A 32-year-old man, Bashir Umar, has inserted a pair of scissors into the genitals of an eight-year-old girl in Dutse LGA of Jigawa State.

The state’s police spokesman, DSP Lawan Shi’isu Adam, said that the victim was lured into a restroom at a table water company where Umar inserted a pair of scissors and a spoon into her private parts, causing severe injuries and rendering her unconscious.

He said that the man repeatedly abused the child, threatening to kill her and her parents if she spoke out.

He added that the suspect had been arrested and was at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says the price of petrol will determine if it will buy from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited or Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

According to Ukadike Chinedu, national publicity secretary of IPMAN, in an interview with Punch on Monday, the association is prepared to buy from either Dangote or NNPC depending on the prices they offer.

Chinedu said the NNPC’s recent clarification that it is not the sole off-taker of Dangote products gives dealers the freedom to get their products from any cheaper source.

“Now that NNPC has said they are not the sole off-taker of Dangote petrol, it then means that the price of the product would determine where we are going to buy it. If NNPC imports the product and its price is cheaper than that of Dangote, we will buy from NNPC,” Chinedu said.

He said the situation reflects the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the government’s removal of petrol subsidy, with the pricing of petrol now determined by the principles of demand and supply.

Chinedu said this competition will eventually drive down prices.

On whether marketers had started making plans to import if the imported product is more affordable, he said Abubakar Maigandi, IPMAN’s national president, has initiated discussions with investors, with plans underway to secure funding based on the current market trends.

“So, we are talking with some foreign partners because you need to understand that independent marketers are the highest buyers of diesel from Dangote refinery because we control about 80 percent of the filling stations nationwide,” he added.

“So, if Dangote PMS is cheaper we will buy it, but if importation is cheaper, we will go for it.”

Similarly, Mustapha Zarma, national operations controller of IPMAN, said while the association has not yet contacted the Dangote refinery’s sales department on the price, it plans to do so soon.


‘DECISION TO BUY FROM NNPC, DANGOTE DEPENDS ON RETURN ON INVESTMENT’

Zarma said the decision to buy from Dangote or NNPC would be based on which supplier offers a better return on investment and required margins.

“We may contact the refinery’s sales department this week to find out the price,” Zarma said.

“If the price is competitive enough for one to buy and get his return on investment and the required margin, then we wouldn’t mind purchasing directly from him to complement what NNPC is bringing in or what NNPC would buy from Dangote.

“I believe that we are going to analyse the price of Dangote petrol and see the advantages of buying from Dangote viz-a-viz importation. Whichever we feel is cheaper will automatically attract everybody, especially if importation is cheaper.”

He stressed that competition would help prevent price monopoly, with the market determining local prices for refined petroleum products.

“That will bring about competition and I don’t think the government will allow price monopoly. They would want a competitive market where the laws of demand and supply would determine the local price of refined petroleum products, just like diesel is right now,” he said.

“And with that, there is going to be some kind of equilibrium in the pricing and there is going to be guaranteed sustainability of supply.”

On September 7, NNPC denied reports that it intends to become Dangote refinery’s sole distributor.

The company also said there is no guarantee domestic refining would lead to lower prices compared to global parity pricing.

NNPC said Dangote refinery and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which is the current practice for all fully deregulated products.

Written by Leadership News


The North Central Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association (CONECDA) has condemned the silence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso and his four deputies over allegations of gross misconduct, extravagant spending, and abuse of power leveled against them.

They warned that the development is most troubling and totally unacceptable.

CONECDA Youth Wing Coordinator Comrade Paul Dekete stated this while addressing newsmen yesterday in Jos.

According to him, the CBN’s continued silence over the allegation that it authorised the purchase of six armored Lexus LX 600 vehicles worth a staggering N10 billion amid economic hardship did not go down well with the people of this country.

“The shocking aspect of this expenditure is not just the amount but the fact that the CBN already had similar armored vehicles in its fleet, used by the previous administration. The public is left questioning why such an extravagant purchase was necessary when the bank already had these vehicles.”

Dekete further argued that the lavish spending is also compounded by allegations that the officials have inflated their annual housing allowances to over N1 billion each, despite already living in luxurious official residences.

“These actions paint a picture of a leadership disconnected from the harsh realities facing everyday Nigerians, who are struggling under the weight of an increasingly tough economy”.

CONECDA also disclosed that the scandal also extends to the recent sacking of over 300 employees, including directors from 50% of its departments adding that these departments are now being managed by acting directors who report directly to the accused officials, likely in hopes of securing permanent positions.

LEADERSHIP reports that this wave of terminations of employment has sparked outrage, with over 100 of the dismissed staff taking their grievances to the National Industrial Court demanding billions of naira as compensation.

He pointed out that despite the gravity of these allegations, the CBN has remained conspicuously silent, noting that days after the initial reports surfaced, the bank offered no official statement, neither confirming nor denying the accusations.

“This silence is not just disappointing it is deeply troubling. In the face of such serious accusations, the CBN’s refusal to address the public suggests a troubling disregard for accountability and transparency”.

He hinted that for many Nigerians, the CBN’s silence may be interpreted as an implicit admission of guilt, further eroding trust in an institution that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economic stability and undermines the institution’s credibility at a time when Nigeria can least afford it.

The Presidency on Monday denied allegations of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, emphasised that the Vice President is a "colossal member" of Tinubu’s administration and enjoys the "total confidence and full support" of the President.

Nkwocha described claims of discord between the two leaders as false, asserting that the Vice President is loyal and well-integrated into the administration.

In a statement marking Shettima’s 58th birthday, Nkwocha dismissed the rumours as "illogical conspiracy theories," asserting that they do not reflect the realities in Aso Rock.

The statement highlighted Shettima’s dedication, noting that "in a political landscape where loyalty is often tested, Vice President Shettima stands out as a beacon of dedication and commitment to his principal, President Bola Tinubu.

"His unwavering support and teamwork demonstrate a refreshing shift towards harmonious collaboration, setting a positive tone for their administration."

Nkwocha further praised Shettima’s support for President Tinubu, stating: "VP Shettima’s recent praise for President Tinubu is heartfelt and genuine, describing him as a 'good soul' and a leader Nigerians can trust."

He highlighted Shettima’s consistent loyalty and ability to connect with people from various backgrounds.

Addressing the reports of Shettima being sidelined, Nkwocha countered: "The illogical conspiracy theories of the VP being sidelined peddled in recent days are the direct opposite of what is happening here in Aso Rock.

"As President Tinubu’s administration continues to take shape, there’s no gainsaying that one key player who has been making waves is Vice President Shettima."

Nkwocha concluded that Shettima has brought a "unique blend of experience, expertise, and energy" to the administration, supporting Tinubu’s vision and initiatives for Nigeria.

The United States has seized a Falcon 900EX plane belonging to President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

The US claimed the plane was bought illegally for $13million (£9.8m) and smuggled out of the country.

According to the US Justice Department, the aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the US State of Florida, BBC reports.

The report is however unclear on how and when the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic.

It said however that tracking data showed the plane leaving La Isabela airport near the capital Santo Domingo on Monday, arriving at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida soon after.

There was no immediate comment from Mr Maduro or the Venezuelan government over the matter.

Officials said the plane was seized for suspected violations of US export control and sanctions laws.

They added that an investigation found that people affiliated with Mr Maduro had allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to hide their involvement in the plane’s illegal purchase from a company based in Florida in late 2022 and early 2023.

The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023.

The argument by US officials that the plane’s sale and export was in violation of US sanctions is unlikely to carry much weight with President Maduro, who has repeatedly accused the US of meddling in his country’s internal affairs.

A spokesperson for the White House national security council said the action represented “an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela”.

According to US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, the Dominican Republic authorities had given the US government “invaluable assistance” in organising the seizure.

“It doesn’t matter how fancy the private jet or how powerful the officials, we will work relentlessly with our partners here and across the globe to identify and return any aircraft illegally smuggled outside of the United States,” said Matthew S Axelrod from the department of commerce, one of the federal agencies involved in the operation to recover the plane.

Data from Flightradar24’s website disclosed that the plane appeared to be flown to the Venezuelan capital Caracas after arriving in Kingston in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2023.

It subsequently flew “almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela”. It is unclear how and when the plane arrived in the Dominican Republic.

US officials however said the jet had been used by Mr Maduro “on visits to other countries”.

The Venezuelan government had in late July announced that it was temporarily suspending commercial flights to both the Dominican Republic and Panama following the controversial re-election of Mr Maduro.

This is not the first time Maduro or Venezuela’s government has been targeted by US federal authorities over alleged corruption.

The US justice department had in 2020 charged Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption and drug trafficking, among other charges.

The US department has offered a reward of up to $15m for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.

A French pensioner went on trial Monday for allowing scores of strangers to rape his wife after he drugged her, in a case that has horrified the country.

Fifty men, recruited online, are also being tried in the southern city of Avignon alongside the main suspect, a 71-year-old former employee at France’s state-owned power utility company EDF.

Police counted a total of 92 rapes committed by 72 men, 51 of whom were identified.

The men, aged between 26 and 74, are accused of raping the 72-year-old woman who, her lawyers say, was so heavily sedated she was not aware of the abuse that went on for a decade.

Presiding judge Roger Arata announced that all hearings would be public, granting the woman her wish for “complete publicity until the end” of the court case, according to one of her lawyers, Stephane Babonneau.

The trial will nonetheless be “a horrible ordeal” for her, said another of her lawyers, Antoine Camus.

“For the first time, she will have to live through the rapes that she endured over 10 years,” he told AFP, adding that his client had “no recollection” of the abuse that she discovered only in 2020.

The woman, who arrived at the court supported by her three children, did not want a trial behind closed doors because “that’s what her attackers would have wanted”, Camus said.


– Some came back six times –

Police began to investigate the defendant, Dominique P., in September 2020 when he was caught by a security guard secretly filming under the skirts of three women in a shopping center.

Police said they found hundreds of pictures and videos of his wife on his computer, visibly unconscious and mostly in the foetal position.

The images are alleged to show dozens of rapes in the couple’s home in Mazan, a village of 6,000 people around 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Avignon in Provence.

Investigators also found chats on a site called coco.fr, since shut down by police, in which he recruited strangers to come to their home and have intercourse with his wife.

Dominique P. admitted to investigators that he gave his wife powerful tranquilizers, especially Temesta, an anxiety-reducing drug.

The abuse started in 2011, when the couple was living near Paris, and continued after they moved to Mazan two years later.

The husband took part in the rapes, filmed them and encouraged the other men using degrading language, according to prosecutors.

No money changed hands.

The accused rapists include a forklift driver, a fire brigade officer, a company boss and a journalist.

Some were single, others married or divorced, and some were family men. Most participated just once, but some took part up to six times.


– Murder probe –

Many have said they thought they were simply helping a libertine couple live out its fantasies, but Dominique P. told investigators that all were aware that his wife had been drugged without her knowledge.

An expert said her state “was closer to a coma than to sleep”.

Her husband told prosecutors that only three men left the house quickly after arriving, while all others proceeded to have intercourse with his wife.

Dominique P., who said he was raped by a male nurse when he was nine, is ready to face “his family and his wife”, his lawyer Beatrice Zavarro told AFP.

This trial may not be his last.

He has also been charged with a 1991 murder and rape, which he denies, and an attempted rape in 1999, to which he admitted after DNA testing.

Experts said the man does not appear to be mentally ill, but in documents seen by AFP, they said he had a need to feel “all-powerful” over the female body.

The trial is to last until December 20.

The Nigeria Police Force has summoned Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, for questioning over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, and other related offences.

The invitation letter, signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, warned that a warrant of arrest would be issued if Ajaero fails to comply.

The letter reads: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated.

“You are therefore required to report to the undersigned for an interview on Tuesday, 20th August 2024, at 10:00 hrs prompt, at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, through the Team Leader on telephone no 08035179870, in connection with the above investigation.

“Be informed that if you fail to honour this letter, this office will have no choice but to issue a warrant for your arrest.”

At the time of filing this report, Ajaero could not be reached for comment.

PUNCH Online reports that the NLC has accused the government of waging a war against the organisation, following a recent raid on its headquarters by security forces.

During a press conference in Abuja last Thursday, NLC leaders rejected the police explanation for the raid and demanded an apology, the return of seized items, and the release of detained individuals.

The NLC also condemned government attempts to interfere with its internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders, arguing that such actions violate labour laws and international conventions.

It should be recalled that the police claimed the raid on the NLC headquarters was intended to apprehend an international terrorist suspect, a justification the NLC dismissed as a cover-up, citing inconsistencies in the police’s account.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja


Political leaders fro the North, a region in Nigeria which holds a huge chunk of Nigeria’s voting population, are working behind the scenes to convince former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race, reliable sources told THISDAY last night.

Sources with the knowledge of the plan said that recent comments by the Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, to the effect that he would not contest the election if Jonathan eventually caves in, said that the governor’s statement went beyond just flying a kite.

The game plan, it was learnt, became even clearer following the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide demonstrations, which apparently showed serious disgruntlement by the voting population in the region with the Bola Tinubu-led administration.

THISDAY was told that the scheming to persuade the former Nigerian leader to join the race was already in top gear, even though Jonathan is non-committal at the moment.

However, when THISDAY contacted the former President’s confidants on the move by northern leaders, they were hesitant to talk on the matter, but were unanimous that talk about 2027 was premature at this point; “this talk about running or not running is way too early in the scheme of things. The former President is focusing on his international assignments and humanitarian works rather than concern himself with potential run for President in 2027.

”At the weekend, the Bauchi governor, Mohammed, said that he will not contest under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket if the former president decides to run again.

But the source stated that the decision to sway Jonathan to agree to throw his hat into the ring went beyond party lines and affiliations, explaining that if Jonathan decides to participate, the Nigerians will see how party affiliation will not be an issue. Mohammed, a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under Jonathan, who spoke after an event organised by a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Save Africa Initiative (SAI), had urged Jonathan to consider running for the

The governor said the former president has more experience and would do a good job if he had a second mandate to manage the country.He said: “With regards to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition. I know there are good leaders within the People Democratic Party (PDP), especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan.

“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country, unless he decides not to run. If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.“He will do a better job because he has the experience. We know the prices of things; we know the level of inflation. His leadership recruitment was exemplary. We need leaders like him – young people with energy, foresight, and drive,” Mohammed argued.Aside the fact that Jonathan is expected to govern the country for only one term, having done the first a term earlier, before his loss to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, the North is also considering that picking Jonathan will be a fair deal.

With Tinubu scheduled to end his first stint in Aso Rock by May 2027, the political permutation is that if Jonathan decides to contest, the South will have served out its eight years by 2031, given the unwritten understanding among Nigerian politicians to allow for rotation of the presidency between both regions.Jonathan served as president from 2010 to 2015 after his then boss, Umar Yar’Adua died, before conceding defeat to Buhari after the 2015 polls.While the last national protest was peaceful in the South, it was largely violent in the North, with some angry demonstrators going beyond the main reasons for the action to hoist the flag of a foreign country.The violence that followed, many believe, was a blowout from the pent-up dissatisfaction with the current government, which they believe is the cause of the current hardship in the land.

Tinubu had after taking over the reins of power in May 2023, begun a slew of reforms, key among which were the ‘removal’ of fuel subsidy as well as the devaluation of the Naira, as a result of the merging of the official and parallel FX windows. These policies have had very harsh economic impact on Nigerians.According to the reliable source, during Jonathan’s regime, his government was largely inclusive, and addressed issues like the Almajiri system and creating initiatives for unemployed youths.

The northern elite is also said to be disgruntled with the current administration because of what the source described as the loss of control of the levers of power in the country and the feeling of palpable helplessness.The region is said to be comfortable with Jonathan because, according to the source, “they like and trust him because they benefitted from his government.” He maintained that if the Almajiri schools policy had continued, the number of out-of-school children would have reduced by now. “They see Jonathan as a safe bet,” he added.He stressed: “And because of the aftermath of the last national protest, they believe that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost ground across the North. So, that’s the problem.”

Buttressing this recently, the Dean of Borno Elders Forum, Prof Khalifa Dikwa, said members of the elite in the northern region of the country were unhappy with Tinubu because of his “misfit and weak appointees” as well as his “anti-people policies”.The political analyst, who spoke on national television, said the northern elite were “not happy because each of these policies affect the north entirely”.He said: “Most of the appointees are either misfits or weak or to the wrong places,” adding that the appointments by the Tinubu administration were “lopsided”. Dikwa added that even “the southern elite should be annoyed because Nigeria is more than Lagos”, describing it as “provocative”.

Some prominent northerners had also raised eyebrows following the decision of the federal government to relocate some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.

In trying to refute the narrative, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said recently that there was no truth in the claim from some quarters that Tinubu was working against the interest of the North to cripple the region.

The Vice President spoke in Kano when he received a federal government’s delegation which visited to condole with him on the death of his mother-in-law. Shettima maintained that Tinubu was not against the North.

He argued that the fact that Tinubu appointed northerners as the Minister of Defence; the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) put a lie to the claim that the president was biased against the North.

“At an appropriate time we will lay out facts that the president is not against the North as being championed by some disgruntled elements who always want to cause disaffection between government and the citizens,” the vice president said.

Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has said that one of the “graduates” fraudulently mobilised for the scheme by University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State, is a bread seller who did not attend the institution.

This is coming on the back of 101 certificates that were recently voided by the scheme, making it 178.

Ahmed commemded the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi for her forthrightness to have earlier hinted the scheme on the mobilisation of unqualified graduates from her institution.

He insisted that the scheme would leave no stone unturned in sanitising its mobilisation process.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list and they ought not to have been there.

“She checked the list the school gave us and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated.

“Previously, a bread seller was mobilized on the graduation list from the same institution. There are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates,” Ahmed said.

The court order restricts the movement, sale, or purchase of the jets until Zhongshan receives the awarded amount, leaving the Nigerian government facing consequences for the actions of its subnational entity.

Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has alleged that the reported seizure of Nigeria's presidential jets by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company, was a staged event.

According to Sowore, the seizure was orchestrated to garner sympathy for the new presidential jet recently acquired by President Bola Tinubu's administration.

The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress raised questions about the release of one of the three presidential aircraft seized by a French court due to a dispute between a Chinese firm and the Ogun State government.

The Chinese firm attributed the release to a gesture of goodwill ahead of President Bola Tinubu's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, Sowore expressed skepticism in a post on his X account on Friday, wondering why the Chinese company is selectively choosing which jet to use for President Tinubu's 'medical trip' from Abuja to France.

He wrote, “There is something fishy going on with these Presidential Jet seizures in France.

“It looks like this part was arranged to launch the new Presidential Jet with "sympathy."

“Suddenly, this Chinese company is picking and choosing which jet could pick @officialABAT up in Abuja to France on an apparent medical trip.


“Clearly staged!”

SaharaReporters had reported that a Chinese firm, Zhongshan, had secured a court order to seize three Nigerian presidential aircraft in a dispute stemming from the termination of its export processing zone management contract by the Ogun State government in 2016.

The seized aircraft, part of Nigeria's presidential fleet, include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an undelivered Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland, which was purchased by Nigeria but not yet delivered.

A French court authorised the seizure due to the ongoing contractual dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government.

The seizure is a result of the government's failure to honour a $74.5 million award granted to Zhongshan by an independent arbitral tribunal, chaired by the former President of the UK Supreme Court.

The court order restricts the movement, sale, or purchase of the jets until Zhongshan receives the awarded amount, leaving the Nigerian government facing consequences for the actions of its subnational entity.

In a sudden turn of events, the Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng announced on Friday the release of one of the three Nigerian presidential aircraft a court had earlier seized in its favour.

In a statement, the company recognised the significance of the aircraft for this diplomatic engagement and took steps to ensure its availability, thereby facilitating the meeting.

The statement reads, “Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making.

“It has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.”

However, the Chinese company has said it is still open to discussions with the Nigerian government, seeking a swift and reasonable resolution.

On July 15, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Tinubu's administration had acquired a luxury Airbus A330 aircraft for presidential use, despite criticism from various sources.

The report noted that the aircraft was in France and had been spotted at an advanced stage of preparation. The plane had been assigned a tail registration that featured the seal of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was reportedly ready for delivery.

US Court Accuses Nigeria Of Collecting Tax From Chinese Firm, Zhongshan’s Investment Before Contract Termination
The aircraft in question is an ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (msn 1053), registered as 5N-FGA.

It features a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom at the front, followed by an office and a conference and dining room. It also has an airline-style first-class and economy seating at the rear.

The report noted that informed sources from international aviation firms and news sites also indicated that as of early afternoon Nigerian time on July 15, 2024, the plane had been flown from Germany to an airport in Saint Louis, France.

SaharaReporters on June 28 reported that the Nigerian government planned to spend over N150 billion on a new presidential jet, a move that sparked controversy.

The proposed expenditure comes under scrutiny as the nation grapples with economic challenges and record inflation.

The arrest of Alhaji Bashir Hadejia, a former aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by security operatives has sparked outrage.

Some Nigerians, who reacted to the development, demanded answers from the authorities after videos and photos indicated that the suspect was connected to top government functionaries and politicians.

Hadejia, who was a special adviser to Matawalle when he was the Governor of Zamfara State, was arrested on Monday.

A search warrant issued to the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Police Command, dated August 12, 2024, showed that the suspect was accused of “treason and subversion against the state”.

Shortly after his arrest became public, photos and videos of the suspect with prominent politicians and celebrities emerged on social media.


Gold bar merchant

A particular video clip seen by Saturday PUNCH on social media showed Hadejia displaying what appeared to be a gold bar with the image of a former Libyan leader, Muammar Ghadaffi.

In the 14-second video, he was heard saying, “One tonne, total 24 carats, 1kg. In each box we have 50kg; in total we have one tonne.”

There were about 13 boxes filled with the gold bars on the table. The boxes were labelled, “Central Bank of Libya”.

In a photo that has been trending since the arrest was made public, Hadejia accompanied Matawalle to present some gold bars to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2020.

Bashir Ahmad, an aide to Buhari, also shared photos showing Hadejia appearing to assist Matawalle in presenting the gold to the president.

The post read, “President Muhammadu Buhari last night at his residence, the State House, Abuja, received Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Matawalle accompanied by Alhaji Bashir Hadejia. Gov. Matawalle was at the State House to present some gold bars and other precious stones mined in his State. Describe the visuals.”

He was also seen in another picture having a handshake with President Bola Tinubu.


The villa boy

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Hadejia was nicknamed ‘Villa boy’ because of his close connection to the Villa.

In pictures seen online, Hadejia was standing side-by-side with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.

He was also seen in several photos facilitating a meeting between the Arewa Consultative Forum and northern politicians with President Tinubu.

A popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Kwam 1 in his Timeless album dedicated a track to extol Hadejia.

In the track, KI described Hadejia as his friend and that of former governor of Jigawa and now Minister of Defence, Badaru.

“I am going to the North, from Jigawa to Abuja. I am going there to see a distinguished personality, Alhaji Bashir Hadejia is the husband of Aisha, the child of Mohammed Ali, a very big man. He is K1 de ultimate’s friend. He is an ally of Jigawa State calculator, friend to governor Badaru,” Ayinde sang.


Tweeps query Matawalle’s connection

Reacting to the arrest, a tweep, Alade Ayeniromo, wondered why security operatives were not giving the public adequate information on the arrest.

He wrote, “Why is Bashir Hadeija so confidential? Why can’t we have access to the full story, there’s no time names of terrorist financiers have been fully published and they get punished. Omor, Vagabond movie explain so many things around political environment.”

Another user, A.Y. Rafindadi, said if the arrest had taken place outside the country, there would have been follow-up arrests and confessions.

“In a sane country, Bashir Hadeija’s arrest may just be one of the biggest arrests of the decade. Given how connected he is to past and serving government officials, the likes of Bello Matawalle, who employed him some years back as an assistant,” he stated.

But a journalist based in New York, USA, Franklin Ude, claimed that Hadejia was being persecuted by his former boss.

Ude, who posted copies of the arrest warrant, explained that Hadejia was abducted from his Abuja home on Monday on the orders of Matawalle.

“He is also being accused of enlisting me in his plot to remove the government. The military officials who abducted Hadejia on Monday sprayed powdered substance suspected to be powdered teargas on his face, causing him to become unconscious before he was whisked away to an unknown destination,” he wrote.

According to him, Hadejia is also accused of possessing bars of gold believed to have been stolen from the Libyan Central Bank.

“It is not a case of treason, terrorism or stolen Gold bars. This is just a war of two former friends with one who is in government using his position to intimidate the other,” he added.

Ude, when contacted by our correspondent, declined comment on the matter.

However, a tweep, Abbas Nagwari, said the arrest should not be connected to Matawalle.

He said, “Nobody is claiming that Bashir Hadeja was not a former aide to Matawalle. But why are you avoiding new facts? Matawalle sacked him because of his criminal behavior; and it is the same @Bellomatawalle1 that ensured his arrest. People should think before they speak.”

A Twitter poll conducted by Online PUNCH on Saturday showed that increasing number of Nigerians wanted the government to probe associates of the suspect.

More than 93 per cent of responders demanded that the Federal Government share more information on the arrest and links of Hadejia to senior government officials.

When contacted, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh referred our correspondent to the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.

The Force spokesperson confirmed the suspect’s arrest.

“He is in custody,” he added.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to Badaru, Mati Ali, did not take his calls and had yet to respond to a message sent to him on the matter.


Aide defends minister

Meanwhile, an aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Suleiman Shuaibu, has denied any connection between his principal and the suspect.

Shuaibu stated that he has “never met Hadejia and does not know him personally” while expressing concern over the linking of his principal to him.

He noted that Hadejia had also been “photographed with other high-profile individuals, including President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, but their names are not being mentioned.”

Shuaibu emphasised that Matawalle had nothing to do with Hadejia and that relating them is “uncalled for.”

“If Hadejia is found guilty, he should face the law,” he added.


Northern forum demands probe

A spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed deep concern over the arrest of Hadejia, describing the revelations as “appalling” and a threat to Nigeria’s stability.

According to him, the alleged activities uncovered ranging from gun-running and treason to cross-border crimes posed a significant danger to the nation’s sovereignty.

He said, “We have not discussed the matter at the Northern Elders Forum level. But as a Nigerian with conscience, I can competently say that the revelations surrounding the arrest of Bashir Hadejia is appalling and the nefarious activities reportedly uncovered by the arrest pose a severe threat not only to the sovereignty of our great nation but also to the very fabric of our society.

Suleiman commended the Nigerian security agencies for apprehending Hadejia, noting that their success in unraveling such a complex criminal network is praiseworthy.

However, he cautioned that this arrest was just the beginning, emphasising the need for deeper action. “The roots of this menace run deep, and Nigerian authorities must act decisively,” he stated.

He expressed alarm over Hadejia’s reported links to international criminal syndicates, which include smuggling stolen gold from Libya and supporting terrorism. Suleiman described these activities as “an affront to our sovereignty and an invasion of our peace,” warning that criminal networks like these do not respect borders.

Particularly troubling, he noted, was Hadejia’s alleged role in sponsoring protests like #EndBadGovernance, which led to violence in the North. Suleiman decried how criminal elements exploited legitimate grievances, leading to instability. “It is shocking to learn that anyone connected to the devastations of recent protests in northern Nigeria had ulterior motives,” he said.

He also highlighted the disturbing connections between Hadejia and powerful political figures, including a former DSS director, urging the government to act decisively.

The President-General of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, commended security operatives for the arrest.

In an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Kaduna on Friday, Shettima described the arrest as a positive development in the fight against terrorism, emphasising the need for thorough investigation and prosecution to serve as a deterrent.

He said, “Well, for us, we look at it in a positive way. Even though he still remains a suspect by the Nigeria law.

“They should do the needful to investigate properly and be sure so that at the end of the day, if he is found wanting, he should serve as a deterrent so that others should know that we are not in Banana Republic.

“We are in a country where law and order prevail. So that those young element or whoever that thinks can do things and get away with all impunity will also realise that there is always bad days.

“They were not even together when he’s the minister. We see his pictures everywhere in the Aso Rock Villa. In fact, he has a nickname called ‘Villa Boy’.”

Shettima also addressed Hadejia’s link to Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, stating that association with personalities did not imply complicity.

He emphasized that Hadejia should face the music alone, and if collaborators were found, they should be brought to book.

The National Chairman of the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria, Jabir Yaro said it was a sensitive issue.

“The case should be investigated and the true situation ascertained,” he added.

By Abdullateef Aliyu


There are indications that the persistent fuel shortage across the country is caused by the decision of some marketers not to lift fuel over impending price increase.

Sources who spoke to our correspondent on Friday stated that some filling stations were not selling in anticipation of a price increase ahead of the roll out of petroleum product from Dangote refinery.

A newspaper (not Daily Trust) had reported that independent marketers were anticipating the premium motor spirit (pms) to be sold at N600 per litre when it’s finally rolled out.

But the management of Dangote refinery clarified that the speculation that marketers expect the refinery to sell petrol at N600 per liter is not reflective of the refinery’s position while also denying fixing price at that price.

Kano: Police raise concern over rise in homicide cases, flood-related deaths
‘Foreign interference undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty’
“We would like to clarify that Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is not our business partner yet,” said Anthony Chiejina, spokesman of the Dangote Group.

Our correspondent learnt that despite the denial by Dangote, some marketers were hoarding fuel in anticipation of the price hike.

Daily Trust learnt that the Nigerian Midstream and Donwstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has threatened to shut down filling stations that refuse to dispense fuel.

However when contacted, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Olufemi Shoneye, said there is enough supply as far as NNPC is concerned.

“In terms of supply, I can confirm that we have supply,” he simply said when contacted on Friday.

Reports from across the country on Thursday indicated that the scarcity persisted with long queues in a few major filling stations that are dispensing fuel while a litre is almost hitting N1000 at independent filling stations.

The computation of the new minimum wage for junior federal workers have been completed by the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

That of workers in the senior cadre will be ready in the next two or three weeks.

A Presidency source, who made these known to The Nation yesterday, said both data would be collectively forwarded to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for further processing and implementation.

The source added that the NSIWC is waiting for the conclusion of negotiations between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC) on one side and the federal government on the other to ensure that workers’ remuneration were proportionately aligned with the new minimum wage, known as consequential adjustment.

Junior workers are those on grade levels one to five while senior staff members are those on six and above. Depending on the organisation.

The Presidency source explained that the computations were being done to ensure seamless rollout of the new wage structure, which is expected to bring relief to workers , particularly those in the junior cadre.

Junior workers, who are the primary beneficiaries of the recent wage adjustment will have their monthly earning rise from the current N30,000 to N70,000.

The Presidency source said: “The details for levels one to five have been computed and will be forwarded to the Accountant General’s office very soon

‘’The consequential adjustment is a critical component of the new wage structure, stemming from the recent agreement between the Federal Government and labour unions. This adjustment will determine the new salary scales for workers above grade level five, ensuring that their remuneration is proportionately aligned with the new minimum wage.

“The deliberations between labour leaders and the government are ongoing. They are working to agree on the percentage increase that will apply to different categories of workers as part of the consequential adjustment. Once finalised, these adjustments will be forwarded to the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission for computation.”

An official at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) told The Nation that they were poised to receive the final wage details from the NSIWC. The official explained that the data were “crucial for calculating the Federal Government’s total wage bill under the new wage remuneration structure.’’

He added: “We are awaiting the details from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission to determine the total wage bill under the new minimum wage.

“This will allow us to assess the financial implications and ensure that all federal employees are paid in accordance with the new law.

Before the new N70,000 minimum wage, Federal Government’s monthly wage bill was estimated at approximately N265 billion. The figure encompasses salaries for the armed forces, civil servants, and all other personnel on the federal government payroll.

With the new wage adjustments, this figure is expected to rise significantly, underscoring the importance of precise calculations by the OAGF.

The Nation noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been proactive in addressing wage-related concerns, particularly in light of the rising cost of living and economic challenges facing workers.

Following a crucial meeting with NLC and TUC leaderships on July 15, President Tinubu approved the increase in the national minimum wage.

This decision was later codified through the passage of a new minimum wage bill by the National Assembly, which the President signed . The new legislation also mandates a review of the national minimum wage every three years, ensuring that wage adjustments keep pace with inflation and economic realities.

The Ogun State Government on Thursday faulted the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7th and August 2nd, 2024.

It would be recalled that a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, had sought several orders from the court over an aborted underlying contract between the company and the Ogun State Government, which was initiated in 2007.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the Ogun State Government described the latest development as new antics by the Chinese company to appropriate Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions, as past efforts had continually failed.

The statement described the whole legal process as nothing but a total charade with fraudulent notions, adding that the company deliberately concealed the litigation from both the Nigerian government and Ogun State, as well as their legal counsels, before hurriedly securing orders of seizure.

It added that the company must have misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it sought to attach and failed to make full disclosure to the court as required by law.

According to the statement, Ogun State, together with the Federal Government, had already taken immediate action to ensure that those provisional attachments are lifted quickly, even as it accused the company of reneging on the earlier discussion for an amicable resolution of the case.

It likened the case to that of P&ID, describing it as another unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

The statement said: “On August 14, 2024, the attention of the Ogun State Government was drawn to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. (Zhongshan). Ogun State also learned of two orders of the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, respectively, both obtained by Zhongshan without notice being duly given to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogun State, or their legal counsel.

“This is the latest in a series of ill-advised attempts by Zhongshan to attach Nigerian-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions, none of which have to date led to the recovery of any sums from Nigeria.

“Each of the three aircraft is used solely for sovereign purposes and as such are immune from attachment under international and French laws. In obtaining the provisional attachments, Zhongshan deliberately withheld information from the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogun State, and their legal counsel.

“Just like the P&ID case, this is another unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria.

“It should be recalled that the underlying contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan was executed in 2007, 12 years before the present administration, for the management of a free trade zone. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015 with arbitration commencing in 2016.

“By 2019, when the current State Administration took office, the hearing at the arbitration had been all but concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), which was a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was to build a perimeter fence around the free trade zone. Needless to say, this was a bad/unfair decision.

“The present State Administration could not, in all good conscience, allow such an unconscionable and baseless decision, which would dissipate the commonwealth of the good people of Ogun State, to stand.

“Accordingly, and based on erudite legal advice, this Administration resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions. Currently, there are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK,” the statement read.

FORMER Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has said that some people who served under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration are supposed to be in jail.

But Obono-Obla said as a lawyer of many years standing, it may be wrong for him to make such a conclusion because mere allegations do not make one guilty until proven by a competent court of jurisdiction.

Reacting to the recent comment by former President Obasanjo that some persons occupying positions in government should be in jail, Obono-Obla said:

“So many people in Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency equally should have been in jail. However, as a lawyer, I can not subscribe to such fallacious arguments no matter how attractive it sound. “

The human rights activist contended that no matter how attractive suspicion is, it does not make someone guilty, “that is a fundamental principle of law.

“Having said that, I think it is in the realm of speculation or rumor-mongering to suggest so, and so a person ought to be in jail.

“Was the allegation against such a person investigated? Was a prima facie case established against the person?

Was he convicted before a court of competent jurisdiction?”, he rhetorically asked.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, who gave the order restricting protesters of the just concluded #EndBadGovernance demonstration to MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, hails from Obi Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, like Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Chidi Odinkalu, a Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, drew attention to this, on Sunday.

“I didn’t really want to be the person saying it but the @fcthighcourt judge who gave the order to kettle #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in the Moshood Abiola Stadium just happened to come from the same village as the Minister of the FCT, the plaintiff. Calculate the odds!” the professor posted.

Oriji issued the order while delivering a ruling on an ex-parte application brought before the court by Wike, and argued by Ogwu Onoja.

Wike contended that the Federal Government was not opposed to the protest.

However, he noted that intelligence and security reports indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters intended to use the protest to cause havoc, damage public facilities, block roadways and disturb public peace.

The minister reported that when he contacted security agencies to ensure the protest does not escalate into criminality or disturbance, he was informed that they were not adequately equipped to manage potential crises on short notice.

Thus, it was deemed better to prevent the protest to avoid any issues.

The minister presented an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT,” signed by Damilare Adenola, which allegedly threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and damage the outer wires facing the Aso Rock during the protest while claiming that the group demanded the FCT provide them with lighting and toilet facilities during the protest.

Wike applied for an interim injunction restraining the leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading along any road, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1-10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The respondents in the suit are Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, and the Inspector-General of Police, among others.

In his ruling, Justice Oriji acknowledged that the protesters had the right to protest but restricted them to the stadium due to the concerns expressed by the FCT minister.

“In light of the above, the court finds it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are upheld while preventing negative impacts on other citizens’ rights to movement and ensuring tha

According to him, Judge Sylvanus Oriji of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, who ordered protesters to limit their demonstrations to the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, less than 24 hours before the kick-off of a nationwide anti-government protest on Thursday, hails from the home town of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT.

“I didn’t really want to be the person saying it but the @fcthighcourt judge who gave the order to kettle #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in the Moshood Abiola Stadium just happened to come from the same village as the Minister of the FCT, the plaintiff. Calculate the odds!,” he wrote on X on Sunday.

Wike had applied for the orders through an ex parte motion less than a week after threatening that the federal capital was not available for protest.

The protest held at the venue for days until the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police opened fire on protesters and journalists.

The row over Air Peace’s flight operations from the United Kingdom has taken another turn with Festus Keyamo, the Nigerian minister of aviation and aerospace development, writing to his British counterpart to lodge a formal complaint, TheCable understands.

In a letter dated August 1, 2024 and addressed to Louise Haigh, the UK secretary of state for transport, Keyamo warned that if Air Peace is not allocated a space at the London Heathrow, Nigeria will be forced to “reciprocate” by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

Although Heathrow is the UK’s primary airport, Air Peace, the Nigerian carrier, currently operates from the Gatwick Airport, the secondary airport.

All efforts by Air Peace to get a slot at Heathrow, which is closer to the heart of London, have been unsuccessful.

In the letter seen by TheCable, Keyamo expressed “the displeasure” of the Nigerian government over the “consistent denial of slot” by the UK slot office to Air Peace on the Nigeria-London route to fly into Heathrow, its first choice, since it began operations in the UK in March 2024.

“The Airline had made consistent efforts in the past to fly into Heathrow Airport from Lagos, but was denied, and only granted approval to fly into Gatwick Airport from Lagos,” he wrote.

“Following the approval granted the Airline by the Nigerian Government to fly the Abuja-London route, the Airline approached the Slot Office for slot allocation at the London Heathrow Airport, for flight operations planned to commence in November 2024, during the IATA Winter Season. It is highly disheartening that up till this moment, the Airline has not received any favourable response from the Slot Office.”

He reminded the UK that both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are operating into Nigeria’s primary airports in Lagos and Abuja “without encumbrances placed in their ways”.

British Airways, in particular, has been flying into Lagos since 1936.

“Therefore, it is necessary for Nigerian designated carriers to enjoy similar reciprocity that British carriers are enjoying. It is highly unfair on the side of the British authorities and a discredit to the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian nation as a whole, for slot allocation to Nigerian carriers to be an issue at all times. We feel totally betrayed by the British authorities for not reciprocating the good gesture of the Nigerian State and its people,” Keyamo wrote.

“The slot allocation issue should not be used as an alibi to deny the existence of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which hallmark is based on the principle of reciprocity. Whatever concessionary arrangements you have with your airports with third parties, the concessionaire(s) should legally inherit your existing obligations (especially those under Bi-Lateral Services Agreements) in respect of the use of those airports.

“Arising from the foregoing, I wish to emphatically state that if Air Peace is not allocated a slot at the London Heathrow Airport, it might be difficult for British flag carriers to access Nigeria’s tier one airports from the next Winter Season, unless when a frank discussion is opened with us to break the debacle associated with the slot allocation at Heathrow to the Airline and other Nigerian designated airlines.

“While expecting your timely intervention over this pressing issue dear to the hearts of Nigerians, please, accept the consideration of my warm regards.”

TheCable confirmed that the letter has been received by the UK high commission in Abuja.

Keyamo was unavailable for comments when he was contacted by TheCable.

The management of AIPCC Energy Limited, operators of the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (ERPCL), has raised the alarm over the persistent lack of crude despite being a fully functional 1,000 barrels per day stream crude oil refinery.

It said that despite the disclosure by the Dangote Refinery and the directive by President Bola Tinubu that the establishment should supply crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries in the country in naira denomination, the Edo Refinery is yet to receive any from the relevant authorities.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City at the weekend, the management of Edo Refinery, situated in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, said it is facing significant challenges due to the persistent lack of crude oil supply.

A representative of the company, Segun Okeni, stated that the refinery, which requires 1,000 barrels per day stream crude, can barely function at full installed capacity.

Okeni said that although the company has existing crude oil supply agreements with Seplat and ND Western since 2022, bureaucratic bottlenecks have prevented the refinery from accessing the much-needed resource.

He alleged that in 2021, ERPCL’s letter addressed to Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, after having a series of meetings and constant communication with him, was not attended to.

He said, “On 18th August 2021, our team led by our chairman met with the NNPCL CEO and its top management team to discuss our intention to buy crude oil from NNPCL, and we immediately wrote seeking crude supply,” the letter was dated 22nd July 2024.

“In July 2022, representatives of NNPC (from HQ Abuja and NPDC Benin) visited our facility for site inspection and to confirm the mechanical completion of the Edo refinery. In September 2022, we were invited for a commercial negotiation meeting with the NNPCL Head of Terms, after which we sent a follow-up letter identifying the oil fields from which we could offtake crude oil.

“In March 2022, we also wrote to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, informing them of our refinery status, future projects, and our challenges of lack of crude oil supply to our refinery. We had also written and had a meeting with the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) between November 2022 and March 2023, indicating our severe need for crude oil supply from oil fields where NEPL has equity stakes.”

The ERPCL representative, however, noted that despite these meetings, correspondences, and communications with NNPCL over the past three years on the issues of crude oil supply, nothing was done.

Besides, he identified other key issues encountered by the refinery, such as the inability of NNPCL to assign any of the preferred fields to allocate crude to the company since it started engagement with the management on August 18, 2021, pointing out that even with the options given to allocate crude to the refinery from ND Western, First Hydrocarbon, and Seplat, nothing has happened to date.

He added, “ERPCL also has a Crude Oil Supply Agreement with ND Western to lift crude oil from the Ughelli Pumping Station (UPS) owned by NEPL and operated by Shoreline.

“We have held several meetings with Shoreline and Heritage Oil and indicated our readiness to make modifications needed to offtake crude oil from the UPS, but no progress has been made to date.”

On the way forward, ERPCL said NNPCL and other producers need to put loading infrastructure in place to allow for truck loading, decrying why Dangote would be getting 30,000bpd because it opened up to the public, while smaller refineries are not being served, which he likened to no respect for small players who can also grow the economy alongside the big players.

The representative of ERPCL therefore sought Kyari’s intervention as Group CEO of NNPC for NUIMS to give concurrence to the Seplat-ERPCL agreement to enable Edo refinery to start lifting crude oil from Oil Mining License.


Edo modular refinery

Describing the past two years as frustrating for the establishment, he said: “If we local investors can’t get crude, even as small as we are, how can foreign investors be encouraged to invest in the country? The total daily demand of all modular refineries is not up to two percent of the daily crude oil production. Our lifting from the pumping station will even reduce pipeline losses.”

Okeni argued that the advantage of loading from the NNPCL pumping station to the export terminal is that it costs less because the cost of pipeline export terminal charges and losses will be saved, which should make the modular refineries more competitive than the offshore refineries who come to the export terminal to take the crude, thereby making cost savings trickle down to Nigerian consumers.

“If the smallest refinery is not getting crude, it will discourage investors in that area,” Okeni said, contending that because of lack of crude, OPAC Refinery operates at less than 3% of its installed capacity and Edo Refinery at less than 10% of installed capacity.

He noted that Nigeria loses millions of dollars following the inability of NNPCL to supply modular refineries over the past three years, whose total installed capacity is less than 30,000bpd.

BY Aderonke Oni


The price of a basket of tomatoes has dropped amid new harvests, traders in Ketu and Berger markets told TheCable.

A trader at Ketu market said a big basket of tomatoes is currently selling for about N55,000 to N60,000 — down from an average of N150,000 a few months ago.

Additionally, a crate of tomatoes that previously cost N55,000 is now being sold for N30,000.

He said a large basket of habanero pepper (rodo) is now selling for an average of N25,000, compared to N55,000 at the peak of the price surge.

“It is the season. Hausa tomatoes and peppers are already coming out,” the trader said, providing reasons for the decline.

Another trader in Ketu market said a small basket of tomatoes now costs between N20,000 and N25,000, lower than the previous price range of N30,000 to N34,000.

She also said a small sack of pepper is currently selling for about N15,000 to N20,000. This previously cost N50,000.

Traders at Berger market told the reporter that a big basket of tomatoes has dropped from between N150,000 and N200,000 to about N50,000-N60,000; adding that a crate of the commodity has decreased from N35,000 to N15,000.

In the same market, the largest sack of habanero pepper now sells for N19,500 — down from between N200,000 and N230,000, the traders said.

They said the price of a medium sack fell from N130,000 to N17,500.

A trader said a big bowl (called rubber) of cayenne pepper (bawa) now costs between N8,000 and N9,000, significantly lower than the previous price of N28,000.

“It is because of the season and then, petrol. There is petrol to transport tomatoes,” the trader said, regarding the drivers of the price reductions.

A trader identified as Muhammed in Dutse market, Abuja, said a basket of tomatoes now sells for N8,000, a reduction from the previous price of N13,000/N15,000.

He added consumers can now buy red bell pepper (tatashe) for N7,500 against the previous price of N12,000; stating that the price of habanero pepper has decreased to N9,000 from between N13,000 and N15,000.

Muhammed said cayenne pepper is now for N8,000 — compared to the earlier price of N12,000 — in Dutse market.

Like traders in Lagos, Muhammed attributed the price drop to the seasonal availability of the items.

“Sometimes the price goes up and sometimes it comes down. We sell based on how we buy,” the trader said.

“If you come tomorrow, the price might go up or down. It changes unexpectedly.”

On his part, Musa, another trader, said there is now enough supply in the market unlike before when there was a scarcity.


‘PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO STABILISE FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER’

Tomato prices have seen a significant increase across Nigerian markets in recent months.

On May 30, the Tomatoes Growers Association of Nigeria had blamed the hike in prices on the destruction of tomatoes in northern farms by ‘Tuta absoluta’.

Tuta absoluta, also known as tomato leaf miner, is a moth species in the Gelechiidae pest family.

The pest, according to a research publication, attacks tomatoes in Europe, Africa, Western Asia and South and Central America, with its larvae causing up to 100 percent losses — if not effectively controlled.

Rabiu Zuntu, the association’s Kaduna state chairman, said the pests’ attack led to a shortage in supply.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had said the prices of tomatoes, garri, and other food items increased by 55 percent in June.

Speaking with TheCable, Sani Danladi, the national chairman of the Association of Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers of Nigeria, said prices have started to drop as the new harvest has begun.

“The current price for a big basket of tomatoes is somewhere around N25,000-N30,000. Before, it was about N80,000-N90,000. It has reduced by 60 percent,” Danladi said.

“The reason why the prices dropped is because of the new harvest, new production. The wet season production has started coming out.”

Danladi added that prices are expected to stabilise from now until the end of August and continue into October and November, making tomatoes more affordable.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has rejected Julius Berger Plc’s proposed cost of N279 billion for the Second Niger Bridge Bypass, describing it as excessively high.

In a statement on Thursday, Umahi expressed his disappointment with Julius Berger’s pricing, saying, “One of the bypasses, which is 17.27 kilometres by two on asphalt, was awarded to Julius Berger. We changed the pavement elements to concrete, and the cost we calculated was N133 billion. Berger presented a figure almost twice our estimate, at N279 billion.”

He further stated, “We disagreed with this cost during the negotiation in September 2023. We’ve decided to refer the project back to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and invite more contractors to bid because this involves public funds.”

The Federal Ministry of Works has reviewed Julius Berger Plc’s performance on all ongoing projects awarded to the company, with Umahi raising concerns over the unacceptable condition of some projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway phase 2.

He explained that the Ministry would seek selective tendering to complete the project, stating, “We changed the pavement elements from asphalt to concrete, and the total cost we calculated based on prevailing rates is N153 billion.

However, they are proposing N258 billion. Since we’ve been negotiating since September 2023, we have no choice but to terminate this contract.

“We will then request a ‘No Objection’ from BPP for selective tendering, submitting our estimate of N153 billion and their proposal of N258 billion to BPP, while inviting other contractors to bid. This process will be concluded within the next month to ensure the project is completed promptly.

By Seun Adeuyi


A mild drama played out on Thursday morning as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, disrupted an event in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The programme was planned by Mela-Chiyoma PAT Limited.

In a video uploaded on X, formerly Twitter, by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the minister was seen accusing the organizers of impersonation.

According to her, the event, tagged “Unveiling the power of women and food security,” was conveyed in the name of the ministry of women affairs without approval.

Addressing the attendees and apparently referring to the event organisers, she said: “I’m standing here to explain this to everyone. She has been arrested. She should have reorganised herself, used her name to make the invitation, and used her name to do this, not to use the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

“I can’t allow this programme to go on because this is pure impersonation, and the President is not happy about it. I’m saying it, let the media cover it. We don’t care. You don’t do this. You don’t take the ministry for granted, for what?”

Details of the event were sketchy as of the time this report was filed.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development[@FMWA_ng], Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye [@BarrUjuKennedy], stormed an event organised by Mela-Chiyoma PAT… pic.twitter.com/vwedptZIfP

— The ICIR (@TheICIR) August 8, 2024

The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs has officially withdrawn its internal circular dated August 1, 2024, regarding the sale of subsidised rice to public servants.

In a new directive, Aderonke A. Jaiyesimi, the Director of Human Resource Management, stated, "I am directed to refer to our internal circular in the Ministry of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn."

The circular, which was addressed to all directors, heads of departments, and unit heads, further instructed that "the contents of this internal circular [should be brought] to the attention of staff in your respective Departments and Units for their information and proper guidance."

The directive was issued on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, with copies sent to the minister and the Permanent Secretary for further action.

The ministry assured that more information will be provided soon to clarify the situation.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Nigerian government had directed its workers to fill a form and purchase the 50kg bag of rice at N40,000, describing it as a step to alleviate the food crisis in the nation and its effects on Nigerians.

The directive was disclosed in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Jaiyesimi Abimbola.

The letter said all interested staff members were to complete a form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement.

It noted that payment for and the distribution of the rice would be coordinated by designated offices while the Chairman of the Joint Union Council of the ministry, would serve as an observer for transparency reasons in the course of the exercise.

It read, “As part of the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate the current food crisis in the country and its effects on the general population, I am directed to inform you that 50kg bags of rice will be sold at a subsidised rate of N40,000 only per bag to interested public servants in Abuja.

“For effective implementation, all interested staff are required to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website, https://www.ohcsf.gov.ng, print, and submit the same to the Director, HR, for endorsement.

“Payment for and distribution of the rice will be coordinated by designated officials while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the Ministry is required to serve as an observer during the period of the exercise for the purpose of transparency.

“I am to add that each staff member is only entitled to purchase one bag. Two or more staff may also jointly pay for a bag for sharing among themselves.

“Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments/Units for information and guidance.”

The Nigerian Government recently said it had created centres across the country where Nigerians could purchase the 50kg bags of rice for N40,000 each.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the initiative was one of several initiatives by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ease living conditions for citizens.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged agro and food processing companies to work toward reducing their prices during this time of economic hardship as a way of giving back to the society and ensuring food security in Nigeria.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Senior Management Team of Olam Agric Nigeria, led by its Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Anil Nasir, at Lagos House, Marina, saying that Nigerians were currently going through tough times; therefore, the need for private organisations, particularly agro and food processing companies to think about people’s survival and sustainability above profitability at this crucial period in Nigeria

Sanwo-Olu, who stressed the need for food security and support from every well-meaning individuals and organisations, said his administration had done a lot through several intervention programmes to cushion the effects of economic hardship on the residents of Lagos State, assuring that he would do more to continue to provide succour for the people.

“Agro and food processing is a critical industry because food security and food systems are as critical as people trying to safeguard either medical security or even sovereign security in times of war. There is no better security these days than food.

“Today, being the first day of August, you can see agitation in some streets in Nigeria as a result of hunger. You (Olam Agric) are in a strategic position, and you have that structure and that capacity. At a difficult time like this, it shouldn’t be only the government reducing costs and providing avenues for people to buy things at a reduced price.

“You must be able to tell your shareholders that you have been in this environment for such a long time, and today it should not be about profit-making. Let us go into this market and just cover our costs and let us pass on. Let the people feel the critical support.

“I want you to take this message back. The private sector needs to know that there are times when it does not have to be about value to the shareholders because of food security and the logistics nightmare that is happening everywhere due to the economic challenge. We are all joint stakeholders, and we need to slow down on shareholder returns. We need to be alive today to be able to make a profit tomorrow,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/CEO of Olam Agric Nigeria, Mr. Nair, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his leadership in the state in the last five years, especially in the areas of security and making Lagos safe for foreign and local investments.

He sought more partnerships with the Lagos State Government in the agriculture and food sectors, saying his company wqs ready to invest more in the state.

Governor Sanwo-Olu on Thursday also received the District Governor of Lions Club International District 404B2 Nigeria, Lion Tolulope Ayodeji Senbanjo, as well as the District Governor of Rotary International District 9112, Rotarian Olufemi Adenekan, and District Governor of Rotary International District 9111, Rotarian Oluwole Kukoyi, who paid him courtesy visits at Lagos House, Marina, respectively.

Speaking during the two courtesy visits, Sanwo-Olu commended Lions Club International and Rotary International for their humanitarian services in key sectors of the state, particularly in the provision of infrastructure in the areas of health, education, and transportation, among others.

He expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to partner with Rotary International and Lions Club International for humanitarian services to make life comfortable for Lagos residents in line with the THEMES+ developmental agenda, which aligns with the core values of the humanitarian groups.

One week after Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission imposed a $220 million fine on WhatsApp for a data privacy breach, the Meta-owned company may suspend its operations in the country due to further regulatory demands.

Sources close to the situation indicate that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is contemplating withdrawing certain services from Nigeria.

Alongside the substantial fine, the FCCPC has directed WhatsApp to cease sharing user data with other Facebook companies and third parties without explicit user consent. The commission also requires WhatsApp to disclose details about its data collection practices and to enhance user control over data usage.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State faced intense backlash from EndBadGovernance protesters at the Port Harcourt Government House on Thursday following his offering of pure water money to them.

His offer of money for pure water and a plea for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstrators to return home fueled their anger.

While addressing the protesters in front of Government House, Fubara said, “I thank you for being peaceful. I thank you for coming. I feel your pain. I want to assure you that I will deliver your message to the President.

“Here in Rivers State, we will do everything to make life better. But all we need from you is to support the Federal Government. We know there is hunger but just be patient with the government.

“I will give you a small thing for you to drink pure water.”

At this point the youths who were listening busted with a chorused, ‘No no, saying “We don’t need your, ‘ keep your money, we want good governance in Nigeria’, Tinubu must go.”

Efforts by the governor to pacify them and to explain what he meant fell on deaf ears, as they continued to talk back with annoyance.

Fubara however continued to wave his hands towards them and came down from where he stood in front of the government house and left.

By Salim Umar Ibrahim


The ongoing nationwide hardship protest in Kano has turned violent as hoodlums hijack the exercise to loot shops and offices.

Daily Trust reports that the hoodlums have started attacking shops and offices engaging in all sorts of mob action across streets.

The looters were seen moving valuables, including chairs, computers and other valuables.

Below are photos from the scene

Gunshots were fired into air at the popular Top Medical junction in Tunga area of Minna, Niger State capital, when protesters attempted to block the road.

The Police had earlier fired teargas to disperse the protesters but they attempted to reassemble while aiming at mounting a road block on the ever busy road.

The policemen on ground had to fire gunshots into the air to scare them away.

When our correspondent arrived the scene, policemen and vigilantes were seen removing the stones the protesters had use to barricade a section of the road.

Security Operatives comprising the police, military, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have taken over perceived hot spots including the Popular Kpakungu Roundabout on Minna-Bida road where protest held early this year.

Our correspondent also reports that markets and shops were closed for fear of looting.

The seventh prosecution witness, Aminu Rabiu, a businessman with Falala Construction and Interior Decoration Company, Abuja, has disclosed that he received money for the renovation of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, in cash instalments totalling more than N1,000,000,000.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Aminu Rabiu who led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, stated that the money was for the renovation of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello’s houses located in various parts of Abuja and Kogi state.

According to Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity in a statement on Monday, the witness informed the court that he met Yahya Bello through his wife Amina Yahya Bello, since 2009.

He said; “Yes, I know the immediate past governor of Kogi State, his name is Alhaji Yahya Bello. I knew him through his wife, Amina Yahya Bello sometime in 2009.”

He told the court that he knew Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman.

The witness affirmed that the properties in Jabi, No 9 Benghazi, No 9 Sabi street Zone Four, No 1 Ikogosi Maitama and the house in GRA OKENE, all belong to Yahya Bello. Noting that the house he renovated in Life Camp, Benghazi, also belongs to Yahaya Bello.

The PW7 told the court that the money was paid in cash installments and the least he received was Eight Million Naira from various people who made the payment for Yahaya Bello at No 9 Benghazi street and sometimes in life Camp in Ali Bello’s house.

Narrating the circumstances for the work and payment for the properties, the witness stated that he renovated the house at No 9 Benghazi Street, Abuja.

“No 9 Benghazi, I renovated the house, furnishing and furniture. I was paid about Three Hundred and something Million Naira, they paid me by cash, instalment.”

“At Jabi, I did renovations, finishing and polishing, I was paid around Two Hundred Million Naira, by cash installments.”

“Life camp, yes, I did furnishing and polishing. I can't remember but it is around Two Hundred Million Naira by cash.”

The witness informed the court that he was operating a bank account by which he received money through his company’s name: Falala Construction, “I have a bank account with Zenith bank through which I receive money in my company’s name: Falala," he said.

While in Kogi state, the witness told the court that it was his company who demolished and rebuilt the Presidential Lodge in the state and was paid more than Six Hundred Million Naira.

“I did one job for the state government. I demolished and rebuilt the Presidential Lodge, I was paid around Six Hundred and something Million Naira and there is a variation of above One Hundred Million. The state government paid into my account”, he said.

“I also worked in Kogi state, Okene. I did renovation, I remodeled the house and the finishing. It was around Five Hundred Million Naira, (N500,000,000.00). They paid me in cash. They were made in Abuja.”

Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to July 16, 2024 for continuation of trial.

According to a U.S. national security official, both the Secret Service and the Trump campaign were informed of the threat prior to the rally.

US intelligence services have discovered a sinister scheme by Iran to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

This alarming revelation comes just days after Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, which authorities believe is unrelated to the Iranian plot, a source told CNN.

Following the disturbing news, Secret Service officials have amped up security measures surrounding Trump to protect him from any potential threats.

Recent developments have raised concerns regarding security protocols at the rally held in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

The intelligence threat from a hostile foreign entity and the subsequent enhancement of security measures for former President Donald Trump have prompted new questions about potential security lapses at the event.

According to a U.S. national security official, both the Secret Service and the Trump campaign were informed of the threat prior to the rally.

“Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to be absolutely sure they continued to track the latest reporting. USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was made aware of an evolving threat.

“In response to the increased threat, Secret Service surged resources and assets for the protection of former President Trump. All of this was in advance of Saturday.”

In a statement, the Trump campaign team said, "The Trump campaign would not disclose whether it was made aware of the Iran threat. We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to the United States Secret Service.”

According to individuals familiar with the matter, Secret Service officials have cautioned the Trump campaign on multiple occasions regarding the heightened risks associated with outdoor rallies.

These events pose greater security challenges due to the difficulty in controlling access, compared to alternative venues where access can be more effectively managed.

The warnings issued by the Secret Service have been of a general nature, rather than specific to any particular event.

The National Identity Management Commission faced public backlash on Monday after a social media user accused the agency of charging fees in dollars for National Identification Number data modifications on its portal.

The user, known as “Akwa Ibom First Son”, posted a screenshot sighted The PUNCH purportedly from the NIMC website, showing fees of $20.78 for changes to birth dates, addresses, names, and phone numbers.

“Dear NIMC, can you explain to Nigerians why your website charges Nigerians in dollars?” he wrote on social media.

In response, NIMC explained that the portal does not charge in dollars and attributed the issue to the use of Virtual Private Networks.

“The use of VPNs can cause the website to detect a different location and currency,” the commission said.

To resolve the issue, NIMC advised users to turn off their VPNs and try again. If the problem persists, users could reach out to the support team for further assistance.

Meanwhile, the NIMC Self-Service Modifications portal enables citizens and legal residents aged 16 and older to request changes to their name, phone number, date of birth, and address.

Some data fields are non-updatable. The approved fee for a change of date of birth request is N15,000, according to information gathered from its website.

Public reaction to the NIMC’s explanation was largely negative.

Another user, Yasir Jubril, stated, “There is clearly foul play here! Regardless of the location, services should be charged in naira. And why is a change of name or address that expensive?”

Other users echoed the same sentiment, questioning the technical design of the payment system.

“Naira cards can be used from anywhere. All their charges should be in local currency, irrespective of location,” John Wick said.

Isa Kabir shared his experience, stating that while initially the portal displayed fees in naira, it later showed fees in dollars.

“I had to send several emails before it was rectified. Instead of working on the site, they are here giving excuses,” he remarked.

Earlier this month, NIMC Director General Abisoye Coker-Odusote reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency.

“My administration has zero tolerance for corruption.

“I hereby reiterate my commitment to sanitising NIMC in conformity with the mandate of Mr President. Enrollment for the National Identification Number is free of charge in Nigeria,” she said.

Nigeria’s inflation narratives took a controversial twist yesterday as the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), gives its own figure contradicting that of the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, by a wide margin.

The NBS had released its Consumer Price Index, CPI, for June 2024 reporting that headline inflation rate increased by 0.24 percentage points to 34.19 per cent in June from 33.95 percent in May.

But when contacted by Vanguard for his comment, the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Kelvin Oye, simply said, “Inflation is over 90 percent”, without giving further details.

Giving its own details NBS, also said that food inflation grew to 40.87 percent in June from 40.66 percent in May 2024 due to increase in the prices of millet whole grain, garri, guinea corn, etc (bread and cereals class), yam, wateryam, cocoyam, potatoes, yam & other tubers class, among other food items.

Meanwhile, financial analysts said the NBS’ figures outstripped both the individual and consensus forecasts.

NBS stated: “In June 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 34.19 percent relative to the May 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.95 percent.

“Looking at the movement, the June 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.24 percentage points when compared to the May 2024 headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.4 percentage points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023, which was 22.79 percent.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in the month of June 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e. June 2023).

“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: Millet Whole grain, Garri, Guinea corn, etc (Bread and Cereals Class), Yam, Water Yam, Coco Yam (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Groundnut Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class) and Catfish Dried, Dried Fish-Sadine, Mudfish (Fish Class), etc.

According to NBS, in June food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Edo (47.34 percent), Kogi (46.37 percent), Cross River (45.28 percent), while Nasarawa (34.31 percent), Bauchi (34.78 percent) and Adamawa (35.96 percent), recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on year-on-year basis.

Reacting, David Adonri, Analyst and Executive Vice Chairman at Highcap Securities Limited, said : “Despite all the measures taken by CBN, inflation rate continues to rise. Continued application of monetary policy to tackle this kind of stubborn inflation is failing because what is required is not demand management but supply side fiscal policy.

“Should the monetary authority react by hiking interest rate again, it will further increase yield on debt and cause financial assets to migrate more to debt. This may harm ongoing recapitalization exercise of banks. Rising inflation is not good news for equities.”

Commenting on the further rise in inflation, analysts at Comercio Partners said: “Looking ahead, food inflation, the main driver, is expected to taper off because of the short-term federal government’s recent interventions, with a N2 trillion packages announced by Abubakar Kyari, the minister for Agriculture and Food Security, to curb rising prices and speed up stabilization and growth.

“Also, a 150-day duty-free import window has been approved, allowing tariff-free importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through land and sea borders. This measure, with imported commodities subject to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP), aims to provide immediate relief.

“However, tackling food inflation long-term means addressing underlying issues like transportation and logistics challenges, harvest losses, and regional insecurity. Moreover, discussions around raising the minimum wage could further fuel inflationary pressures.

“On the monetary front, recent interest rate hikes have helped combat inflation, but another hike seems unlikely because of tight macroeconomic environment.

“However, a focus should shift towards addressing the root causes of inflation without stifling economic growth.”

Also commenting, analysts at CardinalStone Finance stated: “The June CPI data indicated that inflation leapt by 24 bases points (bps) to 34.2% YoY, missing analysts’ average consensus of 33.94% and our projection of 33.90%. “Our tamer inflation expectation, based on the stability in the foreign exchange (FX) market was overshadowed by a more pronounced food inflation.

“We perceive that the food basket is still grappling with an uptick in input costs and persisting insecurities in the review period, thus propping up prices.

“The outlook for July’s inflation is likely to be mixed on the back of multiple factors. On upside risk, we expect the recent PMS scarcity and another electricity tariff hike for ‘Band A’ users to increase price pressure.

“Furthermore, FX volatility will likely be prevalent in July, stemming from increased FX demand for vacation and payment of foreign tuition fees.

“While these highlighted factors are expected to increase inflationary risk, we anticipate the base effect to sufficiently moderate YoY inflation.

“Moreover, the government’s decision to suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of certain commodities like Maize, husked brown rice, Wheat, and cowpeas for the next 150 days is expected to lead to lower food prices. “The government’s plan to import 250,000MT of Wheat and 250,000MT of Maize also bodes well for the food price outlook, providing a positive counterbalance to the inflationary risks. “Overall, we expect headline inflation to moderate by 50bps to 33.7%.
“In light of the above, we expect the monetary policy authority to maintain its hawkish stance and hike the policy rate by 50 to 100bps in its July meeting”.

In his own comment Clifford Egbomeade, Public Policy Analyst and Communication expert, said: “The rise in Nigeria’s inflation rate to 34.19% in June 2024 has several significant implications for the economy. First, it reduces the purchasing power of consumers, making goods and services more expensive and diminishing the standard of living, particularly for low and middle-income households. This increased cost of living can exacerbate economic hardship and potentially push more people into poverty.”

“High inflation also creates economic uncertainty, which can deter both local and foreign investment. Investors are likely to be cautious in such an environment, leading to reduced investment and slower economic growth. “Moreover, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may be compelled to further raise interest rates to control inflation, which increases borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, potentially further slowing down economic activities.

“To address rising inflation, the government and the CBN should consider a combination of monetary and fiscal measures. Tightening monetary policy can help curb excessive money supply, although this must be done carefully to avoid stifling economic growth. Implementing prudent fiscal policies, such as reducing fiscal deficits and improving tax collection, is also crucial. Investing in supply-side interventions, such as supporting local production and reducing import dependency, can help stabilize prices in the long run”