₦airaland Forum

The Kano State Government has strongly expressed opposition to the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who spoke through his Deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, declared the government’s position during the 2025 celebration held at the Filin Mahaha, Kofar Naisa open theatre, a statement issued by the deputy governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Garba Shu’aibu, stated.

The governor said, “This tax reform bill is not the solution to our economic challenges. Kano State stands firmly against any policy that negatively affects the welfare of our people.”

He lauded the resilience of Kano residents amidst economic challenges, describing the proposed tax hike as “ill-timed, lopsided and inimical to the unity of the country. Nigerians in general, and the north in particular are growing under hyper inflation and unprecedented insecurity, therefore the presidency should pay more attention in tackling extreme poverty and hunger, especially in the northern part of the country.”


Governor Yusuf highlighted his administration’s notable achievements in healthcare, education, road construction, and foreign scholarship initiatives. Additionally, he reminded residents of the Supreme Court ruling in January 2024 that confirmed him as the duly elected governor of Kano State.

According to the statement, Gwarzo celebrated the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II in 2024, describing it as a victory for the people’s will reiterating that the authority to appoint an Emir lies solely with the Governor of Kano State and urged those meddling in Kano Emirate affairs to respect the law and uphold peace.


The deputy governor encouraged Kano residents to remain united and steadfast, stating, “let 2025 be a year of shared prosperity and progress. Together, we will build a stronger Kano.”

ChinemeremFidel:
He's right...we can see the foundation jhare...
PMB really built a solid foundation for Tinubu to finish Nigeria patapata...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe has said former President Muhammadu Buhari laid solid foundation for President Bola Tinubu to build on.

Igbokwe said Nigerians should ignore the claims that Buhari was a failure because his footprints and gains are visible for all to see.

He posted on his Facebook page: “Let nobody living or dead run away with the thinking that PMB is a failure. Perish the thought.


“He laid the solid foundation for PBAT to build on. We are seeing the footprints and the gains today.”

This is coming when former presidential Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, said Buhari was not a visionary.

Ojudu said Buhari’s lack of vision made him not to back former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s bid to be president.

He, however, described Buhari as a patriot and an incorruptible leader.

Retired army generals, former diplomats, and security experts have urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the fortification of Nigeria’s northern borders in response to potential security threats arising from the ongoing crisis between Nigeria and Niger.

They also called on the Federal Government to handle the crisis with caution, insisting that the safety of Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, must be the primary concern.

The call for stronger border security follows recent accusations by Niger’s military regime that Nigeria has been involved in destabilising activities.

Niger’s military leader, Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani, in an interview on Wednesday, alleged that France was negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.


Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, claimed that France made a “substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu” to establish a military base in Nigeria.

He also accused Nigeria of sponsoring terrorist attacks along its borders as a means of undermining the new leadership.

The junta blamed the Nigerian government for the recent attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline, reportedly orchestrated by Lakurawa.

In response, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, insisted that there was no foreign military base in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria would not sever its diplomatic ties with France over the Republic of Niger’s internal squabble with its erstwhile colonial master, adding that the country would also maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, the US, the United Kingdom, China, and other nations.

Weighing in on the matter, the Economic Community of West African States dismissed the claim by the Nigerien military junta that Nigeria and some other countries were sponsoring destabilisation efforts in Niger, insisting that the allegations were unfounded.

Examining the security implications of the crisis, General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) advised the Federal Government to activate a security contingency plan to protect border communities from any fallout arising from the ongoing crisis.

He warned that the instability in Niger could have far-reaching security implications for Nigeria, particularly in the northern region.

“For every military action, there is always another contingency plan. So, they (Nigeria) must resort to another contingency plan, which I think should be in place to prevent any eventuality.

“We know from day one that the countries around Nigeria are part of Nigeria’s problems. Some of them see Nigeria as a country where they can do anything and get away with it. Terrorism, banditry, Lakurawa, and all these issues are coming from those places. And they have not been sincere with Nigeria.


“We should have a very strict foreign policy. Regardless of whatever they are doing with our leaders. It should be our primary objective. We have done so much for these neighbouring countries. We have helped them economically.”

Adewinbi added, “We should secure our borders by all means so that we can have our way. It may sound strange, but we may need perimeter fencing around Nigeria so that we will know who is a Nigerian and who is coming into Nigeria. What are they coming to do? What are their intentions?

“Our borders are too porous, and that is a major danger for the country. We have very porous borders, and let us not forget that not all countries like us. Some are our enemies. Let us be sincere with ourselves. This should be debated at the National Assembly; there should be a fence around Nigeria so that we can achieve lasting peace and have full control over our country and borders.”

A former Commander of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General John Sura (retd.), expressed concern over the statement made by the Nigerien military leader, predicting it could significantly strain the relationship between the two countries.

He urged the Federal Government to carefully analyse the allegations and reinforce the country’s borders to protect against any potential external threats.

Sura stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen its northern borders to prevent the flow of militants, weapons, and other threats into the country.

He suggested that the Nigerien leader’s statement could be an attempt to discredit Nigeria and lay the groundwork for possible aggression.


“For a neighbouring country to make such a statement, it could be a falsehood meant to tarnish Nigeria’s image,” he stressed.

Sura warned that the Nigerien leader might be trying to raise troops against Nigeria and advised the Federal Government to deploy forces and drones along the borders as a precaution.

“There could even be an alliance with Russia, for all we know,” he added.

Emphasising the serious implications of such a relationship breakdown, the former commander said, “If someone you’ve had a relationship with begins to distance themselves and claims no connection, it’s essentially a declaration of hostility. The Nigerien government already rejected French troops and expelled them. Now, making such claims could be a prelude to justifying actions that could lead to a conflict, even to the extent of exporting terrorists into Nigeria.”

On his part, former army chief and ex-chairman of Transparency International Nigeria, Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), criticised the statement made by Niger’s military leader, suggesting it was a calculated strategy to deflect attention from the country’s internal crises.

“The Nigerien military leader is simply seeking a diversion from his country’s internal problems. His aim is to garner sympathy from his people,” Williams remarked.

He likened the Nigerien leader’s actions to typical propaganda stunts often used by leaders under pressure.


Also commenting on the issue, a retired career diplomat, Sola Abolurin, described Niger’s allegations as an attempt to make the Tinubu government unpopular in the north.

He noted that the diplomatic fallout from the crisis could be compounded by Nigeria’s relationship with France.


“In my view, all the allegations by Niger are baseless. The Lukarawa terror group is based in Mali, and the country does not share a border with Nigeria. They came to Nigeria through Niger, and they have been wreaking havoc on Nigerian citizens in the north. So, it is Nigeria that should even be accusing Niger of allowing members of the terror group to pass through Niger to Nigeria.

“Niger, just like the Republic of Benin, is our cousin. Whatever happens to Niger will happen to us in Nigeria, particularly in the north. So, why would Nigeria want to cause unnecessary havoc or try to invade or destabilise Niger?”

In his reaction to the matter, Nigeria’s former Consul to Cameroon and delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Rasheed Akinkuolie, noted that the accusations against the Federal Government of collusion with France were spurious.

He said General Tchiani should focus on addressing the issues he created for himself and leave Nigeria out of it.

Akinkuolie stated, “Niger Republic doesn’t need Nigeria, France, or any other country to destabilise it. Niger has a long history of military coups, which have always ended badly. General Tchiani, by making his speech in Hausa, is attempting to stir sentiments in Nigeria, which has a large Hausa population. Such a ruse will not succeed.


“The international community is demanding that the junta hand over to a democratically elected government. Tchiani should outline a planned transition, which should not take more than three years, in his own interest and for that of his country.”

Also speaking, a retired Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said the Federal Government must handle the issue carefully to avert a rift between Nigeria and Niger.

He stressed that if not handled well, it could rupture the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Amedu-Ode stated, “We have a wide border and demographic contiguity on both sides. We also share a solid cultural affinity with each other, and the Federal Government must handle this matter carefully so it doesn’t escalate beyond what it is now.”

He noted that it was natural for Niger to be suspicious of Nigeria “because of the emerging closer relations with France against the backdrop of the recent state visit by the President of Nigeria to France.”

Residents deny foreign troops

Meanwhile, residents of border communities in Sokoto State have dismissed the allegations of the presence of the French Army within the border area of the country.


Our correspondent, who was in the border communities of Tangaza and Gudu Local Government Areas of the state, spoke with the District Head of Balle in Gudu LGA of the state, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu.

Aliyu denied the allegation of a foreign military camp in his territory.

The district head described the Niger Republic military leader’s allegation as baseless, stressing that his subjects at no time reported the existence of a foreign military camp in the area.

According to him, his people are engaged in agricultural and business activities, noting that if such a camp existed, his men would have informed him.

Another community leader, Malam Abdurahman Shehu, said the communities of Marake, Kudula, and Bikini, located about three to 35 kilometres from Niger Republic territory, had not sighted any military camps.

He noted that Balle and other communities maintained relations with Nigerien communities, and at no time had residents reported the existence of such a military camp.

A resident of Ruwa-Wuri community in Tangaza LGA, Malam Kabiru Muhammad, acknowledged the occasional presence of Lakurawa bandits but denied any reports of a foreign military camp in the area.

“We usually notice the presence of Lakurawa bandits; sometimes they trespass through our farms holding guns.

“They are often chased away by the Nigerian Army stationed in our area, but there is no foreign military camp terrorising our people,” he stated.

A commercial motorcyclist in Ruwa-Wuri, who identified himself simply as Ibrahim, corroborated the absence of a foreign military presence.

According to Ibrahim, who said he has been operating in the town for over five years, he has never sighted any French Army in the area.

The Seriki Arewa of Araba in Illela LGA, Garba Yusuf, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless.

He noted that it was a failed attempt to disrupt the peaceful coexistence between the communities.

Araba is a bustling community bordering Niger Republic.


The traditional ruler said, “In the area of security, Niger Republic military personnel assist our vigilantes in maintaining security within Araba and other border communities.

“We are living in peace with our neighbours in the Niger Republic. Our vigilantes maintain synergy with their military in sustaining the security of lives and property along the border.

“This collaboration has helped in keeping bandits away from our domain. When there is a working relationship to checkmate banditry between our vigilantes and the Niger Republic army, I wonder how someone in his right mind will allege that Nigeria is harbouring bandits for sinister motives.”

Northern leaders have expressed displeasure over President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that there will be no reversal on the controversial tax reform bills.

The leaders, comprising members of the National Assembly, the League of Northern Democrats, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, criticised the President’s firm position, describing it as unilateral and devoid of inclusive consultations.

During his maiden media chat held on Monday in Lagos, the President acknowledged that the bills might not be embraced by everyone, but maintained that there was no turning back on them.

He added that the tax reform bills were necessitated by the need to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in the nation’s tax environment.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the lawmaker representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Onawo, said the President must allow National Assembly members to perform their duties without undue interference from other arms of government.

He emphasised the importance of adhering to due legislative procedures, noting that, as a former legislator, the President should respect the established process.

Onawo stated, “If the President, who was once a legislator, is passing judgment on bills that are before the National Assembly, it is unfortunate.

“Be it good or bad, the President should let the bills go through the normal legislative process and get the approval of the legislators. If they get approval, they will become law, but if they don’t, they die.

“I don’t subscribe to a situation where a president introduces a bill to the National Assembly and doesn’t give the lawmakers a chance to go through it and says it’s here to stay. For a legislature as reputable as this one, I think that’s wrong.”

He added, “Most of the people, even the legislators commenting on the bills, have not gone through the full content to know whether they’re good or bad. It’s just the summary that is being passed around.

“There is no bill initiated by anyone that is totally bad. The right thing is for legislators to go through the bills, identify contentious areas, and amend those that do not represent the public’s opinion or will not benefit the general public.

“Even laws as old as 100 years can be amended; so, I don’t see any reason why anyone will claim it’s good or bad without reviewing the content.

“We will look at the bills, and if any part is contentious or doesn’t benefit the people we represent, we will bring our opinions together, and at the end of the day, those with popular opinion will ensure the bills pass.”

Also commenting on the issue, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, who represented Sokoto East in the 9th Assembly, accused Tinubu of playing “politics of tribalism” with the tax reform bills.

According to him, the President cannot unilaterally implement the bills without legislative approval.

He criticised the proposed allocation of value-added tax revenue, saying, “If the parliament agrees with the bills, that’s fine, but if they do not agree, what can he do? Will he do it without the legislature?


“The bills are not only about the North; they are about Nigeria. You cannot be the president of only the Yoruba; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. All Nigerians, not just Yoruba people, voted for him. Why should he be a regional president when this bill will benefit only Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun states?

“Section 77 of the bill is the main issue. Consumers in Nigeria are not only Yoruba or Lagosians; they are all over the nation. When I drink Pepsi here in Abuja, I have to pay VAT to Lagos – why? If that is the case, then for any food item brought from the North, the VAT on it should be paid to the North.

“How can you give the impression that one section of the country is better than the other? What about the people from the Niger Delta who produce the oil that everyone is stealing?”

When asked if the legislators would review the bills before passing them, Gobir said, “We are not going to review them; we are going to dump them unless they correct all the abnormalities in the bills.”

On its part, the Northern Elders’ Forum said Tinubu’s declaration that the “tax reform bills are here to stay” undermined the principle of democracy.


The spokesman for the NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, cautioned Tinubu against causing a crisis between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He said, “President Tinubu’s declaration raises concerns. The potential for bypassing the legislative process, inherent in his strong assertion, undermines the principles of democratic governance.

“By pre-emptively declaring the bills’ passage, the President risks alienating lawmakers and potentially creating unnecessary political friction.”

Commenting on Tinubu’s declaration, the League of Northern Democrats cautioned the President against rigidity on issues affecting the general welfare of citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the group, a former spokesman for the ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and a pioneer member of the LND, Umar Sani, said, “We know that the country requires tax reform. One of the reasons for tax reform is to fight corruption.

“Corruption is very high because people don’t pay taxes. If people pay taxes, the rate of corruption will be lower because you know the larger part of the money you steal will go to the government.

“But there are areas we want the government to review, like the inheritance tax, which is against religion, and some other incidentals. There are areas we agree with the bills, and we have given suggestions on areas we don’t agree with. In summary, our position is not against the bills.

“The President has offended the sensibilities of many Nigerians, particularly those of our leaders, with his declaration, and it shows the level of independence of our National Assembly. The President should not be rigid in decision-making.”

The PUNCH reported that on September 3, 2024, Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, following the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms.

The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.

Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, expected to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, as well as the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

The opposition Labour Party; Peoples Democratic Party and others, on Thursday, lampooned the ruling All Progressives Congress over the country’s worsening poverty.

The condemnation by the opposition parties followed a viral video showing long queues of Nigerians seeking foodstuffs at President Bola Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence in Lagos on Christmas Eve.

Senator Ali Ndume, who shared the video on Wednesday via his official X account, said it highlighted the economic struggles facing the nation.

The video showed a mammoth crowd standing or sitting down in long queues at Bourdillon Raod in Ikoyi, Lagos, where Tinubu’s house is located.

Ndume, a member of the ruling APC, remarked, “Queues for presidential handouts at Bourdillon on Christmas Eve highlight a sobering reality. Poverty knows no tribe, religion, politics, or region. It is a universal challenge that demands collective action and sustainable solutions.”

The development comes in the wake of tragic stampedes at food distribution events in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, where over 50 persons died.

Reacting to the development, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said it was sad that the ruling APC was turning more Nigerians into beggars by the day.

Ifoh challenged the APC to come out of its denial and “come to terms with the reality that there is too much poverty, hunger, and oppression in the system.”

“The statistics are out there for everybody to see. In fact, not too many people even understand that it is the season of Christmas.

So, don’t be surprised at the sight of people going to queue at Bourdillon. A time will come when even able-bodied men wearing suits and ties will also carry plates to beg at his residence.

“Imagine having to buy a bag of rice for Christmas at N100,000. What I am saying is that it is now clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that there is hunger in the land. Even the government itself has acknowledged it.

“The international community has also given out statistics to show that the poverty level in Nigeria is second to India, which has over a billion population. Nigeria has just 240 million people. But our poverty level is over 40 per cent, and there is over 70 per cent unemployment in Nigeria. So, it is no longer news.”

Also, LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, expressed concern about the deepening poverty in the country.

Obi, speaking through his media aide, Umar Ibrahim, said it was sad that President Bola Tinubu’s harsh economic policies were reducing more Nigerians to beggars.


“This reality is a stark contrast to what one would expect from a country with such potential and resources. The lack of effective governance is evident in the government’s failure to provide basic necessities, infrastructure, and opportunities for its citizens. It’s heartbreaking to see a nation with so much promise struggling to provide for its people,” he said.

Also, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, accused President Tinubu’s administration of weaponizing poverty.

He warned that Nigerians might get to the point of desperation where they would turn against the political elite.


“I have always been of the opinion, and I seem to feel it, that this Presidency, as led by Bola Tinubu, has weaponised poverty and hunger to the point that Nigerians need to beg with a pleading hand to survive. And the man has reduced the dignity of the common man to the pauper state, where they lack basic dignity and self-sufficiency. So, people have to resort to begging.

“President Tinubu’s APC administration has weaponized poverty. They unleashed hunger and hardship on Nigerians with their failed economic policies. The man has weaponised poverty and hunger to the point that you need to come to Bourdillon in Lagos to be able to afford a square meal a day or to get handouts. Across the country, they have created fields of strongmen who hand out arms and food to beggars or Nigerians they have reduced to beggars.

“It is most despicable, it is inhuman, it is insensitive. And it borders on insensitivity for any sane government to encourage armed begging and the dehumanisation of human character and dignity in such a beautiful form as this government and this presidency have done,” Osadolor said.

He warned that a time may come “when people will stop begging for food, they will eat those who are giving it to them, or go after the political elites, especially members of the APC because they caused the hardship, and that is where Nigerians are heading, if we are not careful.”

Speaking in a similar vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the Young People’s Party, Egbeola Martins, said Nigerians had never had it so bad.

“Things have never been this bad,” Martins said.

He called on the APC-led government to urgently review its economic policies before things got completely out of hand.

He said, “We are still very much insistent on the fact that there is a need to review some of the anti-masses policies that have actually impoverished Nigerians. We are particularly concerned about the subsidy removal policy, especially with the benefit of hindsight, even though it was once a major position of critical stakeholders in the past.

“The implementation has shown that it leaves a lot to be desired. The pain this has caused Nigerians is excruciating. In our opinion, there is nothing wrong with the government reviewing this policy, especially the subsidy removal.”

But the ruling APC dismissed the criticisms, accusing the opposition of trying to incite Nigerians against the President by mischaracterising his longstanding generosity.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, said, “Tinubu has been doing this thing for ages. This is not the first time he is doing it. But this time, because he is the President, it has become extremely conspicuous, and everybody is looking at it differently.


“If it was something he initiated just after he became the President, then it can be a story for discussion. But he has been doing this thing for long. Anybody who knows Tinubu knows that he is a person that is naturally generous. He likes extending help and support to people in need.

“In fact, I think he inherited it because his mother was also doing the same. Nobody is saying that there is no hardship in the land. But that is not a reason for people to make jest of those who intend to genuinely help, especially people who have been doing so for long.”

Ibrahim, who said Tinubu’s name is synonymous with generosity, sympathy, and help, accused the opposition of always seeking fault in the President.

“The only difference between what he was doing then and now is that his current palliative is coming with a presidential tag. The Bourdillon we know now is not the same as yesterday. It is a Bourdillon that now houses the President of the country.

“There was a time he was accused of stationing a bullion van in front of his house and giving people money. Why wasn’t that painted in the same light as this? Now that he is doing it as a President, it has become a big story.

“The opposition and critics are just grandstanding. The truth is that if there were to be an announcement and he says he is also extending this hand to the opposition, they will queue up. Their own is to amass wealth to eat alone. But this is a man who feels for the ordinary man,” Ibrahim said.

The Special Adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Economic Matters, Tope Fasua, has said a weaker currency for the country was one of the best policies of the government.

Tope Fasua said the country’s currency’s low performance in comparison to other currencies has focused the attention of businesses on sourcing local raw materials.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday night, Fasua noted that the current exchange rate has also stopped Nigerians from leaving the country for other countries.

Fasua argued that Nigeria has more students in the United States and the United Kingdom than most developed countries, not because the country’s education was totally bad but because of wrong choices. He said the weak Naira was also addressing it.

“I’m giving the advantage of making that currency weaker. Because now we’re focusing more on Naira and what Naira can do. We’re focusing more on what we can do ourselves. We’re focusing more on Nigerian raw materials. Many manufacturing companies have now started sourcing local raw materials rather than importing them.

“A lot of people aren’t traveling as many times as they would before. That’s one of the things, especially the middle class. And our middle class were special people. I mean, we assumed that we could travel five, six times on business class every year.

“How come Nigeria is the third or fourth country with the highest number of university students in the U.K. and the U.S. of all the countries in the world, we are rubbing shoulders with China with 1.4 or 1.5 billion people, we’re only 200 million people. That means that we’re putting so much money. It is not necessarily a failure of our education. It’s just aspiration. It’s aspiration,” he said.

The President’s Economic Adviser stressed that it was wrong for critics to assume the country would grow to be like Western nations that have been developing for years.

He emphasized that many Nigerians complaining of no work have decided not to work. According to him, the country has work for the citizens.

“The fact that we are rubbing shoulders and expecting that our economy and society will be at par with even the people that gave us colonization, who have had maybe 2,000 years of documented history. That means we have been preposterous. We’ve been preposterous, you know, because we can’t, your child cannot try and be you today. He has to learn and grow. And it’s also a matter of time.

“It’s good that the Naira has become weaker, but it has made us focus more. However, what we’re saying is that for those who are enterprising, for people who have work, who want to work, indeed, there’s work in this country. For those who want to work,” Fasua added.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged Nigerian to avoid panic buying as there is enough fuel in the country.

Mr Ukadike Chinedu, IPMAN Publicity Secretary, said this on Sunday in Abuja.


He commended the Dangote Petroleum Refinery for reducing the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N899.50k per litre.

He said that the gesture would help reduce transport costs for Nigerians ahead of Yuletide holidays.

” You see, that is the beauty of deregulation. Prices are determined by market forces.

” With the Dangote and Federal Government refineries by the corner, this will bring competitive prices,” Chinedu said.

He urged all IPMAN members to adjust their pump to the new pump price to attract more customers.

“We have started ordering on the new price, and even some of our members have already started adjusting their pumps lower to be able to have faster sales.

“If your price is higher, nobody will buy from you.

“You will even find out now that those queues that you normally see in NNPC filling stations have all reduced because most marketers are almost selling the same thing with them,” he said.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Dangote Refinery had lowered its petrol price to N970 per litre in November. (NAN)

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has stated that directing curses at individuals online constitutes a criminal offense punishable under the law.

Adejobi explained that such behavior amounts to cyberbullying, which cannot be justified as freedom of expression or constructive criticism.


He emphasized this in a statement, writing: “Raining direct curses on someone online is cyber bullying, not expression of freedom or criticism.

“And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.”

Reacting, a tweep said, “@felabayomi: When does raining curses become a crime? I look forward to the day someone will challenge these law they are using to take away peoples human right in the supreme court. Late Gani Fawehinmi would have challenged that law by now.”

@DistinctFOJ contested, “Olumuyiwa, assuming your narrative is valid, Section 1(3) of the CFRN state that if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail.

Freedom of expression is nonnegotiable. Raining curses is Constitutional.”

@omoopee_ agreed with the FPRO, “You are absolutely right sir, raining curses and engaging in cyberbullying is not freedom of expression but an act of harm. We must all learn to express ourselves responsibly. That said, sir, please, you are yet to respond to my question.”

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that the lifespan of the 2024 budget will be extended to June 25, 2025.

He stated this in his opening remark during the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

According to him, the 2024 budget performance was 50% for Capital Expenditure and 48% for Recurrent.

President Tinubu was at the National Assembly to present the N47.9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration and passage.

helinues:
Yele should STFU