The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Sunday said that two of its transmission towers, T377 and T378, along the Gombe–Damaturu 330kV transmission line were vandalised.
A statement by the TCN General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, noted that the act, perpetrated by insurgents, resulted in a load loss of approximately 5MW.
She said the vandalization of the line occurred on 23 February.
“At approximately 9:35 p.m. yesterday, the Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line experienced a trip. Following initial checks, TCN engineers from the Bauchi regional office attempted the restoration of the line but it tripped again, prompting the dispatch of TCN’s linesmen and security operatives to trace the fault. The team then discovered the two collapsed towers, T377 and T378,” Ms Mbah said.
In the interim, she said TCN has arranged to temporarily supply electricity to Damaturu from the Potiskum Transmission Substation.
Meanwhile, she added that arrangements are underway to mobilize contractors that will re-erect the vandalized transmission towers and restring the 330kV line affected by the incident.
“TCN condemns this act of sabotage and is again calling on relevant authorities to intensify efforts in the protection of power infrastructures.
“We are committed to working diligently to expedite the restoration process and minimize the impact of this unfortunate incident on the power supply to the affected areas,” she said.
In recent times, vandalism of the transmission infrastructures and distribution equipment has been a common occurrence.
Earlier in December last year, the TCN said that its Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132kV Transmission line 1 had been vandalised between Towers 23 and Tower 25.
Ms Mbah said the vandalisation of the line is suspected to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, 10 December.
On 22 December 2023, the TCN said one of its towers around Katsaita village in Yobe State was vandalised.
The company said the vandalisation brought down the 330kV transmission tower which pulled down tower T373 along the same transmission line route.
The TCN had earlier in February said that its tower number 388 along the Jos-Bauchi 132kV Single Circuit transmission line was vandalised.
The company said the vandalisation of the line is suspected to have occurred on the 1st of February, at about 10 p.m.
The company explained that the incident led to a power outage in Yobe and Borno states.
The National Bureau of Statistics has listed the top ten states with the most internet users in the country.
A check on the NBS database on Sunday revealed that the number of internet subscribers stood at 163.8 million as of December 2023.
It added that as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, data on internet usage across the country reveals fascinating insights into which states are leading in digital connectivity.
This figure means that internet users in the country have witnessed significant growth as more citizens have gained access to the internet despite the hardship orchestrated by the removal of subsidy and floating of naira, among others.
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Last year, it was reported that internet users were about 154.8 million, a 1.35 per cent compared to the previous year (2021) which stood at 141.9 million.
The bureau said the upward movement marked a 9.07 per cent growth in internet subscribers for the sector in the period reviewed.
“On a quarter-on-quarter basis, this grew by 1.35 per cent,” NBS added.
Meanwhile for Q4 2023, Based on the NBS data, here are the top 10 states with the highest number of internet users in Nigeria:
- Lagos has 18.9 million internet users.
- Ogun has 9.5 million internet users.
- Kano has 9 million internet users.
- Oyo has 8.4 million internet users.
- Kaduna has 7.4 million internet users.
- FCT has 5.8 million internet users.
- Rivers has 5.6 million internet users.
- Adamawa has 5.4 million internet users.
- Katsina has 4.6 million internet users.
- Delta has 4.4 million internet users.
The price of a 50kg bag of foreign rice has surged to over N88,000 across major stores in Nigeria, which is 22.2% higher than the N72,000 recorded earlier in the month.
In the same vein, locally made rice increased by almost the same rate (21.8%) to N67,000 in just less than a month. This information comes from findings by the Nairametrics Research team. Compared to the same period last year, the price of foreign rice has increased by 244%, while local rice has witnessed a 209% price increase in the same period.
During a conversation with Mrs. Olanike, a rice dealer at Daleko market in Lagos, she explained that the recent rise in the price of local rice has been largely driven by the surge in the price of foreign rice, which is a result of the depleting value of the naira and the continuous ban on the item.
It’s worth noting that the exchange rate between the naira and other currencies has depreciated significantly in recent times, losing over 45% and 30% year-to-date at the official and parallel market, respectively.
Food inflation at over 18-year high
Recent inflation data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that food inflation rose to 35.71% in January 2024, the highest level since August 2005.
According to the NBS, food inflation in January was driven by increases in price of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, oil and fat, fish, meat, coffee, tea, and cocoa.
- Meanwhile, a further analysis shows that imported food inflation rose to 26.3% from 24.9% recorded in the previous month. This represents the highest rate recorded since January 2012 as FX volatility as well as low agricultural production drive surge in food prices.
- Also, GDP data has indicated slow growth in the Nigerian agricultural sector in the last two years, hampered by insecurity, impact of global supply chain issues on fertilizer and seed supply, climate change, and flooding.
- Notably, the agricultural sector only grew by 1.13% in 2023, in contrast to 1.88% recorded in the previous year.
Drivers of food inflation in Nigeria
In an exclusive interview with Ibrahim Maigari, the founder and CEO of RiceAfrika, a tech-driven agriculture optimization service provider, he highlighted some of the factors contributing to the hike in the price of rice in the country.
- He stated that a significant backlog of unmet food demand in the past three years as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, insecurity, Russia-Ukraine war, and flooding is the major driver of food inflation in Nigeria.
- “The flood in 2022 destroyed about 8.6 million metric tonnes of 14 variety of crops in the country,” he said. In addition to the dwindling production of food in the country, the rising cost of transportation caused by the removal of petrol subsidy has impacted the final cost of food. “To transport a truck of food items from Maiduguri to Lagos has risen to almost 6 million from less than a million,” he added.
- He also added that the cost of harvesting a plot of farmland has increased from an average of N90,000 in 2022 to about N230,000, representing 156% increase in two years.
On the solution
Ibrahim Maigari suggested a combination of seven strategies to drive down the price of food items and improve production in the country, which he termed as the Farm Easy Operating System. According to him, a wholistic approach is required to address the issue of food security in Nigeria.
- According to Mr. Ibrahim, this approach requires improved land preparation. He noted that 80% of farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa prepare their lands manually, which impacts the level of productivity of the farmers. He also added that access to high-yielding seeds, will improve food production in the country, citing that 82% of farmers in the region plant grains rather than actual seeds, which is less yielding.
- He pointed to the lack of quality chemicals as a major stumbling block in Nigeria’s agricultural practices, which has resulted in several losses for the farmers. He opined that the availability of quality chemicals in the process of planting and weeding will improve agro-yields in the country.
In addition, timely delivery of fertilizer is essential to ensure improved food production in Nigeria. The best time to deliver fertilizer to farmers is between March and April, however, what we notice in most times is that the farmers take delivery of these fertilizers around June and July, which is supposed to be a time for harvesting.
The others as highlighted by Mr. Ibrahim include best agronomic practices, adoption of mechanized family as well as access to market.
Bottom line
The problem of food inflation continues to be a major bane to most Nigerians, who already spend about 55% of their household expenditures on food items.
The recent trend of high inflation has significantly eroded the purchasing power of average Nigerians and the government will need a combination of policies to urgently address the food crisis in the country.
[Nairametrics]
The leading political parties for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State may have concluded their primaries in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but tumultuous end to these primaries have placed uphill tasks ahead of them as the election draws nearer, Daily Trust reports.
While each party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – has been having different internal crises before the primaries, observers had expected that the leadership of the parties would find a way around these crises, but these had only further complicated the issues as parallel primaries across these parties produce at least two candidates for each of the party.
Before the election, INEC had warned the 16 of the nation’s 18 registered political parties that had met the deadline to notify the commission of their dates and modes of primaries, to be wary of illegalities.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, had urged the parties to avoid unnecessary postponement, arbitrary changes of venues of their primaries, wholesale change of delegates’ list or the submission of names that did not emerge from valid primaries as candidates for the election.
He warned the parties to also avoid rancorous primaries that lead to the breakdown of law and order often as a result of non-adherence to the provision of their constitutions and guidelines.
“These are some of the issues that lead to a large number of pre-election litigation. The schedule (dates and modes) of primaries proposed by the political parties has been uploaded to the commission’s website and social media platforms for public information,” Olumekun said.
But if the leading parties in the election heard the warning from the electoral umpire, the processes and outcomes of their primaries have suggested otherwise, pundits said.
This is especially as top contenders in the race have refused to concede defeat and are considering various means of getting “justice” including the legal option, which many, including INEC, have said has become a major bane to the election process.
For the APC, the eventual of its fresh primary election on Thursday, Senator Monday Okpebholo is believed not to be the preferred candidate of a former governor of the state and erstwhile national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, who is said to be the APC godfather in the state.
There are fears that if the fallout from the primary is not properly handled, Oshiomhole, his perceived anointed candidate, Dennis Idabosa and 10 other aggrieved aspirants might work against the APC in the election. Recall that the APC is angling to reclaim the state from the PDP after a similar internal crisis led it to lose control of the state in the run up to the 2020 election.
Recall that the APC had held its first primary poll on February 17, but the exercise turned out to be an embarrassment for the party as three candidates emerged from different locations of parallel primaries in Benin, the Edo State capital.
They were a member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, Oshiomhole’s candidate, who was declared winner by the chairman of the APC primary election committee, Governor Hope Uzodimma, at Protea Hotel in Benin City.
Senator Monday Okpebholo was also declared winner by the Returning Officer for the election, Dr Stanley Ugboaja, at the residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Similarly, the local government returning officers for the APC governorship primary election declared Anamero Sunday Dekeri, winner of the contest. There was drama as each of them was demanding for a certificate of return until the APC top echelon rescheduled a fresh exercise for last Thursday.
Eventually, Senator Monday Okpebholo won the ticket at the primary chaired by Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, who replaced Uzodinma after protests from stakeholders. But Senator Okpebholo’s emergence as APC candidate for the Edo election has triggered tension as other aspirants are not willing to support him.
Daily Trust had reported how Idahosa stormed the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Saturday, where he submitted his protest letter to the APC appeals committee saddled with the responsibility of looking into the grievances of various aspirants after the primary.
Addressing newsmen, Idahosa threatened to sue the party if he does not get “justice” and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade in.
He said, “I just want to go through the process, having exhausted the party’s resolve mechanism, I will go further, I will seek justice in the court of law and I will not allow this to stand.”
But despite Idahosa’s protest, the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, issued a certificate of return to Senator Okpebholo as the party’s candidate for the election on the same day.
Some APC stakeholders said the party’s top echelon must resolve issues with Oshiomhole, Okpebholo as well as the other aspirants for the party to go into the election as a united house.
PDP
The PDP primary was also characterised by drama as Governor Godwin Obaseki, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu and other aspirants engaged in supremacy battle.
There were 10 governorship aspirants in the race – Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, Arthur Esene and Asue Ihgodalo.
For the party, which hopes to retain the governor seat, crisis started during the ward and local government congresses supervised by a three-man committee, led by Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State. After the congress, nine aspirants excluding Ighodalo petitioned the congress appeal panel, alleging irregularities.
Though Governor Obaseki didn’t deny or confirm Ighodalo as his preferred candidate, his actions and body language told the story, pundits observed. For instance, during the ward and local government congresses, party members loyal to Obaseki emerged as delegates for the primary.
On February 22, the party conducted two parallel primary elections with one held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, while the second primary took place at the deputy governor’s lodge also in Benin.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State who served as committee chairman and chief electoral officer, declared Ighodalo winner of the PDP primary at the Ogbemudia Stadium with 577 votes, while Shaibu was declared winner of the primary by the local government returning officer, Bartholomew Moses, at the deputy governor’s lodge with 300 votes.
Observers noted that members of the party loyal to the deputy governor, who form the major block of PDP leaders that have been at war with Governor Obaseki for the control of the party, after they were denied entry into the Ogbemudia venue of the primary moved to another venue and elected Shaibu at a parallel primary.
But the deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust yesterday said the party recognised Asue Ighodalo as its only candidate for the election.
LP
The process leading to the emergence of the LP candidate was not in any way better than that of the APC and the PDP in terms of intrigues and drama.
Pundits have said, the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, the state chairman Kelly Ogbalu, and the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, were rooting for different aspirants.
The aspirants were Olumide Akapta, Kenneth Imansuangbon, Professor Sunday Eromosele and Sergius Ogun. But following the intrigues, two venues – Uyi Hotel and Bishop Kelly Centre – were announced for the primary election.
Imasuagbon and his supporters, it was learnt, went to the Uyi hotel for the election while the party executive and primary election committee from the NWC went to the Bishop Kelly Centre to conduct the primary.
Imasuagbon later made his way to the Bishop Kelly centre venue where Akpata emerged as candidate of the party after polling 316 votes.
Meanwhile, the Lamidi Apapa faction of the national leadership of the party, has submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Anderson Uwadiae Asemota and Monday Ojore Mawah, as governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party for the September 21 election in the state.
But the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has said a letter to INEC by a “dissident group and former members” of the party led by one Lamidi Apapa to recognise Anderson Asemote and Monday Mawa as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates does not emanate from the party.
National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, said on Sunday in a statement that the letter in circulation is handiwork of “fraudulent and desperate” people seeking for recognition and also unrelentingly working towards obtaining by tricks from unsuspecting Nigerians as they have done in recent elections.
It’s a bad omen for democracy – Analysts
But reacting to the developments, a political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo, said what happened in Edo is shameful and a bad omen for the country’s democracy.
He said, “This is not good for democracy and it is making us become a laughing stock in the comity of nations. With all these happening, how do you expect America, the father of democracy, Britain and every other one to look at us? They won’t look at us to be doing anything meaningful.
“If the internal party democratic system is not there, then this is exposing us to the whole world what we are doing. It is a shameful act. If it were only one political party, in this case, we would have said maybe it’s the fault of the party. But this is across party lines; it’s a systemic problem.
“Honestly, it is a shameful thing and if the primary is a sham like this, what do you expect the general election to be? This is shameful!”
Similarly, a professor of political science at the University of Benin, Eddy Erhagbe, in a telephone chat with Daily Trust said what transpired is disturbing and not good for politics and the parties involved.
On his part, Dada Ayokha, a lecturer and media consultant, said the development shows lack of internal democracy despite efforts by INEC and electoral laws to sanitise the system.
[DailyTrust]
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported that its operatives are in the process of identifying individuals belonging to an organized criminal network responsible for the recent smuggling of two containers containing illegal drugs, along with assorted arms and ammunition. The items were imported from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
According to NDLEA, among those already arrested as members of the syndicate are: a clearing and notification party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Ahmed Iguda, who is in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port.
It said investigations revealed that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode, to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.
The agency also said another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) who is equally linked to the syndicate is currently at large.
This was made known in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.
Babafemi disclosed that the Agency had requested for a 100 percent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa based on credible intelligence.
He said the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on January 18 and 19, 2024, during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, among other illegal items, were recovered from the containers.
Babafemi disclosed that the latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado, with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg.
“Investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers. They include: Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel, who are now on the Agency’s wanted list,” he added.
Similarly, NDLEA in Edo State on February 20 raided a drug joint under powerline off Etete Road, GRA Benin City, where they arrested a salesgirl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs.
The agency stated that a follow up operation the following day led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani, who is the Commander, Arewa Association Vigilantes in the area.
It further disclosed that a consignment of 179kg cannabis was recovered by operatives at Badagry Waterside, Lagos on Wednesday, February 21. A 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro was nabbed on Thursday 22nd February, at Magbon, Ogun state with 57kg cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.
Announcing further interceptions and seizures made by the NDLEA, Babafemi said: “In Borno, a 25-year-old lady, Zara Mele was arrested with quantities of cocaine and heroin at Baga check point on Tuesday February 20, while Usman Shuaibu, 26, and Mohammed Lawan, 22, were also nabbed with quantities of the same class A drug at Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri the same day, respectively.
“No less than 44,820 pills of opioids being taken to Zamfara state by Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, were intercepted along Jega-Sokoto road by NDLEA officers in Kebbi state, while a farmer Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was arrested in his farm where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilograms at Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi LGA, Kaduna state.
“Two suspects: Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37kg were intercepted by NDLEA officers along Kwali-Gwagwalada express road, Abuja on Monday, February 19, while one Michael Okefi was arrested at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner, Osinachi Jasper.
“At least 540 grams of cocaine concealed in canvas shoes heading to the UK were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Friday, February 23, by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI.
“Equally, a consignment of tramadol 225mg hidden in ladies headgear going to the UK was also seized the same day at the courier house, while another parcel containing ecstasy concealed in a body cream container meant for Cyprus was also intercepted.
“In Kano state, different quantities of opioids and other illicit drugs were recovered from at least 12 young men arrested in parts of Kano between Monday 19th and Friday 23rd February. Some of the suspects include: Yusuf Abdullahi,20; Usman Muh’d,18; Sadiq Jibrin, 20; Ibrahim Lawan, 25; Ukasha Usaini,19; Sahabi Lamini,15; Isiyaka Mohd, 28; Bashir Ayuba,36; Ahmad Idris,18; Abubakar Sani,29; Bashir Mohd, 21 and Udochukwu Ezekiel, 35”.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Kebbi, Borno, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week.
Marwa equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, the Nigerian singer, who is populalry known as Kizz Daniel, has revealed that he made N285 million in a day.
The ‘Twe Twe’ crooner disclosed this during a ‘Truth or Dare’ session with fans on X on Saturday.
A fan asked, “How much did you make today? @KizzDaniel”
Kizz Daniel simply replied, “285m.”
However, the singer claimed that he doesn’t have a bank account.
Another fan asked, “How much dey your aza [bank account] like this?” to which Kizz Daniel replied, “I don’t have an account … Allah.”
He also revealed during the interactive session with fans that Mercedes is his favourite car brand.
Famous Nollywood actress, Chizzy Alichi breaks silence after knocking out and winning her colleague, Laide Bakare in a boxing match.
Recall that Alichi and Bakare decided to settle their differences through a celebrity boxing match held on Saturday, just as Portable and Charles Okocha did a few months back.
Videos captured the intense scuffle as the actresses engaged in combat.
Following the match, Alichi emerged as the winner after defeating Bakare.
Despite the physical altercation, Alichi took to her Instagram page to extend love to her rival, reminding Bakare of her promise to provide her with champagne.
Expressing joy over her victory, Alichi expressed gratitude to her colleagues and the event organizers for their efforts in putting together the remarkable event, which she described as fun.
She wrote:
“We WON !!!!
About last night, thank you guys for coming out, I appreciate my colleagues and to the organizers of the show, amazing work, Weldone???????? we had fun. My co winner @laidebakare love you and I’m still waiting for my champagne.”
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Media
Immediate past regent of the Warri kingdom, Prince Emmanuel Omotsho Okotie–Eboh, has said the current economic hardship is a result of past mismanagement.
Okotie–Eboh, in a statement made available to Vanguard, said institutionalised corruption has taken the country backward.
He wondered if Nigeria could move forward with the continuous looting, lamenting that the nation’s financial resources were drying up.
According to him, the citizenry must join hands together to put the nation back on the path of growth.
His words: “That there is a suffocating economic hardship in Nigeria today is self-evident. And this endemic suffering is without regard to religion, tribe, or political affiliation. It knows no bounds and therefore must not be placed squarely at the doorsteps of President Bola Tinubu though the bulk end on his table rightly as the President of the current Africa hungriest but richest nation.
“It is a quagmire of over 60 years ago when the military boated out of leadership the real patriots and founders of Nigeria in the personalities of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mbadiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Okotie-Eboh, Mbakwe and others and imposed mediocre as leaders on the Nigeria nation.
“Indeed, the ascendance of the near ignorant self–styled Messiahs after the 1966 putsch marked a watershed and instituted lootocracy, plutocracy, and all manner of unfathomable corrupt practices that saw our hitherto buoyant, economy nose diving into abyss to date.
“What happened to all the manufacturing firms of yesteryears set up by the past visionary leaders? They are all gone with the winds? Where are the groundnut pyramids of old in the North? Shoe Factories? Textile Mills, Cement companies, Coal mines e.t.c.
“What we have today by the grace of our current plutocratic leaders and looters are multi-billionaires with pseudo–non–productive factories where our commonwealth is exported to aid the economic growth and infrastructural development of foreign nations.
“Prices of even the commonest food items have gone beyond the reach of the masses. Accommodation is no longer affordable because of the cement monopoly granted a few.
2024: Ondo is like a baby crying, looking for a saviour — Olusola Oke, APC guber aspirant
“Graduates now fall back to their old parents who toiled day and night to train them to the universities for succour while a few Nigerians smile to the banks daily and gleefully go to Churches and Mosques to thank God for his mercies and goodness in their lives.
“Imagine garri going out of the reach of the poor. Beans is a no-go area. Bank owners and managers have milked the economy dry through all devious manner of financial manipulation of our forex such that most of them have become richer than Nigeria.
“Critically, to exhibit how wicked our leaders are in this biting hardship and painful challenges in Nigeria, the state Governors were given an additional N30 billion to tackle food scarcity and the hardship faced by the people by the FG and they all kept sealed lips, sat on the money, perhaps awaiting the poor masses to take to massive road protest first.
“What degree of callousness and mans’ inhumanity to man. It was the Senate President, Senator Akpabio who only recently made this revelation about N30 billion largesse quite outside State regular Federal Allocation. How can the economy survive this kind of lootocracy and we want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fix all these malfeasance in just Eight (8) Months?
“How can we ever move forward with this kind of mind-boggling looting of our financial resources? We all are to be blamed and be ready to bear the hardship awaiting when we are prepared to take the bull by the horns and take the right action to put our dear nation on the path of growth to take its rightful place in the comity of nations. Just a Steady power supply for three months all over the country will pick up and the financial managers should also be up and doing. We will see the change, let us put our country first then we will sing a new song so leave Mr president alone all hands must be on deck.”
‘I want to be part of Afrobeats’ - Usher hints at collaboration with Nigerian Afrobeats singers
AdminInternational R&B superstar Usher expressed his desire to be a part of the Afrobeats music scene, citing his admiration for the genre and its artists.
He claimed that he collaborated with Nigerian artists, Burna Boy and Pheelz, on his latest album because he wants to be part of the Afrobeats surge.
Usher was the latest Western musician to catch the Afrobeats trend when he featured Pheelz in ‘Ruin,’ the lead single from his current album, and Burna Boy in the album’s title tune, ‘Homecoming’.
Usher claimed in a recent interview with Apple Music that Pheelz had influenced his working with Burna Boy.
He said:
“I am all about collaboration and bringing African, you know, Nigerian culture to my own world. Their music is really popular now. I wanted to be part of it [Afrobeats], that’s why I went to Africa to make this album.
“I picked up things when I was in Ghana. I picked up things when I was in Nigeria. And working with Pheelz, he created the record [‘Homecoming’]. I just felt that Burna Boy would take it to a different level of credibility. I really do enjoy him as an artist. I just felt that this song would only be lifted better if he was part of it.”
Afrobeats Superstar Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known as Kizz Daniel, caused a stir among fans when he opened up about his romantic history during an interactive session on X.
Without hesitation, the ‘Buga’ crooner admitted to having slept with a grand total of 67 women.
A fan asked, “What is your body count?” to which Kizz Daniel simply replied in now-deleted post, “67.”
In another intriguing revelation, the singer disclosed that ‘Kerewa’ by Zule Zoo held the top spot as his favorite song growing up.
He said the best advice he has received is “Shora fun obirin”, which translates to “Fear women”.
The ‘Twe Twe’ hitmaker also revealed his preference for a Woman’s ass over her boobs, during the interactive session.
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Omowunmi Aloba, the wife of the late singer Mohbad, has recently taken to social media to express her fears of facing the same fate as her husband.
Taking to her Instagram page, she bravely spoke of her deep understanding of his tragic end, recalling how those who tormented him silenced him through vicious rumors.
According to her, her husband faced continuous public assaults and lived in constant fear because of his tormentors
She mentioned knowing a lot but feeling unable to speak her truth due to her oppressors and expressed genuine fear that they might kill her as they did her husband.
Her words;
“They silenced my husband by spreading rumors that he was on drugs, and now they’ve been targeting me by releasing a voice note I recorded a few years ago for medical purposes. They’re attacking our only child by libeling him as illegitimate.
My husband was messed up mentally, psychologically, and physically, if he had continued speaking publicly about his challenges, perhaps he would still be alive today. I wish he had summoned the courage to come public as many times as he could, but he didn’t want anyone to see his vulnerability; he was a gentle and calm soul.
Making a man feel inferior, making him live in fear, assaulting him publicly, amongst other is what they subjected my husband to. The last time they attacked him, I begged him to speak out, but he felt powerless against the influence of the industry gods.
Mohbad would have sought medical treatment after his injury if he didn’t live in constant fear. He avoids hospitals because he believed the medical system could be compromised, and doctors bribed to harm him. I know a lot, but they won’t allow me to speak my truth.
So many things have happened since I lost my husband, yet I can’t speak. I am helpless, but I know God will see me through this. I want the whole world to know that I tried to speak up, just as my husband always wanted to, but they bullied him to silence as they are currently doing to me.”
Speaking on the DNA test saga involving her father-in-law, Mr. Aloba, she mentioned that her husband, while alive, never denied the paternity of their little boy.
Wunmi reiterated her inability to fulfill the condition of leaving her only son with her father-in-law for the DNA test, expressing her distrust in him. She added that she’s prepared to protect her son with the drop of her last blood.
She continued:
“The DNA issue is one that has brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart, and my legal team has advised me not to dignify anyone with a response. However, I feel compelled to address the misconceptions arising from my silence. Let me clarify; there has never been any doubt or discussion about Liam’s paternity until my husband’s demise. It is disheartening to hear false narratives circulating on social media. My husband never for once questioned the paternity of our SONSHINE during his lifetime, neither did my father-in-law or his families.
The first time I heard about his doubt was on social media. He never spoke to me personally about the DNA till this very day. My father-in-law’s legal team reached out to my legal team, who then gave him the terms and conditions in which the DNA will be conducted.
Since November, I have been waiting for a court order to proceed with the DNA testing. However, I am now being asked to take Liam to my father in-law so the test can be done. Which of you will take your son to such a man in this circumstance? If you were in my shoes, will you feel safe to take your son to a man who has come online to defame your character and lie of you. You’ve all seen the curses and threats made on my son’s enemy yet some of you are telling me to expose my son to further potential harm? The relentless social media bullying and threats have made it impossible for me to even take Liam out in public safely. All i ever did was love Ilerioluwa selflessly and expected nothing in return. Yet, this is the cruel reality I now face. Liam is our SONSHINE and the only precious gift Ilerioluwa left me with. I will protect him with every ounce of my blood and until my last breath.”
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Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says the removal of the petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu was done out of “sheer arrogance”.
Speaking in a chat with TheCable, Lawal said the president’s hasty decision to announce the removal of the petrol subsidy on the day of his inauguration led to the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“I have a different view of what is happening today and I did say it on quite a few occasions that Bola Ahmed Tinubu exhibited an unimaginable degree of insensitivity and arrogance first, in the face of the Muslim- Muslim ticket and in some of the earlier decisions he has taken,” Lawal
“My view is that fuel subsidy removal was driven by a sense of arrogance. You are now sworn in and you believe that since you are now in charge, you can boss everybody around and you just announced the removal of fuel subsidy without due consultation.”
Lawal said Tinubu ought to have consulted widely and held a series of meetings with his cabinet members and other relevant stakeholders before announcing the removal of the subsidy.
He argued that the removal of subsidy is a monumental decision which may affect the lives of over 200 million Nigerians, either positively or negatively.
“My experience in life is that when you are going to take a monumental decision especially one that affects the lives of over 200 million people, you have to do wide consultations,” the former SGF said.
“Taking such a spur-of-the-moment decision on that very important issue is very insensitive and probably, he (Tinubu) was ignorant of the challenges he was going to face.
“That was why everything came crashing down immediately after he was sworn in because of the removal of fuel subsidy.
“He ought to have waited, formed a cabinet, got every relevant person in place and held discussions among his advisers and the cabinet. By so doing, they will get alternative solutions to the removal of subsidy, whether or not it should be done.
“If they agree that subsidy must go, what are the actions that will be put in place to mitigate the negative outcomes? If the outcomes are positive, they will also consider how to maximise it. They will also list their options. If this happens, then we fall back on this.
“He has enough examples in the past to rely on. When (Sani) Abacha removed subsidy, he created the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) to channel the additional income into social development and everybody today knows the various projects undertaken by the PTF such as hospitals, schools, social services and so on.
“When (Olusegun) Obasanjo removed the subsidy and created SURE-P to renovate roads and carry out social services.
“I don’t understand how my friend Tinubu got this arrogance that he can do things radically different from others who were before him and get results.
“So, Tinubu is only reaping the benefits of his hasty decision and we are also reaping the benefits of putting in power somebody that works in a cavalier manner.”
The Court of Appeal in Gombe has upheld the conviction of the Auditor-General for Local Government in Yobe State, Alhaji Idris Yahaya over financial misappropriation.
Delivering judgment, a three-member panel of justices led by Justice A. A. B. Gumel upheld the conviction of Yahaya and unanimously dismissed the appeal and consequently affirmed the judgment of the trial court.
Recall that Yahaya was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Yobe State High Court on March 13, 2023 on EFCC charges of misappropriating the sum of N19 million.
Yahaya was said to have received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.
According to the single count, Yahaya was alleged to have between May 20 and 21, 2017 at Damaturu, received the amount into his account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc.
Amid the free fall of the naira to the United States dollar, traders who deal in grains have devised a way to sell their wares to neighbouring countries for higher profits, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
Many of them, who spoke to our correspondents, claimed that they preferred to sell their wares to the countries because they had stronger currencies compared to the naira.
This, several experts have said, may lead to hoarding and an artificial grain scarcity and can cause the price of the goods to further head north, thereby leading to a food crisis if nothing is done about it.
This is coming at a time when the country is battling severe hunger, as the prices of staples have increased by over 300 per cent.
In Cross River State, an unholy alliance exists between Nigerian and Cameroonian traders dealing not only in foodstuffs but other items of value to earn CFA franc.
A Cameroon-based Nigerian, simply identified as Ebere, described Cameroon as one country that was good for trans-border trade, adding that it was not lacking food.
He, however, said traders from Cross River State and other nearby states sold stockfish heads to Cameroonians to earn CFA franc.
Ebere told Sunday PUNCH that apart from stockfish heads sold by Nigerians to Cameroonians, iron rods were also being exported to the country.
He added that Nigerian traders also move stockfish heads to Gabon, adding that the increase in such trade had further strengthened the CFA franc against the naira, especially in the black market.
Ebere stated, “There is an increase in the sale of stockfish heads and iron rods by Nigerians. They (Nigerians) are ready to do business, especially when the currency they will receive will mean doubling or tripling their gains.
“Cameroon has food; the country even sells food items to Gabon, which is also a neighbouring country, but Nigerians make a lot of money selling stockfish and iron to Cameroonians. The interest there is the CFA franc.”
A road transport operator, Mr Godwin Eze, who plies the Ikom-Mfum-Ekok border roads in the state, told Sunday PUNCH that high trade volume between Nigerian and Cameroonian traders stemmed from the cascading fall of the naira against the backdrop of the high value of the Cameroonian CFA franc.
He further noted that Cameroonian traders had infiltrated the Nigeria-Cameroon borders to neighbouring towns in the Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State to buy foodstuffs and other valuables and ferry same to their country for further sales.
Sunday PUNCH also gathered that apart from that, traders in Nigeria had also found Cameroon as a safe haven to market their foodstuffs, among other trade items, to have unfettered access to the Cameroonian currency, which at the moment is higher in value than the naira.
A trader involved in the trade, who begged to remain anonymous, confirmed this to one of our correspondents.
She said, “It is no longer news that we have a trading alliance with traders from Cameroon. Our politicians are stealing billions, so we too must find a means of making enough money to cater to our family needs since we don’t have access to government money.
“What crime did we commit by buying and selling with Cameroonians?”
A major trans-border grains and commodities merchant, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, told Sunday PUNCH that 1,000 CFA francs were exchanged for N2,900 in the black market as of Saturday.
He said, “This shows a sharp contrast to just a few years ago when 1,000 CFA francs exchanged for as little as N320.
“With a comparatively strong naira to the CFA franc, we used to troop to Niger to buy so much rice and other essential commodities not available here just a few years ago.
“Now, the table has turned against us because the Nigeriens now seize the advantage of the drastic depreciation of the naira and exponential rise of their CFA franc to troop into Nigeria to buy as much of our grains as they can to resell in their country.
“To make sure they benefit from the depreciation of the naira to the utmost, many grain merchants in Niger, in a hot race for Nigeria’s food grains and other commodities, now even sell their residential houses to generate enough money for as much of the maize and millet as they can purchase from Nigeria to resell in their country.
“A bag of rice will cost around 22,000 CFA francs but in naira, it is around N75,000.”
The trader lamented that a Nigerien merchant having just enough to buy 10 sacks of Nigerian maize or millet just about a year ago, could now afford to buy 100 to 150 sacks with the same amount of money he traded for the 10 sacks a year ago.
Aliyu stated, “In one year, the draining of Nigerian grains to the Niger Republic through the Geidan (Yobe State) and Damasak (Borno State) borders has more than tripled.
“If the naira does not gain strength against the CFA franc, the situation may worsen next year.”
The trader also absolved any Nigerian farmer selling his grains to Nigeriens of any blame.
He added, “With the persisting economic hardship, the Nigerian farmer or grains merchant, who needs cash for pressing needs, will be tempted to sell his grains to the Nigerien who has the cash to give him than to his fellow Nigerian who doesn’t have the cash.
“So, in a short time, the food grains needed to feed a large population of Nigerians will be drained to the neighbouring countries, leaving Nigerians hungry, especially as they now do not have the money to cross the borders to buy food when they need to.”
Most exporters of foodstuffs from Sokoto State to the neighbouring Niger Republic have explained that their decision is the only way to make more money by selling their goods.
They added that most of them shared family ties with Niger with many intermarriages happening between them.
A trader within Sokoto’s old market, Mallam Abubakar Salisu, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said he was in business to make money, hence he decided to sell his goods at any available market to maximise profits.
Salisu stated, “I honestly don’t know why there is a lot of noise about where we decide to do our business and who we sell to.
“I believe everyone is doing business to make money. Why will our own be different from others that Nigerians now take us to be criminals?
“I believe you know there is a huge difference between the Nigeria currency and CFA franc, which is the legal tender in Niger and Cameroon. That is one of the major reasons why I decided to go there to sell my grains.
“If I take my goods to Niger Republic, I will make double what I will get in the Nigerian market here. So, why will I remain here to sell when I can make more money by simply changing location?
“The government should fix the economy and allow us to do our business in peace. They should stop harassing us. We are not the ones who caused the economic woes.”
A Nigerian rice seller in Niger Republic, Nuhu Illela, said even though he does a legal service, agents of the government still disturb him unnecessarily.
He said, “I have been selling the same rice in Illela (a border town in Sokoto) for over 20 years now without any rancour or disturbances.
“Since the closure of the border by the Economic Community of West African States, the rice we used to get from Niger Republic has stopped coming. That is one major reason food prices are increasing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
“I normally sell my products to our people in Illela, which is a border community between us and Niger Republic.
“Now that we don’t have the opportunity to get rice from Niger Republic, we resort to selling local rice here in the market and now the government looks at it as if we are criminals.
“I know some of my people here who have their families over there in Konni, Niger Republic. So, can’t I take my own goods to them to buy? What is my offence?
“Now that the government is setting up a task force to stop it, how do they expect us to survive and take care of our business and families?
“What they are supposed to do as a government, they are not doing. Why can’t the government find a solution to the falling naira, which is the reason we are taking our goods to these countries to sell?”
Meanwhile, in order to curtail the continued exportation of foodstuffs to Niger Republic from the state and to tackle the smuggling and hoarding of foodstuffs in the state, the Sokoto State Government, on Thursday, approved the task force to deal with the menace.
The nine-member committee is headed by Dalhatu Sidi Mamman, while Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.) serves as the secretary.
Others members are the Garrison Commander, 8 Division; Comptroller of Customs; Comptroller of Immigration; Commissioner of Police; representatives of the DSS and the NSCDC; the Sultanate Council; and the Grain Sellers Association of Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, and made available to newsmen, the governor charges the task force members to identify all the routes through which smuggling activities are taking place.
The statement read in part, “To identify all hoarding facilities and ensure foodstuffs are released and sold to the general public at controlled prices.
“To identify hoarders and smugglers and take appropriate action against them.”
It also noted that the government would take any necessary measure to ensure food sufficiency in the state, while the committee would report to the secretary to the state governor’s office periodically on all its activities.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, on Saturday, declared that it had intensified efforts to halt the illegal export of food items from the country, adding that it had intercepted food smugglers in Kano, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
It also warned members of the public to desist from smuggling food items out of Nigeria for selfish reasons to the detriment of the larger masses, stressing that culprits would be caught.
Recall that on Sunday the NCS revealed that it intercepted 15 trucks that were fully loaded with food items and were heading out of the country through the Sokoto State border.
It said the trucks were stopped and the food items were returned to Nigeria, adding that this was part of measures to stabilise the prices of food items across the country in line with the mandate of the Federal Government.
When contacted on Saturday and asked whether there had been fresh seizures by the service, Maiwada, stated that interceptions were made in three states in the North.
He said, “We have some seizures or interception of some grains that were to be illegally exported out of the country for selfish desires by some members of the public.
“We have made several interceptions in Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, and around the Jigawa area.”
Maiwada urged Nigerians to desist from the illegal export of food items.
He said, “Our call on members of the public is not to fall for these unpatriotic acts by some elements who are only out to benefit themselves financially without recourse to the masses.
“So we encourage Nigerians to partake in legitimate trade and avoid anything that has to do with smuggling of items either into or out of the country.
“We will continue to re-strategise our enforcement strategies so that we will be ahead of them (smugglers).”
Recall that while assessing the government’s action to tackle the hardship in the country, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the organised private sector had supported the decision of the President and the governors not to adopt importation as a solution to the biting food crisis facing the nation.
They also backed the planned action against hoarders as the NCS vowed to stop the smuggling of food out of the country.
The AFAN President, Kabir Ibrahim, had told one of our correspondents that the decision of the government to order food producers to release their products to the market would help check the continued rise in the prices of food items.
He said, “I encourage the security agencies to move in with some other government officials and ask people to open their stores to sell what they have at the prevailing prices. The commodities should be sold at the prevailing prices.
“Nobody is asking them to bring down their prices, for once they sell at the prevailing prices they will not lose anything. But hoarding is not allowed anywhere in the world. You cannot keep what is needed and make it scarce.
“So the government should move in and do all it can to address this situation in Nigeria now. The prices of commodities are rising and the government has to intervene to tackle this issue, and it has our support on this.”
The Nigeria Customs Service said on Saturday that it had, within the past month, seized contraband items worth over N13.352m.
This, it said, was across 15 different raids.
The seized items include 16,675 litres of petrol packed in 643×25-litre jerry cans and three × 200L drums; 20×50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice; and one used V/Wagon Golf with a big, reconstructed fuel tank, according to the Adamawa/Taraba Area Controller of the NCS, Salisu Abdullahi.
Ibrahim said on Saturday, “To put things into perspective, when someone takes things out of the country without paying duties, it is called smuggling.
“But if you look again at the Africa bilateral agreement, it presents that all of Africa is one market.
“By that, it is not illegal for any foreigner from Africa to come into Nigeria and Nigerians to go into neighbouring states for trade, but there are conventions and agreements which also require that things be done right.