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Three minors detained in Borno State for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest are still in custody, despite a recent directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordering their immediate release.
President Tinubu’s directive, issued three days ago, led to the release of minors held in Abuja.
But the Borno minors’ defence counsel Barrister Yakubu Alhaji Adamu, said they are still held in a juvenile facility in Maiduguri, following a court order.
The minors were initially arraigned before Justice Aisha Mohammed Ali at State High Court 10 in Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty.
The judge subsequently ordered their remand in a juvenile facility and adjourned the case till November 18, 2024.
Salamtu Idrisa from the Borno State Ministry of Justice’s Public Prosecutions Office said they have not yet received any formal communication regarding the minors’ release.
“If there is any update on their release, we will be informed,” she said.
The Sokoto police command says an armed group identified as ‘Lakurawas’ is operating in five LGAs of the state.
Ahmed Rufai, police spokesperson in the state, confirmed the development to Punch.
Rufai said members of the group wield sophisticated weapons and operate in Gudu, Tangaza, Binji, Illeila, and one other LGA.
“They have been in those areas for some years now. They are armed with weapons and part of their agenda is to impose their own kind of religious practice on the people,” he said.
“They even attack suspected bandits in the areas, according to information available to us. They claim to be working against illegalities.”
On November 5, Idris Gobir, the deputy governor of the state, raised concerns over the emergence of a criminal group in the state.
Gobir said the group is a faith-based one, adding that security agencies were working to address the threats.
“An assessment carried out indicated that the group possessed sophisticated weapons and their criminal activities were observed in about five local government areas in the state,” Gobir said.
“The sad development is happening at a time the state is grappling with banditry.
“The state government has been working closely with federal security agencies to address numerous security threats to lives and properties of the people of the state.”
Donald Trump’s return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States, following a dramatic victory over Kamala Harris, brings new questions for Nigeria’s economic outlook.
Trump’s economic policies, built around “America First,” prioritize domestic energy production, tariffs on imports, and pushing for low interest rates.
These policies could have a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the areas of exchange rates, capital flows, inflation, and immigration. Below is an analysis of how these shifts could affect Nigeria’s economic landscape.
Key takeaways
Donald Trump’s second term could have sweeping implications for Nigeria’s economy.
- A stronger dollar, potential capital outflows from the U.S., and low global oil prices may add to Nigeria’s exchange rate volatility, putting pressure on the naira and increasing inflation.
- Immigration restrictions could reduce remittance flows, while geopolitical shifts might reduce U.S. support for Nigeria’s security and development needs.
- Nigeria’s policymakers may need to consider alternative strategies, such as fostering regional trade, increasing non-oil exports, and pursuing structural reforms to counterbalance the potential challenges posed by Trump’s policies.
Exchange Rate pressures from a Stronger Dollar
Trump’s policies could lead to a stronger U.S. dollar, particularly if his administration imposes tariffs that increase demand for domestically produced goods and services.
- A stronger dollar generally makes it more expensive for emerging economies like Nigeria to acquire foreign exchange, potentially straining the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) efforts to stabilize the naira.
- Nigeria’s naira has depreciated by over 45% this year, and an appreciation of the dollar could further weaken the naira, impacting import costs, inflation, and purchasing power.
- A stronger dollar also increases Nigeria’s debt-servicing costs, as many of Nigeria’s obligations are dollar-denominated.
- Given Nigeria’s reliance on imports for fuel, raw materials, and consumer goods, additional dollar strength could heighten inflationary pressures on already high living costs.
Interest rates and Capital Flows into Nigeria
Historically, Trump has favoured a low-interest-rate environment, pushing the Federal Reserve to maintain a loose monetary policy even during periods of economic growth.
- During Trump’s initial presidency, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, peaking at 2.5% in 2018 before cutting them near zero by March 2020 to counteract the economic effects of COVID-19.
- Trump’s renewed pressure for lower interest rates could again influence the Federal Reserve’s policy direction.
- If the Federal Reserve keeps rates low, this could, in theory, result in capital outflows from the U.S. as investors seek higher returns in emerging markets.
- However, if dollar strength persists and other global markets remain volatile, investor sentiment may still favour U.S. assets as a haven.
From 2016 to 2020, Nigeria attracted approximately $58.1 billion in capital importation, with 2019 seeing the highest inflows at $23 billion.
- This was in part due to Nigeria offering high-yielding instruments like government bonds, which attracted foreign investors—including $4.69 billion from U.S. sources in that year.
- Should Trump’s policies create a continued low-yield environment in the U.S., Nigeria could once again attract U.S.-based capital looking for higher returns, particularly if Nigeria maintains attractive interest rates on its debt instruments.
- This capital inflow could help alleviate Nigeria’s foreign exchange pressures and support naira stability.
Inflation and Trump’s energy policies
Trump’s focus on reducing U.S. energy costs by increasing domestic oil production and drilling on federal lands could mean sustained low global oil prices. In his first term,
- Trump’s policies and the COVID-19 pandemic led to WTI crude oil prices falling sharply to around $39.17 per barrel in 2020, compared to $65.20 per barrel in 2018.
- As Nigeria heavily relies on oil exports for government revenue and foreign exchange, prolonged low oil prices could impact budget stability and government spending, with knock-on effects on inflation and economic growth.
- Furthermore, Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports, including a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, could raise inflation within the U.S., which might trickle down to Nigeria by increasing the cost of imported goods and components.
- Since the U.S. is among Nigeria’s top trading partners (N2.2 trillion in imports and N2.8 trillion in exports in the first half of 2024), a U.S.-led price increase could influence Nigeria’s inflation through costlier imports of essential goods like machinery, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.
Immigration and Nigerian diaspora impact
Trump’s return to office raises concerns for Nigerians regarding U.S. immigration policy. His administration previously imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria, citing national security risks, which disrupted the movement of students, professionals, and family members.
- If Trump reinstates such policies, it could dampen the ability of Nigerians to pursue educational and work opportunities in the U.S.
- This restriction would not only impact Nigerian nationals but could also reduce remittance flows, which are a major source of foreign exchange for Nigeria.
- In recent years, remittances from the Nigerian diaspora have contributed over $20 billion annually to Nigeria’s economy, helping to offset FX shortages.
- A decrease in remittance inflows would reduce domestic consumption and place additional pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which are already under strain.
Geopolitical dynamics and U.S. aid to Nigeria
Under Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, military aid and development assistance to African nations were deprioritized in favour of reducing overseas commitments.
- For Nigeria, which partners with the U.S. in counter-terrorism and security, this could imply reduced military support.
- Nigeria has relied on U.S. assistance to combat Boko Haram and other insurgent groups, so any reduction in support could undermine Nigeria’s regional security efforts.
- A decline in aid could also impact Nigeria’s developmental projects and social programs funded by U.S. agencies.
- With high poverty rates and a significant need for investment in health, education, and infrastructure, a reduction in aid would necessitate increased spending by the Nigerian government, potentially redirecting funds away from other critical areas.
Trade Policies and Nigerian Exports to the U.S.
Trump’s “Buy American” policy has often focused on reducing imports and increasing tariffs, which could impact Nigeria’s trade relationship with the U.S.
- In the first half of 2024, Nigeria recorded a trade surplus with the U.S., with imports at N1.9 trillion and exports at N3.1 trillion.
- If Trump’s tariff policies discourage U.S. imports from Nigeria, this could negatively affect Nigeria’s export earnings, particularly for sectors like oil, minerals, and agricultural products.
- A decrease in exports to the U.S. might impact Nigeria’s current account balance, further complicating its exchange rate and foreign reserve challenges.
[Nairametrics]
A prominent Niger Delta elder and chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has called for an investigation into what he described as the misuse of oaths by lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are reportedly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Martins Amawhule leads the legislators in question, Naija News reports.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Clark accused the lawmakers of contradictory declarations regarding their party loyalties while under oath.
He urged law enforcement authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter, emphasizing the seriousness of such discrepancies.
“Amawhule and his associates have made conflicting statements under oath, at times professing allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and at other moments aligning with different political groups,” Clark said, describing this as a grave issue requiring immediate police attention.
Clark’s statement also took aim at recent court rulings involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, denouncing the judgments as “obtained by fraud.”
He alleged that Amawhule and his colleagues withheld crucial information that influenced the outcomes of decisions made by Justice James Omotoso and the Court of Appeal.
The controversy dates back to December 11, 2023, when Amawhule and 26 other assembly members defected from the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Clark, this defection breached Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates that any lawmaker who switches parties without just cause should forfeit their seat. He argued that by leaving the PDP, these lawmakers had effectively vacated their positions.
Following their defection, the lawmakers submitted legal documents containing inconsistent claims about their party membership.
Clark contended that these contradictions undermine the validity of a January 22, 2024, ruling by Justice Omotoso, who did not account for the constitutional provision regarding party defection and seat forfeiture.
Clark also raised concerns over the actions of Justice Okorowo, who blocked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from initiating the process of replacing the defected lawmakers.
This decision, Clark noted, was issued shortly before Justice Okorowo’s elevation to the Court of Appeal, raising questions about the timing and implications of the judgment.
In addition to these criticisms, Clark expressed disappointment over recent remarks made by the Court of Appeal directed at Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State.
[NaijaNews]
On Monday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, came down hard on the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the prevailing economic hardship in the country was a direct outcome of Tinubu’s incoherent plan, a development he equally attributed to the President’s hasty assumption of power without a clear cut policy direction.
Atiku was responding to the Presidency’s dismissal of his earlier submission on Sunday, regarding what he would have done differently if he had won the 2023 presidential election to keep the economy in a good standing.
He had insisted that the Federal Government cannot tax its way out of the present economic crisis in the country.
In a statement, “What we would have done differently,” Atiku had criticised the way the Federal Government managed the fuel subsidy removal, as well as the fiscal and monetary policies of President Tinubu’s administration, and outlined a set of policies he could have pursued if he were the President.
However, reacting through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed Atiku’s alternatives, saying it was lacking in detail.
Onanuga noted that had the former Vice President won the 2023 presidential polls, he would have plunged the country into a worse economic situation or overseen a regime of cronyism.
Atiku was quoted to have said: “Like many fellow Nigerians, I firmly believe that we find ourselves in this current economic turmoil due to the current administration’s hasty ascent to power, devoid of a coherent plan.
“In stark contrast, my team not only devised a comprehensive recovery plan, but also welcomed significant input from Nigerians, ensuring that our approach was inclusive and well-considered.
“Is it not fascinating how the so-called tested Tinubu administration’s only policy response seems to be a national prayer led by the First Lady and the National Security Adviser, NSA, just a mere 24 hours after I proposed my alternative solutions? What a bold strategy!”
He mocked the Tinubu’s administration for its failures to address the hardship in the land, saying, “While prayer is a noble path to follow, the scriptures prescribe diligent labour and hard work.”
He maintained that many countries have emerged as strong economies by encouraging economic growth through low taxes, and wondered why Tinubu’s government was fixated on inflicting further hardship upon an already struggling populace.
“We cannot hope to tax our way out of the economic quagmire wrought by these misguided experimental policies of a novice administration.
“Numerous nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Monaco, among many others, have emerged as economic powerhouses by fostering growth through lower taxation.
“One can only speculate that Tinubu’s government is anchored to a mere Tea-plan, which can only lead to a T-pain.
“Furthermore, let me emphasise that the citizens who cast their votes in the 2023 presidential election are well aware that I did not lose; rather, we found ourselves in this predicament because the election was criminally stolen from the Nigerian people.
“It is, therefore, uncharitable for Tinubu’s team to claim that my proposals remained untested. What remains unproven is the erratic, trial-and-error nature of the policies so far implemented by this administration, which elucidates our present predicament,” he submitted.
The former vice president went ahead to buttress his argument with what he had done in the past, while in government.
He said: “Let us not forget that under our economic stewardship between 1999 and 2003, Nigeria soared to the pinnacle of Africa’s economies, while their administration has relegated us to a disheartening fourth position.
“The average GDP rate under the Obasanjo administration that I served in was 6.59 percent and peaked at 15 percent in 2002; 7.98 percent under the late Yar’Adua administration and 4.8 percent under Jonathan compared to the dismal 2.8 percent of the so-called “tested” Tinubu era.”
Painting a picture of what Nigeria has become in recent time, a Katsina State-based educationist, Mallam Sabiu Fago said: “The cloud is gathering and becoming darker by the day. Danger lurks around as hunger and starvation bite harder.
“Nigerians are running out of patience with the government, and if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the ugly trend, something disastrous might happen.
“The people are saying that they can no longer bear the pains of the government’s economic policies, which have made life unbearable and hellish for them.
“They said most households can no longer afford to buy food in the market as prices keep rising at an astronomical rate and on a daily basis; a situation they claimed has rendered them less than humans.
“Prices of staple foods like maize, rice, millet, guinea corn, garri and other food items, like beans, have all hit the roof top, such that hunger and starvation have become the order of the day.
“To make matters worse, the people are also under heavy attacks by various armed groups, ranging from Boko Haram Islamists sect to Fulani herdsmen militia, bandits and kidnappers, without any hope in sight. Kidnapping for ransom has become a big business.”
He likened the current realities in Nigeria to an English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes’ picture of a state of nature where life is poor, nasty, short and brutish.
Throwing his weight behind the former vice president, a former lawmaker in Katsina State, Yusuf Shehu agreed that Nigerians were actually passing through hell due to the thoughtless economic policies of the current administration, particularly the removal of subsidy on petrol products, without an alternatives arrangement to cushion its effect on the masses.
“Atiku is right in what he has said. How can the president just announce that the subsidy was gone even when he had not entered the office to even see the books and study them?
“No visionary leader will make a policy pronouncement without first looking through the books to even understand what the problems are.
“If you check very well, you will agree with me that from that very moment when he made that announcement on May 29, 2023, till today, Nigerians have known no peace. It has been suffering all the way and I don’t even see a sign of respite in the nearest future.
“So, Atiku is 100 percent correct in what he has said, and I would advise the Presidency to look inward and see what it can do to change the economic fortunes of Nigerians rather than attacking Atiku or dismissing his suggestions.”
He wondered why Tinubu has not been able to bring the Port Harcourt Refinery to operation since he removed subsidy from petrol.
“One would think that the President, having pronounced that the subsidy was gone, would do everything possible to fix our refineries.
“Recall that since he assumed office, Nigerians have been told, at least four times, that the PH Refinery would be operational at four different times, but none of the promises ever materialised; it has been all politics. We can’t continue like this,” he stated.
He warned that Atiku’s statement should be taken seriously to avert possible danger.
He said: “Imagine the situation before Buhari came to power and the situation today; it is an embarrassment. We are already sitting on a time bomb.
“The protests that happened in countries like Kenya will be a child’s play compared to what will likely come out from the northern part of the country when the people feel they have been pushed to the wall and they can no longer bear the hardship.
“Don’t forget that over time, the north has suffered from poverty, hunger, deprivation and a lot of other ills from our so-called leaders, who never and probably may never look out for the welfare of their people as their paramount responsibilities.
“Under this situation, you don’t expect people to respect the law. People cannot be kept under this atmosphere and you expect things to be good.
“People cannot be in this situation and you expect the crime rate to be low. It is going to be worse because everybody is going to be a victim whether you are rich or poor.
“So, the earlier the government realises the poverty of the situation and brings a short term solution, shoving bureaucracy aside, the better for all of us, otherwise we will wake up one day, and there will be no country called Nigeria.”
President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Pogu Bitrus, also agreed with Atiku, saying that the current administration’s twin economic policies of subsidy removal from petrol and floating of the Naira were responsible for the hardship in the land.
“I am surprised that the presidency would be attacking Atiku for saying he would have done better with the economy if he were the president.
“I don’t know if he would have done better, anyway, but the truth remains that the current administration’s economic policies are anti-people.
“There is no way things will be the same with the subsidy removal. You can’t just do that without adequate alternative arrangements like fixing the existing refineries in the country, so that at least, importation of fuel will stop, and expect things not to get tough for the masses.
“If we are not importing fuel, that is if we are refining fuel locally, the price would automatically crash and it would also spread to every aspect of the people’s lives,” he told DAILY POST.
Also speaking, Abdullahi Fago, an educationist based in Maiduwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, equally agreed with Atiku’s position.
He advised the presidency to concentrate on providing good governance to the people, instead of tackling people who express honest opinions about the true situation of things in the country.
He lamented that there is acute hunger across Nigeria; a situation he said has been worsened by the growing insecurity in the country.
He, however, warned that if the government does not respond urgently to halt the trend, it would escalate to something more worrisome.
“A stitch in time saves nine. The government should do everything possible to avoid the looming danger.
“They should not allow the situation to degenerate beyond what is currently on ground, otherwise, what would follow is what nobody can imagine accurately,” he warned.
A Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs analyst, Marcellus Onah, equally condemned the Presidency’s reaction to Atiku’s comment, saying “Atiku was just speaking the minds of Nigerians.
“He is just stating the obvious. Who doesn’t know that the current hardship was caused by the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of Naira?
“There was so much hope for this government but unfortunately, this is what we get. People are suffering.
“People are dying of hunger everyday and crime is on the increase due to poverty and lack of legitimate job opportunities, especially for the youth.
“My heart bleeds when I see people roaming to find food unsuccessfully for their families,” he said.
[DailyPost]
At least 22 miners are presumed dead following the collapse of a mining pit at an illegal mining site located within a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
Adamu Jamtare, a miner from Gashaka, explained that many of the deceased were from Jamtare town in Gashaka LGA.
“They were mining gold in an area known as the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, covering parts of both Gashaka and Toungo. All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead,” he said.
Chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five miners had been found dead, though he was uncertain of the exact number still buried.
He said the incident, involving miners from various parts of Nigeria, including Zamfara and Adamawa, occurred almost a month ago.
Despite the area being patrolled by rangers, illegal mining activities continued, often conducted covertly at night. “Five bodies have been recovered so far,” he said.
The national game reserve, known for its mineral resources, has seen multiple fatalities over recent years due to unregulated mining activities.
A Tila village resident, speaking anonymously, disclosed that approximately 70 miners lost their lives in similar incidents last year, though these events remain largely unreported.
Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje confirmed two recent reports of fatalities from pit collapses.
He said in one incident, four miners perished, while in another, six miners were involved, with two confirmed dead and four sustaining injuries.
SP Nguroje stated that the police are collaborating with the Gumti National Park authorities to apprehend the illegal miners involved.
[DailyTrust]
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to wear black bands for a seven-day mourning period in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The police boss gave the directive in a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi said the directive is to honour Lagbaja, who showed gallantry, dedication, and passion in the fight against insurgency in the country during his lifetime.
The statement reads, “Following the demise of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to wear black band throughout the 7 day mourning period.
“This directive is to pay tribute and honour the late General who has shown gallantry, dedication, and passion for fighting violent crimes and insurgency in Nigeria. He was a great leader who deserves to be honoured by all means.
“May the soul of the late COAS rest in peace.”
PUNCH Online reports that the late army chief, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023, died on Tuesday at the age of 56 night after a prolonged illness.
Following his death, the president, on Wednesday, directed that Nigeria’s national flags be flown at half mast for seven days across the country to mourn the passing of the late army chief.
The President’s directive was conveyed through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “Announcement of the Passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
[Punch]
Mikel Arteta surveyed the wreckage of Arsenal’s controversial Champions League defeat at Inter Milan and insisted his spluttering side will emerge from the rubble to salvage their troubled season.
The Gunners crashed to a 1-0 loss in the San Siro on Wednesday, adding to the growing sense of turmoil around a team that was expected to mount a strong challenge for European and domestic silverware.
Arsenal dominated for large periods against Inter, but were left to rue a controversial penalty in first-half stoppage time when Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled.
Hakan Calhanoglu converted the spot-kick and Arsenal were unable to muster an equaliser as they fell to a second successive 1-0 defeat after Saturday’s Premier League loss at Newcastle.
The Gunners have won just two of their last six games in all competitions, with those victories hardly impressive against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.
Arteta’s team are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, already seven points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s crucial London derby at Chelsea.
Hampered for weeks by the absence of captain Martin Odegaard — who finally returned from injury as a late substitute against Inter — Arsenal have looked a shadow of the vibrant team that took last season’s title race to the final day of the season.
Odegaard’s creativity and tenacious pressing has been sorely missed, while Arteta has also had to deal with injuries to Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, as well as a rash of red cards that cost him the services of Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.
As if their on-pitch travails weren’t concerning enough, Arteta has seen his trusted sporting director Edu make a shock exit from the Emirates Stadium.
Edu, who has a agreed a deal in principle to accept a similar role at Nottingham Forest, resigned at the start of this week after overseeing a major revamp of Arsenal’s squad since joining in 2019.
– ‘Extremely frustrating’ –
The 46-year-old shared a strong bond with Arteta, with whom he has transformed Arsenal into title contenders.
“We have been together on this journey since day one. He was instrumental for me to be where I am and I loved working with him. I enjoyed the journey to have him next to me,” Arteta said of Edu just before kick-off in the San Siro.
Edu scored in Arsenal’s famous 5-1 win at Inter in the Champions League group stage 21 years ago.
But history did not repeat itself on Wednesday as Arsenal attempted 20 shots, their most without scoring in a Champions League game since 2006 against CSKA Moscow.
Arteta launched a staunch defence of his players, claiming they were denied by refereeing mistakes rather than their own failings against Inter.
“The worst thing is the result, because of the performance and attitude we showed against one of the best teams in Europe in their stadium,” he said.
“It’s extremely frustrating because there were two decisions against us. If their one is a penalty then we should have one when Mikel Merino is punched in the head.
“Of all the big games we have played in Europe, this was the best I have seen from my team in the last two years.”
Arsenal cannot afford another setback against Chelsea this weekend if they are to remain in the hunt for a first English title since 2004 after successive runners-up finishes.
Arteta stuck to his upbeat assessment of Arsenal’s unexpected plight, saying: “If we play the way we played tonight, the team has a big chance to win at Chelsea.
“That is the way we have to go. I have told them I am proud of them. We are disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game that is for sure.”
Despite Arteta’s optimism, there are worrying signs that Arsenal’s hopes of finally dethroning Manchester City might be destined to end in disappointment.
[Vanguard]
The Malaysian government has announced plans to phase out the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and end the sale of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the country.
Loke Siew Fook, minister of transport, spoke at a press conference recently, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), a local media organisation.
In Malaysia, CNG is referred to as NGV.
Fook said CNG-powered vehicles can no longer be registered or be used in Malaysia from July 1, 2025.
He also said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), a government-owned oil and gas company, will halt the sale of CNG at its stations in stages, starting on July 1, 2025.
The minister said with only about 44,383 NGVs currently in the country — accounting for 0.2 percent of vehicles in Malaysia, excluding motorcycles — the safety of road users and the public will be restored.
“The NGV tanks of these vehicles are now reaching the end of their service life and need to be replaced and NGV tanks typically have a safe usage period of 15 years,” Fook said.
He further said there are also some car owners who have modified their vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which are very dangerous.
The minister said the vehicles had caused explosions during accidents.
‘WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT PACKAGES FOR THE TRANSITION’
Fook said an assistance package aimed at helping owners of CNG-powered vehicles during the coming transition period has been put in place.
“Taxi drivers using NGV vehicles are eligible for a one-off RM3,000 e-voucher through Petronas’s Setel mobile app,” he said.
“They must have been registered with the Land Public Transport Agency before October 1.
“For dual-fuel vehicle owners, they can get their NGV kits removed for free at workshops selected by the transport ministry. Their vehicles must be registered with the road transport department (JPJ) before October 1.
“Lastly, for owners of purely NGV-powered vehicles, they are eligible for a one-off payment based on the current value of their vehicles, which will be determined by an independent appraiser.
“For this package, the vehicles must also have been registered with JPJ before October 1.
“Upon taking up the offer, the vehicles will be sent to an authorised automotive treatment facility to be disposed of and deregistered by JPJ.”
Fook said it is necessary to prevent the misuse of the vehicles or for any illegal modification to be carried out on them as it would endanger the public.
He said payments under the support package will be made within three to seven working days “of receiving a vehicle’s certificate of destruction and deregistration slip”.
Malaysia introduced the use of compressed natural gas in the late 1990s for taxicabs and airport limousines.
In Nigeria, the federal government is pushing for the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation.
The initiative, introduced by President Bola Tinubu as a measure to curb the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy on individuals, “attracted over $200 million in investments so far as the government plans to build 1,000 conversion centres” across the country.
[TheCable]
Olufemi Oluyede, acting chief of army staff, says President Bola Tinubu did everything possible to save Taoreed Lagbaja, late chief of army staff.
Lagbaja died after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56.
While Lagbaja was away on medical treatment, Tinubu promoted Oluyede to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, the entire army is in a sorrowful mood after losing its leader.
“It’s (Lagbaja’s death) highly regrettable,” Oluyede said.
“I mean the country as a whole under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did the very best for him to be alive with us today.
“But as we all know, we all belong to God and He takes when He feels necessary for him to do so.
“He was someone that gave his all to Nigeria. He was a selfless leader, very passionate about Nigeria and he led the Nigerian Army very well.
“He was courageous, he was known to be thorough and a professional to the core. So, it’s a big loss to us. And all we can say at this moment is that we pray that the good Lord will find a place for him to rest.”
The acting army chief said Lagbaja needs to be celebrated for giving his all to the country.
“I want Nigerians to actually celebrate him for the good work he did,” he said.
Oluyede prayed for the repose of the soul of the late army chief.
More...
The Federal Government has revealed that a poor maintenance culture and inadequate and aged equipment, among other challenges, are the underlying reasons for the incessant multiple collapses of the national power grid witnessed in recent months.
It also stated that the high voltage of electricity surpassing the capacity of its equipment caused the blackout witnessed on October 14 and 19, 2024.
The Chairman of the investigative committee probing reasons for grid collapse, Nafisatu Asabe Ali, revealed this during the report presentation at ministry headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
This came barely 24 hours after the latest collapse that occurred on Tuesday, making it the 10th time the national grid would collapse in 2024 alone.
According to her, the investigative team observed similar challenges and problems affecting all stations during its probe.
She said the investigative team examined the grid collapse incident that occurred on October 14 and 19 and found out that the shattering of lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations and the explosion of a CT also in Jebba Station were reasons for both incidents.
According to her, “For the event on the 14th, lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo shattered. The one in Jebba was for the shunt reactor and this was caused by high voltage. Subsequently, we had the tripping of multiple 330kV lines. It kept going until it became major.
“The remote cause of that is the unavailability of the second reactor in Jebba, and that is because Jebba, by the design of the network and sometimes the topology of the network at a particular time is very prone to high voltage.”
We had two shunt reactors in Jebba before this event, however, one packed up. It is faulty, and so the voltage rose to about 400KV, which is beyond the threshold. High voltage degrades equipment insulation.
“If you expose equipment to high voltages for a long time, it degrades the insulation. And, of course, there’s a risk of failure. So, that was a remote cause for that. But the underlying causes are aged equipment. In our findings, we confirmed that Jebba was commissioned in 1968. Some of the equipment was commissioned alongside the substation. So, aged equipment. And maintenance culture is also an issue.”
The committee listed several factors affecting the management including vandalism of power infrastructures, lack of free governors at power generation plants, uncoordinated maintenance schedules, and lack of adequate human capacity.
Responding to this, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the ministry would push for additional funding from the 2024 Supplementary Budget and the 2025 Appropriation Bill to resolve the financial implications of strategies needed to curb the incessant grid collapse.
He expressed optimism that the frequent collapses of the Nigerian power grid system could be curbed with the implementation of far-reaching reforms, stating that “this incessant grid collapse, which is quite unfortunate and is worrisome to me personally as the Honorable Minister of Power overseeing this sector.”
Adelabu added that he would present an amended report to aid his submission to Tinubu owing to the financial implications.
He said, “Today’s meeting is to receive a report on the agency committee set up about two and a half weeks ago, to reveal the root cause of the incessant grid disturbances that we have experienced in the past few months. This is not good for us as a country. It is not good for us as a power sector. It is not good for us as a ministry of power and other agencies.”
The committee also listed recommendations for the audit and tests of existing equipment and improvement in maintenance of the transmission equipment and lines, installation of harmonics filters by Disco and Genco customers, decentralisation of TCN central store, enforcement of Free Governor Mode of Operation and removal of ad-lash taped optic fibre for Optical Ground Wires.
Nigeria’s former military and democratic leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, shared his story on Wednesday about how his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, reached out to numerous global leaders in her efforts to secure his release from jail.
Obasanjo was detained on March 17, 1995, by the military regime led by General Sani Abacha and found guilty of being involved in a plot to topple the military government.
Naija News recalls that despite this, Obasanjo became the elected civilian President in 1999.
The former President reflected on his political journey today while delivering a speech in Benin City during the inauguration of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which had been expanded and renovated by the government of Edo State.
The hospital, which was built and dedicated to Stella Obasanjo by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s government, was named in her honour.
In his speech as a special guest, Obasanjo expressed his admiration for his wife’s relentless efforts to secure his freedom.
Late Stella Obasanjo
He said: “When I was in prison, that woman left no stone unturned. She went all over the world to seek my release. She went to Japan, she went to the entire Europe, she went to the Vatican, she went to Latin America, she went through Africa, she left no stone unturned for my release and God answered her prayers and the prayers of all those praying for me, and I came out of prison alive.
“What could I do? I thought, coming out of prison, I’ve had it all. When we were planning for my wife’s 60th birthday anniversary, we never had that birthday anniversary before she died.
“It was very painful to me in particular and to all of us in my family. You can appreciate how thankful I am to you for doing this in her honour.
“I thank all the people of Edo State because I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to the achievements of my government.”
Obasanjo portrayed his late spouse as a woman of significant substance whose contributions were pivotal to the successes of his administration.
He declared that Stella was entitled to any recognition possible, whether during her lifetime or after her passing.
Continuing, the ex-president urged those holding political positions to focus on developing the skills and abilities of their people, emphasizing that a government’s success is inextricably linked to the development of its human resources.
He mentioned that ensuring food and nutrition security is critical to human capital development.
He pointed out that without adequate nutrition, people would not be able to fully benefit from the development of their infrastructure.
“Whatever we do in our responsibility as chief executives, either at the national level, at the state level or even at the local government level, one thing that is very, very important is human capital development.
“I will take three essentials of human capital development. First is food and nutrition security. You can’t do much on an empty stomach.
“The second, of course, is health, and food and nutrition security has something to do with that. Health is wealth, they say. A healthy people is a wealthy nation, because if you are dead, you can no longer be counted among those who are healthy.
“And, I dare to say that health is everything. You must have health to be able to be alive and do other things. And the third, of course, is education,” Obasanjo added.
Former President Obasanjo commended Governor Obaseki for his efforts in reconstructing and enhancing the hospital, which initially began as a mother-and-child hospital and has now been transformed into a specialist facility boasting cutting-edge technology.
In her address prior to the hospital’s inauguration, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, expressed her gratitude towards Governor Obaseki and the administration led by him for preserving the legacy of Stella Obasanjo through the reconstruction and modernization of the hospital. She emphasized that the hospital’s expansion would benefit not only the citizens of Edo State but also the nation at large.
Governor Obaseki highlighted that the decision to elevate the hospital to a world-class standard was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it served as an isolation center for patients. He mentioned that the hospital evolved into a critical 300-bed isolation facility, complemented by an additional 20-bed emergency isolation unit.
He further stated that the hospital is now furnished with state-of-the-art modern medical facilities capable of addressing a wide range of health issues.
The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stated that her office reached out to newly elected UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, but received no response.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that Nigeria would not compel Badenoch to embrace her Nigerian roots if she chooses otherwise.
“It depends on whether she embraces her Nigerian identity. We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response. We don’t force anyone to acknowledge being Nigerian,” Dabiri-Erewa explained.
The NiDCOM chief noted the commission’s openness to engaging with Nigerians abroad who actively choose to celebrate their heritage.
She cited the example of a former Miss Universe Nigeria who reconnected with her Nigerian roots after facing challenges in South Africa.
“She then identified with Nigeria, came to Nigeria, and we hosted her. If the Nigerian blood is in you, you’re always a Nigerian,” she added.
Badenoch, born in London in 1980, spent part of her childhood in Lagos and later in the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer.
Concluding her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa stressed that the choice to identify with Nigeria remains with Badenoch, affirming NiDCOM’s readiness to engage with anyone who identifies with Nigeria.
“We are open to working with anyone who sees themselves as Nigerian, but it’s not something we can force,” she concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, approved a minimum wage of ₦80,000 for the state workforce.
In a statement released by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, it was revealed that the Technical Committee set up by the state government had recommended and obtained approval from Makinde for the implementation of the new salary scale.
Oyelade said, “This new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee, which comprises both government and Labour top officials.”
Oyelade recalled that, only last month, a federal government agency, the National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest employment statistics published for 2024, rated the state as the most worker-friendly in the whole of Southern Nigeria due to a significant decline in the state’s unemployment rate, following the high-pitched employment of workers into various sectors of the state.
“The Oyo State Government has been paying workers’ salaries on the 25th of every month since Governor Makinde took office in 2019.
“The governor began paying the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage from the start of his tenure over four years ago, including consistent payments of pensions, gratuities, and a 13th-month salary for both workers and pensioners alike.
“Since November 2023, Governor Makinde has been paying ₦25,000 to workers and ₦15,000 to pensioners as a welfare wage award. The Makinde administration introduced the wage award to cushion the effects of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal and has remained consistent with these payments for over a year, even to this day.”
The commissioner reiterated that the governor has paid the backlog of gratuities from 2008 to 2015 for pensioners, with an increase in gratuity payments for those under both the Local Government Staff Pensions Board and those paid by the Ministry of Establishment and Training.
He added that the governor has also reinstated pensioners whose names were removed by the previous administration and continues to provide all pensioners with an annual Christmas/New Year chicken bonus.