Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has explained the decision not to dismiss Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, amidst allegations of his involvement in sponsoring bandits and insecurity.

During an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, Onanuga described these claims as “mere allegations and fabrications that are not true.”

When asked why Matawalle remained in the cabinet following the recent reshuffle, which saw some ministers relieved of their duties, Onanuga acknowledged the circulation of various stories regarding Matawalle’s alleged connections to insecurity in Zamfara State, noting that these allegations have even reached the President.

However, he emphasised that the National Security Adviser’s office investigated these claims and found them to be false, asserting that Matawalle is fit to perform his duties.

“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. I think in one of them, I got something like that I sent to the NSA, I said have you heard about this? and he said no, we have proved a lot to those things that they are not correct, they are not true. People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations about someone.

“And that is why the man is there. Even the President has heard so many stories about him. For him to be there, shows like I said, some of those things have been probed, and they are found not to be true,” Onanuga explained, clarifying the rationale behind the President’s decision not to dismiss Matawalle.

President Bola Tinubu wielded his big stick on Wednesday, and like a surgeon in a theatre, he used his surgical knife, yanked off five ministers, redeployed 10 and appointed seven fresh nominees as ministers to replace the sacked ones as well as two others — Betta Edu who was initially suspended, and Simon Lalong who left his cabinet to join the Senate.

Tinubu, ex-Lagos governor, appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration. The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while ex-Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, resigned and moved to the upper legislative chamber.

There have been growing calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians are not impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.

Despite the shake-up on Wednesday, 31 ministers were not affected; they were not sacked or redeployed.

They are:

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Tyson Fury said he will knock out Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch of their undisputed heavyweight champion of the world bout after losing his undefeated record to the Ukrainian.

Usyk won a split decision on points when the pair first met in May and will battle again for the WBA, WBC and WBO titles in Riyadh on December 21.

Fury had gone 35 professional fights without defeat before facing Usyk in the Saudi capital and vowed to gain revenge in style if his history in rematches is anything to go by.

The Englishman knocked out Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora when meeting them for a second and third time in the past after going the full 12 rounds against both in his first bout.

“I have to be a little bit more focused and smart to get the victory,” said Fury at a press conference in London on Wednesday.

“My rematches with people, I always end up knocking them out, so I’m envisaging something similar against Usyk.”

Usyk remains unbeaten in his 22 professional bouts and took the opportunity to have some fun at Fury’s expense in front of the cameras.

Dressed in a black suit, red tie and black leather gloves, the 37-year-old produced a photo of him landing a punch on Fury from a suitcase and got his opponent to sign the picture.

However, it was Fury who did most of the talking as he reiterated his belief that he has learned from the shock of defeat.

“I believe it’s my time this time and all things that happen, positive or negative, are lessons and we must learn from these things as humans,” added Fury.

“What we know is to go out there and knock each other out, and to put on a show for the paying customer.”

Unlike the first fight between the pair, all four heavyweight title belts are not on the line as Usyk vacated the IBF title in June to Daniel Dubois, who knocked out Anthony Joshua last month at Wembley.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun supplying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, directly to some oil marketers, bypassing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Reports indicate that more marketers are seeking to purchase PMS directly from the refinery, while others continue importing the product, with hundreds of millions of liters of imported petrol expected to arrive in Nigeria in the coming weeks.

Earlier, The PUNCH reported that at least four vessels carrying imported PMS had docked at Nigerian ports between October 18 and October 20, with around 123.4 million liters of PMS unloaded at two seaports to help stabilize nationwide fuel supply.

This move by marketers comes in addition to the $20 billion Dangote refinery’s output, providing further support to the market.

Marketers have now begun lifting PMS directly from the Dangote plant in Lekki, Lagos, signaling a significant change in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.

According to a senior refinery official, this direct purchase arrangement operates on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, allowing oil marketers to bypass third-party suppliers and engage directly with the refinery.

“Marketers are already coming to the refinery to lift PMS directly, and agreements have been made with some marketers. If the price wasn’t favorable, they wouldn’t be coming to us,” the official said, indicating that Dangote’s pricing is competitive enough to attract interest.

“Some of the trucks you saw there today were from marketers purchasing the product directly from Dangote, without recourse to NNPC. So the direct sale has started,” another source told The PUNCH.

Officials also revealed that the refinery is dedicating around 53% of its crude oil supply to PMS production due to high demand for petrol in Nigeria and other countries.

The proportion of crude used for PMS may change if demand for other products grows, but for now, petrol remains the primary focus.

“This could be reviewed in future if the demand for other finished products increases more than the demand for petrol, but right now about 53 per cent of our crude is used for petrol production, while other products account for the remaining percentage,” the official stated.

When asked if marketers had started the direct purchase of petrol from Dangote without recourse to NNPC, one of the notable major marketers in the country replied in the affirmative.

“Yes, everyone is in the process. This was advised that it would happen soon and is a normal business transaction,” the source stated.

This direct sale initiative follows earlier claims that the NNPC would be the sole off-taker of PMS from the Dangote refinery starting September 15.

However, a recent announcement from the Technical Subcommittee on Domestic Sale of Crude Oil in Local Currency, headed by Finance Minister Wale Edun, confirmed that marketers can now purchase PMS directly from local refineries, fostering competition and improving market efficiency.

Although some Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) officials, led by Vice President Hammed Fashola, are still in discussions about logistics and modalities for lifting PMS from Dangote, refinery officials confirmed that direct sales to certain marketers have already commenced.

Meanwhile, the refinery has dismissed claims that it sold PMS to NNPC at N898 per liter when sales began in mid-September, labeling such reports as misleading.

The refinery maintains that the official naira-for-crude committee will eventually announce the product’s price, but as of October 22, no such announcement has been made.

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved N740 billion for the construction of the Kano-Abuja road project.

The approval was given on Wednesday during the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

David Umahi, minister of works, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the government is working on managing the extensive backlog of infrastructure projects.

According to Umahi, the Abuja-Kano road, previously slated for a tax credit arrangement, “will now be procured without such a provision, with the 162-kilometer Berger section already approved for N740 billion”.

The minister also announced that the Shagamu-Benin road is undergoing critical rehabilitation, while procurement processes are being finalised for its full reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement.

He highlighted other projects undergoing review, including the commencement of construction on the Sokoto-Badagry road, with the Sokoto section to be flagged off imminently. 

Umahi also said works on the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, a project stalled for 18 years, will resume, and the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road will undergo significant repairs.

“FEC also tackled the inherited debt profile of N1.6 trillion tied to 2,604 projects, with a total contract value of N13 trillion,” Umahi said.

To manage the backlog, the minister said the ministry of works has initiated a phased approach to project completion based on available funding. 

Umahi said examples of projects in the category are the phasing of the Biu-Kangiwa-Kamba-Kaya Niger Republic road in Kebbi state, the Yola-Hong-Mubi road in Adamawa state, and the Kachako-Dambazua road in Kano state.

On July 29, the FEC approved N1.4 trillion for some road projects across the country.

‘30% ADVANCE PAYMENT TO CONTRACTORS’

Umahi said the council approved advanced payment mechanisms to combat inflation and rising costs driven by fluctuating exchange rates and petroleum prices.

“And finally, we presented a memo to FEC that where there is proof of funds, there is available funds, the Procurement Act allows MDAs to pay a maximum of 30 percent advance payments. And let me emphasise that this advanced payment. When you read the law, it say may pay,” Umahi said. 

“And so when people are giving contracts and they don’t mobilise, and they said, I’ve not paid mobilisation, it is not legally binding, because the word says may pay. And so some people turn it (to) shall pay. So no, it’s may pay.

“So where we have funds, and they will have a valuable fund beyond this 30% so what we are, you know, we requested from FEC is approved, that we first pay 30% which is the Procurement Act, and not more, and then when the contractor has started work, and to the satisfaction of the Ministry of works, we should be allowed to pay additional funds. 

“Yes, the law allows us to pay in terms of you know, materials on site. But we are asking beyond that, what is the essence of this? Is to mitigate a lot of fluctuation and inflation, because we have a lot of you know, indices that affect the ministry of works like the petroleum you know it affects it.”

The minister also said the dollar exchange rate affected negotiations, adding that the ministry is “doing everything to manage the resources within the available funds so that we mitigate inflation”.

Year-to-date, the naira has depreciated by 59.79 percent in the official window, declining from N1,035.12 per dollar on January 3, to N1,654.09/$ on October 23.

In the parallel market, the naira has depreciated by 40.65 percent, from N1,230/$ to N1,730 per dollar, within the same period.

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday, suspended the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.

The suspension follows Mnyim’s involvement in a coalition of states legally challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on the suit filed by 19 states of the federation.

However, three out of the nineteen states challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were reportedly withdrawn from the suit.

The three states are; Anambra (9th plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff), and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff), separately submitted applications for withdrawal before the Court.

The Attorney General of Anambra State, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, informed the court that she wishes to withdraw from the suit, having filed a motion for withdrawal on October 20.

Similarly, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Ikenna Nwidagu, stated, “My Lord, I filed a notice of withdrawal dated and filed on October 21. My Lords, we pray this honourable Court strikes out the name of the 18th plaintiff.”

However, Alia, who was taken aback that the state joined other states to challenge the legality of the anti-corruption agency, was said to have ordered the suspension of the attorney general.

Alia announced the indefinite suspension of Mnyim during a press conference in Makurdi, capital of Benue.

He said, “No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this.

“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.

“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state.

“Because he acted on his own, I hereby suspend him indefinitely pending a satisfactory explanation of his actions.”

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says 58 percent of households in Nigeria are connected to the national grid.

In its ‘Nigeria Residential Energy Demand Side Survey (NREDSS) 2024,’ on Wednesday, unveiled in Abuja, NBS said nine states; Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto, were selected across the six geo-political zones of the country for the survey.

According to the bureau, households from each state were interviewed, making a total of 8,100 households across urban and rural areas.

NBS said 86.6 percent of households connected to the grid had electricity supply, 85.2 percent of them used an estimated billing system, while 14.8 percent used a pre-paid billing system.

The average monthly expenditure of households on electricity, according to NBS, was estimated at N4,155.8 during the survey period.

In 2024, the national grid has collapsed eight times, with the first recorded on February 4.

The national grid collapsed again on March 28, April 15, July 6, and August 5.

Nigerians experienced another system failure at the grid on October 14, October 15, and October 19.

On October 17, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the frequent system failure at the national grid is inevitable due to the outdated infrastructure.

Adelabu said more investment in power infrastructure will prevent future collapses.

However, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will conduct a public hearing on October 24 over the frequent national grid failures.

Also, the federal government has set up a forensic investigative committee to address the incessant grid collapses.

‘67.8 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS USE FUELWOOD’

The bureau said 67.8 percent of Nigerian households use fuelwood as a source of energy for domestic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, or religious purposes.

NBS added that about 41 percent of the households purchase the fuelwood, while 39 percent collect it themselves.

“While 18.9 per cent of households used other means such as barter, gift, and borrowing,” the bureau said.

“More than half of the fuelwood are cut or collected by households, 55.3 percent were branches, stems, and trees.”

Furthermore, NBS said one in every five households, an average of 22 percent, used charcoal, with 21.6 percent purchasing the product.

The bureau added that 19.4 percent, about one in five households, use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas.

“The average monthly expenditure on LPG stood at N10,239.7 across the surveyed states,” NBS said.

In addition, NBS advised the government to promote the re-planting of trees, given the wide use of fuelwood. and encourage the use of clean energy such as LPG, wind, and solar.

“This will help to reduce environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, climate change, thermal pollution, and solid waste disposal,” it said.

NBS also recommended that the government encourage the establishment of more LPG stations while promoting local production of gas cylinders to lower the end-user’s cost and optimise electricity generation by decentralising the national grid through mini-grids.

There were scenes of jubilation at the Ministry of Women Affairs immediately after PresidentBola Tinubu announced the dismissal of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye from her ministerial role.

Employees at the ministry were captured on video celebrating the decision, an indication of the controversial nature of her tenure.

The video, shared on X by Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), showed workers dancing and chanting in the corridors of their office.

Echoes of “finally” resonated through the halls as staff expressed their relief over the minister’s departure.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, who had faced various criticisms and controversies, was one of the five ministers dismissed during the latest Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday.

Her removal was part of a broader cabinet reshuffle by President Tinubu aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of his administration.

Alongside Kennedy-Ohanenye, other ministers who faced the axe included Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development; Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education; and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.

The reaction from the staff at the Ministry of Women Affairs highlights the internal challenges and dissatisfaction that had brewed during Kennedy-Ohanenye’s administration.

Watch the video below:

A 41-year-old Canadian lady, Adrienne Munju, has been convicted and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The foreigner was convicted for importing 74 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 35.20 kilograms, into Nigeria.

The spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi disclosed this via a statement on Wednesday.

Munju’s conviction followed her arraignment on two counts charge before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, by the NDLEA.

She was arrested at the terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos on Thursday 3rd October 2024, during the inward clearance of inbound passengers on KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the airport.

In her statement after her arrest, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the illicit consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos.

According to Babfemi, “She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.

“Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Muju to the term of imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against her by NDLEA.

“Prosecuting Counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the illegal acts of the convict, contravened sections 20(1}(a) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.

“Following her guilty plea, the prosecutor called his witness, Angela Mba, an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics narrated how the Canadian was arrested with the illicit drugs, after which she tendered some exhibits, which include: two suitcases that were used in concealing the drugs, her Canadian passport, confessional statements, laboratory test analysis reports and samples of the illicit drug. All the tendered exhibits were admitted as Exhibits 1 to 13.

“After the conclusion of the review of the facts of the crime, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the Canadian as charged based on the evidence placed before the court, the exhibits tendered and the guilty plea of the defendant. As a result, Justice Dipeolu after reviewing the facts of the case as submitted by Abu Ibrahim convicted the defendant as charged.

“After listening to the allocutus by the defendant’s counsel, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Adrienne Munju to six years imprisonment on count one and five years on count two.

“The judge however gave the convict an option of N50 million fine on each of the two counts, bringing the total fine to N100 million.”

Abubakar Momoh, the former minister of Niger Delta development, says the ministry’s scrapping is to enhance regional development coordination.

On Wednesday, the federal executive council (FEC) scrapped the ministry of Niger Delta and the ministry of sports development.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy, said the council took the decision during its meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

A newly established regional development ministry will oversee all the regional development commissions.

The commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), and North East Development Commission (NEDC).

Tinubu retained Momoh as the minister in charge of the ministry for regional development.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Momoh assured that the adjustment was “purely administrative,” which did not diminish the focus on Niger Delta development.

He said the restructuring was done to establish a centralised oversight system for the increasing regional development commissions nationwide.

“For our people in the Niger Delta region, I would like them to know that this has not removed anything from them,” Momoh said.

“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is still very much in place under the ministry of regional Development, and all other such agencies remain intact.

“All the structures and everything about the Niger Delta remain. It’s just a change of nomenclature and, of course, expansion of activities of the ministry.”

Momoh lauded Tinubu’s vision behind the restructuring, describing it as a “forward-thinking move” to enhance regional development coordination across the country.