought that NBa would have got it perfectly right at this point, but, with one Candidate pulling out of the race at the tail end of the exercise, and the other complaining that the process was not transparent, Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi asked the campaign teams of each of the Candidates for their postmortem analysis of the entire process, and their complaints and grouses about the procedure, while Team afam first gave reasons as to why they believe that their Candidate was the strongest, because of his robust campaign strategy and experience, making it inevitable that he would emerge victorious at the polls
Postmortem Report: Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN's NBA Presidential Campaign
Executive Summary
On July 20, 2024, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, was elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), marking the successful conclusion of a well-orchestrated, issue-based campaign. This report provides a detailed analysis of the campaign strategies, strengths, and challenges,
emphasising how coordinated efforts, extensive outreach, and a focus on relevant issues, led to victory.
Campaign Overview
Candidate’s Profile
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, brought a distinguished profile to the campaign, having served successfully as General Secretary of the NBA, and Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch. His experience and proven leadership, significantly bolstered his credibility and appeal among NBA members.
"Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, actively participated in the Presidential debate, where he effectively communicated his vision and solutions"
Campaign Strategy
Objective
To run an issue-based campaign, that directly addressed the concerns and aspirations of NBA members.
Methodology
Leveraging Mazi Afam Osigwe's extensive experience, the campaign focused on identifying key issues within the legal profession, and proposing actionable solutions.
Branch Visits
Execution
The campaign team conducted physical visits to all NBA Branches, engaging members through town hall meetings and interactive sessions.
Impact
These visits enabled direct communication with members, fostering a sense of involvement and addressing local issues with tailored solutions.
Presidential Debate
Participation
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, actively participated in the Presidential debate, where he effectively communicated his vision and solutions.
Performance
His performance highlighted his deep understanding of the issues, and reinforced his commitment to addressing them.
Online Campaign
Strategy
Utilised social media platforms and digital tools, to maintain a continuous dialogue with NBA members.
Content
Focused on key issues such as legal reforms, member welfare, capacity building, and the NBA's role in national development.
Engagement
High levels of interaction through
Q&A sessions, live broadcasts, and regular updates, to ensure a dynamic and responsive campaign.
Throughout the campaign and on Election Day, a network of coordinators across NBA Branches worked tirelessly to manage campaign activities and voter mobilisation.
Help centres were established in various Branches, to assist with coordinating voters, addressing concerns, and ensuring smooth voting processes.
Impact
These efforts ensured effective organisation, maximised voter turnout, and reinforced the campaign’s commitment to member engagement.
Legal Reforms Issue
Delay in the judicial process, and inadequate access to justice.
Solution
Proposed specific reforms to streamline judicial procedures, and enhance access to legal services for all citizens.
Welfare of Members Issue
Insufficient support for NBA members in terms of remuneration, health insurance, and professional development.
Solution
Advocated for better remuneration packages, comprehensive health insurance, and continuous professional development programs.
Capacity Building Issue
Need for ongoing education and training, to keep members updated with global legal trends.
Solution
Emphasised the importance of continuous legal education, and training programmes to enhance professional competence.
The NBA's involvement in broader national issues such as governance, human rights, and policy advocacy.
Solution
Articulated a clear vision for the NBA's proactive role in national development, including policy advocacy and human rights protection.
Campaign Strengths
Credible Leadership
Mazi Afam Osigwe’s established track record and leadership experience, were pivotal in gaining members' trust.
Grassroots Engagement
The extensive Branch visits facilitated direct interaction with members, making them feel valued and heard.
Issue-Based Focus
The campaign's focus on relevant issues resonated deeply with members, setting it apart from competitors.
Effective Online Presence
A strong online campaign ensured continuous engagement, and broadened the campaign's reach.
Coordinated Efforts
The network of Branch coordinators and help centres played a crucial role in organising campaign activities and mobilising voters, ensuring efficient operations and maximising impact.
Campaign Challenges
Logistics
Coordinating visits to all NBA Branches posed significant logistical challenges, requiring careful planning and resource allocation.
Misinformation
Countering misinformation
"As a Branch where several of our members ran for office, we hereby request that an independent audit of the elections be commissioned, in accordance with Section 8 (c) of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the NBA"
and negative campaigns from opponents, demanded constant vigilance and prompt responses.
Resource Management
Balancing resources between physical outreach and online campaigning was crucial, to maintain overall campaign effectiveness.
Conclusion
The victory of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, in the NBA Presidential election on July 20, 2024, is a testament to the power of an issue-based campaign, grounded in credible leadership and extensive member engagement. The strategic focus on addressing key issues, combined with effective communication and outreach, played a pivotal role in securing the election. Moving forward, the principles that guided the campaign, including the coordinated efforts of Branch coordinators and help centres, will continue to inform his leadership, ensuring that the NBA remains responsive to the needs of its members, and contributes meaningfully to national development.
Aminu Sani Gadanya, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN's NBA Presidential Campaign
‘Allow Poll Audit, if You Have Nothing to Hide’
Emuobonuvie Alfred Majemite
Dear Learned Silk, Seniors and Colleagues,
Further to the resolution of the Branch at our Annual General Meeting of 26th July, 2024, please, find attached the letter we wrote to the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).
We sent out the letter via email on 31st July, 2024, and we will deliver a hard copy to the NBA
National Secretariat.
Your Executive Committee, under the leadership of the Chairman, Mr Olabisi Makanjuola, will continue to blaze the trail in proving why indeed, the Lagos Branch is the Premier Bar in all ramifications, not least in speaking truth to power.
Emuobonuvie Alfred Majemite Secretary
The Letter From NBA Lagos BRANCH to Chairman, ECNBA
The Chairman ECNBA Attention: Oluseun Abimbola SAN
Dear Learned Silk, 2024 Elections in Respect of the National Executive Committee and Representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association to the General Council of the Bar
In Re: Request for Documents and Information Necessary to Conduct an Independent Audit of the 2024 Elections Carried Out by Election Buddy
We refer to Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), particularly Section 8 thereof, which details the conduct of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA).
Specifically, we refer to Section 8 (c) of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the NBA which provides that the ECNBA shall:
“Establish a system that allows interested parties to access, in a timely manner, all critical information, documents, and databases used in an election process, or used in the normal operation of the election administration”.
As a Branch where several of our members ran for office, we hereby request that an independent audit of the elections be commissioned, in accordance with Section 8 (c) of Part II of the Second Schedule to the
Constitution of the NBA. We specifically request you set up a protocol that allows for inspections, interrogations and audit, in a controlled environment that creates a balance between transparency in public affairs and the privacy of individuals.
Executive Committee
Olabisi Makanjuola (Chairman); Esther Ifeoma Jimoh (Vice Chairman); Emuobonuvie Alfred Majemite (Secretary); Adeola Olabamiji (Assistant Secretary); Onojighofia Frances Oliko (Treasurer); Bennita Nneka Olejeme (Financial Secretary); Oyindamola Chinelo Fashakin (Social Secretary); Omoniyi Onabule (Publicity Secretary); Olaide Oluwayomi-Ajewole (Welfare Secretary); Ali Abiodun Jubril (Provost)
Ex-Officio: Ikechukwu Uwanna; Nta Ekpiken
Co-Opted: Moshood Abiola, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, Mercy-Grace Princeley, Blessing Omolara Jaiyeola
It will interest you to note that during our Annual General Meeting held on Friday 26th July, 2024, our Branch resolved to issue this request for information.
We opine that our request falls squarely within the purview of the obligations of the ECNBA, and we trust that your Committee will accede to this request in the interest of accountability and transparency.
We thank your Committee for your efforts in superintending the 2024 elections into the National Executive Committee and Representatives of the NBA to the General Council of the Bar, even as we look forward to you actioning our request.
Please, accept the assurance of our highest professional regards.
Yours faithfully,
Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch
Olabisi Makanjuola
Emuobonuvie Majemite
'Only An Audit Will Vindicate ECNBA'
Jonathan A. Agbo
You will recall that during your last interview with Mr Tobenna Erojikwe, he had observed that the ECNBA was not following the provisions of the NBA Constitution, as far as the conduct of elections to NBA National Offices were concerned, to the letter. Mr Erojikwe had written to and made a number of representations regarding the ECNBA not publishing the voting guidelines 60 days before the elections as stipulated by the NBA Constitution, or publishing the list of voters 45 days before elections as stipulated.
The crux of the current issues that have been raised by Mr Erojikwe, is also based on the NBA Constitution. Section 8(c) of Part 11 of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution provides that the ECNBA shall: “Establish a system that allows interested parties to access, in a timely manner, all critical information, documents, and databases used in an election process, or used in the normal operation of the election administration”.
This is a mandatory provision of the NBA Constitution that should be followed, whether or not any issue(s) have been raised. This provision creates a right in favour of the stakeholders, and a duty on the ECNBA. Therefore, any demand made in compliance with this provision of the NBA Constitution, must be met by the ECNBA.
It is counterintuitive for the ECNBA to cite data protection laws, to avoid a duty placed on it by the NBA Constitution. The only reason why the ECNBA, INITS/ ElectionBuddy have access to the documents and databases in issue, is because the NBA Constitution allows it for election purposes. The demands being made of the ECNBA, are predicated on the same instrument from which
"Mr Tobenna Erojikwe has not accused anyone of compromising the system or any irregularity, but, has made the point that elections must be transparent and interrogations required in an era of technology where even the US defence establishment has been attacked and infiltrated by the Dark Web, and other means are not viewed as an attempt to discredit the process"
it derives its own powers. Data protection laws permit compliance with legal obligations, as outlined by the NBA Constitution, to which both the data controller (ECNBA) and data processor (INITS/ElectionBuddy) are subject. Furthermore, these laws authorise the disclosure of personal data when necessary for the legitimate operations of an association, directly supporting the current request for access.
The information being demanded, would enable an independent audit of the process. The most that the ECNBA can do under the circumstance, is to ensure that proper controls are put in place to deal with whatever data protection concerns it may have, and not to deny access under spurious grounds.
In making the demands, Mr Tobenna highlighted the concerns below, just to show why an audit is important:
1. While the ECNBA and the service provider, Electionbuddy took the admirable decision to permit live viewing of the election results, the same decision exposed the rare phenomenon where the number of votes ascribed to the winning candidate steadily increased in an almost exact geometric progression at the top of each hour for nearly the entirety of the election, in a manner which cyber analysts professionally believe, is demonstrative of a preprogramming of votes.
2. The agents who closely monitored the election results reported, and the records available show that the number of votes did not tally. At different times, the sum of the votes cast for the candidates were either in excess of, or less than, the total votes tallied at the relevant time. For a process where the tallying is automatic, such statistical discrepancy is inexplicable. A cursory look at the results at different times, will confirm this.
3. While the actual voting took place on the platform provided by
Electionbuddy, that is, electionbuddy. com, the live election results were exhibited by a completely different and unrelated platform, go.ecnba. org. Technical experts engaged find this rather curious and strange, and it questions the integrity of the results. As a technical matter, it leads to the irresistible inference that the results purportedly projected on the ecnba.org platform as live results of the election were simulated results that may, likely, be different from those at the backend servers of Electionbuddy.
4. Many would-be voters reported that they woke up to emails acknowledging that their votes had been submitted, even before they had the opportunity to cast their votes. Upon complaining, some of these supporters subsequently received another link to cast their votes. In other words, there were demonstrable instances of double-voting or at least, data manipulation.
The concerns above, leave it beyond doubt that the request for an audit is legal and qualify under Data Protection laws, as reasons to allow access to the data being requested. Besides, any candidate or even stakeholder in the NBA, has a right of access, whether or not a reason for it is provided.
Mr Tobenna Erojikwe has not accused anyone of compromising the system or any irregularity, but, has made the point that elections must be transparent and interrogations required in an era of technology where even the US defence establishment has been attacked and infiltrated by the Dark Web, and other means are not viewed as an attempt to discredit the process. Elections must not only be fair, but, must be seen as such.
Given the widespread hunger, economic crisis coupled with alleged mismanagement of scarce resources, Nigerians on August 1, 2024, under the #EndBadGovernance slogan, took to the streets in a bold cry for change. Sunday Ehigiator in this report provides a comprehensive overview of the protests and surrounding events that have unfolded over the past four days, spanning multiple states
The Buildup
Over the last year, Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, has been grappling with a multitude of challenges.
Not only has the economy been struggling, with inflation soaring to unprecedented levels, making necessities unaffordable for many, but corruption and mismanagement have also become entrenched, with widespread reports of government extravagance, mismanagement, and embezzlement.
The country's infrastructure has also been in a state of disrepair, with potholed roads, inadequate healthcare, and a lack of access to quality education.
The government's inadequate response to Nigeria's pressing issues has fueled widespread frustration and disillusionment among the population, who have been repeatedly asked to ‘bear and persevere’ by President Tinubu's administration, while the political elite continues to indulge in extravagance, seemingly oblivious to the people's suffering.
This stark contrast between the leadership's opulence and the citizens’ struggles has further eroded trust and intensified discontent, culminating in the #EndBadGovernance protest, where Nigerians took to the streets on August 1, to demand an end to the status quo and call for a better future, free from corruption, mismanagement, and inefficiency.
The #EndBadGovernance Protest
The #EndBadGovernance protest, which originated as a social media movement, rapidly evolved into a nationwide phenomenon, with a 10-day demonstration schedule commencing on August 1.
On the first day, the protest witnessed an overwhelming turnout, as thousands of Nigerians flooded the streets in cities across the country, united in their demand for improved governance and an end to corruption.
The widespread participation and enthusiasm demonstrated the protesters' determination to bring about meaningful change, as they mobilised to voice their discontent and push for a better future.
From the bustling streets of Lagos to the capital city of Abuja, and from the southeastern city of Port Harcourt to the northern city of Kano, protesters marched, chanted, and sang, united in their quest for change.
The protesters, comprising young and old, students, workers, and professionals, carried placards and banners bearing messages such as ‘Enough is Enough’, ‘Cost of Living Don Finish the Living’, ‘End Corruption, Bad Governance’ and ‘Fix Nigeria’, among others.
They decried the government's failure to address the country's myriad problems, including hunger, inflation, high cost of living, high cost of fuel, poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure decay.
Despite initial fears of violence and intimidation, the protests remained largely peaceful, with security forces maintaining a watchful presence. In some
cities, protesters were seen offering food and water to police officers, and vice-versa, symbolising their shared desire for a better Nigeria.
Lagos Protest
The protest's opening day saw Lagos, the economic hub, set the tone. Demonstrators converged on the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding an end to bad governance, before moving to the Gani Fawehinmi’s Freedom Park, in Ojota, while being protected by various security agencies.
Highlights of the protest in Lagos include a man stripping himself naked during the protest in Ojota, and singing solidarity songs; protesters' refusal to protest inside the freedom park for fear of being ambushed by thugs; Lagos State
Not only has the economy been struggling, with inflation soaring to unprecedented levels, making necessities unaffordable for many, but corruption and mismanagement have also become entrenched, with widespread reports of government extravagance, mismanagement, and embezzlement
Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, stayed with protesters in Ojota through the protest on the second day; police fired teargas to disperse protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on the first day. Other highlights include a plea by the State Governor, Babajide Sanwolu, through his Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotosho to the protesters to end their demonstration, stating, “It's time to go home.”
So far, the protests in Lagos have been peaceful with security forces on the ground to control the crowd and ensure peace and order. Civil Groups have attributed the relative peace of the protest in Lagos to the governor's address on the eve of its commencement.
Movement around Lagos has also been relatively easing up as many private enterprises have begun to open.
Protesters in Abuja turned out in their numbers for the #EndBadGovernance protest shutting major highways with bonfires set up at intersecting locations like the Abuja-Kaduna road, the Ado, the New Nyanyan and Gwagwalada roads.
THISDAY reports that two persons were shot in the Kubwa ana Nyanya area of Abuja on the first day of the protest with one protester killed subsequently. The solidarity walk later degenerated into violence when security agencies in a bid to disperse the crowd who were approaching the Eagles Square complex, shot tear gas at protesters who scampered for safety.
Contrary to the assurances of the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on the eve of the protest that based on intelligence and dialogue gathered from civil society groups in the state, a truce had been reached and the protest would not hold.
Thousands of protesters had turned out to kick against the challenge of biting hunger in their homes.
Converging at the state capital to express their grievances, Fubara had addressed them saying that plans were in place to ensure that the time economic straits are addressed.
The protest has also been peaceful so far in the state as Fubara has been able to manage the situation well in solidarity with protesters, including using the language of the protest and
Striking (before) image of a young boy protesting against bad governance in Nigeria
offering to buy them pure water and gala.
In one of his addresses, he reminded the protesters that he was one of them and urged them to support the government towards birthing the dividends of democracy for the good of all.
Kano Protest
Kano state has recorded the highest number of fatalities since the beginning of the protest. Starting as a peaceful procession, but later became a riot.
Preliminary reports of damage incurred from the violent turn of the #EndBadGovernance protest of Thursday in Kano State are emerging with evidence that protesters carted away records and other essentials kept as exhibits in the State High Court.
The protesters invaded the court’s headquarters at the Audu Bako State Secretariat near the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) digital park, also looted on Thursday.
A senior court official told media off-the-record on Friday that the rioters broke into the court’s store, stole an unspecified amount of money and guns seized from kidnappers and kept as exhibits in ongoing cases.
“Official and private vehicles parked at the premises of the state high court were razed and some vandalised by the protesters. Offices in the state high court headquarters were vandalised,” the official said.
“They (protesters) destroyed the new and old case files. They scatter everything in the buildings. Case exhibits, including guns kept in the court’s store, were also looted. Some of the burned vehicles parked at the court premises are exhibits in an ongoing case”, the official source asking not to be addressed by name because he was not authorised to speak.
Protesters also broke into several private and government stores in the metropolis and looted food items. This is just as the Nigerian police are reported to have killed a number of the protesters in Kano state, and two policemen were also killed.
The protesters later converged at the Kano Government House, where they delivered their charter of demands to the governor, Abba Yusuf.
The situation later led to the state governor, declaring a 24-hour curfew around the state, which was largely enforced.
With the detonation of an IED device in Niger state a few hours before the commencement of the event killing 16 persons, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state had announced a curfew to enable it to investigate the accident. However, in a display of solidarity with the rest of the nation, protesters on Tuesday marched on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Niger State, demanding action against inflation and economic hardship.
Youths have taken to the streets of Niger State to protest the pervasive economic hardship and spiralling inflation in Nigeria.
The demonstration was initially scheduled to begin nationwide on August 1. However, on Monday, some youths in Niger State began their protest earlier, carrying placards with messages such as ‘Fuel subsidy must be back,’ ‘Enough is enough,’ ‘Stop anti-masses policies,’ ‘We are not slaves in our country,’ and ‘Hardship is unbearable.’
Many states in the South Eastern part of Nigeria had taken to a sit-at-home rather than join the protest.
In Enugu, a THISDAY reporter observed minimal activity on Thursday, with few people and vehicles on the streets.
Many shops, banks, and petrol stations remained closed, although the Ogbete Main Market was open with some shops shut. Residents expressed fear of potential crackdowns by security agencies, leading to a low turnout.
In contrast, Imo State experienced a lockdown, with no protests reported. Residents attributed this to the recent shootings by gunmen enforcing a controversial sit-at-home order.
In Anambra State, residents stayed indoors, with shops and businesses closed. Although some began to open later in the day, there were no signs of protests.
Similarly, in Ebonyi State, residents shunned the nationwide protest, with businesses shut down but no reports of demonstrations.
In Abia State, the situation was calm, with no protests reported. Shops and banks remained closed, but there were no signs of unrest.
Overall, the Southeast region saw no turnout for the nationwide protest, with residents expressing fear of potential violence and crackdowns by security agencies.
Kwara State
There was a massive turnout of citizens in Kwara peacefully observing the protest from the day of its commencement on August 1.
The Governor of the state and Chairman of Nigeria's Governors Forum (NGF) Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, standing in support of the people, said that he has heard the wishes of the people and will relay their messages to the federal government.
He urged protesters to maintain the peace which the protest embodied. He encouraged participants to shun violence and acts which would undermine the safety and security of the state.
Kaduna State
In Kaduna, the protest was not held at the state capital as well as in southern Kaduna. Reports indicate that the protest was held in Zaria, Kaduna with protesters barricading major highways.
The main road from the city was
blocked with protesters singing anti-government songs and chanting. Northern Kaduna wore a semblance. In no time the protest turned into a riot as the Kaduna protest also recorded incidents of looting and death of protesters.
The protest, which began peacefully in the Kawo area of Kaduna North Local Government, escalated when demonstrators blocked the NEPA roundabout and the 44 Army Reference Hospital Road leading to the Government House.
Carrying placards with different inscriptions, the protesters later turned violent and started setting up fire along the road, throwing stones, forcefully removing street lights, and attempting to force their way to the Government House.
After much persuasion for them to leave the road, the police resorted to firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Commenting on the development, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, accused members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria of hijacking and turning the peaceful protest violent.
He said that the hijackers attacked a police armoured personnel carrier and some officers, warning that police will no longer be thugs and hoodlums to cause a breakdown of law and order in Kaduna State.
Edo State
The protest seems to be losing its steam in Edo as a lower turnout of protesters was recorded following a downpour of rain. The first day of the protest witnessed a larger turnout.
Also, hoodlums had tried to infiltrate the protest to carry out social disorder. Respondents attributed the drop in turnout of participants to the rains.
However, as the day passed by, protesters began to gather in pockets of places in the state.
Under a coalition of civil society organisations, the protesters occupied King Square (Ring Road) in Benin for the protest.
The protesters arrived at the place, the only place designated by the police, as early as 7:30 a.m. Members of the coalition erected a podium and musical instruments to express their grievances.
Police operatives were also at the venue to monitor and provide the necessary security protection. A combined team of the Nigerian Army, police, and an armed squad from the Nigeria Correctional Centre were at the Correctional Centre along Sapele Road.
Officials of the State Security Service were at the corporate headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
However, the adjourning roads around the Ring Road were blocked due to spillover from the road, disrupting vehicular movements. The roads blocked include the Uselu-Ugbowo-Oluku section of the Benin-Sagamu expressway, BeninAgbor-Asaba road, and Benin-Sapele road,
The government's inadequate response to Nigeria's pressing issues has fueled widespread frustration and disillusionment among the population, who have been repeatedly asked to ‘bear and persevere’ by President Tinubu's administration, while the political elite continues to indulge in extravagance, seemingly oblivious to the people's suffering
amongst others.
Commercial activities were grounded as business owners stayed off their posts.
Similarly, commercial banks and other public places such as malls and filling stations were all under lock and key in the city. A visit to the Edo State Civil Service Secretariat and the State House of Assembly showed that the public institutions were also closed.
At the parliament’s complex, armoured personnel vehicles and detachments of police officers were stationed at the entrance and its environs.
Delta State
Contrary to expectations, the second day of the #EndBadGovernance protest saw no participants in certain areas, with business activities proceeding as usual. Security personnel remained vigilant to maintain order in the state.
However, in Delta State, a group of protesters reportedly attacked commercial buses on Saturday, causing disruptions on the Asaba-Benin Expressway in Agbor. According to Police Spokesperson Bright Edafe, the protesters blocked the road, assaulted passengers, and damaged vehicles for approximately three hours.
Upon receiving a distress call, the police deployed a tactical team led by a deputy commissioner to disperse the protesters. The situation was brought under control using teargas, and the road was cleared for travellers.
The police spokesperson condemned the violent behaviour, stating, "Violent protest is not protest, it's criminal." Photos shared on social media showed passengers watching as police dispersed the protesters, with visible damage to buses, including a shattered windshield.
According to him, “The commissioner of police deployed a deputy commissioner of police, who led a tactical team to Agbor.
“The protesters threw stones at the police, they were forcefully dispersed with the use of teargas and the road cleared for travellers to continue their journey. Violent protest is not protest, it is criminal,” Mr Edafe said.
Bayelsa State Chaos erupted in the Biogbolo suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the anti-hardship protest as a group of youths clashed with demonstrators along Chief Melford Okilo Road. The community youths opposed the protest, and the protesters, accompanied by police, were unexpectedly attacked with weapons. However, the police swiftly repelled the attack, maintaining order.
The protesters sought government action to address the high cost of living and hunger, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages like “Restore fuel subsidy” and “We are suffering.”
Meanwhile, a counter-protest led by Bayelsa State Vigilante Secretary Innocent Kalango showed support for the state government, applauding its infrastructure projects.
Despite initial reports of minimal protest activity in Yenagoa, the day saw a mix of demonstrations, counter-protests, and normal business activities, with security operatives deployed at major junctions and government offices open. Some banks and markets operated partially, while students at Niger Delta University went about their academic activities amidst a heavy security presence.
Oluchi Chibuzor
The Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), has launched the FITC Sustainability & ESG Institute, an effort it said is a significant step in promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across Africa.
The new institute, it said, aims to become a hub for industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and changemakers to collaborate on sustainable practices.
“Global awareness of ESG issues is growing, and there is an urgent need for organizations to adopt sustainable strategies,” said MD/CEO of FITC, Chizor Malize.
The Institute, she added, will empower organisations to integrate ESG principles through cutting- edge research, comprehensive training programs, and impactful initiatives, ensuring long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Malize acknowledged the FITC Board and the Advisory Board members for their contributions to shaping the Institute’s strategies. She emphasized that the success of the Institute will be measured by its tangible
impact and the strength of its partnerships.
“The work we do here at the FITC Sustainability and ESG Institute will shape the future of our organizations and contribute to building a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world for all,” Malize concluded.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Governor of Financial Systems Stability at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Board Chairman of the Financial Institutions Training Center (FITC), Philip Ikeazor, underscored the summit’s focus on advancing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices.
Delivered by Nwabueze Orjiakor, it focused on the urgent need for robust ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices in response to global climate challenges. Emphasizing recent extreme weather events worldwide, including floods and heatwaves, Ikeazor underscored the critical role of ESG in fostering business resilience, value creation, and economic stability.
Senior Partner at Kenna Partners, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, highlighted the
crucial role of governance in ESG. He emphasized integrating ESG discussions into board meetings and strategic planning, ensuring ESG principles are central to decision-making.
Ajogwu also noted the importance of considering regional contexts in implementing governance practices, acknowledging that local nuances are crucial for sustainable outcomes.
Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director at Coca-Cola HBC, Oluwasoromidayo George, highlighted the importance of social impact within ESG. With over 20 years of experience, George emphasized that corporate initiatives should aim to make society a better place for everyone.
CEO of Risk Insights, Andrey Bogdanov, shared pivotal insights into the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. His presentation emphasized the innovative ESG tool, “Built for Africa by Africans,” as a testament to the need for localized and tailored solutions in achieving sustainability goals.
Kayode Tokede
Orange Corners Nigeria officially inaugurated a new incubation hub in Abeokuta, Ogun state, aimed at empowering over 100 young innovative entrepreneurs in key sectors such as Circular Economy, Agriculture, Health, Renewable Energy, Technology, and Water Solutions that have significant socioeconomic and job creation potential for Ogun state across the next five years.
The hub will provide them with the necessary tools, support and resources to succeed in Nigeria.
The hub was unveiled by our special guests, Honourable Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment in Ogun State, His Excellency Adebola Sofela who represented the Execu-
tive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, and His Excellency, Michel Deelen, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Nigeria. In the Keynote Address of Hon Sofela, he said, “The foundation of any thriving economy is built on the innovation, creativity, and dedication of its entrepreneurs. The Orange Corners Nigeria Hub in Ogun State is not just a physical space; it’s a beacon of hope and opportunity for our youth”.
The innovation hub, which will provide a comprehensive six-month incubation program, along with significant financial support of up to N248 million per year, amounting to N1.24 billion over five years for selected entrepreneurs, is geared towards fostering growth in
areas identified for significant socio-economic impact and job creation potentials.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Adenike Adeyemi, said, “I am delighted to witness the successful launch of the Orange Corners Nigeria (OCN) hub in Ogun State, marking a significant milestone in OCN’s expansion program.
“This hub will empower young entrepreneurs in Ogun State with the skills and resources needed to transform their local economy, drive economic growth, and create jobs. Through mentorship, training, and networking opportunities, we will support entrepreneurs in developing their businesses across key sectors, stimulating economic activities and boosting job creation in the region”.
Oluchi Chibuzor
Medical innovators have identified Internet connectivity as an impediment to deployment of innovative low-tech and digital health solutions in bridging major gaps in the country’s health sector.
According to them, the country must begin to provide basic infrastructure like electricity and access to the Internet to leverage technology to health centres across the country.
They stated this at a recent health sector mixer event, held in Lagos, with the theme, “Data for Life: Pioneering the Future of Digital Health And Care In Nigeria Through Data.”
Speaking at the event, which attracted medical students, government health officials, technological innovators,
CEO, Techbeaver, Shina Arogundade, said Internet connectivity still remains a barrier to deploying digital health solutions in primary health care centres.
He explained that innovators would continue to innovate solutions that will enhance health delivery, noting the basic infrastructure must be put in place for the health system to leverage such innovations.
According to him, “So say, for instance, for labs, you go to a lab to do a test, it’s paper-based, things get missing, records get missing, there’s no centralized records. And all this leads to one thing, lack of adequate care, lack of adequate preventive and preemptive and even post care.”
For the Head Global Expansion, Mayo Clinic,
Dr. Luqmon Lawal, providing basic infrastructure like electricity and Internet is critical to the country having robust healthcare.
“How do you want to even provide basic care, not to talk of digital healthcare? Electricity is key for us to really be able to have robust digital health infrastructure to advance health outcomes. Second infrastructure that is also very key is internet access. There’s no way you can keep electronic medical records, digital healthcare without really having the right internet access.
“For high-speed internet, you want to use that for the storage of the data, for the upload of the data, as well as for sharing of the data. So high-speed internet access is very essential,” he said.
Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock market yesterday opened trading for the new week with a decline of N92 billion on investors’ profit-taking in MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN) Plc and 24 others.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) depreciated by 163.32 basis points, or 0.17 per cent to close at 97,582.41 basis points from 97,745.73 basis points the stock
market opened for trading this week.
Consequently, the overall market capitalisation declined by N92 billion to close at N55.405 trillion from N55.497 trillion it closed for trading last week.
Sectoral performance was mixed, as the NGX Consumer Goods Index (+0.9per cent) and NGX Banking Index (+0.2per cent) recorded gains, while the NGX Industrial Goods, NGX Oil & Gas and NGX Insurance indices closed flat.
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment closed negative, as 23 stocks gained relative to 25 losers. International Breweries, Presco and Sovereign Trust Insurance emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent each to close at N4.62, N485.10 and 55 kobo respectively, per share.
United Capital and Oando followed with a gain of 9.88 per cent each to close at N13.35 and N27.80 respectively, while Honeywell Flour Mills rose by
9.74 per cent to close at N3.83, per share.
On the other side, Chams Holding Company led the losers’ chart with 10 per cent to close at N1.98, per share. University Press followed with a decline of 9.92 per cent to close at N2.18, while The Initiates Plc (TIP) shed 8.26 per cent to close at N2.00, per share.
Omatek Ventures declined by 8.20 per cent to close at 56 kobo, while Champion Breweries dipped by 7.67 per cent to close
at N3.01, per share. The total volume traded increased by 53.63 per cent to 324.02 million units, valued at N6.218 billion, and exchanged in 9,738 deals. Transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank led the activity with 36.993 million shares worth N1.331 billion. United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed with account of 34.974 million shares valued at N708.48 million, while Veritas Kapital Assurance traded 25.506 million shares valued at N23.309 million.
Oando traded 20.282 million shares worth N552.493 million, while Access Holdings traded 18.835 million shares worth N350.503 million.
Looking forward, analysts at United Capital Plc said “the equities market is expected to show mixed performance as investors adopt opportunistic investment strategies. We foresee selective buying of fundamentally strong stocks continuing into the upcoming week.
Dr. edgar Githua, ph.D
The Sahel region is currently facing a major humanitarian crisis with over 3.3 million people displaced due to the prolonged conflict that has ravaged the region in the last few years. The International Organization for Migration is on record stating that one in every five people in the Central Sahel needs humanitarian aid. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been the worst affected with incessant drought compounding an already dire situation. Specifically, these countries have witnessed a soaring rise in refugees who currently total over 500,000 with numbers projected to increase. The UNHCR has lamented that the Sahel refugee crisis is currently facing global neglect.
The deplorable security situation in the region continues to contribute to this humanitarian crisis. Vulnerable citizens have fled their homes in search of protection thus creating a crisis in neighbouring countries. In surveys conducted in 2024 by humanitarian organizations, refugees have stated that the key risks they face include gender-based violence meted on women, and wanton attacks on civilians. Women and children are especially at risk, and have been exposed to abuse, exploitation and in some cases human trafficking.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Mauritania have become embroiled in a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions with refugees from their respective countries circulating within the region randomly. Burkinabe refugees numbering over 115,000 have been recorded in neighbouring states as of April 2024. Mauritania, and Niger currently host over 200,00, and 130,000 refugees from Mali respectively. Another 50,000 Malian refugees are stuck in Algeria seeking asylum. Conversely Mali is also facing its own internal challenges with over 90,000 refugees from Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger currently stationed on its soil. Internally, Mali is facing the daunting task of dealing with its own internally displaced persons who number over 350,000.
The Sahel is in trouble as political and regional instability coupled with poor governance exacerbates the threat posed by this refugee crisis. International aid agencies are unable to cope with the growing demand for humanitarian support due to the ever-increasing numbers of refugees in the region.
Russia’s Contribution to the Humanitarian Crisis
At the heart of this humanitarian crisis in the
Sahel is Russia’s incursion and entrenchment in the region. Russia has capitalized on the Sahel’s volatility to pursue a selfish state-centric agenda that ignores the outcome of its action in the region. The fragile states in the region like the Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Sudan have been infiltrated by the Wagner group/ Afrika Corps who ostensibly provide security for these regimes. Russia’s security offer often prioritizes ensuring regime survival of the coup governments in the Sahel. However, Russia’s destabilizing military activity is almost certainly fueling regional insurgencies and exacerbating the refugee crisis.
Russia has also selfishly pursed a political agenda with the backing of these regimes in its quest for geopolitical power play now that
Frances’ and the United States influence in the region appears to be waning. Russia’s long-term strategy in the region is to not only re-assert itself as a global power, but more importantly create a bulwark of loyal African states whose regimes will shield it from international criticism, and more importantly scrutiny on what its’ doing on the African continent.
In an unhealthy symbiotic relationship, Russia has embarked on propping up and legitimizing illegal regimes in exchange for mineral concessions and other raw materials. The Sahel is rich in rare precious minerals like cobalt, uranium, bauxite, and lithium. Illegal corrupt regimes in the Sahel use Russia to secure and shore up their positions, as they grant Moscow access to these rare minerals where profits are shared between them. While
Adibe emenyonu in Benin-City Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faulted allegations that the state government took delivery of 20 trucks of rice from the federal government and 30,000 bags from Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Former governor of Edo State, and Senator, representing Edo North Senatorial District, Mr. Adams Oshiomohle, had at the weekend, claimed that the state government took delivery of bags of rice from both the federal government and Dangote Foundation. However, addressing journalists in Benin-City on Monday, the Deputy Director Media, Asue
Ighodalo Governorship Campaign Committee, an arm of the campaign council, Rev. Olu Martins, faulted the allegation.
Martins said, the feeding programme running in Edo State now was initiated by the Edo State Government and implemented by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Muslim community and
ostensibly providing security in these countries, Russia is taking advantage of instability to exploit African Minerals resources. It has been alleged that this illegal mineral extraction has found its way back into the Russian economy and war effort in the Ukraine.
In this endeavour the Wagner Group has been used to secure Russian economic interests in the Sahel. Direct involvement of Russian mercenaries in the Sahel region has created security challenges that have contributed to the humanitarian crisis in the region. In central Mali Wagner forces in conjunction with the Malian Armed Forces were responsible for the Moura massacre in which over 300 civilians lost their lives in March 2021. This sparked an exodus of civilian as they fled the region. This massacre was conducted under the guise of fighting the Al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic Maghreb’s Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin group. Unfortunately, the Wagner groups continued presence Mali has not deterred or eliminated these Jihadist attacks in the country. A United Nations Mandated mission, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) also faces challenges due to local militia and the Wagner Groups’ interference in their activities in the country. It has now dawned on the Malian government that Russian mercenaries’ have proven ineffective. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch has indicated that the Wagner group in conjunction with the Malian Army has continued to execute civilians from December 2023 in the central and northern regions of the country leading to refugee crisis.
Russia’s dalliance with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo has made the refugee crisis worse in the Sudan conflict. The Wagner group has been a supporter of the RSF forces and have continued supplying weapons that have fuelled the conflict between the RSF and Sudan Army. The Sudan conflict has led to the displacement of over 10 million people internally with a further 2.1million outside the country now classified as refugees.
Russia has proven that it will continue to fuel instability in the Sahel so long as it serves its economic and national interests. Unless the international community sanctions Russisa’s activities on the African continent, the refugee crisis in the Sahel will continue to get worse overwhelming aid agencies.
•Dr. Githua is an international relations, diplomacy, and security analyst from Strathmore University.
other religious bodies in the state.
He said: “Comrade Adams Oshiomhole having been a governor and now a senator should have known how government is run, and not to speculate.”
Speaking emphatically, Martins said: “The Edo State Government did not receive any rice from federal government or Aliko Dangote
Gbenga sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to huge investment in the creative industry in the drive to boost the economy of the state.
Governor Oyebanji, who stated this in Ado Ekiti on Monday while performing the ground-breaking ceremony of Ekiti State International Centre for Arts and Culture, said the state is already developing systems and infrastructure to enable it take advantage of all the sector can offer to make the state an art and tourism destination of choice
for both national and international communities.
While affirming that Ekiti State, over the years, had demonstrated comparative advantage in the creative industry, the governor said the state will continue to harness its natural endowment to sell the huge potential in the creative industry and boost the economy.
At the event also attended by the deputy governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Adeoye Aribasoye, members of the State Executive Council, Secretary to the State
Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, members of the state traditional council, led by its chairman and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, the governor commended the state cultural troupe for their escapades nationally and internationally and assured them that his administration would continue to provide veritable platforms and support for them to continue to excel in all their future endeavours.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering determination and commitment to nurture talents, promote cultural exchange, and
foster economic growth through the arts.
He urged residents of the state to direct their passion towards efforts that will ginger everyone towards achieving the shared prosperity agenda of the government.
The governor who noted that culture has grown to become the very essence of a people which shapes the identity, preserves traditions, and connects to the past, present, and future added that he was not only constructing a mere physical structure but laying the groundwork for a vibrant cultural ecosystem that will inspire future generations.
Foundation.
“Mind you that Mr. President did not mention in his speech of rice going to any of the states, or may be that could still be in the offing, because if he sent 20 trucks of rice to Edo State, which ministry or agency of government did it go to?
“It could have gone through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affair and because it is government. There will be a process, somebody should deliver it to somebody in Edo State and somebody sign upon delivery.
“There should be an acknowledgement letter signed by those who received it. You can’t just go and deliver to the Edo State Government. There is a Commissioner for Agriculture and the Commissioner has said that he is yet to see a pickup of rice not to talk about 20 trucks.”
Speaking further, he said: “The former governor made allusion to Dangote, that is an annoying thing. Maybe, because the APC has been consistently bashed especially at the federal level, not forgetting that the protest is against bad governance. Because of the constant bashing the Comrade Senator is crying wolf, trying to instigate people to loot.
“We saw during the EndSARS, where people broke warehouse that never belong to government. He mentioned that Edo State received
30,000 bags of rice from Aliko Dangote Foundation, and it was heart breaking.
“Today, I watched Aliko Dangote Foundation distributing rice to poor people, using religious bodies; the same template adopted by the Edo State Government. The Dangote Foundation doesn’t distribute rice through the state government.” He also said: “Edo people will not be hoodwinked in to accepting lies, nor will Edo people be deceived to fight a legitimate government, as Obaseki’s name will not be on the ballot, nor Oshiomhole name going to be on the ballot, but if they are determined to bring Obaseki to the picture, we will not waste time to bring Oshiomhole to the picture.” Martins, therefore challenged the APC candidate to tell Edo people his vision, or manifesto adding, that the man (Asue Ighodalo) who has a vision for Edo people has been going round to sell his vision and manifesto to Edo people.
Also, one of the spokespersons for the media campaign committee, Christopher Ojeikere, said: “The facts is that the Edo State Government has a feeding programme being implemented by CAN, the Muslim and other religious bodies. The facts are that the body was set up three months ago.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Revenues collected by the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) are expected to increase by about 38.8 per cent in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, a THISDAY review of available data has shown.
Although the data for the commercial performance of the Discos had yet to be released for June, however, a projection of the trend in recent months, especially since the introduction of the new tariff for Band ‘A’ has seen monthly revenue hover around N140 billion since April.
The NERC figures showed that while the electricity distributors cumulatively made N515 billion in the first six months of 2023, in the same period of 2024, revenue could hit as much as N715 billion, when the June data is made public.
A breakdown of the available figures showed that in the first two quarters of 2023, the Discos raked in N247.09 billion and 267.86 billion respectively, to hit about N515 billion in the first six months of that year.
But this year, when NERC and NBS make their data for June public, the THISDAY projection showed that monies collected by
The two key bodies that publish results of Discos’ activities periodically are the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, has stated that the availability of accurate and comprehensive statistical data is strategic to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He noted that this is given the centrality of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria’s economy in driving growth, innovation and development.
Ella stated this in his address at the stakeholders’ workshop on
the review of the Compendium of Petroleum Statistics in Abuja, according to a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa.
He remarked that the compendium of petroleum resources was a vital document that encapsulates the performance metrics, trends, and insights that guide policy formulation, investment decisions and operations efficiencies within the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
the Discos will rise to at least a total of N715 billion in the first six months of 2024, mostly on the back of the recent tariff increment for selected electricity consumers.
A further breakdown of the monthly collection for this year indicated that for the first five months, the Discos made N95 billion in January; N97 billion was collected in February; N100.44 billion was generated in March, before rising to N142.92 billion in April and N139.23 billion in May.
With a revenue estimate of N140 billion in June, the collection for the first half of 2024 is expected to hit N715 billion as against N515 billion in H1, 2023, that is a rise in collection of about N200 billion compared to last year.
Ella informed the participants that the compendium would serve as a vital reference document for government agencies, industry players, researchers and international partners; therefore, ensuring its accuracy and relevance is of paramount importance.
“The importance of this workshop is underscored by the fact that it provides a platform for us to gain a clear understanding of our roles and responsibilities as agencies in charge of data production in Nigeria,” he said.
In April this year, NERC, the sector regulator, ordered an upward review of electricity tariffs for Band ‘A’ customers by over 230 per cent, from about N68/kWh to N225/ kWh, mostly accounting for the surge in revenue from that month.
However, NERC noted that Bands B, C, D and E will not be affected, stressing that the Band A customers must be offered at least an average daily electricity supply of 20 hours.
It added that Band A consumers represent 15 per cent of the population but consume 40 per cent of the nation’s electricity and reviewed downwards the number of feeders hitherto on the band from 800 to 500.
However, the latest data from
He expressed confidence that the workshop will yield meaningful outcomes that will significantly enhance the quality of the Compendium.
He implored the stakeholders to seize the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of the Petroleum industry.
“The ministry’s goal was to produce a compendium that not only meets the highest standards of statistics rigour but also serves as a beacon of transparency and reliability. By doing so, we
NERC showed that whereas N724 billion was billed to electricity customers from January to June last year, this year, the Discos are projected to raise total billing to about N930.85 billion for the same period.
Although Nigeria has a population of over 200 million, it is barely able to supply 5,000 megawatts of power to homes.
For instance, rather than an expected rise in power, the total volume of electricity supplied by Discos to customers in the first quarter of 2024 declined by 10.3 per cent, compared to Q4, 2023. But on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply decreased by 1.41 per cent in Q1, this year compared to Q1, 2023.
According to Ember, the world’s
only open dataset on global electricity generation, updating for 88 countries and regions every month, in contrast to Nigeria’s 4,000mw to 5,000mw, China generates 8,849 Terawatts per hour (TWh).
This is followed by the US, with 4,284 TWh; India which has 1,858 TWh and Russia with 1,167 TWh. In Africa, THISDAY checks revealed that Egypt has about 60,000mw of installed capacity.
Nigeria’s plan to raise power generation and supply has been largely hobbled by lack of investment in the sector, due mainly to the regulation or capping of tariffs by the federal government.
enhance the credibility of our data and reinforce the confidence of all stakeholders in the information we provide,” he stated.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Statistician-General of the Federation and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), who was represented by the Director of Corporate Planning and Statistical Coordination, Mr. Austin Anyakorah, urged the ministry to be dedicated and collaborate with relevant agencies of government to get comprehensive data. The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF),who was represented by the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Strategic Planning and Documentation, Mr. Mohammed Mustapha opined that PTDF was committed to advancing the Nigerian petroleum industry through excellence in technology, and capacity building.
Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Shell’s profits have climbed to $14 billion or £10.9 billion for the first half of 2024 after its decision to focus on fossil fuels over low-carbon energy delivered stronger than expected earnings for a second consecutive quarter.
Europe’s biggest oil and gas company rewarded its shareholders with a further $3.5 billion in share buybacks after reporting adjusted earnings of $6.3 billion in the three months to the end of June, the Guardian UK reported.
The latest results, which have taken the company’s total profits for the first half of the year to $14 billion and its share buybacks to $7 billion, have angered climate campaigners as Shell continues to grow its global gas business and pull back on investment in low-carbon energy.
Shell delivered its results days after BP topped forecasts by reporting profits of almost $2.8 billion for the second quarter and set out plans to develop an oil hub in the Gulf of Mexico.
Together the companies have reported combined profits over
Some stakeholders in the environmental sustainability space have canvassed the need for judicious use of waste in different landfill sites in the country to generate energy that is more sustainable for the planet.
Drawn from various walks of life including Information Technology sector, environmental specialists, academia and government, the stakeholders stressed the need to factor in energy efficiency during generation to ensure environmental sustainability.
They advanced this advocacy during the Waste-to-Energy Summit organised by Rack Centre, Nigeria’s carrier and cloud-neutral data centre, in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)’s Community Development Service.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who represented the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources,
Dr Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the management of solid waste had become crucial, especially with the growing impact of pollution caused by carbon emissions on our environment.
Gbadegesin cited the example of Lagos, and its rapidly growing population of 20 million and daily waste generation of 30,000 tons, which necessitates the need for proper management of dump sites to mitigate environmental hazards and health risks.
The Chief Executive Officer, Rack Centre, Lars Johannison, explained that Rack Centre’s commitment to its sustainability agenda in its operations is the reason why the company factors energy efficiency not only through the source of energy used but also in the design and materials for the expansion of its data centre campus.
“You cannot speak about data centre management without considering energy consumption management. You have to measure how you consume energy, and the key metric is power usage effectiveness (PUE), which simply tells you the amount of power that you use to be able to provide the services that you offer. And the lower your PUE is, the more efficient your power infrastructure is,” he stated.
Eromosele Abiodun
Chinedu Eze
Comms/e-Business Editor
Emma Okonji
Asst. Editor, Energy
Emmanuel Addeh
Asst. Editor, Money Market
Nume Ekeghe
Correspondents
KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets)
James Emejo (Finance)
Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)
Reporter
Peter Uzoho (Energy)
Contributing, Chief Operating Officer, Rack Centre, Ezekiel Egboye, emphasised the need for data centres to be conscious of energy usage, and the source of energy while working towards a green economy. According to him, “When the Olusosun landfill is successfully transformed, it will create job opportunities for youths to ensure a sustainable future”.
In his view, the convener of the Waste to Energy Summit, NYSC Community Development Service, Dolapo Olaoluwa, who spoke on the theme “Driving Environment Sustainability” explained that the need to organise the summit arose after observation and experience working near the Olusosun landfill in Lagos.
the last year amounting to £31.2 billion, or more than the combined gross domestic product of six of the Caribbean countries affected most by the record-breaking destruction of Hurricane Beryl, according to the NGO Global Justice Now.
Shell watered down a climate pledge this year by reframing a target to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of the energy it sells by 15-20 per cent by the end of the decade, compared with its previous target of 20 per cent.
This will enable Shell to slow the pace of its emissions reductions while growing its global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) business in a decade that climatologists have warned is crucial in averting a climate catastrophe.
The
division as part of a plan to increase the company’s profits.
The head of Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) at the weekend said some managers and employees will appear before a UK court over suspected involvement in bribery offences linked to Swiss commodity trader Glencore.
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had accused the billionaire former head of oil at Glencore Plc, Alex Beard, of conspiring to make corrupt payments to benefit Glencore’s oil operations in Nigeria and other West African countries.
Specifically, the agency alleged that Beard conspired to make the payments to government officials
and employees of state owned oil firms in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014, and Cameroon between 2007 and 2014.
But while Nigeria’s oil company had yet to make any comment, Adolphe Moudiki, SNH’s administrator and director general, who had previously denied staff involvement at the weekend issued a statement saying some employees had been identified as suspects and would appear before a British court on September 10.
Beard was charged alongside four other ex-employees from the commodities trader. Beard, 56, who
was one of Glencore’s top executives for more than a decade before his departure in 2019, is the highest profile individual to be charged in a sweeping series of investigations into corruption and market manipulation at the company – and one of the most senior commodity traders ever to be charged with wrongdoing.
But in May, the federal government had said Glencore, a British mining and trading group, was expected to pay Nigeria a $50 million penalty for bribery.
In June 2022, Glencore’s UK subsidiary pleaded guilty at a London court to seven counts
of bribery in connection with oil operations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Sudan.
“SNH welcomes the progress of proceedings against the perpetrators and accomplices of the acts of corruption that have tarnished its image,” Moudiki said in the statement. He did not say how many SNH staff were involved.
Glencore’s UK subsidiary has admitted it paid bribes in Cameroon to SNH officials and others to the sum of 7 billion CFA francs ($11 million) to secure preferential access to oil between 2011 and 2016.
Stories by Peter Uzoho
Oil and gas experts at the Institute for Energy and Extractive Industry Law have stressed the need for the federal government to protect and strengthen regulatory agencies in the industry in order to boost competition and prevent monopoly in the sector.
In the same vein, the analysts canvassed for protection and support to local players in the Nigerian petroleum refining and marketing space through introduction of business-friendly fiscal policies capable of enhancing investment by indigenous companies.
A consultant at the Institute, Dr. Taiwo Ogunleye and an independent energy analyst, Mr.
Ademola Adigun, made the calls while making presentations at a one-day workshop in Lagos.
The topic of the workshop was “The Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: The Roles of NMDPRA in Ensuring Energy Security.”
Their advocacy came on the heels of the recent spat between the management of Dangote Industries Limited -owners of the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
In his presentation, Adigun called for a substantial review of fiscal policies that will entrench competition and strong regulatory environment in the Nigerian oil
and gas industry.
He said regulatory issues were key to creating efficiency and transparency in the petroleum products supply value chain, warning that the regulator must not be weakened by the actions of the government, the players and the public to avert the collapse of the downstream petroleum industry.
While pointing out that NNPC would not sell crude below cost of production since crude oil is an international product, he advised that Nigeria must be guided by international best practices.
He also warned about the continuous subsidy payment on petrol, which he said had hit N8 trillion, saying that has made the market uncompetitive
and continues to create disruptive supply arrangements.
“As at today, landing cost of petrol is N1,100 per litre aside from associated costs of trucking the product to dispensing outlets. The last time we checked, subsidy was around N5 trillion. But today, as I speak with you, subsidy has gone to about N8 trillion”, Adigun stated.
Earlier in his presentation, Ogunleye stated that monopoly was not the way to go for any market that wants the best for all stakeholders.
According to him, as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), no single person or institution must owe and control more than 40 per cent of fuel supply and distribution in Nigeria.
The Group Managing Director of Daily-Need Group, producers of pharmaceuticals and food products, Mr. Oluwatosin Jolayemi, has said that with high electricity tariff and the unstable nature of power supply, manufacturers are now turning to gas to power their businesses.
He stated that the challenge with the national grid was making gas more attractive for manufacturers because of its capacity to cut downtime, greenhouse emissions, and especially bring down operating costs.
Recounting his organisation’s experience before moving off the national grid and onto gas and diesel generators, Jolayemi noted that, “We also experienced an irregular power supply that caused a lot of losses on return on investments.”
He said Nigerian manufacturers grappling with the Naira devaluation, which has increased the cost of importing critical feedstock for production were now switching to gas plants. He stated, “Many manufacturing firms grapple with frequent power outages,
which predisposes machines to damage. A world-class factory with state-of-the-art manufacturing and laboratory equipment influenced Daily Needs’ decision to migrate to the gas plant supplied by Clarke Energy, which made it possible to reduce production downtime due to machine breakdowns, especially for the highly sensitive electronicdependent machines.”
Jolayemi said the company acquired a 1MW gas plant, adding that to remain focused on its strength, Daily-Need Industries
contracted Clarke Energy Limited to carry out both installations and service support to cut down on the cost of production and remain competitive.
He said the decision has yielded an optimal return on investments, noting that “With the installation of the gas power plant, we have been able to save at least 60 per cent on the cost of energy generation”. He maintained that running the gas power plant has supported the company’s drive to be a socially and environmentally responsible manufacturer.
At a time when companies are shutting down and exiting the country due to high operating costs and unfriendly investment climate, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Black Pelican Group, Mr. Michael Owolabi, shares his success story in the past 20 years. In this interview with James Emejo, he discusses the challenges, opportunities in the business environment and how the company had remained resilient amid various headwinds. Excerpts
You are celebrating 20 years of business in a country where companies are exiting due to the harsh investment climate. No doubt, it’s not been a bed of roses all along. How did you become so resilient?
Idon’t want to sound like I’m using words that are over flogged, but it’s been a lot of hard work. And I’m sure many entrepreneurs in my position do the same. The work is nonstop seven days a week, with very little time, even for family - forget friends - that’s the lonely life of an entrepreneur. So, when this musician came up with the song ‘Lonely at the Top’, I understood it completely.
In Abuja, I have a flat upstairs here on top of the building where I live. So, when I come to work, because I live in Lagos full time. When I come to Abuja, I live in the office. So, you can understand that sometimes I come down in my pyjamas at 4 a.m, go to my office, and I’m there; I forget time is going, and by the time I come out, people have already come out, and it’s 11 a.m. So, because I’m in Abuja, the family is not here, it’s seven days like that. So, there’s a lot of hard work.
But, there’s also the fact that we’ve seriously diversified our business. When we started, we were doing only bathrooms. When we saw that, okay, clients need more, and in response to customer needs and the market, we said, okay, let’s do more, and we started doing kitchens; we started doing doors.
When we built our Lagos office, it deepened our product base because when people came for the lunch, they looked at things like this and said, I like this; and it was not what we were selling. We said, oh, we just did it for our meeting – but they said, but I want it. We said okay, we can sell it to you. Some people came and carried our chairs. (6:19) There was even a particular client, he was an Assistant Director (AD) in a bank.
He took my chair and told his daughter to take it to the car. I said, boss, that’s my chair, he said you’ll find another one for yourself. And so, we started doing more.
The MD of a bank came to our office and saw the furniture my staff was sitting on, and he says, “why can’t all my branches look like this? Can you give me a design philosophy for my new branch rollout?” And today, we supply all the furniture for all the branches around the country. So, because we’re very diversified, it helps us to mitigate; if people are not doing houses, people are doing offices - for instance, when COVID came, our sales of gym equipment went up because people are now seeing that the healthier you are, the longer you live. And so, you might have all of this money and you’re not healthy. So, our wellness business then took off on the back of that.
Therefore, diversification has helped us to balance, it’s like somebody constantly doing this, like a dance.
Now, I’ve mentioned hard work, I’ve mentioned diversification, the third pillar is my team. I can tell you 100 per cent that I can’t take credit for anything that we’ve achieved. My guys are well compensated.
So, that’s the thing I learned from work. I used to work in GTB. And it’s interesting to know that one of my founding shareholders is Mr. Fola Adeola, who was my boss in GTB. When I wanted to start the business, I didn’t have the money. I went to him. And he also has 25 per cent of the business till today from that investment 20 years ago. So, he taught me from GTB – and that’s our philosophy in GTB - you take one person, pay them the salary of two people, and give them the work of three people, and that’s GTB. So, people work hard, but they are paid well.
In our company, for instance, if you are a manager and you spend up to 10 years, we buy you a house; If you want to live in Lagos or Abuja, and not a house in Shangisha; a house on the Island. When the company prospers, it’s not just for me alone or some people alone, everybody prospers. And so, I have a crop of people who are very committed to the company. And I rest on their shoulder.
How have you been able to retain these human resources
you’ve nurtured over time? Now, I had a lot more of them until the external environment started becoming more hostile. So, a lot of them, even with all the things we do, went to Canada because they said to me, Mr. Owolabi, yes, you are paying us well, but you cannot protect us from kidnappers. You cannot protect us from incompetent doctors in the hospital when we have surgery, or when my daughter is sick – and because you cannot protect me from the larger environment. Yes, I give staff here free food, there’s free staff bus, there’s free insurance; there’s training abroad -still, the larger environment frustrates them, and they run away. I can only do so much to keep people. Our turnover is not high of people; people hardly leave us, but when they do, it’s usually abroad. They usually don’t leave us to go to other companies. It’s usually that they are going abroad. And
that is that they are giving up on the country. So, those are the challenges and opportunities. And our success, despite the hardship of the country, is basically built on those three pillars – the fact that we are a very diversified; a very strong team that is committed, and we work extremely hard.
My wife was in Guarantee Trust Bank for 17 years. She was an assistant general manager in the bank, and it took me three years to beg her to join us because I got to a point where I could not cope anymore. The work was simply impossible for one person. But she was like, oh, but if I join you…typical concerns of, well, that means that our entire family will now be in this place. If something goes wrong, how do we manage our children…but I said to her, I believe in this country 100 per cent and I 100 per cent believe in the business. You come and see. And she’s been here now for 12 years. And honestly, without her, I could not be here because of a lot of what she carries, for instance, the finance function of the organization is with her. The HR function of the organization is with her. This entire event that was organized, I came as a spectator like you.
How much they spend, I don’t know; I’ve not signed a check in the 12 years she’s been here. I don’t know how much we have in the account. I don’t even want to know because the things that I carry in my head are enough. So, that’s really the secret. And to have someone as your partner, it’s like having two people in the place of one. So, it’s 100 per cent commitment. It’s 100 per cent trust. I don’t have to check her work. I don’t have to second-guess her decisions. Nothing. So, she is a secret. A lot of my friends ask me, but how do you work with your wife? But honestly, if any man can get that advantage, there’s nothing he can’t achieve. So, I would say those are the secrets that I have.
What are the core challenges in the Nigerian investment space and what would be your candid recommendations?
I think that the current crop of administrations in the country are very familiar with the challenges we face. The challenges are quite known and they’re clear. Infrastructure is a big one; road network, rail network, remain challenges. Congestion at the ports, the ease of clearing goods. I think the former vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, set up a committee for ease of doing business and they sort of tried to mitigate some of these things. So, all of those challenges are known including access to foreign exchange, exchange rates, those are challenges that are known. If we increase food production, if we increase manufacturing base in Nigeria, we’ll stop importing rice, importing a lot of things that we can grow locally. That will help our foreign exchange base and obviously will help improve the rate. So, they are all problems and solutions that are well documented, particularly by you members of the press. They’re not new. But we are optimistic that this current administration will at least begin to address some of them.
Given that virtually all your products are imported, how do you cope with the current foreign exchange challenges?
Very good question; obviously sales will be affected when prices are going up. The challenge for anybody in that situation, and that’s what we are fighting and working on, is expanding our customer base. We’re right now very strong in Lagos and Abuja. But if you’re experiencing dwindling sales because the dollar rate is going up, who knows you in Kano? Who do you know in Bauchi? How many customers do you have in Anambra? So, we’re looking at those regional expansion activities to help us increase the customer base and therefore, shield the effect on low sales.
NOTe: story continues in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Kayode Tokede with agency news
The Nigerian stock market yesterday joined the United States and others in depreciation, as investors around the world traded with caution after weak jobs data in America sparked concerns about the world’s largest economy.
Specifically, the major index in Nigerian stock market, Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI), was down by 0.17 per cent to close at 97,582.41 basis points, yesterday, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq index in US opened 6.3 per cent lower after a sharp decline at the end of last week, but pared its loses slightly.
After the trading yesterday, about
saying the military will frustrate any such undemocratic move.
On the Abuja-Kaduna road, soldiers and protesters, reportedly, clashed yesterday as the national protest entered its fifth day.
The police and the Department of State Services (DSS) denied alleged use of live bullets on protesters and journalists covering the #EndBadGovernance protests.
At the same time, Kano State Government concluded plans to establish an independent judicial inquiry to investigate the shooting of protesters in the state. The government also expressed dissatisfaction with protesters, who, in their hundreds, hoisted Russian flags while protesting.
In Kaduna State, the state security council imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities to avert further breakdown of law and order.
That was as hoodlums, under the guise of protest, attacked a branch of a commercial bank in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna, the state capital.
Despite the imposition of curfew in Plateau State, angry youths,
5.95 per cent or N11.30 per share drop in MTN Nigeria Communication Plc to N178.70 per share dragged the domestic stock market lower by N92 billion in market capitalisation.
The other main US indexes also dropped sharply before recovering, while stock markets in Europe and Asia plunged, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down by some 12.4per cent.
At the same time, the US Federal Reserve held off cutting interest rates last week – something that typically boosts growth – in contrast to other central banks, such as the Bank of England. And there had been concern that shares in big technology companies, particularly those investing in artificial intelligence (AI), had been overvalued
yesterday, stormed out to confront security agents at Dilimi area of Bauchi Road, in Jos North Local Government Area.
In his response to the violent protests in Gombe State, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, yesterday, presided over an emergency expanded security meeting to review the situation and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent further occurrence.
National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, expressed concern over the wave of violence and brutality that accompanied the #EndBadGovernance protests, saying the alleged crackdown on protesters must be probed.
However, after four days of sustained protest, normalcy returned to Lagos, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu chaired the weekly Executive Council meeting.
Meanwhile, reactions continued to trail Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast, as the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi, said the speech failed to address the issues that triggered the protest.
and were now facing a correction.
Chipmaker Intel announced major layoffs last week as well as disappointing financial results, and there was speculation that its rival, Nvidia, which makes AI chips, will delay its latest product launch.
The Dow Jones index, which features America’s 30 biggest listed companies, was down 2.2per cent, having pared its losses, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq was 2.8per cent lower and the S&P 500 was down 2.4per cent.
Shares in big-hitting tech stocks had recovered a bit but remained in the red, with Nvidia down 5.4per cent, Amazon 3.8per cent lower and Apple down 4.5per cent.
In Europe, the CAC-40 in Paris
Similarly, the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which had earlier commended the speech, called on Tinubu to reverse the fuel price or address some of the demands of the protesters, else his national address would be deemed worthless.
The National Security Council meeting presided by Tinubu took place a day after he addressed the nation and appealed to organisers of the nationwide protests to suspend the action and embrace dialogue.
The security meeting, which held at the president's office, also looked into the new trend of protesters hoisting foreign flags in some states in the north.
Some protesters in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Plateau states had hoisted the Russian flag in expression of their disappointment with the Nigerian government, obviously, unaware of the implications of their action, in the fit of anger.
The chief of defence staff, while speaking to State House Correspondents, said those behind such a grievous offence would face the wrath of the law.
trimmed earlier losses but was still trading 1.4per cent lower, while Frankfurt’s DAX and the UK’s FTSE 100 were down by about two per cent.
The market rout began on Friday after weaker-than-expected jobs data from the US fuelled speculation that its economy was slowing.
In July, US employers added 114,000 roles, far fewer than expected, while the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1per cent to 4.3per cent.
The figures raised concerns that a long-running jobs boom in the US might be coming to an end. It also stoked speculation about when – and by how much – the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates.
The most recent data showed
According to him, "We went to brief Mr President on the situation on ground and we know that since the riot (protest) started, all the security agencies are together.
"Initially, when the riot started, they said it was a peaceful riot but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.
“And we can see clearly what has happened since it has commenced. Criminals have taken over, a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts of things are happening.
"And besides, all of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable.
"We are warning in clear terms and the president has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
that the US economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 per cent in the three months to the end of June, much stronger than most developed countries.
As the Nikkei plunged in Japan, stock markets in Taiwan, South Korea, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai all tumbled by between 1.4per cent and eight per cent on Monday.
Japan’s problems stemmed in part from its currency, the yen, which has been strengthening against the US dollar since the Bank of Japan raised interest rates last week.
It had made stocks in Tokyo – and Japanese goods in general – more expensive for foreign investors and buyers. At the same time inflation
those sponsoring them.
"Those who are pushing them because you know, flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that. The president is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of Nigeria.
"And we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we're working closely, we are working together with synergy to ensure that there's still peace and tranquility in Nigeria, that we have assured Mr. President."
Asked if the issue of coup, being rumoured in some quarters, was true, the CDS said, "Also, the issue of coups, Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Nigeria is a democratic nation. All security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure
"That is treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual. For those of them flying flags and if you’ll see a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that, we're following up with last night.
The Chief Executive Officer of NASENI Portland Gas, Mr. Folajimi Mohammed, has expressed the desire of the company to partner with the federal government to maintain 24hour power supply to hospitals and primary health care centres across the country using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Mohammed made the remarks when he hosted the Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa at the CNG plant of Portland Gas located in Utako, Abuja.
He said Nigeria was currently leveraging its abundant natural gas resources as a viable and economical alternative to petrol since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
“It is crucial to understand the current CNG landscape, including its manufacturing, transportation, and sale processes, for various sectors to effectively utilise CNG as a substitute for petrol and diesel.
“This knowledge is vital for the healthcare sector to effectively transition to CNG as an alternative to petrol and diesel,” he said.
He expressed his enthusiasm over the potential impact of CNG and eco-green generators on the nation's energy landscape, emphasising NASENI Portland’s commitment to driving sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions for Nigeria.
During the visit of the minister, Mohammed showcased how CNG powers vehicles and generators, along with insights into CNG storage, refilling, and distribution.
The fuel-to-CNG conversion process, which takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes, was also highlighted. Additionally, the dual-fuel hybrid conversion solution was discussed, illustrating how it
allows users to seamlessly switch between traditional fuel and CNG.
He said the visit by the minister affirmed CNG's potential to be a cornerstone for future power supply solutions in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, researchers from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State and Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State have showcased their research and development (R&D) products funded by NASENI.
The presentation which took place at Technology Orientation Centre (TOC), NASENI headquarters, Abuja was witnessed by the agency’s top management led by research directors.
It marked the culmination of a collaborative effort that began in April 2023 when NASENI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three professors from the universities.
The research of Prof. Abass Alade, Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH, focused on: “Treatment of Aquaculture Waste Water Using Waste Banana and Plantain Stem Juice Composite Through Integrated Filtracoagulation Cascade System”.
Associate Prof., Jimoh Tijani, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, worked on: "Development of Multi-walled Carbon NanotubesIron Tungstate Composite for Industrial Wastewater Purification”.
Also, Dr. Sanusi Kolawole, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, LAUTECH, focused on: “Development of Nano-coating Green Urea Fertilizer for Agricultural Production Enhancement”.
The Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu represented by Research Director, Dr Samuel Olusunle, in his welcome address, appreciated the
professors for making judicious use of the funds for publication of their research works and development of the products.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Alade talked about key achievements of the projects such as agency-academia linkage as feasible and sustainable; facility development in the areas of acquisition of equipment and resources; and human resource development of undergraduates and postgraduates who participated in the research
tune of $1.8 billion in 2023, and a total of $7.6 billion over the past five years (2018-2023).
The Emerging & Frontier Capital (EFC) report, titled, "More Pain for Longer," further stated that while Nigerian bank investors understood the government's need for revenue, the tax could impact the banking sector negatively.
While also questioning the rational for the windfall tax, the report stated that banks' dividend pay-out ratios had been declining, while their profits had been rising.
Yet, it said aggregate pay-out ratio of the top six banks had declined, from 38 per cent in 2018 to 16 per cent in 2023.
The report also declared that the proposed tax was in direct conflict with the current consolidation programme in the banking industry.
The EFC further pointed out that since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) bank shareholders had only known pain, with bank valuations now one-tenth of what they were.
"So, why tax them, when they are being asked to put more money in and receive lower dividends?" the report queried.
The study also noted that with
works.
He called for funding from NASENI to further mass-produce the products and to commercialise them thorough the tripartite relationship between NASENI, academia and private sector operators.
NASENI Research Director, Dr. Patrick Okwu who thanked the researchers for their partnership, encouraged them to include production costs in their next presentations to make the information more accessible to the general public.
this development, it was time for the central bank to be concerned.
The report, dated August 5, 2024, pointed out that during the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) briefing on July 23, the CBN governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, had said he would be concerned if market participants were to say that "the CBN and the Nigerian government were not in the right trajectory".
It said, "As this briefing happened after the amendment to the 2023 Finance Bill was submitted to the National Assembly on 17 July, we are surprised by the governor's insistence on a well-coordinated policy directive from both the monetary and fiscal sides.
"We say this because the proposed windfall tax of 70 per cent on Nigerian banks' realised profits from all FX transactions from June 2023 to December 2025 is in direct conflict with the CBN's mandated capital raise by the banks.
"The reason being that shareholders are being asked to fund the banks (some of which do not need capital) so that their realised profits from FX transactions, which are expected to remain high given the
in Japan rose by more than expected in June while the economy shrank in the first three months of the year.
that democracy continues to thrive.
"We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government. Democracy is what we stand for, democracy is what will continue to defend."
On allegations that some soldiers partook in looting in some states, the defence chief said, "No. I think it has been cleared. I think it was also a misconception. They actually have seen those things and they wanted to clear them away from the area and that's what was done.
"We have investigated thoroughly, the Chief of Army Staff is here, we have investigated thoroughly and there is nothing like such. No member of the armed forces fell into doing that."
At the time of this report, power had been restored to many parts of the country, although the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had yet to issue any statement on the matter.
At 9pm last night, Azura Power was supplying 408mw to the national grid, Delta Gas was supplying 367mw, while Jebba hydro was also supplying the national electricity grid with about 455mw.
Also, Olorunsogo was pushing 190mw into the power grid while Kainji Hydro was supplying 251mw to the Nigeria’s national power grid.
In a message to its customers in Abuja, Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) called for patience, stressing that the system operator was doing everything to restore normalcy.
“Dear valued customers, we
volatility in the exchange rate, are ultimately paid to the government in the form of taxes, as opposed to long awaited dividends for shareholders.
"This explains why banks share prices are now below their public offer prices and domestic investors are buying high yielding and non-taxable FGN bonds."
The report further stressed the need to put FX gains into proper context, adding that "short-term pain is not long-term gain".
It said, "While it is true that the top six Nigerian banks collectively booked $3.1 billion of FX trading and revaluation gains in 2023, we estimate that $2.9 billion of these gains were unrealised (non-cash gains).
"Additionally, these figures are gross and do not factor in the high cost of raising USD funding.
"Furthermore, why does the FGN seem to ignore the high regulatory costs (CRR, AMCON levy and deposit insurance premium) of banking in Nigeria?"
It pointed out that in 2023, "We estimate these regulatory costs were $1.8 billion for the top six banks and we believe they totalled $7.6
understand that some of our customers are still without power due to a system failure from the national grid at 2.55pm today, 5th August 2024.
“ Please be assured that the system is gradually stabilising, and we are working diligently with all relevant stakeholders to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the AEDC said in an online statement. Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people is arguably the world’s least ‘electrified’ nation in the world, with electricity supply hovering between 3,500mw and 5,000mw.
The federal government has assured that by December 2004, Nigeria would be able to generate, wheel and distribute at least 6,000mw to electricity customers nationwide.
billion over the past five years (2018-2023).
“Furthermore, why does the FGN seem to ignore the high regulatory costs (CRR, AMCON levy and deposit insurance premium) of banking in Nigeria?"
The EFC said, "How much lower do bank valuations need to go?
"In June 2008, the collective Mcap of the top six banks was $36.8 billion and their trailing year profits (2007) were $786 million.
"Today, their collective Mcap is $3.1 billion and their trailing year profits are $4.3 billion. These banks have de-rated from a trailing PE of 47x to 0.7x and shareholders are still being mandated to fund them?
"To add to their pain, bank dividend payout ratios have been declining, while their profits have been rising.
"The aggregate payout ratio of the top six banks has declined from 38 per cent in 2018 to 16 per cent in 2023. "Lastly, the vast bulk of bank shareholders are Nigerian (+90 per cent), so, these poor policy decisions are shrinking their net worth. "How is this good for Nigeria in the long-term?"
Chief Executive Officer, Portland Gas Limited, Mr. Folajimi Mohammed (left) showing one of the company’s equipment to the Minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the minister’s visit to Portland Gas facility, in Abuja over the weekend.
Goddy Egene
GCR Ratings (GCR) has affirmed the national scale long-term and shortterm issuer ratings of AA+(NG) and A1+(NG) respectively accorded to Dangote Industries Limited (DIL).
GCR, in its recent report also affirmed the national scale long-term
issue rating of AA+(NG) accorded to each of Dangote Industries Funding Plc’s Series 1 N10.5 billion Tranche A and N177.1billion Tranche B Bonds and Series 2 N112.4 billion Senior Unsecured Bond. The outlook on the ratings has been revised to Evolving from Stable previously.
According to GCR, “the ratings
were affirmed on the prospects of significant growth in earnings following the commencement of operations at the new petrochemical refinery and robust earnings expectation from the other businesses.”
In the report, the rating agency decried the impact of Naira devaluation on DIL performance stating
that, “the ratings are constrained by the adverse impact of the currency devaluation on the profitability and financial position of the group, given its significant foreign debt exposure.”
GCR in recognition of the potential of the Dangote Group added: “the group’s business profile is bolstered by the commencement
As the world celebrates this year's World Breastfeeding Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, has observed that according to the 2021 MICS survey, the current assessment, only 26.4 per cent of children are exclusively breastfeed in Bauchi State.
The observation was made on Monday by the Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene, at the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration, themed, “Closing the Gap: Break the Record, Break Barriers: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
Irene said, "This year's theme, 'Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,' underscores our commitment to ensuring that every mother in Bauchi State has access to the support she needs, regardless of her circumstances."
According to her, "In Bauchi State, breastfeeding is crucial for the survival, health, and well-being of infants and young children. It provides essential nutrients and protection against illnesses, which are vital for a child’s development."
The nutrition specialist added, "Breastfeeding acts as an equaliser in our society, offering every child in Bauchi State the best start in life, regardless of socio-economic status…
"We need to focus on reducing the inequalities that hinder access to breastfeeding support. “Vulnerable mothers, particularly
in rural areas and during times of emergencies, require additional assistance to ensure their children can benefit from breastfeeding."
Irene added, "By improving breastfeeding support in Bauchi State, we address the social inequalities that stand in the way of sustainable development and public health.
"To close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities, we must engage all actors along the Warm Chain of
Breastfeeding Support in Bauchi: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Governments, Policymakers, Health Systems, Workplaces, Communities and parents."
According to her, these can be done by "ensuring the passing of the six months’ maternity leave policy for working mothers. Establishment of directorate of nutrition in all line ministries and Bauchi State Government counterpart contribution into the Child Nutrition Fund."
She further said, "As we move forward, let us remember that the best is yet to come. By working together, we can create a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers and their children, ensuring a healthier, more equitable future for all children in Bauchi State.
“Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this cause. Let’s make 2024 a milestone year for breastfeeding support in Bauchi State."
of refining operations in February 2024 (with the production of diesel, Naphtha, heavy fuel oil, and aviation fuel), which now complements the already well-diversified group businesses.
"Accordingly, we expect the group’s business fundamentals to become increasingly tilted towards oil refining, given its size as the largest refinery in Africa and Europe. We also expect strong export sales potential given the recent debut exports of refined oil to Europe. The non-oil businesses continue to demonstrate strong earnings generating capacity and market leaderships in their respective sectors, underpinned by the above-peer production capacities and favourable demographics.”
“We have maintained a positive peer comparison consideration for DIL underpinned by the importance of the refinery to the Nigerian economy. However, we have lowered the extent of support applicable under this rating component because we expect the support factors to translate to substantive enhancements to the group’s busi-
ness and financial profiles over the outlook period. In 2022, DIL raised a cumulative NGN300Bn in Series 1 (Tranches A and B) and Series 2 Senior Unsecured Bonds issued by its sponsored special purpose vehicle, Dangote Industries Funding Plc. Being senior unsecured debt sponsored by DIL, the Series 1 Tranches A and B Bonds and the Series 2 Bond rank pari passu with all other senior unsecured creditors of the group.
"Therefore, the Bonds bear the same national scale long-term rating as that accorded to DIL and any change in DIL’s long-term corporate rating would impact the Bonds ratings. We have reviewed the draft trustees’ bond performance report dated 24 May 2024 and note that the coupons have been paid as and when due and there were no breaches to any covenants and pledges in the trust deeds.However, the group remains highly exposed to volatile energy cost dynamics and is reliant on importation of gypsum for cement, raw sugar input, and crude oil for the refinery,” GCR stated.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The promotion of Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Garba Bello, who retired in June, to Deputy Comptroller of Immigration is causing disquiet in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Many senior officers, who were overlooked in the recent promotion exercise, faulted Bello’s promotion as illegal and vowed to petition President Bola Tinubu over his recall from retirement.
Bello with NIS number 10892, was born on June 3, 1964, enlisted in the service in 1990 and retired on June 3, 2024, having clocked 60 years.
This was in line with the Public Service Rules, which pegged the mandatory retirement age at 60 or 35 years in service, as the case may be.
As part of his retirement, the service management held a send-forth ceremony for the former ACG in charge of investigation at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
However, in what appeared to be a violation of the Public Service Rules, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board listed Bello as one of the ACGs elevated to DCG. Apart from Bello, other promoted ACGs include Anietum Essien, Umanah James, Micheal Dike, George Dikel, Tukur Umar, Afolayan Ayeni and Usman Nagado.
A letter with reference number, NIS/HQADM/4193/II/204 dated August 2, 2024, announced that Bello and seven others would be decorated with their DCG rank on Wednesday at the NIS headquarters.
The letter, titled, ‘Decoration of
newly appointed Deputy Comptrollers General of Immigration,’ was signed by ACG Didel, on behalf of the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI) Kemi Nandap.
It read: “Further to letter ref: CDCFIB/APPT/CG&DCG/61/ VOL.V/59 of July 29, 2024, on the forwarded list of newly appointed Deputy Comptrollers General of Immigration, I am directed to request your presence at the decoration ceremony of the under-listed senior officers scheduled to hold as follows:
“Date: Wednesday, 7th August, 2024; Venue: Muhammad Babandede Conference Centre, Service Headquarters, Abuja. Time: 11am prompt. Accord top priority, please.”
It was further gathered that some junior officers were promoted over their seniors in the promotion exercise.
A look at the seniority list indicates that Didel, Umar and Ayeni were elevated above ACGs Sadiq Adebowale and Ngozi Odikpo, who are their seniors in service.
While Didel, Umar and Ayeni were promoted to ACG in January 2023, Adebowale and Odikpo had been on the ACG rank since January 2022.
Commenting on Bello’s recall, a senior officer, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said:
“The Supreme Court had held that once a civil servant has retired, his employment with the government ends and he cannot be re-appointed or promoted within the civil service.
Any subsequent engagement is treated as a new contract.
“In Federal Civil Service Commission vs Laoye, the court reiterated that promotions are part of career
progression within active service and cannot apply to someone who has retired. So, the board cannot justify this illegality.’’
When asked why Bello was recalled from retirement and promoted, the NIS spokesman, Kenneth Udo, simply said: ‘’Because he wrote the (promotion) exams.’’
Asked to justify the decision, he said: ‘’But I am not part of the process. We have a board that handles promotion and the minister is the chairman. So, this enquiry should be directed to them.’’
But the Secretary to the CDCFIB, Ja’afaru Ahmed, could not be reached for comment on Monday as calls to his phone indicated it was unavailable. He had yet to respond to a text message seeking his comment on Bello’s recall and promotion.
L-R: Deputy Director, Manufacturing Services, Engineering Directorate, NASENI, Dr. Salawu Morufu; Director, Manufacturing Services Department, Engineering Directorate, NASENI, Engr. Dr. Olayode Olasupo; Director, Information, New Media & Protocol, NASENI, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan; Research Director, NASENI, Engr. Prof. Abdulmalik Onuwe; Prof. Abass Alade, Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH; Research Director and representative of EVC of NASENI, Engr. Dr. Samuel O. Olusunle; Research Director, NASENI, Dr. Patrick Okwu; Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Physics, Nigeria Maritime University Okerenkoko, Warri, Delta State, Dr. Suleman Kamaldeen Olasunkanmi; Associate Prof. Jimoh Oladejo Tijani, Department of Chemistry, FUT, Minna; Deputy Director and Head of the Research Laboratory Development Department, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Dr. Bakare Hassan Oladipo and another staff of FUT, Minna after the presentation of NASENI-funded R&D products at the agency’s headquarters…recently
The Department of State Service (DSS), yesterday said the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) recovered over N3.9 billion in cash, properties, and vehicles, with ongoing efforts to recover additional looted funds.
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, disclosed in Abuja that the EFCC received 15,753 petitions, investigated 12,287 cases, filed 5,376 cases in court, and secured 3,451 convictions, between May 2023 and August 2024, as part of efforts to combat corruption and cybercrime in Nigeria.
Afunanya who made this disclosure while addressing a press conference on behalf of security, defence and response agencies added that the NPF-NCCC tackled a massive financial fraud case, acting on a petition from Interswitch Limited regarding a glitch on its financial portal.
He disclosed that the swift response led to the arrest of over 16 suspects, eight of whom had been convicted.
He said: "The operation recovered over N3.9 billion in cash, properties, and vehicles, with ongoing efforts to recover additional looted funds.
Similarly, On July 4, 2024, Lagos State command operatives thwarted an attack by a notorious kidnapping gang.
“In a fierce gun battle, nine kidnappers were neutralised, and significant weaponry, including four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi-automatic pistols, nine AK-47
magazines, three walkie-talkies, a POS machine, a loudspeaker, and two operational vehicles were recovered. Investigations continue to apprehend the fleeing suspects".
The DSS spokesperson said that on April 24, 2024, 18-year-old Mallam Adamu Adamu was rescued from captivity in Kasda, Jakusko LGA, Yobe State. He noted that police operatives raided the gang's enclave, arresting three suspects and recovering two AK-47 rifles and a magazine with 26 rounds of live ammunition.
He stressed that the suspects will be charged to court following the conclusion of investigation.
Afunanya said that the IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) had significantly disrupted illegal petroleum activities.
According to him, over the past two weeks, they intercepted nine trucks, three wooden boats, and three cars, recovering approximately 195,000 litres of crude oil, 73,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 130 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
"Key operations included the seizure of illicit petroleum products in Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, Imo, Port Harcourt, Rivers, Adamawa, and Enugu States. These proactive measures and ongoing investigations have significantly disrupted illegal petroleum activities, showcasing the force's commitment to tackling such crimes," he said.
The DSS spokesperson also revealed that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) monetary recoveries during the period included: N231,623,186,004.74, $70,260,544.18, £29,264.50, €208,297.10, ₹51,360.00, CAD$3,950.00, AUD$740.00, ZAR35,000.00, AED42,390.00, SAR247.00, and ¥74,754.00.
He said that in July 2024, the
relentless operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces resulted in the neutralisation of 572 terrorists, arrest of 790 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements, and the rescue of 479 kidnapped hostages.
"Additionally, our gallant troops recovered 440 weapons and 10,589 rounds of ammunition, while also
thwarting oil theft worth over N3 billion. The detailed breakdown includes 232 AK47 rifles, 93 locally fabricated guns, 82 Dane guns, 32 pump action guns, 5,041 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 2,768 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 659 cartridges, 63 assorted arms, and 2,259 assorted rounds of ammunition," he said. He further said that troops intercepted 3,650,080 litres of stolen crude oil, 625,518 litres of illegally refined diesel 450 litres of Kerosene , and 1,230 litres of petrol , among other items, demonstrating their relentless commitment to upholding national security.
Members of staff of relevant departments and units of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been urged to lead the charge for diligence, corporate governance and optimal service delivery to enable the commission fulfil its mandate in the Niger Delta region.
The interventionist agency was also tasked on its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and responsiveness to the environment, the community and all the social forces in the region where its businesses are operated.
These charges were made recently at a three-day capacity building retreat and master’s class programme organised to create awareness and enhance the capacity of personnel of the Office of Executive Director, Corporate Service (EDCS) and the Department of Corporate Governance
and Due Process, themed: ‘Building Synergy for Optimal Service Delivery and Effective Corporate Governance’, held at the Amber Residence, Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.
The event, which was facilitated by Peace and Development Projects (PEDEP) and MARG Education International with resource persons from the academia and consultancy firms, including KPMG, was to also help the participants to appreciate the giant stride of the Lagos State Government and its developmental strides with the tour of the National Theatre and other key places in the state.
In his keynote address, the Executive Director, Corporate Services of the NDDC, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, stressed the need for staff of the relevant departments and units in the NDDC to lead the charge for diligence corporate governance and optimal service delivery to enable
Mary Nnah
In a move set to transform Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, American Hospital Dubai, the UAE's leading private healthcare provider has announced the opening of its pioneering representative office in Victoria Island, Lagos, this August.
The initiative marks a milestone in Nigeria's quest for accessible, cutting-edge medical care, as citizens will now have unparalleled access to the finest doctors, specialists, and treatments.
Renowned for its unwavering commitment to delivering top-notch, evidence-based treatments and care, American Hospital Dubai has long been the preferred destination for Nigerians seeking trusted healthcare solutions abroad.
The new representative office will bridge the gap, providing a
direct link to world-class medical services, education, and community engagement, thereby redefining the country's healthcare paradigm.
This move is part of American Hospital Dubai's ambitious 30-office expansion across Africa and Eastern Europe, cementing its position as a global healthcare leader.
Sherif Beshara, Group CEO, in a press release made available to THISDAY, highlighted the UAE's growing international trust in healthcare, driven by innovation, high standards, and collaborations.
According to Beshara, “The UAE has established itself as a premier global medical tourism destination, and we're proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.
“The UAE has consolidated its position as one of the premier global medical tourism destinations. It enjoys a growing international trust in the
healthcare sector, excelling in delivering distinctive experiences and launching numerous initiatives to attract global medical tourists. The UAE’s expertise, innovation, high healthcare standards, and collaborations enhance its international standing in this field.”
Prince Tonye Princewill, Board Member of American Hospital Nigeria, enthusiastically endorsed the initiative, hailing it as "unrivaled" and a game-changer for Nigeria's healthcare system.
“American Hospital Dubai's commitment to Nigeria is unwavering, and their investment plan, capacity building initiatives, and overall rollout timetable demonstrate their dedication to transforming our healthcare landscape," he noted.
From THISDAY checks, the Lagos representative office will not only facilitate seamless access to medical treatments but also promote
knowledge-sharing, online seminars, and community engagement, empowering Nigerian healthcare professionals and the community at large.
A dedicated travel desk will offer affordable, personalized treatment packages and comprehensive support for Nigerian patients, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
With travel between Nigeria and the UAE now resumed, American Hospital Dubai's International Patient Team is fully equipped to assist with consultations, appointment scheduling, visa assistance, air travel arrangements, and hotel accommodations, ensuring a seamless journey to world-class healthcare.
As a Mayo Clinic Network Member (MCNM) and regional healthcare leader, American Hospital Dubai has consistently set benchmarks in quality treatments, processes, and patient-focused care.
the commission fulfil its mandate in the Niger Delta region.
According to Abegunde, the retreat and the master’s class programme were a further testimony to the determination of the Samuel Ogbuku-led management of the commission as well as the governing board headed by Mr. Chinedu Ibie to ensure that the NDDC is holistically repositioned for effective, focus-oriented and verifiable performances in line with the interventionist agenda that impact positively on the people and communities across the Niger Delta.
He noted further that the NDDC was created by the NDDC Act, 2000 (as amended) to facilitate the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region into an economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful region.
He said: “In order to better situate the NDDC for better implementation of its mandate, the NDDC Act 2000 was amended in 2023 to provide for the position of Execute Director, Corporate Services.
“Some of the issues sought to be resolved by the commission through the EDCS and the Corporate Governance department included: ‘Lack of operating policies and procedures to ensure quality assurance, repeatability of process and integrity; loss of contact with the commission’s vision and mandate in the conception, design and implementation of programs and projects.
“Haphazard operations in key strategic units with flagrant disregard to ethics, organisational culture and regulatory requirements, as well as lack of transparency at all levels among others.
“Therefore, the corporate governance department was charged with the following: ‘To promote transparency in the commission’s operations by providing clear and accurate information to stakeholders,
and to facilitate the development, implementation, and operation of an effective corporate governance programme in the commission.
“To promote effective governance at key levels of management; assist the management in ensuring the commission’s practices conform to all applicable laws and regulations, and strengthen compliance with the commission’s policies, procedures, and applicable laws, and others.” Meanwhile, in his remarks, one of the resources persons for the programme, a political analyst, Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine, of the department of Political Science, Lagos State University, said NDDC is more or less a socially responsible state organisation which has its role clearly cut out for it. He added that its essential role is to provide almost all the basic social amenities that the communities in the region require, which are pipeborne water, roads, schools, health centres and other infrastructures for development.
The don noted that the expectations on the part of the people of the region about the NDDC are very high, adding that: “NDDC is an interventionist agency of the state dedicated to implementing development.
“The commission’s roles are cut out as a development agency in its mission, vision and values. It has somewhat of an oversight function over the activities of corporate actors in the region from which it partly draws it funds.
“But reciprocally, the contributing bodies must not be made to feel that they are wasting their money. That feeling can only be cured by the performance and delivery of service - the extent to which it can reduce environmental degradation in the region, provide potable water, access roads to communities, provide employment opportunities to the teeming jobless youth and equip them with 21st Century skill sets.”
L-R: Managing Director/CEO, UAC Foods Limited, Oluyemi Oloyede; Overall Best Student, Post Graduate Diploma in
Founder and CEO, Simon Page College of Marketing, Dr. Princewill Omorogiuwa; Overall Best
and Head of Marketing, Lafarge Africa, Oluyomi
the
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign Attorney, Jenna Ellis, who worked closely with Rudy Giuliani, will cooperate with Arizona prosecutors in exchange for charges being dropped against her in a fake electors case, the state attorney general’s office announced yesterday.
Ellis had previously pleaded not guilty to fraud, forgery and conspiracy charges in the Arizona case. Seventeen other people charged
in the case have pleaded not guilty to the felony charges — including Giuliani, Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows and 11 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump had won Arizona.
“Her insights are invaluable and will greatly aid the State in proving its case in court,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement.
“As I stated when the initial charges were announced, I will not allow American democracy to be
undermined — it is far too important. Today’s announcement is a win for the rule of law,” Mayes added.
Last year, Ellis was charged in Georgia after she appeared with Giuliani at a December 2020 hearing hosted by state Republican lawmakers at the Georgia Capitol during which false allegations of election fraud were made.
She had pleaded guilty in October to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. The cooperation agreement signed
by Ellis in the Arizona case requires her to provide truthful information to the Attorney General’s Office and testify honestly in proceedings in any state or federal court. Prosecutors can withdraw from the deal and refile charges if Ellis violates the agreement.
Prosecutors have already asked a court to dismiss the Arizona charges against Ellis. It wasn’t immediately clear if a judge had yet approved the request, AP reported.
While not a fake elector in Arizona,
prosecutors say Ellis made false claims of widespread election fraud in the state and six others, encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election and encouraged then-Vice President Mike Pence to accept Arizona’s fake elector votes.
The indictment said Ellis, Giuliani and other associates were at a meeting at the Arizona Legislature on December 1, 2020, with then-House Speaker Rusty Bowers and other Republicans when Giuliani and his team asked the speaker to hold a
T I nubu, Secur ITY He ADS Mee T over S TAT e of nATI on AS Pro T e STS Per SIST I n K AD un A , K A no, Pl AT e A u
Musa reiterated his earlier position that the military would step in to quell the protests if they got out of hand.
He stated, "You can see that some people are supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereignty, that is crossing the red lines and we will not accept that. And those ones, who have done that will go in for the books and they will be prosecuted."
Further asked whether those behind the action had been identified, he responded, "I’m sure you have seen them on TV. That is enough for you to see."
Those who attended the security meeting included Vice President Kashim Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; and National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Apart from Musa, other security heads that attended the meeting were the three service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
At the meeting also were Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi; and Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap.
Meanwhile, soldiers and protesters, reportedly, clashed on the AbujaKaduna road yesterday.
An eyewitness told THISDAY that during the clash he saw a man on the ground but could not confirm if he was dead. Another person was reported to have been set ablaze, but it was not known if the person was among the protesters.
The eyewitness also said not less than three protesters were injured.
But the soldiers, it was gathered, were able to disperse the protesters, who had blocked the highway, leading to restoration of movement of vehicles between Kaduna and Abuja.
In Suleja town, Niger State, there was tension in the early hours of
yesterday as security forces took over strategic areas of the town. Not less than 50 heavily armed soldiers were reported to have arrived the town in three trucks.
An eyewitness said the soldiers protected public institutions, including the Suleja Local Government Secretariat. He added that the police were also on red alert to ward off any incursion.
The strengthening of security in Suleja was said to be connected with an alleged plan by some youths and relations of those reportedly killed in the town on the first day of the #Endbadgovernance protest to launch reprisal.
Not less than six people were, allegedly, killed in the town during their face-off with the police, while the windscreen of the Police Area Commander’s official vehicle was smashed.
The police, however, denied any casualty in Suleja.
Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP), Wasiu Abiodun, said only the Tafa Local Government Secretariat and two vehicles within the compound were burnt. Abiodun added that 11 people were arrested in connection with the incident.
The Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) denied alleged use of live bullets on protesters and journalists covering the EndBadGovernance protests.
Force spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and spokesperson of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, refuted the allegations while fielding questions from journalists at the monthly briefing of the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), hosted by the DSS and coordinated by Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja.
The duo also stated that no fewer than 30 subversive elements that hijacked the protests, publicly
displayed Russian flags, and called on the Russian president to compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty were arrested and would soon have a date in court for treasonable felony.
They disclosed that one of the suppliers of the Russian flags to protesters was picked up in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, in the early hours of yesterday.
They also disclosed that some religious sects in northern Nigeria had infiltrated the protests with sinister motives.
Adejobi said, "I don't have the information that police personnel have been firing live ammunition on protesters and journalists at the states and FCT. There were allegations that police personnel were firing at protesters in Kano, but I don't have that report.
“However, we were able to recover two AK 47 from the protesters. So, if we have been recovering arms from them, if they bear arms, who knows who pulled the trigger? It is a difficult thing for us to stand here to say that the police or any other security agencies have been using live ammunition.
“What I know is that personnel of FCT command are not engaged in the use of live ammunition, may be the DSS will know those who are deployed, but to the best of my knowledge, the protests have been well managed by security agencies."
On his part, Afunanya said wearing a plain clothe did not make any person a DSS personal, but assured the public that the allegations of using live ammunition on journalists and protesters would be investigated.
He stated, "The media should be careful the way they slant stories, some miscreants, not protesters this time, in Kano were vandalising private and public facilities and confronting security agencies, who tried to stop them from attacking members of the public.
“And the story in the media was that the military, police and DSS were attacking protesters. It is not proper. We need your support to have peace in our land. We will
investigate the matter to know exactly what transpired but I can assure you that no DSS personnel will fire a shot at a journalist."
Kano State Government concluded plans to establish an independent judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged shooting of protesters in the state. Spokesperson to the governor, Sanusi Bature, disclosed this at a press conference in his office in Kano yesterday.
Bature said the main task of the committee was to determine and investigate the fatal shooting of protesters, the root cause of the looting of public and private properties during the protest, as well as to identify those behind it.
The state government also announced the prosecution of 632 suspects for vandalising public buildings. It said they had since been arraigned before various courts in the state.
Bature also expressed dissatisfaction with protesters flying the Russian flag in the state.
He said, "I have made a clarification here, Kano State Government has no affiliation with any protesters carrying Russian flag or any protester in any disguise.
"The genuine protesters had submitted their grievances on the first day of the protest, which the governor promised to forward to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja."
Thousands of protesters, yesterday, took to the streets in continuation of the ongoing nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance.
The protests came, despite the 24-hour curfew that was relaxed by six hours, from 8am to 2pm daily, to allow the residents to buy food items.
The demonstrators, mostly youths, waving the Russian flag, were seen along Zaria-Hadejia road, city centre, court road, among others. Most of them called for adoption of Russian ideologies and a shift away from the United States, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank, which
they blamed for Nigeria’s woes.
But Senator Sani Musa appealed to the youths to embrace dialogue as a means of ending the nationwide protests.
In a statement issued in Kano, Musa emphasised that dialogue was the only way to resolve the issues driving the protests.
He said, "In light of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's recent nationwide address, I urgently appeal to all Nigerians, particularly the youth, to embrace dialogue and suspend ongoing protests. As tensions escalate, prioritising peace and unity is crucial.”
Amid the protests, the management of Dawanau Grains International Market Association in Kano employed the services of 800 private security personnel, as part of measures to ensure security in the market.
The market suffered series of threats from hoodlums, who were hell-bent on forcefully entering it to loot food items.
The market president, Muntaka Isa, told newsmen that they had also engaged the services of 400 additional personnel, including the army and police.
Isa commended the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, and state security agencies, which significantly enhanced the market's security.
Kaduna State Security Council imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria Metropolitan cities to prevent breakdown of law and order.
In a statement in Kaduna, the overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the decision was taken following the activities of criminal elements, who had resorted to looting and destruction of public and private property under the guise of protest.
Aruwan said the State Security Council, under the leadership of
committee hearing on the election. When Bowers asked for proof of election fraud, Giuliani said he had proof but Ellis had advised that it was left back at a hotel room, the indictment said. No proof was provided to Bowers. Ellis also is barred from practicing law in Colorado for three years after her guilty plea in Georgia. Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme.
Governor Uba Sani, took the decision after reviewing the security situation. The statement said, “There is sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the ongoing protest has been hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to looting of shops and destruction of private and public property.
“In view of this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolises and environs with immediate effect.
“Citizens are advised to remain indoors while security forces continue to work to maintain safety and security. Monitoring will be sustained for review of the curfew as required.”
Hoodlums, under the guise of protest, yesterday, attacked a branch of a commercial bank in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna. The criminals vandalised the building, using stones and other weapons. Several vehicles within the premises of the bank were badly smashed. The miscreants also made away with some motorcycles parked within the premises of the bank.
Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, confirmed the incident by telephone. According to Hassan, the miscreants invaded the bank, vandalised the building, and destroyed some vehicles within the bank’s premises. The police spokesperson also dismissed rumours that a police armoured personnel carrier (APC) was snatched by angry protesters in Tudun Wada.
He said, "The driver of the armoured vehicle succeeded in manoeuvring the crowd of protesters, who climbed on top of the vehicle, since it was carrying live ammunition and couldn’t have used maximum force against the crowd."
Hassan also confirmed the burning down of a security patrol vehicle belonging to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service at Rigasa area of the metropolis, adding that the Zaria office of the Kaduna State Traffic Law
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State (left) unveils Mr. Emmanuel Amuneke as the new Technical Manager of Heartland Football Club of Owerri...yesterday.
Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA) was also razed by the hoodlums.
Hoodlums Confront Security in Jos, Despite Curfew
Despite the imposition of a curfew in Plateau State, angry youths, yesterday, confronted security agents at Dilimi area of Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by Director of Press and Public Affairs to the government, Mr. Gyang Bere, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said he decided to impose the curfew in consultation with state security agencies.
Mutfwang said the curfew was imposed, “After reviewing the actions of unscrupulous individuals who exploited the nationwide protest to unleash terror on innocent citizens.”
He stated that the criminal elements, armed with daggers, machetes, and other dangerous weapons, broke into shops and restaurants along Bauchi Road and Zololo Junction, looting foodstuffs and other valuable items.
Mutfwang emphasised that the curfew was in the best interest of citizens and urged everyone to comply fully to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. He also directed security agencies in the state to ensure total enforcement of the curfew across Jos/Bukuru Metropolis.
Calling on relevant security agencies to remain vigilant and proactive in their duties to prevent any potential disruptions to law and order, the governor warned those planning to unleash further terror on innocent citizens to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the law.
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya, yesterday, presided an emergency expanded security council meeting to review the situation and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent further occurrence.
The high-level meeting, which brought together heads of security agencies, relevant commissioners, local government chairmen, and traditional rulers, focused on reviewing the security situation in the aftermath of the protests, as well as various measures to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety of residents across the state.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, alongside the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, and heads of other security agencies, provided details of the deliberations.
Njodi stated, "The government recognises that the protest was primarily driven by the current
economic hardship. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of our citizens and are committed to addressing these issues promptly.
“We acknowledge that security is everybody’s business and, therefore, urge members of the public to remain supportive of the government and the security agencies in ensuring security of lives and property.”
He announced, “As part of renewed efforts to address the hardships, the government plans to roll out another round of food palliatives to support vulnerable households across the state. This initiative, the 19th in the series, aims to provide immediate relief and ensure that no resident goes hungry during these trying times.”
Northern Youths Urge States, LGAs, to Review Policies, Palliative Structures
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the substantial revenue savings achieved since the removal of the fuel subsidy. The group advised the states and local government areas to review economic policies and palliative distribution structures.
A statement by the association’s chairman, Isaac Abrak, said, “The redirection of these funds towards enhancing the living conditions of Nigerians, particularly the less privileged, is a testament to the president's genuine intention to end the misappropriation of trillions of naira by a select few oil cabals under the guise of paying oil subsidies.
“However, the recent national protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, has highlighted that despite these efforts, state and local governments have not yet efficiently utilised these funds to improve the lives of Nigerians, especially the very poor. This reality calls for state governors and local government chairmen to urgently review the mechanisms they use to administer these funds and distribute palliatives.
“Interestingly, this protest has revealed youth and community leaders who can be integrated into these structures to ensure that the impact of these funds and other forms of palliatives, such as food commodities, reaches those who need it the most.”
National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, expressed concern over the recent wave of violence and brutality that accompanied the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria. The association condemned the excessive use of force by security operatives against peaceful protesters and journalists. It said the right to protest was a fundamental pillar
of any democratic society, and its suppression through violence was both illegal and immoral.
The association made the assertions in a statement issued shortly after the 48th Supreme Pyrates Colloquium and the Annual General Meeting of NAS, which was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from August 2 to 4.
The event, which was also used to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of the group’s founders, Professor Wole Soyinka, had a series of other activities, including medical outreach for the less privileged, with over 200 beneficiaries.
In the statement, the association wondered why Tinubu did not use the opportunity of his national broadcast to tell the country how he intended to cut the cost of governance across the board with the one-month timeline given by the protesters.
The statement by Joseph Oteri said, “Yes, the president acknowledged those that were killed in the protest. We are, however, deeply concerned by his failure to explicitly denounce the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by the police in several states, notably Abuja and Lagos.
“We, therefore, call on the president to institute an independent and transparent investigation into the killings and brutalisation of peaceful protesters and journalists. Those found responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
“We reiterate our call for an end to the violence and for immediate actions to restore justice and uphold the principles of democracy.”
Similarly, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) condemned the alleged continuous use of force by law enforcement agencies to quash the ongoing protest against bad governance.
A statement by Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, at the commission, Obinna Nwakonye read, “As the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest enters day five, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR SAN, has again condemned the continuous violation of the rights to peaceful protest and assembly, freedom of expression and the press as well as other associated rights by law enforcement agencies.”
Ojukwu said the recent dispersal of protesters and journalists using excessive force, resulting to injuries of several persons, was unacceptable and a clear infringement on the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
After four days of protest against huger nationwide, normal governmental and commercial
activities resumed in Lagos.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, presided over the Executive Council meeting.
The return of normalcy came after President Bola Tinubu, in a broadcast on Sunday, appealed to protesters to call off the protest to make room for dialogue.
Sanwo-Olu had also commended organisers of the protest in Lagos for calling off the mass action following the president's broadcast.
The Patriotism Awareness Forum (PAF) commended Nigerians for their resilience, perseverance, sacrifice, patience and understanding while the protest lasted.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, the nationwide hunger protest continued yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital.
The protest, led by Chairman of Joint Action Front (JAF) in Oyo State, Professor Ademola Aremu, and acting National Chairperson of Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, and other activists in the state, resumed at the front gate of the University of Ibadan early in the morning.
Aremu, while addressing journalists, said the national broadcast by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday had no solution to the problems facing the country.
But in Edo State, despite the order by the state government that roads should not be blocked during protest, suspected hoodlums, yesterday, blocked some roads in Benin City and the outskirts. They insisted they would be on the roads for 10 days before re-strategising for the next line of action.
Though life had begun to gradually pick up in Benin City, many businesses, including banks, remained shut, apparently, for fear of attack by hoodlums.
All the banks and most shops and offices along Airport Road, Ekenhuan Road, Sapele Road, Sokponba Road, and environs remained shut.
While police went through Sapele Road to the bypass to clear the road blocks, suspected hoodlums mounted roadblocks around Upper Mission from Teboga Junction and extorted motorists.
Parts of TV Road were also blocked, just as Egba Junction, after the bypass, along the Benin–Auchi road, was blocked by suspected hoodlums.
in Ondo State, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oluyemi Ibiloye, vowed to ensure protection of lives and property of citizens amid the nationwide protests over the current economic situation in the country.
The presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, said Ondo State would continue with the protest.
Sowore, who hails from the coastal state, in a post on X on Sunday, asked residents of the state to converge at the popular NEPA roundabout
in Akure, the state capital for the demonstration. He said, "Akure is now on board! Monday, August 5th at NEPA roundabout, Akure, time: 7am #endbadgovernancenow"
But speaking at a press conference at the command headquarters in Akure, Ibiloye said the corps would not allow any violent demonstrations in the state.
ATACA Holds Seminar
October 3
Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA) announced that its fourth annual seminar would now hold on October 3, following the state of the country occasioned by the hardship protests.
The association initially scheduled the seminar to hold on August 7, in Abuja.
In a statement by its Chairman, Organising Committee, Chidi Ugwu, the association said the change in date was due to uncertainties associated with the lingering nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
Obi: Tinubu’s Address Failed to Address Harsh Realities, Issues That Set Off Protests
Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi, reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast to the nation on Sunday, saying the address failed to address the issues that triggered the protest.
Writing on his X handle, under the title, “My Response to the President’s Address,” the LP leader said, “Having led the call for the president to address the nation and respond to the demands of the people, and having listened to the belated speech, I needed to delay my response to see if my understanding of the address was aligned with others.
“I hesitated to respond immediately, as I felt it could have been perceived as another attempt by Peter Obi to sway public opinion, especially since I was initially accused of sponsoring the protest.
“However, I must begin by thanking the president for finally addressing the people, albeit belatedly, which might have prevented the unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including those of our security agents.
“While I had hoped that, in consoling the families of those, who lost their loved ones in the protest, he would also show some empathy towards those, who were injured, arrested, and detained due to the overzealous and unprofessional conduct of some security operatives.
“This was, unfortunately, not the case. It is the responsibility of the government to identify criminal elements attempting to disrupt the protest through looting and other unlawful behaviours and to protect those genuinely exercising their democratic rights.
“Nigeria must embrace all tenets of democracy, including the right to protest, without selective adherence. I also appreciate his condemnation of the ethnic bigotry being propagated by some individuals against other ethnic groups.
“However, I had hoped for more decisive action, such as the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible, to demonstrate that such intolerance will not be tolerated in today’s Nigeria.
“The president’s address, regrettably, appeared disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people and failed to address critical issues that initially triggered the protest. It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers regarding the scale of anger, hunger, and hardship in the country, or a deliberate choice to disregard it.
“At this point, I strongly advise the president to distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with individuals who will present the unvarnished truth. While the president’s speech focused on the past, the people are concerned with the present and the future.
“He should begin by addressing pressing issues, such as the exorbitant cost of governance, measures to tackle corruption, the high cost of living, and directing resources effectively towards critical areas, like health, education, and poverty alleviation. I respectfully reiterate that the president should declare a war on insecurity, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector.”
Tinubu's Speech Worthless without Reversal of Fuel Price, Says Ohanaeze
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the fuel price or address some of the demands that would sway the protesters off the streets across the country.
In a statement by Secretary General of the body, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated that a reversal of fuel prices or any other gesture of goodwill towards the protesters would go a long way in restoring peace and stability in the country.
The statement said, "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's speech had the potential to sway the protesters off the streets if there had been a pronouncement of the reversal of fuel prices or any of the demands put forward by the organisers of the protests.
"The economic policies outlined are commendable, but the immediate challenge is how to address the protesters' demands and prevent further chaos.
"A reversal of fuel prices or any other gesture of goodwill towards the protesters could go a long way in restoring peace and stability in the country.”
L-R: Director, Diaspora and International Affairs Office of the Leader of the Senate, Hon. Shade Adepeju-Joseph; Executive Director of Optiva Capital Partners, Amaka Okeke-Lawal and Head of Mission and Country Director of African Union Agenda 2063, Amb. Stephen Gbatigbi Ben-Joel, when Okeke-Lawal was given an award as Ambassador at Large of the African Union Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly in Abuja... recently
Chiemelie Ezeobi
To ensure enhanced safety and security in the maritime domain of Zone E through operational patrols and sustained force presence at sea, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Niger Navies recently activated a joint maritime, air surveillance and intervention of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) waters.
The combined maritime security initiative within the Multinational Maritime Coordination Zone E codenamed Operation Safe Domain 111 was flagged off at Cotonou Port Naval Base, Republic of Benin yesterday and involved vessels from participating nations with SD Abuja commanded by
Michael Olugbodeinabuja
The Nigerian government has warned its citizens of the dangers of traveling to United Kingdom(UK) at this time.
Following recent killing of three young girls at a concert, the Nigerian government in a statement yesterday by the spokesperson of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, warned Nigerians planning a trip to UK to be wary of upsurge in violence.
Abu-Obe noted that violence in UK has assumed “dangerous proportions” as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.
He said to this end, citizens are advised to be extra vigilant and take measures as follows: avoiding political processions and protests, rallies or marches, avoiding crowded areas and large gatherings, and being vigilant and self-aware at all times.
It has been reported that demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances unruly.
These disturbances have been aggravated by the deaths of the three girls, spawning an anti-immigration narrative, with particular emphasis on Muslim immigrants or persons of colour being targeted.
Funmi Ogundare
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, yesterday expressed concerns about the severe underfunding and neglect his agency has faced, stating that it has been abandoned for two decades.
Speaking as a guest on The Morning Show on ARISE News Channel, Issa-Onilu highlighted that out of the agency’s 812 office locations nationwide, only five were operational, with many staff members struggling with inadequate workspaces and rejection.
He also discussed the challenges relating to staffing and resources, revealing that the agency’s workforce has dwindled from 7,000 to less than 4,000 employees.
“As of today, we don’t even have a single car,” he said, adding that since assuming office last year, he has been using his personal vehicle to fulfill his duties.
Issa-Onilu stressed the difficulty of mobilising Nigerians without adequate resources, emphasising the importance of nurturing institutions.
“We cannot mobilise Nigerians when we don’t have mobility. It’s not that we haven’t made efforts, but we have set up numerous platforms for engagement,” he said.
Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Niger State Government yesterday began the payment of N20,000 wage award to its workers in the civil service.
The state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, had at a stakeholders meeting two weeks ago announced the plan to pay the civil servants the award to cushion the biting effect of high cost of food items in the state. It could not be confirmed if local government staff will benefit from the wage award.
Many civil servants, THISDAY investigation revealed, started receiving the alerts for the payment yesterday morning and were seen rushing to the banks or the POS to withdraw the money.
Some of the workers, who were spoken to, appreciated the governor for the “good gesture” but asked him to pay their outstanding leave grants and other allowances.
A reliable source at the Ministry of Finance, which wants to remain anonymous, confirmed the story.
Captain Idongesit Udoessien as the Officer-in-Tactical-Command while Commander Ayo Pacheco manned Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KANO.
Themed ‘Protecting the Blue Economy of ECOWAS Zone E through Maritime Security Collaboration’, this multi- faceted initiative aims to fortify the blue
economy of ECOWAS Zone E through unprecedented maritime security collaboration.
During the five-day operation, four vessels from Nigeria, Benin
Republic and Togo, alongside the aircraft provided by Nigeria, are to patrol and monitor the total water area of 105,746 square nautical miles (sqnm).
Sylvester Idowu inWarri
Four persons were yesterday feared killed at different locations during two rival cult groups clash over alleged debt recovery in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
THISDAY gathered yesterday that the victims, members of Aye and
Bagger confraternities, were shot dead within 24 hours respectively. Trouble, it was learnt, started when a victim allegedly sold hard drugs to rival cult member who refused to pay and in attempt to recover his money, a fight broke out which attracted other members of the rival cult groups.
According to a local source, “One
of the victims sold a hard drug to his rival cult group member without payment, and in the course of recovering his money, issues broke out between them.
“The man met his debtor that belonged to one of the cult groups requesting for his money, and in the process, he was beaten up mercilessly.
“Less than 24 hours later, the guy that was beaten saw his debtor in a lonely area and he immediately broke his head with unidentified objects in retaliation of the previous attack on him.
“Pained by the retaliation, both groups mobilised their members against them and the brutal killings started in Ughelli metropolis.”
Ibrahim OyewaleinLokoja
A Kogi State-based human rights activist and Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Idris Miliki, has urged Nigerians to hold the state governors responsible by asking questions.
Miliki, while speaking with journalists yesterday, stated that there are a lot of inconsistencies in the Nigeria democratic system. He pointed out that the theory of social contract and principles of democracy demand that the people must ask questions through the process of interest articulation and interest aggregation.
The activist added that it is important that the leaders who were given mandates by the people must be held responsible and be accountable to the constituents at all times. This call might not be unconnected with the President Bola Tinubu broadcast to the people of
the country following three days nationwide protest against high cost of living in the country. According to him, “The president’s speech has once again established one fact that more money is being given to states governments, and by extension the local governments.
Chuks Okocha in abuja
The Registrar of the Trade Unions in Nigeria, Falonipe Amos, has slammed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for meddling in the affairs of the Labour Party, warning that the Act establishing the NLC does not permit it to
interfere in the political activities of any political party.
According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, “Director/ Registrar of Trade Unions, Falonipe Amos, refers the NLC to Section 15 (1) (2) (3) of the Trade Unions Act ‘Cap T14 & TI5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 wherein on no account should NLC be involved in the running or patronising political parties or persons into elective office.”
The NLC has been in contention with the leadership of the LP over proprietary rights claims, insisting that it owns the party even against the provision of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. NLC has on several occasions allegedly sponsored crisis in the LP using its agents such as Political Commission, Labour Party Stakeholders, as well as the NLC’s Transition Committee.
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Governor Fubara also declared that Rivers State is open to robust investment climates for prospective investors to explore with guarantee of safety for their investments.
Governor Fubara made the
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has identified high cost of living as the major challenge in the country today. The governor emphasised that agriculture and health care will take priority in the economic revolution in the state as a practical measure of reducing the high cost of living of the people.
assertion yesterday, while signing into law Executive Order 2, 2024, establishing the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, presented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma (SAN), in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the action is in line with recommendations of the Committee that handled the Rivers State Investment Summit organised on May 22 and 23, 2024.
Fubara explained: “As fallout of that summit, we all agreed that the windows and the big doors for economic advancement of the state have been opened.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adozillion Homes and Realty, Dr Simon Adozi, has called on African leaders to harness the power of publicprivate partnerships (PPPs) to drive development across the continent.
According to him, the
partnership model will address Africa’s common challenges, which is crucial for sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for millions of Africans.
Delivering the keynote address at the 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business
Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Adozi said there was a need for greater collaboration between government and private sectors in shaping Africa’s future.
He said: “For Africa to reach its full potential, we must foster collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors. This is
key to driving economic growth, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for our people.”
Adozi noted the many benefits of PPPs, including increased investment, risk sharing, improved efficiency, and enhanced service delivery.
An indigenous renewable energy company, SunPawa Energy Limited is to distribute 30,000 solar home systems across the six geo-political zones, especially in the rural communities.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Odera Ozoka, gave the hint yesterday in Abuja. Ozoka said that the aim of the initiative was to provide solutions in the renewable energy space that would go a long way in bringing relief
to a lot of people living in darkness, especially in the rural communities. He noted that as entrepreneurs, “we look for creative ways to ensure that people have access to reliable electricity, thereby increasing
Nigerians economic growth exponentially. The company’s enthusiasm is ensuring off-grid electricity get into the homes of many vulnerable Nigerians.” “The initiative would help to curb the power shortages across the country.”
Duro Ikhazuagbe Live in Paris
Sprinter Favour Ofili ended Nigeria’s ‘No Show’ in the women’s 200m event of the Olympic Games as she qualified for the final of the event for the first time in 28 years.
After coming out of the controversy of being omitted from the 100m event she qualified for but was inexplicably left out by Nigerian officials, Ofili ran another Season’s Best of 22.05secs to qualify for Tuesday's final inside Stade de France.
She finished behind St Lucia 100m Olympic champion, Julien Alfred (21.98), who is chasing a double here.
The last Nigerian woman to qualify for the women’s 200m final was Mary Onyali who picked a bronze medal in the event at the Atlanta 1996 Games.
Going into Tuesday's final, Ofili is ranked third fastest overall and her medal prospect appears very bright.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel has booked his spot in the semi-finals of the Men's 400m Hurdles.
He finished second in heat 4 in a time of 48.32s to secure an automatic spot.
Jamaica's Roshawn Clarke won the race in 48.17s, and Wilfried Happio took the last automatic spot in 48.42s This is the fourth fastest time Ezekiel is running in the 400m Hurdles.
Nigeria's
meters tonight
The sponsor of the Women Basketball League in Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, has praised the Nigeria women's basketball team, D’Tigress, for their historic performance at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Nigerian girls became the first team in the history of Africa, either men or women to qualify for the quarterfinal stage of the Olympic Games.
D’Tigress on Sunday defeated Canada in their final group game to secure qualification, winning two games against Australia and
CANOE SPRINT
Women’s canoe double 500m
Heats- 10:00 am Ayomide Powei Bello Beaty Akinaere Otuedo
Women’s Long Jump qualification10:15 am
Prestina
Ella Onojuvwevwo
Men’s 400 semifinal -6:35 pm
Canada, losing only to host, France.
One of the stars of Nigeria’s performance is former MVP of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League, Murjanatu Musa, who was the best player when Air Warriors defeated MFM in the final of the league played in 2022.
While urging the team to continue the good work, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji OON, says as sponsors of the
women's league for so many years, they are happy with the progress of the team.
“Thank you so much for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” she said.
“The only thing that doesn’t look at tribes, religion or sex is sports, something that always brings all of us together as a country, and I am happy the ladies are doing that in France.
“Yes, you might be thinking
you are facing the USA in the quarterfinals, but I want you to continue playing your game and trust in yourselves. We are solidly behind you, same as all Nigerians and expecting you to give your all in the next game.”
Nigeria will be facing the USA in the quarterfinal stage of the Games as they look forward to another shock win that will take them to another historical semifinal stage.
Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu’s quest for a gold medal at the Olympics was put to the sword yesterday as she failed to hit the mat against Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan.
The match was the last event of the day at the Champ de Mars Arena in Paris but her opponent looked more agile as the 35-year-old Nigerian laboured in vain to get the young star off her feet.
Oborududu won a technical point and was firmly in the lead-up to the last minute.
Still, Zhumanazarova won
the point back going into the final 30 seconds only to earn two more points and leave the arena 3-1 better than the experienced Nigerian wrestler. To reach the semifinal stage, Oborududu beat Linda Morais of Canada 8-2 and later edged out home girl, Koumba Larouque of France in the quarterfinals to advance into the semi-finals.
Her opponent, Zhumanazarova, beat Japanese Ozaki Nonoka 8-6 to reach the semi-finals and also dismissed Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan from Mongolia.
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has unveiled former Super Eagles player, Emmanuel Amuneke, as the Technical Manager of Heartland Football Club Owerri, Imo State.
He did at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri on Monday where he said that the idea was to "reposition the Heartland Football Club for a brighter future to the happiness of Imo people and football enthusiasts in particular."
The Governor recalled that on assumption of office in 2020 his administration met a Heartland Football Club that was relegated and that he made frantic efforts to bring it back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
He however regretted that recent events show that the Football Club has gone back down the drain again, "and can only come back to life by reorganising the administrative structure and repositioning the management and technical team of the Club."
The Governor said to deal with the situation on the ground, he has been able to identify one of Nigeria's best in football management and technical administration/know-how, in the person of Amuneke to manage and bring back Heartland FC to her past glory.
Governor Uzodimma
therefore expressed joy that Amuneke has graciously accepted and agreed to take up the responsibility, noting that the "target of the technical team is that they must win the Premiership and go for Continental competition.”
The Governor assured that his government is committed to "providing the necessary needs that will enable the technical team to succeed and put joy and smile back on the faces of our people and bring back what Heartland FC used to be."
To make Amuneke's job effective and seamless, devoid of unnecessary bureaucracy, the Governor offered to deal directly with his management team through direct reportage to his office.
Responding to the offer, Mr Amuneke thanked the Governor, government and people of Imo State for the privilege to serve and promised to do his best, humanly possible, to achieve the set target of bringing Heartland Football Club back to where it used to be.
He described the assignment as a homecoming for him, noting that the assignment to succeed is a collective thing and that he is driven by the objective of ensuring success at any point in time because “the people deserve to have happiness and joy on their faces always.”
Ozekhome to President Tinubu
“No sir. These are not sponsored protests. They are genuine outpouring of griefs, frustrations, anger, hunger, melancholy, hopelessness, haplessness and joblessness by the ignored and denied Nigerian youths who appear not to have a tomorrow since their yesterday and today have already ended been mindlessly stolen by rapacious elites and state captors who control levers of power at different levels” --LegalLuminary,Prof. MikeOzekhome,faultsPresidentTinubu’sspeechonthenationalprotests.
abati1990@gmail.com
The #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria were scheduled to take place between August 1 -10, 2024, tagged “10 Days of Rage”, a seemingly apocalyptic projection of the immediate future of Nigeria constructed in the fashion of The People vs. The State but as it has turned out, it may be correct on August 6, today, to say that we are now more or less at the end of the protests. For now, that is what it looks like. And what has made the difference is the fact that on Day 4 of the protests the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu decided to address the nation and speak to the people directly. Since the beginning of the imbroglio, concerned Nigerians had been calling on the President to talk to them. Instead, he sent spokespersons, and outrightly condescending Ministers to talk to the people.
Nigerians voted for Tinubu, not the variously privileged persons who now have access to the microphone because of Tinubu. Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution grants the President the right to delegate authority, but funnily enough, the same Constitution is studiously silent about what the same all-powerful President can do about his other room affairs! His job is strictly to rule Nigeria under the Constitution and the oath of office he took. Whatever happens, he is the man that will be held responsible. From August 1, Nigerians took to the streets, as they had promised that they would, against bad governance. Within two days, over seventeen persons had been killed across the country, the police admits that there were only seven casualties. They also insist that their men did not kill anyone. So, who did? Should anyone die at all.? In Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno and Yobe, there was so much violence the state governments had to declare a curfew. Properties were destroyed. Nobody could go to work. Foreign missions in Nigeria have advised their citizens to get ready for evacuation in case the Nigerian situation got out of hand.
The entire country has been at a standstill. It took the President a whole three days for him to be persuaded to speak to Nigerians and tell Nigerians that their President had finally heard them. Tinubu had to speak for 21 minutes in 38 paragraphs, a pre-recorded, teleprompter-assisted speech before Nigerians felt that their President had finally heard them. My take is that the President could and should have spoken earlier. He offered the Nigerian people too little too late. Presidential communication should be driven by empathy, but that empathy should come at the right time. Take the United Kingdom, where there is at the moment, race-based riots, religion-based protests in about 19 cities, triggered by misinformation and disinformation over the knife-killing of three innocent persons, Bebe King, 6. Elsie Stancombe, 7, Alice Aguilar, 9, in Southport, Merseyside, North West England. It was initially claimed via social media that the killer was a Muslim immigrant. This triggered far-right, nationalistic sentiments: “Britain for the British” and a prompt attack on immigrants. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer did not wait for matters to get out of hand before speaking. Two days ago, as the riots spread from Southport, to Liverpool and Rotherdam, the British PM quickly addressed the nation, threatening to deal with “far-right thugs”. Yesterday, he summoned an emergency meeting of the Cobra Committee. He was seen to be taking charge. President Tinubu also reportedly met with traditional rulers and other important people of Nigeria, and through surrogates appealed to the youths of Nigeria to be calm, but he was technically talking to the wrong people. The youths refused to listen. On August 1, they went on to the streets to protest. What we must note here is that the Nigerian President is too much of a monarch. He holds court -one of the things we have to correct in the 1999 Constitution. When the people who elected him in a constitutional democracy demand accountability, he sends emissaries to address the people. If he must meet anybody, he holds court with traditional rulers and religious leaders who end up collecting sitting allowances and flight tickets that could have been better used to serve the people. The ordinary
people, the main focus of the democratic process are the last group to be noticed. And this is precisely the pattern that has played out this time around.
On Sunday, at 7 am, the monarch of Nigeria’s Presidential Villa, finally deemed it necessary to address the people directly. It turned out to be a big favour! On Sunday morning, the protesters at Ojota Freedom Park in Lagos, who had been toing and froing around the Ikeja axis since August 1, had a tete-a-tete with the police and they resolved that since the President had spoken, they would suspend their protest till October. They agreed to hold a meeting yesterday at 11 am, to deliberate on the President’s speech. Thus, in Lagos, the President’s speech had taken the sting, perhaps temporarily, out of the protests. In Kano and a few other places, protesters continued their agitation on Sunday, but the momentum had become generally subdued. On Monday, banks and business places that had remained shut the previous Thursday and Friday, sputtered to life. Nigeria gradually regained normalcy. To that extent, the President’s national broadcast made a difference. The very symbolism of it, doused tension in the country. Should the President have spoken about two days earlier? Yes. Did he leave his personal intervention a bit late? Yes. What exactly did he say? Not much, and yet it made small difference. The big lesson is that the Nigerian President and his handlers must never assume that it is beneath him to talk to the same people who elected him into office. He is not a Supreme Leader. He represents the people. Power belongs to the people, not the President. Tinubu is just so, so lucky to have escaped the humiliation that President William Ruto has suffered in Kenya, and the fate that has just befallen Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, following weeks of deadly protests in that South Asian country. Ms. Hasina has fled Dhaka. The people ignored a national curfew and stormed her palace from where she ruled for about two decades. She is now practically on the run. President Tinubu must indeed learn from the luck that he enjoys. Across the world, there is currently a wave of people’s anger, be it in Venezuela, Kenya, or Bangladesh, with the people taking ownership of the democratic process, and seeking every possible means to punish their leaders. With all their angst, Nigerians are still very manageable people, and we must do everything to keep their resentment of authority figures in check.
I may have submitted that the President’s speech has had the effect of dousing tensions, but I do
not think that the speech was fit for purpose. The protesters just wanted the President to say something. He said something. It didn’t matter what he said, and many were satisfied. But when you look at the speech itself, what did the President say? One, he regretted the killings that took place, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, and invited the protesters for dialogue while insisting on peace. Two, he made it clear that promoters of violence and ethnic bigotry igniting the crisis, will not be spared for violating the laws of the land. Three, he outlined his administration’s programmes in the last one year as proof-positive of his commitment to Nigerian youths: the Skill Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP), students’ loans and support for Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs). Four, the President talked about his government’s economic reforms, and insisted that there would be no going back on the removal of fuel subsidy and the abolition of multiple foreign exchange rates, the gains of which he said have resulted in increased government revenues, debt service reduction, CNG initiatives to reduce transportation costs, support for the manufacturing sector and other benefits for the Nigerian people. Five, the President stressed his commitment to public order and the rule of law, stating that he will not tolerate actions that threaten national unity and stability.
As is to be expected, there have been reactions for and against the President’s nationwide address. He has received knocks and kudos. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo hails the speech as great, inspiring, compassionate, firm, and conciliatory. Please, what else should Keyamo say? Other commentators have a different opinion. Professor Wole Soyinka in a piece titled “The Hunger March as Universal Mandate” faulted the President for failing to condemn “the state’s seizure of protest management, and the use of live bullets as state response to civil protest”. The people asked for bread, the state gave them bullets in return! Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; activist Deji Adeyanju, Omoyele Sowore, leader of the Take It Back Movement Nigeria have also condemned the President’s speech. Sowore, who was a Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections describes the speech as “Beautiful Nonsense”. There seems nonetheless to be a general consensus that the speech fell short of the people’s expectations. My view is that the speech-writers spent too much time on the achievements of the administration. Nobody wants to listen to propaganda at this time. It is standard practice in the corridors of government in Nigeria to think that any time the President speaks, he should remind the people of his accomplishments. But there must be a time and place to that tradition. The speech this time around should have been shorter and better focused. If I were the person to sign off on the copy, I would have advised against all the navel-gazing, chest beating details in the speech. Certainly not the right time to do that. The protesters had 15 demands and more, not even one of their demands was referred to by the President. There is only one name for that: contempt. It is not enough for the President to say that he is listening, and that he has heard the people loud and clear. What exactly did he hear? What specific information is he processing? Did he for example hear that the people say they are hungry? Did he hear or was he told, that the people say they want the cost of governance to be reduced? They don’t want leaders living in $21m mansions, jolloffing inside expensive yachts, junketing like a yoyo inside imported SUVs while the people are wallowing in penury? Did he hear that the people want electoral reforms and a new Constitution? Or that the general menace of insecurity in the land should be addressed? It was not evident that the President was aware of what the people are saying except the acknowledgement, in parenthesis, in paragraph 31 of his speech.
Mr Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC, Dr Muda Yusuf of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) and Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN
have all appealed to the protesters: that their point has been made, and as Bob Marley advised, they should sheathe their swords to fight another day. A prolonged shut down of Nigeria can only damage the economy and hurt all parties concerned whereas there is no guarantee on the desired outcomes. The way forward clearly is for government to listen truly to the people, not audio promises or any of those cliches: Renewed Hope, Renewed Housing Estate, Renewed Agriculture which the people have heard so often in the last one year, every repeat of the same phrases annoys the majority. The very least that the President could have done would have been the announcement of a committee to look into the people’s demands. We all know that a government committee does not always solve any problems in Nigeria. But the gesture would have taken the pressure off the President. It would give the people the impression that something is being done and that they have been heard. If nothing happens positively for them thereafter, by October, they will hold the committee members responsible. Every President must always appoint fall guys in tough situations who will take the bullets when things go wrong. President Tinubu should learn to dodge the bullets because more will come. There are enough willing fall guys out there, looking for what to eat!
All things said, I think the President was spot on when he deplored ethnic bigotry. In the course of the protests, one imbecile with an X-twitter handle was said to have tweeted, under the handle @Lagospedia on Twitter/X that Igbos must leave Lagos within the next month effective August 20 – 30, and relocate their businesses out of Lagos and other South West states. The animal that sent out this tweet must be identified and made to face the full wrath of the law. Igbos do not pose any problem to the people of Lagos or Yorubas in general. The beauty of this country lies in the strength it draws from its diversity. We live in an interdependent country where we all rely on each other to survive, drawing strength from one another. It is strange how today’s people forget that once upon a time Mbonu Ojike, an Igbo man, from Arondizuogu in today’s Imo State was the Deputy Mayor of Lagos (1951). In 1959, the Federal Minister of Lands and Lagos Affairs, was Muhammadu Ribadu, a Fulani man. If Igbos were to leave Lagos and the South West today, the region may suffer temporary economic setback. Who will sell vehicle spare parts? Who will sell electronics? Landlords will suffer. The banking system in the South West will crash. Many husbands will become emergency bachelors – but that may be a joke- the madness that Nigerians exhibit for ethnic reasons stops at the door of the bedroom. Igbos like Yoruba women. Yoruba men can’t take their eyes off Igbo women, and all the beautiful girls from the East and South East. Those who are beating the drums of ethnic hate should remember the civil war. “Though tongue and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we stand.” Those who violate this principle must be sanctioned. They should be told to remember Rwanda and how ethnic hate and rivalry tore apart a country. They should be reminded of the story of Hitler, whose name lives in infamy forever.
Similarly, as part of matters arising from the protests, another set of imbeciles were said to have been going about carrying Russian flags and calling also for military intervention. That is high treason. Nigerians like to imitate even things they do not understand. Whoever is calling for military rule, or promoting Russia on this soil must be identified and guillotined, after due process. It is good that the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has disowned the protesters and that the Department of State Services has arrested the unpatriotic tailor in Kano, along with 31 others, who were mass producing Russian flags and promoting this dangerous signal. The sad story, really, is that this country is in the grips of mass psychosis at all levels. President Tinubu’s primary job, since he says it is his turn, and he is now where he wants to be is to walk the talk, and rescue Nigeria if he can.