₦airaland Forum

Bendeco2020:
Blogging is not for everyone bro..

They shift the Exam that supposed to start by 4th August and end by 5th September.

But some of you don't understand that line.



You lack comprehension and you call ursef a blogger spreading fake news.


Tell me any reliable website that post the news?... Even WAEC Official twitter handle have not post any date yet.

Bendeco2020:
Shut up.... is that rubbish URL that may be ur blog reliable?


Stop misinforming the public.

Bendeco2020:
Tell me the source of ur news?

Bendeco2020:
Stop posting rubbish @ Op...


You are mentioning Lalasticlala, seun to push ur fake news to front page.


New date for WASSCE has not been announced yet....


Some funny dudes here have already accepted the news as real.

WAEC: FG Announces New Date For 2020 WASSCE

The Federal Government has announced a shift in date of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) billed for August 4 to September 5, 2020, CAMPUS GIST reports.

The shift of the 2020 WASSCE was announced by the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, in a statement made available to CAMPUS GIST on Friday.

He said the development was a fallout of a meeting between the federal government and representatives of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Nigeria.

CAMPUS GIST recalls that WAEC had earlier announced August 4 - September 5 as date for the 2020 WASSCE amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It was, however, opposed by the federal government with a declaration that Nigerian final year secondary school students won't participate in the exams.

But in a statement on Friday, the education minister said the federal government and WAEC, Nigeria have agreed to shift the Aug-Sept date for the 2020 WASSCE to a new date to be announced later.

He explained that the decision was the outcome of a meeting between the Federal Government and officials of WAEC’s Nigeria office on Monday noting that both parties have agreed to further consult with four other countries on new examination date.

The minister also revealed that the government has given school owners in the country till July 29, 2020 to meet specific guidelines towards the reopening of schools at a date to be announced in due course.

Nwajiuba urged the schools to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to state Ministries of Education, not later than July 29, 2020.

Source: https://campusgist.com.ng/2020/07/18/waec-fg-settle-for-september-5-as-new-date-for-2020-wassce/

A former speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, is dead, Igbere TV reports. The deceased is a chieftain of the PDP in Edo.

Igbere TV gathered that Hon. Garuba died Saturday morning after a brief illness. He is rumoured to have died of Coronavirus complications.

A friend of the deceased, who craved anonymity, told Igbere TV that the former Edo speaker died at an Isolation Centre. “Oga died at the Isolation Centre,” the source said.

Hon. Zakawanu Garuba was impeached as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly on February 23, 2010, alongside his deputy by 16 members of the House.

The then ruling Adams Oshiomhole-led Action Congress (now defunct) in Edo had been locked in a supremacy battle with PDP, who had majority lawmakers in the Assembly.

A native of Etsako West local government area of Edo State, Garuba, was called to Bar in 1990 having bagged a bachelor of law degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

After his mandatory one-year national service of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1990, Hon. Garuba embarked on a legal career that was to span a total of 21 eventful years.

In 2003, Garuba was elected into the Edo State House of Assembly. While in the House, he served as the chairman of the House committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, as well as memberships of other committees – before emerging, in 2007, as Speaker of the House.

He was, in 2012, appointed into the board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to serve as the Executive Commissioner, Finance and Administration (now known as the corporate services directorate of the commission).

Igbere TV reports that Hon. Garuba holds the traditional titles of Oshiote of Auchi Kingdom and Okumagbe of Uzaire - both in Edo North senatorial districts of Edo state.

May his soul rest in peace!

A total of 201 health workers have tested positive to Coronavirus in Edo, since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state, the Health Commissioner, Dr. Patrick Okundia, said on Monday.

In a statement made available to Igbere TV, in Benin City, Dr. Okundia urged the frontline staff to ensure safety precautions are taken at all time when handling any suspected case or treating COVID-19 patients.

The Commissioner commended the resilience, sacrifice and commitment of health workers in Edo, noting that they have shown uncommon resolve in curtailing the spread of the virus and protecting other citizens during the outbreak.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment towards the “protection and welfare” of the state’s health workforce, especially frontline workers who are putting their lives on the line to support its efforts at containing the spread of COVID-19 in Edo.

Okundia, who reassured that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will not relent in ensuring the welfare of the state’s health workforce, said the government will continue to intensify efforts to contain the pandemic across communities in the state and protect Edo people.

He, however, harped on the need to protect the elderly and persons with underlying ailments who are vulnerable and most affected by the disease in the state.

While noting that persons who are aged 60 and above make up only five per cent of the state’s population, he added that over 50 per cent of the deaths recorded so far fall within the age category of the population.

Okundia said the state has discharged 87 more COVID-19 patients who have now tested negative to the virus following their treatment at the state isolation facilities, noting: “Edo has now recorded a total of 805 discharged persons, 6,470 suspected cases, 1,383 confirmed cases and 47 deaths.”

The commissioner added: “We urge residents to support the government’s efforts at containing the pandemic by complying with all guidelines. Stay at home and observe all precautionary measures against the spread of the infectious disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing”.

Mrs Ifeoma Ozougwu and her husband, Mr Jude Ozougwu have both been remanded at the Nsukka prison, in Enugu, for brutalising their 10-year-old house help, Miss Nneoma Nnadi.

Igbere TV reports that the couple were arraigned at the court in Enugu on Monday and sent to the Nsukka prison till August when the court will hear their bail application.

The woman and her husband, Mr. Ozougwu, who reside at Thinkers Corner, Enugu, and hail from Aku in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, had inflicted various degrees of injuries on the little child.

This prompted their arrest by the Enugu State Police Command, and rescue of the victim - who is now receiving treatment at the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.

The Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had earlier approved the award of scholarship, up to university level, to the little house help and promised that state govt will offset her medical bills.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 2,210,334 registered voters are eligible to vote in the forthcoming September 19, 2020 Edo state Governorship election.

This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of INEC in Edo State, Ms. Tina Obamogie, in an interview with newsmen on Sunday, in Benin City.

According to her, the Commission would be making use of the 2019 voters register for the election, adding that due to the COVID-19 pandemic there would be no distribution of unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards.

“There are 483,868 unclaimed Permanent Voters Card, but due to the ongoing scourge of coronavirus pandemic, this is not the period to distribute PVCs. Anything that has to do with the collection is not done this period because of COVID-19,” she said.

“We had the intention to distribute before the lockdown but we are considering the safety of lives this period. For that reason, we would rely on the 2019 voters register which has 2, 210, 334 registered voters.”

Ms. Obamogie also disclosed that INEC in Edo has received non-sensitive materials for the Sept. 19 Governorship election, saying the materials had been distributed to the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

Igbere TV reports that 14 political parties will be participating in the election, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the main parties.

Incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki will face Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC in the contest. He had defeated Ize-Iyamu, who ran on the PDP platform in 2016.

The governor was elected under APC in 2016 but decamped to contest the PDP ticket which he won - after being disqualified from the APC primaries.

https://igberetvnews.com/1357078/2-million-voters-eligible-edo-governorship-election-says-inec/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday, said his administration has spent a total of N25 billion (N25,047,472,632.77) paying 13,081 pensioners in the state, monthly, from November 2016 to May 2020.

This was contained in a ‘Mid-Year Report’ by the Edo State Pension Bureau detailing the state’s four years expenditures on pension, a copy of which was sent to Igbere TV by the state government via mail.

The Governor, who was sworn in on November 12, 2016, also said his administration has expended over N4.3 billion in clearing the backlog of outstanding pension arrears owed about 3,128 pensioners in the state.

According to the report, “The government spent a total of N771,714,393.01 between November and December 2016 for the payment of pensions; N 5,371,283,211.09 was expended in 2017; N6,452,535,649.08 in 2018 and N7,936,681,957.45 in 2019.

“For 2020, the government spent N735,069,623.04; N736,780,760.18; N759,731,334.31; N760,620,948.61; N759,695,333.23 and N763,359,423.02 in January, February, March, April, May and June respectively.”

The report claimed that “with the setting aside of N200 million monthly, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has been able to defray arrears of pensions dating back to 1996 up to December 2018 in furtherance of its commitment to the welfare of pensioners.

“The government divided the pensioners into batches 37 to 65 and ensured that the backlog was cleared after physical and documentary verifications. Having completed the payment of outstanding pension arrears, the next steps to be considered in the weeks ahead are harmonisation of pensions, payment of Death Benefits and Gratuity.”

The report further revealed that besides clearing the backlog of pension arrears, an “efficient management process” has been put in place to fast-track the processing and documentation of retiring officers’ entitlements, thus ensuring a seamless migration from salary payroll to pension payroll. This, it noted, has minimised the incidence of accumulation of pension arrears that had been a burden before the inception of this administration.

The report revealed that workers who are eligible to register under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have the benefit of a Group Life Insurance cover that makes provision for beneficiaries of a contributor in the event of death in active service.

“The sum of N80,713,446.34 was paid as premium for 9,803 Edo State employees in the CPS. With this payment made, the next of kin of deceased employees receives three times their gross annual salary as benefits. From the commencement of the CPS on 1st January 2017 till date, a total sum of N 81,169,724.24 have been paid to families of 34 deceased employees of the State Public Service who were enrollees of the CPS,” it noted.

The report further stated: “The State Government exercised political will and has been committed to the payment of pension arrears, monthly pension, death benefits under the Defined Benefit Scheme and government’s 10 percent matching contribution into the Employees' RSA in compliance with the provisions of the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme Law of 2010 as amended.

“The State has made remittances of contributions of both employees (8%) and employer (10%) to the PFAs for 39 months, i.e. from January 2017 to April 2020 which amounts to N5,230,348,954.34. Of this, government’s (employer) matching (10%) contribution is N2,905,749,419.08 only, while that of the employees’ (8%) contribution is N 2,324,599,535.26.

“Also, a Retirement Benefits Bonds Redemption Fund (RBBRF) account has been opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This account is being funded monthly to ensure that funds are available to defray the accrued pension rights of employees who have registered for the Contributory Pension Scheme. The RBBRF Account is being funded with five percent of the total monthly wage bill of employees in fulfillment of the provision of the Contributory Pension Scheme Law.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1357076/obaseki-spends-n25bn-pension-4-years-n4bn-clearing-arrears/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The Edo State Government, on Sunday, said 122 more COVID-19 patients have been discharged from its isolation centres, while recording 87 new cases.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, in a statement made available to Igbere TV, on Sunday, in Benin City.

According to Okundia, the state has recorded a total of 1,353 cases of the virus since its outbreak in Nigeria, with a total of 718 recoveries.

He said, “We have recorded 87 new confirmed cases, with 31 cases reported at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) and 56 cases at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

“We have made tremendous progress in the management of coronavirus, as 122 patients have been discharged from our isolation centres, bringing the total number of discharges to 718.”

In the statement sent to Igbere TV via mail, the state government noted that a total 6,300 suspected cases have been reported, with 47 deaths.

The commissioner said the state government has intensified contact tracing, linelisting and contact monitoring of contacts of the confirmed cases.

Noting that the state government is committed to controlling the spread of the virus, he said necessary actions are being taken regarding Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices in ISTH, UBTH and Stella Obasanjo Hospital Isolation Centre (SOHIC).

He added that that the state government has intensified public enlightenment and sensitisation on the need to get screened/tested and for prompt presentation at the designated health facilities when symptomatic.

https://igberetvnews.com/1357073/edo-discharges-122-covid-19-patients-records-87-new-cases/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara says he is ready to go to jail if the All Progressives Congress (APC) can establish any form of links or connection between him and Hushpuppi.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the governing party, on Saturday, through its deputy spokesman, Yekini Nabena called for probe of Dogara, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.

The call by the APC followed the arrest of Nigerian alleged internet fraudster, Raymond Igbalodely alias Hushpuppi by the Dubai police and his subsequent extradition to the United States for trial.

Some pictures of Hushpuppi and notable PDP chieftains had gone viral following the development. This sparked some reactions on social media, including the APC linking Hushpuppi to the PDP chieftains.

But in a statement made available to Igbere TV via mail on Sunday, in Abuja, Dogara, a 2019 'Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards' awardee denied any links or connection to the alleged internet fraudster.

The former speaker said he has agreed to wave his rights for trial and ready to go to jail if the APC can prove its allegations. He, however, wondered why similar allegations were not levelled against some governors of the APC, who had appeared in similar photos with an alleged money launderer, Mompha.

The statement entitled, “The fatuous and infantile statement by the smellfungus called Yekini Nabena”, signed off and sent to Igbere TV by Turaki Hassan, on behalf of Office of Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, reads;

“The statement issued by one Yekini Nabena on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) desparetly seeking to link Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara to suspected cyber criminals on the basis of a group picture taken at a public event, is to say the least; infantile, rash and fatuous.

“This smellfungus, called Nabena should have known that it is share mindlessness to attempt to execute mischief and blackmail in plain sight before the public some of whom are better informed. Who is that fool that links people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture at a public event comprising of people from different walks of life?

*If appearing in a group photograph is what Nabena is now using to establish a link or connection to crimes or alleged criminals then why didnt he issue such a statement in the wake of the arrest of a suspected money launderer by name Ismaila Mustapha, AKA: Mompha whose pictures with notable personalities including some APC Governors are all over the social media? Is Nabena guilty of selective amnesia or share perfidy? Who is Nabena scared of? Who is he trying to fool?

“For the records, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara has agreed to wave his right to a trial and go to jail if Nabena establishes any form of links or connection between him and the alleged cyber criminal before the event where the picture was taken and after the event until now. For Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, that picture was just another picture among the thousands, if not hundred of thousands of such pictures with Nigerians from all walks of life.

“If the said Nabena is worth his salt, next time he speaks he should speak to issues affecting the welfare of our union which are well known to all discerning Nigerians. Nabena should or ought to know that there is no honour in speaking about group pictures taken at public events when the nation is bleeding and most Nigerian families are struggling and hurting.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, denied dropping charges of money laundering against former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

The denial followed media reports (NOT on Igbere TV) that the agency had dropped the charges against the ex-AGF following alleged expunging of his name from INTERPOL’s “wanted persons list”.

“The EFCC wishes to make it abundantly clear that, Mr. Adoke is standing trial in two separate courts: Federal High Court, Abuja before Justice Inyang Ekwo in Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CR39/2017 and FCT High Court, Gwagwalada before Justice Idris Kutigi in Suit Number: FCT/CR/151/2020,” the EFCC said in a statement emailed to Igbere TV.

Adoke was re-arraigned alongside an Abuja-based businessman, Aliyu Abubakar before Justice Ekwo on June 17, 2020 on seven-count charges, bordering on money laundering.

The re-arraignment was occasioned by the transfer of the case from Justice Binta Nyako, before whom he was originally arraigned on February 8, 2020.

Adoke was equally arraigned before Justice Kutigi alongside others on January 23, 2020 on 42-count charges bordering on the Malabu Oil scam.

“There is another subsisting case involving Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, Aliyu Abubakar and five companies allegedly involved in money laundering charges before Justice Ekwo. They were arraigned on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 in Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CR/268/2016,” the EFCC added.

“Media reports about the removal of Adoke’s name from the “Wanted Persons’ List” by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), are unnecessary and misleading, since he had been arrested and facing trial already in Nigeria.

“A suspect cannot be on a “Wanted Persons’ List” and be facing trial in court at the same time.
The EFCC wishes to reiterate its commitment to global best practices in its operations and would not be distracted from its assigned mandate of ridding the nation of all forms of economic and financial crimes.”

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday announced a minor cabinet reshuffle involving five commissioners who are to move from one ministry to the other.

The announcement was contained in a statement made available to Igbere TV by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin, the state capital.

He listed those affected to include, the Commissioner for Communication Olanrewaju Murtala who moves to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Harriet Adenike Afolabi Oshatimehin who goes to the Ministry of Communication.

The statement said the Commissioner for Environment Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen switches to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development Hajia Aisha Ahman-Pategi moves to the Ministry of Special Duties; while the Commissioner for Special Duties Funke Juliana Oyedun goes to the Ministry of Environment.

https://igberetvnews.com/1356878/breaking-governor-abdulrazaq-reshuffles-cabinet-see-changes/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Office, have arrested three suspected internet fraudsters.

In a statement made available to Igbere TV, the anti-graft agency said the suspects were arrested following intelligence by the Commission.

The names of the suspects were given as, David Aguinede, Itua Benjamin and Daniel Oviasojie.

“They were arrested in their hide-out in Ekpoma, Edo State,” the statement said.

“Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, laptop computers and mobile Phones.

“The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” added EFCC.

https://igberetvnews.com/1356885/efcc-arrests-three-suspected-internet-fraudsters-edo/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

COVID-19: Edo Govt Warns Against Reopening Of Schools

By Campus Gist, Benin City

Edo State Government, on Friday, said it has not authorised the reopening of schools for 3rd term academic activities amid the COVID-19 crisis, warning that government will impose sanctions on schools that flouts the directive.

In a statement obtained by Campus Gist, Commissioner for Education, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai, said government did not authorise the reopening of public or private schools, including certificate classes.

The statement read in part; “It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that some schools in Edo State have reopened and some are planning to reopen for the 3rd term academic session.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government has not authorised schools whether public or private, even the certificate classes to reopen under the present circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A date of resumption will be communicated to all stakeholders after modalities have been put in place to ensure the safety of our children and wards.”

The commissioner urged school proprietors to be guided by the state government's directive, warning that adequate sanctions will be meted out on any school that flouts the directive.

http://campusgist.com.ng/2020/07/03/covid-19-edo-state-govt-warns-against-reopening-of-schools/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The Edo State Government has announced the discharge of 130 COVID-19 patients from its isolation centres across the state.

The announcement was made by Governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at a press briefing monitored by Igbere TV, on Thursday, in Benin city.

He said the latest figure (of recovered patients) brings the total number of recoveries in the state to 448, with 40 deaths so far.

Obaseki said, “We have discharged 130 COVID-19 patients from our isolation centres across the state. This brings the number of recoveries to 448.

“We lost 1 (one) more person to the virus, with the total number of fatalities now 40. Let's Stay Safe to protect the elderly in our state.”

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has so far announced 1,165 cases of Coronavirus in the Southern state, Igbere TV reports.

As of Wednesday, Nigeria recorded 26,484 cases of the disease. While 10,152 people have recovered, 603 people have died.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned, and rejected the increase in the pump price of petrol, otherwise known as premium motor spirit (PMS).

The rejection notice was contained in a statement made available to Igbere TV on Thursday, in Abuja signed by President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

Igbere TV had reported that the federal government through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), on Wednesday announced a new retail price band for oil marketers across the country.

In a circular dated July 1st, obtained by Igbere TV, the downstream regulator said oil marketers are now expected to sell petrol within the price range of N140.80 and N143.80.

But the NLC said the Nigerian government must not transfer its own “inefficiencies” to the Nigerian people, saying the Nigerian workers will not accept such an increment.

The organized labour, therefore, demanded an immediate reversal to the old price while calling for a national discourse on oil assets management and repairs of the nation's dilapidated refineries.

Full statement,

“It was with great shock and consternation that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) received yesterday’s news of increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit commonly called ‘petrol’ from N121 to N143. The increase was reported to be consequent upon a “monthly review meeting” by the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

In a press statement by the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Saidu Abdulkadir, purportedly released on June 28, 2020 and carried by many news platforms including the Premium Times of July 2, 2020, the PPPRA contradicted itself when it said that the latest price increase described as an “advisory” was meant to regulate a product that government claims had been de-regulated. That this new hike in the pump price of petrol was announced without the approval of the board of the PPPRA and the oversight ministry speaks volume of the arbitrariness and public contempt in the operations of PPPRA. We find this deeply disturbing.

It is also very embarrassing that the PPPRA boss while trying to defend the indefensible appeared to be out of sorts and ready to clutch at any available straws to sell his “ice block merchandise” to “Eskimos”.

Apart from contradicting himself that PPPRA is still trying to regulate a deregulated product through “advisories”, the PPPRA went on to exert more nails on the coffin of his own polemics when he argued that PPPRA was just like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) that would always act to protect the public interest. That was how far the niceties went. The rest of the statement by the PPPRA boss, as reproduced in the excerpts below, was about how PPPRA plans to protect investors and increase their profit.

“While the Market-Based Pricing Regime is a policy introduced to free the market of all encumbrances to investment and growth, it should not be misconstrued as to mean a total abdication of government’s responsibility to the sector and citizenry… that the new pricing regime would encourage oil marketers to resume supply of petrol, leading to further value creation in the downstream, foster job creation and ensure reasonable returns to investors”.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Saidu Abdulkadir did not even feign pretense that government has abdicated its responsibility to protect Nigerians from the cut-throat tendencies of neo-liberal market forces. Contrary to the provisions of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution, PPPRA claims that the abdication is not ‘total’. When the statement by the PPPRA is juxtaposed with the recent killer electricity charges unveiled by DISCOs, Nigerians cannot help but feel the heat of a potent threat to run millions of Nigerians under. It is even worse that this is coming at a time when our people are living on the precipice of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nigerians would recall that the last downward review in the price of petrol was at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown. The economic benefits of the so-called “downward” review was hardly enjoyed by ordinary Nigerians who were mostly indoors. Just as the lockdown is being eased out and as soon as the inter-state travel ban was lifted, the government decided to hike petrol price. Nigerian people and workers are forced to interpret this move as grand mischief and deceit.

It is clear even to the blind that the crisis in our downstream petroleum sub-sector is ‘self’ nay “government-inflicted”. The refusal by successive governments to fix our national oil refineries is at the root of this problem. Government simply wants to transfer the cost of its own inefficiencies to the Nigerian people. Nigerian workers say “No” to such.

It is grand mischief and deceit to keep comparing apples with mangoes. There is no way Nigerians would accept a situation where we are charged international rates for a product which Nigeria is the sixth largest producer in the world. The extra costs that the PPPRA wants Nigerians to pay in order to promote “growth” and “investment” are actually the cost of profits made by countries that we ship our crude oil to, the cost of sea freight of the refined products, the cost of demurrage at our seaports when the refined products arrive, the cost of frequent devaluation of our national currency, and the cost of official corruption by gatekeepers managing the downstream petroleum sub-sector. Nigerians have groaned to pay these unjust costs for years. This latest increase might just be the last straw that would break the camel’s back.

We demand that the Federal Government reverts to the old price of petroleum especially given the fact that price of crude oil in the international market has only slightly increased from the previous price before the so-called downward review was announced two months ago. We also renew our call for a national conversation on the management of our oil assets which we insist must be in tandem with the provisions our country’s constitution which clearly mandates that the commanding heights of our national economy must be held by the government in the interest of the citizens of Nigeria. Finally, we demand that our four national petroleum refineries must be fixed without any further delay. Nigerian workers want to be appraised of the timeline set by government to ensure that this is effectively done.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. Workers are major stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Nigerian workers and people must not only be treated fairly but must be seen to have been so treated by their government.”