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The Group Chief Executive Officer of OandO Plc, Wale Tinubu has disclosed that the oil firm is partnering with the Lagos State Government to deploy 5,000 electric buses for public transportation in the state.
Tinubu, said this in an interview with CNBC Africa, on the sidelines of the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He said the decision to invest in electric vehicles, particularly for public transportation, is informed by the company’s commitment to adopting cleaner energy solutions as part of its ‘just’ energy transition drive.
He makes a case for a ‘just transition’ over decarbonisation in Africa as the continent “is actually a victim of global warming,” bearing the brunt of climate change while contributing only about 3% of global emissions.
He stressed that Africa cannot decarbonise or abandon its large deposits of fossil fuels for clean energy sources while the majority of its citizens wallow in energy poverty.
“The arguments for decarbonisation are as important as the arguments for a just transition, and that transition has to recognize the fact that Africa has 45% of the people who have no access to electricity or energy products so our first step really must be to use what we need, which means that we need to use our gas as part of the energy mix to service the needs of our continent and that we need to do so as a transitional fuel whilst we work with an energy mix”
He noted that Oando, being a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is deploying EVs as a “carbon capture technique” to contribute to the global decarbonisation campaign.
“For every modicum of carbon we put into the economy, into the world and the environment, we are also taking that out by ensuring that we have carbon capture techniques as well as ensuring that our clean energy offering to as part of our products and services is high so we’re focusing a lot on e-vehicles,” he explained.
He disclosed that the company will deploy 5,000 electric buses to Lagos in its contribution to helping Nigeria transition its public transport system from combustion engines to electric vehicles.
“We are using gas as a transitional fuel to create electricity to generate the power to power buses, transport is 10% of global emissions so if we tackle public transport we would be able to reduce emissions by 5% almost immediately and the first step we’re doing now is also working on a public system of being able to transit the bus system in Nigeria from diesel or petrol to electric vehicles starting with a project which we’re working on with the Lagos state government as a pilot case where we expect to see up to 5,000 buses, e-buses being deployed in our streets.”
Oando to deploy AI in next oil drilling campaign
Tinubu also hinted at the potential deployment of artificial intelligence in the company’s next drilling campaign, as the company aims to enhance operational efficiency through technology.
He explained that the deployment of AI has become necessary to effectively utilise resources, and improve overall performance in Oando’s upcoming projects.
“It (AI) is a big game-changer. For example in our drilling operations, we have to make serious decisions which have a high impact on cost. And being able to throw in all the potential answers to our questions based on old experiences, by having a whole sequence of possibilities which can be taken through artificial intelligence. So it is something we are looking forward to deploying in our next drilling campaign,” he disclosed.
What you should know
- In August 2024, Oando PLC acquired Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from Italian oil giant, Eni in a deal worth $783 million. The acquisition increased Oando’s oil and gas reserves and doubled its oil and gas reserves.
- Earlier this year, the company announced that its subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (OER), was awarded the operatorship of Block KON 13 in Angola’s Onshore Kwanza Basin.
[Nairametrics]
President Bola Tinubu’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to combat corruption, revitalize the economy, enhance national unity, bolster the judiciary’s independence and ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima made this statement at the national conference on Monday in Abuja, which focused on reinforcing democracy in Nigeria.
The conference, titled ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathways to Good Governance and Political Integrity,’ was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development.
Represented by his Special Adviser on political matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Shettima acknowledged that while democracy may not be flawless, it remains the most effective form of governance when compared to others.
Shettima urged Nigerians to rally behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) government during this difficult yet ultimately fulfilling journey, emphasizing that the Bola Tinubu government is deeply invested in the quality of the democratic framework.
“We will listen and adjust where necessary, and we will account for our stewardship in all matters our challenging democratic systems demand.
“I am convinced that Nigeria shall rise again, answer to its full potential and lead the way to a future that has learnt lessons from a difficult past into a world in which our country will be a key player, and our young will be active champions of a democratic system because it speaks to them.
“It has been said many times that democracy is an imperfect system, yet superior to all others.
“We will continue to seek to provide evidence of the values of the democratic systems by, among others, fixing major weaknesses of our economy, securing our communities, fighting corruption, supporting free and fair elections, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving national cohesion,” he said.
[NaijaNews]
The FCT Police Command says preliminary investigations have revealed that the abductors of family members in Chikakore community in Bwari area council, were unknown men who disguised as vigilantes wielding machetes and sticks.
Daily Trust had reported that a man, his wife and their son were abducted in the early hours of Monday.
A statement by the command spokeswoman, SP Adeh Josephine, said the suspects deceived the man into opening his house gate, after which they abducted him alongside three of his family members.
She said a neighbour, who attempted to intervene, sustained injuries during the attack and was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for treatment.
She said the FCT Police Command received a distress call at about 1:00:am regarding a case of abduction and assault in the Chikakore community, adding that police operatives were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that seven unknown men, disguised as vigilante members and armed with machetes and sticks, attacked the residence of the victim. The suspects deceived him the victim into opening his gate, after which they abducted him and three members of his family. A neighbour who attempted to intervene sustained injuries during the attack and was promptly rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for medical attention,” she said.
She, however, said that the police command had commenced a comprehensive search and rescue operation, aimed at rescuing the abducted victims safely and apprehending the perpetrators.
The command urged residents of the Chikakore community and the general public to remain calm and vigilant, calling on members of the public with useful information that could assist in the rescue of the victims to promptly report to the police.
She said the FCT Police Command can be reached via its emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.
[DailyTrust]
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has opened up about his health since leaving office on May 29, 2023.
Buhari said his health has improved, adding that he looks better since leaving office in 2023.
While in office as President, Buhari was plagued by illness which led to him being flown abroad for medical attention.
He handed over to Bola Tinubu after serving his two terms as President.
Speaking at an All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders’ meeting at the Katsina State Government House, Buhari suggested that the complexities of being the President of Nigeria affected his health.
“Those outside the corridors of power do not understand the complexities and difficulties facing Nigeria.
“My health has improved since leaving office. People who visited me told me I look better than before.”
[DailyPost]
Actress and producer Mary Njoku and netizens have criticized 2baba’s decision to divorce his wife, Annie Idibia.
Njoku expressed her concerns on Instagram, stating that 2baba’s actions would humiliate Annie, who has already made tough choices for the family.
Njoku’s reaction is not isolated, as many fans and friends of Annie have questioned 2baba’s decision.
She wrote: “Bro, Annie has a family o, your sisters-in-law are many, and we’ve stayed quiet out of respect for her tough choices.
“But since you’ve decided to humiliate her at her lowest, no wahala. It’s your choice, just make sure she’s healthy and ok.
“Because when the time comes, we’ll have plenty of questions for you.”
Netizens reactions: One Bayo Otedola on X wrote: “We all know 2face to be a very quiet and private person about his marriage and for him to come online to make such statement about his marriage means he’s seen enough. I wish the guy all the love and support he needs at this time. All the best 2baba”
Oku_yungx wrote: “It is really difficult to see a grown man speak up honestly. 2face needs all the support he can get this period. He looks worn out just like Pep Guardiola. Gentlemen, stay praying for 2baba and his family.”
The Amazon wrote: “This whole 2baba and Annie saga is just a description of how men always put themselves first! Men are very selfish with their life choices, they use their head not heart to act, unlike women, always emotional about everything and put men first before themselves”.
Big Love wrote: “The way 2face embarrasses Annie is just too much! Disgracing the woman who stood by him when he had nothing, giving him her life. Even if the whole world is against her, 2baba should know better. He’s always finding a way to disgrace her when people are against her. Her first love is you, 2baba. She sees you as her best friend and husband! She doesn’t have anyone else but you. You’re the one she trusts and leans on. It’s heartbreaking for Annie. I hope all of you won’t kill her because of your madness and hate for this innocent girl. She’s been nothing but loyal and deserves better than all this negativity”.
The legendary singer announced his plans to divorce Annie on Sunday, which sparked widespread criticism.
[TheNation]
South Sudanese authorities have blocked access to social media platforms in response to recent unrest, drawing condemnation from the Committee to Protect Journalists and concerns over press freedom and public access to information.
On January 22, South Sudan’s telecommunications regulator, the National Communication Authority, directed all internet service providers to “block access to all social media accounts” for a “minimum of 30 days” and a “maximum of 90 days,” according to a copy of the authority’s letter reviewed by CPJ as well as multiple media reports.
The directive aims to curb the spread of footage showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in neighbouring Sudan, which had sparked violent protests, including retaliatory killings of Sudanese nationals.
CPJ in a statement on Monday strongly criticised the move, describing it as a disproportionate response to the unrest.
“Blocking social media access is a blanket act of censorship and a disproportionate response to unrest that makes it difficult for journalists to do their jobs and robs the public of the diverse sources of news.
“South Sudanese authorities should immediately lift this social media suspension,” said CPJ Africa programme coordinator, Muthoki Mumo.
According to CPJ, journalists in South Sudan are struggling to navigate the ban, resorting to virtual private networks to continue their work.
However, they remain uncertain whether their audience can access their reports.
“We journalists are using VPNs to work. What we don’t know is whether our audience is receiving [our news],” said Mariak Bol, editor-in-chief of Hot in Juba, a news site that also publishes content on Facebook.
The social media ban comes amid broader measures to address unrest in the country, including a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the capital, Juba, on January 17.
The Authority’s director general, Napoleon Adok Gai, suggested in a press briefing on January 23 that the ban could be lifted within 72 hours, though no official confirmation has been made.
CPJ noted that efforts to reach South Sudan’s information minister and the National Communication Authority for further clarification were unsuccessful.
[Punch]
Betty Otimenyin on Monday assumed duty as the first female Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
Ms Otimenyin arrived at the headquarters of the Police Command in Edo, some minutes before 10 am, where she inspected the guard mounted in her honour.
The commissioner of police, who is the 49th to be deployed to the state, was received by senior officers of the command.
Otimenyin replaced Umoru Ozigi, who retired from the service on Saturday, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In a short interview with newsmen, the police chief, who also hailed from Edo, said she would do a lot to reduce the rate of crime in the South-South state.
“I will do a lot of things until the crime level comes down.
“We will also look at extortion (among the men and officers) of the command. The Inspector-General of Police frowns at it,” she said.
According to her, the command will be tougher on violence against women and children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Otimenyin enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant of Police (ASP) in 1992.
Before her redeployment to Edo, she had served in various commands including Force Intelligence Department (FID) as Commissioner of Police, Administration.
NAN
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform, has overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded free application on the Apple store in the United States.
DeepSeek is an AI search platform that leverages deep learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) to deliver highly relevant, intent-driven results.
The platform was launched in 2023 with two versions: DeepSeek-R1, a standard model, and DeepSeek-R1-Zero, which features unsupervised fine-tuning for superior reasoning capabilities.
According to Reuters, the AI application recently surpassed ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free application in the US.
The feat comes amid US restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China.
Despite the limitations, the app’s researchers claim to have trained their latest model on Nvidia’s H800 chips.
The training process reportedly costs about $6 million, a fraction of the usual expenses for developing advanced AI systems.
On January 20, DeepSeek shared its performance comparison with OpenAI on X.
DeepSeek’s rapid rise has sparked conversations about a reevaluation of the global AI power structure.
Some have lauded its affordability and robust performance, predicting it would challenge the status quo; while others view its open-source philosophy as a disruptive force with long-term implications.
[TheCable]
Brazil’s government has slammed the US government and President Donald Trump.
This comes after Trump deported dozens of immigrants from the United States to Brazil in hand cuffs.
The government accused the US government of “flagrant disregard” for their rights.
The government said on Saturday that it would demand an ‘explanation’ from the United States.
According to AFP, this is coming after President Trump’s order on border closure and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S. becomes effective with ongoing mass deportations.
Several planes have taken illegal immigrants to different countries like Guatemala and Brazil.
According to the country’s justice ministry, the authorities ordered US officials to “immediately remove the handcuffs” when the plane landed in Brazil’s northern city of Manaus on Saturday.
The statement added upon hearing of “the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens” through that justice minister Ricardo Lewandowski, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva mobilized aircraft to transport the Brazilians to their final destinations.
“Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport the Brazilians to their final destination, in order to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety,” the justice ministry said.
The foreign ministry stated that 88 Brazilians were aboard the aircraft, vowing to request “explanations from the US government about the degrading treatment of passengers” on the Friday night flight.
Several deported immigrants told the media that they weren’t given water during the flight and were brought with their hands and feet tied, AFP reported. The report also suggested that some of the passengers on the plane even fainted due to the heat.
While Donald Trump’s directive to crack down on illegal immigrants is becoming effective, the flight wasn’t linked to that but a 2017 bilateral agreement between both countries.
A Brazilian government source told AFP that the deportees who arrived in Manaus travelled “with their documents”, which shows that they agreed to return home.
Lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola has stated that he's not corrupt.
He made the claim while revealing that he rejected offer of an oil bloc and ministerial appointment twice.
Babalola said this on Sunday when he received Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other top traditional rulers who had come to appeal to him to withdraw the criminal defamation suit he filed against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
Afe Babalola who was rejecting allegation that he is corrupt as insinuated by Dele Farotimi said, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for."
But Afe Babalola added that he has no choice but to obey the appeal of the Ooni and other traditional rulers to obey appeal of the traditional rulers to withdraw the suit against Farotimi.
Babalola had dragged Farotimi to court over claims contained in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that the legal luminary corrupted the Judiciary
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give,” Afe Babalola said.
Speaking earlier, the Ooni of Ife commended Afe Babalola for his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the nation and the world at large.
He also urged him to heed the appeal to withdraw the suit he filed against Dele Farotimi.
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children,” Ooni said during his appeal to Babalola.
More...
The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola SAN has agreed to withdraw the cases preferred against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi over alleged defamation.
Following Babalola’s petition to the police commissioner in Ekiti that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, the police arrested the activist lawyer and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti last year.
Farotimi stood trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, and as well for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.
The magistrate court adjourned the case till February 13 and the federal high court till January 29.
The elder statesman who in the early hours of Monday after a midnight meeting with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting.
Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
The nonagenarian, who spoke on the value of Yoruba traditional institution in the country added, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
The senior advocate said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
He listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”
The Ooni, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”
Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.
“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.
“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.”
The Ooni added, “We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our way, we have done the needful”.
[NigerianTribune]
Former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force of acting in an unprofessional manner.
Kwankwaso, accused the Kano Police Command of issuing a false security alert in an attempt to prevent the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order’s annual Maulud celebration from taking place.
According to him, the action not only jeopardized the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk.
Naija News recalls Kano Police had, on Friday, issued a terror alert on the eve of the planned gathering of the celebration scheduled for the Sani Abacha Stadium, saying terrorists planned to attack public gatherings in the state.
However, Kwankwaso, in a reaction on Monday via his account on the X platform, said the Police took a partisan decision by allowing itself to be used by the federal government in dabbling into the affairs of Kano State.
He said the alert issued by the Police turned out to be false and left a bad impression about the conduct, integrity, and activities of the Police.
While congratulating the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order, their Spiritual Leader, Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for successfully hosting the event, Kwankwaso went ahead to caution the federal government against interfering in the local activities of Kano State.
He said: “I wish to congratulate the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order on the successful completion of the annual maulud of Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, their Spiritual Leader, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
“I particularly felicitate with His Royal Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano and His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State for successfully organising the monumental event.
“However, I am concerned by a ‘terror alert’ from the Kano State Police Command on the eve of the event. This alert, not only jeopardised the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk by creating palpable fear among the people of Kano, those that came from other countries and parts of Nigeria.
“Such conduct by the police, which has already been marked as a willing partner for the Federal Government in its habitual dabbling into the affairs of Kano State further puts its integrity in doubt.
“Issuing a threat alert of this magnitude, which later turns out to be false sets a dangerous precedent. I am afraid that it will lead to people to be complacent in the event of a genuine threat in the future.
“Due to the international nature of the event, the conduct of the police leadership in Kano also leaves a bad impression of the Nigeria Police Force globally.
“I urge the Police Force in Kano to be professional and avoid being identified as deeply partisan in the affairs of Kano State and in other parts of the country.
“For the umpteenth time, I also urge the Federal Government to avoid dragging itself into unpleasant situations by further putting its hands in affairs that are strictly under the jurisdiction of the good people of Kano State and its Government
The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for a new Accountant General of the Federation and is also working to fill vacancies for permanent secretaries within the Federal Civil Service.
A memo dated 24 January 2025 from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Fatima Mahmoud, outlined the timeline for the process.
The memo was sent to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.
Naija News recalls that in December 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Babatunde Ogunjimi as acting Accountant General following the commencement of pre-retirement leave by the then-AGF, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein.
The appointment was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
However, Dr Madein’s tenure was subsequently extended until 7 March 2025 by a directive from the Head of Service, allowing her to return to her duties.
This decision led to the reassignment of Ogunjimi, who was redeployed to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Director of Accounts.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General, Bawa Mokwa, clarified that civil service regulations permit terminal leave to be optional.
He noted that Dr Madein’s reinstatement raised questions within the treasury department regarding its impact on Ogunjimi’s acting appointment.
Recruitment Process for Accountant General
The memo from the Head of Service detailed the accreditation process for candidates, set to begin on 28 January and end on 1 February 2025.
It also outlined the examination schedule for eligible candidates:
– Stage 1: Written Examination for eligible Candidates from North-West Zone and Oyo State on Monday, February 10, 2025.
– Stage 2: Written Examination for eligible Candidates/Directors (Accounts) in the Pool of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on February 11, 2025.
– Subsequent Stages: Computer-based tests scheduled for 12 and 13 February 2025.
– Final Stage: Oral interviews to take place on 14 February 2025
2025 Budget: Universities Forced To Pay ₦8 Million Each To Lawmakers In Alleged Bribery Scheme
AFOLABI
A report has claimed that some lawmakers in the National Assembly have set up a bribery scheme targeting federal universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.
According to the report by Premium Times, lawmakers are using intimidation and threats to force the heads of universities to pay ₦8 million each to approve their allocations in the 2025 budgets.
The extortion scheme allegedly involves senators and members of the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education, are demanding money from universities to approve their budgets.
Using an elaborate and complex system created by the lawmakers, 60 federal university vice chancellors are required to pay ₦8 million each (₦4 million each to Senate and House Committees).
The lawmakers are expecting ₦480 million from the extortion, and they have assigned two vice chancellors from the North Central and North West geopolitical zones to coordinate the payments to avoid detection.
It was gathered that the House Committee, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), set the extortion scheme in motion on 16 January during a meeting with some vice chancellors. At the meeting, the VCs were given clear and firm instructions about what was expected of them.
Initially scheduled for 10 a.m. that day, the meeting was delayed until 3 p.m. due to behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and some vice chancellors.
Speaking anonymously to the aforementioned publication, one of the vice chancellors said the lawmakers were explicit in their demands.
The source revealed that the lawmakers criticised the vice chancellors for not cooperating, unlike other institutions that comply without resistance.
At one point, the tone of the meeting became more threatening. Sources at the meeting said the committee members “cajoled, threatened, and even humiliated” some vice chancellors.
“They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball with them.
“Most other agencies are not grumbling like the VCs”, one attendee told the publication.
The majority of the vice chancellors reportedly grumbled and complained about the lawmakers’ demands, expressing frustration over the repeated extortion.
However, the more they complained, the more aggressive the lawmakers became, escalating their threats of probes