A talented Nigerian lady named Chiamaka Favour Obumma has left many people gushing online as she showed off a dress she crafted using maize seeds and silk.
She took some beautiful photos to her Facebook page and captioned it, “Agbado Outfi, Please drop your best emoji for this outfit.”
“I made my blouse with maize grain/seed, and my earrings feature a combination of the grain and silk. My beautiful skirt is made from the sheath/husk.”
“In the second picture, it displays the color of the sheath when it dries, and I used pears (ube) for my necklace. Please stay tuned; I’ll be posting the process once I’m out of this camp.”
See her photos below:
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The lady’s post has garnered the attention of individuals who have flooded the comment section with recognition of her talent and their thoughts. Read some comments below:
Ikechi Maryjane Genevieve said, “Go baby. Your kind creativity is always out of the world. This is great.”
Acidma-Lois Joan said, “Mother of Creativity herself, this is good….you should be awarded for this Dear.”
Precious Stanley ProperCare said, “You are creative indeed nne. I see you in higher places. Keep it up o.”
Soibifaa Ogbuji said, “You are doing well my darling… Keep being yourself!!! Beautiful and very creative.”
Nnatu Zimuzo Echezona said, “Wowww. Am speechless ooo. You are creative personified.”
The Federal Government’s expenditure exceeded revenue by N1.43tn in the first three months of 2023, according to figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The CBN revealed in its economic report for the third quarter of 2023 obtained by The PUNCH on Friday that this was 9.6 per cent higher than the last quarter of 2022 figure.
It stated, “The fiscal operations of the FGN in 2023, Q1, resulted in a deficit. At N1.43tn, the provisional fiscal deficit of the FGN was 9.6 per cent higher than the level in the preceding quarter but 22.1 per cent below the target.”
According to the report, the fiscal performance in 2023, Q1 was impaired by low oil revenue realisation. Consequently, the retained revenue of the FGN fell by 10.7 per cent, relative to 2022, Q4, and was 46.1 per cent below the quarterly target.
FGN’s aggregate expenditure also declined by 1.3 and 36.0 per cent, relative to the preceding quarter and the quarterly target, respectively.
It said, “Thus, the FGN overall deficit widened relative to 2022, Q4, but narrowed by 22.1 per cent when compared with the proportionate budget. Consolidated public debt, as at end-December 2022, stood at N46.25tn (or 22.8 per cent of GDP).
At N3.48tn, the CBN report said, gross federation revenue fell below the levels in 2022, Q4 and the budget benchmark by 0.4 and 26.6 per cent, respectively.
Non-oil revenue continued to dominate government revenue, accounting for 61.4 per cent, while oil receipts accounted for 38.6 per cent.
Oil revenue, at N1.34tn, declined by 3.0 and 43.5 per cent, relative to 2022, Q4 and quarterly target. The performance was indicative of revenue shortfalls from petroleum profit tax and royalties, following lower domestic crude production.
“Conversely, non-oil receipts, at N2.14n, improved against the preceding quarter by 1.2 per cent, but was 9.6 per cent below the quarterly target of N2.37tn,” the report said.
[Punch]
Unions in the critical sectors of the economy and 52 other affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, have stepped up the mobilisation of members ahead of the two-day warning strike planned by the workers’ body to protest the increasing suffering of citizens following the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol.
The warning strike holds between Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
Among the critical sector unions are the Nigeria Union of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, which controls the fuel distribution across the country; the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PTECSSAN, and National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, that controls the junior workers in the financial industry.
Others include the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN; National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE; Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAN, National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers, NAPE; National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE; National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, and others in the manufacturing sector.
While some of these unions such as the MWUN, had already written to intimidate their employers and other stakeholders about the impending shutdown, others said they would formally inform their employers on Monday.
MWUN, in a circular by its Deputy Secretary General, Erazua Oniha, on behalf of the Union’s Secretary General, Felix Akingboye, among others, said: “We receive a communique from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on the above subject, directing that all NLC affiliates commence a two-day nationwide warning strike to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the State vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
“This decision was reached at a meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, of NLC, which was held on Thursday, August 31, 2023 to deliberate the way forward, consequent to the increase in the pump price of petrol by the FG without consideration to providing palliatives to cushion the definite effect on the Nigerian workers and citizens.
“Consequent to the foregoing, all National Administrative Council, NAC, Central Working Committee, CWC, NEC and members in all ports, jetties, terminals and Oil and Gas platforms nationwide are by this notice directed to commence on immediate and total mobilisation of our members to effectively ensure their participation in the nationwide warning strike from Tuesday 5 to Wednesday 6 September 2023.” Similarly, in the telecommunications sector, General Secretary of PTECSSAN, Okonu Abdullahi, told Sunday Vanguard that members would fully participate in the strike action, saying “We operate in a very sensitive sector. What will happen for now is that because it will be a warning strike, any fault that occurred within the two days will not be attended to.”
In the same vein, Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, informed that “the workers in the electricity sector were part of the decision to embark on the warning strike. Therefore, we are fully prepared to do as directed.”
Though the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, could not be reached at the time of this report, a senior official of NUPENG who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We are an affiliate of NLC therefore, the decision is binding on us. In fact, I can tell you that we have stepped up mobilisation for the action.”
Speaking, President of NUCFRLANMPE, Babatunde ‘Goke Olatunji, said: “We are fully mobilized for the action. I can tell you that this type of strike does not need much effort to mobilize people because everybody is in pain and going through unbearable suffering.”
Recall that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had after its NEC’s meeting on Friday, said: “NEC in session of NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today until steps are taken by the government to address the excruciating mass suffering and the impoverishment experienced around the country.
“To commence a two-day warning strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5th and 6th September 2023 to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the state vacates the illegally occupied national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.”
The NLC also resolved to embark on a mass protest and rally in Imo State in September over what it described as a renewed onslaught by the government and its agents against labour unions.
Ajaero explained that the proposed strike action was necessitated as a result of the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard to engage the relevant stakeholders through the channel of social dialogue.
He said the FG has refused to engage and reach an agreement with the organized labour on critical issues on the consequences of the unfortunate hike in prices of petroleum which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses.
“There is a renewed onslaught against trade unions and their leadership by the states and their agents across Nigeria. The Police under the instruction of certain forces peddling the name of the President of Nigeria have invaded and occupied the national headquarters of the NURTW headquarters seeking to install its own executives”
[Vanguard]
It is a difficult time to be a Nigerian. Living in a Hobbesian fictional world, where everything seems nasty, brutish and short, particularly in the turbulent eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s reign; nothing has changed for Nigerians in the past three months.
President Bola Tinubu whose leadership Nigerians expected to birth a new lease of life, wasted no time in making the situation worse for them following the removal of subsidy from Premium Motor Spirit. Since June when the Commander-in-Chief announced subsidy removal, things have not been the same for Nigerians, many of whom now lament openly the pitiable conditions under which they live.
However, there is hope on the horizon that things are likely to change for good with the recent inauguration of the Federal Executive Council by the President. This optimism derives in part from the pledged commitment of the first citizen to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians, having admitted recently that the past few years have been difficult for the people.
The new ministers are expected to hit the ground running but how fast remains a matter of conjecture. For a President desirous of turning around the fortunes of a nation whose potentials have been dwarfed by decades of poor planning and policy somersault; critical sectors of the economy must be allowed to breathe without difficulty.
While in the saddle, Buhari placed Nigeria on the global map for the wrong reasons. From having the highest number of out-of-school children estimated conservatively at over 10 million to being the world capital of poverty, Africa’s largest country became a consistent symbol of jokes around the world.
He came on a three-point agenda namely, fight against insecurity, revival of the economy and war against corruption but at the time of exit, Buhari had left the world and millions of his supporters disappointed as none of the cardinal programmes of his administration came close to witnessing even a marginal improvement since he took over the reins of governance in 2015. Across the land, gunmen boasting their connection in high places killed for fun even as they had a field day breaking into correctional facilities to free their members arrested previously by security agencies.
The economy suffocated from a combination of ills, including fiscal indiscipline, monetary policy somersault, and low productivity to mention but a few. All these, according to President Tinubu, will soon give way to a more robust economy where the naira would appreciate in value side by side with other currencies in the world. Perhaps, there is a reason to be hopeful.
The cabinet turned out not exactly what Nigerians expected, yet, the inclusion of the likes of Bosun Tijani, Muhammed Pate and Wale Edun as well as a handful of others is enough to look forward to greater things in the months ahead but for Nigeria to stand a chance of living true to her potentials, critical sectors of the economy must witness significant turnaround as quickly as possible.
Judiciary
For the better part of the immediate past administration, the rule of law was constantly in focus for the wrong reasons. Court orders not favourable to the Federal Government were sometimes ignored without a thought for posterity.
The disobedience of court order against the continued trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, and flagrant refusal to obey court orders for the release of Ibrahim El-zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and Nnamdi Kanu readily come to mind.
Thus, President Tinubu will do himself a world of good by giving the judicial arm of government the respect it deserves, for in the words of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, much is expected from the judiciary if Nigeria must win back her status as one of the leading black nations on earth.
To attain this feat, the country needs “Massive law reforms, digitalisation of the entire court processes and practices, immediate enhancement of judges conditions of service, including salaries, emoluments, annual travels, medical care, local and foreign seminars, workshops, conferences and a guaranteed house to retire to.”
Security
Nigeria witnessed one of her most challenging times under Buhari following the escalation of killings, kidnapping for ransom, and terrorism in different parts of the country. Despite his military background, Buhari had no solution to the deadly campaigns by terrorists who even embarrassed him on more than one occasion in his ancestral home of Daura, Katsina State.
In many instances, Katsina State witnessed attacks from terrorists with Buhari in town; an indication that they were neither scared nor believed that the then President had what it takes to address the security situation.
Like Buhari, Tinubu’s administration has started off on a bad note. With barely three months in the saddle, the former Lagos State Governor’s ability to secure the nation is currently a subject of debate. A fortnight ago, three officers and 22 soldiers died in Zungeru, Niger State, when gunmen laid ambush.
“Troops, while conducting offensive operations around Kundu general area in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, got into an ambush. Following a firefight, three officers and 22 soldiers were killed in action, while seven soldiers were wounded.
“Subsequently, the NAF MI-171 helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the casualties. While outbound to Kaduna, the helicopter crashed with the corpses of the 14 personnel earlier killed in action, seven of the personnel were wounded in action, while two pilots and two crew members of the helicopter also died.
“Operations are ongoing to recover the bodies and investigate the cause of the air crash, which will be communicated. Surely, no group will strike its own troops with impunity,” the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, told journalists at a briefing on the tragedy.
President Tinubu had a few weeks ago named Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawalle as Minister and Minister of State, Defence respectively. The two who until recently were governors of Jigawa and Zamfara states were not bookmakers’ predictions for the highly sensitive security sector based on their zero military experience.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, security consultant, Captain Umar Aliyu (retd.) came short of saying that the choice of the two ex-governors might leave Nigeria in a worse state.
He said, “When you look at where we are coming from and where we are, you can then begin to imagine where we are going. The immediate past Minister of Defence was General Bashir Magashi (retd). When Magashi came on board this same APC under Buhari, we wondered why it had to be him. The reason was that Magashi as of the time he was appointed minister by Buhari had been out of touch with governance. At that time, there were enough Generals who had served in a democracy from 1999 to the time Magashi was appointed Defence Minister but Buhari did not choose any of them. Buhari went on to bring in a man who served his entire career in a military dispensation. The man had no idea of what the democracy of security was all about.
“If a General could only achieve what we saw the last time, what more of an Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawalle? Even though being a Defence Minister is not exclusively the job of a General, having the required antecedents is an added advantage. If you put a blind man in a dark room, with black walls, he is handicapped because even if you give him eyes, he won’t see.”
That said, Aliyu warned of imminent danger if the two ministers failed to master the intrigues in their new terrain fast enough.
“If Badaru and Matawalle do not tread carefully, there are hawks in the Ministry of Defence who will exploit their current situation and at the end of the day, the bulk will stop on their tables whether for credit or for blame,” he added.
Taking a different position, security expert and golden member of the Switzerland Security Association, Mr Jackson Ojo, said there was no cause for alarm, adding that the zero military experience notwithstanding, the ex-governors could make a difference if they would be able to muster the political will to get things done in the interest of the nation.
His words, “The minister of Defence is an administrative officer but he has enormous influence and powers over the military and paramilitary security apparatus of the country. The most important thing is for the minister to have will power. If the President really wants to see the difference in the security situation of this country, there is no minister that will not act.
“The fact that he has a retired senior police officer as the National Security Officer and they are working in tandem is enough reason to hope for a new dawn. When the NSA came to Port Harcourt for the inspection of oil facilities recently, I was glad that he came with the Minister and Minister of State for Defence. It shows they will work in synergy with the NSA. Once the service chiefs see that these people are working together, they will have to cooperate.
Badaru may not be a security expert, but he has been a chief security officer of a state for eight years. The most important thing is the cooperation with the NSA. The two ministers can do a lot. It is good that the President has charged everyone to hit the ground running. That is an added motivation for them to perform because non-performance can earn them the sacking.”
Finance
The naira is on a free-fall; no thanks to the monetary inconsistency of the Buhari-led administration, with a Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, whose professional calling as a banker was compromised by his near venture into the world of partisan politics.
Although President Tinubu has brought in an economic expert, Wale Edun, as the Minister of Finance to steer the wheel of the sector, Abuja-based tax consultant, Adams Echono said the new man “would need to move very quickly to sanitise the Nigeria financial system. Nigeria is in dire straits financially and will need the expertise of Mr Wale Edun to bring some stability to the nation’s economy. The minister’s input will bring stability into our fiscal and monetary system, help manage our huge debt portfolio and ensure fiscal responsibility across all tiers of government.”
Education
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has also promised to hit the ground running, having assured Nigerians that the National Library would be completed in 21 months. Besides this all-important project, Nigerians are eagerly awaiting his magic wand on how to revive the sector, particularly at the tertiary level.
While it may be too early to hazard a guess at the programmes he is likely to unveil in the weeks ahead, Nigerians will be glad to have in the saddle a Minister of Education who will play his part in ensuring that the perennial industrial actions witnessed during the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) become a thing of the past.
The global ranking of universities is an area Professor Tahir needs to avail the nation of his wealth of experience and know-how. How he does this remains to be seen in the months ahead.
Marine and Blue Economy
The creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seen as a strategic move by President Tinubu to delve into Nigeria’s untapped aquatic endowments. Blessed with vast waterways spread across the northern and southern plains, Nigeria has yet to reap bountifully from this sub-sector. This, experts attributed to decades of neglect by successive administrations; military and civilian combined.
The appointment of the immediate past governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has been commended by industry players not because of his expertise but because of his willingness to learn and determination to make a difference.
The minister has expressed his readiness to bring in expertise to tap into the sector, earn the nation revenue and invest in the sector value chain for sustainable impact and job creation. Perhaps, the nation’s quest to attain United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal number 14 (Life under Water) is on its way to fruition with the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy
Speaking with our correspondent, Gombe-based agriculturalist, Sanusi Yunusa, tasked Oyetola to make the sector the next goldmine after oil and gas.
“I was particularly happy with the creation of this Ministry. Although I don’t know the minister’s brief, I do hope he is allowed to make decisions concerning fishery. There is no reason for this country to be spending huge amount of foreign exchange to import fish and fish products. We have the waters. The Lake Chad that is drying up should be quickly looked into as well. We have a lot of money-spinning opportunities in this country, but investment is lacking,” he said.
Mr Yunusa further called on the Federal Government to give the new minister the freedom to implement his ideas to avail the country the mileage embedded in the sector.
Works
Except for the education and health sectors, works is one area President Bola Tinubu can carve a niche for his administration in the next four years. Some of the nation’s highways had in the past few decades turned to death traps, following successive administration’s failure to either rehabilitate them or construct new ones.
Despite claims by the immediate past administration that it constructed 600 roads spread across the country, Nigerians, majority of whom travel by road, would be glad to see the new Minister of Works, Dave Umahi hit the ground running. Good a thing, the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State has promised to bring his engineering ingenuity to bear starting with the lightening up of the Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
Although politicians’ words are often taken with a pinch of salt, there is a sufficient premise to hope in the new era given Umahi’s impressive achievement in infrastructural development in Ebonyi State, particularly in roads and flyovers’ construction. In what appears a deviation from the past, Umahi’s reign may involve local contractors with the Federal Government now mooting the possibility of embracing public private partnership once again.
“We are going to be reintroducing the PPP to allow private individuals or firms take part in our road construction and running same for a period of time. We are not going to introduce tolling on our federal expressways but maybe with time, we will. What matters now is to fix these roads,” Umahi was quoted as saying in a maiden meeting with staff members of the ministry and contractors in Abuja recently.
Perhaps, the minister’s resolve to deploy technology will not only culminate into quality jobs but may spell doom for contractors whose stock in trade is poor service delivery.
Speaking recently in Abuja, Umahi said, “I will challenge my fellow engineers on the issue of concrete technology. Even in the midst of forex challenge and petroleum crisis, the nation is endowed with natural resources; so, we should be prepared for the renewed hope of the present government anchored on change.
“I am not an office person; I am a field person, which means we are going to make changes. We are starting inspection tours to inspect ongoing projects and to know the ones to come up with.”
Should the PPP arrangement come on board, direct and indirect jobs would be created to absorb a good number of Nigerians who would be too glad to deploy their creative energies to earn a living.
Power
Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu’s assuring words of stable and affordable power supply is music to the ears of Nigerians who have been treated to epileptic power supply for decades. Adelabu said the Federal Government would go the whole distance to take advantage of the Nigerian Electricity Act, 2023, which provides for a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the operation of a fully privatised, cost and service-reflective tariff, to boost power supply across the country.
Stable power supply, if attained, would propel Tinubu to the summit of national prominence given that previous administrations failed to deliver on promises made. Already, a total sum of N7tn has been expended as direct intervention in the power sector by the Federal Government. There is a belief that stable power supply is likely to birth a new crop of businessmen and a return of companies who left Nigeria a few years ago owing to the cost of powering their plants on their own.
An inspector of Police captured on video camera slapping a commuter repeatedly in Imo State is now cooling off at the Provost Marshal’s office at the Police headquarters, in Abuja.
The officer was captured by another commuter on a shuttle, first, manhandling the victim who appeared not to be intimidated by the officer.
The incident captured by another commuter in a 41-minute viral video showed the victim wearing a face cap and a white T-shirt.
The victim could be heard saying, “I did not do anything”, when the officer, clearly infuriated, removed the victim’s cap and used it to hit his face.
When the rest of the commuters pleaded with him to stop hitting the young man, he warned them and asked that they stay away from the matter.
The officer again threatened to slap another commuter standing beside the victim who was pleading.
The officer was further captured saying to the victim, “Are you the only person? If you say rubbish, I will beat you. I will tell my boys to lock you in the booth.
“Do you know who I am? How many of your family are police inspectors? I am asking you”, he yelled at the victim who was trying to make a comment while also hitting him.
The victim then calmly responded saying, “This thing you are doing here, if I make a call you will be in trouble”.
Enraged by his statement, the officer hit him further, attempting to use a stick he was holding on the victim.
Updating Nigerians on Saturday evening, the spokesperson of the police said the inspector was “brought to the FHQ, Abuja, and he has been handed over to the Provost Marshal for necessary disciplinary action”’
He added, “We will not condone any act of unprofessionalism”.
Muyiwa also posted an image of the Inspector in his office in Abuja, where he was made to watch himself in the viral video.
The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday said it is investigating a report of an alleged extortion of N620,000 by some men said to be police officers wearing Mufti along the Sanni Abacha road, GRA in Rivers State.
The Police Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed this while reacting to the complaints via his X, formerly Twitter, account.
Some men said to be officers of the Rivers State Police Command were reported to have accosted one Daniel at about 9 p.m. while he rode on an Uber.
The men, five in number, were said to have appeared in an all-black attire without name tags or a serial number for identification.
The brother of the victim, who reported the case via his X handle @smartninho narrated: “They seized his phone and went through it. They found nothing and went ahead to open all his bank apps and saw money in his accounts.
“They beat him up and put him in their Sienna. They kept beating him in the sienna with other boys they picked in a similar style. They did not allow him to communicate with his family or relatives.
“They drove them to a thick bush in Ogoni and continued to the border of Akwa Ibom. There they stopped and brought him out. They continued beating and threatening to shoot him if he didn’t transfer a huge amount to them.
“They started with a request for Twenty million Naira (N20m). They emptied his accounts, removing over Six hundred and twenty thousand Naira (N620k)”.
The post shared at 3: 38 p.m. on Saturday, gained traction after an independent journalist and influencer on the X App escalated the incident via his paid blue tick page.
The spokesperson of the police, Muyiwa while reacting said, “This will be looked into again. I am personally taking it up”.
He added, “I agree that we have recorded some cases against the men in Rivers Command, and we will address them all. I want to commend those who have been sending in their complaints. Justice will be done”.
The Rivers State Police command has come under fire in recent times following numerous complaints and claims from residents of brutality, indiscriminate extortion, high-handedness, unprofessionalism and public disobedience of police extant laws.
In April, three officers were captured assaulting a motorist in the state. The officers were seen slapping the victim repeatedly after beating him with a cane.
In a follow-up to Muyiwa’s reaction, the Nigeria Police Force also took to its official page to condemn the situation, pledging to take action if “guilt is proven”.
It said, “We take misconduct allegations seriously and are concerned about the reported incident. The welfare and safety of all citizens matter.
“An investigation is underway. Rest assured, action will be taken if guilt is proven. Thank you for bringing this to our notice”.
The management of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a Federal Government-contracted oil pipeline surveillance firm has accused the Nigerian Navy of arresting its staff while ensuring that oil thieves fled when the company staff made attempts to arrest them.
The company also said it had evidence to disprove the arrest and continued detention of its personnel over an alleged crude oil theft.
Operatives of the Navy under the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga had arrested four Tantita personnel on the waterways in Itolu community, Lekki, in Lagos State.
The Navy said they were investigating the circumstances that led to economic sabotage and how the oil product from Ondo State made its way to the Lagos Sea.
But Tantita in a statement on Saturday explained details of the incident accusing the Navy of sabotage.
It said, “On Monday, August 28, at about 1:30 p.m., a Tantita Security Services patrol team operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an offshore oil well jacket.
“In fact, the same well jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where we caught MT TURA II stealing crude oil, a few months ago.
“They dispatched an advance team to find the wooden boat while a backup team comprising Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) component of the government security agencies (GSA) was assembled to follow through on the lead.
“While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six and our personnel were eight, not four. The advance team with the help of local fisher folk could determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading toward Lagos and gave hot pursuit.
“Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams, the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat.
“One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave hot pursuit.
“There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.
“There is also evidence of the Tantita and GSA team giving chase to the crew of the boat. How then did the Nigerian Navy get involved in this operation?
“The escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled toward the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base at Ibeju-Lekki, so the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit, believing that the criminals would meet their waterloo there.
“They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested.
“After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.”
The firm stated that as soon as the men were arrested, the management of Tantita reached out to the Navy for clarification of the situation, and they received feedback saying they were investigating and the men would be released, yet they were still being detained.
Tantita claimed to have gotten the outcome of the Navy’s investigation on the incident saying “There are even more damning revelations, which out of courtesy to the Navy hierarchy and the needs of national security we will not divulge on the pages of a newspaper”.
It, however, noted that “the continued detention by the Nigerian Navy of these five brave, selfless Nigerians who risked their lives on the high seas to protect our commonwealth is a disservice to our nation.
“These family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation”, the firm stated.
Simon Ekpa, acclaimed prime minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), Saturday, said “if Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans being illegally detained by the Nigeria state are not released, and all roadblocks and checkpoints in the South-East not dismantled on or before 15th of September 2023, the people will embark on another 3 weeks’ civil disobedience with a curfew.”
Ekpa stated this in a release entitled ‘delegitimisation of Nigeria within Biafra territory’.
The breakdown of the three-week sit-at-home shows that ‘Week One, September 18, 2023, will be the normal Monday sit-at-home; September 19, 2023, to September 22, 2023 will be a curfew from 6am to 12 noon; while September 23 2023 will be normal movement.
The statement added, “Week Two, 25.9.2023, there will be normal Monday sit-at-home; 26.9.2023 to 29.9.2023, there will be curfew from 6am to 12noon; 30.9.2023 and 1.10.2023 and 1.10. 2023, there will be normal movement in Biafra country.
“Week Three, 2.10.2023, normal Monday sit-at-home; 3.10.2023 to 6.10.2023, there will be curfew from 6am to 12noon. During this 3 weeks’ curfew, every Nigeria government secretariat in Biafra territory must shut down in all states.”
Our correspondent reports that Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra in June this year, barred Ekpa from declaring sit-at-home, describing the act as ‘killing the economy of the south-easterners whom he is fighting for’.
Kanu’s handwritten statement was unveiled during a world press conference in Enugu organised by his special counsel, Barr Aloy Eimakor.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing had, Friday, reaffirmed their resolve to end sit-at-home in the Southeast of Nigeria.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze youths “expressed concern over the instigated insecurity and socio-economic disruptions in Igbo land.
” While commending the Southeast governors for all the efforts towards overcoming these challenges, the acting national youth leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, stated that they shall not rest on their oars till peace and security is restored in Southeast and Nigeria at large.”
IPOB had declared sit-at-home in 2021 to demand the release of Kanu who is being detained at the custody of the DSS over alleged treason, running a proscribed group and jumping bail.
Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home by IPOB, Ekpa’s renegade wing has been ordering sit-at-home, including a two-week sit-at-home last month.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has assured Nigerians that his ministry would be transparent and people-centered in all its dealings.
The minister, who spoke during the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), explained that transparency and people-centredness in rule of law are key to the country’s progress.
The NBA’s annual conference which was held in Abuja ended on Friday.
At the gathering, Fagbemi held that going forward, the Ministry under his watch will place the fundamental rights of average citizens and their well being at the centre of its strategies or policies.
“I have realised that with the enormity of tasks at hand, the most reliable approach to making significant progress will be to place the people at the centre of every policy and strategy of the Ministry.
“With the generous support of Mr. President, my Ministry will dedicate its time and resources in the promotion of people-centred Justice,” said Fagbemi who also promised that his ministry’s reform agenda would involve promotion of the rule of law and administration of justice.
“We will maintain fair, transparent, and responsive processes that will reflect the aspirations of Nigerians in the overall promotion of the rule of law and administration of justice,” Fagbemi said.
THE WHISTLER reports that Fagbemi became Nigeria’s 24th AGF after his swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, 21st August, 2023.
Before his nomination as AGF, he served as the lead counsel of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defending the ruling party against petitions challenging the election of Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried its inability to secure convictions in corruption cases, including high-profile ones, attributing it to frivolous court judgments.
The spokesman for the commission, Wilson Uwajaren, in an interview with journalists in Kaduna State, highlighted some of the challenges impeding the speedy prosecution of corruption cases and securing convictions.
According to him, the losses are due to what he described as frivolous court judgments based on technicalities rather than the facts and national interest, as well as arbitrary adjournment of corruption cases, among other factors.
Uwajaren, who shared the insight at a one-day workshop for media practitioners on Effective Reporting of EFCC activities held in Kaduna State, also disclosed that the commission secured about 7,700 convictions across the country in 2022.
In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol, expressed concern over the rising internet-related fraud among the youth in Kaduna State.
The EFCC boss, who was represented by the acting Zonal Commander in the state, Aisha Abubakar, lamented that the active involvement of youths in internet-related frauds had the tendency to smear the image of the country and consequently discourage hard work and legitimate means of livelihood.
He urged the media to beam its searchlight on the menace of internet crimes and adequately inform the public about the activities of such criminal elements in order to safeguard them from falling victim to fraud.
Chukkol also restated the “unwavering” commitment of the EFCC towards eradicating all forms of economic and financial crimes in the country, noting that such efforts had led to the conviction of over 100 financial crime offenders in the Kaduna zonal office alone.
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it's a rumour, Shaibu's CPS reacts
The feud between the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Comrade Philip Shaibu is getting messier daily, following the reported evacuation of the office of the deputy out of the state Government House by Obaseki.
The office of the deputy governor which was hitherto located inside Government House in Benin, it was gathered has been relocated to the state government-owned building, an alleged abandoned property along Dennis Osadebey in GRA, Benin City, the Edo State capital.
It was gathered the new office of the embattled Philip Shaibu, is now at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, with a conspicuous signpost erected at the front of the building.
The signpost has an inscription as: “Office of the Deputy Governor; NO 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City”.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Shaibu, Comrade Musa Ebomhiana, told our correspondent that he had yet to get an official correspondent to that effect.
“I don’t know how true it is, but I still see it as a story in the realm of rumour. I have not been informed officially and I don’t believe in rumour but substance.
“This is weekend and we are here in Edo North for the election (Local Government Council election)
“And we plan to resume on Monday when the picture would be clearer. As I speak to you now, we are in an election in Edo North and I don’t want to comment on something I don’t know. It is on social media and I have also read about it,” he said.
Recall that Comrade Shaibu recently approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, and sought amongst others, an order restricting Governor Obaseki, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State and others from commencing his alleged impeachment processes.
The development according to political observers had led to the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, an in-law of the deputy governor to the state, Government House.
The deputy governor’s press crew prior to its recent disbandment by Governor Obaseki was sent out from the venue of the 60th anniversary celebration of Midwest Referendum venue in Benin.
Also, the deputy governor was recently prevented from going close to his principal Obaseki by a security detail attached to the governor during a recent function in Benin.
says Tinubu wants to rebuild the economy
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has urged Nigerians to stop complaining about the current hardship, saying all policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government are to revive the economy.
Since Tinubu’s inauguration in May, his government has taken a series of decisions including removal of subsidy on petroleum as it pushes for reforms in major sectors of the economy.
The moves have triggered criticisms from several Nigerians and recently led to nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour unions.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Uzodinma said Nigerians must “reduce lamentations and agitations” regarding the policies of the Tinubu administration.
The Imo governor said the desire of the president to “recover the economy” is “so strong and impeccable”, adding that “every reasonable mind” in the country should support the president.
“Time has come for us to begin to wear our thinking cap. To think differently and positively. Reduce lamentations and agitations and then confront the challenges before us as a people. It is not about government or Mr. President,” he said
“It is about our country. Collectively, we must decide to recover our country. You may not like the face of the man in power. You may not like the face of the President but you should listen to him to understand whether he is making some sense or committed.
“The commitment I have seen from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his desire and passion to recover the economy of this country and drive this country forward on the path of growth is so strong and impeccable that every reasonable mind in the country must jump and follow.
“And this is how many days? Just less than 70 days as president and people have started lamentations here and there. I think we should be positive thinkers and think correctly as citizens.”
Uzodimma, who is seeking re-election in November, also promised to fish out masterminds of the insecurity in the South-East state within weeks.
“In a few weeks’ time – what we have deployed now, we will soon unravel those behind the killings and insecurity in Imo State,” he added.
The governor equally restated his claims that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are the major victims of insecurity in Imo State.
“I have told the security to tell me the reasons behind it. It is not a coincidence that many people who are being killed are members of my party, APC. A child cries in the night and in the day it is lying lifeless.
“It is not also a coincidence that only lately, prominent members of my party that they participated in the last election – their houses are being attacked. Some traditional rulers that I have sympathy for our party, their party were also being attacked,” he added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recalled all ambassadors and non-career ambassadors serving in different parts of the world
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir on Saturday.
He said: “Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed that all career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Ambassadors as representatives of the country they serve at the behest of the president and it’s his prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”
The ambassadors are expected to commence the winding down of their affairs in their countries of deployment, take formal leave of the host government within 60 days and return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023, at the latest.
The minister, while thanking them for the service they have rendered in their capacity while representing the country in their host countries, said he is looking forward to welcoming them in Abuja on their return.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Economic Policy, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS).
This development was confirmed yesterday afternoon by a source close to Obiora, who also admitted that the apex bank’s deputy governor spent some days with the DSS.
The source, who is an official of the CBN, said he had no knowledge of what transpired between Obiora and DSS while in detention.
He said the deputy governor’s release from detention was welcomed by the staff of the apex bank, many of whom were already worried that they were being specifically targeted.
The CBN official said the Jim Obaze-led Special Investigations Panel had “requested for several documents from many departments as part of its investigation to unravel what transpired in the CBN under Godwin Emefiele”.
He also disclosed that the Special Investigation Panel had requested for documents from Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) and the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB).
Following the arrest of Emefiele, President Tinubu appointed a special panel led by Jim Obazee to investigate the CBN.
As part of this ongoing audit, the panel has been questioning the deputy governors of the CBN and other senior officials of the bank.