The Federal Government has paid workers of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company the total sum of N38.9bn as salaries and allowances in 10 years, Saturday PUNCH reports.

This is despite the inability of the company to produce a single sheet of steel since its inception.

The Ajaokuta Integrated Steel Complex, conceived in 1979, was developed to establish a Metallurgical Process Plant alongside an Engineering Complex and various auxiliary facilities.

The complex is meant to generate important upstream and downstream industrial and economic activities that are critical to the diversification of the economy into an industrial one.

On its website, the company said it directly employed about 10,000 workers at the first phase of commissioning while the upstream and downstream industries that would evolve all over the nation would engage no fewer than 500,000 employees.

Ajaokuta Steel Plant, aptly known as the Bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialisation, is more than just a rolling mill—it’s an Integrated Iron and Steel Plant.

It boasts four distinct rolling mills: the Billet Mill, the Light Section Mill, the Wire Rod Mill, and the Medium Section and Structural Mill.

The plant utilises blast furnace technology, which is the most prevalent method for steel production, representing about 70 per cent of global liquid steel production.

By 1994, the plant was estimated to be 98 per cent complete in terms of equipment installation.

While some units of the plant were operational at various times, 40 out of the 43 planned units had been constructed.

However, due to mismanagement, the project remains incomplete over 45 years later.

At the Russia-Africa Summit in 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on a revitalisation of the steel mill with Russian support and project funding from the Afreximbank and the Russian Export Centre.

But it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the agreement was abandoned.

In January 2024, Tinubu opened discussions with a Chinese steel company, Luan Steel Holding Group, to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

That discussion has not yielded any results.

Despite its inactive status and reports of an ineffective workforce, the company continues to receive substantial annual budget allocations from the government.

Furthermore, the salaries of its employees are still accounted for in the government’s annual budget.

A breakdown of the company’s annual budget between 2014 and 2024 showed that it paid a total of N29.11bn in salaries and wages, and N9.8bn in allowances to its staff.

Further analysis revealed that the government disbursed N3.82bn for personnel costs in 2014, reduced marginally to N3.8bn in 2015, N3.55bn in 2016 and N3.84bn in 2017.

In 2018, an unverifiable number of workers at the company received a total sum of N3.76bn for salaries and allowances, N3.2bn in 2019, and N3.5bn in 2020.

The cost increased to N3.89bn in 2021, and N3.94bn in 2022 but dropped significantly to N1.22bn in 2023.

The company didn’t announce any retrenchment exercise during this period. The cost, however, increased by N3.07bn to N4.29bn in 2024.

At an investigative hearing recently, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, took up the Sole Administrator of the Steel Company, Summaila Akaba, on several workers collecting salaries from the N4.2bn appropriated for personnel costs in the 2024 budget.

She said being an indigene of the area and desirous to get the steel company revamped and working, she made unscheduled visits to it and hardly found 10 people.

The lawmaker lamented further that despite spending money on personnel costs, no steel had been manufactured and no mill rolled.

She said, “The sum of N4.2bn was appropriated for personnel cost in 2024, but from several visitations I’ve made to the complex, hardly were 10 people sighted to be around or doing anything.

“So, who are the workers collecting monthly salaries from the appropriated N4.2bn?”

In the 2024 budget, the National Assembly increased budgetary allocation from N4.45bn in the proposed 2024 budget to N5.18bn in the approved version for the dormant Ajaokuta Steel Company.

This is an increase of N730m as the Federal Government plans to revive the moribund steel plant, which has been dormant for over 42 years.

At a briefing three months ago, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, stated that the government was at an advanced stage of raising more than N35bn required to restart the Light Mill Section of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

He also said data on technical analysis and evaluation by experts indicated that the government required between $2bn and $5bn to revive the Ajaokuta steel company within three years.

However, experts insisted that the best option was to privatise the company for effective maximisation of its potential.

Waste of resources – Economist

Reacting to the payment of workers, an economist and researcher, Paul Alaje, said it amounted to a waste of the country’s resources, calling for a public-private partnership to revamp the company.

Alaje, who is the chief economist at an economic development research firm in Lagos, SPM Professionals, said, “It is wastage. But the truth is that labour has to be paid. It is not their fault that the place isn’t working. It is the government that doesn’t have work to give them.

“It is the work of the employer to provide what labour will do. But when the employer is laid back, there is an issue.

“That is why the Federal Government needs to engage in public-private partnership immediately or allow the foreigners who started the projects to partner with the Federal Government for the completion of the Ajaokuta steel mill.

“The billions of naira spent were not just in Ajaokuta, I imagine they are spending tens of billions to pay salaries in four refineries that are not working. How can you pay people for not working?

“We lose hundreds of millions of naira at different offices of government to people not working. It is not that they don’t want to work, but there is no work for them to do.

“I will not support a total disposal of the Ajaokuta steel mill. I will support a situation where we partner with the private sector. We can do 60-40, or partner with the foreign company that started it.

“The best thing to do is to move the workers at the company to agencies in need of workers, but that will also mean that there are no more eyes on Ajaokuta steel mill.  Some of the fixed equipment will disappear overnight. Why can’t we make it work? Some people are in the steel business in Nigeria. Can’t we give part of the shares to them?”

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a professor of Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, Abayomi Adebayo, said paying such an amount would translate to throwing the country’s scarce resources into the drain.

He added that the Federal Government should rather terminate the workers’ appointments and stop paying them salaries for work not done.

He said, “Anytime you are paying a worker that is not producing anything, you are throwing your money into the drain. It’s simply a drain on the Nigerian economy and a manifestation of absurdity in governance because if you know that the place is not functioning, why not terminate the appointment of the workers there?

“They have to rationalise the staff. You can’t continue to pay people who are not working because so many issues about that job are not yet resolved. I can’t understand why somebody will continue to pay like that.

“It’s a show of irresponsibility. It’s a show of the fact that they don’t have the love of Nigeria at heart and some of the workers would have found their way out of the country and be working elsewhere. It shows how much we love our country.”

• Massive cops deployment in flashpoints, protest venues nationwide
• Organisers tackle FG on rights violations, demand release of demonstrators

Hundreds of policemen and security operatives have been deployed in major cities across the country as organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest prepare for a one million-man march today, Saturday PUNCH has learned.

The protest, scheduled to last for 10 days and expected to climax today, has been marred by killings and attacks on protesters and journalists.

The nationwide protesters are demanding a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, an increase in the minimum wage to N250,000, and an end to bad governance, among other issues.

Although the protest appeared to have lost steam in some parts of the country, momentum was sustained in states like Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, and Bauchi.

The organising groups threatened to lock down the entire country today (Saturday) to press home their demands, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday speech was not convincing.

Tinubu had, in a televised statewide broadcast, begged the protesters to end the rallies, asking for patience to fix the country’s problems.

However, the protesters, speaking to Saturday PUNCH, noted that they were mobilising the one-million-man march to climax the 10-day rally.

In a statement on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Sanyaolu Juwon, said the August 10 protest would represent a pivotal moment in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign.

He said, “The Take It Back Movement, along with other organisers and organisations, will lead a one-million-man protest in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on August 10.

“This event will mark a critical juncture in our nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, which began on August 1, 2024.

“It started as a planned 10-day protest but has evolved into a sustained and widespread movement, drawing participants from every corner of Nigeria and the Diaspora.”

Juwon also demanded the release of the protesters and organisers arrested by security agents.

He said, “On the troubling matter of unlawful arrests, we unequivocally condemn the detention of Michael Adaramoye (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo, and others who were arrested on August 5, and on previous and subsequent days. Their continued imprisonment by the DSS and the police is a gross violation of their rights. We demand their immediate release and call for an end to these unjust detentions.”

Increased surveillance

One of our correspondents, who toured the Business Central District area in the FCT, observed an increased presence of security agencies, who mounted roadblocks, slowing down vehicular movement.

In addition, our correspondent observed that the number of security operatives at Eagles Square had increased.

Speaking with our correspondent on the arrangement by security agents on Friday, Juwon said the increased presence of security agents and the recent clampdown on protesters would not affect the turnout on Saturday.

He said, “It’s a nationwide one-million-man march. Aside from the fact that we are not prophets, Nigerians have also shown resilience in the face of violent state repression. So, I’d say, let’s meet at the barricades.”

Hundreds of policemen in Lagos

In Lagos, policemen were stationed around major bus stops, including Ojota, Ketu, Obalende, Berger, and other locations where it is believed the protest would take place.

Scores of policemen, led by Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade, accompanied the protesters during a candlelight procession organised to mourn demonstrators who died during the rallies nationwide.

Our correspondent also saw soldiers from Operation Mesa, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies on the scene.

This is as the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee called on President Tinubu to compensate families of slain protesters.

The group claimed that more than 40 people lost their lives during the protest.

Recall that the committee, based at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, had declared three days of mourning for those killed nationwide during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

In mourning the deceased protesters, the group held a symposium at the Rights House, Adeniyi Jones area, and a candlelight procession to the ShopRite area in Ikeja, amid heavy security presence.

Addressing the protesters, a member of the committee and National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, Mr Hassan Taiwo, called on President Tinubu to compensate the families of the deceased protesters.

He also demanded the dismissal of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

“We are here in mourning and to honour all the protesters who lost their lives while protesting against the hardship. We blame Tinubu for what has happened and we are calling for the immediate sacking of the Inspector General of Police,” he asserted.

Also, another activist, Akinola Foluso, stated that protest is a fundamental human right and as such, the people must not be intimidated for exercising it.

Earlier, some police officers deployed by the Lagos State Police Command stopped protesters from carrying out a candlelight procession to the Alausa area, as against their initial plan.

Tension in Kano

In Kano, men of the Nigeria Police Force, soldiers and NSCDC officials, take over several roads in preparation for the one-million-man march.

Saturday PUNCH, while monitoring the situation, observed several stern-looking security personnel patrolling some major streets in the commercial city, mostly from the ever-busy Ibrahim Taiwo Road to both BUK new sites.

Besides patrolling popular streets, there was also a huge security presence on France Road, a strategic artery in the Sabon Gari area of the metropolitan city, linking the popular Abubakar Rimi/Singer market.

Following the hunger protest, which degenerated into violence and looting, traders at the Singer/Abubakar Rimi Market, engaged additional services to prevent the place from being looted by angry protesters.

As of the time of filing this report, there were reports of intermittent clashes between law enforcement agents and some protesters who insisted that they would begin the march from Friday.

As the protest raged, the spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, told Saturday PUNCH that his life was being threatened for daring to arrest 322 protesters, who looted shops and the warehouse of the National Identity Management Agency.

Police take over Rivers roads, parks

In Rivers, there was an increased presence of policemen at the Federal Secretariat and the Pleasure Park along Aba Road in Port Harcourt ahead of the one-million-man march.

However, the protesters did not gather on Friday at the two venues, which are the usual meeting points.

As our correspondent observed the area on Friday, scores of armed policemen were seen patrolling the area in their vans.

Saturday PUNCH gathered from several sources in the area that there would be a final showdown at the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the Government House, Pleasure Park, and major areas like Elelewon, Oyigbo, Rumuokoro, Choba, among others.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development, adding that law-abiding citizens should go about their lawful business.

Iringe-Koko explained that although the deployment had been ongoing, the addition followed credible intelligence that some miscreants were planning to loot and disturb the peace of the state.

She said, “You know before this time we had restricted the protest to the Pleasure Park and Isaac Boro Park. But we got credible intelligence that some individuals are planning a one-million-man march tomorrow. And that some of them are planning to loot and cause security breaches.

“We are saying all genuine protesters should continue to use the two designated places. We will not allow anyone or group to try to loot, steal, or cause any security breach in the name of protest.”

But the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told Saturday PUNCH that the police were not aware of the one-million-man march.

He said, “We are not aware of any one-million-man march. As we have seen the infiltration of criminally minded elements who have hijacked the protest, if we truly have the interest of the citizens at heart, we should avoid unnecessary gatherings.”

Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, said the military would be involved at the invitation of the police. He stated, “The military only gets involved at the invitation of the police. We will remain on standby until invited by the police.”

Group demands release of protesters

Meanwhile, a coalition of 20 civil society organisations has called on security agencies to release all protesters detained since the #EndBadGovernance protest began. At a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, who also serves as the group’s coordinator, Peter Ameh, alleged that security forces had been secretly arresting protest leaders from different parts of the country.

He disclosed that many individuals connected to the protest were detained by security agents. Ameh expressed concern that the current administration had militarised the civil space because citizens demanded necessities, including an end to hunger, a reduction in the cost of living, and a decrease in wasteful government spending.

He stated, “The 1999 Constitution, as amended, protects our inalienable rights, including the right to protest. According to the constitution, one should not be held without being charged in court for more than 48 hours. Yet, people like Alhaji Khand Aminu remain in detention without charges, languishing in SSS custody in Kaduna.”

“This is unacceptable! Nigeria may be a lawless place, but our fundamental rights will not be taken away from us. We demand that all those detained in connection to the ongoing protest be released with immediate effect; otherwise, President Tinubu should be ready to arrest all of us.”

Opposition urges Tinubu to reevaluate policies

Opposition political parties in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Political Science Association, urged President Bola Tinubu to reevaluate his policies to address the demands of the protesters.

The CUPP National spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, lamented that the presidency mismanaged the #EndBadGovernance and hunger protests due to a lack of proactive ideas and necessary actions to forestall the accompanying carnage.

Adebayo, in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, noted that a truly concerned, patriotic, and competent president would have immediately sprung into action by first addressing the nation.

He stated, “The lives that were lost were a needless tragedy; the property destroyed was avoidable, and the huge economic losses were preventable. But we have a president who is too far removed from the realities of his people’s suffering to care.

“His address after the bloodshed and losses was nondescript, ineffectual, uninspiring, demeaning, and hope-crushing. President Tinubu was prepared to be president but never prepared to govern.”

The NYCN President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe, pointed out that the challenges faced by Nigerians did not originate with the current administration, but there was an expectation for President Tinubu to tackle the issues. Sara-Igbe urged protesters to prioritize the country’s stability and peace, advocating for a move towards dialogue.

The NPSA President, Professor Hassan Saliu, observed that the external factors involved in the protest indicated that the situation was escalating. In an interview with one of our correspondents, Saliu emphasized the need for a careful approach, noting that while the beginning of a conflict could be known, its outcome remained uncertain.

Opposition parties condemn use of live ammunition

Opposition parties in the country have openly denounced the continued use of lethal force to intimidate and disperse civilians during peaceful demonstrations.

The opposition vented their anger and frustrations in separate interviews with our correspondent.

Their fear comes on the heels of the recent killing of a 16-year-old protester in the Samaru community, Zaria, Kaduna State. The teenager was identified as Ismail Mohammed.

The incident occurred when troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call to help disperse some hoodlums who were burning tyres and attacking security personnel in Samaru.

The mob had attempted to attack the troops, an action that led the soldiers to fire a warning shot to scare the hoodlums away. However, the bullet hit Mohammed, leading to his death. No fewer than 17 persons have so far been reported dead in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa during the #EndBadGovernance protest, which was held across the country.

The rally began peacefully but took a violent turn in some cities, leading to violent confrontations between the police and the protesters.

In Abuja, the demonstration also claimed a victim who was shot dead along the Kubwa expressway. Reacting to the high number of casualties recorded at the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, raised the alarm that the country is gradually sliding into dictatorship.

Abdullahi insisted that the bloodletting and intimidation of peaceful protesters could have been averted had Nigerians heeded their warning against voting in the current administration.

He said, “We have been warning that these people, in their desperation to ensure they gag Nigerians through silencing of the voices of dissent and deployment of the instrument of coercion against citizens innocently protesting, are sliding into raw dictatorship.”

Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesman of Labour Party presidential flag bearer Peter Obi, shared the same sentiment. Tanko further vented his anger over the killing of the Kaduna teenager, saying he was a familiar face in Samaru.

“That teenager was shot right here in my area, Samaru community. I was there. It was not as if it happened in my presence but I was a distance away from the house where it occurred,” Tanko said.

Operatives may deploy arms if lives are threatened – APC

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress has called for restraint. In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, disclosed that while the introduction of live ammunition at protest grounds is condemnable, life-threatening circumstances might warrant the operatives to introduce them at some points.

He said, “That is wrong. In a peaceful demonstration, the use of lethal force is not allowed. However, the word ‘peaceful’ must be respected. If the protest turns violent and security agents are being attacked, they have a right to protect themselves. The operatives have the right to use reasonable and reciprocal force.

“For instance, if someone attacks you with an AK-47, you can use arms that are equivalent in force to save yourself and others. If the protest is peaceful, lethal weapons have no place. But when they become life-threatening, the narratives will change.”

Hundreds of protesters still in detention – Adeyanju

Meanwhile, lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has disclosed that hundreds of the scheduled #EndBadGovernance protesters are still being detained across the country by the Nigeria Police Force.

Adeyanju, who serves as legal adviser to the protesters, also added that the police had charged some of the protesters in court but said the legal team was yet to receive the charge sheet since the detained protesters were being charged all over the country, stating that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the protesters.

Protest over, citizens have embraced dialogue – Lagos

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has dismissed insinuations that the #EndBadGovernance protest would erupt on Saturday (today). The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, stated this during a phone interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

He pointed out that the Governance Advisory Council had visited Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday and lauded what they called “mature leadership” which has prevented the state from descending into chaos during the protest.

He said, “The protest in Lagos has been peaceful so far, and it is over in Lagos. Lagosians have embraced peace and dialogue, and the governor has opened up engagement channels for protesters to dialogue.”

“The state has provided phone numbers through the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and the Office of Civic Engagement. We have been receiving calls from citizens and there has been fruitful dialogue, so there is no more protest in Lagos.

“Today, the GAC, led by their chairman, Tajudeen Olusi, paid a solidarity visit to Mr. Governor at the State House and commended the way our governor handled the recent expression of grievances through the protests. He has demonstrated mature leadership. The good people of the state have chosen peace.”

… Refutes Dangote’s Weak Enforcement Claim

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has refuted claims by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals and other players in the industry that it has been weak in the enforcement of the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) to local refineries.

The NUPRC took the position following revelations that it has facilitated the supply of over 32 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other refineries despite the country’s weak oil output.

The NUPRC made the disclosure in a statement on Friday which was obtained by THE WHSTLER.

THE WHISTLER reported that Dangote group chief commercial officer, Rabiu Umar had claimed that the NNPC supplies only 33 per cent of crude to the Dangote Refinery. He had claimed that the refinery sources the remaining 67 per cent elsewhere.

Despite NUPRC’s efforts to enforce the crude oil obligations through the development of the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) framework, the Dangote Refinery also accused the NUPRC of weak enforcement of the DCSO in a letter which was obtained by THE WHISTLER.

The firm, however, retracted the claim in another statement signed by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina.

Chiejina said, “Our attention has been drawn to media reports alleging that the Dangote Refinery has backtracked by acknowledging that NNPC supplied about 60 per cent of the 50 million barrels we lifted.

“To clarify, we have never accused NNPC of not supplying us with crude. Our concern has always been that NUPRC is pushing but IOCs are not following the instructions to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation and ensure that we receive our full crude requirement from NNPC and the IOCs.”

Meanwhile, an earlier letter issued by the Dangote Refinery to the Commission Chief Executive (NUPRC) Gbenga Komolafe, dated July 24, 2024, commended the regulator for its enforcement of the DCSO.

“Let me once again commend you and your team for the successful development of the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO) framework. This framework will lay the foundation for ensuring a stable and reliable supply of crude oil to local refineries,” the Chairman of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote said in the letter.

But the regulator said that to ensure the enforcement of Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has developed and gazette regulation of the Production Curtailment and Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DSO) Regulation 2023.

The regulator said it took an additional step to ensure that crude producers furnish the Commission with copies of all crude oil sales and purchase agreements entered or any security interest entered, that is tied to crude oil production.

“For effective implementation of the DCSO, the NUPRC established a working committee comprising of NUPRC, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) and NUIMS. The NUPRC has facilitated domestic supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other Refiners using the monthly Production curtailment platform.

“These strategic commitments to Nigeria’s energy security have led to the facilitation of the supply of 32 million barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery and other local producers in the first half of 2024,” NUPRC said.

A breakdown showed that nine refineries have benefitted from the 32,088,122 barrels of crude as Dangote alone enjoyed 29,047,098 barrels out of the total supply between January to June 2024.

The Warri Refinery received 949,670 barrels; NDPR-NDPR Refinery got 823,395 barrels of crude; the Port Harcourt Refinery received 471,123 barrels; Seplat-WPSOL Refinery was allocated 419,541 barrels while Waltersmith-WSPOL Refinery got 296,353 barrels.

According to the NUPRC, other beneficiaries were Edo Refinery that got 58,504 barrels of crude and Du-port Refinery that was supplied 22,438 barrels of crude.

The NUPRC said that the IOCs have also explained that they have pledged crude to their financiers, adding that the “whole transaction is guided by the ‘Doctrine of the Sanctity of Contracts’. The parties already agreed that the licensees would pay the cost of the development and they explained to the commission that most of the funding was provided by traders at a mutually agreed price.”

IOCs also highlighted some operational challenges on the part of refiners which the NUPRC as a regulator has consistently defended local refiners.

The regulator said that “In the pursuit of its mandate, if it becomes necessary for the NURC to withdraw licenses, the commission will do so but it will not resort to the ‘presumptuous and arbitrary’ withdrawal of licenses because of ‘Sanctity of Contract.’.

“However, the regulator as a subject matter expert is of the opinion that arbitrary revocation of licenses is not in the best interest of the country particularly in the era of low investment arising from the onslaught in energy transition.”

The NUPRC further gave Nigerians the opportunity to decide if extreme penal regulatory measures should be taken against IOCs.

NUPRC said, “While our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been vacating entry barriers to investment in oil and gas sector and introducing incentives to attract investments, it is now left for Nigerians to decide whether it is strategic for the NUPRC to apply ‘extreme penal regulatory measures’ in the enforcement of domestic supply obligations especially in the era of low investment, low production, low oil revenues and onslaught of energy transition with defunding of fossil fuel.”

A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, on Friday, charged President Bola Tinubu-led government to admit its mistakes and review its policies.

The Nigerian economy has been affected by some policies like the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, implemented by the Tinubu government.

The value of the naira, which is the nation’s currency, has sharply fallen in the wake of these policies, prompting recent protests by Nigerians.

To address the issues, Shekarau said Tinubu and his team should have a review of its economic policies and admit to mistakes where necessary.

Shekarau, while speaking on Channels TV Politics Today, said, “As we say in the teaching job, the best learning is when you learn through your mistakes.

“Let the government sit back and identify: ‘What areas have you made some errors? What mistakes have you made? What pronouncements have been made in error? What policies were put in place that are really breeding this kind of crisis of hunger and high cost of living and inflation [food] of 40 percent’?

“Admit there are some wrongs that have been committed; some errors and probably certain things have been taken for granted.

“This is the time to sit back and address them.”

A report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday indicated that the highest average Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD) was recorded in the South West Zone at ₦1,545 per day, whereas the North West Zone reported the lowest average at ₦956 per day.

Naija News understands that the national average cost of maintaining a healthy diet for an adult has shown a consistent upward trend recently, reaching ₦1,241 per individual in June.

The NBS report shows that the cost of a healthy diet (CoHD) has risen by 19.2 per cent.

Since January of this year, the CoHD per adult has been on a steady increase, with figures of ₦1,041 in May, ₦1,035 in April, ₦982 in March, ₦938 in February, and ₦858 in January.

The NBS’s report on a healthy diet in June reads partly, “The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet was ₦1,241 per adult per day in June 2024.

“At the State level, Ekiti, Ogun, and Osun states recorded the highest cost with ₦1,640, ₦1,599, and ₦1,557, respectively. Katsina, Kano and Jigawa accounted for the lowest costs, with ₦878, N926 and ₦937.

“At the zonal level, the average CoHD was highest in the South-West Zone at ₦1,545 per day, followed by the South-South zone with ₦1,376 per day.

“The lowest average Cost of a Healthy diet was recorded in the West Zone with ₦956 per day.

“The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) has been steadily rising over the past six (6) months, since January 2024.

“In June 2024, the CoHD was 45% higher than it was in January 2024 (₦858). It was also 19% higher than the cost in May 2024 (₦1,041). The main drivers of this increase in CoHD are vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and starchy foods.”

NBS explained that CoHD is the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.

“In recent months, the CoHD has risen faster than general inflation and food inflation.

“However, the CoHD and the food CPI are not directly comparable; the CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index,” said NBS.

President Bola Tinubu says the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will continue persuading Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to return to the bloc.

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso severed ties with ECOWAS after sanctions were imposed on them by the bloc following coups in their domains.

In a statement on Friday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted Tinubu, chairman of ECOWAS, as saying that the bloc would continue to be friendly to the countries.

Ngelale said Tinubu spoke in Abuja on Friday when he met with ECOWAS defence chiefs.

“It is in our hearts to make sure that security is enhanced, and that constitutional government is defended and promoted in our region,” the statement reads.

“It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way.

“No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here. We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them reasons to come back to us.

“The solution to terrorism and other challenges lies in our hands. We have to do it together.

“The ECOWAS standby force must be ready. We will continue to invest in this, as well as in the economic prosperity and opportunities across our region.”

On his part, Christopher Musa, chairman of the ECOWAS chiefs of defence staff, said insurgency and unconstitutional changes in government must be addressed collectively.

The Nigerian men’s 4x400m relay team has been disqualified from competing in the final of the event at the 2024 Olympics.

After the Nigerian women’s 4x400m relay team crashed out of the event on Thursday, most sports enthusiasts in Nigeria were expecting the men’s team to earn Nigeria its first 2024 Paris Olympics medal.

Recall that the men’s relay team, which comprised Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathanial, Dubem Amene, and Chidi Okezie, initially secured a spot in the final after finishing second in their heat behind France, achieving a season’s best time of 2:59.81.

However, their hopes were dashed when they were disqualified for stepping on the line during their heat. Reports claimed that South African athletes were the ones that made the official complaint, which was looked into and sanctioned against Nigeria by the Olympic committee.

As a result of their disqualification, Belgium has moved up to second position, and South Africa has stepped up to third position.

This outcome is a disappointment for the Nigerian team, who had aspired to replicate the success of the 2000 and 2004 teams that won gold and bronze in Sydney and Athens respectively.

The development happened before Nigeria’s best prospect for a 2024 Olympics medal, Tobi Amusan failed to qualify for the final of the 100m hurdles earlier today. Hence, Team Nigeria are still without a medal with less than two days to the end of the tournament.

The athlete who has sustained Nigeria’s aspirations for a medal in the current Paris Olympic Games, Tobi Amusan, has crashed out of the tournament.

Amusan finished third in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles.

The 27-year-old competed in lane six during the first heat of the event on Friday.

The reigning world champion and world record holder finished behind Alayasha Johnson from the United States, who clocked a time of 12.39 seconds, and Devynne Charlton from the Bahamas, who recorded 12.50 seconds.

Amusan’s time of 12.55 seconds was insufficient to qualify her for the finals.

This achievement comes amid Nigeria’s disappointing performance in the games, where Nigerian athletes have yet to secure a medal as the Olympics approach their conclusion on Sunday.

On Tuesday, former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde criticized Nigeria’s performance, attributing it to inadequate sports administration in the country.

The veteran technical sports director said: “You see, why Nigerian athletes are not performing well in the ongoing Olympics and other international sports competitions is not technical, but administrative. Is it technical that an athlete who qualified properly in her event will be ridiculed by not registering her for participation?

“Situations like this will continue if our administrators don’t separate politics from sports.”

He stressed that most of the administrators have forgotten the core objective of developmental programmes in sports which had earned the country some measure of success in the past.

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday identified purposeful leadership and team work, as factors that can bring positive change and development to the country.

Obasanjo, also noted that Nigeria, as a nation cannot progress without changes in the way governance is administered.

Former President stated this when he played host to six lawmakers from the House of Representatives, who co-sponsored bills seeking a single six-year term for the president and governors, power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country, and a single day for presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections, led by Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga, representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta.

Speaking on the demands of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, Obasanjo said their demands were very legitimate, saying that the government should listen and hear their cry, and stop deceiving the masses that all is well.

He said, “like I have warned earlier, we should know that we are all sitting on a keg of gun powder if we fail to begin to do the right thing…for instance, what the youth are demanding are very legitimate and should be listened to or why should they be denied of what rightfully belong to them?

“They are frustrated, they are hungry, they are angry, they are unemployed, they deserved to be given listening ears”.

The wife and two daughters of a Kogi-based journalist, Muhammed Bashir, were among 10 members of the same family kidnapped by gunmen in Kaduna State on Thursday.

Bashir’s wife and two girls came to Kaduna earlier on Thursday to spend the holiday with her family in a Kaduna suburb.

Bashir, a correspondent for the Nigeria Telegraph, told colleagues in Lokoja, Kogi State’s capital, on Friday, to pray for him.

“My dear colleagues, please, I need your prayers. My two daughters and their mother, including eight others, were kidnapped yesterday by unknown gunmen in Kaduna, where they went for a holiday.

“Please pray for me,” he wrote in the Kogi Correspondents’ Chapel WhatsApp platform.

According to him, his family left Abuja the same Thursday for Kaduna. But they got kidnapped at their residence on Thursday night.

He said that he had contacted the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, and had been informed that actions were being taken to rescue them.