Oando Plc said it has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of ENI in Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).
The oil giant made the disclosure on Monday.
The oil company said it has “reached an agreement with Eni (“ENI”) (an integrated energy company actively supporting a just
energy transition, with the objective of achieving Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and promoting efficient and sustainable access to energy for all), for the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).
“Completion of the transaction is subject to Ministerial Consent and other required regulatory approvals,” Oando said.
With the acquisition, Oando’s current participating interests in OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 have increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
The deal increases Oando’s ownership stake in all NEPL/NAOC/OOL Joint Venture assets and infrastructure which include forty discovered oil and gas fields, of
which twenty-four are currently producing approximately forty identified prospects and leads, twelve production stations and approximately 1,490 km of
pipelines.
Others are three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale Okpai phases 1 & 2 power plants (with a total nameplate capacity of 960MW),
and associated infrastructure.
“Based on 2021 reserves estimates, Oando’s total reserves stand at 503.3MMboe and the transaction will deliver a 98 per cent increase.
“The transaction also grows Oando’s exploration asset portfolio through the
acquisition of a 90 per cent interest in OPL 282 and 48 per cent interest in OPL 135.
“NAOC Ltd participating interest in SPDC JV (Shell Production Development Company Joint Venture – operator Shell 30 per cent, TotalEnergies 10 per cent, NAOC 5 per cent,” read the regulatory filing.
Wale Tinub, the Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC described the deal as an important milestone in the company’s future.
Tinubu said it would also unlock Oando’s potential as a major player in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
“The synergies created by this acquisition will unlock unparalleled opportunities for us
to re-align expectations, enhance efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and
significantly increase production. Furthermore, it is in alignment with our strategy of acquiring, enhancing, appraising, and efficiently developing reserves.
“Today’s announcement is not just an important milestone for the future of Oando; it brings to bear the important role indigenous actors will play in the future of the Nigerian upstream sector.
“Having achieved this significant milestone, we look forward to closing the transaction and harnessing the full potential of the enhanced platform to accrue value for our local communities, stakeholders and shareholders.”
The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sent a second list of commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The house announced the receipt of the list of nominees during the plenary on Monday.
Recall that the state assembly had earlier disqualified seventeen out of the thirty-nine commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Twenty-two of the Commissioner Nominees were, however, confirmed by the lawmakers last Wednesday.
The Chief Whip of the Assembly who also served as the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Mojeed Fatai Adebola while stating why the nominees were rejected said the rejection of the nominees was a result of the unanimous decision by all members of the state assembly and not his personal decision.
The statement reads, “Governor’s Nominees for Commissioners: Speaker Obasa calls on the committee that handled the previous nominees to take charge on the new list sent by the Governor, @jidesanwoolu, and report back to the House by Thursday 7/09/2023.
“Some of the nominees have their documents with you, and you can reach out to the new nominees. I want you to be thorough and do the needful while carrying out this exercise.”
Names of those who made the second list
1. Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen
2. Mr. Oluwaseun Oriyomi Osiyemi
3. Prof. Akinola Emmanuel Abayomi
Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)
4. Engr. Olalere Odusote
5. Dr. Oluwarotimi Omotola Wahab Fashola
6. Mrs. Folashade Kaosarat Ambrose-Medem
7. Mr. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe
8. Mr. Samuel Egube
9. Hon. Tolani Sule Akibu
10. Mrs. Bolaji Cecelia Dada
11. Mrs. Barakat Akande Bakare
12. Mr. Olugbenga Omotoso
13. Mr. Mosopefolu George
14. Yekini Nurudeen Agbaje
15. Dr. Olumide Oluyinka
16. Mr. Abayomi Samson Oluyomi
17. Dr. Iyabode Oyeyemi Ayoola
18. Hon. Sola Shakirudeen Giwa
The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to ground the economy as it says the stage is set for a two-day nationwide warning strike in response to the severe economic hardships plaguing the nation on the aftermath of subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
This move has garnered widespread support from key stakeholders, including the banking sector, civil society organisations, and workers’ unions, as they unite to address the growing economic crisis in the country.
The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, the umbrella organisation representing workers in the banking and insurance industry, on Monday vowed to take part in the strike, effectively shutting down financial activities across Nigeria.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr Mohammed Sheikh, underscored the importance of their participation in the two-day warning strike by the NLC, citing the need to draw the government’s attention to the dire economic situation faced by Nigerians.
The leadership of NUBIFIE has issued a notice that all banks will be shut down on Tuesday, 5 and Wednesday, 6 September 2023, in line with the NLC two-day strike directive.
“The directives are imperative to get the needed attention of the government and to warn it against interfering in the internal affairs of unions instead of addressing the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves in,” the statement emphasised.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Senior Deputy General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr. Aboderin Olusola, reiterated their commitment to the NLC’s cause, stressing the necessity of solidarity among industrial unions during these trying times.
Olusola said, “It was NLC’s directive to all the industrial unions and NUBIFIE didn’t have any option than to issue that circular to all our members and management of banks and insurance companies in Nigeria.”
Joining the chorus of concern, the United Action Front of Civil Society has thrown its full support behind the NLC’s two-day warning strike.
In a statement signed by the Head of the National Coordinating Centre for the United Action Front of Civil Society, Wale Okunniyi, the organisation expressed outrage over the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies and subsequently raise the price of premium motor spirit.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has backed the Nigerian Labour Congress to embark on the two-day warning strike.
This was contained in a letter on Monday titled, ‘Compliance to the Nigerian Labour Congress directive on a nationwide two-day warning strike’, signed by the Head of Media, MWUN, John Ikemefuna.
The PUNCH reports that on Friday, the NLC in a communiqué jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to embark on a two-day warning strike following what was described as the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labor on efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, on the “poor masses”.
The President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, directed all its affiliates to embark on the two-day nationwide strike.
He said, “This decision is due to the Federal Government’s refusal to engage and reach an agreement with the organized labor on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and the generality of the Nigerian citizens.”
“The MWUN as an affiliate of the NLC, is obliged to comply with the directive and has consequently instructed all our members in all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms nationwide to partake on the two days total shut down warning strike as directed by the NLC.”
State chapters join
Labour unions across the states of the federation are also gearing up for the showdown.
In Abia State, the state chapter of the NLC accused the state government of insensitivity to their plights, describing it as unacceptable.
This was even as it has called on all affiliate unions in the state not to ignore the national directive on the warning strike but should join forces with organised labour to tell the government that enough is enough.
Subsidy pains: Labour insists on protest as Tinubu okays N500bn palliative, 3,000 buses
Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Monday, the state chairman, Pascal Iheme Nweke, regretted that the state government failed to carry labour along in matter that concerns workers in the state.
According to the Abia NLC, the relationship between government and labour in the state is not cordial, pointing out that the state government forms committees concerning workers in the state without involving labour, noting that it is not unacceptable.
Similarly, organised labour in Kogi state has ordered its members to join the two- day warning strike as directed by the National Executive Council of the NLC.
In a news bulletin circulated in Lokoja on Monday at the end an emergency meeting to ratify the decision made by the NEC, and signed by the Chairman, Gabriel Amari, and the Secretary, Owoeye Oladipupo respectively, the union said Kogi State as part of the country was not immune to the prevailing national sentiments, taking into account the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens.
It said, “The council scrutinised the Federal government’s failure to establish structure to address the widespread suffering in our nation.”
“Furthermore, it considered the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it had solemnly declared during the president’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023.
Ahead of his proposed trip to India to attend the G-20 summit, President Bola Tinubu has met briefly with his service chiefs for a briefing regarding their operations.
The meeting, which is a routine activity at the Presidential Villa, had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, his Navy counterpart, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
At the meeting, which held behind closed doors at Aso Rock, the Service Chiefs briefed the President on the general security situation in the country, including a review of areas where they need to double up efforts to close gaps.
Tinubu would later in the day proceed to New Delhi, India to attend the G-20 Leaders Summit.
[DailyPost]
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has inaugurated an 11-man Police Recruitment Board to enlist constables into the Nigeria Police Force.
This was as members of the Joint Workers Union of the PSC protested on Monday, accusing Arase of nepotism, noting that the PSC recruitment director, who was supposed to be the secretary of the board, according to the constitution, was excluded.
Arase on Monday, announced Onyemuche Nnamani as chairman of the board, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of training, Bala Ciroma, as the vice chairman.
Other members of the board are Mohammed Magaji, representing the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, Professor Joseph Olowofela, CP Hassan Yabanet, Yusuf Sanusi, Sani Hada, Victoria Onyekwuluije, DSO Ahanmisi Obehi, and DCP Olabode Akinbamilowo.
The board, among other things, is charged with the responsibility to determine and declare available vacancies in the NPF; draw up guidelines for every recruitment process into the police force; determine the online platform to be employed in the advertorial on national dailies, and other forms of information dissemination on recruitment, among others.
The PUNCH reports that the PSC and the NPF were hitherto, engaged in a legal dispute over who has the power and responsibility to recruit for the NPF.
However, in a landmark verdict on July 11, 2023, the Supreme Court gave a judgement in favour of the PSC, as being soley responsible for recruitments into the NPF, laying to rest the imbroglio.
Speaking on Monday, Arase said, “The Supreme Court judgment will not only help in solidifying the nascent peace, friendliness and growing mutuality between the PSC and NPF, but also facilitate and ensure seamless recruitment exercises for the Nigeria Police Force.
“The recruitment board, which is chaired by the commission, has members drawn from the Nigeria Police Force as the Secretary, and the Ministry of Police Affairs and Federal Character Commission as members, respectively.
“The board members are charged to work harmoniously and inter-dependently towards recruiting qualified and competent Nigerians without records of bad character or previous criminal conviction, for the rebirth of an efficient, responsive, responsible and accountable policing and police force in Nigeria.”
The PUNCH reports that the recruitment exercise, which Arase said will commence in no distant time, is coming on the heels of the approval given by former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retf) for the annual recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the NPF.
Meanwhile, members of the union stormed the corporate headquarters of the PSC on Monday, to protest alleged nepotism and intimidation of some of its members by the PSC Chairman, Arase, and the DIG in charge of FCID, Abuja.
During the protest, the members accused Arase of neglecting the constitution and electing his cronies into the Police Recruitment Board.
They also claimed to be owed several allowances, including election duties allowance between 2022 and 2023, which are yet to be paid.
“The PSC chairman is oppressing us. He failed to include in the Police Recruitment Board, the PSC director in charge of recruitment, who is supposed to be the board secretary, rather, he picked another person who is his loyalist, while neglecting the constitution,” one of the protesters said.
According to another, “We are being owed several allowances, and they’ve refused to pay us. They are yet to pay us our allowance for the 2022 elections held in some states and the 2023 general elections.
“They have paid police officers and workers under the Ministry of Police Affairs. But the PSC Chairman had to tell us that our money was paid to the account of the NPF.”
Meanwhile, the Force Criminal Investigation Department has invited some members of the Joint Workers Union of the PSC to interview the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FCID, Abuja, over alleged criminal conspiracy, malicious damage, threat to life and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The three separate letters dated September 3, which were exclusively obtained by our correspondent, inviting the three union members; Yusuf Nasidi, Adoyi Adoyi and Nmecha Benedicta, for questioning, were undersigned by the Commissioner of Police, Special Enquiry Bureau, FCID, Abuja, George Chukwu.
“This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, malicious damage, threat to life and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, reported to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja in which the need to ascertain certain information from you has become necessary.
“In view of the above, you are requested to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja through the undersigned, and the Officer-In-Charge, Admin Team, Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja on Monday, September 4, 2023, at room 406, FCIID Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja. 11 a.m. prompt,” the invitation letter reads in part.
When contacted, the chairman of the union, Adoyi Adoyi, who is also among the three invited workers, said they did not honour the police invitation because it did not come through an official route.
Adoyi said, “This invite came because we organised a Congress where members complained about being owed allowances and being shortchanged because the chairman of the commission is more loyal to the NPF and police ministry than to the workers in his own commission.
“We didn’t honour the invite, not because we want to disobey the law or a government authority; but because the police sent us the letters on WhatsApp, instead of doing the right thing by writing to the commission through the chairman, and the commission would now decide on either or not to release us to attend the interview.”
[Punch]
Umar Bangari, the chief registrar of the court of appeal in Abuja, has disclosed that the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 6.
“In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow,” he wrote in a statement.
“The court of appeal wishes to inform the general public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday, 6 September, 2023:
“• CAREPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied Peoples Movement VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors.
“Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation.
“Only accredited individuals, including counsel and representatives of political parties, will be granted access into the Courtroom.
“Interested members of the public are advised to watch proceedings from their television sets.”
Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 6,984,520, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533 votes.
Not satisfied with the outcome, five political parties including the PDP, LP, Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Action Alliance (AA) lodged separate petitions before the tribunal seeking to annul Tinubu’s victory.
Shortly after the commencement of the pre-hearing session in May, the APP and AA withdrew their petitions.
Among a slew of grievances, the petitioners contend that Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president, were not eligible to contest the February 25 presidential poll.
[TheCable]
Yakubu Maikyau, Nigerian Bar Association president, says AllEyeOnTheJudiciary campaigners are planning to plunge the country into anarchy.
Mr Maikyau accused the ‘AllEyeOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners of setting the country up for anarchy.
“When you make bare allegations, unsubstantiated allegations, you are hurting the very fabric upon which this country I held together,” Mr Maikyau stated in an interview broadcast Sunday night on ARISE TV. “Because once the people do not accept the judiciary, once public confidence in the judiciary is eroded, then you will not have a country in place. You will only have anarchy and chaos.”
The NBA president added, “You go all out there and make generalised statements about how corrupt they are. If you have evidence, come out and say it. You are even worse than a judicial officer who is practising corruption or who indulges in corrupt practices when you have the evidence, and you refuse to let us know. Because you are destroying the fabric of the system that holds this country together.”
Mr Maikyau declared that the judiciary “has been pauperised” and “has been ill-treated,” yet “they have demonstrated their strength of character.”
He reiterated his call for all ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners accusing the judiciary of corruption to come forward with evidence to weed out bad eggs.
“I’ve said it in different fora; if you have any evidence against any judicial officers, please let us have it,” noted the NBA president. “We will pursue the judicial officers. Of all the judicial officers in this country, how many have been convicted of corruption?”
Legal tussles ensued following the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 1.
Atiku Abubakar (of PDP) and Peter Obi (of Labour Party) are challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that he failed to win a 25 per cent vote in the Federal Capital Territory and his forfeiture of money linked to cocaine pushing in the United States of America.
In the run-up to the presidential election petitions tribunal’s verdict on the election, scheduled for September 16, supporters of opposition parties have launched online and offline campaigns tagged ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’, warning the judiciary not to compromise.
Aside from trending the ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ on social media, its campaigners erected billboards with the same expression in strategic locations.
However, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ordered the immediate removal of the billboards nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians of his determination not to fail the country in carrying out a permanent transformation of the nation’s economy to an enduring prosperity.
Tinubu said this while receiving members of Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on a solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is contained in a statement signed by Chief Frank Ebere-Njoku, National Spokesperson, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), given to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
The president, who thanked the organisation for standing on his mandate, said that Nigeria was on the path of recovery.
Tinubu expressed confidence in the capacity of his cabinet members to rescue the country from the present economic quagmire.
“I have at this point assembled ministers to work toward achieving my goal of a progressive Nigeria.
“I am sure that they are capable of delivering on their primary assignment of rebuilding the Nigerian economy because I will remove anyone who fails, because I want results,” he said.
Tinubu, however, promised to run an all-inclusive government where everyone would be given the opportunity to serve, especially those that worked for him.
According to him, “I will always reward loyalty, excellence and hard work.”
Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, Founder, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) reassured the president of their loyalty and support.
Suleiman, who expressed unwavering support to President Tinubu, said they were committed to making the government a great success.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TSO is one of the associations that mobilised support for President Tinubu’s presidency.
NAN
Nigerian banks, including the United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Access Bank, among others, have jointly announced their intention to initiate a nationwide strike lasting for two days. They have stated that financial services will be unavailable on September 5 and 6, 2023.
This decision follows a directive issued by the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institution Employees, as conveyed in a memorandum dated September 2, 2023, and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Mohammed I. Sheikh. The memo explicitly referenced the strike notice previously issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on August 31.
NUBIFIE additionally voiced allegations against the federal government, accusing it of interfering in trade union affairs rather than concentrating on addressing economic challenges.
The notice read; “In line with the communique issued after the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held on Thursday, August 31 2023, all affiliates should direct all its members to commence two days’ withdrawal of services from Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th September 2023.
“The directives is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it of its newfound love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.
“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off duty for two days. Your cooperation in this regard will be appreciated.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in an effort to avert the Nigeria Labour Congress’ warning strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, has shown interest in resuming talks with the organised labours.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
According to him, the government would meet with leaders of the union to avert the looming strike.
He said; “Definitely, we are hoping the warning strike can be averted. They are still engaged in discussions and have started to understand each other’s position more. They will meet again on Monday, but the gaps are being closed.
“You know the new minister just came in and has just begun to engage with the NLC. Going forward, you will see more expeditious engagement with the labour union. So far, tension has reduced but work is still in progress. By Monday, they will meet again and hopefully find an amicable resolution on the issue.”
On what the Federal Government plans to do concerning the 21-day strike scheduled to commence later in the month if the parties fail to reach an agreement, the minister expressed conviction that the matter would be resolved before then.
He stated, “This is why I said we are trying to find a common ground to avert the impending strike. Once this is achieved, the other one would have been taken care of.”
The suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Hon Wale Adedayo, detained since last Friday by the Department of State Security Services has regained his freedom.
Adedayo, who spoke with our correspondent in Abeokuta shortly after he was released, disclosed that he was summoned by the DSS based on a petition written against him that he was making inciting comments that could jeopardize public peace.
The suspended LG boss, however, said he had told the DSS that he had never uttered any inciting comments other than his allegation of local governments getting zero allocation from the state government in the last two years.
He said he remained unshaken over his travails so far and that he would definitely challenge what he called his illegal suspension from office last week Thursday.
Adedayo disclosed that the letter written to report Governor Dapo Abiodun to the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was with the support of other chairmen in the state but he was surprised they could all back out of the struggle which is to primarily ensure good governance at the grassroots.
Recalled that the suspended chairman had written a letter to a former governor in the state, Osoba, alleging that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, had hijacked public funds, while also forwarding a petition to the anti-graft agencies over the same allegations.
The Joint Account and Allocation Committee in the state saddled with the responsibility of managing the local government federal allocations has however dismissed the allegation, affirming that every fund approved by the Committee passed through the various Local Council Accounts.
More...
'A “red line” had been crossed' - Israeli announced plans to immediately deport African migrants after Eritreans riot in Tel Aviv [VIDEO]
AdminIsrael prime minister Benjamin Nentanyahu has announced the immediate deportation of at least 25,000 African migrants after the Eritrean violent clash in Tel Aviv, which left dozens of persons injured.
Eritrea has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and migrants in Israel and elsewhere said they feared death if they were to return.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced the decision on Sunday, also ordered a plan to evacuate all African migrants in the country following the bloody protest by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv.
“We want harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who took part,” Mr Netanyahu said in a special ministerial meeting to deal with the aftermath of the violence.
Mr Netanyahu, however, requested the ministers present him with plans “for the removal of all the other illegal infiltrators.”
Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly send migrants back to a country where their life or liberty may be at risk.
Ahead of an official visit to Cyprus, Mr Netanyahu said the ministerial team was seeking to deport 1,000 supporters of the Eritrean government involved in the violence.
“They have no claim to refugee status. They support this regime,” Mr Netanyahu said. “If they support the regime so much, they would do well to return to their country of origin.”
African migrants living in Israel, about 25,000 mainly from Sudan and Eritrea, allegedly claimed they fled their country due to conflict or repression.
Israel had tried a variety of tactics to force the migrants out, including sending some to a remote prison, holding part of their wages until they agreed to leave the country or offering cash payments to those who agreed to move to another country, somewhere in Africa.
Some critics had accused the Israeli government of trying to coerce the migrants into leaving. However, many claimed migrants had brought crime to the low-income southern Tel Aviv neighbourhoods where they have settled.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, visited the site of the unrest and demanded that those who broke the law be detained until they are deported.
“They don’t need to be here. It’s not their place,” Mr Ben-Gvir said.
Saturday’s clashes came as Eritrean government supporters marked the 30th anniversary of the current ruler’s rise to power, an event held near the Eritrean embassy in south Tel Aviv.
Similar protests involving rival Eritrean groups had also been popping up in other countries.
Media
Gabon’s coup leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, vowed, after being sworn in as interim president on Monday, to restore civilian rule through “free, transparent and credible elections” after a transition and amnesty prisoners of conscience.
In a speech after taking the oath of office, Nguema said the elections would be the stepping stone to “handing power back to the civilians,” although he did not give a timeline.
Nguema said he was seeking the participation of all of Gabon’s “core groups” to draft a new constitution, which “will be adopted by referendum.”
He also said he would be instructing “the future government… to consider ways of amnestying prisoners of conscience” and “facilitating the return of all exiles” from abroad.
Nguema, 48, who is head of the elite Republican Guard, led a coup that brought the curtain down on 55 years of dynastic rule by President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his father Omar, who died in 2009.
Bongo’s ouster came just moments after he had been proclaimed victor in presidential elections last month — a result branded a fraud by the opposition.
Nguema said he was “surprised” at foreign criticism of the coup.
The military had been prompted by a desire to avoid bloodshed following “an electoral process that was obviously loaded,” he said.
“We are greatly surprised to hear certain international organisations condemn the act taken by soldiers who were simply upholding their oath to the flag — to save their country at the risk of their lives,” he said.
Five other countries in Africa — Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger — have undergone coups in the last three years, although their circumstances are different from Gabon’s.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory finds itself entangled in a crisis marked by allegations of corruption and personnel grievances, with profound implications for the administration of justice in the nation’s capital.
In an unusual move, several judges have revealed to People’s Gazette the distressing experiences they endured under the leadership of Chief Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf.
During discreet interviews conducted over a span of seven weeks, five judges from the court expressed deep concerns about the mismanagement of resources within their division, which has left judicial officers struggling in the midst of widespread hardship exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate petrol subsidies in an attempt to prevent a broader economic crisis.
These judges further accused Mr. Baba-Yusuf of exploiting their meager allowances, resulting in their courtrooms lacking essential support personnel and equipment. They described the Chief Justice’s management style as akin to treating the court as his personal estate, and they felt generally disregarded and disrespected, likening their treatment to that of “secondary school boys.”
Accounts gathered by The Gazette indicate that the judges are alarmed that this neglect could increase their vulnerability to bribery, even though they vehemently asserted their commitment to upholding justice and their willingness to resign rather than compromise their principles.
Since 2007 when President Umar Yar’Adua raised the salaries of FCT judges from N200,000 to N530,000 monthly (roughly $600), no reviews have been conducted, much less approved, they said.
Consequently, the judges said their struggle to work effectively, feed or provide quality education for their children has made it difficult for them to administer justice for millions in the district and even tempted their sacrosanct allegiance to rectitude.
“We regularly sit on cases involving individuals and companies accused of stealing billions, and most of them have agents that usually try to bribe judges in order to influence court decisions,” one of the judges said. “Yet we cannot even feed ourselves or compromise our constitutional oath to guarantee a decent living.”
The judges’ grievances against Chief Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf mirror concerns previously raised by Supreme Court justices in 2022. The Supreme Court justices had accused their then-chief justice, Tanko Muhammad, of irresponsibility and moral decay for withholding utility and data allowances. Tanko Muhammad resigned following these accusations. It remains uncertain whether Baba-Yusuf will face a similar fate.
Additionally, Baba-Yusuf faces allegations of not providing judges with the necessary equipment and personnel, resulting in a significant backlog of unresolved cases. According to judges, over the last quarter, more than 1,000 cases have made no progress on the court’s docket.
The Federal Government has appealed to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve its planned two-day warning strike slated to commence on Tuesday.
The appeal was made on Monday by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, in Abuja.
He identified the reverse of the gains already made by FG, among others as the reason for the appeal while promising to attend to the contending issues raised by the NLC holistically if given some time to settle into the office.
Lalong said, “It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its intended two-day warning strike, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.
“Furthermore, I would request that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress gives this government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.
“It should be realised that the cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by Mr. President and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.
“Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.
“Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.
We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into immediate challenges that have emerged from the policies of the government. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, the minister noted that although the ministry was yet to get a notification of the planned strike as required by law from the NLC, the ministry would be having a meeting with the labour leaders by 3 p.m. on Monday with a view to stopping the planned strike.