₦airaland Forum

The Ministry of Defence has established a health emergency unit called Defence Outbreak Response Unit.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ibrahim Kana, the unit will act as the Nigerian Military Task Force that will liaise with the African Partners Outbreak Alliance to tackle epidemics within the African continent.

The Director of Press, Victoria-Agba Attah, on Monday, said Kana stated this during the opening ceremony of the Site Commanders/Team Leaders meeting in Abuja.

He also promised the Federal Government planned to provide improved healthcare to troops and their families.


According to the Permanent Secretary, the Nigerian Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme and US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa/Nigeria are working out modalities for HIV prevention, care, and treatment, including providing support services to military personnel, their families, and civilians living within and around the barracks.


It read, “The programme is making huge commitments to prevention, detection, and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This requires the building of broad local and international collaborations as well as the strengthening of existing, coordinating mechanisms to achieve a higher and more timely impact.

“In this light, the Ministry of Defence has approved the setting up of Defence Outbreak Response Unit to act as the Nigerian Military Task Force that will liaise with the African Partners Outbreak Alliance to tackle epidemic within the African continent”.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States Government’s contributions towards the goals of the programme are responsible for great strides that have made the partnership a model worthy of emulation.

The Director-General, Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, Brig. Gen. N Okeji (retd.), explained that the programme was established 18 years ago with the primary aim of curtailing the scourge of HIV/AIDS among troops, their families, and civilians living in communities neighbouring the military barracks.

He added that it had grown from the initial four military health facilities to the current 34 programme sites, with additional responsibilities to handle emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.


https://punchng.com/defence-ministry-sets-up-health-emergency-unit/?amp

The Nigeria Police Force has denied allegations of undue influence by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Emeka-Mba, over a case involving a Cameroonian businessman, Langwa Brezhnev, and his Nigerian business partner, Hillary Emeka-Mba, due to alleged filial relationship.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday, said the ongoing investigation of Brezhnev by the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Lagos Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi-Lagos, was in line with Police Investigative Procedure.

The NPF’s rebuttal followed the issuance of a press statement by a human rights activist and lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who is the lead counsel for Brezhnev, alleging illegal arrest and unlawful detention of his client.

Adejobi said, “To set the record straight, the Force CID, Lagos Annex, in May, 2023, received a petition titled, ‘Complaint Against Mr Langwa Brezhnev Over The Obtainment of Goods By False Pretence and Fraud in Respect of Sale of Fertilizer’ from one Siri Legal Consulting, solicitors to EMB Trade Logistics Nig Ltd.


“The suspect, who has been off the radar, following the fraudulent transactions as alleged, was arrested in Uyo and brought to Lagos to enable him answer to the allegations against him. Investigations so far by the police team have, however, clearly established a prima facie case against the suspect.



“Meanwhile, the report from the Force CID Annex shows that the suspect is currently on remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre following a remand order issued by Igbosere Magistrate Court 21, Lagos. It is also noted that the same court had earlier granted a remand order committing the suspect to police custody to avail the police with additional time for a discrete investigation into the matter.”

The police further described as a “psychological projection and campaign of calumny,” the claim by Effiong that DIG Mba is a brother to the complainant, Mba, adding that the DIG was not the AIG in charge of the FCID Annex, Alagbon when the suspect was arrested.

“Similarly, the claim by Inibehe that DIG Frank Mba is a brother to the nominal complainant, one Hilary Emeka Mba, which is the basis for his allegation of undue influence against the senior officer, is false and unfounded. The fact remains that Hillary Emeka Mba is not in any way connected or related to DIG Frank Emeka Mba. They have no filial relationship whatsoever. The resemblance in the name is purely a coincidence of names.

“Without mincing words, the allegation against DIG Frank Mba, who was not even the AIG in charge of FCID Annex Alagbon when the suspect was arrested, is just a psychological projection and a campaign of calumny.

“The Force, therefore, enjoins members of the public to disregard the claim of illegal arrest and unlawful detention of Mr Langwa by the police, as well as allegation of undue influence by DIG Frank Mba or any officer of the police as untrue and unfounded. The Force equally wishes to advise Inibehe to direct his efforts to the court of law where the case is already being heard, rather than maliciously using the media to defame the hard-earned professional reputation of senior police officers and obstructing the course of justice.”


https://punchng.com/arrest-probe-of-cameroonian-bizman-legal-police/?amp

Following the rise in the cost of bread-making materials, the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers in Nigeria has urged consumers in the state to prepare for a new price regime from Monday, July 31.

The state chairman of the association, Dr Chidi Orlu, said this on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Orlu explained that the country’s current economic realities were impacting negatively on bakers’ production costs, but noted that the increment will be minimal.

He stated, “From Monday the prices of bread in Rivers State will increase slightly. We plead with consumers and the general public to understand us.


“We are all in the same market, the same economy. All the raw materials without exception used in producing bread have gone up.

“The issue of the petroleum. Product, fuel and diesel have not helped matters. If we don’t adjust these prices, more bakeries will be out of business.”

Continuing, he said,” We may have a situation where people will be given poison in the name of bread. So it is in the interest of the general public to understand”


Dr Orlu disclosed that some bakers have since stopped production owing to their inability to cope with the high cost of the materials.

He, therefore, advised the federal government to initiate policies aimed at encouraging agriculture and the local production of wheat.

“Federal government should put policies in place that will encourage agriculture. Before the Covid-19 challenge, India, Ethiopia, and Egypt were all importing wheat.

“But within the period of that Covid till today, they are almost 100 per cent self-sufficient; and Nigeria is still importing more than 90 per cent of our wheat needs.

“Until we are able to do something reasonable about producing wheat locally, this problem will continue to persist. And the salaries of citizens have to be looked into.

“But the amount of money you are holding is not the issue, it is the purchasing power of that money you are holding, the association’s state boss noted.



https://punchng.com/rivers-bakers-hike-bread-price-over-production-cost/?amp

A Federal High court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has ordered Isuofia Microfinance Bank Limited and Police to pay the sum of N2.2 million to one Ohadugha Chizara, a nursing mother for her unlawful arrest and detention, together with her six-month-old baby at the Okpoko police cell.

The case with suit No: FHC/Awka/ CS/121/2022 was between Ohadugha Chizara, the applicant, and Isuofia Microfinance Bank Ltd, Nwafor Okechukwu, Nwoke Ifeoma, Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Ugochukwu Ugbo, the Divisional Police Officer Okpoko and Inspector Chinelo Okechi (I.P.O) as respondents.

The Counsel for the applicant, F.N Asogwa Esq of His Grace Chambers in her application of fundamental rights, had prayed the court for an order for the respondents to pay her client the sum of (N100,000,000) One Hundred Million naira as compensation as well as general damages.

The damages also include violating her fundamental rights to life, dignity of human persons, right to personal liberty, and freedom of movement from June 22, 2022, till June 24, 2022, at Okpoko Police cell in Anambra State.


The applicant also prayed to the court that the respondents should pay N50 million to her client as exemplary damages for “violating, infringing and breaching her client’s fundamental rights to life”.


The counsel also asked that the respondents should be restrained with his privies agents or cohorts from “violating, infringing and breaching her client’s fundamental right to life, the dignity of the human persons, right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in Nigeria constitution among other reliefs.”

Delivering judgment on Friday, the Presiding Judge, Justice F. I. Riman, directed the Police, the bank, Nwafor Okechukwu, and Nwoke Ifeoma to pay the nursing mother the sum of N2m.

The Judge also ordered the respondents to pay two hundred thousand naira (N200,000), as exemplary damages for violating, infringing, and breaching the applicant’s fundamental rights from June 22, 2022, to June 24, 2022, at Okpoko Police Station where he was detained.

The court equally granted an injunction restraining the respondents, his privies, agents, or cohorts from violating, infringing, and breaching Chizara’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human persons, rights to personal liberty, and freedom of movement as enshrined in 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The applicant, Chizara was detained over a loan transaction.



https://punchng.com/court-orders-bank-police-to-pay-n2-2m-to-nursing-mother/?amp

The Federal Government will on Monday meet with the representatives of the organised labour in an effort to prevent the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

However, the NLC has advised citizens to stock their homes with food items, medicines and other essential things ahead of the commencement of its seven-day strike to protest the removal of fuel subsidies and the escalating cost of living in the country.

The warning, it noted, had become necessary because the strike would cripple the country as movement would be severely curtailed as commercial transport operators would withdraw their services, while markets, schools and healthcare facilities would be forced to shut down.


The Assistant General Secretary, NLC, Chris Onyeka, said in an interview with one of our correspondents that the citizens should also minimise their movements so as to avoid being stranded.

Sunday PUNCH reports that the NLC had given the government a seven-day ultimatum with threats of a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. The labour movement in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government of failing to meet up with the demands it presented to it following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, which caused an astronomical rise in the pump price of the commodity.

Following the announcement of the strike by the NLC, the government team immediately called for an emergency meeting with the organised labour comprising the NLC and Trade Union Congress with a follow-up meeting on Friday at the State House.

However, officials of the organised labour angrily stormed out of the meeting following the alleged failure of the government team to show up.

Onyeka noted that the labour team would meet with the government on Monday, adding that the outcome of the meeting would determine the next step.

He said, “Nigerians should be prepared. That’s what we are saying. Being prepared means you have to stock food in your house and be economical with your movement at this particular point in time so as to avoid being stranded. It is going to be a nationwide mass protest and we are sure that it will affect every corner of the country. We are seriously mobilising across the nation. We are currently at work at the secretariat alongside the CSOs.

“We may not shut down the power supply system, but as the protest goes on, we may shut down other places depending on the response of the government. The (Friday) meeting didn’t hold at all. The government side was not prepared. The representatives were not available. They didn’t show any seriousness towards what they were doing. One of the things we do is hold dialogues. We don’t run away from the table anytime they call us. We are having another meeting with them on Monday.”

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, and the National Union of Electricity Employees, on Saturday, confirmed that they were mobilising their members to ground the supply of fuel and the national electricity grid from Wednesday in response to the planned mass protest called by the NLC.

The General Secretary, NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, told our correspondent, “The congress has taken a unanimous decision and it is mandatory that every affiliate should obey the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

When probed further to confirm if NUPENG was mobilising its members to halt the lifting of petroleum products, Olawale replied, “That’s it. I’ve given you an answer.”

On their part, electricity workers stated that they would shut the national power grid as it was binding on all employees in the sector to join the mass protest.

The acting General Secretary, NUEE, Dominic Igwebuike, stated, “The NUEE is an affiliate of the NLC and I’ve told you that we will join the strike action.

“The issue is that if there’s a deadlock between labour and the government; that means that the mass protest is still going on, and definitely electricity workers, as an affiliate of the NLC, will partake in the mass protest.

“So, all workers in the power sector will join the mass protest on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. It is binding on every staff member to join the strike action. So, if it results in a blackout, the only option is for the government to listen to us if it wants power to return.

“The government should listen to the Nigerian masses who are going through serious suffering right now. That is the only thing we are asking for. So, for now, the protest is going to hold, unless there is a further directive from the NLC.”

The National Deputy President, TUC, Tommy Etim, blasted the government over the lack of seriousness shown so far with regard to the negotiations.

“When we got to the Villa on Friday, we waited for almost two hours at the gate for clearance with no intervention. It was after two hours that we were allowed in. By the time we got to the point of the meeting, we realised that the team representing the government failed to show up. So, it is wrong to actually say labour stormed out of the meeting. How can labour storm out of a meeting that did not hold? We felt very disappointed because we did not expect this from the government,” he said.

The National Executive Council of the NLC had on Friday endorsed the August 2 nationwide strike and mass protests proposed by the body over the recent hike in the pump price of petrol.

However, the Federal Government had told the NLC that it was legally restrained from embarking on the planned nationwide strike due to the ruling of the National Industrial Court, which restrained organised labour from embarking on the strike.

The steering committee members met the government delegation on Wednesday, where the two parties agreed to reconvene on Friday to get a brief from the government’s subcommittees on mass transit, compressed natural gas and cash transfer.

The steering committee was set up by the Federal Government to draw up intervention plans to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Tinubu’s palliatives

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will soon roll out social investment programmes to alleviate the sufferings of the masses, especially the poorest of the poor in the country in view of the removal of subsidy on fuel.

He said at a programme to mark his 60th birthday in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, “The Federal Government will put palliatives in place to help the poorest of the poor. There is also another category of palliatives that will be rolled out for civil servants apart from the promised salary increment that will be done across states and at the federal level.

“The subsidy removal is very significant because the Federal Government will be able to save a lot of money to do infrastructure and make all Nigerians happy. That was the intention of President Tinubu about the removal. He knows what Nigerians are passing through and efforts are underway to cushion the effects of this removal.”

CSOs, lawyers react

However, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, urged the NLC to engage the Federal Government in negotiations.

“It is quite a difficult situation. Honestly, what will be the pros and cons of embarking on the strike action? They should negotiate more because who is suffering at the end of the day? It’s Nigerians who will suffer. I understand that the NLC is defending the people’s rights and the entire people in society because of the hardship of the policy. The government, on its own part, needs to accelerate its response,” he said.

On his part, the South-South Coordinator, United Action for Democracy, Enefaa Georgewill, stated that the strike was long overdue.

“We agree with the Nigeria Labour Congress and this (strike) is long overdue although the NLC is equally suffering from the issue of trust. We feel that they have been used to behead the popular uprising. We don’t even trust that before the proposed date, the NLC will not come up with a story that they are calling off the strike because they want to go to negotiation,” he said.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afam Osigwe, warned the NLC against disobeying any substantive court order on the issue of strike, describing such as a contempt of court.

“It will be wrong for anyone who has been ordered to refrain from something to go ahead to do it. That will be tantamount to contempt of court. The NLC, being a law-abiding organisation, should abide by the court order except the court directed otherwise,” Osigwe added.

Lawyer and human rights activist, Ridwan Oke, noted that NLC would find itself in contempt of the court if it decides to go ahead with the strike contrary to the court ruling.

He said, “Disobeying a court order is contempt no matter what labour thinks about it and it robs them of the moral ground to hold the government accountable”

“If labour has issues with the court ruling, the best decision is to appeal the same and wait for the appellate court to make a decision.”




Another lawyer, Muhammed Adam, corroborated Oke and emphasized that the NLC would be in contempt of court should it go ahead with the strike.

“If they proceed, it will amount to contempt of court and it’s punishable with imprisonment. The proper thing is to apply to the court to set aside the order or appeal the order and apply for an injunction pending appeal. Otherwise, they will be in contempt,” he stated.

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Chief Ede Dafinone, advised Nigerians to prepare for tougher times, especially in the next six months, as the price of petrol is expected to continue rising.

He, however, said despite the difficult economic situation, Nigerians should keep hope alive as the challenges would soon fizzle out.

Dafinone gave the advice on Saturday during a reception held in honour of federal lawmakers of Urhobo extraction in the 10th National Assembly organised by the Urhobo Leadership Forum in Abuja.

Other lawmakers honoured were. Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive representing Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South federal constituencies; daughter of James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State, Mrs Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who represents the Ethiope Federal Constituency; and Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency.

Dafinone described fuel subsidy as a necessary evil, which required clinical amputation to save the nation from the brink of a full-blown economic collapse.

He said, “At this point, the government is putting together policies to ameliorate the situation. But Nigerians must be aware that the next one or two months will be difficult, because petrol price may still go up again, and we must be ready to spend wisely in an economy that will get worse before it gets better.

“So, I ask you here to also recognise that it may get worse still, and that belts must be tightened in preparation for what may be difficult four to six months before recovery commences.”

According to him, the criticisms trailing the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu are not fair, adding that all political parties agreed during campaigns that subsidy had to go.

Etanabene, however, disagreed with Dafinone’s submissions, saying the government was not sincere in its dealing with the people.

The lawmaker maintained that there was nothing wrong with the government subsidising petrol for Nigerians, adding that the idea of providing palliatives would not ameliorate the sufferings of the citizens.

Borno, Adamawa, Yobe’s palliatives

Meanwhile, the governments of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states have started taking steps to cushion the hike in transport fares caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state governments, which operate their transport companies, have continued to ensure that the fares remain lower than what obtains in motor parks.

In Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum approved the release of 50 buses to address the situation.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, the buses will be added to the fleet of the state-owned transport outfit, Borno Express Corporation.

Gusau said 30 vans were also provided for farmers, particularly those residing in Maiduguri, to enjoy free rides to the outskirts of the state capital where their farmlands are located.

A University of Maiduguri student, Mustapha Abdullahi, and a government worker, Ali Modu, who patronised the buses picking passengers at N50 per drop, lauded the government for the intervention.

In Adamawa, the state government constituted a special committee on mitigating the effects of subsidy removal with Dr Amos Edgar, the Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as chairman.

Edgar revealed plans by the state government to purchase shuttle buses for workers for inter-local government commuting at subsidised rates.

He said another measure being taken by the government was the approval of N10,000 monthly subsidy for all workers and pensioners.

The Director, Transport, Adamawa Ministry of Transport, Mr Labaran Salisu, said some of the 250 partially leased vehicles in the ministry’s custody for inter-state services would be deployed for town services at subsidised rates.

In Yobe, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Goje, said plans were underway to provide free transportation of students and civil servants.

“Very soon, the state government will provide buses for free transportation for civil servants and students,” Goje said.


Osun, Ekiti residents appeal

Residents of Osun and Ekiti states have appealed to the Federal Government to provide special funds to states to assist in ameliorating the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the economy.

A survey conducted by NAN in the state shows that many residents have abandoned the use of their vehicles as a result of the exorbitant cost of petrol.

Respondents appealed for the speedy implementation of the palliatives, including the provision of commercial buses to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The spokesman for Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Malam Olawale Rasheed, said the state government would soon unveil palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Rasheed said the planned intervention would include support to public transport vehicle owners, monitoring of fuel stations and a review of the public sector work time.

He said top officials were finalising the state palliative plan in line with the directives of Adeleke.

In Ekiti, a CSO member, Mr Gbenga Ilori, urged the government to strive to revive its moribund transport company, Ekiti Kete Transport Company.

He also called on the Federal Government to evolve a programme to help states in this direction in order to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.

Ilori described the hardship the subsidy removal had caused the masses as unprecedented, saying something drastic needed to be done to alleviate it.

According to him, many residents, especially workers, are finding things difficult as they now spend more to commute to their work places than what they earn, while many others have resorted to trekking long distances.

An engineer with the state Ministry of works, Mr Fatai Alaba, suggested the adoption of alternatives to fuel-powered vehicles.

“The Federal Government can import or make gas-powered vehicles for Nigerians to cushion the hardship on the people,” he said.


A civil servant, Mrs Sola Kehinde, advised the state government to resuscitate the transport company in the state and ensure that they pick government workers at different locations to their work places.

https://punchng.com/nationwide-strike-stock-homes-with-food-medicines-others-labour-tells-nigerians/?amp

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Adamawa State.

The governor announced the decision on Sunday.

This is after the escalating attacks of hoodlums breaking into warehouses and carting away foodstuffs and other valuables.

Fintiri on his verified Twitter handle said the government took the action as a precaution to prevent the escalating violence by hoodlums attacking people and businesses.


The PUNCH in 2020 reported the looting of a government-owned warehouse at Kwana-waya by angry residents, who later broke into the Central stores located at Barkin Kogi and looted food items.

The governor said, “Effective immediately Sunday, July 30, 2023, I, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, have declared a 24-hour curfew in Adamawa State due to escalating violence by hoodlums attacking people and businesses.

“No movement is allowed, except for essential duties with valid ID. Your safety is our priority – please comply for the well-being of all,” he wrote.


https://punchng.com/just-in-fintiri-declares-24-hour-curfew-as-adamawa-residents-loot-warehouses/?amp

What are they trying to do

Islie:
https://punchng.com/nigerians-using-fct-police-emergency-numbers-to-obtain-loans-cp/?amp

A Nigerian gold medallist, Bassey Etim, aka Ironbar, has resorted to using his inbuilt energy to work on roads in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

However, it is unclear if this had been what Etim had been doing to fend for himself, but while granting an interview with a TikTok user, @_egungun, our correspondent observed the weightlifter receiving money from a motorist in appreciation for his hard work on the collapsed road.

Dressed in all-black attire, Etim, who was seen holding a shovel after using both of his hands to carry a stone and use it to block a pothole on the bad road, said he joined weightlifting to make a positive impact in society.

He added that during his first competition at the 1981 National World Festival, he bagged a gold medal for Lagos State.


Etim said, “My name is Bassey Etim, aka IronBar. I am from Cross Rivers State, I was born in 1965. When I was in my youth, I was getting into trouble and I decided to transfer the negative energy to positive energy.



So, I joined weightlifting. My first competition was in the 1981 National World Festival in which I won gold for Lagos State.”

The gold medallist also confirmed to have been doing voluntary road works for seven years to @_egungun.

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However, as a parting gift, @_egungun was seen in the video clip handing N50,000 over to Etim and praying God sees him through in all his endeavours.




https://punchng.com/nigerian-gold-medallist-turns-voluntary-lagos-road-worker/?amp

The Kano State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of three principals of public secondary schools in the state for dereliction of duty.

The state Director, Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Education, Ameen Yassar, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.

The schools affected included Government Girls Secondary School Dawanau; Government Girls Secondary School, Kwa, and Government Arabic Secondary School, Dawanau, all in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

According to Yassar, the state Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, announced the suspension shortly after visiting the schools between 9am and 10am on Friday and discovered that the affected principals had yet to report to their duty posts.


“From the checks he conducted, all of the three officers have routinely absconded from work on Fridays for quite some time.


Kano gov gifts Hajj pilgrims N65m for Sallah
“This administration will not condone truancy, lateness or any form of official misconduct, therefore, these principals are suspended forthwith”, he said.

Yassar also said the commissioner further directed that new and competent principals be posted to the three schools immediately to ensure that academic activities were not disrupted.

He added that Doguwa also directed that four teachers at the GGSS Kwa and two at the GASS Dawanau be queried for truancy.

“The action of these principals and teachers depicts unseriousness. We are a serious government and we will not allow uncommitted people to ruin our education plans,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the commissioner had directed that the Principal of the G.G.S.S. Harbau, in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area, be rewarded for her diligence.



https://punchng.com/kano-gov-suspends-three-principals-for-dereliction-of-duty/?amp

Protesters in support of the fuel removal on Thursday cause a bit of disruption at the National Assembly’s main entrance popularly known as Mopol gate.

The protesters noted that they decided to hit the street to show solidarity with the President, Bola Tinubu, over the removal of fuel subsidy.

According to the protesters, the president made the right decision by removing the ‘canker worm’ that has eaten deep into the economy.

The President had during his inaugural speech on May 29, declared that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime as the current 2023 budget he glimpsed does not contain it.


On Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and other oil marketers raised the price of petrol from about N537/litre to between N617 and N630/litre.

This development has so far raised concerns across the country.

In response to the fuel hike, the convener of Stand Up Nigeria, Sunday Attah, stated that the Tinubu-led administration has done the right thing and should be supported to deliver on the dividends of democracy.

He said, “The announcement on the 29th May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the subsidy on fuel has been removed has come with mixed feelings.

“While some have hailed it as apt and timely others have expressed reservation that it may cause further hardship on the citizenry.

“You will recall that the President anchored the policy on the fact that there was no provision for subsidy payment in the 2023 budget hence cannot be sustained.”


Attah added, “Apart from that, the country was bleeding seriously through many leakages occasioned by corruption in high places chiefly among which are the claims on subsidy payments to many firms.

“After observing the initial reaction to the measure and the attendant panic buying and other impacts on the socio-economic life of Nigerians, we wish to state that the President has done the right thing by removing the subsidy as the advantages of doing so outweigh the disadvantages.

“We have observed that the initial hiccups of long queues at the fuel stations have disappeared while access to petroleum products has become easier and guaranteed as people can now drive into filling stations and refill their tanks without wasting unnecessary man hours on queues.”

Justifying the subsidy removal, Attah noted that the problem of fuel scarcity and the attendant hardship on citizens has been solved and people can now use their time for other productive engagements.

The Pro-Tinubu protest convener added, “The opposition and those elements opposed to the measure should know that election is over and all hands must be on deck to support the government to do what is right and in the interest of the people of the country.

“Past administrations have attempted to remove fuel subsidies but have not been successful due to opposition on the wrong belief that the implication of subsidy removal is just the increase in the price of fuel.

“There was also the suspicion that the proceeds made from the removal will be embezzled and the gains will not get to the intended beneficiaries.”

Attah added, “But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown that he has the integrity to use the funds for the development of the country and has announced a number of palliatives to cushion the effects of the increase in the price of fuel.

“We believe other measures would follow that will make Nigerians willing to see the increase in the price of petroleum products as a necessary sacrifice for growing the economy.”

“By the time the monies freed from subsidy removal are appropriated and plowed back into the economy and all sectors begin to witness quantum growth, Nigerians would begin to see the positive effects of subsidy removal,” he said.



https://punchng.com/fuel-hike-pro-tinubu-protesters-storm-national-assembly/?amp

You need four figure table to find the answer 🙄

Goodman2023:
In May, 2023, Agbado filled the fuel tank of his 2012 toyota camry at the cost of N15, 000. In June and July that same year, he filled the same tank at the cost of N45, 000 and N55, 000 respectively. If the cost of filling the same tank in December is "x", find x.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders has described the fuel price increase from N520 to N617 as a calculated attempt by the Federal Government to impoverish Nigerians.

The group, in a statement signed by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, and Publicity Secretary, Okey Nwaoru, on Wednesday, said the FG’s action was a gross insensitivity and wickedness of the highest order.

It said, “The recent fuel price hike has proved beyond every reasonable doubt that the previous fuel price increment from N198 to N520 was not as a result of subsidy removal, but it is a well-calculated attempt to impoverish Nigerians so that they will not have the energy and strength to challenge the Federal Government in whatever way.

“Before former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to President Bola Tinubu, fuel was sold for N198 in fuel stations and upon assumption of office of President Tinubu, he unilaterally increased it from N198 to N520 and N550 depending on the state.


“When Nigerians are still battling with hardship to settle with the previous price of N520, the same President Tinubu within two months in office increased the same fuel price to N617.

“If we minus the new President Tinubu’s fuel price of N617 from N198 of former President Buhari’s old price, the answer is N419. This tells Nigerians the kind of President we are dealing with.”

The group pointed out that it is high time Nigerians threw away ethnicity, tribe, religion and other evil tactics used by the political class to divide the people and face the monsters who are hell-bent on destroying the livelihood of the common masses.


It said the action showed that the true Nigerian people are targeted for extinction by the political class in power.

“Now that the fuel price has been increased to N617 per litre, do we have any Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani or Igbo fuel stations where his tribe men or religious members can buy it at a cheaper rate? The answer is capital No!

“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, Nigerian Youths, all traders and businessmen/women, all trade unions and all Nigerian students in the entire nation to come out en masse for a protest march against this evil and wickedness brought upon Nigerians by President Bola Tinubu.

“Nigerians can no longer breathe again in their own country. Too sad! It is very unfortunate that a few people in Aso Rock are eating and enjoying while the majority of the Nigerian citizens suffer and die in abject poverty in the midst of plenty and abundant natural mineral resources.

“The time to liberate Nigeria from her oppressors is now. We must march on the streets of the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja until the fuel price is reversed to its old price of N198 per litre.

“We don’t need any palliatives, we only want a reversal of the fuel price to N198 per litre. Enough said!” it added.



https://punchng.com/fuel-hike-attempt-to-impoverish-nigerians-says-south-east-group/?amp

Wow🙌

Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, was on Tuesday increased to N617 per litre by some filling stations in Ondo State.

According to findings by our correspondents, fuel stations in the state increased their pump price to between N620 and N630 per litre.

It was gathered that the marketers jerked up the price from the previous N500, N510 and N520 per litre to between N620 and N630 per litre after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had announced the new pump price of petrol on Tuesday.

However, it was observed that long queues have returned to some filling stations which were selling the product at the old price of N530 per litre.


Also, many stations which were operating before Tuesday were under lock and key following the ugly development.

A petrol station manager, who identified himself simply as Taiwo said his station did not open for operation on Tuesday as the owner of the filling station was yet to decide on the price to sell the product.

He said, ” We are yet to sell because we don’t know how much to sell it and it will be very difficult to lift the product with this recent outrageous pump price. Our (station owner) is yet to decide on how much we will be selling it.”


https://punchng.com/petrol-price-increases-to-n630-per-litre-in-ondo/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web&amp

Iseoluwani:
Souti sef vex

Nigeria nko.


Ah sorry, we don borrow another $800million. We no fit talk

Come with your mechanic 😂😂

Man Utd is down currently 😂

sirwilson:
FullChester United sorry I meant to say Manchester united

It all depends on location and those who handle the project