₦airaland Forum

A political paradigm shift is expected to be effected tomorrow in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as power brokers within the party have moved against allies of some former military Generals from emerging as members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). New Telegraph learnt that the opposition to these candidates was to pave the way for some tendencies in the party ahead of the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP.

The opposition party has been enmeshed in internal crisis following a court order in August restraining Prince Uche Secondus from continuing in office as PDP National Chairman. The party leadership subsequently abridged the tenure of the outgoing NWC members to conduct a National Convention this weekend in Abuja. Last week, the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, said the screening committee cleared 27 contestants and disqualified three including former National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr. Eddy Olafeso.

Among those cleared to vie for positions in Saturday’s convention are a former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu; former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja. Others cleared by the Screening Committee chaired by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, are a former Minister of Women Affairs, Maryam Ciroma, and two former senators, Samuel Ayanwu and Ighoyota Amori.

In its seven-page report, the committee, which was inaugurated on September 23, said it screened 32 aspirants after two of them withdrew from the race, and subsequently cleared 27. All things being equal, the 27 aspirants cleared will contest for 21 NWC positions at the convention. It was learnt that some governors were part of the plot to tactically edge out the candidates seen to be allies of some of the Generals who surreptitiously want to still control the affairs of the party especially ahead of the 2023 race.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a former member of the House of Representatives elected on the PDP platform from Osun State, said the ‘gang-up’ against former military generals is being visited on their allies in the party ahead of convention.

He said: “The current power brokers of the party, who actually finance and determine who gets what and how in the party, appear to be working ahead of the next presidential election. They don’t want anyone to directly or indirectly influence the decisions they will make in the run-up to the 2023 polls. “Have you asked yourself why they asked Arapaja from Oyo to go and pick up the form for the position of Deputy National Chairman, South? If you think that was mere coincidence, what about the timing he picked the form? “The same Arapaja that just got elected as Zonal Chairman of PDP in a tough election a few months ago in the South West.

You should know that there are strong backers for him.” Last April, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State supported Arapaja to emerge as new South-West Zonal Vice Chairman of PDP in a keenly contested election against Olafeso backed by ex-governor Ayo Fayose Meanwhile, the party’s South-West Zonal Executive Committee has adopted Arapaja as consensus candidate of the zone for the Deputy National Chairman position against Oyinlola. Continuing, the ex-lawmaker said: “It is all to work against the emergence of Oyinlola who many of the strong forces in PDP today considered as being a loyal ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and of course, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd). I think the Obasanjo effect may work against him and others perceived as such. Only about two or three positions are up for contest in the convention, the rest are unopposed.

“The governors and other power brokers simply want to draw the line ahead of the 2023 election and that is why it is po-litically exigent that they limit the influence of Baba Obasanjo and others starting from now.” Meanwhile, it is learnt that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will convene a meeting to expel the party’s embattled Chairman, Secondus, from the party.

A 22-year-old NCE graduate, Idris Shuaib, has reportedly committed suicide in Kwara North Senatorial District over his inability to have sex with women.

The incident occurred on Thursday in Gwanara community, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Reports reaching DAILY POST in Ilorin said the entire Ankara Wooro compound in Gwanara community was thrown into a mourning mood when the lifeless body of Idris was discovered dangling on a cashew tree.

An uncle of the deceased said “Idris left home very early on Thursday, telling his father that he wanted to go to the farm as his usual routine not knowing he had another fatal motive this time around.”

Spokesman of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Ilorin, said the deceased killed himself inside his father’s farm located at Gwanara-Munduro road, with the aid of rope and one jerry can.

“On Thursday October 28th,2021, the NSCDC office in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government Area, got a report about one Idris Shuaib (22) who allegedly committed suicide in the farm citing his inability to copulate with women,” he said.

According to the deceased’s father, Malam Muhammad Idris, “the man, a graduate of Muyideen College of Education, Ilorin (Gwanara Campus) had made futile attempts in the past to end his life before this unfortunate incident.”

The remains of the deceased has been brought down from the tree and taken to the hospital for autopsy, while investigation is ongoing, the spokesman added.

OYINDAMOLA OLUBAJO


Lai Mohammed, President Muhammadu Buhari’s propaganda chief on Thursday said he has more credibility on Nigerian security matters than foreign media outlets, especially CNN and The Economist.

Mr Mohammed who spoke at a press briefing in his office criticised reports by both outlets, insisting that the country has witnessed a change since 2015.

“Why must you now reecho as if whatever CNN says must be true. Whatever (The) Economist says must be true,” the minister said. “I, as a Nigerian, the situation I met things in 2015 is not what it is today.”

Mr Mohammed’s claims came on the heels of the UK publication’s latest issue that highlighted Mr Buhari’s incompetence in combatting Nigeria’s major challenges such as insecurity, corruption and economic crisis.

“When violence erupts, the government does nothing or cracks heads almost indiscriminately,” the London publication had said. It also stated that Mr Buhari had failed in his promise of curbing corruption.

The London publication had also exposed how the Nigerian Army steal and sell arms to terrorists.

“Nigeria’s army is mighty on paper,” the London magazine said. “But many of its soldiers are ‘ghosts’ who exist only on the payroll, and much of its equipment is stolen and sold to insurgents.”

But Mr Mohammed believes that the claims which are similar to that of the U.S. 2020 annual report on human rights were inaccurate. He described the London magazine’s report as a deliberate attempt to pull Nigeria apart.

“When CNN put out a report that was not accurate we called them out. Why would we join hands with people to pull down our house?” the minister argued.

“I wish these things were even true,” he reiterated. Mr Mohammed stressed that The Economist and CNN have also in past published false information about the country.

“Why do you people want to join hands with people that just want to sell their arms by denigrating the military?” he added.

Days ago, the minister demanded that CNN tender an unreserved apology to the president for “acting unprofessionally” during the #EndSARS protest at Lekki tollgate where soldiers opened gunfire on protesters.

Despite live videos, witnesses accounts, CNN’s report and Amnesty International’s reports of casualties at the protest ground, Mr Lai insisted that nobody died.

“CNN acted unprofessionally by relying on unverified, and possibly-doctored social media videos, as well as other open-source information to conclude that a massacre took place at the toll gate,” he had said.

AHMED OLUWASANJO



Information minister Lai Mohammed on Thursday said violent extremists collecting taxes from citizens across the northern parts of the country constitute the same security threat as street thugs extorting cash from citizens in the southern parts of the country.

The minister said bandits and terrorists operating across the northern region should not be seen as running their own enclaves outside federal jurisdictions just because they have the ability to amass financial gains through violence and intimidation.

“The issue is not about bandits collecting taxes,’’ Mr Mohammed said. “But that’s not the same as saying there is a new caliphate.”

Mr Mohammed said there are several communities across the South where armed thugs impose levies on residents without consequences.

“Do you know how many places in this country where area boys collect taxes and there is no banditry there?

“I don’t want to mention names. In many of our cities, they carve out their own territories. So what they are writing is nothing. It is not indicative that the bandits have taken over,” the minister said at a press briefing in his office on Thursday.

Whereas there are street thugs in Lagos and other southern cities, they operate largely under the shadows. But insurgents and bandit gangs in northern communities often sack security forces and introduce quasi-administrative roles to government trapped locals.

Mr Mohammed’s comments come as the regime ramps up its pushback against The Economist’s latest issue that criticised President Muhammadu Buhari. The publication noted that under Mr Buhari, Nigeria had become a crime scene of destructive magnitude on the African continent, pointing out that terrorists and armed bandits are running wild because the president is corrupt and lazy, failing to do anything but render lip service following every deadly attack.

The minister also criticised the Nigerian media for publishing Western outlets. Peoples Gazette was the first Nigerian outlet to publish a follow-on story based on The Economist’s report, which was soon followed with two additional stories, including the military’s rebuttal.

“The point is about you (Nigeria media) swallowing hook, line and sinker, a report by a foreign organisation, which you have not even interrogated yourself, that’s my problem,” the minister said.

Mr Mohammed’s new position on the credibility of Western media marked a stark breakaway from his days as opposition spokesman, especially between 2013 and 2015 when he was in charge of talking points for the then-opposition APC. Many party members repeated Western media claims that Boko Haram was controlling large swathes of the country’s territory the size of Belgium.

The minister also used several Western media reports to knock President Goodluck Jonathan. And when The Economist endorsed Mr Buhari ahead of the 2015 presidential election, Mr Mohammed held media tours on the back of the report to mock the then-ruling PDP as a failure

Nigerian Singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy has revealed that his younger sister is among those who designed the new Range Rover car.

The singer took to his Instagram story to make this announcement.

He wrote, “My little sister designed the new range!.. Someone tell her to run me a discount code @nissination”.

Burna Boy’s sister also took to her Instagram page to appreciate the company for letting her be part of the team.

Sharing a picture of herself right in front of the company, and also pictures and videos of the new car, she wrote, “NEW RANGE ROVER. It has been a pleasure being part of the team to bring this beautiful car to life over the last 3 years and I’m happy to see it finally unveiled to the world.”

As the feud between Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State and his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior festers, there are reports that their political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind the governor, raising anxiety in the state’s political cycle.

The fight between Oyetola and Aregbesola over the control of the APC structure in the state has divided members of the party into two camps. Aregbesola’s camp is known as The Osun Progressive (TOP) while the mainstream faction belongs to Oyetola tagged IleriOluwa, the governor’s campaign slogan.

The chairman of the party in the state, Prince Adegboyega Famodun and many prominent party leaders, state and federal legislators, and political office holders are with Oyetola. Majority of those that served in Aregbesola’s government have remained loyal to him and belong to the TOP camp.

The recently concluded ward, local government and state congresses of the party further exposed the depth of the crisis. The minister’s camp has gone to court to challenge the congresses.

Until recently, most people believe that Aregbesola was the determiner of most decisions taken by Tinubu over the years. Tinubu was Aregbesola’s godfather and boss.

Aregbesola served under Tinubu as commissioner for Works in Lagos for eight years and had huge influence in Lagos politics even when he was governor in Osun.

However, Aregbesola’s influence in Lagos politics eventually dwindled when he became minister of Interior after his tenure in Osun.

Oyetola, who served as Chief of Staff under Aregbesola for eight years, is Tinubu’s relative. Some leading politicians in Osun who spoke on condition of anonymity said Tinubu was not happy that Aregbesola did not work for Oyetola’s victory in the 2018 governorship election in Osun and was equally unhappy with Aregbesola’s political moves in Abuja.

APC members in the IleriOluwa and TOP acknowledged that Tinubu is supporting Oyetola in the crisis between the governor and Aregbesola. Those that spoke with our correspondent pleaded anonymity.

One of the leaders of TOP said; “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is supporting Oyetola against Aregbesola. It is expected. It’s normal for him to support his brother. They want to cut Aregbesola’s wings because of Oyetola. We don’t know Aregbesola’s offence.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should play the role of a leader rather than supporting his brother against the minister.”

But a member of the IleriOluwa group said Aregbesola’s issue with Tinubu was not because of Oyetola.

He said “Oyetola was not the reason for the demobilisation of Aregbesola’s structure in Lagos politics. It’s because of his political moves in Abuja to contest for the presidency. It’s not as if Tinubu is supporting Oyetola against Aregbesola.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan, declined comment on the issue.

Political observers in the state posit that APC might find it very difficult to win the forthcoming governorship election in the state unless the crisis is resolved and both camps work together.

When contacted, the media aide to Tinubu, Mr. Tunde Rahman, said Asiwaju was committed to amicably resolving the issue between Oyetola and Aregbesola.

He said the matter of 2022 governorship election or the second term of Governor Oyetola is not yet on the table.

“Whatever it is that you say is happening between Governor Oyetola and his predecessor, minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will be resolved amicably. That’s the resolve of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and what he is totally committed to at present.

“The matter of 2022 or second term of Governor Oyetola will take care of itself when the time comes. Of course, if you ask me, does Governor Oyetola deserve a second term? I would say of course; absolutely.

“I think Governor Oyetola has demonstrated that he is qualified for a second term by his performance thus far, by the competence and character that he has brought unto the job,” he said.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said that it did not advocate for a $200 million loan for the importation and local production of mosquito nets in the country.

A statement made available to Tribune Online on Wednesday, in Abuja, signed by its Head of Public Relations Unit, Mohammad Ohitoto, said the attention of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency has been drawn to an online publication quoting the ED/CEO NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib of advocating for a $200 million loan for the importation and local production of mosquito nets in the country.

“This is to inform Nigerians that this statement is not only untrue, but it is also a figment of the imagination of the writer as the CEO never discussed the malaria programme nor granted an interview on the malaria programme.

“It is pertinent to state that the Malaria programme is a responsibility of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (FMOH). Therefore, the Chief Executive has no reason whatsoever to discuss or advocate for funding for any intervention. This is outright fake news which should be disregarded by all well-meaning Nigerians,” the statement said.

The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans on Tuesday kicked against the proposal by the Federal Ministry of Health to borrow $200m under the Malaria Programme to buy mosquito nets in the 2022 budget.


The committee’s condemnation was in response to the Ministry of Health’s submission about its intention to borrow the amount for the purchase of mosquito nets for 13 vulnerable states.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mahmuda Mamman had justified the proposal before the panel as he said “the loan if approved by the National Assembly and accessed, will be used to medically fight malaria in the 13 orphan states which cover 208 local government Councils and 3, 536 primary health care centres”


Angered by his submission, the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe and other senators present descended heavily on the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib.

Oloriegbe wondered why N450m was budgeted for Malaria treatment in the proposed 2022 budget and yet, plans are being made to borrow $200m for the same purpose.

He said, “This is unacceptable. We should be able to put our feet down when dealing with these donor agencies or creditors as regards loans to be taken and what it should be expended on.”

Bitcoin’s price has crashed yet again, wiping hundreds of millions of pounds from cryptocurrency markets and sending traders into a huge panic.

The world’s most popular cryptocurrency plummeted below $59,000 following the “flash crash”..

This is a huge drop of more than $5,000 from the levels it was trading at just a few days ago.
It comes a week after the cryptocurrency hit a record-high price of $67,000. Bitcoin’s price drop has also had a damaging impact on a number of other cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Binance Coin, Cardano, Solana and Ripple which have also seen their value fall.

According to Daily Trust, the price of Ethereum has slumped nearly six percent to under $4 over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from CoinDesk.

Cardano’s value has plummeted almost nine percent in the same period to les than $2, while Solana has fallen 8.05 percent to $190.
Wednesday’s crash is in part driven by long-term Bitcoin holders selling at a high price in order to make a significant profit.

This is something that frequently happens when there has been a spike in the price of cryptocurrencies.

But this latest drop in value will also likely persuade a wave of new buyers to invest in Bitcoin, temped by the sudden dip in price.
According to analysts, the drop was long expected and the price could soon jump beyond $60,000 again before too long.

Cryptocurrency prices have surged this year, with Bitcoin alone jumping almost 400 percent in value over the past 12 months.
Earlier this year, experts warned cryptocurrencies remain concentrated among a small number of holders.

At the end of last year (2020), the 10,000 biggest Bitcoin holders accounted for more than a quarter (27 percent) of the total 18.6 million coins in circulation.

The Nigerian Air Force vehicle, violating the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Law in Lagos State, has allegedly killed a 31-year-old professional dancer, Ifeanyin Kalu.

According to popular stage actor, Segun Adefila, the deceased was knocked down by the military vehicle illegally using a BRT lane on Ikorodu Road while he was on his way to work.

Ifeanyin’s lifeless body was said to be in the mortuary of NAF hospital in Lagos, while his mother’s body was in another mortuary in the same state.

Sources said his mother, Mrs Oluchi Kalu, died of cardiac arrest in August 2021.

They added that the Air Force offered the family N200,000 towards Ifeanyin’s burial.

“Ifeanyin was a young Nigerian artist who was diminutive in stature but gigantic in strides. His life was one huge struggle for survival without a thought for crime but through a dint of hard work,” Adefila posted on Facebook.

“He was a prominent member of the Bariga Artists Forum (BAF) and Guild of Nigerian Dance Practitioners (GONDP). He was also a founding member of Dachrismofa Art Troupe and an alumnus of Feetprints Africa and the assistant director of Kings and Queens Art Academy- a children focused theatre group.

“His creative energy lit up every gathering he attended. Born on the 15th of July 1990, Ifeanyi was the second son of his economically disadvantaged family and the fourth child. He was a major breadwinner of the family, a bread not only rarely gotten but also never buttered.

“Their mother and matriarch of the Kalu clan passed on on the 27th of August 2021. On October 20, 2021, Ifeanyin’s life was cut short on the express way of Ikorodu Road. He lived with his aged father and 6 siblings and left them at home on that fateful day for a job he just secured. He was on his way to a school (Temple Schools, Ilupeju) where he was helping to teach the pupils cultural dance and music.

“A Nigerian Air Force vehicle traveling on a BRT lane knocked him down. Ifeanyin’s body is still in the Nigerian Air Force base mortuary. Ifeanyin’s mum is also still in another mortuary. His bereaved family who are definitely inconsolable at the moment also stands the risk of not getting any form of tangible compensation from those whose vehicle knocked him down.”

A former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, said on Tuesday that petrol imports figures were inflated when global oil prices went up during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the regime of the current President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

Sanusi, who spoke on Tuesday at a panel session during the 27th National Economic Summit in Abuja, said the subsidy on petrol was responsible for the inflated figures.

Until May 2016, when the Federal Government announced a new petrol price band of N135 to N145 per litre of petrol, private marketers imported petrol into the country and were paid subsidy claims by the government in order to keep the pump price lower than the expected open market price of the product.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which has been the sole importer of petrol into the country in recent years, has been bearing the subsidy cost. It does the importation through the Direct Purchase Direct Sale arrangement.

Under the DSDP scheme, selected overseas refiners, trading companies and indigenous companies are allocated crude supplies in exchange for the delivery of an equal value of petrol and other refined products to the NNPC.

Sanusi said, “I have said this over and over again, and when I say this, I want it to be clear that I said this when I was governor of the central bank under the previous government. What I say is not about a particular government.

“In 2015 or 2016, Minister Kachikwu came out and said Nigeria was importing 30 million litres of fuel a day after eliminating corruption and having transparency. In 2019, the NNPC came out and said we were importing 59 million litres per day after oil prices have gone up. And I have been asking the question: what happened between 2015 and 2019 that our consumption doubled?

“This was the same thing that happened under the previous government; in Nigeria, when the oil price goes up – unlike all other products when it gets more expensive, you have a reduction in demand – the NNPC says we are importing more. Why because as the price of oil goes up, the arbitrage between the subsidised price and the market price is so high; there is an incentive to inflate those numbers.”

The NNPC, in the latest monthly report on its website, said a total of 1.67 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), translating to 55.79 million litres per day were supplied in April.

Sanusi said, “I have produced evidence before the National Assembly historically of cases where the NNPC would say we have imported fuel, use the name of a vessel – people say they imported fuel; you go and check and the vessel was nowhere near Nigeria on the day they said it was in Lagos, and people have collected subsidy on those things.

“For me, all the drawbacks of this regime, what it is costing Nigeria is not just the cost of subsidy; it is the cost of the corruption. What we need to do is to scrap it.”

The ex-CBN boss added, “This money coming from petroleum belongs to the federation account; the Federal Government does not have the constitutional right to pay subsidy on behalf of the federation.

“So, that is a fundamental constitutional issue because this is money that should go to the federal, state and local governments. Yet money that belongs to the federation is carried out as a central government expenditure. So, you can see so many complex issues – there are legal and economic issues. What we need to do is stop this thing.”

There was another explosion at Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town, Oyo State on Wednesday afternoon.

SaharaReporters reports that the explosion, which occurred outside the facility recorded no casualties.

Some residents in the area suspect that the bomb was one of those planted by the gunmen who attacked the prison last Friday. It is suspected that it did not detonate at the time.

Security operatives have paid a visit to the scene to assess the extent of the damage.

Some gunmen had attacked the facility on Friday, setting all the prisoners at the facility free.

The attackers had stormed the facility around 10 pm.

It was gathered that the attackers used explosives to gain access and set prisoners free.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in the state, Olanrewaju Anjorin had confirmed the attack on Saturday.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has accused the Nigerian police of being unwilling to arrest errant herdsmen disturbing some parts of the state.

The governor stated this on Monday at the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja with the theme “Securing Our Future: The Fierce Urgency of Now.”

Akeredolu said, “Yes, you have criminal trespass. It should be treated by the state. All we had before Amotekun was the police that had the duty to arrest and were not prepared to make an arrest. Things are changing and have really changed in Ondo State.

“Today, if you trespass on other people’s land, the Amotekun will go after you and arrest you. They pay compensation to the farmers, and when they fail, they are in court. It is the only way you can send signals to the people.”

He pointed out that “when you commit a crime, and the hands of law don’t catch up with you, another person will repeat it.”

On open grazing, Akeredolu said nomadic pastoralism was a culture that must be discouraged in the interest of those involved.

“Speaking for those of us who have put in place anti-open grazing law, we have our reasons, and we have no apologies,” the governor stated.

Akeredolu, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, and other panellists spoke at the summit centred on addressing the country’s protracted security challenges.

According to him, a nation with failed security and justice systems is set to fail.

“In Ondo State, we don’t have terrorism. Our problem is farmers and herders’ clashes and kidnapping for ransom. We have drug abuse and agitation for self-determination. We have always preached multi-level policing in Ondo State. We believe in layers of security,” he said.

Bandits have kidnapped a female corps member, who was newly mobilised to Kebbi State.

The victim, Iorliam Jennifer Awashima, was reportedly kidnapped along a highway in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State while travelling.


According to People's Gazette, the bandits had attacked the vehicle Awashima was travelling in.

The 29-year-old Awashima, who graduated from the English Department of Benue State University, had boarded a vehicle from Benue State to Kebbi when bandits attacked the vehicle.

Judith Benson, elder sister to the victim told the newspaper that the bandits dressed in military fatigues waylaid the 18-seater bus, conveying her sister to Kebbi State, kidnapping nine passengers including her younger sister.

“I was told by the bus driver that bandits dressed in military uniform, stopped their vehicle (18 seaters) that carried nine persons, and they thought it was military and stopped.

“Immediately they stopped, some of the gunmen rushed out from the bush, then they knew they are not military people, and the driver and one other passenger ran out.

“They left on Tuesday, and the next day, I was calling her number and no one picked until the driver picked and told us they were attacked by kidnappers.

“And, the driver said kidnappers took his phone and when my sister’s phone was ringing he thought it was the kidnappers,” she lamented.

Benson noted that the incident happened about past 6pm and, her kid sister was to spend a night in Sokoto before heading for Kebbi State.

“We have reported to the police, SSS, and the NYSC, and they all said they are working on it,” she added.

Former Minister of Works and National Chairman, Southwest Agenda for Tinubu presidential ambition codenamed SWAGA 2023, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has revealed that 16 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are covertly supporting the presidential aspiration of the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group also inaugurated a parallel APC executives at the Ward and local government levels, describing the Hon Paul Omotoso-led executives elected by a group loyal to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Saturday as mere impostors.

Adeyeye spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, while inaugurating the factional executives belonging to SWAGA group across the two strata of the party.

While addressing the factional APC and SWAGA members, Adeyeye said : “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be the next President of this country and one of us will become the governor in Ekiti State. I am happy that the new executives have passion for this group and this will lead to action and eventually victory for all of us.

“APC leaders and members across board are using their personal money to fund SWAGA. Members are not after money. Let me tell you this, 16 governors are now backing Tinubu for president and they are no longer afraid after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State openly supported us when we did the flag-off in Lagos”.

Speaking about the strength of SWAGA in Ekiti, which he described as strong and intimidating in terms of membership, Adeyeye added: “We leant that they wanted to come and disrupt this swearing-in today, but I said they can’t. Governor Fayemi wanted to conduct election into the House of Assembly in Ekiti East constituency one, they killed three people.

“That was how weak and debased our party is now. The current government can’t bring out a governorship candidate in APC and win in 2022. They have been rejected and SWAGA is coming to save the party from ruin”.

On the new parallel executives inaugurated by SWAGA, the former Minister said: “Those that were inaugurated today are the authentic APC executives in Ekiti. The party at the national level brought out a guideline that people should come out and queue to vote for the ward and local government congresses, but the people didn’t come out. They were inside a room concocting names under the guise of consensus.

“But SWAGA members filed out. We have the video clip that we will present. What they did on Saturday, October 16 was a nullity and a complete waste of time. We knew what we did for Fayemi to win in 2018, he couldn’t have won on his own, because he has no popularity.

“I know that they can’t buy you with money, you are for SWAGA. This government has finished, don’t let them deceive you with positions. Only the Fayemi’s Tokantokan group are enjoying the dividends of what we did, others are sidelined. It is now ‘chop alone, die alone.’

“Even many of those with appointments are aggrieved, many will shock them during the governorship primary, we are now using direct primary. They can no longer sleep because the party now wants direct primary, owing to the fact that they are not popular”, Adeyeye said.

The SWAGA State Coordinator, Prince Bamigboye Adegoroye, commended members for mobilising for the party despite alleged threats from some people, saying the group has become a powerful force to be reckoned with in APC.

“By the grace of God, all our struggles will end in happiness. This is the time for political struggle. Some of you acted like brave men today, if not, you won’t have been able to attend this occasion”.

The group’s Chairman, Ikere- Council, Lanre Adekungba, said they had worked for the party in the past, but without profit, saying SWAGA will be a departure from such harrowing experiences.

“We are using our personal funds to maintain this group, which shows that we are resolute. We will deliver the party in the primary. How many people remain with them, the remnants, we will bring them to this group”.

The group’s Woman Leader in Efon Local Government, Mrs Eunice Adeoye, said the executives should be more diligent and aggressive in mobilising for the group, to be able to produce governorship candidate for the 2022 governorship election.

A British envoy in Nigeria has arrived at the federal high court in Abuja for the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The UK representative arrived in a white Toyota Highlander around 8:03 am on Thursday.

Kanu, who holds British citizenship, was arrested in June and brought to Nigeria to face trial for treasonable felony.

He had fled to the UK in 2017 after he jumped bail.

Tariq Ahmad, junior minister at Britain’s foreign office, had said the UK asked Nigeria to explain how Kanu was arrested.

While in the UK, he set up a militant arm of IPOB whose aim, according to Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman, is to “halt every criminal activity and terrorist attack on Biafraland”.

Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s counsel, had said the DSS prevented his client from seeking assistance from the UK.

The IPOB leader is to be re-arraigned today on a seven-count charge as against the five counts he was previously answering to, bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

By Oge Udegbunam


The Nigerian government will spend N19 billion on computer software in 2022, according to the budget proposal for the year submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly.

The amount is spread across nearly 200 offices, and is bound to be a lot higher as it does not cover computer and software expenditure by the armed forces and dozens of government offices whose budgets are not submitted as part of the whole to the National Assembly.

Some offices not listed in the government’s general annual budget document include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Customs Service, NNPC and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Punch reported on Monday that the tax office, FIRS, plans to spend a whopping N2.04 billion all by itself on computers alone, and another N1.3 billion on “office stationery and computer consumables.”


Rising software spending

The huge figures help raise the budget’s total deficit to over N6 trillion. At a time of low government revenue, they reflect how the country is made to bear the burden of increased spending on items that are ordinarily vital for government operations, but whose costs are made higher, in part, due to fragmented purchases by agencies that have little or no consideration for cost-reduction or value.

As countries continue to respond and recover from public health uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spending on IT products by governments around the world is expected to rise next year to $557.3 billion, an increase of 6.5 per cent from 2021, according to Gartner Inc., a Stamford, Connecticut-based technology research and consulting company.

Gartner said in an August forecast that the disruptions caused by the pandemic have also reinforced a key digital government tenet, which is that “public policy and technology are inseparable.”

Many governments have over the years put in place processes that take advantage of bulk and discounted procurement of software to save cost. In 2016, the United State government issued a new policy that tightened the reins on wasteful software purchasing by its agencies.

The policy made it mandatory for agencies to appoint officials to centrally manage their software buying. Agencies were also required to continually update inventory of software licenses to track usage and remove redundant applications. The policy aimed to “save taxpayers’ money and deliver more value for the American people.”

There is no indication the Nigerian government has made efforts to streamline its spending in a similar manner. The lack of coherence sometimes leads to apparently inflated rates for computer services and packages.

In 2020, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Kogi State government claimed it spent N150 million on a software to track coronavirus cases. The company contracted by the government confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the package sold for only N300,000. Amid public backlash, the government later claimed the actual amount it spent was N890,000, without explaining the whereabouts of the huge balance.

Also, in 2015, Works and Housing Minister Fashola Babatunde said a IT firm developed his personal website for N78 million, but the firm initially denied being paid the amount. It subsequently clarified that less than N10 million was paid by the Lagos state government for the website.

Nigerian government’s top 10 software spenders in 2022


Nigeria Immigration Service 4702149860

Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing 1155460014

Nigeria Airspace Management Agency 1033091529

National Emergency Management Agency 734211867

Federal Ministry Of Finance, Budget And National Planning - Hqtrs 684500000

Office Of The Head Of The Civil Service Of The Federation - Hqtrs 580000000

National Identity Management Commission 557307022

National Social Investment Office 545000000

State House Headquaters 470795521

Federal Ministry Of Health – qtrs 439436140

It is not clear the nature of computer packages the Nigerian government seeks to acquire and why they cost that much. But the budget proposal shows that 196 government ministries, departments and agencies have lined up to buy assorted software packages next year, according to details of the budget collated by PREMIUM TIMES.

Some of the biggest spenders will be the Immigration Service, which alone allocates N4.7 billion for software — 24 per cent of the government’s total amount. A spokesperson for the service, Amos Okpu, did not provide details of the planned expenditure when contacted weekend.

That office is followed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with N1.1 billion, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency which proposes N1 billion and the National Emergency Management Agency, which will be spending N734 million.

Other top software spenders are the Federal Ministry Of Finance, Budget and National Planning with N N684 million, the office of Head of Civil service with N580 million, National Identity Management Commission with N557 million, and the National Social Investment Office which plans to spend N545 million.

The State House will spend N470 million of “computer software” — the ninth highest amount.

If the new amount is approved by the National Assembly, then the State House would have spent N723.5 million on software in the last five years.

The president’s office spent N54.8 million on software in 2021, N24.2 million in 2020, N45.7 million in 2019 and N120 million in 2018.

Meanwhile, internet services at the presidential villa will cost N67 million next year, the same amount the government spent on internet in 2021, 2019 and 2018. In 2020, N45.9 million was allocated for that purpose.

By Sani Ibrahim Paki


The Nigerian Police Force has ordered probe of the officer who was seen casting ballot during Saturday’s congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

In the viral picture, the officer was seen beside Abdullahi Abbas, the newly elected Chairman of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s faction.

In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer in charge of Zone One in Kano, Abubakar Zayyanu, said the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of the zone, Abubakar Sadiq Bello, has ordered the investigation of the officer.

The AIG, according to the statement, described the act as unprofessional.

Daily Trust reports that the police officer identified as Bashir Mohammed is attached to the Kano Government House, from where he was deployed to work with the state APC chairman.

The statement said, “The attention of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone one Headquarters, Kano, has been drawn to a trending picture on social media, of an inspector of police casting vote at the recently conducted Kano State congress of the APC along with his principal, the state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.

“The inspector of police has been identified as Bashir Mohammed of the Special Protection Unit, Base One, Kano.

“The inspector is attached to the government house, Kano from where he was deployed to work with the said Abdullahi Abbas as a security aide.

“In view of this seemingly unprofessional conduct of the inspector, the AIG has referred the matter to the Zonal X-Squad for investigation.

“If the inspector is found to have committed a disciplinary offence by this action, the appropriate disciplinary measure will be taken against him.”

The AIG assured the general public that further development on the matter will be communicated.

The Department of Petroleum Resources, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund are all officially scrapped and do not exist anymore, the Federal Government said on Monday.

It also said while workers of the three agencies would be protected, their chief executives had been relieved of their various appointments.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, stated this while speaking on the side-lines of the inauguration of the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission in Abuja.

He explained that with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, the NPRA and NURC had taken over the functions of the DPR, PPPRA and PEF.

Responding to a question on what would happen to DPR following the inauguration of the board of NURC, Sylva said, “It is now a matter of law.

“The law states that all the assets and even the staff of the DPR are to be invested on the commission and also in the authority. So that means the DPR doesn’t exist anymore.

“And, of course, the law specifically repeals the DPR Act, the Petroleum Inspectorate Act, the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Act and the PPPRA Act. The law specifically repeals them. It is very clear that those agencies do not exist anymore.”

On what would happen to the chief executives and employees of DPR, PEF and PPPRA, the minister replied, “The law also provides for the staff and the jobs in those agencies to be protected.

“But I’m sure that that doesn’t cover, unfortunately, the chief executives, who were on political appointments.”

He stated that the process for aligning the workers of the defunct agencies with the new regulatory bodies had already commenced, as the staff had to be rationalised.

Sylva said, “The authority has its staff coming from the defunct PEF, PPPRA and DPR. The commission has staff coming over from DPR and the process is going on for the next few weeks.”

Sylva stated that the inauguration of the boards on Monday marked the beginning of the successor agencies.

He said, “The PIA provides for the upstream regulatory commission and the establishment of the midstream and downstream authority.

“So far, the chief executives of these agencies have not been in place, but of course, Mr President in his wisdom made the appointment a few weeks ago and they went through a rigorous process of confirmation at the National Assembly.

“The agencies have now taken off because they now have clear leadership and today’s event marks that beginning for the new agencies.”

He further stated that with the passage of the PIA into law, after spending over 20 years in the process, the coast was now clear for investors to fully invest in Nigeria’s oil sector.

“Today, the PIA has clarified the legal framework around the sector and the agencies are now in place. So I don’t see anything now stopping investors from coming,” the minister stated.

He said competent hands were now handling the business, adding, “Nigerians should brace up for exponential growth in the oil and gas sector.”

The Chief Executive, NURC, Gbenga Komolafe, said the commission would deliver on its mandate as captured in the new petroleum Act.

“Nigerians should expect massive deliverables in the sense that the PIA has ended the regime of uncertainty in terms of the governance of the industry,” he said.

He also said the commission would ensure that the country hits its OPEC quota in crude oil production, as the NURC would be an enabler of investments.

SCORES of Nigerians have criticised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s reliance on Dangote’s refinery to address the depreciating naira.

This is coming on the heels of a public disclosure by the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, during a foreign investors’ meeting held at the weekend in New York, that the refinery would save the country of huge foreign exchange.

Emefiele, while responding to questions from financial experts, had said the country would witness a significant drop in imports and forex boost once the Dangote refinery commenced operations by June 2022.

He was providing answers to investors’ concerns over the country’s FX reserves, exchange rates, the balance of payments, and the soaring national debt. He said Dangote’s refinery would save the nation 30 per cent foreign exchange spent on oil imports.

“Let me say by the time the Dangote Refinery begins production by June, latest July next year, it will be a major FX saving source for Nigeria. I will explain.

“In Nigeria, right now, from the FX we spend on imports, the importation of petroleum products takes about 30 percent.

“The Dangote refinery has the capacity to produce 650, 000 barrels per day. So, you take the diesel, petrol, aviation fuel, and the rest (30 percent) from them, or you convert that from crude to refined products,

“There is a domestic component that is called 450, 000 barrels, even if out of the 650, 000 barrels, the 445 barrels is what is sold to Dangote in naira, it will be a major FX saving for Nigeria.”

The Dangote refinery investment is described as capable of meeting 100 per cent of local demands of the country’s refined petroleum products with surplus for exports. It is expected to be Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility when completed.

A Bloomberg report said the refinery complex would cost about $19 billion.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has acquired a 20 per cent stake in the refinery.

Emefiele said beyond boost of the local currency, exported refined oil products from the private refinery would positively contribute to the nation’s economy.

He emphasised that the country would save more from the logistics cost spent on import refined products.

“If you look at the cost of freights alone…if we have to import from Europe or other parts of the world to bring in petroleum products, we pay heavily. Then, we pay heavily in stocking those products in the high sea before offload.

“…it is a project we just prayed somebody like Dangote will live long to see it. Nigerians will benefit from it.”

Emefiele was proud to associate the Dangote refinery project with the Federal Government’s backward integration policy to promote local content.

Foreign refineries, he emphasised, would be worried over the emerging private sector-led investment.

The petrochemical arm of the investment, he said, would commence July next year and produce polyethylene and other similar products which Nigeria had been a net importer on.

He placed Nigeria’s annual consumption of polypropylene and polythene products at slightly below 200, 000 tons.


“What does that mean?

“It means by contribution to import contents, that is about five per cent of our imports. So, if you save five percent of your import, save 30 percent in petroleum imports, and fertilizer that is about three percent, moving close to saving about 40 percent of foreign imports of the country, you will see what we will be doing in terms of allowing the market to float.

“We will float the market, and see how this currency (naira) will depreciate.”

But most Nigerians on social media expressed worry over the development.

A social media user, identified as Official_rea, questioned the rationality behind the nation’s planned dependence on the private refinery, despite its existing refineries still enjoying government funding. She observed the development could drive monopoly.

“Why is a whole country centering its fiscal policy on a one-man business: what level of monopoly will that cause:

“Same strategy is what is translating to the high cost of cement. So, the federal government has inevitably abandoned these other refineries.”

Another user, Nike Oluwa @NikeOluwa, shared a similar concern of likely inflation of petrol prices, saying the Federal Government appeared to have depended on the private sector investment.

“So Dangote is now supposed to be our messiah? I hope when that time comes, we will not be buying fuel for N500 per litre and we will have no other option than to comply with our messiah.”

Ikeena @Kenzo0_baba expressed worry that the masses might soon be at the mercy of one company.

Aside querying the reliance on Dangote to reduce public forex spending by 30 per cent, he faulted the neglected refineries.

“B.S….depending on Dangote to reduce your forex expenditure by 30 percent when you have three refineries with a combined capacity of over 1.5m bdp….and yet don’t function.. We will all be at the mercy of Dangote soon to also control market prices… such monopoly.”

Austin Chikwem @Austinesmile0705 also faulted the idea, describing the nation as a “failed country depending on an individual capacity and boast on that.”

In his remark, Veron Olusegun @veronolusegun observed the gradual shift to cleaner energy source. This, he said, might render the crude oil worthless.

“The whole country depending on an individual to boost fx. The irony is that by the year 2030, the rest of the world would drive electric cars while only Africans would use combustion engines. Crude oil would be worthless and the refinery has to pay back loans!! Joke is still on us.”

On the contrary, a few persons applauded Emefiele’s idea, describing it as intelligent. Gohunmi Adegbite @gbohunmi_official was one of those who hailed the CBN boss, though his opinion received backlash.

Olufisayo Adebayo @feesiryor simply described the CBN governor as sound. “You can’t take that away from him.”

A medical inquiry has heard that a Nigerian doctor Francis Megwa, who was employed as a senior house officer at University Maternity Hospital Limerick knew “near nothing” and was unable to take blood samples and insert intravenous drips and had to ask what an obstetrician was.

Megwa is accused of two counts of poor professional performance over a period spent working in UMHL between July 9, 2018, and August 14, 2018.

A sitting of the Irish Medical Council’s fitness to practise (FTP) committee was told that Megwa had failed to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and competence expected of a non-consultant hospital doctor working in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Irish Examiner reported that the evidence heard by the inquiry said that his skills were assessed as being equivalent to those of a final-year medical student.

Counsel for the IMC, Neasa Bird BL, said Megwa had failed to show his basic competency in taking a patient’s clinical history, in diagnosing symptoms, inserting cannulas and in prescribing common medication.

He was also charged with being unable to give a clear history about a pregnant woman who had presented at the hospital with vaginal bleeding or estimates her level of blood loss as well as failing to recommend appropriate treatment for her.

The inquiry heard Dr Megwa had very limited experience working in hospitals and only as an unpaid intern, observer, and volunteer since qualifying as a doctor in Romania in 2015.

Dr Megwa had described himself as a senior house officer in his job application to the HSE because he felt it was the “most appropriate term.” However, the IMC stressed that it was making no allegation that Dr Megwa had attempted to mislead anyone about his qualifications or experience.

Former chief clinical director of UL Hospitals Group, Dr Gerard Burke, said he had issued Dr Megwa with an oral warning and confined him to an observer role after receiving complaints about his competence after just one week of working in the hospital.

Dr Burke said he felt obliged to refer the matter to the Irish Medical Council over concerns that he would end up working in another hospital in Ireland.

Burke said he was very surprised to find out that Dr Megwa appeared to have almost no medical knowledge for someone who had spent five years in a medical school.

He told the inquiry that the doctor did not seem to know much about drugs and summed up Dr Megwa as seeming to know “near nothing.”

“I never came across the like of it before,” Dr Burke observed. “I never encountered this situation where you have to explore someone’s basic medical knowledge.”

One member of the FTP committee, Dr Máire Milner, said Dr Megwa was completely honest in his CV about his experience and the fact that he had written “shadowing” about his previous hospital roles should have rung “a giant alarm bell.”

Dr Burke, who did not interview Dr Megwa for his role as SHO, accepted that the interview process was flawed. The inquiry heard Dr Megwa was hired by UMHL because of a shortage of applicants who had completed their intern year.

A clinical midwife manager at UMHL, Valerie McInerney, said other staff had expressed concerns to her about Dr Megwa’s ability and level of skills in assessing patients.

When prescribing paracetamol for a patient, Ms McInerney said Dr Megwa was unaware of the correct dosage and frequency of the medication. She recalled he had also asked what an obstetrician was when one had been sought by a GP in a referral letter to the hospital.

A specialist registrar, Dr Laura Linehan, said Dr Megwa had incorrectly diagnosed a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant with a condition associated with the first weeks of pregnancy when she was actually suffering from a potential emergency complication, while he had also struggled to write a prescription for a woman with a urinary tract infection.

Dr Linehan said she had reported her concerns because she did not believe Dr Megwa should be allowed to work on his own in the hospital’s maternity emergency unit because of the risk of harm to patients.

But Megwa said he had made progress during his time in UMHL and he was heartbroken and felt betrayed after being placed on paid leave and subsequently having his employment terminated.

The hearing is slated to continue on Monday, October 18.

onochurch:
MAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN HIS HOME

Mr Ukeme Robert is dead. An indigene of Ibiaku Ikot Oku in Ibiono Ibom local government area, Mr Ukeme committed suicide at his home.

Reasons for the decision to take his life are sketchy as he left no notes but his last interactions with people around him show he was going through difficult times financially plus the trauma of being abandoned by his wife.

From my findings Late Mr Ukeme Robert known on Facebook as Bebeto Roberto was visibly distressed in recent times and was unable to offset pressing financial commitments.

This brings to two the number of suicide cases recorded in Ibiono Ibom in the less than one month following the case of One Mr Edem.

Sad �

IN what looks like a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, 32 state governments in Nigeria get a higher share of the Value Added Tax (VAT) than they generate internally, investigation has revealed. In the past few weeks, Nigerians have been treated to intense legal fireworks over issues relating to the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the country.

From an ongoing legal tussle between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Rivers State, more states have started agitating for the collection of the consumption tax. Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, had highlighted that Rivers State generated about N15 billion as VAT in June 2021 but received only N4.7 billion, Lagos State generated over N46 billion as VAT in June, but got just over N9 billion, whereas Kano State generated N2.8 billion and also got N2.8 billion as allocation.

However, a Nigerian Tribune investigation has revealed that many states do not have the capacity and are likely to lose because under the extant formula, their share of the VAT revenue is huge, compared to what they generate within their respective states.


Tax experts have therefore concluded that such state governments are already benefiting more from the current VAT sharing formula and may not be better off if the legal pendulum falls in their favour. According to Taiwo Oyedele, Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at Price Water House Coopers (PwC) in Nigeria, states and local governments own directly or indirectly five out of the seven major taxes accounting for over 90per cent of total tax revenue.

Many state governments will likely feel the immediate brunt of the Federation Account Allocation (FAAC), should states be allowed to collect their value-added taxes. This is because the VAT revenue forms a significant part of the net federal allocations to states and most of the states rely largely on these funds.

Under the current sharing formula, the federal government gets 15per cent of VAT revenue. 50per cent goes to the states and the final 35per cent to local governments. Furthermore, each state again, keeps 20per cent of the VAT derived from their states.

Thirty per cent of the VAT is allocated based on the population of the states, and 50per cent is then shared equally. This is a major factor that would see Kano, a highly populated state, receive more than Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).


Meanwhile, 87 per cent of the total VAT revenue comes from only five states while the other 32 states account for only 13 per cent of the funds.

States according to Oyedele, also own 100 per cent of Stamp Duties; 100 per cent of Personal Income Tax (excluding members of the force, foreign diplomats and non-resident persons); nearly 100 per cent of Property Taxes (excluding capital gains tax on companies, also shared with states); they get 85 per cent of VAT collected nationwide plus imports and international services.


States benefit from Companies Income Tax; Petroleum Profit Tax; Customs & Excise are shared at least 47.32per cent to states and local governments; states have nearly 100per cent control over land and though natural resources belong to the federation, it is generally shared 52.68per cent to Federal Government, and 47.32per cent to states & LGs Oyedele disclosed.

Available records show that Lagos State accounts for 55per cent of Nigeria’s VAT, followed by Abuja with 20per cent, Rivers with 6per cent, Kano with 5per cent while Kaduna accounts for 1per cent of the fund.


Findings show that states like Jigawa, Bayelsa, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba amongst others rely almost solely on the federal allocation to fund their expenses. In the same way, states that are major producers of food generate little VAT as a result of exemption. Hence, they would likely be at the losing end, at least in the short term, if states are allowed to collect the VAT they generate.

Oyedele stated in his position paper on VAT: “The sharing of VAT revenue seems inequitable. Sharing of three per cent of VAT to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) under section 14 of the NEDC Act may be unconstitutional.

“It was an omission that VAT wasn’t mentioned in the 1999 Constitution despite being a major tax already in force.

“A lot of VAT is generated from alcohol which is prohibited in many states in the North yet they share in the VAT.

“While the principle is valid, the actual contribution to total VAT is less than two per cent.”

According to him, states do not have the capacity to implement VAT but this can be built over time; yet, other tax experts believe that the FIRS has over the years developed the experience, technology and manpower to handle all issues concerning the administration of taxes far better than the states.

The tax expert said options open to the country are: States should administer sales tax only; administer both federal and state VAT similar to Canada, Brazil etc or ; continue to administer centrally and revisit the sharing formula.

“Any outcome that negatively impacts the majority of Nigerians is not the right solution just as we cannot claim to empower the subnational by weakening at least 32 states and all 774 local governments.

“The current VAT revenue sharing formula among states is not equitable. This inequity should be addressed by allocating any domestic VAT collected from each state entirely to the respective state.

“Only VAT collected on imports, international services and inter-state transactions should be paid into the VAT pool and shared based on derivation. This will address the current controversy without creating new problems,” Oyedele suggested.

But speaking in favour of state governments, the former member of the National Economic Council, Emmanuel Ijewere said, “if we are running a federal system of government, we should also have a fiscal federalism.

“It should be the states that will say ‘come and help us do it.’ So, whichever agency, be it FIRS or any other body working for the federal government, should be an agent to the state government concerned.”

Actually, about 32 states appear to get more than they generate.

Bottom three states are Abia (SE), Osun (SW) and Zamfara (North)

ADEBOLA AJAYI



Apanel of United States policymakers has uncovered how Boko Haram terrorists operating in the North-East region have been collaborating with armed bandits terrorising communities across the North-West to collect ransom from the Buhari administration and civilian victims, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The American newspaper reports that the U.S. has not recognised armed banditry as a direct threat to its interest, but officials have been monitoring bandit commanders and their possible coordination with Boko Haram insurgents.

“The bandits are a distant priority for U.S. policy makers focused on Nigeria’s jihadist threat, though American officials say they have intercepted calls from suspected Islamist militants in the northeast who are advising bandits in the northwest on kidnapping operations and negotiations,” the Journal said in a report published on Saturday.

The report could bolster widespread calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to declare the bandits as terrorists, even though they have no declared political or religious aim. Administration officials said the government was not in a hurry to label the bandits, but has ordered security forces to intensify raids of unsecured forests and other hideouts.

“The problem is to understand the culture of the cattle rearers, the Nigerian cattle rearers do not carry anything more than a stick. Sometimes they carry machetes to just cut some herbs for the cattle, but those foreigners from other parts of Africa are carrying AK-47,” Mr Buhari said in an interview earlier this year.

But the bandits have acquired weapons far more assorted than AK-47, and they have recently shot down a fighter jet deployed to conduct reconnaissance operations in the hostile region. “Criminal factions appear to be better equipped with larger-capacity advanced weaponry than national security agencies,” the Journal reported citing a security memo presented to Mr Buhari in July.

The Journal disclosed the U.S. findings as the outlet was reporting that the Nigerian Air Force paid N20 million in ransom to buy back an anti-aircraft machine gun from bandits before they could use the machine to bring down the president’s plane.

Peoples Gazette could not immediately confirm that the U.S. has shared its intelligence around Boko Haram-bandits collaboration with Mr Buhari or his national security appointees.

Although the Nigerian military has launched frequent attacks to take out bandits across the North-West, the gangs have shown stronger capabilities and resilience in confronting government forces over the past year.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed on July 19 that bandits had shot down one of its fighter jets, but the pilot was able to eject without and there were no casualties. The incident came as Mr Buhari was visiting his hometown for this year’s Sallah.

In August, the bandits breached the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, killing soldiers and abducting other officers, including an army major. At least three military bases have also been raided in Sokoto and Zamfara within the past few weeks.

ABUJA – Retired Lt. Col. Emmanuel Mnyin has described Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari’s recent directive to military authorities in the country to embark on local produc­tion of military weapons as an attempt to sell a dummy to Nigerians, insisting that there’s no military factory in the country to realise the project.

Mnyin claimed to have been retired 14 times in 38 years without any retire­ment letter which made it impossible for him to get his retirement benefits.

He told Sunday Indepen­dent: “All through these six years of Buhari administra­tion, the Nigerian military has had nothing to offer.

“They don’t have a factory to produce any weapon. Don’t let anyone deceive you. Keep your fingers crossed.”

Mnyin also said the reason for his premature retirement was because he got “acceler­ated promotions”.

According to him, “I don’t have my retirement letter yet and this is 45 years and count­ing.”

He warned Nigerians against “buying dummy statements from this Presi­dency, saying “this is anoth­er way to scam for money; have you seen any changes anywhere? Forget it.”

While giving insight into his predicament in the Ni­gerian Army, Lt. Col Mnyin said: “Am the best military officer ever trained in the history of the Nigerian De­fense Academy, a marksman, best all-round in academics, the first officer cadet to be commissioned a full lieu­tenant.”

And in a statement on Saturday to Sunday Inde­pendent, an academic in the Department of History and International Studies, Federal University of Lafia, Associate Professor Uji Ter­lumun, noted observed that local production of weapons may itself be a source of anx­iety to stakeholders knowing that there have been reported cases of military officers and insurgents.

He said: “There are fears, both real and imagined, that given the balkanized state of Nigeria along pri­mordial and subjective tra­ditional lines, the military policy of the president, as good as it may appear, may­be exploited by irredentists and militant movements across Nigeria like the Boko Haram, herdsmen mi­litia, the IPOB and several others, who have links and networks with the Nigerian military.

“Intelligence sources suggest that the Nigerian military, since the General Abacha era, has been politi­cized along ethnic, sectional and religious lines, thereby eroding the professionalism and patriotism of the mili­tary institution.”

The Associate Prof. re­vealed: “As far back as 2005, at a seminar at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, military experts predicted the rise of militant insur­gency in Nigeria linked to the politicization of the military.

“For a long time, our military deposit and hard­ware institutions have been exploited by the top military and civil class to fuel insurgency in order to achieve political relevance and consolidate political power.”

According to him, “It is go­ing to be difficult for the Ni­gerian people to trust the mo­tives of the regime to embark on the domestication of the military industrial complex even though we know it is a National Defence Imperative for all modern independent nation states like Nigeria. The directive is a rat race policy.”

OYINDAMOLA OLUBAJO

President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has announced that Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance as of October stands at $60, 857,773.43, a drastic depletion from the $2.1 billion left by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Clem Agba, the minister of state for budget and national planning gave the update during the national economic council meeting at the State House in Abuja on Friday, according to a statement by Laolu Akande, spokesperson to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

“Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance as at 13th October 2021 stands at $60, 857,773.43; Stabilisation Account, balance as at 13th October stands at N25,009,892,511.55; Development of Natural Resources Account balance as at 13th October 2021 stands at N56,144,024,000.71,” the statement said.

As of July 13, NEC announced that the excess account balance stood at $60.8 million while stabilisation account was N26.3 billion with the natural resources account balance standing at N23.5 billion.

The ECA, created in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the sole aim of saving oil revenue in excess of the budgeted benchmark, stood at $3.6 billion in February 2014, one of the highest balances on record.

In 2015, the former minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that the country earned $61.7 billion (about N12.3 trillion) as excess crude oil money between 2011 and 2015.

The minister said Nigeria earned about $18.14 billion in 2011; $18.16 billion in 2012; $15.19 billion in 2013; $8.01 billion in 2014, and $2.17 billion in 2015.

As of August 2015, after Mr Buhari assumed office, it stood at $2.2 billion but it gradually depleted.

The Central Bank of Nigeria in its 2018 report said that the country’s excess crude account fell from $2.45 billion in 2017 to $480 million as of December 2018.

Statistics from the ministry of finance had also revealed that the Buhari regime withdrew N1.5 trillion (about $4.92bn) between 2015 and 2019 from the account. $1 billion was withdrawn in 2017 on basis that it will be used to procure arms and train personnel in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

A 2020 analysis by BudgIT, a civic organisation had indicated that Nigeria’s excess crude oil under Mr Buhari stood at $631 million in December 2018, $324 million in October 2019, and fell to $70 million in February 2020.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has challenged state governors to invest in areas of economic advantage, saying that Lagos State was able to grow its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, because it started thinking like a sovereign state when its allocation from the central government was seized.

Professor Osinbajo said this at Ekiti Economic and Investment summit tagged ‘Fountain Summit 2021’ organised by the Ekiti State government to find sustainable solutions to some socio-economic issues besetting the state.

Recall that the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld the monthly allocation to Lagos State for a while.

At the summit, he, alongside Governors of Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Kaduna states, Kayode Fayemi, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Godwin Obaseki and Nasir el-Rufai, respectively, also called for state police.

While speaking on economy, the Vice President said: “Attracting investments to any state should be the major focus of state chief executives because that is the revenue hub and determinant of how happy the people of any state will be in terms of economic development with their standard of living.

“But while trying to grow investments, we must be cautious of multiple taxations; it weighs down businesses.

“Ekiti is a business-friendly environment. Ekiti has also excelled in the aspect of ease of doing business. You have vast arable lands for agriculture.

“Let me say that Ekiti has a bigger economy than many Africa nations. The question we should ask ourselves is that if I were the landlord of this sub-nation, how do we survive?

“During my time as a Commissioner in Lagos, we started with N600 million monthly Internally Generated Revenues, IGRs, in 1999.

“The seizure of Lagos funds by President Olusegun Obasanjo made us think like a sovereign state.

“Today, Lagos is making over N45 billion monthly.”

Amid the public outcry over threats to undermine the independence of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by the House of Representatives, by directing the aviation regulatory body to withhold the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of NG Eagle, the Senate has equally mandated the NCAA to suspend the issuance of AOC to the soon-tobe- airline over protracted labour-related issues with Arik Air workers.

The Senate Committee on Aviation, yesterday, joined its counterpart at the House of Representatives to direct the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to stop forthwith, the issuance of the AOC to NG Eagle, an airline being muted by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). A letter signed by the chairman of the committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, to the NCAA on October 11, 2021, made reference to a joint petition to the Senate by the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals and National Union of Pensioners, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, challenging the issuance of the AOC over huge debts to FAAN.

“The petition categorically stipulated that the application for AOC is unrealistic and unfeasible as the debt profile of Arik Air which is presently under receivership by AMCON is enormous. Therefore, the notion that AOC be granted to NG Eagle while it uses Arik Air aircraft which accounts for part of the assets of Arik Air will invariably undermine the receivership. “Having carefully con-residered the submission by the unions, the Senate Committee on Aviation in consonance with the House Committee on Aviation hereby directs you to immediately suspend the issuance of AOC to NG Eagle.

The essence of this suspension is to enable the committee and relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation on all allegations levelled by the unions in the petition. The Committee expects full compliance with this directive until a workable resolution is achieved,” the letter reads. The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, had, last week, directed the NCAA not to issue the AOC to the Nigeria Eagle Airline being midwife by AMCON.

The Committee gave the directive in Abuja following a petition jointly addressed to the Chairman, Nnolim Nnaji, by the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, (ANAP) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) branch of the National Union of Pensioners, (NUP), over debt issues. But the Aviation Round Table (ART), condemned the interference by the House of Representatives in the issues involving the issuance of the Air Operator’s Certificate to NG Eagle by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

By Idowu Isamotu


The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked government officials in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to withdraw their children from foreign universities and enroll them in Nigeria.

It also called on the National Assembly to initiate a law that makes it compulsory for the public office holders to send their wards to public schools in the country, saying such a step would let the officials know the decay in the public universities.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, gave this charge in Abuja at the reconvened meeting with the federal Government, being conciliated by the Minister of Labour and Employment.

Speaking before the meeting went into a closed-door, Osodeke said, “We hope that the government will make it mandatory that if you accept a government appointment, your children must attend universities in the country.

“The National Assembly must formulate a law that if you take an appointment, your children must study here. If you know that your children cannot be here, don’t take government appointments.

“When you hear those in the government who send their children to schools abroad say that ASUU goes on strike, they should know that strike is not the problem. The problem is the issues afflicting the universities; nobody is interested in tackling them.

“Look at the budget we have seen recently, it is exactly the same thing we have been seeing. Nothing has changed. And this country is paying the high price for neglecting education – the banditry you see, the kidnapping and what have you, is because people are not being taken care of.

“That is why ASUU has been struggling, so that Nigerian universities will be revamped, so that as our children go outside for learning, other children from other countries will come here too and pay to this country in hard currency.”

Earlier in his remarks, Ngige assured that the Federal Government would not abandon the public universities in spite of dwindling resources and reiterated the government’s readiness to work with ASUU and others interested in revamping the educational system.

“ASUU is not asking for things that are impossible. They are not asking that we give them our head or blood. They are interested in getting good working conditions for their members and for the public university system to be conducive for teaching and research,” the minister said.

The meeting is still ongoing as at when filing this report.

Fakeye Olufemi, a member of the house of representatives, says owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, including carpenters and taxi drivers, should be made to pay tax.

Olufemi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila federal constituency of Osun state, spoke on the floor of the house on Wednesday.

The finance act 2020 exempt small companies with an annual turnover of not more than N25 million from paying company income tax (CIT).

Olufemi, who was contributing to the 2022 budget debate during the plenary session, said this will enable the federal government to boost its revenue generation.

“Why I salute the honourable speaker and my colleagues herein seated and even the senate for complying with the request by the executive that we reset the button to a January to December cycle for budget making; I think it is fair to expect that if we do that — which we have done, there should be a properly timed implementation of the budget. I know it is easy to talk, it is more difficult to implement,” he said.

“I like to tell the executive; if you are going to borrow to implement the project for a year — they should be borrowing January, February and March not borrowing or trying to arrange the borrowing in the third or fourth quarter of the year for which you want to implement.

“I’m aware right now and it has been said here that only two quarterly releases have been made now — we are in the last quarter of the year. That makes a joke of all the effort that we put in day in, day out to ensure that the budget is passed in time.

“And I pay attention to revenue shortfall for the government and I begin to ask myself and I recall when I was young, everybody pays taxes. Whether you are a farmer, your daddy was a carpenter, whatever he did for a living, he paid tax.

“Now we have tended to forgive everybody their taxation except those who have an income where the tax is taken out of your income and the rest paid to you.

“I think our tax reform should be such that every Nigerian has a chance to contribute. Go out there and talk to 80 percent or 90 percent of the people of Nigeria, a lot of them that are self-employed; they don’t pay tax anymore

“So when we hear FIRS or tax organisations, even the tax joint board widening the tax net; why do they shy away from finding a way to make people pay — whether you are a carpenter, you are a taxi driver, you are selling rice in the market — these people make a lot of money but they don’t get to pay nothing. So I think that is an area I would like to see revenue boosting.”