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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, says the constant power outages in many parts of Nigeria and the expensive cost of petroleum products may push many entrepreneurs out of business and sink more Nigerians into poverty.
Many Northern states have been thrown into a blackout for several days now as a result of vandalism of the Shiroro-Mando transmission line. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said work has commenced to restore power.
In a Sunday post on X (formerly Twitter), the former Anambra State governor said the continued power outages in many parts of the country “have remained a cause of grievous concern”.
“The negative impact of the continued power outage on businesses, especially small businesses, who depend primarily on public power supply to sustain their businesses as a means of livelihood, is unimaginable.
“This power crisis, when combined with the present high cost of petroleum products and a harsh operating environment, remains a lethal recipe for widespread business failure and increasing poverty in the country,” Obi said.
He said solving Nigeria’s power and energy crisis is not rocket science as many of Nigeria’s peer nations have demonstrated the possibility of sustainable power for their citizens.
“Our African neighbour, Egypt, for example, invested aggressively in their power sector, which resulted in the establishment of a sustainable power infrastructure by way of many power stations.
“Today, Egypt has revolutionized power and energy production in the country, providing sustainable power to millions of small businesses, which account for over 90% of active enterprises in the country and contribute to over 80 per cent of their GD,” he said.
Obi called on the government to ramp up efforts and provide immediate and long-term solutions to the challenge.
President Bola Tinubu’s daughter and Iyaloja-General, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, has been appointed Ambassador for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education.
The appointment was announced by the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Muhammad Sani Idris, during a visit to Tinubu-Ojo’s residence in Lagos.
In a statement by the Commission’s spokesperson, Nura Muhammad, on Sunday, Idris cited Tinubu-Ojo’s “passion for supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly Almajiri and out-of-school children,” as the basis for her selection.
Responding, Tinubu-Ojo expressed her appreciation, saying, “I am deeply honoured by this appointment and am committed to alleviating the plight of these vulnerable Nigerians.”
She also highlighted her father’s dedication to education, calling it “a lasting legacy for Nigerian children”.
[NewsPot]
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced an investigation into the alleged abuse of a dispatch rider by a House of Representatives member from Abia State, following public outrage over claims that the lawmaker threatened to make the rider “disappear” for requesting payment for his services.
In a statement titled “Nigeria Police Reacts to the Humiliation of Dispatch Rider by Abia State House of Reps Member,” the FCT Police Command confirmed it was aware of the incident involving Hon. Alexander Ikwechegh and a Bolt driver, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya, which took place on October 27, 2024, in the Maitama district of Abuja.
The statement detailed that “the FCT Command is actively handling the case following Mr. Abuwatseya’s official report at the Maitama Divisional Headquarters.”
The Police Force also cautioned the public against using the name or office of the Inspector-General of Police to intimidate citizens, emphasizing that such misuse of authority runs counter to the impartiality that the office of the IGP stands for.
The controversy began when a video surfaced online showing Ikwechegh allegedly berating and threatening Abuwatseya. In the video, the lawmaker purportedly questions the driver, saying, “Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?” The driver, in response, simply asked to be paid for his service: “I don’t want to know, just pay me and let me go.”
The exchange escalated, with the driver insisting on his right to payment, stating, “I did a job for you, and you have to pay me, sir.” Reports indicate that the lawmaker refused to pay, allegedly calling the driver “very, very stupid” and issuing a chilling threat: “I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing would happen.”
The video has sparked widespread outrage, with Nigerians condemning the alleged abuse of power. Human rights advocates have joined the calls for accountability, urging the police to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
[Vanguard]
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Nigerian police and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to promptly investigate allegations against a federal lawmaker from Abia State, Alex Ikwechegh.
Naija News earlier reported that Ikwechegh was involved in an incident where he allegedly assaulted a Bolt taxi driver and threatened to make the driver “disappear” without facing any consequences.
This altercation reportedly stemmed from a disagreement between the two parties.
SERAP emphasized the need to end impunity surrounding violations of citizens’ rights, advocating for accountability and justice.
The organization through their X handle on Monday stated, “The Nigerian police and Speaker, House of Reps must immediately investigate reports that Mr Alex Ikwechegh, a lawmaker brutally assaulted a Bolt driver, and ensure accountability and justice for the violations. Impunity for violations of citizens’ rights MUST STOP.”
Meanwhile, the Bolt Driver, slapped by the lawmaker representing Aba North South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has revealed what happened in the trending video.
Naija News understands that the driver, in another video online, said the lawmaker slapped him three times, and shredded his clothes into pieces.
According to the driver, Ikwechegh assaulted him just because he asked the lawmaker to come out and collect his package.
According to him, “I just received three slaps and my clothes shredded into pieces from this man right now who claims to be a House of Reps Member.
“I didn’t confront him or do anything bad to him. Please, I need help right now.”
[NaijaNews]
The Borno State Police Command has arrested six members of a notorious syndicate that specialised in kidnapping, armed robbery and extortion in Magumeri and Konduga Local Government Areas of the state.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, October 26, 2024, said the said N2,637,000 was recovered from the suspects, who have also been extorting villagers under the guise of tax collection.
“The Borno State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal psc, has recorded another significant achievement in its ongoing efforts to combat criminality in the state with the arrest of six suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery and extortion,” the statement read.
“On the 25th October, 2024 following a credible tip off, The Command Crack Squad coordinated a covert operation in Chingowa Village Konduga LGA, and arrested the following suspects: Modu Bindimi m’ 26yrs, Koso Modu Gana m’ 24yrs, Kassim Bulama m’ 27yrs, Isah Muhammed m’ 21yrs, Zarami Fantami m’ 22yrs and Modu Bunu m’ 24yrs.
"The suspects were found in possession of one pump action gun, a live cartridge and N2,637,000 cash.
"Investigation further revealed that the syndicate are responsible for armed robbery and kidnapping in Magumeri and Konduga LGAs, as well as extorting money from villages, purportedly as a tax to spare them from their criminal operation.
"The suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court after discreet investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP ML Yusufu, reaffirms the Command's dedication to maintaining public safety and security and appeals to members of the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the following emergency contacts: 0806 807 5581, 0802 347 3293.”
Nigeria’s healthcare system in crisis: 50% of private hospitals have shut down due to hardship
AFOLABI
The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has sounded the alarm over the growing financial strain on Nigeria's private healthcare sector, revealing that more than 50% of private hospitals have shut down, with those remaining barely staying afloat.
President of the GMD, Dr. Raymond Kuti, explained in an interview that many hospitals are struggling to manage soaring costs of essentials like electricity and medical supplies, leaving them on the brink of closure.
“Averagely, three out of six private hospitals are shutting down every month in Nigeria, primarily due to the challenging economic environment,” Dr. Kuti said. He highlighted that operational costs, particularly for energy and imported medical consumables, have skyrocketed by up to 500%, significantly impacting Band A hospitals.
Dr. Kuti, also the Chief Medical Director at Prisms Health Care Limited, told Punch that declining patient patronage and the “japa” trend—where young healthcare professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities—have intensified the crisis. This has led to severe staffing shortages and forced many people to delay seeking medical care, often opting for self-medication or local remedies due to financial constraints.
Calling for urgent intervention, Dr. Kuti emphasized the critical need for government support to sustain private hospitals. “We need the government to recognise the challenges we face and provide the necessary support to ensure that private hospitals can continue to operate and serve the community,” he urged, stressing the vital role these facilities play in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Air Peace has refuted a viral claim that it has raised the price of its one-way flights from Lagos to Abuja to N200,000.
Recall that a post recently went viral indicating that Air Peace’s one way flight would now cost N200,000 from November 1, 2024.
However a check on the website of the airline showed that a one-way Lagos-Abuja flight on Air Peace is far less than that.
As of the time of doing this report, a one-way flight for November 1 is around N114,000.
In a statement debunking the viral post, the Airline said the post suggesting 100% fare increase with the image of Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, is false and did not emanate from the airline.
The statement said, “We would like to categorically state that this information is false and did not originate from Air Peace.
“We have not released any official statement regarding a fare increase as described, and any announcements regarding our pricing would only be made through our verified channels.
"We encourage our valued customers and clients to rely exclusively on our above platforms for accurate updates and information on fares.”
Get Married By November Latest, Things Will Be More Expensive - BBNaija's Leo Dasilva Advice Young Men
AFOLABI
Leo DaSilva, a former Big Brother Naija housemate, has handed out some words of advice to young men.
The reality TV star advised young men to consider getting married by November due to the anticipated rise in the U.S. dollar exchange rate.
In a tweet, DaSilva warned that the dollar’s value could skyrocket in December and January, likely making goods and services even more expensive.
DaSilva’s statement reflects growing concerns over Nigeria’s economic situation, as fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate continue to affect the cost of living.
The Nigeria Police Force, Nasarawa State Command has apprehended a suspected kidnapper and recovered the sum of five hundred and forty-seven thousand Naira.
Ramhan Nansel, the Nasarawa State spokesperson of the Command, made this known to journalists on Sunday.
According to Nansel, the said amount is part of the suspect’s share of the ransom collected for the kidnapping of one Cironman Fulani at Arugbadu village of Nasarawa Eggon LGA of the state.
“On 27/10/2024 at about 1130hrs, police operatives attached to 38 PMF Akwanga in collaboration with men of the Nasarawa Eggon Division arrested one Abdulkarim Zakari of Konba village, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State in connection to a case of kidnapping undergoing investigation.
“Upon interrogation, he confessed to being part of the syndicate that kidnapped Ciroman Fulani at Arugbadu where they collected a ransom of five million Naira, N5m, and was given his share of one million and two hundred thousand Naira only N1.2m, ” Nansel stated.
He further said that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu Nadada has ordered a manhunt for the other fleeing members of the syndicate.
Nadada also commended the officers for sustaining the onslaught against criminals in the state.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has ordered the immediate suspension of the Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Prof. Abu Kasim Adamu.
The suspension follows reports of ongoing clashes between the Vice Chancellor and university staff, although specific reasons for the action were not disclosed.
It's been alleged that Prof. Adamu’s suspension may be linked to allegations of high-handedness and insubordination, which have reportedly strained relations with faculty members and union bodies. The internal friction has reportedly intensified as the Vice Chancellor’s tenure was due to end in two months.
Governor Bago directed Prof. Adamu to hand over his responsibilities to the next most senior academic, Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Hassan Ibrahim, who will now serve as Acting Vice Chancellor.
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Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says that his principal, President Bola Tinubu, is not unfeeling as painted by some persons on social media.
Onanuga said the President feels the pain of Nigerians and has assured them that better days are nearer than before.
The presidential spokesman, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said his principal is not T-pain, as “mischievously” nicknamed on social media.
Onanuga said Tinubu has not come to inflict pain on Nigerians but to “repair the economy”.
He said “the President is aware that the citizens are going through some difficulties” but said Tinubu is not aware that some persons have labelled him T-pain on social media as “the President does not read what is on the social media”.
Onanuga said, “Some people have also responded and called the President a different name. So, as far as I am concerned, it is a non-issue.
“Some people out of mischief just say somebody is a T-pain, He (Tinubu) is not T-pain.
“The President has never shied away from telling Nigerians that he feels their pain and he is working very hard to make sure that he gives them some relief so that things will get better and this country will get more prosperity.”
He said despite galloping inflation, “we are experiencing economic growth, despite inflation, revenues have increased”.
Nigerians are grappling with the weight of unprecedented food inflation, and energy prices which have quadrupled in the last year. Many people have blamed the twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex rates for the high living costs that have assailed the middle class.
Citizens have staged two major protests to drive home their grievances against the Tinubu administration and pressured the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to reverse its “reforms” but the current administration has insisted that its policies are necessary and won’t be reversed.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said contrary to popular opinion, his principal, President Bola Tinubu, did not acquire a new official jet but a refurbished one.
“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane, it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property,” Onanuga said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-economic programme aired on Channels Television.
He said some jets in the presidential fleet like a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo are all in bad condition, and their maintenance costs were outrageous. Hence, instead of spending a bogus amount of money on aircraft maintenance, the President sought the approval of the National Assembly for a refurbished jet still in good condition.
Onanuga said the refurbished Airbus A330 would save Nigeria high maintenance costs in servicing the old aircraft.
Onanuga urged Nigerians to prioritise the President’s safety, noting that the newly acquired plane is Nigeria’s property, not Tinubu’s.
The presidential spokesman said Tinubu won’t take the just-acquired jet with him when he leaves office. Onanuga said the jet would also benefit Tinubu’s successor.
Onanuga said, “The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.
“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago.
“There was a time the President went to Saudi Arabia, that plane developed some problems and the President had to leave with a chartered jet to The Netherlands.”
‘Prioritise Tinubu’s Safety’
The presidential spokesman said he spoke with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane and he said the maintenance costs because of the age of the plane were exorbitant hence the need for another plane.
“People should try to prioritise the safety of the president. I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said.
While the Presidency has continued to defend Tinubu’s action to purchase the refurbished Airbus A330, the move has been criticised by many Nigerians and some of his contenders in the 2023 election, who felt the President was unfeeling to the plight of poor Nigerians grappling under the weight of unprecedented food inflation, and energy prices which have quadrupled in the last one year.
The health state of the Presidential Air Fleet has been a source of concern of late. In May, a faulty presidential jet stopped Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
Last December, a presidential aircraft, Falcon 900B, was put up for sale, with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) asking interested persons to submit their bids for the purchase of the aircraft.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says security agencies have not been able to arrest embattled former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello because of the “complicated” nature of the case.
Onanuga was a guest on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-economic programme aired on Channels Television.
In April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Bello, who was Kogi governor from May 2015 to May 2023, wanted for alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion.
The EFCC had at various times, stormed Bello’s residence in an attempt to arrest the former governor but his successor, Usman Ododo, had come to his rescue, whisking him away to his lodge.
The matter has been in court but the former governor has not appeared before the trial judge despite many adjournments.
Asked why police authorities can’t order orderlies attached to Ododo to arrest Bello, Onanuga said, “I think it’s a bit complicated. The EFCC is an agency of the Federal Government, and it wants to arrest Yahaya Bello. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his (Bello’s) successor, who happens to enjoy immunity.
“That’s the problem because if he (Bello) stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity that the man enjoys.
“It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity, you cannot do anything about it. You remember in the UK when they were looking for the Wikileaks man and he went to hide in one embassy in Britain, there was nothing they (security agents) could do, they left him there. I think he later came out and they arrested him.
“It’s the same thing. Ododo enjoys immunity. Yahaya Bello is believed to be hiding there. They cannot storm the place and say they want to arrest him. That’s the problem of the EFCC, and the police cannot help the EFCC.”
Families are hurting from high prices, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, said yesterday, at the ongoing Annual Meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington DC.
Speaking at the Global Policy Agenda 2024 briefing, the MD said that the global economy was faced with being stuck on the path of slow growth and high debt.
Her words, “The global economy has held up well. Inflation has continued to decline. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Central Banks and thanks to the ease of chain supply performance.
“But people are not feeling good about the economic prospects of their economies. Everybody I asked, ‘How is your economy, the answer is ‘Good’. How is the mood of your people? The answer is ‘Not so good.’
“Families are still hurting from high prices and global growth is anaemic. We expect the global economy to grow by 3.2 per cent this year and slow to 3.1 per cent annual growth in five years. Trade is not more a powerful engine of growth. We live in a more fragile world.
“The bottom line is: Global economy is getting stuck in danger of lower growth and high debt path- lower incomes and fewer jobs, lower government incomes and lower resources to support families and lower income to support funding of climate change.”
According to the Global Policy Agenda 2024 report which was released yesterday, “The global economy has proven resilient, and a soft landing is within reach. Inflation has moderated thanks to tight monetary policy and fading supply shocks, and growth is expected to remain steady.
“But uncertainty remains significant, with risks tilted to the downside; medium-term growth prospects are lackluster; public debt has reached record highs and is expected to approach 100 percent of GDP by 2030; and geoeconomic fragmentation threatens to undo decades of gains from cross-border economic integration.
“At the same time, transformative changes—the green transition, demographic shifts, and digitalization, including artificial intelligence—are poised to reshape the global economy, creating challenges but also opportunities.
“Against this background, the key policy priorities are to secure a soft landing and break from the low growth-high debt path, and address other medium-term challenges. Monetary policy should ensure inflation returns durably to the target, and fiscal policy needs to decisively pivot toward consolidation to rebuild buffers and safeguard debt sustainability.”