[INTERVIEW] Ndigbo needs massive infrastructure more than juicy appointments – VON DG, Okechukwu
AdminMr Osita Okechukwu, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, is from Enugu State, South-East Nigeria. He is a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Okechukwu is an ardent supporter of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari. In this interview with DAILY POST Editor, Emmanuel Uzodinma, he bares it all on the past administration and makes projections on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government. Excerpts!
As a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress and a Buharist, what would you say were the major achievements of the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in areas of infrastructural development and security?
Without being immodest, as a Buharist, one wishes to start with what ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, did from day one that most people have forgotten which made a tangible impact in our lives. One is that before he even presented his cabinet members to the Senate, he carefully perused through the federal and state files which led to his shock that some states were owing workers and pensioners humongous debts ranging from 3 – 27 months.
Federal files were also dotted with huge debts to workers and pensioners dating back to police officers who participated over 50 years ago in the Biafra-Nigeria civil war. He ended up expending about N3 trillion on these debts. Secondly, were implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) and sundry applications, which aided the anti-graft war. Foundations were also laid in the development of vast and dynamic Internet-of-Things.
Why was the defraying of workers’ salary and pensioners’ debt Buhari’s top priority?
Thank you very much my dear. One recalled that in one such meeting, I proposed to the meeting that if N1 trillion of that amount was used to construct federal roads at N50 million per kilometre, that we would have instantly about 5,000 kilometres completed. Buhari then paused and asked me why and I preferred the publicity advantage to workers and pensioners’ plight.
I argued that construction of roads will accord more publicity premium to the young regime than expending such huge funds on public servants who are not up to 15% of our population? He countered by narrating the negative consequences of non-payment of salaries on not only workers but the pensioners. That the negative multiplier effect goes down to the shopkeeper, barbers, pharmacist, et al in the neighbourhood of those workers. He posed the question, how can you talk of anti-corruption when you don’t pay pensioners? Buhari’s pension compliance records are outstanding. If you are in doubt, please cross-check with PTAD and Pencom.
Buhari’s administration also implemented various policies and reforms in the agricultural sector, such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Program and the Green Alternative initiative. Do you think these had impacts on food security and rural development in Nigeria?
I was going to add the standard Western Corridor Rail Line, 2nd Niger Bridge, Loco/Owete Bridge and over 8,000 federal roads as the visible milestones before his huge investment in agriculture.
On your question, the truism is that Buhari invested more than any other federal government post 1970 on agriculture. I dubbed it Buhari’s Agrarian Revolution, notwithstanding that insecurity blurred it. Insecurity was the issue which hampered farmers’ production. He failed to act with immediate effect when the Herders/Clash erupted, it was a grave unforced error.
The Buhari administration had a strong focus on diversifying the economy away from oil dependency. However, with the state of the economy as handed over to President Bola Tinubu, in your own thinking, did the former President achieve his desired plan for the economy? Many think the government failed in the area of economy.
Economic development is a process and a continuum like every government. There was bad weather, as some of us he appointed didn’t share his vision. Unfortunately, he never applies Key Performance Index (KPI) to evaluate us. Suffice it to end on the truism that there are big pluses and minuses of the Buhari’s administration.
However, on infrastructure and agriculture; I can bet that President Bola Tinubu or whichever regime that comes in the next 50 years is bound to follow his pattern, in the bid to diversify our economy, whether you call it Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) or Back to Land, it will be akin to the advert – glucose or glucode.
On the Green Imperative Project (GIP), it is a very patriotic project meant to mechanise forever our agriculture. For it’s proven that every kilometre in our 923, 000 square kilometres’ landscape is arable to one crop or livestock. The Brazil-Nigeria government to government GIP was halted when Chief Audu Ogbe was unceremoniously yanked off as the minister of agriculture.
The two ministers who succeeded Ogbe killed the tempo. One hopes President Tinubu accelerates the project which is its final relay; luckily, the officer in charge is still on seat waiting anxiously.
The €995m GIP project provides a veritable solution to food sufficiency and food export. Imagine what will happen when multiple modern farm implements, including ranch machines are installed under public private partnership, with service centres in 774 local government areas and 6 Area Councils of FCT, dotted with Agro-Processing Plants.
This is one of the solid foundations Buhari had laid for harvesting to feed ourselves and generate funds to defray our huge debts. The Russian-Ukrainian war has left a huge wheat grain void in the international market, beckoning for countries like Nigeria to fill.
Looking at the poverty rate in the country, which is put at over 133 million, how would you rate the various social intervention programs – the N-Power scheme and the Conditional Cash Transfer initiative?
My rating of the Social Investment Programme is above average. For it’s just a palliative and short term measure. It’s not medicine to cure all illness, as in any multi-dimensional poverty scenario, the healing or mitigation process differs from one strand of poverty to the other. I know for instance that when we submitted names for N10,000 each, some of the beneficiaries any time I am back in the village will troop to thank, whilst those who didn’t get, still bear grudges up to date. They always ask, when are people coming again, especially on the school feeding program.
All one can propose is that agriculture provides a veritable way out, plus hooking youths up to the good digital fin-tech works National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has embarked upon.
Insecurity worsened in the South-East under the Buhari era, with unknown gunmen taking over the streets, what should the Tinubu government do differently?
Insecurity in the Southeast and albeit generally in Nigeria is regrettable and very unfortunate. Like every coin there are two sides to the coin. As I hinted earlier, it was an unforced error that our leader didn’t pounce with immediate effect when the Herders/Farmers’ clashes erupted. Methinks that could have erased ethnocentrism out of the imbroglio.
On the other hand, one keeps on advising my people and every Nigerian to gradually weed ourselves of the ethnic toga all of us wear. We are all tribalists in one way or the other, which is unfortunate. This is why when Buhari offered Ndigbo the Olive branch in 2003 and 2007, they wittingly or unwittingly rebuffed him. This was when he nominated Rt. Hons. Chuba Okadigbo and Edwin Umezoke, respectively, as his vice presidential candidates. This is the laurel President Tinubu graciously inherited.
Is that why he marginalised Ndigbo in his appointments?
Methinks he didn’t marginalise Ndigbo in physical and social infrastructure. For me I would prefer if President Tinubu embarks on infrastructural development in the Southeast more than on the so-called juicy appointments. To me the 2nd Niger Bridge, rehabilitation of federal roads, universities, dams, internet broadband penetration, Standard Eastern Corridor Railways, et al are more important than juicy appointments.
We are entrepreneurs and hard working people being hindered by infrastructural development. I beg the food-is-ready politicians to pardon me. Most of them are today hovering at Abuja, lobbying President Tinubu and his kitchen cabinet, even those who blackmailed APC with a campaign of calumny.
One appeals to Ndigbo to learn from the Japanese and Germans who after World War II, despite the bombardment of Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Berlin, etc, rested the matter and moved on with the Americans.
What has been the experience as the Director General of Voice Nigeria?
To be sincere, Voice of Nigeria (VON) is a new school of Nigeria for me. New school in the sense that I met some brilliant and passionate Nigerians who are ready to give their best, but are handicapped by inadequate funding by the system.
This funding handicap is as a result of the dynamic nature of broadcasting, bombarded by technological changes in the ever changing broadcasting industry.
VON took off in 1960 as the external department of Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation with Professor Chinua Achebe, an international icon of blessed memory, who was the first Director.
VON commenced broadcasting in the Short-Wave (SW) Modem Frequencies, capable of long range, reaching any location globally. The Shortwave has its advantages of freedom of news crossing both friends and enemies borders and the disadvantage that many countries use little or no Shortwave again.
With the dynamics of the broadcasting industry enhanced by digital broadcasting, the relevance of ShortWave comes under stiff competition.
We are in an era where the future of shortwave is threatened by the rise of power line communication, internet of things – website, YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook and sorts of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL), which uses data streams transmitted over unshielded power lines.
My greatest challenge is to successfully install and run effective Visual Radio, which offers our audience audio and visual and still maintains our Shortwave Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).
[DailyPost]
Blockchain can be applied in SME financing, supply chain, mobility
Nigeria has ranked among the top 10 countries for adoption of crypto across the globe. This was according to a report, titled ‘State of Web3.0 in Africa’, unveiled at the weekend and prepared by Emurgo Africa, in strategic partnership with PwC.
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The report provided an expansive and insightful analysis of the emergent influence of blockchain and Web3.0 technologies within Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
It cast a spotlight on pivotal rise of blockchain investment within Africa. It noted that blockchain funding soared by a stunning 1,668 per cent in 2022, compared to the preceding year, accumulating a total of $91 million in countries like Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, heralding Africa’s burgeoning presence within the global blockchain arena.
It noted further that blockchain funding raised in Africa grew from $5.165 million in 2021, compared to $91 million in 2022. The report noted that blockchain technology could be applied in areas including SME financing; supply chain; governance; digitising trade infrastructure and title deed registration.
Other areas are verification of education credentials and mobility smart contracts for informal markets, among others. Illustrating the progress and latent potential of blockchain and Web3.0 technologies across Africa, the report painted a picture of Kenya’s forefront role in blockchain adoption and digital innovation. It showcased Kenya’s speedy growth in implementing blockchain solutions that stimulate economic development in East Africa. In South Africa, the report indicated the escalating adoption of Web3.0 and blockchain technologies that are revolutionising industries via secure and transparent data management in Southern Africa.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s high-ranking position in the top 10 worldwide for crypto adoption, emphasising the country’s role in propelling financial inclusion and nurturing innovation in the digital currency sector in West Africa.
These findings underline the transformative effect of blockchain and Web3.0 technologies in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, establishing them as major contributors to the digital revolution unfolding across Africa.
The MENA region, concurrently, has been identified as the fastest-growing crypto market from 2021 to 2022, leading the digital revolution among users, regulators and crypto investors alike.
On the global stage, crypto regulation is evolving, with 40 per cent of the 35 nations surveyed having instituted regulatory frameworks, 34 per cent actively developing them, and a scant nine per cent enforcing outright prohibitions on cryptocurrencies.
Despite the fact that Africa has, thus far, received a mere 0.5 per cent of global blockchain funding, the continent’s commitment to Web3.0 technologies and digital currencies is poised to recalibrate its technological and financial landscape, paving the way for unprecedented financial inclusion and innovation.
Weakening local currencies, coupled with fragile economic backdrops have created rapidly growing demand for USD-pegged stable coins on the continent, as consumers protect their asset values from free falling, and owners of SMEs seek cheaper and efficient ways of payment.
This development is a testament to the burgeoning adoption of digital currencies and blockchain technology as practical solutions in economically volatile environments.
Chief Executive Officer of EMURGO Africa, Ahmed M. Amer, emphasised: “Web3.0 technologies are already redefining the African digital landscape, offering innovative solutions to long-standing challenges and empowering individuals and communities across the continent. This report presents an in-depth exploration of the potential of these technologies to drive positive change, while highlighting the importance of fostering a collaborative environment between stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators to unlock the full potential of Web3.0.”
[Guardian]
…Only NNPCL still importing fuel
…As ex-depot price rises to N505 per litre
Barely a month after deregulation, operators in the downstream sector have not been able to import petrol into Nigeria, due mainly to a lack of license and foreign exchange.
Checks by Vanguard, weekend, indicated that many oil marketers that applied for license are still waiting for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, to release it.
It also showed that the six companies, including Eterna, which got the license have not started importing the product into the country.
The checks further indicated that despite the floatation of foreign exchange rates by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, many oil companies still find it difficult to go into business.
A visit to many private depots in Apapa, Lagos, showed that the oil marketers are not contemplating importation in the coming weeks because of uncertainties currently staring oil marketers in the face.
This means the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is the only entity still importing fuel into the country.
We have not started importing fuel — oil marketers
The national president, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, could not be reached for comments, yesterday.
But in an interview with Vanguard, yesterday, the national operations controller of IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, who noted said the oil marketers have not yet commenced the importation, said: “The cost of importing petrol has tripled because of subsidy withdrawal.
‘’We now need more funds to put into the business than before. Remember the exchange rate of the naira has also increased from over N400/ a dollar to over N700/per a dollar.
“This means that a lot of funds are needed than before. it is not easy for a single company to bring out that level of money. So, we are discussing with the banks.
‘’It will take some time to conclude the various discussions before securing funds for the importation. The price of petrol may be high at the initial period, but it would drop later as many oil marketers begin to import the product.”
Ex-depot price rises to N505 per litre
Already, he said the ex-depot price of the product has increased from over N400 per litre to N505 over the weekend, thus forcing the independent marketers that lift the product from private depots to sell at different prices, ranging from N510 -N530, depending on location, to recover cost.
It takes time to get license —Applicant
A chief executive officer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We have applied for license to import. We are waiting on the regulator. We also need huge foreign exchange at a competitive rate because it cost billions of naira to bring a mother vessel into the country. This has to be done in an environment of certainty.
“We cannot dabble into fuel importation at this time. Adequate caution is required from everyone, including the banks that will provide the funds, to ensure that such investment could be recovered at least with minimal profit.
‘’It is a business that one can easily get his or her fingers burnt. We are currently watching the investment landscape and will import at the right time.”
Regulator keeps mum
The Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, did not respond when Vanguard reached out yesterday
Transporters charge high fares
Meanwhile, transporters, including Uber, have increased their fares by more than 100 per cent on all routes.
For instance, it now costs over N2,000 for commuters to move from Ikorodu to Mile 2 in Lagos, a distance that used to be below N1,000.
It also cost more than N1,500 to travel from Marina to Ajah, a distant that used to be less than N1,000.
A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has asked President Bola Tinubu to take quick steps such as removal of bank charges and reduction in the monthly contributions to pension schemes by workers to ameliorate the biting effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on the masses.
Chidoka, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“We need to think beyond politics. When he (Tinubu) took a decision to remove subsidy and he removed fuel subsidy and the fuel prices rose by 100 and something naira to 500 and something naira in a day. What are the immediate measures that can be taken to make sure there is more cash in the pockets of people who go to work every day?” he queried.
“If I was thinking with him, I would have said immediately: remove the charges for bank transfers in Nigeria, the N26 and the N56, cut it immediately. That money goes to the banks and they are just enriching themselves… or make a flat rate of once a month, you can charge N100 for IT (Information Technology) support. So, that puts more money in the hands of people.
“Second one is that our pension scheme has accumulated a lot of money and that pension scheme now requires people to pay 12% of their salaries from the employers’ side.
“So, I’m think you can reduce the amount the people are contributing for a one-year period or six months to allow more money.
“That way, immediately from the next month salary, another N10,000, N5,000 as the case may be, enters into the pocket of the people who goes to work every day. They are able to pay their transport fare because they need to go to work tomorrow. We can’t wait till when you take a decision (on ministerial appointments) to ameliorate the suffering,” he said.
‘$3bn Owed Fuel Importers’
The ex-minister also said the minimum wage needs to rise from the current rate of N30,000 to reflect the current economic realities and inflationary shocks.
According to him, though the Tinubu government removed subsidy from its day one in office, the administration inherited $3bn debt to be paid to fuel importers.
“The past is already facing him (Tinubu) because there is about $3bn owed to the fuel importers. The four major companies importing fuel to Nigeria has a debt of over $3bn and they haven’t been given enough crude to pay for those debt. So, he (Tinubu) has to pay the backlog of those debts,” Chidoka stated.
‘Brutality Violated’
Furthermore, the PDP stalwart noted that the All Progressives Congress has not shown sensitivity to the Federal Character Principle bin the last eight years.
He said the Federal Character Principle was “brutality violated in the past eight years”, saying that 18 military and paramilitary bodies were headed by people from a region of the country during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“I find it objectionable for people who did not say a word when this country was brutally harangued by a government to now talk about issues of appointments and sensitivity in four weeks. I feel that that is a violation of decency,” he added.
‘Fair But Unimportant’
On the distribution of the new service chiefs appointed by the President, Chidoka acknowledged that Tinubu has been fair in the distribution of appointment across the six geopolitical zone in the last four weeks in office but that matter is unimportant.
He describing the euphoria and reactions trailing the appointments as being spread across the six geopolitical zones as based on the “trauma suffered during Buhari’s tenure”.
“I think they’ve been fair in trying to (spread) appointments across the country. I think it’s being largely fair but it’s unimportant,” Chidoka stated.
Demands INEC Chair’s Removal
He asked the President to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu just as he suspended the Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
“It would have been totally unimportant if he faced what I considered the critical issues about Nigerians making their choices. For the kind of uproar that the election caused, the way he went after the CBN governor is the way I think he should have set up a panel to look into INEC,” he stated.
THE Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has refuted an allegation that he once renounced his Nigerian citizenship.
The controversy arose when a United States immigration lawyer, Olubusayo Fasidi, informed the Lagos Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that Hamzat had taken an oath of allegiance in the US renouncing his Nigerian citizenship.
Fasidi had appeared as a witness for the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in his petition against the election of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Reports of Hamzat’s alleged US citizenship had caused a lot of stir online.
However, Hamza, in a statement through his media office on Saturday, June 24 labelled the claim as “misleading and inaccurate.”
The Lagos state deputy governor said the viral report did not accurately reflect the proceedings at the tribunal.
According to him, the witness presented two documents as evidence — an empty US naturalisation application form and an empty oath of US allegiance document, identified as forms 8CFR/337 and N400.
The tendered documents were accepted and marked as exhibits by the tribunal.
He explained that the witness, when confronted with the fact that her claim was based on blank documents, admitted to downloading them from the official website of the US Embassy.
He said that the witness was unable to produce the actual documents specifying the jurisdiction of the US or the date when he allegedly applied for naturalization or took the oath of allegiance.
The statement read, “She equally admitted that she had not attended the ceremony admitting Dr Hamzat as a citizen of the United States of America.
“During her cross-examination by counsel to the 4th respondent (APC), the witness admitted to the fact that the American constitution recognizes dual citizenship with particular reference to the 14th amendment to the constitution of the United States ratified on July 9, 1868.
“The witness was challenged further that the documents she tendered support the process of application for naturalisation which ultimately culminates in the issuance of an American passport and nothing more.
“The witness, in reaction to additional questions, confirmed that she did not need to obtain a Nigerian visiting visa because she entered the country with her Nigerian passport.
“With respect to the question whether the witness was aware that Dr Hamzat fully disclosed the details of his American citizenship in the Form EC9 submitted to INEC, the witness answered in the affirmative.”
Hamzat urged the public to disregard the “deliberate falsehood” being spread, asserting that the credibility of the witness’ testimony was severely challenged.
Ade Adetimehin, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in charge of Ondo State, has urged the populace to keep praying for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who has recently struggled with health concerns.
What the people of the state currently need, according to Adetimehin, is prayers for the governor to recover swiftly, accusing the opposition parties of allegedly politicking the governor’s health situation.
This was said by the chairman on Sunday in Akure, the state’s capital.
He claimed that the governor’s health problem did not preclude him from resuming his official duties as the state’s governor.
He said, “Some individuals and groups have taken it upon themselves to spread false news and rumors about his (Akeredolu’s) death. It is disheartening to see that some people would wish death upon a fellow human being. Such actions are unfair and should be condemned by all well-meaning individuals.
“The opposition has also been quick to malign the governor’s family, accusing them of not doing enough to take care of the governor’s illness. Such accusations are falsely disrespectful, flippant and callous.
“What Arakunrin Akeredolu and the family requires at this period is our support and prayers for the full recovery of their family patriarch. Arabinrin Betty Akeredolu and her children have been doing their best in taking care of the governor.
“We must continue to pray for the governor’s recovery and stand by the family in these difficult times. Akeredolu is a good man who loves the downtrodden and deserves all the support and prayers for a full recovery from his illness.”
In Kebbi State’s Argungu Local Government Area, quelea birds reportedly raided farmland over the weekend and caused losses to at least 100 farmers.
Quelea birds are harmful parasites that may completely destroy a farm in a day or even a few hours.
Locals said that during the weekend, the hazardous birds devastated roughly 75,000 hectares of rice farms.
According to reports, the red-billed birds moved from the nearby Niger Republic.
Kebbi has been the only state affected so far by the menace of quelea birds. However, experts in agriculture are advising farmers in the northwest and northeast to be on the lookout for invading birds.
They, however, suggested that the only way to combat the menace of quelea birds is to conduct research and produce pest repellent that works without causing any damage to crops.
Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to muster enough courage, fight subsidy cabals and bring them to book.
He said the removal of the fuel subsidy by the President was fantastic and a departure from the past, but the President must do all within his powers to recover the looted funds from the subsidy Cabals.
He spoke to journalists during a Thanksgiving church service to mark the successful completion of a 6-year tenure as Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) General Secretary of Rev. Yunusa S. Nmadu Jnr in Kaduna.
Dogara said president Tinubu has so far demonstrated leadership quality and should be commended by Nigerians.
“We stand by him on the subsidy removal but he must be courageous to pursue the subsidy Cabals and recover all the stolen monies from them and prosecute them accordingly,” he said.
He said, the President had also demonstrated leadership by carrying every region along in the appointment of Service chiefs, regardless of party, ethnicity and religion and should also be commended.
Also, Senator representing Southern Kaduna, Senator Sunday Marshal Katung commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the appointment of the new Service chiefs which he described as a demonstration of equity and justice.
Katung urged the new Service Chiefs to address issues of insecurity ravaging the country particularly the northern region holistically and urged the President to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
The ECWA President and also Vice President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr Stephen Baba Panya commended President Tinubu on the fuel subsidy removal and the appointment of Service chiefs, saying the President was making deliberate efforts to avoid lopsided appointments like it was witnessed in previous administration.
Ahead of the Eid el-Adha festival on Wednesday, Islamic clerics have advised Muslims to shun desperation, but celebrate the festival within their means.
The clerics, who spoke to The PUNCH on Sunday, urged Muslims to seek Allah’s pleasure with the resources available to them and not get themselves into financial trouble over Sallah festival.
Responding to questions by our correspondent on Sunday, the Chief Imam of the University of Abuja, Prof. Taofeek AbdulAzeez, warned Muslim faithful against borrowing for the Sallah celebration, admonishing them to buy only what they can afford.
He said, “They should buy what they can afford. They should please Allah alone; desperation is not a way to please Allah.
“They should buy what they can afford and must not borrow.”
Speaking on the essence of the Eid-el Adha festival, the cleric said, “It is a sign of submission, sacrifice and patience of our father, Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
“We should be patient over domestic crises which resulted in the relocation of the younger wife to Makkah and the establishment of Makkah for Hajj rites, and other Islamic contents. We should also learn sacrifice and submission, sincerity and perseverance.”
Also, the Secretary-General of League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi, harped on the need for moderation during the celebration.
Adewunmi said, “It is not compulsory for Muslims to slaughter rams; only to those who can afford it should do so. Allah does not suck blood and neither does He eat flesh, what He needs is for mankind to have His fear.”
Similarly, the deputy Chief Imam, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Sharafadeen AbdulKareem,said, “It is not acceptable for any Muslim to borrow money when he has no capability. But if he belongs to a cooperative society and the body is ready to lend him money for the Sallah, he can go ahead.
“If he is a civil servant that wants to use his or her salary to buy ram, he can borrow money and buy it. Allah does not accept anyone’s worship that is desperate.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Friday staged a peaceful protest, demanding the reversal of over 300 per cent increment in school fees at the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
Recall that the state government increased AAU fees to between 741,000 and N638,00 as against 185,000 and N216,000 being paid previously.
The protesting student also demanded the sack of the Special Intervention Team (SIT), set up by the state government to oversee the affairs of the institution, as well as the acting vice chancellor of the university, Prof Sonnie Adagbonyin.
Addressing journalists, NANS vice president, Intercampus Affairs, Comrade Vanessa Egheahie, said NANS would storm the institution if the state government failed to revert to the old fees, saying students from poor parents cannot afford to go to school with the new fees.
According to him, with the new fees, AAU has become the most expensive public university in Nigeria.
“Law students are expected to pay 741,000 as against 185,000 while medical science students are to pay 638,000 as against 216,000 for new students.
“We are angry because the Edo State Government and the AAU Special Intervention Team (SIT) have increased the school fees for AAU students by over 360 per cent,” he said.
He said the state government was making it impossible for poor people to go to school.
“It is not possible. Remember that Edo is 78 per cent civil service state. How can children of traders, civil servants and other low income earners pay this kind of school fees? The Edo State Government has told us that they have a low education policy and they don’t care if we end up on the street,” he said.
Also speaking, the secretary-general, NANS, Zone B, Comrade Isaac Ogieva, said when the fee was increased, they went to the school management and pleaded that they should consider the poor ones in school, who are the ones sponsoring their education.
More...
The sum of N115bn was spent on the importation of arms and ammunition into the country in the first quarter of the year.
This was revealed in the National Bureau of Statistics report on trade statistics obtained by our correspondent.
The data for the report is from the Nigerian Customs Service through the Integrated Customs Information System, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, various companies in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Angila International Limited, Neroli Technologies Limited, Gojopal Nigeria Limited, Carmine Assayer Limited, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Ports Authority, among others.
The report covers importation between January and March 2023.
However, the report did not state which agency or security outfits brought the arms and ammunition into the country.
Findings by our correspondent showed that the amount spent on the importation of arms and ammunition was higher in 2023 compared with the last two years.
Within the same period in 2022, arms and ammunition worth N4.9bn were imported into the country while in 2021, the amount spent was N37bn.
A security expert, Chidi Omeje, said the increase in the amount spent on imported weapons reflected the scale of security challenges bedevilling the country.
He said, “The multiplicity of internal security challenges is responsible for the increased importation of weapons in 2023. You have terrorists in the North-East, bandits in the North-West and the North Central. You have a violent separatist agitation in the South-East; there are oil thefts and attacks on our maritime assets in the South-South and kidnapping and armed robbery in the South-West. All these require arms and ammunition; electoral violence could also form part of it.’’
He said the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria should be revamped to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign countries for arms and ammunition.
Omeje said, “The under-performance of DICON is responsible. The organisation was established the same period as its counterpart in India and other countries; but today, other countries are far ahead of ours. They are producing high calibre weapons but here we are, our DICON is still stuck with the production of furniture and what have you.
“You cannot rely on DICON for the production of these weapons needed by the security operatives to combat all manner of insecurity bedevilling the country. You have a country that is practically at war, you cannot wait for DICON. It is worrisome that we are still heavily dependent on foreign countries for all our weapons. The new government must make sure that DICON lives up to its responsibilities.”
Electricity Distribution Companies have stated that tariff will increase from July 1, 2023.
In statements sent to respective consumers on Sunday night, the DisCos stated that the review was due to the fluctuation of the maira in the exchange rate market.
This statements which were worded in similar fashion included that of Abuja DisCo, Eko DisCo and Ikeja Disco.
“Effective July 1st 2023, please be informed that there will be an upward review to the electricity tariff influenced by the fluctuating exchange rate.”
“Under the MYTO 2022 guidelines, the previously set exchange rate of N441/$1 may now be revised to approximately N750/$1 which will have an impact on the tariffs associated with your electricity consumption.”
“For customers within band B and C, with supply hours ranging from 12 to 16 per day, the new base tariff is expected to be N100 per kWh while Bands A with (20 hours and above) and B (16 to 20 hours) will experience comparatively higher tariffs.
“For customers, with a prepaid meter, we encourage you to consider purchasing bulk energy units before the end of this month as this will allow you take advantage of the current rates and potentially make savings before the new tariffs come into effect.
“For those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is imminent in your monthly billing, starting from August,” read a statement from Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
On its part, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) said, “Dear Customers, electricity tariffs are set to go higher on July 1st due to the floating exchange rate. MYTO 2022 set the exchange rate at N441/$1, which may now be adjusted to about N750/$1. We may be looking at a base tariff of N100 per kWh for Band C (12 – 16 supply hours per day).
“Bands A (20 hours and above) & B (16 – 20 hours) will be much higher. If you have a prepaid meter, buying bulk energy units for your home or office before the end of the month may help you make some savings before you have to buy at the new rate.
“For those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is imminent in your monthly billing, starting from August. Please take note. Electricity units are set to jump by 30-40% in just over a week. You are best advised to buy as many units as you can before July 1.”
While ??? ??????????? ???????????? ??????? (????) said, “Dear Customers, electricity tariffs are set to go higher on July 1st due to the floating exchange rate. MYTO 2022 set the exchange rate at N441/$1, which may now be adjusted to about N750/$1.
“We may be looking at a base tariff of N100 per kWh for Band C (12 – 16 supply hours per day). Bands A (20 hours and above) & B (16 – 20 hours) will be much higher.
“If you have a prepaid meter, buying bulk energy units for your home or office before the end of the month may help you make some savings before you have to buy at the new rate.
“For those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is imminent in your monthly billing, starting from August.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of two Ghanaians, Monday Saba and Hakeem Kwana, and 11 other suspects for drug-related offences in different parts of the country.
The agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the development, said officials of the agency intercepted two imported consignments of a strong strain of cannabis known as loud, with a combined weight of 5,344.1 kilograms along the in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
He also revealed that based on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives ambushed a white truck conveying 50 jumbo bags of the illicit substance weighing 2, 434.1kg along the Epe-Lekki Expressway in the early hours of Monday, June 19.
Babafemi said the driver jumped out of the vehicle and escaped in a security van escorting the truck conveying the drug exhibits, adding that the anti-narcotics officers demobilised the truck.
The NDLEA spokesman explained further that the following day, officers of the marine command of the agency, while acting on intelligence, intercepted a boat loaded with the same imported substance weighing 2,910kg around Alfa Beach upon arrival from Ghana.
Babafemi said, “Two Ghanaians, Monday Saba, 30, and Hakeem Kwana, 27, found with the consignments, were promptly arrested. In Niger State, two suspects, Abubakar Mohammed, 32, and Nuhu Sale, 43, were arrested on Sunday, June 18, along Abuja Expressway, Suleja, with 31 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 517kg, while 30-year-old Amina Alilu was arrested with 171kg of the substance on Wednesday, June 21, at Ogbogodo village, Dekina LGA, Kogi State.
“A suspected fake female security agent, Ogedegbe Dorcas, 34, was also nabbed at Ajegunle, in the Asa Dam Area of Ilorin, Kwara State, with 30kg of cannabis on Thursday, June 22, while in Oyo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 42-year-old Segun Olajide with 49.2kg of same substance on Saturday, June 24, in Oyo town.
“Operatives in Edo State stormed Ekudo Forest, Uhunmwode LGA, where they destroyed a cannabis farm measuring 2.494863 hectares, recovered processed weeds weighing 67kg and arrested six suspects including Onyeka Onyedinma, Monday Onyedi, Alex Eboh, Edosa Imariagbe, Godbless Tunde and Godstime Osarobo in the early hours of Monday, June 19.”
The Sokoto State Police Command has launched an investigation into the killing of a butcher, Usman Buda, by extremist Muslims over an alleged blasphemous comment against an Islamic prophet.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the butcher made the comment during an argument with another trader around 8am on Sunday at the Sokoto Main Abattoir.
Angered by his comment, an angry mob descended on him, beat him till he became unconscious and fled the scene.
The police, who stormed the scene, in a bid to rescue the victim, rushed him to the Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto where he died during treatment.
Reacting to the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, said efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects.
He said, “A distress call was received around 09.20am that one Usman Buda of the Gwandu Local Government Area, a butcher at the Sokoto Abattoir, allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). As a result, he was mobbed and attacked.
“Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro and Divisional Police Officer, Kwanni, led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders to the scene.
“On arrival, the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious where he was rescued and taken to the Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto for treatment and was later confirmed dead. Meanwhile, an investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators.”