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Ghana Election: You Are The Architect Of Nigeria’s Suffering, You Owe Nigerians An Apology – LP Knocks INEC Chairman
AFOLABI
The Labour Party (LP) have lashed out at the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu for commending the conduct of Ghana’s presidential election.
Naija News reports that Yakubu, in a video clip on Sunday, praised the rancour-free conduct of Ghana’s election, pointing out lessons for Nigerian politicians.
Reacting in an interview with Punch, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, accused Yakubu of manipulating the 2023 presidential election to favour President Bola Tinubu and asked him to apologise to Nigerians.
He insisted that the INEC boss should be the one to learn from Ghana and not the other way round.
He noted that there were no stories of ballot boxes snatching and glitches during Ghana’s presidential election.
Ifoh said though the LP had moved on from what transpired in 2023, “It is a shame that the INEC Chairman should be talking when, in this case, he should be the one to learn from Ghana.
“He was the architect of exactly what Nigerians are suffering today.
“He owes Nigerians an apology. We didn’t hear of electoral violence, snatching of boxes or any glitches whatsoever (in Ghana). The people spoke through their votes. Their votes counted and the Ghanaians are happy with it,”
The Nigerian Senate has declined approval for the dismissal of an employee from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
On Tuesday, the Senate instructed the Corporation to reinstate Engr. Aniekan Paddy Ukpe, a former District Engineer, whose employment was terminated in March 2023.
The Senate also mandated that the former District Engineer receive all due entitlements, emphasizing that there was no evidence connecting him to the vandalism of railway tracks within his area of responsibility.
Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, brought this issue to the Senate’s attention.
The matter arose from a report submitted by the senator, which was based on a petition from the Engineer, claiming wrongful termination of his employment by the Corporation.
In his petition, Engr. Ukpe stated that he served as the Senior Civil Engineer overseeing the North Central District, which includes Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa states.
He recounted being informed of a vandalism incident involving railway tracks on September 19, 2022, at Kamuru Station in Zonkwa, Kaduna State.
Upon receiving this information, the Engineer reported the incident verbally to the District Manager and filed a formal complaint with the police.
This action resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the offenders, two of whom received two-year prison sentences.
Ukpe’s petition indicated that rather than receiving praise from the District Manager, he was accused of underreporting the incident.
Consequently, the District Manager issued him a query and referred the case to an investigative committee.
He contended that the conclusions reached by the committee were prejudiced and tainted by inconsistencies, resulting in his termination without a sufficient chance to present his defence.
The NRC, through its Managing Director, Engr. (Dr.) F.E. Okhiria, defended the decision to terminate his employment, attributing it to a failure to fulfill his responsibilities.
The NRC asserted that Engr. Ukpe failed to inform his superiors about the incident promptly and exhibited a lack of urgency in addressing the situation.
The corporation maintained that his conduct was in violation of the Railway General Rules of 1964, justifying his dismissal.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has apprehended 10 persons on INTERPOL’s watch list while attempting to enter the country.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, disclosed this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the NIS Technology Innovation Complex in Abuja by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In the last couple of days, 10 people on the INTERPOL and immigration wanted list were apprehended in one week.
“Before now, those individuals would have entered Nigeria, causing terror. But under the new leadership, Nigeria is a no-go area for any criminal element,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The newly inaugurated NIS Technology Innovation Complex boasts advanced features, including a command and control center for monitoring regular migration, an NIS data hub, an ECOWAS biometric card production center, an interior data center, and a solar power station to ensure sustainable energy supply.
The minister stated the ability of the complex to assess the risk levels of individuals entering Nigeria, detect irregular migration, and oversee unmanned borders across the country.
He said the solar-powered station is projected to save the country over N300m annually in energy costs.
“We decided to implement an end-to-end energy solution. The 0.5KW solar power plant is 100 per cent operational and connected to the facility,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister further noted that the NIS has trained 250 officers to ensure 24/7 surveillance, operating in eight-hour shifts.
“For the first time in the history of this country, we now have over 200 borders under comprehensive surveillance. This state-of-the-art technology has revolutionized our border governance,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the facility houses an automated visa system that ensures visa approvals within 48 hours and produces ECOWAS travel documents for seamless regional mobility.
“We now have an ECOWAS travel document that will facilitate easy movement and travel. “We now have an automated visa regime with 48 hours of visa approval,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu commended the innovation and described it as a vital step in modernizing Nigeria’s immigration infrastructure and enhancing national security.
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to improving service delivery while declaring that the measures will not only fortify Nigeria’s borders but also reduce inefficiencies that have cost the country billions annually.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has revealed that his administration will never consider negotiating with bandits.
He stated that the Zamfara State Government is not in any rush to strike a deal with the militants in order to restore peace to the state.
The governor also debunked reports of kidnappings by bandits in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
Reports had emerged that gunmen kidnapped more than 50 women and children in a raid on Kakin Dawa village, with the State Police Command allegedly stating that more operatives had been deployed to the area.
However, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lawal described the news as false and inaccurate.
“I am not aware of that incident. I am here in Zamfara State, and I haven’t heard about that incident,” he said.
“I am not aware that 50 people were kidnapped in Maradun Local Government. Whoever gave you that information, it’s not correct.”
According to Lawal, the North-Western state has not recorded any kidnapping incidents in the last six months.
“There may be pockets of kidnapping here and there, but I can’t rule that out. These and all the measures put in place are not what they used to be in the past. In the past, hardly a day went by without hearing that 300 people were being killed.
“Within the last six months, I don’t think there has been any such incident reported in Zamfara State. Insecurity is still there, but we are making conscious efforts to handle it to the best of our ability,” he said.
The nation’s political elite has started the process of rigging the 2027 general elections, Prof Adele Jinadu has said.
Delivering his keynote address at the Policy Dialogue on “State of Anti-Corruption Policy and Practice in Nigeria,” in Abuja, yesterday, the Professor of Political Science said known party members were being appointed as commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
His words: “They have started the process of rigging the next general election through the appointment of known party members. Next year, many commissioners will be due for re-appointment. They will use the power of appointment to put those who will do their bidding.
‘’Vote buying is done through procurement, they are amazing war chest for 2027. EFCC should go to party primaries where they give huge amounts of not only naira but even dollars to buy party tickets, instead of going after poor voters who get just N2,000 or N4,000.
“Nigerian citizens have been deceived for too long. The battle has begun. We are at a critical point. Time is running out but it is not too late. We have to adopt the Night Watch Man approach.
“You must fight for the future. We should not just fold our arms doing nothing. I am not tired of fighting. We must give not give up. We must speak truth to power.”
Assessing the nation’s anti-corruption fight, he observed that political interference had not allowed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Offences Commission, ICPC, to do their jobs.
According to him, the interference comes in various ways, including the constant removal and replacement of chairmen on the two organisations, with EFCC having the ninth chairman since its establishment in 2003.
On the wide-spread corruption in the country, Prof. Jinadu said: “The tragedy of our democratic politics and the underlying causative roots of the problem of corruption is that our political class continues to push its self-interest, almost to the point not only of their own self-destruction but also of stultifying our national development.
“What we need to do now is to bring morality back into our politics and firmly reject the politics of immorality, that is at the heart of our country’s problem of corruption.”
Describing abuse of power as the worst form of.corruption, Prof Jinadu said: “The abuse of the power of incumbency has reached disturbing heights of impunity in our country’s Fourth Republic.
“The worst form of political corruption, it fuels other forms of corruption in the country. It makes nonsense of the ex-ante indeterminacy of democratic elections, the possibility of today’s winners becoming tomorrow’s losers and the possibility of today’s losers becoming tomorrow’s winners in our politics of electoral succession.”
He called for judicial reforms in order to properly tackle corruption, saying “we must begin a process of reforming our legal system in fundamental ways, and away from their excessive formalism and elitist bias, in order to engender a more progressive, activist and public interest legal culture, which will provide legal anchor for social and distributive justice as state policy.”
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has disclosed he encourages his daughters to retaliate whenever their husbands hit them.
Disclosing that domestic violence and wife battery form 45 percent of cases in nine Shari’a courts of Kano in the past five years, Sanusi said he usually tells his daughters this when they are getting married.
He made this known at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence, GBV, prevention from an Islamic perspective themed: ‘Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence.’
According to Sanusi: “You can take that verse and say that as a husband, I’ve been given this permission to beat my wife light. And nobody will deny that, nobody will say it is haram if you comply with all the rules. But if you live in a society in which those rules are never applied, nobody who is angry remembers to look for a chewing stick or a handkerchief.
“They just slap these women and punch them and kick them and beat them. I just wrote a doctorate thesis on family law, and I researched nine Shari’a courts in Kano. 41% of the cases over a five-year period had to do with maintenance. 26 per cent had to do with harm. And out of those, 45 per cent were cases of wife beating, or domestic violence. And when we go to the content analysis, not one case of wife beating was light beating.
“It just does not make sense. Now I said it before, and I know I’ve been attacked for it, and I’ll continue saying it. When my daughters are getting married, I say to them, if your husband slaps you, and you come home and tell me my husband slapped me, without slapping him back first, I will slap you myself because I did not send my daughter to marry somebody so he can slap her. If you do not like her, send her back to me. But don’t beat her.”
The Naira is back to appreciation against the dollar at the official foreign exchange market 24 hours after it depreciated.
The Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate data for Tuesday showed that the Naira strengthened to N1,525 per dollar from N1,538.50 traded on Monday. This represents an N13.5 gain against the dollar compared to the N1538.50 exchanged the previous day.
Meanwhile, the black Naira failed to appreciate as it closed at N1665 per dollar on Tuesday from N1630 traded on Monday.
DAILY POST reports that the Naira weakened for the first time in the FX market on Monday since CBN introduced the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) for transparent FX transactions.
Economists are optimistic that if the Naira can maintain its gain against the dollar in the FX market, this would impact the price of imported goods.
The United States offered a $10 million reward on Tuesday for information leading to the arrest of a Chinese man and co-conspirators wanted for hacking computer firewalls.
Guan Tianfeng, 30, is believed to be living in China’s Sichuan Province, according to the State Department.
An indictment charging Guan with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud was unsealed on Tuesday.
The Treasury Department said it had imposed sanctions on the company Guan worked for, Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co Ltd.
Guan and co-conspirators at Sichuan Silence allegedly took advantage of a vulnerability in firewalls sold by UK-based cybersecurity company Sophos Ltd, according to the indictment.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited a vulnerability in tens of thousands of network security devices, infecting them with malware designed to steal information from victims around the world,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.
Some 81,000 firewall devices were simultaneously attacked worldwide in April 2020, the indictment said, with the aim of stealing data, including usernames and passwords, while also attempting to infect the computers with ransomware.
More than 23,000 firewalls were in the United States, of which 36 were protecting “critical infrastructure companies’ systems,” the Treasury said.
“The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators found and exploited affected firewalls owned by businesses across the United States,” FBI agent Herbert Stapleton said.
“If Sophos had not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe.”
According to the indictment, Sichuan Silence sold its services and the data it obtained through hacking to Chinese businesses and to government entities, including the Ministry of Public Security.
Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which secured electoral victory through protests in 2015, is now clamping down on demonstrations.
Odinkalu spoke on Tuesday at an event hosted by Global Rights, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), with the theme “Protest in Nigeria: A democracy that disqualifies dissent.”
The event was held on the X microblogging platform to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
“I’m not quite sure it’s within my pay grade to assess the performance of the Nigerian government on the right to protest. Partly because the right to protest is not given by the government,” Odinkalu said.
“It is a right that belongs to the people. What you do under the existing law and really in a republic is liaise with the state, notify the state, so that the state and its assets can lend you its assets for the purpose of protecting the protest, making sure that other people who wish to exercise similar rights can do so peacefully.
“Nigeria is currently led by people who specialised in protests over the years, from the president to several other people within his government.
“They protested their way to an electoral victory in 2015 as a political party, the APC, the All Progressives Congress. That’s for the benefit of the non-Nigerians in this conversation.
“And, you know, so to that extent, if you were talking about the past decade, the fact alone that people who were serial protesters came to power by political alternates is itself evidence that the right to protest in Nigeria, at least up to that point, was strong and reasonably well-respected.
“Not without some pushback, but reasonably well-respected and fruitful. Now, that said, it’s also the case that since then, since they came to power, they’ve done a heck of a lot to shut down the right to protest.
“And if you’re looking for physical evidence of that, you’ll find it in the venue in Abuja from which the Bring Back Our Girls protests convened.
“And the Bring Back Our Girls protest, by the way, was part of the infrastructure of protest deployed by the current ruling actors in Nigeria to gain public support in order to win political power in the country at the time they did.
“But after coming to power, they shut down that venue and they shut down those protests.
“And having not done anything to alter the fate of the girls who were lost or stolen or abducted, they then shut down those protests.
“And they have basically fenced off that site of protest and therefore made it unavailable for that.”
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says its operatives have seized fake currencies worth N129 billion in Kano state.
In a statement on Tuesday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said three suspects were arrested in connection with the fake currencies.
Adejobi identified the suspects as Nura Ibrahim, Muhammed Muntari, and Usman Abdullahi.
“Recently, in Kano, the police successfully recovered the sum of N129,542,823,000 in counterfeit currencies, with a breakdown of 3,366,000 in counterfeit US dollars, 51,970 in counterfeit CFA franc, and 1,443,000 in counterfeit naira,” the statement reads.
“This momentous achievement was recorded on the 8th of December 2024, at Gwale, Kano state, where police operatives acting on credible intelligence accosted one Nura Ibrahim ‘m’ and, upon a conducted search, discovered N392,000 counterfeit notes, $7800 counterfeit notes, and 5 different ATM cards.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of his accomplices, Muhammed Muntari ‘m’ and Usman Abdullahi ‘m,’ as well as the recovery of the other counterfeit currencies.”
‘THREE SUSPECTED GUNRUNNERS ARRESTED’
In a related development, Adejobi said police operatives arrested three suspected gunrunners along the Kaduna-Kano expressway.
The suspects are Buhari Suleiman, Jamil Yakubu, and Aliyu Abdullahi.
“The suspects were apprehended after the police operatives noticed their suspicious activities and approached them to question them,” Adejobi said.
“A subsequent search was conducted, which led to the recovery of 216 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 1 round of AK-47 ammunition.
“Similarly, on the 8th of December 2024, police operatives in Kebbi state rescued 36 victims of kidnapping along Mairairai/Bena Road in Danko/Wasagu LGA who were returning from their respective farms.
“As a follow-up to the rescue, police operatives have visited the community to engage its members, debrief the rescued victims, and assure the people of its continuous readiness to ensure their safety and security.”
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The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has denied reports suggesting it is opposing President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills, describing the claims as “grossly misleading, false and malicious.”
RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu said that the commission is fully engaged in the reform process and is aligned with President Tinubu’s vision for an equitable and sustainable fiscal framework.
He also noted the importance of the proposed tax reform bills in addressing Nigeria’s fiscal challenges.
“We applaud President Tinubu’s strong commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s revenue base through bold initiatives. The proposed tax reform bills are a significant step towards integrating untapped revenue sources, enhancing Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, and positioning the country favourably among nations with high fiscal performance,” Shehu said during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Shehu also spoke on concerns surrounding Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation and derivation and assured Nigerians of the Commission’s proactive involvement in ensuring that global best practices guide the reform process.
“As a responsible and patriotic institution, we have submitted a comprehensive memorandum that emphasises adherence to global best practices. This position aligns seamlessly with Mr. President’s vision,” he added.
Shehu condemned the spread of misinformation, emphasizing that the RMAFC has never opposed the bills but has instead provided professional advice to support their refinement.
He called on Nigerians to disregard baseless reports and urged the media to uphold ethical standards in their reportage.
“It is disheartening to note that, despite our explicit support for the proposed legislation, some individuals have chosen to peddle falsehoods for reasons best known to them,” he said.
“These inaccurate statements can undermine the ongoing efforts of patriotic Nigerians tirelessly working to support the President’s vision for the country.”
The Chairman further explained that the proposed tax reform bills are currently undergoing consultations, with inputs being sought from expert bodies.
He cautioned against misinterpretation or misrepresentation of professional advice during this process.
“The Commission is a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s fiscal framework, and we take our responsibility to provide expert advice seriously. We have been working closely with the National Assembly to ensure the proposed legislation is robust, effective, and aligned with global best practices,” he said.
He noted that the proposed bills aim to promote fiscal equity, reduce tax evasion, and increase revenue generation—objectives that align with the RMAFC’s mandate.
However, he acknowledged concerns about potential impacts on businesses and individuals, assuring stakeholders that the Commission remains committed to addressing these through constructive engagement.
Shehu stressed the importance of relying on factual information to avoid unnecessary controversies and called on all Nigerians to support the president’s bold fiscal reforms.
“At this critical juncture, the President needs the support of all Nigerians. Let us work together to support his vision for a more prosperous Nigeria,” he noted.
[Guardian]
The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the ongoing cash crunch in commercial banks across the country, calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address the situation, which has disrupted economic activities and imposed significant hardship on citizens.
The call by the House is coming on the heels of the directive by Vice President Kashim Shettima to the CBN and commercial banks in the country to swiftly resolve issues of cash scarcity and arbitrary charges by point-of-sale (POS) operators.
The CBN last week issued a directive mandating Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to prioritise efficient cash disbursement to customers both over the counter and through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
The directive, which took effect on December 1, 2024, forms part of the apex bank’s continued efforts to enhance currency circulation and address cash shortages across the nation.
In a motion brought under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Uguru Emmanuel, the House highlighted the economic and social implications of the cash scarcity, which has left many Nigerians unable to access funds even for basic needs.
Hon. Emmanuel noted that while economic growth relies heavily on consumer spending and business investment, the persistent cash shortage has become a major impediment to these activities.
The lawmaker recalled that the CBN, in its policy directive of December 21, 2022, set cash withdrawal limits of N500,000 for individuals and N5 million for corporate entities.
However, he observed that commercial banks have largely disregarded this policy, often limiting cash withdrawals to as little as N10,000 or nothing at all.
He further raised alarm over the apparent disconnect between commercial banks and Point of Sale (POS) operators, who seem to have unlimited access to cash, often selling it at exorbitant rates.
The lawmaker warned that unless the CBN takes immediate action, the situation could worsen, especially with the approach of the festive season, leaving businesses frustrated and citizens plunged into deeper economic hardship.
In its resolution, the House mandated the Committee on Banking Regulations to investigate the cash crunch in commercial banks and report back within one week.
The House directed the CBN to urgently address the cash scarcity if it is not responsible for the shortage.
Our correspondents report that Nigerians are increasingly finding it difficult to get naira notes for their daily transactions.
The situation is more severe in rural communities, where access to banks and other financial transaction platforms is limited.
In towns and cities, Point of Sale (POS) operators have gone overboard by charging customers more than expected to give them naira notes.
“I paid N500 to get N10, 000 at the Jabi Park,” said Jennifer Samuel, a civil servant.
“I need cash to pay for transportation to Mararaba because the taxi drivers don’t accept transfer, but it is not fair for me to pay N500 just to get N10, 000,” she said.
Abdulmumini Ibrahim, a businessman, said he paid N800 to POS operator in order to collect N20, 000 cash.
“It is true that cashless society is the way forward for any society that wants to grow but Nigeria is not ripe for that.
“Government must invest in infrastructure in order to convince people to accept the new norm. For now, they should make more cash available,” he said.
Apex bank tightens noose on fintechs
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fined two of the country’s most prominent unicorns, Moniepoint and OPay N1 billion each in the second quarter of 2024, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told TechCabal.
The sources also confirmed that several other fintech companies were penalised, but that the two firms were the hardest hit, following a routine CBN audit of the fintech sector, which revealed compliance issues.
Daily Trust could not independently verify the claim despite many efforts.
When contacted, OPay said no such levy has been imposed on it.
Two sources familiar with the development told TechCabal that at least four other fintech companies were similarly penalised, though the details of these fines remain unknown.
The CBN has increasingly relied on fines to enforce regulatory compliance.
In 2023, Nigerian banks paid a combined N678 million in penalties. In October 2024, the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed a N1.5 billion fine on ten commercial banks, including Zenith and GTBank, for various infractions in the first half of the year.
Until recently, Nigeria’s rapidly growing fintech sector largely operated without CBN interference. However, the rapid expansion of fintechs like OPay and Moniepoint, which now serve millions of users, has invited greater scrutiny.
OPay, for instance, claims a customer base of around 40 million, while Moniepoint, which processed N5.2 billion transactions in 2023, does not disclose specific customer numbers but is similarly large.
According to the report by TechCabal, beyond licensing, the CBN has also expressed concerns about the fintechs’ compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.
In April 2024, the central bank imposed a two-month ban on customer onboarding for several fintech companies, including Kuda Bank and Palmpay, citing non-compliance with KYC standards. The ban forced fintechs to overhaul their onboarding procedures and commit to improving their compliance measures.
In a statement to TechCabal, OPay said: “We categorically refute the claims that OPay Digital Services was fined by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of N1 billion for regulatory infractions. These claims are entirely false.”
When Daily Trust reached out to the North-east Regional Manager of Moniepoint, Alamin Jamil, he said: “I have seen the story on some online platform and it appears false to me. I don’t have all the details but I don’t think it is true.”
He promised to get back to our reporter once he gets the true position of things.
However, a senior management source with Moniepoint who prefers anonymity confirmed the fine but was uncertain about the actual amount.
CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi Ali, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
[DailyTrust]
The National Assembly has hinted at its plans to amend the 2023 Electricity Act.
It said the amended act will seek to recognise the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency as the sole regulatory agency to enforce technical standards and regulations in the power sector.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Eyinnaya Abaribe, disclosed this plan at the fourth Edition of The Stakeholders Roundtable for the Enforcement of Technical Standards, Regulations, and Mandates held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Recall that last year, President Bola Tinubu assented to the 2023 Electricity Act as a replacement for the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.
The act approved the de-monopolization of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity at the National level and empowered states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
It also enabled the states to issue licenses to private investors who can operate mini-grids and power plants.
However, against the law, some states approved the establishment of technical and safety standards carrying out technical enforcement in NEMSA’s areas of specialisation.
But speaking in his goodwill address, the senator representing Abia South, said the amended law will explicitly prevent states from enforcing technical standards.
He stated that the 2023 Electricity Act (2023 EA) does not grant states the authority to enforce technical electricity standards.
Abaribe stressed the need for federal law to supersede state law in this area, warning that a clear legal framework is necessary to prevent individuals from arbitrarily setting technical standards.
He said, “The national assembly wants things to be better in the power sector and I don’t think any Nigerian would be very happy with the power sector as it is.
“It’s our pleasure to be here at this critical roundtable that is focused on optimizing executive, legislative and judicial rule in enforcing technical standards and regulations in the power sector. This roundtable has been organized by NEMSA at a time when the use of substandard and very inadequate electrical equipment is considered one of the major culprits for frequent grid collapse in Nigeria.
“But I think to answer the issues, there is nowhere in that law that gives states the right to enforce standards of our electrical equipment, supplies, and everything. There is none.
“And so we think that, and I think we discussed it with the legal community last time, that we may need to, in trying to amend the 2023 electricity act, make it far more explicit that just like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, that for a question of safety, Nigeria must have one standard. We cannot have multiple standards and NEMSA will be in charge.”
He further said with the decentralization of electricity regulatory responsibilities ushered in by the enactment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.17) Act and the Electricity Act, 2023, the challenge of enforcing electrical standards and safety at the sub-national levels of Government may even become more daunting for NEMSA.
“And so to make sure that state government don’t mischievously go to set up their standards and then we have a conflict, we will make sure that it will be stated explicitly in the law. And as you know, it’s an idea that a federal law would often supersede a state law.
“The centralisation of the regulatory responsibilities that were ushered in through the enactment of the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria in 1999 and the Electricity Act now poses a big challenge to everyone, and especially NEMSA.
“What is the nexus between you and the standard organizations of Nigeria? But we already continue having all these types of issues, and I think that this roundtable should focus and look at how we can actively contribute our insights into how to make sure that everyone will adopt a particular standard,” he added.
Abaribe said that given the enormity of NEMSA’s mandate in enforcing electrical standards and ensuring safety in the NESI, the regulator, contractors, operators/licensees, customers and other critical stakeholders need to support NEMSA to deliver on this mandate, hence the justification for this multi-stakeholder roundtable.
The Senator also promised strict regulatory oversight to ensure the implementation of safety measures in the sector.
In his welcome remarks, the NEMSA Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir highlighted the indispensable role of the legislative and judicial arms in shaping and upholding regulatory frameworks for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
He emphasized that NEMSA’s core mandate, established under the NEMSA Act 2015 and the Electricity Act 2023, revolves around enforcing technical standards, inspecting and certifying electrical installations, and ensuring the safety of lives and property.
“Our mission is to guarantee that electrical materials, equipment, and installations meet the required quality, standards, and specifications to deliver safe and sustainable electricity across Nigeria,” Engr. Tahir stated.
Tahir stressed that robust legislative oversight, judicial interpretation, and stakeholder engagement are critical to addressing the proliferation of substandard electrical materials and ensuring compliance across the power sector.
“The safety of lives and property within grid and off-grid networks hinges on strict adherence to technical standards,” he noted.
He also called for active participation and innovative contributions from attendees to resolve legal and regulatory challenges impeding progress in the sector.
This event reaffirmed NEMSA’s commitment to maintaining the highest safety and technical integrity standards while ensuring a reliable electricity supply for all Nigerians.
“Together, we can build a safer and more resilient electricity industry,” Engr. Tahir concluded, expressing gratitude for the ongoing support of the Legislature and Judiciary.
[Punch]
…As Seadogs frowns at increasing abuse of human rights
THE Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday, denied detained human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, bail.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned on a 16-count charge of defamation against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ where he accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The police prosecutor requested his remand in prison custody pending further investigation, while his counsel argued for bail on liberal terms, citing the presumption of innocence.
Counsel to the police, Samson Osobu, said Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who is the lawyer of the defendant, said a SAN does not have the right to appear as a representative of the defendant.
He reminded the court of the Magistrate’s Law of 2014 (as amended), citing a case of Abiodun Bamigboye vs COP with Appeal No CA/IP/2256C/2021, where an agreement was reached that no SAN has the constitutional right to appear or file any process in an inferior court.
On his part, Olumide-Fusika cited the Oyo Magistrate’s law, which explained that any qualified lawyer can appear in the court majorly if the matter is related to criminal cases and any suspect or defendant is entitled to any legal representative in court.
However, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, asked Olumide-Fusika to step down. At the same time, another lawyer, who is not a SAN proceeded, while the court decided based on the argument afterwards.
Taiwo Adeniji, who took over from Olumide-Fusika, applied for bail of the defendant, saying the defendant’s offences are bailable, according to section 36 (5) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended) and Act 6 of the African Charter and People’s Rights. He said the bail application is based on hearsay and lack of facts.
Osobu urged the court to review the bail application submitted before the court, stressing that the defendant doesn’t merit it and that the application is incompetent and irregular.
In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun adjourned the bail application to December 20 as a result of a prolonged disagreement between the two counsel and the lawyer of the defendant.
Support groups clash within court premises
Shortly after the court proceedings, some support groups clashed outside the courtroom, alleging the court of violating the rule of law.
While a pro-Afe Babalola group confronted the opposing party not to constitute any nuisance, Farotimi’s side pledged to stage the protest as soon as they get to Lagos state for the release of the human rights activist.
Farotimi’s plight poignant reflection of Nigeria’s pervasive impunity—Atiku
Reacting to the ongoing travail of Dele Farotimi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, described it as a sad reminder of Nigeria’s pervasive culture of impunity.
He said there was no better time to remind our leaders at all levels of their oaths of office, part of which is to protect the constitutional rights of citizens.
Atiku, who wrote on his tweet on his X (formally twitter) handle, said: “Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and tireless advocate for human rights, now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power.
“His only offence lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.
“More troubling still is the fact that he is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State.
“His plight serves as a poignant reflection of the pervasive climate of impunity and the blatant violation of citizens’ rights that has become all too common in Nigeria.
“Yet, perhaps the most alarming of all is the weaponization of the cyberbullying law, which is being used as a tool to harass, intimidate and silence dissenting voices in the opposition and the press.
“On this solemn occasion of International Human Rights Day, let us take a moment to remind our leaders at every level of government to honour the oaths they have sworn to protect and uphold the constitutionally enshrined rights of the people. Only through this commitment can we hope to nurture and strengthen our democracy..”
Seadogs Confraternity frowns at increasing abuse of human rights
Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs and Pyrates Confraternity, Dutse Deck have frowned at what they termed as heightening cases of human rights abuses in Nigeria and called for the government’s urgent actions in protecting the rights of citizens.
The confraternity particularly mentioned the arrest and detention of Dele Farotimi as well as what it termed a harsh bail condition given to him, saying such is a case of human rights abuse.
Marching through the highway in Jos, Plateau State in celebration of this year’s World Human Rights Day, the association sensitised citizens on their rights as human beings.
Speaking during the procession, Chairman of Typhoon Blasted Seadogs Forum, Jos Chapter, Charles Uwechia, said: “We are here to sensitise citizens about human rights because a lot of people don’t know their rights and how they are being abused. Our organization is humanitarian and issues of human rights abuses are coming up. A typical example is the issue of Dele Farotimi.
“The National Association of Seadogs believes that his rights are abused, putting him in chains; he is not a criminal; the matter is a civil one, and the bail condition of N50 million is outrageous. Governments should renege on some of these abuses and make some changes in the human rights approaches in the country.”
[Vanguard]