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The family of one of the tailors accused of mass-production of the Russian flag in Kano, Ahmad Yusuf Muhammad, has said Muhammad was not involved in the act he was arrested over.
Naija News recalls that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested some tailors suspected to be mass-producing the Russian flag in Kano State.
The agency posted on its X handle, that the “Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”
However, Ahmad’s brother, Nasiru Yusuf Muhammad, in a chat with Daily Trust, said his brother was never a tailor and has never handled a sewing machine.
He said, “He is my biological brother, he was arrested because they said he was the one sewing the Russian flag. I want to clarify that he was never a tailor, he had never been and doesn’t even know how to handle a sewing machine.
“He just became a victim because he was never arrested by any security operative, we (the family) are suspecting because of trauma or being frightened he has said something that implicates himself.
“He is a used water sachet recycling dealer, we are all into it, he directly works under me, that’s our business. He was never a tailor. Even the sewing machine that was said to be his was not his own and was not picked in our house. It was in a neighbour’s house and the owner has since run away.
“The flag was not even in his custody. Ahmad had not participated in protest and did not raise any flag. We had cautioned him and he listened.”
He, therefore, called on the security agencies and concerned authorities to investigate the case carefully and do justice to everyone.
“We are appealing to the concerned authorities to please look critically into this issue and release him. He was not a tailor and has not committed the offense he is being held for,” he said.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Champion Zonal Headquarters, located along Federal College of Education (FCE) Road in Kontagora, Niger State, was set ablaze by unidentified persons in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident marks a tragic recurrence, as the same church was similarly attacked and burnt down by unknown arsonists ten years ago.
At that time, the attackers had warned that the church building should not be completed.
Condemning the latest attack, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, described the incident as “barbaric and uncalled for.”
He emphasized the importance of freedom of worship in Niger State and called for prompt action by the government and security agencies to prevent any escalation of tension.
According to Daily Post, Rev Yohanna said, “There is freedom of worship in Niger State.
“I am sure by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way to address any form of tension that may want to escalate beyond control. We are hoping that the law will take its course. To be frank, issues like this must be tamed, and people who have done this should be fished out and made to face the law.”
Pastor Samson Ogbebor, an Assistant Pastor of the church, recounted the events leading up to the fire.
According to him, the incident occurred around 3:00 am on Saturday.
“I received a distress call that the church was on fire. On getting there, I met a church that has been in existence for the past 20 years now burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums,” Pastor Ogbebor said.
He also highlighted the long-standing challenges faced by the church.
He said, “About 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burnt it down completely, and with self-efforts, we were able to erect it again. They have made several unsuccessful attempts and have refused us permission to roof it properly, so we decided to use it like that for worship, but look at what they have done again.”
Despite the repeated attacks, members of the RCCG congregation remain resolute. Mr. John Aboje, an Elder in the church, expressed the community’s determination to continue their worship and maintain their faith.
“We will not be discouraged by the incident but will continue to be good Christians and good citizens of the country,” Aboje affirmed.
He also called on Governor Umaru Bago, the Emir of Kontagora, Alh. Muhammadu Barau Mu’azu II, and relevant security agencies to take the incident seriously.
“The incident has been reported to the Division ‘A’ Police Station in Kontagora for investigation, and we urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book,” he added.
The Conscience of Yoruba Nation, an affiliate of Afenifere, commends Nigerians, especially the youth, for the peaceful exercise of their right to express their feelings to their governments. We strongly believe that governments at different levels have listened to the aggrieved public and will decisively address their grievances.
We also commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for protecting Nigerians’ right to assemble freely and associate with other persons as guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) before, during and after the protests. This, again, attests President Tinubu’s utmost respect to the core ethos and principles of constitutional democracy.
We, further, commend the security agencies for their professional conduct in the discharge of their duties during the national protest. We, particularly, note their timely response to allegations of use of excessive force and payment of compensation to the family of the individual killed by stray bullets.
We, however, challenge the security agencies to duly investigate all incidents of violence; unearth the masterminds of violent acts and serve them justice for the right to a peaceful protest does not extend to fomenting any form of violence or disruption of public order in any way.
We, therefore, commiserate with families who lost their loved ones in the few unfortunate incidents of violence in some parts of the federation. We pray God Almighty will comfort them all. We also sympathise with those who lost their properties. May God replenish them.
At the inception, the Conscience of Yoruba Nation alongside Afenifere called for restraints. Our position then was premised on a belief that public grievances had been duly registered, clearly heard and loudly vented. We pleaded with the conveners and mobilisers of the nationwide protests to call off the protest in order to foil the plan of rogue political actors to use it to foment violence.
Little did we know then that while our people genuinely sought to exercise their rights peacefully, some wanted to exploit the protest for mischief. The call for military intervention and the hoisting of a foreign flag by some elements in some cities in the North eventually confirmed our fear and suspicion that certain rogue political actors had planned to take advantage of the protests to destabilise a democratically elected government and plunge Nigeria into intractable internal conflicts. But that plan failed!
We, the people of Yoruba Nation, will never accept and will ever resist any thought, plan or attempt to truncate the democratically elected government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR or its subnational entities under any guise. In our history, we have never promoted rebellion of any kind against a constitutional regime and we will never attempt to sponsor such for any reason.
For the record, the Yoruba, an ethnic nationality of about 50 million, paid heavily for the sustenance of this federation from the unjust imprisonment of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the needless shedding of the blood of Chief S.L. Akintola, the annulment of the mandate, unjust incarceration and unexplained death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election and the thousands of our people killed both in war and by cruel herdsmen.
In spite of all these provocations that reached the peak in the past eight years with the gruesome murder of Mrs Okufunke Olakunrin, the beloved daughter of our revered leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti OFR, by some mindless Fulani marauders, we have never called for violent overthrow of any democratically elected government of Nigeria. We have always resisted such and will still resist if it happens.
We condemn in strong terms the subversive act of hoisting of a foreign flag in the North. We see it as an attempt to invite foreign powers to overrun the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and threaten the country’s existence. We also note with grave concern that some sections of the North have made threats of secession. We are aware that the security agencies, especially the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police, have started investigating these acts of treasons, and Nigerians are patiently waiting for the outcome of the investigation.
While the Yoruba have no objection to any part of Nigeria to seek secession, or desire to be ruled by the military and pledge fealty to any foreign power, we advise them to reserve their right to do so till when they opt out of Nigeria. The Yoruba will decide how we chose to be governed in our independent nation if need be.
Abagun Kole Omololu,
Convener, Conscience of Yoruba Nation,
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, says replacing or repairing bad electricity transformers is not that of customers but squarely that of power distribution companies, DisCos.
Mrs Aisha Mamoud, Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, NERC, stated this on Saturday during a three-day Problem-Solving session between customers in Cross River and PHEDC from Thursday to Saturday, Aug. 10 tagged “Customer Complaints Resolution Meeting”
She said consumers payment of electricity bills is for services which should be rendered and not to be made to pay for replacement or repairs of transformers or cables.
Mamoud said the meeting became necessary because of customers complaints on metering, excessive billing and transformer vandalism.
She explained that the idea behind the meeting was to educate and enlightened consumers about the electricity industry and their rights as a consumers.
“In regards to our duties and responsibilities as a Regulatory body,, the consumer act says we should try to maximize access to electricity giving that all consumers in this country have access to electricity irrespective of where they live. It is their fundmental right to have access to electricity
“Another reason we are here is to resolve all your complaints . We have done it in several parts of the country and it was a very huge success. All your complaints will be solve on the spot.” She assured.
She stressed that it is the responsibility of DisCos to provide metres to avoid estimated billing and that the federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Discos on provision of metres.
On her part, Mrs Olubukola Ilevbare, Head, Corporate Communication PHED, said the company is having challenges meeting the demands of vandalism in the state.
She noted that most of the transformers issues are caused by vandalism noting that on several occasions, the PHED had replaced transformers vandalized by criminals.
“I now there are times that we don’t respond to our customers as we should, maybe as a result of demands; our goal is to do our best to ensure that whenever there are genuine complaints, we attend to them.
“On the issue of metres, it is the responsibility of DisCos to provide metres, but when a customer cannot wait for the DisCo to provide the mitre, which is done in phases, he can pay for his own metre and within 10 days, it will be installed,” she said
Ilebare explained that though, there are cases where transformers are genuinely spoilt and it is the responsibility of PHED to fix them stressing that the company has been doing its best to meet customer needs.
In his speech, the House of Representatives member, representing Bakassi, Calabar South and Akpabuyo, Mr Joseph Bassey frowned at the issue of vandalism, excessive billing of customers and called for proper billing of consumers in the state
“Today’s meeting is a welcome development for the people in Cross River, electricity issue if address, it will help reduce the level of hardship and this will boost the economy.
“PHED has failed in various ways , they only get money from consumers and refuse to do maintenance. The issue of grading, I don’t feel good about it, everybody has the right to electricity, so why create bands to categorize where a particular area belongs.”
My ‘daughter’ asked to inflate N3m contract to N33m - says Adeboye, charges Christians to shun corruption
AFOLABI
LAMENTING the high rate of corruption in the country, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian church of God, RCCG Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has reiterated that corruption is at its peak because majority of Christians who are supposed to be peculiar people and make a difference have compromised.
Calling on Christians to shun a lifestyle of double standards, at the day six of the church annual convention with the focus on: ‘Heaven’, Adeboye also recalled how one of his spiritual daughters was asked to inflate a N3m contract to N33m
In his words: “We talk about corruption in Nigeria. Why do you think corruption has become so deep? it is because we Christians, who are supposed to be peculiar people, are not making any difference. It’s so difficult to even know who is who.
“You must be as pure as light, people must be able to see you at a distance and know that this is a candidate for heaven. In your behaviour, character, you must be different. If you want to compromise because of promotion, let them take their promotion because you are a peculiar people.
“The world will hate you because of your standard, because your standard is that of God.”
Narrating how one of his daughters in faith was asked to inflate a N3m contract to N33m, the revered cleric at the Holy Communion service said the lady was given a road contract in a particular state in Nigeria. He said the lady was asked to increase the cost of the project from N3 million which she wrote in her proposal to N33 million.
He said: “One of my daughters got a contract to tar a road in one of the states in Nigeria. She gave a proposal of N3 million, but they asked her to put N33 million. She was surprised, turned down the offer and said I am a child of God, how will I spend the money? They looked at her as if she was somebody who dropped from the sky.”
In another instance: “Another child of mine told another story. She applied for a contract. They gave her to go and tar a road. She got to the road and found that the road was already tarred. She came back and told them there must have been a mistake. They said,” What is your problem, collect your money and give us our own.”
He, however, stated that corruption would have been a thing of the past in the country if Christians decided not to compromise even in the face of adversity.
Continuing in his sermon, Adeboye revealed that he has been sober lately, as he almost ran out of God’s favour at the Friday Holy Ghost Service: “Holiness means total obedience to God. I have been sober since yesterday. It took special love that God did not knock me on the head. God wanted to talk, but I wanted to preach a sermon that I had prepared. He told me,” You have done fine enough. He wanted me to get out of the way. As he was talking, I was interrupting.”
Daddy G.O then warned against doing things contrary to God’s will, stating, no one can love the church more than the owner of the church “You are dealing with God almighty. You can’t love the church more than the owner of the church. When he says this is how I want to go and you try to do it your way, you are on your own.”
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of blocking his bid to acquire an oil field.
He revealed this in an interview with the Financial Times, highlighting a contentious decision made by the previous administration.
Elumelu alleged that he had been looking to purchase the oilfield since 2017 and raised $2.5bn for it, but Buhari and his late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, blocked the deal.
He stated that he was advised Nigeria could not permit something of such strategic importance to be handled by a private operator.
“The rejection defied logic,” Elumelu expressed in the interview, highlighting his disbelief at the administration’s decision.
“We would have been purchasing it from a foreign company, so why was it such an issue?”
Elumelu, also the chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), emphasized that his company’s offer was not merely a business transaction but a potential boost to Nigeria’s economy by retaining valuable assets within the country.
“We wanted to become a Fortune 500 company and we estimated what we needed. It’s not naira, it’s huge dollars. Energy security is crucial for a country that doesn’t produce enough electricity for its roughly 200 million citizens,” he added.
On Japa syndrome, Elumelu declared, “I support it, totally. “I don’t have a problem with people saying ‘I’m going to Canada, UK or US.’
“Joblessness is the betrayal of a generation. You’ve gone to school and come back with your dreams and aspirations and you don’t have the opportunity . For people who decide to find solutions elsewhere, no one should stop them. But for those who decide to stay, they should try to create an impact and build a legacy.”
Elumelu also recounted his struggles with oil theft, which has been a persistent issue plaguing the Nigerian petroleum industry.
He said, “The reason Nigeria is unable to meet its OPEC production quota is not because of low investment but because of theft, pure and simple! Meanwhile, oil-producing countries are smiling as their foreign reserves are rising. What is Nigeria’s problem? We need to hold our leaders more accountable!”
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have smashed a drug cartel following the recovery of multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy-duty automobile pivot shafts, and Ghanaian fabric, Kente, among others following a nationwide intelligence-led operation
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi while confirming this said, “While 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday 5th August 2024, 10.494kg of same class A drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814 kilograms”.
How 'pregnant' passenger stole my car, made me unconscious - 43-yr-old man narrates experience
“In the same vein, five other consignments going to the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday 9th August 2024.
“They include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.
“In a different logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10kg coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.
“In another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 7th August arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra state.
“Two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra state were also arrested on Thursday 8th August in a follow-up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, Edo state on the same day.
“While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday 7th August intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.
“The seizure was made during 100% joint examination with men of Customs Service and other stakeholders.
“The following day, Thursday 8th August, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613, that came from Canada.
“In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 8th August with the support of men of operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.200kg in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM.
“He claimed he was bringing the consignment from Edo state to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.
“Two suspects: Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Tuesday 6th August with 29.5kg cannabis, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 1,169 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid road, Ajah on Sunday 4th August.
“No less than 1,230.00kg cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland at Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/ Odolu LGA, Kogi state on Friday 9th August by NDLEA officers supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested.
“With the same drive, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for women at Fowewe Sofuwa Islamic Centre, Saki, Oyo state; WADA sensitisation lecture and inauguration of community drug control committee at Nnando community, Anambra state
Others are WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Kwara state; and WADA sensitisation lecture to members of Ansaru-ud-deen Muslim Society of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Kogi, and Adamawa Commands as well as those of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, for the arrests and seizures,
He urged them and their compatriots across the country to continue with their current balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
A dramatic incident unfolded at Lagos Airport on Saturday when a woman tore up her husband’s international passport shortly after their arrival from abroad.
The act, seen by many as vandalism of government property, has ignited public outrage and prompted calls for legal action.
The woman could be heard responding in rage after being asked why she tore the passport, “Is it your passport?”
She later then told off her transfixed husband as she held the kids’ hands out of the walkway, “If you want to sleep there, sleep there, this is Nigeria, this is where you will be”.
Officials could then be heard consoling and telling her husband to calm down and not say anything in response to the outburst of the woman.
The woman’s actions have been widely condemned as both a public display of emotional distress and a serious offense, given that a passport is a document owned by the Nigerian government.
@STDpicks wrote on X, “Hope she knows it’s a crime for destroying government property and she can go to jail for it.”
@__jaidz: I don’t know why some women think so shallow, she just acted without even weighing the consequences. I wont be surprised if she later was sorry for this and re think she did a very wrong thing. Women need to stop doing things based on emotions and think logically sometimes all this weaker vessel sh!t is just ignorance and pathway for stupidness.
@fortunateozuyak: May we not be humiliated by the women we settled for as wives!
@OloriOfOloris: “We need to hear the other side of the story first before jumping into conclusion.”
@Xperience_Snr: She’s not afraid of him. She’s not afraid of any consequences. This is not the first time she’s abusing him. She doesn’t respect him. She sees him as a weak man. She’s in command. The man should do a DNA on all the kids especially the last one. She’s clearly cheating on him.
Media
- Woman destroys her husband’s international passport on their arrival to Lagos, Nigeria.
— Postsubman (@Postsubman) August 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/s4bllfUwvW
The Nigerian government says it would soon commence disbursement of the N150 billion presidential palliative program to manufacturers and micro, small and medium enterprises.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Aniete disclosed this at the weekend in a statement through her spokesperson, Terfa Gyado.
Aniete said over 700,000 applicants have applied for the scheme so far
“Disbursement is yet to start but they are finalising the first batch. To date, about 700,000 applicants have applied,” she said.
She explained that for manufacturers, for loans up to N1 billion, applicants must choose between working capital or asset financing, maintain at least a six-month business/corporate banking relationship, and provide additional documentation as required by the bank.
Recall that in December 2023, the Federal Government unveiled the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme as part of the Presidential Palliatives Programme to cushion the impact of economic hardship in Nigeria.
The government had dedicated N75 billion to MSMEs and another N75 billion to the manufacturing sector.
However, the Minister had earlier announced a plan to commence disbursement in July 2024.
[DailyPost]
The National Youth Service Corps has denied a social media report that corps members’ bank accounts are being upgraded to accommodate the N70,000 new national minimum wage.
The corps said no directive has been given by the relevant authority for it to start the payment of N70, 000 minimum wage to corps members or to upgrade their accounts.
According to a statement issued by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, on Saturday, the report is misleading and absolutely false.
The NYSC, therefore, advised corps members to desist from allowing mischief makers who are set to mislead Nigerians to continue to play on their intelligence.
The statement read, “The attention of National Youth Service Corps management has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the media regarding payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members and the directive to upgrade their accounts. This is an absolute falsehood which is far from the truth.
“Corps members, parents and members of the public should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters.
“It is, therefore, impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such. Corps members already know the approved channel and mode of communication in the scheme and should therefore ignore the directive accordingly.
“The NYSC, by this release therefore admonishes corps members to desist from allowing mischief makers who are set to mislead Nigerians from continuing to play on their intelligence.
“Bloggers and social media influencers are warned to stop issuing statements that concern the management of National Youth Service Corps without authorisation.”
[Punch]
More...
Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the house of representatives from Kano, says Alhassan Doguwa, chair of the house committee on petroleum resources (downstream), is the biggest threat to the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmaker said Doguwa is also a threat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to peace in Kano.
Jibrin is a New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) member, while Doguwa belongs to the APC. Both politicians have been aiming diatribes each other’s way for days now.
In a statement on Saturday, the NNPP lawmaker said Doguwa’s utterances are capable of brewing more tension in the north-west state.
“A peaceful Kano or otherwise, will have consequences on the country,” Sani Paki quoted his principal as saying.
“I strongly believe people like Doguwa are the biggest enemies of his party and the President because of such deliberate divisive and reckless actions and utterances which is deepening the already tense atmosphere in Kano.”
Jibrin added that Doguwa should never have insulted Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano.
“Doguwa has repeatedly tried so hard to drag others, especially his party leaders into the issues I raised with him as a result of his constant false and unwarranted attacks and insults to Kwankwaso,” he added.
“The reality is that this matter is about Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, him and him alone. It is about his reckless, insultive utterances and divisive character which he deploys to malign Kwankwaso and deepen the feud in Kano.
“Today, Doguwa stands tall as one of the biggest obstacles to peace in Kano.”
The heated exchanges between both men began after Jibrin asked Doguwa to stop insulting Kwankwaso.
[TheCable]
•We aren’t expecting any consignment after the one received in March – Lagos
•Taraba, Delta, Niger, Plateau, Zamfara and Abia: No food palliative received in July
•We got it – Kano, Oyo, Akwa–Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa
•The rations we got were a far cry from what we expected – Cross-River monarch
There seems to be confusion over the 740 truckloads of rice the Federal Government promised to deliver to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) at the rate of 20 truckloads each last month (July) to alleviate the hunger in the land.
Whereas officials of some state governments said the consignment had arrived and shared to residents, officials of some told Sunday Vanguard they were still expecting the consignment.
But the twist to the story came from Lagos where a top official said the only consignment of palliative they received from the Federal Government was in March and that they were not expecting any fresh delivery.
States which said they had not received the rice palliative as of late week include Taraba, Delta, Niger, Plateau, Zamfara and Abia.
Meanwhile, if the Lagos situation is to apply, then the states claiming not have received the consignment may never get it if they received any in March.
The Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari, had, penultimate Wednesday, asked residents to hold their governors as the Tinubu administration had provided remedial measures to stem hunger in the country, including the distribution of rice and fertilizers.
Maigari spoke in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on the sidelines of a town hall engagement with stakeholders ahead of the protest against hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
“The president directed the release of rice and fertilizers in large quantities directly to state governors, whether they are PDP, APC, or APGA”, he said.
“I think you should, as journalists and professionals, do your job by asking state governors, starting from our brother here.
“He has taken delivery of fertilizers the Federal Government sent to governors, and there is also rice delivered to governors across the country.
“These are some of the remedial measures, including the new minimum wage which has just been signed into law, before the long-term economic programmes and policies of government begin to benefit all”.
In Benue, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, James Iorpuu, declined comment.
Of the states monitored on the weekend, only Kwara, Katsina, and Kaduna claimed to have received the truckloads of rice.
Sunday Vanguard had earlier reported that the rice consignment had been received in Kano, Oyo, Akwa–Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states, among others.
The rice palliative was arranged to ease the hunger affecting poor people, one of the reasons Nigerians trooped out in protest against the government on Thursday and Friday.
Critics, however, say the measure was not enough to address the hardship occasioned by the downturn in the economy.
The Federal Government had, about four weeks ago, precisely, Monday, July 15, said it had allocated 740 trucks of rice to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja.
Each state, including the FCT, under the arrangement, was expected to get 20 trucks containing 1,200 bags of 25kg each and the rice was to be distributed to the most vulnerable in the society.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister, who was flanked by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the President directed the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that food is made available to Nigerians.
He explained that the distribution of trucks of rice was also to ensure that the hardship in the country was ameliorated, adding that it was expected that the state governors would distribute the trucks of rice to the most vulnerable.
Kwara
Kwara State government officials said they had received the rice consignment but did not release the details of how it was shared.
However, sources said the rice was distributed to residents through groups and professional unions.
For instance, it was gathered that a journalist was contacted by the leadership of the state Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria to get the palliative to his colleagues.
However not even one-third of Christian journalists in the state benefitted from the palliative because it was grossly insufficient.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, who was contacted for details of how the rice was shared failed to respond at press time.
Taraba
Our correspondent in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, quoted the state government as saying they had yet to receive the truck loads of rice.
The state Commissioner for Information and Re-Orientation, Zainab Usman Jalingo, told Sunday Vanguard on Thursday that they were still expecting the consignment.
Jalingo noted that the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Saviour Noku, who is supposed to oversee the receipt of the food items, had not received any communication from the Federal Government regarding the delivery of the 20 trucks of rice to the state.
“As far as Taraba State is concerned, we have not received any allocation of twenty trucks of rice”, she said.
Niger
In Niger State, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the rice consignment was yet to be delivered.
Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Muhammed Umaru Bago, in a telephone chat, on Friday, said the state was yet to get the palliative.
“As I speak with you, the state is yet to get delivery of the rice consignment. It depends on the destination the consignment is coming from, but, for now, Niger State is yet to get the trucks of rice”.
Plateau
The situation is not entirely different in Plateau where government officials said that the state was yet to get the trucks of rice promised by the Federal Government.
Penultimate week, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, had told Sunday Vanguard, “Not yet, there has been communication and they will come when they will come. When we receive the trucks, we will announce them to the public because we are very transparent and accountable; we don’t hide what we do.
“Whatever we get in trust for our people will be given to the people. Whenever things come to the state, we set committees for fair sharing, equity, and transparency. When the trucks arrive, we will let the people know.”
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Samson Bugama, on Thursday, stated, “The trucks are yet to arrive. Plateau State is still expecting ours, once the trucks come in, it will be made known that we have received them.”
He declined to mention the reasons for the delay and insisted, “All I know is that the trucks have not arrived yet”.
Abia
On its part, Abia State government said it was yet to receive the trucks of rice.
The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, told Sunday Vanguard on Friday that no such palliative had arrived in the state, adding that there was no communication from the Federal Government for any such palliative.
Kanu also dismissed as fake reports that the Federal Government had distributed 50kg bags for rice to states for sale at N40, 000 each.
He said:” We didn’t see any truck of rice from the Federal Government. And the issue of selling 50kg bag of rice for N40, 000 is fake news.
“We don’t deal with rumours and speculations. There has been a way the Federal Government communicates with us when it has to do with palliative, and no such message has come from the Federal Government.”
Asked whether it was not proper for the state government to open channels of communication with the Federal Government on the issue, he said it was not necessary.
“There is no point for us to be wasting our time looking for where to verify the news. If the news was authentic, we could have gotten the message as a government straight from the Federal Government. No such thing happened!”
Responding to a question on the efforts of the state government to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on Abia residents, the Commissioner said the state government “believes in teaching the people how to fish” in addition to giving them palliatives.
“We have been doing all that. It’s a continuous process. We have shared palliative about four times since this government came to power. We received about twice from the Federal Government and we did the other ones on our own.
“Not too long ago, we shared rice to workers from grade level 0-7. Currently, the office in charge of palliative is compiling the list of workers from level 8-10 for another round of palliative. It’s a continuous thing.
“Even in August, the governor’s wife will also reach out to indigent people in society. We are a people focused government. Our policies are directed towards improving on the people’s welfare. “Recently, the state sponsored some Abians to Nassarawa State to understudy farming.
“So, it’s not just by sharing rice. The governor also distributed N100, 000 interest free loans to 10, 000 Abians. We believe in teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish to eat”.
Delta
In Delta, the 20 truckloads of rice had not arrived as of Thursday.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Delta State governor, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed this to Sunday Vanguard.
Ahon’s words: “We do not know what is causing the delay, but once we receive them, we will let Deltans know.”
Zamfara
Our correspondent in Zamfara State quoted the Director General (DG) on Media and Communications, Government House, Gusau, Nuhu Salihu, as saying the state government was yet to even get the letter of rice allocation from the Federal Government.
The DG further said the moment the Federal Government was ready to send the allocation to the state, officials will be appropriately notified.
Rivers
In Rivers State where Governor Siminilayi Fubara said they had received 21,650 bags of grains, consisting of 3,680 bags of garri, and 17, 970 bags of corn, he explained that the state government constituted a committee to evenly distribute the items across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Khana local government area, Marvin Yorbana, claimed to have given a stipend of N145,000, 35 bags of grains, and eight bags of garri to each of the 19 wards of the council.
Cross River
In Cross River State, the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, told Sunday Vanguard: “Between April and May 2024, we received food items from the Federal Government National Strategic Reserve.
“The items include 3,384 bags of garri (25k), 24,000 bags of rice (25kg), and 14,040 bags of maize (50kg).
“The maize, with Governor Bassey Otu’s approval, was swapped for beans (600 bags of 100kg) and 800 bags of 50kg garri”.
He clarified that in July 2024, 20 trucks of food items, including garri, rice, and beans, were received and shared among the 18 local government areas of the state.
The vulnerable, disabled, communities, groups, households, and organizations, according to him, received quantities of foodstuff as they were distributed to all parts of the state and “no one would say he did not get a share of the food, no matter how little.”
But a traditional ruler in Bakassi, Chief Edem Archibong, told our reporter that the rations that got to his community were “a far cry from what we expected, as some people got three cups of rice, others got two, and the garri was terrible. It looked like animal feed.”
Archibong said government should bring down the cost of fuel and subsidize food prices, rather than bringing “animal food to us in the name of palliative”.
Kaduna
In Kaduna, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor did not respond to our inquiry concerning the 20 trucks of rice allocated to the state.
However, a reliable source in the government circle told our correspondent that the truckloads of rice had arrived in the state, but he didn’t know how the rice was being shared.
Katsina
Katsina State government confirmed the arrival of the 20 truckloads of rice.
Acting Governor Faruq Lawal Jobe made the disclosure during a meeting with key stakeholders, including security chiefs, government officials, and local government leaders, at the state Government House on Monday.
To ensure equitable distribution of the rice, the state government has established a seventeen-member committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari.
The committee, inaugurated on Friday, is tasked with verifying the quantity of the rice received from the Federal Government, developing a distribution plan for the state’s 34 local government areas, and establishing local committees to oversee distribution at the grassroots level.
The committee will also monitor the distribution process in all local governments, provide regular updates to the public on its activities, and submit a comprehensive report to the government within three weeks of its inauguration.
The Acting Governor commended the Katsina State Care Authority (KT-CARE) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for their efforts in providing empowerment and relief assistance to residents. He disclosed that KT-CARE has disbursed N300 million in empowerment funds, while SEMA has allocated over N63 million for relief materials.
Lagos
Lagos State government officials said there were no fresh trucks of rice being expected from the Federal Government as it received truckloads of rice in March and distributed same appropriately.
It also assured that there were ongoing measures to boost food sufficiency and affordability in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Imota Rice Mill, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, clarified when contacted on the whereabouts of the reported 20 truckloads of rice for Lagos.
Fashola told Sunday Vanguard, “The Ministry received trucks of rice from the Federal Government (in several batches) in March.
“The rice came at a time when the state was also aggregating food items (bags of beans and garri) for the implementation of Phase 2 of the State Food Bank Programme.
“The bags of rice were subsequently applied as part of the food palliative distributed to vulnerable households through the Community Development Committees, State Institutions, military and paramilitary organisations, including the Nigerian Police Force.
“When this announcement on the release of 20 trucks of rice to the states was made by the Federal Government in July, the Ministry was then informed that the state (Lagos) had received its own consignment in March 2024 which, of course, had been distributed back then, so Lagos is not expecting any fresh consignment of truckloads of rice”.
However, to cushion the effect of hardship in the country occasioned by the economic downturn and insecurity which led to farmers fleeing the farms thus worsening food insecurity in Nigeria, the Lagos administration launched the EKOCARES, a social protection initiative. Under this programme, the state government introduced the Sunday Discount Markets where residents bought basic foodstuff at 25 per cent discount rate across the state.
Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had previously initiated the distribution of food supplies to 500,000 vulnerable households in the state to mitigate the impacts of fuel subsidy removal.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the primary objective of the program was to provide essential food items to vulnerable households in two different ways.
The first category received bulk food items such as 50kilograms of garri and 100kg of beans.
The second category, vulnerable households, received food boxes containing 10kg of garri, and 5kg of beans.
The governor said he was aware of the challenges faced by many residents due to increased transportation costs and higher prices of essential goods following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
One of the measures announced and formally flagged off was the distribution of food items for vulnerable households through the Lagos Food Bank Programme.
“The strategic goal of this programme is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the state with staple food items using two methodologies – bulk and individual”, he said.
“Bulk food items include (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups; and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households”.
Sharing
To ensure transparency in the implementation of the intervention, Sanwo-Olu created a monitoring committee comprising representatives from various sectors such as religious groups, trade unions, people with disabilities, civil society organisations, youth groups, community development councils, and the Lagos House of Assembly.
The distribution was carried out in phases among the beneficiary groups to facilitate the process. Each group were duly informed of the collection dates.
Speaking on the scope of the food palliative program, the governor said: “Overall, the initiative will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted.”
He, therefore, solicited the support of well-meaning and public-spirited individuals and organisations for this programme so that more people in need of this intervention could be reached.
“Be rest assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries,” he assured.
Sanwo-Olu, penultimate Thursday, also urged agro and food processing companies to work toward reducing their prices given the current economic hardship as a way of alleviating the impacts in giving back to the society as well as ensuring food security in Nigeria.
He noted that Nigerians were going through tough times; therefore, private organisations, particularly agro and food processing companies, should think about people’s survival and sustainability above profitability during this crucial period in Nigeria.
The governor spoke during a courtesy visit by the Senior Management Team of Olam Agric Nigeria, led by its Managing Director, Mr Anil Nasir, at Lagos House, Marina, on Thursday.
Sanwo-Olu, who stressed the need for food security and support from every well-meaning individual and organisation, said his administration has done a lot through several intervention programmes to cushion the effects of economic hardship on the residents of Lagos State, adding that he would do more to continue to provide succour for the people.
According to him, “Agro and food processing is a critical industry because food security and food systems are as critical as people trying to safeguard either medical security or even sovereign security in times of war.
There is no better security these days than food.
“Today, being the first day of August, you can see agitation in some streets in Nigeria as a result of hunger. You (Olam Agric) are in a strategic position, and you have that structure and that capacity.
“At a difficult time like this, it shouldn’t be only the government reducing costs and providing avenues for people to buy things at a reduced price.
“You must be able to tell your shareholders that you have been in this environment for such a long time, and today it should not be about profit-making. Let us go into this market and just cover our costs and let us pass on. Let the people feel the critical support.
“I want you to take this message back. The private sector needs to know that there are times when it does not have to be about value to the shareholders because of food security and the logistics nightmare that is happening everywhere due to the economic challenge.
“We are all joint stakeholders, and we need to slow down on shareholder returns. We need to be alive today to be able to make a profit tomorrow.”
Kano
In Kano, while it was confirmed that the state government received the 20 trucks of rice from the Federal Government, it was not clear whether the rice has been distributed or not and what modalities were adopted in the distribution.
In a previous chat with Sunday Vanguard, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Danjuma Mahmud, confirmed that the consignment had been received. His words, “Yes, 20 trucks received by the Kano State government”, Mahmud said. When our correspondent called to ascertain whether the rice had been distributed and what modalities were adopted in the distribution, the Commissioner said he was not ready to speak on the matter.
[Vanguard]
Tertiary institutions in Nigeria are an important component of the nation’s educational system, offering advanced learning opportunities beyond secondary schooling.
Over the years, the argument around whose school or even alma mater was the best usually dominate the trends. Everyone’s university is the best, inasmuch as it fulfil the essence of its establishment. However, some universities stand out among their peers.
In this article, we utilised the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings for 2024 to come up with a list of the top 10 universities in Nigeria. Important to note that these top 10 universities in no particular order:
1. University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was once a college of the University of London. The college was established in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It is a public university in Nigeria and one of the oldest.
2. Covenant University
Covenant University is in Ota, Ogun state, Nigeria. This university started in 2002. It is a private school with Christian beliefs. Bishop David Oyedepo, who also started the Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded it.
3. Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
4. Ahmadu Bello University
The Ahmadu Bello University is a public research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria.
5. University of Lagos
The University Of Lagos (UNILAG) is a public research university in Lagos. It takes a slot on the list of 10 best universities in Nigeria due to a long-standing status of giving the best in class learning and research.
It offers over 110 undergraduate and 129 postgraduate programs. Its top programs include business, engineering, law, and environmental sciences.
Furthermore, UNILAG offers health sciences, management sciences, education, and arts programs.
6. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The University of Nigeria is in Nsukka, a vibrant town in Nigeria’s southeastern part. The University of Nigeria has 15 academic faculties offering undergraduate and graduate courses. You can take a course in agriculture, medicine, and management sciences. Also, the University provides engineering, arts, humanities, and social sciences.
7. University of Benin
The University of Benin is known for its commitment to academic excellence. Its most popular alumni are Babatunde Fashola, a lawyer and former Lagos State Governor; and Tom Ilube, a British entrepreneur.
The University of Benin has 15 faculties offering over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs. You can pursue engineering, law, medicine, education, arts, management sciences, or humanities.
8. Federal University of Technology, Minna
The Federal University of Technology is a top-tier public institution in the bustling city of Minna. FUT stands among the top 10 universities in Nigeria for offering highly-marketable technology courses.
The University has over 48 undergraduate and 119 postgraduate programs.
Its top programs include agriculture, engineering, innovative technology, and information and communication technology.
9. University of Ilorin
University of Ilorin, also known as UNILORIN, is a federal government-owned school in Kwara state, North Central Nigeria. It’s known for its strong programs in business, law, and medicine.
10. University of Port Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt. It’s known for its strong programs in petroleum engineering, business, and environmental sciences.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has come under fire for castigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the recent nationwide protest against bad governance tagged #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria, which later turned violent, particularly in the Northern States.
In a release titled “On Governor Bala Mohammed’s Latest Trade and Truculent Buffoonery,” former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barr. Yakubu Dogara opined that the Governor’s recent utterances were uncalled for and unnecessary.
According to him, “No doubt, these are trying moments in Nigeria, with lots of nerves in the air and lots of spitting into the political wind. The job of leaders, irrespective of the political tribe they belong to, is to ensure that we bring this crisis to a responsible end by appealing to governments at all levels to scramble to meet some of the legitimate demands of the protesters, most especially hunger and pervasive insecurity in the national interest.”
Yakubu Dogara stressed that “it is certainly not a time to engage in blowing all the dog whistles at once in the irresponsible manner Gov. Bala Mohammed did.”
The former Speaker declared that, “For me, it didn’t come as a surprise because I had long ago, both in writing and on live TV, denounced him as a thug who speaks in the manner of thugs and understands only the language of thuggery.”
“I am penning these lines to further disavow him and to tell those who don’t know that, although Gov. Bala Mohammed is one of us, he is not all of us. Bauchi State is home to tested leaders who were not raised like mushrooms and who will not dare speak or operate in a manner that reveals contempt for rules, precedent, order, stability, and national cohesion. But Gov. Bala Mohammed does not only do so; he thrives in it,” he added.
According to him, “Not long ago, I said of him, ‘any time the Governor speaks either by himself or through his aides, it is always an outburst of profanity which debases and demeans all of us.'”
He also stated that “A leader is supposed to nurture and inspire the people he leads into positive action as opposed to indulging in wanton self-adulation and praise.”
Yakubu Dogara stressed that “Bala Mohammed has run Bauchi State for a little over six years now with no functional social amenities. Bauchi State under him is one of the states with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, yet he has built no functional school.”
According to him, “Just one example: my Alma Mater, the famous Bauchi Teachers College, located right under his nose, now lies in ruins. Let him tell the world which of the hospitals in the state is fully functional and how many doctors he has employed. The list is endless.”
“Yet, in the midst of the destitution and squalor that Bauchi State found itself under his watch, he has built the biggest government house for himself and his family and the best family house in Northern Nigeria, if not in the whole country,” he added.
The former Speaker continued, “Next, he wants to build flyovers in a city that has no traffic congestion, albeit for KEKE and OKADA riders. If anyone has ever wondered what the bottom of misgovernance looks like, this is it.”
According to him, “The irony is that when the youths he has refused to build schools for—who have no access to affordable healthcare and employment opportunities—choose to revolt, it is PBAT’s policies that are blamed. What a display of a ravenously wayward sense of entitlement.”
“Just merely looking at what H.E. Nyesom Wike achieved in just one year as FCT Minister, which totally dwarfed what Bala Mohammed achieved in his six years as FCT Minister, is an open rebuke to his inept and visionless leadership, which is now self-evident in Bauchi State,” he added.
According to him, “Governor Bala Mohammed, as a renowned crass opportunist, knows how to extort and exploit people and situations. I once wrote about this, and I quote a line: ‘So much for the motion on the doctrine of necessity, as if some of us didn’t know the events that preceded it and the main drivers of the motion.'”
He advised, “The Governor ought to know, or should be told, that moving against an ailing and bedridden President who was desperately in need of prayers instead, in the manner which he did, was not an act of courage but cowardice.”
He challenged, “Let him name any motion he moved against the government while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was well and in charge. To hit someone who you know will have no chance of hitting back is the master strategy of a wimp, and only wimps get paid for it. After taking up the FCT ministerial portfolio as payment for the hatched job, in the manner a hunting dog is served some portion of the meat of its prey, is it not shameful to flaunt that as an achievement? History has never been kind to those who stabbed the vulnerable.”
“To buttress the point being made, when Gov. Bala Mohammed was in court after rigging himself into office and desperately needed PBAT to save him, he was busy singing his praises to the highest heavens and telling the world how amazing PBAT was, not even minding the fact that he is the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum,” he added.
Yakubu Dogara added, “Just months after PBAT saved him, he has turned around to describe the President as ‘now inept, incompetent, and incapable of running Nigeria.’ I will even invite him to chair our 2027 presidential campaigns if he continues this way.”
He concluded, “This level of unbridled disrespect is unparalleled. In months, Gov. Bala Mohammed has transmuted from being a Hallelujah boy to the undisputed cheerleader of a pack of wolves who are trying so hard to soil the President beyond redemption.”
According to him, “It is good that the world gets to know what we are up against in Bauchi State and the price we are paying for foisting a tasteless joke on the state and elevating a cavorting charlatan to the position of Governor.”
He stressed that “Dignity still matters in public office, and it’s unlikely that Gov. Bala Mohammed will ever have it. Yet, his graver vice is cowardice, reflected in a willingness to lie to the public to please and appease, heedless of the inevitability of its contradiction an hour later and the consequences thereof.”
“Right now, he has turned Bauchi State into a prison of mirrors where his revealed lies are answered with new lies. Those who think he misspoke are dead wrong because that is who he has always been, and as Maya Angelou said, ‘When someone tells you who they are, believe them.'”
He concluded by stating that, “As it is, we wait to see whether the ‘Kaura 2027’ his cult followers printed on their gowns will be a POLITICAL scandal or an execution DATE.”