Appointments: Hold Your Breath, Tinubu Is Still Filling Positions – APC Spokesman To Aggrieved Politicians
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The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka has said that President Bola Tinubu has been fair to all sections of the country regarding appointments into key offices.
Morka asserted that it is too early for detractors of the ruling party to raise disapproving eyebrows against the President’s appointments.
He stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Morka was responding to claims by some northern heavyweights alleging that the region was not properly represented in the president’s government.
He said, “President Tinubu is trying to be fair… We have some fairness in the key offices,”
“And this is a government that has just done one year in office, that has yet to even exhaust all of the opportunities for people to be invited to serve in this government. There are so many offices that are yet to be filled. There is more to come.
“We have the President, we have the Vice President. We have the defence, we have the finance. The defence is mostly staffed by people from the northern side while the minister of finance and the CBN governor are from the southern side.
“It’s always premature to make that assessment. Hold your breath till a lot of the key positions are filled.
“For those who want to make an issue of ethnicity, the President has the country as his constituency. The President is not the President of the South-West, or the North or the South; he is the President of Nigeria and every part of this country deserves to be effectively represented, consistent with the Federal Character flavour of our constitution.”
[NaijaNews]
The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, whisked into Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair.
Gambaryan, who dressed in a black T-shirt with a blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm.
When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court.
Ujam prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho conduct the trial.
Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, who appeared for Binance (1st defendant) and Mark Mordi, SAN, who represented Gambaryan, did not oppose the application.
Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down from the matter until 12pm.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.
The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mordi.
Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.
NAN reports that Gambaryan had on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.
The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised an alarm that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive, might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.
(NAN)
Olakulehin risks removal over implementation of 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration [DOCUMENTS]
Admin![Olakulehin risks removal over implementation of 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration [DOCUMENTS]](/media/k2/items/cache/4e933501f22e6a02caf8b432ef79584a_M.jpg)
The new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1, risks removal from office if the 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration is to be implemented, DAILY POST authoritatively gathered.
It could be recalled that Olakulehin was crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, 12th July, 2024.
The event was attended by Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Military Administrator of old Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola and former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
Governors of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olaide Adelami, while Governor of Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde, among others.
Our correspondent reports that the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023 was distributed during the coronation.
DAILY POST, however, observed that the new Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, which was signed by governor Seyi Makinde, is at variance with some sections of the 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
The 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration stated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line.
The declaration also stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the candidate.
The 1957 declaration says, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line. Provided that the most Senior Chief in that line may be superseded by a Junior Chief if such senior chief is found to be disqualified as a candidate under the provisions of section 10(2).”
It further provided that:- (a) The field of selection for the purpose of the foregoing provision shall not extend beyond the Ekerin Olubadan on the Olubadan line and the Ekerin Balogun on the Balogun Line.
“The method of selection is as follows: The line whose turn it is to present a Candidate shall nominate a Candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.”
But, the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023, which was made public on Friday, recognised the beaded crown Obas instead of High Chiefs which was in the 1957 declaration.
The new law stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate. The kingmakers shall, if satisfied as to the candidate’s right of succession, declare the candidate appointed.
Similarly, the new law stipulated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate and that majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.
The new law says that, “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a Candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.
“The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate; majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.”
DAILY POST reports that whereas the new law says that the person proposed to be Olubadan must be nominated at a meeting presided over by the most senior beaded crown Oba, Olakulehin was nominated at a meeting presided over by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja on Friday, 12th April, 2024.
Ladoja, a former governor of the state is a High Chief and not a beaded crown Oba.
He is the only High Chief in Ibadan that refused to wear the beaded crown.
It follows that what transpired during the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated was at variance with the 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
[DailyPost]
Multinational firms leaving Nigeria due to naira fluctuations - say pharmaceutical manufacturers
AFOLABI
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has expressed concerns over the scarcity of foreign exchange (FX) in Nigeria.
PMG-MAN spoke during a news conference in Lagos ahead of the 7th Edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME).
According to the association, it is impossible for pharmaceutical companies to cope, adding that the forex scarcity led to the exit of several multinational pharmaceutical companies in the country.
Speaking at the conference, Patrick Ajah, chairman of the local organising committee for NPME 2024, said a stable exchange rate is crucial for the progress of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
Ajah, the managing director of May & Baker, also highlighted the challenges posed by the fluctuating value of the naira, which has deterred investment and planning within the industry.
“Unless the value of the naira is stabilised, achieving the country’s target of 70 percent local drug manufacturing will remain a mirage,” he said.
“The recent fluctuations in the value of the naira have made it difficult for companies to plan and invest.
“This is one major reason why multinational companies are leaving. It’s not the fear of subsidy removal.
“If we didn’t tamper with the currency, all the multinational companies would be here, and they would still be making more investments.”
Ajah added that the recent fluctuations have made it nearly impossible for companies to cope, forcing many multinationals to withdraw.
“Many companies are not able to cope. So, fixing our exchange rate is going to be the one single thing that will immediately reset where we are,” he added.
Ajah also highlighted the recently signed executive order by President Bola Tinubu, which removes tariffs and value-added tax (VAT) on pharmaceutical imports, which is yet to take effect.
He, however, called for the government to implement additional measures, including fixing the exchange rate, to attract and retain multinational investments.
On May 1, Frank Muonemeh, executive secretary of PMG-MAN, said the country should reduce its dependence on imported drugs.
Muonemeh said Nigeria must prioritise locally produced drugs over imported medicines.
He also said the production of local medicines must be taken as a national security issue.
In 2023, prominent pharmaceutical multinationals, such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Nigeria Limited stopped operations in the country, citing the forex crisis.
While GSK ended its 51-year presence in Nigeria in August 2023, Sanofi exited in November last year.
The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Monday, said he never knew he would live to be 90.
Soyinka revealed this while answering questions from about 383 students who participated in the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta.
This was as the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, announced scholarships and gifts of laptops to nine students who emerged best in an essay competition organised to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
Born on July 13, 1934, the Nobel Laureate clocked 90 on Saturday.
While answering questions from children on his life experiences for the past 90 years, Soyinka said he did not envisage living up to 90, adding that he decided to be a writer to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.
On why he broke into a radio station during the military era, he said: “I never broke into a radio station, but sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralised the people and established the culture of brutality.”
He chided Nigerians for always criticising the state but unwilling to examine themselves.
Soyinka said crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, could not be blamed on poverty or inequality, but on selfishness and the desire to live a life of luxury.
He lauded Abiodun for helping to develop the environment around his abode and saving it from degradation, even as he emphasised that this has led to his not abandoning the country.
Speaking during the programme, Abiodun emphasised that the gifts of scholarships and laptops were to encourage the students to keep writing as well as motivate others to participate in the next edition of the competition.
Describing the Noble Laureate as the most celebrated black African, who had excelled in his chosen career, the governor noted that as the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world, it was imperative to engage the youth and ensure that their thinking and goals were oriented toward progress for the motherland and humanity.
He said the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange was established to honour the playwright’s legacy and reflect on his lifelong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and nurturing future leaders.
He added that the initiative underscored Soyinka’s values, which include justice, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and humanities.
Abiodun said this year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building,” perfectly encapsulated Soyinka’s profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world.
The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange focuses on essay competition, advocacy, and performing arts, which include poetry, drama, and Spoken Word.
The governor said: “We celebrate a project that, for over 14 years, has upheld his ideals and vision. There is no doubt that the Nobel Laureate has optimally utilised the inherent values and wisdom of African culture and tradition in his global engagement as a world citizen of African descent.
“The mission and underlying objectives of WSICE are clear and commendable. They seek to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity, in line with the thoughts and guiding principles of Professor Wole Soyinka.”
The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme drew students from different parts of the country who participated in an essay competition on national and international topics.
About 383 students participated in the competition, 90 were chosen, while nine were selected with Alabi Oluwanifemi emerging as the best essayist, Okoye Collins John coming second, and Adebusi Adeoluwa, coming— third.
The Lagos State Task Force has arrested eight suspects for selling contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a press statement released by the spokesman of the Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.
According to Abdulraheem, the suspects were arrested in the Epe area of the state during a raid on Sunday.
The agency discovered that “dozens of cartons filled with contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service and set ablaze at a dumpsite somehow found their way into the hands of unscrupulous elements trying to sell it to members of the public.”
The statement read, “I am glad this menace has been nipped in the bud before it blows out of proportion. The state is currently battling to contain the cholera outbreak in some parts of the metropolis, so we need not compound the issues. Rather, it’s our responsibility to the citizenry to ensure sinister forces do not plunge the state into crisis for their selfish gains.”
“The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who led the operation, said goods confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service must have failed at some point to meet the required health and safety standards before being deemed unfit for human consumption, which led to them being set ablaze at a dedicated dumpsite.
“We cannot allow some ignorant individuals to reintroduce products which have been condemned by a federal agency to find their way back into the market. Contaminated foods like this could cause cancer, lung or liver disease, and so on. Consumption is highly dangerous, and we are here to ensure that Lagosians are protected at all costs,” he said.
“Akerele noted that all contaminated goods were recovered and brought to the headquarters of the agency while the arrested suspects would be charged in court.”
Residents of Kuchi, an agricultural community in Munya Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, are enduring a prolonged crisis as 148 farmers remain in captivity fifty-three days after a brutal bandit raid on May 24, 2024.
The raid, carried out by over 100 bandits, resulted in the abduction of the farmers, including pregnant women and children. The captors have since demanded ransom for their release.
Abdulmalik Iliyasu, speaking with Daily Trust correspondent, shared the community’s distress, revealing that some farmers have died in captivity. He explained that the bandits collected ransom before notifying families of the deaths.
“The bandits are demanding N2 million and a Honda motorcycle for each captive. We are farmers, and without access to our farms, we have no means to raise such sums,” Iliyasu lamented.
Iliyasu also disclosed that informants within the communities have been sabotaging negotiation efforts by revealing wealthy families to the bandits, leading to increased ransom demands.
Communities such as Kapana, Wuloto, and Godan also have residents in captivity, exacerbating the region’s crisis. The district head of one affected community highlighted the pervasive fear among farmers, exacerbated by the bandits’ threats of further attacks and the loss of livestock during raids.
Residents are appealing for government intervention, particularly securing the Dan-Gunu riverbank, a known crossing point for bandits entering Munya LGA from Kaduna State.
They urged authorities to support their return to farming, essential for their livelihoods.
In response, SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, assured that ongoing efforts are being made in collaboration with the military to rescue the victims.
He emphasized the coordinated operation between Niger and Kaduna states
Hadiza Suleman
Nigerians have come down hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the lopsidedness in his political appointments. He is being accused of continuing from the nepotism of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after making 10 new appointments, six of which favoured his South West region.
The trend of his lopsided appointments to favour the Yoruba ethnic nationality has been obvious since he became President on 29th May, 2023, but it has become more pronounced.
Those who spoke to People&Politics on the issue describe it as act of ‘extreme nepotism’. According to Mr. Silas Ezebuenyi, the act not only favours the President’s region, it is specially targeted against the South-East region of the country which has received the least number of appointments under Tinubu.
Rukevwe Joyce, a banker who spoke on the recent appointments, calls it ‘nepotism pro-max’ considering that the nation has six geopolitical zones. She added that the President’s attitude is unacceptable as it is in breach of the federal character principle.
“And you know what?”, she enthused, “the South-West has systematically taken all the juicy appointments in the country and the appointees are likely driving that same nepotism down the ladder in the various offices they are sent to head”.
Among the new appointees are; Mr Silas Agara (Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, (Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency), Mr Baffa Dan Agundi, (Director-General of the National Productivity Centre), Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, (Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority), Mr Saleh Abubakar, (Director-General National Agency for the Great Green Wall), Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, (Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project), Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, (Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund), Oluwaseun Faleye, (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund), Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, (Executive Director (Operations), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund), Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, (Director-General, National Pension Commission) and Mr Jobson Ewalefoh, (Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission).
Some of the appointments have also been criticized because of the characters involved.
The appointment of the former representative of Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, as the Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), is one of such. She was accused of repackaging COVID-19 palliatives as birthday souvenirs in 2020.
Mrs. Alli-Macaulay
On X, Nigerians have queried the lopsidedness of the appointments.
@HAHayatu said: “70% of appointments are now Yoruba and even in that 70% are Lagosians. Nepotism pro max. Buhari sef dey learn now.”
@EmmyPromise71 said: “What did President Tinubu want to achieve with nepotism in his government, for crying out loud? How can you make about 10 appointments in your government as the President of Nigeria and No Igbo men or women made the list? What kind of nepotism is this?”
@nonsook96346206: “10 appointments – 3 from the North and 7 from Yoruba. No single person from SS and SE that has over 95% of oil reserves and gas reserves. Tinubu should continue his yorubanization nepotism – history will remind him of it.”
@captainsterling said: “Na wa ooo for this administration’s defenders and supporters. I rise.”
@adeyanjudeji said: “Tinubu just appointing Yoruba people all over the place. I miss Buhari. Tinubu is the worst president ever.”
Incumbent Paul Kagame is set to win a fourth term in office in the presidential election in Rwanda.
With nearly 79 per cent of all votes counted, Kagame has garnered more than 99per cent of the vote, according to the electoral commission.
His two opponents, the chairman of the Green Party, Frank Habineza, and the independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, have both received well under 1per cent, the electoral commission said.
More than nine million people were eligible to vote on Monday, including two million first-time voters.
Kagame has been president of the country since 2000, but has, in practice, been leading Rwanda since 1994.
Back then, as leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), he marched into Rwanda from exile in Uganda and ended the genocide of the Hutu militias against the Tutsi.
He was then defence minister and vice president.
Kagame’s party, RPF, is also likely to emerge as the strongest party in the parliamentary elections.
There are 670 candidates vying for the 80 seats in parliament.
A special feature is that female lawmakers make up a majority in parliament
Human rights organizations have criticized the persecution of opposition figures in the East African country with a population of over 14 million.
The official election results are to be announced by July 27. .
(dpa/NAN)
The son-in-law of former Borno State Deputy Governor, Adamu Shettima Yuguda Dibal, Abdulraman Sabo Maina has reportedly died.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Maina died on Sunday morning, barely five months after his marriage to Dibal’s daughter, Yasmin.
The couple got married in February 2024.
According to Daily Post, the family members, friends and the couple’s wedding photographer, Maigaskiya Studio, also confirmed the sad news on their social media pages.
In a post on Facebook, a family member, Usman Sabo Maina wrote in Arabic: “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiun Allah yayiwa kanina rasuwa Abdulrahman sabo Maina Allah ka gafarta mass.”
[TNG]
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Following the lift of visa ban on Nigerian passport holders on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has demanded that applicants pay a sum of N640,000 as non-refundable application fees for visas.
BusinessDay’s findings show that before the visa ban, the fee was $100. With the current naira to dollar exchange rate (N1,555), in the I & E window, it cost N155,500.
Also part of the requirements to visit UAE with a Nigerian passport is that applicants must obtain a Document Verification Number, (DVN) before applying for visa.
The N640,000 fee does not guarantee a visa to UAE as issued DVN will only be valid for 14 days of issuance or once the visa application has been processed by the visa application department (whichever of these come first).
These are in accordance to the new visa issuance guidelines established by the government of the UAE.
Several Nigerians have taken to their X handle to express their displeasure on the new visa fee.
NEFERTITI with X handle @firstladyship stated, “It is obvious the UAE don’t want Nigerians. They reluctantly unbanned the Nigerian passport, but slammed a hefty N640,000 on Nigerians.
“Guess what? The money is nonrefundable & has expiration date. This is see finish.”
Prince with X handle @Peco3D, state “This is just extortion in fine words. Shameless”
“This is exploitation and shameful if allowed by Nigeria government,” Lucky man with X handle
@Comr_lucky1 stated.
“You think FG constant solicitation was for mere Nigerians? The constant appeal from the Nigerian government to lift travel bans to the UAE appears to primarily benefit wealthy individuals and politicians seeking a haven for their ill-gotten wealth, rather than ordinary Nigerians,” MAYOR @Enokeran2016 with X handle stated.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation on Tuesday disclosed that the UAE has lifted the Visa ban on Nigerians travelling to the country.
The Minister made the announcement in a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister on Monday in Abuja.
“You are aware that Nigeria has been discussing with the United Arab Emirates on the issue of Visa for Nigerian passport holders going to the United Arab Emirates.
“Today, an agreement has been reached on that, and effective from today July 15, Nigerian passport holders are able to obtain Visa to go to the United Arab Emirates.
“I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so,” said Idris.
The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria about two years ago due to various diplomatic disputes.
Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline halted flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria couldn’t remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, following several meetings with the UAE government, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted. In the same month, the Nigerian government announced that it had paid 98 per cent of $850m.
[Businessday]
The cost of living in Nigeria continues to rise, with June 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showing a consistent increase in inflation rates across both all items and food, affecting the daily lives of people in states.
The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the nation’s inflation rate at 34.19% in June 2024.
Inflation continues to bite hard across Nigeria, with varying impacts on different states.
Also, food inflation, currently at 40.87%, drives all-item inflation rates for some states. However, inflation is gradually declining for several states on this list.
Based on the latest data from the NBS, here are the 10 most expensive states in Nigeria as of June 2024:
#10 Lagos
After dropping out of the list for about two consecutive months this year and returning as the ninth then fifth most expensive state in Nigeria, Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, has an all-item inflation rate of 36.37% for June 2024, slightly lower than the previous month’s rate of 37.39%. Despite this decrease, food inflation remains high at 40.64%, though it is also down from 43.03% in May 2024.
#9 Jigawa
Leaving its sixth position on the previous month’s list, Jigawa’s all-item inflation rate of 36.42% in June 2024 shows a marginal decrease from 37.34% in May. Similarly, food inflation has reduced to 41.19% from 42.57%.
#8 Osun
Leaving its fourth position in May 2024, Osun State drops to the eighth position, as its inflation rate for all items stands at 36.58% for June 2024, a slight decrease from May’s 37.45%. Food inflation remains a significant concern, recorded at 43.23%, down from 44.57% the previous month.
#7 Kwara
From its 10th position in May 2024, Kwara State took a step forward, with an increase in its inflation rate.
Kwara’s all-item inflation rate increased slightly to 36.64% in June 2024 from 36.19% in May. Food inflation remains high and relatively stable, at 44.57% compared to 44.66% the previous month.
#6 Abia
From being seventh on the previous month’s list, Abia recorded an all-item inflation rate of 37.04% in June 2024, slightly up from May’s 36.75%.
Food inflation also rose to 44.28% from 44.01%. The state continues to experience upward pressure on food prices, contributing significantly to its overall inflation.
#5 Ondo
A newcomer to the list of the most expensive states in Nigeria, Ondo’s inflation rate for June 2024 increased to 37.05% from 35.61% in May.
Food inflation also climbed to 43.48%, up from 41.29%. These increases indicate growing economic pressures on consumers in the state, particularly related to food prices.
#4 Rivers
Another newcomer to the list, Rivers State saw its all-item inflation rate rise to 37.20% in June 2024 from 36.00% in May.
Food inflation also increased, reaching 43.22% compared to 41.61% the previous month. The state’s economic dynamics show substantial inflationary pressures, particularly in the food sector.
#3 Oyo
Maintaining the third position on the list for the third time, Oyo’s inflation rate rose to 39.14% in June 2024 from 37.72% in May.
Food inflation also saw an increase, reaching 44.37% from 43.26%. These figures highlight ongoing economic challenges, particularly in managing food prices.
#2 Kogi
Kogi used to be the most expensive state in Nigeria consecutively. However, it has been unseated in May 2024, falling to the second position.
Maintaining this second position, Kogi experienced an all-item inflation rate of 39.91% in June 2024, up from 39.38% in May. Food inflation remained almost steady, slightly increasing to 46.37% from 46.31%. This reflects persistent high inflation in the state, particularly in food costs.
#1 Bauchi
For the second time, Bauchi tops the list with an all-item inflation rate of 43.95% for June 2024, up from 42.30% in May.
Interestingly, its food inflation rate is lower compared to other states, at 34.78%, down from 34.35%. This disparity suggests that while general prices are high, food prices have been relatively more stable in Bauchi.
[Nairametrics]
A driver of a bus, together 18 passengers in the vehicle were last week kidnapped by gunmen in Akwa Ibom State.
Police authorities in the state confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, stating that the incident occurred along the Azumini boundary between Akwa Ibom and Abia states.
The ill-fated bus which departed the Uyo Terminus, was traveling through Iwukem in Etim Ekpo local council area of Akwa Ibom before it was intercepted by the gunmen.
Eyewitnesses, who requested anonymity, revealed that the assailants halted the bus by firing shots into the air.
More gunmen emerged from the bush to join the initial gang in the shooting before ordering all passengers to disembark from the bus under the death threat.
“The driver was the first person to come down. Other passengers were ordered to follow suit immediately. The kidnappers moved all of them to the bush and escaped with them. The passengers’ whereabouts are not known for now,” a source disclosed to Channels Television.
Akwa Ibom State’s Police Public Relations Officer,
ASP Timfon John, confirmed the incident in a phone conversation with Channels Television.
“The state police command is aware and is still monitoring the situation. All I can say is that the police are still monitoring the situation now,” ASP John added.
[Leadership]
LG Autonomy: FG not superior to state constitutionally, we know what is good for our people — Makinde
Admin
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that the federal government is not constitutionally superior to state governments, emphasizing that the Oyo government is best suited to determine what is good for its people.
During an emergency consultative stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Governor Makinde addressed the implications of a recent Supreme Court judgment that granted autonomy to local government councils across Nigeria.
He highlighted a gap created by this judgment in relation to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I’ve been reading a lot of sensational headlines in the newspapers,” Governor Makinde said.
“They claim, ‘The governors’ hands have been tied; this is a first for Nigeria.’
This morning, NULGE declared, ‘With this judgment, there’s now freedom in the land.'”
In the meeting, Governor Makinde proposed discussing the Supreme Court’s decision on the financial autonomy of local government councils.
He pointed out that the judgment has created a constitutional gap.
“We all swore to uphold the constitution,” he stated.
“But when laws conflict, it’s our duty to find our own solutions for transparency and effective operation. When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.”
Governor Makinde recalled that since his administration began, Oyo State has conducted local government elections twice.
“When I was sworn in on May 29, 2019, I dissolved the local government councils,” he said. “The Supreme Court has now stated that governors do not have the right to dissolve these councils. So why did I dissolve them then? It was because elections were held into the LCDAs, and the Supreme Court has clarified that there are only 774 local governments in Nigeria.”
He emphasized the need to address confusion and ensure the stability of structures within the state. “We will address the major challenges at the local government levels and develop our own solutions,” he said.
“Addressing these challenges will ensure seamless implementation of processes that allow Oyo State to continue running smoothly.”
Governor Makinde also addressed the issue of local government elections in Oyo State, noting that the state does not have caretaker committees at the local level.
“We planned the elections meticulously so that not a single day was wasted,” he explained.
He reaffirmed the responsible administration in Oyo State and the state’s capability to make decisions that benefit its people.
“We don’t need the federal government to tell us what to do; we know what’s best for our people,” he declared.
“When we took over in 2019, the local governments were burdened with backlogs of salaries, gratuities, and pensions. Oyo State will emerge stronger from this.”
In conclusion, Governor Makinde stated, “Constitutionally, the federal government is not superior to the state government; their jurisdictions are coordinate. So, we will continue to do what is right in Oyo State, as we have been doing.”
[Tribune]