₦airaland Forum

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the attacks and kidnappings along the Kaduna-Abuja road as a national shame, declaring that it is “completely unacceptable”.

The forum, in a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, condemned the killing on Sunday of Alhaji Hamida Sagir, a retired Director of Protocol at the Federal Capital Development Autority (FCDA) and a governorship aspirant in Zamfara State.

Sagir was said to have been killed on Sunday by bandits along the Kaduna-Abuja road while several others were said to have been abducted.

The ACF lamented that on a daily basis, Nigerians are being terrorised, kidnapped and killed without let on the road, noting that both the Kaduna State and the federal government, which owned the highway, appear to be helpless in securing the lives on the road.

The statement said, the ACF “is becoming agitated by the unrestrained acts of terrorism on the strategic highway between Abuja the Federal Capital and Kaduna the former capital of defunct Northern region”.

“On a daily basis, Nigerians are being terrorised, kidnapped and killed without let on this road.

“This is a national shame and completely unacceptable to our forum.

“The latest victim of this act of terror is Alhaji Hamida Sagir, a retired Director of Protocol at the Federal Capital Development Autority FCDA and a governorship aspirant in Zamfara State who was shot and killed at Rijana.

“Indeed Rijana has become a popular spot where these terrorist attacks are committed on a daily and routine basis.

“This is a challenge that the security agencies must overcome. We are worried that everyday Nigerians are attacked at this same spot and our security men seem helpess in sorting out the security problems that make such attacks on the same spot easy,” it said.

The forum called on both the Kaduna and the federal governments to save Nigerians from this security nightmare.

The statement condoled with the immediate family of the slain Sagir and the Zamfara State Goverment and prayed Almighty God to give them the fortitude to bear the tragedy.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Soldiers invaded Tungan-Maje community in Gwagwalada area council of Abuja, on Sunday, beating up Salihu Aliyu, the Galadima of the community and his family members.

Daily Trust learnt that eight people including a 23-year-old student of College of Education (COE) Zuba, Shemau Salihu, alongside the eldest son of Galadima of Tungan-Maje, Abdulrahman Salihu, sustained injuries as a result of the beating.

Narrating the incident to our reporter on Monday, Salihu said he was sitting in front of his house alongside his father and some of his friends when soldiers suddenly alighted from a Hilux van and descended on him with stick.

He said the soldiers divided themselves into groups, adding that while some were maltreating him, others walked into three houses to beat up the occupants.

“Even before then, there was a lady who came along with a man in mufti and pointed hand at me telling the man, ‘that is the brother’,” he said.

He said while asking the lady what was the problem was and whom they were looking for, a hot argument ensued.

According to him, after those people left, the soldiers stormed the community.

He added that he had just finished observed Isha’i prayers when the military men stormed the area.

He said some commercial cyclists, who stopped to watch what was happening, were also assaulted.

“After the beating, the soldiers dragged us, including my father, into their Hilux and drove us to their barrack,” he said.

The Galadima of Tungan-Maje, Salihu Aliyu, who also spoke with our reporter alleged that the soldiers held on to his shirt as he walked out of the mosque.

“I was coming out of the mosque when one of the soldiers grabbed my shirt and started hitting me with stick while some of them were shooting sporadically into the air,” he said.

He said the soldiers later dragged him on the floor into the Hilux van alongside seven others to the barracks in the area.

He said after they were released, he proceeded to a clinic in the community for treatment.

The chief of Tungan-Maje, Alhaji Salihu Isiaku Na’ Annabi, confirmed the incident, saying he was at his palace when some of his subjects came to him to say soldiers had beaten up Galadima and some others.

“And what I did quickly was to put a call across to the Agora of Zuba, even though I couldn’t get him on phone but I got the Makama Karmi to alert him about the incident in my domain,” he said.

The monarch said though one of his sons later contacted the commander of the barracks at Tungan-Maje to report the incident.

He said the commander later appealed to him and promised that he would investigate the matter.

The vice chairman of Gwagwalada area council, Alhaji Mohammed Kasim Ikwa, confirmed the incident to our reporter, saying he visited the community immediately he received information about the incident.

“In fact I was in Tungan-Maje this morning when they called me that some soldiers invaded three houses and beat up some residents.”

The vice chairman, while condemning the incident, said he had placed a call to the FCT police commissioner, CP Sunday Babaji, to inform him about the incident.

“Even when I enquired, I learnt that when some people have disagreement with someone, the next thing such person will do is to go and invite soldiers to molest people,” he said.

Efforts to get reaction of the Army commander of Tungan-Maje base, were not successful.

vanbonattel:


Is this not what you people voted for in 2015 and 2019 ?

Widening deficits, poor crude oil production, rising subsidy payments and lingering foreign exchange challenge appear to be compounding Nigeria’s revenue problems, making borrowing the last resort for the Federal Government in financing the N16.39 trillion 2022 budget.

Unable to take advantage of higher oil prices, the call by some major oil consuming nations to release their strategic reserves to check high prices is expected to further reduce projected income from an oil rally, despite low production.

Indeed, oil traded below $80 after the calls to release reserves.

Currently, crisis-rocked Libya has ousted Nigeria as Africa’s leader in terms of crude oil production and reserves. Fresh indications emerge that Nigeria may never increase its daily oil production to four million barrels and reserves to 40 billion barrels as divestment and net-zero goals lay siege to the sector.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier this year reiterated the ambitious goal of ramping up crude oil production to at least four million barrels per a day, and building a reserve of 40 billion barrels. However, instead of increasing, the reserves and daily production are on a free fall. Besides, the goal has been a mirage for the past 10 years.

While the 2021 yearly Statistical Bulletin of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had shown a drop of 543 million barrels in the crude oil reserves of Nigeria, the country is currently unable to meet its OPEC quota of 1.66 million barrels per day as daily production stands at about 1.2 million slightly below what Libya is pumping.

The reality is a direct opposite of the projection set by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe. Increased production and reserves had topped agenda for them and the people they succeeded but prevailing reality is far below par.

As of 2016, when the current administration settled into office, oil reserves were about 37.4 billion barrels but it has fallen to 36.9 billion barrels. Daily production, which almost hit two million barrels, now hovers at 1.2 million.

Recall that the Federal Government is proposing a N16.39 trillion budget with a daily crude oil production benchmark of 1.6 million; the current hurdles meant that the deficit of N6.25 trillion in the budget would increase.

It should also be considered that while the deficit is 3.39 per cent of GDP, it is already higher than the three per cent ceiling set by the Fiscal responsibility Act 2007 (FRA).

WITH projected falling revenue from oil amid subsidy payment, Nigeria’s deficit is expected to be financed by new borrowings, privatisation proceeds and drawdown on loans secured for specific projects, experts at PwC had noted.

By implication, improvement in the value of naira against dollar in the coming year may be dismal, while excess crude account depletion may persist in the face of foreign exchange crisis.

Although hostility by Niger Delta militants against oil production was previously the main challenge against oil production, there has been relative peace in the region.

This implies that Nigeria is now contending with fresh challenges in the oil and gas sector. Some experts attributed the challenges to the growing security tension across the country, divestment by international oil companies and the inability of the new legislation in the sector to spark optimism as the government’s move is being frustrated by the push away from fossil fuel.

The Guardian had reported that Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) divestment in Nigeria is estimated at $2.3 billion. ExxonMobil is also currently divesting from its shallow water joint ventures. Total had in recent times completed a $1 billion worth of onshore divestments.

Amid these challenges, The Guardian gathered that the Buhari-led administration may only be enjoying investment made in the sector by previous administrations as funding of joint ventures (JVs) has been a major challenge for the current administration.

In addition to long delays in conducting bid rounds, an earlier plan by the government to reduce its JVs by allowing new investors into the sector was only lip service.

It was only recently that the Federal Government through the NNPC paid $266.141 million out of an outstanding balance of $1.730 billion of JV cash calls in the last one year.

The Guardian had reported that over $150 billion worth of projects, especially upstream segment, risk getting stranded in Nigeria. Part of the reasons for stalling some of the projects included legal battles, with over 8,000 cases pending appeal at the Supreme Court alone.

It was until recently that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now NUPRC introduced an alternative dispute centre. As of September this year, about 300 legal battles in the industry, which had been stalled for the past 20 years in courts, were resolved through the alternative dispute resolution.

Oil and gas expert and public affairs analyst, Nick Agule, attributed the situation in the sector to the gloomy investment climate, delays before passage of PIB as well as government inaction to attract investors.

According to him, government participation in the JVs starves oil companies of funding as government coffers are empty due to high debt service and recurrent expenditures, including trillions wasted on subsidies.

Agule also blamed the lack of transparency in the sector, including the recent marginal fields bid rounds, adding that insecurity through banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, and secessionist agitations especially in the oil belt of the Niger Delta posed huge discouraging factors to investors.

“Lack of rule of law, sluggish judicial system, judges delivering strange judgments, all combined gives investors headache if they think of investing.

“The time has come for Nigeria to think less of oil and more of renewable energy and perhaps, gas as a transition energy. We’ve lost all the opportunities oil and gas offered us and no need crying over spilt milk! Let’s move on to renewables before we lose out a second time,” he said.

A geologist, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian the morale of operators in the upstream sector industry is low, stressing that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) appeared to have arrived a little too late.

“It is almost certain that with the current mantra of diminishing market for fossil fuel as energy source, the target of four million barrels per day sounds unattainable. Likewise, the set target of 40 billion barrels reserves may be a pipe dream due to paucity of the right level of investments.

“Lack of qualitative leadership and focused policy articulation by the government in the past five years may equally have contributed,” he said.

A MEMBER of the Governing Board of NEITI, who is also the Director, Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute), at Afe Babalola University, Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, stated that the decline in the price of oil, as well as the emergence of a low carbon energy world order, created an uncertain and complex outlook for oil and gas markets generally and may continue to see more of such decline in production activities across the world.

According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas market is particularly more vulnerable due to perennial challenges relating to insecurity, sabotage, regulatory uncertainties, and collapse in host community relationships, occasioned by many years of weak implementation of environmental protection laws.

These factors, to him, impact production activities as some companies are divesting their assets as a result of the increasing risks and costs associated with developing those assets.

Olawuyi said the new PIA provides succour for the new fiscal regime with significantly lower oil royalties and taxes, as well as clear and comprehensive commitment towards environmental restoration.

“Also, through the efforts of agencies such as the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), there is increased focus on good governance, transparency and environmental compliance, which is gradually improving host community confidence and good relationships.

“These developments create significant upsides for competent investors, and if sustained, should result in gradual stability in production activities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. At the same time, regulators will need to continually map out long term strategies to promote green growth in the Nigeria oil and gas industry in a manner that holistically responds to the ongoing global energy transition,” Olawuyi said.

A renowned professor of energy economics, Wunmi Iledare, said industry watchers are not surprised about the prevailing situation, linking the reality to the failure in reforming the sector.

“No investment to expand capacity to produce proven reserves because of lack of enabling business environment. Insecurity of assets and life drove key investors away from the onshore terrains with significant resources to be unlocked.

“There is noticeable skewness in the governance of the industry in the direction of political expediency rather than efficiency and industry efficacy,” he said.

According to him, despite abundant developed reserves, production capacity is delimited because of policy somersaults, insecurity and global recession.”

CEO, Nigerian Oil, Gas and Power Forum and Managing Partner, BBH Consulting, Ameh Madaki, noted that while a sustained oil and gas production at high volumes is driven by investment and a stable operating environment, none of that exists in Nigeria at the moment.

He noted that the downward trajectory being witnessed in the oil and gas sector was not strange, adding that the development is expected to continue in the medium to long term unless informed professional advice is sought and acted upon.

MEANWHILE, the Federal Government at the weekend insisted that the current pump price would remain for now with the expected high rate of travel during the festive period.

Presently, petrol sells at N162/163 per litre in most major petrol stations with independent marketers selling at N165/litre.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, assured consumers that there would be no price increase in the immediate future.

Ahmed, who was represented at the event by Ogbogu Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retail Infrastructure, said the government was working hard to resolve the challenges faced by operators.

According to him: “I will like to assure everybody that it is mere speculation. There will be no increase in the pump price, not in the near future. This is peak consumption period for Nigerians. Our focus must be on the average Nigerian who is on the street.

“People will be travelling now and so, you don’t increase pump price arbitrarily like that. The pump price will be maintained and Nigerians should feel free to travel.”

emorse:
When you get to international, ask anybody to direct you to the market. It's by the leg. You can't miss it.

Bigredmachine:
Everything we see we eat including our destiny... You don't know catching that snake alive can fetch u millions of dollars, when u take it to international market...

When the federal government launched its National Housing Programme (NHP) and created a portal for the sale of completed houses under the scheme in November, the idea was to address housing deficit in the country and ease the burden of acquiring homes for Nigerians.

“It is a programme borne out of the government’s desire to provide affordable housing for its citizenry,” information on the NHP portal reads.

The programme gives the options of mortgage, rent, and outright purchase.

Speaking on November 18 when he appeared before the senate committee on housing, Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, said variation in prices according to states is as a result of the cost of building and topography.

The minister also said the cost of the structures range between “N7.2 million and about N16 million, depending on what a person wants”.

HOW AFFORDABLE ARE THE NHP HOMES?

Checks on the NHP portal by TheCable show that a one-bedroom bungalow goes for N9,268,751. The price is the same across states where the property type is available.

A two-bedroom bungalow sells for N12,398,460, while that of a three-bedroom costs 16,491,155.

A one-bedroom flat in a condominium available in southern states goes for N7,222,404, two-bedroom apartment costs N9,148,378, while a three-bedroom unit costs N13,241,074.

CAN IDPS IN ZAMFARA, BENUE AFFORD THE HOUSES?

In May 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its 2019 report on ‘Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria’. According to the report, NBS said 82.9 million Nigerians are living in poverty. This represents 40.1 percent of the nation’s populace.

Zamfara, Sokoto, Benue, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau are among the poorest states in Nigeria. Most of these states have also been affected by years of banditry and insurgency which have left millions of residents displaced and homeless.

Faika Ahmed, commissioner for humanitarian affairs and disaster management in Zamfara, had said in September that there are over 600,000 displaced persons affected by banditry in the state.

Also, Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, said there are over 1.5 million IDPs in the state.

TheCable had reported how insecurity has forced many residents of Benue to abandon their farms and seek refuge in IDP camps.

Given the poverty rate and scourge of displacements and homelessness in these states, it is not clear if the “affordable housing” takes IDPs into consideration, considering the cost of the homes.

‘N5M SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR A ONE-BEDROOM UNIT IN SOME AREAS IN OGUN’

A private developer, who didn’t want to be named, said the prices offered by the federal government may depend on the area the buildings are located.

According to him, while materials required for a one-bedroom apartment may differ depending on the design of the structure, the total figure is still significantly determined by the area the land is purchased.

“Some persons may view the FG’s price on the high side, but it depends on the area. Building a one-bedroom apartment with exactly the same specifications in a place like Lekki and in Olambe area of Ogun state will come with very different prices,” he said.

“For instance, I got a recent estimate for a building in Olambe area of Ogun state, and although the land was already purchased, the cost estimate for building materials and workmanship was around N3.5 million after we did our calculations.

“To mention a few things in the estimate, building layout drawing was done for N20,000; materials for foundation including blocks, granite, sharp sand, lines, cement, was estimated at around N600,000; roofing sheets, N250,000; plumbing, N107,500; aluminum and burglary works, N275,000; tiling including materials for the floor and walls, N205,000; electrical wiring, N124,000; flooring and fixing of burglary, N185,000. There are also other things like the soakaway, plastering, painting, gate, doors, windows, among others.”

Meanwhile, Fashola says over 7,000 persons have indicated interest in purchasing the apartments.

The big question is, with millions of people living below the poverty line and struggling to afford a day’s meal, who are the citizens in places like Zamfara that can afford a one-bedroom bungalow at N9.2 million?

As the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, enters a crucial stage, the umbrella body is seeking to recruit a top legal luminary to replace the current legal team that has been representing the breakaway agitator.

Although IPoB has not discarded its current legal team made up of many lawyers, some who are rendering free services based on their belief in the cause that Mazi Kanu is leading, IPoB however wants the legal team to be spearheaded by a ‘lawyer with high pedigree, generally known and highly respected within the Nigerian judiciary’.
A top source, who is close to the IPoB organization, said on Sunday that the current legal team is perceived to be populated by ‘activists’ who are best suited to work with a ‘legal luminary’ of not below the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN popularly referred to as ‘Learned Silk’ in Nigerian legal parlance.

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the organization, said, “IPoB is looking for a highly placed attorney of a SAN status, who is well versed in the Nigerian legal system and commands respect in the circle.

“The envisaged SAN, when engaged, is expected to reorganize Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team, mobilize qualified and like-minded lawyers to work as coordinated legal team to secure victory over his terrorism and treason felony charges slammed on him by the Nigerian Government.

“As you can see these are very weighty and serious legal issues that require a versatile legal representation and not mere activists who many just be more interested in drawing publicity stunts at the expense of the client and we do not want anything that can affect out cause,” the source said.

Vanguard learnt last night that one of the top lawyers being seriously considered by the IPoB leadership to champion the cause of Nnamdi Kanu, is a highly respected lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, who has a PhD in law and has been recording outstanding victories for his clients in most of the cases handled by him.

It was however learnt that Dr. Ikpeazu was not likely going to accept any offer considering the huge implications it might have on his career as a leading international legal practitioner.

It was not also clears as at least night if IPoB had even approached Ikpeazu with any offer to represent its leader as the case against Kanu comes up early next year.

As to explain the rationale for the hiring of a foreign lawyer from the U.S to represent Kanu in Nigeria, the source express reservations over the attempt to bring in a foreign legal practitioner to appear in a Nigerian court, pointing out that it might not work out at the end of the day.

“The issue of a U.S lawyer appearing for our client in Nigeria may not work 100 percent in our favour but it can at least draw international attention to our case,” the top official said.

It will be recalled that on October 18, 2021, the Federal Government had filed an amended seven-count charge against the IPoB leader bordering on terrorism and treason felony.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State being the leader of IPOB on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, preparations made by you and others now at large for states in the Southeast and South south and other communities in Kogi and Benue states to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004;

Count two says “That you, Kanu, on or about the 28th April 2015 in London, did broadcast on Radio Biafra … referred to Maj.- Gen. Muhammad Buhari (GCON), the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a pedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004;

Count three: “That you, Kanu, had between March and April 2015 imported and kept in Ubulusiuzor, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act , Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004;

Count four: “That you, Kanu, had between 2018 and 2021 in Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, and FCT(Federal Capital Territory), professed to be a member of IPOB, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013”.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted the United States in delisting Nigeria from its religious freedom blacklist.

CAN’s President, Rev Samson Ayokunle in a statement titled, ‘CPC List: We Are At a Loss On the Data the US Government Used for the Delisting of Nigeria – CAN,’ said the US supposed to have contacted it before taking such decision.

Ayokunle said the US government did not contact CAN when they were listing Nigeria among the countries of ‘Particular Concern’ on religious freedom, neither did they seek its opinion before removing Nigeria from the list.

“If they had done, we would have been able to compare the statistics then and now on the issue of freedom of religion in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, whatever might be the data they used, CAN’s prayer is that Nigeria would be a country where no religious group is discriminated against or persecuted and that government would see to it that all religiously biased policies were discontinued with.

Ayokunle lamented that Christians had faced and were still facing persecution from ISWAP and the Boko Haram Islamic Group till today as before.
He said these “are the people who said their agenda was to wipe away Christianity from Nigeria and to plant Islam as the only religion from the North down to the Atlantic Ocean in the South. That agenda with the killing of Christians has not stopped till today and Nigerians are living witnesses

“The bandits have joined other militant Islamic groups to be ferociously attacking churches, killing worshippers and kidnapping for ransom. The herdsmen are equally doing their havoc. We have lost many people and places of worship to their assault, especially in the Northcentral part of the country and the Northeast.

“Though the madness has grown now and those who are not Christians are being attacked, killed and kidnapped, this is because these criminal acts have become a lucrative business and it is whoever you can kidnap for money! If the government had responded appropriately when this criminal madness began and subdued these evil groups immediately, we wouldn’t be where we are now!”

He decried that till today, the government is still funding the membership of Nigeria in all the International Islamic organisations like OIC and its allies without being part of any international Christian organization.

Ayokunle urged the US government to help CAN by allowing it to know what had changed between the time Nigeria was put in the list of ‘countries of particular concern’ and now.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to completely remove fuel and electricity subsidies early next year.

The Washington-based organisation, in its preliminary findings at the end of its official staff visit to the country under the Artile IV Mission, also called for reforms in the fiscal, exchange rate, trade and governance “to alter the long-running lacklustre growth path.”

In a statement at the end of the mission, the fund said the removal of “retrogressive” fuel and electricity subsidies should be considered a priority as part of the fiscal policy.

It however called for measures to cushion the negative effects of the removal of subsidies on the poor people.

The IMF said, “The headline fiscal deficit is projected to worsen in the near term and remain elevated over the medium term.

Despite much higher oil prices, the general government fiscal deficit is projected to widen in 2021 to 6.3 per cent of GDP, reflecting implicit fuel subsidies and higher security spending, and remain at that level in 2022.

“There are significant downside risks to the near-term fiscal outlook from the ongoing pandemic, weak security situation and spending pressures associated with the electoral cycle.”

According to the fund, efforts must be made towards improving the revenues to reduce the fiscal deficit.

It stated that without bold revenue mobilization efforts, “fiscal deficits are projected to stay elevated above the pre-pandemic levels with public debt increasing to 43 per cent in 2026.

“General government interest payments are expected to remain high as a share of revenues making the fiscal position highly vulnerable to real interest rate shocks and dependent on central bank financing.

“The complete removal of regressive fuel and electricity subsidies is a near-term priority, combined with adequate compensatory measures for the poor.

“The mission stressed the need to fully remove fuel subsidies and move to a market-based pricing mechanism in early 2022 as stipulated in the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act.

“In addition, the implementation of cost-reflective electricity tariffs as of January 2022 should not be delayed.

‘Well-targeted social assistance will be needed to cushion any negative impacts on the poor particularly in light of still elevated inflation.

“Nigeria’s past experiences with fuel subsidy removal, which have all been short-lived and reversed, underscore the importance of building a consensus and improving public trust regarding the protection of the poor and efficient and transparent use of the saved resources.”

The IMF also observed that the economy has been recovering from a historic downturn attributing this to “government policy support, rebounding oil prices and international financial aid”, adding that Nigeria exited the recession in 2020Q4, earlier than expected.

“Output rose by 5.4 per cent (y-o-y) in the second quarter, mainly reflecting base effects from transport and trade sectors and continued strong growth in the IT sector.

“However, manufacturing and oil sectors remain weak, reflecting continued foreign exchange shortages, and security and technical challenges.

“Headline inflation rose sharply during the pandemic reaching a peak of 18.2 per cent y-o-y in March 2021 but has since declined helped by the new harvest season and opening of the land borders.

“Reported unemployment rates are yet to come down although COVID-19 monthly surveys show the employment level to be back at its pre-pandemic level,” the report added.

‘Give more job’

The IMF mission welcomed the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) into law and stressed its timely implementation.

It said, “The PIA aims to improve administration and governance in the petroleum sector, introduce market-based fuel pricing and attract higher investment.”

According to the mission, preliminary assessments by the IMF and the World Bank suggest that the approved fiscal terms will provide greater incentives to invest in the oil and gas industry but will reduce the fiscal take from new and converted fields.

The mission also called on the government to increase jobs and worker welfare while strengthening governance.

With agriculture accounting for almost half of current employment, any job-rich growth will need to rely considerably on this sector at least in the near term, it said.

On corruption, it said there are ongoing efforts to improve transparency and governance, but more is needed to build public trust to implement difficult but needed reforms.

“On transparency, the national oil company NNPC has published its last two annual statements to better reconcile gross and net oil revenues remitted to the Federation Account and the Corporate registry has started to publish information on persons with significant control in newly established companies.

“The government is in the process of presenting whistleblower legislation to the Parliament to facilitate untraceable declarations of corruption.

“However, perception of corruption remains high regarding the civil service, leading to low tax compliance and buy-in of reforms.

“Implementation of transparency and accountability measures committed under the RFI has been slow. Access and quality of information on the COVID-19 spending on the Ministry of Finance’s Transparency Portal has been uneven.

“The COVID-19 spending audits are just starting, and the publication of procurement contract recipients is incomplete,” the report said.

Orji Kalu, chief whip of the senate, has asked the Igbo to make amends and work with President Muhammadu Buhari to attract more developmental projects to the south-east.

Kalu, in an interview with NAN, said supporting Buhari will attract more federal projects to the region.

The lawmaker said his zone will give Buhari more votes if given another opportunity.

According to him, it is on the record that Abia north senatorial district is the only zone in the south-east and south-south that gave Buhari 68 percent votes in 2019 elections.

“The relationship with Abia north as a constituency is very cordial and the president has shown a lot of love to us and has remembered us with what we voted for, so we are excited,” he said.

“Abia north is the senatorial district that gave the president the highest votes both in the south-south and south-east, we are number one and nobody is challenging us.

“So, when people say we don’t like Buhari we are not part of it; we have always been in good times with him. We gave him doctorate degree in our university in 2003 (Abia State University) and we gave him chieftaincy title in Igbere (Orji Kalu’s home town} in 2004.

“We are excited to have other people in our area, so Nigerian politicians should remove hatred.

“I encourage the Igbos to work with President Buhari to find a way to make amends and remove sentiments and work with the president so that in the remaining two years he can do more things for us before he leaves office.

Kalu also said northern groups are drumming support for him to vie for the presidential seat because they found him worthy to deliver good governance to the nation.

Kalu said credibility, honesty and the capacity to deliver endeared him to many northerners.

“What is responsible for that, is that I have known most of the presidents from the north for a long time, and I have had deep relationships, and am not sure I have disappointed in any of these relations,” he said.

“And I have also known many northerners, and I have had so many businesses with them, I had to do politics with them and in terms of business, I am not sure I have disappointed anybody in terms of buying and selling.

“They find me worthy because they know whatever I say, I will do, and whatever I say I will not do, I will not do it.

“The northerners find out that I am sincere to them, and they are sincere to me.

“So, for people who gave me opportunity to be their brother at no cost when I was nothing, and when I am somebody, is it good to leave them? The answer is no.

“I cannot leave them because I started with them, and I think staying with them is better than abandoning them, when I feel I am better.”

yyba:
And the only agenda the governor knows is how to travel up and down

helinues:
The idiots can't even wait for their imaginary 7 virgins in hell

A man identified as Festus James has been arrested by men of the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly raping an eight-month pregnant woman in Agbabu village, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo state.

The suspect, who claimed to be a pastor and on a three-day revival to the community from Ibadan, Oyo State, was said to have raped the woman under the guise of performing deliverance on her.

Parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Akure, on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the victim reported the matter to the police in the town.

“On the 13th November, 2021, one Festus James ‘m’ from Ibadan in Oyo State went to Agbabu village via Ore, claiming to be a prophet and that the Holy Spirit directed him to have a three days’ Holy Ghost Revival in a church in the village.

“The next day, the prophet claimed to have seen a vision concerning a 22 years old lady who was eight months pregnant and told her to wait behind after the programme. He took the pregnant lady into one of the rooms in the mission house under the guise of delivering her from an evil spirit and had carnal knowledge of her.

“The suspect confessed to the committing of the crime.”

Speaking with journalists, the prophet said though he had sex with the woman, he did not rape her.

He said he did not know what came over him when he was carrying out the nefarious act.

The Katsina state government has said bandits have devised new strategies aimed at circumventing the impact of the Security Challenges Containment Order, by acquiring walkie-talkies.

The Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, made the disclosure Thursday at a press briefing organised to give an update on the Executive Order imposed to address problems of insecurity.

“A recent and most worrisome move by the criminals is the observed acquisition of Radio Frequency Walkie-Talkie Transceivers by the bandits, which they have started using. Security Agencies are however on their trail with a view to bringing the malpractice to an end,” he said.

While giving more insights, the state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, said the walkie takies were short range communication gadgets that the criminals usually acquire through online shopping platforms such as Jumia.

He said the police and other security agencies are working assiduously to ensure that such supplies are prevented from getting into the bandits and other criminals.

The SGS said monitoring of banditry related activities in the State has revealed that, the months of September and October, 2021 witnessed a decline in activities of bandits as it relates to kidnapping, cattle rustling and other forms of criminality, when compared to previous months.

“The State Government appreciates the support and understanding being given by the general public and other well-meaning individuals and groups; and we seek for more.”

“The Containment Order is a child of necessity, and has not been put in place to hurt or cause hardship to the citizens of the State. The driving objective was to arrest the emerging situation that was becoming a threat to peace, order and our collective well-being,” he said.

The state Assembly members called on the executive arm to review the order, particularly the aspect of GSM network shutdown, which they said was counterproductive.

azraeljaheel:
me ma dont understand! Things are hard(not an excuse for crime tho) and individuals are desperate.,

prayer is this year will end well for our families and friends

Kyase:
lol
Wetin I do na
Na question me I ask oooo
Be calming down oo

Kyase:
Beebeeooh you no tell me say you be igala man ooo

The World Bank says the increase in food prices could push additional six million Nigerians into poverty — calling on the government’s attention for short-term policies to support welfare.

The Washington-based institution stated this in its latest report titled ‘COVID-19 in Nigeria: Frontline Data and Pathways for Policy’.

In June, the World Bank said an estimated 7 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty in 2020 due to rising prices alone — without considering the direct impacts of COVID-19.

Using the Nigeria COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS), the report examines the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on human capital, livelihoods, and welfare of Nigerian households.

The NLPS represents a successful collaboration between Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the data production and methods team at the World Bank.

The World Bank lamented that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought Nigerian households’ food security under threat.

“The rise in prices witnessed between June 2020 and June 2021 alone could push another six million Nigerians into poverty, with urban areas being disproportionately affected. This underscores the need for short-term policies to support welfare,” the report reads.

“The simple simulations suggest that the share of Nigerians living below the national poverty line could have increased from 40.1 percent to 42.8 percent due to the food price inflation witnessed between June 2020 and June 2021.

“This means about 5.6 million additional Nigerians would be living in poverty. While food price inflation would decrease purchasing power and raise poverty across Nigeria, it appears that urban areas could be disproportionately affected.

“In 2018/19, about 16 percent of poor Nigerians were urban dwellers. Yet among those who would be newly impoverished by the increase in food prices between June 2020 and June 2021, around 27 percent would be from urban areas.

“Nevertheless, poverty in Nigeria is set to remain a primarily rural phenomenon, with or without rising food prices.”

The report said that coverage of social protection programs remained low throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

It stated that between March 2020 and March 2021, just four percent of households received support — in the form of cash — from the federal, state, or local government.

This figure, the World Bank said, was significantly below what would be needed to counteract the widening and deepening of poverty brought about by the crisis.

The report further noted that while many schools have reopened across Nigeria, learning that was lost during the COVID-19 crisis still needs to be recouped — and some children have not returned to school.

Commenting on the report, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said: “The COVID-19 crisis has provided a wake-up call to address the long-standing structural challenges that could constrain the government’s ambition to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.”

“There is no time like the present for the country to prepare for future climate and conflict shocks and seize the promise of its young population to lay strong foundations for inclusive growth.

The report suggested three immediate priorities that could provide the bedrock for recovery.

“First, rolling out vaccines quickly and equitably should reduce the direct health threat posed by the virus,” the report reads.

“Second, it will be essential to help children remediate the learning losses incurred during the pandemic – by getting them back to school or by finding low-tech remote solutions that work for the poor where this is not possible.

“Third, expanding social protection could provide short-term relief for the welfare losses Nigerian households are currently facing.”

A Maryland resident in the United States, who just travelled from Nigeria, has tested positive for the rare virus monkeypox.

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) said the unidentified patient, has not been hospitalised.

He is said to be currently recovering in isolation with mild symptoms, reports Mail Online.

No details are available regarding the resident’s age, sex, where he or she lives, and where he or she traveled to in Nigeria.

At the moment, health officials said that the general public does not need to take any special precautions.

‘Public health authorities have identified and continue to follow up with those who may have been in contact with the diagnosed individual,’ Dr Jinlene Chan, deputy secretary for public health at MDH, said in a statement.

‘Our response in close coordination with (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) officials demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure.’

The CDC released a media statement revealing its scientists confirmed on Tuesday that the traveler had a case of monkeypox.

What’s more, the strain that the patient contracted matches the strain that has been re-emerging in Nigeria since 2017.

Currently, CDC is working with the airline and health officials to contact passengers who were on the same flight as the patient and may have come into contact with him or her.

Other cases of monkeypox have been detected recently including in a Texas man in July.

The Texas man also just returned from Nigeria.
In June, two persons in Wales also came down with the virus in the northern part of the country.

Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 when outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in crab-eating macaque monkeys kept for research.

The first-ever human case was detected in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, since spreading to many central and western African nations.

It is believed that the virus transmits from animals to humans when the primate bites or scratches a person.

It can also spread person-to-person by respiratory droplets in the air – similar to the way humans spread COVID-19 to each other.

People with more serious cases of the virus will often develop skin lesions, among other symptoms such as rash and fever, and it kills about one percent of those infected.

The disease had largely vanished, until a 2003 flare-up in the U.S. saw the virus return among humans.

There are no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkeypox, though the smallpox vaccine is believed to have helped make it a non-problem in humans for many years.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Most women want their men to step up in all areas esp once married.

It helps the woman respect him and view him as a leader for real. If your woman earns more, no problem but don't be docile or abusive to her. That marks doomsday to your relationship. Step up. Take another course. Seek more openings. Help more domestically.
But don't be stagnant neither ignore the power dynamics and shifts that come with a non- traditional, non-binary romantic relationship. Things will be different for you.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, has assured that terrorists and bandits terrorising Nigerians would soon be wiped out.

Amao stated this on Tuesday during 2022 budget defense session, before the Senate Committee on Air Force.

He said the terrorists have been devastatingly decimated and degraded with attendant loss of fighters and weapons, making many of them to surrender voluntarily.

“Required onslaughts tactically and strategically are already mapped out to rout out the remnants of the insurgents attacking villages and military outposts in pretence of still being potent.

“In line with the core mandate of the Air Force and military generally, the territorial integrity of Nigeria is being protected against the insurgents and bandits, who, in no distant time, will be completely wiped out,” he said.

He said as the 2021 budgetary allocations to the Air Force was judiciously used in prosecuting the war against the insurgents and bandits as well as improving the welfare of officers and men, the 2022 allocations would also be expended judiciously for similar purposes.

“In the face of challenges at hand, prudency and accountability have been the guiding principle of implementation of budgetary allocations by the Nigeria Air Force,” he said.

Before the session went into closed door, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi), tasked the military to use all the resources within its disposal to flush out the remnants of the insurgents and make the forests inhabitable for bandits, kidnappers and all forms of criminals.

“The Air Force and by extension the military generally deserved commendation from Nigerians as far as war against insurgency and banditry is concerned but Nigerians want these enemies of the nation to be completely defeated as soon as possible.

“For us on this committee and in the National Assembly, required appropriations in terms of procurement of weapons, armaments and enhancement of welfare of officers and men in the military shall be made since essence of governance itself is security and welfare of citizenry,” he said.

hisexcellency34:
Wicked you. Something you can't try, you are asking the Op to do