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Politics / It’s Too Early To Threaten Nigerians With 2027 Election, Hayab Tells NEF by Kuginzi: 9:36am On Apr 13
Former Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has told the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that it is too early to threaten Nigerians with 2027 election.

In a statement yesterday, Hayab stated categorically that, “It is sad to read that some members of NEF are saying North will not vote for Tinubu in the next election in 2027.”

As a stakeholder, he said: “I find this call coming at the wrong time and lacking in good reasoning. The speed at which our naira is improving against dollars shows Tinubu is doing better than our almighty Buhari.”

He further explained that the speed at which Nigerians got the Kuriga school children from Kaduna State back is a huge progress in handling insecurity compared to how innocent parents suffered when Bethel Baptist School children and others were kidnapped.

He, however, advised that, “NEF should instead seek ways to collaborate with this government to find solutions to insecurity, hunger, improved economy and making our currency add value for the overall progress and development of the country.

“Threatening the government with no vote in 2027 shows they may not have a good heart for the progress of the country but are only interested in what they will benefit.”

He challenged bodies like NEF to use their groups to support and challenge their leaders or government authorities to make the country great and a better place for all Nigerians.

“Let us not bring issues that have no basis at this time for the progress of our land. We need elders that will help unite the country, offer useful advice that will help the nation not coming up with provocative statements that will only provoke other regions to start making statements that will further bring division and confusion in the country,” he further advised.

https://thenationonlineng.net/its-too-early-to-threaten-nigerians-with-2027-election-hayab-tells-nef-2/

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Crime / I Collected Dollars In Cash For Emefiele, Dispatch Rider Tells Court by Kuginzi: 5:57am On Apr 13

Explains how he picked up $1m, $850,000, $750,000, $400,000 for ex-CBN gov

…says Emefiele never rewarded him, case adjourned to April 29


A dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa, on Friday, narrated to the Special Offences Court in Lagos how the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, instructed him on different occasions to collect the sum of $3m cash in tranches.

Osazuwa, who was led in evidence in chief by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he had been a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank since 2001, before joining the CBN as a contract staff member in 2014.

The witness said Emefiele was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank while he worked there as a dispatch rider.

According to Osazuwa, he knew Emefiele, who was his boss while in Zenith Bank, before he later joined him in the CBN.

The witness, who testified before Justice Raman Oshodi, said he was later appointed as a senior supervisor (full-time) in charge of recording and filing documents while working in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.

Osazuwa said, “I was still working in the governor’s office when I was appointed a full-time staff member, and we usually communicated through WhatsApp and email.

"I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.

“I could recall that, in 2020, when he was outside Lagos, Emefiele called me and gave me a number that a man had something I would collect from him, and that the man would give me the number of another person.

When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money (in it), and was told to give it to my boss.”

The witness further told the court that Emefiele usually collected money alone whenever he was in Lagos.

According to him, any time the defendant was not around, Emefiele would tell him (Osazuwa) to give the money to the second defendant, Henry Omoile.

Osazuwa added that Emefiele sent him to MINL Limited when he was with Zenith Bank.

He added, “This company is situated at Isolo. The first defendant(Emefiele) do send me to collect cheques from the company from Mr. Monday, and when I collect the cheque from Mr. Monday, I would give it back to Emefiele, and he would lodge the money into the account of Dummies Oil and Gas.”

Osazuwa further stated that Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, lived in the residence of the former CBN governor.

He stated that when he collected money for his boss (Emefiele), he would take it to his residence at Iru Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.

"Whenever I received the money and took it to my boss’ residence, Mr Emefiele would tell me to give it to the second defendant (Omoile) whenever he was not home.

“I did not keep a record of the transactions, because he instructed me that I should collect the money and bring it to his house.

"I did not keep a record of the transactions, because he instructed me that I should collect the money and bring it to his house.


“The highest amount I collected was $1m, all in cash. Some weeks later, the businessman also called me, and I collected $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 in cash in different tranches.

"I have never been rewarded, paid, or given anything. I was doing it out of faithfulness, and he knows it, but he never for once said, ‘Take this’,” the witness said.

While being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, the witness confirmed to the court that he had been working with the defendant since 2002.

Earlier, Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N50m.

He is being tried for alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.

The judge admitted Emefiele to N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.

He held that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government.

Oshodi also said that the sureties must show proper identification and be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The judge also said that he was satisfied with the bail conditions of N1m earlier granted to Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, who is standing trial in another charge before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.

Oshodi, however, said that the bail documents must be transferred to the Special Offences Court and registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The EFCC arraigned Emefiele on Monday, April 8, on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage, while his co-defendant was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of a gift by agents.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Oshodi also refused an oral application for adjournment, which was moved twice by defence counsel, Labi-Lawal, to cross-examine the witness.

The judge adjourned the case till April 29, 2024, for trial and the hearing of an application for a closed section.

https://punchng.com/how-i-collected-dollars-in-cash-for-emefiele-dispatch-rider-tells-court/?amp

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Crime / Borno CJTF Brutalises Youth With Gun Barrel, Machete, For Wearing Afro Hairstyle by Kuginzi: 6:54am On Apr 12
Borno CJTF Brutalises Nigerian Youth With Gun Barrel, Machete, Sticks For Wearing Afro Hairstyle, Forcibly Cuts His Hair And Detains Victim For Refusing To Pay For 'Service'

Ayouth identified as Titus Durkwa David has narrated how he was assaulted, brutalised, humiliated, and detained by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri, Borno State for wearing an Afro.

Afro is a hairstyle popular with black people in the 1970s in which the hair is cut into a large round shape.

David said he was tagged a criminal for wearing the hairstyle and brutalised by 10 members of the task force, who hit him with a machete, gun barrel, and sticks. He said he was subsequently subdued and his Afro was shaved off.

Narrating his ordeal in a Facebook post on Thursday, David said, "Earlier this afternoon, around 1:00 p.m., while on my way back home from my friend's place at Federal Low-cost Maiduguri, Borno State, wearing my native attire and sporting a clean afro haircut, looking decent and presentable, I alighted from the Keke Napep at the popular Mala-Kachalla Roundabout.

"Upon disembarking, an individual from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) approached me. He told me that I looked like a criminal and one of those nuisances carrying out illegal activities in the city because of my haircut (afro), and instructed me to meet their commander, who was standing nearby in a sky blue native attire.

"At that moment, I tried my best to remain calm and respectfully challenged him to justify how I resembled the people he accused me of being. He couldn't provide a satisfactory response, and as we conversed, two more of his colleagues joined us, and we proceeded to see their commander.

"Upon meeting the commander, I greeted him and recounted what had transpired. He then inquired about my identity, whether I was a military personnel or not. I introduced myself modestly, avoiding any hint of disrespect. He explained that he was ordered to shave the hair of anyone with a hairstyle other than a low-cut.

"I remained composed while engaging with the illiterate commander when suddenly, I was slapped across the face and pushed to the ground by approximately ten CJTF members. Despite my resistance, I was subjected to blows from a machete, gun barrel, and sticks to my back. I was forcibly subdued and my hair shaved as seen in the below pictures."

David, who shared pictures of his new look after the humiliation suffered at the hands of the security task force, said despite the assault, he was asked to pay for the service of a barber engaged to cut his hair. And when he refused, he was detained.

"I was told to pay for the services of the haircut to a local barber (Mai Wanzam), I refused and we fought again, leading them to hold me in their custody for about an hour," he said.

David alleged that some members of the task force had been engaging in illegal activities but the state governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum had been ignoring such.

"These CJTF members, who have been oppressing innocent citizens like myself, are doing more harm than good. The fact that they carry guns doesn't mean one can't fight back to the last straw of the energy God has given us.

For the record, these CJTF have been involved in numerous illegal and criminal activities within and around the state, and the Governor is aware but turns a blind eye.

"Dear Governor Engr Babagana Umara Zulum, with all due respect, I urge you to call upon these illiterate individuals who are ignorant of their responsibilities before the situation escalates further.

"As for today's ordeal, I will live to fight another day, and there, we shall settle the score. I will never forget these.

"This is just the beginning of the end," he said.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/04/11/borno-cjtf-brutalises-nigerian-youth-gun-barrel-machete-sticks-wearing-afro-hairstyle

Politics / Enugu Community Resorts To Invoking Deities Against Pro-Biafra Attack by Kuginzi: 5:01pm On Apr 11
A community in Enugu State, South-east Nigeria, has resorted to invoking deities to stop frequent attacks and killings by pro-Biafra gunmen in the area, [/b]PREMIUM TIMES reports.

The community, [b]Enugu-Ezike, which is in the Igboeze-North Local Government Area of the Nigerian South-eastern state
, had been witnessing frequent attacks and killings by the pro-Biafra gunmen.

Multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the community invoked the deities following the alleged inability of the security agencies to stop the attacks in the area.

How it happened

An indigene and elder in the community, Nicholas Idoko, told this newspaper earlier in March that leaders of the community were disturbed by the frequent attacks and killings in the area, which prompted them to make an arrangement to track down the hoodlums behind the attacks.

Mr Idoko said the first set of the people arrested by the community were confirmed to be indigenes of the community.

He said following the discovery, the community decided to invoke several deities against the attackers.

“We carried the deities in all parts of the community beginning from Orute Roundabout and petitioned the deities to kill anybody – man or woman who attacks or kills or causes insecurity in our land,” he said. “That was in November 2023. Since then, our place has been calm.”

Another indigene of the community who identified himself simply as Afamefuna confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

Mr Afamefuna said the community decided to invoke the deities because the hoodlums behind the attacks believe strongly in the deities.

He said before the deities were invoked, the community leaders had tactically recruited the suspected attackers into the community’s Neighbourhood Watch Group. Still, their insistence on the Biafra agenda caused disputes between them and original members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, resulting in several killings.

“In the heat of the killings and attacks, soldiers were deployed to solve the problem. But the soldiers’ intervention did not really work,” he said in Igbo.

“So, the community invoked the deities in November 2023. That day, the whole community was filled with people. Even security agencies were guiding those carrying the deities.


He said before the deities were invoked, the community leaders had tactically recruited the suspected attackers into the community’s Neighbourhood Watch Group. Still, their insistence on the Biafra agenda caused disputes between them and original members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, resulting in several killings.

“In the heat of the killings and attacks, soldiers were deployed to solve the problem. But the soldiers’ intervention did not really work,” he said in Igbo.

“So, the community invoked the deities in November 2023. That day, the whole community was filled with people. Even security agencies were guiding those carrying the deities.


As of now (after the invoking of the deities), to be honest, the insecurity has slowed down (in the community),” Mr Afamefuna added.

The indigene said more than seven deities were invoked by the community leaders on that day.

Sit-at-home also disappearing’

Like other communities in the South-east, sit-at-home had been enforced in the Enugu Ezike community on Mondays.

But Mr Afamefuna said after the invoking of the deities, the sit-at-home waned in the community and that attacks often witnessed during the illegal action in the area had also stopped.

“Mondays are like business hours for those criminals. But now, there is nothing like an attack, even on Mondays (in the community). The only thing is that fear of what happened before still prevents some people from coming out on Mondays,” he said.


‘Kill anybody who murders, kidnaps again in Enugu-Ezike.’

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a video clip which showed the community leaders invoking the deities.

In the clip, a traditionalist in the community identified as Stone Igwe was seen carrying a fetish pot while speaking to the deities and appealing to them to kill those who further murder, kidnap and carry out any attack or evil against any member of the community.

We are handing Enugu Ezike into your hands today. We are invoking you today in this land. We are asking you all from today henceforth whoever murders any innocent indigene of Enugu Ezike whether through charm, gun, or machete, kill such person or persons,” he shouted in Enugu Ezike dialect of Igbo language.

“Isee,” villagers chorused, meaning Amen.

“Whether you are from Hausa land, Fulani, Yorubaland, or even from India, and you murder any Enugu Ezike indigene, may these deities kill you,” the community leader implored the deities again.

Apart from killing, the community leaders also invoked the deities against kidnappers and armed robbers operating in the Enugu Ezike.

Biafra agitators or criminals?
Some residents of the community said the hoodlums initially terrorising the community were not members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or any other pro-Biafra group but criminals hiding under the cloak of Biafra agitation in the region.

"They (the gunmen) are not Biafra agitators. Some of them were initially IPOB members, but later they had internal disagreements,” one of the residents, who asked not to be named, said.

“I heard that IPOB coordinators would tell them what to do, and they would reject it probably because they have guns. From there, they were sacked from IPOB,” the resident added.


It’s not new’
The invoking deities to fight insecurity is not new in the South-east, according to Nnamdi Anekwe, a security expert.

Mr Anekwe told PREMIUM TIMES that invoking of deities was used to resolve disputes, secure the people and achieve peace in the region during Nigeria’s pre-colonial era.

The security expert, who hails from the South-east, said communities in the region relied on deities to ensure orderliness because there was no police and judicial system at the time, explaining that the practice gradually went extinct due to the coming of Christianity.

“I buy into the idea that deploying traditional methods and practices can help them to solve insecurity (because the) people tend to believe in it rather than using the police force or the court,” he said.

“So, the approach by the community using traditional methods to solve or prevent crime dates back to more than 200 to 300 years. It’s not a new thing. It’s going to be effective,” Mr Anekwe stated.


Background
Like in other communities in the South-east, security had deteriorated in Enugu Ezike with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, residents and government facilities.

The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. However, the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.

The group had repeatedly disowned the Monday sit-at-home and attacks in the region, saying those behind the attacks and the illegal order were criminals attempting to blackmail the separatist group.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/685121-exclusive-enugu-community-resorts-to-invoking-deities-against-pro-biafra-attacks-killings.html

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Foreign Affairs / US: Black Women More Likely To Die From Pregnancy – President Joe Biden by Kuginzi: 4:32pm On Apr 11
By Seun Opejobi

President Joe Biden of the United States, US, on Thursday said black women in America are more prone to die during pregnancy than their white counterparts.

Biden said this has made the Black Maternal Health Week an urgent call for action.

Posting on X, Biden said his administration is addressing the disparities the black community face in the US.

According to the US president, disparities that address the health of black women are being addressed by his administration.

Biden wrote: “Black women in America are 3x as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, making Black Maternal Health Week an urgent call for action.

“That’s why we’re using the power of the federal government to address the long-standing disparities that Black communities continue to face—disparities that directly impact the health and well-being of Black mothers.”

https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/11/us-black-women-more-likely-to-die-from-pregnancy-president-joe-biden/

Politics / Cleric To Nigerians: Stop Cursing President, Others by Kuginzi: 9:19am On Apr 11
By Abbas Jimoh

Nigerians have been urged to stop cursing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders over the hardship and other socio-economic challenges facing the country.

The Chief Imam and Grand-Mufti of Al-Huda Mosque Byazhin, Kubwa, Abuja, Dr Rafee Busayree Al-Ijebuwi, made the call on Wednesday in his Eid-el-Fitri khutbah (sermon) titled, ‘No fleeing from Allah but refuge with Him’, after the two units of prayers offered at the end of the 2024 Ramadan fasting.

He noted that this year’s Ramadan came at a hard time when the minds of the citizens sloped into impatience with their government because of the reforms embarked upon by President Tinubu. “I do not think that any of the good Muslims does not know for certain that there is no fleeing from Allah but to take refuge with Him and pray that the Omnipotent Allah should provide President Tinubu with members of cabinet who shall never fear criticism.

“My appeal to those who meet our politicians with taunting and cursing is: take it easy, because, when a man who drank wine was taken to the Prophet Muhammad and some people lambasted him saying: May Allah disgrace you! But the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) snubbed them and said: (No! Do not assist Satan upon him) that anger may induce an obstinate persistence on the crimes,” Dr Al-Ijebuwi said.

He urged Muslims to remember the recommended six days fasting from the current month of lunar month of Shawwal as Prophet Muhammadu said that ‘Whosoever fasts in Ramadan and follows it with extra six days from Shawwal; then shall have a lifespan fasting reward’, which means that the six added to Ramadan make a total of 360 days reward because each good act is paid back 10-fold.

The cleric also urged Muslims to allow males and females of marriageable ages engaged in legitimate marriages.

https://dailytrust.com/cleric-to-nigerians-stop-cursing-president-others/

Crime / Adamawa Police Arrest Butcher For Stabbing Wife To Death by Kuginzi: 2:59pm On Apr 09
By Hannah Johnson

Men of the Adamawa State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old butcher, Ibrahim Abubakar, residing in Sabon Gari-Futy, Girei Local Government Area, for stabbing his 25-year-old wife, Hajara Sa’adu, to death.

This was made known in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, and shared on the command’s X account on Tuesday.

The statement said, “The Adamawa State Police Command on April 8 2024, apprehended a 33-year-old man for stabbing to death his 25-year-old wife Hajara Sa’adu.

"The suspect, Ibrahim Abubakar, a butcher and resident of Sabon Gari-Futy in Girei Local Government Area subdued the deceased, by stabbing her severally with a sharp knife on her back thereby causing her severe injuries and left her in a pool of blood.

"The suspect brutally killed the deceased on April 8, 2024 at about 04:30 am, after he accused her of taking away his phone that led to little argument.

“The suspect was apprehended following the report made to the police by the father of the deceased and preliminary investigation conducted leading to the recovery of material evidence at the scene of the crime which is linked to him.

“Interestingly, the suspect voluntarily made a confessional statement, adding that he regretted killing the mother of their only child.”

https://punchng.com/adamawa-police-arrest-butcher-for-stabbing-wife-to-death/?amp

Politics / I’m Learning On The Job, I Won’t Drag Power With Obaseki — Omobayo Godwins by Kuginzi: 4:43am On Apr 09
The new Deputy Governor of Edo State, Omobayo Godwins, has pledged his unalloyed loyalty to Governor Godwin Obaseki in the few months they will work together before the end of the governor’s eight-year double terms on November 12, 2016.

The 37-year-old, who was sworn in on Monday after the state assembly impeached Philip Shaibu as Edo deputy governor, was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

Godwins said he is learning on the job and won’t hesitate to do all that his principal instructs him to do.

When asked if he is satisfied that the role of a deputy governor has been relegated to a “spare tire”, Godwins said, “It’s okay with me. Life is a process. At 37+, I am already a deputy governor, it has improved my political outlook and I am not in a rush to drag with my governor. Whatever he say I should is what I will do. He knows my strength. So, I will dwell on my strength when it comes to adding value. Politically, I am learning on the job.”

The new deputy governor was unambiguous that his becoming deputy governor, months to the expiration of the eight-year tenure of Obaseki, was part of the political permutations for Ighodalo to defeat his closest contenders like LP’s Olumide Akpata and Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Godwins boasted that he has robust grassroot support from his base in Akoko Edo, one of the local governments in the Edo North Senatorial District, to boost the chances of Ighodalo, who hails from Ewohimi in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District.

On Shaibu’s impeachment, he said, “That is politics for you. Your job first of all is to be loyal.”


Meanwhile, Shaibu has rejected his impeachment by the lawmakers, describing it as a threat to democracy.

“This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear,” he said

"It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”


Shaibu was Obaseki’s deputy from November 12, 2016 till April 8, 2024 when he was unceremoniously removed following a protracted rift between the two former political allies.

For about one year, Obaseki and Shaibu had been engaged in counter-accusations as their once-smooth relationship completely broke down. The governor had claimed that Shaibu was planning a “coup” to unseat him while the labour leader also accused his principal of instigating the state assembly to impeach him.

Shaibu, who contested the PDP governorship primary, had declared himself a winner in a parallel election after the party announced businessman Ighodalo the party’s flag bearer.
https://www.channelstv.com/2024/04/08/im-learning-on-the-job-i-wont-drag-power-with-obaseki-edo-dep-gov/

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Crime / Police Arrest Suspected Ritualists With Gallon Of Human Blood In Zaria by Kuginzi: 5:25am On Apr 08
The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended a nine-man gang of suspected ritualists under the name of ‘, NBM, at a Cemetery in Dutsen Abba Ward along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway with one full jerry can of human blood,

ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command, while making the confirmation of the arrest on Sunday, explained that their arrest followed a tip-off after a source drew the attention of the service formation that some group of people were sighted at the said cemetery, which in turn Saye Lowcost Division was alerted.

He added that those arrested for alleged involvement in ritual activities are, Samson Ezekiel (32), Samuel Francis (27), Usman Nura (34), Gabriel Sheba (23), Haruna Sa’id (37), Bala Lukman (27) and Jabir Rilwan (37).

The PPRO explained, “A search was conducted on their vehicle, a Lexus sedan, with registration number RSH 712 CW, where two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, two jacket knives, two calabashes and a jerrycan, full of human blood were recovered.”

He said the suspected ritualists, comprising the new and old members, were apprehended while initiating the new members, saying the gang confessed to getting the human blood after slaughtering an aged man and disposing of his body along the Jaji military cantonment, in neighbouring Igabi Local Government Area,

The suspects also confessed that the man’s vital body parts were dismembered but were taken away by another gang which came from Kaduna.

Following the arrest of the seven suspected ritualists along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway, he said that two other suspects were apprehended by the locals, at ABU Congo Conference Hotels, along old Jos road, stressing that they are Austin Ifinju from Ondo State, aged 28 and Yoruba by tribe and Aliyu Ali Yahaya, resident of Hadu Nasko road Abuja, aged 24. Agatu by tribe and a student of ABU Samaru.

ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command confirmed the arrest, explaining that investigations are ongoing.
https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/07/police-arrest-suspected-ritualists-with-gallon-of-human-blood-in-zaria/

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Politics / Petrol: Oil Marketers Propose N550/litre Price To Dangote by Kuginzi: 4:45am On Apr 08
By
AS the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, moves to end petrol scarcity in Lagos and its environs, Dangote Refinery and oil marketers have intensified efforts at taking final decisions on pricing and delivery of petrol to filling stations nationwide.

Dangote Refinery, which can refine 650,000 barrels per day, bpd of crude oil, intends to commence production and distribution of the product, the bulk of which is currently imported from the global market, in May 2024.

Checks by Vanguard, weekend, indicated that the parties have been meeting and exchanging notes on the pricing, distribution and margins to stakeholders in the value chain, including transporters and insurers.

Recall that depot owners buy the product from NNPC Limited at N556 per litre and sell to independents at N640 per litre.
It was, however learnt that independent markers have proposed N550 per litre to management of Dangote Refinery who is currenty in a discussion with them.


We have proposed N550 per litre — Marketers

The President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima, who confirmed the development yesterday, said: “We have been discussing with Dangote Refinery. The discussion, centering on pricing, margins and other issues, is still ongoing.

“We have proposed that the lifting price should be N550 per litre in Lagos. The price of the product will differ from one part of Nigeria to another because of distance and cost of delivering petrol to different locations.

"We are currently waiting on Dangote Refinery to conclude and communicate the price per litre, so we can plan to lift the product when it comes on stream.

‘’We expect that the price of the locally refined petrol would be cheaper than imported petrol, due mainly to local availability of the bulk of its crude oil and removal of transportation cost.”

Let’s enjoy benefit of domestic refining — Experts, consumers

Similarly, Executive Director, Emmanuel Egbogah Foundation for Petroleum and Energy Industry Economics and Policy Advocacy, Professor Wumi Iledare, said the coming on stream of Dangote Refinery presented an opportunity for Nigerians to enjoy cheaper prices of petrol now or later.

He said: “The price of petroleum is majorly correlated with the acquisition cost of crude oil. The cost of running the refinery and opportunity cost of capital contribute marginally. Distribution and retailing costs are important but the crude cost matter the most.

"Thus, low price of petrol in Nigeria when Dangote Refinery operates at full capacity, is a possibility indeed, ceteris paribus.”

A motorist, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Most people have stopped driving every day. That is why we do not experience much traffic in the cities, including Lagos anymore. I am pleased that the Dangote Refinery will soon supply petrol. We hope and pray that it will be cheaper than the imported product.”

FG should float $1bn fund to complete new refineries — Refinery owners

However, President of Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria, CORAN, Mr. Momoh Oyarekhua, said: “ The coming on stream of Dangote Refinery is a very good development, especially as it would reduce huge dependence on imported petrol, conserve foreign exchange and create additional jobs.

"The government needs to support the construction of other indigenous refinery projects, currently at different stages nationwide. We have proposed the creation of $1 billion fund to support local investors.

‘’If this is done, lack of funds, which has always been a major challenge, would to some extent be addressed.

“The federal government and other stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, should engage with indigenous investors to explore the best ways and means of bringing this into reality in the best interest of oil and gas industry and the nation’s economy.”

We expect sector wide impact – CPPE

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said: “If we are able to take advantage of Dangote refinery to reduce our consuming products, it will go a long way in easing the country’s foreign exchange crisis. However, it would also make positive impact across all sectors.”

It’s premature for our reaction—NLC

Asked to react to the development yesterday, an official of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who chose to remain anonymous, said it was premature for comments, saying “how can we react to speculations? When we see what they have done, then, we can say something. For now, we think it is premature.”

NNPC Ltd moves to end shortage

On the current scarcity of fuel in some parts of Lagos and its environs, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, Olufemi Soneye, stated: “The NNPC Limited wishes to inform the general public that the tightness in Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, supply witnessed in some filling stations in Lagos was a result of an issue in one of the depots in the area.

"The NNPC Retail Limited, our retail arm, has since resolved the issue and effective tomorrow (today), normalcy will be restored within the affected area.

“NNPC Limited calls on motorists in Lagos to avoid panic buying of PMS as all hands are on deck to sustain sufficiency in the supply of petroleum products in the area.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/petrol-oil-marketers-propose-n550-litre-price-to-dangote/amp/

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Politics / FG Plans Three National ID Cards For 104m Nigerians June by Kuginzi: 4:30am On Apr 08
By Damilola Aina


The Federal Government is to launch three new national identity cards in May this year and has a target of providing them for about 104 million citizens across the country.

The three new national identity cards planned by the National Identity Management Commission include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.

The Technical Adviser, Media, and Communications to the Director-General of NIMC, Ayodele Babalola, who disclosed these in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said Nigerians would start getting the three national ID cards within one or two months of the launch.

He, however, said the launch date (May), was subject to the approval of the Presidency.

Babalola stated, “We expect the bank-enabled National ID to meet the needs of the middle and upper segments who typically use banks within the next one or two months after launch. Also, activation of the National Safety Net Card to meet the urgent needs for authentication and a secure platform for government services such as palliatives within the next one or two months. The focus will be on the 25 million vulnerable Nigerians funded by the current government intervention programmes.”

Digital/virtual versions of all cards will be available for individuals who prefer digital formats, albeit with limited functionalities. Additionally, ECOWAS cards will be issued on an as-needed basis in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service,” he added.

On Friday, the Identity Commission unveiled plans to launch a multipurpose national identity card. It explained that the identity solution was equipped with payment capability for all types of social and financial services.

According to a statement by NIMC on Friday, this initiative represents a collaborative effort between NIMC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. It aims to offer increased options for domestic consumers while fostering the delivery of services in a more innovative, cost-effective, and competitive manner.

During the interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, Babalola explained that the new card would address the need for physical identification by allowing cardholders to prove their identity, gain access to government and private social services, promote financial inclusion for marginalised Nigerians, empower citizens, and encourage greater participation in nation-building initiatives.

He said the commission hoped the cards would be allocated to 104 million eligible applicants on the national identification number database as of the end of December 2023.

He said, “We shall be implementing the following programmes to revive the general multipurpose card issuance; first is the bank-enabled national ID card in collaboration with NIBSS and banks, while the second programme will be a social intervention card under the National Safety Net Card. The third rollout will be an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.

"We are looking at May for the possible launch but that is also subject to presidential approval. It is just to finalise some very important details. The project will be powered by AfriGo, which is under the central bank but everything stops at the table of the President.”

In January 2023, the CBN launched AfriGo to drive financial inclusion using the card and boost data sovereignty.

AfriGO was birthed in Nigeria with continental aspirations, as ‘AFRI’ means culture, ethnic diversity, bravery, innovation, and growth, while “GO” symbolises progress, empowerment, inclusivity, and future-forward, among others.

This initiative is coming months after the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, announced plans to collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure the successful rollout and registration of digital national IDs for all Nigerians.

Chaudhuri at a meeting with the minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the ambitious target was to provide at least 148 million people of working age with a digital national ID by the middle of 2024, marking a significant step towards inclusion and accessibility.

Chaudhuri said, “So one of the main partnerships we have is working with NIMC to ensure the rollout of the registration so that all 213/220million Nigerians have a digital national ID, beginning, of course, with all people of working age and I think the target for that is at least 148 million people by the middle of next year.”

Continuing during the interview on Sunday, Babalola said, “On our part, we have done the needful but we also have to wait for necessary permission. It is going to be three different cards, one would be for the smooth process of palliative distribution and social safety programmes. There will be another one that is bank-enabled and people will have the choice to choose based on their needs. Persons without bank accounts will also be able to use it and persons living with disability.

"The National E-ID card can function as a debit and prepaid card for both banked and unbanked individuals using biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and picture, to aid identity verification. It has offline capability that will allow transactions to be carried out in areas with limited network coverage. Banking details at the back of the card with chip and pin as well as magnetic stripe enabled.

"While the National Safety Net Card will be enabled for identity and used for all government interventions and services across multiple ministries, departments, and agencies. Among other capabilities and functionalities, this card will be enabled for the eNaira in compliance with the operational and security standards and interoperable with the existing payment system.

"The card will be used for all government social programmes including cash transfers, agricultural loans, student loans, health insurance schemes, micro contributions, micro pensions, etc, with a validity period of 10 years and will be issued based on the government programmes and existing social register. This will enable real access through electronic money and not cash and uplift 133 million people out of poverty.”

https://punchng.com/fg-plans-three-national-id-cards-for-104m-nigerians-june/?amp

Politics / State Police: 20 Governors’ Decisions Ready For NEC May – NGF by Kuginzi: 4:57am On Apr 07
The decisions of the remaining 20 state governors on the proposed establishment of state police are expected to be submitted within the next four weeks.

This is according to the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Asishana Okauru, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH on Friday.

Sixteen state governors had earlier thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police as a panacea for the insecurity ravaging the different parts of the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nwkocha, had earlier disclosed in a statement that discussions were held at a meeting of the National Economic Council and that 16 out of the 36 states had already submitted their reports on the state policing initiative.

The NEC received the reports from the 16 governors at its 140th meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa on March 21, 2024.

Nwkocha said there was an expectation that the remaining 20 governors, whose identities were not disclosed, would also submit their reports, stressing that all the states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police.

Okauru explained in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents that the governors were unanimous in their support of the state police.

He added that the remaining 20 governors were already in the process of submitting their reports, and would turn them in a few weeks from now.

According to him, it became clear after the NGF’s last meeting that there was a need for the governors to speed up “whatever report they were putting together in respect of state police and submit it.”

He said, “The official position of the forum is in favour of state police. I don’t know of any state that is not in support of state police. I can tell you that I don’t know of any state not in support of the idea. That the governors have not submitted their reports for now is not saying they are not in support of it (state police).

“They are in the process of submitting their reports and I can tell you that in the next couple of weeks that would have been resolved. This is the only way to go. The forum has come a long way. So, there’s a very strong consensus in support of state police.”

Asked if funding would be a major challenge for the state police, the NGF director-general added that the government should begin to think about innovative ways to fund the security architecture of the country.

"Even the way the police structure is configured, funding is still an issue. So, the funding issue will always be there. In some other countries, the police institution is to some extent revenue-generating. You know, it has revenue-generating potential. I mean, if done well, you know that everybody will agree to it. Let’s accept that the funding issue will always be there whether it is done centrally or you are for state police.

"Another point that must be made is that it is not because some states have not submitted their reports that the idea hasn’t taken off. It became very clear after the last meeting that they needed to speed up whatever report they were putting together in respect of state police and submit it. So, a maximum of about four weeks, and it should be done,” he added.

President Bola Tinubu had on Thursday, February 15, 2024, agreed on the need to establish state police as recommended by state governors to curb rising insecurity in the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting between the President and the governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the possibility of creating a state police structure will be further discussed.

He further said that a lot of work needed to be done, and the President and the governors agreed on working out the modalities for the idea.

In October 2023, the President mooted the idea of increasing the numerical strength of the police, which is just a little over 300,000.

At the end of the Nigeria Police Council conclave, which Tinubu chaired, he set up a Constitutional Review Committee to carry out comprehensive police reforms.

The 2014 National Political Reform Conference recommended devolving policing by allowing states to create their police and enabling community policing.

However, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who initiated the 2014 conference, and his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, did not implement the recommendations despite the deteriorating security situation in the country during their administrations.


https://punchng.com/state-police-20-governors-decisions-ready-for-nec-may-ngf/?amp

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Politics / Quds Day Procession: Shi’ites Bury Members Killed In Kaduna by Kuginzi: 7:58pm On Apr 06
By Maryam Ahamdu-Suka

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shi’ites have buried five of their members allegedly killed when police fired shots to dispense their procession in Kaduna on Friday.

The members identified as Mahamud Umar, Ibrahim Rabiu, Haidar Ishaq, Mustapha Buruku and Ahmad Mustafa, were buried according to Islamic rights.

Recall that the police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan, debunked the allegation that they killed IMN members, saying no live ammunition was used to dispense the procession but confirmed that three personnel were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

Speaking after the burial, Aliyu Umar Tirmizhi, one of the leaders of the movement, said 25 people were injured, some of who are in critical condition.

He frowned at the denial of the police on the use of live ammunition, saying, “There are video clips showing the police firing at our members which lead to the death of five.

“Unfortunately on Friday 6th, 2024, the well organized peaceful demonstration staged by unarmed men, women, children and even the physically challenged, to sympathize with the Palestinians and condemn the genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, the police with full combat-ready force came in tens of vehicles carrying heavy arms and clampdown on the peaceful demonstration.

"Unfortunately to the dismay of the general public and those that were present at the incident, the Kaduna Police Command, through its spokesperson, addressed the press and gave a contrary statement claiming that they never fired any shot. We stayed here, this is extremely economical of the truth and very shameful.

“We expected the police to have at least stated the crime we committed for attacking our peaceful demonstration and not to concoct fake stories to deceive the public whereas those in the areas it happened saw everything that happened.

"And another surprising thing is that the spokesperson of the Kaduna state police Command came out and said that we were arrested with deadly weapons, while everyone knows us, when we are conducting our activities, apart from the flags that we are raising. we don’t carry anything.”

He noted that there are video clips, still pictures and even media reports available to prove this, most of which are already viral on social media.

He asked the police to use such force on the kidnappers and bandits having a field day in the state and comb them out of the bushes rather than on innocent citizens.

“On a final note we wish to state categorically that we are not going to accept this extrajudicial act perpetrated by the police and shall seek legal redress before a competent court of jurisdiction in the country.”

“We reiterate that as Nigerian citizens, we enjoy the right to express ourselves, we have the freedom to choose whatever faith to belong to and to preach our creed in the peaceful manner we have conducted ourselves in decades.”

https://dailytrust.com/quds-day-procession-shiites-bury-members-killed-in-kaduna/

Crime / Kogi Community Buries 25 Victims Of Suspected Herdsmen Attack by Kuginzi: 7:40pm On Apr 06
By Matthew Atungwu


Twenty-five victims of Thursday’s attack on Agojeju-Odo community, in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, were buried on Saturday.


District Head and Ochala Onu-Ife Bagaji Odo, Chief David Akpa told newsmen in his palace that those buried include two women and four children.

He described the attack as barbaric and wicked given the way the bandits unleashed mayhem on his people.

"We are mourning our loved ones who were killed in cold blood. We have never had any misunderstanding either with bandits or with herdsmen before now.

“As it is now, we are living in fear, moreso after we heard that they are coming to Bagaji Odo, where surviving victims are taking refuge.

“We are pleading with the federal and state governments to come to our aid and protect us from bandits,’’ he pleaded.

Akpa explained that Thursday’s attack was the second in the year.

A community member had alleged on Thursday that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught on the sleepy towns of Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.

“They destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the conflict,’’ he said.

Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, Special Adviser on Security to Governor Usman Ododo, said on Friday that the governor had ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.

“The killing of innocent and harmless residents of the community by alleged hired militiamen is very callous, unacceptable and condemnable,’’ he said.

Omodara said property, especially houses, vehicles, and crops, were destroyed in the attack.

He called on people of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring communities to remain calm as government and security agencies were on top of the situation.

Police spokesman in Kogi, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, also confirmed the attack and assured that security operatives were keeping vigil over the community to forestall further attacks.

“A tactical response team of the police, the military, and members of vigilance groups has been deployed in the area. Normalcy has since returned to the troubled community.

"Investigation into the incident has started to bring the perpetrators to book,’’ Ovye-Aya assured.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/06/kogi-community-buries-25-victims-of-suspected-herdsmen-attack/

Foreign Affairs / US On High Alert Over Possible Iran Attack After Israeli Strike In Syria – Offic by Kuginzi: 6:47pm On Apr 06
Iran has said it reserves the right "to take a decisive response."

An official of the United States of America has said that the country is on high alert and preparing for a possible attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region in response to Israel's strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

Reuters quoted the official as saying, "We're definitely at a high state of vigilance," confirming a CNN report that said an attack could come in the next week.

Recall that suspected Israeli warplanes on Monday bombed Iran's embassy in Damascus in a strike that killed an Iranian military commander and marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries.

It was reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that seven Iranian military advisers died in the strike, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in its Quds Force, which is an elite foreign espionage and paramilitary arm.

Iran has said it reserves the right "to take a decisive response."

The U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday reportedly discussed the threat from Iran in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.


A senior Biden administration official said, "Our teams have been in regular and continuous contact since then. The United States fully supports the defense of Israel against threats from Iran."

https://saharareporters.com/2024/04/06/us-high-alert-over-possible-iran-attack-after-israeli-strike-syria-official

Crime / EFCC Arraigns Emefiele, Omole On Fresh 26 Count Monday by Kuginzi: 4:07am On Apr 06
Onozure Dania and Stephen Angbulu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Monday, April 8, 2024, arraign the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos for alleged abuse of office over allocation of billions of United States dollars.

Emefiele alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, will be arraigned on 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi.

The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.

The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”

EFCC, further alleged that Emefiele between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.

Emefiele was alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”

In count four, the sum involved was $370,872,893.01.

Emefiele’s co defendant Omoile was alleged to have November, 17, 2020, in Lagos, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of $110,000, for Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, gifts as reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favor of Raja Punjab’s employer.”

According to the charge the offences committeed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, thanked the Central Bank Investigator, Mr Jim Obazee, for his services, officially closing the months-long investigation.

"Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read Friday evening.

The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu thanks Jim Obazee as special investigator of the CBN at conclusion of investigation.’

Tinubu noted that with the investigations closed, all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies have since begun conducting follow-up action.

The President commended Mr. Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the complexities of this critical national assignment.

He thanked the CBN investigator for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.

On 30 July 2023, the President appointed Jim Obazee, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, as a special investigator to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria and related entities.

https://punchng.com/efcc-arraigns-emefiele-omole-on-fresh-26-count-monday/?amp

Politics / Senegalese President: Nigerian Youths Only Interested In Being PAs – Sowore by Kuginzi: 5:21am On Apr 03
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election Omoyele Sowore has faulted the attitude of young Nigerians to politics in light of the swearing-in of 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the Senegalese president.

Faye was sworn in at an event attended by several African leaders in Dakar on Tuesday.

While this has elicited hopes that other African countries especially Nigeria will follow a similar path in electing young people, Sowore says youths in the country are only scheming to become personal assistants to governors and other leaders.

"Our young people are concerned with doing what I call tag along. They are more interested in becoming special assistants to governors or senators,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. “I have not seen that clear aspiration on the part of our young people to become leaders.”

Sowore who spoke from New Jersey in the United States (USA), said Nigerian youths need to become more daring in politics to replicate what happened in Senegal.

“You cannot be young, mission-driven, and a visionary and go and hide your bushel under some of these old people who have no idea of how to even operate a phone,” Sowore said.

"Youthfulness is also important in the sense that you need leaders that are alert and capable and responsive and do not have to spend half of the time in the hospital,”
the AAC flagbearer said.

Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not Too Young Bill into law, empowering youths to vie for the presidency and other positions.

But Sowore said the youths need to “take power” and not wait for any law to make that happen.

“You take power,” he said. “Nobody should give power to you by any constitutional amendment or law”.


https://www.channelstv.com/2024/04/02/senegalese-president-nigerian-youths-only-interested-in-being-pas-sowore/

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Politics / Diesel Price Drops As Dangote Sells ₦‎1,225/Litre, Supplies Petrol May by Kuginzi: 4:54am On Apr 03
Dealers get one million litres each at N1,225/litre, price drops in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun

The pump price of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, has dropped from about N1,700/litre which it sold for a few weeks ago, to around N1,350/litre in some locations across the country following the sale of the commodity by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

It was gathered on Tuesday that the $20bn worth refinery started pumping out diesel to the domestic market last Wednesday.

It sold a minimum of one million litres to each registered oil marketer that got the product from the plant since it commenced diesel sale.

Officials of the multi-billion dollar plant and oil dealers confirmed that the product was dispensed to marketers at between N1,225/litre and N1,300/litre depending on the volume of purchase.

This came as it was also gathered that the refinery would start releasing Premium Motor Spirit to the domestic market in May this year.

"They started pumping out diesel to marketers since last week. They also promised to sell aviation fuel soon. Some of my members confirmed this to me after making the purchase,” the National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, told one of our correspondents.

He added, “So some of our marketers have started getting the product, but as an association we have not got the product yet, because we want to get the actual rate that it will be sold to us when we buy in bulk. However, they have started selling diesel because some of our marketers have started buying.

N1,225/litre

“They are selling at N1,225/litre and the minimum volume they are giving is one million litres per marketer. Also, they assured us that they will release more products, but for now this (diesel) is what they are starting with. So we are expecting them to release PMS anytime from now.”

Maigandi said the move by Dangote would definitely lead to a crash in diesel price, as the commodity rose to a high of about N1,700/litre recently.

"The price of diesel is going to fall because of the release of products from Dangote refinery. In fact, it is already coming down in Lagos,” Maigandi stated.

Another oil marketer, who is the Chief Executive, AF Ralph Oil and Gas Ventures, Dr Ralph Arokoyo, confirmed that the refinery had started the sale of diesel to dealers, adding that the plant started dispensing the product last Wednesday.

Asked if Dangote refinery had started supplying diesel to the market, Arokoyo replied, “Yes they have started. They started diesel sales last Wednesday and they have sold to many marketers including members of IPMAN and MEMAN (Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria), as well as other private registered independent dealers.”

Price drops

When also asked about the minimum volume being sold to dealers and at what rate, Arokoyo said, “One million litres is the minimum and the rate is okay considering what other major tank farms are selling, which is why people are trooping to the refinery now.

"The price ranges between N1,250/litre and N1,300/litre depending on the volume you are buying. This is good news for Nigerians because in the last few weeks the price of diesel hovered between N1,600 and N1,700/litre.

“But in many locations across the federation, the prices are beginning to drop due to the emergence of products from that refinery and as the products are being dispatched since last Wednesday. Now you can get AGO (diesel) in some stations at N1,400/litre.

"Some are even doing N1,350/litre now and I want to believe that in a couple of weeks to come, we should see more reduction in the price of the product as more products from the plant hit the market and spread very well across the country.”

On whether the company informed dealers when it would start releasing petrol into the market, Arokoyo replied in the affirmative.

"They (Dangote refinery) said it (petrol) will be available between now and May, which is next month. We are optimistic about this, because PMS is largely used by Nigerians,” the oil marketer stated.

A senior official at Dangote refinery confirmed the sale of diesel to marketers, as the source noted that Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, would soon be released to the market.

“The product (diesel) is everywhere and they (marketers) are accessing it with ease. The product has been on sale to marketers since last week and the transactions have been better.

"The price of the product in various locations of the country will come down, and it is already coming down in many parts of Lagos since we started releasing products to marketers,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.

The Dangote refinery has faced a series of hurdles as it strives to release refined products into the market after it was officially inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May last year.

Recall that on February 8, 2024, The PUNCH reported that indications emerged that lingering regulatory approvals stalled Dangote Petrochemical Refinery’s plan to release aviation fuel (Jet A1) and diesel for sale in the Nigerian market in January.

The report had stated that weeks after the January 31 timeline set by the management of Africa’s largest refinery to begin sale of its petroleum product in the local market, the refinery was still battling to cross the hurdles of the several layers of regulatory approvals.

It stated that the development came after the refinery began the production of refined petroleum products at the expansive facility.

On January 12, 2024, Dangote refinery announced that it had commenced the production of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, and aviation fuel or JetA1.

Aliko Dangote, in a statement issued by his firm at the time, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support, encouragement, and thoughtful advice towards the actualisation of the project.

Dangote also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NMDPRA and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project, as he revealed that the facility would pump out diesel and aviation fuel in January, subject to regulatory approvals.

He said, “We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to details.

“His intervention at various stages cleared all impediments thereby accelerating the actualisation of the project. We also thank the NNPC, NUPRC and NMDPRA for their support. These organisations have been our dependable partners in this historic journey.


"We also thank Nigerians for their belief and support in this project. We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market within this month once we receive regulatory approvals.”

The refinery, Africa’s largest with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, was built on a peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial capital Lagos.

https://punchng.com/diesel-price-drops-as-dangote-sells-n1225-litre-supplies-petrol-may/?amp

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Politics / Anybody Who Hoards Palliatives Is Cursed — Oluwo by Kuginzi: 5:17am On Apr 02
Osun State monarch, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has warned government officials and political office holders against hoarding palliatives meant for the people.

Akanbi stated that officials involved in the act are cursed and would incur the wrath of God.

The monarch issued the warning while speaking with journalists during the distribution of food items to the less privileged in Iwo on Monday.

The monarch said, “If any government and political officer holder is hoarding palliative, I believe that it is a curse. People should not incur the wrath of God in this period of Ramadan and Easter.

“You cannot finish that food by yourself. It will only kill you. Instead, distribute it like I am doing to those who need it. This is leadership! King is the servant and the people, you treat them as kings because I want to raise kings.”

Oba Akanbi also called on rich Nigerians to reach out to the poor in their communities.

"We are imploring Nigerians in this time of rebirth, in this time of digging new foundation, it is always hard, so this new time people should help their neighbours.

“The rich should help the poor so that we can all grow together and fight the corruption in the land and also to reach out to people during these hard times. They should know we are complementing the efforts of the government and those who have should do the same.”


Calling on other traditional rulers to act as a link between the government and the people, he also advocated for one-on-one meetings between the traditional rulers and their subjects.

"Traditional rulers are a link between the state government and the people. You can see that I went to my people one-on-one and I met them. It is not that I am sending people to them, this is how we want the government to know that the traditional rulers can go as far as meeting their people in their respective houses.

“Traditional rulers can actually reach out. People must have sincerity in what they do, traditional rulers can really reach out to their people.


“You see while I was distributing, my sharing formula is blind.”

https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/01/anybody-who-hoards-palliatives-is-cursed-oluwo/

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Crime / We Are Not Targeting Only Yahoo Boys – EFCC Boss Vows To Go After ‘mega Thieves by Kuginzi: 5:10am On Apr 02
By Matthew Atungwu

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has dismissed insinuations that the agency is only going after internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys’.

Olukoyede assured that he will lead a broad-based and holistic anti-graft war that would not spare anyone linked with any form of economic and financial crimes.

The EFCC boss stated this in a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Monday in Abuja.

He gave the assurance in Abuja at an Anti-Corruption Concert organized to create greater awareness and public involvement in the fight against internet crimes.

Olukoyede reaffirmed his commitment to an all-embracing, fully-integrated war against corrupt practices.

“We will not spare anyone. We will not spare the mega thieves. As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end.

"In the last two months, we have arraigned two former governors. So, it is not true that we are only focused on internet fraudsters.

“Of course, internet fraud is bad enough but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crimes,” he said.

He cautioned youths against indulging in internet-related offences, pointing out that the consequences of being convicted for such crimes are grave.

"Youths need to know that being ex-convicts has career limitations. Ex-convicts can’t run for public offices, the stigma alone is even terrible.

“I urge you to avoid internet crimes by all means. Your future is more important than any immediate gains from such crimes,” he said.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/01/we-are-not-targeting-only-yahoo-boys-efcc-boss-vows-to-go-after-mega-thieves/

Crime / Troops Kill 11 Terrorists, Recover Military Uniforms, Weapons by Kuginzi: 4:52am On Apr 02
Troops of the Nigerian Army in separate operations conducted in Zamafara and Katsina states killed no fewer than 11 terrorists.

The terrorists were killed following a raid on terrorist kingpin enclaves in the states.

In Zamafara, the hideout of a terrorist leader, Hassan Yantagwaye, in the Tsafe Local Government Area was raided which resulted in a gun battle with two of his men killed in the operation.

This was contained in a post by the Nigerian Army on X on Monday.

It read, “Nigerian Army troops deployed for Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Insurgency operations in Katsina and Zamfara states in a series of coordinated operations have raided terrorists’ enclaves resulting in the elimination of a significant number of terrorists.

"In an operation in Zamfara State, on March 29, 2024, troops successfully raided the den of a notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Hassan Yantagwaye, in the Tsafe Local Government Area. Yantagwaye and his group have been responsible for kidnappings and acts of terrorism in some parts of the North-West Nigeria.

“During the operation, troops overpowered the terrorists in an ensuing gun battle, neutralising three of them and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition. Troops also destroyed the terrorists’ camps.”

According to the post, the operation conducted in Katsina led to the death of eight terrorists.

Weapons and military uniforms were recovered from the terrorists.

“In Katsina State, the gallant troops on 30 March 2024 engaged in a fierce gun battle with terrorists in Shawu Kuka, Shinda, Tafki, Gidan Surajo, and Citakushi in Kabai I and Kabai II within Faskari Local Government Area.

“The troops neutralised eight terrorists and recovered three locally-fabricated guns, military uniforms, and a large number of stolen grains,” the post added.

The service also said troops captured armed fighters in Ebonyi and intercepted illicit drugs in Ogun State.

The service added, “In Ebonyi State, troops conducting night patrols on 31 April 2024, encountered armed Effium militias along Urban Effium in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Troops overpowered the militias in a combat engagement that followed and captured one of the militias.

"The troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle and 11 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. The suspect is currently undergoing a preliminary investigation.

"Troops on 29 March 2024 intercepted 441 wraps of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa at Molegede village in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

“The vigilant troops uncovered the illicit substances being conveyed in a Mazda saloon car, after the smugglers absconded, abandoning the vehicle on sighting the troops. The vehicle and illicit products will be handed over to the appropriate agency after preliminary investigations.”

https://punchng.com/troops-kill-11-terrorists-recover-military-uniforms-weapons/?amp

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Crime / Two Killed, Many Houses Burnt As Violence Breaks Out In Benue by Kuginzi: 10:28pm On Apr 01
At least two people were killed in a fresh communal crisis which broke out at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi metropolis in Benúe State.

Many houses were burnt and residents sustained injuries when fight broke out between Tiv and Jukun natives on Sunday and continued on Monday.

Commander of a local vigilante known as Operation Shara (Sweep) in North Bank, Nura Umar, told our correspondent that two persons who were involved in menial job were killed in the heat of the crisis.

Umar said, “It’s really bad. Many houses were burnt in Agatashi community at the river bank of old bridge around timber shade and abattoir side. It’s a fight between Jukun and Tiv.

"Two persons selling things on wheelbarrow were victims of the crisis. They were caught and killed. We buried them today. Yesterday, Sunday, they shot two people while in church. They didn’t die; they are in the hospital.”


Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Benúe, SP Catherine Anene, did not yet respond to calls put through her telephone as at the time of filing this report.

https://dailytrust.com/two-killed-many-houses-burnt-as-benue-boils-again/

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Politics / Peter Obi Was First Presidential Candidate To Ever Play Ethnic, Religious Card I by Kuginzi: 9:07pm On Mar 31
This was stated by a presidential aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga when he was hosted by Seun Okinbaloye on a live podcast, ‘Mic On’, which was monitored by SaharaReporters.

The Presidency has berated Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate for allegedly inflaming religious and ethnic issues to push his political ambition.

This was stated by a presidential aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga when he was hosted by Seun Okinbaloye on a live podcast, ‘Mic On’, which was monitored by SaharaReporters.

He said, “What I know about the campaign of Obi was that for the first time in a very long while in our country, we had a candidate who was inflaming ethnic passions. And that was the way the election went at that time. He was inflaming ethnic passions, religious passions, bringing two dangerous things to our politics - ethnicity and religion. That is what he did. And those things were dangerous to our Nigerian politics.”

Onanuga added that his principal did not choose his running mate because he was a fellow Muslim.

He said: “If Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) had done that, we would not have lost Lagos. (Muslim-Muslim ticket) was not religious. Muslim-Muslim ticket did not even win him massive votes; let’s say in Borno where his deputy came from. The man he picked as his VP, he believed that Shettima had the qualities to support him or to be his Vice President. That is why he picked him. He was not looking at religion.”

SaharaReporters had reported that the Supreme Council on Islamic Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) had withdrawn its support for President Bola Tinubu's government.

SCSN noted that it also regretted voting for the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying President Tinubu had relegated the country's Muslims to the background.

The Secretary-General of the council, Nafiu Baba Ahmed, said, "We were in the vanguard of mobilising scholars, various sects and Islamic groups to bring this government to power. But the scholars and various groups feel neglected, accusing the government of turning its back on Muslims, despite voting in the Muslim-Muslim ticket."

https://saharareporters.com/2024/03/31/peter-obi-was-first-presidential-candidate-ever-play-ethnic-religious-card-nigeria-says

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Crime / Police Arrest 10-year-old Boy For Allegedly Strangling Mate To Death by Kuginzi: 4:47pm On Mar 31
By Matthew Atungwu

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 10-year-old boy for allegedly strangulating his 10-year-old mate to death during a football match.

The Command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Sunday.

Hundeyin said the Ejigbo Police Division received the information on Friday at about 6.20 p.m.

He said the father of the deceased reported the case to the police that his son, Israel Ogunleye, 10, was playing football with some boys at Oluwole Street, Powerline in Ejigbo area, where the mother of the boy has her shop located.

According to the PPRO, the father reported that his son had an argument with one of the boys, who is also 10 years old.

He said the report alleged that the 10-year-old suspect held the neck of his son and allegedly strangled him until he died.

“Based on the report, a team of detectives visited the scene and photographed the place and corpse. The corpse was taken to the General Hospital Isolo, where the doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

“The body was transferred to the mortuary for post-mortem examination, and the suspect is in police custody and investigation is in progress,” he said.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/31/police-arrest-10-year-old-boy-for-allegedly-strangling-mate-to-death/

Crime / Police Kill 2, Recover Firearm In Raid On IPOB/ESN Hideout by Kuginzi: 4:31pm On Mar 31
The Police Command in Enugu State says it has raided an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) criminal hideouts in the Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

The police operatives, however, met with resistance from the renegades, who opened fire upon sighting them, but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police, leading to the neutralisation of two of the renegades.

Dinosaurs Spine at Hang Dong, Ta Xua, Son La seen from above

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday that the Police conducted the raid on Saturday at about 2:30am

Ndukwe said that other members of the outlawed group escaped with various gunshot wounds.


Why I avoided LP convention in Anambra – Obi
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He said that one AK-47 rifle, one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), one stainless Pump-Action Gun (PAG), 27 live and 23 expended rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition were recovered after the raid and gun duel.

According to him, police also recovered five live cartridges and a small blue-coloured Gideon New Testament Bible probably used to conceal objects suspected to be charms.

“In pursuance of the proactive/crime prevention strategies devised by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, police operatives of Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried out an intelligence-guided raid of a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout in Akwuke community in Enugu metropolis.

“A preliminary investigation reveals that the breech number of the recovered AK-47 was wiped off.

"The criminal elements are responsible for several attacks and carting away of police officers rifles, as the rifle’s magazine bore the Nigeria Police Force colour. Further discreet investigations are ongoing,” he said. (NAN)

https://dailytrust.com/police-kill-2-recover-firearm-in-raid-on-ipob-esn-hideout/

Politics / APC Afraid Of Labour Party’s Popularity – Deputy National Chair by Kuginzi: 3:59am On Mar 31
By Ayoola Olasupo

Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Ayo Olorunfemi, shares his views with AYOOLA OLASUPO on the call for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the persistent crisis in the party, among other issues

After the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party has been facing a leadership crisis to date. In your assessment, what do you think is the cause of the crisis?

I’d like you to know that the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are not the only political parties to reckon with, and the Labour Party being very strong was being used for politics by some of the people that claim ownership. It has never been used by the platforms. It has never been supported by the platforms.

When I talk about platforms, I mean the labour movement and we have people in the labour movement who are in the APC holding very high positions. A former NLC president who happens to be the progenitor who signed to form the Labour Party was a governor on the platform of the APC; he was also the national chairman of the APC. He never believed in the Labour Party. If he believed in it, he wouldn’t have left the LP and be contesting and using the heads of Labour to fester his interest in the APC.

You will recall that Olusegun Mimiko also contested on the platform of the LP; he won the election twice and became the governor. Mimiko wasn’t a Labour person per say, aside from being a student unionist in his university and student executive union during his university days, but he used the LP and won elections on that platform. We expect that being an LP governor and Adam Oshiomole being the president of the NLC before becoming governor of Edo State, the two of them would have cooperated with the Labour governor to also possibly defect to that party so that they would have two governors, instead, he was given the Labour governor folder until he was frustrated out of the party and that marked the end of the successes recorded during the Mimiko era.

Now, we felt that the LP should not just be like this. How can Mimiko be perching with chickens and hens on the ground? So, we decided at the level of the TUC youth to form a political commission, and that came as a result of the complaint that had become the deficit of governance; I mean leadership in governance and all of those and the attendance effects on workers’ welfare.

We felt that instead of going out there all the time picketing, going on strike, demonstrating, and all of that every time, why not take the instrument of governance? Let’s take the instrument of power and I mean take over the government and provide a socialist leadership. A government that is socially oriented will provide all the needs of Nigerian workers, whether organised or unorganised. That formed the basis upon which the political commission was created and when that happened, I was the chairman of that political commission.

Are you talking about the Nigerian Labour Congress Political Commission?

I’m talking about the Trade Union Congress. That was under Quadri Olaleye, and we decided and set out our plan, which was fully supported by the TUC under Olaleye at that time. It was fully supported, and we were able to organise programmes aimed at sensitising Nigerian workers and the crisis between the LP and the NLC. We went into it and of course, because the NLC saw that we were serious about it, they allowed reconciliation to take place and that also brought succour to the crisis that was on the ground, and we went into the 2023 election with one force even though our presidential candidate was not fully supported by the NLC because the Adam Oshiomole factor in the NLC is very strong.

As of that time, the chairman of the NLC Political Commission was a member of the APC and is still a member as we speak. Of course, he was a member of the campaign committee. Isa Aremu is also a very strong person in the NLC even though he claimed to be an LP member until his name was conspicuously written in the campaign committee of Bola Tinubu. So, the support was not coming but Nigerians did their best considering the integrity of the candidates that the LP brought, and we shook the system as a matter of fact, we believed we won that election, but the judiciary stole it from us. We want to believe that corruption stole that election from us.

So, why are these things happening?

On why these things are happening, they never believed LP could move the way it moved. They never believed in the strength of LP. The people who believe and have been claiming that they held the power of the LP seem to have lost it. The NLC seems to have lost that power, and for the very first time, we give the ruling party a run for their money. So, you will not expect the ruling party to keep quiet. They are the ones behind all of this animosity going on in the party.

Why did you say the APC is behind the crisis in your party?

All the cases against Abure, all the allegations, none of them can be substantiated. We got information that before 2027, there’ll be no more Labour Party. So, we are prepared. That is why we will be challenging all those things headlong to ensure that the LP remains one formidable political party.

Considering what is happening in the party, how can the issue be resolved?

Well, the structure of the party is intact. The National Working Committee is fully on the ground. The NEC, that’s the chairman, and the state secretaries of the 36 states of the federation are also on the ground. We are together. All of us are together and we are in this together. Some people call themselves the ‘Obidient’ group, who are also fighting to get the soul of the party, and we are not against them. It is a democratic system. We are not opposed to people coming in and showing ambition that they want to be the chairman, or they want to be anything in the political party, but you have to start from where you are supposed to start.

You can’t just come into the party and want to take the soul of the party at the national level. We have local governments, and you have to be known in your ward. If you are not known in your ward, how do you want to become a national figure in the political party? As I speak to you, I represent the TUC in the political party. I’m fully known in my ward, from my unit to my ward to the local government and the state.

So, if anybody wants to be anything in the party, you first need to be known as a politician. Of course, politics is local, and we can’t just make you anything if you are useless at your local government level or your ward. You won’t be able to win your unit. All of those things are coming, and we have been explaining to them, and some of them are showing understanding while those who have a different agenda are not showing understanding.

There is a suggestion that the judiciary shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions in post-election matters and that it has become a general profile of the judiciary to avert the course of justice. How will you react to that as regards the 2023 general election?

From what we saw at the Presidential Tribunal up to the Supreme Court where vital issues were not even mentioned in the judgment, it is just more or less like sweeping them under the carpet. I don’t think we should be talking about the judgment that was there long ago, but the fact remains that the confidence of the public on the judiciary is gradually or vastly eroded. I think the judiciary would have to rebuild the confidence in such a manner that they will now have to regain the confidence of the people otherwise they won’t trust them because, in a situation whereby the judiciary cannot have a say in an electoral process, it is unacceptable. I don’t think it is okay.

Maybe what we should be talking about is reform, looking at the recruitment process of the judiciary. Should the President have an approving authority on the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Federation? Should it not be the Senate that should approve such an appointment? Once you say the President should approve, then it means the President has an overriding power over another arm of government, which should not be. Where then lies the separation of power? So, the President should not be the one to approve who becomes the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. That is the legislative arm.

Why should he (President) be the one to approve the appointment of a judge? I mean the Chief Justice of the Federation or any appointment for that matter in the judiciary; he shouldn’t be the one. Apart from appointing a Minister for Justice, the Attorney General of the Federation should be appointed differently. So, these are my simple ways of introducing reforms into the judiciary so that whoever is the Chief Judge will not depend on the President.

Of course, if the President approves their appointments, the current Chief Justice or the previous Chief Justice will have to be loyal to the President because he’s the one who appointed them. If he is the one who will approve the appointment, he is the one who has appointed them. Others conducted the interview, so to speak and the Managing Director approved the appointment, and the letter was issued. So, the Managing Director is the superior here and you owe allegiance to your Managing Director. If the President will continue to be the one to approve the appointment of a CJN, then we have not started. Our democratic system is still very sick.

Do you also subscribe to the claim that the entire disagreement in LP is being sponsored by some people to cause trouble?

Of course, that’s obvious. But we heard the information that some powerful people within the ruling government have vowed that the Labour Party must be scattered. We have that information, and we are prepared for it. We are truly prepared for this and that is why we are still on our feet as we speak.

From the information you got, do you suspect anybody?

Of course, we do suspect the APC. They are the ones behind all of this. We suspect that they are the one. Who has been challenging the APC? Is it not the LP? We have the arbitral threat. From the last election, ,but they fear the LP’s popularity. Now is the beginning of wisdom for the APC. So, they will do everything possible. We know their profile; we know their antecedents. They don’t believe in due process and orderliness; they don’t believe in morality and the fear of God. They don’t believe in all of those.

They got to where they are now by all the available crooked means, including unnecessary protests in Lagos State whereby they were killing cows every day to feed people to protest against the removal of subsidy, but they were the first to remove the subsidy. That was the first agenda. They removed the subsidy. So, who was gaining from the payment of subsidy before now? Who has been the gainer? And why is it (subsidy) now being removed after you protested so vehemently and deceived Nigerian workers into protesting? All of them now are speaking in tongues. They can no longer talk. We know their stock in trade. We understand their antecedents. We know they are the ones that are doing all of these things.


https://punchng.com/apc-afraid-of-labour-partys-popularity-deputy-national-chair/

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Politics / Fresh Impeachment Threat As Rivers Assembly Warns Gov Fubara by Kuginzi: 9:31pm On Mar 30
By Victor Edozie

The Rivers State House of Assembly has said it will activate impeachment plot as the last resort if Governor Similanayi Fubara fails to abide by the peace accord signed at the heat of the crisis in the state.

Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaehwule, said this at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday.

Amaehwule said the responsibilities of the Assembly are constitutionally recognized and it holds the mandate of carrying out its responsibilities.

He asked those close to the governor to advise him to uphold the tenets of the peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “They must not forget that the Rivers State House of Assembly has the mandate of the people and that we swore an oath of allegiance to the Constitution to do the needful, including the Impeachment of the Governor as a last resort. So, if it becomes a last resort, in accordance with the law, we will not hesitate to do so because no individual is bigger than Rivers State, including the Governor.

"It is worthy of note that the notice of impeachment of the Governor was withdrawn by members of the House in fulfilment of the terms of the agreement and out of immense respect for the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic and believing that there would be a U-turn in terms of unlawful actions of the Governor. The reverse is now the case as we see from day to day the activities of the State Governor being conducted outside the laws of Rivers State and the Constitution.

"What about advising the Governor to heed to the Peace Agreement he begged for, willingly signed, and has chosen not to abide by some of the terms?

"To this day, Rivers remains the only State without an Appropriation Law and the Governor recklessly abandons laws of the State. These new hawks in the scene and all those who are quick to refer to the Governor as “Mr. Innocent” will not go and advise him. They prefer to hold talk shows, organize rallies, hold press conferences, and announce that the House commenced impeachment proceedings against the Governor for no just cause but fail to ask the Governor if he has not been informed of the particulars of gross misconduct levelled against him or at least read them when they were filed in Court in response to his petition.

"We begin by announcing to you that sponsored attacks on the House has failed woefully. Enemies of the people and those who cannot withstand the principles of the rule of law as well as checks and balances in our nascent democracy, in their frustration, started with the burning and later demolition of the Hallowed Chamber. Their plan is to eliminate the legislature that is pushing for the independence granted her by the Constitution since they cannot exercise undue control over her.

"We survived these attacks! Their new strategy is to use another arm of government, lobbyists, attack dogs and the mainstream and social media to bring the House to disrepute and consummate their agenda. In this regard, various individuals, groups, media mercenaries have been recruited to actualize their objectives.

"We assure the good people of Rivers State that we remain undeterred in our service to our father land and no number of threats including those of violence against us just like they attacked the Speaker’s residence will make us abandon our Constitutional mandate to make laws for the good governance of our dear State.”

The assembly and Fubara have been on war path since the governor fell out with Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

https://dailytrust.com/fresh-impeachment-threat-as-rivers-assembly-warns-gov-fubara/

Politics / NLC Vs Abure: I’m Still LP Member, Won’t Be Involved In Anti-party – Peter Obi by Kuginzi: 8:17am On Mar 30
The Labour Party, LP, 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed claims of dumping the party.

Obi said he’s still a member and will never be involved in an anti-party.

He spoke while addressing Nigerians on social media Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday.

"I am still a member of the Labour Party and I don’t and will never do anti-party,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also insisted that he didn’t lose the 2023 presidential election.

He said the impact of his followers known as Obidients were felt in Nigeria and the globe.

"We did not lose the election of 2023, we won, your (Obidients) impact was felt all over the world and you can’t take that for granted.

“It’s actually a stepping stone, hold your head high and celebrate. Together, a new Nigeria is possible,” he added.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/30/nlc-vs-abure-im-still-lp-member-wont-be-involved-in-anti-party-peter-obi/

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Politics / VIDEO: Tinubu Is A Workaholic, We Call Him ‘president No Sleep’ – Ngelale by Kuginzi: 5:37am On Mar 30
By Donatus Anichukwueze


The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale has described the President who is celebrating his 72nd birthday today as a workaholic.

According to Ngelale, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Business Global programme, he and some other staff of the Presidency call Tinubu “President no sleep” due to how he works compulsively.

During the interview, the presidential spokesperson spoke widely on different projects the Tinubu administration has embarked upon and the ones that would come up later


https://www.channelstv.com/2024/03/29/video-tinubu-is-a-workaholic-we-call-him-president-no-sleep-ngelale/

Crime / Easter: Be Vigilant, DSS Urges Nigerians by Kuginzi: 9:23pm On Mar 29
By Solomon Odeniyi

The Department of State Services has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant throughout the Easter celebration.

The service equally advised citizens to report attempts by criminals to perpetrate crime during the celebration.

The Director, PR and Strategic Communications, Department of State Services, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The statement read, “Consequent upon these, everyone is urged to be vigilant and report attempts to breach security to relevant law enforcement agencies. The DSS website www.dss.gov.ng; email address- dsspr@dss.gov.ng and telephone lines +234915 339 1309; +234 908 837 3514 remain relevant for public guidance."

Afunanya advised Christians in the country to stay away from illicit drugs, and excessive intake of alcohol among others.

He said, “Similarly, celebrants are advised to restrain from such behaviors as illicit drugs, excessive alcoholism as well as reject all forms of bigotry and other social vices during the ceremony. They are, therefore, implored to renew their commitment to the peace, unity of Nigeria and work towards her inclusiveness. ”

He, however, urged Christians to learn from Jesus Christ and apply his attitude in their daily affairs.

Afunanya said, “The Director General, Management and Staff of the Department of State Services wish to felicitate the Christian faithful on the celebration of Easter. It also uses this opportunity to call on Nigerians to draw lessons from the forbearance and humility of Jesus Christ and apply the same in their daily affairs.

“The Service reminds them to use the event which illustrates sacrifice and forgiveness to refocus their love for one another, the nation and humanity at large. On this note, citizens are encouraged to adopt self-control, discipline and compassion in their dealings and conducts. The Service enjoin them to eschew bitterness, disloyalty, fake news, hate speech and violence.”

The PUNCH reports that the DSS had on March 8, 2024, urged the citizens to be vigilant against public dangers, especially Improvised Explosive Devices.

The service also urged Nigerians to steer clear of crowded or suspicious areas.

https://punchng.com/easter-be-vigilant-dss-urges-nigerians/?amp

Politics / Senate Set To Recall suspended Senator Abdul Ningi by Kuginzi: 6:22pm On Mar 29
This is coming days after Senator Ningi demanded his reinstatement within 7 days or he will take legal action
The Senate is set to recall Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP – Bauchi Central) from his three months suspension, it has been learnt.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed this while answering questions from reporters on arrival from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Akpabio said the Senate will soon review the three months suspension it slammed on Ningi for claiming that the 2024 budget was allegedly padded with the sum of N3.7trillion.

Ningi had on Thursday in a letter written by his counsel, Femi Falana SAN, gave Akpabio seven days to recall him or face legal action.

Akpabio told reporters that even though he has not seen the said letter, it is already receiving due attention.

He said the matter would be resolved like a family affair and hopefully Ningi would return to take his seat earlier than expected.

Akpabio said: “It is a parliamentary decision. I have not seen the letter yet. But Senator Ningi is one of us. I mean what is suspension?

“I believe that in a few days he will join us. So, there is no problem. It would be resolved amicably. The Senate is a family.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-senate-set-to-recall-ningi-akpabio/

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Politics / Nigeria Ranks 109 In World Hungry Nations – Peter Obi by Kuginzi: 10:03pm On Mar 24
By Haruna Aliyu


Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi says that currently Nigeria ranks 109 in the global index of hungry nations in the world.

He gave the revelation in Kebbi state on a private Ramadan visit as part of a northern tour to support and see things the way they are in northern part of the country.

Obi was received at government house by secretary to the state government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida,
He insisted that Nigeria is poor and hungry because the federal government refused to holistically invest in agriculture, saying such investments must be directed to the north who possesses vast arable land for peasant and mechanised farming.

He noted that with agriculture Nigeria will say bye to forex crisis, insecurity, poor education and unaffordable healthcare delivery because our exports would bring forex hence the importance of production economy.

Speaking further, the LP candidate lamented that Nigeria has the highest number of uncultivated land in the world, accompanying mass able bodied unemployed youth that could have been used to drive the mass agricultural investment to produce millions of direct and indirect jobs in the country.

At the palace of the Emir of Gwandu, received by royal father, his royal Highness, the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Illiyasu Bashar, Obi announced direct Ramadan feeding of 100 indigents persons as well the commissioning of borehole at Kahuta village behind Dukku army barracks Birnin Kebbi.

"We are here to support with water and some little financial assistance because this is a private visit not political,” he said.

He stated that he is not desperate to become Nigeria’s president but desperate to see the country working and desperate to see the poor man children become somebody without anybody.

Responding, the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Illiyasu Bashar thanked him for the visit while describing him as a long-term friend.

He called on Nigerian leaders to note Obi’s advice of investing in the northern agricultural sector to drive away poverty in the region and country.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/nigeria-ranks-109-in-world-hungry-nations-peter-obi/

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