The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, in Jos, Plateau capital, Hon Christopher Audu, is reportedly battling for his life after being attacked by delegates during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election.
Naija News learnt that the election, which was held on Thursday, became violent after the TIC Chairman was declared the winner.
An observer, Michael Bulus, who spoke with Daily Trust, said that the election exercise was initially peaceful, but some delegates and PDP faithful who were denied access to the hall forced their way in and went straight to the TIC Chairman.
Audu was said to have sustained severe injuries as a result of the attack and was rushed out of Ba’ap, the headquarters of Qua’an Pan LGA, to an undisclosed location for medical attention.
Bulus said, “The mob beat up Hon Audu without mercy while complaining that he manipulated the process to emerge winner of the primaries.
“It was further alleged that Hon Audu handpicked his loyalists to be delegates at the election while blocking the real delegates from accessing the venue to exercise their franchise.”
The angry delegates also allegedly beat up officials of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) who were present to oversee the election.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, the party has yet to issue an official statement on the embarrassing incident
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says Nigeria’s employment level declined in July.
In its purchasing manager’s index (PMI) report on Wednesday, CBN said the industry sector employment level index stood at 47.0 points.
CBN said this indicates a contraction in the level of employment.
The apex bank said eight employment sub-sectors recorded contraction, while seven sub-sectors reported growth in the reviewed month.
“Eight subsectors reported a contraction in the level of employment with the Printing & Related Support Activities reporting the highest contraction,” the apex bank said.
According to CBN, primary metal and transportation equipment sub-sectors reported stationary levels in July.
PRODUCTION INDEX INCREASES FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE MONTH
CBN said the industry production index recorded expansion at 50.5 points in July 2024 — indicating growth in production for the second consecutive month.
“Eight subsectors reported growth in production during the review month with Water Supply, Sewerage & Waste Management recording the highest growth, Printing & Related Support Activities Subsector was stationary, while the remaining eight subsectors registered declines in production with Transportation Equipment reporting the highest contraction,” the apex bank said.
On August 13, the CBN said it reintroduced the publication of several key economic reports.
CBN said the reports, including the PMI, business expectation survey (BES), inflation expectation report and other macroeconomic indicators, will provide stakeholders with timely and accurate insights into the country’s economic performance.
The last PMI report and business expectation survey released by CBN was on December 23, 2020.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up four panels to investigate the petitions against 27 judges of federal and state courts.
The decision to probe the judges was reached during the NJC’s 106th meeting on Thursday and Friday, presided over by Olukayode Ariwoola, the outgoing chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The NJC resolved to issue a letter of advice to Olusegun Olagunju, a judge of the Oyo high court, for using “uncouth language” in correspondence to Ariwoola, challenging the council on the appointment of the president of the customary court of appeal in the state.
The council also resolved to issue letters of commendation, appreciation, and non-performance to 215 judges of the federation.
“The National Judicial Council, presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its 106th meeting of 14 and 15 August 2024, resolved to issue a letter of advise to Hon. Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo state high court to be circumspect as a judicial officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation,” Soji Oye, NJC director of information, said in a statement.
“The resolution was made after council considered the report of the committee it set up and mandated it to invite the Hon. Judge to appear before it to defend his uncouth language in a letter addressed to the chief justice of Nigeria, challenging council’s decision viz-a-viz its policy direction on appointment of president, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo state.
“Council at the meeting considered the report of its preliminary complaints assessment committee on 22 petitions written against 27 judicial officers of the federal and state high courts and decided to empanel four committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.
“The remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking of merit, abandoned, or being subjudice.
“The discountenanced petitions are against Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, CFR, President Court of Appeal, Hon. Justices E. O. Williams Dawodu, B. A. Georgewill, Yargata Timpar, S. D. Samchi, Aisha B. Aliyu, A. A. Aderibigbe M. L. Shuaibu, H. A. O. Abiru, and Abdulazeez Waziri, all of the court of appeal.
“Others are Hon. Justice J. T. Tsoho, OFR, Chief Judge Federal High Court, Hon. Justices Z. B. Abubakar, J. K. Omotosho, and Sunday B. Onu all of the Federal High Court, and Justice Okon E. Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Hon. Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court, and Hon. Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.
“Petitions written against Justices Ayodele Oyeyemi Oyebisi, Amaobi L. Agara, Amina Garba, Bello M. Tukur, Omeka Elekwa, and O. A. Adetujoye who served at Asaba and Plateau National and State Assembly Election Tribunal Panels.
“Council also considered the report of its performance evaluation of judicial officers of superior courts of record and resolved to issue letters ranging from commendation, appreciation, no submission, and non-performance to 215 judges all over the Federation.
“It also placed five judges on its pre-sanction watch list register for poor performance. They would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performance.”
The federation account allocation committee (FAAC) says the three tiers of government shared N1.358 trillion in July.
This represents N4 billion increase compared to the N1.354 trillion shared in June.
On Friday, FAAC held its August meeting chaired by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, director, information and public relations, ministry of finance, FAAC shared the amount from a total revenue of N2.61 trillion available in July.
The revenue breakdown showed that statutory revenue was N161.5 billion, value-added tax (VAT) was N528 billion; electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) was N18.8 billion, exchange difference stood at N581 billion, and solid mineral provided N13.6 billion revenue, bringing the total distributable amount for the month to N1.358 trillion.
Out of the distributable revenue, FAAC said the federal government received N431 billion, the states received N473 billion, and the local government councils got N343 billion.
Also, oil-producing states received N109 billion as derivation fund (13 percent of mineral revenue).
The committee said the sum of N99.7 billion was given for the cost of collection, while N109.816 billion was allocated for transfer intervention and refunds.
Gross revenue available from the VAT for July was N625 billion — up by N62 billion compared to the N562 billion distributed in the preceding month, according to the statement.
Also, out of the distributable VAT revenue of N582 billion, the federal government got N87.3 billion, states received N291 billion and local governments got N203 billion.
“Accordingly, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N1,373.503 Trillion received for the month was lower than the sum of N1,432.667 Billion received in the previous month by N45.517 Billion. From the stated amount, the sum of N73.959 Billion was allocated for the cost of collection and a total sum of N1,137.951Trillion for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds,” FAAC said.
In addition, the gross statutory revenue balance was N161 billion, and out of this, the federal government got the sum of N58.5 billion, states received N29.6 billion, and N22.894 billion was allocated to local governments, while N50.4 billion was given as 13 percent derivation revenue to oil-producing states.
However, from the N19.6 billion ETML revenue shared, the committee said the federal government received N2.8 billion, states received N9.4 billion, and local governments received N6.5 billion, while N0.784 billion was allocated for the cost of collection.
FAAC added that oil and gas royalty, petroleum profit tax (PPT), VAT, import duty, EMTL, and external tariff levies (CET) increased significantly.
On the other hand, the company income tax (CIT) recorded a decrease, while excise duties increased only marginally.
The balance in the excess crude account (ECA) as of August 2024 stands at $473,754.57.
Nigeria was awash with news recently about the quantum leap in the quantity of fuel imports from Malta after revelations by Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In 2023, Nigeria’s petroleum importation from Malta surged significantly to $2.8 billion, compared to zero between 2017 and 2022, and a mere $13.32 million in 2016.
Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), immediately denied Dangote’s claim, saying he did not have interest in any plant in Malta.
TheCable can now reveal the identity of one of the biggest importers via the tiny European country.
He is Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, owner of Matrix Energy and member of the presidential economic coordination council (PECC).
In an interview with TheCable, however, Aliu strenuously denied any wrongdoing in his business practices and promised a full response to the newspaper’s questions.
‘SMALL PLAYER, BIG CONTRACTS’
In July 2024 alone, over 200,000 tonnes of petrol from Malta were discharged into the Matrix jetty in Warri, Delta state, according to an insider who shared confidential documents with TheCable.
“This represents about 25 percent of Nigeria’s monthly PMS consumption going to a relatively small player with only 150 retail stations,” the insider said.
The insider said Aliu is also leveraging his close relations with the top management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) to secure crude oil cargoes from the national oil company for his company.
“Crude cargoes are discretionarily allocated to Matrix Energy by the NNPC monthly,” the person familiar with the company’s operations said.
The crude allocations to Matrix are traded by Gulf Transport & Trading (GTT), a trading company registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the insider.
“Two of the three crude cargoes of the recently launched Utapate grade were allocated to GTT,” the source said.
“The crude cargoes are typically sold at a $3 per barrel premium which translates to $3 million per cargo with no sweat. This implies a tax-free take of almost $150 million per year or N240 billion, at N1,600/$.”
On August 5, NNPC introduced the Utapate crude oil blend into the international market.
The new crude oil grade is from an oil mining lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), an upstream subsidiary of NNPC.
‘FROM RUSSIA TO NIGERIA VIA MALTA AND LOME’
Matrix — which has three old ships (Matrix Pride, Matrix Triumph, and Matrix S.ILU) — reportedly loads diesel products exported from Russia in Lome, Togo.
It is understood that the diesel from Russia is typically off-spec and is often corrected in places like Lome and Malta through blending with other components.
However, on June 16, about 15,000 tonnes of diesel — loaded on May 26 from Novorossiysk, Russia, and transported by a vessel, MT Kallos — were reportedly transloaded into Matrix Triumph offshore Lome without corrections and discharged into Matrix jetty in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria, on June 21.
On June 19, another 15,000 tonnes were transloaded into Matrix Pride and then discharged into the Obat Oil terminal on June 22.
In documents seen by TheCable, the products from Malta were transported through intermediate ships and sometimes through intermediate companies like Poly Pro Trading registered in Dubai Free Trade Zone.
Their listed office at OneJLT Towers 05.015, Dubai, is a business centre without any physical presence, according to checks by TheCable.
“Malta is now the top European destination for blending and ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products ever since the Greek navy decided to stop such activities in their offshore zone,” the source said.
“About 35 percent of shipment into Malta is naphtha and other components which are blended into gasoline to produce lower quality ‘African Spec’. This lower quality spec is then transhipped into various vessels for delivery into Nigeria to be sold to unsuspecting public who suffer frequent vehicle and equipment breakdowns.”
An oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil (a used motor oil that has been treated to remove dirt, fuel, and water) with additives to create finished lubricant products.
Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese firm, says it is ready for a resolution of its dispute with Nigeria.
A Paris court recently ordered the seizure of Nigeria’s assets — including three aircraft — over the contract dispute.
The court ruled that the Chinese firm should use Nigeria’s jets at the Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports “as security for its claim of EUR 74,459,221”.
BACKGROUND
In 2010, Zhongshan, through Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd. (Zhuhai), its Chinese parent company, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun state.
A year later, Zhongshan set up Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE (Zhongfu), a Nigerian entity, to manage the project with the permission of the Ogun state government.
However, things took a different turn in July 2016 when the investor accused the state government of abruptly moving to terminate its appointment while attempting to install a new manager for the free trade zone.
Subsequently, Zhongfu initiated an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria under the bilateral investment treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria (the China-Nigeria BIT).
The arbitrators had ruled that Nigeria was in breach of its obligations under the China-Nigeria BIT and awarded Zhongshan a compensation of around $70 million.
In January 2022, the Chinese company initiated a case to seek enforcement of the arbitration award.
Nigeria pleaded state immunity but was turned away by Sara Cockerill, a high court judge in the UK, who said the country abused the time frame for appealing arbitral awards.
On August 9, a US appellant court affirmed the judgment of the US district court for the District of Columbia, that held that the arbitration award is enforceable.
The court rejected Nigeria’s sovereign immunity defence.
‘READY TO SETTLE THIS CASE’
On Thursday, the presidency accused the Chinese firm of deploying “unorthodox and subterfuge” means in a bid to seize the assets.
Refuting the allegations in a statement sent to Premium Times, Zhongshan said it has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case.
“The independent arbitral panel was found unanimously in its favour, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced. The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision,” the firm said.
“Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing.”
A lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Friday, described Nigeria’s sovereignty as under threat following a report of the seizure of Nigeria’s three presidential jets in France.
Ejiofor spoke while commenting on the issues surrounding the report of the seizure of Nigeria’s presidential jet in Paris.
It was his view that; “We are no longer under any form of illusion that Nigeria’s sovereignty is under serious threat amid mountain debt concerns. unfortunately, Nigerians are not paying commensurate attention to this impending disaster.
“On August 15, 2024, three presidential aircraft undergoing maintenance in Paris were temporarily seized in strict compliance with a court order.
What an international disgrace!”
“The unfortunate reality is that with the Nigerian government’s growing habit of excessive and reckless borrowing, it is increasingly likely that we may one day wake up to find Nigeria’s assets and the entire Nigerians tied to foreign judgments. It is only a matter of time,”he said.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the claim of his Igbo paternity, declaring that such insinuation made him laugh.
The disclosure came even as the former President said he doesn’t believe anybody in Nigeria should be driven away from any part of the country, declaring that, “we own this country together.”
Obasanjo made this known when he received in audience the leadership of Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association, an umbrella body of major markets in Lagos State held at the boardroom of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo who did not speak much further on the paternity claim issue, simply says, “it just makes me laugh.”
Speaking on the meeting, the former President said the leadership of the group reached out to him to support the establishment of the Owerri Central Market positioned to be the best of its kind in the country.
He acknowledged that the Central Market Owerri had been contemplated since the creation of Imo state, adding that for one reason or the other, it has not been implemented, “but, I am glad it is coming up again and I hope this time, we are all going to make it real. It is going to be big, the first of its kind.
“And, I am happy also that the governor is showing the desired interest and understanding. And, I am confident that the Owerri Central Market will be, as he expressed the desire to lead the marketing team for the market.
Obasanjo said he doesn’t believe anybody in Nigeria should be driven away from any part of the country asserting that, “we own this country together “
“Having ensured that the Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas all came together to fight the war of unity in Nigeria, and “not to fight Igbos to go, but to come. So if anybody says to me, that somebody should leave any place, he will be the one to leave.”
In his remarks, the group’s spokesperson Chief Emeka Dallas Emmanuel who read a letter jointly signed by Comrade Chinedu Ukatu and Evangelist Iwuchukwu Ezenwafor said the market will be a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship assuring the group’s determination to play its role to the growth of the market and the nation.
He further sought the help of the former President towards the actualization of the international market capable of taking a vast majority off the streets.
Emmanuel added that the assistance of the former president will go a long way in helping their members to obtain loans to purchase shops and spaces at the market.
Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm has released one of the seized Nigeria’s presidential jets.
Recall that Zhongshan, the Chinese firm had secured a court order to confiscate three Nigerian presidential jets pending when Zhongshan receives $74.5 million awarded to it against Nigeria.
The spokesperson of the company who made this known to newsmen on Friday said, the company released the aircraft because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would need it to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.
His words according to Premium Times: “Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making,” the official told this newspaper Friday afternoon.
“It (Zhongshan) has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.
“Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly.”
Vanguard had reported how the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga had said that the federal government in collaboration with the Ogun State government are doing everything to quash the frivolous order obtained by Zhongshan in Paris to seize Nigeria’s presidential jets.
His words:
“The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
“The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.
“The federal government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun state government to reach an amicable resolution to the matter.
“It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.
“When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.
“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice are working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.
“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets to foreign jurisdictions.
“Material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of cheating and scamming Governments in Africa.
“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.
“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.
“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.
“Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors”.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the direct deduction from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of government agencies to be reduced from 50% to 20%.
The move is part of efforts to ease the financial burden on the government agencies and encourage financial autonomy.
Based on the fresh directive, the leaders of several unions in the aviation sector, who had earlier threatened to embark on a strike, have opened discussions with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to deliberate on their stance and the implications of this policy change.
The outcome of these discussions could have significant ramifications for the operational and financial strategies of affected agencies across the nation.
Details later…
More...
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has made an allegation against the federal government.
NLC accused the federal government of planning to reduce the tenure of labour union leaders to two years.
The labour centre declared it would not be intimidated by what it described as an orchestrated campaign against its leadership and operations.
The NLC’s head of information and public affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, who addressed journalists in Abuja on the development, including last week’s raid on the NLC secretariat, accused the government of gross interference in the unions’ internal matters, warning that the move is part of a broader strategy to weaken the labour movement.
Upah stated that if the government insists on a two-year tenure for union leaders, it should apply the same standard to all public offices, including the presidency.
The NLC spokesman also condemned the government’s attempts to suppress the NLC’s voice, including a recent threat from the Registrar of Trade Unions regarding the NLC’s relationship with the Labour Party, stating that the action violated constitutional rights and international labour conventions.
The NLC also responded to police statements justifying the raid, dismissing their claims as contradictory and lacking credibility.
The union further challenged the police to provide evidence for their actions and expressed concern over the potential risks posed by the raid, vowing to hold the police accountable for any future incidents.
He said, “Government is also frantically working to reduce to two the number of years trade unionists could hold office. This constitutes a gross interference in the internal running of the trade unions in violation of the corpus of labour laws and ILO conventions.
We advise the government to stop further acts of intimidation against the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed against the generality of Nigerians”.
“We demand that government put an end to this hybrid war against congress. However, if government feels two years is the best tenure to go, it should be two years for every one including the President of the country.
“We advise the government to stop meddling in the affairs of Labour Party even as it’s destabilization campaign against opposition parties has reached a crescendo. The decision of a competent court of jurisdiction guides our actions.”
The Federal Government has appealed to aviation unions to shelve their plans for a strike over the deduction of 50 per cent of the internal revenue of aviation agencies.
In a memo dated August 14, the unions comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) had threatened to strike.
But the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has appealed to them to shelve the planned strike.
Keyamo in a statement he signed on Friday, assured the workers’ unions and other stakeholders in the sector that President Bola Tinubu is “very concerned about the improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies”.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the Government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all,” Keyamo said
READ PRESS STATEMENT BELOW
Friday, 16th August, 2024
Press Statement by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Regarding the Call to Action by Aviation Unions over the Deduction of 50% of the Internal Revenue of Aviation AgenciesThe Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has been made aware of the call to action by the workers’ unions within the aviation sector to protest the Federal Government’s deduction of 50% of all internally generated revenue of Aviation Agencies at source. The concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact these deductions have on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.
2. We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry. The Ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
3. The Honourable Minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.
4. We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the Government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all.
5. We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.
Thank you,
Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK)
Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the results of the 2023 presidential election are “official and authentic.”
INEC dismissed claims that the last presidential election was riddled with discrepancies between the results on its website and those presented by returning officers at the National Collation Centre.
The electoral body was responding to a letter from the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), claiming that in the televised announcements, INEC reported 1,578 polling units (PUs) where voting was cancelled due to irregularities.
The letter was dated August 7 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
CCIJ made the claim while relying on the Freedom of Information Law.
In the letter, CCIJ said no figures were given for the reason, but officials claimed overvoting, violence, and other irregularities, adding that the total number of registered voters was about 1,205,000.
Responding, Yakubu’s spokesman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said INEC does not announce election results on YouTube, adding that there are no discrepancies either in the number of registered voters or the presidential election results announced by the Commission.
He said: “There are no ‘differences’ in the number of polling units and registered voters in the listed states. The total number of polling units and registered voters remains as announced by the Commission.
“The result of an election may be cancelled for specific reasons, including violence, over-voting, and refusal to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated in the extant laws. At the same time, the conditions for making a return when the result of an election is cancelled or declared null and void in specific polling units have also been explained in the Electoral Act 2023 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2022). You are invited to read the full details on our website, www.inecnigeria.org.
“The results of the 2023 presidential election presented by our 36 State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT at the National Collation Centre, Abuja, are official and authentic.
“The figures quoted in your letter purportedly from some local government areas in Imo State are inconsistent with the details/results presented publicly by the Imo State Returning Officer at the National Collation Centre, Abuja.”
There is a growing concern again among Nigerians as the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as fuel or petrol, is nearing ₦1,000 per litre at filling stations across states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Naija News understands that the supply of petrol has experienced intermittent availability throughout the nation, resulting in numerous filling stations being unable to provide the product.
Recent findings have revealed the unpleasant experience of motorists and general consumers of the product in FCT and various States across Nigeria.
It has been revealed that at certain stations operated by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the satellite towns of the FCT, petrol is being sold for nearly ₦1,000 per litre.
Meanwhile, motorists are enduring extensive wait times at the outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and a select few major oil marketers that are dispensing fuel within the city of Abuja.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has attributed the ongoing petrol shortage to a lack of direct supply from the NNPCL.
Speaking on the development on Thursday, a former Chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot, Lagos, Akin Akinade, told Daily Trust that: “Our members have no direct supply from NNPC. We buy from Third Party. We buy at DAPMAN (Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria) Depot in Abule Ado.”
FCT/Abuja
Naija News learnt that numerous fuel stations in Abuja were closed yesterday, while the few that were operational experienced extensive queues.
This predicament began several days prior to the #EndBadGovernance protest, which started on the 1st of this month and has continued for over two weeks since then.
At the Umaru Ngelzarma Filling Station located in the Lokogoma area of Kabusa District in the FCT, one of our reporters noted yesterday that petrol was being sold at ₦980 per litre.
Additionally, at Christee’s Petrol Station, also situated in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, the price for the product was recorded at ₦950 per litre.
Long lines were observed at the NNPCL station in Katampe, along the Kubwa Expressway, where motorists indicated they were prepared to spend the night in order to purchase fuel at ₦617 per litre.
Another NNPCL station at Airport Junction, Jabi, was not dispensing fuel during a visit by one of our reporters yesterday.
This scenario was consistent across most petrol stations in Abuja and its surroundings, primarily due to the scarcity of the product.
Lagos
Journalists in Lagos reported yesterday that long lines formed at NNPCL stations offering fuel at ₦568 per litre, while other stations such as Mobil, MRS, and North West charged between ₦600 and ₦650 per litre.
Commercial drivers shared their significant worries regarding the ongoing scarcity and the steep price increases at the limited stations that are still operational, primarily located on the outskirts of the nation’s commercial hub.
“The hike in fuel price is the major problem we have in Nigeria. I bought ₦900- ₦950 in Calabar, that is why I have not travelled again. It is affecting our business.
“I left my bus because some filling stations sold ₦1,000 per litre,” Omotayo Adenikeju, a transporter, told newsmen.
However, a former chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot in Lagos, Akinade, told Daily Trust that third-party vendors from which some of their members source the product, “sell to us ₦840, ₦850; and by the time you add transportation to that, there’s no way our members would sell less than they’re selling.
“If they bring down their price, we’re also going to bring down our price. We’re in business to make money.”
Kano
Motorists in Kano reported purchasing fuel at ₦950 per litre from independent oil marketers’ stations, while NNPCL stations offered it at₦620.
This includes locations such as Kano Line, Kofar Nasarawa, Club Road near Murtala Muhammed Way, and Tal’udu Sabon Titi.
A commercial driver, Habibu Sani, expressed a preference for waiting in line at the NNPCL station rather than paying over ₦900 for a litre of fuel. Another driver, Kabiru Yakasai, stated that he had to park his vehicle due to the unaffordability of fuel priced above ₦900 per litre.
At an AY Maikifi outlet on Maiduguri Road, it was noted that fuel was being sold for ₦900, while A.A. Rano Station on Gyadi-Gyadi Zaria Road was dispensing it at ₦730.
Bashir Umar, an independent oil marketer in Kano, explained that the current supply shortage is due to marketers hesitating to transport fuel from Lagos, fearing a price drop once Dangote Refinery begins its market supply.
He indicated that marketers acquire fuel at ₦900 per litre in Kano and subsequently sell it for ₦950, accounting for transportation expenses.
Maiduguri
Reports from this region revealed that virtually all the NNPCL filling stations in the Borno State capital are located at the Bulumkutu area, along Kano Road; Mohammed Indimi Way, Off Damboa Road and Galadima Junction along Low-Cost Road, were closed yesterday.
A driver, Aminu Idris, said: “We cannot afford to buy petrol from independent marketers at ₦950”.
Speaking, IPMAN Chairman, Borno State chapter, Mohammed Kuluwu, told journalists that most stations in the state deliberately suspended fuel supply owing to “the crisis resulting from the #EndBadGovernance protest”.
Oyo
Naija News authoritatively reports that fuel is currently being sold at ₦850 and ₦900 at several filling stations in the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State.
Our correspondent, who recently bought fuel at two different stations, reports that the product was sold on Monday at ₦850 and subsequently, on Thursday, many of the petrol stations changed their pump price to ₦900.
Meanwhile, black markets around this region of the state currently sell the product at exorbitant prices.
CSO’s Reaction
Naija News reports that the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has conveyed its concerns regarding the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting Nigeria.
In a statement released by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA articulated its dissatisfaction with the federal government’s lack of response to this issue.
The organization noted that fuel scarcity has become a prevalent issue nationwide, with Abuja and other significant urban areas consistently experiencing extended fuel queues.
“Despite the various excuses provided by the NNPCL, the crisis persists, leading to speculations that the company may be benefiting from the situation.
“In the past three months alone, the NNPCL has churned out no fewer than five different excuses for the ongoing fuel scarcity, ranging from logistics challenges to supply chain disruptions.
“However, none of these explanations hold water, given that the crisis continues to linger unabated. If the NNPCL were serious about resolving the issue, they would have done so by now”, it said. HURIWA alleged that if the NNPCL had not benefited from the fuel crisis, it would have resolved it long ago.
“The simultaneous occurrence of fuel scarcity and the reported challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery suggest an orchestrated effort to undermine the refinery’s operations, further entrenching the NNPCL’s monopoly over Nigeria’s petroleum industry,” the organization noted.
However, the NNPCL has yet to issue any official statement regarding the recent development as of the time of filing this report.
[NaijaNews]