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Naija News understands that this new online portal will enable Nigerians to convert their petrol-fueled vehicles to CNG, with the option to defer payment for the conversion expenses.
This information was shared in a statement by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X account on Tuesday.
The government noted that this payment scheme is designed to enable drivers to undertake vehicle conversions immediately while repaying the costs in manageable monthly instalments at competitive rates.
“Switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is now more accessible than ever. With flexible payment plans tailored to fit your budget, transitioning from petrol to CNG has never been smoother or more affordable.
“These payment options allow you to convert your vehicle now and pay later with affordable monthly instalments at competitive rates.
“With an easy online application and quick approval process, you’ll receive support every step of the way to ensure a hassle-free experience,” the government stated.
The Nigerian government is expanding CNG conversion centres nationwide through the Presidential CNG initiative.
In the past six months, conversion centres have been established in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as well as in Ogun, Ekiti, Nasarawa, and several other states.
The Federal Government aims to convert 1 million vehicles by the year 2027.
Officials have stated that the CNG initiative is expected to lower road transportation expenses by 40 per cent.
This initiative comes at a time when Nigerians are facing increased transportation costs, with fuel prices rising to between ₦950.22 and ₦1,100 per litre, up from ₦770.
[NaijaNews]
The federal government has called on Nigerians to obtain permission before using the national anthem.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the move was to prevent the anthem’s misinterpretation and ensure proper representation of national symbols.
“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. The DG emphasised that permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement partly read.
Mallam Issa-Onilu did not elaborate on specific contexts where permission would be required. However, he announced that press conferences would be held nationwide to educate the public on this and other new policies of the agency.
The DG also clarified the precise colours of the Nigerian flag, specifying that it is “green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0.”
Issa-Onilu also highlighted several key achievements under his leadership, including the establishment of audio-visual studios, the launch of an upgraded NOA website featuring the CLHEEAN-NOA AI voice and chat assistant, and recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals on institutional policies.
He credited these advancements to the support of President Bola Tinubu.
Reflecting on the past, Issa-Onilu noted that previous administrations focused heavily on infrastructure development, often at the expense of value orientation.
He cited the decline of social institutions such as the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, and the WAI Brigade as evidence of this oversight.
He added that the current administration, however, recognises the importance of value orientation, with President Tinubu backing the National Identity Project and the NOA’s new initiatives.
One of these initiatives, he said, is the Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), designed to instill Nigerian values in children.
“We advise Nigerians not to allow their children to search for heroes elsewhere, especially during their formative years,” Issa-Onilu remarked.
He said the CVB will start with 1,000 children per state and the Federal Capital Territory, aiming to create “homegrown heroes” for future generations.
To counter foreign influences on young Nigerians, Issa-Onilu also emphasised the need for local cartoon content that aligns with Nigerian values.
He urged both leaders and citizens to uphold the principles of equality and Meritocracy, as outlined in the National Values Charter, which he described as central to Nigeria’s progress.
LEADERSHIP recalls that President Tinubu recently signed a bill restoring the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” originally written in 1959 by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda.
[Leadership]
The Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has said the commission is working hard to ensure reduction in 2025 hajj fare which was projected to hit N10 million.
Although the commission has not announced the fare, it confirmed that the federal government would not subsidise hajj payment for pilgrims in 2025.
Daily Trust had reported how the subsidy removal could hike the hajj fare by almost N10million if the naira maintains its current rate of N1,650 to a dollar.
Speaking to BBC Hausa service on, the NAHCON Chairman said the commission is working round the clock to ensure there is a reduction in the amount intending pilgrims would pay for the 2025 hajj operation.
He said, “Firstly, this is not our hope, and this is not what we want to happen. There has not been any announcement that it will happen. What we are doing, and based on the advice we are giving and getting, we are working to ensure that it (the fare) did not get there, and we are optimistic and hopeful it will not get there, God willing.
“Our hope is to even have a reduction from what was paid last year, and this is what we are working round the clock to achieve. And we are optimistic that we will achieve this with Allah’s help.”
Asked to comment on the suspension of hajj-related operations by the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN), Prof. Sale said, “Although I was not in office when the suspension was announced, when I came, I invited them for a meeting where we discussed and reached an agreement. We understood their demands and we will do our level best to ensure that we resolve the issues.
“The issue that they are not going to participate in the 2025 hajj exercise – I think I can say – has been resolved. We had a meeting with them which I presided over. We asked them to advise and give us recommendations on what they think should be done to resolve the issues, they did, and we are going to work on that, in sha Allah.”
[DailyTrust]
The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has upheld the sack of Hon. Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the House of Representatives by Election Petition Tribunal.
The court also affirmed the declaration of Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo of the Labour Party, LP, as the winner of the 3rd February, 2024 re-run election for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency.
The judgement was unanimously delivered by the three members of the panel and read out by the chairman of the panel Justice Ekanem.
One of the Labour Party lawyers, Ifeanyi Ogenyi confirmed this in a post on Wednesday.
“”Congratulations to the people of Igbo Eze North/Udenu Federal constituency.
“The wheel of justice turns slowly, but it grinds.Truth and justice has prevail, no matter the wait. Dennis Agbo has prevailed!,” he wrote.
DAILY POST recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Atigwe the winner of the re-run election.
But Agbo, who had earlier won the February 25th, 2023 election but was sacked by the appellate court proceeded to the tribunal to challenge Atigwe’s declaration and won the case, and too at the Appeal court.
[DailyPost]
The management of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo has begun refusing acceptance fees to admission seekers who are not up to 16.
Some parents have cried out that the institution rejected applicants who are under-17.
But spokesman for the institution, Mr. Isaac Oluyi, said it was a policy of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Oluyi explained the affected students were made to know that it was a policy of JAMB and not of the institution.
He said JAMB issued the notice last Thursday after many applicants have paid acceptance fees.
According to him: “We have no policy on age concerning admission. JAMB alongside the Ministry of Education came up with policy that those under 16 should not be admitted.
“Admission letter will come from JAMB and not the university. For us as an institution, we do not want to tarnish our image, if you do not meet up with the requirement of JAMB and have paid acceptance fees, we are refunding them.
“We make it clear to them that it is JAMb policy and not our policy. We will admit those who are 17. It is 16 that JAMB is talking about. If you are not up to 16, you can’t be admitted. We are still doing screening and we have to abide by their policy.
“Universities have no power over admission because admission letters will come from JAMB. It is not our policy not to admit students who are under 16. We have to comply. We are doing everything to ensure that everybody qualified is admitted.”
[TheNation]
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 has published comprehensive data and statistics on universities across continents.
PUNCH Online in this report has accessed the data published on the Times website with a survey into the approved data for Nigerian universities with Covenant University coming on top of the list.
According to the statement published on the website, it revealed that the data is based on the new WUR 3.0 methodology which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
The statement reads, “The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 include 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions with a look into how the global higher education landscape is shifting.
“The table is based on our new WUR 3.0 methodology, which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
“This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data.
“Trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments and industry experts, the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.”
Nigeria’s TIMES Overall Best Universities
1. Covenant University
2. University of Ibadan
3. Federal University of Technology Akure
4. University of Lagos
5. Bayero University
6. University of Ilorin
7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
8. Afe Babalola University
9. University of Benin
10. Federal University ofAgriculture, Abeokuta
11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
12. Lagos State University
13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
14. Obafemi Awolowo University
15. University of Port Harcourt
16. Abia State University
17. Akwa Ibom State University
18. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike
19. Babcock University
20. Baze University
21. Bells University of Technology
22. Benson Idahosa University
23. Delta State University, Abraka
24. Edo State University, Uzairue
25. Edwin Clarke University
26. Elizade University
27. Evangel University, Akaeze
29. Federal University of Kashere
30. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
31. Federal University of Technology, Minna
32. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
33. Fountain University
34. Landmark University
35. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
36. Niger Delta University
37. Plateau State University, Bokkos
38. Thomas Adewumi University
39. Veritas University, Abuja
40. Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano
On a national scale, however, Covenant University is listed as Nigeria’s best across teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
Rankings like Times are used by prospective students, employers, and governments as a benchmark to evaluate universities.
[Punch]
The story of a woman from Lincolnshire has made headlines across the globe. Tizi Hodson, 70, has finally received the reply to her job application. It just that, the reply is late by 48 years.
Hodson from Gedney Hill in the UK had sent an application for a job as a motorcycle stunt rider in January 1976. Now, the letter has been returned with a remark, “amazing”.
The reason for the delay? The original letter of application was stuck behind a drawer in the post office all these years.
According to a report by BBC, on top of the letter, there was another remark, “Late delivery by Staines Post Office. Found behind a draw [sic]. Only about 50 years late.”
Hodson told BBC that she had always wondered why there was no reply on the letter. “Now I know why,” she said.
Hodson had taken another job which took her all over the world in all these years. She said that she has changed her house over 50 times and was surprised how did they even find her house after all these years.
“How they found me when I’ve moved house 50-odd times, and even moved countries four or five times, is a mystery,” she said. “It means so much to me to get it back all this time later.”
Hodson, however, has had an eventful life. She has worked as a snake handler, a horse whisperer, an aerobatic pilot and even a flying instructor since sending out her letter. She even moved to Africa.
She said that she sent the application letter "when she was just starting out".
“I was very careful not to let people who were advertising for a stunt rider know that I was female, or I thought I would have had no chance of even getting an interview,” she told BBC.
“I even stupidly told them I didn’t mind how many bones I might break as I was used to it...It seems incredible to get the letter back after all this time.”
After all the years of such an adventurous life, Hodson has a message for her younger self. She would want her to do things exactly as she has done.
“If I could speak to my younger self, I would tell her to go and do everything I’ve done,” she said.
“I’ve had such a wonderful time in life, even if I have broken a few bones.”
[livemint]
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has dismissed from office the Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District), Mr Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, over allegations of bribery and intimidation.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, said that the sack was with immediate effect.
Adeniyan said that the governor has ordered a probe into the activities of those managing forest reserves in the State.
The statement reads ” The Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed from office the Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District), Mr. Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, with immediate effect.
“This followed allegations of bribery and intimidation levelled against Mr Ewenla by some timber merchants in the State.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa also ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves in the State.
“A replacement for Mr Ewenla will be announced in due course.
“The Governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.
Ewenla, could not be reached for comment.
[Vanguard]
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has increased the price of premium motor spirit, also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.
TheCable observed that the price of the product increased to N998 per litre in Lagos on Wednesday.
NNPC increased the pump price from N855 per litre set in September.
More to follow…
[TheCable]
...as Foursquare church’s annual lecture focuses on leadership question
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has made a case for the inclusion of leadership training and mentorship into the school curriculum at every cadre of education in the country.
Teaching of leadership and associated values, according to the Governor, would help inculcate the right leadership values and qualities in the younger generation, thereby addressing the leadership question more effectively.
Governor Oyebanji stated this in Lagos on Tuesday, in his remarks at the 11th Annual Public lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church, titled: “Leadership in Nigeria and Its Impact on The Next Generation”.
Oyebanji, who chaired the occasion, said Nigeria ought to be futuristic enough to have embedded curriculum that teaches leadership skills and principles, both as practical skills and indoctrinated value in the young population. According to him, if we have identified bad leadership as the bane of the society, it is important to ensure a well structure leadership training for the younger generation.
He spoke just as the Guest Speaker at the lecture and founder The Chair Centre, Mrs Ibukun Awosika and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu, also canvassed a deliberate effort at equipping future leaders with necessary values.
According to Oyebanji. “Leadership must be part of the basic everyday skills that every citizen should possess. Leadership training must be as important as basic education for literacy and numeracy. As a nation, we should have embedded curriculum that teaches leadership skills and principles, both as practical skills and indoctrinated values. For me, I believe if you want to change a people, teach them what you want them to change to.
“There is no doubt that a major problem with leadership recruitment in Nigeria is that, people, sometimes, just find themselves in leadership positions without the right aptitude and attitude. For long, Nigerians continue to gamble with leadership selection through try by error system.
“There are those who become leaders by default or by circumstances of privileged pedigree and not because of personal merits. Yet, the best of leaders are those who have been trained, tested and exposed to the nitty-gritty of leadership in addition to their innate ability.
“Leadership is such a serious thing that being certified should be one of the requirements to hold certain strategic positions in the society. Evidence abounds that technical skill on jobs are not enough for people to lead competently; there is the need for real and special training in the art and science of leadership for people to succeed today.
“I therefore subscribe to the argument that people should, of necessity, go through intentional leadership training before they can lead at some certain levels in the society. We all need to be well exposed to the call of leadership and how to manage a mass audience of people with differing characteristics, needs and tendencies.” He said.
Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji said the foregoing propelled his government to introduce Ekiti Values Education (EVE) into the curriculum as a way of identifying those with high propensity to lead in future at their tender age, adding that the domestication of this concept as part of educational development, was to make Ekiti a model in leadership among the next generations of Nigerians.
"In Ekiti, we are already doing this. As a State that is serious about preparing the next generation of leaders from today, we have evolved a ’catch-them-young’ curriculum that prepares our future leaders for leadership position right from the primary school.
"As a result, we currently run a compulsory subject called Ekiti Values Education (EVE) with a considerable module that focuses on leadership development. The subject aims to teach young Ekiti children comprehensive aspects of leadership, responsibility of a leader and practical leadership exposure.
"For me, I believe if you want to change a people, teach them what you want them to change to. There is no doubt that a major problem with leadership recruitment in Nigeria is that, people, sometimes, just find themselves in leadership positions without the right aptitude and attitude.”he said .
In her paper, Mrs Awosika, said Nigeria must nurture a generation of king and empathetic leaders, who will understand that they are not necessarily the best among the citizens, but that they have been saddled with the responsibility to lead.
She also made a case for parents to lead in the leadership training, stressing that children will naturally grow up and imbibe the values around them.
“Raising the next generation requires our examples. We should show the younger ones what to do. We should teach our children what it means to be good citizens”, she said , adding that through proper upbringing and learning from the examples of the parents the young ones can imbibe good leadership traits.
Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, said it was important to nurture spiritual and political leadership in the younger ones.
The Lagos Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Governor, Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin said the future of Nigeria rest on “our ability to nurture the next generation on the path of responsible leadership based on empathy.
A major highlight of the event was an award presentation by the General Overseer Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev (Dr) Sam Aboyeji to Governor Oyebanji, Governor Sanwo- Olu and Mrs Awosika. While the church representative also presented an appreciation award to the General Overseer.
Present at the lecture were political leaders, including Dr Bode Olajumoke; state commissioners, religious leaders and students leaders drawn from from secondary and tertiary institutions in the country.
More...
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has accused his successor, Siminalayi Fubara of sponsoring the Action Peoples Party (APP) in the just-ended local government election in the state.
Recall that Governor Fubara on Monday sworn in local government chairpersons in Rivers State.
The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State also attended the event.
APP won 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions in the election.
In the lead-up to the poll, Fubara who is a member of the PDP said he is the “greatest loser” since his party was not on the ballot.
Wike, however, claimed that Fubara sponsored the APP for the election.
While speaking on Channels Tv, on Tuesday said, “Today, people say ‘Discipline Wike, he did anti-party’. I did not do anti-party; I said we must stand for equity, fairness, and justice.
“Today, what happened? The governor [Fubara] is the one who sponsored the APP. The chairman of the [PDP] governors’ forum was the one who attended the swearing-in.”
Former Governor of Rivers State and the incumbent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister,Nyesom Wike, has said he owes no apology for his actions against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.
Naija News reports that the FCT Minister made this remark on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Wike faulted the accusation against him, saying that he engaged in anti-party activities by refusing to support Atiku Abubakar, the then-PDP presidential candidate.
According to him, he only supported equity, fairness and justice.
“For the presidential election, I said I am going to support equity, fairness and justice. In the other one, I am going to support my party and that is why we won the governor, National Assembly election.
“For presidential, I have no apologies because I don’t believe in injustice. Today people say ‘discipline Wike, he did anti-party.’ I did not do anti-party,” Wike said.
Naija News recalls that in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, Wike, who was the governor of Rivers State at the time, allied with four other dissatisfied governors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP): Samuel Ortom from Benue, Seyi Makinde from Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu.
These five governors consistently insisted that Senator Iyorchia Ayu resign from his position as the national chairman of the PDP as a prerequisite for their support of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Ultimately, Atiku was defeated in the presidential election by Bola Tinubu, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), under whose administration Wike is currently serving.
…Saves Africa's $17bn Petrol Products Imports
Nigeria must enhance its crude oil production capacity and effectively manage its crude supply to ensure adequate feedstock for domestic refineries, in order to transit from a net importer to a net exporter of petroleum products.
Chairman of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, Aliko Dangote, made this assertion during his keynote address at a summit held in Lagos by the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN). The event attracted top government officials and key stakeholders from the midstream and downstream sectors.
Addressing Nigeria’s potential as a refining hub, Dangote expressed concern that, despite producing over 3.4 million barrels of crude oil per day, Africa imports around 3 million barrels of petroleum products daily. He noted that these imports, primarily from Europe, Russia, and other regions, are estimated to cost approximately $17 billion in 2023. He urged that Nigeria could capitalise on this situation to become a net exporter of refined petroleum products, as the markets would be more competitively served from Nigeria.
“Both the crude oil and the petroleum products will travel shorter distances. The logistics costs of floating storage will be eliminated, and countries can purchase their petroleum product requirements just-in-time. Nigeria and Africa can become completely self-sufficient, and we can keep all the value on our shores. We have done it in cement, and we can certainly do it for petroleum products.
“It is worth noting that the Dangote Refinery already produces sufficient diesel and jet fuel to meet Nigeria’s demand. We recently started the production of PMS and will soon ramp up to meet Nigeria’s needs. Our refined products have been exported to diverse markets, including Europe, Brazil, the UK, the USA, Singapore, and South Korea,” he added.
Represented by Engr. Mansur Ahmed, Group Executive Director of Dangote Industries Ltd, Dangote emphasised that Nigeria must develop a refining capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day and prioritise domestic crude supply obligations to seize this opportunity. Acknowledging the arising and future challenges, he urged the government to incentivise investors, contrasting this with the Dangote Oil Refinery, which was built without any government incentives.
“…It is unfortunate that while countries like Norway are putting oil proceeds into a future fund, in Africa, we are spending oil proceeds from the future. We will also need to prioritise the implementation of domestic crude supply obligations. We will need to expand our crude oil production capacity to support demand from new refining capacity. The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking active steps to achieve this through fast-tracking IOC divestments and other initiatives,” he stated.
Emphasising that global developments in the petroleum sector, particularly in Europe, will disrupt historical trade flows for refined petroleum products in Africa, Dangote stated that Nigeria is uniquely positioned to capitalise on this opportunity and become a significant player in the global oil industry. He called for consultation, collaboration, and cooperation among stakeholders.
“As a vibrant exporter of refined products, Nigeria will witness an improvement in its balance of trade and generate much-needed foreign currency. Nigeria’s potential as a refining hub is clearly not in doubt; let us work together to make it happen,” he urged.
The foremost industrialist noted that the summit’s theme, “Making Nigeria a Net Exporter of Petroleum Products,” would have seemed unrealistic a few years ago, and added that despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer, Nigeria has historically relied on imports to meet its refined petroleum product needs.
However, he emphasised that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is poised to transform Nigeria from a “net importer” to a “net exporter” of refined petroleum products, establishing the country as an emerging player in global downstream trade flows; with refined products already exported to various markets, including Europe, Brazil, the UK, the USA, Singapore, and South Korea.
Commending Dangote for this transformation, Chairman of IPPG/Waltersmith Refinery & Petrochemicals Co. Ltd, Abdulrazaq Isa, called on the government to support domestic refiners by ensuring the availability of crude, adhering to domestic crude supply obligations, and implementing effective pricing and monitoring measures to prevent smuggling.
Chairman of CORAN's Board of Trustees and CEO of Integrated Oil & Gas, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho (rtd), remarked that the Dangote Oil Refinery has set a high standard by producing Euro-V products, thus protecting citizens from exposure to high-sulphur products. He noted that transforming Nigeria into a net exporter will bring numerous benefits but reiterated the need for increased investment to boost crude production, lamenting that Nigeria loses approximately $83 billion annually by not meeting its OPEC quota.
While acknowledging that tank farms remain essential despite local refining, Iheanacho urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to consider cancelling import licences, as Nigeria can now meet its local demand.
Chairman of Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Huub Stokman, stated that Nigeria is on the verge of becoming Africa's refining powerhouse, which will significantly boost the economy. The Chairman of CORAN, Momoh Oyarekhua, also expressed concern over challenges related to crude supply and stated that domestic refiners will work with regulators and stakeholders to address these issues.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lopkobiri, assured that the government would continue to refine frameworks to enhance crude production and support domestic refineries. His counterpart from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, emphasised the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to ensuring value addition for mineral resources before export.
Two panel sessions were held to discuss Nigeria’s downstream petroleum refining sector and its potential impacts, as well as policy strategies for achieving self-sufficiency in petroleum products.
In Indonesia, authorities have arrested a 36-year-old man in Tangerang, West Jakarta, for allegedly selling his 11-month-old baby online for 15 million rupiah, approximately US$955.
The man, identified only as RA, reportedly used the proceeds to fund his online gambling activities and cover personal expenses, as reported by local media.
According to Tangerang City Metro Police Chief, Zain Dwi Nugroho, the case came to light on October 1 when the child’s biological mother returned from work in Kalimantan and discovered her child missing.
“She pressed RA to share the whereabouts of their child until he eventually confessed that he had sold the newborn,” Mr. Zain explained. Distressed by the revelation, she accompanied RA to file a report at the Tangerang City Police Department.
When questioned by authorities, RA initially claimed he sold the baby to relieve his financial difficulties.
However, further police investigations revealed that the money was spent primarily on online gambling, contradicting RA’s claims of financial necessity, according to news platform detiknews.
The buyers, identified by the initials HK and MO, were also arrested and are suspected of being part of a human trafficking network.
“RA saw on Facebook that the buyers were looking to purchase a toddler, so he sent them a message and arranged the purchase,” Mr. Zain elaborated, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Authorities apprehended HK and MO at a rented residence in Tangerang, where they found the baby in their possession.
The three individuals are now under investigation for suspected involvement in human trafficking.
This incident has drawn condemnation from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission.
Chief Ai Maryati expressed deep concern over the case, stating, “It is worrying that he (RA) is using his financial situation to engage in activities that are being eradicated by the state, and with children being sold, he is also violating basic human rights.”
Maryati further highlighted that such actions represent a severe violation of children’s rights, which should be met with strict legal repercussions.
Under Indonesian law, human trafficking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of 600 million rupiah, while violations of child protection laws carry similar penalties, including a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of 300 million rupiah.
The sale of children due to economic hardship is not an isolated incident in Indonesia.
Ms. Maryati mentioned another recent case she handled in which babies were sold from Depok, Jakarta, to Bali, citing poverty as a major factor.
In September, Depok police dismantled a baby trafficking ring, arresting eight suspects involved in the illicit sale of newborns via Facebook.
According to Depok Police Chief Arya Perdana, these infants were being bought from parents in Depok and later sold for higher prices in Bali.
Ms. Maryati emphasized that there are no justifications for exploiting children in such a manner.
“There is no excuse to be treating children this way, and violation of their rights has to be punished severely,” she remarked.
She urged the government to take decisive action against human trafficking and online gambling, advocating for long-term solutions focused on education and public awareness.
The rise of online gambling has become a growing concern in Indonesia, with an estimated 4 million Indonesians engaged in these activities, according to Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi.
He described online gambling as “a serious threat to the country,” particularly among the 30 to 50-year-old age group.
Minister Setiadi’s comments underscore the broader societal issues contributing to cases like RA’s, where economic desperation leads individuals to take extreme and illegal measures.
The Asian Development Bank estimates that over 9.4 percent of Indonesia’s population was living below the national poverty line in 2023, a statistic that illustrates the economic challenges facing many Indonesian families.
[Punch]