The Kano State Government has revoked the operational licenses of all private schools in the state.
The state government came to the decision after a meeting with all the private school proprietors on Saturday.
According to Special Adviser to the Governor on Private and Voluntary Institutions, Alhaji Baba Umar, all private schools are now required to complete new registration forms immediately because the government has initiated the process for the issuance of fresh certificates.
He explained that the action fed into the government’s resolve to ensure that private schools adhered to the prescribed rules of operation in the state.
“Private school proprietors are reminded of their responsibility to pay the 10 per cent tax to the government. This financial commitment always propels advancements in the sector,” he said.
The Special Adviser reassured all stakeholders that he would ensure justice and fairness in overseeing the activities of private schools in the state.
He also gave assurances to the parents, that the utmost priority had been placed on the safety of the students.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Association of Private Schools Owners, Kano State Chapter, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu, commended the government on its intervention, calling it a commendable step to elevate the local education sector.
He urged private school proprietors to collaborate with the government in facilitating the reforms, as they were meant to benefit all stakeholders.
During the meeting, a newly designed software for comprehensive data collection of private and voluntary institutions across Kano was unveiled in addition to distributing registration forms for new school entries for enhanced registration process.
The crisis in the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has escalated with some aggrieved state party chairmen accusing the party’s presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of using the party for political trading.
They accused the former Defence Minister of using the National Working Committee, NWC, to victimise people that were against his style of leadership even as they passed a vote of no confidence in him.
They rejected their suspension by the NWC and advised Kwankwaso to stop parading himself as the national Leader of the NNPP as they will no longer recognise him.
The crisis in the party began following opposition by some state chairmen to Kwankwaso’s political romance with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
They had warned that the manifestos of both the APC and NNPP were different and that the initial agreement to go to court against the declared winner of the 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu, failed because of Kwankwaso’s antics and ulterior motive of extracting personal benefits to the detriment of the party and the collective will of members.
Recall Kwankwaso who came a distant fourth in the February 25 presidential election quickly established political relationship with Tinubu, whom he visited at the presidential villa and led his loyalists to France when Tinubu, then president-elect was in France.
It was reported that Kwankwaso’s role in the election was to weaken opposition parties, a development he did not deny.
His association with Tinubu equally caused ripples in the Kano State chapter of the APC and almost ruined the relationship between Tinubu and one of his closest political allies, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate Governor of Kano State.
Ganduje warned Tinubu that Kwankwaso could not be trusted as it appeared the former governor and minister was aiming to be appointed as a minister in the current government.
Kwankwaso failed to make the cut and his associate, whom he named in the ministerial list sent to the Senate for screening was later found out and removed.
The state chairmen whose opposition to Kwankwaso has led to their suspension are accusing Kwankwaso of not having the interest of the party at heart even as they are contesting the legality of their suspension.
A statement issued by the affected Chairmen from Ogun, Niger, Rivers, Katsina, Zamfara, Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Sokoto and Ekiti States said their suspension which was announced by the National Publicity Secretary, Major Agbo, was null and void as it flouted the clear provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.
They argued that the real anti-party activity is being perpetrated by Kwankwaso who is usually “seen fraternising with candidates of other political parties in his desperate attempt to buy undue favour”.
They reckoned that, “the illegal NWC is now being used to witch hunt loyal party members who have no established record of anti-party activities
“We wonder why a disciplinary committee would sit without showing those alleged anti-party activities a copy of the petition written against them. How can the committee conclude without revealing the petitioners and their status in the party?
“Again, Article 39 Subsection 6 of the NNPP constitution states; Where it is proposed to expel a member of the Executive Committee from membership of the Party, such a proposal shall be submitted to the National Executive Committee…
“Where then did NWC derive its power to unilaterally expel the Chairman of Ogun State, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday? Isn’t this a gross violation of Article 39(6) of the NNPP Constitution? Any act that violates the Constitution is to the extent of its inconsistency null and void.
“Slandering the hard-earned image of everyone who for many years have sacrificed their resources, time, and properties in building the party for the very offence the former presidential candidate openly committed is an indication that the illegally constituted NWC is being used to achieve a sinister motive of hijacking the party in continuance of political trading which characterised Kwankwaso’s participation in the 2023 Presidential election.”
‘Too Many Naira Chasing Dollars’— IMF Says Nigeria’s Fiscal, Monetary Policies Too Weak To Boost Forex Earnings
AdminThe International Monetary Fund has said that Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policies are too weak to stimulate the value of the Naira in the foreign exchange market.
It said the country’s economic policies have been creating excess liquidity,which is making it difficult for the naira to stabilize against the dollar.
The IMF position is coming two months after President Bola Tinubu allowed the currency to trade freely.
The Central Bank of Nigeria ended the regime of regulated exchange rates on June 14, prompting a rapid devaluation of the currency.
The new policy responds to president Tinubu’s call for exchange rate liberalisation in his May 29 inaugural address.
It also came less than a week after Tinubu suspended central bank governor Godwin Emefiele from office.
Emefiele, who had been governor since 2014, was closely associated with the elaborate fixed-rate regime, which was part of a wider industrial
Speaking on the development, Ari Aisen, a resident representative for the IMF in Nigeria said the Central Bank transfers to the government are increasing the naira in circulation, depressing interest rates, discouraging savings and deterring the dollar inflows that could boost naira stability,
About N22.7 trillion was borrowed by the federal government from the CBN, through the “ways and means advances. “
Aisen said at a conference in Lagos that, “There are too many naira running after insufficient foreign exchange, The supply of foreign exchange may take some time [to build up].
“Nigeria’s central bank eased foreign exchange controls in mid-June as it sought to simplify its exchange-rate regime and kick-start dollar flows.
“That led to a 40% plunge in the official rate and persistent volatility, with the naira trading between about 750 and 800 a dollar over the last month. What’s more, the spread between the official and black market rates has widened again, reaching 18%, the highest since mid-June when the currency was allowed to trade more freely.
“The volatility seen in the naira is likely to continue for a longer period.”
Even though the Abuja-based Central Bank of Nigeria has implemented the longest cycle of monetary tightening in years, he said raising the benchmark monetary policy rate by more than 700 basis points since May, interest rates still need to go higher.
“Take the treasury bill rates, take all the other rates, it’s very difficult to give the naira a fighting chance,” he said.
Emmanuel Udende, the Senator representing Benue Northeast, has commended the zealous Davido fan, Emmanuel Myam, aka Emmiwuks.
The senator commended Emmiwuks, who embarked on a road trip from Benue State to Lagos on his bicycle to meet the singer.
Recall that Davido had ordered the fan to “turn around” that he wasn’t presently in the country but when the fan insisted on continuing his journey, he asked him to send his account number for a token and also pledged to meet him when he returns.
Reacting via his official Facebook page, Senator Udende commended the young fan for his resilience.
He promised to support Emmiwuks’ music career and also host him at his office in the National Assembly when lawmakers are back from recess.
He said, “In the past few days, I have seen a lot of updates on social media platforms concerning the passion and desire of a young man who wishes to meet and present a gift to his music Idol and Afrobeat star David Adeleke (Davido).
“I wish to applaud the resilience of Master Emmanuel Myam with the stage name Emmiwuks, who is my constituent from Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, for embarking on this journey from Benue to Lagos on a bicycle to meet Davido, the Afrobeat superstar.
“As it has been my policy to encourage young people to pursue their dreams, I wish to encourage Master Emmanuel in his chosen career which I have been told is Music.
“I will also host him in my office at the National Assembly when he returns from Lagos and we are also back from recess so that we can look at the areas I can intervene to make him excel in his chosen career.
“Ensure you are a proud ambassador of Our constituency and Benue state at large when you meet the Music icon.”
Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo state has spoken up about how he found out that his deputy, Philip Shaibu, was “working against him”.
According to Obaseki, Shaibu has become so desperate to succeed him, ahead of the Edo governorship election in 2024.
He spoke at a gathering with stakeholders in the state.
The governor said: “He (Shaibu) went to Abuja and was boasting that he has connections in Abuja, that he has people in the national assembly, that they are all with the president now, that they will take care of him. That if he cannot get the ticket in PDP, he knows what to do.
“I kept quiet and said I thought we were together. But what struck me, and I have never said this to anybody, is that after I proclaimed the house of assembly, we were now going to elect officers.
“He was in Abuja, he came back that day. I am the chief security officer of this state. I get any information I need. But I have that responsibility to keep quiet and use the information properly.
“My deputy called the leader in APC, telling that leader that during the elections on the next day, particularly speaker of the house of assembly, that he has five members who are loyal to him and that he would like the seven members of APC to work with his five members of PDP to produce the next speaker.
“As far as I am concerned, that was not working in our common interest. Why would the deputy governor seek to have another speakership candidate outside of what the governor wants? Are we working together?
“That was when I knew we had a problem. That the deputy governor has become so desperate to take over that he would do anything, including carrying out a coup, against his governor. How can you say you are loyal and you will do such a thing?”
Meanwhile, Shaibu has dismissed speculations of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), following his rift with Obaseki.
The deputy governor said this in response to speculations that he would be received in Abuja next week by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
Shaibu, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, described the rumour as the handwork of mischief makers who are bent on destabilizing Edo state.
“Mischief makers bent on destabilizing our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Mr Governor, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the APC next week. There is no iota of truth in this. The mischief makers claim that the APC NWC is set to receive me in Abuja. Is it the NWC of a party that receives a decampee into the party?.
“In view of this, I plead with these characters bent on driving a wedge between Comrade Shaibu and his boss, to put the Edo project and the people far above their own selfish interest,” the statement read in part.
The Military High Command says there are plots from different quarters to instigate members of Armed Forces of Nigeria to overthrow the present democratic administration being led by President Bola Tinubu.
It, however, said the attempt will fail, insisting that the military is happy and better under democracy, and as such it will not get involved in any act to sabotage the hard-earned democracy of Nigeria.
The Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a Brigadier-General, who stated this in an early message sent to Daily Trust on Saturday morning, described the development as “unpatriotic and wicked”.
According to him, the military would continue to perform its constitutional duties rather than plotting any coup against the present democratic administration, saying the armed forces of Nigeria would not be distracted.
Gusau’s reaction came on the heels of calls by some Nigerians that the military should step into the country’s leadership position owing to the perceived failure of democratic governments.
But in his message, the senior military officer said the armed forces of Nigeria under the leadership of Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, would not for any reason involve in any form of insubordination.
“The reports calling on the military to interfere in our democracy is highly unpatriotic, wicked, and an attempt to distract the Armed Forces of Nigeria from performing its constitutional responsibilities,” the senior military said.
He also dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the troops of the Nigerian military were not well taken care of, noting that it would not allow any individual or group of individuals to instigate military officers against the present government.
Gusau added, “The Defence headquarters frowns at a report being circulated online about welfare issues in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We wish to state unequivocally that the military is happy and better under democracy and will not get involved in any act to sabotage the hard-earned democracy in our country.
“While the leadership of the AFN gives priority to welfare of its personnel however, we detest any attempt by any individual or group to instigate the law-abiding Armed Forces of Nigeria to embark on any unconstitutional change of government in our country.
“The AFN under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa is determined to ensure complete subordination of the Armed Forces to constitutional authority under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and will not be distracted from its roles that are well defined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).”
Indications have emerged that Nigerian Senators reportedly shared N218 million as a “holiday” allowance.
Naija News understands that each of the 109 senators was paid N2 million before the red chamber went on its seven weeks recess.
Recall that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had on Tuesday during plenary when he mistakenly revealed that tokens had been sent to senators to ‘enjoy’ their recess.
A video clip showing Akpabio making the blunder had gone viral on social media.
The incident reportedly happened on Monday after the senators concluded the screening and confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees.
“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” Akpabio said.
He later withdrew his earlier comment saying, “I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the senate president has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
A source who pleaded anonymity told Premium Times that bank alerts were received by the senators on 8 August, just before Akpabio announced it.
The source, however, did not clarify if presiding officers also got N2 million each but confirmed that all 109 senators were paid the allowance for the holidays, which commenced on Monday and will end on 26 September.
Attesting to this fact, Naija News reported earlier that a lawmaker representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, Abdul Ningi revealed how much lawmakers got as a recess ‘token.’
According to Ningi, some lawmakers have gotten N2 million as recess allowance. However, he claimed not to have received his own.
Senator Ningi speaking on the development days after Akpabio’s statement confirmed that some lawmakers had gotten an allowance as earlier hinted.
Speaking with Channels TV, he said, “Nothing has come to my account yet. I heard that some people got N2m but for me, nothing yet. Hopefully [I would get] when they tidy up things.
“Some of these things, if they happen, you don’t broadcast it the way he (Akoabio) did.
“I think it is a huge embarrassment to the Senate President as a person and to the institution of the National Assembly. The Senate President should have gone further to say what the allowances are for. How did he come about the allowances? Who gave the allowances? Is it part of the remuneration?
“I don’t know what N2m would do for a holiday. I find it very difficult to understand what this money is for.”
This platform, however, gathered that the N2 million allowance given to the senators is illegal as no such provision is made in the remuneration package approved by Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), a body authorised by law to prepare salaries and allowances for public servants.
According to the commission, what lawmakers are entitled to as a “recess” allowance is 10 per cent of the annual basic salary of each legislator, which is paid once a year.
The commission states that in a package prepared by RMAFC, a senator earns N2,026,400 and therefore gets N202,240 as a recess allowance per annum.
The basic salary of the senate president per annum is N2,483,242, and therefore receives N248,424 as recess allowance, while that of his deputy is N2,309,166, and his recess allowance is N230,916.
Deji Adeyanju, a public affairs analyst, made fun of Nasir El-Rufai after it was announced that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nomination.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the Senate deferred El-Rufai’s and two other nominees’ confirmations after receiving security concerns from the Department of State Services.
El-Rufai allegedly told President Tinubu of his decision to resign from his ministerial position as a result, along with a suggestion for a replacement.
Adeyanju Reveals Where Tinubu Should Be Instead of Running For Presidency
Adeyanju responded by stating that it would make sense for El-Rufai to run for office in 2027 by joining Peter Obi’s Labour Party.
He suggested that the former FCT Minister run alongside Obi, claiming that their combined ticket would be like a match made in heaven.
According to him, he would meet fellow religious bigots the moment he defects to the Labour Party.
“But it will make a lot of sense if elRufai joins Labour Party. He will meet his fellow religious bigot there, and they can both run as presidential and VP candidates in 2027. They will fight their religious war together.
“Peter/El-Rufai 2027 ticket will be a strong one. A union made in Heaven. They both have bigotry and betrayal running in their DNA,” he tweeted on Friday.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial team.
Momodu said Tinubu’s ministerial list was worst than his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s team.
This was as he disclosed that some of Tinubu’s ministers are unknown unlike what was obtainable in the past.
He disclosed this while featuring on the latest edition of a Podcast, Mic On.
Momodu noted that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was an original version of himself when he was a minister under PDP.
According to Momodu: “Every leader has what it takes to be a good resident if he has good advisers and listens to them. It’s just like a journalist without corrections, he will always carry fake news.
“For any leader to succeed, he must look at his team and what I’m seeing now is worst than Buhari’s team.
“What I expected was a star-studded cabinet, I like to recall myself with sweet memories of Ibrahim Babangida’s cabinet in those days.
“We remember them till today, most of the people appointed now, I don’t know them. Under Babangida, I remember Akinyele, Bolaji Akinyemi, Bolasodun Ajibola, Tai Solarin, Wole Soyinka.
“You can’t say that today, somebody is on her way to screen you remove her, that’s disgraceful, it means you didn’t do your due diligence before appointing people.
“In the days of Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili, Nubu Ribadu, original El-Rufai when he was a minister under PDP was original El-Rufai.”
[DailyPost]
This is even as the African Union has declared its support for the ECOWAS push to restore constitutional authority in the French-speaking West African country.
It was gathered that ECOWAS army chiefs will be meeting in the coming days to prepare plans for a possible military intervention in Niger. The meeting is expected to hold in Accra, Ghana next week Saturday.
“One meeting is being planned for next week,” Reuters quoted the ECOWAS spokesperson to have said.
While Benin, Senegal and Nigeria have committed to the intervention in principles without providing details of its deployment, the president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, revealed that his country would commit a battalion of 850 to 1,100 men to ECOWAS’ move to restore democratic rule to Niger following lack of success in its diplomatic efforts.
The Nigerian military did not respond to our request for comment on the actual number the country is contributing to the ECOWAS standby force. The country has, however, played leading roles in previous interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
Recall that the West African regional bloc after its emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday ordered its Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate its standby force with all its elements.
While the decision of ECOWAS to activate its standby force has been trailed by criticism both in Nigeria and Niger, Army chiefs from member-states like Benin and Senegal corroborated Ouattara’s revelation of commitment from the member-states to the military intervention.
Ouattara had said after the Abuja meeting that aside his country’s deployment, soldiers from Nigeria and Benin would also be deployed.
He said ECOWAS had intervened in African countries in order to restore constitutional order before.
Benin’s army spokesman was quoted to have said on Friday that they would contribute troops without revealing the number while Senegal had earlier revealed it would contribute troops if there were an intervention.
On their parts, Gambia’s defence minister, Sering Modou Njie and Liberia’s minister of information, Ledgerhood Rennie, said that they had not yet taken a decision to send troops.
Military governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, both ECOWAS members, have said they would defend the junta in Niger.
On Friday, Burkina Faso’s junta-led government suspended one of the country’s most popular radio stations after it broadcast an interview deemed “insulting” to Niger’s new military leaders.
Radio Omega was immediately suspended on Thursday “until further notice,” Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo informed in a statement.
Support from AU pours in
Meanwhile, the African Union has expressed strong support for ECOWAS’s decisions on Niger.
“The president of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat expresses his strong support for ECOWAS decisions on anti-constitutional change in Niger,” AU noted in a press statement.
The statement noted that Mahamat condemned the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, describing it as “illegal kidnapping” and “unacceptable.”
“The president of the commission challenges the military authorities on the urgency of stopping the escalation with the regional organisation, mistrust of it and the continuation of the kidnapping of the president in worryingly deteriorating conditions,” the statement noted.
He called for the immediate release of Mr Bazoum and all members of his family and government.
The union also called on the international community to rally to save the moral and physical integrity of Bazoum and end what it called the “worryingly poor conditions” of his detention.
Similarly, the European Union and the United States have joined the AU in expressing “increasing worry” about Bazoum’s detention conditions.
You’ll be punished if any harm befalls Bazoum, ECOWAS envoy warns Niger
Consequently, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, has said the Niger junta will be punished if any harm befalls Bazoum.
The junta had threatened to kill Bazoum in the event of a military intervention against Niger.
But speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Musah said Bazoum and his son were being held by the military rulers who have denied them access to food and medicine.
He said they were living under appalling condition; hence, the reason for the regional bloc’s decision to prepare a standby force.
He said the West African region bloc could not fold its arms and depend on the goodwill of the coupists after interrupting democratic order.
Musah said, “We are going there, if need be, to rescue President Bazoum, who is living in very terrible conditions today. He is being denied medical attention. He is being denied access to his usual food.
“His son, who is also in detention, has lost so many kilos already. They are being held in these inhumane conditions and we cannot just sit back idle and depend on the goodwill of these people who are disrupting the democratic process in the country.
“Yesterday’s (Thursday) communique also made it very clear that this junta will pay dearly if anything happens to the safety, security or physical integrity of Bazoum, his family or members of his government. That was clearly done.
“We are not going to hold back because they are holding the president hostage. If they dare, if they harm in any way, then they are going to pay very dearly for that. So, this is a tactic.”
Russia warns against military action
Meanwhile, Russia has warned that military action against coup leaders in Niger would lead to a “protracted confrontation.”
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), while the United States has backed efforts to restore Niger’s deposed leader, Moscow has not formally backed the coup, but coup supporters, some waving Russian flags, protested at a French military base near the capital.
In a statement issued on Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry warned other West African countries not to send troops into Niger.
It stated, “We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.”
More knocks trail planned military intervention as Emir of Kano calls for prayers
Daily Trust on Saturday reports that more dissenting voices have continued to trail the planned military intervention in Niger by ECOWAS, even as pressure groups in the country has resolved to march on military camp of France in Niamey, the country’s capital city, following up on several protest marches to the French Embassy since the military seized power.
The groups told the BBC that they would continue to protest in front of the camp from Friday afternoon and would not leave until France evacuates its military from the country.
France said it fully backed all the conclusions of the ECOWAS emergency summit held on Thursday. But it has not stated any clear plan it would be giving the regional bloc if it eventually deploy military.
United States, French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger as part of the fight against local affiliates of Al Qaeda and Islamic State.
There were reports that that Niamey was calm on Friday morning, but residents were angered by the threat of military intervention.
“Deep down inside, I am not afraid; I am going about my business. I think this is just blackmail,” Balla Souleymane said of ECOWAS’ decisions.
Since the coup, many Nigeriens have turned up at junta-organised rallies to show support for the generals, criticising Western powers and lauding Russia, mirroring reactions following recent coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, whose military juntas kicked out French forces after taking power.
The BBC also quoted former Nigerian military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who led a delegation to Niger over a week ago but did not get to see the coup leader, to have said, “Nobody wants to go to war. We want peace. All options are on the table.”
Meanwhile, imams of various Juma’at mosques in Kano, Abuja and several other northern Nigeria cities led special prayers (Al-qunut) against the planned military intervention, praying to Allah to proffer diplomatic solution to the impasse.
It was also gathered that many of the imams talked about the Niger crisis during their Friday sermon, calling on the Muslim faithful to continuously pray for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, had urged Islamic clerics and imams of Juma’ah mosques in Kano and beyond to devote special prayers during their Friday congregations for the return of peace and tranquillity in the Republic of Niger.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano Emirate Council, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Naisa, the emir urged the imams to beseech the Almighty Allah to restore harmony, guide brothers in Niger Republic and end the suffering of the innocent citizens.
“To the warring factions in Niger Republic, I extend a humble appeal in the spirit of Islam, good neighbourliness and our common humanity.
“Quran, the sacred scripture of our religion teaches us that, “If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:9). In the same spirit, I call upon you to reflect on the teachings of peace, mutual respect and brotherhood that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) command us to adhere to,” the statement added.
He noted that conflict brings only sorrow and destruction while peace nurtures prosperity and development.
“I humbly entreat all parties involved in the current conflict to embrace peace, engage in dialogue and work towards a peaceful and equitable resolution.,” he stated.
The monarch further prayed, “May Allah (SWT) imbue everyone involved with the wisdom and patience needed to navigate this crisis.
“May he bring peace and prosperity back to Niger Republic and may he continue to guide and protect all of us and may peace and blessings be upon us all.”
Don’t obey US, others this time around – Kalu tells Tinubu
Similarly, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from invading the Republic of Niger to restore democratic government.
In a short video on the social media, the senator, while responding to a question on the Niger crisis, expressed his reservations for Nigeria to join ECOWAS military intervention. He added that if the United States of America and France wanted war, they should use their own troops stationed in Niger.
According to him, the US alone has almost 4,000 troops in Niger; hence it shouldn’t resort to Nigeria to fight its proxy war by supplying arms and funds to Nigeria, insisting that it’s dangerous for Nigeria to fight in its backyard.
“You don’t know when this fight will end. Nobody knows who is sponsoring this fight. The advisers of President Tinubu, which I am also one of, would continue pleading with him not to join that fight.
“Since the Nigerian Senate already said you can’t go to war and he needs their authorisation, I don’t think it is a good idea to go to war.
“What they should go and do to the juntas now is to put the democratic process plan. They should give us either a six-month or one-year plan to return to the civil democratic process.
“I want him (Tinubu) not to listen to the US. I am a friend of the US, Israel and UK. This is the first time I will like President Tinubu to disobey the US. It is not the right thing to do. We are not going to war. Let the US, Nigeria and France have transitional programmes with soldiers.
“The juntas are also Nigerien people, not outsiders, so let’s plan a transition in peaceful and diplomatic ways. They should reach a concrete agreement to return to civil rule.
“I am not thinking of going to war with Niger; they are our blood brothers. Secondly, it is very dangerous; you don’t know who is going to join the war. They may invade Nigeria. We already have a lot of problems with our minerals along those shores. Nobody should attempt taking us into war. We can’t go to war with Niger at all,” he said.
The former governor warned that no Nigerian soldier’s head is worth sacrificing for another country as its entirely internal issue of the Republic of Niger.
He added that Nigeria should even withdraw her membership in the ECOWAS as long as the regional bloc remains adamant in military action. “We are a sovereign country, nobody can toy with 250million Nigerians,” Kalu said.
CNG warns against military intervention
Also, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has rejected the planned military action against Niger by any regional or international community/institution.
The coalition, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, appealed to political, religious, traditional and cultural leaders across the West African sub-region to urgently intervene by impressing the need for a window for serious negotiations to be provided.
“These leaders should identify a neutral location within Africa at which to hold such honest discussions to finally bring a bloodless enduring end to this impasse,” he stated.
The coalition noted, “The rigid positions assumed by both ECOWAS and the military leaders in Niger, which left very little space for honest discussions towards peaceful resolution of what is ordinarily an African affair that can be solved the African way.”
It called on both the military authorities in Niger and the ECOWAS to open and allow all doors for discussions devoid of any hidden agenda or unnecessary preconditions for genuine dialogue.
It also called “on the leaders of the coup in Niger Republic to discard their rigid stance and unhelpful show of bravado and embrace all diplomatic overtures in order to reach a peaceful and bloodless resolution of the matter, keeping in mind that threats and conflicts have very little or no utility value.
The coalition also stated that it condemned “with all our might, the burning in Niger of Nigerian national flag, which is our symbol of nationhood, and demand the military junta to order it to stop forthwith,” while also saying that the “discrediting of our president and leaders is not only immoral and illegal but also abhorrent to Nigeria’s collective sensibilities and ordinary decency, and therefore, unacceptable.”
[DailyTrust]
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Effective today, Saturday, August 12, diesel prices will hit N867 per litre in Lagos state and N875 in the Southwest region.
This is according to information seen by Nairametrics from industry sources familiar with the matter.
Diesel prices are skyrocketing despite being deregulated before the fuel subsidy removal because ex-depot prices are increasing. This week, sources told Nairametrics that ex-depot prices for diesel at the Apapa port now range between N790-N820 per litre.
Meanwhile, in an industry data sheet recently shared by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), ex-depot prices for diesel at the Apapa port were;
July 24 – N624 per litre
July 25 – N638 per litre
July 27 – N647 per litre
July 28 – N653 per litre
July 31 – N693 per litre
August 2 – N649 per litre
August 3 – N714 per litre
Meanwhile, the same MOMAN industry sheet also highlighted diesel prices in the country during the same period as N650 per litre. The diesel price was calculated by MOMAN using the exchange rate which was 1 US dollar to N895 at the time.
Nigeria’s exchange rate is currently experiencing a high level of volatility. On Friday, Nairametrics reported that the exchange rate between the naira and dollar closed a tumultuous week quoting for as high as N955/$1 on the black market.
According to the Nairametrics report, Nigeria’s exchange rate opened the week at N895/$1 before it fell to N900/$1 on the 9th of August, the lowest in recorded history.
Meanwhile, the exchange rate has now depreciated by 8% month to date as demand continues to outstrip supply.
Since diesel is imported into Nigeria, alongside other petroleum products, which are purchased in dollars, the depreciation of the local currency against the dollar will negatively impact diesel prices, which has started to play out at the Apapa Hub
It is also important to note that diesel prices in other parts of the country have seen an increase since the second quarter of 2023.
The June 2023 diesel price watch report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that in June 2023, diesel in Taraba state cost N899.23 per litre, N875.67 per litre in Adamawa state and N873.33 per litre in Niger state.
Meanwhile, the average diesel price in the country was placed at N815.83 per litre, a 3.37% reduction from the N844.28 per litre recorded in May 2023, according to data from the NBS.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, amazed many when he declined a ministerial nomination from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and soon left the country.
Well-regarded for his achievements in both the private and public sectors, El-Rufai was among the initial 28 of 48 nominees President Tinubu selected for ministerial roles in July.
He was slated to head the new Ministry of Power and Energy, given the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
During his vetting, El-Rufai confirmed his dedication to improving the country’s electricity supply, asserting, “I will do my best.”
Despite his reputation, Sunday Karimi, a representative for Kogi West, raised security concerns against El-Rufai during the screening.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggested such petitions be set aside for the time. Yet, the Senate later paused El-Rufai’s confirmation, along with two others, due to security clearance issues.
The news created mixed feelings, with sources telling Premium Times that the embarrassment was why El-Rufai had informed the president that he was withdrawing his ministerial interest.
The president then asked for 24 hours grace to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.
As of Friday, there are reports that El-Rufai had left the country for Egypt after making his position clear to President Tinubu.
A source who spoke with Daily Trust on the development said, “Even after he made the decision to withdraw, he held meetings with local meter manufacturers and other stakeholders in the power and energy sector, where he urged them to work with whoever would come in as minister.”
The platform claimed that more facts have emerged on why El-Rufa was confirmed because of the petition against him.
Sources claimed that power play and gang-up against El-Rufai came from various angles, including the presidency.
It was noted that the petition and alleged security concerns were a mere ruse cooked up by some powerful persons to frustrate the former governor’s chances.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Some very powerful Nigerians, it appears, are not comfortable with the kind of reforms El-Rufai was bringing to the power and energy sector.
“Every reform attracts some form of resistance, and so, what El-Rufai did as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was possible because he had the tenacity to do it but also because he had the support of his principal, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. People still tried to stand in the way of the reforms but because there was political will, it was done.”
Other sources that spoke with the platform said El-Rufai decided to withdraw his ministerial appointment because of the ‘body’ language of the president.
It was noted that El-Rufai on Tuesday led some members of the team he had assembled to the Villa on Wednesday, where they made a presentation.
However, a source close to the former governor revealed that El-Rufai had made his decision to withdraw his ministerial appointment even before the meeting with the president.
A source said, “What happened on Monday couldn’t have happened except there was some nod and wink from the place where the nomination came from.”
He said for someone who never asked for an appointment, El-Rufai was unfairly treated.
Another source, “He never begged for it. In fact, he was begged to come and work for them, and when he finally agreed, they subjected him to what happened on Monday.
“Some very powerful people are not comfortable with him and the president is now part of it. Why will the State Security Service (SSS) clear people with corruption cases; some nationally and even internationally and then fail to clear El-Rufai? It is political and it is unfortunate that the president would allow himself to be part of this.”
It was also noted that El-Rufai had planned to obtain his doctorate at the time of his nomination. Those close to him said he would carry on with his studies.
A source said, “If you nominate someone and you later change your mind, you decide that the kind of things he is likely to do, you may not be able to support him, then you should invite him and say look. I think we should find a different way of working together. Maybe he should not take a full-time role.”
Seven people were killed when part of a mosque filled with hundreds of worshippers collapsed in Nigeria’s northern city of Zaria, in Kaduna state, with several others injured, officials said.
The incident occurred as hundreds of faithful observed afternoon prayers on Friday at the city’s central mosque, Zaria Emirate Council spokesman Abdullahi Kwarbai said, Aljazeera reported.
“Four bodies were found initially, and then three others were found after the rescue team searched the collapsed mosque,” he said.
State officials said the mosque was constructed in the 1830s.
Twenty-three people were sent to hospital, the state Emergency Management Agency said.
Videos apparently recorded at the scene showed a wide opening where a part of the roof fell in.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani ordered an immediate investigation into the disaster and promised to assist those affected by the “heartbreaking incident”.
The incident follows more than a dozen building collapses in the West African nation in the last year alone.
Authorities often blame such disasters on a failure by officials to enforce building safety regulations and on poor maintenance and substandard construction materials.
[RHM/PR]
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, received Rebecca Kabu, one of the 277 Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.
The First Lady who received Rebecca along with the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, promised to ensure that Rebecca was well taken care of medically and fit to return to school willingly.
Mrs Tinubu, while promising that the remaining girls in captivity are not forgotten, appreciated the office of the National Security Adviser, National Intelligence Agency and other security agencies and those who were involved in Rebecca’s rescue.
She said, “Cases of amnesia should be treated; it is difficult to get by, but since you are still here, God has plans for you. I thank the office of the NSA and NIA for not relenting and everyone that is assisting in her rehabilitation.
“Rebecca will be our first comeback story and returnee; she is our first fruit; she is a case I am quite interested in to see that she can go back to school at her own pace.’’
The First Lady said her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative, was strongly working on how mature girls who were forced out of school could return to school for quality education.
She promised that Rebecca would be one of the first recipients of her benevolence.
Tinubu said the younger ones, if well educated, would be able to fit into the society and inherit the good legacies the older ones are leaving behind.
“Earlier, I talked to the NSA representative about cases of alternative high school where girls like Rebecca can go back and learn at their pace, because education is important for her and others.
“They need education as tool for the market place, to be able to understand and manage the inheritance and legacies that shall be handed to them.”
Responding, Rebecca, in her low voice, told the first lady that she could barely understand English Language, but the first lady consoled her, saying that she would overcome the challenge.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, the Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Centre, NSA, said Rebecca, kidnapped at age 13 in 2014 and now 22 years old, was rescued by the government security agencies on July 17.
He said the returnee had been certified medically and mentally fit to be reunited with her parents in Zana village in Borno state.
He said subsequently, the NSA office would follow up and present her case alongside the 15 other rehabilitated girls that were also rescued for Federal Government education support.