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Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has explained the decision not to dismiss Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, amidst allegations of his involvement in sponsoring bandits and insecurity.
During an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, Onanuga described these claims as “mere allegations and fabrications that are not true.”
When asked why Matawalle remained in the cabinet following the recent reshuffle, which saw some ministers relieved of their duties, Onanuga acknowledged the circulation of various stories regarding Matawalle’s alleged connections to insecurity in Zamfara State, noting that these allegations have even reached the President.
However, he emphasised that the National Security Adviser’s office investigated these claims and found them to be false, asserting that Matawalle is fit to perform his duties.
“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. I think in one of them, I got something like that I sent to the NSA, I said have you heard about this? and he said no, we have proved a lot to those things that they are not correct, they are not true. People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations about someone.
“And that is why the man is there. Even the President has heard so many stories about him. For him to be there, shows like I said, some of those things have been probed, and they are found not to be true,” Onanuga explained, clarifying the rationale behind the President’s decision not to dismiss Matawalle.
The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday, suspended the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.
The suspension follows Mnyim’s involvement in a coalition of states legally challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on the suit filed by 19 states of the federation.
However, three out of the nineteen states challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were reportedly withdrawn from the suit.
The three states are; Anambra (9th plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff), and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff), separately submitted applications for withdrawal before the Court.
The Attorney General of Anambra State, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, informed the court that she wishes to withdraw from the suit, having filed a motion for withdrawal on October 20.
Similarly, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Ikenna Nwidagu, stated, “My Lord, I filed a notice of withdrawal dated and filed on October 21. My Lords, we pray this honourable Court strikes out the name of the 18th plaintiff.”
However, Alia, who was taken aback that the state joined other states to challenge the legality of the anti-corruption agency, was said to have ordered the suspension of the attorney general.
Alia announced the indefinite suspension of Mnyim during a press conference in Makurdi, capital of Benue.
He said, “No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.
“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state.
“Because he acted on his own, I hereby suspend him indefinitely pending a satisfactory explanation of his actions.”
Electricity: 85.2% of Nigerian households on estimated billing, 58% connected to national grid – NBS
AFOLABI
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says 58 percent of households in Nigeria are connected to the national grid.
In its ‘Nigeria Residential Energy Demand Side Survey (NREDSS) 2024,’ on Wednesday, unveiled in Abuja, NBS said nine states; Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto, were selected across the six geo-political zones of the country for the survey.
According to the bureau, households from each state were interviewed, making a total of 8,100 households across urban and rural areas.
NBS said 86.6 percent of households connected to the grid had electricity supply, 85.2 percent of them used an estimated billing system, while 14.8 percent used a pre-paid billing system.
The average monthly expenditure of households on electricity, according to NBS, was estimated at N4,155.8 during the survey period.
In 2024, the national grid has collapsed eight times, with the first recorded on February 4.
The national grid collapsed again on March 28, April 15, July 6, and August 5.
Nigerians experienced another system failure at the grid on October 14, October 15, and October 19.
On October 17, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the frequent system failure at the national grid is inevitable due to the outdated infrastructure.
Adelabu said more investment in power infrastructure will prevent future collapses.
However, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will conduct a public hearing on October 24 over the frequent national grid failures.
Also, the federal government has set up a forensic investigative committee to address the incessant grid collapses.
‘67.8 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS USE FUELWOOD’
The bureau said 67.8 percent of Nigerian households use fuelwood as a source of energy for domestic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, or religious purposes.
NBS added that about 41 percent of the households purchase the fuelwood, while 39 percent collect it themselves.
“While 18.9 per cent of households used other means such as barter, gift, and borrowing,” the bureau said.
“More than half of the fuelwood are cut or collected by households, 55.3 percent were branches, stems, and trees.”
Furthermore, NBS said one in every five households, an average of 22 percent, used charcoal, with 21.6 percent purchasing the product.
The bureau added that 19.4 percent, about one in five households, use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas.
“The average monthly expenditure on LPG stood at N10,239.7 across the surveyed states,” NBS said.
In addition, NBS advised the government to promote the re-planting of trees, given the wide use of fuelwood. and encourage the use of clean energy such as LPG, wind, and solar.
“This will help to reduce environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, climate change, thermal pollution, and solid waste disposal,” it said.
NBS also recommended that the government encourage the establishment of more LPG stations while promoting local production of gas cylinders to lower the end-user’s cost and optimise electricity generation by decentralising the national grid through mini-grids.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun supplying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, directly to some oil marketers, bypassing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
Reports indicate that more marketers are seeking to purchase PMS directly from the refinery, while others continue importing the product, with hundreds of millions of liters of imported petrol expected to arrive in Nigeria in the coming weeks.
Earlier, The PUNCH reported that at least four vessels carrying imported PMS had docked at Nigerian ports between October 18 and October 20, with around 123.4 million liters of PMS unloaded at two seaports to help stabilize nationwide fuel supply.
This move by marketers comes in addition to the $20 billion Dangote refinery’s output, providing further support to the market.
Marketers have now begun lifting PMS directly from the Dangote plant in Lekki, Lagos, signaling a significant change in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
According to a senior refinery official, this direct purchase arrangement operates on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, allowing oil marketers to bypass third-party suppliers and engage directly with the refinery.
“Marketers are already coming to the refinery to lift PMS directly, and agreements have been made with some marketers. If the price wasn’t favorable, they wouldn’t be coming to us,” the official said, indicating that Dangote’s pricing is competitive enough to attract interest.
“Some of the trucks you saw there today were from marketers purchasing the product directly from Dangote, without recourse to NNPC. So the direct sale has started,” another source told The PUNCH.
Officials also revealed that the refinery is dedicating around 53% of its crude oil supply to PMS production due to high demand for petrol in Nigeria and other countries.
The proportion of crude used for PMS may change if demand for other products grows, but for now, petrol remains the primary focus.
“This could be reviewed in future if the demand for other finished products increases more than the demand for petrol, but right now about 53 per cent of our crude is used for petrol production, while other products account for the remaining percentage,” the official stated.
When asked if marketers had started the direct purchase of petrol from Dangote without recourse to NNPC, one of the notable major marketers in the country replied in the affirmative.
“Yes, everyone is in the process. This was advised that it would happen soon and is a normal business transaction,” the source stated.
This direct sale initiative follows earlier claims that the NNPC would be the sole off-taker of PMS from the Dangote refinery starting September 15.
However, a recent announcement from the Technical Subcommittee on Domestic Sale of Crude Oil in Local Currency, headed by Finance Minister Wale Edun, confirmed that marketers can now purchase PMS directly from local refineries, fostering competition and improving market efficiency.
Although some Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) officials, led by Vice President Hammed Fashola, are still in discussions about logistics and modalities for lifting PMS from Dangote, refinery officials confirmed that direct sales to certain marketers have already commenced.
Meanwhile, the refinery has dismissed claims that it sold PMS to NNPC at N898 per liter when sales began in mid-September, labeling such reports as misleading.
The refinery maintains that the official naira-for-crude committee will eventually announce the product’s price, but as of October 22, no such announcement has been made.
[NaijaNews]
Plateau State Police Command has disclosed that its operatives have uncovered an Internet fraud or ‘Yahoo yahoo’ training centre in Jos, the state capital.
The command also arrested other suspected members of various criminal gangs operating in the state.
Parading the suspects on Wednesday at the Command Headquarters in Jos, the State Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Adeshina, informed that the suspects were arrested for various crimes, including Internet fraud, robbery, Gun running, and child trafficking, among others.
Mr Adeshina explained that the Yahoo Yahoo training centre was uncovered after information was received about a fraud academy and operations of Internet fraudsters in Jos.
The CP said, “On 20/10/2024 at about 10:30 a.m., we received a report that the following persons, one Ateh Anthony Idoko, 23, and Daniel Idoko, both 23 years old, of Agingi, Rukuba Road, who are internet fraudsters (Yahoo-Yahoo), conspired among themselves to traffic young boys who had just graduated from Secondary school to a secluded residence.
According to the CP, the suspects locked them up, seized their phones and, having shown them how to defraud people via romance scams and other cyber-related frauds masterfully, forced them to go into the internet and continue to defraud innocent would-be victims and in the event where they refuse to cooperate, the ring leader beat them mercilessly with a horsewhip.”
He added that ” Upon receipt of this information, the Divisional Police Officer Rantya division, under my strict directive, immediately mobilised men and swung into action, raided the hideout where Eleven (11) suspects were arrested, including the Two (2) principal suspects. ”
“Our investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and ensure that they face the full weight of the law.”
The Plateau Police Commissioner also added that on 16/10/2024 at about 07:00 am, while acting upon credible intelligence, the Command’s Eagle Eye Patrol Unit (EEPU) arrested Jonathan Arin, 27, Moses Festus, 27, Sambo Audu, 30, and Nehemiah Yakubu, 25, all males of Angwan Rukuba Jos.
The suspects were arrested in possession of locally fabricated rifles, pistols and other dangerous tools and equipment used in the fabrication of firearms. ”
Upon interviewing the suspects, they all confessed to the crime and issued their confessional statements, which were recorded with words of caution. The investigation is ongoing to recover all firearms already distributed to some mischievous persons and arrest more suspects.
He also said that on 12/10/2024 at about 04:30 pm, we received a report at “A” division Police Station stating that on 11/10/2024 at about 04:30 pm, when they returned from work, they discovered that four (4) of their children were missing. Upon inquiry, their neighbour’s daughter informed them that they were seen with one Comfort, a female who usually comes to visit her friend, Adamu Bawa, in the compound to buy her biscuits.
Upon receipt of the report, our men immediately swung into action, which led to the rescue of the four (4) children and two (2) suspects. The case is under investigation and will be charged to court upon conclusion.
The CP also expressed his profound gratitude to the Government of the State for its support in the fight against crime and criminality within the State.
“We would not have achieved such tremendous successes without the cooperation and intelligence we have received from you. ”
I also wish to thank the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM for providing critical operational assets which have facilitated the successes we have recorded throughout this period.
My Management Team and I have implemented strategies to prevent crime and ensure the security of lives and properties within the State. Some of these measures include improving our response time, intensifying efforts toward providing the arrest of suspects, and prosecuting criminals, he added.
[Leadership]
Telecom consumers have decried the rate at which their mobile data gets quickly depleted as well as poor connectivity, accusing the telecommunication companies of secretly increasing the cost of data without prior public notice.
Recall that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola had called on the federal government to increase tariff in the sector, saying failure to heed to the demand would result to dire consequences.
Similarly, the Nigeria Communication Commission, (NCC) recently faulted Starlink for unapproved data tariff increase, describing it as a breach of the commission’s law.
NCC said the satellite internet service provider had unilaterally increased its data tariffs without obtaining the necessary approval from the commission.
But aside Starlink, consumers have expressed concerns over the fast depletion of their data, saying the operators might have increased their tariff without prior notice.
In interviews with Daily Trust, some expressed concern over the depletion of data.
Eyitayo Samuel, an undergraduate at the Lagos State University (LASU), accused network providers of giving false information, saying the data package of N500 which should last for 7 days, no longer last more than a day.
“I use Airtel. If you buy 3gb worth of data for N500, it only lasts for one day. Normally the network operators will say the 3gb is supposed to last for seven days but now I use the 3gb in one day, sometimes it finishes before 24 hours. Sometimes I buy twice in a day,” he said.
Emeka Samson stressed the need for network providers to improve their services, saying that sometimes users experience glitches.
“When it comes to networks, we all know network connection in Nigeria is very bad; it is very, very bad. If I am to rate the network in Nigeria I will give it 60% at most.
“The kind of experience I face is that sometimes the network does not connect,” he said.
He added that the hike in data tariff may be tied to the country’s economic challenges, saying he opted for a low data plan of 8gb from 20gb due to lack of funds.
“As you can see, what can we do? We have no choice. Everything in Nigeria is going up, so follow the system” he said.
‘Network providers charge more than displayed tariff’
The President of the Association of Telephone, Cable, Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Hon. Sina Bilesanmi, said the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) should wake up to its duty, claiming that network providers charge more than the tariff displayed on the commission’s website.
“The data and the call we are paying for, that is not what is on the NCC website, it has increased without Nigerians knowing.
“Let me use myself as a study case, I’m using yellow, if I call, they are supposed to charge me the old rate, it’s between something like 23-50 kobo but as of today, they charge Nigerians 80 something kobo,” he added
Recently, the NCC issued a directive to telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles and promotional activities.
This move aims to provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to subscribers.
The directive, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” issued on July 29, 2024, came amidst complaints of fast data depletion across the country.
The commission said the table should contain all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, including details on add-ons, their prices, how consumers can opt-in or out, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.
When contacted, the Chairman, Association of Licensed telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said there has not been any price review.
He said, “I can confirm to you that there has been no approval to increase prices and there is no operator that has reviewed its rates. It is a journey we have been on.
“We have all informed our regulators and nobody has granted price review and no rate has increased. If it happens the public will know: it will not happen behind closed doors.
“I must say again that with the current regime, our industry is not sustainable. So something has to be done about our tariff. We cannot sustain certain things under the current regime,” he said.
[DailyTrust]
Cabinet Reshuffle: Ministry Of Women Affairs Workers Jubilate As Tinubu Sacks Uju Kennedy As Minister
AFOLABI
There were scenes of jubilation at the Ministry of Women Affairs immediately after PresidentBola Tinubu announced the dismissal of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye from her ministerial role.
Employees at the ministry were captured on video celebrating the decision, an indication of the controversial nature of her tenure.
The video, shared on X by Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), showed workers dancing and chanting in the corridors of their office.
Echoes of “finally” resonated through the halls as staff expressed their relief over the minister’s departure.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, who had faced various criticisms and controversies, was one of the five ministers dismissed during the latest Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday.
Her removal was part of a broader cabinet reshuffle by President Tinubu aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of his administration.
Alongside Kennedy-Ohanenye, other ministers who faced the axe included Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development; Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education; and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.
The reaction from the staff at the Ministry of Women Affairs highlights the internal challenges and dissatisfaction that had brewed during Kennedy-Ohanenye’s administration.
Watch the video below:
Media
Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (Minister-designate Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction ) was born on the 8th of August, 1968 in Dungung, Kanke Local Government in Plateau State, to the family of a clergy, the late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda.
He was Plateau State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.
He got his First Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 1992 from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi and his Master of Engineering and PhD from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka respectively, majoring in Digital systems engineering.
He received training on Building Electronic Governance Structure at the United Nations University International Institute for Software Tech., Macau, China.
He has served as project consultants on the first Integrated Financial Management Information System for the Ministry of Finance, CBN, FOS, OAGF, Debt Management Office, OAuGF, National Planning Commission and Budget Office.
He was also part of the team that worked on the grant by World Bank to implement a Unified Network and ICT Solution for Nigeria Education and Research Network (NgREN) through the World Bank STEP-B project.
Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi (Mnister-Designate Labour and Employment) was born in 1953 in Dingyadi, Sokoto State. He had his Secondary Education at Government College, Sokoto and attended the School of Basic Studies for a two-year course. He is a 1978 graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He represented Bodinga Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.
He was one time, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government and Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Abuja.
He was appointed the Minister of Police Affairs in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bianca Odinakachukwu Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Minister of State-designate, Foreign Affairs), born 5 August 1968, is a politician, diplomat, lawyer, business woman and former beauty queen..
The widow of former Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, she is a multiple international pageant titleholder, having won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Africa, and Miss Intercontinental.
She attended Ackworth School, Pontefract, St Andrews College, Cambridge, and Cambridge Tutorial College where she obtained her A-levels. She began a combined honours degree in Politics, Economics and Law at the University of Buckingham, but transferred to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka after her father, insisted she concentrated solely on Law and join the family business.
In 2016, she received a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Alfonso X el Sabio University in Spain.
In 2011, Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan.
She became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and later, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain in 2012.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Minister-designate Industry, Trade and Investment) is an academic, former government adviser, and advocate. She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
Prior to this, she served as Special Adviser to President Buhari on Ease of Doing Business from August 2019 to May 2023.
Before her appointment to this role, Dr. Jumoke was Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment in the Office of the Vice President. Her team was responsible for Nigeria moving up an unprecedented 39 places in the World Bank’s flagship Doing Business Report.
Dr. Oduwole led a corporate banking unit of the telecommunications sector team in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc’s Corporate Banking Group. She was an investment banker with FCMB Capital Markets Ltd from 2000 to 2003.
She was on the boards of Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA), a leading HIV/AIDS advocacy NGO; as well as the Advisory Board of the “Know Your Constitution” Initiative, a civil liberties movement pioneered by a United Nations Young Ambassador for Peace.
Dr. Oduwole graduated from University of Lagos with a Bachelor’s degree in Law in 1998 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999.
She obtained an LL.M. degree in Commercial Law from Cambridge University in 2000, where she was a DFID-Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar. In 2007, Dr. Oduwole received a master’s degree in International Legal Studies from Stanford University and obtained her doctorate degree in International Trade and Development from Stanford Law School.
Mukhtar Maiha is the Managing Director of Zaidi Farms Limited. If cleared he will be the pioneer minister of Livestock Development.
Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister-designate Housing and Urban Development) was born on the 22nd June, 1962 at Fagge Local Government of Kano State. He started his Quranic education at the age of three and later began his western education in 1968 at Fagge Primary School.
He attended the Kano Community Commercial College, which is now called Aminu Kano Commercial College for his secondary education. He obtained a degree in Economics from the Bayero University, Kano.
Ata was first elected as member, Kano State House of Assembly to represent Fagge constituency in 1999. He served for three terms after winning elections in 2011 and 2015.
Ata became Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly in 2021 when the former Speaker, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, resigned, following attempts to impeach him.
Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad (Minister of State -designate Education) is a trained educationist, gender advocate and consultant. She served in various capacities in the university including level coordinator, examination officer, PG coordinator, Sub Dean Academics, and Head of Department, Science Education.
Her consultancy portfolio centres on governance and development. Dr Ahmad research interests focuses around political economy and institutional analysis, policy planning, development and strategy, capacity building and training.
She has participated in funded researches as a consultant, including for the British Council (won a research grant in 2015 as team lead), Education Data, Research and Evaluation in Nigeria (EDOREN), Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and Aafaaq Educational Foundation.
[TheNation]
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, on Wednesday, said the fund has disbursed over N10bn to successful applicants since the commencement of the scheme in August 2024.
This is just as he dismissed the fears in some quarters that the student loan scheme may be discriminatory against some applicants.
He stated this on Wednesday during a maiden meeting of NELFUND with the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Sawyerr assured the committee that the fund had reached out to every part of the country, particularly the South-East, which had earlier complained of marginalisation.
He said, “So far, the fund has received over 350,000 applications and disbursed over N10bn with a commitment to disbursing N90bn in tuition fees and stipends.
“Applications are coming in at an average of over 1,000 per day, and we are making special provisions for students living with disabilities.
“Moreover, we are focused on addressing the barriers to girl-child education, recognising that denying girls the opportunity for further education is denying the nation a chance to benefit from their incredible leadership potential.
“With 70 per cent of our population under the age of 35, failing to provide access to education for this segment exposes Nigeria to a future fraught with instability and violence. This intervention by President Bola Tinubu could not have come at a better time.”
He described the scheme as a unique palliative with a long-term solution to the challenges facing access to education in Nigeria.
“This administration of President Bola Tinubu has introduced many brilliant policies, and the student loan initiative hits close to home. It is reaching every corner of the nation-East, West, North, and South.
“This policy is not discriminatory; it is inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or background, has access to the education they deserve.
“It is akin to monumental policies such as the free education programme of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by Gen Yakubu Gowon, and the creation of federal universities.
“These policies have shaped Nigeria’s development, and the student loan initiative is equally progressive, representing an investment in our nation’s future,” he added.
The Chairman of the Committee, Gboyega Isiaka (APC, Ogun), described NELFUND as a critical agency created not only to provide loans but also to create a future where every Nigerian youth has the opportunity to realise his or her potential.
He urged the management of the fund to be proactive, saying, “We want, for example, to be able to tell ourselves where NELFUND will be within the next three to five years. How is it going to get there? And what are the issues that we need to address for them to get there?”
[Vanguard]
Court Sentences Canadian Lady To 11 Years Imprisonment For Importing Illicit Drugs Into Nigeria
AFOLABI
A 41-year-old Canadian lady, Adrienne Munju, has been convicted and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The foreigner was convicted for importing 74 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 35.20 kilograms, into Nigeria.
The spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi disclosed this via a statement on Wednesday.
Munju’s conviction followed her arraignment on two counts charge before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, by the NDLEA.
She was arrested at the terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos on Thursday 3rd October 2024, during the inward clearance of inbound passengers on KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the airport.
In her statement after her arrest, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the illicit consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos.
According to Babfemi, “She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.
“Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Muju to the term of imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against her by NDLEA.
“Prosecuting Counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the illegal acts of the convict, contravened sections 20(1}(a) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.
“Following her guilty plea, the prosecutor called his witness, Angela Mba, an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics narrated how the Canadian was arrested with the illicit drugs, after which she tendered some exhibits, which include: two suitcases that were used in concealing the drugs, her Canadian passport, confessional statements, laboratory test analysis reports and samples of the illicit drug. All the tendered exhibits were admitted as Exhibits 1 to 13.
“After the conclusion of the review of the facts of the crime, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the Canadian as charged based on the evidence placed before the court, the exhibits tendered and the guilty plea of the defendant. As a result, Justice Dipeolu after reviewing the facts of the case as submitted by Abu Ibrahim convicted the defendant as charged.
“After listening to the allocutus by the defendant’s counsel, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Adrienne Munju to six years imprisonment on count one and five years on count two.
“The judge however gave the convict an option of N50 million fine on each of the two counts, bringing the total fine to N100 million.”
More...
Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, Mr. Kunle Ahmed, has said that the insurance industry has a role to play in de-risking vital sectors, driving financial inclusion, and creating a resilient economic framework as the government embarks on various economic reforms.
He stated: “With the government outlining ambitious priorities for socio-economic transformation, there is an increasing need for industries that can support this vision. One such industry is insurance—an often overlooked but critical player in economic development. “As we move forward, the role of insurance in de-risking vital sectors, driving financial inclusion, and creating a resilient economic framework cannot be overstated.”
According to him, globally, insurance has proven to be a powerful tool for stabilizing economies, protecting investments, and providing the financial resilience that allows societies to thrive. But he lamented that, “in Nigeria, depending on your source of data, insurance penetration remains strikingly low. We currently lag far behind African and global averages despite being one of the continent’s largest economies.”
He listed his strategic focus as the new NIA Chairman to include: customer-centricity, digital transformation, commitment to excellence, advocacy and collaboration, as well as education and awareness.
On customer-centricity, Ahmed said: “Enhancing customer satisfaction will be our priority. This will involve driving programs, initiatives, and policies to simplify the insurance onboarding process, improve claims handling, and ensure transparency in our operations.”
On digital transformation, he said: “Our sector has historically been slow to adopt digital solutions. Moving forward, embracing digital innovation will be essential.”
On education and awareness, he said: “Raising awareness about the importance of insurance is vital not just for our industry growth but for our economic development. We will expand our outreach initiatives, including educational programs in schools and partnerships with your esteemed media organization and institutions to disseminate information about insurance products and their benefits”.
[Vanguard]
‘It’s to enhance regional development coordination’ — minister speaks on scrapping of Niger Delta ministry
AFOLABI
Abubakar Momoh, the former minister of Niger Delta development, says the ministry’s scrapping is to enhance regional development coordination.
On Wednesday, the federal executive council (FEC) scrapped the ministry of Niger Delta and the ministry of sports development.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy, said the council took the decision during its meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
A newly established regional development ministry will oversee all the regional development commissions.
The commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), and North East Development Commission (NEDC).
Tinubu retained Momoh as the minister in charge of the ministry for regional development.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Momoh assured that the adjustment was “purely administrative,” which did not diminish the focus on Niger Delta development.
He said the restructuring was done to establish a centralised oversight system for the increasing regional development commissions nationwide.
“For our people in the Niger Delta region, I would like them to know that this has not removed anything from them,” Momoh said.
“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is still very much in place under the ministry of regional Development, and all other such agencies remain intact.
“All the structures and everything about the Niger Delta remain. It’s just a change of nomenclature and, of course, expansion of activities of the ministry.”
Momoh lauded Tinubu’s vision behind the restructuring, describing it as a “forward-thinking move” to enhance regional development coordination across the country.
Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has commenced the process of paying the $6 billion debt owed to suppliers.
Edun spoke on Wednesday during an engagement with investors in Washington DC.
The global investors’ forum was held on the sidelines of the 2024 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Addressing a question on the supply arrears the NNPC owes to refined petrol suppliers, Edun said the national oil firm would soon start clearing the debt, making clarification on the petrol subsidy removal announced earlier in the year.
“In terms of NNPC and their situation, the reality is that, although the subsidy on May 29, 2023, was removed and was no longer on the balance sheet of the government, it did rear its head, not in terms of petrol subsidy, but foreign exchange subsidy, which was borne elsewhere, and borne mainly by NNPC,” the minister said.
“I think what I can say about their own situation is with where they are now, they have a route to paying down their payables and I’m sure that in no time at all, they will start. From what I understand, they have even commenced the process of paying down their payables.”
On September 1, the NNPC had admitted to owing the sum of $6 billion to suppliers of petrol, also known as premium motor spirit (PMS).
Speaking on the issue, Olufemi Soneye, the company’s chief corporate communications officer, said the NNPC is facing a serious financial strain due to the petrol supply costs — a development that is affecting the company’s ability to sustain PMS supply.
[TheCable]
…As OBJ asks LND to look beyond Northern Nigeria
ABUJA—Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma (retd), have decried the dwindling quality and standard of leadership in Nigeria.
The two statesmen spoke when members of the League of Northern Democrats, LND, paid them courtesy visits in Abeokuta and Lagos respectively.
While Obasanjo promised to be the patron of the group, asking it to expand its operations to include the rest of Nigeria, Danjuma challenged those currently in public office to look beyond themselves and take immediate steps to stem the tide of poor leadership to leave behind a nation for future generations to inherit.
Leader of the group and former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, had informed Obasanjo that the group was with him to tap from his wealth of experience in governance and leadership.
Obasanjo said: “Anytime you people metamorphose into a League of Nigerian Democrats, come back to me and I will be your patron.
“I share your concern of the situation in Nigeria, but if you’re a national league, I will join you and even be your patron, if I cannot be active because I’m getting old.”
The former president noted that with the calibre of membership of the delegation, he was confident something good would come out of it.
He expressed gratitude to Shekarau for his commitment, while commending the group for taking the trouble to come to Abeokuta, in spite of the hash economic situation in the country. He also commended Dr. Umar Ardo for the foresight in convening the group.
On his part, General Danjuma lamented that the quality of political leadership in Nigeria was “going down and down and down.”
Danjuma, who noted that the situation was “worse in the north,’, urged leaders to sit up and stem the worrisome tide.
The LND, which disclosed these in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, quoted Danjuma as advising members of the league to pursue their vision with measured doggedness because they were up against a section of “a corrupt political class with plenty of power and money” that would be ready to fight back to continue being in power.
Leader of the LND delegation and former Kano State governor, Sen Ibrahim Shekarau, while speaking during the visit, explained that the visit was to brief Danjuma on the vision and mission of the league, which was principally to influence the emergence of credible leadership, especially in the north.
This, the LND said, could be achieved by forging unity among the various northern interest groups, facilitate a credible leadership recruitment process across all offices and make the north a bloc of first influence in Nigeria.
Shekarau had lamented that, right now, the north was immersed in insecurity and backwardness in education, economy and development in generally.
He said the LND was intensifying contacts and consultations with eminent statesmen to tap into their vast knowledge on politics and leadership which were crucial to society.
Responding to this, Danjuma said while age was no longer on his side, members of the league should be commended for their initiative and commitment, promising to offer his support in anyway he could.
The general, became emotional when Muktari, the son of late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, recounted some events of January 1966, and described the late Sir Balewa as a truly great man.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Emmanuel Jime, thank God for the life of President Obasanjo, whom he described as the most “nationalistic and detribalized Nigerian alive.”
Recall that the LND was convened in July and since then, had been engaged in several activities, making consultations and trying to define itself.
It gained good grounds with the former Vice President Namadi Sambo, General Martin Luther Agwai, General AbdulRahman Dambazau, General Alwali Kazir, and a host of other critical northern leaders. And its membership has been on the increase.