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The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has revealed that Nigeria incurs an annual loss of $3 billion due to importing Ankara fabrics, a widely recognized wax print in West and Central Africa.
Musawa noted that fabrics such as Adire, Kente, Bogolan, and Ankara represent Africa’s pride, history, and cultural identity.
However, she regretted that despite this rich heritage, many of the continent’s favourite fabrics, including Ankara, are primarily manufactured outside Africa.
Naija News reports that Musawa made this remark in Algiers last week during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024.
According to a statement from the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, Musawa emphasized the importance of strengthening Africa’s fashion and textile industry.
She stated, “Nearly 90 percent of the Ankara consumed on our continent is imported, leading to an annual loss of approximately $3 billion to foreign manufacturers. We must change this.
“We must reclaim our fashion narrative by strengthening local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry remain within our borders.”
Musa further stated that Africa’s fashion industry is projected to grow to $15.5 billion by 2025 and called for actions to address structural challenges hindering local production.
“Fashion is far more than a form of expression. It is an economic powerhouse. The global fashion industry is valued at approximately $2.5 trillion. In Nigeria alone, the fashion industry contributes approximately $6.1 billion to GDP, while South Africa’s textile sector employs over 140,000 people, demonstrating the sector’s capacity for job creation.
“Investments in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth. By expanding local production, we will not only add value within our borders but also position Africa as a global hub for fashion,” she stated.
Musawa stated that the ministry is actively engaged in developing manufacturing hubs and training programs in craftsmanship as part of the Design Nexus and Destination 2030 initiative throughout Africa.
She further noted that this initiative seeks to elevate Nigeria’s arts, culture, and creative economy to a leading position.
Officials of Lagos State Government have arrested a birthday celebrant, musician and vendor for allegedly obstructing traffic and creating environmental nuisance.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday for blocking Raymond Njoku Road in Ikoyi during a birthday celebration.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Monday in a post on his X handle.
The suspects are: Omolara Ajetumobi, Event Planner; Ogundare Olubunmi, Celebrant; Ayodele Busuyi, Musician; Owoeye Adedayo, Sound Engineer and Akinola Akinkunmi, who is the vendor.
Wahab said the suspects would be tried in court in accordance with the laws of the State.
“The Lagos State Government reiterates that no one is above the law and will not be permitted to disregard State regulations,” he posted.
[DailyTrust]
Kano Arraigns Jigawa Commissioner Allegedly Caught With Married Woman Inside Uncompleted Building
AFOLABI
The suspended Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Auwal Sankara, is set to be arraigned in a Kano court today following allegations of infidelity.
This development was confirmed by the Director-General of the Hisbah Commission in Kano, Mr. Abba Sufi, during a press briefing on Sunday.
Sankara was reportedly apprehended by Hisbah operatives while allegedly in an uncompleted building with a married woman.
However, the commissioner has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the reports as mischief aimed at damaging his political career.
In response to the serious nature of the allegations, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has formed a five-member committee to investigate the claims against Sankara.
The committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, and will include the Commissioners for Information, Basic Education, and the Special Adviser on Security Matters.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Malam Ibrahim emphasized the significance of the allegations, stating that they have caused considerable embarrassment to the government.
He explained that the media coverage surrounding the issue has led to a degradation of the state’s reputation, prompting the government to take decisive action.
“To ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the state, the government is compelled to set up a committee to investigate the allegations,” Ibrahim said.
As part of the investigation process, the Jigawa State government has suspended Sankara to facilitate a thorough examination of the matter.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within two weeks, as the state seeks to address the concerns raised by the allegations and restore public trust.
In a statement on Saturday, Ibrahim, said “The decision comes in light of recent claims that necessitate a thorough examination to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the State Administration.
“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation. We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government.”
Nigerians tackle Tinubu for using proposed youth conference to divert attention from failed policies
Admin
Since President Bola Tinubu’s October 1 Independence Speech, where he announced to the world that he was ready to organize a youth conference to address the many concerns of young people in Nigeria, not many have come to terms with such a move.
While some people have dismissed it as another round of political jamboree to waste the country’s lean resources, others have concluded that it was yet another smart move to win the youths’ support base ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In other words, the president was only concerned about how to win his reelection in 2027 and not about the welfare and well-being of the youth as he claimed in the speech.
But, whatever the rationales are, the point is that the president wants to have a parley with the youths, and it would last for 30 days.
It is also given that he wants to find solutions to the challenges and difficulties currently facing the youths; at least that was clearly stated in his speech.
It is equally instructive to note that reactions have been trailing the announcement.
DAILY POST recalls that on Tuesday, October 1, during President Tinubu’s Independence Day Anniversary Speech, he announced his decision to organize a 30-day national youth conference to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting young people who constitute more than 60 percent of the country’s population.
The president noted that the aim of the youth confab was to provoke meaningful dialogue and ensure that the voices of the youths were heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, which according to him, would be a pathway to a brighter future.
However, among the many voices that have kicked against the move is that of a group known as Voters Rights Association of Nigeria (VRAN).
The group has described President Tinubu’s proposed 30-day national youths’ conference as a national jamboree to siphon, embezzle, and squander the proceeds of the fuel subsidy fund.
According to the group’s president, Jezie Ekejiuba, also a human rights lawyer, the proposed youth conference is a national jamboree to provide another opportunity to the inept and corrupt political office holders of the current administration to siphon, embezzle, and squander billions of naira so far saved from the harsh petrol subsidy removal policy of the Tinubu administration.
Ekejiuba is of the opinion that the planned selection, appointment, or election of the delegates for the proposed youth conference would be for the same children or relatives of the current political office holders, and certainly not the children or relatives of the generality of the suffering Nigerian masses or youths.
He further argued that the president does not need such a conference to understand the challenges facing the youths in Nigeria, insisting that several protests, particularly the recent #EndBadGovernance protest, were all clear messages of what the young people are passing through in Nigeria today.
He said: “VRAN wishes to inform President Tinubu that his government does not need the so-called 30-day youth confab to be in the know of the challenges and opportunities confronting our young people.
“The #EndBadGovernance protests nationwide earlier this year were a sad reminder of the problems of not only the Nigerian youths, but also the problems of the Nigerian people as a whole, because the protests clearly threw open the challenges, including but not limited to the insecurity crisis occasioned by Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping, high costs of food, electricity bills, transport services, prohibitive costs of education, health services, and high rate of unemployment, among others, which were caused by the sudden removal of petrol subsidy in the country by the present administration.
“VRAN contends that all that the Nigerian youths deserve now are actions and not rhetoric or voices echoing from the proposed youth conference because, as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.
“We wish to remind the Tinubu administration that even during the military administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon when this type of current economic crisis confronted Nigerians, Gowon, with a human face and sympathy, pitied the hungry and suffering Nigerian masses then by introducing a social security programme called the Udoji Awards to alleviate the pangs of the harsh economic policy as being witnessed currently in Nigeria.
“VRAN, hereby, calls on President Tinubu in like manner and with human face and sympathy for the hungry and suffering Nigerian masses to introduce a social security programme that will benefit the generality of the Nigerian populace by the Federal Government of Nigeria undertaking to pay the Dangote Refinery half of the cost price of a litre of every Dangote fuel product to give Nigerians a new lease of life.”
Expressing his views on the development, President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus, disagreed that the proposed 30-day conference would create a forum for the president and the youths to brainstorm and come up with solutions to some of the issues bedeviling the youths in Nigeria. Rather, he emphasized that it would amount to nothing.
He noted that Nigeria has had several conferences, including the 2014 confab organized by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the report of which spelled out solutions to the youths’ problems in Nigeria, insisting that the president should just go ahead and implement the report of that conference if he actually wanted to address the youths’ challenges in Nigeria.
“We have had national conferences in the past. The last one was the 2014 confab, which gave us a blueprint on the way forward on how to achieve a better Nigeria for all Nigerians.
“Things have been addressed across the board, including even things that have to do with the youths. Rather than creating another bureaucracy for political reasons, I think the government needs to look at the 2014 confab report as it affects our youths and other areas to ensure that constitutional amendments get to a level where a lot of the problems that Nigerians are facing can be addressed,” he said.
He is also of the opinion that the youth conference, as is being proposed by President Tinubu, is a political jamboree, whose only objective is to curry the favour and support of the youth for the president’s reelection bid in 2027.
“As far as I am concerned, the proposed 30-day youth conference is a political jamboree. Mr. President is just trying to appeal to the youths for political support. Otherwise, things pertaining to the youths have been clearly spelled out in the 2014 confab report.
“Let those things be implemented so that we can have a better Nigeria where our youths can be tutored to take over from the older generation, so that there will be some mentoring along the line.
“But to just go and have another conference with the youths, to me, is a political gimmick to gain support and have a support base from the youths for the government rather than improving governance in Nigeria,” he submitted.
But, the president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerim Shettima, has a different opinion. He described Mr. President’s proposal as a good idea. He noted that the youth should be seen to be engaged.
“They need to believe that there is hope around them. You need to make them believe in themselves, but that can only happen when you understand them and know what is bothering them. So, I think the government has done well. I commend the president for initiating the idea,” he said.
However, he equally expressed fears that it could end up like other dialogues in the past without any concrete plan to implement its recommendations.
“My fear is, let the dialogue not be one of those engagements where, after everything, papers will be put on the ground and that will be the end of it. There must be a follow-up to implement whatever the resolution of the dialogue will be, and I hope it works,” he stressed.
Dismissing the fear that it could be a ploy to garner support for Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid and that the 2014 confab report contained every challenge facing the young people and solutions to such problems, he said: “I think this will be different because it will only be centered on the youths.
“The 2014 confab report was all-inclusive; everything was there, but this one will be about the youths alone because they are the direct victims of some of the problems we are facing today. So, I think they are two different things.”
Also, in his contribution, a lawyer and public affairs commentator, Ikechukwu Onodi, did not believe that anything good would come from the youth conference.
He described it as a diversionary and settlement tactic which the current All Progressives Congress (APC) government has employed over time.
He noted that its only objective is to keep the masses busy and push their attention away from the main issue, which is looting and bad governance—a development he said had brought untold economic hardship in the land.
He said: “The idea of a 30-day youth conference is a diversionary and settlement strategy of the governments over time. The main idea is to give people something to talk about while the looting and misgovernance continue.”
He also agreed with those who hold the opinion that the conference is meant to pave the way for massive youth support for President Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
“It’s also one of the strategies towards bribing the youths for possible acceptance in 2027. You will recall that the APC was a hard sell to the youths during the 2023 general elections, and to avoid a repeat of the 2023 experience with the youth, this is one of the plans,” he submitted.
[DailyPost]
Biafra: There Would Have Been No War If You Had Prosecuted Those Who Killed The Igbos – Sam Amadi To Gowon
AFOLABI
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has said that former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, could have stopped the Nigerian civil war.
He said Gowon could have prevented the civil war if he had prosecuted those who killed Igbos.
He condemned the decision of the former military Head of State and his colleagues to act decisively back then.
Speaking via his X account, Amadi noted that the former ruler failed to act on behalf of the rule of law.
He wrote, “The war came out of Nigeria’s faulty identity-based politics, which led to mass violence against Igbos.
“If Gowon and his colleagues had acted decisively on behalf of the rule of law and openly prosecuted those who killed Igbos, there would have been no demand for secession and no war.
“He was neither a great leader nor a grave villain. He was a rookie stooge of grossly incompetent and hegemonic leadership that walked Nigeria into a stupid & avoidable civil war
“He’s RESPONSIBLE for GENOCIDE but did not WILL it.”
Meanwhile, the founders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have knocked the former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, over his 90th birthday interview, blaming the Southeast for an attempt to secede from Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Gowon, in the interview, spoke about his supervision of the Biafra war between 1967 and 1970.
Reacting to Gowon’s interview, the founders and vision bearers of the original IPOB, slammed Gowon for supervising the country’s civil war, which led to the massacre of many Igbos.
In the statement issued, the founders said Gowon was the originator and cause of the unrest that claimed the lives of over three million Biafrans.
According to them, Gowon is labouring in vain to wash and launder his image tainted by the atrocities he and the Nigerian soldiers committed against the Igbos.
IPOB said, “I have always said that if there’s no secession, there wouldn’t be a breakout, and there wouldn’t be a question of civil war because it got to the stage that the situation was getting pretty clear that a part of the country, the Southeast, wanted to secede.
“I read General Gowon’s speech, where he decided to hide the truth about the real cause of the war between Nigeria and Biafra. He is labouring in vain to wash and launder his image tainted by the atrocities he and his Nigerian soldiers committed against the Biafrans.
“He has told us that he was sick after the meeting at Aburi in Ghana and could not announce the agreement reached between Nigeria and Biafra about confederation or regional autonomy so that every region would govern itself and develop at its own pace.
“Gowon said he did not prepare very well for the meeting and did not go with his secretary. He came back from Ghana and became sick because Odumegwu Ojukwu went to the meeting fully prepared and presented a superior argument on regional government. It was General Gowon’s failure to implement this agreement for the confederation that caused the war.
“General Gowon, with due respect, I want to address you as an elder. You are 90 and do not know when you will depart from this world to face your maker. We expect you to tell the truth.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than ₦200 billion and secured around 3,000 convictions in just one year under the leadership of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
Naija News reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede to head the anti-corruption agency in October 2023.
Since then, the EFCC has made significant strides in the fight against corruption, according to the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show The Morning Brief on Monday, Uwujaren highlighted the impressive recovery figures and conviction rates achieved within Olukoyede’s first year in office.
“In terms of naira recovery, we have recovered over ₦200bn in one year of Ola Olukoyede’s administration. That is not to talk about the dollar and the euro components of the recoveries.
“The figures are actually humongous. In terms of the conviction returns, we have over 3,000 convictions in one year of his administration. That for us is interesting,” Uwujaren said.
Despite these achievements, Uwujaren emphasized that the EFCC’s primary focus is on preventing crime rather than merely securing convictions.
He noted that a large percentage of the convictions—about 70%—were related to cybercrime, with young people representing the majority of those convicted.
“But we are not emphasising records of convictions per se because our focus, for now, is to prevent corruption.
“Of those conviction figures I have just given, 70 per cent of those convictions pertain to cybercrime cases.
“The style of this leadership of the EFCC is that there is a major emphasis on the prevention of corruption,” he said.
The EFCC has implemented various initiatives, including sensitization campaigns, to raise awareness among young Nigerians about the dangers of fraud, particularly cybercrime.
In addition to cybercrime, Uwujaren identified corruption in the public sector as a major challenge, especially concerning contract and procurement processes.
He stressed the EFCC’s commitment to addressing these issues before they escalate into larger fraud cases.
“You will agree with me that the major source of corruption especially in the public sector largely pertains to contract and procurement processes and the commission is determined to ensure that these practices are checked before they occur.
“The popular maxim is that prevention is better than cure and once you are able to prevent procurement fraud before they happen, we would be able to save a lot of resources for this country,” the agency’s spokesman added.
Married man arraigned in court for killing sidechick over refusal to answer phone call from unknown number
AFOLABI
A married man from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Moses Remayi, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after violently assaulting his girlfriend, leading to her death. The attack, triggered by Remayi’s suspicion of infidelity over a missed phone call, left the victim suffering for days before she succumbed to her injuries.
The tragic incident unfolded when Remayi became enraged after his girlfriend refused to answer a call from an unknown number. He believed the call was from another man, sparking an argument that quickly turned violent. Testifying in court, Remayi admitted his anger intensified when he dialed the number and a man answered.
"I dialled the number using my phone, and a man answered. This made me angry, as I suspected she was cheating on me,” Remayi told the court.
Remayi's brutal assault on his girlfriend included beating her with a steel chair, fists, and feet. According to witnesses, he locked the door and continued the attack for nearly an hour. A co-tenant, Evidence Denhere, testified that despite hearing the victim’s screams and attempting to intervene, Remayi refused to stop.
"No one could stop him as he had locked the door," Denhere said.
After the attack, a neighbor, Cynthia Chaleka, found the woman severely injured and half-naked. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the victim succumbed to her injuries days later.
Remayi was arrested by the police, who recovered the iron bar used in the attack. In his defense, Remayi claimed that the violence began after his girlfriend bit him during their argument. However, the court rejected his explanation, finding him guilty of murder.
Appearing before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa, Remayi was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime, despite pleading not guilty.
The senseless killing has shocked the local community, with many expressing outrage over the brutality of the attack. Remayi now faces nearly two decades in prison for his actions.
Between Friday, October 18, and Sunday, October 20, no fewer than four vessels carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, arrived at seaports in Nigeria.
These vessels delivered approximately 123.4 million litres of PMS, according to a document obtained from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Sunday.
The vessels docked at the Apapa port in Lagos and the Calabar port in Cross River State. This marks a significant boost to the nation’s fuel supply, especially given ongoing concerns about meeting domestic demand.
This latest delivery corroborates an earlier report by The PUNCH, which revealed that oil marketers planned to import PMS to supplement supplies from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Marketers had expressed concerns that the refinery, located in Lekki, was producing around 10 million litres of petrol daily, far short of the 25 million litres it had originally promised. This shortfall prompted the decision to import fuel, despite the opening of the $20bn refinery.
In September, the platform reported that approximately 141 million litres of PMS were imported, following price increases in petrol from the Dangote Refinery.
These imports were made possible due to the fair market conditions created by the full deregulation of the downstream oil sector by the government, allowing oil marketers to bring in fuel when local production is insufficient.
The vessels that arrived between October 18 and 20 were distributed as follows: the first vessel, with 35,000 metric tonnes of PMS, berthed at the ASPM jetty at 10:13 a.m. on October 18, followed by another carrying 37,000 metric tonnes at 3:37 p.m. The third vessel, carrying 10,000 metric tonnes, arrived later that afternoon at 3:59 p.m. A fourth vessel carrying another 10,000 metric tonnes docked at the Eco Marine terminal in Calabar on Sunday morning.
When combined, the four vessels delivered a total of 92,000 metric tonnes, which, when converted using a standard rate of 1,341 litres per metric tonne, amounts to about 123.4 million litres of petrol.
In a previous interview, George Ene-Ita, spokesperson for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, confirmed that licensed marketers are permitted to import PMS, provided that the products undergo stringent quality testing.
“The products must be subjected to our testing protocols at the ports. The products must conform to stipulated standards before we authorise them to offload to their terminals.
“Also, before the smaller vessels bring it further inland to Nigeria, our people will fly to the place to see the product and carry out some tests to ensure the right specification is upheld.
“Tests are also done at the products’ origins. And when the products come in before they are released to the market, further tests would be conducted to ensure that they meet the specifications,” he stated.
Naija News reports that despite the importation of PMS, marketers are still engaging in talks with Dangote Refinery on plans to purchase its locally refined fuel.
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has called upon the youth to remain steadfast and not lose hope in Nigeria despite the current challenges.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party spoke on Sunday during the Social Media Fest (SMFest) held in Owerri, Imo State.
Naija News reports that SMFest serves as a platform designed to educate participants on how to harness the potential of technology, social media, and innovation to enhance their businesses, brands, and initiatives, offering valuable ideas, exposure, and insights that enable individuals and organizations to capitalize on the benefits of digitalization fully.
In his address, Obi acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing Nigeria but urged the youth to exercise patience and resilience, emphasizing that success is achieved by those who persevere, even in difficult times.
“Yes, Nigeria is challenging right now, but those of us who are older are finding strength in the passion of the younger generation.
“And we say don’t give up! Whether it’s in business, skills development, education, or politics, don’t give up!
“Life will throw obstacles your way, but stand firm. If you need to, step back, rethink your strategy, evolve, and come back stronger,” Obi shared via his official X handle on Sunday.
Toke Makinwa, the media personality, has reflected on her tumultuous marriage and divorce during her birthday thanksgiving party.
Toke married Maje Ayida, her longtime partner, in 2014. However, their union was short-lived due to infidelity allegations in 2015, leading to their divorce in 2017.
During the event, the media personality thanked God for giving her the strength to withstand the challenges.
The 39-year-old OAP recounted feeling like she would “die” the day she ended her marriage. Toke also appreciated her friends for standing by her during that difficult period.
“Jesus you have comforted me when friends left me. Jesus you saw me through a divorce. When I thought I was going to die, when I did not know if I was going to wake up the next day, somehow you held me together. Even when I showed a frail faith, you knew I was not frail. Somehow you made me a tiger. You are the one that liveth. You are the one that will never fail,” she said.
“I thank God for all my friends here. I thank God that I am not looking out to look for you guys I am looking up. I have not been the best of fried for you guys but somehow you see something and I am grateful.”
Toke dismisses marriage rumour
There were rumours on social media that the media personality secretly married Farouk Umar. This was after a video of the duo sharing lovey-dovey moments went viral.
Toke, however, clarified that they are just friends. She added that “Farouk held me down when there was nobody”.
“On Obasanjo’s internet, they said I got married to this guy. This guy is my best friend o, listen, on Toke Makinwa’s internet, they said I married Farouk. Farouk my friend, ore mi.. this is my nigga and my friend, my brother, who wan marry you. Farouk held me down when there was nobody,” she said.
[TheCable]
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![[POEM] Ode to (Dr) Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN](/media/k2/items/cache/cd8a631af3ea3d90bf2ae0ecfbca218b_XS.jpg)
In justice’s halls, your voice resounds bright,
A beacon of hope, casting forth gentle light.
With wisdom profound and courage unchained,
You lead with integrity, your spirit unfeigned.
From the roots of our land, you’ve soared to the sky,
A guardian of truth, ever noble and spry.
With each choice you make, new pathways you weave,
A champion of progress, in whom we believe.
Today, we gather, our hearts filled with grace,
As Afe Babalola University bestows this honorary embrace.
A Doctor of Law, for your battles so grand,
For justice and honor, you steadfastly stand.
Your journey inspires the daring and bold, it mentors me,
From University of Jos our common pedigree, your story unfolds.
To Aare Afe Babalola’s Emmanuel Chambers, a colossus you grew,
In your shadow, I learned also, your vision imbued.
A testament to dreams that are bravely retold,
With each step you take, a new future unfolds.
Guiding us forth with your visionary hand,
You empower the hearts of this beautiful land.
May this honor remind you, as you light the way,
That your legacy flourishes in all that you say.
For in every word spoken, and each life you touch,
You’ve woven a future that matters so much.
So here’s to you, Prince, the Doctor of Law, on this glorious day,
May your passion and purpose forever hold sway.
As you rise ever higher, may your spirit be free,
In the annals of justice, your name shall always be.
Dated the 21st Day of October, 2024
-Dt Olukayode Ajulo OON, SAN
Attorney General of Ondo State
The Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, has revealed that Nigeria supplies uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to neighboring countries Togo and Benin, despite ongoing concerns over recent power grid collapses within Nigeria.
During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Tonight on Sunday, Abdulaziz confirmed, “We supply Togo, Benin, and Niger. They receive power from Nigeria on a 24-hour basis, and they are paying for it.”
Addressing why many Nigerians still face inconsistent electricity supply, Abdulaziz explained that not all citizens are affected.
“Nigerians are getting 24-hour supply, but not everyone. Those in Band A receive 20-22 hours of power,” he clarified.
Nigeria’s electricity distribution is tiered: Band A customers receive 20-24 hours of electricity, Band B customers get 16-20 hours, and Band C customers are provided with 12-16 hours of power daily.
Abdulaziz expressed confidence in the potential for nationwide improvements in electricity supply within the next few years.
“I am optimistic we can achieve a consistent power supply in less than five years. The new minister is focused on resolving the root issues, not merely creating superficial fixes,” he said.
He also highlighted that power grid collapses are not solely TCN’s responsibility, explaining that failures could stem from various sectors within the power system.
“A system collapse doesn’t mean it’s entirely TCN’s fault. It could be due to issues in generation, transmission, or distribution. Some may also result from unforeseen disasters. TCN manages the grid, but it doesn’t mean we are the source of every problem,” Abdulaziz emphasized.
Additionally, he sought to clarify the distinction between the TCN and the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
“People still confuse TCN with NEPA. Back when we were NEPA, we handled generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing. Now, TCN is only responsible for transmission, but people often blame us for failures in other sectors,” he said.
Abdulaziz also acknowledged the significant infrastructure challenges facing the country’s power system, noting that much of the equipment in use is outdated.
“Many of the equipment we’re using are over 50 years old,” he pointed out.
Regarding electricity costs, Abdulaziz argued that Nigeria’s electricity remains relatively affordable compared to other African nations.
“People feel electricity is expensive here because they’re used to paying less. In reality, if you compare prices with other African countries like Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger, Nigeria’s rates are cheaper,” he concluded.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has replaced Adegboyega Fasasi as Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu.
He has been succeeded by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a Deputy Director of the DSS.
While details remained limited, Presidential sources suggested Fasasi was reassigned to undergo professional training. “Yes, I heard he has been replaced with another officer because he is being sent on a professional training course.
“At least there’s a reason for his removal, and you can’t really premise that on any particular scandal,” a source said.
The DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, reportedly requested President Tinubu to release Fasasi to attend the strategic course.
According to insiders, it is a common practice for new leadership at the DSS to reorganise security postings, especially within the Presidency.
“The angle I want us to actually look at it from is the fact that such exercise as this ‘change of guards’ usually happens when the DSS gets a new DG… the new DG will always prefer to have his own trusted men on critical beats,” the source added.
As of Sunday evening, there has been no official statement confirming the personnel changes in the CSO’s office.
Hardship: “At all at all is bad. At least I can wash my teeth" - High costs of toothpaste push Nigerians back to chewing sticks
AFOLABI
We are now going back to the old ways of living in Africa. No thanks to the excruciating economic conditions Nigerians are facing.
Gone are the days when we compete with brands and qualities of toothpaste.
Even the least of the toothpastes cost an arm these days, and only the super-rich can afford them.
But for an average family, who depends on God’s mercies for a moderate one or two meals, out of the three required in a day, spending N5,000 on toothpaste that may not last two weeks for an average family of seven, is a misplaced priority.
So, it is no wonder that chewing sticks are back to the stable of family needs, Economy&Lifestyle have discovered.
Originally, chewing stick was a valued hygiene therapy mostly for the teeth, due to their high medicinal contents.
Chewing sticks are ordinarily from plants with rich medicinal values, and families of old insisted members compulsorily use them every morning.
However, with the spread of civilisation, toothpaste pushed the habit far into oblivion.
But now, the harsh economy has resuscitated the practice. According to Mr Vincent Osamese, a photographer, he reintroduced the use of chewing sticks in his house when he spent N4,000 on toothpaste in three weeks.
“Few months ago, I introduced the use of a chewing stick in my house when I spent N4,000 for toothpaste in three weeks.
“My children use toothpaste like water.
“My wife was reluctant at first saying she would do the buying.
“On trying it for a month, she was shouting and lamenting on the amount she has spent on toothpaste in a month.
“One morning she presented a chewing stick to me. I laughed and was glad I left her to experience what it takes to buy toothpaste at an expensive price in a month.
“Now we are using the chewing stick happily with no fuss.”
Miss Adunni Hungbo, a trader, said: “My toothpaste finished few weeks ago.
“Upon getting to a shop, I was told the brand of toothpaste I use is now N2,000.
“I felt like fainting. Something I got last month for N1,500.
“I was so very angry and couldn’t substitute for other brands because I have a tooth problem.I left the shop.
“As I was heading home, I saw a woman selling herbs and it dawned on me that with just N100 I can get a chewing stick that can replace the toothpaste.
“That was how I ended up using a chewing stick till date.
“I know you would say how can a big girl like me use a chewing stick.
“I earn N40,000 monthly and live alone.
“I have rent and bills to pay yearly.
“In such a situation,I needed to cut costs.
“At all at all is bad. At least I can wash my teeth.
“If I don’t tell you it is a chewing stick I used you won’t know.”
Mr. Fehintola Ademide, a plumber said: “How much does one make that he will spend all his earnings on toothpaste.
“The government is not concerned about whether the policies they are making are affecting us negatively.
“They are just concerned with raising revenues wherever they can.
“See the recent increase in fuel price, when you get to the market the price of everything has increased.
“There is nothing that the price has not risen.
“Toothpaste in question has also reduced in quantity and quality.
“It doesn’t last up to a week before it gets finished in my house.
“My wife had to introduce me to a chewing stick recently which I embraced happily because that will cut the cost of buying toothpaste almost every week.
“She went further to buy this powder cup paste for the children because they are still kids and their gums can’t handle chewing sticks.
“Also, you know kids like licking toothpaste so this particular one they can’t lick.
“At least these alternatives have helped cut costs.
“No big man anywhere now. We are all managing seriously.”
Maureen Agu, a trader, said she has been using a chewing stick for the past three months and introduced her two adolescents to using it.
“Myself and my two grown children now use a chewing stick.
“The remaining two I bought powder paste for them because they are young.
“The powder paste is N500 and I make sure I or their elder sister puts it on their toothbrush.
“How much do I make? I am the only family they have and I have to cut costs in everything I do.
“It hasn’t been easy though but I thank God.
“Convincing my grown children to use chewing sticks wasn’t easy at all because this generation of children are just looking for an easy life.
“When they saw most of our neighbours using chewing sticks, they saw that they were not the only ones in such a predicament.
“Everyone is going for what they can afford.”
Wooden chewing sticks widely used in Nigeria for teeth cleaning namely are Garcinia kola, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia glaucescens, Sorindeia warneckei and Vitex doniana which according to a study by the National Library of Medicine and National Center for Biotechnology Information titled:”Antibacterial activities of extracts from Nigerian chewing sticks”, exhibited strong activities against a wide spectrum of bacteria including medically and dentally relevant bacteria.
The research also said that these five chewing stick extracts showed potent activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and multidrug-resistant Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts from Vernonia amygdalina, Fagara zanthoxyloides and Massularia acuminata also showed activities against bacteria significant to periodontal disease.