The Federal Government has mandated each state to buy 100,000 bags of rice, beans and other food items for citizens to cushion the drastic effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, the Governor of Borno State, Babangana Zulum, told State House Correspondents on Thursday.
Zulum had earlier noted that the FG approved N5bn for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on the purpose of the funds, Zulum noted that it is for the “procurement of food items.”
He further explained that it was part of measures to “bring temporary solutions to the high cost of living caused by the subsidy removal as government continues to work with more enduring programmes.”
He said, “The states are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items,” while adding that each of the state is also to receive five trucks of rice.
He also said the National Economic Council agreed that the frontier states bordering Niger Republic are to be assisted with more palliatives than other states, considering the influx of refugees into their domains from the beleaguered neighbouring country.
The long-awaited commissioner nominees’ list forwarded by Governor Mai Mala Buni to the state assembly was finally unveiled by the speaker, Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio.
Daily Trust checks reveal that the first batch of the list which was purportedly released on July 27 remained unveiled until during last Tuesday’s plenary when a second batch was brought.
The development had fuelled suspicions that the first batch was a blank list meant to beat the constitutionally required 60 days deadline.
However, both the state government and leaders of the state house of assembly said four names were pencilled in the first list.
A member of the state assembly confirmed to Daily Trust that indeed the letter earlier sent to them through the Secretary to the State Government contained no names.
But the speaker, Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio, in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday said there was nothing like a blank list to beat the deadline, adding that the house received the first batch of the list on 27 July.
Daily Trust reports that the final list released at Tuesday’s plenary contained 20 nominees; 18 men and 2 women drawn from all the local government areas of the state.
Those on the list are: Hon. Mohammed Garba Gagiyo – Bade; Engr. Usman Ahmed – Bursari; Hon. Musa Mustapha – Damaturu; Ya Jalo Badama – Damaturu ; Prof. Bello Kawuwa – Fika; Alhaji Ibrahim Jajere – Fune; Ali Goniri – Gujba; Aji Yerima Bularafa – Gulani; Alhaji Mohammed Abatcha – Gulani; Dr. Mairo Amshi – Jakusko; Abdullahi Bego – Jakusko; Hon Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa – Karasuwa and Barma Shettima – Machina.
Others are: Engr. Umar Wakili Duddaye – Nangere; Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss – Nguru; Bar. Sale Samanja – Potiskum ; Yusuf Umar Potiskum – Potiskum; Arch. Ahmed Buba Abba Kyari – Tarmuwa; Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana – Yusufari and Hon. Kaigama Umar – Yunusari
The Secretary to the Yobe State Government (SSG), Alhaji Baba Malam Wali, reportedly forwarded a letter containing a list to the Yobe State Assembly for screening and confirmation on July 27 but the house failed to unveil the names to the public.
Consequently, rumours had circulated in the last two weeks that in a bid to beat the 60-day constitutionally required deadline to form an executive council; Governor Buni sent a letter without attaching a list of commissioner nominees to the state assembly.
The development sparked discussions among politicians, citizens, and the media given the fact that the speaker at their emergency meeting on that day only announced the receipt of the letter from the governor without reading the content to members.
An insider (a lawmaker) in the assembly revealed that the 24 members, except the speaker, were not on the list as claimed by the speaker and the state government.
“Although I have been working here for over a decade, we heard that the SSG submitted the list of nominees on that day but some of my colleagues were asking who made the list, but could not get an answer.
“Some people said nothing was contained in the list; it was just a blank paper sent to the house by the state governor so that people could say they had met the deadline to form an executive council,” the source who wished to remain unnamed due to the sensitive nature of the matter said.
The source said it was unrealistic for the assembly to have held onto the commissioner nominees list for more than two weeks without screening or making it public if indeed it was true that the SSG submitted it.
Concerns over late cabinet formation
Meanwhile, there are concerns among the youth and party stakeholders in the state on why the list is coming late as many state governors have constituted their cabinets to move their agenda forward.
However, a Damaturu-based youth, Hussaini Muhammad, said politics in Yobe State seemed to be a game by the same players without substitute and new tactics.
“Usually, governors in Yobe used to send their commissioner nominees list to the state assembly as early as possible but this present governor spent at least 2 months searching for his cabinet and that is why many people think that new faces would arrive, but unfortunately things have not changed.”
‘Nothing like blank list’
But the speaker, Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio, in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday said there was nothing like a blank list of commissioner nominees to beat the deadline, insisting that the house received the first batch of the list on 27 July.
He said the first batch of names submitted to the assembly contained four names, adding that the delay in the confirmation process was due to the assembly’s commitment to ensuring that all nominees were confirmed at once.
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“We received four names from the first batch of the commissioner nominees last time. After receiving the second batch, we merged them for screening to follow the serial. That is why you could see that they are separated; first and second batches.
“In short, Yobe State assembly received the first batch of the four nominees from the executive on 27 July and the second batch last week, making them 20 in number.
‘‘The reason why I did not disclose the list is that we might not go for their screening and people would be asking why we did not call them (nominees) for screening. Since we had a first batch list, we just waited for His Excellency to send the second list to us,” he said.
He said the nominees will be screened in batches starting from the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August.
Similarly, Mallam Mamman Muhammad, the Director General of Press and Media Affairs to Governor Buni, said the state government had submitted the list of commissioner nominees to the assembly for screening and confirmation on 27 July, 2023 to beat the 60-day constitutional deadline.
While admitting that there was a delay for the second batch list because new ministries would be created, he insisted that nothing was done outside of the constitution.
‘‘The state government wants to expand ministries which is why the second batch list was delayed. The state assembly was given a good time to screen the nominees before the second batch. So, I think the house will answer this question.
‘‘The first list was given to them within the timeframe for screening while the second batch came thereafter so they are the ones that you will ask why they did not start screening till they received the second batch,’’ he said.
Efforts to speak with the SSG were unsuccessful as he neither responded to calls nor a text message.
The black market recorded another day’s improvement in the naira-dollar exchange rate on Thursday, 17th August 2023. Following the same trend, the official I&E window witnessed a positive movement on Thursday, 16th August 2023
The naira appreciated by 1.92% to close at N759.86 per dollar, compared to the previous day’s closing rate of N774.77 per dollar. This means that the naira gained N14.91 against the dollar in one day in the I&E window.
Breakdown of data
- I&E FX window – The data from the I&E FX window showed that the Niara started the day at N781.66/$1, but it fluctuated during the day, reaching a peak of N799/$1 and a trough of N740 per dollar. It then recovered and ended the day at N759.86 per dollar.
- A sharp drop of 36.17% in the forex supply at the I&E window was recorded on Wednesday, as it plunged from $95.79 million to $61.14 million in the intraday market session. This resulted in a $34.65 million loss in forex turnover.
- Parallel market – The Naira gained 2.25% against the dollar on Thursday 17th August 2023, closing at N870/$1 among traders, compared to N890/$1 on Wednesday.
- The black-market exchange rate continued its gain trajectory from the significant gains the previous day as dealers bought it at N850 and sold it at N870.
- The naira has made considerable gains in the parallel market since the week started, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s statement on sanctioning foreign exchange speculators at the beginning of the week.
- The Naira to dollar rate at the P2P exchange market continued to improve on Thursday, 17th August 2023. The Naira gained 2.25% from the previous session’s rate of N890/$1 and traded at N870/$1.
- the Naira gained again today against the British pound, rising by 2.95% from N1185/£1 on Wednesday to N1150/£1 on Thursday.
External Reserves:
The central bank’s latest data shows a slight drop in the country’s external reserves, which went down from $33.845 billion to $33.094 billion as of August 15th, 2023.
Former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike’s decision to work against the interests of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has paid off after President Bola Tinubu named him the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCT is unofficially Nigeria’s 37th state and Wike could now be regarded as the governor of the nation’s capital city.
The former Rivers State governor will become the 17th minister of the FCT when the President inaugurates the new cabinet next week.
Wike is still a card-carrying member of the PDP and only time will tell if he would remain on the books of the main opposition party while occupying a very prominent position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
About 24 hours before Tinubu revealed the portfolios of his ministers, Wike visited new APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The visit fueled speculations that the ex-Rivers governor would formally defect to the ruling party.
Ganduje also gave filip to the rumour when he said Wike will strengthen the APC ahead of several elections stopping short of saying when the former governor will join the party he once likened to a stage four cancer.
He had said, “We discussed that when he becomes minister fully, he will work very hard in order to move the ministry he is given forward and he is ready to cooperate.
“But we didn’t discuss the issue of his coming to APC or not coming to APC. That issue will arise later,” Ganduje had said when former Plateau State governor and Director General of the dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council, Simon Lalong, now Minister of Labour and Employment visited him at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Indeed, Wike and the APC have cooperated effectively, and reaped immense benefits from each other, without him being a member of the party.
But while Wike basks in the euphoria of his emergence as one of the most influential ministers of the Tibubu-led APC administration, it is a different story for his comrades in the PDP G5 governors alliance.
A Public Affairs Analyst, Katch Ononuju said Wike is being rewarded for working for Tinubu’s success.
“He (Wike) is being rewarded for undermining Peter Obi and working for Tinubu in Rivers State.
“Tinubu is rewarding those who worked for him irrespective of the party they come from.
“Wike is not the leader of the APC in Rivers State. Wike led the governors who worked against Atiku and this shows that Tinubu appreciates those who caused the implosion in the PDP,” said Ononuju, who’s the Director General, The Heritage Centre, Abuja
He believed that, “Tinubu seems to be telling them ‘thank you’ and Wike is the leader of the G5 governors who contributed to the implosion. I think PDP’s loss is being celebrated with this national recognition.”
Also, Olu Omotayo who’s the President of Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) said, “I think Wike’s case is different from that of the three other former governors in the G5 because he (Wike) still commands the respect of his people unlike the others.”
He pointed out that, “Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu and Ortom lost their senatorial bids because they did not perform well in office but Wike has a strong record of performance as governor in Rivers State.”
He argued that, “Politics should not be about compensation, it should be about performance. You don’t compensate people for doing nothing.
“I believe Tinubu has confidence in Wike because of what he achieved in Rivers State and Makinde won reelection in Oyo State because of his performance in the first term.
Other members of the G5 governors led by Wike, include immediate past governors of Benue, Enugu and Abia states, Sam Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively, and governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
A shared grievance over the election of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections was the basis for the emergence of the G5 governors.
Members of the G5 were among governors of Southern states who had collectively, under the aegis of the Southern Governors Forum, demanded power shift from the North to the South in 2023.
Wike had finished as runner up, behind Atiku, in the keenly contested PDP presidential primaries and he was still smarting from the manner of his loss – following former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal’s decision to step down for Atiku – when ‘insult was robbed into the injury’ after he was overlooked in the selection of the party’s vice presidential candidate.
A PDP committee headed by Ortom had reportedly recommended Wike as the VP candidate but Atiku opted for then Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Subsequently, Wike, Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi and Makinde, now referred to as G5 governors, pulled out of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, demanding that Ayu resign his position as national chairman of the party.
They argued that a southerner should become the national chairman since both Atiku and Ayu were northerners.
They vowed to support the rival candidates unless Atiku honoured his alleged pledge that Ayu would step down if he (Atiku) won the PDP ticket.
The PDP lost the election with Wike and Makinde supporting Tinubu. The latter won his re-election bid in Oyo while other members of the G-5 lost their Senatorial bids.
It remains to be seen whether Wike will, somehow, carry his embattled G5 comrades along as he reaps the rewards of working against the PDP in the 2023 presidential election.
Omotayo argued that, “I don’t think Ugwuanyi, Ortom and Ikpeazu deserve any compensation from Tinubu or Wike.”
The Federal Government has announced a N5 billion palliative to each state of the federation, including the federal capital territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State announced the total palliative of N185 billion during an interactive session with State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday after the statutory meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Thursday.
Membership of NEC includes the governors of the 36 states of the federation, Ministers of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) among others.
Among governors who attended the meeting were Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Inuwa Yahya (Gombe) Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Others were Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Senator Uba Sani(Kaduna), Sheriff Obrevwori (Delta), Prof. Charles Soludo (Anambra), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Umaru Namadi (Jigawa),
kano
Also at the meeting are Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Prince Bassey Otu (Cross River), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo State acting governor), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ahmad Aliu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Process Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Deputy governors of Katsina, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa, Kano, Kebbi are also participating in the meeting.
More details to follow….
The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has suspended Cyril Ndifon, the dean of the faculty of law, accused of sexual harassment.
Ndifon’s suspension was announced in a letter signed by Gabriel Egbe, the varsity’s registrar, on Thursday.
On Monday, some female students, led by Benedict Otu, the president of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), staged a protest, demanding the sack of Ndifon.
The protesting students — clad in their white shirts and black skirts — were chanting “Ndifon, go! go”!
They carried placards with disturbing inscriptions. Some of the inscriptions read: “Professor Ndifon let the girls with big breasts breathe stop suffocating us”, “Enough of law school list manipulation”, and “Professor Ndifon must go for our sanity”.
On Wednesday, the authorities of the institution began a probe into the allegations against Ndifon.
Ndifon’s suspension is pending an investigation into the allegations and also effective from August 17, 2023.
“Please refer to our letter Ref UC/REG/DISC.45A dated August 14, 2023, on your alleged violation of the provisions of the extant laws and policies of the University and your response to the said letter which was dated 16th August, 2023,” the letter reads in part.
In the letter, the institution said Ndifon’s suspension was due to his handling of a query issued to him by the varsity’s management.
Ndifon was directed to transfer all the varsity’s property in his possession, along with his official responsibilities, before vacating his office.
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The professor was also instructed to stay away from the school premises, except when responding to an invitation from the panel overseeing the investigation.
[PRESS RESLEASE] Statement On The Appointment Of Ministers By President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
AdminI will like to extend my warmest congratulation to your excellency, PRESIDENT ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, on emerging victorious in a most keenly contested presidential election. While the outcome of the election is being challenged at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, you must, in the interim, face the serious issues of governance bedeviling our nation.
It is in the light of the foregoing that I commend your excellency on the appointment of ministers, particularly, former governor EZENWO NYESOM WIKE as the minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, LATEEF FAGBEMI, SAN as the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of justice, WALE EDUN as the Minister of Finance, as well as MUHAMMED ALI PATE as the coordinating Minister of Health, amongst other ministers.
Their track record in private and public sphere is well known to all, and I have no doubt that they will bring their wealth of experience to bear in turning our country’s fortunes around, for the better.
While I understand the great responsibility and careful deliberation that goes into selection of ministers and the subsequent allocation of portfolios, I, however, regrettably note that unlike the names mentioned above, some ministries, like Defence and youth, have not been given adequate consideration in the appointment of ministers. The youth hold immense potential and are instrumental in driving the social, economic and political progress of Nigeria. Consequently, their active participation in governance is crucial for the meaningful representation of their interests. Such ministry should be headed by a person who is not only a youth at mind but also a youth in body. We should not return to the era where persons who are over 60 years old are appointed as minister of Youth.
Additionally, your excellency, I also want to draw your attention to the defense portfolio and urge you to reconsider the appointment of the substantive minister and minister for state in that regard. The defense ministry plays a crucial role in ensuring the sovereignty and the well-being of our nation and its citizens, and should ordinarily be manned by someone who is well versed in our internal and external security.
Furthermore, there are a number of minister designates whose CV do not match the ministries or portfolios that have been allocated to them. It is imperative, your excellency, that you take a second look at the portfolios recently announced, with a view to ensuring that only square pegs man square holes.
As a concerned citizen deeply invested in the progress and well being of our nation, I trust your wisdom and discernment in making decisions that will yield positive outcomes for our nation as a whole. Thank you, your excellency, for the consideration of my request.
Comrade Deji Adeyanju
ECOWAS defence chiefs will today meet in Ghana to discuss the deployment of a standby force in Niger to restore constitutional rule.
Heads of state of the sub-regional bloc last Thursday ordered the activation and deployment of a standby force to Niger if dialogue with the putschists fails. According to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDC) has commenced the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
The defence chiefs will meet in Accra, Ghana for two days (Thursday and Friday) to finalise plans for the deployment of the Standby Force.
Presidential guards led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani on 26 July arrested Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved the constitution.
Responding to the coup, ECOWAS convened an emergency meeting where it imposed economic sanctions on Niger including a seven days ultimatum to the putschists to reinstate the ousted president.
The putschists defied ECOWAS and formed a new government on the eve of the second emergency meeting convened by the bloc.
Last Saturday, a Nigerian intervention team of Islamic scholars met with the junta leaders to discuss resolutions after which the junta leader agreed to dialogue with ECOWAS. Before then, two attempts made by ECOWAS to meet with the junta leader had failed.
[Premium Times]
The All Progressives Congress has warned the New Nigeria People’s Party government in Kano State to desist from embarrassing the Chairman of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge, in the wake of the alleged N10m bribery offered to her legal team.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Spokesman for Gawuna-Gari Campaign Council, Malam Muhammad Garba.
This was even as the Kano State Government called on security agencies to dig deep into the allegation and bring the ‘strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude’ to book.
The PUNCH reports how Justice Azinge raised the alarm that some senior lawyers were attempting to bribe judges in her team.
Azinge expressed concern that this was the second time a judge was complaining about how some lawyers prosecuting election matters before her, tried to corrupt the system by offering bribes to her colleagues.
She stated in the open court on Tuesday that, “money is flying”, adding that “it’s being rumoured that a staff collected N10 million.”
Shortly after the revelation, the Kano State government released a report that some “strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano State”.
The statement signed by State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, further said the NNPP government viewed the incident as a litmus test for the present administration to ensure that the case was thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted.
“The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action, especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge,” he said.
Reacting, Garba, who was the immediate past commissioner for Information and a Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, stated that the statement was a subtle attempt to denigrate the APC and the court.
He further alleged that the deliberate attempt to malign the tribunal chairman could have been spurred out of fear that the Kano government may not secure a favourable judgment.
He said, “Kano State Government is pre-empting the possible unrevealing of the actual bribe giver by the tribunal and therefore wanted to malign the judge. The made-up story, which is contained in a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, further indicated that the government is trying to vilify the tribunal before the judgment so that it draws sympathy from unsuspecting public in the event it is defeated.
“With an apparent sign of victory on its side, the APC has not and will never offer any bribe to anyone involved in the case considering that it has presented facts and figures to prosecute the matter before the tribunal.”
Continuing, Garba observed that while the APC had presented all its witnesses during the proceedings of the tribunal, the NNPP government has failed to present any to defend its case.
According to him, the action of the Kano state government was nothing but gimmick and an attempt to disparage the APC.
While reaffirming its commitment to patiently continue seeking legal redress in the case, the ruling party expressed confidence that it will eventually reclaim its ‘stolen’ mandate in Kano.
Germany wants the European Union to impose sanctions on the leaders of last month’s military coup in Niger that toppled the country’s elected president, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
“After suspending development and security cooperation, we now want to launch sanctions in the EU against the putschists,” the ministry posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had spoken on the phone in recent days about Niger with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African Union Commission head Moussa Faki.
“Germany supports the regional efforts to resolve the crisis in Niger. Our goal is to restore the constitutional order,” the foreign ministry said.
Berlin’s comments came as West African military chiefs met in Ghana to coordinate a possible armed intervention aimed at reversing the coup.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has already applied a raft of trade and financial sanctions since the July 26 military takeover.
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President Bola Tinubu says his administration is prepared to use education and technology to improve the lives of Nigerians.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday during a meeting with a delegation from Google West Africa led by Olumide Balogun, the director.
Speaking with the team, the president said his administration takes education seriously, adding that it is a “foremost tool” to fight poverty.
Tinubu asked the tech giant to partner with the federal government on the use of data in the public sector to enhance service delivery.
The president added that he is bringing more young people into his administration to drive his transformative efforts, while calling on Google to become a frontline partner in development.
“We are here to shape our tomorrow, today, and I’m going to do it. Our youths represent over 65% of the yearning development age in Nigeria,” Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted Tinubu as saying.
“We take education very seriously, and that is the foremost tool we have against poverty. The digital economy and telecommunications represent the future, and we are determined to promote it.
“Your partnership with us to make it a serious development in our economic programme is what is desirable. Our youths have the skills, they are brilliant, and they are good people.
“We have been evaluating different proposals on database development, and you have critical information that can equally help the poor leverage on the use of data.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it has begun the activation of its standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional order.
ECOWAS said this after a meeting of the bloc’s defence chiefs in Accra, Ghana’s capital city, on Wednesday.
Although the defence chiefs had backed the calls for dialogue as a mediation tactic in Niger, the group said all elements that would go into any military intervention had been worked out and were being refined.
This included the timing, resources needed and how, where and when to deploy such force.
Last Thursday, ECOWAS directed the deployment of standby military troops in Niger after the country’s junta defied the bloc’s deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The resolve was made at the end of the second extraordinary summit held to resolve the crisis.
Speaking at the meeting, President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS chairperson, said the bloc’s leaders were mandated to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.
Tinubu said it was necessary for action because the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
The ECOWAS chairperson assured that the bloc would remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting Niger in the journey towards peaceful democratic stability in the country.
Few days after the bloc’s actions, Niger’s military junta said they were ready to explore diplomatic dialogue after a meeting with Nigeria’s intervention team comprising Islamic scholars.
However, in a fresh twist, the Niger military administration said it would prosecute the “deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security”.
ECOWAS kicked against the development, saying Bazoum’s prosecution would contradict the earlier accepted willingness of the junta to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
President Bola Tinubu may have taken the bull by the horns by dismantling the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and relocating the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), now under the stewardship of George Akume.
In a departure from the previously announced ministerial portfolios, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs formed in 2008 was conspicuously missing from the portfolios announced by the Presidency on Wednesday.
The NDDC has been plagued by extensive allegations of corruption. In 2020, responding to mounting concerns, the National Assembly established a committee to investigate the NDDC.
President Tinubu’s decision to remove the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and transfer the NDDC to the OSGF may be aimed at tackling the corruption allegations in the organization.
The OSGF will now undertake the role of supervising the NDDC’s financial operations and ensuring the efficient and effective execution of its projects.
President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle has also led to the division of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources into two distinct ministries.
Both ministries will be represented by ministers of state from the South South region.
While Ekperipe Ekpo was named as Minister of State, Gas Resources,Heineken Lokpobiri was appointed Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
Despite the division of the ministry and the appointment of ministers of state, the role of overseeing the nation’s crucial petroleum sector remains unassigned.
THE WHISTLER understands that President Tinubu reserved the portfolio of the Minister of Petroleum Resources for himself, as seen during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Among the other notable appointments are Yusuf Tuggar as the foreign minister, Dele Alake overseeing Solid Minerals, Mohammed Idris as the Information Minister, Festus Keyamo in charge of aviation and aerospace development, and Nyesom Wike heading the FCT Ministry.
The full list of ministers and their portfolios is as follows:
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy: Bosun Tijani
Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management: Ishak Salako
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy: Wale Edun
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy: Bunmi Tunji
Minister of Power: Adebayo Adelabu
Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare: Tunisia Alausa
Minister of Solid Minerals Development: Dele Alake
Minister of Tourism: Lola Ade-John
Minister of Transportation: Adegboyega Oyetola
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment: Doris Aniete
Minister of Innovation Science and Technology: Uche Nnaji
Minister of State, Labour and Employment: Nkiruka Onyejeocha
Minister of Women Affairs: Uju Kennedy
Minister of Works: David Umahi
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development: Festus Keyamo
Minister of Youth: Abubakar Momoh
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation: Betta Edu
Minister of State, Gas Resources: Ekperikpe Ekpo
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources: Heineken Lokpobiri
Minister of Sports Development: John Enoh
Minister of Federal Capital Territory: Nyesom Wike
Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy: Hannatu Musawa
Minister of Defence: Mohammed Badaru
Minister of State Defence: Bello Matawalle
Minister of State Education: Yusuf T. Sunumu
Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Ahmed M. Dangiwa
Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development: Abdullah T. Gwarzo
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning: Atiku Bagudu
Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory: Mairiga Mahmud
Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation: Bello M. Goronyo
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security: Abubakar Kyar
Minister of Education: Tahir Maman
Minister of Interior: Sa’Idu A. Alkali
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Yusuf M. Tuggar
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare: Ali Pate
Minister of Police Affairs: Ibrahim Geidam
Minister of State, Steel Development: U. Maigari Ahmadu
Minister of Steel Development: Shuaibu A. Audu
Minister of Information and National Orientation: Muhammed Idris
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice: Lateef Fagbemi
Minister of Labour and Employment: Simon B. Lalong
Minister of State, Police Affairs: Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Govermental Affairs: Zephaniah Jisalo
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation: Joseph Utsev
Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Minister of Environment and Ecological Management (Kaduna): to be announced.
The federal government’s arraignment of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, has been stalled over the staff member’s illness.
The federal government instituted a fresh 20 counts procurement fraud charges against them relying on Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
That section reads, “Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five (5) years without option of fine.”
They were alleged to have conferred corrupt financial advantages on themselves by diverting public funds and purchasing exotic vehicles through the same.
Some of the counts reads, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which she is a director and thereby committed an offence.
““That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, female, adult, and April 1616 Investment Ltd, sometime in 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to use the office of Mr. Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73,800,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd.
“Statement of the offence: Conferring corrupt advantage contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.’’
At the resumed sitting on Thursday, the Prosecution told Justice Hamza Muazu that it could not produce the female defendant because she fell ill.
Subsequently, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned arraignment to August 23 for the appearance of all the defendants so that they can take their plea.
Recall that the federal government sought to withdraw its illegal possession of firearms charges against Emefiele.
The arraignment in Lagos followed an order by an FCT High Court that the Department of State Services must charge the suspended CBN governor within one week or release him from prolonged detention which runs for over a month now.
THE WHISTLER was informed by an official working in the DSS that the first arraignment was in the interim and would be followed by amended charges.
