I Will Support Peter Obi in 2027, If PDP Decides That It Is The Turn Of The South-East – Atiku

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has disclosed that he will support the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, if the Peoples Democratic Party decides that it is the turn of the South-East in 2027.

Atiku, the presidential flag bearer of the PDP in the 2023 general election, said he will throw his weight behind Obi if he is picked by his party.

The former vice president disclosed this during a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, adding that he vied to be president last year because the race was thrown open.

“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it,” Atiku said.

“As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” he added.

The PDP chieftain also said there is a possibility for the merger between the PDP and Labour Party, adding that the members of the party would decide his fate in the 2027 general elections.

He also explained that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

Speaking about the meeting, Atiku said, “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”

About the possibility of the merger, he said, “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”

He denied that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger discussion, and said, “That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue.”

Peter Obi visits victims of Kano mosque attack
In his clarification about his active part in politics, he said, “Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place.

“It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits.

“My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.”

Regarding his 2027 Presidential ambition, the former Vice President said “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.
“Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.

“It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood,” he added.

Uzodimma assures residents of uninterrupted power supply, 5,000 direct jobs.


The Imo state Electricity law would bring rapid development not only to rural communities but also to the urban centres.

Imo State governor,
Gov. Hope Uzodimma has assured residents of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo will soon enjoy uninterrupted power supply.

Uzodimma, gave the assurance while signing two executive bills into law, a bill on electricity and another to amend Imo State Polytechnic Law No. 15 of 2012 to pave the way for the merger of campuses of the polytechnic.

The governor said that the Imo state Electricity law would bring rapid development not only to rural communities but also to the urban centres.

“We are all living witnesses to the ordeal our people are going through in the power sector.

“There is absolutely limited or even no supply, businesses are dying every day and people are losing every day with the unemployment market swelling every day.

“I think it has come to a time that every sub-national government must rise and provide what will make life meaningful to her people.

“Electricity is as important as the food we eat everyday. It is the beginning of every development,” he stressed.

The governor, who noted that he took a comprehensive audit of the federal facilities in Imo and infrastructure meant to provide power, expressed concern over the abandoned Amaraku electricity project.

“The transmission and distribution infrastructure at the federal project at Egbema Power Plant initiated in 2006, has not been completed 18 years after.

“I have approached the Federal Government and requested that the project be transferred to Imo state and her development partners.

“I am happy to announce to you that President Bola Tinubu has approved the transfer of the project to the Imo Government.

“I am also happy to announce that an agreement has been signed by Imo Government with a world class power company from Egypt with credibility to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in the state,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that power supply will improve in the state in the next 12 months. Uzodimma further noted that an agreement had been signed with an Egyptian company, Afreximbank, Fidelity Bank and Marriott Group to provide a 200-room Imo Marriott Hotel in Owerri.

He said the state government only provided land in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which would be completed within 24 months. The governor said the three projects would provide over 5,000 direct jobs for the people of the state.

He said the government has already entered into an agreement with an Egyptian firm, Elsewedy Power Generation, for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to all parts of the state within the next eight months.

The governor also announced that apart from the fact that electricity is now on the concurrent list, the federal government has given approval and support for the ambitious project.

Speaking to an excited audience after signing the bill into law, Uzodimma said the ultimate goal of the project is to boost the economy of Imo state through industrialisation.

According to him, with natural and human resources in the state, an uninterrupted power supply would be a fillip to the industrialisation policy of the administration. On the bill for the amendment of the Imo Polytechnic law, the governor said, it was aimed at centralising its operations as against the multi-campus arrangement.

He said: “It became necessary, given that of late, Imo now operates three state universities and there is no state in Nigeria with up to three universities.

“It has continued to overstretch our resources with the agony and risks of students going from one location to another at a time of insecurity.

“The need for a unified system became necessary to save the government the resources, demands and inconveniences occasioned by the robust demands of supervision and monitoring.

“It will also allow for even and proper development of the campus so that students will graduate from an environment that really enable acquisition of knowledge and instill sense of pride in the graduating students,” Uzodimma said.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe, while presenting the bills to the governor, said the executive bills passed legislative scrutiny and process.

Olemgbe said the timely presentation of the bill by the executive arm of the government to the State Assembly clearly shows Imo as a proactive government that yields to the yearnings of the people.

He assured the governor of the assembly’s collaboration to work with the executive arm as partners in progress to provide dividends of democracy and good governance to the people.

gidgiddy:
Ohaji is already in Imo State, so how can you transfer to Imo State what is already in Imo State?

Ohaji Power Plant was built by the Federal government, now Tinubu has decided to hand it over to Imo state to utilize it

A Federal High Court in Kano has issued an order restraining the National Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company from implementing the new electricity tariff for Band A consumers.

The suit marked FHC/KN/CS/144/2024 was filed by Super Sack Company Limited and BBY Sacks Limited.

Others are Mama Sannu Industries Limited, Dala Foods Nigeria Limited, Tofa Textile Limited, and Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria Limited.

However, ruling on an ex-parte motion by Abubakar Mahmoud, counsel to the plaintiffs, the presiding judge, Abdullahi Liman, ordered NERC and KEDCO from going ahead with the impending tariff pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.

The order also restrained the defendant from intimidating and threatening to disconnect the applicants’ electricity supply for non-acceptance of the new increased tariff.

In April, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.

With the new tariff, customers under the category, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, would begin to pay N225 per kilowatt, starting from April 3 — up from N66.

The sudden hike has since been criticized by the House of Representatives and other stakeholders who have asked NERC to suspend the implementation of the new tariff.

With this Power Plant at Ohaji, Egbema local government.

Will Imo State now generate and distribute electricity to Imolite like the Geometric Power plant in Aba ?

Nigeria In Now Effectively A Failed State – Donald Duke.

Mr. Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State, has noted that Nigeria is technically a failed state, as it cannot meet the basic expectations of its citizens, which according to him, is the hallmark of a failed nation.

Mr. Duke said this while delivering his opening remarks as chairman of the occasion during the Prince Emeka Obasi Inaugural Memorial Lecture held on Thursday at the Muson Centre Onikan Lagos, with the theme, ‘If This Giant Must Walk; Manifesto for a New Nigeria.’

He noted that Nigeria has been moving backwards since the 1970s, while remarking that the question is not whether the country will walk, but whether it’s walking backwards of forward.

“Between 1979 and 1983 when Shehu Shagari was president, Nigeria’s annual budget hovered around $25bn. Our population was about 80 million to 90 million at the time. That was over 40 years ago. Today, our population as they say is over 200 million, but our annual budget is $19bn,” he said.

“I said this to bring into context where we are as a people. It’s not not for Nigeria to walk, it’s how are you walking? Are you moonwalking or are you walking forward? Moonwalking is what we’ve been doing for the last 40 years. We’ve been moving backwards. So, you can now put into context the pressure if the annual budget of our nation is $19bn 40 years after it was $25bn and the population has more than doubled. Then you can understand the challenges we’re facing, whether it’s banditry, or farmers herders clashes and everything in-between. The fact is that there are more people sharing smaller resources. We have not grown.”

Mr. Duke argued that growth is not about adding zeros to the currency, and presenting budgets that run into trillions, which he said is mere deception. According to him, the country is simply living a lie.

“You can put all the zeros behind the currency, but we’re deceiving ourselves because we’re living a lie. Recently, treasury bills were sold at about 22 percent in dollars. Where in the world will you get 22 percent under 12 months? So, they now turned around to say it was oversubscribed by 245 percent. Of course, It would be oversubscribed, but at the end of the day, can you pay back? What are you doing with the money that will generate 22 percent to enable you pay back in 12 months? He wondered.

“So, you could see a nation that is walking itself into a trap with eyes wild open. What are the policies that would generate growth? You are fighting inflation, it’s good to fight inflation, but which is more important? Inflation or growth? You can’t get a loan from the bank for less than 35 percent. That’s enemical to growth to start with. Then, you are micromanaging the exchange rate, yet you are not producing. If you are going to import everything as we do, and there are those very sexy economists that would say, let’s have marked forces. For you to have marked forces, there must be some equity.

“You can’t have an open, competitive system with countries whose economies are much stronger than yours. It doesn’t work that way. In life, water finds its level. We have to manage what we have; we have to be productive. In the 70s and early 80s, we had some level of competition. We had industries that were trying to thrive, but today we are importing toothpick. So, it’s an economy that’s not productive, yet it wants to reign in on its foreign exchange. We’re still living as if everything is okay. We’re are sending our children at the age of nine to school abroad, then you go to London for medical check when your eye is hurting. It’s a tough one.”

The former governor noted that contrary to the popular belief, Nigeria has one of the smallest economies in Africa despite being the most populous on the continent.

“We turn around and say we’re the largest economy in Africa. That’s a lie. If you are 200 million people, and you are producing almost nothing, you can be big in absolute terms, but if you take it per capita, you are one of the least economies in Africa, and that’s the truth. So, we have to be real. We have the potential to be one of the greatest nations on earth, but it remains a potential if you don’t take it to actuality,” he said.

“We have to recaliberate our thinking. We can’t go on this way. We’re are a failed state, that’s the truth. Failed state doesn’t mean that you can’t exist any longer. Somalia is still existing, but when you fail to provide the basic expectations of your people, you are technically a failed state. Which sector have we not failed in? Is it education? Is it healthcare?
Is it infrastructure ?”

Reactions As Uzodimma Says Tinubu Has Approved Transfer Of Electricity Plant At Ohaji To The State.

Many Nigerians have began to react as the executive Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma says the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the transfer of electricity plant at Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area to the state.

Governor Hope Uzodimma stated on his verified Facebook page; "Acknowledging recent legislative strides, I've assented to two crucial bills which originated as Executive Bills, showcasing our commitment to quality governance, and I commended the Imo State House of Assembly's collaborative efforts with dedication to progress."

He added; "The amendment of the Imo State Polytechnic Law consolidates operations onto a single campus, optimizing resources and fostering efficiency, promising economic convenience for students and staff. It represents a strategic endeavor to harmonize resources within our tertiary education landscape, ensuring streamlined operations."

He stated further; "The enactment of the Imo State Electricity Law honors the visionary legacy of Late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, facilitated by the movement of electricity generation to the concurrent list of our constitution. This shift promises to bolster economic growth, particularly in rural areas, by improving access to reliable power and catalyzing entrepreneurial ventures."

He noted; "With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval to transfer the Electricity Generation Plant at Ohaji Egbema LGA to the State, it further exemplifies our commitment to excellence and prosperity for all citizens.- Hope Uzodimma"

The recent statement by the executive Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma on his verified Facebook page has generated a lot of reactions from his fans and numerous followers on the social media platform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCgXXiuOEEA?si=k5EljsS6ZnmjeV64

Biggest Mess Created In 2023 Was Naira Devaluation From N460 To N1,400 In Nigeria, Says Dangote.

Floating the naira allows market forces to determine its value in relation to other currencies.

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has described the floating of naira by President Bola Tinubu’s administration as the biggest mess that affected his company and other business owners in 2023.

Dangote said this on Tuesday during his remarks at the Annual General Meeting of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, adding that many businesses were affected by the policy.

Dangote said several manufacturing enterprises were impacted and suffered operational losses due to variations in the naira's value against the US dollar.
He said, “The biggest mess created was the devaluation of the naira from N460 to N1,400.

“You can see that almost 97 per cent of companies in the food and beverage business, none of them will pay dividends this year. But we will try and get out of it.”

Shortly after Tinubu implemented the policy, the country’s prominent billionaires, Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu, who were listed among the 500 world’s richest men, both lost $5.85 billion.

Data available on the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, BBI, a daily ranking of the World’s richest people portal as of June 15, 2023, showed negative changes in the calculations of the wealth of the Nigerian businessmen.

A Bloomberg report in April noted that Nigeria was burning through its foreign exchange reserves at a rate not seen in four years.

This situation raised concerns that the central bank was depleting its dollar holdings to support the naira after pledging it would allow the currency to float more freely.

Liquid reserves declined 5.6% since March 18, when the naira started its rebound from record-low levels against the dollar, to $31.7 billion as of April 12, according to Bloomberg’s calculations based on the latest available data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, however, said the shift in the reserve was found in “any country’s reserves situation, where for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made, and they are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility intact.”

An assistant inspector-general of police in the department of information and communications, AIG Ben Okolo has said his statement that Nigeria was not ripe for state police was personal and not the views of the inspector-general of police or the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

In a disclaimer message yesterday, AIG Okolo, who represented the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun at the conference on national security and state police in Abuja on Monday, said “My expressions on state police at the session held at Abuja Continental Hotel on 22nd April, 2024 are my personal opinions to stimulate the discourse. They are not the views of the inspector-general of police or the Nigeria Police Force.”

At the event, AIG Okolo said the establishment of state police would increase ethnic tension, leading to divided loyalty in the states.

He further said the establishment of state police will also lead to multiple command structures in the states.

He said that state governors are likely to abuse the privilege of state police by using it for political gains, leading to possible abuse of power and abuse of human rights.

AIG Okolo also said that the state government lacks the required funding that will give birth to the type of policing that the nation requires.

He argued that rather than establishing state police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission should be merged to form a department in the Nigeria Police Force.

He also said there is the need for a yearly recruitment of about 30,000 police personnel into the force annually to meet the UN requirements for modern policing, while also increasing annual budgetary allocation to the force.

Just in: Gov Aliyu Dethrones 15 Traditional Rulers

Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu has dethroned 15 district heads over allegations of insubordination, land racketeering, aiding insecurity, and misuse of public properties. The announcement was made by the governor's press secretary, Abubakar Bawa, citing haphazard appointments and rejection by their subjects as reasons for their removal. Additionally, cases involving four other district heads are under investigation. Some officials were transferred or deployed to different positions, while others were retained by the government. The actions were based on recommendations from a government committee tasked with reviewing appointments of traditional rulers.

Emefiele Printed ₦684.5 Million With ₦18.9 Billion – EFCC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh charge against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
Naija News reports that the new charge accused Emefiele of approving the printing of N684,590,000 at a rate of N18.96 billion, among other allegations.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

Emefiele will be arraigned on a new four-count charge before Justice Maryann Anenih

According to the charge sheets sighted by Naija News on Tuesday, Emefiele is accused of breaking the law with intent to harm the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The document, dated April 2, 2024, and marked Suit No: CR/264/2024, was filed by EFCC’s top prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

It revealed that Emefiele will be arraigned on a new four-count charge bordering on disobeying the law to punish Nigerians, illegal printing of money, abuse of office, and other offenses.

The arraignment is scheduled for the 30th of April, 2024.

The charges read:

Count One: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between October 19, 2022, and March 5, 2023, in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of ₦375,520,000.00 pieces of color-swapped ₦1,000 notes, at a total cost of N11,052,068,062, without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public, and you thereby committed an offense.”

Count Two: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between October 19, 2022, and March 5, 2023, in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of color-swapped ₦500 (Five Hundred Naira) notes, at a total cost of ₦4,471,066,040, without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public, and you thereby committed an offense.”

Count Three: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between October 19, 2022, and March 5, 2023, in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of color-swapped ₦200 (Two Hundred Naira) notes, at a total cost of ₦3,441,005,280, without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public, and you thereby committed an offense.”

Count Four: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on or about October 7, 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124,860,227,865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public, and you thereby committed an offense.”

Recall that Emefiele was previously arraigned on November 18, 2023, on six counts of procurement fraud and accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.

On April 8, 2024, the EFCC arraigned Emefiele alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for an alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud.

Missing Abia Airport: We're More Interested In Recovering Our Stolen Money Than Fighting A Man That's Already Down-Otti.

For the records, the Alex Otti government took a firm decision on the assumption of office not to allow the discussion of the former government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu or those of his predecessors to occupy the front burner in his administration so that they wouldn’t constitute a distraction, given the enormity of the task ahead.

However, as Philosopher George Santayana said “Those who don’t know their history, are doomed to repeat it”. It would be an impossibility to completely clear the mess arising from the misdeeds of the past without understanding the foundation of the problem and making the necessary corrections that could help chart a new progressive direction.

In responding to the revelation made by the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti over the funds allegedly diverted by the Ikpeazu government for the nonexistent Airport project, and other funds paid to contractors for nonexistent jobs as revealed by a forensic audit, Governor Ikpeazu swiftly resorted to the same primitive siege strategy using his former Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu and his spokesman, Onyebuchi Ememanka who have been calling Governor Otti unprintable names, including a “Liar”.

Like Aminatta Forna said, “All liars … lie to protect themselves, to shield their egos from the raw pain of truth.” We didn’t expect Ikpeazu and his confused and crying cronies to own up to the horrendous heist committed against the people of Abia State, hence we were not shocked by the sadistic onslaught being fired by them from different directions. However, the question is: can these aggressive vituperations erase the strong facts of their financial malfeasance? Before we answer this question, let’s briefly look at a few of Ikpeazu’s trajectories of Lies and Inconsistency in utterances and actions, as this would help us establish who the true liar is.

On October 1, 2015, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had this to say, “We have received the bailout fund and it has been channelled to clear the salary arrears. I have said that we are going to dedicate it to what it is meant for, and we have opened up the system by setting up a committee to manage the fund and ensure it is used for the purpose.

“People should stop lobbying for the bailout fund to be diverted for something else. It will not happen under my watch. I wish to reiterate my charge to the members of the Bailout Committee to ensure that by Friday, October 30, 2015, all outstanding salaries and pensions in Abia State have been defrayed.

“I wish to state that contrary to the fears expressed in some quarters, the setting up of the committee to manage the disbursement of the funds does not have any ulterior motive. The work of the committee is not costing us any money. It is made up of those who are already in the system and they are working for their state.”

From these statements above, it was clear that Ikpeazu knew that the public, including civil servants and pensioners, didn’t trust his words of assurances, and as expected, he fooled the people, as he never kept to his promise. The question is; what happened to our N14.15 billion bailout fund? Ikpeazu has yet to provide an answer to this question.

Ikpeazu continued to owe workers and pensioners despite receiving allocations and borrowing heavily from financial institutions.

After receiving the first tranche of the Paris Club refund of N22 Billion, Ikpeazu had this to say at a grand civic reception by the Ohanze Isiahia community in Obingwa Local Government Area in January 2017.

“I am here to let you know that, no kobo from the funds will be unaccounted for, and in line with this commitment, to make good my promise I want to announce to you that this government will begin the payment of Abia State staff salaries through individual cheques to ensure that ghost workers are checked.

“I assure you that the 50% of the Paris Club refund must be used to pay salaries in line with the instruction of the Federal government.

Neither salaries nor pensions were paid. Till today, Ikpeazu is yet to account for what he did with the Paris Club refund, as he left humongous liabilities, including Seven months' salary arrears to Doctors and other staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba before Governor Otti took over. The Doctors only called off their four months of strike action after Governor Otti intervened shortly before his inauguration. If Ikpeazu could owe staff of such a sensitive institution 7 months' salary arrears, one could imagine what would happen to other institutions. Of course, some were owed up to 30 months.

Just a few days ago, Ikpeazu’s former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, in one of his articles on the issue of pensions, wrote thus:

“I must admit that we owed pensions arrears of about 10 months before the 2019 election, However, under my watch we never paid half pension. We still seek to know why with the enhanced allocation as witnessed from August 2019, the state resorted to paying half pension”

The question is: if Ikpeazu who borrowed billions from a Commercial bank, collected N14.15 billion bailout fund, and N22 billion Paris Club Refund, Ecological Fund, and Internally generated revenue could be owing 10 months pension arrears as early as 2019, does it not imply that these funds were looted and that Ikpeazu and his abusive and rabble-rousing aides are the real liars?

Ikpeazu and his Spokespersons looked so pathetic as they struggled to define the “Little man”, so let me help them define it properly. The “Little man” is the “Little mind” former Governor who appeared on national television and boasted that his government used to give every Abia pregnant woman the sum of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) on delivery, to the shock and disbelief of his interviewer, Maupe Ogun- Yusuf of Channels Television. The “Little Man” is the “Little Mind” former Governor who appeared on national television to boast that the foreign investment he attracted to Abia State included “Chicken Republic and Domino’s Pizza”.

Just a few months ago, the PDP state secretariat in Umuahia was sealed by the Abia State government on the order of the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, following a petition brought by a Senior Citizen. Investigation revealed that the man who was bullied and intimidated to sell his property to the PDP against his will was paid directly via transfer from the Ministry of Lands account. The man was also defrauded.

Spokespersons of Ikpeazu and the PDP ran to different radio stations, lying to the public and abusing the Governor, accusing him of witchhunting them, but immediately we appeared on the same platforms and put the records straight with facts, they ran away and have not raised the issue again, rather they Nicodemus went and paid for another office elsewhere, ignorantly thinking that the case has come to an end. No sir, all you lovers of ignominy and impunity must be prosecuted for defrauding the state on an industrial scale.

For those questioning the revelation made by Governor Otti in the US, be ready to put your money where your mouth is, by coming to indemnify the accused when they will be arraigned by anti-corruption agencies. Akotaghi ya na onu!

Abia State belongs to everyone, including Abia youths whose futures were looted by politicians, therefore, we have every right to ask questions on their behalf, bring those who viciously dimmed their light to justice, and recover their stolen opportunities, therefore, those who have chosen to sing songs of Lamentations should know that these are early days.

For those defending the ruinous era out of malice; for selfish reasons or out of ignorance, “Suzy Kassem enjoined you thus “Never follow a follower who is following someone who has fallen. It’s why the whole world is falling apart.”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an ongoing N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering probe.

The indicted former Minister of Aviation arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, The PUNCH can confirm.

Our correspondent, who was at the Wuse office of the EFCC, observed the embattled former minister’s arrival at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office.

Following his arrival at the command, Sirika is currently meeting with EFCC investigators to answer questions on alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.

Impeccable anti-graft sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorised to speak, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Tuesday.

“Yes, that was Hadi Sirika who was taken into our FCT custody. He is currently meeting with EFCC investigators over the alleged N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud,” a source revealed.

Another source noted, “The N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.”

In February, The PUNCH exclusively reported that the EFCC was investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.

A credible source who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the anti-graft commission is investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.

Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office.

The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.

Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banksy.

It was further revealed that the ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, has been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister.

It was noted that there is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

The source said Abubakar Sirika, who was arrested on Sunday, February 4, has since been assisting the commission in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during Mr Sirika’s tenure.

The EFCC investigator said, “We’re investigating an N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering case linked to former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.

“Hadi awarded contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that the latter is a civil servant, a deputy director on Level 16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, where he has been working since 2000 till date.

“The first of the contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport, at a cost of N1,345,586,500.00. The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Center in Katsina Airport, valued at N3, 811,497,685.00.

“The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000, while the fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at the cost of N2, 296,897,404.00.

“Out of the total contract sum, the ex-minister paid out N3,212,258,930.18 to his younger brother’s Engirios Nigerian Limited, who, upon receipt of the payment, transferred it to different companies and individuals. There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

“Abubakar Sirika is currently in our custody at the Headquarters, and he is providing us with more useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his older brother, Hadi Sirika.”

JUST IN: Sunday Igboho, Akintoye, Write Tinubu, Demand Yoruba Exit From Nigeria.

The Leaders of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo, commonly known as Sunday Igboho, along with Ola Ademola, have written an open letter to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, requesting the formal initiation of negotiations for the Yoruba region’s peaceful secession from Nigeria.

The letter is a coming barely a week after armed Yoruba nation agitators attacked the Oyo State Government House and attempted to raise their flag in the National Assembly Premises. Security Operatives quickly engaged the agitators and subdued 29 of them.

They have since been arraigned in court and remanded in Prison Custody. The letter read in part;

“We send this letter as a follow-up to our earlier letter, dated August 06, 2022, which we delivered to your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his exalted position then as President of Nigeria.”

“Since 2015, the Fulani have been killing widely among the other peoples of Nigeria, including us Yoruba, destroying farms, villages and other assets, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting large amounts of money as ransom from friends and family of the kidnapped, and repeatedly asserting their intention to seize the homelands of all the indigenous peoples of Nigeria for the purpose of turning all into a Fulani homeland.”

“In our Yoruba homeland, our people are resisting somewhat better, but the Fulani attacks and killings and kidnappings are unrelenting and are coming daily, leading to horrific instability, and forcing most of our farmers to abandon farming altogether, thereby dooming Yoruba people to years and years of famine.”

“All these actions by the Fulani are, to us Yoruba, a sufficient reason for our seeking to separate our Yoruba Nation from Nigeria. Most of us, Yoruba have no confidence in the ‘restructuring’ that some of our most respected Yoruba leaders (such as our fathers in our highly exalted Afenifere) are advocating.”

“And our reason is that we know that restructuring cannot keep the Fulani marauders away from our homeland. Since, after restructuring, the Fulani would still be Nigerians like us, and would still have full citizens’ rights to come in large numbers, and with weapons and intent to kill and destroy and seize land, to our homeland.”

“The Fulani elite seem to be saying in effect that they intend to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Tinubu, and that they would never accept any official action of his.”

“We are acting for and on behalf of our 60 million Yoruba people of the Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo State, respectively, plus the Yoruba Local Government Areas of Kogi and Kwara State, and plus the Itshekiri homeland of Delta State, all together constituting the Yorubaland in Nigeria.”

The Kenya Police Service has arrested fleeing Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, as the International Criminal Police Organisation moves to extradite him to Nigeria within the week.

Government sources familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter confirmed the development to PUNCH's correspondent on Sunday night.

One of the sources said, “Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has been arrested by the Kenya Police Service, and he would be extradited to Nigeria this week by INTERPOL.”

Another source noted, “As we had said before that Anjarwalla would be extradited, he has been arrested in Kenya, and he’ll be extradited to Nigeria this week.”

The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the Federal Government had traced Anjarwalla to Kenya, following his escape from lawful custody in Nigeria.

Following the development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the International Criminal Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Kenyan Police Service have deepened talks to quicken Anjarwalla’s extradition.

In the earlier report, Saturday PUNCH reported that Anjarwalla, whose cover has now been blown, went into hiding immediately after he landed in Kenya.

“We have found him. We know where he is; he is in Kenya, and we’re working with the authorities to bring him back to Nigeria.

“All hands are on the deck, the government and all the security agencies are working hard in conjunction with the Kenyan authorities and INTERPOL, to ensure his return to Nigeria to face the charges brought against him,” the report had quoted a source as saying.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had in the March edition of its bulletin titled, “EFCC Alert,” onfirmed that the commission was working in conjunction with the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya to extradite Anjarwalla.

Olukoyed said, “The takeover of the prosecution of Binance chiefs by the commission is no less a strong message in the direction of EFCC’s resolve to hedge in distortions and disruptions in the country’s forex market.


“Tax evasion, currency speculation, and money laundering to the tune of $35,400,000 and are at the foundation of the Commission’s five counts against Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the company’s chief executives.

“While Gambaryan is currently in the Commission’s net, the process of extraditing the fleeing Anjarwalla is revving in full swing. Involved in partnership with the EFCC to nick Anjarwalla in flight are the International Criminal Police Organisation, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya as the clock winds down to his arraignment in absentia alongside the company and Gambaryan.”

Governor Alex Otti has revealed the amount that his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu allegedly paid out billions for non-existent projects in Abia state.

Addressing Abia Indigenes at an event in United States which is aimed at encouraging investment in the South-East state, Otti revealed that he invited one of the top audit firms in the world to carry out a forensic audit.

Some of the projects Ikpeazu allegedly paid for include a non-existent airport. Otti further revealed that the billions paid for the non-existent airport was used to clear off pension and salary arrears that have been owed for 10 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcaGISkWBdE?si=dqnRCjI_xU7T8AnK

https://www.youtube.com/live/B0jhoum6XfE?si=l3i_CUo9VfTE0T8K


Israel Attack Iran, Explosions Heard Over Iranian Province Of Isfahan.

Multiple flights over Iranian airspace were diverted early Friday, according to flight tracking website Flight Radar 24, as Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported explosions heard over the province of Isfahan. Tensions in the region are high following Iran’s unprecedented assault on Israel — itself in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria earlier this month.

Having opened at N1,130 to the dollar on Monday morning, the value of the naira gained strength midday as traders anticipate another round of dollar sales to Bureau de Change (BDC) operators this week.

By noon on Monday, the naira was selling at N1,000 to the dollar at the parallel market. Last week Monday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had offered $15.88 million to BDC operators at N1,101 to the dollar, pushing up the value of the naira on the streets.

The CBN sells dollars to the BDCs at the lower band of rate quoted on the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM). Last week Friday the value of the naira was between N1,265 and N1,100 to the dollar.

In anticipation of another liquidity push out by the apex bank, the value of the naira which opened trading activities on the parallel market at N1,130 to the dollar had firmed up to N1,000 by midday.

This corroborates with the projection of US Bank Goldman Sachs which at the weekend projected that the naira will be trading at N1,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc, had projected that the naira will be among the best performing currencies in the world.

Having predicted in February that the naira would strengthen to N1,200 per dollar this year, Goldman economists, say they see it potentially advancing beyond that level after a raft of measures by the central bank.

Those included 600 basis points of cumulative interest-rate increases at policy meetings in February and March, as well as other steps to ease the local scarcity of dollars that fanned volatility and forced companies to the parallel market.

Goldman’s Andrew Matheny told Bloomberg Newswire in an interview that “this probably can run further; we would see an extension of the move to 1,000 and maybe even sub-1,000, six weeks have gone by and they’re continuing to hold the line, so that’s encouraging.”

The group maintains its 12-month forecast for the naira at 1,200 per dollar, owing to uncertainty around the ability of the authorities to maintain the reform tempo, though it now sees risks to that upbeat projection.

https://leadership.ng/just-in-naira-hits-n1000-ahead-of-cbn-sale-to-bdcs/#:~:text=By%20noon%20on%20Monday%2C%20the,the%20naira%20on%20the%20streets.

Abia-Based Steel Firm Cries Out Over Labour Shortage.

Managing director of Inner Galaxy Steel Company Ltd, Owaza, Lin Shanbiao has said the company is facing labour shortage, encouraging Abia State youths to apply for engagement.

Shanbiao stated this when he led the management team of the Ukwa West local government-based company on a courtesy visit to the governor, Alex Otti in the capital, Umuahia.

He said the company, which is made up of four conglomerates, is into iron rod production, trailer body parts assembly, automobile battery production, and plastic bottle recycling.

“We’re here to intimate Your Excellency, about our business activities in the state and to explore how to partner in many ways with your administration,” he explained.

Responding, Otti said his policies are geared towards supporting and attracting business Investments in the state to create employment and improve the revenue base.

“It is our policy to support industry.Some of the things we are doing are geared towards supporting existing industries and attracting new ones.”

“We have just set up the state Industrial Innovation Park, Owaza, where you are. If there are some collaborations, we will tell the park managing director to engage with you.”

He charged the company on fair labour practices to attract the support of the administration and allayed its fear of possible clampdown over non-provision of conducive working environment.

Tinubu Has Spent Trillions Of Naira On Subsidy Since Inception – El-Rufai.

Mallam Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai has revealed President Bola Tinubu’s government is still paying for fuel subsidy.

El-Rufai who is the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, said the FG has been subsidizing petrol known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which have so far cost the present administration trillions of naira since inception in May 29th, 2023.

Recall that Tinubu had after he was sworn in said subsidy payment was over.

According to El-Rufai, if not because of the subsidy payments, the price of petrol per litre could have been much higher than the diesel which is now sold above N1,000 depending on the location, compared to PMS which is about N600 to 750 per litre.

The former Kaduna state governor spoke on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital while delivering a Lead Paper at the occasion of Capacity Building Workshop on Enhancing Skills of Government Officials in Policy Implementation and Productive Human Management Resources for honourable Commissioners, Chief Advisers and Special Advisers, Senior Technical Advisers, to Governor Babagana Zulum, Heads or Chief Executives of Agencies and Departments, Tertiary Institutions and local government Chairmen at International Conference Centre, Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri.

In an interview with Journalists after delivering his paper on the theme: ‘Leadership and Public Policy: Navigating Challenges and Lessons’, El-Rufai said, “a good leader must be decisive and have the ability to make good decisions, trustworthy, empower others irrespective of political, religious or ethnic considerations, have clear communication skills and resilient in all ramifications.

“Though, it is too early to judge the present administration, is just been there for only nine (9) months, and you know leadership is work in progress, you start something as I said in my speech, you start a policy because you are absolutely sure is the right policy, but in the course of implementation, if you see bottlenecks, you modify, because the key word in leadership in my view is not ideology or anything, is pragmatism. You should always be pragmatic. You are not God, only God is perfect, so as a good leader, when you make a policy and you started implementing, and it doesn’t seem to work well, you should have the humility to stand back and said, this is not working.

“For example, if you appoint a person to a position and he is not performing to expectation, you should have the humility to say look, I need a better person to do the job perfectly. Leadership is a continuous thing and in a term of four years, you can’t assess a government of nine months.

“But as I also said earlier during my presentation, the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration is another good policy by President Tinubu. I have always supported withdrawal of fuel subsidy. But as you can see, in the course of implementation, the government has now realized that the subsidy has to be back, because right now, we are paying a lot of money amounting to trillions of naira for subsidy even more than before, because the impact has been seen and the packages of support that will reduce the impact have not been effective in reducing the impact, and so, the federal government has to backpedal by subsidizing petrol. Many people don’t know this. If they want to know whether there is fuel subsidy or not, they should compare the prices of petrol and diesel per litre. This is because, under normal circumstances, petrol suppose to be more expensive than diesel. As it is, diesel is above N1000, while petrol stood at about N600 per litre. So we are still subsidizing for fuel in Nigeria.” He stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Service, Barrister Mallam Fannami commended former governor El-Rufai for honoring the invitation, as participants would have the opportunity to tap from his wealth of experience in the public service after the 5-Day Workshop.

He also appreciated Governor Zulum for his unwavering commitment and passion to rejuvenate and fix the state civil service to make it a working, effective, efficient and robust service delivery institution in the state.

While declaring the workshop open, Governor Zulum who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, commend the organizers for the choice of the Lead Presenter, Mallam El-Rufai, adding that the former Kaduna state governor is not only a politician, but a man of impeccable credentials and outstanding performance and records in the public service.

While noting the ripple effects of the Workshop, Zulum said, “it will undoubtedly impact positively on the running of government business, therefore, I want to reassure our civil servants that my administration has noted the continual need for this type of training to improve the quality of our civil servants for deliver quality services to our people.” The governor stated.

drlateef:



What about Virgin Atlantic?

Dead Already

LocalFARMERS:
Two men were fighting, Soldiers caught them and asked each of them to state the cause of the fight in English. You need to hear the way they both narrate what led to the fight.

Aswear, English no be anybody mate



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO4vhB9rSIQ

OP next time write well

Two individuals were engaged in a physical altercation, and soldiers intervened, instructing each of them to explain the reason for the conflict in English. You want to hear how they both recount the events that precipitated the fight.

Raylight2:
In summary, go and learn how to swim

Wear Life Jacket when you enter boat simple.
Price: N25k on Jumia

Life jackets, also known as personal flotation devices (PFDs), are essential for water safety in various situations.

Here are some common uses:

1. Boating:
Whether it's on a motorboat, kayak, canoe, or sailboat, wearing a life jacket can prevent drowning in case of an accident, capsize, or unexpected fall overboard.

2. Swimming:
In certain situations where swimming conditions are challenging or there's a risk of fatigue, wearing a life jacket can provide extra buoyancy and support, especially for weaker swimmers or children.

3. Water Sports:
Activities like water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing can be fun but also carry risks. Wearing a life jacket is crucial to protect against impact with the water and ensure flotation if separated from equipment.

4. Fishing:
While fishing from a boat or near water, wearing a life jacket is important in case of accidental falls, sudden changes in weather, or loss of balance.

5. Emergency Preparedness:
In natural disasters like floods or tsunamis, having access to life jackets can be life-saving, helping individuals stay afloat until rescue arrives.

6. Commercial Use:
Professionals who work on or near water, such as lifeguards, Coast Guard members, and rescue personnel, rely on life jackets as part of their safety gear.

Overall, life jackets are a crucial safety tool for anyone engaging in water activities, providing buoyancy and potentially saving lives in emergencies.

Couple nabbed for alleged production, distribution of fake alcoholic beverages.

Police detectives attached to the Zonal Raiders, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ngozi Braide have arrested a couple who specialised in the production and distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages in Lagos.

Police detectives attached to the Zonal Raiders, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ngozi Braide have arrested a couple who specialised in the production and distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages in Lagos.

The couple identified as Mr and Mrs Austin Idemudia were rounded up somewhere in Ado-Odo area of Ogun State following intelligence on their illicit production and distribution of various types of alcoholic beverages.

Police sources said the illegal production apartment has been sealed off, while the suspects are in custody and would have their day in court at the end of investigation.

Confirming the arrest yesterday, spokesperson for the Zone 2 Command, SP Ayuba Umma, said the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone, Olatoye Durosinmi has warned members of the public to be careful to scrutinise alcoholic beverages at stalls when purchasing them.

She said: “The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan Lagos, under the leadership of AIG Durosinmi, has successfully apprehended a couple for production and distribution of various adulterated alcoholic beverages.

“The crackdown occurred on April 4, when a team of Detectives from the Zone 2 Raider Section, led by CSP Ngozi Braide, conducted a raid on a residence in Muibi Olawumi Close, Off Ayetoto/Itẹle Road, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of Ogun State.

“Acting on intelligence, the officers discovered an illicit operation producing counterfeit wines, liquor, champagne, and other alcoholic drinks.

“The raid yielded a significant amount of incriminating evidence, including unlabelled and branded bottles of suspected adulterated alcoholic drinks, various containers filled with mixtures suspected to be ingredients for the adulterated beverages.

“Equipment used in the production process, such as pumping machines, funnels and sealing machines. Other items include brand labels of Del-Mud, Del-Mud Royal, Smooth Brandy Wine Drinks in packs, a funnel containing a white handkerchief (used as filter) and corkscrew among various other production and branding items.”

Umma said one Margret Austine, ‘f’, was apprehended at the scene and she confessed to a six-year involvement in the illegal operation, alongside her husband, Austine Idemudia (a.k.a. “Baba Joshua”).

Margret, Umma said, confirmed that their adulterated finished products are sold to buyers across Lagos and Ogun states.

“The Zone 2 Command is actively investigating this case and will release further information to the general public as it becomes available.

“Given this incident, Durosinmi urges the public to be vigilant when purchasing food and beverages,” the spokesperson said.

He expressed concern that the presence of adulterated products poses a serious risk to consumer health.

“The Zone 2 Police Command remains committed to the safety and well-being of all residents within Lagos and Ogun States,” she added.

opamoses1:
They are teaching him business 101, and he is shocked..A billionaire should know this was bound to happen, but this is what happens in a country where people become overnight billionaires without a good source of how they came about their money.

Point of correction.
Air Peace Boss has been doing Airline business in the United States of America before coming to Nigeria to start an airline business.
Go and verify.

Kelklein:
the criminals know too well that the poor masses are easily controlled using religion.. so they use it..

The Nigerian Governors have the powers to turn around the fortunes of this country for good but sadly grèed is not allowing any of them to do that..

ALEX Otti of Abia State is doing well, a perfect example of man with good intentions for his Abia people

'Devilish Conspiracy’ – Air Peace Boss, Onyema Slams Foreign Airlines Over Price Slash.

The Chairman of Nigerian indigenous carrier, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, has raised the alarm that foreign carriers operating the Nigeria-UK route are allegedly conspiring to send Air Peace out of international operations by crashing airfares on the route.

Onyema gave the revelation on Tuesday while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

He alleged that there is an “unspoken alliance” among foreign airlines to use lower pricing to eject Air Peace from the Nigeria-London route.

“If they take out Air Peace prematurely, this country will pay dearly for it, 10 times over, billions will be lost, there will be another heavy strain on the naira,” he said.

DAILY POST recalls that Air Peace reciprocated the lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom when the local airline began direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London on March 30, 2024.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo and his counterpart at the Trade and Investment Ministry, Doris Uzoka-Anita were onboard the inaugural Lagos-London flight, alongside businessmen and women.

Many industry observers have applauded the development, saying the development will encourage local airlines to commence international flights to profitable routes.

DAILY POST also reported how the price of international flight ticket on the Lagos-London route, which was as high as N3.5m for economy ticket went for N1.2m as Air Peace commenced the London route, with foreign airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways forced to slash their prices to stay competitive.

However, speaking on Tuesday, the Air Peace boss said foreign airlines operating the route “are fighting back”, adding that his airlines are being “deliberately frustrated in all ways”.

He cited ground handling and space allocation difficulties at Gatwick Airport in the last couple of days.

“It’s a very devilish conspiracy,” said a dissatisfied Onyema.

“All of a sudden, (foreign) airlines are underpricing, below the cost, it’s not up to one month, an airline was advertising $100, another one $305, $350.

“Fill up the entire aircraft and carry people on the wings, it’s not even enough to buy your fuel. So, why are they doing that? Their governments are supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody.

“Their governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out. The idea is to take Air Peace out and the moment they succeed in taking Air Peace out, Nigerians will pay 20 times over again,” he said.

Onyema, therefore, invited other Nigerian airlines to join the Nigeria-UK route to break the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by foreign carriers operating into the four major gateway airports of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

“I invite other Nigerian airlines to join the fray, let them come, let all of us do international operations. Yes, international aeropolitics is very dirty but somebody must pay the price,” he said.

Marketers Tell Dangote To Crash Price Of Fuel, Reveal New Price, N550 per litre

Petrol marketers have proposed to the management of Dangote refinery to crash the price of fuel and start selling it at N550 per litre.

The President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima, confirmed yesterday: “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.”
Oil marketers

BREAKING: CBN Crashes Dollar Price, Sells At New Rate, N1,101 Per Dollar


The Central Bank of Nigeria has reduced the price of dollar to Naira in a latest move.

The Apex Bank announced the sale of huge amount of dollars to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators who will in turn sell to individual buyers at a regulated price.

The Central Bank made this known in a circular published on its website on Monday. According to the circular, the apex bank is to sell $10,000 to each BDC at the rate of N1,101 per dollar and has instructed the operators to sell at a spread not exceeding 1.5 per cent above the CBN rate.

This marks a significant gain for the Naira. With this development, Nigerians can now buy the currency at a lower rate compared to how much they used to spend when Naira was on a continuous free fall some months ago selling as high as N1,600 per dollar.