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 Politics › Thousands Of Residents Displaced As Terrorists Sack 10 Communities In Kaduna by treesun(op): 10:02am On Feb 27, 2024 |
It was gathered that most of the residents of the communities have relocated to safer communities within the local government area while others have moved to Zaria Local Government Area of the state. Residents of about 10 communities in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have reportedly been sacked by terrorists who have sustained incessant attacks and kidnapping in the communities. It was gathered that most of the residents of the communities have relocated to safer communities within the local government area while others have moved to Zaria Local Government Area of the state. Daily Trust reports that one of the leaders in the affected communities identified as Malam Jafaru Anguwar Salahu, said that the residents of the affected communities, mostly farmers, are now living in their new environment as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Salahu listed the displaced communities to include Sabon Gida, Anaba, Anguwar Salahu, Guberawa, Garu, Rafin Iwa, Gidanduki, Anguwan Najaja, Kunza, and Anguwan Magaji. He was quoted as saying that “All these villages I mentioned used to have people, but now we were all displaced from our houses and farms. As we speak, we are now living as refugees in Gwada ward and other villages. “We are only living, but we don’t know what to do.” Salahu therefore called on the state government to come to their aid by getting rid of terrorists from the communities to enable the residents return to their homes and continue farming and normal life. https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/27/thousands-residents-displaced-terrorists-sack-10-communities-kaduna |
| Politics › FG To Pay Youth Unemployment Benefits, Sets Up Consumer Credit Programme by treesun(op): 8:02am On Feb 27, 2024 |
The Federal Government on Monday said it would extend its social security payments net to graduates with qualifications from NCE and upwards.https://punchng.com/fg-to-pay-youth-unemployment-benefits-sets-up-consumer-credit-programme/ 8 Likes 5 Shares
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| Politics › Customs Didn’t Cause Rice Buyers’ Deaths At Lagos Office – Spokesperson by treesun(op): 8:50am On Feb 26, 2024 |
The Nigeria Customs Service has described as unfortunate the stampede at its office in Yaba, Lagos, during the sale of 25kg bags of rice to Lagos residents that led to the death of some seven persons.https://punchng.com/customs-didnt-cause-rice-buyers-deaths-at-lagos-office-spokesperson/ 4 Likes
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| Politics › Re: Restructure Now Or Nigeria Will Go Under – Opadokun, NADECO Leader by treesun(op): 8:48am On Feb 26, 2024 |
Nlfpmod! |
| Politics › Restructure Now Or Nigeria Will Go Under – Opadokun, NADECO Leader by treesun(op): 8:43am On Feb 25, 2024 |
…The parliamentary system is best for our situation …State of the economy, insecurity are unacceptable CHIEF Ayo Opadokun is the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO. In this interview, the former National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere speaks about why Nigeria has been an under-developing nation, how a return to the parliamentary system of government will free Nigeria from wickedness and the need for President Bola Tinubu not to fail Nigerians and the black race. He says time is running out. Some members of the House of Representatives recently proposed a bill to return Nigeria to the Parliamentary system of government. What do you make of the bill? That bill is a manifestation of the truism of dialectic progression – thesis and antithesis – which had been presented to the Nigerian people sometime in 1982 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the annual convention of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. In recent times, it conforms with the agenda that the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, had campaigned vigorously for as the only way to free Nigeria from the wickedness which the military had perpetrated on the country. I believe that those members who initiated it should be applauded by all well-meaning Nigerians who have been clamouring for a way out of the current economic deprivation, injustice, discrimination, inequity, unfairness and much more. Most of the people had never experienced good governance before, but during the First Republic when the parliamentary system of government was used, Nigeria witnessed a progressive, open government that was responsible and responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the citizens. The resources of each region were used to make life better for the people in those regions and that helped the central government, that is the Federal Government, to progress. The parliamentary system is cost effective in every sphere and it makes the leadership responsible to his electorates, the citizens. When you say it makes leadership responsible, is it that we do not have responsible leadership now? It is responsive to their yearnings and aspirations at all times because the leader, who is called the prime minister, is just first among equals and he is equally a parliamentarian. What usually happens in the parliamentary system is that either at the weekly or fortnight meetings of the Federal Executive Council, which is composed mainly of ministers who are themselves elected, whatever is happening at each minister’s constituency will be brought to the meeting of the Executive Council. He must have notified the Prime Minister before the discussion and it will be discussed. Efforts will be made to respond to such peculiarities of such constituencies that have issues. The government itself will survive as long as it has a majority in the parliament. If an opponent moves a vote of no confidence by the rules and the sitting government can’t have a majority, that government will fall. If it falls, it doesn’t mean that the opponent will take over. What it means is that another person has to be made the prime minister to form the government. Based on that, the government is kept on its toes 24/7 to respond to the yearnings and aspirations of the people, unlike the presidential system. The executive presidential system was forced on Nigerians by the military. General Murtala Mohammed constituted a so-called 50 wise men, but Chief Obafemi Awolowo rejected the invitation making it 49 wisemen, led at that time by Chief Fredrick Rotimi Alade Williams. Muhammad told them to fashion a government with executive authority. Executive authority? Why? That’s a clear departure from what we had in the First Republic. All he wanted was a government that was similar to the military organogram where power goes from the Commander-in-Chief to the bottom. They didn’t consider the peculiarities of the custom, tradition, religion, artefacts, folklore, mores and morals of the Nigerian people before coming to that. The most uncharitable thing they did was not to consider the state of the economy in Nigeria in foisting the executive presidential system on the country. It is too exorbitantly prohibitive and costly to run. They patterned the executive presidential system in a globally unique style. There is none like it. Up until now, the United States of America remains the biggest economy in the world; the totality of Nigeria’s economy is not up to the economy of one state in America. Already we have been spending over 80 per cent of our total earnings to run recurrent expenditure that is why we have very little for any development project and so, we are in a doldrum. Unfortunately for us, in the last 25 to 35 years, Nigeria has been an underdeveloped country. The quality of life we had in the Second Republic is far better than what we have today. Related News Amnesty coming for Lagos landlords without building approval — Olumide, Physical Planning Commissioner Leaked diplomatic memo: Qatar didn't snub Tinubu on business forum - Presidency Ondo 2024: ‘Nobody wants to be governor for one year’ – Aiyedatiwa Some people are also agitating that there should be a return to the regional form of government, do you support their agitation? That’s part of it. That is why we are saying the totality of our position is that we should return to the 1960 independence constitution. What we will now have is a (as a result of the balkanisation of the regions into states which the military had done) federation of states. It has to be done reasonably and responsibly as it is done in India, Sweden, Canada and Germany. The basis for such configuration is usually language, ethnicity, religion, culture, artefacts, folklore, mores and morals. What the military had wickedly done was to minoritise some majority tribes as they did with the Yoruba of Kwara and Kogi for selfish reasons. As they did for the Yoruba is what they have done for the Nupe. There are Nupe in Kwara and Niger. There are Gbagi people in Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and some of them in Kaduna. Today, there are Ijaw in almost five different states of the country. All these things were done unscientifically without the necessary democratic variables considered. These are important things to be done before there could be peace and concord, but they were just neglected and did it by force. The thrust of their argument is that the parliamentary system should be effected before the 2027 election… I imagine that they should consider the consequences of the take-off date to conform to the objective realities of the Nigerian setting. I won’t suggest a date until I see the bill, and read through it to see those things necessary to be put in place. I don’t believe that such a long time is needed for the bill to be effected. Those making this bill have four years and many of them may not return. Some people, as a result of this step they have taken, will be angry with them. Some big people who don’t want any progress or improvement in the country, those who want to keep Nigeria in perpetual poverty and enslavement will not want that kind of thing. It is a thing that they ought to work on as quickly as possible for a quicker period than that. It is not something to be postponed. There is nothing they want to work on. If they seek advice and intervention from many people like us who have done considerable work we will make quite several things available to them. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel, there is a template already. Again, to tell you how lucky they are, the pro-democracy groups between 2003 to 2005 and 2006 had a national conference where all the nationalities in Nigeria were present. They came up with their draft bill as to how they wanted to be governed. After the plenary session, almost two or three years, this thing was packaged and a bill was prepared. Do you think state police will curb insecurity as currently witnessed in the country? And don’t you think the governors will misuse the police in their states? Any government that has a parliament under federalism is expected to have a state police. It is not a gift. By law if you have a parliament, you should have a police to enforce the laws made by your parliament; that’s why having state police is not magical in any case. It has been an aberration that we don’t have it because the army abrogated it in Decree 1 when they suspended the Independence and Republican constitutions. It was in existence, there were regional police before and local government police. If they are returning to it, fair and good. I must caution that in the circumstances that we are in, most of the elements who are now state governors were products of the military regimes. They were born under a military dictatorship of various kinds and never knew anything other than the military. There is an urgent need to set down the parameters for the configuration of state police. What do I mean? The state police must have a council which will be composed of independent people. It should include the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA; representatives of the traditional rulers, representatives of the religious leaders, representatives of women and representatives of any political party that has a representative in the state assembly. And the governor should not be the one to appoint their chairmen for them. They should appoint their chairmen perhaps in rotation. The operational order should reside within that council. They should be the ones to advise the governor as to how the police should tackle whatever issues. If you leave the police in the hands of one person who sees himself as the overall, it can be misused as they did in the First Republic. To avoid that, let’s have an independent police council that will be composed of such independent persons, who will not take no for an answer. Some advocates of restructuring are saying this is the best time to do so, adding that if we don’t, the country might go under. As an advocate of restructuring, how do we go about this? I have no quarrel with the concept of restructuring, but the truth is that let us go back to the 1963 constitution. When we go back to that, all other matters will be sorted out instead of dissipating energy on diversities that people have over restructuring. I am happy that the leader of the group is from Sokoto. They now realise the implications of somebody sitting down in Abuja dictating how the security of Zamfara and Sokoto will be managed while the indigenous people are being massacred by invaders and they are exploiting the resources of the state without anyone responding. From media reports, the government leaders of Zamfara and Sokoto many times live much more in Kaduna or Abuja than in their states. It is good that the man leading this thing is from Sokoto and he and his group are to be applauded. It is said that at one time you were close to the President. Looks like things have changed. However, if you are to meet with him, what advice will you give to him regarding the state of the nation? Take the last statement that NADECO issued to him when he won at the Supreme Court. The open letter we wrote to him. I have explained in clear terms that President Bola Tinubu is a street-wise president. We should give it to him that of all the people before him, no one has the expertise, and technical knowledge of economy and finance as he has. He has an abounding duty to utilise that gift, that knowledge to initiate policies that can lift the Nigerian people out of the current unacceptable level of economic misery and poverty. The state of the economy is unacceptable; the level of insecurity has worsened. No right-thinking person will say that it was when President Bola Tinubu got into office that insecurity worsened; it has been like that for 20 to 30 years. When Boko Haram was starting, particularly when that character in Zamfara State started to create an Islamic law in Zamfara State which was eventually copied by 10 or 12 other states, we told President Obasanjo that he was having two parallel constitutions and their so-called decreed constitution did not accept that, adding that only one constitution ought to be in place. He (Obasanjo) said it was a political Sharia, and it would soon fade away. It has not faded away. Even though the Sharia operatives will go and damage all the beer bottles of sellers, they claim the percentage of Value Added Tax, VAT, Nigeria has been earning from all those drinks. They quickly claim them and use them, including for their religious purposes. What hypocrisy! For me, the truth of the matter is I have spoken through NADECO. He was with NADECO in the trenches and he knew what we wanted, which was a return to true federalism. In the trenches, he fought tooth and nail. He spent his money and connections for us to return to ‘democracy’. That is why I don’t believe that what we have is a democracy but a civil government. Be that as it may, since he is one of us, he has an abounding duty to reorder things and return us to real democracy. One critical thing that he must and cannot afford to waste time on is a return to the federal system of government. I know once a human gets to power, they don’t want their power to diminish, they want to take hold of what they have and the powers of the Nigerian president is perhaps the biggest or largest expanse of power that you can have in the whole world, if you look at the number of appointments he will make. The thing is timed. Whatever it is, he cannot spend more than eight years in office. After that what happens to Nigeria? What happened to the ethnic nationalities, who have been living in their territory for thousands of years, before the British invaders came using their gun power to subdue our people? But as a result of negotiations by our nationalists, they concluded that a federal system of government which recognises different religions, languages, customs and traditions will be accommodated and all of us will be meeting at the centre. The centre couldn’t be the boss of the component regions. In the First Republic, all the regions had their representatives. What is the Nigeria of your dreams? It is a return to the federal system of government. A parliamentary system that is cost-effective, responsible and responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people. A government that utilises the resources of each area for the development of its people; a government that would respond to the divine calling on Nigeria as the most populous black nation in the world. Nigeria has been an abysmal failure to the black race because we cannot even govern ourselves. I implore President Bola Tinubu to take concrete steps to work with knowledgeable people outside his little confine who could be of assistance to him so that we could reconfigure the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers for a Nigeria that will be able to provide leadership for the black race. As of today, black people are being derided, ignored, discriminated against and not known for creating something that would change the course of humanity as others have done. We are looked at as if we are of inferior intelligence whereas civilisation itself started in Africa, Egypt. The black race is looking up to Nigeria to govern itself properly so that it can now provide leadership. We have creative people, intelligent people among the blacks including Nigerians who are doing marvellous work in the laboratory. However, if we have good leadership, such enterprise from our researchers will be given recognition. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/02/restructure-now-or-nigeria-will-go-under-opadokun-nadeco-leader/ |
| Politics › Hardship: Security Operatives Take Over Jos Market As Hoodlums Attempt To Break by treesun(op): 3:12pm On Feb 24, 2024 |
Security operatives including soldiers, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Crops (NSCDC) have taken over the popular Yankalli Market, one of major commodity markets in Plateau State, following an attempt by hoodlums to break in to steal food and other essential commodities. Daily Trust reports that the hoodlums including both males and females, arrived at the market around 8:00 pm on Friday but were intercepted by security operatives who had been deployed in anticipation of attack. Alhaji Jamilu Kabiru, chairman of a traders’ association, confirmed the development, stating that they had earlier reported to security agencies. He said “We had heard on Thursday that hoodlums from Gangare, Rikkos and other places would attack the market to loot food items on the ground that we sell the commodities at high price. We didn’t take the rumor for granted and quickly reported the case to the security agencies that swiftly intervened. We had to sleep with our eyes open in the market to keep vigilance with the security. “We are not the cause of inflation. The rise in price is not because of us. Our goods are always bought from companies. The increase is always from the companies. In addition that, when you buy commodities from Lagos, you have to hire a truck for a price of over two million naira. What you spend on transporting the commodities to your destination, you divide the expenditure by the number of commodities, and that’s how the price is increasing. It is not our fault. We want people to understand that. “In our market, we centrally control price of goods. It is a competitive market where everyone is struggling to sell and bring new goods. People should please understand with us.” Spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, who confirmed the development, said, “We got the information early and with the support of some people in the market and we were able to suppress the attempt. The operation was led by the Area Commander of the area and was successful.” https://dailytrust.com/hardship-security-operatives-take-over-jos-market-as-hoodlums-attempt-to-break-in/ |
| Politics › Re: Cardoso, Tope Fasua And National Economic Recovery by treesun: 2:06pm On Feb 24, 2024 |
Mynd44:These men doest have what it takes to economically recover Nigeria! 3 Likes |
| Politics › Re: Jimi Agbaje To Tinubu: There’s A Limit To Hardship Nigerians Can Endure by treesun: 12:57pm On Feb 24, 2024 |
JASONjnr:The deaf doesnt hear warning! |
| Politics › Re: The Economic Illiteracy At The Heart Of ‘Tinubunomics’ by treesun(op): 11:52am On Feb 24, 2024 |
nlfpmod! |
| Politics › Re: CBN Pegs Rate For Import Duty Payment by treesun(op): 11:50am On Feb 24, 2024 |
Bluntemperor:You dont have an ilk of collecting money to clear good at $1 at 1400, but suddenly jacked up to 1570, within days up to 1650. Nobody hates govt, but government hates everybody. Most of you have never engaged in any productive venture than hands down! |
| Politics › Re: CBN Pegs Rate For Import Duty Payment by treesun(op): 9:45am On Feb 24, 2024 |
IamAtikulate:Cold bottle for you, all these APC urchins dont know anything! |
| Politics › Re: CBN Pegs Rate For Import Duty Payment by treesun(op): 9:44am On Feb 24, 2024 |
TimeManager:I am into clearing and forwarding, so I understand. You must have wasted your school days. They are now begging because agents have raised voices. in the last 10 days, exchange rates changed more than twice! |
| Politics › Re: CBN Pegs Rate For Import Duty Payment by treesun(op): 10:30pm On Feb 23, 2024 |
Nlfpmod, Tinubu and APC are bereaved of ideas on how to solve Nigeria problems! 9 Likes |
| Politics › CBN Pegs Rate For Import Duty Payment by treesun(op): 10:14pm On Feb 23, 2024 |
The Central Bank of Nigeria has pegged the duty rates to be paid by importers to the Nigerian Customs Services during goods clearance.https://punchng.com/cbn-pegs-rate-for-import-duty-payment/ 5 Likes
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| Properties › Three-storey Building Collapses In Lagos Island, Hinders Vehicular Movement by treesun(op): 6:32pm On Feb 22, 2024 |
A three-storey building under construction has collapsed at No. 1 Isalegangan Street by Itafaji Market, Lagos Island area of Lagos State. It was learnt that the building collapsed around 10.15am on Thursday. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu made this known in a statement on Thursday, noting that the agency responded to the scene of the incident and conducted a thorough assessment. He said it was observed that the structure collapsed on its own without external factor, adding that the access street was very narrow and would be difficult for heavy-duty vehicular operations. "The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) should carry out the manual demolition of the few pillars that are still standing," Oke-Osanyintolu recommended. "The manual site clearance would be coordinated by LASEMA Lekki branch so that the road could be free from the debris related to construction work before the collapse. “Members of the public are being engaged in order to stay away from the incident scene,” he said. https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/22/three-storey-building-collapses-lagos-island-hinders-vehicular-movement#google_vignette |
| Politics › Re: Motorists Groan As Fuel Scarcity Hits Lagos Hard by treesun(op): 6:30pm On Feb 22, 2024 |
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| Politics › Naira Vs USD: Stop Chasing Shadows With EFCC Clampdown On Bdcs – Rewane by treesun(op): 1:23pm On Feb 22, 2024 |
The Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane has told President Bola Tinubu to stop chasing shadows with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s recent clampdown on Bureau De Change operators over the fluctuations of Naira against the US Dollar at foreign exchange market. Rewane disclosed this on Thursday during a Channels Television interview monitored by DAILY POST. Recall that in the past three days, the officers had carried out raids on BDC operators in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Ibadan, Oyo State over the Naira depreciation against the USD at the forex market. Reacting to the development, Rewane described the move by EFCC on the orders of the federal government as doom. According to him, BDCs are operating within the ambit of the foreign exchange law and hence should not be given such treatment. He urged the government to be more reasonable in dealing with the Naira crisis and the country’s economic challenges. “Stop all the chasing of shadows, BDCs, by EFCC officers. What crime is being committed? The foreign exchange law allows “willing buyer and will seller”, and nobody is mutilating the currency. The earlier we stop doing doom things, the better for the economy. Let us be more cautious and reasonable because we cannot use one solution to create another problem”, he said. Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that the Naira appreciated for the second time this week to N1,542.58 per US dollar on Wednesday, according to FMDQ data. https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/22/naira-vs-usd-stop-chasing-shadows-with-efcc-clampdown-on-bdcs-rewane-tells-tinubu/ 1 Like |
| Politics › Motorists Groan As Fuel Scarcity Hits Lagos Hard by treesun(op): 8:25am On Feb 22, 2024 |
There were long queues in many filling stations across Lagos State though the National Association of Road Transport Owners has called off its strike. The queues, The PUNCH gathered, started building up in some parts of Lagos on Tuesday. The queue was borne out of fear by Nigerians that premium motor spirit might become scarce as a result of the now-suspended NARTO strike. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nigerians stormed filling stations to engage in panic buying. It was learnt that the refusal of the tanker drivers to lift fuel on Monday and Tuesday also had affected filling stations owned by independent marketers, many of whom had run out of supply. In major areas in Lagos, the queues continued to build up, causing traffic gridlock on major roads. Our correspondents observed that the filling stations along the Alausa axis of Lagos, including, Mobil, Total, Conoil and others had long queues. Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations in Ogunnusi, Ojodu-Berger and Ikorodu Road had long queues, including Bovas. Around the Isolo axis, the filling station at Apata Round-about was not selling fuel; it was the same scenario at the Total Filling station located close to Isolo General Hospital. At Ishaga, an attendant at NPOG filling station told our correspondent that they had run out of fuel in the past three days. The PUNCH also observed that the NNPC and Mobil filling stations at the College Bus stop were also out of fuel. The Quest fuel station along Asuani Road was the only filling station that dispensed fuel on Wednesday, with a long queue of cars and customers struggling to buy at N640 per litre. Along Gbagada Road, the NorthWest had a long queue of cars and was selling at N610 per litre, while Eternal at Gbagada Bustop was not selling at the time of filing this report. When our correspondent visited a fuel station belonging to NNPCL in the Ikotun area of Lagos State, it was observed it was not selling fuel. On Wednesday, a long queue was noticed at God’s Decision, along Governor Road, Ikotun. “We learnt that there may be a fuel scarcity soon. They said tankers drivers are going on strike,” one of the customers at God’s Decision told The PUNCH. In an interview with our correspondent, the Vice National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Hammed Fashola, said the queue was caused by the two-day strike embarked upon by the tanker drivers. “The fuel queues were caused by the two-day stoppage of operations by the tanker drivers. By Monday, everything will clear off. The NARTO members called off their strike yesterday (Tuesday) and they resumed loading of fuel today (Wednesday). All the depots are working now,” Fashola said in a phone interview. Meanwhile, Lagosians have lamented over the fuel scarcity that struck many neighbourhoods in the state. On X (formerly Twitter), @EricaNlewedim on Wednesday described the development as bad news that was becoming too much. “The bad news is just too much. What is it? Ahah! And now fuel scarcity, I’m really tired of being an adult in this generation,” the user wrote. @mhs4lyf, who lamented the situation in Lagos, said he had to trek. He tweeted, “Fuel scarcity in Lagos and hold up. (I) trekked almost 10km to go home. Thank God for life.” A user, @honeymiixx, called on President Bola Tinubu to call oil marketers to order, saying, “There’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people. Please, talk to the oil marketers.” @notsocialallen said just at the weekend, he was too lazy to go and buy fuel and “suddenly there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos”. “There is fuel scarcity in Lagos and they are selling black market fuel for N1,200 and no light since the day before yesterday. Nah this place is hell,” @Thelengygirl posted. @AAAlatishe wrote, “All the candidates literally said they were going to remove it. But then, you phase it out while having a better power supply everywhere. The subsidy has been removed, now, fuel scarcity everywhere with less or zero power supply. I believe most Nigerians will be okay at buying a litre at N1k, if they will only be using it in their vehicles. This brings me to this question, will we ever witness an uninterrupted 24/7 electricity in this country?” “Fuel scarcity on top of all these problems is just crazy. Is it that they don’t think we have a breaking point?” @omosalewasmiles asked. Sponsored Stories Portable Solar Generators Clearance Sale Price Might Surprise You Sponsored | Portable Power Station | Search Ads @Dxx_machina wrote, “No light, there is heat. Now, fuel scarcity and we can’t run gen. What the actual heck is wrong with this freaking country?” “I’m lost, please what’s this fuel scarcity about? These guys are extremely wicked,” @Jaaayyyy__ posted on X. @iamkvngdavid_ lamented he was in a long queue while “trying to buy fuel at N650 per litre, just this evening alone, I’m witnessing fuel scarcity”. “Is it just me but I find some things very weird. There are no buses due to the fuel scarcity, then traffic,” @DarknSweetheart wrote. “Fuel scarcity in Lagos. High pump price plus scarcity is hell. Which way Nigeria?” @MfonEssien lamented. The fuel queues on Wednesday left commuters stranded, forcing car owners to turn to the black market to purchase fuel at inflated prices. Bobagunwa stated, “Fuel scarcity is intensifying in Lagos. One litre is currently being sold for N1,000 on the black market. I always wonder what if Nigeria doesn’t have crude oil.” Iniete expressed, “It’s my first time queuing for fuel all alone under the scorching heat in Lagos during this time of fuel scarcity. God, please seriously punish the people, past and present, who ruined this country.” Babudere lamented, “There is fuel scarcity in Lagos, and black market fuel is being sold for N1,200. Also, there has been no electricity since the day before yesterday. This place feels like hell.” Oyíndàmọ́lá conveyed, “Dear @NGRPresidentn @officialABAT, there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people; please talk to the oil marketers.” Ade shared, “I saw the crowd at bus stations this morning as well. I helped the ones I could, but I still got fuel today for 605. Yes, there’s scarcity currently, and the queues are long. But no one is selling for 1000 here in Lagos.” The PUNCH recalls that the tanker drivers on Monday parked their trucks, refusing to lift fuel over the high cost of operations. NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, in a letter to truck drivers, said NARTO had made several efforts to secure negotiations for appropriate and commensurate freight rates for its operations from all authorities concerned in the industry, especially the major marketers, without any positive result. However, the major marketers said the decision of NARTO to stop transporting fuel may not have much effect on them, some of whom have separate transporters. https://punchng.com/motorists-groan-as-fuel-scarcity-hits-lagos-hard/ |
| Politics › NECA, Oil Marketers To FG: Shun Pride, Review Fuel Subsidy Removal, ₦ Flotation by treesun(op): 9:12am On Feb 21, 2024 |
LAGOS — The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has advised the Federal Government to eschew pride and review the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of nation’s currency, the naira, warning of looming unemployment crisis, particularly with the current harsh economic situation.https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/02/neca-oil-marketers-to-fg-shun-pride-review-fuel-subsidy-removal-flotation-of-naira/ 4 Likes 2 Shares
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| Politics › Tinubu Stopped Fuel Subsidy Without Plans To Cushion Its Impacts – Bugaje by treesun(op): 8:48pm On Feb 19, 2024 |
Tinubu's declaration of an end to the fuel subsidy era during his inauguration and the floating of the naira - the country's currency - triggered a hike in the cost of living and tripled the price of the commodity.https://www.channelstv.com/2024/02/19/tinubu-stopped-fuel-subsidy-without-plans-to-cushion-its-impacts-bugaje/ 7 Likes
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| Politics › Re: The Economic Illiteracy At The Heart Of ‘Tinubunomics’ by treesun(op): 8:46pm On Feb 19, 2024 |
Nlfpmod! |
| Politics › The Economic Illiteracy At The Heart Of ‘Tinubunomics’ by treesun(op): 11:27am On Feb 19, 2024 |
Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s self-regarding president, says he deserves an entry in the Guiness Book of World Records for his economic reforms. Speaking at the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum in November last year, Tinubu said: “To me, if you didn’t mention me in the Guiness Book of Records, I would find a way to insert myself because I did it (the economic reforms) without expectations.” But whether he said that in jest or in earnest, the truth is that he goofed spectacularly, displaying a hubristic detachment from reality. Think about it. When, as president, your policies inflict untold suffering and misery on millions of citizens, it’s utterly arrogant and insensitive to beat your chest and demand global accolades for your “achievement”. It is also inconsiderate and out-of-touch to tell citizens to endure excruciating pains now for some pie-in-the-sky gains in the future. Thomas Jefferson famously said that “the care of human life and happiness is the only legitimate object of good government”. Thus, the real test of any policy is its impact on people’s lives. But Tinubu’s economic “reforms” commiserate and dehumanise ordinary Nigerians! Yet, some dubbed Tinubu’s economic approach “Tinubunomics”, implying that there’s a philosophy behind it. But there’s no philosophy behind his economic “reforms”. Yes, removing the fuel subsidy and scrapping the naira peg are liberal economic policies. But Tinubu is not an economic liberal at heart. He is a Keynesian, who believes in state intervention, massive public borrowing and fiscal activism, which fuel inflation and are anathema to free-market economics. Truth is, he introduced the “reforms” not because he instinctively believed in them or understood their mechanics and wider implications. So, why did he introduce them? Well, to win over the international community. Given the negative international reactions to his controversial election, Tinubu decided to attract the positive attention of the world. Nothing could be more attention-grabbing than ditching the costly fuel subsidy and the market-distorting fixed exchange rate system, which foreign governments and investors had long called for, but unheeded by the Buhari government. It worked spontaneously. For instance, the Financial Times, which had described Tinubu’s election as “deeply flawed”, later praised him after he introduced the two policies, saying Tinubu “gets off to a dramatic start.” Last week, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, echoed the international sentiments when he said: “Recent big and bold reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Central Bank are boosting optimism amongst international investors that the country is on the right path.” When, as president, your policies inflict untold suffering and misery on millions of citizens, it’s utterly arrogant and insensitive to beat your chest and demand global accolades for your “achievement.” But there are two problems. First, the international endorsement will not automatically translate into foreign investment inflows. In fact, foreign investors are leaving Nigeria; they’re not investing in the country. Second, the domestic effects of the “reforms” – collapse of the naira’s exchange rate and skyrocketing inflation – are harming Nigeria’s economy and making lives unbearable for most Nigerians. Unfortunately, the international and domestic effects feed each other: with continued shortage of foreign exchange, the naira’s value will fall steeply, and inflation will rise sharply; and with high inflation, foreign investors will ditch the naira, precipitating its further rout against the dollar, thus requiring high interest rates to tackle the run-away inflation. But rising interest rates would further damage the economy. Those are the multiplying or knock-on effects of Tinubu’s “reforms”. Remarks on the economy and monetary policy Decision-Making: Key to powering business continuity Here, then, is the question: Why have the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy and the elimination of the fixed exchange rate failed to produce the intended outcomes? Well, to answer that question, we need to understand the distinction between enablers and drivers of growth. Drivers are the direct causes of growth; enablers are factors that help overcome barriers to growth. Withdrawing the fuel subsidy and scrapping the currency peg are mere enablers of growth. Removing the fuel subsidy allows market forces to determine the pump price of petrol, saving the government money. Scrapping the currency peg lets demand and supply dictate the value of the naira, thereby enabling foreign investors to obtain dollars and repatriate their profits. Both are necessary enablers, but neither is a driver of growth. So, what are the drivers of growth? Well, the first driver of growth is a strong macroeconomic environment – low inflation, low interest rate, stable and competitive exchange rate, low unemployment and supply-side incentives that make industries more efficient and productive. The other drivers of growth are a diversified economy and export base, which can only be facilitated by a strong macroeconomic environment as well as supply-side incentives. But Nigeria’s macroeconomic fundamentals are extremely weak, and the country is a mono-economy that exports virtually nothing of worth besides crude oil. Now, when a country doesn’t refine its crude oil but imports expensive refined products, it will import inflation and, without fuel subsidy, will punish its own people. Similarly, a country that doesn’t export any value-added product must know that floating its currency would decimate its value and lead to imported inflation. A weak currency is not necessarily bad if a country is export oriented as it will make its exports cheap and internationally attractive. But for a country that exports little of value but imports most things, a weak currency is almost suicidal. One solution, short of exporting valued-added products and curbing imports, is to attract significant foreign capital. But foreign investors won’t rush into a country whose macroeconomic fundamentals are not stable and strong and whose business environment is not investor friendly. Again, to repeat, Nigeria suffers acutely on both fronts. Nigeria must diversify its export base and reduce its import bill, not through protectionism but by Nigerian industries producing quality goods that Nigerians would want to buy and consume. But that requires radical economic transformation. However, in the meantime, the government has a duty to stabilise the macroeconomic environment. It must rein in public spending and borrowing and tackle inflation to prevent capital flight and incentivise investment inflows. Floating the naira, without capital controls to stop money leaving the country, means that any irresponsible fiscal or monetary policy will trigger capital flight and discourage capital inflows. Sadly, Tinubu’s government is fiscally reckless, borrowing heavily and spending profligately. Furthermore, Nigeria lacks strong and credible economic ministers that can inspire the confidence of foreign investors. The finance minister, Wale Edu, budget minister, Abubakar Bagudu, and CBN governor, Yemi Cardoso, are Tinubu’s cronies, who lack the international stature to wow the international markets. Indeed, the CBN’s recent policies would discourage foreign investors. For instance, the CBN recently banned payment of remittances in dollars and stopped International Oil Companies (IOCs) from repatriating 100 per cent of their earnings; they can only repatriate 50 per cent. That’s capital or exchange control and won’t incentivise investment flows and diaspora remittances into the country. Read also: Tinubu appoints Idris, DG, NCDC Coming back to the fuel subsidy, well, it’s expensive, costing about $10billion annually. But corruption probably accounted for half of that amount; the government should have tackled the corruption instead of abolishing the subsidy itself. Subsidies aimed at reducing the prices of goods for consumers are prevalent worldwide. As for the currency peg, it had to go. The utterly corrupt arbitrage that allowed powerful people to buy dollars cheaply at the official rate and sell them at the parallel market, scooping millions, even billions, of naira was unsustainable. Equally, a fixed currency regime that resulted in the rationing of dollars, thereby preventing investors from taking their money out, damaged investor confidence. Yet, scrapping the fuel subsidy and the naira peg won’t transform Nigeria’s economy without strong macroeconomic fundamentals and a diversified export base. Thus, Tinubu’s chest-beating, while his half-cooked “reforms” devastate lives, is grating. He truly deserves an entry in the Guiness Book of Records. Well, for economic illiteracy and immiseration! https://businessday.ng/columnist/article/the-economic-illiteracy-at-the-heart-of-tinubunomics/ |
| Politics › Re: Forex Crisis: Atiku’s Solution Will Hurt Economy, Says Presidency by treesun(op): 8:20am On Feb 19, 2024 |
Give us your own solution! |
| Politics › Re: Stunning Stories From Kidnap Forests : Human Bones Littered Marshy Surrounding by treesun(op): 11:31pm On Feb 18, 2024 |
McStoic:70% of Nigerians dont read! |
| Politics › Forex Crisis: Atiku’s Solution Will Hurt Economy, Says Presidency by treesun(op): 11:29pm On Feb 18, 2024 |
The Presidency has said a controlled floatation of the Naira to prevent further devaluation would only return Nigeria to the economic regime of the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. It said the policy, which saw about $1.5bn spent monthly to shore up the Naira, fueled financial malpractices such as arbitrage which hurt the economy. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, made this assertion in a statement he signed on Sunday titled, ‘Once again, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar got it wrong.’ Onanuga was responding to a former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party at the 2023 polls, Atiku Abubakar, who argued that Tinubu’s economic policies, especially the unification of the exchange rate, were implemented hastily without adequate planning and proper consultations with stakeholders. THE LOUNGE: Man Asks For Divorce To Marry Office - Lover After Getting Educated By Wife0:00 / 0:00 President Tinubu’s economic reforms of the past nine months have sparked collateral instability in the value of the Naira, heaping hardship on Nigerians as food prices continue to soar. Atiku criticised the government, saying, “The wrong policies of the Tinubu administration continue to cause untold pain and distress on the economy and the rest of us cannot keep quiet when the government has demonstrated sufficient poverty of ideas to redeem the situation.” He argued that “Given Nigeria’s underlying economic conditions, adopting a floating exchange rate system would be an overkill. We would have encouraged the Central Bank of Nigeria to adopt a gradualist approach to FX management. A managed-floating system would have been a preferred option.” Atiku observed that the Naira may fluctuate daily in such a system, but the CBN will step in to control and stabilise its value. “Such control will be exercised judiciously and responsibly, especially to curb speculative activities,” he noted. But the Presidency disagreed, saying, “Atiku’s alternative of a controlled floatation of the Naira is similar to the policy of Godwin Emefiele when an estimated $1.5bn was spent monthly to shore up the Naira, while arbitrage or round-tripping went on unhindered. Sadly, it was perpetrated by people close to the corridors of power.” Onanuga noted that last Thursday’s meeting between the president, his vice, and state governors was not to discuss currency fluctuation as Atiku claimed but food supply and how to drastically reduce the fluctuation in food prices. Citing Tinubu’s plea to Governors to allow the CBN to work and his stance not to establish a commodity board, he said, “We expected Alhaji Atiku to praise President Tinubu for maintaining this stance and for not interfering with the business of Central Bank.” “It is false and preposterous for Atiku to claim that CBN’s FX management policy was hurriedly put together without proper plans and consultations with stakeholders and that the apex bank is hamstrung by Tinubu’s government in implementing a sound FX Management Policy’ that would have dealt with such issues as increasing liquidity, curtailing/regulating demand, dealing with FX backlogs and rate convergence.’ “Contrary to former VP Atiku’s claim, Cardoso’s CBN is implementing a raft of policies to stabilise the Naira and end volatility in the market and this is already yielding some positive results,” he added. The Presidency also cited figures from the National Bureau Statistics for Q4 2023, which stated that Nigeria recorded a 66.27 percent increase in capital inflow, compared with Q3, before Cardoso arrived at CBN—in Q3, the capital inflow was $654.65m and rose to $1.09bn in Q4. “Atiku will agree that the rise in capital inflow suggests massive investors’ confidence in Nigeria and the policy direction of the Tinubu administration,” it argued. Therefore, it said when juxtaposed with the policy options being implemented by the CBN, Atiku’s alternative of a controlled floatation of the Naira is similar to the policy of Godwin Emefiele. https://punchng.com/forex-crisis-atikus-solution-will-hurt-economy-says-presidency/ |
| Politics › Re: Stunning Stories From Kidnap Forests : Human Bones Littered Marshy Surrounding by treesun(op): 9:09am On Feb 18, 2024 |
APC turned everywhere to grave yards, we had only BokoHaram during PDP, but now every state is under sieges of kidnappers, killing with abaddon recklessness, Mynd44! 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Stunning Stories From Kidnap Forests : Human Bones Littered Marshy Surrounding by treesun(op): 8:30am On Feb 18, 2024 |
"Two vehicles including our own ran into the trap set by the bandits. As our driver was trying to run past them, another set of bandits opened fire from the front. Luckily, it was the tyres of the bus that deflated. “The haggard-looking bandits ordered us to alight with our shoes off. We were 13 altogether. There was an old man who was visually impaired. Among us also was a woman. “They marched us into the thick bush. We trekked almost four kilometers into the forest. As we were going, we got to a cassava farm and the bandits uprooted some tubers of cassava. “As we were walking through the forest, darkness was everywhere and they didn’t use any flashlight. “They asked if there were any Amotekun officers trailing us. “They had seized our phones. We got to a place and it appeared the old man had no more strength to move on. They abandoned him and moved on. “The woman leading the man was not allowed to stay with him. After about two kilometers to the point they dropped the old man, we stopped. There was a small canopy that could shield only two people. As we stopped, the rain that had been threatening started falling. “Two of the bandits hid under the canopy while the remaining five stayed in the rain with us. The rain was heavy. All of us were shivering except the abductors. “We were there for eight days. They fed us with garri that was supplied by a man on a bike. We didn’t see him but we knew when we heard the sound of his motorcycle. They offered us raw cassava but we rejected it. “On the third day in captivity, they asked us to tell them the richest person in our families. They used the phone of one of us to make calls. They demanded N100 million. “The torture was indescribable. They beat us with the rods they used to control their cattle. All of them were Fulani but two could speak Yoruba a little. “It was around 1am on the eighth day that we heard them arguing. “We couldn’t hear what they were saying. Four of them left the place giving instructions to the remaining three. “Around 3am that day, I woke up only to find that the three kidnappers left with us had fallen fast asleep. “I just touched about four people who were close to me and we gently left the place after untying the piece of cloth on our ankles. “We were afraid of the other four who had gone earlier. So we didn’t follow the path they took. Not quite far from that place, we saw a mud house where an old man lived. He directed us to the main road”. In the case of one Tunde Ariwodola who was kidnapped around Ibarapa zone of the state, he was lucky to be rescued the following day. He and two other victims were rescued by local hunters after their abductors fled. “The three days we spent there, I didn’t taste the garri and water they brought. They were so dirty in their tattered clothes. They tied our hands and legs while beating us with their rods. “They were smoking weed and couldn’t speak Yoruba or English. As we begged them, they beat us the more. Thank God because help came our way on the third day. I will not pray that my enemies should go through the horror”. Waheed (surname withheld for security reason), another survivor, who was rescued in Komu area of Oke-Ogun by hunters, said he was now afraid to travel outside Saki where he resides. “I have been hearing about abduction, I didn’t know it was that terrible. I’m a farmer and was in my farm when three men surrounded me with machetes. One was carrying an AK 47 rifle. I tried to escape but they warned me they would shoot. “They tied my hands and led me into the forest. After trekking several kilometers, we stopped. The place was a hamlet with makeshifts. There were about three mud houses. “In one of the houses, there were chains tied to iron they pinned to the ground. In the single room, there were clothes, school uniforms, female pants and shoes scattered all over. “The suffering we passed through within two days we were there was much. There were bruises all over our bodies. We were given garri to eat all through. “After the first day, I was running stool. “I thank God that I was among the rescued victims when the hunters came. They arrested three of them and we were rescued.” ONDO: We’re fed with raw cassava, maize – Survivor In Ondo State, kidnappers operate mostly from the lfon/Ose forest in the Northern Senatorial District. Reports also show they operate from Ala- Dada, Jugbere, Ijagba forest in Akure North and Akunu forest in Akoko North-East. The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, recently raised the alarm over the influx of kidnappers from borderstates of Ekiti, Kogi and Edo. Adeleye, who attributed the development to the heavy presence of security personnel in Ekiti, lamented the increase in the cases of kidnapping in Ondo. According to him, criminals usually flee to towns in Kogi and Edo after they have perpetrated crimes in Ondo. Survivors of kidnapping in Ondo also have the stunning stories to tell. Narrating his ordeal in the den of kidnappers, a 200-level student of the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo State, who was abducted in Akure but later released after ransom was paid by his parents, said he saw hell in the captivity. “l spent two weeks in the den of the bandits. We trekked a long distance and we’re fed with raw cassava and maize”, he told Sunday Vanguard. “Those who kidnapped us wore army uniform, we were traveling through Ondo State and we’re taken to Kwara State for two weeks “We were returning from Lagos. As we got to Akure, we ran into a checkpoint supposedly mounted by soldiers who turned out to be kidnappers. “They checked our vehicle and asked us to stay inside. After some minutes, they said we should follow them to the barracks. They also took other people in six vehicles. “A man that was coming to Akure with his new wife was also kidnapped. They diverted us to Ekiti and from there to Kwara. “We spent two weeks with them inside the forest. We paid ransom before we were released. “We stopped at Oyin in Ekiti State and trekked to Kabba in Kogi State. From Kabba, they put us in a car and took us to Kwara. We didn’t know where we were. We drank water from the stream and any available water. We ate raw cassava and maize. “They beat us and threatened to kill us. We were moved from one place to another inside the forest. I didn’t know the language they were speaking but their hair was different from ours. “They were dressed in full army uniform. They even had an army van parked by the roadside where we were kidnapped. “It was one of our brothers who brought cash (ransom). They refused to collect the money through bank transfer. They collected the ransom in Kwara. “It was one of them (abductors) that told us we were at Omu-Aran in Kwara after we were released. He gave us N1, 500 to board a vehicle back to our destination”. Our captors lived like kings – 23-yr-old student •Says they demanded energy drinks, wines, foods from captives’ families for their enjoyment A 23-year-old young lady, who was abducted by gunmen, on her part, described her experience as horrific. The victim, who was released after seven days with her abductors, said she was working in her sisters’ farm when four armed men invaded the farm at Ago-Oyinbo village in Akure North. She explained that the kidnappers immediately contacted her family demanding for ransom but said, after negotiation, they agreed on N350, 000 which was paid after spending seven days with her captors. “My mum and dad were in the town. I went to the village to help my sister’s on her farm so that when we resumed I will be able to get some money to take to school”, the survivor said. “On that fateful day, we were at the farm and suddenly we saw these three kidnappers coming towards our farm. “I was afraid but my sister told me that they were Fulani herders and they were coming to our side. I wanted to run but they warned me against the move that if I tried to run, they will shoot me. “They told us to kneel down and we knelt down, begging them. Two of them were with guns while the third person was carrying a cutlass. They ordered us to follow them and beat us with cassava stick until we get to the den. “We spent seven day with them, they asked for my dad’s number but we told them that we did not know it off-handed. “We later told them we did not have parents anymore; that they had died. “But they told us they knew everything about our family and I later gave them my number because I was not with my phone on that day. “They called my number and talked with one of my other sisters and informed her that I was in their custody and they negotiated ransom. “It was that sister who now went to the Amotekun office to report and they swung into action to rescue us” “Our captors lived inside the thick forest like kings. They ate good foods, drank choice wines. They had cooks and nurses that took care of their needs. When they asked families of their captors to bring Energy drinks, different brands of wine and other food items, it was for their enjoyment”. Abductors dragged us into the bush – Govt official A top government official ordeal in Ondo, who was abducted and freed, also told his story: “I was kidnapped on my way to Abuja alongside many other people and made to walk several miles in the bush on empty stomach. “My experience shows that in terms of security, our government needs to buckle up, government needs to work harder. “I discovered that some of my captives were graduates and because they had no means of livelihood, they resorted to do what they were doing and, by the time they become criminally minded in it, it will be difficult for anybody to pull them out. “The money they are making is huge; our government must provide shelter for our people, they must provide infrastructure, they must provide job. “We thought the armed men in military uniform were exchanging fire with the police but later discovered that they were armed robbers. “When they approached my vehicle, they asked for what I had and I gave them what was on me, very little money, and they left. “They said we should lie down and we obeyed and within a twinkle of an eye, some of them came back and said ‘where is Oga?’ “When they identified me, they dragged me into the bush. I tried to resist but they gave me a dirty slap, and my eyes turned blue and I had to follow them. “We walked till midnight when we stopped and rested. We started moving again around 4am, trekking for about another seven hours before they hid us inside a pit. |
| Politics › Stunning Stories From Kidnap Forests : Human Bones Littered Marshy Surrounding by treesun(op): 8:30am On Feb 18, 2024*. Modified: 9:06am On Feb 18, 2024 |
•ANAMBRA SURVIVOR: ‘Captives killed like chickens’ in hell on earth •EDO: Akoko-Edo, Sasaro forest, Ayetero, Ososo-Makeke Road, Okpe Road, Bekuma horrors •A-IBOM: Creeks as kidnappers’ den •IMO/ ABIA: Echoes of a Prelate’s kidnapping •DELTA: Kidnapped priests fed with raw cassava. •Abductors spread tentacles, take over cemetery, forests Kidnapping spree has continued across the country despite security agencies’ best efforts to contain the scourge. Victims are apparently taken deep inside forests where their captors negotiate ransom usually in millions of naira. In this report, survivors narrate their chilling experiences to Sunday Vanguard in kidnappers’ dens. It is a story of how kidnappers have spread their tentacles in many states including Bayelsa, Edo, Cross River, Delta, Anambra, Abia, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Imo. BAYELSA: Kidnappers turn cemetery to den In predominantly riverine Bayelsa State located at the center of the Niger Delta, a kidnap victim, who shared her ordeal, said, “I was blindfolded and forced to lie on the floor of their speedboat after I was seized from my house. “For several hours, we traveled on the waters; I did not know how they managed to beat the numerous military checkpoints. But we got to their camp after a long trek from where we disembarked from the boat. “The forest is believed to be a cemetery as human bones could be seen around. From the vegetation and marshy surroundings, I knew we were in the thick of the mangrove. I was alone and praying for divine intervention for a quick rescue. “I was fed with garri, and sometimes, smoked fish and sachet water. My captors, especially the one detailed to guard the dinghy where I was confined, armed with AK-47s, and seemingly the youngest among them, were humane. “Others were agitated and threatened that my family had been stubborn, and did not agree to their ransom demand. But thank God I survived and I am alive. It was a traumatic experience I do not wish for anybody”. I was almost dead – Commissioner Otokito The state Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, was once a victim as they abducted him for allegedly opposing suspected crude oil thieves, who wanted to set up an illegal refinery in his (Otuokpoti) community forest. The Commissioner, who had injuries on his body with swollen black eyes, and bandages on his back and right arm, said: “If not for your prompt intervention, the pressure the government put on them (kidnappers), I could have been a dead man. “I am very grateful to you, the governor, deputy governor, security agents, and whoever joined hands to bring me back to life. “I was almost a dead man. I thought I would never even come back to see my children.” Water-logged grave In the case of Mike Ogiasa, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was abducted sometime in 2022, his abductors sent out a heartwrenching video of him with his head covered with a dirty nylon, and hands tied in a water-logged six- feet grave, pleading with his family to pay ransom for his freedom. The strategy was to railroad the family into paying the ransom. The video also captured the traumatic experience of the victim in captivity. Some others were not that lucky to be released after ransom had been paid as they died in the hands of the kidnappers before help could come their way ostensibly because of shock, ill health, and sometimes the harsh environment where they were exposed to the vagaries of the elements. DELTA: Kidnapped priests fed with raw cassava Reverend Father Emmanuel Obadjere of the Catholic Diocese of Warri, Delta State, kidnapped with three others along the dreaded Urhonigbe Road on their way to Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, in November 2018, said the den his abductors took them was spinechilling. Narrating his experience, he said: “They were 10 in number, armed with guns. About 10 minutes later, the police came close to where we were in the forest and started shooting. They did not see us, so could not rescue us. “We slept the first night in a cassava farm. At night, they walked us through the railway. We went through the forest under the sun, and the rain with no water and food. “They demanded money and said that they would kill us if we did not bring it. We told them we did not have money, and that we were doing the work of God. This angered them more. We were all in our cassock so there was no doubt about our identity. “They were very brutal, violent. They beat us. They said they would kill us if we did not bring money. Related News Expectations amid hardship: No grains yet, our warehouses empty, states lament AYO ORITSEJAFOR: An epitome of leadership Yahaya Bello: As game ends, tasks before Ododo “Their age bracket was between 20 and 30. They were Fulani, speaking Fufude. I understand Hausa, so I knew it was Fufude they were speaking. “They walked us the four nights till we got to Abavo community. They usually stood at a distance when we prayed. Four of us would hold our hands to pray. Each time we did that, they got angry. Sometimes, they would brutalize us to stop us from praying. “Then, God did his miracle and we were released. The whole process of our release started when one of us fainted. They were worried; they threatened that if anyone died among us, they would kill the other three. “They were bitter that no money came from anywhere despite all the calls they made with our phones to numbers they saw on the phones. “The one who fainted was almost dying; they uprooted cassava and gave him to eat because the four days we were with the kidnappers, we ate nothing. “When they saw that the priest was almost dying, in panic, they released us. They said since money was not coming, they could not keep us beyond Friday. One of us was already dying. They released us at about 7.00 pm that Friday, making it four days we were with the kidnappers”. CROSS RIVER: ‘Twice kidnapped, it was by God’s grace I wasn’t raped’ Kidnappers’ dens in Cross River State, according to a top security agent, who pleaded anonymity, are majorly in the creeks. He claimed to have participated in rescuing kidnap victims, saying a lot happens in the camps situated in creeks in Cross River especially in Bakassi, Akpabuyo, Calabar South and Odukpani LGAs. The major challenge for security operatives, he told Sunday Vanguard, is that many of the kidnappers’ dens are located inside swamps and hard to reach areas, thus making it almost impossible for operatives to carry out rescue operations except kidnappers are smoked out or negotiated with to secure the release of victims without harm. A victim who claimed to have been kidnapped twice in Cross River said he stayed in the camp for 34 days. He said his harrowing experience is something he won’t wish for his worst enemy. “They demanded N100 million immediately after I was brought to the camp which was right inside the creek and they were always moving me”, the survivor narrated. “There were days I couldn’t eat, there were days I fell ill, they didn’t care about your well being; they were only after ransom. “They usually had a 1-2 camp gas cylinder to make meals and make shift huts; mosquito bites were unbearable. “They had supplies of drugs and a ‘medical assistant’ who treated victims when they noticed they were sick. “They had informants in very unusual places who looked out for security operatives during my stay with them and they usually moved from creek to creek. “If your people were not negotiating well, they will torture you very well. “My experience was harrowing because I was twice kidnapped. The first time I paid ransom and the second time I got lucky as I escaped on a Sunday by divine intervention. “I stayed with those animals for more than two months on the two occasions they abducted me”. Another victim, who was also kidnapped twice in Calabar municipality, said it was worse for a woman to be in such a situation as it takes God’s grace for you not to me sexually molested. According to her, those 72hours were the worst time of her life as she sustained different injuries from her abductors, tied up hands and legs as well as blindfolded. “I was kept in a house from where I could hear voices from afar which means the house was very close to residential area”, she narrated. “I didn’t have food to eat but I will never want anyone talk more of a lady to be in such a situation. “I thank God I came out alive after my husband parted with a huge amount of money to secure my release; they dumped me somewhere around Calabar South. “At the time they captured me , I was a lone victim; no one else was in the place with me and they were always listening to the news to hear if my name was mentioned. “Of course they knew who I was from there and insisted my people must pay for my release. “When they realised that the pressure was becoming too much, they had to collect what my people raised because they had demanded N20 million earlier. A security operative in Cross River told Sunday Vanguard that kidnappers in the state have different categories of members who play different roles, from surveillance team to pickers who carry out abduction operation, cooks, people who supply food or medical consumables, transloaders who collect the victims from town to creeks and more. “But many of them are not professionals hence they make mistakes in the course of their operations by using (bank) accounts to collect ransom if they can’t get the huge money they demand in cash. There are many layers to the illicit business,” he said. OYO, OGUN, LAGOS KIDNAP SPOTS: ‘Indescribable torture’ on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ijebu-Ode- Ibadan Road, Iseyin and Saki in Oke Ogun Kidnap survivors in Oyo say there are forests in Iseyin-Saki axis, Ijebu- Ode-Ibadan Road and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which kidnappers use as cover. Some of the forests are located in Iwere-Ile, Iseyin, Komu (all in Oke- Ogun), Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road and Lagos Ibadan Expressway. According to a victim, Olaoluwa Opeyemi, who claimed to have been kidnapped along Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road, kidnapping happens frequently on this road. Narrating his ordeal, he said he boarded a Toyota Sienna space bus from Ijebu going to Ibadan. “It was some minutes past 5pm when they got to a point. The kidnappers were in three places laying ambush. Suddenly, we heard sporadic gunshots. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/02/stunning-stories-from-kidnap-forests-1-human-bones-littered-marshy-surrounding/ |
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