Former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola has reacted to the allegations of writing the judgment set to be delivered by the judges of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal regarding the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

Fashola in his reaction through a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Hakeem Bello described the allegations as baseless and defamatory.

It would be recalled that there had been allegations on social media that the former Minister and some others were drafting the judgment to be read by the tribunal judges in favour of President Bola Tinubu.

However, Fashola said the allegations being spread on social media are purely fake news and called on security agencies to take action against those responsible for spreading such information.

The former Minister added that he has been away from Abuja for a long period of time after leaving office and those behind the allegations are simply agents of destabilization.

The former Lagos State Governor also revealed that he has commenced the process of filing formal petitions against the offensive tweets and online reports with the management of the microblogging site, Twitter, and the National Communications Commission (NCC).

He added that those behind the allegations may be part of a wider campaign to undermine the judiciary for their selfish gains and therefore called on security agents not to take the matter with levity but to fish out the perpetrators.

Fashola in the statement urged members of the public to disregard the false allegations and report any individuals involved in spreading such dangerous fabrications to the relevant security agencies.

Phrank Shaibu, an aide to Atiku Abubakar, says the former vice-president withdrew a suit against President Bola Tinubu because he did not want to abuse court processes.

Tinubu claimed that he holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Chicago State University.

In January, Beverly Poindexter, the staff in charge of transcript requests, enrolment and degree verification, confirmed that the president attended the university between 1977 and 1979.

But Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February presidential election, alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were forged, and then file a suit against him.

However, the former vice-president withdrew the suit from a US court, which led to the case being struck out.

In a statement on Sunday, Shaibu said Abubakar is pursuing the matter at a higher court.

“Waziri Atiku Abubakar only withdrew the case before a Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois County, United States of America because he is pursuing the same matter in a higher court and he wanted to avoid an abuse of court processes,” he said.

“So, this is just the beginning. In the last one week, Nigerians have been watching the ongoing ministerial screening at the senate where nominees have been made to reveal their primary, secondary and university history.

“Some of the ministerial nominees were even classmates with the senators screening them.

“However, the man who nominated them has no educational history. He has no primary school, secondary school or university classmates. This is because he has no classmates. He actually fell from the sky.

“In recent years past presidents have invited their former classmates to Aso Rock Villa. Even President Muhammadu Buhari hosted his classmates from Katsina Middle School.

“But who did Bola Tinubu invite to the presidential villa? Governors from 1999 set. This is a man whose entire life, background and credentials remain unknown and Atiku will ensure that the man is exposed.

“It is expected that the person to hold the office of the president must be above board, especially on his life history.

“Unfortunately, here we have a president whose history is shrouded in secrecy and for whom it is as though life started in 1993.”

The one week deadline that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) handed the military coupists has elapsed.

Last week, the regional body gave the junta seven days to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and restore democratic order.

While Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani-led junta has remained defiant, ECOWAS spearheaded by Nigeria also remains silent as to what should be its next line of action.

Stakeholders have cautioned President Bola Tinubu to tread softly in the use of force against Nigeria’s neighboring Niger.

In his efforts as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation to broker peace with Tchiani, this week, but it was deadlock.

Also, the Senate did not approve the letter the President wrote, to seek its consent in mobilising and deploying Nigerian soldiers to Niger.

However, the position of the West is clear on Niger crisis, as the United States, France, and Germany, all backed Tinubu-chaired West African regional bloc to use force.

These European countries have not only evacuated their nationals in Niger, they also partially or completely suspended financial to the country.

As the world awaits what will be the next move of ECOWAS, the United States currently has some 1,000 soldiers stationed in the country, Germany has a continent of roughly 100 troops on the ground, according to some European media.

The situation in Niger reflects that of Mali, which also saw foreign soldiers ordered out of the country after a military coup in 2021.

Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso — which saw a military coup in 2022 — have both pledged their support to Niger’s should ECOWAS make good on its threat of military intervention.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has the clout to fight Niger economically, as it has closed border and cut power supply, and more sanctions could be taken as days go by with all efforts to return the country to democracy.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Gnaduje, has given some clarifications on the controversy surrounding former ministerial nominee, Maryam Shetty.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu replaced Shetty with Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure who served as a commissioner when Ganduje was governor.

Admitting that the social media outrage that trailed Shetty’s appointment led to her removal, the former governor said social media is very powerful.

He spoke in an interview with select radio stations in Kano on Saturday.

He said, “The president has advisors on selection of ministerial nominees at the national and state levels. The president has the prerogative to nominate whomever he wishes and he has the right to consult people in states because they know those capable of discharging the duties.

“Maryam Shetty’s name emerged from the top, and since Mr President has the right to do as he wishes and we are his followers, one has to be patient; we did not object to it. As well, she was not well-known to us. We could not appraise her.

“But suddenly she (Maryam Shetty) came under attack on social media. People questioned her integrity and experience, with many of them doubting her credentials to represent Kano at the national level. There were growing disaffections. The dissatisfaction is not from Ganduje, but the people of Kano.

“President Bola Tinubu’s attention was drawn to the torrent of criticisms greeting Shetty’s nomination. The president asked whether I had nominated Mary Shetty. I said no. He asked how then her name appeared on the list. I told him I had no idea whatsoever.

“When he asked whether there was a need to replace her, I answered in affirmative, because the ministerial slot requires someone with integrity, knowledge, experience and commitment to the party – what one contributed to the making of the Tinubu administration. To satisfy these requirements, we are in the best position to nominate somebody from Kano. Even if someone recommended somebody, we should have been consulted on the matter.

“For this we were given a chance to nominate someone from Kano and since the slot was meant for a female, we consulted widely. Females had contributed to our development agenda in Kano State. Dr Mariya Bunkure, my commissioner for higher education, is a certified medical doctor. Kano South had been complaining for marginalization, even though I gave them SSG and other important political offices. These are some of the reasons we gave her name.

“But at least we are happy because the people of Kano are happy with the current development. The clarification is not to insult anybody, but to tell the truth of what exactly happened. People questioned her suitability that was why he was dropped, but that does not mean she will not get another appointment.”

Exhumed Facebook posts from three years ago where Maryam Shettima, otherwise known as Maryam Shetty, criticised former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, may have led to the withdrawal of her recent ministerial nomination by President Bola Tinubu.

Shetty’s excitement over her ministerial appointment was short-lived. President Tinubu had withdrawn the nomination barely 24 hours after it was sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Mariya Mahmud, a former Commissioner for Higher Education under Ganduje’s administration, was named as Shetty’s replacement.

The former nominee was said to have arrived at the Senate awaiting to be screened when the news of her removal reached her.

The 3-year-old social media rant against Ganduje seems to provide insight into why the former Kano governor, who is now the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly kicked against the 33-year-old’s nomination as minister.

The posts, dated March 9, 2020, saw Shetty lambasting Ganduje for his alleged involvement in bribery scandals.

“Whatever was set to achieve, it (the throne) still remains within the family; as for Gandollar he will be remembered forever by the stacks of dollars he brazenly and shamelessly pocketed…not will ever erase that. Sipping coffee

“End of an era, the Gandollar Government will forever be remembered for this. I believe we haven’t seen the last of SLS (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) …”

The posts were made in the wake of journalist Jafar Jafar’s release of videos in 2018, purportedly showing Ganduje accepting stacks of dollar bills in what was portrayed as bribe payments from contractors.

The scandal had led to Ganduje being derisively referred to as ‘Gandollar’ on social media, a moniker that stuck despite his vehement denials and claims of video manipulation.

However, it’s Shetty’s connection to the controversy that appears to have now come back to haunt her.

On the same day she made the critical Facebook posts, her uncle, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, then Emir of Kano, had been controversially dethroned by Governor Ganduje.

While the governor’s administration maintained that the removal was carried out due to Sanusi’s alleged insubordination and disregard for traditional norms, many believed it was a political maneuver to consolidate power.

As the news of Shetty’s removal as ministerial nomination spread, she issued a statement saying “To some, this could seem like a setback, but my faith as a devout Muslim guided my understanding.”

Shetty added, “I saw it as the divine will of Allah, who I believe grants power as He wishes, when He wishes. His plans are always superior to ours.”

Meanwhile, Ganduje, in a radio interview on Sunday, claimed that Shetty was smuggled into the ministerial list, saying President Tinubu was unaware of how she made it to the list.

“In the selection of ministerial nominees, the president has people that are giving him advice across States, and the president has the power to nominate whoever he likes, and he also has the power to make consultations on the persons he had chosen to serve in his cabinet from the people of that particular state,” Premium Times quoted Ganduje as saying in the radio interview.

“You know, in a palace (presidency), some people claimed to know much about something, but they did not; we just saw Ms Shetty’s name like any other Nigerian; we are followers of the president, we are careful, we did not challenge the choice of Ms Shetty because we did not know much about her personality and capabilities to deliver on the job that makes us remain mum.

“But problems started when her social media post started to cause a stir. Social media always kept a record of what you and what you have even forgot you posted. People on social media started challenging her personality in representing the people of Kano and her capability for the job. This brings about the problem.

“This is how the issue came around. I am not involved in it the president was disturbed about it, and he later contacted me and asked whether I nominated her (Ms Shetty). I said no, and he queried how she was nominated.

“I do not have the monopoly of knowing Kano better, People from Kano can advise the President on the nomination, but we ought to have consulted for such an appointment.”

National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP), Comrade Eragbe Ansalem has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take advantage of its willingness to support the Federal government with about N4trn loan as part of its contribution to reflate the Nigerian economy and place her on a steady path of growth.

Anslem in an exclusive interview with NIGERIAN TRIBUNE said he has secured funds from two European Banks for investment interventions in infrastructure amongst which is the housing sector as well as the research and development institutes in the country.

The Labour Party (LP) youth leader said he believed that a public-private partnership with the federal government in its access to the huge fund for these sectors and others would benefit the Nigeria nation tremendously as it helps to reflate the economy.

The member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of LP led by Lamidi Apapa said the federal government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, missed the opportunity to boost the economy with similar funds made available to her operation by the CEAGIS Properties Limited.

Anslem said CEAGIS Properties Limited was willing and capable to avail the federal government of the loan amount of N500bn monthly, for the period September 2023 to February 2027 at an annual interest rate of 9%.

He said the funds were capable of boosting the economy sustainably by creating over 750,000 jobs monthly and cumulatively reaching 40,150,000 jobs in four years a feat he said would greatly boost the nation’s economy for good and make Nigeria advance in all ramifications.

Anslem said he was pleased with the sessions with the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the funds for which it has on behalf of CEAGIS Properties provided the anti-graft agencies with full disclosure and awaits the clearance to deploy these resources to the critical aspects of the economy.

He said already, a total of €14,210,119.74 about (N13 billion) from two European Banks was issued on 26th May 2021 from Lloyd meant for a nationwide housing development and delivery for members of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions in Nigeria (ASURI) in Abuja.

According to him, Nigeria needs all her patriots at this critical time of her national life, patriots who should step up to provide positive interventions to grow the economy; render support to the government to boost the economy and make the country great even as he called on all other Nigerians to support the government to lead the nation out of the present challenge as soon as possible.

Anslem said his firm was prepared to revolutionize investments in Agriculture, solid minerals Power and other social welfare programmes and critical infrastructure.

According to him: “Further inflow will be coming for specific development like: Agricultural mechanization in plants, animal husbandry and processes, sold minerals development exploration and exploitation”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for not publishing N400bn fuel subsidy spending details.

The suit followed reports that the Federal Government has saved N400bn within the four weeks following the implementation of the removal of subsidy on petrol policy.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1514/2023 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to publish details of spending of about N400 billion saved as a result of the removal of subsidy on petrol on 29 May, 2023.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to provide details of the plans on how the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol, including specific projects on which the funds would be spent.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to provide details of the mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are not diverted into private pockets.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “Nigerians have the right to know how the savings are spent. Disclosing the spending details of the savings would reduce the risks of corruption in the spending of the funds.”

SERAP is arguing that “The Tinubu government has a legal obligation to ensure that the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are spent solely for the benefit of the 137 million poor Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the removal.”

SERAP is also arguing that “Opacity in the spending of the savings from subsidy removal would have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.”

According to SERAP, “the savings from subsidy removal may be embezzled, misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Adelanke Aremo, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part:“Transparency would increase public trust and confidence that these savings would be used to benefit Nigerians.”

“The Nigerian Constitution, 1999 [as amended], Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”

“Prevention of corruption in the spending of savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol and preventing and addressing the challenges caused by the removal are serious and legitimate public interests.”

“The Tinubu government has a legal obligation to protect individuals against the threat posed to human rights by the removal of subsidy on petrol, and to effectively address the aftermath of subsidy removal.”

“Unless the government is compelled and directed to publish the spending details of the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol, the removal will continue to undermine the rights of Nigerians, and increase their vulnerability to poverty.”

“The implementation of the National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP) and spending on the programme have been mostly shrouded in secrecy.”

“Publishing the details of the spending of the N400bn and other savings from the removal of subsidy would also ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties.”

“Transparency and accountability in the spending details of the N400bn saved as a result of the removal of subsidy on petrol, and on the spending of subsequent savings from the removal would mean that the savings can help poor Nigerians to overcome the effects of such removal.”

“It would also help to avoid a morally repugnant result of double jeopardy on poor and socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians.”

“The lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol and the resulting human costs would directly threaten fundamental human rights that the government has an obligation to protect.”

“The Tinubu government has the legal obligations to address the effects of subsidy removal on the human rights of 137 million poor Nigerians, and to prevent and address some of the direst consequences that the removal may reap on human rights, especially given the disproportionate impact on these Nigerians.”

“The removal of subsidy on petrol continues to negatively and disproportionately affect poor Nigerians, undermining their right to adequate standard of living.”

“Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of public funds and entrenched impunity of perpetrators have undermined public trust and confidence in governments at all levels.”

“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including the details of how the N400bn and other savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol would be spent.”

“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on the government to widely publish the details of how the N400bn and other savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are spent.”

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on the government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’ in the country.”

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’”

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

“Similarly, articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the government to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds, and to promote sound and transparent administration of public affairs.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

A self-acclaimed female cleric, who is also the wife of the leader of a kidnap gang, identified as Celestine Okuzor Nova, and four others, have been arrested in Delta State.

The kidnap suspects, Franca Okuzor (the acclaimed pastor), Kabi Kester and Henry Owojero, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a business woman who was returning from her shop at about 8:30 p.m on July 19.

A masked three gunmen allegedly waylaid the woman and her children at the entrance of their house at Obinoba in Nkwani Local Government Area of the state and whisked away the victim.

Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, operatives of Obiaruku Police Station and the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad (SAKCCS) launched a manhunt for the hoodlums and rescued the kidnapped victim.

The victim was, however, freed after coughing up N2 million and parting with jewellery.

In a statement by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe on Sunday, said with relevant information, the command embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which paid off when the operatives arrested 43-year-old Kabi Kester on Friday who confessed to be a member of the gang that kidnapped the woman.

“His confession led to the arrest of two other suspects namely Henry Owojero ‘m’ aged 42yrs, and Franca Okuzor ‘f’ a self-acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang named Celestine Okuzor Nova (at large) in whose house the victim was held captive for six days.

“They all confessed to their involvement in the kidnap and named four others Celestine Okuzor Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) as members of the gang. An intensive manhunt for the other gang members is ongoing,” Edafe, who’s a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated.

Meanwhile, on Thursday at about 4:00p.m, Police operatives attached to Dragon Patrol, while on visibility and confidence-building patrol along Benin/Asaba Expressway at Issele-uku, also intercepted a commercial Sienna vehicle and subjected the passengers and their bags to a search.

Edafe said during the search, 250 rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag were recovered.

According to him, the owner of the bag, identified as Omoruyi Osemudiamen, 46, was arrested and taken into custody while further investigation is ongoing

Operatives of Ondo State Police Command have arrested a suspected 26-year-old internet fraudster (yahoo boy), Franklin Akinyosuyi, in Ondo town, Ondo West Local Government Area of the state with human parts.

The suspected Yahoo boy was arrested in Elewuro area of the town following his landlord’s report at Funbi’ Fagun after noticing strange objects within the compound of the house.

It was gathered that some teenagers who discovered a black nylon kept in a place in the compound called the attention of the landlord to the objects and it was discovered that it contained a human skull.

The teenager raised the alarm and the landlord subsequently reported the incident at the police station while detectives from the state police command visited the house and discovered other items.

A source disclosed that when a search was conducted by the police in the rented apartment of the suspected Yahoo boy, several other human parts and other items were found in his room including charms, human blood, and black soaps.

“The young man used nylon to cover the human skull and kept it in his room and nobody perceived the smell because of the odour around the house.

“The policemen took the Yahoo boy and the items to the station and he has been transferred to the state command for further investigation,” the source added.

A police officer at the Divisional Police Office in Fagun however, said the matter would be transferred to Akure the state capital as soon as an investigation is completed on the matter.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Funmi Odunlami, who confirmed the incident said the young man claimed all the objects were given to him by his herbalist

Odunlami explained that “One Franklin Akinyosuyi, male, 26 years who claimed to be a photographer and own a boutique in Ondo town was challenged by his landlord for keeping a bag in a corner of the compound.

“The landlord became suspicious and asked the young man to open the bag, when he did, a human skull was found in the bag, and was arrested.

On January 1, 2012, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan announced a decision to remove the petroleum subsidy. The current rulers of Nigeria were then the main opposition. They did oppose the measure quite volubly. The continental and global context then was quite febrile. The Arab Spring was then in full swing and the fear of a continental contagion was real when the country rose in a well-orchestrated protest against the removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012.

More than 11 years ago, they prosecuted a vigorous case against the removal. Today, that opposition, now in government, has implemented the measure which they opposed. The case they now make against the subsidy and its removal is situational: it is no longer sustainable.

In his broadcast to Nigerians on July 31, 2023, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, buried the petroleum subsidy with faint praise as a “once beneficial measure” before declaring that it “cost us trillions of Naira yearly” which “would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security”.

The formal announcement of the subsidy removal came in the form of an ad libitum at the presidential inauguration on May 29, 2023. The government has thereafter sought to work its way to a pre-determined answer.

The ongoing public policy conversation on the petroleum subsidy assumes that it is informed by factual accuracy. In reality, the conversation recycles a considerable body of myth and urban legend. It is essential to cut through some of these.

Myth 1: The problem is subsidy

In June 2023, the Macroeconomic Analysis Department of Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, finalised a study on the ‘Impacts of Fuel Subsidy Removal on the Nigerian Economy’. According to the study, “In 2019, the Nigerian government spent N0.55 trillion on fuel subsidy. Since then, fuel subsidy payments have greatly increased to N3.74 trillion in 2022. The budgetary provision for fuel subsidy is N3.36 trillion in the first half of 2023, suggesting that the fuel subsidy provision for the full year will reach N6.72 trillion”.

After the government removed the subsidy in 2012, the House of Representatives then constituted an ad-hoc committee “to verify and determine the actual subsidy requirements and monitor the implementation of the subsidy regime in Nigeria”, which was chaired by Honorable Farouk Lawan. The report of the Committee determined quite clearly that “contrary to statutory requirements and other guidelines under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme mandating agencies in the industry to keep reliable information database, there seemed to be a deliberate understanding among the agencies not to do so. This lack of record keeping contributed in no small measure to the decadence and rots the committee found in the administration of the PSF”.

Concerning the costs of the measure, the committee found for the year immediately preceding the decision by the Jonathan administration that “contrary to the earlier official figure of subsidy payment of N1.3 trillion, the accountant general of the federation put forward a figure of N1.6 trillion, the CBN N1.7 trillion, while the committee established subsidy payment of N2,587.087 trillion as at December 31, 2011”.

Even more specifically, the committee found that “while NNPC feasted on the federation account to bloat the subsidy payable, some of the marketers were involved in claiming subsidy on products not supplied. The PPPRA laid this foundation by allocating volumes of products each quarter to the marketers which it knew were not in conformity with its own guidelines for participation”.

Under the Jonathan administration, subsidy payments were computed on a presumed consumption of 30-35 million litres of petrol daily. In opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) argued with some justification that this figure was high. In December 2016, then-petroleum minister, Ibe Kachikwu, claimed that the administration had reduced the presumptive consumption of petrol to 28 million litres daily.

Thereafter, the APC appeared to have lost the magic wand that drove down the fuel consumption, allowing the computation of subsidy to implausibly skyrocket to a presumed daily rate of 93 million litres. As columnist, Isaac Anyaogu, points out “car ownership has fallen yet petrol consumption has ballooned according to NNPC figures”.

In October 2019, the Buhari administration closed Nigeria’s land borders claiming that it did so to address the smuggling of various essential goods, including petrol. Two months thereafter, by December 2019, President Buhari claimed that the border closure had reduced the consumption of petrol in Nigeria by about 30%. Somehow, this was not reflected in subsidy payments, which kept rising.

Evidently, the problem is not petroleum subsidy but impunity for corruption in its administration. The Nigerian elite in government, unwilling to hold themselves to account for this chronic crime of plunder of the patrimony, has chosen instead to socialize the costs of impunity for it in the form of what it calls subsidy removal.

Myth 2: There will be savings from removing subsidy

In August 2016, the administration of Muhammadu Buhari announced that it had saved N1.4 trillion from removing petroleum subsidy. A mere six years later, the same party in power now claims that the system is unsustainable with no need to explain to Nigerians how that came about or to hold anyone accountable for that. Instead, on July 31, 2023, the same administration in power claimed again to have saved N1 trillion from non-payment of subsidy in just two months.

But in the first week of August 2023, representatives of organised labour disclosed that administration officials whom they had met with honestly admitted that “not one kobo has been saved so far”. This does not take a lot of effort to figure out. Three elements wipe out any presumed savings from the subsidy.

First is the cost of government overheads. With the escalation in petrol price from N197 to N617, the cost of petrol has risen by over 310%. Official vehicles of government at state and federal levels require petrol bought from the same open market from which ordinary citizens procure theirs. With no evident reduction in official fleet operations, many government departments are reporting over 250% increase in petrol and transport costs. While the administration appeals to Nigerians to make sacrifices, it refuses to heed its own counsel and the incoming cabinet at about 70 will be the largest since the return to civil rule in 1999

Second, capital project costs will all suffer variation resulting in upward reviews to reflect the new market realities. Since transport and logistics are the mainstay of all public works projects, the average level of variation is likely to rise beyond the 200% range.

Third, public servants whose net pay has been roundly hit by the rising cost of living occasioned by the subsidy removal are likely to escalate public sector costs by padding budget lines with subsistence provisions. Anyone promising savings from subsidy removal is either committed to selling fiction or has simply not looked at the structure of public expenditure.

Myth 3: Subsidy removal will spur economic growth

In its study on the impacts of subsidy removal concluded in June 2023, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning concluded that “a total removal of fuel subsidy would affect the economy negatively by reducing the real GDP growth, raising prices of goods and services, and decreasing incomes of rural and urban households”.

Two of the three alternative policy simulations conducted as part of this study by the ministry found that the policy will result in a contraction in real GDP and all the options concluded that the impacts of the policy would be negative on poor and low-income families as well as the manufacturing sector.

The focus on subsidy removal cops out of hard decisions on accountability and on shrinking the size and cost of governance. While the rich tell poor Nigerians to tighten their belts, they are busy in both the elected arms of government and the judiciary implementing a dynastification of the country, a bloating of the costs of government, and sustenance of easily debunked myths about petrol pricing.

In summary, subsidy removal shrinks the stomach of the poor so that Nigeria’s elite can keep enlarging theirs.