₦airaland Forum

Ahead of the official announcement of the ministerial-nominees by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, key politicians, former governors and members of the National Assembly, have upped their lobbying.

According to a new amendment to the 1999 Constitution, the president and governors must submit names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the Oath of Office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly.

This means President Tinubu and all the governors must submit lists of nominees for ministers and commissioner by the end of July.

With barely five weeks left before the expiration of the new constitutional mandate, President Tinubu is expected to forward names of ministerial-nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The Senate, currently on a three-week break, is expected to reconvene in the first week of July, ahead of the screening of ministerial-nominees.

Daily Sun gathered from multiple sources that former governors who are current senators, are among lobbyists for ministerial slots. The source listed over six out of the 14 former governors serving as senators in the 10th National Assembly. He said over 90 percent of those lobbying for jobs left office in May upon the expiration of their tenure.

The source listed a former governor from the South East, who contested for the position of the president. He said the former governor who is a first term senator has been lobbying Tinubu’s men to be appointed minister.

The source also listed former governor from North Central State, who is in the Senate as a first timer. He said the former governor who left office in May is at loggerheads with his predecessor in office over the ministerial slot for the state.

He said though the former governor performed woefully when he held sway and also refused to support President Tinubu’s presidential ambition, he is bent on getting nominated.

Extending his dragnet, the source listed former governors and senators from Ogun, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano and members of the infamous G-5 governors as top lobbyists for ministerial slots.

He revealed: “There is serious lobbying going on right now. Former governors who just finished their tenure want to hijack the administration of President Tinubu. The sad thing is that many of them are new senators.

“They want to dump their seats in the National Assembly and settle for the position of ministers. They’ve been lobbying seriously, using different people to get the attention of the President.

“Some of them are already at loggerheads with their predecessors because they still want to decide who to get positions at the Federal level. This is the situation.”

He said some of the desperate lobbyists were in France to ambush President Tinubu, who is in the country for an official engagement.

The source, a close ally of the president said the desperate lobbyists went ahead of the president to France with the expectation of securing his attention.

According to the source, the lobbyists have also taken their act to first class traditional and religious leaders to prevail on President Tinubu to appoint them into his cabinet.

“In Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun State, former governors from there are battling to serve as ministers in Tinubu’s administration. Some of them were hoping to be named in recent appointments made. Since they’ve lost out, they’re not ready to take anything for granted. In one state, former governor and former senator are at loggerheads on who to be nominated into the cabinet of Tinubu. They’ve employed every means to achieve their aim.

“In Kano, you know the game there; former governor who is very unpopular is lobbying to regain relevance. He’s worried that the president may bypass him and he has been lobbying seriously.

“Same thing for Ogun State where a former governor wants to be a minister even though he’s currently holding a position. He may not get it, though he has contacted traditional rulers to lobby for him.”

A former governor of Imo State, former senator from Anambra State, and a popular politician from Okigwe zone who has held several positions, including being a commissioner between 2007 and 2011, are reportedly leading a revolt against Governor Hope Uzodimma over his alleged inability to support their ministerial appointment bids.

The revelation came after the said individuals met in Anambra recently to fashion out means and ways to wage their war against the governor,.

According to a source privy to the meeting, the former governor from Imo reportedly said Governor Uzodimma did not support his desperation to become a minister.

Apart from ministerial slots, lobbyists are also jostling for board appointments.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of South South APC Voice (COSSAV) has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that only individuals with track records of performance constitute his cabinet.

Mrs. Winifred Chuku, convener, gave the task at a news conference on in Abuja. “We urge Mr. President to carefully select only those with good track records performance, accountability, transparency and young sharp minds of APC members in South South region.”

“As the criminality of oil theft and vandalism of petroleum infrastructure continue to affect the production of crude oil, adequate security will be needed to further stem activities of this economic saboteurs,” she said.

She added that this was the essence of the renewed hope for the region.

Prices of bread and pasta may soon crash, The Nation has gathered.

This is because high-yield varieties of wheat used for production have been introduced to farmers in the country.

Wheat is among the ten new varieties of crop approved for release by the Federal Government approved as part of the effort to address food security, sustainability and sufficiency in the country.

The government gave the approval through the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries during its 32nd meeting at the Conference hall, National Centre For Genetic Resources And Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Moor Plantation, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Thursday.

The ten newly approved crops include four varieties of wheat, four potato varieties and two synthetic maize varieties.

The approval followed an earlier submission by the Technical Sub-Commitee (TSC) of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries at its 36th meeting.

The four new wheat varieties comprised two bread wheat varieties (Borlaug100 and Neloki) and two durum-wheat varieties (Crino and Bayoreca).

The wheat varieties were submitted by the Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Nigeria, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, Mexico and Flour Milling Association of Nigeria.

Stakeholders at the meeting include the Head of Department, Cereal Research, LCRI, Dr Zakari Turaki; an Agronomist, Floor Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Mr Hamed Abdulahi; Director/CEO, LCRI, Maiduguri, Prof Babagana Kabir; and Registrar NACGRAB, Dr Anthony Okere all agreed that the new wheat varieties are high yield and will in a short time help address the importation of wheat which largely account for the high cost of bread and pasta.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Festus Osifo, has said that despite the subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu administration, state governors have not changed their lifestyle.

Osifo stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He said the Tinubu administration had not put anything on the table for the poor before removing subsidy.

He said, “The people are the easiest target. The question Nigerians have asked is that what has the government brought to the table.

“Today for example, if you see one of the demands we submitted is that there are manufacturers in Nigeria, but what policy has been brought to help them? Governors are just going about business as usual.

“Their convoys are endless. The government is able to subsidy fuel. They borrowed money. What have they done with it.”

By Udeme Akpan, Obas Esiedesa, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ediri Ejoh & Mariam Eko


The downstream end of the Nigerian petroleum industry has gone into a frenzy as operators respond to the immediate removal of subsidy on petrol with a sharp hike in pump price just as consumers crowded to the petrol stations.

Commercial transporters have also hiked their trip fares across the country in response to the developments.

On his inaugural speech yesterday, the new president, Bola Tinubu, had stated that “petroleum subsidy is gone”.

Checks by Vanguard in Lagos showed that some marketers responded by increasing their prices by about 100 percent to N370 from N185 per litre.

However, few other stations especially the major marketers, sold between N195 and N220 per litre across Lagos and Abuja.
Our findings also showed that some of the petrol stations operators simply shut their filling stations, thus leading to the emergence of long queues.

This is even as depot owners shut their operations, arguing that further clarification was needed to guide activities on the implementation of the new order.

In Abuja, long queues re-emerged at petrol stations as motorists reacted to the removal of subsidy on petrol.


Transporters hike fares

Meanwhile, commuters were seen stranded at various bus stops waiting to board commercial bus which may have been trapped in the frenzy that greeted the petrol subsidy removal.

Few of the buses that were on the road for business hiked the fares between 50 and 100 per cent over fear of impending scarcity.
One of the motorists, wearing a long face, who spoke with this reporter at one of the fuel stations selling petrol, lamented, “Why would Tinubu start on this note to punish the already depressed, impoverished Nigerians inflicted by the out-gone administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is absolutely unfair to Nigerians. When I heard that Tinubu has directed the removal of oil subsidy, I had to rush down here to fill my tank and some jerry cans for my power generating set.”

Also, Mr John Akinloye, a motorist along the Agege area, said, “I was not surprised to see queues at the fuel stations after the announcement. I just pray this sad and unfortunate development will not last so as not to put suffering masses in another round of economic and mental torture.

“I have been at the fuel station for over an hour, and am yet to get to the fuel pump point. Even the fuel attendants are not willing to sell more than N3,000 per buyer. If you want to buy N4,000 they are refusing.”

At Conoil and Adova Petroleum stations located in Karu area of the nation’s capital, long queues were observed with stations selling at N195 per litre.

At petrol stations operated by independent marketers, pump price was hiked to between N315 and N370 per litre with the topmost price range recorded in other parts of the country outside Lagos and Abuja.

The situation, it was gathered might worsen in the coming days as workers and business owners return to work today after the holiday declared for the inauguration of the new president.

Meanwhile, most stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard on the development believed that the subsidy removal was a right step.


Fuel subsidy removal , long overdue — MD, 11 Plc

Immediate past chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, who doubles as the Managing Director, 11PLC, Adetunji Oyebanji, said: “This is a welcome development. The country is bleeding every day and we are getting to a stage where if we are not careful all our revenue will be going into world-serving debt and going into the subsidy, which means we have no money left to do any other thing to pay salaries.

“The people kicking against this interest will end up suffering even more. The amount of money spent on this subsidy has been documented in so many different foray, different places, people have talked about it over the years and to make matters worse a lot of it is going towards subsiding other companies in Africa, hence it has to go.”

Oyebanji, who noted that the fuel subsidy removal was long overdue, said: “I have been an advocate of the removal of fuel subsidy because it is not benefiting the ordinary man but rather the elite who drive cars. So, I was pleased with the planned removal.”


We cannot borrow to pay fuel subsidy — EnergyHub

Similarly, the Lead Promoter, EnergyHub Nigeria, Prof. Felix Amieyeofori, said: “This is a welcome development for the oil and gas industry. We support it because it is only benefiting the elites. Government should direct the subsidy to other strategic economic programmes. We cannot borrow to pay subsidy.”


Fuel subsidy, cheap way of making money — OGSPAN

But National President, Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mazi Colman Obasi, who described fuel subsidy as a cheap way of making money, said: “We have heard that before. It is said that’s easier said than done. Anything that would remove cheap money can be resisted. Fuel subsidy is one of such cheap monies. I have read the speech it sounds nice. I cannot remember the last inaugural presidential speech that the promises and hopes were implemented the way it was spoken in the history of Nigeria. Let us wait and see.”

Some labour leaders say there is a need for all stakeholders in the sector, including the government, to analyse the issue of fuel subsidy removal mentioned by the new President, Mr Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural speech.

Tinubu, on taking office on Monday, said that the budget in place before his coming on board made no provision for fuel subsidy, and so it was gone.

The President commended the decision of the Buhari administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime, saying it had increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor.

“Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.

“We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions,” he said.

Labour leaders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the issue needed a holistic approach.

The National Deputy President, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr Tommy Okon, said that there had to be stakeholder engagements in which organised labour was one.

“So, we cannot just comment on it until we are engaged, but we have made our position known in our charter of demand to remove fuel subsidies.

“So, it will not be a one-off response because organised labour is partners in progress; they need to sit down and discuss and agree before that is done to avoid industrial unrest, “ Okon said.

Also, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, the Secretary-General, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, said stakeholders would sit to analyse the situation and proffer the way forward for the betterment of the country.

“We need to analyse the situation, sit with stakeholders including the government, and see the way forward.

“This is pending when our local refineries, which has been our major point, that once we produce locally, all these issues about subsidy removal will not be there.

“Once we produce locally, not that the price will not be there, but at least, it will be reduced,” Okugbawa said.

On his part, the Secretary-General of TUC, Mr Nuhu Toho, said the union would issue a statement in reaction to some of the issues raised in the president’s inaugural speech. (NAN)

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf (popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida) has vowed to reopen the case of murder against the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

Recall that the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the state, Musa Lawan, last week announced that the state government had resolved to drop all charges bothering on murder and arson earlier preferred against the House Leader.

Doguwa was earlier arrested, arraigned and remanded for allegedly ordering and taking part in the alleged killing of about 15 persons during the February 25 Presidential/National Assembly Election in Tudunwada, one of the two local government areas that make up his Doguwa/Tudunwada federal constituency. He has vehemently denied this allegation.

But in his inaugural speech after taking the oath of allegiance and oath of office, the new Kano state governor said he would review the case as well as other electoral offences perpetrated during the past eight years of the administration of his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“We shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to loss of lives and properties across the State in the last eight years.

“The infamous case of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government will be pursued to its logical conclusion,” he said.

He added that “The numerous victims of the Ganduje campaign of violence, using thugs that were being intoxicated with drugs will not be left unchecked.

“In order to prevent future occurrence, a judicial Commission of Inquiry will be put in place to ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice and the families of the victims of political thuggery are also entitle to justice.”

Yusuf also said his administration would pursue the case of Dadiyata, a member of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who was kidnapped and last heard of five years ago.

In a related development, the new governor has announced the formation of a taskforce to tackle the menace of phone snatching and other violent crimes perpetrated on the streets of the state.

“We are aware that one of the major factors that fuels these criminal activities is the consumption of illicit drugs.

“I am, today, announcing the formation of a Special Joint Taskforce to Prevent Phone Snatching and other Street Crimes comprising of teams of law enforcement agencies and mobile courts that would work together to clear our streets of these criminals and bring all of them to justice swiftly.

“The Kano State Reformatory Institute, Kiru will be reopened soonest for the purposes of rehabilitating drug addicts,” he added.

Daily Trust reports that immediately after the inauguration, the governor had visited the institute and met with the staff on ground to prepare them for the work ahead.

https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kakamega-mann.png?w=558&ssl=1
Medgclay Salano and his wife Beryl Akinyi.


A man in Shikoti village, Kakamega has been left mouth-agape after his wife got pregnant despite him undergoing a vasectomy procedure.

A vasectomy is a form of male birth control that cuts the supply of sperm to semen. It's done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm.

Speaking during a TV interview, Medgclay Salano, 36, noted that they decided that he should undergo a vasectomy after plans to prevent a third pregnancy failed.

He says that after having two children in 2015, they resorted to family planning methods since they were content with the two twins they already had.

However, during the COVID-19 period, his wife, Beryl Akinyi, 33, conceived again, leading them back to the drawing board to find better measures for preventing future pregnancies.

At this point, the two who have been married for 12 years settled on vasectomy. Fast forward to July 12, 2022, Salano underwent a vasectomy procedure at a hospital in Navakholo. He says a non-governmental organization funded the operation.

"We thought about other family planning methods and in most cases, when you think of that, you always think about women. My wife has been using contraceptives since she was 21 years when we got married. I felt it was a burden to her. So we said what can we do to have a long-term solution, she proposed a vasectomy and we agree on that. I was very free with it, and I felt it was my responsibility as a man,

"Doctors did a permanent and irreversible process. The vasectomy was done on July 12, 2022, at the time, doctors assured me that I would be safe after 20 ejaculations which is about three months," he stated.

Months later, his wife missed her period. The two, however, ignored and assumed that it was just a case of irregular periods.

In December, the two visited a hospital for a pregnancy test and confirmed that Beryl was indeed pregnant. They agreed to keep the baby who is due in June.

Salano recounted that doctors explained that his wife may have conceived again because there were sperms left inside the ducts or the procedure failed.

He says the doctor who performed the operation directed him to conduct a sperm count to establish what happened.

On her part, Beryl claims that when her pregnancy was confirmed she was still in denial. However, she confidently expressed that they both trusted each other and despite the recent mishap, there have never been trust issues in her marriage.

“We trust each other and we are believers so there have never had issues of fearing the other party might be up to something bad,” she stated.

AUTHOR: Claire Mom


The US says it will ensure that the perpetrators of the attack on its convoy are brought to justice.

On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a convoy conveying staff of the US consulate, officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and some civilians.

Ikenga Tochukwu, Anambra police spokesperson, said two police operatives were killed alongside two staff of the consulate.

The bodies of the victims were set ablaze by the gunmen, he added.

The White House had said the state department was looking into the issue.

In a statement on Wednesday, Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said the convoy was conveying the staff to a US-funded flood project in Anambra.

He said some members of the convoy “are unaccounted for”, adding that the US would collaborate with Nigerian security agencies to ensure that the attackers are brought to book.

“Unknown assailants yesterday attacked a convoy of two US. government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria. The convoy was carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. They were travelling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S.-funded flood response project in Anambra,” the statement reads.

“We do not yet know the motive for the attack, but we have no indications at this time that it was targeted against our Mission. The assailants killed at least four members of the convoy, and U.S. Mission personnel are working urgently with Nigerian counterparts to ascertain the location and condition of the members of the convoy who are unaccounted for.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this attack. We will work closely with our Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.”

Blinken said the US will do “everything possible to safely recover those who remain missing”.

The US will continue to assist Nigeria in the fight against violence and insecurity, he added.

A 30-year old woman, Adaobi Ibeakolam, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly sneaking into an apartment belonging to her neighbour, Tochuckwu Udeagbuna and grabbing his dick in an attempt to seduce him.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Adaobi, has been arrested for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and assault.

The incident happened at Ajoke Street, Okota area of Lagos, where they reside.

According to the Police, the suspect, entered into the complainant’s apartment, tore his short and grabbed his dick.

While the complainant was struggling with her, the flower vase kept in the house got broken before he raised alarm, which attracted other neighbours.

The matter was reported at Ago Police Division; Adaobi was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over her alleged conduct.

The Police did not disclose the outcome of findings but found Adaobi culpable over her confirmed attempt at entering the complainant’s apartment and holding his private part.

She was subsequently charged before the Isolo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.
She pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.

The Prosecutor, Mr. Oje Uagbale, then asked the Court to give a short adjournment for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A.Okokhia, granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till 30th May, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode said the Nigerian government should reciprocate the recent visa recent restrictions imposed on some politicians by the US government.

Recall that the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Monday, disclosed that the US government has imposed visa restrictions on specific individuals for allegedly undermining democracy during the elections.

But, reacting, Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that issue was nothing to worry about, saying that only the Nigerian court can determine if the poll was in any way rigged.

The statement reads in part, “It is also my view that foreign policy, which ought to be based on the principle of equality of nations and conducted on the basis of reciprocity, requires the Nigerian Federal Government to consider the possibility of doing the same;

“…to nationals of those that have implemented and announced this measure and issue a visa ban to any foreign citizen or member of any corporate entity or institution that may have indulged in undermining democracy or rigging elections in either their own or any other country in the world over the last 25 years”.

“Those that have imposed a visa ban on some “selected Nigerians” for allegedly “undermining democracy” and “rigging elections” are perfectly within their rights to do so because it is their country and they can do as they please.

“We should lose no sleep over that because the Nigerian people, a great and sovereign people who belong to a great and sovereign nation, spoke loudly and clearly and made their legitimate choices during the course of a set of free, fair and credible elections.

“Wherever any of those elections may have been rigged or democracy undermined can only be properly determined by our election tribunals and courts after all the facts and evidence have been adduced, examined and determined and not by any distant and/or partisan foreign government or power.”

Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, says President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration created 12 million new jobs in agriculture alone.

Shehu, in an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily said the administration did well in many sectors including security, power, fighting corruption among others.

“In agriculture alone, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) is talking about 12 million new jobs, look at what we did in agriculture, this administration inherited just four functional fertilizer processing companies, we have 52 that are working today.

“And this shifted the supplies of fertilizer to these 12 million new rice farmers, today rice farmers alone domestically produce rice. This country has achieved food sufficiency, we have diversified the economy, we are no longer a monocultural economy.

“This country had spent $5 billions before this administration every day to buy foreign rice, today no one US Dollar leaves the Central Bank of Nigeria for foreign rice,” he said.

On corruption, Shehu said his principal did not operate any account with stolen funds and feared no prosecution after office.

“As his spokesperson, I go to bed, I sleep soundly convinced that nobody, whether from Nigeria or outside the country, can call me to say we have discovered this bank account and your boss has these huge millions. That’s not Buhari; he is well-above scandal and that is how it will end,” he said.

By Bakare Majeed


A break-away faction of the minority caucus of the members-elect of the House of Representatives has backed Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu as speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, confirming a division in the caucus.

The decision was contained in a communique issued on Monday following a meeting of the faction of the opposition group at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Idu Igariwey, a ranking PDP member from Ebonyi State, and Alhassan Rurum, a member of the NNPP from Kano State, signed the communique.

“That in furtherance of our resolve to play a leading role in the formation of the leadership of the 10th Assembly and as a result of our diligent interactions with all aspirants for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, we hereby resolve to support the duo of the Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, respectively as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“That we have found in the two persons of Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, a leadership that will allow for fairness and equity as well as provide an equal platform for all political parties represented in Parliament to have a say in the running of the legislature and expression of alternate views on issues of public interest.

“That in the next few days we will be meeting in a larger caucus of the minority parties to discuss and formalise the adoption of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker designates of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives,” the communique reads.

Crack in the ranks of minority
This development shows a crack in the minority caucus as the members held two meetings simultaneously at different venues on Monday. Both camps claim to represent all the minority parties.

Idu Igariwey, a ranking PDP member from Ebonyi State, leads the faction that endorsed Mr Abbas. In contrast, another group led by Fred Agbedi, a ranking PDP member from Bayelsa State, met at Fraser Suites, Abuja, and announced a plan to get a suitable candidate to back.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tinubu settled for Messrs Abbas and Kalu for speaker and deputy speaker, respectively.

The faction that met at Fraser Suites failed to get a committee to cause an upset against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the speakership race.


PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the coalition, which comprises the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP), set up a 13-man committee to shop for a candidate from the minority camp.

The Secretary of the Committee, Victor Afam, a Labour Party member-elect from Anambra State, said the committee could not get a candidate as none of the minority caucus members showed interest.

He stated this on Monday during the meeting of the caucus at the Fraser Suites Hotel.

Mr Afam informed his colleagues that no one showed interest, saying, however, that the caucus remains united.

“The committee called on Members of the minority caucus who are interested in the speakership or Deputy Speaker position to step forward.


“I wish to report on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee and the entire members, as at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment, no member of the minority caucus, better known as the greater majority, stepped forward to contest for the role of presiding officers.

“Deductively, this means that we are not bidding for those two positions. However, we remain united as one caucus of the opposition parties,” he said.

He also disclosed that the minority group met with all the aspirants in the race to decide on who to back.

“We did also meet with those aspiring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, but because we’ve not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface,” he said.

The minority coalition may have to pick from incumbent Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau), Sada Soli (Katsina), Muktar Betara (Borno) Tunji Olawuyi (Kwara), Abubakar Makki (Jigawa), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), Ado Doguwa (Kano), and Miriam Onuoha (Imo).

Meanwhile, the ruling party, APC, aligning with the President-elect, has adopted Messrs Abbas and Kalu as the candidates for speaker and deputy speaker.

Findings revealed the names of contractors that received the payments from the Zamfara State government without carrying out the required jobs.

More information has emerged on payments made by the Zamfara State government under Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle for projects across the 14 local government areas of the state, some of which have been abandoned.

The projects include the construction and furnishing of the Governor’s Lodge in each local government area which has gulped huge amounts of money which the projects on the ground cannot justify.

Findings revealed the names of contractors that received the payments from the Zamfara State government without carrying out the required jobs.


The amount earmarked and released for each local government differs, and the projects were shared among different contractors for execution. There were full payments made in some cases and over 90 per cent of payments were made to some contractors without the corresponding projects on the ground. For instance, some projects were abandoned halfway through in some local government areas.

A contractor, H3D International Concepts was paid the sum of two billion, one hundred and seventy-one million, three hundred and three thousand Naira (N2, 171, 303, 781.50) as consultancy service fee in respect of 147 dispensaries in the 14 Governor’s Lodges across the state.

SaharaReporters also learnt that the Zamfara State government has released the sum of one billion, five hundred and twenty-six million Naira (N1, 526, 000, 000) to a contractor, the owner of Bes Belmon Nigeria Limited to furnish the yet-to-be-completed Governor’s Lodges across the 14 local government areas.

For Maradun, which is the outgoing governor’s local government area, the sum of N118, 281, 150.00 was released to Zannah Kachalla World Link to complete the payment for the construction of the Governor's Lodge. Meanwhile, the project has not reached 70 per cent completion even though the total amount of the award has been removed from the state treasury.

Documents show that for Anka local government area, the outgoing governor approved the sum of N118, 281, 150.00 for the Governor’s Lodge in the area. The sum of N102, 313, 194.75 was released to the contractor, ERMANO Global Enterprise, with N15, 967, 955.25 outstanding.


Over 80 per cent of payment has been released to this project. But pictures from the site of the Governor’s Lodge in the Anka LGA show that work is not in the final stage of execution, let alone at the furnishing stage.

The contract for the construction of the Governor’s Lodge in the Kauran Namoda and Zurmi local government areas was awarded to SWAT Aga Constructions Nigeria Limited at the sum of N236, 562, 300.00 out of which the sum of N230, 648, 242.40 was released to the contractor.

The outstanding payment to be released to the contractor is N5, 914, 057.00. Yet, the pictures from the project sites in both local government areas show nothing near the final stage of execution despite over 90% disbursement of funds.

The same company Bes Belmon Nigeria Limited, which received over one billion (N1 billion) payment meant for the contract to furnish the yet-to-be-completed Governor’s Lodge, was awarded another contract to construct four Governor’s Lodges in Bungudu, Bakura, Talatar Mafara and Maru local government areas at the sum of N473,124,600.00. The sum of N461,296,485.50 was paid to Bes Belmon Nigeria Limited for the work.

The total outstanding payment is N11, 828, 114.50. The projects in these four local government areas were abandoned when filing this report.

The outgoing government awarded the contract to construct Governor’s Lodge in the Shinkafi local government to one A.G Almajir Multi-Dynamic Ltd. at the sum of N118, 281, 150.00. The sum of N115, 324, 121.25 was released to the contractor for the work. The outstanding amount to be paid is N2, 957, 028.75. Yet, the project has been on hold despite releasing over 90 per cent of the funds meant for it.


C.G.G.C Engineering Limited was awarded the contract to construct a Governor’s Lodge in the Gummi local government area. The total amount for the completion of the construction is N118, 281, 150.00 and the sum of N114, 732, 715.50 was released to the company as an initial payment for the project with N3, 548, 434.50 outstanding. The progress of the Governor’s Lodge project in Gummi has not advanced to 80 per cent completion and has been abandoned. Yet, over 80 per cent of payment has been made.

De Ludo Store Ltd. was awarded a contract for the total sum of N118, 281, 150.00 to construct the Governor’s Lodge in the Birnin Magaji local government area. The sum of N94, 624, 920.00 has been withdrawn from Zamfara State Treasury and equally released to the contractor. The outstanding payment is N23, 656, 230. 00 yet the project has been abandoned halfway.

In a similar vein, the government awarded a contract for a total sum of N236, 562, 300.00 to ‘Ruwan Dorawa’ for the construction of the Governor’s Lodge in the Bakura local government area. The sum of N167, 774, 654.73 has been released to the contractor. The remaining balance is N68, 787, 645.27. The project in Bakura is not halfway done and has already been abandoned.

Danguruf Pharmaceutical Limited has been awarded a contract for a total sum of N59, 141, 575. 00 to construct a Governor’s Lodge in the Bukkuyum local government area. The sum of N35, 608, 185.13 was withdrawn from the state treasury and released to the contractor. The outstanding sum for the project is N23, 533, 389.87 but it is yet to commence.

Ironically, in November 2021, Zamfara State House of Assembly drastically reduced the 2021 budget presented to the House by Matawalle due to low Internally Generated Revenue caused by the insecurity situation in the state.

In a statement, the Director-General, Press Affairs and Public Relations of the House, Mustafa Kaura said the budget was reduced from the initial N126.7 billion to N117. 5 billion.

In the first half of 2021, the state generated N8.4 billion internally.

The government said it projected to earn N11 billion as Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) for the year 2022.

Manufacturers have lamented that the multiplicity of taxes, levies and fees have continued to hamper the competitiveness of the Nigerian manufacturing sector in the global space.

Against the backdrop of the advent of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this even puts Nigerian manufacturers at a disadvantage with their African counterparts, with the nation’s corporate tax rate at over 30 per cent well above the global average at 23.37 per cent and African average at 27.6 per cent.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the umbrella body of manufacturers in the country, lamented that the nation’s manufacturing sector is groaning under a multiplicity of taxes and levies, noting that over 30 of such different taxes, levies and fees are being charged by various government agencies.

According to MAN, the development has led to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) losing about nine per cent of their total income yearly, which runs into billions of naira, to such multiple charges.

Compounding the already difficult situation, MAN noted that there are about 17 new bills aimed at imposing more levies on the manufacturing sector currently before the National Assembly (NASS).

Speaking on the development, Director General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said: “As we speak, manufacturers pay over 30 different taxes, levies and fees to agencies of the Federal, State and Local Governments.


The taxes

These include: Company Income Tax; Stamp Duties; Petroleum Profit Tax; Capital Gains Tax; Value Added Tax; Personal Income Tax; Withholding tax; Tertiary Education Tax; 1% of payroll contribution to NSITF; 10% of Payroll contribution to PenCom; 1% of payroll ITF Levy and National Information Development Levy.

Others are Cabotage Levy; Radio and TV Licenses; Police Special Trust Fund Tax Levy; Niger-Delta Development Commission Levy; National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure levy; Land Use Charge; Parking Fee; Consumption Tax; Road Tax; Standard Organization of Nigeria Fees; Nigeria Content Development Levy; NAFDAC Levy; Nigeria Health Insurance Authority contribution; Signage Fees.

MAN, over the years, has expressed dissatisfaction over continuous increases in taxes, excise duties, VAT and others because we believe that multiple taxes/levies/fees depress production in the manufacturing sector.

“No fewer than 17 bills, aimed at imposing more levies on the manufacturing sector, are pending in the National Assembly. These include the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund Bill (seeking to take 1% of net profit), the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trust Fund Bill (1% of net profit) and the 2% surcharge on all imports including raw materials, spares and machines).

“It is the preponderance of these taxes and unfriendly policy environment that constrain the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in the global space and of course the reason for the current ranking of the country on the Ease of Doing Business Ranking.”

Also commenting on the tax burden, President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ide John Udeagbala, said that the 2022 Finance Bill is an attempt by the government to add more financial burden on the private sector that is presently struggling to keep businesses afloat.

He warned: “Any further tax increases on businesses may simply lead to shutting down of many companies and worsen the already bad unemployment crisis in the country.

“It is barely two years now since the government raised the education tax from 2% to 2.5%, many companies are struggling to adjust to that and now the same is being raised to 3%. VAT has also been raised from 5% to 7.5% over the same period. This is besides over 50 other forms of taxes and levies being imposed on the organised private sector by Federal, State and Local Governments.

“There are yet other tax bills currently at the National Assembly seeking to impose taxes and levies on business establishments and companies, such as the NITDA levy, National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and Company Income Tax (CIT), among others.”

In his reaction, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, asserted that the nation’s current tax regime is stifling investment, noting that the corporate tax rate in Nigeria is the highest in the world.

Yusuf stated: “An economy that desires job creation, economic inclusion, investment growth and poverty reduction, should have an accommodating tax regime for investors.

“Corporate tax in Nigeria is 30%. But effective corporate tax is much more than that. There is tertiary education tax of 2.5% of the profit; NITDA Levy of 1% of profit; NASENI Levy of 0.25% of profit; Police Trust Fund Levy of 0.005% of profit. This brings effective corporate tax to about 34%. This rate is one of the highest in the world.

The average corporate tax rate for Africa is 27.6%; Asian average is 19.52%; European Union is 19.74% and the global average is 23.37%.”


Way forward

On the way out of the conundrum, Ajayi-Kadir said: “Our expectation is that government will reduce to the barest minimum the incidences of a multiplicity of taxes and ensure that only approved taxes/levies/fees are charged; widen the tax net to capture those not currently paying taxes and consider reducing the various tax rates which have been the global trend in recent times to encourage investment inflow, particularly into the manufacturing sector.

“Taking a cue from key recommendations espoused in our MAN Blueprint 2.0 that was launched recently, the government should urgently consider reducing the corporate tax rate to 20 per cent to encourage investors in view of the various challenges being experienced by manufacturers, and coordinate the enforcement of compliance to Act 21 of 1998 on Taxes and Levies collectable by the three tiers of government.”

Also speaking on the way forward, Udeagbala said: “The government should find a way to reverse this trend by expanding tax-net to a greater number of taxable businesses and the working class and not increase tax rates as is being presently done.

“The focus should be for government agencies to search out companies that are not paying taxes presently to increase their tax base and not to suffocate businesses by increasing tax rates.”

On his part, Yusuf said: “This multitude of taxes is a crippling investment in the Nigerian economy. There is a need for an urgent review. The current tax regime is in conflict with the National Tax Policy which prescribes that there should be less emphasis on direct taxation in order to incentivise investment.”

Karen2024:
I am so disappointed in myself.

So I decided to tell a guy who has been my crush that I want us to be friends but he outrightly rejected my proposal.

This guy is just irresistible but he's very immature. I am very much disappointed.

Ismaila Maihanci, House of Representatives member-elect for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State, is dead.

He died at the age of 36.

Maihanci, who won the election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday.

He would be laid to rest later in the day, according to Islamic rites.

Born on October 22 1986, the politician and businessman served as a Special Adviser to Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.

Maihanci had also served as the Secretary of PDP in Taraba State.

PSG player and Moroccan International, Achraf Hakimi Mouh and his Tunisian-Libyan-Spanish wife, Hiba Aboukare are on the verge of a divorce. Hakimi has been in the news for a while now because of his separation and pending divorce from Hiba, and the rape allegation against him. Two Fridays ago, the news broke that about 80 per cent of Hakimi’s $17m net worth is in his mother’s name. Meanwhile, Hiba wants at least $8.5m (50per cent of Hakimi’s net worth) in divorce settlement. Hiba only got to know after filing for divorce that she will not get that much. I even read that with a networth of $2m, Hiba is officially richer than Hakimi and would be the one to pay him divorce settlement. Anyway, I doubt if Hakimi would be interested in her money.

Opinions have been divided since the new development became public knowledge. Some people are taking side with him and his mother, Saida Mouh, while others are taking side with Hiba. I too have a very strong opinion on this matter. That is why I am writing on it today (I could not do that last Saturday because the news broke late). Moreover, there are many lessons to be learnt by married people and those intending to go into marriage.

Hiba is asking for divorce on grounds of adultery in a country where only about 47 per cent of the people find adultery “unacceptable.” No problem, it is a personal decision. Beyond promiscuity, Hakimi is alleged to have raped a lady. It is a grievous allegation, but the police are still investigating. Yet Hiba is already filing for divorce. She has also promised to offer support to the alleged rape victim against Hakimi when the police have not formally brought charges against Hakimi. Yet she wants $8.5m of Hakimi’s money to add to her current net worth of about $2m to help her support the alleged rape victim! Meanwhile, Hakimi’s mother has jumped to his defense that that the rape allegation is false. You decide who is showing love between mother and wife.

On what grounds is Hiba asking for this money? Is it because she was married to him for three years or the two boys they had together? Or is it because of breaking his marital vow of fidelity? When former President Bill Clinton was caught pants down with Monica Lewinsky, Hilary Clinton, his wife, stood by him. She did not ask for divorce though she had grounds to do so. She stood by him through and through. For me, that is love and maturity. Hilary is the real deal.


When Cheryl Ann Tweedy, a famous singer in England, got tired of the former Arsenal left back, Ashley Coles’ infidelity, she divorced Cole. Unlike Hiba, Cheryl did not take any money from Cole. In fact, she let him keep their $8 million mansion. It was clear that her problem with Cole was his infidelity. She was sincere and transparent.

I encourage married people to keep their marital vows, but not everyone does. When your spouse cheats in marriage, you have two legal options. You either forgive him/her and continue with the marriage, or you divorce your spouse. But if you want a divorce, be honourable about it and behave like Cheryl, Ashley Cole’s wife. If not, you risk being seen as a gold digger. That is the problem people have with Hiba.

The primary reason for marriage is companionship. Where is the companionship when Hiba has filed for divorce after three years of marriage? And she wants $8.5m. If money was so easy to get, why is she worth only $2m after many years of acting? Money is tough to accumulate, yet she wants to rob someone of his hard earned money? Does she realise what footballers go through to get to Hakimi’slevel? Islam encourages Muslims to uphold the values of JUSTICE and KINDNESS in divorce, and Hakimi and Hiba are “practicing Muslims,” but I cannot see these values in Hiba’s action.

Supporters of Hiba should realise that when you are 34 and go ahead and marry a 22 year-old-man, you have to deal with a lot of immaturity. Women mature way faster than men, not to talk of when there is 12 years difference in age. Leaning on his supportive mother and his family for emotional support and answers to some life’s mysteries is inevitable. It is your choice on who to get married to, but life’s choices come with concomitant implications. Hiba should go and take tutorials from spouses who married considerably younger men/women.

Hiba did not complain of any physical or mental abuse, why file for divorce after three years. And if she must go, why not do what Cheryl did? Just walk away to have your peace of mind. She can also ask for child support, which Hakimi is morally obliged to provide and it is allowed in the French legal system, but half of his wealth after only three years of marriage is pure greed. She wants a bountiful harvest where she did not sow or sowed sparingly.

I do not understand why people are dragging Hakim’s mother. Hakim’s wife never said her mother-in-law interfered in the marriage. For your information, Hakimi joined Real Madrid youth academy when he was just eight years old. He quickly rose through the ranks and made his professional debut for Real Madrid in October 2017 in a Copa del Rey match against Fuenlabrada. At this time, Hiba was not in the picture. His mother and family guided him. It was probably at this time his mother started managing his resources. He knows best why he maintained the status quo after marriage, but Hiba’s action has proven that Hakimi was right in keeping the bulk of his assets from her grips. You expose your assets to loving and loyal spouses, not greedy gold diggers.

Hakimi’s mother should be left alone. She is a wonderful African woman. She was just being faithful to her son. Hakimi never complained that his mother mismanaged his money, so why the noise? In relationships between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, as long as the son/husband is mature and none of the women is greedy, they can live harmoniously. May be, supporters of Hiba wanted another case of former Arsenal player, Emmanuel Eboue, replayed. Sorry,it is not going to happen with Hakimi.

As I was rounding up this article, response from Hakimi mother came in: ”If he (Hakimi) has taken any action to protect himself, I’m unaware of it. What’s the problem if the news is true? If my son does not do this, he will not be able to get rid of that woman [Hiba Abouk].”

Achraf Hakimi Mouh’s infidelity and the mother’s response notwithstanding, I still stand with him. If you do not know what marriage is all about, stand aside. Marriage is not an institution for gold diggers. If you want to dig gold go to Zamfara State, Ghana or South Africa.

NB: We shall talk about nuclear family and extended family relationship next week. Some women complained about the extended family (Hakimi’s mother specifically) in their reactions to the story.

A lawyer described how one of his pregnant clients died after being persuaded by her pastor to drop a divorce dispute in court.

Bolanle Cole, the lawyer, said on Twitter that a man phoned on behalf of his daughter in the UK, requesting the dissolution of her marriage.

His daughter, who subsequently became a customer, contacted him, and a petition case was filed at the Ikorodu High Court.

A week after the divorce lawsuit was filed, his client, husband, pastors, and other family members met and agreed that the pair would resolve their differences outside of court.

Bolanle Cole further stated that his client’s father phoned him yesterday to inform him that her husband had beaten his five months pregnant wife, resulting in her death.

by Israel Arogbonlo


One of the leading microblogging sites, Twitter got many talking on Thursday after removing verification badges of some popular figures including Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu.

In this article, TRIBUNE ONLINE compiled a list of politicians who still have their verification badge amidst the Twitter ‘Tsunami’.

Owner Elon Musk, who has seen his $44 billion investment in the site shrivel, earlier pledged to get rid of what he described as a “lords & peasants system”.

He offered instead to sell the blue badge to anyone who would pay $8 a month, in a move he said last year would “democratise journalism & empower the voice of the people”.

Earlier dates set for the rollback of the ticks — predominately used by celebrities, journalists and politicians — have slipped by without noticeable action.

But on Thursday high-profile accounts, as well as those of many reporters at AFP and other news organisations appeared to have had the checkmarks removed.

Below are the 10 Nigerian politicians who still have Twitter verification badges on their handles:

Seyi Makinde (Oyo Governor)

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos Governor)

Dapo Abiodun (Ogun Governor)

Godwin Obaseki (Edo Governor)

Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta Governor-elect)

Father Hyacinth Alia (Benue Governor-elect)

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Lagos LP governorship candidate)

Dino Melaye (Kogi PDP governorship candidate)

Festus Keyamo (APC spokesperson)

Femi Fani-Kayode (APC chieftain)

The Nigerian military has raided Maiduguri underage brothels at Kasuwan Fara, Shagari low-cost area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The shutting down of the brothel followed an exclusive report by the Daily Trust on Saturday exposing the illegal activities at the brothels.

Residents of the area, who contacted our correspondent, said some people were also arrested.

“The military raided the place two days ago and arrested some people. The whole place is now quiet. We don’t know where they took the culprits to,” said a resident, Halima Abdul.

She said the raid and the subsequent patrols by the military in the area had changed the community to a serene environment for the residents.

“We suffered years of torment and misery but with what we are seeing today, normalcy is setting,” she said

Another resident, Solomon Joseph, described the raid as one of the best things that happened to the community, while calling on the military to allow those with legal business to return.

“There are traders doing their legal business at Kasuwar Fara, we appeal to the military to allow them back,” he said.

By Daud Olatunji



DAUD OLATUNJI writes that if the war of words between their aides is anything to go by, the relationship between the Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun and the Senator-elect, Gbenga Daniel, may be heading for the rock

A serious political crisis is brewing in the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State as aides of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and former governor Gbenga Daniel, disagreed over alleged anti-party activities during the last elections in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Abiodun, who ran on the platform of the APC, winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state after polling 276,298 votes.

Abiodun emerged as the governor-elect after he defeated the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

But the performance of the APC in the Ogun East Senatorial District, where the governor hails from, was abysmal as the governor lost his local government, Ikenne, as well as the Remo-North to Adebutu.

This development angered some aides and loyalists of Abiodun, who accused the former governor and senator-elect for the Ogun East of secretly working against the party.

The media aide to Abiodun on Digital Media, Emmanuel Ojo, shared some write-ups concerning the allegations on his Facebook.

The write-ups included the one by a social commentator, Tunde Salako. The article was titled “Ogun Governorship Election: OGD hiding behind the Needle.”

According to Salako, who claims to come from Imeko, Ogun State, the most intriguing thing in the election was the direct connivance of some bigwigs within the state APC with some elements in the PDP.

He said, “For instance, Steve Oliyide, an aide to former Governor Gbenga Daniel, has consistently maintained a visible media presence, giving all manners of reasons why his boss emerged as the most popular candidate for his senatorial district on the platform of the APC.

“Among his recently published articles against the victorious governor was the one he titled: “Why Dapo Abiodun did not win Ogun State elections?”

“ He has confirmed the well-known fact that Gbenga Daniel actually worked for the PDP against Governor Dapo Abiodun. The truth of the matter is that right from the outset, Daniel has been a mole in the APC working for the PDP but Governor Abiodun appears to be too trusting and unsuspecting of his sinister motive.

“From the time he joined the APC, there has been a game plan to use the machinery of the party to work for the PDP, while also pursuing his Ogun East senatorial ambition.

“In the scheming, Daniel was projecting toward a return to the Senate in 2027. Part of the deal is to defect back to the PDP in the event that Adebutu wins the governorship election. But he got the sums wrong. Adebutu did not win and he cannot win at the tribunal.”

He alleged that Abiodun more or less rehabilitated Daniel with the senatorial ticket.

Reacting to the allegations against his boss, the media aide to Daniel, Oliyide, described some of the write-ups against the former governor as being written with pseudo names.

Oliyide said, “OGD cannot be reacting to faceless characters like these. Until when any of the government’s people can be bold enough to voice some of these things, it is like honouring hearsay.

“We shall not allow unconscionable revisionists to get away with their lies.”

He, however, refuted the allegations, saying, “It is gross impudence to suggest that anyone including the governor rehabilitated Daniel with a senatorial ticket!!!

“..the same Daniel who rejected the ticket as a sitting governor in 2011, insisting the party (PDP) must do the right thing by retaining GNI (Gboyega Nasir Isiaka) as governorship candidate having won primaries fair and square? The same Daniel rejected a senatorial offer from Buruji (the late Buruji Kasamu of the PDP) in 2015 and 2019.

“A Daniel who spent a fortune reawakening the APC through his ward tours with massive empowerment!!!


“There was never a time that OGD left Ogun State. He was busy with the activities of Gateway Front Foundation (Empowering people) and the Political Academy (imparting knowledge), both non-profit organisations and looking after Kresta Laurel operations and got busy with the construction which is his main hobby. OGD in or out of office remains a very busy man.

“He was listed as one of the first 50 fascinating businessmen in Nigeria in 1989 over 30 years ago!!!! This (the allegation) can only be the height of ignorance and outright mischief.”

Reacting to the allegation that Daniel worked against Abiodun’s re-election, Oliyide challenged the governor’s men to prove the allegation.

He said, “I asked them if there are any recorded messages, intercepted text, meetings attended by anyone where he directed his followers not to vote for DA; I asked them if the governor called OGD that he needed his help. I said if DA believes he is the brand that people are voting for in Ogun State, the result of the election has proven his level of popularity.”

He, however, said that Daniel had no hand in his statement that attacked Abiodun, saying, “Many people are alluding to my writing as OGD’s instructions and am I not old enough to hold an independent view?

Speaking on how Abiodun helped Daniel to save his business and political career, Salako in the write-up, regretted that the current Senator from Ogun East, Senator Lekan Mustapha, was asked to step down for Daniel during the party primary.

Salako also said, “Abiodun would also wish he had not untied some of the traps his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, set before Daniel. A good case in point is the Conference Hotel located along Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, owned by Daniel.

“On the day of the commissioning attended by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, through the influence of the governor, the public did not know that the EFCC operatives actually stormed the venue.

“It took the intervention of the governor to persuade the EFCC to vacate the premises so that the Vice-President and other dignitaries present would not be embarrassed.

“Not only that, OGD was declared ‘persona non-grata’ who could not walk freely on the roads of the state capital, Abeokuta, for eight years.

“His investments across the state were shut down. Not spared was the partial demolition of the “Abraham Tabernacle” structure under the guise of road expansion by the previous administration whose helmsman the same Daniel is now hobnobbing clandestinely with.

“Without prejudice, Abiodun recently took up the responsibility and reconstructed the abandoned Oba Erinwole road, which also leads to “Asoludero Court”, the home of OGD, to ease the flow of traffic and also serves as an alternative route linking Ikorodu (Lagos State).”

Responding to these claims, Daniel’s media aide said contrary to the claim, the EFCC did not seal the hotel, but, was occupied by agents of the former governor Amosun.

Oliyide said, “The hotel was never sealed by the EFCC, but was illegally occupied by the agents of the former governor who had since reconciled with OGD.


“Quite on the contrary, the current governor has failed to revalidate the documentation after four years in office. People should draw their conclusion on who is actually the bad person.

“DA (Dapo Abiodun) did not facilitate the attendance of the Vice-President to honour the grand opening of the hotel in 2019. The relationship between OGD and the VP dates back nearly 50 years ago when both were students at the University of Lagos.

“One of the first outings of the VP when he assumed office was the 25th Anniversary of Kresta Laurel Limited in 2016 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel many years before DA became the Governor. Just facts. No opinion.

“The Abraham Tabernacle is an Ecumenical Church donated to the community and now being managed by The Nigerian Baptist Convention. Partial demolition was in error based on wrong information and the perpetrators have since asked for God’s forgiveness. This is the fact.”

When contacted to confirm if he still stood by all the write-ups, which were still on his Facebook and Twitter handles as of 3 pm on Thursday, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Ojo declined to comment.

When contacted on the phone, as soon as our correspondent asked for his views on the write-ups and the identity of Salako, the media did not respond.

Messages sent to him through WhatsApp which showed that they were read, were also not responded to.

But Oliyide confirmed his write-ups against the governor, but he denied writing them on the instruction of his boss

When asked to comment on the development, the Chief Press Secretary to Abiodun, Kunle Somorin, initially referred our correspondent to the party’s spokesman.

Somorin said, “ Oladunjoye is your surest bet. I don’t have briefs on the APC and politics. Whatever Oladunjoye says should suffice.”

He however sent a statement which contained Abiodun’s reaction after his victory at the tough governorship election.

The statement read, “The governor had on Tuesday, March 20 when he returned to a heroic welcome at Iperu-Remo said, ‘This election has shown that man will always be man and God will forever remain God. In the course of this election, people we thought were our friends betrayed us, people stabbed us in the back, and many disappointed us.

“I know that even those who called themselves our friends did not vote for us, but that does not matter anymore because the elections have come and gone, and God has given us victory. But we should not be surprised because even in the Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed despite all the good things that he did.’’

When asked for the party’s view on the looming crisis and alleged anti-party activities of Daniel, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, said, “Your questions are premature. We will cross the bridge when we get there.”

He also said, “ We do not wish to comment on this issue now.”

A loyalist of Amosun, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the claim by Daniel’s aide that his boss had reconciled with the former governor.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned last week’s reported attempt to arrest the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in London, the UK, as a move by political enemies.

Ohanaeze said any plot to embarrass and pull down Peter Obi, because he had decided to legally pursue the mandate believed to have been given him by Nigerians, will continue to fail.

Obi was said to have been interrogated at Heathrow Airport, London, on April 7, over his identity.

Obi disclosed this to longtime ally, Prof. Stella Okunna, who served under him in many capacities when he was the governor of Anambra State.

The sole aim of faking Obi’s identity was to use his name to commit crime in London and other parts of the world so as to get him implicated in dubious and criminal activities and rope him into any number of offences to get him out of the political space, Ohanaeze held.

In her account of what Obi told her, as narrated in her Facebook account, Prof. Okunna, in the piece she titled: “What Peter Obi is going through: does any human being deserve this type of shocking intimidation and emotional torture?”, narrates:

How it happened at Heathrow

“Today 11/04/2023, I was shocked beyond words to hear from His Excellency, Mr. Peter what he went through when his British Airways plane landed at Heathrow Airport, London, in the early morning of Friday 07/04/2023.

“He was talking to me at the official opening of the Specialist Hospital of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Sisters, Nkpor.

“He had arrived at the event after flying in from London, his presence heralded by the usual ‘ear-splitting’ ovation that accompanies him everywhere nowadays.

“As the ‘Most Outstanding Pillar of the Foundation/Hospital’, the Reverend Sisters were full of expectations that he would attend; so were we (members of the Governing Board of the IHM Sisters Healthcare System), although there was also anxiety about whether he would be able to make it, being outside Nigeria.

“I actually had no idea he had travelled out of the country, until the ovation over his presence in a London Church went viral on the Internet.

“I would never have imagined he would be able to go anywhere so soon after his energy-sapping marathon visits on 06/04 to Paul University, Regina Caeli Hospital and other health facilities, where he went about touching lives in his usual quiet philanthropic manner.

“His whirlwind activities that day in Anambra State and beyond were another eloquent testimony to Peter Obi’s incredible stamina and multi-tasking capacity.

“To be able to fly out of the country that night, made this capacity even more incredible.

“Landing in London, Peter Obi joined the usual queue to pass through Immigration, and that was when his ordeal began.

“He was stopped and questioned for a long time and subsequently handed a detention note and told to wait for further interrogation and investigation. This was terribly unusual for a man who had lived honourably in the UK for a long time.

“In the face of this harassment, some well-meaning Nigerians, knowing who he is, raised their voices in protest, demanding to know why he was being treated that way.

“Then came the shocking revelation by the Immigration Officer who told him that his identity ‘WAS DUPLICATED’. This revelation has definitely set off alarm bells.

“For people who are knowledgeable about such matters, this is a very dangerous development because the implication is that someone is impersonating Peter Obi.

“And that someone could implicate Obi in all manner of dubious and even criminal activities, and rope him into any number of offences; he could get Obi framed for one criminal act or another.

“The frightening scenario of what can happen is unimaginable!

“This is the height of it all for a man who has been under sundry intimidation and emotional torture: bugging of his phone and those of his wife and children; keeping him constantly under surveillance; calling him names; putting him under severe pressure to leave (run away from) the country; wrongly accusing him of negative things he knows absolutely nothing about etc.

“As he was telling me his ‘Heathrow tale of woe’ at Nkpor today, I could see a man who was in severe pain and and under unbearable stress, who many would expect to be at the point of despair.

“But, as he confirmed, he is ready to suffer this pain and is as determined as ever to pursue the path which he has chosen to enable him arrive at the destination which well-meaning people in Nigeria and far far beyond are expecting him to arrive at.

“This is the destination where Nigerians will be able to live in a secure and productive country which they (particularly the younger generations) will be proud to call their own.

“Ahead, Ahead!

“I suppose he told me all this confidentially. My very sincere apologies, Your Excellency, for ‘breaking’ this confidentiality, but history beckons and I cannot keep quiet,” Prof. Okunna was quoted as saying.

Ohanaeze kicks

Reacting to this, Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemned “the embarrassment and evil plots to rope Peter Obi”, saying all of them will fail.

“It is very unfortunate for those who want to rope in Obi and embarrass him. However, it was good it happened. After this, there will not be such a thing again anywhere in the world as they have been exposed.

“They have exposed their plots to the whole world. But whoever is playing such is wasting time and energy.

“It is very clear to the world that the man is a man of integrity and law abiding, who had been pursuing his mandate legally. So, any plot to rope him I and embarrass him will continue to fail. They are being exposed.

“It is unfortunate that some Nigerians still want us back wards. But we will resist it, Nigerians will resist it, the youths will resist it because they want a future,” Ohanaeze said through the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia.

NHRC calls for demolition of brothels

The Borno State coordinator of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC), Jummai Usman Mshelia, said underage prostitution in Maiduguri was a matter of concern that needed collective efforts to deal with.

“Relevant stakeholders need to come on board so that we face it head on. We are going to involve the attorney-general and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) because they have the power to seal up any hotel harbouring these minors, and whoever is patronising them can be arrested.

“We will also meet the hierarchy of those who are patronising them based on our investigations, to let them know that the girls also pose a security risk to them because if they allow this to continue, the girls will get so much information that will be in danger to them,” she warned.

Parents our major challenge – NAPTIP

When contacted, the NAPTIP described underage sex trade as one of the major challenges faced in Maiduguri.

The zonal head of the Public Enlightenment Department of the agency, Zainab Abba Bashir, said they never relented in their efforts at curbing juvenile sex-for-money in Maiduguri.

“Violation of minors has been a major phenomenon in Borno State. Hundreds of vulnerable underage girls have either been violated or forced into exchanging sex for money,” she said.

She said that last year, the state government helped the agency to demolish two brothels that were known for camping underage girls.

“We rescued over 100 underage girls from various brothels with the help of the military, including the ones in Shagari Low-cost.

“We always bring them to our office, counsel them and reunite them with their families. We always go out to sensitise these girls on the danger of juvenile sex and its consequences,” she added.

She decried the nonchalant attitude of parents, saying it is a setback to their operations.

“Parents are looking at it as if it was normal. It is frustrating that after rescuing these girls, counselling and treating them of sexually transmitted diseases and reuniting them with their families, their parents always allow them to return to the brothels,” she lamented.

She also said that through the support of non-governmental organisations they trained and empowered some of the underage girls rescued from brothels.

On whether they were able to arrest their ring leaders she said, “We are yet to arrest any of them, but we set up a joint team of the NAPTIP, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), military and the police, which is currently working to ensure that these culprits are arrested.

“The team raided the Shagari Low-cost area in January and rescued 17 juveniles. We will continue to carry out operations until we stop this menace.

“Months back, we arrested a trafficker that usually bought babies from these girls. We took her to court and she was prosecuted. So, we will not rest until we get to the ring leaders also.”

She commended the NDLEA for their quick response always, saying, “In fact, most times the agency would even be there before us. They do their arrests based on specifications of their jobs.”

Asked whether they are aware that some parents allowed their children to go into prostitution, she said, “According to the law, parents’ consent doesn’t matter at this age. And once we establish that, such parents will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

Residents desert area to save their children

A resident and retired civil servant who simply gave her name as Halima said, “We learnt that some of the girls are doing it with the consent of their evil parents. And with what is going on here, many residents and plot owners are deserting the place to save their children from the evil acts. We are going through hell in this place,” she said.

Another resident who identified himself as Bulus said, “The area is inundated by the activities of prostitutes, drug addicts and criminals at the expense of our children. We will appreciate it if the government relocates this place to Chabal or the outskirts of Maiduguri.

“Our parents, sisters and children are all living here, and you will see junkies and prostitutes fighting almost everyday, including the soldiers carrying guns.

“The worst part of it is that Maimalari Secondary School is here and young girls pass through the place everyday. Who knows what will happen to them.”

I must seek clearance before response – Army spokesman

When contacted for comments, the assistant director, Public Relations of the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, Major Samson Zhakom, said he would not respond to inquiries until he sought approval from their headquarters in Abuja.

However, a soldier who is not competent to speak to the press told our correspondent that military police usually raid such places and arrest soldiers on duty.

“Our men are not criminals, they only go there to womanise or drink. And the military police usually go there to arrest offenders. And if soldiers were part of it, they would take them to 7 Division.

“Those proven to have committed the offence would be punished based on their ranks, units and offences. This includes imprisonment with hard labour and other forms of punishment.

“Sometimes, after punishment some would be dismissed because it is only in the military that one gets double jeopardy, whereby they would be subjected to a second trial from the civilian court.

“On a particular case, the military authority had dismissed and sentenced a soldier to five years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl and attempting to kill her. We don’t condone indiscipline once it is established,” he said.

Early in the morning, categories of women from different parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, are lured to the Shagari Low-cost area in droves for various businesses.

First are grasshopper vendors who go very early to buy the insects from young men that hunt them from bushes around Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

In the evening, the atmosphere changes as young girls, mostly teenagers, and different kinds of men take over the busy area for sex trade.

Investigation by Daily Trust Saturday revealed how these night visitors – uniform men and even the elderly – troop to the place to take advantage of underage girls and other young prostitutes.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that brothels, beer parlours and suya spots are spread across every nook and cranny of the streets, while prostitutes and drug dealers abound.

Intoxicated girls looking for sex partners and their clients are mostly seen at dark corners of the area while others walk around to attract patronage.

A short man with a potbelly that hangs on top of his trousers was among the many clients of the underage sex girls.

The man, who was obviously drunk and gave his name as Timothy, said he was in his 50s. He was not reluctant to narrate the story of the first time he had sex with an underage girl.

“She was 13 years old but was not immature in bed. And you will see over 30 of them everyday here. If you are lucky you would get a virgin,” he narrated with excitement.

He also said that at the dead of the night he would pick girls who could not get partners; and he would feed and accommodate them in exchange for sex.

It was also learnt that many poor households in Maiduguri push their underage girls into sex for money as a means of survival.

Daily Trust Saturday learnt that most of the juvenile sex workers are survivors of Boko Haram insurgency; hence poverty, hunger and family pressures forced them into prostitution.

One of the girls who identified herself as Fanna told our correspondent that she was exposed to sex-for-food in an internally displaced persons camp. And when the camp closed, she moved to one of the notorious slums in Maiduguri, which was demolished by the government – Barka da Zuwa, and now, Kasuwar Fara at Shagari Low-cost.

Fanna, 15, said she escaped from Boko Haram insurgents who raided her home town, Bama, killed her father and married her off to one of them at 13. On reaching Maiduguri, she was taken to a camp, where she accused officials and security operatives of introducing them to sex-for-food.

She recalled sleeping with soldiers and camp officials in exchange for food and little money.

She narrated, “I was not accepted by camp officials when I arrived, but with time, an elderly woman told me to use what I had to bribe them.

“I left the camp to look for shelter in town and eventually relocated to the Barka da Zuwa area, where we sell our bodies for money.

“After the government demolished the place, we relocated here (Kasuwar Fara).”

She said that as a result of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, thousands of wives became widows, leaving them and their children vulnerable to people that take advantage of their hopeless situation.

Inside Maiduguri juvenile sex trade

Our correspondent saw one-year-old baby, Salma and her 16-year-old mother, Amira Muhammad, in a shack.

Narrating her ordeal, Amira said her stepmother pushed her into sex trade at 15.

“I eloped with my boyfriend when my father refused to marry me to him. He took me to Ibadan, where we spent a year together before returning to this place in Maiduguri.

“I suffered a lot of violence from my stepmother. She made sure I did all the house chores, and she would not give me food. She would also make sure that my father beat me whenever he returned home.

“I nearly died from sickness and nobody cared, that’s why I brought someone I wanted to marry, but she convinced my father to reject the proposal. That’s how I found myself in the streets,” she said.

Amira said she dropped out of school in JSS1 and now longed to go back so that she could give a better life to her daughter.

“Her father is no longer in Maiduguri, so I now do everything for myself and take care of her. We come here everyday to sell our bodies and earn a livelihood. I am tired of this life but there is nothing I can do,” she lamented.

She said most of the girls who engage in the sex trade ranged from 13 to 16 years, or even less.

On their method of operation she said, “Men will come here and choose from the girls. A lot of us are into this trade because of poverty. And some are drug addicts. Some people follow men from their parents’ houses to get money, just to get high,” she said.

One of the girls between 13 and 14 years said, “My mother died when I was a toddler, leaving me under the care of our aunty, who was not treating me well, so I ran to the streets.

“I can remember the number of men I have slept with. And this started when I was 13 years old. Some would pay me N2,000 or N3,000. Sometimes I give it free-of-charge to the guy I love. I make at least N20,000 daily,” she said.

Her friend, who was visibly tipsy, also said, “To be fair to my parents, they treated me very well. I lacked nothing under their care, but I deviated due to peer group influence. I am now regretting it. I tried many times to give up drug life but couldn’t.

“A number of times my parents would come and take me home, but I would find my way back here because I can’t do without drugs.”

A Chadian girl, Aisha Mohammed, who claimed she was 19 years old, said she couldn’t explain how she found herself in Maiduguri.

“My mother died of a certain sickness, and a few years later, my father died in a ghastly car accident and I was left under the care of my grandmother.

“We found ourselves in a very difficult situation. There were no food, school and clothes, so I started going out with boys that added sedatives to my drink and introduced me to sex and drugs at 14. In fact, one day, I just found myself in Maiduguri.

“I was introduced to prostitution here at the age of 15; I am now 19 years living in the streets without a place to call home,” she lamented.

Asked how often she sleeps with men for money she said, “On a good day I go out with seven men; and majority of them are servicemen. They pay good money – between N3,000 and N5,000. So, I realise almost N30,000 daily.”

Explaining how they operate, she said, “We wear attractive cloths to seduce men, who take us into brothel rooms to have sex with us and give us money.”

She lamented that she had not been able to bear a child four years into the business, adding, “My friends always mock me, saying I can’t have a child.”

Concerned residents told our correspondent that if nothing is done about the situation in Maiduguri, the next generation would be at a high risk.

Teenagers need drugs to operate – Seller

One of the drug dealers in the area said the girls and even their clients needed drugs to operate.

He said, “It is a good business. The government should know the implication of subjecting citizens to untold hardships. This tells you the level of decay and neglect in the society.

“I sell to everyone – young and old. For me, I help them to get over their worries and at least earn a living. Nobody wants to die of hunger.

“I am aware it is very dangerous, but we have no other job to do. And without such drugs, most of these girls would not prostitute.”

He said the drugs usually eliminated initial fears in most of the girls.

“Once they become high, they are easily manipulated and can face any man without fear,” he explained.

One of the clients who spoke to our correspondent said they usually got girls of 13 and 14 years on request, adding, “They are easier to get. Some clients even ask for virgins, but you can’t find them here. We usually find them from the neighborhood for quick sex and they return home.

“Majority of the customers are soldiers and other uniformed men. In exchange, they give us cover and make us aware of any planned operation. They only come here to arrest their men and few unlucky girls.”

Dismissed security personnel, influential men own the brothels

Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that owners of the brothels in the area are well connected people and security operatives that served in Maiduguri, who were either dismissed or retired.

“One of them called Kenneth, a well known person in Maiduguri, has the largest brothel here. The other one is Ifeanyi, who is either a retired or dismissed soldier. The other guy is called Doctor; he works at the teaching hospital. The owner of the brothel inside the Shagari Low-cost community is called Monday.

“In fact, the Shagari Low-cost as a community is gradually becoming a brothel itself. You will see these girls and their men making love inside uncompleted structures,” he said.

Another person said, “It may be shocking to know that I can call a mother now and she will arrange her daughters for me. This is how bad it has become.”

Thugs, harlots, soldiers operate till dawn – Residents

Residents of the area said Kasuwar Fara was supposed to close by 11:00pm but the time was reviewed downward (9pm) by security operatives. However, curiously, the new closing time is only for people doing legitimate businesses as the activities of harlots and drug addicts, dealers and soldiers remain till dawn.

“The soldiers told us that they were closing this place by 9pm to curtail the activities of criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers, but by 10pm you will see them soldiers in their midst, befriending the girls, drinking and smoking.

“If you want to know the truth, come to Shagari Low-cost by 10pm. As you are coming into Kasuwan Fara, by your left you will see criminals, harlots and soldiers, either serving or dismissed,” one of the residents said.

He said that since the closure of brothels in Wulari, Bayan Kwatas, Tudu Palace and other places, all the harlots, drug addicts and criminals in Maiduguri relocated to Kasuwar Fara.

“They now constitute a lot of nuisance in Shagari Low-cost A and B communities. And both males and females take hard drugs. They get high, and at night they come into our houses to steal.

“Also, Kasuwan Fara is in the midst of our community, so very young children growing up are seeing their activities; and as you know, this situation will affect them psychologically and socially, “ he lamented.

On whether they have reported the matter to the appropriate authorities he said, “We staged a protest months back. Our desire was to first report the matter at the Ibrahim Taiwo Police Station, then proceed to Shehu’s palace and stop the protest at the Government House, but on our way, we were stopped by soldiers at Sector 1 Command, close to Bye-pass junction. So we couldn’t go beyond that place. We attributed their action to the benefits they were getting from those involved in the illicit trade.

“Also, some powerful individuals have gone to the authorities to complain, but nothing has been done. So we have concluded that these people may have the backing of those up there.”

Insurgency, poverty, drug abuse responsible – Psychologist

A psychologist, Mahmuda Sarki, said the effect of Boko Haram insurgency, poverty and other psycho-social factors were responsible for the situation.

“Boko Haram insurgency has destroyed many families and left helpless widows and orphans in object poverty without any social support. They barely eat one square meal per day. So, what would they not do to survive?

“Also, parental care and control are not there. These girls hawk, serve as house-helps, labourers in farms and do any menial work that comes handy. So, those who pay them usually have more say in their lives than their parents. And, at any slightest opportunity, these people will rape them. They are the same girls advancing to brothels,” he said.

Sarki also said the situation was exposing the girls and their clients to sexually transmitted diseases, which they also spread in the society.

He added, “Once the youth population gets involved in sex scandals and drug abuse, the future of our society would be at crossroads, especially now that most of them have access to pornography.”

Number of rape cases alarming – Commissioner

Lamenting the situation, the Commissioner for Justice in Borno State, Hauwa Abubakar, a lawyer, said that apart from underage prostitution, the number of rape cases, especially on minors, in Borno State, was alarming.

Hauwa, who assumed office as the state’s attorney-general recently, said she needed time to investigate activities at Kasuwar Fara, but admitted that rape cases, especially of minors, constituted 80 per cent of cases reported at the ministry on a daily basis.

“In fact, 5 in every 6 files I received were rape cases. The most alarming part of it is the rape of minors as young as two-year-old babies.

“When I came here, I was always disturbed. And anytime I got back home I would be worried, but as I was seeing it everyday, it became part of the work I had to face. But I have a huge concern about what we could do.”

The commissioner said she raised the issue when she received the country representative of United Nations on Drugs and Crimes, Oliver Stolpe last week, seeking the support of the organisation to eliminate drug and rape cases in the society.

“I raised this issue of rape at the Security Council meeting and at every opportunity I find to make a statement that will go further and make impact. That was why I mentioned it when the UN representative came to my office,” she said.

She also advocated that all hands must be on deck to address the menace, adding that the situation must not be left for security agencies alone to handle.

Also, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Garba Chibok, a lawyer, said the state government was making efforts to amend some of the laws to replace obsolete ones in order to provide stiffer penalties for offenders and serve as a deterrent to those who repeatedly commit crimes.

Barring an urgent intervention by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some desperate aspirants might frustrate the ruling party’s zoning arrangements for the leadership positions in the National Assembly[./b]

[b]Such disruptions, analysts say, might lead to a repeat of what happened in 2015, when Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerged as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, despite the zoning arrangements by the party.

The 10th National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, is expected to be inaugurated tentatively on the June 13 2023. In line with Nigeria’s democratic practices, the four positions up for grabs are expected to be zoned to the various geopolitical areas of the country.

Already, the South West has produced the President-elect, while the North East produced the vice President-elect. In line with existing arrangements, South East, South South, North Central and North West, are expected to fill other elective positions.

The next President of the Senate, according to APC stakeholders, is expected to be a Christian from the Southern part of the country, to balance the religious faiths in the country. Both the President-elect and the Vice President-elect are Muslims.

However, some current members of the National Assembly from the North, who have been re-elected to the upper and lower legislative chambers, are intensifying campaigns and mounting pressure on the various organs of the ruling APC to leave the contest open and jettison zoning.

Even as only three Senators-elect from the South have signified interest in the Senate Presidency, about six from the North are plotting to hijack the process. Former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio; and a former organising secretary of APC, Osita Izunaso, are the only major Southern senators-elect that have already declared interest.

In the North, current President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan from Yobe, Sani Musa from Niger, Mohammed Ali Ndume from Borno, Jibrin Barau from Kano, Abdulazeez Yari from Zamfara, and Aliyu Wamakko from Sokoto, whose re-election has not been decided, are believed to be eyeing the position of Senate President. They are all Muslims and Northerners.

Two of the aspirants from North West, a former governor and a chairman of a juicy committee of the current Senate, respectively, have opened offices at a Five Star hotel in Abuja, where they pay millions of naira everyday.

The two aspirants have held series of meetings in groups and one-on-one arrangements with senators-elect. They have also been accused of inducing the new incoming senators with foreign currencies to secure their commitment and loyalty, despite the party’s insistence that the offices will be zoned.

One of the aspirants from the North West, Saturday Sun gathered, has vowed to ignore the position of the party and put himself up for election on the day of inauguration.

A senator-elect who recently met with the aspirant, told Saturday Sun that the former governor is relying on his huge financial war chest and contacts within the Governors’ Forum to secure the position. On the other hand, Senator Jibrin Barau from Kano State, who has also joined the race, told some media advocates in Abuja that religion should not be a consideration.

The lawmaker has, however, said he would discontinue his campaign if the party insists on zoning and settles for another geopolitical zone.

He said: “Religion should not be a consideration. In the past, only Christians headed the Senate and no one complained. I’m the most ranking senator from the North West and I deserve to be given a chance.

“But I’m a party man and I’ll respect the position of the APC if they zone it to another geopolitical zone. But I still believe that religion shouldn’t be used or zoning. We should adopt the style of the United States of America, where everything in Congress is based on ranking.”

Saturday Sun gathered that the new senators-elect have been reluctant to give commitments to any of the Northern aspirants, despite alleged inducements. The new incoming senators who met in Abuja, reportedly resolved to wait until their various political parties zone the positions and give a clear direction on who to support.

Meanwhile, a former senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, Shehu Sani, has endorsed the Senate Presidency bid of Kalu.

Sani has also canvassed for the zoning of the position to the South East geopolitical zone of the country.

Insisting on equity and justice as harbingers of unity in any country, Sani said APC should consider that above any primordial sentiments in the interest of the nation.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has refuted reports of alleged complicity of the Commission to tarnish the image of the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, by tracking and leaking a controversial phone conversation Obi had with Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church.

Spokesman of Peter Obi, Valentine Obienyem, had in a statement on Sunday, accused the NCC of complicity in leaking the audio, adding that the Commission had also plotted with the APC to track Mr. Obi’s phone calls in the last three years to see if he made any calls in support of the threat of interim government.

But, in a statement on Tuesday, the Director of Public Affairs of NCC debunked the allegations and urged the public to disregard it.

Part of the statement reads: “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative Media.

The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications: The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety. By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

“The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.

“The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them.”

By Muideen Olaniyi


The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved two contracts worth N24.20 billion for the provision of broadband for free internet in 75 public places, including 20 airports, tertiary institutions and markets nationwide to support micro, small and medium enterprises.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, announced this Wednesday while briefing State House reporters after the federal cabinet meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the projects approved after the presentation of two memos would be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission, a parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The minister said the selected 20 domestic and international airports with an average of three picked from each of the six geo-political zones.

According to him, “in the South West, you have two in Lagos, you have in Ondo. For South East, you have in Imo, Anambra, and Enugu. For South South, you have in Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom. For North Central, you have in Abuja and Ilorin. For North West, you have Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi. For North East, you have in Yola, Maiduguri and Gombe.”

He said: “The duration for the project is four months minimum and maximum of five months and there is a budgetary provision for that. Also, the fund to sponsor the implementation has been secured by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“For universities, it’s because we have learned bitter and better lessons during the COVID-19, so we don’t want to go back to that, we want to ensure that students and staff benefit from unlimited internet. For airports, we know the difficulty when you land without any connectivity. So it will even at least make our airports more lively, if there is at least internet connectivity that is for free.

“Thirdly, for market, it’s to support innovation-driven enterprises that are being championed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where we try to give global visibility to our innovators, to our micro, small and medium enterprises, so that their market is not going to be narrowed and restricted only to our local communities”, he explained.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs over an allegation of abuse of office and misappropriation of billions of Naira.

The EFCC in an invitation letter served on Akpabio asked him to appear at its office on the 29th day of March, 2023, SaharaReporters learnt from Akpabio’s lawyer, Umeh Kalu.

SaharaReporters had in 2021 reported how the senator-elect was detained after he attempted to bribe the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa with $350,000 (about N135 million).

According to sources, Akpabio was trying to bribe the EFCC Chairman because of the tons of corruption allegations against him, dating back to the time he was governor of Akwa Ibom State.

It was learnt that the meeting between Akpabio and Bawa was arranged by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

SaharaReporters gathered that it took a call from the Aso Villa to the EFCC Chairman to get Akpabio and his aides released.

There had been allegations of N40 billion fraud perpetrated in the NDDC, a ministry which was headed by Akpabio for three years.

The Senate and the House of Representatives in 2020 resolved to probe the alleged N40 billion financial recklessness of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC in the previous three months.

Also, there were allegations of over N86 billion contract scam involving the senator-elect and the former Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, which the EFCC has been looking into.

The anti-graft agency had in the past arrested Akpabio over alleged theft of N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom funds.

Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, has congratulated his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) rival in the election, Abba Kabir Yusuf, (popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Yusuf as the governor-elect, a declaration Gawuna and his party had challenged.

But a few hours after the governor-elect picked up his certificate of return, Gawuna’congratulated him.

In his acceptance speech after he received the certificate of return, Yusuf had called on Gawuna to make true his earlier statement that he would accept the outcome of the election as the will of God.

Apparently responding to this call, Gawuna in a audio message shared by his Chief Press Secretary, said in confirmation of his earlier statement on the will of God prevailing, he is praying that God would help Yusuf to be a true leader for all, who will be just to all.

“I want to remind the people of Kano state that, earlier during our campaigns, we prayed that if winning the election is the best for us, may Almighty Allah give us, and if it’s not, may He Almighty give us what is the best for us.

“Therefore, I call on my followers and supporters to accept the destiny that come to us. For the winner of the election, I pray for him to be a good leader that will practice justice for all. For us, may Almighty Allah guide us to be good followers to our leaders,” Gawuna said.

There are mixed reactions from traders, business owners and customers in Anambra State over the commercial banks’ acceptance of deposits in old N500 and N1,000 old notes.

This is a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a statement on Monday directed commercial banks to issue and to accept the old Naira notes from Nigerians.

SaharaReporters on Tuesday found out that commercial banks in Awka, Anambra State capital issued the old N500 and N1,000 notes to customers but only accepted deposits of same from customers who generated CBN code from cyber cafe.

When SaharaReporters visited Access Bank branch located along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, a staff of the bank in its bulk room said that though they accept deposits of the old Naira notes, the depositor must personally generate CBN code from the cyber cafe.

"We accept the deposits of the old N500 and N1,000 notes if you have the CBN code," the bank staff said.

When reminded that the CBN in its statement said the banks should generate the required codes for their customers, the staff said, "No, you have to generate the code by yourself or if you have the code already, you can bring it. For now, we still require the CBN code for you to deposit the old notes except if they lift it tomorrow, we can start accepting the deposits directly."

A similar condition applies at the First Bank branch also located along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway of the capital city.

A female staff of the bank told SaharaReporters that "We only accept the old notes if you have your CBN code that you generated from the cyber cafe. We are not the one to generate the code for you. You have to go out to a computer place and generate the code, bring it with the old money and deposit."

SaharaReporters found out that though residents of the state are much aware of the CBN's directive for acceptance and circulation of the old Naira notes, traders, business owners and transporters are still adamant on accepting the old N500 and N1,000 notes for transactions.

A trader in the popular Eke Awka Market, Johnson Chukwudi, told SaharaReporters that "The problem is not accepting the old notes, but the fact that banks are not accepting it back except you go through the process of generating a code. And I don't have that time. So, for now, I'm not accepting it until the banks start accepting it properly."

Similarly, two meat sellers in the same market, Mrs Nkechi Obi and Ikenna Eze, said that they didn't accept the old Naira notes because "they (the government) are not serious yet."

"How can they ask us to accept the old money and banks can easily issue the old notes to us but when we want to deposit it, we have to leave our business, go to a cyber cafe or whatever they call it, to get a code before going back to our banks and then struggle to deposit it?

"If the government is not ready to bring out the old money, they should just leave it. We have been stressed too much."

Meanwhile, there are some traders and transporters who accept the old Naira notes.

A commercial bus driver who simply identified himself as James told SaharaReporters that "The government said we should start using the old notes till the end of this year, so, that is why I'm accepting it.

"I know that many people are not accepting it yet and I heard that banks ask people to bring one CBN code or something like that but the ones I have accepted today, I used it to buy fuel. I know it is a matter of time and everything will settle."

SaharaReporters gathered that on Tuesday morning, leaders of Eke Awka Market and representatives from the state government went round the market and announced that everyone in the market must accept the old Naira notes.

Recall that the state Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, had threatened to shut down any commercial bank or business outlet who refuses to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes in the state.

The Nigerian military has been ranked 36th in the world and fourth in the African continent by the recently released global firepower index.

The Nigerian military dropped one place in the latest global military ranking but no reasons were provided for the development.

Recall that the Global Fire Power had rated the Armed Forces of Nigeria 35 out of 142 countries considered for the annual ranking in 2022.

But in 2023, the Nigerian military was ranked 36th out of a total of 145 countries reviewed for the 2023 ranking.

Nigeria also dropped from third to fourth on the continent.

The United States of America’s military is ranked first in the world; Russia is second; followed by China.

India is ranked fourth; the United Kingdom fifth. South Korea, Pakistan, Japan, France and Italy are respectively ranked sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth in the world.

In Africa, Egypt is ranked number one and 14th in the world, Algeria came second and 26th in the world, and South Africa is ranked 33rd in the world to emerge third on the continent.

“Ranking the nations of the world based on currently available firepower. The finalised Global Firepower ranking below utilises over 60 individual factors to determine a given nation’s Power Index (‘PwrIndx’) score with categories, ranging from the number of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography.

“For 2023, Nigeria is ranked 36 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. The nation holds a PwrIndx score of 0.5587,” the organisation said.

However, the acting director Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau declined comments when asked if the ranking was the true reflection of the military’s strength.

United States’ Vice President, Kamala Harris, is scheduled to visit Africa at the end of March as the US deepens its outreach to the continent amid global competition, notably with China.

Harris’ trip comes as the administration seeks to bolster its relationships with African countries, as competitors like Russia and China have made inroads in the region.

This was contained in statement by Press Secretary Kirsten Allen, noting that Harris is scheduled to visit Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia in a historic trip, her first visit to the continent since becoming vice president.

The statement reads in part; "Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will travel to Accra, Ghana; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lusaka, Zambia from March 25 to April 2.

"The Vice President’s visit will build on the recent U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that President Biden hosted in Washington in December 2022. The trip will strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared efforts on security and economic prosperity.

"Throughout the trip, in partnership with African governments and the private sector, the Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business ties and investment, including through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the economic empowerment of women.

"The Vice President will meet with President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Samia Hassan of Tanzania, and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia to discuss regional and global priorities, including our shared commitment to democracy, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, food security, and the effects of Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, among other issues.

"The Vice President will strengthen people-to-people ties and engage with civil society, including young leaders, business representatives, entrepreneurs, and members of the African Diaspora," it added.