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The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
Usman explained that the four airlines were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Muslims pilgrimage.
According to Usman, the four approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia-designated airline, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.
The NAHCON boss stated that the airlines were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that were inaugurated by the NAHCON on Nov. 26, 2024.
He said that the composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and one member each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He also said that some members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Similarly, Prof. Usman said that one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Others, he listed, were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.
The NAHCON boss also disclosed that three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations.
He named them to include; Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd and Qualla Investment Ltd.,
The Chairman, who congratulated the successful companies, urged them to fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, at the signing ceremony.
The event was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalise this year’s Hajj engagements.
Operators blame poor supply for move
FG laments exit from national grid
As the country battles incessant blackouts, about 250 manufacturers and academic institutions have abandoned their respective power distribution companies to generate their own electricity.
The organisations, many of whom are bulk electricity users, shunned the national grid to generate reliable electricity for themselves.
This is coming amid the high cost of electricity, fuel price hikes, incessant grid collapses, and line trippings.
In 2021, former President Olusegun Obasanjo dumped the national grid to unveil a two-megawatts solar power project at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The project, which cost about N2bn at that time, was described by the former President as a remarkably cost-effective investment.
Findings from different data sources, particularly from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that the firms have generated up to 6,500 megawatts of electricity altogether.
This is higher than the country’s power generation which is currently hovering around 4,500MW and 5,000MW.
Further findings by our correspondent indicated that these outlets got permits from the NERC to generate captive power. Some permits were issued as far back as 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2022.
It was learned that the request for captive power generation increased since 2023, especially after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 2023
Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that intend to own and maintain power plants exclusively for their consumption. That means the entities are not allowed to sell electricity generated from the plant to any third party.
While some of the plants use gas as feedstock, many embrace the use of renewable energy sources like solar.
One of the biggest captive power generators is the Dangote Group.
Dangote Industries Limited has generated about 1,500MW of electricity, according to Aliko Dangote. The Dangote refinery alone has a 435MW power plant that can meet the total power requirement of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
“We don’t put pressure on the grid. We produce about 1,500 megawatts of power for self-consumption,” Aliko Dangote said last year at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings and AfriCaribbean Trade & Investment Forum in Nassau, The Bahamas.
According to data sourced from NERC, 249 firms and institutions were granted permits to generate captive power.
The quantum of power generated by these organisations is approximately 5,180MW.
When this is added to the 1,500MW generated by the Dangote Group, it would amount to over 6,500MW being generated by the companies and learning institutions.
According to NERC, Pure Flour Mills Limited in Rivers State got a permit to generate 546MW of electricity while Nigeria LNG generates 360MW.
United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (Lafarge Africa Limited) generates 105MW; Total E & P Nigeria Limited, 174MW; Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited, 76MW; First Global Commerce Solutions Limited, 77MW; Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, 70MW; and Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, 90MW.
Some of the companies include MTN Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Shell, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Kaduna refinery, Warri refinery, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, Procter and Gamble Nigeria Limited, and Bank of Industry Ltd.
Others include Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, De-United Foods Industries Limited, Sagamu Steel Nigeria Limited, British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, and Mikano International Limited.
They also include Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Airtel Networks Limited, Nogap Power Development Company Limited, Shell Exploration & Production Company Limited, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (Usan OML 138), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Honeywell Flour Mills, Atlantic International Limited Refinery & Petrochemical Limited, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Okamu Oil Palm Company, PZ Cusson Nig Plc, among others.
Among the universities with captive power are the University of Lagos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal University Ndufu-Alike IKWO, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Bayero University, Kano, and University of Benin.
Others include University of Abuja, University of Calabar & Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, University of Agriculture Micheal Okpara, Umetuke, Abia State, University of Maiduguri & Teaching Hospital, Borno State, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Main Campus, Ogun State, and the Federal University Gashuwa, Yobe State.
The Nigerian Defence Academy, a military university based in Kaduna recently got NERC’s nod to generate 2.50MW of electricity.
Experts said the abandonment of the national grid by bulk users of electricity could spell doom for the paper sector.
FG laments
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, recently decried the rate at which bulk electricity consumers abandon the national grid to generate their own electricity.
Adelabu emphasised that grid connection as a power source is more reliable than captive power plants currently being used by bulk electricity consumers.
He regretted that despite generating over 5,155MW of electricity, the power distribution companies were not taking the power allocated to them to avoid incurring debt due to low recovery.
He said, “The majority of bulk electricity users, such as industries, are off the grid due to a lack of trust and confidence in the past. They now have their own captive power plants in their industries, which is more expensive.”
According to him, the continued use of captive power rather than grid connection is more expensive.
“The average cost of producing captive power is about N350 to N400 per kilowatt-hour for those connected to gas lines. For diesel it’s about N950 or N1,000,” he said.
He stated that efforts would be made to encourage the bulk users to return to the national grid.
“Once consumers and industries see the trust, the confidence, and the stability we are giving, they would be encouraged and reconnect to the grid for a cheaper source of power.
“We aim to attain the threshold of a new era in power delivery. The Federal Government is still focused on Vision 30-30-30. By 2030, we aim to achieve 30GW in the medium term, with renewable energy constituting 30 per cent and universal access in the long term. We must align on the principles guiding our activities and the strategies,” the minister stated.
NERC blames fluctuations
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission blamed power fluctuations for the migration of bulk users from the national grid.
The regulator in a recent report disclosed that fluctuations in grid voltage, including spikes, dips, flickers, and brownouts, could cause significant harm to consumers and result in substantial commercial losses.
It explained that extreme cases of voltage fluctuations, particularly at the distribution network level cause severe damage to industrial machines, prompting the industries to embrace captive power generation.
“To guarantee the quality of electricity delivered to end users, the Grid Code specifies a nominal system voltage of 330kV with a tolerance range of ±5 per cent (313.50kV to 346.50kV in the lower and upper bounds respectively).
“Fluctuations in grid voltage, including spikes, dips, flickers, and brownouts, can cause significant harm to consumers and result in substantial commercial losses. Extreme cases of voltage fluctuations, particularly at the distribution network level can cause severe damage to industrial machines, thereby compelling the industrial customers to seek alternative sources of power outside of the national grid,” the regulator confirmed.
The commission said it continued to engage with the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other stakeholders to ensure sustained efforts at keeping the system voltage within the limits contained in the grid code and thus providing a safe and reliable electricity supply to end users.
Experts speak
The Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbenle, said it was a sad situation that over 200 companies have dumped the national grid.
According to him, these are the companies that should have been serving as “anchor tenants” to ensure the country has a stable grid.
“Many of the grid collapses we have had can easily be also traced to such consumers leaving the grid, making the demand end of the grid less stable. I have also said before that one of the major objectives, if I were to be in charge of the grid, would be to bring these companies back if we truly want to have a stable and cheaper grid supply.
“The national grid system we operate is demand and generation-based. The demands and generation at any point must be equal, to balance the Frequency at 50hz, else frequency variation will be high. Having as many as 200 companies with high capacity demand leave the national grid means that the demand side is heavily dependent on other “mostly residential consumers.
“The whole power sector should be tasked with bringing these companies back, offering incentives. Bringing them back will also ensure that prices can go down on the grid,” Adegbenle said.
On whether the country can generate enough to serve these bulk users of electricity, he said the country still has stranded power not utilised.
“We still have stranded generations, we still have capacities available that they can consume. Generation companies can easily ramp that up too. The major problem in the power sector is liquidity and the cost-reflective tariff, which has stunted the growth of the sector. No incentive for targeted investments,” he explained.
Adegbenle added that it will be cheaper for the customers “because grid prices will definitely come down.”
Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kola Olubiyo, argued that the Nigerian electricity grid has increasingly been frustrating, predictably unreliable, and unstable.
According to him, the incessant line trippings and system collapses have, over the years, made it inevitable for industries involved in the production and manufacturing of goods, who had hitherto depended on the national grid, to think outside the box.
Olubiyo said, “The distortion in national grid frequency, voltage floating, and related concerns are of grave concern to every well-meaning patriotic Nigerian. Each time there are interruptions in electricity dedicated to production and manufacturing, it usually impacts negatively on production and does irredeemable damage to quality and output.
“Though at a higher cost of production, off-grid renewable, embedded generation or captive island model provided in off-grid concepts offers the manufacturers and organised private sector an open window to enhance global competitiveness, with guaranteed energy security—that’s 24/7 energy supply,” Olubiyo submitted.
He added, “The effects of all of these on electricity distribution companies will be the promotion of an open market and competitive electricity market as against the increasing entrenchment of market monopoly as presently constituted, which are at variance with the spirits and letters of power sector privatisation exercise.
“The latest development thereby reflects the desires of the critical stakeholders driving the process to take unprecedented bold steps. They should deserve our support. It is the new normal and the way to go.”
The Coordinator, All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, commended the manufacturers for seeking alternative power for their businesses.
Samuel-Ilori maintained that the issue of companies pulling out of the grid and providing power supply for themselves has been long since the privatisation of the sector.
“I know of Cadbury and Coca-Cola providing power for themselves, pulling out of DisCos service for the past five or six years now. That they have reached a whopping number of over 200 is a good thing as far as I’m concerned and from the prism of a consumer advocate.
“The service being given by the service providers registered by the NERC are not meeting their needs, they still buy diesel to support the supply and the monthly bill eats deep into their profit margins, hence it is wise for them to do so,” Samuel-Ilori stressed.
Like the Discos and other stakeholders in the power sector, Samuel-Ilori posited that the manufacturers and other institutions are also out to make a profit and meet the overhead cost of their respective businesses, “Hence one Disco can’t be reaping where the correspondent supply is not adequate.“
He said, “I can tell for free that what makes many companies join those who already did was the introduction of Band A and its attendant cost per unit which I called fraudulent because there’s no generated power to sustain the introduction and fulfill the demand of the customers migrated. So, any companies migrated will end up closing up business without blinking as the DisCos charge as much as N5 million for a small-scale business and entrepreneurs, not to talk of the big companies.
“On its effect on the national grid, it will relieve the national grid capacity absolvement since we all know it’s common knowledge that national grid equipment is moribund which led to its constant collapse almost at every Eke market day including Saturday. Forget the alibi given by TCN that it was not a collapse but a trip-off from one substation. It was such a tripping that led to the grid collapsing ab initio.”
Samuel-Ilori advocated that individuals should join the firms in generating their own electricity.
“For me, it’s not only the companies that should move from the grid due to the experience of its collapses to reduce the load capacity, many individual homes should be encouraged to do so because when that happens, many transformers will be relieved and the incident of trip-offs in the substations will reduce and that will automatically reduce the cases of national grid collapses.
“It is not rocket science to know that renewable energy ought to be an alternative source for anyone who desires to have an energy supply, but in Nigeria, the power stakeholders are paying lip service to it just to continue feeding their hawk in the DisCos business. That’s why the materials used for alternative energy production are expensive, so the poor won’t have access to them.
“I have said many times at meetings with NERC and even the power minister as National coordinator, that if they want renewable energy to grow, and to become the real alternative to grid power supply, just as they give waivers on health materials and other allied products, let them reduce the import duty if they can’t give waivers to those importers so we can have access to inverters and other materials used in providing alternative power supply. That alone will help the national grid pending the time they will put it in good condition to accommodate all users,” he noted.
The consumer protector mentioned that the Discos will survive despite the companies changing their supply base as they continue to collect money from consumers on estimated billing.
“Their cash cow where they milk money without working for it is still very much in operation against the larger consumers out there, which is estimated billing. As long as the Discos have access to free money from the consumers via estimated billing, they won’t blink at how many companies pull out of their franchise area of the network.
“That’s why they frustrate every move to get us metered. Do you know some of the Meter Asset Providers are also owned by the Discos? That’s why meters are not always available for purchase even when customers are readily and willing to buy. Many have paid for over six months now and have not got it. For those that are metered today, tomorrow or next, the meter refuses to load and the message from DisCo will be ’let’s connect you directly’, and they are back to square one of estimated billing while the meter won’t be repaired or replaced as the law of operation dictates,” he alleged.
The analyst argued that captive power is the best way to go as far as the situation of Nigeria’s power remains at 4500MW to serve over 200 million Nigerians.
He disclosed that the companies are ready to pay for power but the power is not readily available, yet Discos still billed them monthly humongous amounts for what they did not consume.
“That’s why I opined above that it’s not only companies that should adopt the system of renewable energy but individuals, and the government should make it attractive by reducing tax, customs duty, or even waiver on the materials used to provide such so that the poor masses with interest on changing their source of supply can access it seamlessly within their purchasing power.
“And in the end, help relieve the load on the national grid to stop its incessant collapses pending the time they will invest money to change this moribund equipment to sustain the capacity,“ he emphasised.
- also rescue teenager with baby from lover’s kidnap den
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a new trend of kidnapping, dubbed ‘Constructive Kidnapping’, where unsuspecting ladies are lured by kidnappers posing as internet friends and lovers.
This sinister scheme has already ensnared 16 ladies from various parts of the state, who were fortunate to be rescued by the police command, the command revealed.
In another shocking case, a 15-year-old girl was rescued after allegedly conspiring with her boyfriend to demand ransom from her parents, pretending that she had been kidnapped.
For the ‘Constructive kidnapping, the kidnappers’ modus oparandi according to the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Police Command, CP Olawale Ishola, who briefed journalists weekend, on the command’s breakthrough between September 2024 and January 2025, was as cunning as it was ruthless.
The kidnappers as gathered, begin by tagging their potential victims as friends on social media platforms, establishing a false sense of acquaintance. Once the victim’s guard is lowered, the kidnappers invite them to Lagos, often under the guise of a romantic rendezvous.
These kidnappers according to the command would send substantial amounts of money, up to N500,000, to their victims, as well as cover their flight expenses to Lagos.
Upon arrival, the unsuspecting victims are taken to five-star hotels, where their phones are seized, and money transferred out. The kidnappers then contact the victim’s relatives, demanding ransom and threatening to them if their demands are not met.
According to the CP, ” It is Constructive kidnapping because you have a scenario where a lady is lured from her safe space to Lagos by a group of boys or a single individual. They make it enticing by sending a business-class flight ticket, N500,000, and booking a luxurious five-star hotel. The victim feels like they’ve ‘arrived,’ unaware that it’s all a ruse.
” I’ve rescued at least 16 ladies from this trap. As soon as they arrive, the kidnappers mess the ladies up, seize their phones, transfer their money, and contact their relatives to demand more ransom, threatening to kill the victim if their demands aren’t met. It’s termed ‘constructive’ because the victims unwittingly walk into the trap set for them. However, we’re always one step ahead.”
He, therefore, warned members of the public, especially ladies to be cautious when interacting with strangers online, advising members of the public to say something when they see something.
Similarly, the command boss also explained how a 14-year-old girl with an undisclosed identity who was reported to have been kidnapped, was traced to her boyfriend’s abode, with a baby.
According to CP Ishola, ” On January 8, 2025, a complainant reported that her daughter Anuoluwapo Victoria, 15 years left home to an unknown destination, that on January 9, 2025, she received a phone call and an account was sent for her to pay ransom for the released of her daughter.
“They have been sending money to the account until we were able to apprehend her and her boyfriend on Friday night. She was with a baby”
‘Until The Price Of Fuel Is Affordable For Nigerians, There’s Nothing To Rejoice About The Resumption Of Refineries’ – Kenneth Okonkwo
AFOLABI
A former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Kenneth Okonkwo, has advocated a reduction in the price of petrol in Nigeria to make it affordable for citizens.
Okonkwo argued that there is nothing to celebrate about the resumption of activities in the nation’s refineries if oil is not affordable by Nigerians.
The lawyer cum actor who made the submission in a post via his X account on Sunday, submitted that a reduction in the cost of fuel would lead to an automatic reduction in the prices of food and other items, translating to a reduction in inflation and cost of living.
He also called for the privatization of government-owned refineries as a way to achieve efficiency in the oil industry.
“There’s absolutely nothing to rejoice about the resumption of the refineries until the price of fuel is affordable to the average Nigerian which will bring down the cost of transportation and reduce the cost of production which will translate to reduced prices for food and other items thereby bringing down the inflation and cost of living.
“Nigerians are dying of hunger and hardship and we can produce and refine our way out of poverty with the termination of corruption in the oil industry, and the privatisation of the refineries to ensure saturation of the system with supplies and breaking of monopoly which will ensure competition amongst the practitioners in the oil industry,”he wrote.
The prices of refined petroleum products may rise in the coming days following the increase in the cost of Brent, the global benchmark for crude.
Crude oil is a major commodity that determines the prices of refined petroleum products. On Sunday, the price of Brent reached $79.76 per barrel.
The rise in the cost of the commodity from the $72.88 recorded in December 2024 that fuel prices across Nigerian depots may be impacted.
The increase in Brent price is attributed to geopolitical tensions, particularly sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports. Supply concerns and seasonal demand fluctuations in colder regions have also contributed to the upward trend.
Sources informed our correspondent that several fuel depots began reporting price increases for diesel on Friday, marking the start of a noticeable rise in fuel costs across various regions.
Analysts also suggested that the Brent crude price surge is a major driver, as many Nigerian depot owners rely on imports to meet diesel demand.
The correlation between crude oil prices and refined products is well-established, as Brent serves as a benchmark for global petroleum product pricing.
With the increase in crude oil costs, importers are likely to adjust their prices to cover higher procurement and shipping costs.
Recall that the Federal Government’s oil price benchmark in the 2025 budget estimates is $75 per barrel.
Price data obtained by our correspondent analysing diesel price movements at the loading depot showed that the Nipco depot in Lagos saw an increase of N70 from N1,050 to N1,120 per litre on Friday.
Prudent depot recorded an increase, closing the week at N1,045, compared to an earlier N1,025 per litre.
Commenting on the development, an oil and gas expert, Olatide Jeremiah, said depots are poised to increase the loading price of refined petroleum products on Monday.
Jeremiah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of petroleumprice.ng, said, “It implies that there is a possibility of increased fuel prices, particularly diesel prices.
“As of Friday, when Brent crude neared $80, prices selectively increased in some depots in Lagos, and on Monday, prices might be jacked up by importers because a large chunk of oil marketers import petroleum products and Brent crude is a major determining factor in the refining process.”
Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has rejected the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified a Federal High Court order that removed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Bayero on Sunday said he is heading to Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court verdict.
Speaking to newsmen at the Nasarawa Palace of the 15th Emir Of Kano, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba DanAgundi, who filed the suit that was struck out by the Appeal Court, said, “Sanusi did not even understand that he has completely lost out in the whole of the cases at hand.
“That is why I expressed regrets over remarks by the 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, using the Mosque pillar to propagate something that was not true and did not happen at the Appeal Court.
“We initially went to Federal High Court seeking the nullification of the repeal law by the State Assembly, which we felt was done haphazardly.”
DanAgundi further warned Sanusi to stop parading himself as the Emir of Kano.
“The position of Muhammadu Sanusi II that he emerged victorious was wrong, the court said that the Federal High Court has no legal right to hear issues with regards to chieftaincy affairs. But what we went to court for was different.
“We were not arguing on the powers of State Assembly to enact of repeal laws, what we were asking was lack of fair hearing on the 15th Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, that he was removed without given him chance to protect himself.
“The State Assembly didn’t follow the right procedures in repealing the laws,” he added.
He asked the Police and the DSS to stop Sanusi from allegedly moving around with thugs, accusing the Emir of plotting to disrupt peace in Kano.
According to him, Sanusi will not claim victory until the Supreme Court judgement has been given.
“The Attorney General and Speaker of the Kano State Assembly went to court seeking to stop Bayero from parading himself as Emir, but the Appeal Court rejected that position and said that Bayero was not given fair hearing.
“By this it clearly shows that Bayero is still the Emir of Kano.”
Dolapo Bright, a former Special Adviser on Agriculture to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that President Bola Tinubu was misled by his advisers that the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of food staples through land and sea borders would reduce inflation.
Bright was a guest on Sunday’s edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television. He said the rise in the cost of diesel and petrol which are essential to the transportation of food items have grossly affected the prices of commodities.
He said, “I don’t think it happened. The person who advised the government to do that, the person is clueless, if you understand what is happening, you won’t give such advice. The person is misleading the president. Do you know why? Let’s assume that you are going to import. Importation is going to be into Lagos. Are you not going to transport the thing to other states? It doesn’t make sense because that is going to make our agriculture stagnant.”
Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago.
When Tinubu was sworn in as president in May 2023, Nigeria’s inflation rate was 22.41%, according to official numbers by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The inflation rate rose astronomically to 34.6% in November 2024, more than 12% higher, a development that economic wizards have attributed to Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.
Significantly, the food inflation rate in November 2024 was 39.93% on a year-on-year basis, from 32.84% recorded in November 2023. The rise in food inflation is attributed to the rate of increase in the average prices of fish, rice, yam flour, millet whole grain, corn flour, egg, milk, milk, frozen chicken, among others.
To stem food inflation, the Tinubu administration in July 2024 announced the suspension of customs duties on imported food items but the policy has reportedly not seen the light of the day due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Bright, who was Buhari’s aide on agriculture from 2015 to 2023, said the government has been partly responsible for inflation because the administration is trying to sit on the driver’s side of agriculture instead of allowing the private sector to do so.
He said farmers won’t necessarily need the government’s intervention if the right environment is set for them to make a decent profit.
“A lot of farmers are not producing the capacity they were producing before because of high input costs,” he said, blaming the cost of diesel and petrol which he said significantly affect harvests.
‘Tractors Can’t Solve Output Shortages’
On December 23, 2024, during his maiden chat, Tinubu said he has “over 2,000 tractors coming into this country for mechanised farming” to make farming sexier.
However, Bright said tractors only won’t solve the food shortage problem in Nigeria. He argued that using local labour is job creation for locals and that over 80% of farmers in Nigeria are into subsistence farming.
The former presidential aide said, “When I heard about tractors and all those things, I laughed. The government is not getting it. Tractors won’t solve our problem. Mechanised farming to do what?
“We are having low harvest in terms of poor input, poor seed; we don’t have sovereignty of seeds — all the seeds we use in Nigeria are almost imported. All of these problems are there and we are going to use tractors.
“At the end of the day, what are we going to get? We are going to get peanuts. It is going to be very far from the potential. It is going to give us more problems because no one will be responsible for the maintenance. Corporate farmers can afford to get bank loans but smallholder farmers can’t afford to get bank loans to afford the use of tractors for mechanised farming.”
The former presidential aide said Nigeria can’t afford to be a mass producer of food as the country indirectly feeds neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, and others.
“Agriculture is supposed to be a serious priority of government because it is connected to security. The rural areas, if they are suffering, we are not secure. That is part of the reasons we have banditry, Boko Haram and all. If the people are satisfied, will they follow Boko Haram?” he queried.
A former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late American President Jimmy Carter, recalling how the former US leader visited Nigeria to plead for his release during the reign of military junta leader Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo spoke on Sunday at a memorial service in honour of Carter who died at 100.
“President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison. On President Carter’s visit to Nigeria, he got Abacha to agree to take me from detention to house arrest on my farm,” Obasanjo said during the event held at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“But that did not last for too long. Many other friends and leaders intervened, but President Carter was the only non-African leader, according to my information, that paid a visit to Abacha solely to plead for my release.”
‘I was moved to tears’
The Abacha regime arrested Obasanjo in 1995 owing to an alleged coup plot. However, the former president was released after Abacha’s demise in 1998.
The following year, Obasanjo became Nigeria’s president, elected under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In the U.S., I called on President Carter, who told me all the efforts he made with other leaders and Abacha remaining unyielding for my release. But the most surprising thing Carter said to me was, ‘Please, see Ted Turner and thank him for his generosity. He came to me and asked me to get his friend, Obasanjo, released from prison.
I will take care of him and his family here or wherever he chooses to live.’ I was touched and moved to tears,” the former president told the gathering, describing the late Carter as his friend whom he will miss.
“For me, I would miss a great and true friend, but I know we shall meet again in Paradise. May his soul rest in peace,” the 87-year-old said.
Obasanjo extolled Carter’s virtues and said the former US president lived an exemplary life of service to humanity.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have nabbed a traditional chief priest of the Igunuko Shrine, Bariu Aliu, in the Alpha Beach area of Ajah, Lagos State.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Aliu’s arrest followed a three-month manhunt.
Also known as “Malo,” the suspect was arrested after 2,760 kilograms of skunk were recovered from his shrine on October 25, 2024.
Babafemi noted that though two of Bariu’s accomplices had been arrested, charged, and convicted last year, the chief priest was identified as the leader of the drug syndicate operating from the shrine.
“In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine at Alpha Beach, Ajah Lekki, where 2,760 kg of skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after a three-month manhunt,” the statement read.
“Though two of his accomplices were arrested at the shrine last year and subsequently charged and convicted in court, Bariu was identified as the syndicate leader.”
He also disclosed that operatives intercepted a 40-foot trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during an intelligence-led operation in the Kagini area of Kubwa, Abuja.
The agency’s spokesman stated that the drugs were meant for onward distribution to some northern states.
“The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, led to the seizure of the large illicit consignment, the trailer, six vehicles—comprising a Toyota Van, Toyota Camry, Toyota Sienna, a JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux, a Toyota Corolla, and a Vento Passat—and the arrest of a suspect, 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.
“The consignment was loaded onto the trailer at Uzebba in the Owan Local Council Area of Edo State,” he stated.
He explained that 20 wraps of cocaine, weighing 330 grams, were intercepted from a cargo shipment bound for Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos. The cocaine was concealed in face cream containers.
Ghana President John Mahama has reduced the country’s ministries from 30 to 23 in a bid to cut government spending.
Mahama’s decision – an executive order – to trim the number of government ministries was contained in a gazette dated January 9 – two days after he took office.
The West African country would no longer have the ministries of information, sanitation and water resources, national security, railway development, parliamentary affairs, public enterprises, and chieftaincy and religious affairs.
The scrapped ministries were in place under Nana Akufo-Addo, immediate-past president of Ghana.
The order established the ministries of finance, health, interior, defence, education, energy and green transition, roads and highways, transport, sports and recreation, justice, lands and natural resources, and local government and chieftaincy and affairs.
Others are foreign affairs, communication, digital technology, environment, science and technology, youth development and empowerment, works, housing and water resources, gender, children and social protection, tourism, culture and creative arts, labour, jobs and employment, food and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and trade, agribusiness and industry.
Mahama, who was first in Ghana’s Jubilee House between 2012 and 2017, returned to power after defeating former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The president polled 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55 percent of the vote cast, while Bawumia gathered 4,657,304 votes with 41.6 percent.
Bawumia conceded defeat before the official results were announced.
Mahama’s cost-cutting move is in contrast to that of President Bola Tinubu, his Nigerian counterpart, who increased ministries to 48 in 2023 from 44 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu’s decision has faced widespread criticism as Nigeria struggles with a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
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Monday Elela, the father of a 14-year-old boy, Tope Elela, who was allegedly killed and buried has confessed that he killed and buried his son for always engaging in housebreaking, stealing, and other criminal activities.
Elela who lives in Ajowa Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State descibed the deceased son as the black sheep of the family among his seven children.
The father and his wife were alleged to have killed the Tope Elela following which they were arrested by police.
Speaking with journalists when being paraded by the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi at the police headquarters in Akure, Elela disclosed that he buried the boy in a shallow grave under a banana tree behind his house after he gave up the ghost.
“I did not know that the boy would die when I beat him in the night after he escaped from the custody of the State Security Network codename Amotekun,” Elela said.
He added that he usually hand over the late son to Amotekun or vigilante groups whenever he was arrested for stealing or other criminal activities for punishment.
Elela, however noted that his wife took to her heels alongside other children when he got to know about his arrest.
“The deceased had escaped from Amotekun’s detention and was embarrassing the family as a result of criminal activities he engaged in. When he came back, we beat him and went to sleep. The following morning, his siblings discovered that he was dead and I decided to bury him under a banana tree,” he narrated.
Elela was paraded alongside 24 other suspects by the Commissioner of Police for various crimes including murder, cultism, house breaking and stealing.
The CP also paraded those who allegedly took part in the recent cult clashes that left five persons dead in Owo, Owo local government area of the state.
Among those paraded include one Olamide Ogunseyila, a 28 years old man who confessed to being a member of a cult group.
Also, Gbenga Bisi, a 25 years old wife of Steven Dada, also known as “Ogodo,” who is currently on the run was apprehended alongside Gbenga Esther, ‘F’, age 20 years at a hideout where the Police found a double-barrel, cut-to-size gun, two expended cartridges, and additional ammunition.
The CP named others as 61-year-old man, Ijarotimi Taye who was discovered with physical injuries around his body and could not give a satisfactory account of how he got the injuries, raising suspicions about his involvement in criminal activities.
CP Afolabi added that the duo of 30-year-old Bero Adeola, and Olabode Ojo (a.k.a Paw paw), who claimed that his brother’s wife and child were killed in the melee were arrested in their hideout in Akure.
“They both confessed to being cultists belonging to the Aye group and claimed it was the Eiye and Aiye groups that were fighting.
“The suspects claimed they left Owo because of the fight because they did not want to be part of it,” the police CP said.
He further added that Ijalade Olorunfemi, ‘m’, aged 42 years, and Ayodele Olayemi, ’m’, aged 20 years have also been implicated as cultists through ongoing investigations.
“The remaining suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation to ascertain their roles in the crisis while the Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Steven Dada (alias “Ogodo”) and any other individual connected to these criminal activities,” the police commissioner said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has charged troops to make a difference in the operations against insecurity in 2025.
The CDS charged them to intensify their efforts in combating criminals and to pursue and neutralise threats wherever they may hide.
Gen. Musa gave the directive during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration and award evening for soldiers, ratings, and airmen in Abuja on Sunday.
The CDS stated that there was a need for a more proactive approach in addressing security challenges across the country.
He said, “We are not where we want to be, but we’re heading there, and I can assure you that by working together, we shall overcome all acts of evil.
“Our task is to look for the bad guys and take them down. Is that clear? I’ve encouraged all our commanders, this year, we must make a great difference in all our operations. We must step out of the temple, look for the criminals wherever they enter, and go after them.”
General Musa said military work was no longer all about court martial but to also appreciate excelling officers.
“I choose to say thank you for the job you are doing. We appreciate every one of you. For us, anyone who has signed to put his life on the line for his nation deserves commendation, so we commend all of you.
“I want to tell you that we appreciate everything you are doing, all the sacrifice, leaving your families behind, staying in the trenches, doing so many wonderful things. Most times, we don’t tell you thank you enough, but this is one way of saying thank you and we appreciate you. And to whom much is given, and to tell you that we will do everything possible to ensure that we take care of you, we look after your welfare, that will make you work better.
“So, for those of you here, let me start from this end. So I say congratulations to all of you. We appreciate you. You know in our system, the more you do, the more we want. So this is just the beginning. This is the first time we’re doing this.
“We’re going to maintain this and ensure that every year we commend all those who have done. It is not only to punish people, anything little, to charge him 252 gold for Court Martial. But that if you equally do well, we should also commend you, just like we are commending them,” he stated.
For his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, reinforced the importance of the military’s role in ensuring peace and stability.
He reminded troops of their oath to serve the nation with loyalty and resolve.
“We must not lose sight of the oath we took to be dutiful, faithful, and loyal servicemen and women,” Lagbaja said. “We must go wherever lawfully sent—by land, sea, or air. Therefore, we must remain resolute in our fight against terrorism, insurgency, secessionism, and other threats to our collective peace as Nigerians,” Oluyede said.
He also urged personnel to support the government’s efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians, noting that their commitment was crucial to achieving national aspirations.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, assured personnel of the Navy’s commitment to their welfare and operational efficiency.
“We will continue to prioritise your welfare and provide the necessary equipment to tackle the challenges ahead,” Ogalla stated.
“The Nigerian Navy will also continue to rejig our operations by introducing new assets and improving surveillance capabilities. This will boost the morale of our gallant troops and make it easier for us to overcome the enemy,” he stated.
Ogalla added that the measures would enhance the military’s ability to neutralise threats and turn the tide against criminal elements.
Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Government Files 18-Count Manslaughter Charge Against Naomi, Oriyomi Hamzat and school principal
AFOLABI
The Oyo State Government has filed an 18-count charge, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi, Principal of Islamic High School, following the tragic stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children.
According to a source within the government, the charges were filed in connection with the deadly incident.
“The court will most likely grant bail on Monday, but the state government has filed an 18-count charge of manslaughter and similar offences against the defendants,” the source said.
At the Oyo State High Court on January 7, the defence team argued passionately for the release of the defendants on bail. They cited their cooperation with investigations and the fact that they posed no flight risk.
The defence lawyers also questioned the constitutionality of the defendants’ detention, describing it as a procedural irregularity.
They challenged the “holding charge” under which the accused were remanded, stating that it lacked recognition under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, led the prosecution team, opposing the bail applications.
Aikomo insisted that the accused had not provided sufficient justification for their release and dismissed claims of persecution by the state government as baseless.
“The gravity of the charges and the need for justice for the victims and their families necessitate the continued detention of the accused persons,” Aikomo argued.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice K.B. Olawoyin reserved his ruling on the bail applications until Monday, January 13, 2025.
The case centers on three defendants:
Naomi Silekunola: Former wife of the Ooni of Ife.
Oriyomi Hamzat: CEO of Agidigbo FM.
Fasasi Abdullahi: Principal of Islamic High School.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has claimed there is no credible evidence to support reports that 16 civilians were killed during an airstrike targeting insurgents in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA of Zamfara state.
On Sunday, the NAF said the air strikes, conducted under Operation Fansan Yamma on January 10 was a “devastatingly well-coordinated air-ground assault” targeting banditry in the state.
However, reports had emerged from the community alleging that 16 residents, including members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG) and vigilantes, were mistakenly killed during the operation.
In a report, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region quoted intelligence sources as saying the vigilantes were misidentified as bandits after gunmen fled the area.
“So far, 16 dead bodies have been retrieved, but the total number of casualties is not yet clear,” the report noted.
NAF: OUR OPERATIONS BASED ON CREDIBLE INTEL
Following an enquiry by TheCable on Sunday, Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s director of public relations and information, denied the allegations, stating that the air force employs “every possible measure to prevent, minimise and mitigate harm to civilians in the conduct of operations”.
He added that the reports might be “emanating from terrorists and their sympathisers as a way of discrediting the military with propaganda, seeing they are now increasingly on the receiving end”.
Akinboyewa said there was no credible report of civilian casualties and that the airstrikes were based on reliable intelligence.
“Nevertheless, please remain assured that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations against bandits, terrorists and other similar threats are conducted based on credible, reliable intel drawn form multiple verifiable sources and subject to further confirmatory analysis,” he said.
“The air component of Operation Fansan Yamma carried out the airstrikes in question to repel ongoing bandit attacks on villages in the area.
“As of date, we have not received any credible reports of civilian casualties being involved in this instance. As events unfold, members of the public would be kept informed as might become necessary.”
HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY
The incident is not the first time military air strikes have been accused of claiming civilian casualties.
On December 25, 2024, media reports indicated that air strikes targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto state mistakenly killed civilians in the Silame LGA of the state.
The military denied the allegations, with Abubakar Abdullahi, joint media coordinator for Operation Hadarin Daji, saying the strikes were based on thorough intelligence to ensure precision.
However, the Sokoto state government countered the military’s claims, stating that no fewer than 10 civilians were killed when fighter jets “mistakenly” bombed the village.
Muhammad Sifawa, secretary to the state government, announced N20 million and food relief for the victims’ families while assuring coverage of medical bills for the injured.
Two days later, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the deaths were caused by secondary explosions at a terrorist logistics base.
Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said, “When munitions hit a logistics base, secondary explosions can occur, causing unintended casualties.”
Vice-President Kashim Shettima later apologised to the affected families, describing the incident as “one of the rare but unfortunate consequences of counter-terrorism operations.”
Over the past decade, at least 19 military airstrikes in Nigeria have “mistakenly” hit civilians instead of the intended terrorist targets.
These incidents have claimed more than 400 lives, injured hundreds, and raised concerns over violations of humanitarian laws which requires minimal harm to civilians during armed conflict.