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National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has stressed importance of continuous existence of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Speaking in Lagos at its 86th National Senate Sitting and Pre-convention, NANS Senate President, Babatunde Afeez, noted that TETFUND had impacted tertiary institutions in infrastructural development, capacity building, research and innovative activities.
He said the agency should not be ‘tampered’ with for any reason, but be properly funded and managed by people, who are competent and with integrity to enable it to perform better.
He said a clarification was necessary regarding whether the proposed Tax Reform Bill would affect the agency.
“Every Nigerian knows importance of TETFUND in our schools as the agency’s projects are everywhere across campuses. We don’t know what would have happened in our campuses if TETFUND were not in existence. And that is why the agency should not be tampered with for any reason,” he said.
Akinteye said no to fee hike again by any public school in the country, stressing NELFUND’s loans or any other consideration can’t be used as yardstick to justify any fee increment.
Earlier, National President of NANS, Lucky Emonefe, hailed students for their support and cooperation with the leadership of the union, assuring them of continuously serving their interests.
He said while TETFUND remains, NANS would continue to sensitise members, who need help, to access NELFUND.
According to him, students need not know anybody before they can secure loan from NELFUND as its operations are fair and transparent.
Emonefe, while giving his administration’s score card in the last one year, he said the next national convention will hold in March in Abuja.
[TheNation
The family of the 81-year-old Pa Dennis Okugbaye, the treasurer of the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, who died in military detention on December 10, 2024, have explained the circumstances surrounding his death.
The revelation came as the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and the military authorities have yet to make a statement six days after Pa Okugbaye died.
Family sources, who did not want their names mentioned for security reasons, told our correspondent that they paid N140,000 for fuel to the military to carry their sick father from Port Harcourt to Asaba.
The PUNCH gathered that Pa Okugbaye was being transported from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the military officers to 63 Brigade, Asaba, Delta State, when he allegedly died.
“We were told that our father is very sick and we should send N140,000 to buy fuel to transport him to Asaba so that we (the family) can take him to hospital.
“We sent the money and were told to come to 63 Brigade, Asaba to receive our father on Monday, December 9. They warned us that only his daughter would receive him.
“On Monday morning, we came to Asaba, then our sister moved to the military barrack, 63 Brigade, Asaba, to receive him but she was there till around 5 pm, no signal. We informed some of our leaders, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, of the development.
“We went back home, it was on Tuesday when we were calling to know the next step that we were told that our father died on the road when they were about to come,” the sources said.
They added that to date, the military authority or the governor had not called them over the development.
Pa Okugbaye’s death came barely a week after the death of the community President General, Pa James Oghoroko, in military detention.
The community leaders, Pa Oghoroko (now deceased), Pa Okugbaye (now deceased), Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs Mabel Owhemu and Mr Dennis Malaka, were, between August 18 and 20, 2024, arrested by the army and had been kept incommunicado in detention without trial.
Their arrests followed the killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission to resolve the tussle between Okuama and Okoloba communities on March 14, 2024.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Festus Ahon, failed as calls and messages sent to them were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
A social critic, Mr Zik Gbemre, berated Oborevwori for his failure to call the army to order.
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Gbemre said the reported death of two leaders of the Okuama community in military detention and the fear for the lives of four others still being held unlawfully exposed the worsening institutional failures.
“Oborevwori shying away from his duty to call the army to order in gross abuse of power in the state is very bad and shameful as the chief security officer of the state.
“In the last couple of days, what is happening in Delta is appalling, very shameful and inciting,” he said.
[Punch]
As President Bola Tinubu prepares to present to the National Assembly tomorrow, the 2025 national budget largely saddled with funding by borrowings, the Federal Government (FG) is set to overshoot its domestic borrowing target for 2024 by N4 trillion, about 67 per cent above the budgeted amount.
These are coming despite the widespread concerns over the continued rise in the nation’s debt stock.
Details of the domestic borrowing activities of the government in the 11 months to November 2024 is already showing borrowing in excess of N2.93 trillion or 49 per cent above the target as of November.
Financial Vanguard findings showed that FG had borrowed N8.93 trillion from domestic investors in the eleven months from January to November, 11M’24, as against the N6 trillion planned for the whole year.
With this trend and other borrowing activities currently being executed, the FG may end up borrowing N10 trillion in 2024, 67 per cent above the target for the year.
Meanwhile, these are coming against the backdrop of FG’s plan to finance the 2025 budget deficit with domestic and external borrowings amounting to N9.22 trillion, 18 % higher than the N7.808 trillion for 2024.
The 2025 deficit budget according to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning report would be financed “by new foreign and domestic borrowings of N9.22 trillion, N312.33 billion from Privatization Proceeds, and N3.55 trillion draw-downs on existing multilateral/bilateral project-tied loans. The deficit will largely be financed by domestic borrowings, considering the narrow window for external financing.”
Details of 11M’24 FG Securities
Breakdown of data from the Debt Management office, DMO, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that in the third quarter, Q3,24 the Federal Government borrowed N2.134 trillion from domestic investors through the Nigeria Treasury Bills, NTBs, FGN Bonds, FGN Savings Bonds.
Borrowings through the NTBs auctions conducted by the CBN stood at N1.181 trillion, while FGN Bonds FGN Savings accounted for N939.246 billion and N14 billion respectively.
Further analysis showed that in October and November this year the Federal Government borrowed N774.953 billion through NTB; FGN Savings Bonds of N635.752 billion and FGN Savings Bond amounting to N7.152 billion.
Domestic Borrowing in H1’24
Meanwhile, according to the recent data released by the DMO, the Federal Government’s domestic debt stock for the first half of the year, HI’24, stood at N66.957 trillion, representing 38.6% growth from N48.314 trillion in HI’23.
CBN borrowings through NTBs rose to N11.8 trillion in HI’24 from N4.7 trillion in H1’23 and accounted for 17.64 % of the total FG’s borrowing.
FG’s borrowing through the monthly FGN Bond auctions, which constituted 78.13 % of total FG borrowing during the period, rose to N52.315 trillion in the HI’24 from N41.722 trillion in HI’23.
FG’s borrowing through Sukuk Bonds, which accounted for 1.6% of total FG domestic borrowing during the period, rose to N1.092 trillion in HI’24 from N742 billion in H1’23.
FG’s domestic borrowing through FGN Savings Bonds accounted for 0.08% of total FG’s borrowing during the period, also spiked, rising to N55.196 billion in H1’24 from N30.704 trillion in H1’23.
Analyts’ insight
Meanwhile, analysts and economy experts have stated that among other things the 49 per cent excess domestic borrowing by the FG in 11M’24 was also driven by investors’ response to the high interest rate regime during the period prompted by 875 basis points hike in the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, by the CBN.
From 18.75 per cent in February, the CBN steadily raised the MPR to 27.5 per cent in November this year.
As a result, the interest rate on 364-Days NTBs rose to 22.93 per cent in November from 12 per cent at the beginning of the year, representing 11.91 percentage points increase from 4.44% in H1’23.
In the same vein, the average interest rate on FGN Savings Bond for 2 year tenor rose to 17.483% December 2024 from 12.287% in December 2023.
Reviewing the fiscal position in 2024, David Adonri, Analyst/ Executive Vice Chairman at Highcap Securities Limited, said: “To different elements in the economy, rising debt and rising yield on debt means different things. While the investor in debt is happy and smiling to his bank, corporate debt issuers are groaning because of the escalated cost of borrowing and the crowding-out effect of public borrowing.
”Above all, rising public debt signals an expansionary fiscal policy which is inimical to the effectiveness of tightened monetary policy.
”FGN is already in a debt trap, requiring new debt to service existing obligations. This leaves very limited financial resources for economic development. If the reckless piling of debt by FGN continues, a sovereign default might become imminent.
”Notwithstanding the influence of the high interest rate regime, the sharp rise in FG’s borrowing from domestic investors is inimical to the private sector as it makes it more costly for businesses to borrow.
”Also, the higher lending rates has led to inflationary pressures as the corporates have to increase prices to cover for the higher borrowing rates.
“With respect to monetary policy, whilst the Central Bank continues on its hawkish trend, we expect pressure from the government on the Central Bank as its debt service costs rise.
”The government cannot afford to borrow at these levels for an extended period of time. Government spending has also led to more pressure on the currency as it means more Naira available to chase the dollar.”
Continuing, he stated: “With respect to fiscal policy, we are yet to see the borrowing by the government to have an impact on fiscal policy. Yes, we have the Coastal roads being built, but we would like to see more with regards to policies to help increase production output in the economy.
”Also, we expect to see a significant increase in debt servicing costs, factoring in the higher rates and increase in domestic borrowing.”
Also speaking to Financial Vanguard on the situation, Victor Chiazor, Head of Research and Investment at Fidelity Securities Limited, FSL Securities Limited, said: “The government borrowing has fueled inflationary pressures.
”In addition there’s an indirect effect on exchange rates. Also, there’s the crowding out effect for private sector lending. As it is, not many businesses can afford to borrow at the elevated interest rate.
”Finally, the monetary policy response to all this may be to continue to raise interest rates in a bid to tame the spiraling inflation.”
Commenting as well, Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said: ”There is a general need to moderate borrowing so that it doesn’t overheat the economy.
“With respect to the implication for inflation, the deficit if financed properly may not be inflationary.
“Inflationary component of deficit financing often arises when CBN prints money to finance the deficit. That is when you have serious issues with inflation, because the money is now what you call high-powered money.
”But if it’s funded using bonds, treasury bills and other firms of borrowing, either from the public or from within the financial system, it is less inflationary.
“If the debt level continues to increase, of course it has a crowding out effect on the private sector. That means more of the credit in the economy will be going to the government as against the private sector, which is not a particularly good thing.
”So we need to worry about a trend of increasing domestic debt because of the risk of crowding out the private sector in the credit market.
“For fiscal policy, it’s a fiscal policy instrument. Borrowing is a fiscal policy issue; it’s used to fill the gap. Again, what is important is to maintain a sustainable ratio as far as borrowing is concerned, ratio of debt service to revenue, ratio of debt to GDP.”
In his own comment, Olatunde Amolegbe, former President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS said: “For me, borrowing is a natural consequence of public expenditure if a country intends to grow. The question however is about what the debt is used for.
”I have always had reservations with borrowing to meet recurrent expenditure which is why I am more inclined towards infrastructure or project-tied debt that one is sure will go towards boosting economic growth and development.
”Of course the borrowing level and borrowing cost are high and this has negative implications for our finances as a country however in as much as the debt -GDP and debt-revenue continue to remain stable or even decline then debt sustainability should not be a problem.
”I suppose the increase in the volume of FGN’s borrowing we’ve seen month-on-month is driven by the attractive interest rate that they presently offer to investors. It means investors can invest as low as N10,000 and get interest rate of about 18% which they can’t get anywhere else. ”This can actually be seen through the prism of wealth distribution or empowerment.
”It is therefore not a problem per se but how the fund generated is put to use to enhance production. The private sector wants to see infrastructure that would help them reduce cost of production”.
Reacting as well,Tajudeen Olayinka, Investment Banker & Stockbroker stated: “I think the critical challenge there is the sustainability of debt as measured by (i) Debt to GDP Ratio, (ii) Debt to Revenue Ratio, (iii) Debt to Export Ratio.
”The more sustainable a country’s debt is, the less burdensome it becomes to the economy. Accordingly, Nigeria’s economy must become more productive in the immediate to near term for her to sustain the current level of debt stock. ”This should be the focus of the current administration, even though it inherited huge debt service to revenue ratio that had become unsustainable from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
”A huge U.S. dollar denominated debt could be more threatening than a huge Naira debt.
”Government should therefore manage the country’s debt within the framework of debt sustainability.
”The growth in the stock of savings bond between 2023 and 2024 cannot be said to be life threatening. That segment of government securities market is known to be underperforming”.
The federal government had in the 2024 budget estimated N27.50 trillion total expenditure and N18.32 trillion revenue, leaving the FG with a N9.05 trillion fiscal deficit.
According to the FG, the fiscal deficit is expected to be financed by a combination of domestic borrowings (N6.04 trillion), foreign borrowings (N1.77 trillion), multilateral/bilateral loan drawdowns (N941.19 billion), and privatisation proceeds amounting to N298.49 billion.
The Dangote refinery has exported Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, and South Africa in the past few weeks.
The Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo.
In a statement on Sunday, the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, quoted Edwin as confirming that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally.
“In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” Edwin said.
Edwin explained that the facility is the vision of a Nigerian investor – Aliko Dangote, designed and built by Nigerians, and intended to serve the global market.
He said it is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex.
According to him, Dangote Industries Limited acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor for the refinery, saying cutting-edge technologies from around the world were incorporated to ensure that the facility meets the highest standards.
Edwin assured the ambassador-designate and the delegation that the company is open to collaboration, always striving to maintain the best possible standards.
“Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant. There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in. For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology. With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology,” he said.
Edwin also stated that the Dangote Petrochemical project will significantly boost investment in downstream industries, creating substantial value, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
He added that by leveraging Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, the Dangote Group aims to create a virtuous cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity.
He reiterated that the refinery’s petroleum products are in demand worldwide, as it expands its polypropylene section to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported polypropylene, a crucial material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive manufacturing industries.
The statement disclosed that the Japanese delegation hailed the refinery and the petrochemicals complex, describing it as an astonishing masterpiece, showcasing Nigeria’s technological advancements on the global stage.
The Japanese delegation, which toured the facilities housing both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as well as Dangote Fertilisers, commended the technology, noting that it reinforces Nigeria’s role as the gateway to Africa.
Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Takashi Oku, was said to have remarked that while Nigeria remains the gateway to Africa, the refinery stands as a remarkable project that showcases the country’s technological progress.
Oku added that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, is a point of immense pride for Nigeria.
“We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur. It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” he said.
Emphasising that the refinery has bolstered Nigeria’s leading position in Africa, he further noted that the facility serves as an ideal introduction to the country for the global community.
The Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, was said to have also praised the sheer size and automation of the Dangote refinery, calling it a miracle and one of the wonders of the world.
“I’ve seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East. However, the size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle,” he said.
Tsuno indicated that his company would seek collaboration with the refinery across various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products.
The controversial leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has opened up about her faith.
The politician revealed that she no longer believes in God.
She stated this while featuring in a podcast by the Free Press editor, Bari Weiss, on Friday,
Badenoch, however, clarified that she is not an atheist because of her lack of belief in God, emphasising that she identifies as agnostic.
She described herself as a “cultural Christian.”
Badenoch said, “I don’t believe in God anymore. But I am not an atheist, I am agnostic. I used to believe in God very much but now I describe myself as a cultural Christian.
“I don’t think it matters if people believe in God or not. What matters is what they do with the belief or the lack of it.”
Leave Nigeria Alone, You Are The Devil Incarnate – Fani Kayode Slams Kemi Badenoch
Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode, has asked the newly elected United Kingdom’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, to disown her father, mother, siblings, and Nigerian heritage.
Fani Kayode stated this on Sunday via his X handle.
He stressed that there would be no fellowship with her, insisting that since she does not want to identify with Nigeria, the country would also refuse to identify with her.
He described her as the devil incarnate and the spawn of Satan.
The erstwhile Minister asked her to focus on the affairs of the UK and leave Nigeria alone.
He wrote, “She should formally wipe her maiden name of Adegoke off the record as well and publicly renounce and disavow her father, mother, siblings and Nigerian lineage and heritage.
“She does not want to identify with us, and we do not want to identify with her.
“She sees us as being corrupt and evil and we see her as being the devil incarnate and the spawn of satan. There can be no fellowship between us.
“The truth is that she is no longer a mere irritant or the inconsequential object of our contempt and ridicule but she can now be comfortably and legitimately described as ‘public enemy number one’ of our beloved nation.
“She should stick to the affairs of her UK, face its ruling Labour Party and its Prime Minister Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer and leave Nigeria alone!”
The Senator representing Abia South senatorial district in Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has claimed the Igbos are the most disenfranchised and marginalised people in Nigeria.
The Senator made this known in Abuja on Saturday during a public presentation of a book: “The power of Nothing: Triumph And Trump Of People’s Voice In Enugu”, written by Ikem Okuhu.
Abaribe, who was represented at the occasion by Senator representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, said there is an imbalance within the nation’s political environment.
The Senator insisted that allocating only five states to the Southeast is unfair.
He also called on Nigerian citizens and politicians to embrace the optimism to make the country better.
He said, “I would like to say a few things about the Igbos. We Igbos believe in progressivism, and the concept of patriotism and nationalism.
“And this is why you will see an Igbo man pack up his bag and leave his village to Bauchi to set up shops, buy a piece of land, build a house, and become an employer of labour. That in itself, for me, is nationalism, patriotism and progressivism.
“That’s why the Igbo man has that enthusiasm in him to develop, to be progressive, and to remain optimistic. That’s why I said that optimism is a virtue every Nigerian and politician must embrace so that Nigeria will always be better.
“A lot of people might not like what I want to say, the Igbos, we are the most disenfranchised and marginalized. But all we try to do and encourage our brothers is to support one another because it’s highly needed.”
Speaking about the book by Okuhu, which chronicled the events leading to and after the 2023 gubernatorial election, Abaribe urged Nigerians to engage in politics and government policies.
He added, “Today we are having a conversation about tax reform. It’s a subject matter that’s on the front burner.
“If the bill is passed that means every activity that relates to your business will be affected. So when you say you’re not interested in politics, you’re doing yourself and family a great disservice.
“Our president, when he was elected, on the day of his inauguration made a statement and said that subsidy is gone.
“Immediately, the effect of that statement became something that has put us in an economic quagmire.
“This goes to show that politics plays a very intricate role in all our lives. That’s why we must be enthusiastic, eager and receptive to anything that relates to lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of the past.
“It’s only when you identify your problem, you identify the conundrum of the political system that you can then begin also to identify the clinical solutions of how those problems can be tackled.
“There are things that happened, there are people that believe they have built alliances, there are people that gave their words but at the end of the day, those agreements were breached. This is a lesson every politician must learn.”
Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Vice President Kashim Shettima against further verbal attacks on Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party.
Igboho’s statement, obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, came in response to Shettima’s remarks about Badenoch, who had earlier made critical comments on corruption in Nigeria.
Badenoch, who identifies as Yoruba, had also distanced herself from being grouped with Northern Nigeria.
In a personally signed press release, Igboho urged Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong in expressing her views on corruption, a persistent obstacle to Nigeria’s development.
“It is incumbent on President Bola Tinubu, who is also of Yoruba lineage, to direct Shettima to focus on his duties as vice president rather than engage in a verbal war against Badenoch. She merely expressed her candid and truthful opinion on the pervasive corruption in Nigeria’s system,” Igboho said.
Drawing comparisons to the previous administration, he added, “When Muhammadu Buhari was in power, nobody dared launch offensive or verbal attacks against his Fulani ethnic group without facing consequences.
“Because of my agitation against the destruction of farmlands, killings, and sexual violence by Fulani herders during Buhari’s tenure, security agents, on his orders, stormed my residence on July 1, 2021, killing two people and arresting 13 others.”
Igboho criticised the Federal Government for its failure to address the challenges plaguing Nigerians, including economic hardship, poverty, kidnapping, and insecurity. Instead of focusing on these pressing issues, he said, Shettima had chosen to target Badenoch.
“Majority of Nigerians are experiencing harrowing poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains lost in finding solutions. Rather than deploying measures to alleviate the suffering of the masses, the Vice President is busy directing his energy toward Badenoch,” he stated.
Igboho further said, “When has it become a sin for someone to express their opinion or state the obvious about how corruption has stunted Nigeria’s growth?
“Badenoch, proclaiming her true identity as Yoruba, has committed no offence. The Vice President should concentrate on his responsibilities instead of chasing shadows.”
He implored Tinubu to intervene and ensure Shettima refrained from unnecessary verbal assaults on Badenoch, urging him to prioritise the duties of his office.
The sixth day of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Holy Ghost Congress 2024, themed Onward Christian Soldiers, turned into a captivating reflection as Pastor Enoch
Adeboye shared the extraordinary story of the Redemption Camp.
Addressing a congregation on December 14, Pastor Adeboye recounted how God’s providence and the unwavering faith of a few transformed a forsaken land into a spiritual haven.
According to Church Times Nigeria on Sunday, Adeboye said, “This place was just about two hectares of land where highway robbers made their base. I was just a little above 40 years old when we came.”
The camp’s inception was fraught with challenges, which Adeboye likened to the Israelites’ encounter with the negative reports of ten spies, countered by the faith-filled resolve of Joshua and Caleb.
“Not long after we came to the camp, we stumbled on spots where robbers dumped hundreds of suitcases, shoes, and clothes of their victims,” Adeboye revealed.
Nature, too, seemed hostile, he recounted.
“The place was also a land of snakes, especially pythons. Almost every week, huge reptiles were killed on the campgrounds,” he said, adding that in one chilling incident, a snake was discovered under the bedsheet of one of his children.
Adeboye also recounted the cutting of a strange tree that sparked fear among local villagers, who believed those who cut it would die. “Many years later, nothing has happened to those who cut the tree,” he said.
Despite these adversities, Pastor Adeboye credited the unyielding support of elders who laboured tirelessly during the camp’s formative years.
“Don’t look down on elders. They laboured with me when we had nothing. They fetched firewood for cooking, dug holes to get water to drink, and worked tirelessly. They have tried,” he said.
He urged the younger generation to honour their elders, insisting that their experience is irreplaceable.
“The experience gained over years by elders can’t be learned in a seminary,” he added.
He expressed pride in the church’s unparalleled achievements.
“Where else can you find a father in the world that has the kind of choir that we have? I am not a father in a million, not even in a billion, and you’re going to be greater than me,” he declared, prompting thunderous applause.
In his closing words, Adeboye called on the congregation to seize the opportunities of their youth with faith.
“If the enemy can’t stop your father, the same enemy can’t stop you. Let’s together take over the world for Christ,” he proclaimed.
He assured them of God’s omnipotence, adding, “If God is on your side, nothing can stop you. By strength shall no man prevail.”
The Holy Ghost Congress concludes today, December 15, with a grand thanksgiving service, leaving attendees emboldened by the remarkable testimony of Redemption Camp’s transformation and the enduring power of faith.
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says the 10th house passed 89 bills across priority areas in one year.
Speaking during a workshop organised for the house of representatives press corps in Kaduna on Saturday, Abbas highlighted the performance of the lawmakers in the past 17 months.
“I am pleased to highlight our significant strides in the past seventeen months. Our One-Year performance assessment scorecard reveals remarkable achievements, including passing 89 bills across our priority areas,” he said.
“These include the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023; the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023; the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the National Anthem Bill, 2024; and the Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
“These laws address critical aspects of governance, security, and economic reform.”
The speaker said besides lawmaking, the house of representatives undertook various initiatives to deepen public engagement and enhance the legislative process.
He said the house organised the national dialogue on state policing, a national discourse on Nigeria’s security challenges and a retreat on the effective implementation of the petroleum industry act (PIA), tax reform modernisation dialogues and the citizens’ town hall on the 2024 appropriation bill, among others.
“Beyond legislation, the House has undertaken various initiatives to deepen public engagement and enhance the legislative process,” he added.
“These include the National Dialogue on State Policing, the National Discourse on Nigerian Security Challenges, a retreat on the effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, tax reform modernisation dialogues, the Citizens’ Town Hall on the 2024 Appropriation Bill, and the pre-legislative presentation of tax reform bills.
“These engagements underscore our commitment to ensuring that governance is inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.”
Abbas urged journalists to be cautious in their reportage of the activities of lawmakers to avoid misinformation.
At a separate event, the speaker announced the establishment of four new tertiary institutions in Zaria.
The institutions include a federal college of education, college of health sciences, a National Open University campus, and a college of legal studies.
He said the institutions will enhance Zaria’s educational infrastructure and provide critical resources for the region.
[TheCable]
*Focus on something useful, not Badenoch, Atiku’s aide tells Shettima
The leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has again taken a dig at Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in her recent interview, saying she is a Yoruba and has nothing in common with the northern part of the country.
This is as the spokesman for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, asked those criticising Badenoch, to embark on a moment of introspection.
Vice President Shettima, recently, slammed her for denigrating Nigeria in her recent interviews with British media, especially her views on immigration and corruption by the Nigerian public officials, and urged her to drop her Nigerian name.
While her spokesperson has responded to the criticism from Shettima, Badenoch sparked fresh identity controversy while speaking with British media, The Spectator, recently.
According to her, Northern Nigeria is a haven for Islamism and Boko Haram. She expressed dismay at how she’s being identified as Nigerian, noting that she identifies less with the country.
She said, “I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba).”
“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.
“Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped with northern people of Nigeria, who ‘were our ethnic enemies,’ all in the name of being called a Nigerian.”
Continuing, Badenoch recalled how her surname was linked to a warrior and protector of the crown, adding that she was ready to die protecting the country (United Kingdom).
“Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that’s what I see myself as doing.
“I am here to protect, and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there,” she added.
Meanwhile, Shaibu, the spokesman for the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Atiku, asked those criticising Badenoch, to embark on a moment of introspection.
Specifically, Shaibu urged Vice President Shettima to find something useful to do rather than concentrating on Badenoch.
In a post on his X page yesterday, Shaibu asked the vice president to find something useful to do with his time instead of berating Badenoch.
He wrote: “Those criticising @KemiBadenoch should pause for a moment of introspection. The mere fact that her name is Kemi or that she has Yoruba roots does not automatically render her Nigerian.
“After all, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus @gabrieljesus9 is not the son of God. @officialSKSM should find something useful to do with his time.”
[Thisday]
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Nigerian model and rising star, Nwajagu Samuel, has etched his name in the history books as the first African and Nigerian to win the Mister International title.
The 16th edition of the global pageant, which showcased 46 contestants from across the world, took place today December 14, 2024, at Island Hall, Fashion Island in Bangkok, Thailand.
Samuel‘s victory, which was celebrated by fans and followers, came after an intense competition.
He was crowned by his predecessor, Kim Thitisan Goodburn of Thailand, in a moment that marked a turning point for the African continent in the world of male pageantry.
Mister International is widely regarded as one of the top two global male pageants, offering a platform for young men to showcase their talents, charisma, and cultural pride.
The 23-year-old software engineer, athlete and model with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering also bagged the Best in Swimwear award. He is 6’3″ tall.
Nguyễn Mạnh Lân from Vietnam and Glenn Victor Sutanto representing Indonesia secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively.
Anthony Henricus of the Netherlands, Rafael Dominguez from Spain, and Justine Ong of the Philippines joined them in the top six, and Ong earned the fan-favourite vote.
The contestants from Mexico, Italy, South Korea, Ecuador, and China completed the Top 10 finalists.
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Ex-militant leader and a prominent voice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, has revealed how former President Muhammadu Buhari contracted and deployed members of his private security outfit to different security flashpoints across several states in the country.
This revelation was contained in a trending video on multiple social media platforms. The video showed Dokubo surrounded by supporters, giving a performance report of his men across the country, to some people.
The ex-warlord recalled that their first operation was on November 3, 2021, during the Anambra election.
He said: “Because of the performance of our people in Anambra, the government asked us to go to Imo State.
“In Imo, we did what nobody thought was possible; where they said there were tunnels and hoodlums were running through tunnels, our people defied the odds and went there. At the dreaded Valley (Mother Valley) we entered”.
According to Dokubo, his men were daring and courageous and several of them paid the ultimate price with their lives.
He alleged: “Out of jealousy, five of our men were executed pointblank by the Police in Imo. If we had lost our temper at the time, we may not be around here now.
“Over the years, they have been telling government lies but we proved them wrong.”
Dokubo noted that his group passed through all the difficulties but continued to progress and stayed on course for the work. “And from that progress, the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari saw us and gave us opportunity to go to different places in the country, to bring peace to the people.”
He added that before his men were deployed to Wase, Baga and Mangoro, the people there were unable to go to farm but the stories have changed.
“They may accept or deny it but they can’t erase the fact that we cleared the Abuja-Kaduna road for people to travel in peace”, he said.
There are strong indications that some leaders and members of the Labour Party (LP) outside of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Julius Abure, a lawyer, are currently seeking alternative platforms for the general elections holding in 2027.
The development, Sunday Telegraph gathered, is not unconnected with the recent recognition of Abure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the authentic National Chairman, following a court victory in Abuja.
Prior to the recognition, Abure had been at war with the Leader of the party and its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi; the Governor of Abia State and only governor of the party, Dr. Alex Otti; the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its Political Commission led by a former President of the NLC Abulwahab Omar.
It was in a bid to resolve the crisis that Obi, Otti, the NLC and leaders of the party converged on Umuahia and set up a Caretaker Committee headed by a former Finance Minister, Ms. Nnenadi Usman, to pilot the affairs of the party and elect a new executive.
Few weeks after that, Abure obtained the court order which unsettled the whole party.
It was gathered that following the differences between Abure and the leaders, many of them are now seeking alternative platforms to prepare for 2027, even as the Abure-led NWC continues to threaten to sue those who were leaving the party. But the defectors cited the division in the party as their reasons for their action.
Only last week, five members of the House of Representatives, namely, Tochukwu Okere, Imo State; Donatus Mathew, Kaduna State; Bassey Akiba, Cross River State and Iyawu Esosa, Edo State, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the LP.
A day after, Dalyop Chollom, from Plateau State, also defected to the APC, causing an uproar in the House. This came weeks after a senator from Imo State, Emma Ibezim, had defected to the APC. It is a situation both the minority caucus in the National Assembly and the LP itself has not taken lightly.
Responding to the defections, the Minority Whip, Ali Isah JC (PDP-Gombe), asked the Speaker to declare the seats of the defected opposition lawmakers vacant in line with Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).
Similarly, the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda and the leader of the LP caucus in the Green Chamber, George Ozodinobi, both toed the same line, a position that was overruled by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Reacting to the gale of losses, the Labour Party said it had opened a hall of shame for the members, who defected, adding that it would retrieve their mandates through the courts. According to Obiorah Ifoh, the party’s spokesman, “Though the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has however, elected not to allow it slide and has therefore instructed its legal team to commence the legal actions against the defectors and to also commence the process of regaining our mandates in line with the 1999 constitution and 2022 Electoral Act as amended,”
Even though the LP is sounding tough under Abure, Sunday Telegraph gathered that more LP members are gearing to defect from the party in the coming weeks. Sources within the party said that the discussions between Obi and other political parties on presenting a stronger platform for the 2027 election was an indication of a major serious shift in the party. Although Obi himself has not spoken of his direction, it was gathered that his men are in active discussion with the PDP, NNPP, ADC, SDP, among other parties to form a coalition against the APC in 2027.
Further, Otti of Abia State, at the last Local Government Election in the state, did not field candidates on the platform of the LP. Rather, he opted for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which won a major chunk of the seats in the 17 Local Councils in the state.
A source told Sunday Telegraph: “Since Abure insisted on staying there forever, it is obvious the confidence of many in the party is lost. Since he spurned the Caretaker Committee and believes the party belongs to him and his NWC, the consequences are clear enough for all to see. These defections are not mere occurrences. Many more will leave; others are waiting for the direction the coalition talks will go.
A chieftain of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has asserted that there is a vacancy in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said his position is supported by the Nigerian constitution and guided by the will of the people.
The elder statesman made the submission in response to the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who held that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Northern politicians interested in the presidency should wait till 2031 when President Bola Tinubu is expected to conclude his second term in office.
However, reacting to Akume’s submission, Galadima, during an interview with Vanguard which was published on Sunday, dismissed the position of the SGF, adding that he was only trying to protect his job.
The NNPP chieftain said counting from 1999, by 2027, the South would have ruled Nigeria for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, the North can lay claim to the presidency again.
“Well, in the first place, I wouldn’t want to discuss Nigerian issues on the basis of North and South. I am a nationalist and will remain so until I die. But, the issue would be about equity and justice and for me, Akume, a sociologist, and brother of a historian should have known better. If he looks at Aso Villa which he said there is no vacancy, he should know that other people were there before, namely: General Buhari, General Babangida, Chief Shonekan, General Abacha, General Abubakar, Chief Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua, Jonathan, and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“So, if all the 10 former presidents and heads of state that stayed there are no more there, he should also know that one day, sooner or later, President Bola Tinubu would also go. Nigerians behave as if they don’t understand history. If you are talking of region, Akume is one of the people I respect very much because as governor of Benue State in 1999, he was one of the foremost northerners that worked for the interest of the North.
“In fact, he was more northern than the Caliphate because Akume spent most of his time defending the New Nigerian Development Corporation, NNDC, and Bank of the North. At a point, only Benue had commanding shares in Bank of the North. For him to make a somersault over what he believed in before, I just laugh and say, well, the man is protecting his ‘garri’ (cassava flour).
“Did he really make a somersault? His words were clear based on opinions on a gentleman’s agreement by political parties since 1999. He was talking about rotation of presidency between the North and South, two tenures of four years each (eight years total).
“I thought you would go back. You started from the end. I don’t want to discuss North and South, but if that is what you want us to educate Nigerians on, by 2027 the South would have ruled this country (since 1999) for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, that you can revert to the North so they can make up for the deficit, if that is what he is talking about. But I believe in who has delivered on his promises to Nigerians. Has that man occupying that seat ameliorated the condition of the people? We would ask Akume for their scorecard,” Galadima said.
The NNPP chieftain argued further that Nigeria is practising democracy and not a monarchy, so it is left to the citizens, not one person to determine their next leader.
“What have they done for Nigerians? Are we practicing monarchy? I thought it is democracy. That’s why I don’t want to talk about North and South. What I want to talk about is who delivered on the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. If President Tinubu delivers very well and Seyi, his son, would be the best person to succeed him, for me, I have no problem. But, what the people feel now in their bodies will determine what they vote in 2027.
“There is big vacancy in Aso Rock. In fact, there is no body occupying that seat in 2027, according to the Nigerian constitution. So, Akume’s assertion is only laughable. When I heard it and looked at him talking about that, I said, “Ha! My friend is protecting his ‘garri,“” Galadima concluded.