₦airaland Forum

Francis Sardauna in Katsina



With the decision of the federal government to suspend fuel supply to filling station located within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land border, fuel scarcity has hit border towns in Katsina State, THISDAY checks have revealed.

Investigation also revealed that the scarcity had led to an increase in the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) from N145 to N250 in towns coterminous with the Niger Republic, accounting for an increase of about 40 percent.

This was uncovered yesterday when our correspondent visited some of the border towns to evaluate the impact of the directive that restricted fuel supply to filling stations within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land border.

During the visit, THISDAY checks revealed that the directive of the federal government had resulted in fuel scarcity in Daddara, Nasarawa, Dan Arau, Magaman, Jibia, Makada and Tsayau communities.

In these communities, findings revealed that the directive stoked fuel scarcity and hike in the prices of petroleum products at Jibia and Kongolam border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

THISDAY observed that the federal government task force on border closure had shit all major filling stations within 20 kilometres to the border, a decision that put the residents in the communities under pressure.

Among others, some of the filling stations shut by the task force include Afdin Petroleum Services Limited, Coil Oil, A.Yau Moba Nigeria Limited, B.H Maidingi Ventures, Lolo Dakare Nigeria Limited, Fulani Yarima Petroleum Limited and Danyaro General Enterprises.

Consequently, residents of the border towns, who spoke with THISDAY, lamented undue increase in fuel pump price following the suspension of fuel supply to areas within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land borders.

One of the residents of Magaman Jibia, Sule Safiyanu, said the federal government’s action was affecting the economic growth of the country and the livelihood of the citizens.

“As you can see, all the petrol stations in this town are closed down by the men of the Nigeria Customs Service. Before, we can get fuel for N145 per litre but now, it is N200 or N250. The worst aspect of it is that we cannot even get the product to buy,” he said.

Another resident, Faroq Tijani, said: “Now that the federal government has stopped the supply of fuel to border communities, we are the ones suffering. How can we survive? We cannot travel again for lack of fuel. We travel as far as Katsina to get fuel for our vehicles and machines.”

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, had directed that no petroleum products should be supplied to any filling station within 20 kilometres to the country’s borders.

Nasiba, daughter of Sani Dauda, a former chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, says Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police (IGP), is harassing her family.

Nasiba, who spoke with TheCable on Tuesday, said her family was being targetted over her refusal to remain in a legally dissolved marriage with Abubakar Musa, her ex-husband whom she claims is a childhood friend of the IGP.

She said she kept things to herself about her ex-husband until Monday when policemen came to arrest her father and her elder brother.

TheCable has contacted police headquarters for a response to the allegation.

According to her, the policemen, who reportedly acted on the directive of the IGP, could not produce any warrant to effect the arrest.
“They came over to the house with no warrant but a petition they claim was from my ex-husband,” she said.

“In the petition, he accused my dad of taking me away from him and marrying me off to someone else illegally. But this is not true. The marriage was dissolved at the court, and I got the divorce certificate.

“My ex-husband has chosen to humiliate me and my family. The IG sent five police vans to pick up my father, his lawyer and the judge that treated the case while he was praying in the mosque. They wanted to take me and my husband, but we weren’t around.

“Prior to that, the commissioner of police, Ali Aji Janga ,called my father and told him the IG has asked him to arrest him based on a petition sent by my ex-husband that my father has married me off to another man while he’s still married to me.

But the CP told my father that he has advised the IG that this not a criminal offence and should not be treated as such. The IG insisted and told him to act on his instructions. My father is still at the police station with no arrest warrant and no explanation.”

Nasiba said she had left the marriage due to physical and emotional abuse, as her ex-husband assaulted her in ways no one could imagine.

“I don’t know why the IG is making this a criminal offence. I know my ex-husband is a childhood friend of the IG and he was also instrumental in his appointment as IG, but if the IG wants him married, he should marry off his own daughters to him,” she said.

She added that her father and others are still being detained at the special anti robbery squad (SARS) office at the Kaduna state police command.

Frank Mba, force public relations officer, promised to investigate the matter and get back to TheCable when he was contacted.

Yakubu Sabo, spokesman of the Kaduna police command, said he was attending a training outside the state when TheCable contacted him for comments.

President General of The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima has advised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to fight back for being ridiculed in the Presidency or resign as Vice President to avoid being removed.

Shettima further said the current government has undermined Osinbajo and wondered why the Vice President has remained silent in the face of his travail in the Presidency.

AYCF leader made this known while speaking with the press in reaction to the sack of some aides attached to the Vice President, which Presidency said was necessary to reduce cost.
According to Daily Post, Shettima disclosed that certain people at the corridors of power are manipulating the system for their selfish interest, making sure that the Vice President was put off the system so that he can’t find his way to the presidency in 2023.

“One thing about this government is no matter how they pretend, something is wrong. The moment they said the President and his Vice were in good terms I knew something was wrong because there can’t be smoke without a fire.

Shettima said the Federal government should have reduced the cost of the National Assembly instead of sacking aides of the Vice President.

In his words, “If really they want to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria why not look for a way of placing so many aides there doing nothing on allowances or reduce the number rather than look at the office of the Vice President.

“Some of us know that the battle line has been drawn. Osinbajo is serious being undermined, this is a clear indication that he is a target and they would pull him down. I’m surprised that he has not come out boldly to seek the sympathy of Nigerians and speak his mind. He is sitting there quietly because he wants to prove to Nigerians that he is a man of God.

Shettima, however, urged the vice president to come out to explain what he is going through to Nigerians.

“The issue of politics is not the matter of God, it’s about issues, professionalism must have to come to play. I know he is a Professor of law but he needs to come out and tell Nigerians what is going on, if he continues to stay quiet he will just wake up one morning and discovered that he has been removed.

“The office of the Vice President has been ridiculed so for me its either he’s out to fight or he resigns because if he doesn’t and can’t fight back then certainly they would remove him through any means. Nobody thought it was possible to remove the Chief Justice of the Federation but the did it easily, so how more the Vice President that is a spare tyre to the president. The head of the judiciary was removed and they frustrated him and nothing happened.”

By Adeola Yusuf


Mass sack is currently looming in Nigeria’s oil industry as more international oil companies consider pulling out from Nigeria’s oil bloc stakes.

The move, which came a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the bill that amends the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act, New Telegraph gathered exclusively yesterday, is to worsen the over 3,500 job loss suffered by Nigeria’s oil industry between 2016 and 2019.

French super major, Total, which pioneered the fresh exit plan from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, this newspaper gathered, has appointed an investment bank, Rothschild, to manage its $750 million asset sale in Nigeria.

Total is not the only international oil company that has stakes in OML 118.

The stake owners include Royal Dutch Shell – the operator – Exxon Mobil and Eni.

While Royal Dutch Shell owns 55 per cent stake in OML 118, Exxon Mobil has 20 per cent, Eni and Total both own 12 per cent in the oil bloc.

There has been exchange of correspondences between the IOCs offices in Nigeria and their headquarters situated in their mother countries over this move, this newspaper can report authoritatively.

“While a lot of these correspondences centred on implications of the new law guiding Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) to “our bottom lines, our officers here in Nigeria have been tasked to take resolutions on the new bill as an emergency,” a top management staff of one of the oil majors told this newspaper.

Stating that there would be need for re-adjustment in revenue forecast and projections made on investments in Nigeria before the bill, he maintained that there would be “realignment in spending and possible right-sizing to reflect the new reality.”

There has been mass sack of over 3,500 workers in Nigeria’s oil industry between 2016 and 2019, data compiled by this newspaper showed.

While the country’s economic recession was responsible for the sack of about 3,000 in 2016, the United States super oil major, Chevron, sacked 500 staff working on various projects of the company in Nigeria in 2019.

The two major unions in the oil and gas sector, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), then threatened to go on strike, saying over 3,000 of their members were affected during the 2016 mass sack.

Total Group is already looking for buyers for one of its major oil blocs in Nigeria.

The oil company wants to sell off its 12.5 per cent stake and has already contracted an investment bank to manage the sale process of the deepwater oilfield.

Total’s 12.5 per cent stake in the deepwater oilfield, Oil Mining Lease 118, is estimated to be worth $750 million. Part of the oil bloc includes Bonga field, which began production in 2005.

According to report, the Bonga field has produced around 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at its peak.

With the $10 billion development of the Bonga Southwest field, production output is expected to grow.

The decision to sell its stake in the OML 118, which is located some 120 kilometres (75 miles) off Niger Delta, is coming amidst Total’s expansion in Africa.

The company is also reportedly planning to sell $5 billion of assets around the world by 2020; the sale of its stake in OML 118 is part of the assets’ sale.

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), it would be recalled, invited interested bidders for the development of the Bonga South West Aparo (BSWA) oil field in February 2019.

It was reported that the project’s initial phase includes a new Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, more than 20 deep-water wells and related subsea infrastructure.

The field lies across Oil Mining Leases 118, 132 and 140, about 15km southwest of the existing Bonga Main FPSO.

But Shell disclosed days after that the directive by the Nigerian government to foreign oil companies to pay $20 billion in taxes owed would delay the final investment decision on its Bonga Southwest deepwater oilfield.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cockroach-ear-37.jpg



This man’s medical emergency will have have you reaching for a Q-tip.

Doctors in China were shocked to discover that a man’s earache was caused by around a dozen cockroaches that had hatched in his hearing canal.

The 24-year-old man — identified only as Mr. Lv — was admitted in October to Sanhe Hospital in the Guangdong Province, where he complained of a “sharp pain” in his right ear, reports New York Post.

“He said his ear hurt a lot, like something was scratching or crawling inside,” Dr. Zhong Yijin, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the clinic, told AsiaWire. “It caused a lot of discomfort.”

Lv also told the docs his family had previously shone a light in his ear to reveal what looked like a large bug inside. The doctor soon confirmed the man’s suspicions after discovering a freshly born brood of German cockroaches — and their mother — in his auditory canal.

“I discovered more than 10 cockroach babies inside,” Dr. Yijiin said. “They were already running around.”

Sanhe Hospital’s deputy head of ENT, Dr. Jiang Tengxiang, told local media outlets Lv had a habit of leaving snacks near his bed while he slept, which likely prompted the insect interlopers to use his ear as an impromptu incubation chamber.

Doctors were able to extract both the babies and their mama — one by one — from Lv’s ear using tweezers.

BTW: This guy got off easy. Experts say the German (blattella germanica) cockroach’s egg case typically contains 30 to 40 eggs.

Lv only sustained minor injuries to his ear, and was discharged the same day with a prescription for antibiotic ointment, according to a statement released by the hospital.

Dr. Tengxiang also provided helpful — i.e. obvious — tips for preventing cockroaches from living rent-free in your head.

“Practice good hygiene, disinfect drains and sewers and use mosquito nets and screens on windows,” he said. “That’ll stop insects from flying or crawling into your noses and ears.”

Investigation by our reporter has revealed that the major textile and rice markets in Cotonou, Benin Republic, have seen a massive decline in patronage following the complete closure of the land borders and increased clampdown on smuggling.

A 24-hour observation at the Seme border post revealed a complete compliance with the FG’s directive on the closure of borders to both imports and exports as only passenger movement is aloud.

In August, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of Nigeria’s land border with Benin, hence preventing the import of goods.

This recent move is part of an effort to tackle smuggling and associated corruption and also to spur domestic agricultural industry. On October 14, 2019, Nigeria ordered the closure of its border with Benin, as well as those with other countries, for the same reason.

According to the Nigerian maritime site Ships and Ports, in 2014 Benin lowered its tariffs on rice imports from 35 to seven per cent, while Cameroon erased it completely from 10 per cent.

Neighbouring Benin then recorded an astronomical rise in imports from Thailand, the world’s second largest producer of rice. At its height, each of Benin’s 11.5 million citizens would have had to consume at least 150kg of rice from Thailand alone.

With the market for smuggled food now restricted, domestic food prices – already high – have gone up and the economy of neighbouring Benin – a staging area for smuggling into Nigeria – has been devastated.

At the border front on the Benin area, commercial activities have drastically reduced from mere observation compared with the last time this reporter visited before the closure.

Foreign rice, which litters most shops around the area hardly get buyers despite selling at N9,000. Commercial cab drivers are not left out.

Mr Oliver, a Benin citizen who conveyed this reporter to the major market for cars, textile and rice, repeatedly expressed frustration at the border closure. Oliver said, “Oga, I used to do five trips between Seme border and Cotonou daily before the closure.

I have been at the park since 04:30am and it is 12:30pm, and this is my first trip.” Right inside the border area, trailers carrying sardine, milk, turkey and chicken have been abandoned, with many of them already rotting and smelling.

Our reporter also came across several trailer loads of cow skin (kpomo) purportedly from Mali also rotting away and forcing the owners to rent warehouses to offload. Some others were seen drying the skin on the floor along the road to salvage some.

At the textile and rice market in Dantokpa and Missebo in Cotonou, the major dealers are mostly Chinese and Lebanese and the native Benin people chasing after clients and getting commission from sales. The market is a shadow of itself, with the shops stocked with goods and very few native buyers.

A Lebanese textile trader, Samir, said, “What Nigeria has done is devastating. We had already ordered these goods on the high sea for December rush when the government closed the border.

“When Nigerians used to come, one person buys textile wax worth around CFR15m CFR. But these days, as big as this shop, I hardly make sales of CFR100,000.” When our reporter visited the used clothes section of the market, the lamentations were the same.

Emeka Eze, a trader in used clothes, said, “My brother, we are in serious trouble. I have not been able to sell one bale in one month. I used to sale two bales in one day when the borders were opened. “We are begging the Cotonou government to settle with our government so that we can survive.”

At the several mega car plazas around Tokpa, the story was the same for used car dealers, mostly Lebanese and Indians.

Luxembourg-based shipping company, BIM e-solutions, said an average of 10,000 cars arrived at the Cotonou port from Europe monthly.

Findings by our reporter revealed that a used Lexus 2014 which used to be sold for CFR15m now goes for around CFR11m. On the Nigerian side, some amount of foreign rice makes it to the communities around the Seme border and a 50kg bag is sold for N11,000.

However, the several Customs, Immigration and police checkpoints have discouraged buyers as you would be forced to pay heavily to move just one bag to Badagry; a 10km distance. In fact, commercial drivers reject passengers with any kind of load except you open them for inspection to ensure that nothing inside will land them in trouble.

A passenger from Seme to Badagry who had five pieces of dry fish worth about N1,000 in the taxi this reporter traveled in, paid N200 at each of the two checkpoints to Customs before we were allowed to continue.

The Customs checkpoints at Sesikodji junction and Gbaji road junction are notorious for these checks and extortion as closely observed by this reporter. At the bridge before Badagry, there are about five checkpoints, with a distance of 50 meters from one to the other, comprising Customs, Police and Immigration.

These officials collect money for a pair of shoes, a bottle of groundnut oil, fish, textile, herbs, tin tomatoes, among others. The officers are ruthless; they can be seen recklessly emptying travellers bags in search of contraband.

Meanwhile, the impact of the border closure seems to be creeping in as workers at Nichem Textile Factory around Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, Lagos, told our reporter that they had resumed their shifts owing to increased patronage of the company’s products.

A worker said, “We were recalled recently because their inventory has gone down and we have continued to be busy in the last three months.”

The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) said the border closure had not only curtailed importation of smuggled textile materials into Nigeria, but that it was reviving the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sub-sector.

In an interview with the President of NACOTAN, Mr. Anibe Achimugu, he said, “The reduction in the influx of textile materials into the country has boosted the morale of players in the sub-sector to get back to work.

“The major advantage of the closure is the control it has brought to the importation of smuggled textile materials, including used clothes.

The closure has reduced that significantly, but that also puts a burden on us to fill the gap. We have to start developing our internal capacities to meet the needs of Nigerians. The association is fully in support of the partial closure of borders.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said if the closure of the land borders was sustained for the next two years, the issue of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be eradicated.

Emefiele who stated this at the first Convocation Lecture of Edo University, Iyamho, Auchi, at the weekend, explained that if the youths, who were into vices, were gainfully engaged, insecurity would reduce to the barest minimum. He said, “I can tell you that if our borders remain closed for two years, the issue of Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry and Yahoo-Yahoo will stop.

CBN will promote this policy by making sure that we produce what we consume and eat what we produce.” He vowed that the apex bank would not allow the country to be used as dumping ground for smuggled goods.

Emefiele further said, “Instead of some neighbouring countries to develop policies to grow their own economies, they rather engage in things that undermine the Nigerian economy.”

French oil major, Total is seeking to sell its 12.5 per cent stake in the giant Bonga deepwater oilfield off the coast of Nigeria, in an effort to adjust the energy company’s Africa portfolio amid a broad expansion.

Reuters quoted banking and industry sources as saying that the stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, which is located some 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the Niger Delta, is valued at up to $750 million.

Investment bank, Rothschild, is said to be running the sale process for the oil major.

Rothschild and a spokeswoman for Total declined to comment.

OML 118 is operated by Royal Dutch Shell, which holds a 55 per cent interest. Exxon Mobil holds a 20 per cent stake in the block, while Italy’s Eni and Total each hold 12.5 per cent.

The sale process is part of Total’s plan to sell $5 billion of assets around the world by 2020, the sources said.

The block includes the Bonga field, Nigeria’s first deepwater project which started in 2005 and produced around 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at its peak.

Output from the block is planned to grow sharply with the $10 billion development of the Bonga Southwest field which is expected to produce up to 200,000 bpd, roughly 10 per cent of Nigeria’s current oil production.

Nigeria’s vast oil resources have attracted foreign oil companies for decades but changes to the country’s oil revenue laws as well as an unexpected tax levy over the past year could make investments in offshore projects less attractive.

Shell and its partners were expected to make an investment decision on Bonga Southwest last year but uncertainty over its fiscal terms with the Nigerian government have delayed the process.

However, with the signing of the new Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Act by President Muhammadu Buhari, there is now clarity of terms for deep offshore production.

Shell in February launched a tender for bids for a 225,000 bpd floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the new development phase.

It has since pushed back the schedule for the bids.

The sale comes as Total prepares to expand its operations in Africa after agreeing earlier this year to buy Anadarko’s Africa portfolio for $8.8 billion as part of its acquisition by United States rival Occidental Corp.

Total in January started production from the Egina oilfield off Nigeria’s coast which is expected to plateau at 200,000 bpd of oil.

kingxsamz:
Whether he wrote that article or not, it's obvious that this news was made up. Unless there's a photo to back it up.
Na people like u dey believe everything bloggers tell you.

By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja



A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja on Wednesday heard that a copy of the P&ID contract was submitted to a Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), for vetting.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Umar Hussein Babangida, told Justice Olukayode Adeniyi that his team got this information from a former Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Grace Taiga.

Babangida did not name the minister.
He did not clarify whether the P&ID contract, which which was signed in 2010, was vetted by a Justice Minister appointed under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua or the one appointed by his successor, Goodluck Jonathan.

Babangida said his team investigated the controversial gas contract awarded to the Irish firm, P&ID, in respect of which a $9.6billion damages were awarded against Nigeria.

Read Also: P&ID: UK judgment saved Nigeria’s assets, says Fed Govt

The investigator was the second prosecution witness in Mrs Taiga’s trial for, among others, receiving a bribe in respect of the contract and making a false statement.

Taiga is also accused of violating various laws by entering into the Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and a certificate of no-objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Babangida said during investigation, his team invited Taiga for questioning and that “she (Mrs. Taiga) confirmed, from the interview and her written statements, that the draft agreement was forwarded to the office of the AGF for vetting and further directives.”

Led in evidence by a prosecution lawyer, Abba Mohammed, Babangida said: “I got to know the defendant in the course of investigating a petition forwarded to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC from the office of the AGF. The petition was dated sometimes June 2018 and it was received by EFCC in July 2018.”

He said the team also requested from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, through another letter of investigation activities, for the ministry to confirm cash backing for the project; license to the contractor (P&ID Ltd) to operate in the gas and petroleum sector in Nigeria, and to make available the list of the technical team from the ministry.

Babangida said: “The ministry obliged us with the documents -GSPA and the Memorandum of understanding. Upon analysis of the two documents, we observed that the MoU was signed by a company – P&ID Ltd (Nigeria), while the GSPA was signed by P&ID Ltd, a company registered in the British Virgin Island.

“The then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Lukman Rilwan, now deceased, signed for the Ministry in both documents, while the Director, Legal, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Grace Taiga, witnessed for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in both documents. Mr Michael Payne, an Irish citizen signed for P&ID Nigeria and PID Virgin Island, while Mohammed Kuchazi witnessed for both companies
“From the response from the ministry on the issue of cash backing, the ministry confirmed that there was no cash backing that was approved. On whether the company was issued a license to operate on gas activities, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) confirmed that the company (P&ID of British Virgin Island) was not issued a license.

“We wrote to Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to confirm if the GSPA was forwarded to the commission for inspection and approval, to enable the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to decide on it.

“From their (ICRC’s) response, they confirmed that the GSPA was not forwarded for their consideration. It also said that the agreement cannot be considered by the Federal Executive Council without passing through the ICRC.

“We also wrote to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to confirm if the agreement, the GSPA was forwarded for the FEC consideration and approval. From their response, it was confirmed that it (the GSPA) was not forwarded to the office.”

The prosecution lawyer subsequently tendered copies of all the documents, including the GSPA, MoU, the petition from the AGF, letters of investigations activities to the various agencies, among others, which the trial judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi admitted in evidence in the absence of any objection by defence lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN).

Testifying earlier as the first prosecution witness, Remigius Ugwu (a Compliance Officer, with Zenith Bank Plc), confirmed that Mrs. Taiga maintained naira and dollar accounts. He said the defendant was the sole signatory to them.

During proceedings, Taiga looked weak and could barely walk. She coughed intermittently in the dock. A court official put off the ceiling fan directly above her head.

After tendering some documents, the prosecution counsel applied for an adjournment. Defence counsel Ola Olanipekun (SAN), did not object. He also prayed the judge to allow the defendant enough time to recuperate.

The judge granted the application and adjourned till December 12, 2019. He also vacated November 7, earlier chosen for the continuation of trial.

By Tunde Asaju



Thomas Aquinas, the Italian theologian and philosopher wrote “to one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To the one without faith, no explanation is possible.” He could have been speaking of our nation and the hailers who see nothing wrong with every knee-jerk policy direction of governments and its actors.
Our borders have been closed since August 20.

Looks like it would remain closed indefinitely.

The Central Bank Governor who claimed to have been invited by the press to explain the economic gains of the closure seem to think that it is the best road not taken. He prays the borders remain closed for a pretty long time even as government seeks to borrow to finance its projects in 2020. Emefiele sees in the border closure a booster juice needed to revive a collapsed economy.

Emefiele doesn’t need the nail clapping of the unconvinced. There are millions of regime apologists applauding government’s wisdom in taking the decision.

Hameed Ali, our comptroller of Customs now wear’s a toothpaste smile in support of the border closure. He has never seen institutional dynamism in resource generation as when the borders are closed.

A new one argument was introduced during the week, from China. Communist China closed its borders for so long that by the time it reopened it had garnered economic and manufacturing muscle to have no need for importation and grow the muscle to take the global market by storm!
This manner of reasoning is warped. When did China close its borders? How do we compare the socio-economic rationale of that closure with the present day two-way politico-economic regime in China? What did China do to reset its economy to compete in 21st Century arena? Is our country thus equipped to copy them? Maybe it is and wailers aren’t privy to that policy document.

Of course, if you subscribe to the notion that government exists to create emergency millionaires, you would applaud border closure. Contemporary regimes measure achievements by the number of accidental millionaires under them. Border closure is bound to produce more such millionaires. Already, government has boasted that hitherto subsistent rice farmers now perform pilgrimages.

Border closure is public admittance of system failure. This is why one doesn’t understand the smirk on Ali’s face. Closing borders to force your citizens to eat local is public admission of system failure and lack of trust in policy. If you have to use antiquated military strategy to whip your citizens to become emergency patriots, you are not governing, you are ruining.

The few times I have driven across the Canadian border to the USA, I have seen Canadians disembark at the border to declare their purchases and to pay applicable taxes without prompting. The Canadian government did not attain that level of national conscientization by closing its borders. Patriotism becomes ingrained when you see leadership by example and your taxes working for you. It works less when your leaders hand down instructions and fail to practice what they preach. Flying abroad for health care doesn’t imbue trust in your health care system. Buying foreign vehicles for official use discourages local manufacturing or faith in locally assembled ones. Official economic wastage does not imbue a spirit of frugality in the citizenry.

It is shameful to head an organisation that has failed in its assignment and wear a smirk. In other climes, the head of an organization that watched idly by while contrabands seep into the country resigns. Not in Naija. Customs admits its inefficiency by applauding the closure of borders and then running into warehouses where smuggled goods are stored or going after tokunbo car sellers who obviously bribed their way by cheating the system. Both the smuggler and the complicit Customs officials are economic saboteurs.

Contrabands don’t fly into the country like witches riding brooms, they slip in because some people are either sleeping on duty or sabotaging the nation. Forget that Customs meets its target. Heads should roll except we are waiting for a BBC documentary to nail the sleaze kings. Guess what, it has happened before!

There is an element of regional treachery in this whole saga. Naija is supposed to be the big brother of West Africa and the arrowhead of ECOWAS and its quest for economic and monetary integration. The headquarters of ECOWAS is in our capital city. This country relies on the goodwill of its neighbours to fight the insurgency within the sub-region and on inter-agency cooperation to fight global terrorism. There can be no trust when our government gleefully tells the world it has closed its borders to sabotage the economy of other countries whose help it needs.

We have become a nation of oddities. Our battle weary military have taken over the job of the Immigration Service with its identity verification exercise! EFCC the economic and financial police would now prosecute doctors who issue fake medical certificates with no professional wherewithal to do so.

We are supposed to be a democracy, but we are using discredited military manual to run government of the people by the people. It won’t be surprising if elected governors start ambushing civil servants, flogging citizens on the streets and incarcerating anyone that challenges their excesses.

By John Ofikhenua,



The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is yet to set any date for the reopening of borders that have been partially closed since August.

The social media were rife on Sunday with a story emanating from a circular from the Headquarters of the organisation.

According to the story, following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the NCS has set January 31, 2020 as the terminal date for the border closure.

But the NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, explained that the internal memo referred to did not set any date for the reopening of the borders.

He noted that the memo was only referring to the terminal date of the Joint Security EX SWIFT Response.

Attah insisted that the partial boarder closure would last till the achievement of its set objectives.

His words: “Please note that the internal memo is referring to the end of this phase of the joint security Ex Swift Response and NOT a terminal date for the partial border closure.

“Security operation of this kind is usually in phases.

“The partial border closure will continue until the set objectives are achieved.”


https://thenationonlineng.net/border-closure-customs-yet-to-set-terminal-date/

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Governor of California , Gavin Newsom , has appointed a Nigerian , Uduak- Joe Ntuk , as the State Oil and Gas Supervisor , responsible for managing the Division of Oil , Gas and Geothermal Resources .

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that DOGGR uses science and sound engineering practices to regulate the drilling , operation and permanent closure of energy resource wells.

The division prioritises protecting the public and the environment in its oversight of the oil , natural gas and geothermal industries within the largest state in America .

A statement from the governor ’s office said that Ntuk had served as the Petroleum Administrator for the City of Los Angeles , the second largest city in the United States of America .

“ In Los Angeles , he was responsible for oversight and policy of oil fields , gas storage facilities , petroleum refineries and pipeline franchise agreements .

“ Prior to joining the city of Los Angeles , he had worked for several companies , including Tyco , General Electric and Chevron .

“ Being a technical professional with both public and private sector energy experience, he provided technical advice to the Mayor , City Council , and various City Departments ,” said the governor ’s office.

It added that Ntuk , a strong believer in Nigeria and its potentials , had expressed his will to share his expertise to further develop the Nigerian petroleum industry and the possibilities of building a mutually -beneficial relationship with the state of California .

“ A Nigerian -based Oil and Gas Consulting Company is exploring the possibilities and has initiated discussions regarding building a business relationship between the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the state of California through Mr Ntuk .

“ He is the first Nigerian- American to hold this position in California ’s history and his family is from the Port City of Calabar, Cross River State ,” said the statement .
( NAN)

Four reported dead as back-up vehicle of Kogi PDP gov candidate rams into kiosk.

Four people have been reported dead in Kogi after one of the back-up vehicles on the campaign trail of the Peoples Democratic Party rammed into a kiosk.

The incident was said to have occurred in Idah, headquarters of Igala kingdom on Saturday.
The G-Wagon was said to be a back-up car for the PDP candidate in the November 16 Kogi governorship election, Mr. Musa Wada.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Administrator of Idah Local Government, Hilary Edime Amodu, said it was caused by “the recklessness of drivers” on the campaign trail.

He also confirmed that the accident happened on Saturday afternoon.

“A Mercedes G-Wagon belonging to one of the governorship candidates in [the November 16] Kogi State election ran into a portacabin at Igala-Ogba, Idah, opposite Idakwo Park, killing all the occupants.”

The driver of the G-Wagon and other occupants are said to be in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.

The Publicity Secretary of the Musa Wada/Aro Campaign Organisation, Mr. Faruk Adejoh, also confirmed the incident.

Giving his account on the incident, he said two, rather than four people died, while one was critically injured and was currently in the hospital.

“Yes, there was an accident. A vehicle on the campaign trail veered off the road and ran into a kiosk and killed two people, while one other person was critically injured and receiving treatment in the hospital.

He added: “Accidents do happen, but it is sheer mischief for anyone to ascribe it to recklessness. No one prays for such calamity.”

On the allegation that the same kind of incident had happened two weeks ago in which two persons allegedly died, Adejoh said those individuals were “victims of attack from All Progressives Congress’ thugs.”

“On our way back from Ankpa on that day, suspected thugs loyal to APC attacked us, and two of our supporters were shot dead,” he said.

Isaac Anumihe and Fred Ezeh, Abuja




The Presidency will spend N66,669,945 on rent and N45,678,55 on fuelling generators and plant, according to the 2020 budget proposal.

In addition, it will spend N132,199,558 on fuels and lubricants for the State House, while another N67,950,392 will go into fuelling vehicles.

According to the budget proposal, the Presidency will also spend N274,798,446 on electricity and N45,418,735 on sewage evacuation. It would equally pay a total of N67,128,117 as Internet access charges, and N23,861,251 has been earmarked for telephone charges.

While water rate will take N65,684,953 in the State House, purchase of newspapers was allocated a total of N26,432,346.

Also, N4,517,445 has been earmarked for refreshment for the Chief of Staff to the President, N13,552,334 as honorarium and sitting allowance, N20,391,700 as overhead and N18,069,779 for miscellaneous.

For the Office of Chief Security Officer to the President, N61,710,000 was allocated for fuel and lubricants, and overheads will take N111,359,316.

The State House Medical Centre, which a section of Nigerians believes is a glorified drug dispensary, will gulp N723,003,927, whereas the Federal Government will spend N208,350,424 to purchase drugs for the clinic. Uniforms for medical staff will guzzle N14,250,663 and medical equipment N215,259,549.
It set aside N93,072,847 for international travels and transport for Villa officials.

Foodstuff/catering materials supplies will take N145,143,963, while legal services will cost N8,189,125. Similarly, the State House will spend N18,570,614 on cooking gas/fuel.

The budget, anchored on sustaining growth and job creation, is N10.330 trillion. The proposal represents an 11 per cent increase compared to the 2019 appropriation of N9.12 trillion. The proposed retained revenue is N8.155 trillion and a deficit of N2.18 trillion, which is 1.52 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the key assumptions are the benchmark price of $57 per barrel of crude oil, daily oil production of 2.18 million barrels per day (mbpd) and an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar. The real GDP is expected to grow at 2.93 per cent, while inflation rate is projected at 10.81 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has proposed to spend N6,235,432 on telephone calls in the 2020 fiscal year.

This is in addition to N6,154,123 proposed for Internet charges. The ministry also requested that the National Assembly approve N25,800,000 for refreshments and meals at its headquarters in Abuja.

According to the budget proposal, the ministers, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, would earn over N1.8 million as statutory ministerial allowance for featuring at events.

Other honorarium and sitting allowance took N15.8 million, while medical expenses, welfare packages and courier services got N12.2 million, N33 million and N13 million, respectively.

According to the 2020 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari a few weeks ago, the ministry asked that it be allowed to purchase three Toyota Hilux vans at N62.157 million, one ambulance at N58 million, one Coaster bus at N55 million and four other utility vehicles that would cost N24.3 million.

In addition, the ministry requested that N28 million be approved to purchase elevators (lifts) for use at its headquarters and annex buildings. It also asked that N24 million be approved in the 2020 budget as fuel cost for generators.

According to the 2020 budget proposal, the Federal Ministry of Education was allocated N20.3 billion, which includes N4.1 billion as total personnel cost, N1 billion as total overhead cost, N5.2 billion as total recurrent cost and N15.1 billion as total capital cost.

Bamigbola Gbolagunte,


Two students of a tertiary institution based in Ondo State have made attempts to commit suicide after they failed the preliminary examination of their institution.

The students were said to have decided to kill themselves when they discovered that they failed the final preliminary examination which would have enabled them go to 100 level.

The two students who are said to be currently receiving medical treatment at a private hospital in Akure, the state capital, allegedly ingested a substance called Sniper.

A competent source at the hospital told our correspondent that the two students were brought in by their neighbours.

However, the source refused to disclose the identities of the two students, claiming that divulging such information was against the ethics of medical profession.

The source disclosed that the victims attempted to commit suicide for failing their examinations at the preliminary level.

He, however, hinted that the two students are already responding well to medical treatment.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state police command, Mr Femi Joseph, could not be reached at press time.

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Tuesday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, IGP and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari, in charge of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), to produce a suspect before it dead or alive.

Justice Dorcas Agishi of Federal High Court 1, gave the order in her ruling on two applications filed before her by Mr D.G. Dashe, Counsel to the suspect, Mr Nanpon Sambo, who is alleged to have died in police custody in Abuja.

The judge gave the police two weeks within which to produce the suspect or face the wrath of the law.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dashe had on Sept. 25 filed the two applications, praying the court to order the I-GP and Kyari to produce Sambo, who is standing trial over alleged illegal possession of fire arms.

The application followed an earlier claim by the police, through their Counsel, Mr Joshua Ayanna, that the suspect died in their custody in July.

The judge held that: “this honorable court is of the view that if the defendant is dead as claimed by the police, they should, within two weeks, produce his body at the Jos University Teaching Hospital mortuary for positive identification by a licensed medical practitioner under the supervision of the registrar federal high court Jos.

“Again, if the defendant has already been buried by the police, the police are hereby ordered to exhume the corpse of the defendant and produce it at the Jos university teaching hospital for positive forensic and DNA identification by a licensed medical practitioner.”

Agishi warned that failure to comply with the order within the stipulated time of two weeks would attract dire consequences.

THE Federal Government may have spent not less than N1 billion in the processes leading to the preparation and production of the 1,969 pages of the 2020 appropriation bill currently before the National Assembly, tagged: “Budget of Sustaining Growth and Job Creation,” Nigerian Tribune can authoritatively report.

The amount is the cumulative expenditure by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, as reflected in the 2019 Appropriation Act currently being implemented by the various agencies of the Federal Government across the country.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the budget line item “Annual Budget Expenses and Administration,” with the code 22021014, appeared 227 times in the Appropriation Act 2019, with various costing by the respective MDAs.

The budget line revealed the total expenditure by the executive arm of government to prepare, coordinate and present the executive bill for the 2020 fiscal year budget to the National Assembly, with the State House spending N16,107, 232.

The State House has, however, approached the National Assembly to approve a higher figure for the same assignment to prepare the 2021 budget. The new figure of N26,107,232, is N10 million more than the money used to prepare the 2020 appropriation, Nigerian Tribune gathered.

Comrade Ezenwa Nwagwu, of the “Say No Campaign” movement, while reacting to the cost of producing the budget by the executive arm of government, said: “if I were to be writing school certificate today and asked to define government, I will simply write corruption.”

According to him, the situation turned for the worse when attempts were made to restore sanity to the nation’s fiscal discipline.
About 277 institutions of government, according to the 2019 budget, spent over N1,191,088,860 after collation of the verifiable budget item coded 22021014, in the 2019 Appropriation Act.

The cost for preparing the 2020 budget could fund overhead expenditure of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in same budget at the sum of N984,230,795.

Nigerian Tribune can authoritatively state that five organisations allocated over N50 million to fund the 2020 budget preparation exercise.
Top on the list, according to Nigerian Tribune findings, are Ministry of Interior, which spent N115,119,851); followed by the Budget Office of the federation, spending N107,532,160.

These two were distantly followed by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning headquarters, authorised by the 2019 Appropriation Act to spend N69,236,205.

Nigerian Tribune further findings revealed that the ministry of education headquarters spent N65,353,467, closely followed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which spent N64,765,964 to prepare its budget.

Federal Science Technical College (FSTC), Awka, Anambra State, had the lowest allocation for the budget line item, standing at N16,046.

According to the 2019 Appropriation Act, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ expenditure for the preparation of the 2020 budget was 52,905,860; Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Commission, under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, spent N42,140,000.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, topped the ivory tower league in huge spending of taxpayers money to fund its 2020 budget at the cost of N30,999,061, with the amount over 40 per cent of its capital allocation for the 2019 appropriation, standing at N71,678,378.

Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, speaking on the development, said such spending was alarming, as it provided civil servants the leeway to engage in unrealistic and undisciplined fiscal transactions.

She called on the National Assembly to re-visit the 2016 auditor general’s report to address the unjustifiable spending.

“It is alarming to have the numbers of miscellaneous and some at huge cost in the MDAs budget as it may give room for improper spending.

“While I agree that it covers things not mentioned in regular category but also, it doesn’t allow for disciplined spending or realistic planning.
“That is why the law states basically that no money can be spent without appropriation. In a country where there is flagrant disregard for budgetary spending, this isn’t good practice. It is time for the National Assembly to look into the 2016 Auditor-General’s report,” Hassan stated.

When contacted, a senior official of the Budget Office of the Federation who asked not to be named, said how much is spent on preparation of annual budget depends on how large and scattered a ministry, department or agency is.

According to him, in the preparation of budget, an agency would gather its relevant desk officers from across the country to submit their recurrent and capital needs.

He explained further that it could take them days or even weeks to conclude the work and they would need to stay in hotels, collect night allowances and be entertained.

“After collation and before the minister takes the budget details to Federal Executive Council for defence, the officers would still be gathered from their stations to brief the political head of what is contained.

“What each MDA will propose for budget preparation expenses would, therefore, depend on how large and scattered such establishment is,” he said.

An African woman has shocked many people in her village after marrying three husbands.


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Ann Grace Aguti marries three men



A woman in Amugagara, Kumel in Mukura sub-county, Ngora district is married to three men, who all live in one compound.

The 36-year-old Ann Grace Aguti has attracted the wrath of her father, Pastor Peter Ogwang alias Ikwenyar of Christ Foundation Ministries, who mobilised clan members to intervene, saying the practice is unacceptable in the Teso community.

However, the men; Richard Alich, John Peter Oluka and Michael Enyaku, told Sunday Vision that they have no problem with the arrangement.

They regard Aguti as the head of the family, dine together during meals and obey her instructions, including observing the conjugal rights roster.

Aguti has allocated three of the seven tiny huts in her compound to the three men. Apparently, Aguti had more men, but dismissed some due to lack of discipline. How they met Alich, a widower, is a retired police officer with 10 grown-up children.

Oluka, alias Abaafu, is a fairly well-off peasant, who has a home in the same village. Enyaku is a senior bachelor, who also has land and a home in another village.

Alich told Sunday Vision that he met Aguti when she was returning home from Brac Uganda, Ngora branch, where she had gone to process a loan.

“Her bicycle had developed a mechanical problem, so I offered to repair it. In the process, one thing led to another and I found myself here. I stay in that hut,” Alich said, pointing at his place of abode.



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The three men married to the woman



Oluka, the other husband, told Sunday Vision that being from the same village, he knew Aguti had a number of men.

“I met her at a swamp where I was grazing my cows and joked about her taking me on as a husband too — and that was it. She allocated me a hut,” he said.

“We have lived harmoniously for close to a year now. I have no problem with my co-husbands. The consensus among us is that mummy (Aguti) determines the duty (sex) roster and her decision is final,” Oluka said.

Enyaku said he was the first among the current husbands to arrive in Aguti’s home and believes he is the favourite.

“When I came to her home, I found other men already husbanding her, but she chased them away because she reserves the right to admit anyone of her choice. I also strongly believe her pregnancy is mine."

Aguti, who is a mother of three, is currently six months pregnant. She earns a living by selling cooked cow trotters (emolokony). It is not clear who the father of her pregnancy is because Enyaku is not the only one claiming responsibility.

It is said that Aguti also has a host of other lovers. Aguti responds Aguti said she should not be taken for a village LovePeddler because she is not.

“I was married before in a manner my clansmates want. But my desire is to have a tender loving husband, who can provide all my needs as a housewife. My husband was useless and I remained the breadwinner. When I left him, I started looking for that special someone, but I have not yet found him because even now, I have to feed the men that I have. So, my search continues!”


Historical facts

The practice of a woman having many husbands is known as polyandry. It is believed to have been the original arrangement of humanity about one million years ago.

Today, according to the Britannica encyclopedia, it is extremely rare and only practiced in the Himalayan mountains, where there is scarcity of land.

The encyclopedia locates it among the Tibetans in Nepal, parts of China and part of northern India, where two or more brothers are allowed to marry the same woman, with each of the husbands having equal sexual access to her.

In Africa, it is considered an anomaly and unacceptable in all countries. However, it has been reported in the Lake Region of Central Africa among traditional high caste Masai women, the Irigwe of northern Nigeria and in August 2013, in Kenya, where two men entered into agreement to marry a woman with whom they had both been having an affair.

According to history, among the aboriginal people who inhabited the Canary Islands before the Spanish conquest, a great famine in the 14th or 15th century killed so many girls that the surviving men lacked wives to marry.

Thus, polyandry was allowed and limited to one woman, five men maximum.


Aguti survived death

However, for Aguti, the Ikarebwo- Ikaalen clan rose up in arms. They say Aguti has disregarded her father’s societal status to engage in inappropriate behaviour that has disgraced the entire clan.

According to Ogwang, Aguti is risking her life ‘husbanding’ three men. He says they were actually four, but in December last year, one of them, Sam Otim, commonly known as Ejuge, became jealous and attempted to cut her neck with a sickle. He was promptly dismissed from her compound.


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Ikarebwo-Ikaalen clan leaders, LCs, Ann Grace Aguti and her father (right) during the eviction meeting. (Credit: Tolbert Edait)



Attempted rescue

Aguti’s father sought the help of his clan and LC1 committee, who met last week to plot a way forward. They resolved to mobilise strong kinsmen to surround Aguti’s compound in the wee hours and arrest the husbands.

They also resolved to expel them from her house. However, when they arrived, they were met with resistance and Aguti defended herself during an exchange with her father.

“Dad, I am an adult with a home. It is my right to have the three men who, fortunately, understand each other,” Aguti declared before asking: “Who among you, dad inclusive, will take me as a wife now that you are chasing away my husbands?”
That was an abominable suggestion because one is not allowed to marry from the same clan.
Ogwang first tried to charm his incensed daughter into reasoning.

“My daughter, listen. I am worried about you as your father. Do you remember Ejuge and how we struggled to save your life? How we apprehended him as he tried to slaughter you with a sickle? What if we had killed him! How would we have handled the retribution from his relatives?” he asked.

Ogwang also reminded her of the time her fourth and fifth husbands, Otim and John Ebwaare, violently clashed before Otim turned his anger on Aguti. However, Aguti refused to be cowed.

She told the clansmates that when she returned home after her marriage in Asamuk, Amuria failed, her father gave her land on which to build.
She said she understood that gesture to mean that the land was hers and that whatever happens in her compound was none of her father’s business.

Ogwang was not fazed. He demanded to know which of the husbands living on his land was officially introduced to him.

“My people, how do I know that these men are not here to grab my land? The longer they stay on my land unchallenged, the easier it becomes for them to assume my land rights as stated in the constitution,” Ogwang said amid support from his clansmates.

The pastor also said the way his daughter is acquiring loans from financial institutions, such as Brac Uganda and village SACCOs, while using the land as security, is dangerous, yet the money she gets ends up. catering for her husbands’ welfare.

“In case you default, the banks will take my land, not knowing that it does not belong to you,” Ogwang said. “Any man who wants to live with you should come with his relatives to officially introduce himself to me.”

The LC1 chairperson, Robert Oboi, had the final word. He said he supported the eviction of the men from Aguti’s home.

“As the local authority in the area, none of these men has been introduced to me. In case of any crime in this area, especially theft or even murder, they will be the first suspects,” he said.

The Ikarebwo-Ikaalen clan chairperson, who doubles as the area LC2 chairperson, Christopher Opolot, said he was shocked that Aguti had broken a territory none had ever gone to — marrying several men at a go in the same compound.

“What example are you setting for our daughters?” he asked.


The ruling

The local council and clan ruled that each of the men returns to their respective villages. They were also told that if they want to return as husbands, they should come officially with identification and introduce themselves to the local authorities at Amugagara.

Upon that statement, Aguti wailed: “ My dear husbands, I love you so much. I am not the one chasing you, but your father-in-law and his clan. Please do not forget me wherever you go. You have been my pillars in this large home of ours. Please keep checking on me because I may die of loneliness in the house.”

The three men left, vowing to return after getting the required credentials. And it was not a joke. Last week, Enyaku returned with duly signed letters and by the time of filing this story, he had re-settled with Aguti.

Footballers beware, there is no escaping VAR.
Just ask Holstein Kiel midfielder Michael Eberwein, who is a contender for the unluckiest substitute in sport.

Eberwein was warming up behind the goal during a German second division game against Bochum on Friday when he kicked a wayward shot back into play.

However, VAR spotted Eberwein had touched the ball before it had crossed the line, prompting referee Timo Gerach to give a penalty and show him a yellow card, reports the BBC.

It is the sort of innocuous incident that may have passed the officials by in previous seasons, but the presence of the eagled-eye VAR cameras means nothing is now missed.

International FA Board (Ifab) rules state if a substitute interferes with play, the referee can take appropriate disciplinary action and restart the game with a direct free-kick or penalty kick.

Congo forward Silvere M’Boussy took advantage of the bizarre moment of fortune by converting the spot-kick to bring Bochum level.

To make things worse for Eberwein, it is his only touch in a Holstein Kiel shirt since joining from Fortuna Cologne over the summer.

He can at least take some consolation from the fact his side went on to win the game thanks to Janni Serra’s second-half strike.

His experience sends out a message to players everywhere, though – VAR is watching you. Always.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

A group under the aegis of concerned Nigerians had submitted the petition to the EFCC asking it to probe the bullion vans sighted in the residence of the APC leader on the eve of the 2019 elections.

The petition dated October 25 was signed by activist, Com. Deji Adeyanju on behalf of concerned Nigerians and two other activists – Ariyo Dare Atoye and Adebayo Raphael.

It would be recalled that a picture of two bullion vans entering Tinubu’s residence on the eve of the election had gone viral even as Tinubu claimed the money belonged to him.
Some Nigerians had taken on the EFCC for not probing the bullion vans despite the outcry trailing the movement of huge cash.

But the acting Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, had said the EFCC would probe Tinubu if it received petition to that effect.
It was on this basis that Adeyanju and his colleagues submitted the petition to the commission in response to the challenge by the Chairman.

Daily Trust learnt that the development has caused panic in the camp of the APC leader with his followers and supporters wondering if the EFCC would go after their leader.

However the APC spokesperson in Lagos, Hon. Abiodun Salami in a chat with our correspondent dismissed the petition, challenging them to come up with proof that Asiwaju had stolen any money.

He said, “Let them come up with the proof. The man is a private citizen and he has been out of government for the past 12 years. If he has decided to spend his money on his party, how is that a problem? Let them come up with a proof that somebody’s money is missing.”

Adeyanju had while submitting the petition said, Speaking shortly after submitting the petition said, “I have decided to take up your challenge after you called for a petition through your social media account on Twitter.”

Sunday Ehigiator



The Chairman, House Committee on Lands, Representing Ikeja II Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adedamola Kasunmu, has recently revealed the plans of the Lagos state house to pass a bill, recognising a special holiday for the recognition of traditional worshippers in the state.

He recently made this known to THISDAY at the 19th National Conference of the Council of Knights, Methodist Church Nigeria, recently held in Lagos state.

According to Kasunmu, “looking at the religious sector, the promotion of developmental projects is no doubt key and essential in making sure that we encourage spiritual growth in the life of people in general.

“And I want to believe that, at the Lagos State House of Assembly, we are a respecter of faith and the spiritual lives of the people, be it Christian or Muslim or the traditional worshipper.

“As a point of note, last Friday, at a plenary section which was our Yoruba speaking day, we spoke about giving the traditional aspect of religion a voice.

“Not forgetting where we come from, our cultural heritage, promoting the customs and tradition of our citizens, identifying that the importance of spiritualism and religion is a point of note that should be taken into proper consideration.
“The idea of that plenary was to make sure we separate a particular day for the traditional worshipers to celebrate themselves.

“In as much as the Christians have for example, December 25 as a day they worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and likewise the Muslims, have a day they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, they celebrate the Ileya festival, the Eid al- Fitri, the breaking of fasting and so on, traditional worshipers too must have a voice.

“This shows that there is a common cohesion and collaboration that exist in terms of all sector necessary to keep Lagos state working.

Especially at a time when Lagos state government is poised in making sure that we continue to be a 21st century state, a pace setter, a centre of excellence who is a promoter of public interest in terms of economic growth and development.

“We are pace setters for other states to follow, and we would stop at nothing at the Lagos state house of assembly to continue to live and rise above every common standard.”

On the traffic situation and infrastructural developments in Lagos state, he said the house was working assiduously to make sure that the issues are tackled.

According to him, “all concerns raised by Lagos residents are pertinent enough, and of course, everything necessary to put the road networks back in appreciate conditions would be done to the later.

“And we would ensure this by working effectively in collaboration with the executive arm of government in making sure that we perform the necessary oversight functions on the executive arm of government as stipulated by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended in 1999.

by Taiwo Adebulu



BudgIT, a civic tech organisation, says only three states in the country can fund their expenditure without allocations from federal government.

The organisation listed the states as Lagos, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

In a report titled “State of states 2019″, BudgIt said 33 states in the country cannot finance their recurrent expenditure without federal allocations.

It added that many states would have challenges if the federal allocation were not forthcoming due to fluctuation in crude oil price.

Orji Uche, BudgIT’s lead researcher, added that only 19 states can fund their expenditure with internally generated revenue and federal allocation.

“The implications of looking at this index is to enable us understand without federal allocation, how many states can sustain themselves,” she said.

“And by sustaining themselves, we are looking only at the recurrent expenditure. Are you going to meet your operating obligations, are you able to pay salaries so that anything coming from federal allocation would go to investments in the key sectors of the economy.

“When we look at the index, we can see that those states that can meet their expenditure only with IGR are only three States out of 36 States.

“What this means is that if they were to be oil price fluctuations and production allocation from the centre were to reduced, then many states would be in jeopardy.”