Former Nigeria’s Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum told the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States delegation the challenges he has faced since he was detained by the military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Abdulsalami led a high-powered delegation of the ECOWAS to the troubled West African nation.
The delegation met with Prime Minister Ali Zeine who received them at the airport and led them to the presidential palace.
They met with Tchiani, and his team for about 90 minutes and later President Mohamed Bazoum.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting with Bazoum, Abdulsalami said, “We met him and heard his side of the story. He told us what was done to him and the challenges he is facing.
“We will communicate this to ECOWAS leaders. Doors for talks are now open for a lasting solution.”
The former Head of State did not go into details of the discussion with the ousted president.
But some weeks ago, CNN quoted Bazoum in a series of text messages to a friend as saying he had been “deprived of all human contact”, with no one supplying him food or medicine.
According to the overthrown president, he had been living without electricity, a normal occurrence for all Nigeriens after Nigeria cut off electric power in response to the coup.
Bazoum said all of the perishable food he was supplied with has since gone bad, and he was now eating dry pasta and rice.
CACOL : ‘We Don’t Trust Governors To Disburse Tinubu’s N180bn Palliatives To Nigerians’ — Calls For Monitoring
AdminFollowing the approval of N180 billion by the Federal Government to the 36 states of the federation for the procurement of food items and fertilisers as palliatives to ameliorate the impact of petrol subsidy removal, a Lagos-based Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has charged Nigerians to monitor the disbursement by state governors.
President Bola Tinubu had on May 29 during his inaugural speech after taking an oath of office, announced the removal of petrol subsidy, which led to hike in food prices.
According to the National Economic Council (NEC), a sum of N5bn will be given to each state to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.
But reacting on Saturday, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, expressed pessimism in governors distributing these palliatives because of happenings in the past.
The organisation stated that during the Covid-19 pandemic, palliatives meant for Nigerians were locked up in warehouses across the country, to the detriment of the people.
CACOL noted that Nigerians monitoring the disbursement of these palliatives would ensure that they are not cornered by politicians.
“We would like to commend the federal government for at least heeding numerous outcries from various quarters calling for palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the people. This administration has shown that it is feeling the pulse of the people by approving 180bn as palliatives to be shared among the states in the country,” said CACOL Chairman, Debo Adeniran.
“We are however skeptical about the capabilities of some governors to deliver or disburse these palliatives to those they were intended, going by the happenings in the past. We are all living witnesses to the way and manner some foodstuffs that were meant to serve as palliatives for Nigerians were locked up in warehouses across the country by some greedy and selfish people in power at the detriment of pauperized, traumatized, and famished Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We would also want to call on the state governors to ensure judicious disbursement of the palliatives both in cash and kind. They should ensure that these palliatives do not end in the pockets of the few powerful individuals in their various states. The people of the state should feel the impacts of these palliatives no matter how small.
“We also want to use this medium to call on our people to monitor the disbursement of these palliatives in their various states so as to ensure that foodstuffs and other commodities meant for the people are not cornered by politicians,” he added.
One Imabong William has landed in a hospital after she was doused in hot water mixed with pepper by her land lady over her inability to meet up with her rental obligation.
The land lady identified as Amaka Okonkwo allegedly carried out the heinous act after William failed to leave her house upon the expiration of the quit notice she (the landlady) gave her.
The incident happened on Thursday at Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Enugu state.
Okonkwo had given William given quit notice over her inability to pay a new rent imposed on tenants in the building.
She had, however, asked for time to find a new apartment, before her landlady poured hot water mixed with pepper on her.
The landlady had since been arrested by the police, after neighbours reported her action at Nimo police Station.
Sources within the community said the victim, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, was already receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, after neighbours rescued her.
Anambra State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo, who visited the victim, narrated that the victim stated that she was asked to vacate the house over her inability to pay the new rent increment.
She explained that she pleaded with the landlady for some time to enable her get a new place, but unfortunately, while she was washing her clothes on Thursday, the said landlady poured hot water mixed with pepper on her from behind.
Obinabo expressed her displeasure over the incident and promised to get justice for the victim.
She warned that the Anambra State Government will not take lightly anyone found culpable of assault of any kind and went on to advise the public to always report crimes and misdemeanours through the appropriate channels for quick intervention.
There has been excitement among members and followers of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry after the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor William Kumuyi, revealed a former official of The Apostolic Faith, Pa Elijah Dosunmu, who led him to Christ.
Dosunmu is 83-year-old and lives in Lagos State, where he runs a school.
Kumuyi narrated his encounter with the octogenarian last Sunday during a private commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the church with some leaders at Gbagada, Lagos State.
The revered holiness preacher recalled how Dosunmu invited him to The Apostolic Faith and he (Kumuyi) gave a condition that Dosunmu must also attend his church, the Cherubim and Seraphim, where he was a drummer.
Kumuyi said after his guest attended the C&S church, he (Kumuyi) asked him to share his thoughts on the service and he simply replied “active”.
“He didn’t say, ‘It was bad, calling the name of angels.’ He just said, ‘active’. He is a good man.
“So, I accepted to go with him to the gospel church. But it was too quiet. People just sat down, they sang and they stood up, there was no dancing, gymnastics, nothing!
“And so, when we came out, he also asked me, ‘How was it?’ I did not have the wisdom they had or anything. But I said, ‘It was too quiet, like somebody in a cemetery, no dancing. I miss the dancing in my church.’
“So, eventually, he invited me again and I kept on going and I began to see the light and on the 5th of April 1964, I went to the altar, surrendered my life to the Lord and became born again.
“And he kept on doing the follow up and teaching me gospel songs, with another friend. Both of them were responsible for making me switch over completely and eventually I became saved, sanctified and baptised in the Holy Ghost. He was a great encouragement to me; that’s why I said I should call him out and show his face to you that this is the man, the brother, the minister that God used for me,” he added.
The cleric, while commending Dosunmu, who also sheltered him at different times, said after he (Kumuyi) started evangelising, he attracted the wrath of the leadership of The Apostolic Faith.
He said, “When I was excommunicated for evangelism, he was a worker in the Apostolic Faith and he had to make a choice, where will he stay, what will he do?”
“Instead of staying there, where he had a good position, good connection, the people from the leadership to membership knew him, he chose to say he would not leave me alone; he would go with me, excommunication or no excommunication, that he would be with me. I respect his commitment and his contribution to my life as I was growing up.”
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said he was surprised that the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has not been able to ‘perform well’ since it took over office on May 29, adding that all is not well with the country.
He urged Nigerians to pray for the country, noting that the ‘relative peace’ presently enjoyed in the nation must not be taken for granted.
He made these remarks on Saturday at the 10th Convention of the Catholic Men Organisation, Lagos Archdiocese, held at St Gregory’s College, Ikoyi.
In his homily culled from the general theme, ‘Fan into flames the gift of God which is in you’, Onaiyekan said, “It is not surprising that the so-called victorious new government has not been able to perform well and has not been able to actually muster the trust and co-operation of the vast majority of the people of Nigeria.
Speaking on the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal, Onaiyekan said all eyes were still on the courts.
He said, “Will the courts decide that the election was correct and okay, or will the courts arrive at the conclusion, which many people arrived at already even from the very beginning, that this election result as declared was not tenable?
“The delay in the courts giving judgment is itself a pity. As they say, ’Justice delayed is justice denied’. But we will still wait until the courts pass their judgment.
“We have to accept whatever the Supreme Court will decide, whether we like it or not. This is because there is no other human recourse after the Supreme Court. We will have to leave everything in the hands of God,” he added.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on members of the party to resolve their differences, work towards a stronger party and sack the current governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, from office in 2026.
Basiru, who spoke in Osogbo on Saturday at a reception organised for him by the APC leadership of Osogbo Federal Constituency, also declared the current administration in the state as incompetent.
The ex-Senate spokesperson, who was flanked by the APC state chairmen from the South-West region, as well as party bigwigs from all parts of the state, said people that installed the current administration in the state were already regretting their actions.
He charged party members not to cause internal disruption, but work very hard to reposition it for better outing in the next round of elections.
He said, “Less than a year after, those that wanted to destroy the good fortune of our state are already lamenting. Those that they put in government in the state don’t know how to govern. They are appointing SSA, Government House Pool; SSA Oranmiyan Newtown; SSA, children; SSA swimming pool and so on. They must be sacked from government.
“When we sack him (Adeleke) in 2026, he will go for three days diploma as usual to learn about NGO after he failed to sack Iyaloja General. The APC is an organised party. Let’s show more commitment.”
Explaining issues around subsidy removal, Basiru, who spoke in Yoruba language, told the gathering that about N2tn had been saved in the last two months after the Federal Government ended the subsidy regime.
Contacted for reaction, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, said Basiru had a track record of talking recklessly, saying the appointment of aides by the governor did not constitute grounds for nonperformance.
A Commissioner under Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed over 20 personal assistants to work with him.
The Commissioner, Bunmi Jenyo, who serves as the head of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be paying the appointed aides with his salary.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Sesan Adeleke on Saturday, said the aides will work with the Commissioner directly or indirectly.
It reads; “In his magnanimity to the people of Ila Local Government (main council) and Local Government Development Area (LCDA), Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, has donated his monthly salary to some of his constituents, tagged as personal aides.
“The aides numbering over twenty are to work with the Honourable Commissioner either directly or indirectly in specific assignments, in the interests of growth and development of the Local Governments and Osun State as a whole.
“It is also in his giant stride to cushion the effect of economic realities in his community and put smiles on the faces of masses at the grassroots”.
In Kano State, hundreds of Nigerien nationals have organized a peaceful demonstration to express their opposition to the recent coup in their home country.
Furthermore, they have expressed their endorsement of the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Niger.
While condemning the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum’s democratically elected government, these residents also cautioned against any form of military interference in their nation.
Leading the peaceful protest on Saturday in Kano, Lawalli Mamman Barma, the group’s Chairman, appealed to the leaders of the military coup. He called for the unconditional release of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and all individuals who were reportedly taken captive during the military intervention that occurred on July 16, 2023.
He said, “We demand without condition, the release of the president of Niger Republic, as well as his family and all other kidnapped persons.”
The chairman, while calling for the restoration of democratic leadership in Niger Republic, also, urged ECOWAS to rescind its decision to enforce military forces in the country, stressing that dialogue is the best approach to resolving conflict than military confrontation.
In another development, WithinNigeria reported that the Police Commissioner in Kano State, Mr Hussaini Gumel, dismissed reports about protests by residents of the state over the planned deployment of military personnel by ECOWAS to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic.
Gumel told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the command was not aware of any protest by residents of the city against the proposed troops deployment.
“I am just hearing the report from you on the so-called demonstration by Kano residents because of the political situation in Niger Republic.
“You can see we are just coming back from the Passing-Out ceremony of graduands of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, where about 169 cadet officers were commissioned by President Tinubu.
“So, frankly speaking I have not given any person or group of residents permit to embark on demonstration because of the political happenings in our next-door neighbour, Niger Republic.
“You can see Kano is a peaceful State and we will continue to provide security to enable residents to move about their businesses without threats to lives and property,” he said.
Former Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), led a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Niger in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution with Niger Junta.
Although the delegation was scheduled to meet with Niger Republic Coup Leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, it was Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine who received them.
According to BBC Hausa, the meeting with representative of the troubled West African Country lasted about 90 minutes.
It is unclear why Abdulsalami’s delegation could not meet with the junta but there are unconfirmed reports of mutiny by the presidential guard of Niger Republic.
A previous effort by ECOWAS delegation also led by Abubakar failed to meet Bazoum and the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Tichiani later apologised when some Nigerian clerics met with him last weekend, saying they did not meet the delegation out of anger.
See the pictures of the meeting with Nigerien Prime Minister below:
The new Prime Minister of the Niger Republic, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, has assured that the Military junta, which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum during a July 26 coup will do him no harm.
Speaking on the fate of overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, Zeine told the New York Times that, “Nothing will happen to him, because we don’t have a tradition of violence in Niger.”
He also insisted the Niger coup leaders had no intention of collaborating with Russia, or with the Kremlin-backed mercenaries of the Wagner group.
While praising the “extremely reasonable position” of the White House in trying to resolve the crisis through diplomacy rather than force, Zeine, who served as finance minister in a previous administration, said, “the moment will come to review” such military partnerships.
The New York Times reported that the coup leaders had cut off water and electricity to Bazoum’s house, where he has been confined since being ousted, and threatened to kill him if other African countries make good on a proposal to restore him to power through a military intervention.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria earlier warned on Friday that there will be “grave consequences” if Niger’s military regime allows Bazoum’s health to worsen under house arrest, a European Union official said.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York was questioned by reporters on the state of Bazoum’s health and if he was even still alive.
“I’ve spoken to someone who speaks to him regularly. And, yes, as far as we know and we have no indication to say that he’s not alive. So as far as I know, he’s alive,” she said.
Zeine, a French-trained economist who was appointed Niger’s prime minister on August 7, was also questioned by the New York Times on the presence of 1,100 American soldiers and 1,500 French soldiers fighting against jihadists in anti-terrorist operations with the local Army.
More...
Burkina Faso and Mali have deployed war planes in Niger Republic following the threat of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) troops that they were waiting for order to strike.
The regional bloc had given Niger junta a week ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible sanctions, including possible military action.
The coupists had called the bluff of ECOWAS and vowed to resist foreign intervention.
Subsequently, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs were ordered to activate the region’s force for action to restore civil rule in Niger.
But Burkina Faso and Mali warned that any military intervention in Niger will be considered a declaration of war against them.
In a joint statement, the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali said, “The disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger could destabilise the entire region,” the statement read.
At the end of a two-day meeting of ECOWAS Defence Chiefs in Accra, Ghana capital, Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said, “We are ready to go any time the order is given. The D-day is also decided. We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”
However, he said the option for diplomacy was still available.
“As we speak, we are still readying [a] mediation mission into the country, so we have not shut any door.”
“Tomorrow there is the possibility of an ECOWAS mission going into Niger to continue to pursue the peaceful path to restoration of constitutional order. We are ready to resolve the issue peacefully but it takes two to tango.”
The latest move of Mali and Burkina Faso was disclosed by Niger’s national television.
In a report, the television station said the military leaders from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened Friday in the Nigerien capital Niamey to decide on “concrete measures” in case ECOWAS chooses to “escalate a war.”
Most of ECOWAS’s 15 member states are prepared to contribute to the joint force, except Cape Verde and those also under military rule – Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
The Spokesman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba has described the N5billion in palliatives and grant to the state government as shambolic and unscientific.
Muhammad-Baba, a Professor of Sociology, who expressed his view in an interview, said there is no basis for giving the same amount to Lagos, Oyo, Kano and Bayelsa states, as their populations and statistics of eligible people differ.
He said, “I am not happy about such blanket distribution of N5 billion to each state. In the first place, there is no basis for the distribution. I mean, if you are looking for poor people, are you allocating the same amount to Bayelsa, Lagos, Oyo, and Kano states, and you expect it to make an impact?
“This shows that we are doing things like what grammar people call ‘hunter’s pack’. You don’t plan, you don’t strategize, you just came out and made an announcement on that. There is no basis for sharing money to states on an equal basis.
“We are talking of poor people and poor people is a question of proportion, we know there are over 140 million poor people in Nigeria. The number of people suffering from poverty in Lagos, Oyo, and Kano will not be the same with those living in poverty in Bayelsa, Taraba, or Jigawa. So, what is the basis? What impact is it going to make?
“You are accompanying it with 30,000 bags of rice. How many people is that going to reach? Take a state like Sokoto, for example. They have over seven million people by the latest National Population Commission estimate. So, how many people are 30,000 bags of rice going to feed?”
He noted that the government is not working on a definite plan saying, “The government is implementing a shambolic policy, you need to come to the aid of the poor people, there is no doubt about it, that is scientific, but you need to do it in such a way that your intervention will not be a drop in the ocean.”
The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Non-remittance of the National Housing Fund (NHF) and the utilisation of the fund from 2011 has summoned critical stakeholders for its investigative hearing.
It set August 23 to begin hearing into the matter.
Rep. Dachung Bagos, the committee’s chairman, said this in a memo in Abuja on Saturday.
He said the speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, would inaugurate the committee on Wednesday.
Among the critical stakeholders invited were the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Others include the chairman of ICPC, the acting chairman of EFCC and the Surveyor-General of the Federation.
He also urged the affected institutions and government officials to submit memorandums and other relevant documents to the committee’s secretariat.
(NAN)
The current administration of Bola Tinubu is expected to pay off a $3.4bn owed to the International Monetary Fund during his tenure.
Saturday PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria is expected to pay the IMF a total of $3.51bn between 2022 and 2026 to offset the $3.4bn loan.
However, according to information obtained from a webpage on the IMF’s website, titled ‘Nigeria: Financial Position in the Fund as of July 31, 2023,’ there is an outstanding of $3.19bn, which will be paid off during the current administration.
In April 2020, the IMF disbursed a $3.4bn emergency financial assistance to Nigeria.
The loan was approved under the Rapid Financing Instrument by the Executive Board of the IMF on April 28 to address challenges arising from the economic impact of COVID-19 in the country.
The loaned amount was disbursed on April 30, 2020.
A statement by the IMF on the loan read, “The IMF approved $3.4bn in emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Financing Instrument to support the authorities’ efforts in addressing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 shock and the sharp fall in oil prices.”
It was also disclosed that out of four agreed loans, disbursement was made on only one loan.
Under a section titled ‘Overdue Obligations and Projected Payments to Fund’, a breakdown of how much Nigeria is expected to pay each year is provided.
The amount to be paid was provided in the Special Drawing Rights. The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.
SDR1 is currently $1.33 based on the exchange rate provided by the IMF on its website.
As a result, in 2023, Nigeria is expected to pay SDR373.81m ($497.17m), which includes principal (SDR306.81m/$408.06m) and interest fee (SDR67m/$89.11m) on the loan.
Nigeria is expected to pay a total of SDR1.32bn ($1.76bn) in 2024. This comprises a principal fee of SDR1.23bn ($1.64bn) and an interest fee of SDR94.76m ($126.03m).
In 2025, Nigeria is expected to pay a total of SDR650.58m ($865.27). This comprises a principal fee of SDR613.63m ($816.13m) and an interest fee of SDR36.95m ($49.14m).
The country is expected to pay a total of SDR25.56m ($33.99m) each in 2026 and 2027, which is only an interest fee. This is the least amount during the repayment period.
The PUNCH observed that repayment had been extended to 2027 from the initial 2026 earlier reported.
In total, the new administration is expected to pay $3.19bn to the IMF, which further suggests that the previous administration likely paid $320m on loan.
In its 2022 financial statements, the CBN made reference to the loan.
It stated, “In 2020, the Bank entered into rapid financing instrument’s arrangement with International Monetary Fund on behalf of Federal Government of Nigeria. The loan is a 5 years tenor facility, repayable after a moratorium of 2 years and the interest rate is 1% per annum.”
The CBN added, “Repayment of the IMF loans as well as charges is the responsibility of the bank.”