A lead pastor and founder of an evangelical ministry based in Lagos State, identified simply as Akintunde, has been accused of assaulting his wife, Modupe, who now seeks a dissolution of their union. 

According to Modupe, her husband assaulted her after she accused him of infidelity at their home in the Onosa community, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of the state. 

The couple’s marriage, blessed with five children, started experiencing challenges when Modupe, on separate occasions, accused her husband of having a romantic affair with two church members, Punch reports.  

Modupe claimed that her husband slapped and beat her up for making the accusations and she was hospitalised after losing consciousness during one of the attacks.

She told the publication that her marriage had collapsed as her husband, who accused her of influencing church members to quit as a result of the adultery allegations, had sent her packing from their matrimonial home. As a result, she is seeking a divorce.

Modupe said, “What caused the fight was because I accused him of adultery with female church members. I discovered he had an illicit affair with two female church members but when I confronted him, he threatened and beat me up. 

“The first time that I got to know that he was having an illicit affair with a female church member was when I contracted an infection from him. I confronted him about the infection and he told me he was also experiencing similar symptoms. 

“We called our nurse and she treated us. The same nurse also treated a female church member for the same infection and informed me about it. That was how I got to know about their romantic affair.”

Modupe said after confronting her husband, their relationship worsened, adding that instead of doing things to improve the condition, the pastor allegedly got into another illicit romantic relationship with another female church member.  

She said, “This second incident of confronting my husband over alleged adultery with another female church member happened last year. The fiancé of the female church member got to know about the illicit affairs and he informed some members who stopped worshipping at our church. 

“My husband started saying I was using the adultery allegations to influence the church members to leave, whereas it was the fiancé of the church member he was romantically involved with. He became angry and ordered me to pack out. I disagreed because there was no place for me to go. 

“But for my safety, I was advised to give him space. I left with some loads and returned around December 2023 to spend the festive period with my children. When he realised I was at home, he locked me in one of the rooms for two hours, despite one of my children begging him.”

The midwife said she left the house and returned in January 2024, adding that sometime in April, she was at her matrimonial home when she took delivery of a lady’s child and her husband, who was bent on her leaving the house, allegedly attacked her till she fainted. 

She said, “He slapped me and pressed my neck till I fainted. I woke up with water all over my body. I also saw that people had gathered around me. He kept saying I had overstayed in the house and he wanted me to leave, whereas it was not only his money we used to build the property. I also contributed my money when we started building the property and the church. 

“I have left the house to treat myself. I spent a week in hospital and as I am speaking with you, I am still going to the hospital for treatment from home. It has not been easy eating because my neck is still hurting. It was our neighbours who called my family members, who came to take me to the hospital after I regained consciousness.”

Akintunde denied the allegations but said that efforts were on to divorce his wife. 

He said, “I didn’t attack her; she was the one who wanted to injure and kill me on that day and I have my evidence. She wanted to cut my private parts. She once told me that if my organ is not working for her, it won’t work for anybody again. 

“She reported the case at the Epe Division; she should sue me in court, I have my evidence. We went to the Epe Division and when we were asked to meet at the court on Monday, May 6, 2024, I went there but she and her family members didn’t come.” 

Regarding infidelity allegations with female church members, Akintunde said, “I am a pastor and I have a congregation and she used to bully everyone that she saw me with. I wanted to divorce her and she had already packed her load out of the house but she later returned her load.” 

Reacting to the allegation about contracting an infection from a nurse and infecting her, Akintunde said, “She is not well. Thank God the nurse is still alive. She is going beyond her capacity. If not for our children, I would have taken her to a criminal court. I want to divorce her and the case is already in court.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed to the publication that the case had been charged to court. 

He said, “The case was charged to court last Thursday. There was evidence he (Akintunde) assaulted his wife and it was on that basis that we charged the case to court.”

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, said President Bola Tinubu’s policies did not create prosperity but have rather pauperised the poor and bankrupted the rich.

He, however, highlighted six steps for President Tinubu to take to make a success of the office he occupies.

The president, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, with a Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria, marks his first year in office Wednesday (today).

In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku reviewed the administration over the past year, criticising the All Progressives Congress-led government for not presenting any plans for economic remodelling, but instead implementing a mix of policies to address it.

Atiku, it will be recalled, at various times had criticised the policies of the administration and, in response, was blamed by the presidency for finding faults without proffering relatable solutions.

On Tuesday, however, the former vice president asked the president to pause and reflect; undertake a comprehensive review of the 2024 budget within the new reform framework; undertake a comprehensive review of the Social Investment Programme to mitigate some of the impact of these policies on the most vulnerable households and refrain from any attempt to further pauperise the poor by introducing new taxes or increasing tax rates.

He also asked President Tinubu to provide clarity on the fuel subsidy regime, including the fiscal commitments and benefits from the fuel subsidy reform and the impact on the Federation Accounts and finally to tackle security headlong.

The former vice president stated that, predictably, 12 months later, Tinubu’s promises of economic growth and alleviating misery remained unfulfilled.

“Tinubu laid out no plans for the remodelling of the economy but soon embarked on a cocktail of policies to achieve it.

“In May 2023, he eliminated PMS subsidies, and a month later, the CBN implemented a new foreign exchange policy that unified the multiple official FX windows into a single official market.

“More policies followed in rapid succession: the tightening of monetary policy to reduce Naira liquidity, a hike in monetary policy rates, the introduction of cost-reflective electricity tariff, and a cybersecurity tax.

“Predictably, 12 months on, Tinubu’s pledge of growing the economy and ending misery remains unfulfilled. His actions or inactions have significantly worsened Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability.” He said.

He lamented that Nigeria remained a struggling economy and more fragile now than it was a year ago.

“Nigeria remains a struggling economy and is more fragile today than it was a year ago. Indeed, all the economic ills – joblessness, poverty, and misery – which defined the Buhari-led administration have only exacerbated.

“Africa’s leading economy has slipped to the fourth position, lagging behind Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

“Citizens’ hopes have been dashed and not renewed, contrary to the propaganda of the administration, as Nigeria’s economic woes have multiplied,” he added.

Atiku stated that he had previously voiced concerns about the risks of initiating reforms without proper sequencing, without clear implementation strategies, and without considering their potential and actual devastating consequences.

The PDP 2023 presidential candidate said implementing policies without proper planning and a clear destination was nothing other than trial-and-error economics.

“First, President Tinubu’s policies do not create prosperity. Instead, they pauperise the poor and bankrupt the rich. They spare no one. Nigerian citizens, the majority of whom are poor, are going through the worst cost-of-living crisis since the infamous structural adjustment programme of the 1980s.

“The annual inflation rate at 33.69 per cent is the highest in nearly three decades. Food prices are unbearably higher than what ordinary citizens can afford, as food inflation soared to 40.53 per cent in April, the highest in more than 15 years.

“Nigerian citizens have to pay 114 per cent more for a bag of rice, 107 per cent more for a bag of flour, and 150 per cent more in transport fares relative to May 2023.

“Today, in some locations, motorists are paying 305 per cent more for a litre of fuel. Yet, on a minimum wage of the equivalent of $23 per month, Nigerian workers are among the lowest wage earners in the world,” he stated.

He said the courage of the president to remove subsidy on PMS did not translate to the compassion to raise the minimum wage.

“Tinubu had the ‘courage’ to remove subsidy on PMS and impose additional taxes on his people but lacks the compassion to raise the minimum wage or implement a social investment programme that would reduce the levels of vulnerability, and deprivation of workers and their families,” he lamented.

Atiku asserted that President Tinubu’s policies had created a hostile environment for businesses of all sizes.

He added that the private sector was overwhelmed by the poor policies and burdened by his failure to address their negative consequences.

“The manufacturing sector, which holds the key to higher incomes, jobs, and economic growth, has been bogged down by rising input prices, higher energy and borrowing costs, and exchange rate complexities.

“For example, since 2023, the average price of diesel has doubled to N1,600 per litre. Electricity tariff has recently been increased by 250 per cent from N68/Kwh to N206/Kwh.

“As reported by the Guardian (13 May 2024), in Q1 of 2024, energy prices were up by 70 per cent, costing manufacturers N290 billion.

“Since May 2023, corporate Nigeria has lost more than a dozen enterprises to other countries. Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Procter & Gamble (P&G), Sanofi-Aventi Nigeria, Bolt Food, and Equinor, among others, had exited Nigeria, citing reasons including foreign exchange complexities, security concerns, and high operational costs.

“According to the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), nearly 20,000 jobs may have been lost due to the departure of 15 multinational companies from Nigeria,” Atiku said.

The former vice president warned that an economy with high unemployment rates and a declining manufacturing sector was not viable.

He further noted that President Tinubu’s foreign exchange policies had failed to positively affect Nigeria’s foreign trade balance, contrary to expectations.

“In particular, the free float and the resulting devaluation of the Naira has not resulted in an appreciable improvement in Nigeria’s trade balance. Devaluation has not enhanced the competitiveness of local producers and has had no positive impact on exports of goods, primary or manufactured.

“President Tinubu’s policies have failed to attract foreign investments into the country despite all the posturing and media hype by the president’s men. Exchange rate unification and free float of the Naira have not led to higher capital inflows (whether Foreign Direct Investment or Foreign Portfolio Investments), again, contrary to policy expectations,” the former vice president said.

Atiku then expressed dismay that despite employing various monetary policy measures, inflationary pressures and exchange rate fluctuations persisted.

He attributed the Naira’s sharp decline against the dollar, resulting in its status as the worst-performing currency globally, to Tinubu’s misguided policies.

He noted that President Tinubu’s policies revealed an overestimation of their effectiveness and a lack of readiness for potential consequences.

Atiku pointed out that Tinubu and his team seemed unsure about the current state and next steps of the reform process, as he urged the government to grasp the necessary reforms and their sequence, stressing the need for a framework outlining reform objectives and strategies.

Atiku, therefore, advocated for a comprehensive review of the 2024 budget within the new reform framework.

“The 2024 FGN Budget, the exact size of which remains a mystery, is not designed to address the structural defects of the Nigerian economy or the cost-of-living crisis. It will neither create prosperity nor promote opportunities for our young people to lead a productive life.”

He stated, “The review must prioritise fiscal measures to deal with an unprecedented rise in commodity prices. Higher commodity prices have created more misery for the poor in our towns and villages and have pushed millions of people below the poverty line. One such measure for immediate implementation will be to ease the existing restrictions on selected food imports.

“Third, undertake a comprehensive review of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) to mitigate some of the impact of these policies on the most vulnerable households. The SIP must go beyond Conditional Cash Transfers to include programmes that prioritise support to MSEs across all the economic sectors, as they offer the greatest opportunities for achieving inclusive growth.

“In addition, a holistic programme to support medium and large-scale enterprises to navigate the stormy seas in the aftermath of the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS is also needed,” he said.

He warned against any plan to introduce additional taxes or increase tax rates by the administration.

“We are aware of the behind-the-scenes attempts to increase VAT rate from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent, re-introduce excise on telecommunication, and increase excise rates on a range of goods.

“It needs to be restated that we cannot tax our way out of this situation. Instead, Tinubu must see the need for expenditure rationalisation and restraint – by having the budget more in sync with Nigeria’s fiscal reality, by improving efficiency in revenue utilisation, improving procurement processes and trimming the size of government – and, therefore, reducing the cost of governance.”

Atiku, who urged President Tinubu to promptly address insecurity, highlighted that the widespread insecurity significantly hampered agricultural production and its contribution to the economy, particularly in the northern region of the country.

“The state of pervasive insecurity continues to adversely impact agricultural production and the value it brings to the economy, especially in the northern parts of the country.

“Insecurity resulting from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling has compelled many crop farmers and pastoralists to abandon their lands and relocate to the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroun.

“This has drastically caused a reduction in the production of food and skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs. Food scarcity in Nigeria is so dire that a report by Cadre Harmonize warns that between June and August this year, about 31.5 million Nigerians may face severe food shortages and scarcity,” he said.

The appointments were made public in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement noted that the posting of the two senior officers to strategic positions within the Police Force is part of ongoing efforts to bolster the efficiency of the Force and multinational approach to tackling crimes.

In her new capacity, AIG Longe will oversee the secretarial functions of the Force Headquarters, ensure that the IGP’s policies and directives are implemented effectively, and coordinate the affairs of senior police officers.

AIG Owohunwa, on his part, will work on enhancing international police cooperation and ensuring that Nigeria fulfills its obligations within the global INTERPOL framework.

According to the statement, “The Inspector General of Police while commending the senior police officers for their dedication and service to the Nigeria Police Force, emphasized that their new assignments is a proof of their exceptional abilities and the trust the Force places in their capabilities.”

Adejobi said the postings are with immediate effect and follow the retirement of their predecessors.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored President Bola Tinubu’s administration low in its first year in office.

The party described the All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s first year in office as the most challenging in Nigeria’s history since the Civil War.

In a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it is apparent that inflicting pain and misery on Nigerians remains the policy thrust of successive APC administrations.

It said the adverse effects of poorly conceived and executed policies, without any supportive measures to alleviate the resulting have led to increased costs and associated hardships for the masses, and have plunged many into extreme poverty.

The opposition party urged President Tinubu to utilize the occasion of his one year in office to carefully assess the state of the nation during his tenure, critically evaluate his policies, and present a coherent economic plan aimed at improving the welfare of the Nigerian populace.

The statement read in part “The PDP insists that the current rising insecurity, excruciating poverty, economic hardship and general despondency in the country necessitating the fleeing of thousands of Nigerians especially the youths from our nation further confirm that there is no hope in sight with the APC on the saddle.

“It is apparent that inflicting pain and misery on Nigerians remains the policy thrust of successive APC administrations which became heightened by the not well thought-out twin anti-people policies of removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira without due consideration for the citizens’ welfare and security.

“As if these were not enough, the APC administration continues in its anti-people policies in the arbitrary hike in electricity tariff and imposition of multiple taxes on the already impoverished Nigerians with no corresponding tangible development directed towards the welfare of the people.

“The consequences of these ill-thought and ill-implemented policies without any cushioning measures to mitigate the resultant rising cost and associated hardship on the masses have driven many into early death and extreme poverty.”

The PDP stated that a majority of Nigerians have become disillusioned with President Tinubu’s administration.

It also highlighted the inadequate attention given to security by the APC, as evidenced by the widespread killings, kidnappings, and attacks by bandits and terrorists that continue to plague communities across the nation.

It stated, “The APC’s continuing use of poverty as a weapon of mass destruction is responsible for the widespread despondency in the country where people are only preoccupied with survival rather than show interest in the government policies and activities which largely alienate them.

“It is shocking that while the Federal Government announced the removal of fuel subsidy forcing Nigerians to pay more for fuel, trillions of naira is still being reportedly paid as fuel subsidy allegedly into private bank accounts associated with corrupt APC leaders.

“Sadly, the APC in its insensitivity and disregard for the people has not bordered to render an account to Nigerians concerning the expected savings accruable to the Federation Account as a result of the announced fuel subsidy removal.

“The consequence of these is the massive loss of jobs and businesses with attendant socio-economic dislocation and uncertainty. This is compounded by the over 37% unemployment rate, inflation rate of over 33%, and over 200% devaluation of the Naira in the last one year.

“More distressing is that on the security front, the APC has merely paid lip service to the security of lives and property of Nigerians with massive killings, kidnapping, and marauding of communities by bandits and terrorists raging across the country.

“Since May 29, 2023, over 5000 Nigerians have been reportedly killed with many more abducted in various parts of our country with no concrete measure by the APC administration to arrest this ugly trend.

“From reports on governance at the sub-national levels across the country, it is clear that the only hope for our nation is the performance of governors elected on the platform of the PDP who continue to deliver life-enhancing citizen empowerment, human capital, and infrastructural development projects with a positive effect on the wellbeing of the people.

“Our Party therefore urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use the occasion of his one year in office to have a deep reflection on the state of the nation under his watch; take a critical look at his policies and present a clear economic roadmap which will enhance the welfare of the Nigerian people. He should also address the allegation of corruption and profligacy in the administration.”

The dead body of a yet-to-be-identified pregnant woman has been discovered in a bush along Amaraku-Umudim Road in Isiala-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to Punch, the lifeless body of the pregnant woman was discovered with her upper garment removed.

Naija News understands that the body was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday and her identity has not been discovered.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the woman’s body showed no signs of blood or trauma.

The source said, “It happened in the morning of Tuesday. The woman was killed and dumped in the bush along Amaraku-Umudim Road. She is pregnant and was stripped naked of her upper wear.

“But the confusing thing is that she did not sustain any blood stain as to link her death to assassins or gunmen. We are yet to find out exactly what led to her death.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said he had yet to be briefed on the matter but promised to revert as soon as the command got information and didn’t get back as of the time this report was filed.

As part of its effort to promote clean cooking energy for families across the country, the Federal Government, FG, yesterday commenced the free distribution of gas cylinders with a target of moving at least one million homes to clean cooking gas by 2030.

The programme, which is under the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative, tagged LPG grassroots penetration, is expected to distribute about 250,000 gas cylinders to women in rural communities across the country.

People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties0:00 / 0:00
Speaking at the flag-off of the programme in the Apo Resettlement area of Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the administration was determined to increase domestic gas usage.

Ekpo who supervised the handing over of 1,000 numbers of 3kg cylinders filled with gas to rural women drawn from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, explained that the government’s push for the use of gas as the cooking fuel of choice would improve the health of women and girls who bear the greatest risk in the use of traditional cooking fuel.

He stated: “We’re not only introducing a program today; we’re on a mission to change millions of Nigerians’ lives in our six geographical zones. By 2030, we want to convert 250,000 houses a year to clean cooking gas, which is a lofty but attainable target.

“This program is evidence of our steadfast dedication to lessening the over-reliance on solid fuels, which for a long time served as many households’ primary source of energy and include firewood, kerosene, and charcoal.

In his remarks, the Coordinating Director, ‘Decade of Gas’ program, Mr. Ed Ubong, said the programme which is funded by the private sector would bring an end to the use of woods and kerosene in homes.

He added that the ‘Decade of Gas’ program is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s theme: “Gas to Prosperity, a Renewed Hope”.

He stated: “As part of the LPG grassroots programme, we would be committed to see how we can move over a million cooking cylinders, mainly to women, in rural areas.

“Cooking gas is cleaner and Nigeria has significant gas resources and so we will be partnering with the private sector working under the supervision of the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) to see how we can deploy over a million cylinders at about 250,000 a year to all parts of Nigeria”.

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it had reinstated the suspended social investment programme, disclosing the scheme would provide direct payments to 75 million Nigerians in 50 million households to reduce the suffering of citizens, especially vulnerable groups.

It stated that the cash transfer programme was overhauled to tackle fraud.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this at the ministerial sectoral briefing to mark the first year in office of the President Bola Tinubu administration in Abuja.

On January 12,  Tinubu suspended all the programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency for six weeks, as part of a probe of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and the scheme.

The president also suspended Betta Edu as the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on January 8. Edu’s ministry supervises the operations of the NSIPA.

The intervention programmes affected include the N-Power, the conditional cash transfer scheme, the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.

On March 13, the House of Representatives asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment initiatives. 

To revamp the programme, Tinubu approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, led by Edun to carry out an intensive review and audit of the existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes.

Giving an update on the steps taken by the committee at the briefing, the finance minister stated that the government had decided to restart the programme to provide succour for poor Nigerians.

Edun said, “I am duty-bound to give you an overview of the strategy, policies, and implementation of Mr President’s reform programme. Immediately upon assuming office, Mr President launched macroeconomic reforms to restore stability to the Nigerian economy, including subsidy reforms and foreign exchange market reforms. These reforms caused a spike in costs for individuals and businesses, but Mr President is committed to counterbalancing the negative effects with interventions across the social spectrum.

“The government has restarted the social investment program, providing direct payments to 75 million Nigerians in 50 million households. Access to credit has been improved, with N1bn allocated to consumer credit and grants of 50,000 Naira being given to 1 million nano industries.”

Food inflation

The National Bureau of Statistics in its April CPI report, said Nigeria’s 33.69 per cent inflation rate was largely driven by food inflation which stood at 40.53 per cent in April, 2024.

Nigerians have continued to lament the steady rise in the prices of goods and services partially fuelled by the removal of petrol subsidies.

But, the minister said with 30 per cent of the world affected by issues of food security, agriculture would play a critical role in addressing global food insecurity.

He stated, “Food security is a worldwide issue, affecting 30 per cent of the world’s active population, and Nigeria is no exception. As I mentioned earlier, agriculture is critical, and success in this area is crucial. Efforts are being redoubled, with N200bn provided by the Ministry of Finance towards an intervention program.

“Just today (Tuesday), we met with the social investment prudential panel and development partners to discuss the President’s emergency plan for food security. We talked about advancing this issue and providing food, nutrition, and security, and this area will receive more attention in the coming weeks. The economy is growing at 2.98 per cent in the first quarter of this year, higher than the population growth rate and last year’s growth rate. Agriculture has the potential to help move the economy forward and reduce inflation.”

Speaking further, the minister stated that the federal government had initiated direct payments to contractors, suppliers, and vendors engaged by the government, evidently aiming to curb corruption in business dealings.

He explained that this measure would guarantee the prudent and accountable expenditure of the nation’s wealth.

Edun also revealed that the government was set to roll out an Economic Emergency Plan that would be implemented in the next six months. The plan, he explained, would help stabilise the economy and set the country on the path of growth.

He explained, “A system of payment has been implemented to ensure that Nigeria’s money is spent wisely and accountably. The government has played a role in helping states in attracting cheap funding and processing projects at the community level. Nigeria’s international credit rating has improved, with Moody’s and Fitch increasing and improving Nigeria’s rates to positive.

“The government is committed to counterbalancing the negative effects of economic reforms with interventions across the social spectrum. Infrastructure is key to growing the economy, building employment, and creating multiplier effects throughout the economy. A fund has been set up to provide institutional long-term funds to support housing construction and low-interest mortgages for the average Nigerian and we are working to attract cheap funding for states and process projects at the community level.”

He added, “And as it was mentioned earlier, the pivot thing to CNG is a government policy not just for vehicles but for generators. They have to be either CNG-fueled or solar-based or electric vehicles.

“That is the new incentive structure. And it continues also in the oil and gas sector. There has just been a new set of incentives that are encouraging new investments. We expect $7bn worth of investment that has been sitting on the sideline to now come; similarly, in other sectors.

“A stable, growing economy attracts investment that increases productivity, grows the economy further, creates jobs and reduces poverty. That is the trajectory that Nigeria is now on.”

Speaking on economic reforms, the finance minister announced that Nigeria has sufficient resources to pay its debts, both domestically and internationally, without strain.

According to him, this is a significant improvement from the previous situation where the government struggled to pay its way through implementing technological change procedures.

The minister said the revenue of the Federal Republic “has been totally revamped, rejuvenated, and increased substantially” due to the implementation of macroeconomic reforms and the restart of the social investment program.

He said, “We met a situation where the government did not have enough money. The government was not able to pay its way through implementing technological change procedures, which does not just require the skill of the workforce but also the political will.

“However, we are now in a situation where the revenue of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been revamped, related and increased substantially. What did mean is that the government can now pay its way the government is paid is debt service without resulting to Ways and Means, particularly into debt service, the obligations domestically are now being paid.”

This has put the government in a comfortable position to service its debts and meet its financial obligations.

Edun also highlighted the improvement in Nigeria’s international credit rating, with Moody’s and Fitch increasing and improving Nigeria’s rates to positive.

This, combined with the paying up of a $200m shareholding with the Islamic Development Bank, has built confidence and allowed Nigerians to take their rightful place at the table.

“The process that has been put in place is one that we are mandated not just by Mr President, but even the National Assembly passing the 2024 budget insisted that Nigeria’s money that was in the hands of parastatals agencies, or other enterprises needed to be brought in properly and that has been done which puts the government now in a comfortable situation as we would like to where we pay our way domestically internationally.

“There is a whole host of debt that we met. We owe Islamic Development Bank $200m in shareholding, this is not in terms of loans but in terms of shareholding, our subscriptions. These were things that did not allow the confidence to be built and did not allow Nigerians to have that pride of place when they sit at a table when they travel and they owe money. All these are things of the past now,” he said.

The minister emphasised the importance of infrastructure in growing the economy, building employment, and creating multiplier effects throughout the economy.

A fund has been set up to provide institutional long-term support to support housing construction and low-interest mortgages for the average Nigerian.

He added that the companies that exited Nigeria were not to be blamed on the current government.

He said, “Our government inherits the assets and liabilities of the previous administration. The 800 companies or so did not make up their minds overnight. They stayed until they could stay no more, he said.

“For the economy we have inherited, we have pointed out how seriously all obligations, both international and domestic, are being paid. This is being done because the revenue, which the company covers on behalf of Nigerian workers, is being diligently brought in. It is being monitored, collected, and accounted for. As I leave here, I am a member of the National Minimum Wage Committee and Tripartite Committee, and I chair the subcommittee on implementation documentation of the last minimum wage.

 “In assessing and analysing the implementation of the 2019 award, we came across people in the private sector, particularly nationals in the south, who asked, ‘Why are you not rescaling?’ Please go and look at the law; it is not a scale, it is a minimum, and it is not mandatory to be anything other than that minimum. We hope to quickly bring discussions to a conclusion on this matter. This is one of the items on our minds, as this is a minimum wage for both the private and public sectors, and it is the law of the land. We need to be guided by discussions, stations, and expectations.

“Mass transit vehicles are being produced, and I have even driven one of them, which will provide us with, for example, a bus that used to be fueled for 50,000 naira will now be fueled with 15,000 naira. That is the kind of change and improvement that is on the way.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Mrs Chioma Egodi in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Suleja over the criminal defamation charges against her.

Justice Peter Lifu on Tuesday remanded Egodi after she pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges brought under the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

The judge fixed Friday for ruling on her bail application filed by her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

Effiong had tendered a medical report while contending that his client had suffered a miscarriage as a result of the psychological trauma of the case.

However, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrashid Sidi, asked the court to refuse the bail application because, going by the history of the case, she would likely jump bail.

The prosecution informed the court that the defendant had failed to honour the terms of her initial administrative bail and would not comply if given a fresh one.

Unable to deliver the ruling on the spot, the judge shifted it to Friday while the main hearing would commence on June 13.

The Inspector-General of Police had filed a two-count charge against Chioma, Happiness Obas and Don Kashking, both said to be at large, on alleged conspiracy to send a message on Facebook through the handle Chioma Egodi Jnr, to instigate people against Erisco Foods Limited.

According to the charge, the defendants knew the said “information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management and members of the family.”

The offences are contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and 24(1)(b) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has discovered a total of 122 illegal oil refining sites in the past week across the Niger Delta region.

The NNPCL said a filling station was sealed for selling illegally refined fuel to motorist in Akwa Ibom State.

According to a documentary released by the NNPCL on Tuesday, 65 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered and removed within the past week in Rivers and other states in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

“310 incidents were recorded between May 18 and 24 across the Niger Delta region,” the NNPCL disclosed while reeling out its efforts in fighting oil theft and vandalism.

Our correspondent gathered that the filling station selling illegally refined fuel was uncovered at Grey Creek in Akwa Ibom State.

The 122 illegal refineries were spotted at Tomble II, III, IV, Umuajuloke, Rivers State as well as Oporomor III, Eduwini, and Ajatiton in Bayelsa State.

Vandalised well heads were reportedly discovered in Tomble IV, Rivers and Egbema in Imo State.

A pit filled with crude oil from a vandalised wellhead was also discovered.

Five illegal storage sites were sighted with oil stored in sacks, pits, cans and a filling station, the energy company stated.

Twenty vehicles, including a tanker, were seized in Delta and Imo states, while 29 boats transporting crude oil or illegally refined products were confiscated across several creeks in Bayelsa and Delta states.

It was said that 33 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents.

Recently, The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, emphasised the need to fight insecurity in the oil and gas sector to increase production.

According to Kyari, the nation’s crude oil production keeps dropping due to oil theft and vandalism.

“How do you increase oil production? Remove the security challenge we have in our onshore assets. As we all know, the security challenge is real. It is not just about theft, it is about the availability of the infrastructure to deliver the volume to the market.

“No one is going to put money into oil production when he knows the production will not get to the market. Within the last two years, we removed over 5,800 illegal connections from our pipelines. We took down over 6,000 illegal refineries. You simply cannot get people to put money until you solve that problem,” he stated.