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The Federal Government on Friday disclosed that the supply of petrol from Dangote Refinery will commence on tomorrow after both parties reached an agreement on pricing and supply.
NNPC will remain as the sole off-taker of petrol from the refinery with other marketers getting the product from the national oil company.
Speaking in Abuja, a member of the Presidential Committee on the Sale of crude Oil and Refined Products and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji said in return NNPC Limited would commence the supply of 385,000 barrels of crude oil to Dangote Refinery on October 1, 2024.
Adedeji announced that “all agreements have been completed and loading of the first batch of PMS from the Dangote Refinery will commence on Sunday 15th September”.
He disclosed that Dangote Refinery will in return supply PMS and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market to be paid for in Naira.
He said other decisions reached by the committee include the sale of Diesel in Naira by the Dangote Refinery to any interested off-taker while PMS will only be sold to NNPC.
“From 1 October, NNPC will commence the supply of about 385kbpd of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery to be paid for in Naira
“In return, the Dangote Refinery will supply PMS and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market to be paid in Naira.
“Diesel will be sold in Naira by the Dangote Refinery to any interested off-taker. PMS will only be sold to NNPC, NNPC will then sell to various marketers for now. All associated regulatory costs will also be paid for in Naira”, he added.
The agreement is expected to ease the acute shortage of petrol across the country and also allow the government to continue the payment of subsidies on the product.
The Presidential Committee on the Sale of Crude Oil and Refined Product has announced that loading of the first batch of petrol from the Dangote Refinery will commence on Sunday, September 15.
A member of the committee and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday. Briefing journalists, the FIRS boss said that from October 1, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will commence the supply of about 385kbpd of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery to be paid for in Naira.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] No Going Back On Nigeria's Digital Revolution, VP Shettima Assures
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] No Going Back On Nigeria's Digital Revolution, VP Shettima Assures](/media/k2/items/cache/206aaaecfd24b9bf348b372f97a00207_L.jpg)
... as Odua Investment Company commits to FG's economic revolution
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has restated the firm resolve of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration to revolutionise Nigeria's Digital Economy, saying it is on course and fully backed by the necessary support, initiatives and partnerships.
To this effect, he said the Federal Government will continue to open its doors to all willing partners and stakeholders who continue to believe and invest in the Nigeria project, adding that it is just a matter of time before the nation takes its rightful position across the globe.
The Vice President, who gave the assurance on Thursday when the management of Odua Investment Company Limited led by its Chairman, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, praised the Company for its initiatives and investment in agriculture, digital economy and MSMEs.
Senator Shettima noted that these sectors remain critical to Nigeria's economic development and future.
"The Southwest region of our country has the enormous capacity to revolutionise the country given its endowments, just as the policies of President Tinubu will, in no time, manifest as the greatest milestones crossed for the development of Nigeria," the VP stated.
On the ''weaponization of fuel subsidy," Vice President Shettima described it as an albatross that hung on the neck of the Nigerian nation, as well as the hitherto manipulated exchange rate.
"Few persons sat on our commonwealth and manipulated our resources. But we are checkmating these manipulations and as can be seen the economy is gradually beginning to recover and pick up. We are, indeed, ready to carry the burden of leadership and together with stakeholders like you, we are crossing the rubicon and the time for reaping will come," VP Shettima further said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Ashiru, who thanked the Vice President for the opportunity to pay him a courtesy call, commended President Tinubu for promoting ease of doing business in Nigeria.
Similarly, he praised the encouragement they got from Vice President Shettima, just as he said, “You could see that businesses are coming in, and that is why we are here. I see a brighter future in this country with what we have seen in general.
“Nigerians have no business going around the world looking for money, especially with the volume of resources at its disposal, more so that our investors are our greatest assets,” he said.
Mr Ashiru expressed optimism that businesses will continue to thrive under the Tinubu administration, even as he called on citizens and investors to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in Nigeria and do business.
“Earlier, it was one of the issues that the Vice President was applauded for. I served as a former Commissioner in my state, and I know that actually, the Office of the Vice President focuses on that aspect of doing business in Nigeria.
“Now, I'm sure Nigeria has moved up the ladder. I remember Nigeria was sometimes ranked around 140 or so. I can tell you that there are lots of opportunities in this country,” he added.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
(Office of The Vice President)
[PRESS RELEASE] Nigeria Issues New Federal High Court Practice Directions To Enchance Compliance With The Convention On International Interests In Mobile Equipment 2001 (Convention) And Protocol To The Convention On International Interests In Mobile
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] Nigeria Issues New Federal High Court Practice Directions To Enchance Compliance With The Convention On International Interests In Mobile Equipment 2001 (Convention) And Protocol To The Convention On International Interests In Mobile](/media/k2/items/cache/b573a1c6b0352e1c11da2ff43253830d_M.jpg)
Monumental history was made earlier today as Nigeria became one of the few countries in the world to pioneer the issuance of Practice Directions by the Federal High Court which is vested with the constitutional jurisdiction on Aviation matters. The signing of the Practice Direction was presided over by the Vice-President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima at the meeting of the Presidential Council of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Since taking over office, one of the key points of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo’s 5-Point Agenda is the support for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses whilst holding them to highest international standards.
In pursuit of this agenda, the Minister was confronted with the lingering problem of the low rate of Nigeria’s compliance with the Cape Town Convention - a Convention that regulates the dry-leasing of aircrafts by major aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and airbus and major leasors across the world who perceived Nigeria as a non-compliant country. This led to the blacklisting of Nigeria by the Aviation Working Group. The AWG CTC compliance index shows Nigeria’s substantial non-compliance with the CTC which is largely as a result of legal impediments in the country’ judicial process which have adverse impact on the implementation and compliance with terms of the Convention. Certain judicial cases have shown that speedy reliefs sought by the creditors were not granted within the 10 days declaration made by Nigeria under the Convention. The Minister, with the key support of Mr. President, the Vice-President and the Attorney-General of the Federation, then reached out to key institutions and offices in the judicial sector to make this possible, which resulted in the signing of the Practice Direction today.
The new Practice Directions issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court will eliminate judicial impediments in the implementation and compliance with the Cape Town Convention. This singular move has revolutionised airline business in Nigeria as it will boost investors’ confidence and open the floodgate to Nigeria air operators to have easy access to aircraft acquisition at much lower cost. And this will significantly enhance the growth of the aviation industry by creating more jobs and promoting the rapid economic development of the aviation industry. By so doing, the Nigeria aviation industry which, has huge global market can favourably compete and increase its contribution to the GDP.
It is important to stress that as a Party to the Convention on International Mobile Equipment (Convention) and the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment (the Protocol) which was adopted in Cape Town South Africa on the 16th November 2001 and has been ratified and domesticated in the Civil Aviation Act 2006, as amended in the Civil Aviation Act 2022, Nigeria has the obligation to ensure that its domestic laws and its courts and administrative bodies give full effect to the CTC and that the timelines and remedies set in the CTC are not varied at the discretion of the courts.
It is only by so doing that the primary objective of the CTC which is to facilitate the efficient financing and acquisition of aircraft objects by the recognition of the international interests created in the objects can be beneficial to airline operators in the country.
The Honourable Minister would like to seize this moment to express profound appreciation to all the stakeholders who have contributed immensely towards the actualization of this landmark issuance of the new Federal High Court Practice Directions which will not only clear the image and reputation of Nigeria in the global community, but usher in a new era for the airline business in Nigeria to grow and be well positioned to compete favourably in the global aviation market.
Tunde Moshood,
SA, Media and Communications to the
Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), said its purchasing portal would be reopened as soon as the backlog of orders for petrol was cleared.
Marketers had complained about the portal shutdown, adding that it encourages round-tripping of product supplies while driving prices.
However, in a press statement obtained by Vanguard, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, said: “We have a significant backlog to address. The closure is intended to prevent us from holding marketers’ funds for an extended period.
“It will be reopened once the backlog has been sufficiently reduced. We are working to address it as soon as possible.”
The Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party has called on Julius Abure to cease presenting himself as the national chairman.
The party leadership maintained that Abure’s tenure ended on June 9, 2024.
During a press conference held by the Labour Party National Transitional Committee (NTC) in Abuja, the Secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees, Salisu Mohammad, noted that this resolution was made during a stakeholder meeting in Umuahia, led by the legitimate and lawful Caretaker Committee under Nenadi Usman.
Mohammad emphasized that the NTC has actively engaged and rallied all pertinent stakeholders to facilitate the party’s recovery from what they termed Abure’s unlawful actions and corruption.
He further stated that since Abure took over as national chairman following the unexpected passing of the previous chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, in 2000, he has led the party without undergoing an election.
‘In fact, INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) had asked him to vacate the chair meant for Chairman of Labour Party.
“These interventions by the NTC have culminated in the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party in Umuahia.
“The National Transitional Committee (NTC) facilitated by the Nigerian Labour Congress as the Trustee of the Labour Party fully accepts and commends the decision of the NEC of the Labour Party at its meeting on September 4, 2024.
“We support the 29-man Caretaker Committee to prepare and conduct democratic congresses to elected party leadership at the Ward, LGA, State and National levels’’, he said.
He stated that the NEC convened by Governor Alex Otti of Abia represents the most necessary intervention to rescue the party from what he termed as unlawful activities.
“We believe that this intervention is in line with the expression of the democratic will of the millions of Nigerians who do not want the party to die at the hands of political contractors who have been procured to destroy the party,” Mohammad said.
King Charles III, on Thursday, hosted President Bola Tinubu at the Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom (UK).
The development was confirm by the new media aide to the president, Olusegun Dada, who posted a photograph of both men exchanging pleasantries in a post on X.
The aide said continued diplomatic ties and partnership between Nigeria and the UK were discussed at the meeting.
Dada said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited His Majesty, King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
“The significant meeting, highlighting the continued diplomatic ties and partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.”
Both men met last in November 2023 shortly before the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Tinubu traveled to the UK after visiting China where a number of agreements were signed between Nigeria and the Asian giant.
The president is expected to leave the UK for the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York, US.
Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme across the country have lamented the delay in the payment of the August monthly stipend.
Some of the students, in separate interviews with our correspondent, expressed their disappointment in the payment delay.
The PUNCH reports that students can choose to apply for upkeep loan apart from institutional loans, which is paid directly to institutions.
A total of 20,371 students from six tertiary institutions were said to have been paid a sum of N20,000 each as July stipends.
The institutions said to have benefitted from the disbursement are Bayero University, Kano State; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; University of Ilorin, Kwara State; University of Benin, Edo State; University of Ibadan, Oyo State; and University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
A BUK student, who spoke to our correspondent anonymously for fear of victimisation, said, “We haven’t received the August stipend. I am very confused. Please help us speak to them. The economy is getting too difficult. In fact, we are even trying to plead with them to please help us increase the stipend as the N20,000 cannot even get us anywhere.”
Another student from the University of Ibadan, who also spoke anonymously, said, “To be very honest, I was expecting it at month end but till now we have not got any feedback from them as to what the problem is.”
A student of the University of Benin, also speaking, said, “Honestly, it is getting too late. NELFUND needs to do something. Our school fees have been paid but at this point, the upkeep is much more important. Please help us reach out to them.”
Commenting on the development, NELFUND’s Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the students would likely be paid the N20,000 stipend this week.
“It’s been approved. They should get it this week,” Oluwatuyi said.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to increase the monthly stipend from N20,000 to N40,000.
In a surprising twist, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it will not sign the peace accord, just two hours before the planned signing ceremony.
This move is coming ahead of the September 21 governorship election, where the peace accord was intended to promote a peaceful and harmonious electoral process among contending political parties.
Recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki had earlier declared that his party Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may not sign the peace accord because the party has lost faith in the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Emperor Jarret Tenebe said the party declined to sign the accord because two months after a police inspector Onuh Akor, who was the orderly to the candidate of the party, Sen Monday Okpebholo was shot and killed along Airport Road, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted.
Details soon …
Marketers of petroleum products in Nigeria have reportedly written to President Bola Tinubu to complain that the drop in price of Dangote Refinery’s diesel to N900 per litre, is negatively affecting their businesses.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited, disclosed this on a Twitter Spaces session organized by Nairametrics.
Edwin highlighted some of the challenges facing the Dangote Refinery and its impact on Nigeria’s fuel supply and prices.
According to him, the refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, struggles to sell about 29 tankers of diesel per day due to low patronage from local petroleum product importers.
“As a result of this poor local patronage, the refinery exports most of its diesel and aviation fuel,” he said.
However, he said despite the challenges, 44% of the refinery’s petrol production capacity is sufficient to meet all of the country’s local demand.
Daily Trust reports that the Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, started naphtha exports in March, low-sulphur straight run fuel oil (LSSR) exports in May, and began selling diesel and jet fuel domestically in April
In June, it started exporting diesel fuel meeting European specifications.
![[PRESS RELEASE] Atiku Extols Igbinedion's Virtues @90](/media/k2/items/cache/032a5da3cc94fd96155744899a534b61_S.jpg)
My Dearest Sage, the Esama of Benin Kingdom,
To think that you have clocked nine decades of life's mileage on Planet Earth, and still hearty and healthy, can only be a rare gift from the Creator of Man. Plus your own attributes of healthy diet, exercise, and peaceful coexistence with people.
To have emerged from a humble cradle in Okada village in the current Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State some 32,850 days ago, to become a global phenomenon that you are today speaks volumes of your gains over pains, in a life that is fraught with strifes, ups and downs. More grease, Sir.
Meanwhile, burrowing into your personal history sheds light on your perspiration, aspiration, and desirous determination and ambition to be great in life in order to impact humanity positively.
And since you found the rope of opportunity to climb unto the hill of hope of life from your hitherto dark slope; you have through multiple ways served mankind selflessly and constructively. Be it as a policeman, businessman, education investor, or grand philanthropist.
Kudos High Chief. Your good deeds shall outlive your mortal being to become reference points in the chronicle of human knowledge and feats.
I am therefore highly delighted to join your nuclear and extended families, close associates, and teeming admirers worldwide to wish our iconic living legend further longevity in wealth of good health. You have made ninety to look seventy.
Definitely, your lofty legacies, urbane, and humane antecedents shall forever be worthy of emulation by generations yet to come in our nation.
Warm congratulations on the anniversary of your 90th birthday, Esama (Dr) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the living legend of our time.
Finally, my family and I wish you more grace and continuous usefulness to our country, Nigeria, and humanity at large.
More...
The Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to 10 protesters charged with treason-related offenses connected to last month’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
Justice Emeka Nwite set the bail at N10 million for each defendant, requiring a surety with property in Abuja worth the bail amount. The sureties must also submit their passports to the court.
The defendants, who were arraigned on September 2, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including plotting war and attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Their lawyers argued that the evidence did not support the treason allegations.
The charges against the defendants include inciting mutiny, destabilizing Nigeria, and waging war against the state. They were also accused of attacking police officers, burning police stations, and destroying other properties.
Counsel for the 1st-4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal, urged the Federal Government to reconsider the charges, highlighting that 49 additional protesters remain detained at Kuje Correctional Centre under court order.
The case has been adjourned to September 27 for trial commencement.
The Presidency has described the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as the Nigerian version of former US President and Republican candidate for the US 2024 election, Donald Trump.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, drew the comparison in a post on social media platform, X on Wednesday.
This comes following the US presidential debate between Trump and Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Peter Obi is the Nigeria version of Donald Trump. Like Obi, Trump will use the most negative epithets imaginable to describe a country he wants to lead again just to make a point and rile up his base,” he wrote.
During the debate, Harris and Trump clashed on many issues ranging from abortion rights to immigration, as both candidates sought to sway voters in a tightly contested race.
Ajayi added, “Kamala Harris prosecuted Trump very well in their first face to face debate yesterday night. Kamala convincingly won the debate and left no one in doubt about his capacity.
“Vice President Harris knew Trump’s weakness and set traps for him. Trump fell for her baits. Both candidates have been fact-checked on their claims in the debate. While Harris was reported to have made just one incorrect claim, Trump made 33 false claims in the same 90 minutes debate.”
Media reports revealed that Trump often responded to Harris’s provocations by repeating conspiracy theories and making false statements regarding the 2020 election and immigration.
Despite being fact-checked by debate moderators, the former president stood by his controversial claims, including the assertion that immigrants were consuming the pets of U.S. residents.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs — the people that came in — they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump said, contradicting the Springfield city manager, who said such accusations had no basis in fact.
The 2024 US elections are slated to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s efforts to restoring confidence in Nigeria economy through measures aimed at reducing inflation, stabilising the foreign exchange market, and improving fiscal management.
Tinubu stated this on Tuesday at the 17th Annual Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Banking and Finance Conference held in Abuja.
Represented by his vice, Kashim Shettima, the president described theme of the CIBN Conference, ‘Accelerating Economic Growth and Development: The State of Play and the Way Forward,’ as timely and imperative.
He noted that the conference came at a time the nation was grappling with interrelated challenges.
Tinubu identified the challenges as high inflation, rising costs of living, unemployment, infrastructure deficits and effects of global economic shifts.
He observed, however, that the challenges also present opportunities for growth and development.
In addressing the challenges, the President said that the administration had taken bold but painful steps to reform the macroeconomic environment.
“Though painful in the short term, the removal of fuel subsidies is designed to free up budgetary resources for critical investments in infrastructure and social services.
“The adjustment of the monetary policy rate, a move aimed at curbing inflation and fostering a more market-oriented exchange rate system,” he said.
Tinubu also noted that his administration was committed to strengthening infrastructure development in the ongoing bid to grow Nigeria’s economy.
“We are committed to upgrading Nigeria’s infrastructure to support economic growth.
“We are investing in roads, railways, and energy projects through public-private partnerships to reduce transportation costs and improve market access,” he said.
The Federal Government yesterday rejected accusation of rights abuse made against it by the United Kingdom (UK) Trade Union Congress (TUC), over the arrest of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisting that nobody, including the NLC president, is above the law in Nigeria.
Recall that President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, en route London to attend a conference of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of UK.
The Federal Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the NLC president was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) because he refused to honour the invitation of a law enforcement agency carrying out an investigation.
“The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.
“Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.
Government’s position came on a day Ajaero gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of DSS and other security agencies, following his Monday arrest.
He also confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that the DSS has released his seized international passport and mobile phones.
This is even as the secret police said yesterday that its presence at the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, did not amount to invasion, adding that its operatives were there for investigation.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lampooned the Federal Government over Ajaero’s arrest and takeover of the Abuja office of SERAP.
At press time yesterday, it was gathered that the secret police had pulled its operatives out of SERAP office to which they laid siege on Monday.
‘FG wrongly accused of rights abuses’
Onanuga said, “We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
“In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office.
“Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.
“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.
“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.
“There is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.
“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.
“Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.
“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies.
“It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities.
“Many ideological stances of the labour unions in Nigeria in the past have only stunted the economic growth and development of the country and even compromised the material well-being of the workers and the poor people they protect.
“A case in point was the strong opposition of the NLC and TUC to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to Bluestar Consortium, promoted in 2007 by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Seventeen years after the labour movement forced the successor government of Umar Yar’ Adua to cancel the sale of the two refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries worked.
“In the obverse, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world. In a twist of fate, the same Labour Movement that fiercely opposed Dangote from taking over the two refineries in 2007 hailed him on completing his 650,000-bpd refinery in Lagos.
“The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians despite the current challenges. It will also continue to pursue policies and programmes that will expand national economic output and create prosperity for our citizens.”
Ajaero: Labour primed for strike
Similarly, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, yesterday gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS and other security agencies, following his arrest on Monday.
Recall that the DSS had seized the NLC President’s phones and international passport after his arrest and detention for no less than 16 hours at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Confirming the release of the items yesterday, Ajaero said simply: “Yes, it is true. my phones and international passport have been returned to me by the DSS.”
The DSS, it was gathered, succumbed to pressure from local and international community which forced the government to release the NLC president, ahead of the 12 midnight deadline given government to free the detained labour leader.
Ajaero was arrested and detained by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain.
He was to represent Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.
According to sources within the NLC, “all modalities for a nationwide strike had been concluded and it was only left for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday (10-09-2024) at 9 am to endorse and declare the strike yesterday.
“All critical sector unions were already mobilized and were ready to begin a total strike yesterday until the NLC President was released unconditionally.
‘’Many groups, including the civil society organizations, CSOs, were already threatening fire and brim stone if Ajaero was not released.”
It was equally gathered the trade unions across the globe were already pushing their home governments to take action against Nigeria over alleged human rights abuses, and persecution of union leaders, among others.
Among the unions are Public Service International, PSI; International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC; and IndustriALL Global Union, IGU.
My ordeal at DSS, by Ajaero
Speaking exclusively, to Vanguard on his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and other security operatives yesterday, Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.
‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that. The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.
“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building. They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.
‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.
“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party. I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC. Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.
“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’
Medical checks on Ajaero
Meanwhile, the NLC has said it planned to conduct a comprehensive medical check on Ajaero to ensure his health had not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him by security operatives
NLC in a statement by the Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said: “This overwhelming display of unity in defense of justice and workers’ rights reinforces the strength of collective action and underscores the unbreakable bond between the Nigerian people and the labour movement.
“We are pleased to inform the public that Comrade Joe Ajaero was released late last night (Monday) at approximately 11:00pm, following intense pressure mounted by the NLC and in compliance with the demands issued by the National Administrative Council, NAC, of the NLC.
“NAC had given the government a firm ultimatum, with a deadline of 12 midnight, to release Ajaero, whose detention was a clear violation of our rights and an affront on the principles of democracy.
“While we celebrate his release, NLC remains vigilant. We will conduct a comprehensive medical check on Comrade Ajaero to ensure his health has not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him. The well-being of our President is paramount, and we will not rest until we are assured that his health is intact.
“The arrest and detention of Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while he was en-route to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain, is a stark reminder of the length to which the Nigerian state will go to silence the voice of labour and crush dissent.
“NLC unequivocally condemns this reckless abuse of power and reaffirms our commitment to standing firm against all forms of oppression, intimidation and lawlessness.
‘Release all detained #EndBadGovernance protesters’
‘’We once again, demand the release of all citizens languishing in jails across the country for their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protest around the country; stoppage of the massive clampdown on popular voices that espouse dissenting opinions; cessation of the muzzling of fundamental freedoms currently going on in the country; reversal of the hikes in the price of petrol (PMS) and electricity tariffs and, the immediate implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
“The NLC will not waver in its duty to defend the rights of workers, and we remain prepared to take all necessary actions to protect these rights and restore justice.
‘’The National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC which was proposed for today (yesterday) has, therefore, been suspended to assess the situation and determine the next steps in our collective struggle.
“We call on all Nigerians, our affiliates, and the international community to remain steadfast and vigilant as we continue this struggle.
“NLC is committed to ensuring that justice prevails and that the rights of workers and citizens are respected. Together, we will overcome these challenges and secure a better future for all.”
Ajaero, SERAP: Oppression from Tinubu’s regime surpasses military dictatorships — Atiku
Reacting to the arrest of the NLC president and take over of SERAP’s office by DSS, former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X account, tasked President Bola Tinubu to focus security efforts on terrorists and bandits and not civil society.
He said: “The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
“The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration are profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
“The recent arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomizes this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labour.
“Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome had been fatal?
“Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront on our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.”
DSS to SERAP: We didn’t raid, we came for investigation
Also yesterday, the Department of State Services, DSS, denied allegations of unlawfully invading the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in Abuja.
The agency clarified that only two unarmed operatives were sent to SERAP’s Abuja office for a routine investigation which, according to it, contradicted initial reports of a raid.
DSS in a statement, explained that the visit was part of its standard official inquiries and liaison, emphasizing that it did not constitute illegality or harassment.
The statement read: “The narrative of unlawful invasion is inaccurate and misleading. A team of two unarmed Service operatives was lawfully detailed on a routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.
“This visit has unfortunately been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials. However, such official inquiries and liaison are traditional and do not in any way amount to illegality or a raid.
“While we assure an in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, we call for citizens’ participation in national security management. We urge the public to disregard these false narratives.”
The DSS assured the public of its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate.
It urged citizens to disregard false narratives surrounding the incident and cooperate in national security management.
However, sources told Vanguard that SERAP’s investigations into sensitive government matters without necessary approvals, prompted the DSS action.
Their publications and statements were deemed detrimental to national security, allegedly spreading misinformation and fueling public unrest.