₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the acquisition of ExxonMobil’s assets by Seplat Energy.

A statement from the presidency on Monday noted that the Minister of Petroleum, President Buhari had granted assent to the deal in which Seplat will acquire a 40 per cent stake of ExxonMobil oil assets around Akwa Ibom.

The statement cited the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, as an incentive to drive Foreign Direct Investment and raise oil production from the assets.

However, in a response to media enquiries on the latest development about the transaction, the Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, in a statement, Monday night, clarified that the Commission in line with the provisions of the PIA 2021 is the sole regulator in dealing with such matters in [b]the Nigerian upstream sector.

“As it were, the issue at stake is purely a regulatory matter and the Commission had earlier communicated the decline of Ministerial assent to ExxonMobil in this regard.

“As such the Commission further affirms that the status quo remains. The Commission is committed to ensuring predictable and conducive regulatory environment at all times in the Nigerian upstream sector,” the NUPRC noted.[/b]

Daily Trust learnt that NNPC now NNPC Ltd had been in a tussle with ExxonMobil over the transaction insisting that it has the first right of refusal, being in a joint venture with Mobil.

The Akwa Ibom government had also scolded the international oil company for proceeding on the assets lay off without recourse to the state hosting them.

By Muideen Olaniyi


The management of State House has expressed concern at the recent killing of wildlife species in the Villa.

Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, spoke at the weekend while receiving a delegation of rangers from the National Park Service, and their colleagues in the Presidential Villa, popularly called ‘Royal Rangers.’

Umar, who stressed the importance of protecting and preserving plants and animals in their indigenous habitats, promised to boost nature conservation by taking appropriate measures to preserve wildlife, protect nature and reverse species loss in the seat of government.

He announced that some locations in the Presidential Villa- which is a natural habitat to some wildlife species including tantalus monkeys, crocodile, pythons, giant tortoise, bush rats, guinea fowls, bats and diverse species of birds – have been delineated as conservationist areas.

The Permanent Secretary, therefore, appealed to staff and visitors to the Villa to preserve biodiversity and appreciate the natural world, adding that signages would be erected in specific areas and vegetation for sensitization and compliance.

Umar, in a statement issued Sunday by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director, Information, congratulated Royal Rangers and their colleagues around the country on the occasion of this year’s World Ranger Day, commemorated on July 31.

He recognised the commitment of the Royal Rangers in preserving the flora, fauna and other natural resources around the Presidential Villa.

‘‘We will continue to support you to do your work effectively. The protection of the eco-system and the species in the Villa is not for the rangers alone, it is a task for all of us,’’ the Permanent Secretary said.

Umar also paid tribute to a staffer of the Royal Rangers, Murtala Odi, who died from diabetes-related complications, praying God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

In their separate remarks, Salihu Manzo, Senior Park Ranger and Kehinde Abidemi, Assistant Conservator of Parks, thanked the Permanent Secretary for his keen interest in conservation activities and for approving specific measures to preserve the flora and fauna in the environment.

Manzo, who described the recent killing of a giant python as regrettable, expressed delight that measures were being taken to protect wildlife species.

Abidemi explained that the International Ranger Federation and its collaborators have chosen Diversity as the theme for World Ranger Day 2022, noting that they believe that diversity among Rangers should be embraced just as humanity should appreciate diversity in the natural world.

”We want to echo it with the management that the wildlife species in the Villa have the right to live, they have the right to their habitat and we want them to be protected,” she said.

Call and data tariffs may increase by as much as 100 per cent if plan by the federal government to hike consumption tax on telecom services scales through, Daily Trust can report.

Daily Trust reports that the federal government had recently disclosed plan to implement a 5 percent excise duty tax on telecoms services, increasing the total consumption tax on telecom services to 12.5 percent.

The new tax regime, according to industry sources, will not only affect subscribers but also add tax burden on the telcos which would translate into rise in tariffs.

If the 5 per cent increment is eventually implemented, industry experts say, Nigerians will now be paying as much as N40 per minute call, up from about N20. And data tariffs could also go up to about N2,500 per gigabyte.

The finance minister, who unveiled the plan at a stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the 5 percent excise duty was in the Finance Act, 2020.

She said the accrued taxes would be remitted on monthly basis, on or before 21st of every month. The move, according to the minister, was part of effort by the government to boost non-oil revenue in the face of dwindling income, especially from the oil sector.

The proposal has, however, set Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Pantami, on collision course.

While the Ministry of Finance cites a presidential approval to apply the new excise on telecommunication services, as provided by the Finance Act, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy is kicking on the ground that the new tax would be harmful to the sector and to subscribers.


Telecom stakeholders, experts oppose

Also, Nigerian telecommunication consumers, under the aegis of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, have described the move by the federal government to increase the total consumption tax on telecom services, which include GSM to 12.5 percent as “irresponsible and ill-timed”.

According to the association, Nigerians are already suffering as a result of harsh economic conditions and another tax on telecom subscribers will further impoverish many especially as telecom services are essential to everyone.

President of Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo, described the excise duty as unusual, saying that it will increase the burden on the telecom operators as they already have 39 other taxes that have been imposed on them.

Adebayo who spoke virtually at a forum last week stated that his association may not absorb the tax on behalf of the subscribers, noting that they will transfer the burden to the subscribers to pay higher prices for services.

The Executive Secretary of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Ajibola Olude also kicked against the proposed tax, saying that it does not comply with the principles of taxation which include fairness.

The implementation of the excise duty according to him will cause job loss; stressing that the proposed excise duty on all telecommunications companies is badly intended, he said.

Also the President of National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, lamented that sector is already heavily taxed with payment made on every recharge card coupled with the existing 7.5 percent VAT.

According to him, the new excise duty will cumulatively hike the tax to 12.5% including VAT, which will be a huge burden on Nigerians. The move, he said, is “insensitive and unpalatable”.

Ogunbanjo urged government to reverse its decision to increase the tax in the interest of the people as the telecom industry is the last hope of the common man and should not be destroyed.

A telecom consumer in Lagos, Mr. Lawrence Abi said that the masses may not feel the impact of the excise duty since it’s not on edible commodity.

He said, “As essential as communication is , how many people know how much they are charged per minute? More so, we have paid higher amount at the inception of the GSM. So it will not have effect on goods and services. We also have alternative to call such as WhatsApp call.

“By and large it’s better than additional loans for consumption,” he said.

However, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said there was no any immediate plan by operators to increase tariffs.

The Minister for Communications and Digital Economy had, last Monday, expressed dissatisfaction with efforts by the federal government to introduce excise duty on telecommunication services.

Pantami in his address at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content EXPO (NTICE) themed ‘Stimulating the development of Indigenous Content through innovation and commercialization’ holding in Lagos stressed the need for government and stakeholders to continue to support the sector, and not unnecessarily put burden on it.

“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is not satisfied with any effort to introduce excise duty on Telecommunications. When VAT was increased to 7.5percent, I was not consulted, I only heard the announcement and I think there is something questionable and I am glad that we are on the same page with our national assembly members. They too have not been consulted despite the fact that they are part of the committee.

“Beyond, making our position known, we will go behind the scene and go against any policy that will destroy the digital economy sector. This is a sector we cherish so much and we are ready to go to any extent, legitimately and legally to defend its interest.” he said.

When contacted yesterday, Pantami maintained his lack of support for the planned excise duty hike.

When asked to comment on why Pantami is not in support of the new tax hike, his spokesperson Uwa Suleiman directed Daily Trust reporter to contact the NCC for clarification on her principal’s statement on his lack of support for the excise duty on telecom services.

But when contacted, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Reuben Mouka said the “Minister had made his position public (at the Lagos event). He didn’t hide it.”


Why communication minister opposed proposed excise

A senior official of the ministry said Pantami is against the hike in excise duty on telecom services because it could drive away investors and increase hardship among Nigerian as telecoms might increase data and calls tariffs as a result of the tax.

In addition, Daily Trust gathered that the minister was bitter due to lack of proper engagement by the finance ministry on the issue.

“Yes, there was a letter from the Ministry of Finance informing us about the plan to commence the collection of the excise duty, but the minister replied to let them know we were not consulted and also emphasised how this law will increase the hardship of our citizens and is detrimental to the growth of the Digital Economy sector,” he said.

According to him, there was no proper stakeholder engagement by the finance ministry, including public hearing on the proposed provisions to enable all stakeholder provide inputs.

“We were not informed and the relevant committees in the National Assembly were also not informed,” he added. Another source at the ministry said the minister had promised the telcos that he would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue.

One of the telecom operators’ official told one of our reporters that no date had been communicated to them as the commencement date of the new excise duty.

“But you they may take us by surprise and start this month; we never can say”, the top telcos official who begged not to be named, told our reporter.


We’re consulting on implementation – Finance ministry

However, a spokesperson for the Minister of Finance said the ministry was in consultation with stakeholders on collection of the excise levies.

Responding to Daily Trust’s enquiry yesterday, the Special Adviser to the finance minister on media and communications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, said the new tax regime said the excise collection ought to be with effect from June 1, 2022, which was the end of a three month moratorium provided by the ministry.

He said the minister had, “vide Circular dated 1st March, 2022 informed the Nigeria Customs Service and other Heads of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Federal Ministry of Communication & Digital economy on Mr. President’s approval of the implementation of the 5% excise duty on telecommunication services with effect from 1st June, 2022. The circular provided a ninety (90) day moratorium with effect from 1st March, 2022 before the implementation of the excise tax”.

Dr Tanko said the new provision is yet to be implemented due to “the need to ensure reasonable transition period before the implementation of the new tax, as well as provide clarity to all stakeholders on implementation modalities”.

He reiterated that the excise was hinged on the provisions of Finance Act, 2020 which “introduced “Telecommunication Services” provided in Nigeria to be liable to excise duty under Section 21 (2) of the Customs and Excise Tariff Etc. (Consolidation) Act, CAP. C49, LFN 2004. It, therefore, means that all stakeholders have by that singular provision aware of the Act”.

He said the ministry was working with stakeholders including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on modalities for implementation of the excise duty.

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

Sharing of the largesse of the July 16 governorship election has caused chaos in Ede, the hometown of the Osun State Governor-Elect, Ademola Adeleke, as three persons were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

It was gathered that the crisis broke out on Friday during a meeting held at the party secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), opposite Ansarudeen Mosque, Ede, over the leftover money for the last governorship election.

The crisis, according to sources, led to fisticuffs while the personal assistant of a senior legislator in the state assembly was slapped in the process.

Findings showed that the aide to the senior legislator was asked to release the election largesse in his possession. Angry members of the party attacked him when he refused the money.

Friends of the aide were said to have invited police officers who escorted the aide to the home of the PDP chieftain that allegedly slapped the aide, to arrest him.

It was further learnt that violence erupted in the process and this led to the killing of two persons including a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who happens to be a son of the PDP chieftain.

However, APC members in the town took the incident as deliberate, saying their member was killed for his refusal to work for the PDP in the election.

Sunday Sun learnt from a source that he fracas led to the killing of ‘Kuranga,’ the brother of late notorious thug, Elemo at Atapara. Angry APC members retaliated by razing the house of the father of the minority leader of the House of Assembly, Adewunmi Kofoworola, enveloping the whole town in violence.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Atanda Olabisi, said the intelligence report available to the command revealed that the culprits and the victims had been taken to the police command.

She said the police spokesperson would explain the details of what happened.

But, calls made to the phone of the spokesperson of the Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, were not successful.

Osun Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, accused Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of plotting to destabilize the state.

By Adesina Wahab


Parents, on the platform of National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, have said they can only beg members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off their strike if government considers the reports of the various committees set up to look into the matter and come out with its decisions.

The body stated that it expects the Federal Government to come out publicly with its offers for it to know how to intervene and mediate between the two sides.

NAPTAN spoke through its National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, in a chat with Vanguard on Sunday.

The association was reacting to an interview where the Minister of State for Labour, Mr Festus Keyamo(SAN) asked Nigerians, especially parents, to beg members of ASUU to return to their duty posts.

Keyamo also said the government would not go borrowing to meet the demands of the union.

“Let the Federal Government consider all the reports of the various committees it set up to negotiate with ASUU.

“There was a committee led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, among numerous committees.

“There has never been a time when parents are involved in the negotiation.

“We don’t want a situation where somebody will pitch us against ASUU or any group.

“The negotiation should involve parents, NANS, ASUU and government team.

“What the government should do is consider the reports of those committees and look at areas they can afford or work on and present same to ASUU.

“If whatever they can afford is unacceptable to the unions, then parents and others can come in to intervene,” Danjuma said.

ASUU’s demands

Also speaking in a chat, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said it is subtle blackmail for anybody to insinuate that the union is pushing the government to borrow.

He advised that the government should get its priorities right to solve the impasse and do the needful.

“We are not asking the government to go borrowing. But since the Minister is a Nigerian, he should know what our demands are.

“Our demands include that they implement the Memorandum of Action signed in 202 with us.

“The document says government will release the first tranche of the Revitalisation Fund, pay Earned Academic Allowance, stop proliferation of universities, renegotiate the 2009 agreement among others.

“They have set up a committee to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and they are yet to come up with anything from the report of the committee they set up.

“I wonder why some people behave as if they are living in another world entirely. Is it because they are occupying public offices that they seem to exist in another planet?” he wondered.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 and recently extended it by another four weeks.

As the search for peace in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has now given a condition for his resignation if the stakeholders are adamant on his exit.

He says all members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the South must swap their current positions with those from the North since the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is from the North.

However, Ayu’s proposal has been rejected by many party leaders who fear that their candidates in the NWC will lose their positions and influence.

One of those who stand to lose out if Ayu’s proposal on swapping of positions is accepted is Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

His ally, Senator Samuel Anyawu from the South East zone, is the PDP National Secretary and head of the party’s national secretariat.

The Nation gathered that some party leaders have started making a u-turn to prevail on Wike and some governors to allow Ayu remain in office till after the 2023 presidential election.

The party, sources said last night, has also been gripped by fresh tension over alleged plan by some leaders to appoint Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku during the party’s presidential primary and he is being tipped for the office of Senate President if Atiku wins.

Party sources are of the view that appointing Tambuwal, a northerner, as the campaign organisation’s DG at a time some southerners are already complaining about the north’s annexation of the party’s chairmanship, BoT chairmanship, presidential candidate and positions of chief spokespersons for team would not be in the PDP’s best interest.

Although some leaders suggested Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as DG, there were concerns that combining his own campaign for a second term with that of running the presidential campaign team would be too much of a burden.

Some chieftains of PDP were said to be in favour of Wike as the Presidential Campaign Council DG to “heal wounds” in the party.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the crisis of confidence between Atiku and Wike, the fate of Ayu and other NWC officers, the choice of DG, the need for ethno-religious balance in PDP are responsible for the delay in composing the PDP Campaign Council.

It was also learnt that these issues influenced the Board of Trustees decision to prevail on Atiku and Wike to close ranks on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja.

At the session with the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Ayu said he was ready to sacrifice anything for the success of the party in the 2023 elections.

A member of the BOT, who spoke in confidence, said: “He told us that he was ready to step aside but he should not be isolated.

“He said since the presidential candidate is from the North, the ideal thing is for Northern officers in the NWC to swap positions with their Southern members to guarantee equity, fairness and justice.

“In spite of the fact that Ayu’s agitation is politically plausible, it may disrupt PDP’s zoning formula.

“This is why some of our leaders are saying that Ayu can only leave office when Atiku is elected as President.

“Some of us think Ayu should remain in office till after the elections.

“There are concerns that Ayu might not quit his position if Atiku loses the presidential race. This is also a probability.

“We don’t want any fresh crisis in the party. If there is a reversal of roles in NWC, some of our leaders, including Wike, will lose out.

“The governor of Rivers State singlehandedly produced the National Secretary of the party and a few others. It means Wike will further be in the cold in the power equation in PDP.”

Another BOT member said: “We did not want any further split in the party over Ayu because it was obvious to us that PDP will never be the same again if he is removed.

“What we agreed upon was to allow Ayu to remain in office till after the elections.

“Some BOT members said we should tactically pass a vote of confidence on Ayu, which we did when some of our leaders addressed the press.

“We count on Atiku and Wike to salvage the fragile situation in the party because they hold the aces.”

It was learnt that Atiku and Wike agreed to nominate separate teams to meet and iron out their differences.

It was also learnt that the main planks of their talks were inclusion, equity, fairness and justice for all, especially the South.

But while Atiku asked Wike to submit his list on the spot, the governor demurred.

Another source added: “Wike told Atiku that he will want to consult his strategists before unveiling his nominees for peace and reconciliation talks.

“Wike is still consulting with his strategists on the way forward for the party.”


Push for Tambuwal as campaign DG raises fresh concern

Party chieftains are worried that plan to make Governor Tambuwal the Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council may backfire.

Some party stalwarts prefer Seyi Makinde or Wike to “heal wounds” in the party.

Those opposed to Wike cited what they called the party’s experience with him during the 2019 presidential campaign.

A source said: “We have a feeling that Atiku is over indulging Tambuwal when it is obvious that votes from Sokoto State cannot make him President of Nigeria. The same man is aspiring to be the President of the Senate in 2023.

“Some leaders have asked Atiku to look at Makinde or Wike or any second term governor from Wike’s camp. We think that Makinde, who is a first term governor, cannot cope with the rigours of two campaigns in 2023. We may end up losing Oyo State.”

Another source, who was a member of the campaign committee, said: “Contrary to what Wike was saying, there was more to his involvement in financing the party’s campaign in 2019. I am shocked our leaders are keeping quiet.

“It was true that he assisted financially during the campaign through a former President of the Senate. But instead of allowing PDP National Secretariat to handle his assistance, Wike insisted on nominating a barrister to oversee the disbursement of funds.

“The National Financial Secretary and Treasurer never had access to what he gave. There was no direct cash given to the party or Atiku for the 2019 polls.

“Our former National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, is alive. He should speak out on his experience. Wike is a smart and intelligent politician who knows how to cut party officers to size, especially when funds are involved.”

The Thursday meeting was the first between Atiku and Wike since the PDP presidential candidate overlooked the Rivers Governor in his choice of running mate in favour of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Atiku said his decision was informed by the realization that he needed a deputy he could work with amicably.

By Oladeinde Olawoyin


As Nigeria prepares for general elections next year that promise to be one of the most keenly contested in its history, evidence is emerging that the economy faces a double whammy: an empty treasury and rapid decline.

Government officials and business leaders knowledgeable about the situation say there have been concerns in Abuja and Lagos after an elected official drew the attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, to the fact that Nigeria’s external reserves amount to only $15 billion, well below the $36 billion balance on the gross external reserves claimed by the bank.

With the country spending N5.9 trillion on imports in the first quarter of the year, irrespective of the preferred exchange rate, reserves of $15 billion would barely cover four months of import.

Financial analysts claim this would not have mattered much but for recent difficulties in different sectors of the economy, especially the export constraints that have seen the nation’s petroleum monopoly unable to add to the reserves in the last six months.

The NNPC’s inability to remit oil sales receipts to the CBN, despite elevated crude oil prices, is seen as one reason why the naira has nose-dived recently in the parallel market.

A banker who spoke on the understanding that her name would not be included in this report, said the reported balance on the gross external reserves has long concealed problems.

Not only is the gross balance on the external reserves not an accounting one (according to the CBN, the reserve is a 30-day moving average with effect November 2011), by not excluding the apex bank’s contingent liabilities, the report flatters the resources available to the central bank to defend the economy’s external position.

The elected official is believed to have briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the gravity of the economic crisis. The presidency did not respond to a request for comment.

The NNPC’s transformation into a public limited liability company further compounds the problem. By not being able to remit export earnings directly into the federation coffers, it would mean that the apex bank will look to other sources of foreign exchange inflows.

Most of these sources have however been choked off by the direction and trajectory of the CBN’s monetary policy. All these mean that if the external reserves are depleted within four months at the current rate, the country will no longer be able to pay for imports of food, medicines and materials and spare parts required by industries, an economic crisis similar to what Sri Lanka is experiencing.

While continued export of crude oil by the NNPC may enable the continued import of refined fuel, experts do not expect this to stem the economic collapse caused by the end of the import of consumer and capital goods.

Widespread shortages will become readily evident as shops’ shelves will become empty while the prices of the few items available will keep increasing, putting them out of the reach of most citizens. CBN spokesperson Osita Nwasinobi did not respond to calls and a message seeking comments.


Fiscal Challenges

Nigeria is already facing serious fiscal problems, with its rising budget deficit, debt and shrinking revenue. In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the country’s fiscal position worsened in the first four months of the year as the cost of repaying debt surpassed the government’s revenue in the first quarter of 2022.

According to details of the 2022 fiscal performance report for January through April, Nigeria’s total revenue stood at N1.63 trillion while debt servicing stood at N1.94 trillion, showing a variance of over N300 billion.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, warned that urgent action is needed to address the nation’s revenue challenge and expenditure efficiency at both the national and sub-national levels.

The report showed that gross oil and gas federation revenue for the first four months of the year was projected at N3.12 trillion but as at April 30, only N1.23 trillion was realised, representing a mere 39% performance. Despite higher oil prices, the report showed that oil revenue underperformed due to significant oil production shortfalls such as shut-ins resulting from pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as well as high petrol subsidy cost due to higher landing costs of imported products.

Further analysis of the nation’s fiscal performance showed that deficit spending shot up to N3.09 trillion in the first quarter of 2022 as pro rata spending target for the period was N5.77 trillion, while the actual spending as of April 31 was N4.72 trillion.

On the other hand, as of April 2022, the nation’s retained revenue was only N1.63 trillion, 49% of the pro rata target of N3.32 trillion, putting the deficit between actual spending and revenues at N3.09 trillion.

In effect, the government borrowed to cover the deficit.

Meanwhile, a breakdown of the government’s actual spending within the period showed that N1.94 trillion was for debt service, N1.26 trillion for personnel costs, including pensions, while a meagre N773.63 billion was spent on capital expenditure.


‘Rescue Package’

PREMIUM TIMES understands that in addition to the president, state governors and other top officials have also been made aware of the severity of the crisis and some of them are already pressing the federal government to adopt specific measures to stem the crisis in the economy and address security threats.

Included in the economic rescue package proposed to the FG are measures in aid of fiscal stability: cutting federal expenditure by N8 trillion in the short term, immediate action to restore fiscal discipline, cutting the cost of governance across the three tiers of government, abandoning the fixed exchange rate policy, and limiting the CBN to its core monetary policy mandate.

About N7 trillion of the expected cut in public expenditure is fully dependent on ending the subsidy on petrol.

Until recently, the NNPC usually remits $3 billion monthly from crude oil sales to the nation’s reserves. But it has not remitted up to $200 million for up to a year now.

Last week, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, called for restraint because the nation was broke. Addressing a media briefing to mark the 2022 World Day Against Child Labour in Abuja, he said the Nigerian government does not have money to prosecute capital projects next year, a development that might worsen the nation’s unemployment and poverty conditions.

“I can tell you that Nigeria is broke,” Mr Ngige said. “There is no money to fund capital projects next year. As you can see, the dollar that has been hovering around N500 and N600 is now above N700. The truth is that there is no money anywhere. The money that the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) has been sharing is money from taxes, customs and other revenue-generating agencies.

“The National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) no longer remits money to FAAC. So, the situation calls for patriotism from all Nigerians. The lack of money to fund capital projects would have implications on capacity to create jobs. If jobs are not created, poverty will increase in the country.”

By Aliyu Jalal


Nigerian journalist and Chief Executive Officer of RadioNow, Kadaria Ahmed, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to go on sick leave and allow somebody to run the affairs of the country, due the deteriorating security challenges.

Ahmed has been in the news for describing a recent BBC documentary on Zamfara banditry as “irresponsible reporting”.

In an opinion article published last week, Ahmed said the BBC documentary fell below the best practices of journalism, and was against public interest.

She said the BBC Africa Eye may be charged with aiding terrorism because it “glamorizes” terrorism by “providing” a platform for the terrorists to express their extreme views, and an insensitivity to their victims.

The federal government through the Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed, also threatened to sanction BBC and Trust TV for “glorifying terrorism” in their banditry documentaries.

Speaking with Arise TV on Thursday, Ahmed said her concerns over the documentary was not intended to excuse the government on its responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property.

She said, “I think Nigerians ought to tell their politicians that it is time to have a bipartisan approach to insecurity, because it is something that is going to consume us. Even now as it is consuming us, we are not asking who is PDP or who is APC. And this continuous politicisation of insecurity, for me, portends a serious danger to Nigeria.

“The grandstanding doesn’t make sense to me, because we are dealing with an existential threat, something that could actually wreck us all. I am not too sure we could get to elections, which is what people are holding onto, and saying, ‘if we get there maybe the new people coming in…’ but what happens between now and elections is a long period.

“So, our politicians need to become a little more aware, and even if it is behind the scenes. I am not even sure if we need to be seeing them on TV working things out, no. Please go behind the scenes, sit down, and reach a bipartisan agreement about how you’re going to deal with the crises that Nigeria is facing. We have never had it so bad. And if we are not careful, under their watch, we are losing this country. APC, PDP, all of them, so go behind the scenes.”

She also said that if President Buhari is sick and incapable of running the country, he should step aside and allow somebody else to take over.

“Even if it is a question of persuading the president. I don’t know, he has not been well, may be he can go on sick leave for an extended period and allow somebody else to have a go. Because by his own admission, he said something like ‘no country on its own can defeat terrorism.’

“What I am hearing is, ‘I am not too sure there is anything more I can do.’ That is what I hear when I hear that. So, may be it is time to look at other options,” she said.

By Simon Echewofun Sunday


Within 16 months, the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria lost the capacity to pay N484.993 billion of the N1.084 trillion invoices they received for the electricity they received from the power Generation Companies (GenCos) between January 2021 and April 2022.

This development further confirms the concerns of experts about the ailing state of Nigeria’s power sector, which faces a liquidity crisis, resulting in poor supply to consumers.

Daily Trust on Sunday’s analysis of the latest data on payment receipts in the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM) from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) shows that almost all the DisCos are crisis-ridden. The crisis has become obvious among six DisCos in the last eight months, prompting the takeover of Abuja DisCos by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) over loan default in November 2021.

There was a similar case with Fidelity Bank concerning Benin, Kaduna, and Kano DisCos in July 2022, as well as Ibadan DisCo and Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), on behalf of the defunct Skye Bank. And the Port Harcourt DisCo had its key management officials and board replaced this month to avoid collapse.


How N485bn debt drags electricity market

The 11 DisCos got a N1.08trn energy invoice in 16 months, and on a business basis, they were expected to settle that invoice 100 per cent. However, they paid N599.4bn, representing 55 per cent of the entire sum, and left a 45 per cent debt of N484.9bn.

According to a breakdown of the payment on a month-by-month basis, the DisCos got a higher energy bill in the May 2021 billing cycle at N71.98bn, but the highest payment they made into the electricity market during the period was N40.2bn in October 2021. While they got the least energy invoice of N62.3bn in September 2021, the DisCos’ lowest remittance was N31.1bn recorded in August 2021.


DisCos’ woes and failed benchmark

In attempting to address the liquidity issues with the DisCos, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2021, introduced the Minimum Remittance Order (MRO).

The MRO stipulates an amount each of the DisCos must remit every month from payments received from the over 10 million registered consumers to settle the invoice for energy purchase from the generation companies (GenCos). On average, NERC compelled the DisCos to about 75 per cent of every monthly invoice of electricity supply they get from GenCos as against the 35% or lower they were paying as of 2020.

Even at this, this paper’s analysis of the payment data revealed that the DisCos could not meet the government’s threshold of N813.781bn or 75 per cent minimal remittance for the N1.084trn energy they got from January 2021 to April 2022.

The 11 DisCos fell short of N214.3bn debt called the Market Shortfall (MS) assuming they complied with the figure (N813bn) NERC compelled them to pay during period through the order but they only remitted N599bn.

At the drag-pace payment from the DisCos, the MRO figure (N813bn) was N270.6bn short of the total energy invoice of N1.084tr, further severing the cash flow cycle and leaving it as a huge Tariff Shortfall (TS) which is a gap that could be filled in subsequent tariff reviews.

Explaining this further, the NBET payment note states thus: “It is the portion of the invoice which is currently catered for by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through various instruments implemented by the NBET until a time where the market becomes fully competitive and a cost reflective tariff is adopted.”

In summary, the N270.6bn tariff shortfall and the N214.3bn market shortfall make up the entire N484.9bn debt profile of the 11 DisCos in the 16 months period under review.

The highest of this entire debt profile of N35.6bn was recorded in January 2022 when the DisCos received N72.3bn energy debt and managed to clear N36.6bn of it, just a little over 50 per cent.


New policy to the rescue?

The NERC, on July 1, 2022, activated a new electricity market regime based on contractual obligations to ensure about 5,300 megawatts (MW) of electricity daily supply, while sanctioning operators for default.

Although the target has not been met, at least five DisCos have had their board and management reshuffled, based on insolvency and underperformance, which are moves to sanitise the industry, according to experts.

The UBA had in December taken control of the Abuja DisCo over default in the 2013 privatisation acquisition loan repayment. In the latest action, Fidelity Bank announced the takeover of Kaduna, Benin, Kano DisCos. Also, the government (NERC and BPE) said it had reset Ibadan DisCo after its takeover by AMCON and also restructured Port Harcourt DisCo to halt its crash.

According to an implementation report on the new contract-based system of the NERC, the average electricity assurance should be 5,000 megawatts hour (MWH). On the basis of this, there is none of the 11 DisCos that should have at least 70 per cent of their grid allocation every day, which is a guarantee to increase the power supply of the over 10million registered electricity consumers in Nigeria.

But an official of the NERC told our reporter that the 5,000MWH/H may not be achieved immediately because the hydropower companies were expecting an increase in water level from August when they would ramp up generation.

He said, however, that the NERC was working with the CBN to draw from an emergency electricity stabilisation fund, which will boost the DisCos’ revenue capacity to pay for monthly energy bills.

“The GenCos will now have more funds coming to them to increase gas supply to their power plants and improve energy generation for the TCN to transmit,” the NERC official noted.

An analysis of grid data indicates that the grid is on a gradual recovery from the abysmal state it was a month ago after the major system collapse. From 3,000MW peak generation on July 1, the grid grew gradually to 4,102MW on July 8 before a slight decline to 3,992MW on July 9. As at July 14, the peak generation was 4,115MW while baseline generation was at 3,770MW, nearing the 4,000MW baseline generation projected in the new dispensation with a 5,350MW daily peak generation.


Debt trend must end to improve services – Experts

Experts and power sector analysts have called on the authorities for stiffer reforms to ensure the energy debt accumulation stops by getting better managers to operate the DisCos and improve electricity supply services to Nigerians.

According to the convener of the Nigerian Power Consumers Forum (NPCF), Mr Michael Okoh, since the intervention of the CBN by escrowing the DisCos’ accounts, their managers may have devised a way of under-declaring remittances.

He said they paid the sum assumed they allegedly collected every month from consumers into the CBN fund, from which the apex bank allows them to pay salaries and other expenses before they can now pay for the bulk energy supplied to them by the GenCos through the NBET.

“If the NERC is strict with the contract-based electricity market, DisCos must be held responsible to pay the energy bills they get, and get sanctioned if they fail; and they must give supply to consumers,” Okoh insisted.

On his part, Prof Yemi Oke, a power sector expert, was worried that more among the 11 DisCos have a crisis other than the five that have been so treated in the recent shakeup.

“Eighty per cent of the DisCos are technically insolvent; hence the problems of the power sector may continue. We will continue to experience an average of five to six national grid or system collapses per annum,” Oke noted.

The president of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network (NCPN), Kunle Olubiyo, said electricity consumers applauded the action taken by the NERC and BPE, but blamed the authorities for not doing a major review, five years into the power sector privatisation.

“In the prevailing circumstances, we are on the same page with relevant stakeholders in the present efforts to clean up the mess and free the economy held by its jugular by non-performing utilities,” Olubiyo stated.

By Abbas Jimoh


The new president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, says many Christians feel and have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make them second-class citizens in Nigeria.

He said the fear was borne out of the recent happenings in polity; “that is, the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.”

In his acceptance speech in Abuja after the General Assembly of CAN validated his election, Okoh said: “We’re coming in at the time that all of us in the Christian faith, believe that some section of political leaders are not sensitive to the diverse nature of our population when certain decisions are being made.

“Whatever happens, no matter how many times our sensibilities are insulted, we must resolve to make a positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation.”

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts towards combating terrorism and banditry.

Okoh, however, urged Buhari to end the bloodletting, kidnapping and general insecurity in the country.

By Yusuf Ali, Emmanuel Oladesu and Sanni Onogu, Abuja


Ruling party’s legislators to meet on Sunday
All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders yesterday began moves to avert the impeachment threat against President Muhammadu Buhari by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal legislators over the worsening insecurity.

It was also learnt that the impeachment plot by the opposition senators and House of Representatives members was part of a bigger agenda to outsmart APC in 2023 poll.

The PDP lawmakers have issued a six-week ultimatum to the president to resolve the security challenge or face impeachment.

But some senators from APC and PDP have fixed a meeting for Sunday on what to do if there is no improvement in the nation’s security within six weeks.

APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who dismissed the threat, said it is political.

He said: “This is election season. The PDP senators are whipping up sentiments. They want to de-market our party and the Buhari administration.

“It is not desirable that PDP senators should politicise security. Security is a collective responsibility. The opposition in parliament should contribute useful suggestions, and not to start playing to the gallery.”

Yesterday, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu described the impeachment threat as self-serving.

Sources said APC leaders were shocked that PDP senators allegedly went overboard on the decision of the Executive Session of the Senate.

They were also angry that PDP senators sold a dummy to the public that the “opposition is in control of the two chambers of the National Assembly.”

It was gathered that APC leaders took preliminary stock of the situation and decided to halt further moves to embarrass the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of our leaders have met in Abuja. We are ready to nip the so-called threat in the bud. It is a fluke because it was the stock in trade of PDP when it was in power.

“We have made up our minds that we won’t allow PDP to ambush our administration. We know that they do not have the numbers, but they can make disturbing noise.


“I know that before the end of the recess of the National Assembly, the threat will be over.”

The source gave insights into what transpired on Wednesday in the Senate.

He said: “The PDP Senators derailed from the consensus reached at the Senate Executive Session because of sheer politics.

“Senators Gabriel Suswam and Opeyemi Bamidele foresaw the development when they cautioned their colleagues.

“But they did not listen because they have their agenda cut out for them by some forces in their party. We know those behind the impeachment threat.

“It was all politics by PDP to present a false narrative to Nigerians ahead of 2023 poll.

“Was PDP not in power when insurgency became the order of the day? What did they do?

“By the time Nigerians see the factsheet, they will know that this administration is really addressing the nation’s security challenges.”

It was gathered that some aggrieved APC senators, who lost return tickets, tacitly supported the move by their PDP colleagues to embarrass the president.

Another source, however, said one of the steps being initiated by APC leaders was to address their grievances.

The source listed the issues as follows:

° Slowness in addressing the aftermath of party primaries
° Absence of regular caucus meeting
Lack of regular consultation with lawmakers by the President as expected in a democracy
° Lack of constant interaction with party leadership
° Poor communication with the lawmakers and Nigerians on the fight against insurgency, banditry and killing of troops.
° Lack of inclusiveness.


He added: “These gaps are really being exploited by PDP to harass and intimidate APC government under the guise of insecurity.

“In the next few weeks, we will try as much as possible to address some of these problems.

“But I can tell you that impeachment is unrealistic; it is a storm in a tea cup. We will, however, tell ourselves the truth on the need to improve on what we have been doing.”

As of press time, some PDP senators and a few aggrieved elements in APC have agreed to meet on Sunday in Abuja.

An opposition senator said: “We will meet to decide on what to do if there is no improvement in the nation’s security architecture within six weeks.

“We will keep you posted, but we will place premium on national interest.”

‘National Assembly complicit in govt’s failure’
Kachikwu, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said before Buhari can heed the call to resign, the leadership of both chambers must resign first.

He said the “National Assembly is complicit in the failure of government in the country”, which has resulted in the deteriorating security situation.

Kachikwu said: “I was very amused to hear some senators and members from the Lower House call for the President to be impeached.

“This is a self-serving call. The same people who have refused to do their jobs in the last three years have just woken up to realise that the President should be impeached.

“What exactly has happened today that is different from what has been happening since President Buhari was sworn in seven years ago for the first term and three years ago for the second term?

“Are the attacks today any different? Are the deaths less or more meaningful?

“Is there any life worth more than the other? Are they reacting now because Abuja is threatened?

“The National Assembly is complicit in the failure of this government, so they should ask their leadership to resign before calling on President Buhari to resign.”

The ADC flag bearer lamented that the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution “never envisaged that Nigerians would be saddled with a spineless and self-serving legislature.”

He added: “Buhari has failed and should resign or be impeached but he failed because the legislature failed in their duties.

“The entire leadership of the National Assembly should also resign or be impeached. This is the double-edged sword called doctrine of collective responsibility.”


Protest a charade, says CD
The Campaign for Democracy (CD) said the lawmakers know what to if they really mean business.

Its General Secretary, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, in a statement, described their action as a charade.

The statement reads: “The protest that took place at the red chamber of the National Assembly is a charade, pantomime – a theatrical entertainment, mainly for children, slapstick comedy usually produced during Christmas period.

“The Senators are not unintelligent, illiterates or alliens to know the business of the National Assembly.

“Matching like college students, chanting ‘Buhari Must Go’ means they do not know the business of the National Assembly.

“Therefore, the senators who participated in the protest should be impeached without further delay.

“Impeaching a sitting President has a series of procedures, which we think they are all familiar with unless they want to have Nigerians believe that they are just fooling Nigerians.

“The protest has exposed to the international community, that they are intellectually bankrupt as it is a direct attack on the reputation of the hallowed chamber.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of N120 million traced to a primary school teacher, Roseline Egbuha, and her accomplices, to the federal government.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of cars, traced to Mrs Egbuha, a teacher with Ozala Primary School, Abagana, Anambra State.

A statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said on Thursday that the judge, D.U Okorowo, also ordered the forfeiture of cars, traced to the teacher.

ICPC’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, said the court issued the order on 26 or 27 June but the commission’s lawyers only obtained the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order on Wednesday.

The commission said the court order followed an ex parte motion filed in 2021 following allegations surrounding N540 million linked to Mrs Egbuha and her alleged accomplices.

How suspects tried to hide funds
ICPC explained that the teacher who was on a monthly salary of N76,000 as of the time of her arrest in 2020 had N540 million in her bank account with Guaranty Trust Bank.

It said investigations by ICPC revealed Mrs Egbuha was involved in money laundering thereby prompting the commission to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on her account.

The suspect, however, obtained a court order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, lifting the PND placed on the account, according to ICPC. She was said to have then promptly withdrawn the money and distributed it into multiple bank accounts owned by Bureau de Change operators and private individuals.

ICPC listed Mrs Egbuha’s alleged accomplices to include: James Erebouye, Emon Okune, Chisom Iwueke, Alonge Ojo, Maureen Chidimma, Owoyemi Mayowa and Ejeaka Ifeoma. It also said two private companies were charged to court over fraudulent activities and warehousing proceeds of the alleged crimes.

ICPC’s lawyer, Adesina Raheem, had in his court filings sought an order for the final forfeiture of the money and cars to the federal government.

The judge, after taking arguments from lawyers to the ICPC and the respondents, ruled that the funds found in seven individual bank accounts and that of two private companies should be forfeited to the federal government.


Breakdown of forfeited assets

The money assets covered by the order are N30.8 million in a Polaris Bank account of Dorason Construction Ltd, N17.4 million traced to a Sterling Bank account of James Erebouye and N16.4 million found in the Zenith Bank account of Dybako and Sons Nig Ltd.

Another alleged accomplice, Ojo Alonge, forfeited N14.1 million traced to two separate accounts with First Bank and Ecobank respectively. Owoyemi Mayowa, on her part, forfeited N7.1 million held in Zenith Bank.

Also forfeited are the sums of N8.2 million, N9.7 million, N6.5 million and N122,100 kept in different bank accounts by Emon Okune, Chisom Iwueke, Maureen Chidimma and Ejeaka Ifeoma respectively.

Other items forfeited by the respondents are Toyota Lexus and Venza sport utility vehicles.

Seyi Tinubu, a promoter and child of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, posted a picture on Instagram and deleted it after it implicated him in monetary inducement on Wednesday.

When zoomed, the now deleted picture showed “Money Inducements” on the whiteboard bearing items on the agenda at Tuesday’s strategy meeting Seyi attended at a youth campaign office in Abuja.

Seyi Tinubu’s Instagram post
Seyi tagged the post “My Tuesday #BAT #MyDayInPic #Abuja #YouthCampaignOffice”. His post accumulated 3,258 likes and 172 comments before he deleted it.

Bola, a former Governor of Lagos State, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming 2023 presidential election. He has had a string of criminal allegations and charges levelled against him.

Among the items on the agenda board was “The New Electoral Act“, a recent improvement on the existing Nigerian electoral laws aimed at curbing malpractices. The two items on the agenda are easy to connect, as monetary inducement is one of the electoral crimes Nigerians expect the new act to curb.

The APC was among the parties that bought votes in the Ekiti governorship election in June. Eyewitnesses also accused the party of monetary inducement in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered Usman Baba Alkali, the Inspector-General of Police, to investigate Bola for perjury.

By Our Reporters

A captain and two soldiers have been killed by terrorists Sunday night in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), credible sources close to military high command told Daily Trust on Monday.

The captain and the two soldiers were attached to the 7 Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, it was learnt.

The soldiers were reportedly ambushed after they visited the Nigeria Law School in Bwari following a distressed call from the authorities of the school. The school management was said to have alerted that terrorists had dropped a letter indicating an imminent attack on the school.

One of our sources said, “Following the threat letter from the terrorists, the leadership of the Nigerian Law School drew the attention of the military authorities at the 7 Guards Brigade.

“The late army captain (names withheld) and the soldiers were dispatched to the school for preliminary investigation.

“They had a discussion with authorities at the school and agreed on what to do to safeguard students, teachers and school facilities. Sadly on their way back, the terrorists ambushed them and that was how the captain and two soldiers were killed,” he said.

The source said other persons in the party escaped the attackers by whiskers.

Our correspondent was told that all stakeholders were asked to keep the threat on the law school, including the killing of the soldiers, secret.

“They said even the staff in the school should not be allowed to know what is happening because it will embarrass the government.”

Another source said following the threat, there was a plan to dispatch a joint task force to beef up security around the law school and Bwari at large.

He said besides the law school, other facilities in Bwari, especially those belonging to the government are now under threat and the people were now living in fear.

“This is the height of onslaught on the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of power,” he said.

“But the truth is that the threats have been there for long, nobody in the security circle in Nigeria will tell you that he or she is not aware of the threat on Abuja and the FCT at large.

“The terrorists have established cells in many communities around the FCT. That is why abductions have become a daily occurrence around Kuje, Gwagalada and the remaining area councils in the last one year or thereabouts.

“The target of the terrorists is to embarrass the government. They are in control of many communities in all the contiguous states to the FCT and they are finally here,” he said.

Army confirms attack, says troops combing area

When contacted, the spokesman of the Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa, confirmed the attack.

He said troops were already combing the general areas in order to ensure that no more terrorist is hibernating around the area.

In recent times, bandits have been attacking villages in the nation’s capital with the latest being the kidnap of a monarch in Kucihbuyi, a community in Bwari Area Council.

A few days ago, terrorists attacked Kuje prison and set hundreds of inmates free.

Villages had been sacked by bandits in Abaji, Kuje Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils forcing many farmers to abandon their farmlands.


FG puts schools on red alert nationwide

Meanwhile, the federal government has directed principals of unity colleges across the country to liaise with security agencies within their jurisdictions in order to forestall any security breach in the schools.

It also ordered the immediate closure of the Federal Government College (FGC), Kwali, located at Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, gave the directives in a statement on Monday by the spokesman of the ministry, Ben Bem Goong.

Adamu said the closure became necessary following the security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council, which also threatened FGC, Kwali.

The minister said the timely intervention of security agencies saved the situation.

He also directed that arrangements be made for final year students to conclude their NECO examinations.


FCTA orders hurried closure of schools

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has also ordered the immediate closure of all schools in the FCT by tomorrow.

A statement yesterday from the FCT Education Secretariat said the 2021/2022 academic calendar for FCT Schools would come to an end on Wednesday, July 27 as against Friday, July 29.

“All parents and guardians should please take note and ensure their wards are conveyed home in good time from the school premises,’’ the statement added.

Daily Trust reports that earlier on Monday, there was tension as parents evacuated their wards from the hostel of FGC Kwali, following the alleged threat by bandits to attack the school.

Daily Trust reports that FGC Kwali is located at Sheda village on the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

The village came under heavy attack from gunmen suspected to be bandits on Sunday.

A parent, Mrs Babep Peace, said she came from Lagos to evacuate her two children after she received a call from their guardian that the college’s management had directed parents to evacuate their children.

She said it was unfortunate that their examinations were disrupted by the threat.

Another parent, Mr Obaniyi Oluwatokpe, said he was in Kabba, Kogi State when he received a call from the college’s management that he should come over to evacuate his children.

He said he was told that bandits had threatened to attack the college.

An SS II student of the college, Rebecca Samuel, said bandits attacked Sheda village Saturday night.

She said, “It was at about 12am on Saturday while we were sleeping in the hostel, we heard gunshots, which forced the school’s management to ask us to vacate the hostel.”

A staff of the college, who preferred anonymity, said the management directed parents to immediately evacuate their children because of a bandits’ attack on Sheda village on Saturday.

He said: “It is only the school fence that separates the college and Sheda village, and the attack by the bandits on the village amid sporadic gunshots on Saturday caused serious panic to both students and management, which forced the school to direct parents to come and evacuate their children.”

Security men at the gate denied our reporter access to the school.

The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine, did not reply to an SMS sent to her about the incident.

Barely 24 hours after terrorists threatened to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna Governor Nasir el’Rufai in a viral video, troops of the Guards Brigade have been ambushed by armed bandits in Abuja.

Three soldiers were wounded during the attack, which has thrown residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into a panic.

The bandits were headed to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari when they ran into the troops.

There were Intelligence reports, according to military sources, the terrorists have laid siege to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the intention to attack the Law School in Bwari and other government facilities.

Military sources that pleaded anonymity said the attack was a confirmation of the terrorists’ siege to the city but authorities said they were on the trail of the assailants.

According to one of the sources, troops of 7 Guards Battalion on routine patrol along Kubwa – Bwari road were ambushed by the suspected terrorists.

He added three soldiers were injured during the attack and have been evacuated to THE hospital for medical attention.

“The ambush happening within the general area of Bwari shows that the terrorists are actually within the location and possibly to carry out their plans of attacking the Law School in Bwari as earlier reported,” the source stated.

When contacted, Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Abakpa, confirmed that soldiers were attacked by suspected terrorists but were repelled successfully.

He added the wounded soldiers have been evacuated to a medical facility and were receiving treatment.

“They were attacked and the attack was successfully repelled. We had a few wounded in action who have been taken to the hospital and are receiving treatments.

“At the moment our troops are still combing the general area to get rid of the criminals that have been threatening the general area. It is advised that residents go about their lawful businesses and keep cooperating with us by giving us timely information to enable us win the fight against the criminals”.

The management of the Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, has asked parents to evacuate their wards from the school over the fear of attack by terrorists.

This has caused panic among the management, staff, students and parents of the school.

The school management asked parents to evacuate their wards following an attack in a nearby village “that shares a fence” with the school.

The students who were scheduled to conclude their third term examination on Tuesday have now been sent home.

A parent who evacuated his wards and asked not to be named told PREMIUM TIMES that the school reached out to parents.

“I just picked them up from Giri junction,” he said. “The house master called to inform us,” the parent said.

“Meanwhile, the examination is still ongoing. Some students are still stranded, waiting for their parents,” he added.

The Chairman, Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Suleiman Idajili, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said the directive followed an attack on a nearby village on Sunday morning.

He said terrorists attacked the village sharing a fence with the school and abducted a man and his wife. He said the terrorists later left without the wife.

He added that the prompt response of the security personnel in the school protected it from the terrorists.

He said the school management directed parents to evacuate their wards by Monday, but that those near the school opted to pick up their wards on Sunday.

The decision, he said, was approved by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education who he disclosed visited the school earlier on Sunday.

He said[b]: “Officially, we say they should all come tomorrow (Monday). But those that live around want to pick their children today. And many of them came today.”

“It was because of the prompt response of the army, the police and other security personnel in the school compound that they (terrorist) didn’t enter the school compound,” he said.

“So, that was why we had to take that action because we don’t know their next plan.”[/b]

Efforts to speak to the Director of Press at the education ministry, Ben Goong, were unsuccessful on Sunday as he neither picked calls to his line nor replied a message sent to him.


PTA chairman allays fear

Meanwhile, Mr Idajili has assured parents that the security operatives are on ground to guide against any intrusion by attackers.

He said: “We have very tight security to secure those whose parents didn’t come to pick them up tonight. The army is involved. The police are involved; secret police and ocal vigilantes are all involved.”

When contacted, the FCT police spokesperson, Adeh Josephine, said she was unaware of such an incident. She promised to make enquiries and get back to our reporter. She was, however, yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kwali Division, did not respond to calls by our reporter.

Since the infamous abduction of over 276 girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria has witnessed at least 28 incidents of school attacks in the country.

Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has also experienced security challenges. A few weeks ago, terrorist attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre and freed inmates, some of them facing terrorism related charges.

The recent blame game between the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, took a new twist, on Sunday, with the latest jab coming from the former vice president’s camp.

The heated exchanges started after Atiku’s interview that was aired on ARISE TV on Friday.

The PDP candidate had said in 2007, Tinubu wanted to be his running mate in 2007 but he rejected it over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

But Tinubu responded saying Atiku actually lobbied him to be his Vice-Presidential candidate in 2007.

The Lagos Politician said Atiku, who attacked him over Muslim-Muslim ticket had no problem with same-faith ticket in 2007, when he lobbied him (Tinubu) to be his running mate.

Subsequently, the Campaign Organisation of Tinubu issued a statement where they identified what was described as gaps in Atiku’s interview.

In his response, Paul Ibe, Media Adviser of Atiku, had challenged Tinubu to an hour-long television interview.

While Tinubu was yet to react to the challenge, the camp of Atiku fired a fresh salvo.

“We have read the response from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the groundbreaking interview granted by His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to Arise TV, and even though it was replete with indiscreet language, the former Vice President has elected to respond to the claims made by Asiwaju.

“In responding, he has chosen the route of a friendly riposte, in the hope that his gesture will be reciprocated by the Asiwaju in future. On the issue of Atiku Abubakar offering to make Bola Tinubu his running mate in 2007, the Waziri says as a statesman, which he believes Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also is, or should be, it is pertinent that they use temperate language at all times. It not only shows that they are seasoned and mature, more importantly, it is a good indicator of fitness for the office.

“And that is why it is our intention to respond to Asiwaju’s statement on Atiku Abubakar’s Arise TV interview, not in the rather impolite manner that he dealt the PDP presidential candidate, but in measured tones.

“The major accusation made by Asiwaju Tinubu is that the Waziri Adamawa offered him the opportunity of being his running mate in 2007, which means that the former Vice President was not then mindful of Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity, making his statements during the Arise TV interview hypocritical.

“We would not say that Bola Tinubu has lied. Rather, it is our desire to give him the benefit of the doubt, and believe that his memory may not be what it used to be.

“Nigerians may want to note that on 14 September, 2005, the then US Consul General, Brian L. Browne, drafted a memo, leaked via Wikileaks, wherein he stated that Bola Tinubu was scheming to be a running mate to either Atiku Abubakar or Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is further historically corroborated by the subsequent political history of Nigeria. Biographers of President Muhammadu Buhari have variously recounted how Bola Tinubu made the same request of then Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

“In his 2016 AUTHORISED biography of President Muhammadu Buhari titled ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’, Professor John Paden, an American, wrote about the issue as follows:

“Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and political ‘godfather’ of the South-West geopolitical zone, felt he should be the vice-presidential candidate.

“The above clearly shows a behavioural pattern here. So, if anyone is “unhinged from the truth” (to borrow Asiwaju Tinubu’s words), it certainly is not Atiku Abubakar. In any case, if Bola Tinubu can forget the name of his own political party, why will he not also forget what transpired in 2007 and 2015? We do sympathise with him.

“The fact remains that in a fragile and ethnically diverse nation, such as ours, religious and ethnic balance must be observed at the highest levels, and from there flow downwards.

“That is what Atiku Abubakar said during his interview with Arise TV on Thursday, July 21, 2022, and he stands on that principle and will continue to so stand without apology to anyone. From the forgoing, it is clear that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar’s memory and recollection of the event has been corroborated by multiple, independent, and unconnected third parties, and if this were a court of law, this issue would have been regarded as proved beyond reasonable doubt.

“We would also like to remind Nigerians that even though multiple sources have testified that Bola Tinubu desperately lobbied to be made Buhari’s deputy in a Muslim-Muslim ticket, Bola Tinubu himself denied this on June 22, 2022, and instead accused President Buhari of offering him the position of Vice President.

“Which is exactly the same false allegation he has made against Atiku Abubakar. This is a pattern of behaviour. Not owning up to his actions.

“Therefore, we hope this settles the matter, and that cordiality can be expected henceforth from the opposing camp,” Atiku said in a statement Ibe issued on his behalf.

Barring last minute change, Nigeria police headquarters will post a notorious commander of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Kolo Yusuf, to Kano as commissioner of police.

Until its dissolution in October 2020 in the wake of nationwide protests, SARS was notorious for rights abuses, torture, arbitrary killings and detention of suspects.

Mr[b] Yusuf, who is now in charge of Special Tactical Command at the force headquarters, had headed SARS in Kano, where he was accused of torture, arbitrary killings and detention of suspects.[/b]

The policeman, who will retire on May 1, 2023, was among the top police officers who were deployed to Kano to rig election in favour of the ruling APC during the re-run election in 2019.

But credible sources told DAILY NIGERIAN that the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, had lobbied the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali and chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musliu Smith to post Mr Kolo to Kano in order to help the ruling party rig election in the state in 2023.

A source familiar with the planned posting said the IGP, who is out of the country, had given the governor assurance of the posting after his return from an oversea trip.

The source also told this newspaper that the governor will meet with Mr Kolo this weekend in order to set agenda for him.

According to insiders, the governor often used the police to repress opposition or file bogus charges against his perceived enemies.

Among the governor’s critics the police or secret police arrested and charged are Muaz Magaji, Muhuyi Magaji, Danbilki Kwamanda, Yunusa Dangwani, Salisu Yahaya Hotoro.


Kolo’s Past Atrocities

According to a BBC Africa Eye documentary released in February 2020 and titled, “The Torture Virus,” Mr Kolo tortured a young man in Kano, Hassan Alfa, to death under false allegations of armed robbery.

A Federal High Court in Kano, in a case filed by human rights lawyer, Audu Bulama Bukarti, against the police, found that Mr Hassan died as a result of the beating he received in police detention and that Mr Kolo was personally involved in the brutality.

The court ordered that Mr Kolo and other officers of the defunct SARS in Kano to be investigated by the police, and then awarded N10m cost against the officers involved.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Kolo, who neither paid the cost nor investigated by the police authorities, was promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner of police and later commissioner of police.

Mr Bukarti said in the BBC documentary that no action had been taken against Mr Kolo or any of the other policeman indicted by the court.

By Lami Sadiq


One of the terrorists who escaped from Kuje Prison in Abuja during the July 5, 2022, invasion has threatened to wreak havoc on Nigeria.

Daily Trust had reported how the train abductors jubilated after the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded Kuje Prison in Abuja and freed over 800 inmates, including all the terrorists in detention.

Daily Trust reports that since the March 28th abduction that led to the killing of about nine passengers and abduction of 60, at least 20 of the victims have been released in batches while about 40 are still in captivity.

The terrorists had initially demanded the release of their children and some commanders as condition to free some of the passengers.

They had entered talks with the Federal Government, but since the invasion of the prison, the bargaining line changed.

In a disturbing video the train abductors just released, a terrorist who said he escaped from Kuje prison was seen clad in a military outfit and draped in machine gun bullet chain.

He described the victims as “trash” to have been used as exchange for his freedom.

Speaking to the president, he said: “We must destroy this country, if you want to follow the right religion, come and do so but we are not relenting. Know that we must abduct you and bring you to this forest and slaughter you, with El-Rufai. Look at me, you have sent my pictures everywhere for people to arrest me but I am also announcing that anyone who has seen you (Buhari and El-Rufai) should bring you to me, to kill.”

Another terrorist claimed that even with help from the international community, the Nigerian government would not stop them.

“We are slaves of Allah and we are certain that Allah will help us against you. We want you to know that our focus is not just Nigeria but the entire world, this is nothing to us.”

Pointing at the victims in captivity, he stressed: “These are not the only people we hope to bring here, you should know that you, Buhari, and the one they call El-Rufai and your senators and the Vice President himself, your state legislators and even councillors will come before us, so get ready because you cannot fight God.”

Some of the victims who spoke in the video called on the International community to step in as the government of Nigeria could not rescue them.

They specifically called on the United States of America, Britain, France, Saudi Arabi and the United Nations.

The Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday, claimed that with the outcome of last weekend’s governorship election in Osun State, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, should withdraw from next year’s election.

This is as the party alleged that the former Lagos State governor’s effort to “frustrate” the outcome of the election won by its candidate and Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, was rejected by stakeholders in Abuja.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, made the allegation during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

“Asiwaju Tinubu’s humiliating rejection in Abuja, where he had reportedly rushed to in a desperate bid to frustrate the smooth conclusion of the Osun State Governorship election is a clear testimonial that the APC presidential candidate has been roundly deflated.

“Our party is privy to reports of how doors were locked against APC leaders in Abuja and how their frantic telephone calls and corrupt offers to truncate the Osun election were turned down,” Ologunagba alleged.

The PDP’s spokesperson noted that the party was also “appalled by the nauseating, blasphemous and unpardonable act by APC in hiring street artisans, fraudsters and touts and criminally dressing them in bishop’s vestments to orchestrate an endorsement for its collapsing presidential campaign”.

“The PDP, in the strongest term, condemns this profane and highly provocative act of desperation by the sinking APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the face of APC’s collapsing leadership, membership and followership structure across the country.

“Nigerians were sickened by videos and pictorial evidence of known mechanics, bus conductors and fraudsters sacrilegiously being dressed in fake bishop vestments and paid to endorse the unveiling of Asiwaju Tinubu’s widely rejected running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima.

“Such action is unacceptable and unbecoming of any individual aspiring to a leadership position at any level let alone, the office of the President. This is an embarrassment to leadership.

“With this scandalous act, Asiwaju Tinubu, who is still battling with issues of alleged perjury, non-existent certificate and allegations of extortions has become more ethically challenged and lost all moral standing to seek election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“More sickening is the outcry by the hirelings that they were defrauded by agents of the APC Presidential candidate, who paid them sums ranging from N30,000 to N40,000 as against the N100,000 they were earlier promised.

“It is therefore ludicrous that instead of being remorseful and asking for forgiveness, the APC Presidential Campaign is shamelessly posting lame denials and excuses in the face of hard and verified evidence of its involvement in the shameless venture.”

On Osun election, Ologunagba said, “It is now crystal clear to Nigerians why the people of Asiwaju’s ancestral State of Osun and the South West geo-political zone which ought to be his natural stronghold outrighly rejected him and his APC in the July 16, 2022 Governorship election in Osun the State.

“PDP’s sweeping victory and the spontaneous jubilation across our country are direct statements by Nigerians on their resolve to stand on the platform of the PDP to free themselves from the agonizing stranglehold of the lying, cruel and life-discounting APC and its presidential candidate.”

He added, “The APC Presidential candidate and his party should know that it is in his own interest to withdraw from the race as it will be futile to go into an election in which the Will and aspiration of the people are manifestly against him and the APC.

“Asiwaju has no political fighting chance in the face of the soaring popularity of PDP’s very competent, candid, transparent, people-oriented and much more prepared Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar at the poll.

“The PDP is poised for a winning campaign and as always, our Party is open to suggestions and further collaborations with well-meaning Nigerians as we collectively march to liberate our nation in the 2023 general elections.”

By Muideen Olaniyi


President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the electorate to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections to ensure continuity in the polity, and stability in the country and West African region.

The President said this Friday while receiving a delegation from Nasarawa State led by Governor Abdullahi Sule at the State House, Abuja.

He said the off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States had confirmed his administration’s irreversible commitment to credible and violence-free polls in the country.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, told the high-powered delegation that the Electoral Act, signed by him earlier this year, was an attestation of the fulfilment of the administration’s determination and commitment to the tenets of the rule of law.

‘‘On the issues of credible, free and fair elections in the country, I have always re-assured my listeners both at home and abroad, my personal desire and indeed the priority of this administration is to bequeath to our nation an irreversible political process that continues to be both democratic and acceptable to the people.

‘‘My desire for our nation is that the 2023 elections should clearly mark the commencement of the institutional strength of our electoral body in conducting acceptable, credible and violence-free elections.

‘‘The forthcoming general elections will provide us with the opportunity to convince the electorate on the need for continuity to enable our party to consolidate on our achievements in the last 7 years. The Government and people of Nasarawa State, as usual, have a great role to play in returning our party to governance in the 2023 elections, in order to create a path for greater socio- economic growth and development. This is not only important for Nigeria alone but also for the West African Sub-Region.”

Buhari, who said Nasarawa remained very dear to his heart, described the State as the symbol of hope and determination in collective efforts to entrench democracy in Nigeria.

He recounted that during the 2011 general elections, the State stood out as the one that compensated the political efforts in the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), defying rigging and ensuring that their voices mattered.

‘‘To demonstrate this admiration and appreciation to the people of Nasarawa State, I personally attended the inauguration of Governor Tanko Al- Makura on May 29, 2011. In 2015 and 2019, the State remained one of the strongholds of our great party, the APC.

‘‘I am optimistic that the people of the State, the APC government and this broad representation of your delegation will not disappoint me, as we sustain concerted efforts in pushing forward the frontiers of good governance in our country.’’

By Asare Asare

A Calabar-based clergyman, Apostle Ekapong Ubi, has distanced himself from the list of ‘bishops’ and other ‘clergymen’ who were purported to have graced the formal unveiling of Alhaji Kashim Shettima as the running mate to Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s presidential election.

Due to complaints by members of the public against the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the ruling APC and its candidates are reported to be devising ways to justify their stand and calm the public. One of the ways appears to be the drawing up of a list of top clergymen to show that Christians have allegedly endorsed their decision, said Reverend Akpan Umoh of Save the Souls Ministries in Calabar.

But one of the Christian leaders whose names appeared on the list and who is based in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, Apostle Ekapong Ubi has debunked the list.

In an interview with journalists, Ubi has stoutly denied that he attended the unveiling of the APC vice presidential candidate yesterday in Abuja.

Apostle Ubi, who was number 26 on the purported list of the hired Bishops made this known in Calabar today.

“As I am talking in a conference call with you journalists, I am at 8th Mile area of Calabar, Cross River State.

“I have not travelled to Abuja in the last three months.

“Thank you so much, my brother, greetings from our ministry and my family, and greetings from Calabar.

“I wanted you to see me physically that I am in Calabar.

“No call was put across to me by anybody to be in Abuja, and I’m not aware of such gathering. I am not an APC member.

“They have decided to use that to collect money. God will judge them.”

Ubi said he will call on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to go after those behind the impostors.

According to him, if the perpetrators can execute such an act, the 2023 election is threatened already.

By Oge Udegbunam

A preliminary report of the investigation into the attack on the prison in Kuje, Abuja, has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this Thursday, said the report identifies “all those whose action or inaction led to that unfortunate incident” and such officials will be punished.

“A preliminary report on what happened in Kuje has been sent to the President but a more detailed comprehensive report will come at the end of the investigation,” Mr Aregbesola told journalists after Thursday’s meeting of the National Security Council in Abuja.

“We have identified all those whose action or inaction led to that unfortunate incident and those who have shacked their responsibility will have to face the consequences of their action,” he said.

Mr Aregbesola said sufficient efforts were made by intelligence agencies to forestall the attack on the prison but there was a problem with the will to carry out instructions by security operatives.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the attack on Kuje prison by terrorists in the first week of July.

Over 800 prison inmates escaped during the attack with about half of them still at large. Those still at large include over 60 Boko Haram suspects.

The attack was carried out by ISWAP, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, which later released a video of the incident.

By Joseph Adeiye

Some road users in Oyo State have accused Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), of abuse of power.

The commuters, Samuel Oluwatosin Ige, Ayomide Taiwo and Temitope Yusuf Akinigan, said Adejobi ordered their arrest in Ibadan on Monday after a disagreement while stuck in traffic.

“My friends and I, three of us, were going to Akala Road because a friend of mine got married on Saturday. We were making arrangements to return most of the instruments and the rented equipment we used to various destinations. In the process of doing this, there was a huge traffic congestion along Olusoji and Akala Road. There was a big truck on the road that got faulty, hence the traffic,” Ige told FIJ.

“People were creating space while others drove ahead. They will give space and those who can drive will drive. It was a usual traffic issue that would stop drivers and cars on the road. We got to the place where we were to manoeuvre around the faulty truck in order to get to the main road in Akala.

“On getting to that point, we saw a car that was not ready to give us a sign as we approached. We told the driver of the car to give us a chance to go so that he could have some space to move on as well. But he ignored us.”

The friends turned off their car engine because of the gridlock caused by the other car. They considered it a normal disagreement that happens on the road. At some point, they considered leaving the car on the road to return later but ditched the idea.

“We never even got into any argument or any fight. Nobody was ready to give way for the other. We wound our windows up and remained in the car looking at each other. The man in the other car came down from the car, brought out his phone and said that he would teach us a lesson. We did not know who he was,” said Ige.

Onlookers tried to dissuade the unknown man from calling the police to make an arrest, FIJ learnt, and police officers arrived about 15 minutes after the phone call to round the three friends up.

“They took us to Kuola Police Station around Apata. Adejobi later came to the station, wrote a statement and asked the DPO to lock us up. In all honesty, the DPO told us to beg him and ask to have everything settled. As an omoluabi, we did as instructed. We prostrated ourselves and apologised to the man but he did not acknowledge our apology. He left us there and we stayed in jail overnight,” Ige said.

The police charged all three friends to court on Tuesday. “We are just leaving the court,” said Ige. “The magistrate attended to our case and we have been granted bail.

“I just feel bad that a public figure such as the PRO, who should protect us, stood against us yesterday. I was so embarrassed we slept inside a cell till daybreak when we could have resolved this matter.”

He said that they were charged with obstruction of traffic. The friends will be in court on July 25 and September 27.

FIJ made several calls to Adejobi but he failed to answer them. He was also yet to respond to a text message sent to him at press time.

The Christian Association of Nigeria on Wednesday dissociated itself from Bishops who attended the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, saying they were desperados who went there for themselves.

The organisation said that although the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.

The Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.

“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.

“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?

“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.

“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama.

By Leo Sobechi, Abuja

Facts have emerged on the reason Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, denied supporters of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, access to Arewa House, which they duly paid for.

According to The Guardian checks, the action may not be unconnected with Obi’s restriction of el-Rufai’s movement during a governorship election in Anambra State close to a decade ago.

However, the Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) condemned el-Rufai’s decision, less than 24 hours after the Northern Summit in support of Obi-Datti.

Arewa House was earlier promoted as the venue for the event, but the governor allegedly put a spanner in the works.

In a press statement signed by its spokesman, Sani Altukry, POSN noted that El Rufai, through his spokesperson, reportedly called the Manager of Arewa House to notify POSN spokesman of the unavailability of the venue for the Peter-Datti Northern Summit.

While regretting that the governor failed to give any reason for turning down the group’s widely advertised use of the venue, Altukry explained: “The summit is not a political campaign of any sort, but a convergence of volunteers, would-be volunteers and supporters of the Obi-Datti project for necessary interaction and cross-fertilisation of ideas.”

He stated that the event was initially billed to hold on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at the Arewa House, Raba Road, Kaduna, before the governor issued a directive cancelling the use of the venue after POSN had paid the necessary fees for its use.

The statement reads: “We condemn the decision of El-Rufai to block the hosting of the Northern Summit for Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the LP presidential candidate and his running mate at the Arewa House in the state.

“The decision of the governor is disheartening at the critical point in time when Northern Nigerians are desperate for development and liberation from poverty due to maladministration.”

According to Altukry, the Obi-Datti movement represents all oppressed Nigerians and everyone that desires good governance, asserting that it was evident that the Kaduna governor “is intimidated by Obi’s rising profile across the length and breadth of the country.”

However, a Kaduna Government source confided in The Guardian that “all is fair in love and war,” recalling how, in 2013 during the Anambra governorship poll, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) confined El-Rufai to his hotel room, reportedly on Obi’s orders.

He stated: “The table has turned. Nine years ago, Mallam (El-Rufai) was kept at Finotel in Awka against his will when he arrived Anambra to monitor the election in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige was contesting.

“So, this time around, we are protecting the place and the organisers against any breakdown of the law. If anything happens to the attendees or the premises, the Kaduna State government would be held responsible. As a responsible Chief Security Officer of the state the governor decided on that measure. I did not say you should quote me.”

The Guardian learnt that the programme had been moved to an alternative venue housing one of the labour unions in the state.

By Samuel Oamen


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is to undergo surgery on a leg injury.

His spokesman Laolu Akande, in a statement, explained the surgery became necessary because of recurrent pain in the leg from an injury possibly while playing squash.

Akande, on his verified Twitter handle, said: ‘’VP Osinabjo is in the hospital today for a surgical procedure on account of a recurrent pain in the leg possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash. His doctors would give an update of the treatment later today.’’

By Ibrahim Adeyemi


The Minister of Interior and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregebsola, has travelled out of Nigeria, boycotting today’s governorship election in the state, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr Aregbesola left Nigeria on Friday to attend a conference slated for Monday in Germany by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), reliable sources close to the minister have confirmed.

Although the interior ministry does not supervise the agency, it manages Nigeria’s borders through the Immigration Services, a jurisdiction critical to the NFIU’s mandate of checking illicit financial flows.

Mr Aregbesola had publicly scorned the second-term ambition of Gov Adegboyega Oyetola, endorsing the former secretary to the state government, Moshood Adeoti. His annointed candidate would later lose to Mr Oyetola at the APC governorship primary election held on February 19.

Prior to the primary, Mr Aregbesola had publicly declared his support for a caucus within the state’s chapter of the APC, The Osun Progressives (TOP), even as he said the caucus is peopled by the “real” progressives in the party and vowed to unseat the governor.

Displeased by the outcome of the primary election, TOP approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek the disqualification of Mr Oyetola from the race.

The suit was predicated on the argument that Mr Oyetola had taken part in the primary without resigning his membership of the ruling party’s national caretaker committee which was then led by the Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni.

But on Thursday, Justice Ekwo ruled that the case is a matter within the internal affairs of APC, noting that the court has no jurisdiction to meddle in.

The minister could have travelled on Sunday but chose to leave on the eve of the state’s governorship election “for some obvious reasons”, those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES. The sources craved anonymity because they were not permitted to speak on the matter.

Aregbesola’s not invited to work for Oyetola’ — Aide

Mr Aregbesola’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, said his principal could not have campaigned for APC because he was not invited to work for Governor Oyetola’s second-term bid in Osun.

Mr Fasure said the former governor’s name was “conspicuously absent” from the list of the 86 members of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election.

“He has not been personally invited by the governor to be in his campaign and he is not a member of the State of Osun election council,” the official told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview.

“If you get the list, you will see that his name is conspicuously absent. What role do you expect him to play?,” he said.


TOP backs APC, silent on Oyetola

Meanwhile, Mr Aregbesola-backed APC said it remains a part of the APC despite the alleged rancorous approach of Mr Oyetola’s administration towards its members.

A former commissioner in the state and Mr Aregbesola’s loyalist, Sikiru Ayedun, said in a statement released on Friday on behalf of the factional group that the one-sided pattern of Mr Oyetola’s administration led to the unholy division in the party.

The minister’s loyalists however appeared to be apathetic about supporting Mr Oyetola, despite claiming to be members of the APC in the state.

“Nevertheless, we remain unflinching members of our party, the All Progressives Congress and stand by its ideals, irrespective of our travails or even the outcome of tomorrow’s election,” the statement read in parts. “We are long-distance runners and will not abandon the ship of our party, in calm or stormy waters.”

Meanwhile, sources within the Aregbesola-backed APC factional group have remained indifferent about the ongoing election, after the court struck out the case against their candidate’s prayer.

“If he was not invited, it means that the state believes he can win the election without him,” one of the sources, who asked not to be named, said. “The government has spent four years attacking and maligning him maliciously, it means he is not reckoned with.”

The minister was said to have attended an event recently organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos before flying to Abuja on the same day.

Contacted to officially confirm the whereabouts of Mr Aregbesola, the spokesman of the interior ministry, Ajibola Afonja, said he could not immediately tell the current location of the minister.

“I cannot immediately confirm that,” he said briefly.

Kabiru Umar Sokoto, the convicted Boko Haram bomber, was hatching a plot to kidnap the children of Kashim Shettima, then-governor of Borno state, when he was arrested in January 2012, a confidential memo has revealed.

Sokoto was the mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger state, which killed at least 37 people and injured 57 others.

He was initially arrested at the Borno governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on January 14, 2012 before he escaped from police custody and was re-arrested a month later in Taraba state.

In a confidential security memo dated Thursday, June 14, 2012, that is just coming to light, Sokoto was reported to have infiltrated the Borno governor’s lodge in a plot to kidnap the children of Shettima, who had relocated them from Maiduguri, Borno state, to Abuja for safety reasons.

According to the memo, which was submitted to the presidency, Shettima — who had spent barely eight months as governor — had been warned that Boko Haram was plotting to kidnap his children for ransom.

Shettima, who is now the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), decided to relocate them — two girls and a boy — to Abuja and enrolled them at Turkish and British schools in Wuse II and Gwarimpa.


‘DISGUISED AS BORNO MAN’

The memo, signed by a senior security official, alleged that Sokoto, whose identity was yet to be made public after the Madalla blast, disguised as a “Borno man” to gain access to the lodge — where Shettima’s children were staying.

He reportedly sneaked into the lodge on the weekend of January 14, 2012 when there was less traffic.

In what was described as a “major security breach”, he allegedly pleaded with a guest at the lodge to help him pass the weekend as he claimed to be stranded.

The guest, whose identity was not revealed in the memo, had been officially allocated accommodation at the lodge for one night on the directive of Ahmed Sanda, then-permanent secretary in charge of the governor’s lodge and the Borno liaison office, both in Asokoro.


‘TO BE KIDNAPPED FOR N1 BILLION RANSOM’

The memo suggested that Sokoto was planning to kidnap the children on Monday, January 16, 2012, on their way to school.

He was arrested by the police after spending a night at the lodge.

Shettima had moved the children, all below 10 years old at the time, to Abuja in December 2011 — about two weeks before the foiled kidnap.

He had relocated them from Maiduguri on the advice of security officials and there were suggestions after Sokoto was arrested that some of them might have links with Boko Haram and were obviously passing information to the terror group.

Boko Haram was said to be planning to demand a ransom of N1 billion, which was valued at $6.3 million at the time.


‘ONLY ONE SECURITY ESCORT’

The children were living at the governor’s lodge under the care of two aunties and an uncle, while Nana, their mother, frequently shuttled between Abuja and Maiduguri to run her office as first lady.

The report faulted the fact that only one security detail was escorting the children daily which made them highly vulnerable to kidnapping.

Shettima later beefed up security at the lodge and moved his children to boarding schools.

A senior security official contacted by TheCable denied knowledge of the 2012 memo but said the alleged plot was consistent with how Boko Haram carried out its operations.

Shettima later became a target for assassination by the terrorists who kidnapped hundreds of Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014.

“I am not aware of this memo but I know Kabiru Sokoto was arrested at the lodge. He later escaped from custody while being taken for a house search and was re-arrested,” the official said.

“Some officials in charge of the lodge were invited and questioned. There was a terror investigation. The truth, however, is that nothing was established against them. It was just lax security and poor judgment which could have been disastrous. Otherwise, they would have been charged to court.

“Remember that President Goodluck Jonathan was not on good terms with Shettima and if anything untoward was found against the governor, it would have been made public or leaked to the media. He was an opposition governor.

“It was simply a case of stupidity that someone could so cheaply gain access to a governor’s lodge, even if the governor was not there at the time.”

On December 20, 2013, Sokoto was convicted by a federal high court in Abuja and sentenced to life imprisonment for the Madalla bombing.