₦airaland Forum

iwaeda:
Nigeria is now a banana Republic, a country a law makers can assaulted publicly and promised someone can disappear is being charged with a bail of N500k, but minor for protesting hunger bail is N10m totalling N760m, Nlfpmod. And Yahaya Bello is free as bird.

The Nigerian Ports Authority said that seven ships would berth with crude oil on Friday at the Lagos ports.

The NPA, in its “Daily Shipping Position’, said that seven vessels, out of the nine expected, would berth diesel, crude oils bulk urea, petrol and aviation fuel.

“The remaining two vessels will berth with containers carrying different goods.

“The nine expected vessels will berth at Sifax, ENL Consortium Terminals, Apapa Bulk Terminal, among other terminals in Lagos,” it said.


The NPA said that a total of two vessels were waiting to berth at Apapa and Tincan Island Ports with bulk urea and aviation fuel.

It added that three vessels were currently discharging general cargo, petrol and container at Lekki Deep Sea port in Lagos.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it stands by its advice to Nigeria to remove petrol subsidy and float the exchange rate.

Daily Trust reports that the Bretton Woods institutions have been accused of advising President Bola Tinubu on the present economic policies, especially the removal of subsidy from PMS as well as the floating of the naira which have plunged the country into inflationary pressures.

But the IMF’s African Region Director, Abebe Selassie at a briefing on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US, had said the organisation did not advise the President to remove fuel subsidy.

“The decision was a domestic one. It was President Tinubu’s decision. We don’t have programmes in Nigeria. Our role is limited to regular dialogue, as we have with other nations like Japan or the UK,” he had clarified.

However, according to PremiumTimes, an IMF spokesperson in response to its enquiry said that the institute stands by its advice to the Tinubu-led government.

“We stand by our advice, though it’s important to underscore that individual pieces of that advice cannot be viewed in isolation.

“Our advice is a comprehensive policy package where all elements are linked to each other. That package seeks to ensure macroeconomic stability and raise living standards in a sustainable fashion.

“Importantly, our advice on petrol subsidies and the exchange rate, is set in a larger, comprehensive policy mix that also includes scaling up social transfers to provide relief to Nigerians who are already suffering from a cost-of-living crisis or who are impacted by policy reforms,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Nawa4nl:
https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/misconduct-outcomes/2024/october/pc-shola-balogun-outcome-summary/

iwaeda:
Training is Training either by military or terrorists. It will favour me and family. >:

Niger State House of Assembly has raised the alarm over take over and occupation of one of the biggest military training camps in Nigeria by terrorists saying the gunmen have also chased away about 23 farming communities within the area.

The training camp is located at the Nagwamase Military Cantonment in Kontagora, headquarters of the Kontagora local government area of the state.

The Nagwamase Military Cantonment, Kontagora, hosts the largest military training camp in Nigeria, where personnel of the Nigerian Army Artillery Corps undergo training, but according to the state lawmakers, the facility has been taken over by terrorists.

The Assembly, therefore, urged the State Government to liaise with the military authority to flush out the terrorists from the training camp, which also plays host to about 23 communities in the area.

In a motion of urgent public importance brought by the member representing Kontagora II State Constituency, Abdullahi Isah, during plenary on Tuesday, the military camp, which occupied very large pieces of land extending from Kontagora local government to part of Mariga local government, is now being occupied by the gunmen.

According to him, “This military camp is now known to have been taken over by terrorists who are said to have established at least eight different camps in the area. The presence of the terrorists on this training camp, which now serves as their haven, has posed a serious security challenge to communities within the camp both in Kontagora and Mariga local government areas”.

He pointed out that in the last month, communities within the training camp have come under intense attacks from the terrorists who operate with impunity, adding that some members of the communities that were abducted during the recent operation were still being held by the gunmen.

After much deliberation, the Assembly urged the State Government to, as a matter of urgency, liaise with the military authority to intensify efforts towards flushing out the terrorists from the training camp, adding that this will allow the host communities to return to their homes.

The Assembly also urged the government to give the military the necessary support towards securing the training camp and restoring peace to the area.

Odewaleadesoye:


TRIBUNE

Business owners in Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa are recording losses due to week-long blackout occasioned by vandalism of the power transmission line in parts of northern Nigeria.

The sudden disruption in electricity supply in the past days, also affected essential services such as water, sanitation, street lighting and healthcare delivery as most hospitals have been operating without light.

Some of the affected businesses including shop keepers, millers and artisans, who spoke while reacting to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the situation as “pathetic”.

The survey examined the perennial collapse of national grid and the need for alternative power supply in the country.

Rice millers in Gombe had decried the impact of the erratic power supply on their businesses.

A Miller, Musa Arab, at Nassarawo Industrial Layout in Gombe, said the trend was crippling their operations as they relied on electricity supply from the grid to process paddy.

He said the mills were not operational power outage as they could not afford exorbitant pump prices of petrol or diesel to run their machines.

This, he said, reduced the volume of rice supply to the market and posed serious challenge to food security.

“We must invest in power because it is the biggest determining factor for industries to thrive.

“I have over 20 workers in my mill, and we have 100 mini rice mills here, so you can imagine those who have no jobs for the past 10 days.

“Government must go tough on those responsible for the perennial grid collapse because some persons may be benefitting from it,” he said.

Also, Yusuf Ibrahim said the situation might trigger the already fragile inflation, as prices of local varieties would shot up occasioned by the diminish supply.

He said some had jerked up their charges to cover the expenses on diesel thereby affecting rice prices.

A check by NAN at the Gombe Main market showed that a 100 kilogramme of rice was sold for between N120,000 and N160,000, as against N110,000 and N150,000, before the blackout.

Mr Usman Sani, a rice dealer, attributed the hike in price to low supply of the produce to the market in spite of the number harvest recorded this cropping season.

He said the prices had decreased slightly at the onset of the harvest, however, it showed sprawling increase due to power outage.

“The price of rice is already dropping as a result of harvest but the trend reverse since the blackout in the past days “ he said.

Ugochukwu Daniel, a bartender in Bauchi, decried the epileptic power supply in the country, adding that lack of durable energy supply would retard Nigeria’s quest to attain social and economic greatness.

Daniel said that he spent much on fuel to run power generator for refrigerator and lightening the restaurant to enable her to keep the business running.

He said businesses could only thrive in an enabling environment with stable electricity supply, to enhance wealth creation and reduce poverty among Nigerians.

“My trade is about chill drinks and it survives on electricity to operate otherwise you will out of business. Without electricity there is nothing you can do, and not only business but about everything. We depend on it,” he said.

Similarly, Samuel Adamu, said the persistent power outage had forced him to patronise charcoal for ironing clothes in spite of its high cost and cumbersome processes.

He said most cleaners in the area had resorted to fabricated iron charcoal in spite of hike in its prices which suddenly jumped from N5,000 to N15,000.

Adamu said the situation also encouraged division of labour in laundry to cut cost and make some gains.

“Presently, I do wash the cloth, and engage someone for ironing. The charge is N300 per set as against N150”.

While advocated development of renewable energies to enhance power supply in the country, Adamu urged security agencies to intensify efforts towards electrical installations in the country.

In the same vein; Mr Muhammad Adamu, Chairman, Jigawa State House Assembly Committee on Power and Energy, said the Jigawa Electricity Law 2024, made sound provisions to improve power generation and distribution in the state.

This, he said, was an offshoot of the devaluation brought about by the 5th alteration of the constitution, where removed power from the executive legislative list and to the concurrent list.

“It empowered the state houses of assembly to enact laws on power. The committee has also carefully pursued the bill and reviewed its structure and the promise it holds for the state power sector, infrastructure and the overall economy of the state.

“The new law will pave way for the establishment of Jigawa Electricity Commission, to regulate the state’s electricity market,” he said.

According to Adamu, the law will protect residents and investors in the energy sector through ensuring prepaid meter installation and possibility of recouping investor’s funds as well as address vandalism.

“The law will lead to provision of reliable, affordable and sustainable power, essential for development of all sectors of the economy, particularly in rural areas,” Adamu said.

“Vandalism will be over because we pay Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) money for powered supplies, but whenever there is problem of damages or broken down transformers, it is either the communities or individuals that pay for the repairs.” (NAN)

There is nothing new under the sun, especially in a time like this where things are expensive and individuals are trying to make ends meet, despite the continuous rise in the cost of bills for food and services.

The love for protein is also gradually dying, as many can hardly afford their daily bread, talkless of eating with protein.


The cost of dairy products like fish, meat and eggs has also risen by over a hundred percent, compared to last year.



Economy and lifestyle findings show that a kilo of fish, depending on the species, ranges between N3,500 to N8,000.

A kilo of full chicken now sells for between N9,000 to N12,000. A kilo of turkey laps is now N8,000, while that of chicken is N6,000.

The price of a crate of a medium-sized egg now ranges between N5,200 to N6,000, which was N2,000 last year.

Even kpomo (cowhide) is no longer affordable, as the price of a thick and big piece, which was between N20 and N50, has now increased to N700.

To meet up with the consumption of protein, some individuals have now resorted to buying fish heads from cold rooms.

A visit to some cold rooms in Lagos showed heads of fish with little flesh portioned in small quantities and sold between the ranges of N500 to N1,000.


According to Mrs. Shade Ayinde, a worker in a cold room, these heads of fish are usually bought by people producing food spices such as food seasoning.

She added: “But when individuals started asking for heads of fish for consumption purposes, we had to start portioning them as you can see in batches of N500 to N1,000.

Petrol price and economic enslavement of Nigerians, by Adekunle Adekoya
As Ijaw nation gears up for first economic summit
“This is the head of fish that some people will tell you to remove when they purchase a full fish.

“This life is not balanced at all and that is what the economy has downgraded many to today.”

Another fish seller in the market, Mrs. Grace Arogundade, said: “Recently, some individuals do come to the market sourcing fish heads.

“I usually think they wanted to give it to their dogs.


“So I always store it for them because most of my customers don’t cut their fish with the head.
“They always remove it to avoid the bones getting into the food.

“But one day, I visited the cold room to get fish and saw them display heads of fish for sale.
“I priced them and was told a portion was N700 to N1,000 depending on the size.

“It then dawned on me that those people coming to get head of fish from me at the market were consuming it, not giving it to their dogs.

“I wept because this was my very first time experiencing this and I knew right then that this country was finished.”

A woman, who identified herself as Racheal said: “I don’t have N10,000 to feed the whole house with fish.

“I have five children including me to make it six.

“My husband left after I had my last child and it has been me struggling with everything I need.

“I do buy heads of fish most times and mix it with kpomo to give my soup taste and enable my children to have protein.

“Since the price of a whole fish now costs over N3,000 and won’t serve us for two days, I had to resort to buying its head which also comes with some flesh because they are broken from the body while it was being offloaded.

“At least my children and I are healthy. That is my only joy.”


According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index survey reveals 63 percent of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) are multidimensionally poor.

The survey further showed that 65 percent of the poor (86 million people) live in the North, while 35 percent (nearly 47 million) live in the South.

“Over half of the population of Nigeria are multidimensionally poor and cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than cleaner energy. High deprivations are also apparent nationally in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing”, the report stated.

The World Bank in its Nigeria development update, titled, ‘Turning the Corner: From Reforms & Renewed Hope, to Results’, released in December last year, said the poverty rate in the country increased to 46 per cent in 2023 representing 104 million poor Nigerians from 40 percent in 2018 representing 79 million poor Nigerians.

“Sluggish growth and rising inflation have increased poverty from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, pushing an additional 24 million people below the national poverty line,” the World Bank said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said there are at least 20 million out-of-school children in the country, describing them as potential bandits.

Akpabio stated this during plenary on Wednesday while contributing to a debate on the compelling need to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The debate followed a report of the senate committee on education (primary and secondary) presented by its chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central) during plenary.

Akpabio said the menace of out-of-school children portends danger to the security of the country.

“20 million out-of-school children is timebomb for any country. They are potential bandits; they are a major danger. So this is a major issue. This is the cause of insecurity in the country,” Akpabio said.

The Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also said, “It is a serious problem. If we leave unattended to, it is a kind of timebomb, and once it explodes, it will consume us, particularly the Northern part of this country.

“The number of children roaming our streets without going to school needs our attention. It is a serious problem. It is a problem that the solution is beyond the federal government alone or any tier of government. The re-orientation has to commence immediately so that parents should know that they need to do that.”


In his contribution, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to compel state governors to address the issue of out-of-school children in their states sequel to the huge funds being allocated to them.

Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) asked state governors to hold a roundtable discussion and advance measures to tackle the issue.

Senator Sani Bello (Niger North) lamented that some children in Niger State had died because they were bitten by snakes in the bushes following lack of toilet facilities in their schools.

He said his administration had spent billions of Naira in building better schools across the state, when he was governor.

After an extensive debate on the issue, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), moved a motion for a national summit on the issue.

The motion was seconded by the deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the national summit would deliberate and iron out issues related to out of school children to ensure the security of the country.

Akpabio said the summit would have various stakeholders including representatives of the federal, state and local governments, civil society organisations and many others in attendance.

President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that his “Renewed Hope” agenda, despite its challenges, will soon yield significant benefits for all citizens.


Speaking at the funeral service of the late Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho, former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, held on Saturday at Ajegunle Baptist Church in Saki, Oyo State, the President emphasised the importance of infrastructure development in achieving national unity and progress.

Represented by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue, Zaccheus Adedeji, President Tinubu articulated his vision for connecting the country through vital infrastructure projects.

He highlighted the Lagos to Calabar coastal highway as a flagship initiative that will not only facilitate transportation but also stimulate economic growth across regions.

“This project is just the beginning; we are committed to laying down a framework that connects every part of Nigeria.”

“Our goal is to ensure that no region is left behind as we work towards a more integrated and prosperous nation.”

“My aim is to connect the country through infrastructure, which will ultimately yield profits for the benefit of all Nigerians. This vision may take time and effort, but I assure you that the fruits of our labour will soon be evident in every part of Nigeria.”


Reflecting on the legacy of the late Chief Koleosho, President Tinubu expressed high regard for the former Secretary to the Oyo State Government and acknowledged the profound impact he had on his own decision-making regarding infrastructure development.

“Chief Koleosho was a man of humility and an advocate of hard work, who will be greatly missed. His insights and dedication to public service have greatly influenced my approach to governance.”

“I hold Chief Koleosho in high esteem. He was a man of vision whose contributions to our nation will never be forgotten. His humility and dedication to hard work are qualities we must aspire to emulate.”

“As we reflect on his life, let us be inspired to pursue excellence and service to our communities.”


He pledged to honour his memory through meaningful initiatives, saying, “We will ensure that his legacy lives on in our commitment to building a better Nigeria.”

“We will ensure that his spirit of service and commitment to the community continues to inspire future generations. It is our duty to carry forward the ideals he stood for,” Tinubu remarked.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also delivered a heartfelt tribute, calling upon political leaders and their supporters to adopt a politics of development similar to that practiced by Chief Koleosho.


“We must imbibe the politics of development practiced by elder statesman, late Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho.”

“His commitment to the welfare of our people should inspire us all,” he urged.

Makinde highlighted the importance of cooperation among political factions, stating, “In unity, we can achieve more for our people and ensure that the dreams of leaders like Chief Koleosho are realised.”

The governor recounted the numerous contributions of Chief Koleosho to the growth and development of Saki and the broader Oyo State.

He announced his intention to sign a bill next week that will rename Oke-Ogun Polytechnic in honour of the late leader, a gesture, which he said, that reflected the esteem in which he was held.

“Renaming this institution is not just an honour; it is a commitment to continue his legacy of education and empowerment,” he asserted.

Additionally, he revealed plans to rename a township road after Chief Koleosho, further solidifying his legacy in the community.

To honour the late elder statesman, Governor Makinde outlined several initiatives aimed at improving local infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho road and the refurbishment of technical colleges in both Ibadan and Saki.

He also pledged to appoint permanent secretaries from the Oke-Ogun zone, ensuring representation and development in the region.

“These actions are not merely symbolic; they are steps toward a brighter future for our communities,” he added.


In a sermon titled “The Joy of Death,” Reverend Israel Akanji, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, encouraged attendees to prioritise their spiritual and heavenly aspirations.

“Let us remember that our time on this earth is fleeting, and we must seek to leave a lasting legacy of love and service,” Akanji urged.

He emphasised the importance of community and personal growth, saying, “We must find deeper meaning in the legacy of Chief Koleosho and strive for a life that uplifts others.”

“In times of loss, we must remember that life is not just about the physical. True fulfilment comes from serving others and leaving a positive legacy.”

He stressed the importance of leaving a positive legacy, reminding the congregation that true fulfilment comes from serving others.


“Let us not mourn merely the passing of a great man, but celebrate his life by committing ourselves to the values he cherished. Together, we can build a community that honours his memory through our actions and dedication.”

One of the promises the Federal Government made to pacify Organised Labour at yesterday’s parley was that five refineries would soon be fully functional.

Also, government vowed to pay arrears of wages.

These, among others, formed the core of the meeting where “they agreed that it is better to ‘jaw-jaw than war-war’.”

“Meaning,” a source told Vanguard, “there will be continuous dialogue between government and labour.”

Recall that Vanguard broke the story, yesterday, that leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart were meeting with the Federal Government.

However, obviously acting on agreed terms, neither the government representatives nor the labour leaders spoke with newsmen on what was discussed and agreed on at the meeting.

FG’s promises

A source, however, revealed to Vanguard the many promises Federal Government made to the Labour leaders.

According to a reliable source: “As part of efforts at crashing transport fares across the country, the Federal Government will hold a meeting with state governors to fully embrace the CNG buses.

“This will also affect the cost of foodstuffs as it will reduce the costs of transporting food items from different locations to consumers drastically.
“These are parts of efforts to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on the citizens.

“The government also promised to summon a meeting of the economic council to impress it upon state governors to ensure the new minimum wage takes off across the country this month.

“It also promised to incorporate labour into the economic council, so labour will participate and monitor economic policies of government, instead of government throwing policies at labour and Nigerians that may result in agitation or protest.”

“The government also promised to hasten and complete the refineries.

“They said almost five refineries are about to be completed,’’ another source told Vanguard last night.

The sources confirmed that “government promised to pay all outstanding arrears and wage awards to workers, and inaugurate all the boards labour has representatives.”

Labour pacified

One of the sources said: “All these are promises, but the good thing is that it was agreed that the meeting will be a continuous process.”

Asked if labour was satisfied with the meeting, the source said: “It is not about satisfaction, but a way forward from the past where government was not discussing with organised labour.

‘’If this trend or practice continues, there is every possibility that disagreements between government and labour will reduce.”

Roll call

The government’s representatives at the meeting were Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Labour Minister; and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

Others include Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Information Minister; Heineken Lokpobiri, Petroleum Resources Minister, State; Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL.

For Organised Labour were the President of NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero; Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani; the General Secretary, Mr Emma Ugboaja; Deputy President of the TUC, Dr. Tommy Etim Okon; the Secretary General, Nuhu Toro; and the President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, who is also a deputy president of NLC.