Beautiful thing to do for we suffering Nigerians...

Where is student loans
Apc is a fraud

Interview one of Tinubu SSA or Service Chief, tomorrow he or she will tell you that insecurity has drastically reduced in Nigeria, just as they reporting on fake reduction in INFLATION IN NIGERIA.

But Tinubu NBC abi NBS told us that inflation has dropped na.

Very dishonest and incompetent President.
No single innovative thinking all he knows is tax and increment

By
Imoleayo Oyedeji
In the span of three months, the Federal Government spent approximately N701m to fund the foreign trips of the country’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu, to five countries, Saturday PUNCH can confirm.

Recall that in 2023, the Federal Government allocated N1.5bn for the procurement of vehicles for the Office of the First Lady.

This budgetary allocation was outlined in the N2.1tn supplementary budget for 2023 approved by the National Assembly.

A breakdown of the budget shows the government planned to spend N2.9bn on sport utility vehicles for the Presidential Villa and another N2.9bn to replace operational vehicles for the Presidency.

Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, however, claimed that the N1.5bn budgeted for vehicles was for the Presidency and not for the First Lady’s office.

However, checks by our correspondent, using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses Federal Government’s spending, showed that the government paid out the sum of N700,707,532 over three months for the First Lady’s foreign trips to five countries, including two African nations.

On November 17, 2023, the government, through the State House headquarters transit account, released the sum of N77,659,888 for the purchase of foreign exchange ($94,314) for the First Lady’s trip to the United States.

On February 24, 2024, the government, through the State House headquarters transit account, paid the sum of N149,794,284 for the purchase of foreign exchange ($152,831) for the First Lady’s trip to France on January 4, 2024.

On March 15, 2024, the sum of N202,386,198 was also paid by the government through the State House account for the purchase of foreign exchange ($126,834) for the First Lady’s trip to Mozambique that month.

On the same day, the government paid N144,571,785 for the purchase of foreign exchange ($96,118) for the First Lady’s trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 9, 2024.

The government, through the same State House account, paid out the sum of N126,295,377 for the purchase of foreign exchange ($83,967) for the First Lady’s trip to London that month.

Additionally, the government spent a total sum of N314,231,472 on six programmes of the First Lady within four months.

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On May 24, 2024, Rock of Ages Total Events Centre Ltd received the sum of N131,921,786 for full-scale decoration of State House events for the First Lady’s programmes for women, youth, and children.

On May 29, 2024, the State House paid N107,630,000 to Makeway Nigeria Limited for the provision of multimedia and related services during the First Lady’s programmes for women, youth, and children.

This indicates that a total sum of N1,014,939,004 has been spent by the government on the First Lady’s trips and programmes over seven months altogether.

Reacting, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership said it was out of place to spend such a humongous amount on the First Lady’s office, which isn’t recognised by the constitution.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Executive Director of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said the complacency of the National Assembly has criminally empowered the executive to spend the national treasury on frivolities, and the only way Nigerians can stop the ugly trend is to consistently speak out against it.

He said, “It is more than profligacy. It is actually a misappropriation of funds because the office of the First Lady doesn’t exist in our constitution and is not supposed to be appropriated for. So, every appropriation that is made for that office is illegal. It is just because our National Assembly is complacent. They are not performing their oversight functions the way they should.

“Otherwise, everybody who dips his or her hand into the national coffers to fund any project that is not in accordance with the dictates of our constitution has committed an offence. If it is elected government personnel, it is an impeachable offence. So, it is out of place for such a humongous amount.”

He noted that the frivolous spending by the government has given the masses no reason to believe the numerous promises of lifting them out of the current hardship.

“Nigerians cannot reason with the government because they (the government) have not set their priorities right. They spend on frivolities rather than on things that will improve the lives of the people. So, no matter how genuine the government’s intention is in redeeming the economy, they are not showing us those signals as of now. Nigerians should begin to agitate in the right direction, and constitutionality must be a sine qua non in everything the government does,” he added.

Also reacting, the Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekper, said there is no law in the country that supports the First Lady’s office, and it is grossly illegal for the Federal Government to deploy scarce national resources for any activity related to the office.

He said, “The first question you should ask is whether the money is provided in the budget and whether it is proper to make provisions for a purported office that is not recognized in the constitution or any law of Nigeria. I am not aware of any constitutional provision creating the office of the First Lady, nor am I aware of any law creating the office. So, what they are doing is clearly illegal. It is an abuse of office, especially if it is funded from the public treasury unless she brings the money from her private purse. But if it is from taxpayers’ money, it is an abuse of office.”


https://punchng.com/n701m-spent-on-remi-tinubus-foreign-trips-in-three-months-report/

It's well with Nigerians. When Nigerians hear the name Tinubu next time, they will run. The name has caused so much pain, hardship and dead to ordinary Nigerians.

By Dayo Johnson; Rotimi Ojomoyela; Peter Duru; Marie-Therese Nanlong; Egufe Yafuborghi; Emma Unah; Chioma Onuegbu; James Ogunnaike; Steve Oko; Shina Abubakar; Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo; Laolu Elijah & Adeola Badru

Following the present economic hardship in the country, occasioned by the hike in fuel prices and food inflation, Nigerians have devised ingenious means to survive. The hardship has driven many to do the unimaginable just to survive such as feeding on animal feeds.

Some residents have resorted to selling personal belongings to weather the crisis while some have even taken to urban farming.

Many car owners have also abandoned their cars at home and make use of commercial motorcycles tricycles and other means of public transportation to their respective destinations while others have taken to trekking some distances because of the hike in transport fares.

PLATEAU: Resort to animal feeds to stay alive

In Plateau state, many women in Jos have now resorted to animal feeds to stay alive. A resident, Mrs Gladys Tonggang said, “I was heartbroken when I heard of a pregnant mother of four feeding her children with maize chaffs, which is called dusa in local language. Animals are fed with dusa and this is what this woman was feeding her children with after grinding it and making food with it”.

This development was confirmed by a seller of dusa who said the price of the commodity had increased by N500 as many women had been patronising her which they grind and make into two.

A mechanic, Monday Adetola said that in the last six to seven months, his client base had greatly reduced because of the hardship in the country. He said, “I have been calling my clients to know why they don’t come again but they complained about the economic hardship. If they don’t drive the cars, how will they come for regular maintenance? When the price of petrol keeps going higher, many people will park their vehicles and that means less work for us”.

Murtala Musa, a tailor, said he closed his shop and has started selling noodles and eggs because he no longer had customers.

To Mary Friday, “In the past, I was particular about what I eat and how I eat it due to ill-health. But right now, I am unable to afford the kind of food I should eat while I eat what I see now which is giving me concerns because I don’t want my condition to get worse. The suffering is too much, how do we survive? Nobody will go through these and remain sane.”

EKITI: Skipping meals, relying on less nutritious alternatives

In Ekiti State, a civil servant, Deji Ilori noted that it has become increasingly difficult for him to provide staple foods for his family, forcing them to skip meals and rely on less nutritious alternatives.

He said, “fuel is now N1,000 per liter, I can’t imagine when last I drove my car to the office. Before now, when fuel was being sold for N585 per liter at NNPC, I spent an average of N30,000 per week on fuel and we are yet to enjoy the new minimum wage. Even at that, whatever gain is coming with the minimum wage has already been eroded with the new pump price of petroleum. My family and I can no longer eat what we want. We have to prioritize what is most essential. Everything is just getting more difficult with the rise in fuel and commodity prices,” he said.

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Uwamba Favour, a small business owner, described how she has been caught in a vicious cycle of increasing expenses and dwindling profits. This unfortunate development has forced her to stop taking orders and, at times, she would sell products at the purchase price to avoid losses.
“Imagine buying something for N5,000 and having to sell it at the same price just to make people buy it so that the product doesn’t go unsold. It got to a point where I was tempted to sell below the amount I bought it, but I pray it doesn’t come to that, which has led me to stop taking some orders,” she explained.

Ganiyat Olanrewaju, a staple food seller, reported experiencing a sharp drop in sales as customers, overwhelmed by the cost of fuel and food, have cut back on their purchases. She noted that many who once bought in bulk were now purchasing in smaller quantities or not at all, forcing her to adjust her operations to avoid losses.

OSUN: Going on the streets to beg for food

Following the hardship in the country, some women in Osogbo, Osun State capital have resorted to begging to feed their families. More well-dressed women now thronged the streets of the state capital and other towns to beg for money to buy food while others put pride aside and approached neighbours for help.

A mother of two who identified herself as Taiwo, while narrating her ordeal said, “Since the beginning of this year, my husband who is a driver has been finding it difficult to make ends meet. My husband sleeps at filling stations in the hope of getting fuel for regular transportation business. On those occasions I had to go to our neighbours to get food stuff to feed our two children. Sometimes I got garri while on other occasions I got tubers of yams or rice. The situation is actually hopeless for us”.

Also, Usman Faruk, a student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife described the present economic situation as excruciating, saying his parents could not afford to pay his school fees now, much less provide for his needs as an undergraduate. “Living has been very difficult as a student, I work as a labourer at various sites here in Ile-Ife to make ends meet and the money I made from the sites is not even enough to buy food to survive on campus. Since last year, I have not travelled to Kwara State where I am based because of the cost of transportation”, he added.

AKWA IBOM: Resort to public transportation

In Akwa Ibom State, many public servants have parked their vehicles and resorted to using public transport to work. Even commercial tricycle (Keke Napep), taxi and mini- buses operators appear to be the worst hit following low passenger patronage.

Lamenting the sad turn of event, an Estate Surveyor, Madam Chinyere Ndon said: “The high cost of fuel has made prices of every other thing to skyrocket. Feeding is difficult and these days you see people looking emaciated because of hunger. One of the strategies I have adopted to survive is restricting my movement. As a public servant I only go to work twice or thrice in a week. And I have resorted to using public transport instead of driving my car to places. I only drive my car when there is something urgent and necessary, and when going to church on Sundays. For me, it is not economical driving considering the high cost of fuel. The whole situation is saddening, we are suffering”

Also a tricycle operator, who identified himself as Mr Odudu Umoh noted that both the scarcity and high cost of fuel have made transportation business in Akwa Ibom unprofitable. “This increased price of petrol is really killing transportation business in Akwa Ibom. Sometimes you buy petrol worth N5000, it won’t last two hours and you won’t even be able to make any profit because the roads and streets are empty. So, it is that bad now,” Umoh said.

A civil servant, who identified himself as Anietie Emah said, “In order to cope, I have now adjusted my schedule. Before now I used my vehicle to go everywhere but now I use public transport. I don’t drive to work again, I use my vehicle only once or twice in a week, especially on Sundays. There’s a food shortage, so I have decided to cut my coat according to my size.”

CROSS RIVER: Taking to farming, selling personal items

In Cross River, it was the same story as many residents have taken to farming to survive the hardship.

While some took to selling off personal household items, to meet the high cost of living, others who in the past would not touch anything that has to do with the farm with a six-foot pole are now neck deep in it. Many including civil servants trooped out to the outskirts of the towns like Ugep, Ogoja and Ikom among others where there are empty plots of land to farm even on work days. They mainly grow cassava, vegetables, yams, cucumber and okra which they sell by the roadside, and also use some to feed their families. Those who cannot go outside the city owing to high cost of transportation have resorted to using every available space within their homes such as car parks and veranda to grow crops or even breed chickens.

Mr Genesis, a staff of the state broadcasting service who has turned his entire apartment and immediate surroundings to a farm said he was not doing it for fun but for self sustenance. “I grow these things to sustain myself. Much of my salary goes to settle debts, so I have to use the available space around my residence to plant crops. The essence of getting money is to buy food ,so if I get some of the crops from my vicinity to sustain me, so be it” He planted water leaf on the steps leading to his apartment, while he planted pumpkin, okra, and sweet potatoes on the other side of his sitting room, while at the backyard, he has sugarcane, pawpaw and guava trees. “In my car park, I grow yams in used cement bags, while in my kitchen I have a cage for rabbits, so, I can make meals for myself for several days without going to the market so long as I have palm oil and salt,” he said

Another resident, Margaret Ogen, a school teacher said she breeds chickens in her kitchen and living room. “I have about ten chickens presently. Every three months I sell them after killing one or two for my family, I make good money from the sale”.

Agnes Ogbu, a housewife said she travels twenty kilometres three times a week to Odupkani to farm cassava. She said, “Last year I usually paid N500 as transport fare to the farm and five hundred naira back but now I spend N2000 to and fro. It still makes sense to me since the cost of garri is high now. I sell some garri and some we consume from the cassava I planted. I harvest every three months.”

Others who are not farming have taken to selling petty items. Every available spot within the city is occupied by street traders selling all sorts of items while point of sales, POS machines are everywhere. In one premises, one could find up to three POS operators jostling for the few customers around.

Maryjane, a graduate of Economics from the University of Calabar who sells vegetables on a table placed in front of her apartment told Saturday Vanguard that she makes profits to meet her needs.
According to her, “I get the vegetables from Marian market every morning except Sundays. I wash, place them here on this table and I slice the quantity every one that comes needs and from about 8.00am to 7.pm, I have customers patronising me. From here, I can beat the hardship since there has been no job in the past three years”.

OGUN: Resort to trekking

In Ogun, a resident of Abeokuta, the state capital, who identified himself as Mr Bolade Adeniyi said “as a taxi driver, I work in the morning when people are going to offices and markets. This is always between 7am and 10am, after which I will park my taxi, till around 4pm, when those who went to offices and markets will be returning home. But while at home, I have started farming in my backyard. I planted vegetables and peppers to augment my income.

On his part, a civil servant, Mr. Olorode Akinlabi said he has turned his car to a commercial vehicle, shuttling inter and intra-city routes. He said, after the close of work, he normally used his car as a shuttle. I make at least N5,000. This has gone a long way at meeting my financial responsibilities at home.

Mrs Anike Kalejaye, on her part, said she has resorted to trekking. She said, “Now that transport fare has gone up astronomically, I always trek anywhere I go because where we used to pay N200 now costs N400”.

OYO: Switching to biking to save fuel

In Oyo state, Amina, a mother of three, said she could no longer operate her food canteen due to the high cost of foodstuff. Another aggrieved Small Business Owner, Tunde, added that, “the fuel scarcity is killing my business. I can’t transport my goods because there’s no fuel. I’ve had to lay off workers, and I don’t know how much longer I can survive.” Sarah, a student of the University of Ibadan also shared her experience: “I depend on my parents for everything, but they are struggling too. I’ve started selling snacks at school just to help out. It’s embarrassing, but I want to contribute.”

Mr. Adeola, a retired teacher’s story is not different as he said: “This is the worst I have seen in my lifetime. We worked hard all our lives, and now we can’t even afford basic necessities. The government needs to step in.” In the same vein, Chinedu, a former taxi driver, said: “I switched to biking to save on fuel, but now I’m worried about accidents. The roads are bad, and I can’t afford repairs if something goes wrong.”

KADUNA: Surviving through others’ goodwill

In Kaduna, residents lamented that they are currently experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis that is negatively affecting their family life leading to a matrimonial crisis in hitherto peaceful homes.

Muazu Zaria, a civil servant, reminisced on the good old days when he could afford a good breakfast for his family of six. According to him,”my salary was not big but we could take tea and bread in the morning and the children were looking good and cheerful. But with this economic downturn, we only eat once and the children are used to it, they have no choice”.

Jummai Ali, a widow with three children said sometimes they found food to eat through the goodwill of neighbours while at other times they would go to bed hungry. “We were fetching Tafasa leaves from the nearby bush to cook and eat but the Tafasa is no longer available like before because people like us were coming to pluck it. Some of my neighbours who could not endure the hardship in the city have relocated to their ancestral villages”.

BENUE: No more frivolous visits

Margaret Audu, a civil servant and widow and mother of four in Benue said; “since this government came to power on May 29, 2023 and the President announced that subsidy was gone, that was the day our comfort and affordable cost of living disappeared.

Today our situation has been compounded with the recent hike in the pump price of fuel to over N1,000. We are now trekking all over the place even to work because we cannot afford the high transportation fare in town.

Now, you do not visit or expect any visitors because except it is very important and necessary no one moves around to distant places that require fares because it is unsustainable at the moment. We are also engaging in farming activities around our residences to produce food for the family because that is the only way we can beat the high cost of food we are currently experiencing in the state occasioned by the worsening insecurity in the farming communities that has forced the rural people out of their ancestral homes and farms”.

ABIA: Things getting worse everyday

36-year-old Okwudiri Gabriel, a tricycle operator based in Umuahia, Abia State and a father of two from Nenwe in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, said since a litre of petrol started selling above N1,000, life has not been the same again for him and his family. He said: “We are just surviving by the grace of God alone.

What we are doing these days is just to sell fuel for the government. The economy is so hard, it’s only God that is helping us to survive.

Things are getting worse every day. We are all dying but the government is showing no concern. We don’t need the so-called palliative which they claim they are sharing. Let them keep it and reverse the fuel price. All we need from the government is a reversal of fuel price

Similarly, Mrs Ezinne Ejiofo, a seller of cooked bambara nuts known locally as ‘Okpa’, at Isigate Umuahia, said life was no longer at ease for her. She lamented that a bag of 100kg of bambara nut flour which sold for N90,000 in December 2023 and early this year, now sells for N240,000.

The mother of three who said she used to prepare about seven custard buckets of Okpa flour a day, now prepares only three buckets a day following a sharp drop in patronage as prices have gone up. She said that feeding for the family had become very difficult, adding that her biggest concern for the moment was how to cope as school will reopen next week.

Life is hell for me in this harsh economy —Widow cries out

Since her husband jumped into the well and died about two years ago, life has been very hard for Mrs Ajoke Omilani who lives at Isokan Community, Off Ologuneru-Eruwa Road, Ologuneru area of Ibadan. She has been running helter-skelter trying to fend for the three children her late 40-year-old husband left behind.

Narrating her harrowing experience, she said, “Most times, I have to beg neighbours to feed my children. The hardship is boldly written on their faces. They have emaciated a lot. There were days I, as a mother, would go to bed hungry. One evening, my children and I had not eaten anything since that morning, so, I had to go to my neighbour’s house to help me with anything to feed the children. Unfortunately, the family too did not have enough foodstuffs, they only managed to give me two cups of rice and N300. I cooked the rice and added only palm oil. If we spent the N300, there would be nothing the following day. When my children are crying at times, I would trek several kilometers to seek help. It appears the end is near.”

A civil servant, Ayo Bamidele said that “ living in Nigeria is hellish now. We thought things would be better, but the reverse is the case now. We can’t eat three square meals again. My husband has been sick since the hike in the price of petrol because he’s just thinking of how we’ll survive in this period. Our children are resuming next week, we are yet to get their school fees. In fact we’re completely confused. How do we take them to school daily with this new fuel price. Government should do something about this and order a reversal of the price otherwise anything can happen in this country.

Another resident, Alhaji Ali Onisahun, told Vanguard that he was contemplating sending his wife and children back to his village because he could not survive with them in the city.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/09/hardship-animal-feed-now-delicacy-to-some-families/

Devil is even surprised with the kind pain and hardship Nigerians are passing through because of Tinubu reform....

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‘You’ve Disappointed Those Who Saw You As Messiah’, Gani Adams Writes Tinubu

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Adams , has voiced out his frustration with President Bola Tinubu, saying the President has disappointed many…

The Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams

ByAbdullateef Aliyu

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:32:26 WAT

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Adams , has voiced out his frustration with President Bola Tinubu, saying the President has disappointed many Nigerians who brought him to power.

He criticized the President’s handling of the petroleum sector especially the recent hike in price of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, saying the situation is worsening the hardship in the land.

He asked the president to reverse what he called, “the ugly trend,” saying the time is going.

In an open letter to Tinubu, Adams said, “When you came with the ‘Emilokan’ coinage in the build up to the 2023 elections, many Nigerians were persuaded that as a democrat exposed to modern way of governance, you will perform better than Muhammadu Buhari, a soldier who deepened the poverty levels of Nigerians and increased insecurity from 2015 to 2023.

“Today, events have proved that they were wrong. Mr. President, to say the truth without minding whose ox is gored, you have really disappointed many Nigerians who thought you were the messiah they were waiting for.”

He said the increase in price of fuel which was less than N200 when the President took over, now selling over N1000 has shown that the administration is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

“Obviously, your administration is becoming indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plights of millions of Nigerians who can no longer meet their daily needs. This is a brutal assault on the sensibility of Nigerians.

“I think you and your party should be sensitive to the plights of Nigerians. Mr. President, don’t you think the wicked and draconian increase in fuel price, especially, at this time that Nigerians have been pushed to the wall, is a huge recipe for crisis? Nigerians can no longer bear this economic hardship any longer.

“I am writing this letter to you because of the pressure I am going through from millions of Nigerians, who erroneously, believe that I don’t want to tell you the truth because the two of us are eminent Yoruba citizens.

The truth is that the perverted, opaque, unintelligible, wicked and corrupt handling of the petroleum sector and continuous increase of fuel price under your administration (with the NNPC threatening us the price will still go up) without due regard to the laws of the land and wellbeing of Nigerians is akin to telling Nigerians to go to hell.

“Mr. President, if a few of your advisers are telling you that all is well, I can confidently inform you that they are your enemies.”

He said the economic situation has worsened with the increase in fuel price and the rise in foreign exchange.

“Today, it (fuel) is more than N1000. As the Minister of Petroleum, I ask you, what type of reforms is this?
In May 2023, Naira to a Dollar was less than N740. Today, it is more than N1,600.

“Now, your two right-hand men when you were Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Wale Edun (Finance Minister) and Yemi Cardoso (CBN Governor) are in charge of the economy.

“What exactly are the fiscal, economic and financial briefings they give you daily to convince you that they know what they are doing in those two offices? When Buhari left on May 29, 2023, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that insecurity would soon become history.

“Pitiably today, from the North to the South, East to the West, the rate at which Nigerians are being abducted and some killed, even after ransom was paid, it was as if these blood-thirsty maniacs have just been unleashed on Nigerians from the hottest part of hell.”

The Yoruba generallisimo likened the President’s administration to the Adolf Hitler’s dictatorial era in Nazi Germany, saying, “In just 16 months into your administration, your campaign promises have suddenly become failed promises?

“Your Excellency, do you remember an Austrian-German who became the Commander-in-Chief in Germany in 1933? Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945?

“Hitler, an elected democrat, quickly transformed a democratic republic into a constitutional dictatorship.

“The Fuhrer vowed to destroy democracy through the democratic process. And he did with the destruction of Germany in 1945.

“Before the destruction, the Nazi leader disabled, then dismantled the Weimar Republic. The Fuhrer crushed political opposition, destroyed the economy and ultimately undermined Germany’s democratic structures.

“When Hitler became history on April 30, 1945, Germany was in total ruins. But due to the determination of Germans, today, that country has the biggest economy in Europe.

“I hope I am wrong but I see a linkage between what happened during the ascendancy of Hitler into power and what is happening in Nigeria today.”


https://dailytrust.com/youve-disappointed-those-who-saw-you-as-messiah-gani-adams-writes-tinubu/

Yeye administration.
Absolutely nothing in their head to offer Nigerians.

Why ogun state has 4 ministers.

Softmirror:
There is speculation that Bwala will take his place.

He will regret taking that role.
It's better he go for ministerial role.

For reality yes but for paper no, watch tinubu will manipulate the figure and inflation rate will be reducing on paper and his online zombies will be circulating the fake figure.

This is bad.

Disaster government

According to Tinubu supporters we are making progress

Presently, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as we know are not smiling at all.

The continued increase in the prices of goods is eating deep into their profits.

As if this was not enough, the menace has found itself in their capitals, leaving most MSMEs out of business.

Economy&Lifestyle findings revealed that some of these MSMEs now adopt phone calls , online mini shops to keep their customers while struggling to get capital to continue their businesses.

Explaining the process, Mrs. Bolanle Rasheed said, she had to write her phone number on the door of her shop instructing her customers to call whenever they need her services.

“I sell processed food items and provisions. I have spent all the profits and capital of the business on feeding and other expenses.

“Running a business in this era is difficult because things are getting more expensive daily. When you buy a carton of noodles for instance this week. The next week the price has increased.

“Some people advise you to keep track of prices in the market to know current prices. But how long do you do this coupled with increased expenses.

“I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left to sell. After some days, I was worried I would lose customers so I wrote down my number and instructed them to call me whenever they want to buy anything.

“When they send their order, I go and get it in other stores and send it to them without a fee because most of my customers reside in my area.

“The little gain I make is what I have been using to take care of my needs and that of my family. It is not an easy task though.”

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Mrs. Marvin Godonou, a takeaway pack seller lamented the effect of the Lagos State Government ban on styrofoam cups and plates which made her switch to pure water and soft business.

She added: “Since I started this business there has been no sale at all because people now drink water from the borehole.

“Even soft drinks are a no go area for most people because of the cost.

“These factors made my business struggle and while I was struggling with business I was spending the profit and capital on feeding.

“I have a family of six including my husband who is a commercial motorcycle driver.

“The high cost of fuel is making him struggle to deliver his daily settlement agreement with the motorcycle owner. I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left for sale.

“Since I had phone numbers of most of my customers I added them online and persuaded them to order their goods online. I also introduced food items to them.

“When they make their orders, I deliver them to their homes.

“I also wrote my phone number on my shop door.

“It hasn’t been easy because I have to do a lot of convincing, especially on price. We all know the prices of things rise every day.

“I thank God I still have something to do till I will be able to raise capital to restock my shop.”
However, the same is not for Mrs. Obiageli Johnson who sells groundnut.

She said: “ I sell groundnut, tiger nut and corn. I started the business with N20,000.

“My children always request mummy food, mummy water, mummy soap to wash, mummy this, mummy that.

“Now the goods and money are finished and I am planning to sell the table, tray and pan I used to start a new business in front of my house.

“This life is not easy, especially as I am a single mother with no helper.”

For Mrs. Shikemi Oluyonlo, her restaurant business has died as a result of the increase in prices of food stuff.
“I run a restaurant business. It has not been easy because the business is not moving at all.

“I am the one eating my food, sometimes I give it out at the end of the day when there is no sale.

“Now, I am at home since I can’t afford to buy food stuff for cooking.

“I have decided to go and look for a job for the main time to raise capital to start a new business.

“Though I have informed some of my customers I do prepare food in bulk for. I am still in contact with them.

“Another thing I did was create a business page online where I advertise my services for bulk cooking.

“I added my customers and persuaded them to send comments. This I post on the page to convince my viewers and readers for patronage.


Presently, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as we know are not smiling at all.

The continued increase in the prices of goods is eating deep into their profits.

As if this was not enough, the menace has found itself in their capitals, leaving most MSMEs out of business.

Economy&Lifestyle findings revealed that some of these MSMEs now adopt phone calls , online mini shops to keep their customers while struggling to get capital to continue their businesses.

Explaining the process, Mrs. Bolanle Rasheed said, she had to write her phone number on the door of her shop instructing her customers to call whenever they need her services.

“I sell processed food items and provisions. I have spent all the profits and capital of the business on feeding and other expenses.

“Running a business in this era is difficult because things are getting more expensive daily. When you buy a carton of noodles for instance this week. The next week the price has increased.

“Some people advise you to keep track of prices in the market to know current prices. But how long do you do this coupled with increased expenses.

“I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left to sell. After some days, I was worried I would lose customers so I wrote down my number and instructed them to call me whenever they want to buy anything.

“When they send their order, I go and get it in other stores and send it to them without a fee because most of my customers reside in my area.

“The little gain I make is what I have been using to take care of my needs and that of my family. It is not an easy task though.”

Related NewsEdo 2024: Oba Ewuare II commends PRP for fielding female candidateEx-BBC Editor, Soyinka, freed after hours of detention at DSS custody2 officers, IMN members killed as Police, Shi’ite clash in Abuja

Mrs. Marvin Godonou, a takeaway pack seller lamented the effect of the Lagos State Government ban on styrofoam cups and plates which made her switch to pure water and soft business.

She added: “Since I started this business there has been no sale at all because people now drink water from the borehole.

“Even soft drinks are a no go area for most people because of the cost.

“These factors made my business struggle and while I was struggling with business I was spending the profit and capital on feeding.

“I have a family of six including my husband who is a commercial motorcycle driver.

“The high cost of fuel is making him struggle to deliver his daily settlement agreement with the motorcycle owner. I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left for sale.

“Since I had phone numbers of most of my customers I added them online and persuaded them to order their goods online. I also introduced food items to them.

“When they make their orders, I deliver them to their homes.

“I also wrote my phone number on my shop door.

“It hasn’t been easy because I have to do a lot of convincing, especially on price. We all know the prices of things rise every day.

“I thank God I still have something to do till I will be able to raise capital to restock my shop.”
However, the same is not for Mrs. Obiageli Johnson who sells groundnut.

She said: “ I sell groundnut, tiger nut and corn. I started the business with N20,000.

“My children always request mummy food, mummy water, mummy soap to wash, mummy this, mummy that.

“Now the goods and money are finished and I am planning to sell the table, tray and pan I used to start a new business in front of my house.

“This life is not easy, especially as I am a single mother with no helper.”

For Mrs. Shikemi Oluyonlo, her restaurant business has died as a result of the increase in prices of food stuff.
“I run a restaurant business. It has not been easy because the business is not moving at all.

“I am the one eating my food, sometimes I give it out at the end of the day when there is no sale.

“Now, I am at home since I can’t afford to buy food stuff for cooking.

“I have decided to go and look for a job for the main time to raise capital to start a new business.

“Though I have informed some of my customers I do prepare food in bulk for. I am still in contact with them.

“Another thing I did was create a business page online where I advertise my services for bulk cooking.

“I added my customers and persuaded them to send comments. This I post on the page to convince my viewers and readers for patronage.”

Presently, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as we know are not smiling at all.

The continued increase in the prices of goods is eating deep into their profits.

As if this was not enough, the menace has found itself in their capitals, leaving most MSMEs out of business.

Economy&Lifestyle findings revealed that some of these MSMEs now adopt phone calls , online mini shops to keep their customers while struggling to get capital to continue their businesses.

Explaining the process, Mrs. Bolanle Rasheed said, she had to write her phone number on the door of her shop instructing her customers to call whenever they need her services.

“I sell processed food items and provisions. I have spent all the profits and capital of the business on feeding and other expenses.

“Running a business in this era is difficult because things are getting more expensive daily. When you buy a carton of noodles for instance this week. The next week the price has increased.

“Some people advise you to keep track of prices in the market to know current prices. But how long do you do this coupled with increased expenses.

“I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left to sell. After some days, I was worried I would lose customers so I wrote down my number and instructed them to call me whenever they want to buy anything.

“When they send their order, I go and get it in other stores and send it to them without a fee because most of my customers reside in my area.

“The little gain I make is what I have been using to take care of my needs and that of my family. It is not an easy task though.”

Related NewsEdo 2024: Oba Ewuare II commends PRP for fielding female candidateEx-BBC Editor, Soyinka, freed after hours of detention at DSS custody2 officers, IMN members killed as Police, Shi’ite clash in Abuja

Mrs. Marvin Godonou, a takeaway pack seller lamented the effect of the Lagos State Government ban on styrofoam cups and plates which made her switch to pure water and soft business.

She added: “Since I started this business there has been no sale at all because people now drink water from the borehole.

“Even soft drinks are a no go area for most people because of the cost.

“These factors made my business struggle and while I was struggling with business I was spending the profit and capital on feeding.

“I have a family of six including my husband who is a commercial motorcycle driver.

“The high cost of fuel is making him struggle to deliver his daily settlement agreement with the motorcycle owner. I had to lock my shop when there were no goods left for sale.

“Since I had phone numbers of most of my customers I added them online and persuaded them to order their goods online. I also introduced food items to them.

“When they make their orders, I deliver them to their homes.

“I also wrote my phone number on my shop door.

“It hasn’t been easy because I have to do a lot of convincing, especially on price. We all know the prices of things rise every day.

“I thank God I still have something to do till I will be able to raise capital to restock my shop.”
However, the same is not for Mrs. Obiageli Johnson who sells groundnut.

She said: “ I sell groundnut, tiger nut and corn. I started the business with N20,000.

“My children always request mummy food, mummy water, mummy soap to wash, mummy this, mummy that.

“Now the goods and money are finished and I am planning to sell the table, tray and pan I used to start a new business in front of my house.

“This life is not easy, especially as I am a single mother with no helper.”

For Mrs. Shikemi Oluyonlo, her restaurant business has died as a result of the increase in prices of food stuff.
“I run a restaurant business. It has not been easy because the business is not moving at all.

“I am the one eating my food, sometimes I give it out at the end of the day when there is no sale.

“Now, I am at home since I can’t afford to buy food stuff for cooking.

“I have decided to go and look for a job for the main time to raise capital to start a new business.

“Though I have informed some of my customers I do prepare food in bulk for. I am still in contact with them.

“Another thing I did was create a business page online where I advertise my services for bulk cooking.

“I added my customers and persuaded them to send comments. This I post on the page to convince my viewers and readers for patronage.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/ailing-msmes-adopt-phone-calls-online-messages-to-keep-customers/

Some people thought good governance is by praying for our leaders. When your leaders are looting and relooting.

LAGOS — As Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry eagerly awaits the implementation of the Presidential Executive Order aimed at reducing the cost of essential medicines, and generally revamping the health sector, delays in the implementation process have pushed back the timeline for its takeoff.

In June, President Bola Tinubu signed an Executive Order to strengthen Nigeria’s health system by exempting pharmaceutical machinery, equipment, goods, and accessories from tariffs and excise duties, reducing production costs and making healthcare products more affordable.

But two months after the pronouncement, checks by Vanguard revealed that the cost of items in the key categories of health equipment covered by the Executive Order remained prohibitively high.

Among these are pharmaceutical medications, medical devices such as diagnostic imaging machines, laboratory equipment, surgical instruments, ECG machines, ventilators, syringes, needles, gloves, medical dressings and diagnostic kits for malaria, HIV, etc.

Vanguard gathered that while the government set a 30-day deadline for development of a harmonisation implementation framework with the ministries of Finance and Industry, Trade, and Investment, the exact timeline for take-off of the Executive Order remains uncertain.

On when Nigerians can expect to start seeing the benefits of the Executive Order, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government is working diligently to expedite action on the framework that will guide relevant agencies in operationalising and implementing the Executive Order.

What govt is doing, by Alausa

Alausa said: “We are developing a harmonisation implementation framework with the Ministers of Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment.

“Government agencies involved include the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.”

He said the government is moving quickly to develop the harmonisation implementation framework within 30 days, adding that once completed, the Executive Order will go into effect quickly.

“We have met with the Attorney-General of the Federation about the need to move quickly on this. We are working night and day to get this effected so that Customs will start implementing the process as well as the FIRS. We are setting up a technical working group on this implementation framework so that the Executive Order will take effect immediately.

Related NewsAiling MSMEs adopt phone calls, online messages to keep customersEdo 2024: Oba Ewuare II commends PRP for fielding female candidateEx-BBC Editor, Soyinka, freed after hours of detention at DSS custody

Worried by the apparent lack of progress as the 30-day window has elapsed, players in the health industry have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the delays on the cost of medications and the livelihood of Nigerians even as there is uncertainty regarding the immediate effects of the executive order on drug prices and are urging the government to step up action on the policy.

Delay not worth it, people are dying — Oladigbolu

On his part, the Immediate past National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Pharm Wale Oladigbolu, said the delay in implementation of the Executive Order is not worth it because people are dying, even as prices of drugs have continued to spiral up.

“We haven’t seen the impact of the Executive Order, that’s at the down end where I practice. Prices of drugs at the retail stores are still very high and we see a lot of people not being able to afford the treatment that they need. Health insurance which should have helped the people is not working in the Nigerian context.

“A whole lot of people who are in the informal sector are not covered by health insurance, so the prices of medicine are high. Affordability is not there, and people’s incomes are strained. And when I say strained, I mean strained. They need to choose between food with high costs, fuel with high costs, and drugs with high costs. So they need to juggle those factors. So people only come to the pharmacy for purely essential things.

So things like high blood pressure that does not have a warning, a lot of hypertension patients are dropping their medicines, especially those who have poor health education, they have dropped. They see hypertension as not troubling, so you see a lot of non-adherence to medication because of the high cost of medication. High cost of food. And indeed, high cost of work.

“The delay is not worth it because people are dying. We have not seen an impact or drop in the cost of medicines in Nigeria, so the Executive Order has not had any impact. This speaks to what the Federal Government should be doing.

“Before you issue an order, you need to check the baseline, you need to do a survey, conduct the baseline. And when you issue an order, two months down the line, you need to conduct another survey to compare the former with the new, and that has not been done, but I can tell you wholeheartedly that we haven’t seen an iota of drop in drug prices in this country. “

Implementation details must be properly worked out — Ifeanyi

Responding to the development, the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, said while the concerns about the delay are not misplaced, the details of the implementation of the Executive Order should be properly worked out.

Ifeanyi, an Infectious Diseases/Public Health Expert, noted that for effectiveness, the government should put turn-around time when Nigerians can begin to see outcomes.

“The concerns being expressed in certain quarters about the delay is not misplaced. We are equally concerned that the details as per the framework for the implementation of this Executive Order are still very sketchy. They are not readily available, and this leads us to a very big worry about the fate that befell the healthcare fund.

‘’So we are only worried that we hope that this Executive Order will not go the failed route of the $100 billion health fund that was made available, or said to have been made available during the President Muhammadu Buhari era.

“That said, I would also want to think that Executive Order is one thing, fleshing it out and providing the details is another, and therefore, 60 days is not too much a time for us to become overtly concerned and worried.

According to Ifeanyi, the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Finance, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of National Planning, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Trade and Commerce or Industry, need to work out the details worked out multi-sectorally.

“So you find out that there’s going to be a multi-stakeholder engagement to work out details for the implementation of the executive order, it is no longer on the desk of the president to do. Therefore, we will need to appeal to Nigerians and to stakeholders, to be a little more patient. It is important that people are expectant and excited because the cost of drugs

Lamenting the high cost of diagnostics, medications, consumables and healthcare services rising daily and compromising services, he said they have gone well beyond the means of the average person.

“The scarcity or near-absence of all these Therefore, individuals are using their bare hands to barely manage and care for patients. When things like the Executive Order come, we expect that for effectiveness, the government should set timelines, and there should be an obvious turn-around time when we expect Nigerians can begin to see outcomes.

“I think 60 days or thereabout is too short a time because production of any kind would have a planning phase, incubation phase, and a trial-and-error phase in which we run trials to see if we have got it right or not before you go full-scale for commercialization and distribution. So we need to still be patient. That means perfect time.

“The delay is necessary, but it is not yet time for us to begin to lose breath and become very much overtly concerned because if you hurry into such endeavour, you will feel it is about production and production will take time. You need to set up production lines, you need to allow it to incubate. You need to now turn off your first product. Let me use something to make an example.

“Caution must not be thrown to the wind. Due process and attention need to be paid to details. I do not think the government has forgotten about it. It’s in the works,” he affirmed.

Govt must intervene in high tariffs —Akintayo

On his part, past president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, said the inherent birthing of the Executive Order must trigger off a new pharmaceutical industry couched and laden with possibilities and fruitfulness.

“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services must progressively intervene in the matter of unfortunate tariffs and unfriendly policies churned out by some of the key regulators in the pharmaceutical sector if prices of drugs will crash in the interim.

“These tariffs are a major reason drugs availability, accessibility and affordability can no longer be guaranteed in alignment with the National Drug Policy. While congratulating President Tinubu on this feat,it is sacred to once again make a case for the appointment of an Adviser, Pharmaceuticals to the President who will coordinate the plethora of endeavours that are pharmacy-based and inclined in the Tinubu administration.

FG must be more proactive —Okotie

The Managing Director, Engraced Pharmacy Ltd., Mr. Jonah Okotie, posited that the Ministry of Health should create awareness and enlightenment about its policies and how to appropriate them.

“The Executive Order is one thing, the preparedness of everybody, every stakeholder in the industry is another thing, and then the other thing we want to talk about is the people who are concerned. Do they understand how to appropriate the Executive Order, because sometimes the problem we have is not what to do, is how to do it.

“So how much is the Ministry of Health doing to make sure the stakeholders understand how to appropriate it? Because if they really don’t understand how to appropriate these things, they can have the best of policies, which amounts to nothing for everybody.

So that’s on one hand.

“Government officials themselves, do they understand that this policy exists, is there awareness on the part of the agents of government to ensure that this policy comes to light? How will implementing this policy bring down the price of drugs? Is it at the importation level, production level or whatever? So it’s about developing a trade or generating a trade that is going to run through the industry to ensure to pull down the prices of drugs to the end user at the end of the day.

“As for the delay, don’t let me preempt anything because sometimes what we don’t know, we can’t speak much to. I presume that at the manufacturer’s level, at the importation level, at the Ministry of Health level, there are engagements that are going on to see how to implement the Executive Order so that the price of drugs is going to come down, because I don’t want to take it for granted that people work to get the Executive Order, only for them to just be watching it.

Okotie said one of the things that led to the Executive Order was the fact that prices of drugs were going up abysmally, and then drugs were going up on the shelves, and these things were going on without anybody addressing it before the government began to pay attention.

“It is the Executive Order, but life does not work in isolation. What about the cost of transportation? What about the cost of so many other things? What about the cost of energy? As much as you want to be talking about the Executive Order, other factors affect the prices that are not constant. So for the Executive Order itself to work, we have to go back, sit down and try to come up with a trade that helps us to ensure that it really achieves what it’s intended to.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/executive-order-on-medicaments-fg-yet-to-implement-2-months-after/

Anything tinubu promise to do is media talk.
There's no 200bilion naira to distribute to any firm.

Anything tinubu promise to do is media talk.

Mumu

Current administration of Tinubu is a disaster

Good but how long are we going to continue this.
Tinubu is a disaster.

Tinubu is the worst thing ever happened to Nigerians.

Ewu

Misplaced priority.
Jobless rulers.

Your government and party have multiply it more than 300x since 2015.