Another round of tension has gripped the oil industry in the Niger Delta over the renewal of the N48billion oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to the former leader of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo.
Already, the renewal of the contract had pitched Tompolo against his colleagues involved in the struggle in the region, particularly the leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo; HRM Ateke Tom; Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf; Chief Bibopere Ajube, alias Shoot-at-Sight, and an ex-warlord in Imo State axis of the region, Commander Nigeria, among others, across the states of the oil-rich belt.
The multi-billion naira security job awarded to Tantita Security Services, owned by Tompolo in August 2022, is due for renewal by the end of this month, a development which has triggered intense intrigues and maneuvering by some ex-warlords to wrestle it from the former MEND commander.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the ex-militant commanders are strongly opposed to the renewal of the contract as exclusively packaged for Tompolo in 2022.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the contract covers surveillance and protection of oil pipelines, which criss-crossed various oil producing communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.
The award of the job to Tompolo was facilitated by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, in August 2022.
One year later, as Tompolo prepared to approach the management of NNPCL for the renewal of the job, his ex-colleagues were up in arms against him.
The protesting ex-militant commanders are agitating for the splitting of the contract to accommodate divergent interests. There are mounting pressures on the Presidency and NNPCL not to re-award the contract solely to Tompolo and his outfit in its present component.
They vehemently opposed an omnibus contract to be awarded to Tompolo, which would cover places outside his areas of influence in Gbaramatu axis of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
They insisted that his ambience of operation should be limited to his communities in Delta State, while they are allowed to also operate in their areas.
They rejected the template offered by the embattled warlord to sublet parts of the job to them in their different enclaves, insisting that the package being offered by Tompolo was at variance with his earnings from NNPCL, for the job.
Instead, LEADERSHIP learnt that they were unanimous that the contract be splitted, with its components awarded separately to individual ex-commanders to man their areas of influence.
Already, the aggrieved warlords have protested to the presidency, especially the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and Kyari, apparently to halt the moves to award the contract in bulk to their kinsman.
LEADERSHIP learnt that Kyari reportedly advised the protesters to remain calm pending the inauguration of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who is expected to prepare a memo on the festering issue for the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was gathered that Tompolo was also having a running battle with his kinsmen and some close associates of Tinubu, who were bent on punishing him for allegedly not supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 polls.
They accused the ex-militant commander of having supported and heavily funded the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within and outside Delta State, in the just concluded elections.
Those opposing Tompolo said he didn’t reciprocate the visit of Tinubu, in company with Kyari and other top party stalwarts to his enclave on Friday November 25, 2022 and the visit of another team raised by the President and headed by Kyari, with Wale and Seyi Tinubu as members of the team, on the eve of the governorship and houses of assembly election on March 17, 2023, to garner votes and support for the governing
However, to starve off any untoward development, Tompolo’s men and foot soldiers were reported to have relocated to Abuja to intensify lobby to retain the status quo in the award of the job.
LEADERSHIP gathered that they have approached Ribadu, Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and other influential members of the inner circles of Tinubu, including members of the president’s immediate family, for help.
But despite stiff opposition, investigation by this paper revealed that Tompolo’s bid to renew the job still enjoyed the backing and support of Sylva, who is apparently relying on the former MEND leader for support in the November 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, Omo-Agege, who was said to have forgiven Tompolo for not supporting his gubernatorial ambition in the 2023 election and the chief executive of NNPCL.
They were reportedly touching base with powerful links within and outside the Presidency to ensure that Tompolo triumph, taunting and flaunting widely reported ex-militant and his company’s impressive records in the war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region, as satisfactory credentials to renew the job.
One of our sources disclosed that the trio in their alibi in favour of Tompolo expressed conviction that renewal of Tantita’s contract would help in consolidating the gains so far recorded in the war against illicit deals associated with crude oil, in the region.
The source said, “The management of NNPCL has been having difficulties in renewing the pipeline surveillance contract given to Chief Tompolo to oversee the security and protection of crude oil pipelines in the Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and part of Rivers State in 2022 because his colleagues in the Niger Delta struggle are up in arms against him. They are opposed to an omnibus award of the same contract to him. They are saying that Tompolo cannot protect the pipelines in their areas.
Efforts by our correspondent to get reactions from Tompolo and the management of Tantita Security Services, were futile.
Tantita’s managing director, Chief Keston Pondi and the company’s head, Operations/Intelligence, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, ignored persistent calls and messages to their cell phones, for one week, to secure their reactions to the report.
But a source in Tantita Security Services, who pleaded with this newspaper not to mention his name because he was not competent to speak neither on behalf of Tompolo nor the company, said Tompolo and his lieutenants were not leaving any stone unturned to put issues in proper perspectives.
He said, “Tompolo’s men are in Abuja already to put paid to some lies being peddled against their boss, especially as concerned about his roles in the 2023 elections. Most of what is being said about him are tissues of lies. They are making frivolous allegations about him with a view to ensuring that the contract is not renewed. Come to think of it, what does the outcome of the elections have to do with the award and discharge of a legitimate business? This is purely a business and not politics. As Mr. President said recently, the time for politics is over. It’s now time for governance.
“Tantita has performed excellently in the assignment handed over to it to the admiration of all and sundry. The records of the increase in crude oil production are there in NNPCL and the oil multinationals and we must warn that it would not be in the interest of our economy to sacrifice excellence in favour of mundane arguments.
“We are not losing any sleep in Tantita and even our principal, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, is not bothered about the so-called gang-up. We have done our best in Tantita in taming the hoodlums draining our economy through illicit crude oil deals and our performance chat is there for everyone to check. We have received accolades from within and outside the country for our efforts in salvaging the nation’s economy. The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we know very well will not succumb to undue pressures of blackmailers and enemies of Nigeria.
“We have no doubt that the management of NNPCL will take the right steps by renewing the contract to enable us to strengthen and consolidate our efforts in the national interests. Those opposed to us are the oil thieves and their collaborators, whom we have blocked the sources of their ill-gotten wealth,” the Tantita source added.
The group general manager, Public Affairs, NNPCL, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, also declined to comment on the report. Muhammad shunned calls and messages sent to him on the subject matter.
Troops of the 4 Special Forces Command, have been called upon to rise up to the renewed security challenges in Niger State.
Commander 4 Special Forces Command of the Nigerian Army Doma in Nasarawa State, Major General Hilary Nzan gave the charge during an operational visit to formations and units under the command in Niger State.
The formations and units under the 4 Special Forces Command Doma where the commander visited include Headquarters 403 Amphibious Brigade, 221 Tank Battalion and 101 Special Forces Battalion all in Niger State.
Addressing officers and men of the command, he urged them to redouble their efforts in tackling insecurity in communities around the North Central part of the country.
He said the Nigerian Army had remained committed toa securing all parts of the country to pave the way for peace and socio-economic development hence the need for the troops to be versatile in their approach to any security threats across the area.
The commander specifically charged them to flush out bandits terrorising Niger from the various forests which served as their abode.
LEADERSHIP reports that several forests linked Niger with states like Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna where bandits reigned supreme over the years.
The bandits, it was gathered, besiege the state through the affected forests which they also retreated to after carrying out their nefarious activities.
Security experts had repeatedly called on the federal government to convert the forests to productive use.
Major General Nzan expressed optimism that the troops would end the spate of attacks in the state.
He stressed the need for the troops to uphold professionalism, unity at all times and establish a strong synergy with the civilian public as well as other security agencies in the areas of intelligence gathering and information sharing to ensure success.
While interacting with the wives of the soldiers, he called on the women to be relentless in praying for their spouses to be focused on confronting the bandits and insurgents terrorising most parts of the country.
As part of efforts to ease the burden caused by economic hardship on corps members, Kaduna State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Hassan Taura, said the Federal Government has upwardly reviewed their feeding allowance.
The coordinator, while fielding questions from journalists, after swearing in the 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream ‘2’ orientation course, did not specifically disclose which of the allowances was reviewed.
“The Federal Government, in its wisdom, has reviewed the feeding allowance of the corps members,” he said, while responding to the plans to cushion the corps members’ hardship.
Promising to prioritise corps members’ welfare in his state, he said: “I told them (corps members) I am going to ensure their food is of good quality and quantity. I told them I will ensure that they won’t spend their money in the camp market. This is the promise I made to them and I am fulfilling them.
“I am going to feed them in such a way that they will not spend from their pocket.”
They don’t even have the money; so, it is our duty to ensure we feed them well.” On arrangements by the state government and private organisations to ensure timely payment of stipends of corps members, he said: “In line with our operations of the monthly stipend we pay corps members, we expect their employers, be it state government or private organisations, to pay them some stipend in addition to what Federal Government gives them.”
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has confirmed that the state has received N2bn as part payment from the N5bn promised by the Federal Government as fuel subsidy palliative.
He also confirmed the receipt of three thousand bags of rice to be shared among the people of Abia.
The governor who disclosed this while addressing the State Executive Council who are in Aba for a retreat, said his administration will not deceive the people like the previous administration did.
The Federal Government had last Thursday announced the sum of N5bn as palliative to each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State had announced this during an interactive session with State House correspondents in Abuja after the statutory meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Security men drawn from the police, civil defense, state service and military formations in Kwara State were on guard at Yemoja River in Oko Olowo area of Ilorin to prevent security breach in the state.
The river was the initial venue of the botched celebration of the Isese festival by the traditional worshippers.
The operatives were drafted to the spot to prevent a clash between the traditionalists and the Muslims ahead of the celebration of the World Isese Day slated for Monday.
Islamic leaders had rejected the decision to celebrate the event in the Muslim dominated five local governments that make up Ilọrin Emirate.
Although the security men were on alert guiding the river, neither the traditionalists nor the Islam adherents were sighted by our correspondent for several hours during a visit.
Speaking with journalists at the Yemoja River site, the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ebbunoluwarotimi Adelesi who led the operation said the heavy presence of security operatives was to keep peace and protect the lives of the people and their properties.
“The security men are here to maintain peace, we are not here to deprive anyone of his or her fundamental human rights. They have been drafted to this place since yesterday to protect the people of the state.
“We have to be at alert as a result of what the two sides are saying. We cannot allow the security and peace of the state to be breached. Kwara State is the state of harmony,” she said.
The police command had earlier advised the traditionalists to stay away from Kwara and relocate the celebration to other states, a decision that was reiterated by the Muslim community in Ilọrin.
The police had said the security report did not favour holding the Isese festival in Ilọrin as initially declared by the International Council of Ifa/Orisa Religions (ICIR).
Niger Coup: Wounds From War May Never Heal - Ex-Lawmaker Cautions Tinubu Against Military Action
AdminA former member of the House of Representatives, Robinson Uwak, has advised the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) including its chair, President Bola Tinubu, to avoid starting war in the Niger Republic following the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The lawmaker’s call on Sunday followed the ECOWAS’ threat to invade Niger if all diplomatic efforts from international partners fail.
The junta has defied the directives from ECOWAS regarding restoration of democracy and installed a new government made up of soldiers.
Uwak, in a statement on Sunday, advised Tinubu to continue to toe the path of dialogue.
He warned that invading Niger with soldiers can cause irrecoverable crisis and wanton destruction across borders as the country is surrounded by Nigeria and Chad, among others.
He added that the impact of war can cause trauma on respective citizens.
“Let Mr President suspend any talk of military action and sustain the dialogue option as this would yield long term benefits for regional peace and stability within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“The President should take a deep look at the impact of any war with our neighbouring country, the post-traumatic disorders, the severance of cross-border filial relations, the destruction and the injuries may probably not heal. Let us avoid this war by all means,” Uwak stated.
He lauded former Head of State and the chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto for agreeing to broker peace between respective countries.
Recall that Tinubu had approached the Nigerian Senate for approval to send troops to Niger Republic despite imposing economic sanctions on the country.
But the lawmakers rejected Tinubu’s request.
Amid the development, the junta has vowed to remain in power for three years before permitting a democratic election.
A Nigerian, Okechukwu Iwuji, alongside two others, has been convicted and jailed for advance fee and money laundering scheme involving over $2m.
An attorney from the US Attorney’s Office, Guam, Shawn Anderson, announced that 38-year-old Iwuji and the other convicts fraudulently obtained approximately $2,600,000 by inducing Guam-based investors to pay bogus fees for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The other convicts are Sally Roberto, 56, from Santa Rita; Monique Jones, 49, from Dallas, Texas.
They were on Tuesday and Thursday sentenced for their crimes.
Iwuji, a Nigerian citizen, who previously resided in Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment; three years supervised release, ordered to pay $475,710 in restitution, a $100 mandatory assessment fee, and a $475,710 forfeiture money judgment, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“This far-ranging conspiracy preyed on 60 victims, nearly all of whom live in Guam,” Anderson said in a statement published by the US Attorney Office.
“These scams are difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the interstate and transnational nature of the criminal activity. Our success in this matter is the result of a team effort across multiple jurisdictions, with outstanding leadership by prosecutor David. We will continue to pursue the collection of restitution for those harmed by the defendant’s conduct. The public must remain vigilant against this type of fraud,” Anderson added.
As part of the conspiracy, Iwuji obtained at least $475,710 of victim funds from Roberto and other co-conspirators and transferred some funds to third party-Nigerian bank accounts.
Sally was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $1,030,990 in restitution, a $3,900 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,030,990 forfeiture money judgment.
Mekayda was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $387,160 in restitution, a $1,600.00 mandatory assessment fee, and a $801,210 forfeiture money judgment.
Monique was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $578,130 in restitution, a $2,700 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,111,280 forfeiture money judgment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent, Special Agent Steven Merrill, said that the FBI would closely monitor similar cases and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.
“This sentence should make the public aware that these types of advance fees, associated with inheritance scams, will be investigated by the FBI and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” Merrill said.
Nigeria’s average daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, dropped to 52 million litres in July, as against a national consumption figure of 64,964,000 recorded on June 30, 2023, data obtained from Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shown.
According to the agency, the land-based stock and closing stock – less dead stock – of petrol was 1,120,487,848 litres as of the end of July 2023, and marine stock, which included berth and offshore availability, was 521,035,645 litres.
According to the data, the total stock – less dead stock – was 1,641,523,493 litres. However, depot dead stock was 83,637,781 litres. Total stock, inclusive of dead stock, was 1,725,161,274 litres. The land-based days’ sufficiency was 21.55 days, while marine days’ sufficiency was put at 10.02 days, and total days’ sufficiency cumulatively stood at 31.57 days.
The total stockless dead stock was put at 1,641,523,493 litres. Depot dead stock was 83,637,781 litres and total stock, inclusive of dead stock, stood at 1,725,161,274 litres.
Conversely, on July 1, land-based stock of PMS was 1,059,330,321 litres, while marine stock at berth and offshore stood at 826,447,740 litres. Total stock – less dead stock – was 1,885,778,061 litres, while depot dead stock was 83,095,042 litres.
Total stock, inclusive of dead stock, stood at 1,968,873,103 litres. Land-based sufficiency was 16.31 days, marine days’ sufficiency was 12.72 days and total days’ sufficiency was 29.03 days.
As of July 1, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had 293,380,735 litres in stock. Members of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) had 91,202,643 litres, while Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria had 753,825,183 litres.
On days’ sufficiency, the data said Nigeria had land-based days’ sufficiency of 21.55 days as of the end of July, while marine days’ sufficiency was 10.02 days, which brings the total days’ sufficiency to 31.57 days.
Directors in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Civil Service, who were to proceed on compulsory retirement since July 27 having spent eight years at their positions, have stayed put, in contravention to a new rule.
Checks by LEADERSHIP reveal that the no fewer than 500 directors affected by the new rule are yet to comply.
The new stipulation that such affected directors should give way followed the revised Public Service Rule (PSR) and circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, last month to heads of MDAs, directing them to ensure compliance with the new rule and the revised PSR.
The revised PSR was unveiled last month at a public service lecture held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to the Head of Service, its implementation kicked off immediately with the launch.
“Following the approval of the revised Public Service Rules by the Federal Executive Council on the 27th of September, 2021 and its subsequent unveiling during the public service lecture during the commemoration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the PSR has become operational with effect from 27 July, 2023. You are, therefore, to ensure full compliance with all provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2021. Please, ensure strict compliance with the contents of this circular,” the Head of Service stated.
The circular noted that the new rule, which seeks to give room for deputy directors within the Federal Civil Service some of whom have been stagnated on Grade Level 16 for about a decade, to rise to the cadre of director, would see over 500 directors across the civil service on Grade Level 17 who have spent more than eight years in their positions proceed on compulsory retirement.
For instance, following the circular from the Head of Service, the director of Administration, Federal Ministry of Finance, Maria Rufai had in an internal memo, dated August 3, directed affected directors in the ministry to hand over all government official property to the next most senior officer in their respective departments and proceed on immediate retirement.
Consequently, all affected directors were advised to begin the process of documentation with the Administration Department for compulsory retirement by virtue of the section under reference and to formally hand over to the most senior officers in their respective departments as well as surrender all official documents, including Identification Cards as well as official vehicles (if any) before exiting.
Another stipulation contained in the revised PSR is that Permanent Secretaries shall now hold the office for a term of four years which can be renewed upon satisfactory evaluation of performance on the job.
While there seem to be commitments to the directive in the ministries, the required compliance has been in gross deficit in the departments and agencies.
Three directors in the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) have since retired in tandem with the new rule.
Further checks however show that many of the affected directors, especially those in departments and agencies of government have only observed the new rule in the breach.
In one of the anti-graft agencies, it was gathered that all of its five directors affected by this federal government directive are still clinging onto their offices.
Similarly, following a failure to comply with the new policy in the ministry of Information and Culture, a fresh directive was issued on the need for compliance on August 17.
LEADERSHIP recalls that moves to revise the PSR began in August 18, 2011 when the government of President Goodluck Jonathan constituted a Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, headed by former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye.
The committee submitted its report on April 16, 2012, recommending the reduction in the number of federal agencies from 263 to 161; 38 agencies to be abolished; 52 agencies to be merged, and 14 to revert to departments in ministries, all to reduce cost of governance in the country.
In April 2014, President Jonathan ordered the establishment of a White Paper implementation committee on the report of the committee.
Though a White Paper on the report was issued and published in March, 2014 and was followed by the White Paper Implementation Committee, inaugurated in May, 2014, the succeeding Muhammadu Buhari government, in a curious twist, outrightly suspended all action on the implementation for over six years until it lately began moves in November 2021 towards the implementation of the White Paper with the inauguration of two sub-committees to review the main report and the document proper.
The two sub-committees which were given six weeks to conclude their work and submit reports, came up with the revised PSR which would reset the tenure of federal permanent secretaries and a new retirement directive for directors in MDAs with an implementation date that commenced on July 27, 2023.
Speaking at the inauguration of the two sub-committees in Abuja on November 4, 2021, Boss Mustapha, the immediate past Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), said the non-implementation of the White Paper on the Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies was hugely bleeding the federal government of its scarce resources, adding that one of the areas of concern to successive federal governments “has always been the increasing cost of governance without seeming concurrent productivity in the quality of service delivery.”
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, had in a circular addressed to all Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General for the Federation and Heads of Extra Ministerial Departments to start implementation of the revised public service rule from July 27, 2023.
The revised PSR 020909 stated that “A director or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature it is described in MDAs shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on Tenure Policy on the post; and a Permanent Secretary shall hold office for a term of four years and renewable for a further term of four years, subject to satisfactory performance and no more.”
The director of information for the head of the service of the federation, Mohammed Ahmed, who could not give figures on the number of affected directors, said that the rule cuts across all the public services in Nigeria.
Ahmed said as far as a civil servant is up to eight years in any MDA as a director, or whatever nomenclature it is called, he or she must retire and go.
Already, the Ministry of Information and Culture has issued a fresh circular directing directors affected by the new Public Service Rule (PSR) 2021 to immediately exit the service.
In a circular addressed to “All Directors/Heads of Unit” of the Ministry of Information on behalf of the Permanent Secretary by Ms. Equere E (HRM), the affected directors were instructed to hand over to their next in line following the revised PSR.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode has warned that Nigerian border states might be vulnerable to terrorists’ attacks.
Fani-Kayode said Sokoto and Lagos States might be vulnerable to ISIS and ISWAP terrorists’ attacks if Niger Republic and its allies opened up their corridors to the terrorists.
He warned that some of these terrorists have infiltrated Niger State and some States in the Southwest.
Tweeting, Fani-Kayode wrote: “If Niger Republic and her allies deliberately open a corridor for the elements of ISIS, AQIM, ISWAP etc to move into Benin and Togo, ECOWAS’ weakest link, then the whole of Nigeria’s western borders, from Sokoto to Lagos, would be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
“Already some of the elements have penetrated into Niger State, around Borgu and Shiriro, very close to Benin Republic and some states in the South West of Nigeria.”
More...
…Junta warns against foreign intervention
…Talks between ECOWAS, Niger’s junta yield little result —Official
..Says deep divisions exist within the presidential guard
…Notes majority of soldiers at presidential complex’ll flee if ECOWAS attacks
…Pope calls for peace in coup-hit Niger
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has rejected the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger Republic’s military junta.
It will be recalled that the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had at a meeting with ECOWAS delegation, led by General Abadulsalami Abubakar, retd, in Niamey on Saturday, promised the military government would return Niger Republic to democracy in three years.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, told BBC in an interview, yesterday, that the proposal was unacceptable to ECOWAS, setting the ground for a military operation.
Meanwhile, thousands of Nigeriens flooded the streets yesterday declaring support for the military junta.
Their demonstration came against the backdrop of ECOWAS’ insistence on invading the country to rout out coupists should diplomacy fail to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
The rally came on a day an official of the government in Niger said talks between the ECOWAS delegation, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd and the junta achieved very little result.
The official also noted that already, there are deep divisions within the presidential guard, which ousted President Bazoum, saying should ECOWAS launch an attack on Niger Republic, the majority of soldiers in the presidential complex would flee.
This is even as Pope Francis yesterday canvassed a diplomatic solution to the political crisis.
The demonstrators chanted slogans hostile to former colonial power, France and especially ECOWAS, which is considering a potential military operation to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum if ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
The Sahel state’s new military leaders have officially banned demonstrations but in practice, those in support of the coup are allowed to go ahead.
The demonstrators waved placards, saying “stop the military intervention” and “No, to sanctions”, in reference to the financial and trade restrictions imposed by ECOWAS, four days after the coup on July 26.
Yesterday’s pro-coup rally was accompanied by musicians praising the new military regime, according to AFP.
The latest in a string of pro-coup rallies came a day after the new military ruler in Niamey warned that an attack on Niger would not be a “walk in the park.”
‘No wish to confiscate power’
General Abdourahamane Tchiani also said in a televised address at the weekend that he did not wish to “confiscate” power and that a transition of power back to civilian rule will not go beyond three years.
Niger’s new leaders have accused France, a close Bazoum ally, of being behind the anti-coup stance taken by ECOWAS, which again at the weekend made a fresh push for a diplomatic solution.
According to AFP, after ECOWAS chiefs of staff met in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Friday, the 17-nation bloc said it had agreed on a date for a potential intervention but nonetheless sent a diplomatic delegation to Niamey at the weekend, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Niger television showed delegation members shaking hands with Bazoum, who remains in detention.
It also broadcast footage of Abubakar speaking to Tchiani but the content of the exchange had not been made public.
In his televised address on Saturday, Tchiani alleged that ECOWAS was “getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army”, without saying which country he meant.
The coup leader, Tchiani, however, warned that the military and people of Niger would defend the country should ECOWAS go ahead with its invasion plan.
Talks between ECOWAS, Niger’s junta yield little, official tells Associated Press
However, an official in Niamey, Niger Republic’s capital, said on condition of anonymity yesterday that weekend’s two-hour meeting between Niger’s new military regime and a delegation from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, yielded very little result.
It was the first time head of the junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, met with ECOWAS delegation after rebuffing previous attempts.
Saturday’s meeting was a last-ditch diplomacy scramble by ECOWAS to resolve the crisis peacefully and followed last week’s announcement that 11 of its 15 member states had agreed to intervene militarily if democratically-elected President Bazoum was not released from house arrest and reinstated.
The bloc’s three other countries under military rule following coups, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, were not included.
The latter two had previously warned they would consider intervention in Niger an act of war.
The official noted that during the weekend talks, Tchiani pushed for the lifting of economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after the coup, saying Niger’s population was suffering because of them.
‘’The junta said they were under pressure, at times striking a conciliatory tone and apologizing for past disrespect towards the bloc, while also defiantly standing by its decision to overthrow Bazoum and unequivocal about him not returning to power.
“Tchiani also repeatedly expressed concerns that its former colonial ruler France, which has some 1,500 troops in the country and had been providing training and conducting joint operations with Niger’s military, was actively planning an attack,” said the official.
According to the official, Niger was seen by many Western countries as the last democratic partner in the region they could work with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency by militant groups linked with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
He noted that France, the United States and other European nations had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up Niger’s army, adding that the coup had been seen as a major setback.
He quoted Sahel experts as saying it was not surprising that nothing came from Saturday’s meeting as each party was trying to show they were open to discussions when chances of an agreement were slim.
“ECOWAS and the rest of the international community want to restore President Bazoum and the junta is not on this agenda.
“The next step will be military confrontation … What we don’t know is when this confrontation will take place, how it will go, and what the consequences will be,” the official quoted Seidik Abba, a Nigerien researcher and Sahel specialist and president of the International Centre for Reflection for Studies On the Sahel, a think tank based in Paris, as saying.
Shortly after the meetings Saturday, Tchiani went on state television and laid out a roadmap for the country, saying it would return to civilian rule within three years and that details for the plan would be decided within 30 days through a national dialogue set for immediate launch.
“I am convinced that we will find solutions to all the challenges we face and that we will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all,” the official said.
However, Aneliese Bernard, former U.S. State Department official who specializes in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group, said the transitions for Niger’s multiple previous coups were shorter, stressing that a three-year timeline was unprecedented said .
“What we’re seeing in the region is the emergence of trends just to military rule,” she said.
But some Nigerien soldiers don’t think Tchiani will last three months, let alone several years.
A soldier, who worked directly with Bazoum before the coup, and did not want to be named for fear of his safety, told the AP on Saturday that there were deep divisions within the presidential guard, the unit that overthrew Bazoum.
The soldier noted that of the nearly 1,000 soldiers at the base on the presidential complex, majority of them would flee if ECOWAS attacked, adding that Tchiani would be overthrown in a few months.
According to Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow with the Clingendael Institute, Tchiani is widely unpopular in security circles within Niger and is seen as having reached his current post because of former President Mahamadou Issoufou’s patronage, rather than through his own connections and battlefield achievements,
“While the (junta) has presented a unified public face, it is a partnership of branches of the armed forces that have competed for status and resources in the recent past,” he said.
Pope calls for peace in coup-hit Niger
Meanwhile, Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis 11, yesterday made case for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis in Niger Republic.
“I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel.
“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” said said Pope Francis while addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer.
Recall that the coup leader in Niger Republic, General Tchiani, had said on Saturday in a televised address any attack on his country would not be a walk in the park, promising that any transition of power to democratic rule would not go beyond three years.
This is against the demand of ECOWAS which wants immediate restoration of democratic rule in the country, coupled with the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
[Vanguard]
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN at the weekend demanded for the release of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa, having spent 67 days in the detention of DSS without any charges and trial.
According to Falana, Bawa’s remand order has since expired.
He said Bawa’s detention is against the provisions of section 493 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act(ACJA) 2015, or section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria to authorise the detention of a criminal suspect for 67 days without trial. Under the Act, the cumulative lifespan of a remand order is 56 days.
He said, ” Sometime last month, I had cause to demand the immediate release of Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the custody of the State Security Service.
In the alternative, I requested the Federal Government to charge the two detained suspects before a court of competent jurisdiction, if there was evidence that they had committed criminal offences.”
[DailyPost]
Following the success of a 2022 U.S. Consulate Public Diplomacy grant, a first-year student of Marine Sciences at the University of Lagos, Ms. Oluwadamilola Sansadeen, travelled to the United States this summer for a training program on permaculture and sustainable food systems.
Sansadeen, a volunteer project manager at an agriculture nonprofit –– ProtectOzone Sustainable Livelihood Initiative –– received two months of mentorship from Dr. Jeremy Cowan, an assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University.
In addition to gaining practical skills and knowledge on creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, she completed the Permaculture Design Certificate Course at the College of Agriculture, Kansas State University and interned at the Willow Lake Student Farm of the university.
Sansadeen operating a tractor at Kansas State University’s Willow Lake Student Farm.
Sansadeen described her experience at the university as valuable, as it provided her with the unique opportunity to collaborate with multiple agricultural stakeholders in Kansas’ thriving permaculture community.
“Embracing sustainable agriculture paves the path ahead on creating a food secure Nigeria,” Sansadeen said. “During my time at Kansas State University, I learned how to operate farm implements. I do not even know how to drive a car yet, but I can operate a tractor.”
U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Joe Kruzich noted that the collaboration between the U.S. university professor and the Nigerian undergraduate underscores the U.S. government’s enduring commitment to fostering academic exchange.
Sansadeen (left) with U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Joe Kruzich during a debriefing session upon her return to Nigeria from Kansas State University.
“By connecting a bright young mind from Nigeria with a prestigious U.S. university, we are not only fostering academic and cultural exchange but also promoting innovative solutions to shared global challenges,” Kruzich added.
Dr. Cowan, Sansadeen’s mentor and assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University, said he was proud to support her aspirations to make a difference in the field of permaculture.
Sansadeen (middle) during her internship at Kansas State University’s Willow Lake Student Farm.
“Sansadeen was an asset and a joy to have in our permaculture design certificate course and in her volunteer efforts at Kansas State University’s Willow Lake Student Farm. She brought a completely new perspective to both programs, introducing Kansans to her Nigerian culture. Her presence and impact here are already missed,” Dr. Cowan added.
[Guardian]
Immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai on Sunday shared lyrics from one of Bob Marley’s songs in a cryptic message on his official X (Twitter) account.
El-Rufai stated that the late musician Bob Marley is one of the most talented musicians of all time and inspired his love for reggae music.
The lyrics partly reads: “Man to man is so unjust, children/ Ya don’t know who to trust/ Your worst enemy could be your best friend/ And your best friend, your worse enemy/ Some will eat and drink with you,” the former governor wrote on X.
“Thank God, we’re past the worse/ Hypocrites and parasites (hypocrites and parasites)/ Will come up and take a bite (will come up and take a bite)/ And if your night should turn to day/ A lot of people would run away/ And who the cap fit let them wear it!/ Who the cap fits let them wear it!”
The now-viral tweet has continued to generate reactions on social media.
In a veiled response to El-rufai’s tweet, a former senator representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani posted, “I have turned him into a Rastafarian and Reggae artist…yeah man.”
Recall that El-rufai was among the 48 ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate.
However, the former Kaduna state governor and two other nominees were not confirmed by the senate; the senate stated there were “adverse” security reports against el-Rufai, and he must wait for clearance.
[Vanguard]