The three tiers of government in Nigeria — federal, state, and local governments — received a total of ₦1.2 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for April 2024.
This was made known on Thursday in a statement issued by the director of press and public relations in the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa.
The statement explained that the allocation comprises distributable statutory revenue of N284 billion, distributable value-added tax (VAT) revenue of N466 billion, electronic money transfer levy (ETML) revenue of N18 billion, and exchange difference revenue of N438 billion.
The committee said the total revenue of N2.1 trillion was available in the month of April 2024, adding that the total deduction for the cost of collection was N80 billion; total transfers, interventions and refunds was N903 billion.
A gross statutory revenue of N1.2 trillion was received for April, representing N216 billion higher than the sum of N1.01 billion received in March.
A further breakdown of the figures confirmed that of the total N1.2 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received N390 billion, states got N403 billion and the local governments received N293 billion.
A total sum of N120 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue.
FAAC further said from the N466 billion distributable VAT revenue, the federal government received N69 billion, states received N233 billion and local governments got N163 billion.
A total sum of N2.704 billion was received by the federal government from the N18 billion EMTL, states received N9 billion and local governments received N6 billion.
According to the committee, out of the exchange difference revenue of N438 billion, the federal government got N205 billion, states got N104 billion, and N80 billion was handed to local governments.
The sum of N48 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue.
In addition, FAAC said oil and gas royalties, companies’ income tax (CIT), excise duty, petroleum profit tax (PPT), EMTL and CET Levies increased significantly in April.
However, import duty and VAT recorded considerable decreases.
FAAC also said the balance in the excess crude account (ECA) for April was $473,754.
A new mother, Susan Ubangha, has cried for help over her deteriorating health condition after giving birth at the Alimosho General Hospital in the Igando area of Lagos State.
This is as she alleged that her husband used the money meant for her medical bill to buy a phone and a dog.
Ubangha, in a lengthy post on her X handle, stated that her ordeal started in the weeks leading to the delivery of her baby as she started to experience sudden and severe shortness of breath.
The nursing mother who claimed to have been rushed to the hospital alleged that her husband failed to pay for her hospital bills.
She claimed that her husband was opposed to a caesarean section due to the financial constraints while he suggested that would deliver the baby naturally
She wrote, “I got traditionally married recently and took in. I thought that was the best thing that happened to me, everything was going well until I entered the 35th week. I suddenly developed shortness of breath, I could barely walk two seconds without being out of breath. Thinking it was one of those symptoms of late pregnancy, I didn’t take it seriously until the 14th of April when I could barely breathe, and couldn’t lift my head up.
“I was rushed to a nearby clinic, they couldn’t handle me, so I was taken to my hospital where I was admitted and placed on oxygen. The doctors told my husband we should opt for CS, as I and my unborn child were at risk. My husband said no, that I’d definitely deliver naturally. He insisted he had no money for CS and that they should work on stabilising my breathing. So for three days, I was on oxygen and feeling better. Seeing that I was responding to treatment, my husband went around and insisted I should be discharged against the doctor’s advice.”
Ubangha said she became weak to argue with her husband whose insistence led her to be discharged from the hospital.
She however noted that she developed breathing problems again after she arrived home, adding that her husband thereafter bought a herbal drink which he asked her to drink to make her baby’s head turn for natural delivery.
She further narrated she was in so much pain that she drank only for the pain to intensify while she struggled so much till about 1 am in the morning when she couldn’t take it anymore.
She said, “I cried out, my neighbours came running and I was again rushed to the hospital, admitted and placed on oxygen. While my doctors determined what to do, my husband insisted he had no money for a cesarean section. All these while, I was spending my life’s savings on medications, this and that tests.”
“This dragged on until the morning of 29th April, I was broken, my baby wasn’t moving, my breathing wasn’t good, I couldn’t push and my baby’s position was beached. I cried out on Facebook where a kind Samaritan sent me 500k to pay for CS and whatever else I might need afterwards.”
On how her husband allegedly squandered the money Ubangha said, “I immediately sent the sum of 180k and an additional 60k so he could pay for the surgery and whatever we might need. He took the money and spent it instead on a phone and bought a dog while I was battling with life, thinking he was paying.
She said, “We waited from 10 am when I gave him the money to about 2 pm, Doctors were shouting, time was running out, I had to call his sister, counted another N180,000 and gave her, she’s the one who paid. He came at 6 pm when I was being wheeled into the theatre. I could hear both of them fighting, the sister threatening to arrest him.”
Ubangha who eventually gave birth through a cesarean section alleged that her husband had abandoned her, as she was left with her newborn baby girl and her aged mother at the hospital.
Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.
In a picture attached to the post, the nursing mother could be seen with a swollen leg
“First diagnosis was that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy. I’ve done ECKG, chest X-ray and a series of other blood tests that I’m waiting for a report on. Whatever the outcome, I will need every help I can get. I need about 500k to help with whatever treatment plan and to help facilitate my discharge process,” she added.
Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.
In a picture attached to the post, the nursing mother could be seen with a swollen leg
“First diagnosis was that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy. I’ve done ECKG, chest X-ray and a series of other blood tests that I’m waiting for report on. Whatever the outcome, I will need every help I can get. I need about 500k to help with whatever treatment plan and to help facilitate my discharge process,” she added.
A former chairman of the Park Management System in Oyo State, Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxiliary, has been remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.
Naija News reports Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi ordered the remand of Lamidi on Thursday due to a lack of jurisdiction.
Recall that Auxiliary was recently arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, months after the police had declared him wanted for allegedly involving in a series of armed robberies, kidnapping, and murder cases.
He was subsequently paraded on Thursday morning by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola.
While parading the suspect at the state police command, the state Commissioner said a collaborative effort with other security agencies led to the arrest of Auxillary, who would be charged in court.
Adebola also thanked the public for providing credible information to curb the crime in the state.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi, while speaking, said the remand of Auxiliary was pending the issuance of legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 11, for mention.
Lamidi, was charged with a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, causing death and stealing.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department of the Police Command, CSP Funke Fawole, told the court that Lamidi and others, now at large, allegedly conspired to commit the offences.
The Fawole further said that the offences were committed by the suspect and others who are still at large at Baba-Onilu Shopping Complex, Iwo Road, Ibadan.
She said the offence contravened Sections 383 and 316 and is punishable under Sections 319, l1l, 390 (9), 324 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
Fawole said: “On June 16, 2021, at about 3:30 pm, Lamidi and others now at large allegedly caused the death of one Azeez Rahman Abiodun, 36, by stabbing him with a knife in the chest.
“On June 16, 2021, the defendant and others allegedly conspired and stole assorted phones valued at N150 million, property of Azeez Hammed Adebayo.”
Six directors and 222 other staff members of the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission have been sacked for possessing fake certificates with which they gained employment into the commission.
In the same vein, two former staff members, one of whom was found to be working with the state owned Nwafor-Orizu College of Education at Nsugbe, and another with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, who were said to be collecting salaries for four years have been directed to refund the illegal salaries they received to the commission.
Chairman of the Commission, Mr Vincent Ezeaka disclosed the scandals to newsmen at the Commission’s office in Awka on Thursday.
Ezeaka said that the sad developments were discovered in the ongoing verification and staff biometrics identification exercise being conducted by a four-man committee headed by a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Ndidi Onuigbo.
He added that the exercise is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration’s agenda deliberately initiated to sanitise the local government workforce.
Ezeaka further explained that between January and April 2024, a total of 222 ghost workers have been discovered and weeded out of the local government service commission.
He added that the two ex-staff of the commission who collected salaries from the coffers of the commission for four years while at the same time work as staff members of Nsugbe College of Education and the other as an accounting officer with the UNIZIK, Awka whose names he declined to disclose to newsmen would be prosecuted accordingly on the order of the state government.
The local government service boss, however, stated that from the verification exercise the bonafide staff members of the commission currently is about 4, 300, adding that they are the workers in the payroll of the commission pending when the verification committee would conclude it’s assignment.
He stated that the state government is taking serious steps towards ensuring that communities and local government areas are sanitized for things to get better.
Nigerian singer Peter Okoye, famously known as one half of the dynamic duo PSquare, has recently undergone a hair transplant procedure.
In a candid statement, Okoye revealed that his decision was motivated by a desire to look good for his fans.
Okoye took to his Instagram stories to document the process of undergoing a hair transplant.
In the video, Okoye was depicted with line markings on his bare head, and what appeared to be a bandage or rolls of tissue paper could be seen on his ears and the back of his head.
Despite the procedure, the music star expressed positivity, stating that he felt great about it.
He further explained that he opted for the cosmetic enhancement to enhance his appearance for his fans, emphasizing, “I feel better 100%, so nothing to worry about. Just to look good for you guys.”
"Hey guys, Mr P is here. I’m here in Istanbul with Mr [name] who is here to look after my hair. You guys know I’m been very uncomfortable about it but guess what, you will see the before and after of the magic these guys are about to do,” The extraction part is done, we have about 2400 and it’s time to eat. I feel better 100%, nothing to worry about; just to look good for you guys,” he added -
Emirates will resume services to Nigeria from 1 October 2024, operating a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, and offering customers more choice and connectivity from Nigeria’s largest city to, and through, Dubai.
The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrives in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day. Tickets can be booked now on http://emirates.com or via travel agents.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. The Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and we hope to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to our network of over 140 destinations. We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard.”
With the resumption of operations to Nigeria, Emirates operates to 19 gateways in Africa with 157 flights per week from Dubai, with further reach to an additional 130 regional points in Africa through its codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, among others.
As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria and the UAE have built strong bilateral trade relations over the years, headlined by Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre. With the resumption of daily passenger flights, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will further bolster the trade relationship by offering more than 300 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity, in and out of Lagos every week.
Emirates SkyCargo will support Nigerian businesses by exporting their goods via its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, into key markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Bahrain, among others with key anticipated commodities such as Kola Nuts, food and beverages, and urgent courier material. Emirates SkyCargo will also import vital goods such as pharmaceuticals and electronics as well as general cargo from key markets such as the UAE, India and Hong Kong. Keeping trade flowing seamlessly, these goods will be transported quickly, efficiently, and reliably via the airline’s multi-vertical specialized product portfolio.
The Emirates Boeing 777-300ER serving Lagos will operate with 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 seats in Economy Class. Offering the best experience in the sky, passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can tune in to over 6,500 channels of global entertainment, including 23 Nigerian movies, in addition to series and other content on ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.
A teenager who went missing in 1998 was found alive over the weekend in the cellar of his alleged kidnapper’s home — just 300 feet from his family’s residence in Algeria.
Omar Bin Omran was rescued Sunday from the house of his longtime captor after he went missing on his way to vocational school some 26 years ago, according to Algerian media reports.
Omar, now 45 and with a beard, was saved from the basement below his neighbor’s hay-covered floor in some sort of sheep pen, a video showing the confused-looking detainee posted on social media shows
His alleged abductor, a 61-year-old man who lived alone, was taken into custody, according to the Djelfa Attorney General’s Office.
Investigators were reportedly tipped off by the victim’s family after the suspect’s brother suggested his sibling was involved in the kidnapping in a social media post while the pair were fighting over inheritance.
The National Gendarmerie then re-opened the investigation and searched the man’s home until they discovered a trapdoor hidden underneath hay on the floor.
They found Omar behind the door, the prosecutors said.
Omar was taken to a medical center for treatment — both physical and psychological, while the unnamed suspect will go to trial for the “heinous crime,” the attorney general’s office said.
The teen’s alleged abductor has also been accused of killing his dog — seen in photos with him the year he went missing, according to Algerian news reports.
The local equities market yesterday closed on a negative note as selloffs on Nigerian Exchange Group Plc and 29 others dragged the capitalisation lower by N74 billion.
The All Share Index (ASI) declined by 130.56 points, representing a decline of 0.13 per cent to close at 97,343.42 points. Accordingly, market capitalisation shed by N74 billion to close at N55.058 trillion.
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Nigerian Exchange Group, PZ Cussons Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria (UACN), Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA).
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was negative, as 30 stocks lost relative to 13 gainers. Custodian Investment recorded the highest price gain of 9.63 per cent to close at N10.25, per share. International Energy Insurance followed with a gain of 9.29 per cent to close at N1.53, while Sovereign Trust Insurance rose by 7.89 per cent to close at 41 kobo, per share.
NPF Micro Finance Bank went up by 7.10 per cent to close at N1.96, while Champion Breweries appreciated by 6.11 per cent to close at N3.30, per share.
On the other hand, FTN Cocoa Processors and PZ Cussons Nigeria led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent each to close at N1.44 and N20.25 respectively, while Sterling Financial Holdings Company followed with a decline of 9.89 per cent to close at N4.01, per share.
The Initiates Plc (TIP) depreciated by 9.78 per cent to close at N2.03 and UACN declined by 9.76 per cent to close at N13.40, per share.
The total volume traded declined by 16.0 per cent to 355.554 million units, valued at N7.143 billion, and exchanged in 7,333 deals. Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) topped the activity chart with 71.872 million shares valued at N3.038 billion. Custodian Investment followed with 65.466 million shares worth N785.263 million, while Access Holdings traded 24.167 million shares valued at N416.727 million.
Tantalizers traded 21.305 million shares valued at N22.414 million, while Prestige Assurance sold 17.536 million shares worth N8.955 million.
[Leadership]
Nigerian Fuji singer, Adewale Ayuba, also known as Mr Johnson, has shared a moment when Duchess Meghan was spotted dancing to his chart-topping hit, “Koloba Koloba.”
Ayuba shared the video on his Instagram account on Monday with the caption, “Even HRH Meghan and Harry know how to Ta tan de ile, thank you for this moment. ”
In the video, Meghan was spotted rhythmically swaying her shoulders along to the music.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, landed in Nigeria last Friday as part of their promotion of the Invictus Games, the sporting event he founded for wounded military veterans.
Harry’s decision to visit Nigeria followed an invite by the military high command following the nation’s debut appearance at the 2023 Invictus Games, held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel that offers support, recovery pathways, and rehabilitation for the personnel, post-injury.
Their itinerary included attending a school event focused on mental health and meeting with wounded soldiers during their trip.
On day three of the visit, Prince Harry and Meghan took part in a basketball event with the Giants of Africa Foundation in Lagos, an organisation that helps youths through engagement in the sport.
[Punch]
Media
My girl Meghan was feeling it, look at those shoulders move ? #HarryandMeghaninNigeria pic.twitter.com/9VsiAoiTfy
— Dani | Radical Optimism ? (@ArchLiliHazMeg) May 12, 2024
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, on Wednesday, defended his decision to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Earlier, Abe, who contested the state governorship election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party in 2023 after losing out to Tony Cole for the party’s ticket, announced his reconciliation with Wike.
He also insisted that anybody he wanted to work with, he must reconcile with the person.
He said, “I’m comfortable working with Wike. I did everything to convince Wike as governor then, to work for Tinubu in Rivers State.
“Wike is my friend. Today, he is working in the APC government as a minister. We must work together.”
Meanwhile, the former lawmaker, speaking on a Channels TV programme, Politics Today on Wednesday night defended his actions.
Asked whether Wike has now become a member of the APC, Abe said, “Wike is a minister in the APC government and not a member of the APC.
“He is a minister in our government and we cannot with all proper sense of responsibility as a party ignore the president’s appointee from our own state, who is a minister in our government. It makes no sense.
“So, he does not have to be a member of the APC, but he is an influential figure in the APC government and it is in the interest of the party to work with him and we will do so in the party and nation’s interest and to be able to give our full support to the president (Bola Tinubu).
“He was not a member of the APC when he led the G-5 to support Tinubu’s presidency bid.
“The president didn’t stop him then that he is not a member of the APC so you cannot support me.
“If the president didn’t say that, we too, will not say that he is not an APC member and so we will not work with him.
“We are following the footsteps of our leader, therefore, we’ll work with him.”
He, earlier, from the same interview also spoke on the APC structure in the state.
“The politics of Rivers State, like we all know, for the past few years have been convoluted within the All Progressives Congress, and we’ve looked at the situation with the recent changes in the party.
“And the appointment of the Chairman caretaker committee in the state is necessary,” Abe said.
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Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has opened up about why he is not ready to be a father yet.
According to the 32-year-old, he is not ready to have kids yet because he can’t give them the attention they deserve.
Burna Boy disclosed this while responding to a curious fan during a recent Instagram live session with fans.
He explained that he would have children when he was settled or married.
He said, “Why haven’t I had kids yet? Bro, because I don’t want to have kids yet.
“Have you seen my mum the way she loves me? Have you seen my dad the way he loves me?I know I can’t give that to anyone right now with the life I’m living. So until I’m settled and I can be there for my children everyday, I’m not having no kid.
“I feel like my kids deserved better than I got. And I got both my mum and dad so you understand?”
On the allegations that he is impotent, Burna Boy said, “When I see the bants and the things people say [about me not being able to have kids], I said this is unimportant. Let’s assume that it is true that I couldn’t even have kids, you know that there’s something called IVF? But that is not even true.”
Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has said that he would not support death penalties for corrupt politicians who steal in millions or billions but for those who steal in trillions.
Ndume pointed out that corruption within Nigerian politics was primarily influenced by individuals.
He suggested that it may not necessitate severe consequences.
The senator acknowledged that politicians engaged in corruption but also distributed resources to the public.
He said, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven,” he told Channels Television.
“If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth.
“If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”
The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has dismissed as untrue, online reports that it has established a hotel in Abuja, urging the public to be wary of misinformation.
Service Spokesman, Abubakar Umar, an Assistant Controller, disclosed this in a statement Wednesday in Abuja.
He said a malicious report making the rounds in some sections of the media has it that the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has just built a magnificent hotel.
According to him, the said report is not only misleading, but also targeted at misinforming the public.
He said for the avoidance of doubt, the said hotel was built in 2021 “And it is exclusively owned by the Correctional Cooperative Society COCOS), a Cooperative Society for all personnel of the Service which was formed in the year 1996”.
“The Cooperative Society operates a Microfinance Bank that provides financial soft-landing to both serving and retired personnel with the aim of improving their welfare through the provision of soft loans and other financial services.
“The Cooperative Society also serves as a fallback welfare system for retired and deceased personnel, while those who have been dismissed from Service get back their due entitlements upon disengagement. Presently, all such payments of entitlements to beneficiaries are up-to-date. The Cooperative Society has acquired housing estates, providing personnel, serving and retired, the opportunity to own personal houses without hassles.
“The said hotel has been opened for business since its establishment in 2021, and located along Bill Clinton Drive Airport Road, Abuja. In terms of funding and day-to-day administration, the hotel is owned by COCOS and managed as a corporate entity. The hotel has so far provided employment opportunities for many youths, and attracted commendations from dignitaries both within and outside.
“In his familiarization tour of the Service’s National Headquarters upon assumption of office, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended the Service for the initiative of establishing the hotel and enjoined other institutions to emulate the Nigerian Correctional Service in this regard.
“The Controller General of Corrections (CGC) hereby advises the general public to disregard the said report as it is meant to cause chaos where none exists. He enjoins the public to patronize the hotel as it provides excellent services at competitive prices.
After weeks of depreciation, the Naira recorded its first N61.38 appreciation against the Dollar at the official foreign exchange market.
FMDQ data showed that it appreciated by N1459.02 per Dollar on Wednesday compared to N1520.40 on Tuesday.
This represents a 4.2 per cent gain against the Dollar on Wednesday compared to the previous day.
Similarly, the Naira dropped to N1515 per Dollar in the parallel market section from N1520.
Recall that Bureau De Change operators blamed the depreciation of the Naira on insufficient foreign currency allocation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Since mid-April 2024, the Naira recorded a 28 per cent decline against the Dollar.
The development comes as Nigeria’s inflation surged to 33.69 per cent in April 2024.