•Fault not from our end —NCC
•Politicians used tracking devices for mistresses, and enemies instead of criminals —Retd Senior Police Officer
74-year-old Emir of Gobir in Gawata town of Sokoto state, Alhaji Isah Muhammad Bawa was abducted by bandits on Sabon Birni road last month alongside his biological son on his way to his native town of Sabon Birni, near the border with Niger, after attending a meeting in Sokoto. His abductors demanded N1b ransom while they tortured and dehumanised him.
The traditional ruler, in a viral video, was shown tied up by his abductors, pleading with the state government, his friends, brothers and sisters to pay the ransom to the bandits for his release. When he couldn’t pay the ransom after about three weeks in captivity, his abductors eventually killed him and when his family members requested his corpse, the bandits again demanded N60 million and six motorbikes as ransom.
The incident triggered a nationwide outrage as people expressed shock at the inability of the security agencies to rescue the abducted monarch as negotiation for his ransom was going on until he was eventually killed by his abductors.
According to a concerned citizen whose reaction trended online throughout last week, “all these were going on, yet we have, DSS, NIA, EFCC, ICPC, Army, Navy, Air force and other paramilitary agencies, we have ministers of communication, telecommunications, information and others that have access to service providers. In fact, we have Minister Bosun Tijani who they hyped and over-hyped as a computer guru.
The kidnappers were discussing on the phone with the family of the kidnapped emir just as they’ve been doing all over the country. So if we can’t track calls made by kidnappers and know their location in this modern era, what’s the use of communication, telecommunications, information and other nonsense ministries?”
From the north to the South, the east, and the west of the country, the story is the same. Thousands of the citizens have been kidnapped with their abductors communicating with their families using mobile phones to negotiate for ransom. Yet, the security agencies have been unable to track down the kidnappers.
Recently in Delta state, a young man who had gone to his farmland in Onitsah-Ugbo was kidnapped. In this case, Saturday Vanguard gathered that during the interaction between the kidnappers and relatives of the young man, the kidnappers demanded N18 million. Unfortunately, after payment of the ransom, relatives found the abducted man dead at the designated point where they were to pick him up. To date, his abductors are yet to be tracked through the phone used.
Also, on Thursday, August 15, 2024, 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were abducted along the Otukpo-Enugu highway on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Annual Convention in Enugu State. For several days before their eventual release, the kidnappers were communicating with their relatives, demanding a ransom of N50 million for their release. Although the medical students were released after spending nine days in captivity, with security agents claiming that no ransom was paid, the larger concern remains the apparent lapses in detecting the location of the kidnappers and arresting them.
The fact that the students were held captive for some time without the authorities being able to track down the kidnappers raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security agencies’ intelligence gathering and response mechanisms. The sheer audacity of the kidnappers, striking in the full glare of other road users, is not only a stark reminder of the utter disregard for human dignity that has become the hallmark of these criminal elements but also an indictment of our security apparatus.. Many Nigerians are of the view that the focus should shift from the ransom aspect to addressing the glaring gaps in the security system that allowed the kidnappers to operate undetected and unchecked.
Launch of the tracking device
The Nigeria Police Force, being the leading security agency in Nigeria, launched Intelligence-led Policing in 2015, with the installation of a tracking device that was installed by the then-Inspector-General of Police office, Solomon Arase.
Real-time tracking devices like GPS trackers or cell phone trackers provide critical information during an investigation, such as the location where a kidnapping occurred or the route taken by the kidnappers. There was also the Operation unit code-named Intelligence Response Team (still in operation) which monitored the kidnappers’ movements in real-time, with the information from the device, thereby helping them stay one step ahead. This device also helped investigators analyze the locations and patterns of calls made by the kidnappers, the routes, and potential safe houses.
In addition, the device provided valuable evidence, such as call records, location data and communication patterns, to build a strong case against the kidnappers.
The device helped in arresting many kidnappers through calls made from their dens while negotiating for ransom. One such arrest was that of the five kidnappers of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, who was taken captive by the herdsmen on September 21, 2015, during his 77th birthday. In this case, five of the kidnappers came to pick up the N5 million ransom in Suleja, Niger State.
One of the senior police officers who effected the breakthrough told Saturday Vanguard that; “immediately the kidnappers removed the SIM card used to negotiate, we knew where they were and intercepted them at the last bridge to Minna. The ransom money they collected was still in the boot and the SIM card.
Five of them were arrested. The motorcycle they used to convey Chief Olu Falae was retrieved. The N5 million ransom was marked by the bank. They removed only N100,000 from it. The kidnappers were sentenced to life imprisonment”.
What went wrong
Asked what went wrong with the system put in place to monitor the locations of kidnappers and interception of calls for prompt arrest and rescue of abducted victims, the retired senior officer attributed it to the priority of successive Inspectors General of Police.
His words: “The priority of successive IGPs was quite different. Solomon Arase set up the platform when he was the IGP. It was a technical platform to track calls. It was mounted in the IGP’s office then and only one officer, who is now an AIG, had access to the technical platform. The Intelligence Response Team, IRT was supposed to be the operational wing that would work with the technical platform. When the technical team got information, it would pass it to IRT to go to the location and make an arrest. Drones and vehicles were bought for the operation.
“But successive IGPs who were analogues didn’t know what to do. They merged the technical platform and IRT. Instead of the platform being used for crime prevention, it became political. People in the National Assembly and Villa got hold of the platform and used it to track their enemies and mistresses.
For such a platform, you don’t give both the technical and the operational units to just one person who would be compromised by politicians. That was the beginning of the collapse of the platform. It requires someone with power and intelligence, someone of a strategic level who is keen on that line.
“This platform was supposed to be renewed and hooked up with the service provider. But that was never the priority of successive IGPs. They had money to pay for the accumulated subscription but they refused to pay. When you leave such a system for more than one year, it requires recalibration. This technology keeps evolving.
You can’t say something you set up today will be used the same way for 10 years without being upgraded. Before long, the system broke down, and the functionality of the Police tracking equipment began to diminish and subsequently went comatose.
The tracker, particularly, became non-functional due to non-subscription as well as failure to engage the relevant company to carry out required system upgrades. Due to the failure to pay subscription fees for about three years, and after a grace period had expired, the company overseeing its maintenance and upgrade decided to withdraw its services. This made it difficult to track bandits, kidnappers, and other forms of violent crimes”, he stated.
However, Saturday Vanguard gathered that the present IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, reactivated the tracking device. However, despite its reactivation, in addition to the tracking devices of the DSS and Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, kidnappers are still having their way without being tracked in many parts of the country. They are still not getting it right.
Lack of Participation
Further findings by Saturday Vanguard on the seeming indifference of security agents in the fight against kidnapping showed that some were deliberately withdrawing even when given directives. Interaction with most of them revealed that they were reluctant to go after the kidnappers because of the significant risks involved and the limited technology available to support their efforts.
Pursuing kidnappers, according to them, often requires venturing into dangerous forests and remote areas, where the risk of ambush, injury, or even death is high. Furthermore, they complained that policemen are often deployed to these high-risk missions without adequate resources, including specialized allowances, vehicles and equipment. One of them, an Inspector, said: “Policemen are frequently forced to spend days in the forest without proper support or infrastructure, relying on basic survival skills and makeshift arrangements to carry out their duties.”
Frustration
Many Rank and Files from different State Police Commands expressed frustration due to what they described as the lack of recognition and rewards for their hard work and dedication in combating kidnappings. They said that unless a policeman has connections with high-ranking officers, their efforts go unnoticed and unrewarded. One of them from the Edo State Police Command who was among those who rounded up kidnappers that attacked a sub-station of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, in Igueben, Edo State, in January 2023, where scores of passengers were abducted, lamented that they were edged out of the recent IGP awards.
He alleged that an officer who never participated in the operation that led to the arrest of the kidnappers and rescue of the victims took the shine off them.
Another Police Inspector from the Enugu State Police Command said, “Kidnapping is being politicized. The federal government should demonstrate the political will to address the issue instead of endangering the lives of security operatives. Its approach to tackling kidnapping has been inadequate and the lives of security personnel are being put at risk due to lack of proper resources and support.
“Response to kidnapping has been influenced by political considerations, with some cases being prioritized over others due to the social status or political connections of the victims”, he said.
Others argue that the politicization of kidnapping has hindered the effectiveness of security operations and has led to the unnecessary loss of lives. Most of them called on the government to take a more comprehensive and apolitical approach to addressing the issue of kidnapping, one that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all citizens and security personnel.
Lack of Motivation
Further interaction with the policemen showed that another major cause for the seeming lack of motivation among policemen to go after kidnappers through tracking of calls is compounded by the fact that investigation demands money, creating a significant barrier to effective crime-solving.
The process of tracking devices, according to police sources, is particularly cumbersome, as the necessary equipment is often only available at the Force headquarters, Abuja, and the Department of State Services (DSS). To confront the reality of the situation, most security agents from various government agencies emphasized to Saturday Vanguard that welfare is a critical concern requiring immediate attention.
A key issue, according to them, is providing adequate support to families of those who die in the line of duty.
To address this, they proposed that children of deceased policemen should receive scholarships for higher education up to the university level, enabling them to achieve academic goals and secure a brighter future. The majority of policemen suggested that children of deceased policemen interested in joining the police force should receive automatic employment.
A Sergeant from the Lagos State Police Command said, “In December 2020, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu compensated the families of six police officers killed in the state during EndSARS with N10 million each. This is the type of compensation we need. We heard that an IGP proposed awarding scholarships to children of rank and file, but we haven’t heard anything about it since.”
Kidnappers evade arrest
However, a senior Police officer revealed that kidnappers have devised a new method to evade detection, using their victims’ phones to make calls and communicate with families and friends.
This tactic according to him, has made it increasingly difficult for security agents to track and apprehend the kidnappers, as call tracking devices are no longer effective. The officer emphasized the need for alternative tracking devices and technologies to combat this new strategy, stressing that relying solely on call trackers is insufficient.
He urged for the deployment of more advanced technologies, such as GPS tracking and digital forensics, to stay ahead of the kidnappers and ensure the safe rescue of victims.
Additionally, the officer suggested that security agencies need to invest in other tracking devices that can detect and locate kidnappers through other means, such as IP addresses, social media activity, and online transactions among other devices.
Nigerians are of the view that it is no longer enough to simply react to kidnapping incidents after they have occurred. Rather, the need for security agencies to adopt a more proactive approach by using improved modern-day technology to track and apprehend kidnappers before they strike was echoed from different sectors of society.
This can be achieved through the deployment of advanced surveillance systems, data analytics, and intelligence-gathering techniques that can help identify and locate potential kidnappers.
Furthermore, the Federal Government must demonstrate the political will to tackle the menace of kidnapping headlong, by addressing its root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality, to prevent the scourge from continuing to ravage the country.
Not our fault kidnappers are not tracked despite Comm Satellite, SIM, NIN — NCC
•We’ve had one person owning 3,000 lines, another 1,000 lines etc
Many times, people have wondered how the kidnappers and other bandits who are causing untold mayhem in the country, manage to get away, even after they are captured on videos, recorded on other devices and most of all when they make contact with their victims’ families.
Senate President of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Henry Okunomo has expressed deep worry that in this age of tech advancement and the height Nigeria has attained in technological development, kidnappers could make contact with a victim’s families without being rounded up by security agents the next minute.
A worried Okunomo who appeared on television recently to discuss the issue of his abducted colleagues, appeared frustrated and clearly expressed dissatisfaction with the way security agencies are handling the matter.
He said: “I am not satisfied with the way security agencies are going about the matter. The government cannot tell me there is no other way this kidnapping thing can be nipped in the bud. After all, there are several measures already in place, why are they not working?”
The measures Okunomo was referring to, included the SIM card registration which the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC carried out in 2011; the Nigerian Identity Number, NIN enrolment, which the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC began in 2015; the NIN-SIM Registration exercise which the Federal government carried out in 2020, involving the NCC, NIMC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; and even the NigComSat-1R Communications satellite which the country shot into the orbit since 2012.
These measures, according to the government, were mainly to improve National Security by strengthening the capacity of Law Enforcement Agencies to tackle criminal use of mobile phones by checkmating activities of criminals. They were also to help simplify verification process and thus enable more secure transactions and interactions using mobile devices boosting confidence and participation in the digital economy; and also to improve governance and service delivery by providing accurate data for policymaking, facilitate secure access to E-government services online, as well as aiding in the implementation of social programs
However, despite all these measures, bandits, and kidnappers operate recklessly. Victims’ accounts at different times suggest that either the measures are not effective or someone in a position of taking action is complicit in the crimes.
In Zamfara State, a kidnap victim, Mallam Yushau Jangeme, was reported to have said security agents in his village, Jangeme, did nothing to trace the telephone calls of the bandits who kidnapped him. According to the publication, Jangeme said, at the time bandits kidnapped seven people in his village and he was contacted to bring ransom before they could be freed.
According to him, when he got to the forest to give kidnappers N1.4m out of N3m demanded, they detained him, saying he must bring the remaining N1.6m. All these happened irrespective of him having made available the phone numbers of his kidnappers to security agents before heading into the bush.
Everywhere, the story is the same. A public affairs commentator, Mr Chike Ogbu, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the way security agents are handling the case of the abducted medical students, said he could not understand the sense of SIM registration or its link with NIN when people could make ransom calls and not getting arrested with all the data that were supposed to accrue from the registrations.
He said: “We have had all manner of SIM activity registrations in this country. We have had Identity registrations and we have a communications satellite. Which one of them is not functioning or which agency of government is not releasing sensitive information necessary for picking these renegades? What is actually the problem, or are our security agents complicit?” he queried.
One of the reasons the NCC took a hard stance on the deadline for NIN-SIM linkage was to fulfil its objective to clean the country’s SIM ownership database and ensure that criminals could not take advantage of having multiple unlinked SIMs to carry out their nefarious activities. Yet, the situation appeared not to have abated.
But the Commission insists the fault is not from its end. A top official at the Commission who craved anonymity told Saturday Vanguard: “Yes, we were adamant on the deadline of the NIN-SIM linkage because of several dangerous security trends we discovered. Our resolve hinged on the need to close in on the chaos of untoward ownership of multiple SIM cards with unverified NIN details. We had instances where a single individual had over 10,000 lines linked to his NIN. In some cases, we have seen a single person with 1,000 lines, some 3,000 plus lines. What were they doing with these lines?
“From our interim findings, the owners of these lines did not purchase them for decent purposes or to undertake legitimate activities. We gave them enough time to make the decision of which of their lines they wanted to keep and discard the others. They did not. All lines in this category with unverified NINs were barred.
“On the issue of kidnappers making calls to victims’ families without being traced, I don’t think that power is residual in our hands. What we know is that whatever support the security agents have sought from us, as far as the national security question is concerned, we have always given to the best of our ability. Our duty is not to track and arrest people who make calls rightly or wrongly the source added.
Also, a reliable satellite Engineer at the Nigerian Communications Satellite Company, NIGCOMSAT LTD, who didn’t want his name mentioned, told Saturday Vanguard that the onus of taking action on whatever the communications satellite reveals, in terms of crimes, is squarely at the doorsteps of the security agencies, adding that, the door of the company has always been open to them for valuable information that aid their operations
He said: “One of the misconceptions about our satellite is people believing that it will snap photos or record videos of crime scenes and send them to security agents, but that is not how it works.
“Although NigComSat -1R is a communications satellite, it is not equipped with cameras. It gathers data and digital footprints which on demand, we usually make available to security agencies that can also read and interpret them effectively. So people should not think that because crimes are happening unabated, the satellite is not working or performing its duties” he added.
A magistrate court in Kano has remanded Muktar Dahiru, a journalist, for allegedly making a Facebook post considered “insulting” to Abba Yusuf, governor of the state.
Dahiru, who works with Pyramid FM Kano, a radio station managed by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), was arrested on Thursday over the post.
According to Premium Times, the journalist was secretly charged before magistrate court 24 at Gyadi Gyadi, court road, with criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, and intentional insult.
Ummah Kurawa, the presiding magistrate, remanded Dahiru in a correctional centre, pending the hearing of the bail application on September 3.
THE FACEBOOK POST
The journalist was said to have shared a broadcast audio interview with an opposition politician accusing the governor of corruption.
The opposition politician asked the governor to allow the federal anti-corruption agencies to investigate the Novomed scandal instead of Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCCAC).
Recently, the Kano anti-corruption agency arrested five persons in connection with an alleged multi-billion-naira drug purchase scam.
Among those arrested is Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew of Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor.
Garba is the managing director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
Garba and some officials were accused of violating public procurement laws by conspiring to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to the LGAs in the statement.
The journalist was also said to have published an audio programme in which one person accused Muhammadu Sanusi, the reinstated Emir of Kano, of portraying himself as sympathetic to the poor while living an expensive lifestyle like a woman.
He also shared an audio recording of Yusuf Fasaha, an opposition politician, accusing Kwankwaso of fraud.
[TheCable]
The Katsina State Police Command on Friday announced that it arrested three suspected notorious gun runners and recovered a large cache of live ammunition along Dutsinma town in the state.
Their arrest, according to the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, was part of the significant breakthrough in its fight against armed banditry and gunrunning.
The suspects are Ahmed Mohammed Kabir, 25, of Hayin Danmani quarters, Kaduna State; Mannir Musa, 25, of Dutsinma town, Dutsinma LGA and Aliyu Iliya, 25, of Dankauye village via Ummadau, Safana LGA, Katsina State.
They were apprehended on 29th August 2024, at about 1245 hours, while attempting to deliver seven hundred and forty (740) rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition to suspected armed bandits in Yauni forest, Ummadau village, Safana LGA of Katsina State, according to the police.
ASP Sadiq in a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters, Katsina, said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects received the ammunition from Nasarawa State to deliver to one Harisu, a suspected notorious armed bandits’ kingpin currently at large.
Noting that the trio has confessed to their involvement and implicated Harisu as the mastermind, the command said it is working tirelessly to apprehend more suspects and bring them to justice.
“This achievement demonstrates our commitment to combating armed banditry and gunrunning in Katsina State and beyond”, Sadiq added.
In a related development, the command said it has on the 27th August, 2024, arrested the trio of one Abubakar Ibrahim, m, age 35, of Dunawa village, Niger Republic; Abdullahi Nafi’u, m, age 35, Madalla quarters, Abuja, and Adam Musa, m, age 36, of Kano State, in connection with a suspected case of armed robbery at Baure LGA of Katsina State.
“The fact of the case is that on 3rd August, 2024, the command received a complaint that on the same date at about 0130 hrs, a three-man gang of suspected armed robbers criminally conspired and attacked the residence of one Ukashatu Isah, m, of Kofar Arewa quarters, Baure LGA, Katsina State, where they robbed him of his two (2) mobile phones, one Samsung Galaxy M32 and one Itel A12, at gunpoint.
“Also, the suspects, using the stolen mobile phones, criminally transferred a total sum of six million naira (6,000,000.00) from the victim’s bank account into three (3) different bank accounts.
“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, detectives swung into action, where they successfully traced and arrested the trio in connection with the offence.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense and would soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigations”, he noted.
The Nigeria Football Federation has been forced to abandon its agreement with German coach Bruno Labbadia to lead the Super Eagles, citing complications arising from strict German tax regulations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The deal fell apart after the NFF refused to shoulder the additional tax burden, which could have amounted to between 32% and 40% of Labbadia’s salary.
NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau revealed that while both parties had initially reached an agreement in principle, the unexpected tax issue became a sticking point.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities,” Gusau said. “We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions, but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”
With the Labbadia deal now off the table, the NFF has turned to its Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, to lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
Eguavoen, who is stepping in for his fourth stint as head coach, will guide the team in crucial matches against Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10 in Kigali.
Eguavoen’s appointment brings a familiar face back to the helm of the three-time African champions, but the sudden change in leadership just days before the qualifiers has raised concerns about the team’s readiness for the challenges ahead.
British energy giant Shell plans to cut hundreds of jobs from its oil and gas exploration division as part of a cost-cutting program announced last year, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.
The cuts will affect two units specialising in exploration and development of hydrocarbon extraction projects, with their workforces set to be reduced by 20 per cent, the source told AFP.
Offices in the United States and the Netherlands will be most affected, the person added, but the details of the plan are subject to talks with unions.
Shell announced in June 2023 that it intended to implement “structural operating cost reductions of $2 billion to $3 billion by the end of 2025”.
Achieving those reductions will require “new efficiencies and a leaner overall organisation,” a Shell spokesperson told AFP, without confirming the job cuts.
Shell earlier this month said net profit dropped eight per cent in the first half due to weaker gas prices and write-offs.
Despite the fall in margins, the result was helped by lower operating costs and higher hydrocarbon production volumes.
Shell, like its compatriot BP, has backtracked on some climate targets in recent months to the dismay of environmental campaigners, putting more emphasis on oil and gas to boost its profits.
Gunmen kill Three, Injure One In Yobe Islamic Boarding School
Gunmen suspected to be Boko haram terrorists have invaded Faudiya Islamic boarding School in Geidam, Yobe state killing three students and injuring one.
The Islamic School which belongs to Muslim Brotherhood Movement (Shi’ites) is located in Geidam, the headquarters of the Geidam local government area of Yobe state.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force in the state, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim who confirmed the incident to Channels Television revealed that the attackers arrived at the school on motorcycles, armed with AK47 rifles around 4.00 am today Friday 30th August 2024 shooting sporadically.
“Yes, there was an attack on Faudiya Islamic School in Geidam the headquarters of Geidam local government area. The school belongs to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite)”
“When Police received the distress call and rushed to the school, they discovered a total number of 3 students have been killed, while 1 was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment at Geidam Specialists Hospital” he said.
Muhammadu Saleh, 22 years, Ahmed Abdulrahman, 21 years and Abdullahi Adamu, also 21 years were said to have been killed while Sani Haruna, 25 years who was injured is currently receiving medical treatment.
Geidam located 183 kilometres away from Damaturu the state capital and a border community with Niger Republic was once, one of the epicenters of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state between 2012 and 2016 as well the hometown of the immediate past Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba.
A former of Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, on Friday, condemned the purchase of a presidential jet and yacht when Nigerians are hungry.
According to Duke, it is a failure of leadership for President Bola Tinubu to make this purchases, when Nigerians are going through economic crisis.
Duke stated this while speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
Duke said, “There is no glamour in saying your people are going through hard times. It’s a failure of your leadership. If I’m the head of a family, I want my family to have everything. I don’t want life to be difficult for them.
“If life is difficult then I feel I’ve failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I’d ask him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his family is good for the nation.
“Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing the biggest agbada.”
Duke said the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests by hungry Nigerians showed that the President has not been a good father to Nigerians.
The former governor said, “A protest is like your kids coming to tell you that ‘Daddy, I am not happy with you. You have failed to do this and do that for me’.
“I’d ask him (Tinubu) to rethink a number of things that are going on and test his policies. The policy of floating the currency was a mistake because it wasn’t thought through.
“The largest pressure on the Nigerian currency is the importation of fuel, and the way it is being done, it is fuelled by corruption. So, we are paying the price for it.”
Duke tasked the President to hold security agencies responsible, reform the judiciary, and address the economy with local indigenous solutions, far from those of the Bretton Woods system.
A former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (PDP), Adewole Adebayo, has slammed President Bola Tinubu for his economic policy choices.
Adewole Adebayo accused President Tinubu of living large while he asked citizens to endure the economic hardship caused by his administration’s policies.
In an interview with Arise TV, on Thursday, Adebayo explained that Nigerians should not be made to choose to have the basic necessities of life because of the government’s economic policies.
He emphasized that the act of blaming former President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration for the current hardship in the country was unfounded.
“Permit me, with due respect, to disagree with those who say that President Tinubu is not responsible for any problems inherited from Buhari’s administration. I would rather take the word of President Tinubu himself, who said that he will continue where President Buhari stopped.
“So whatever any other person, any other apologist, is saying is not as important as what the president himself said as a matter of presidential policy, that he is going to continue where President Buhari stopped. And he was influential in President Buhari’s government. He was influential in the policy. He now has inherited it. And they are carrying on the same baton. So let us rest that once and for all,” he said.
Speaking on Tinubu’s appeal to Nigerians for patience, he continued, “The issue of belt-tightening in an economy is not a problem at all. Belt tightening is required. But what the APC government has done, especially President Tinubu, is tightening the belt around the neck of the people. If you are tightening the belt around the waist, well, that could be a waist trainer, and it can tell you how to consume less. But you cannot tighten the belt around the neck of the people, in which case they will not be able to breathe.
“The things that are growing up for the poor are things which are not discretionary. In finance, and in public finance especially, there’s something we call discretionary spending. Discretionary spendings are spendings that you decide whether to spend or not.
“So for a family, in the microeconomics of a family, whether to have food is not discretionary. You have to have food. Whether to have energy, basic energy to live in the modern world; electricity, to power your light, to power your cooking, and all of that; there’s nothing discretionary there. Even though one of the ministers was of the view that maybe these things are discretionary. Maybe you should even off electricity when you go to work, but he’s still keeping his job.
“The other thing you need to know is that educating your children is not discretionary. When you catch a malaria fever or some other typhoid, or whatever, a headache, whatever is the tropical disease that people tend to have, it is not discretionary whether you should go to dispensary, or a pharmacy, or a hospital to take care of yourself.
“So these things that are not discretionary, like when you get a job, you need to travel to your job. You need electricity, you need power, you need energy, you need petrol, or diesel to locomote to work. If you are a trader, you need to carry your goods. None of these things is discretionary.
“That is where they are tightening the belts. That’s why it is almost unconstitutional the way they are running the government. Now when it comes to economic choices, the things that the government is spending money on are things which are discretionary.
“So if a person is being told to be discretionary regarding how much food he consumes, how he educates his children, whether he goes to the hospital, or just pray over his headache; if you are asking a person to do that, then you are purchasing aircraft, purchasing other things which might be necessary for you to use. There is more discretion in that one.
The former SDP presidential candidate stated that President Tinubu is not governing Nigerians. He accused him of committing economic injustice against Nigerians.
“There is more discretionary window in whether you purchase another presidential jet or not, than if somebody who has two children is going to buy a loaf of bread for them or not.
“So that is where the economic injustice is there. But my major disagreement with the government is that they are not governing. The government is not governing at all. They are occupying powerful positions, but they are not doing the job of those positions,” Adebayo added.
Nigeria bid farewell to one of its most beloved cultural icons, Onyeka Onwenu, fondly known as the “Elegant Stallion,” as she was laid to rest on Friday.
The legendary musician, actress, broadcaster, politician, and activist passed away on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72.
Onwenu died at Reddington Hospital, Ikeja, after collapsing at an event in honor of Dr. Stella Okoli, the Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceuticals.
The news of her passing sent shockwaves through Nigeria and beyond, as tributes poured in from all corners of the globe.
The funeral service took place at the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju, Lagos, attended by a host of dignitaries, celebrities, and admirers.
Following the service, Onyeka Onwenu was laid to rest in a private burial at a vault in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Among those who attended the solemn ceremony were Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, who both paid their respects to the late icon.
She was not only a trailblazing musician with numerous hits to her name but also a broadcaster, actress, and a vocal advocate for women’s rights and social justice.
Her contributions to the arts and her fearless activism have left an indelible mark on the nation.
Onyeka Onwenu is survived by her two sons, who, along with countless fans and admirers, mourn the loss of a remarkable woman whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
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Dele Momodu Slams FG For Insisting Nigerians Below 18 years Can't Gain Admission - Spotlights Girl Who Bagged Ph.D At 17
AFOLABI
Nigerian journalist and politician, Dele Momodu has given his opinion about the controversial age requirement to gain admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
On August 26, President Bola Tinubu’s administration mandated that only individuals aged 18 and above could take the National Examination Council Nigeria (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams.
This angered some people who questioned what students who typically graduate from secondary school at the age of 15/16 should do with their time while waiting to be old enough for the university entrance exams.
Dele Momodu has now weighed in.
The Ovation Magazine publisher highlighted the story of Dr Dorothy Jean Tillman, who, at only 17, became the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioural health from Arizona State University's College of Health Solutions.
"And Federal Government via Ministry of Education is saying Nigeria children should wait till 18 years before they write WAEC, NECO and JAMB," Momodu pointed out on Instagram.
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Tony Elumelu has opened up on why he stepped down as CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Recall that Elumelu is the chairman of Heirs Holdings Group.
He revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy, which limits the tenure of bank CEOs to ten years, was a key factor in his decision.
Speaking at the 14th-anniversary celebration of Heirs Holdings in Lagos, Elumelu shared how this regulatory shift sparked a transformative journey that led to the establishment and growth of Heirs Holdings, now a global conglomerate with investments in diverse sectors across 24 countries.
Elumelu recounted how, in 2010, he was compelled to step down as CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) due to a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy that imposed a maximum tenure of 10 years for bank CEOs.
“What could have been a setback became the beginning of something extraordinary – an opportunity that was truly transformative,” Elumelu remarked, emphasising that the policy shift, rather than dampening his ambitions, opened new doors for him. “When one door closes, many others open.”
This policy, which required him to relinquish his role at UBA, spurred the founding of Heirs Holdings, a conglomerate now operating in 24 countries and spanning sectors such as power, energy, financial services, hospitality, real estate, healthcare, and technology.
Reflecting on the group’s achievements, Elumelu noted, “Today marks a significant milestone, as we celebrate 14 years of excellence at Heirs Holdings Group.”
Elumelu used the occasion to share broader lessons on leadership and resilience. He urged aspiring entrepreneurs to view challenges as opportunities for growth.
“When faced with adversity, do not give up. When challenged, bounce back. Persevere, be resilient, and transform your fear into hope, your hope into ambition, and your ambition into action,” he advised.
HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 23 (ACN) Wole Soyinka, Nigerian writer and Nobel Prize in Literature, received today at Casa de las Americas the Haydee Santamaria Medal, awarded by Miguel Diaz-Canel, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, on behalf of Cuba and at the proposal of the Minister of Culture.
As reported by the Presidency on X, Jorge Fornet, director of the Center for Literary Research of Casa de las Americas, in his remarks of praise, said that awarding Soyinka the medal that bears the name of that extraordinary woman is an act of justice that honors us.
After the ceremony, Diaz-Canel held a meeting with Soyinka, where he thanked her for his visit in such a complex moment for Cuba.
It is the visit of a brother who has always been fighting for the most just causes, the president noted.
The Haydee Santamaria Medal is conferred to national and foreign citizens and groups who, over the years, have shared the main objectives of the Casa: the enrichment, defense and integration of the genuine cultures of our region and the entire South.
This event also celebrates Wole Soyinka's 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba, where he has returned on several occasions.
The Nobel Laureate in Literature, who during the tribute had stated that “Cuba is also my home”, referred during the meeting to the strong ties that unite the island and Africa.
The House of Representatives has committed to addressing the issues that prevent Nigerian tertiary institutions from accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations.
During a recent visit to Kaduna State, the House Committee on TETFund and Other Services revealed that over N500 billion in TETFund intervention funds are still unused at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by institutions across the country. Hon. Mariam Odinaka Onuoha, Chairman of the Committee, led the delegation to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and revealed that three state-owned institutions in Kaduna alone have over N1.3 billion in untapped TETFund resources.
“One of our primary responsibilities is to oversee tertiary interventions and ensure accountability for all funds allocated to bridge infrastructure gaps and enhance teaching and learning,” Onuoha said. “We also oversee the TETFund agency, a role we began in May. During this oversight, we found over N500 billion sitting unused at the CBN, allocated but not yet accessed by the beneficiary institutions.”
She added, “Despite various excuses for the accumulation of these funds, we are determined to facilitate their release to the institutions without further delay. We are investigating the problems faced by these institutions and seeking solutions to ensure that the funds serve their intended academic purposes.”
Onuoha also highlighted specific unutilised amounts: N547 million for Kaduna State University, N724 million for Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, and N30 million for the College of Education, Gidan Waya, totaling N1.302 billion.
Kaduna deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe expressed gratitude for the Committee’s visit and encouraged institutional heads to openly communicate their challenges.
South Africa’s Udeme Okon won gold in the 400m final at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, with a remarkable comeback, clocking in at 45.69 seconds.
The victory, shared on social media, highlighted Okon’s dual ties to Nigeria and South Africa, sparking reactions from both nations.
While the recent controversy involving Miss Chidinma Adetshina underscored tensions between the two countries, Okon’s achievement seems to have been celebrated across borders
PUNCH Online reports that the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships, also known colloquially by its former official title, the World Junior Championships, is an international athletics competition for athletes qualifying as juniors.
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The event is ongoing in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31, 2024.
Okon’s profile on his Instagram page, #udeme_sprints, shows both the Nigerian and South African flags, signifying his ties to both nations, PUNCH Online also reports.
World Athletics in early Friday video posts on X revealed this.
It read, “WHAT. A. COMEBACK. ‘s Udeme Okon wins the 400m final in great style with 45.69.
“It’s Okon’s moment Udeme Okon claims the 400m gold with an incredible comeback in the home straight 45.69 ”
Meanwhile, several reactions followed the post from South Africans and Nigerians alike.
Nigerians-South Africans tension
Recall the recent controversy surrounding Miss Chidinma Adetshina, a South African-born model of Nigerian and Mozambican descent, which sparked significant debate and tension between South Africans and Nigerians.
Adetshina’s eligibility to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant was questioned after revelations about her dual citizenship. Critics argued that her participation undermines the opportunities for South African-born candidates, fueling xenophobic sentiments.
As the scrutiny over her citizenship and background intensified, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition, citing concerns for her safety.
Following her withdrawal, she was invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which has further complicated the situation given the uncertainty around her Nigerian citizenship status.
However, it seems reactions from the South Africans do not have an issue with Okon and his gold medal.
World Athletics
PUNCH Online reports that World Athletics, the global athletic governing body, oversees disciplines like track and field, cross-country, road running, and race walking. Established in 1912 as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), it rebranded in 2019 to modernise its image and expand its global appeal.
Headquartered in Monaco, World Athletics sets the sport’s rules, organises major events like the World Athletics Championships, and maintains world records. The organisation is committed to promoting athletics worldwide, supporting athletes and national federations, and fostering the development of the sport at all levels.