No fewer than 42.69 million poor Nigerians were excluded from the Federal Government’s N5,000 monthly cash transfer since its inception in 2016, according to findings by The PUNCH.
In June 2023 edition of the Nigeria Development Update, the World Bank disclosed that only 19.4 per cent of Nigerians benefitted from the programme.
With an estimated population of 207.25 million (based on World Bank estimates), this meant that only about 40.21 million Nigerians benefitted from the cash transfer programme.
The Washington-based bank noted that about 40 per cent of Nigerians (82.9 million people) lived on less than the national poverty line at the end of 2022.
On the poverty rate, the bank said, “The majority of Nigerians are either poor or economically insecure, just one shock away from falling into poverty. About 40 per cent of Nigerians—82.9 million people— lived on less than the national poverty line in 2018/19.13. An additional one quarter of the population—some 52.6 million people—were economically insecure, at high risk of falling into poverty. The overall poverty situation since then is unlikely to have improved given that GDP per capita has declined since 2019.”
Based on the poverty rate, it meant that 42.69 million poor people did not benefit from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programmme.
Despite the exclusion, the lending bank noted that an additional four million Nigerians became poor between January and May this year due to rising inflation.
With the recent fuel subsidy removal, it had been projected that about 7.1 million poor Nigerians would become poor if the Federal Government failed to compensate or provide palliatives for them.
This had further underscored the need for urgent assistance, especially to the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Nigeria underspends
The World Bank has said that the Nigerian government is not spending enough to address the issue of poverty and protect Nigerians.
In its NDU report, the bank stated, “Despite being exposed to frequent recent shocks, the majority of the population lacks protection to adequately cope with shocks financially. In 2021, Nigeria spent only 0.7 percent of its GDP on social safety nets. This is much lower than the average for SubSaharan Africa and lower-middle-income countries of 1.2 percent and the global average of 1.5 percent.
“Consequently, only 19.4 per cent of Nigerians benefitted from any safety nets programme, compared with 25 per cent regionally and 41 per cent globally. Even among those covered, benefit levels remain insufficient to keep households out of poverty. Thus, Nigeria needs to rapidly and comprehensively expand the coverage and adequacy of its social protection programmes to allow households to cope better with inevitable future shocks.”
The bank further noted that Nigeria had the capacity and infrastructure to deliver the necessary assistance needed.
It stated, “Nigeria has the capacity and the infrastructure to deliver immediate assistance at scale. In recent years, Nigeria has invested in building a robust safety nets delivery system that can provide immediate assistance to a large number of households. This includes the development of social registries that can be used to select households for support and a robust payment system that can deliver cash transfers in a safe, secure, and reliable manner.”
Call for Expansion
There have been calls for the expansion of the social safety net to cover more poor people.
In this regard, the World Bank said, “Building on earlier progress in expanding social protection to the poor and vulnerable, the government can leverage the phasing out of the petrol subsidy to establish a new social compact with Nigerians.
“Establishing a redistribution mechanism that uses a portion of the fiscal savings to protect lower-income households could minimise the negative impact on consumer welfare while still yielding a large net gain in government revenues.
“To build public support for phasing out the subsidy, and as part of a wider process of building trust, the government could propose a compact with Nigerian citizens that directly links the phased-out subsidy to compensatory cash transfers. It could publicize this compact (cash transfer amounts, eligibility criteria, transfer mechanisms, etc.), enabling the media and civil society to monitor compliance.”
Experts agree with the World Bank in not just expanding the coverage but making it more transparent.
Speaking with the PUNCH on it, The Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, said that the government needed to be transparent and make the database accessible to everyone for easy confirmation.
He said, “The government must have a register, and that register should be in public domain. It should be broken into states, local governments, districts, so that people can actually go to that register and confirm the genuineness of the people in the register.
“This way, you have genuine people who are in need in that register, So, it is just about the level of transparency and openness that the government has regarding the register.”
A former President of the National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Sam Nzekwe, also stressed the need for accurate data to ensure that genuine poor people are the major beneficiaries.
“It is very important that we have open data,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, have told the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja, to dismiss the petition of the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Tinubu and Shettima, through their counsel, Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN) in his final written address against the petition of Obi and LP, described the arguments and testimonies of witnesses presented by the challengers as “frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay.”
In his written address, he urged the court to dismiss the petition as totally lacking in merit, substance and bona fide.
He argued that the “remote” contention of the petitioners that his client’s election should be cancelled for not scoring 25 percent or one-quarter of the votes recorded in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not backed by any fact known to the law as the use of “and” in the constitution is conjunctive and not disjunctive.
He argued, “This case clearly cries to high heavens in vain to be fed with relevant and admissible evidence.
“The appellant woefully failed to realise that judges do not act like the oracles of life, which is often engaged in crystal gazing and thereafter would proclaim a new Oba in succession to a deceased Oba.
“Judges cannot perform miracles in the handling of civil claims, and at least of all manufacture evidence for the purpose of assisting a plaintiff win his case.”
Uncertainty yesterday pervaded the All Progressives Congress (APC) following reports of Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation as national chairman of the governing party.
There are indications that Adamu announced his resignation after mounting pressure from party bigwigs that he should do so.
A source within the APC who spoke in confidence on the development last night told LEADERSHIP that the embattled national chairman may have preempted the outcome of the national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings billed for tomorrow and Wednesday.
“I am not surprised if Adamu has resigned because that is the noble part he should take if he does not want to be disgraced out of office. His refusal to support Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas during the NASS leadership election sold him out as being anti-party.
“Don’t forget that he also threw his weight behind former Senate president, Ahmed Lawan, instead of President Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary last year. That he has been tolerated all this while shows how magnanimous Tinubu is as a leader,” the source who did not want his name in print told our correspondent.
But an online report had it last night that Adamu resigned purportedly on the orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
National secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, was also said to have tendered his resignation minutes after.
An online newspaper, Prime Business Africa, reported that it got affirmation from reliable sources within the party and the presidency that Adamu “resigned a few minutes ago on the orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Another online newspaper, WesternPost, also reported that Senator Abdullahi Adamu has resigned as APC national chairman.
Although efforts to get key members of the party to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the chairman’s resignation did not turn out, LEADERSHIP gathered from sources that members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) met at an undisclosed location to discuss pressing issues bordering on the fate of the party ahead of tomorrow’s national caucus meeting and the NEC meeting billed for Wednesday.
Why the NWC members opted to meet secretly outside the party’s secretariat when a meeting of the party’s NWC is billed to hold today was still a puzzle at the time of filing this report.
The APC had scheduled the same NWC, caucus and NEC meetings for last week but had to move it to July 17, 18 and 19 following protest from some NWC members over a financial report of the party presented for deliberation by Adamu, which they insisted was not detailed.
Prime Business Africa reported that information it obtained last night indicated that the NWC and the president’s meetings were postponed, purportedly at the request of Senator Adamu.
“It was also gathered authoritatively that all members of the NWC ” are on the same page” regarding the compulsory resignation of the National Chairman and his Secretary, Omisore.
“The NWC members are also said to be miffed by the alleged lack of transparency in the party’s 2022 Account audit, which they said was “surreptitiously secured and submitted without any of the members sighting it,” the online paper reported.
Quoting a source which it said was privy to the details of the resignation, another online paper, WesternPost, reported yesterday that “Adamu was forced out over many issues which included his non-support for President Bola Tinubu.
“According to the source, for the past two weeks, elements within the party have been calling for his resignation threatening to remove him at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting if he fails to resign,” the online platform noted.
The paper further reported that Adamu caved in after Imo State governor and chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, “told him that if he didn’t resign, they will remove him at the next NEC meeting”.
LEADERSHIP recalls that since March this year, the national vice chairman (North-West)mof the party, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has been calling for the resignation of Adamu and the party’s national secretary to balance the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and save the party in Osun State.
Lukman had also dragged Adamu and Omisore to court, praying the court to compel them to give account of how party funds were spent in the previous year.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja last week, the former director general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said despite raking in over N30 billion from sale of forms, Adamu refused to give President Tinubu and other candidates financial support in the 2023 general election.
He said, “Talking of national budget, we are just coming out of elections whereby we were not able to sustain past precedence. What was the past precedence? Under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2019, every candidate of the party received something from the National Secretariat. In this last election, no candidate of the party received a dime from the party.
“Talking of finances, in our constitution the NEC is supposed to approve some form of sharing formula. I am aware that each state chapter has received about N20 million out of the N30 billion. Put together, that is about N700 million less than a billion which is less than 3 percent of the total income that has been earned.
“Yet we want to sweep this under the carpet. We are having states, zonal, local councils and ward levels who are left on their own. The whole question of funding of the party has not been addressed”.
Asked in specific terms whether Tinubu got anything from the party or not, he said, “He didn’t get a dime from the party. I am making this public. Let them challenge me and contradict me.”
Lukman also faulted the party’s decision to send its budget to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for scrutiny, arguing that it is the party’s NEC that has the constitutional power to approve the budget.
He said, “We are expected to present a proposed national budget to the National Executive Committee NEC for approval by the provisions of Article 13(3A)(14) of the APC constitution. I felt embarrassed when I heard the National Secretary (Omisore) say the budget of the party has been sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
“INEC is not the approving authority of the budget of the APC. The approving authority is the NEC. Till today we don’t have a national budget. Yet we made over N30 billion from sales of forms.
“Till today as a member of the NWC and majority members of the NWC, maybe with the exception of the Financial Secretary, Treasurer and or the Auditor who may have inside knowledge of how much was expended on the renovation of the National Secretariat of the party, we have no knowledge of what is being expended”.
He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari got some level of support from the party when he was the party’s candidate in 2015 and 2019.
His words: “Look, in 2015, the party was truly a model party. President Buhari didn’t have money. People were assigned responsibilities to raise money. It is just like Asiwaju and you say Asiwaju has money. So there were people assigned with the responsibility of mobilizing money for the party. If anything was done in 2023 based on that, it would be the initiative of Asiwaju. I am not aware of it as a party.
“If you remember in between, we were busy causing distractions about what should be our roles in the Presidential Campaign Council. Unless if we are humble and honest to admit that these are things that ordinarily shouldn’t have happened and admit we need to correct them and reshape the relationship between us and the government that emerged, we would continue to have the problems we are having”.
Lukman further accused Adamu of disobeying the party’s decision on the choice of the leadership of the National Assembly by staying aloof from the position of the party.
According to him, instead of developing guidelines as directed by the provisions of Article 13 (4.6) of the constitution that would guide the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly, the Adamu-led NWC approached it with a blank cheque.
A recent discovery of significant quantities of water-contaminated fuel within an aircraft has resulted in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) commencing an investigation across the country's airports and fuel suppliers to identify the root cause of this issue.
However, the NCAA has alerted airlines operating flights to and from Nigeria to be vigilant about refueling aircraft in order to ensure fuel quality is up to the industry standard.
The discovery of contaminated fuel
The issue was first discovered when a Max Air Boeing 737-300 earlier this month experienced the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutting down due to fuel contamination. This happened while the aircraft was on the ground at Yola International Airport (YOL).
The Independent reports that fuel was dumped onto the airport apron, during which time multiple drums of water were collected from both aircraft tanks. Since the airline, prior to the discovery, had purchased fuel from Lagos, Abuja, and Kano airports, the NCAA requires fuel suppliers to carry out water checks.
Reports suggest that while the NCAA is investigating the source of the contaminated fuel, it will additionally examine the browsers and fuel procedures of Max Air to ensure the airline was following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place.
Furthermore, it is reported that any party identified as having issues will have their license to operate suspended. As an additional precaution, the petroleum regulatory agency in Nigeria will also be consulted to ensure the problem has been solved.
Risks of water contamination
As noted by Acorn Welding, water is the most common cause of fuel contamination within aircraft fuel tanks. This poses safety risks to flight operations, increasing the chance of the water freezing, blocking fuel lines, and damaging the fuel pumps.
This is primarily because the fuel, unlike water, would be treated for use at various operational conditions and temperatures, resulting in the contaminated water freezing unexpectedly and affecting the operation of the system.
If the system gets blocked, the fuel supply to the engine could stop, resulting in the engine shutting down, which presents its own set of challenges during a flight. Ultimately, the presence of water in fuel will severely degrade the fuel quality.
This is one of the primary reasons why fuel tanks should be sumped before flights, as it helps detect the presence of water, dirt, or debris within the fuel tank. The process of sumping is generally included in the pre-flight checklist.
IATA's Fuel Quality Pool
Aside from the checks carried out by regulators, airlines also inspect fuel. While airlines can individually check the fuel, they also have the option of joining IATA's Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP) program.
This program ensures that fuel facilities meet the regulatory requirements by sharing the workload of inspecting facilities among airlines jointly serving airports. This provides advantages for the airlines and the fuel suppliers as this program reduces repetitive inspection of fuel at airports, as all quality reports are shared among member airlines.
[simpleflying]
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has condemned the National Assembly over the decision to allocate N70 billion as palliatives for its members.
Falana, in a press statement released on Sunday, said the move is illegal and contemptuous.
The allocation of N70 billion, disbursed among 306 newly elected members, in addition to N40 billion set aside for the purchase of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members, has become contentious with many Nigerians criticizing the lawmakers for being insensitive at a time when the economy is biting hard.
In the statement, Falana called attention to the blatant breach of the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and urged the immediate reversal of these controversial measures.
He said, “Out of sheer insensitivity coupled with impunity, the members of the National Assembly, regardless of political affiliation, conspired to breach the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by padding the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2023 to provide the so-called palliative of N70 billion for 306 newly elected members.
“While the masses of Nigeria are groaning under the excruciating economic pains unleashed on them by the ruling class, the National Assembly has awarded N228.7 million to each of the newly elected legislators. As if that is not enough, the members of the National Assembly have earmarked N40 billion to purchase 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members. However, the legislators approved the sum of N500 billion for 12 million indigent people in a country where the National Bureau of Statistics has said that “62.9 per cent of people (133 million) are multidimensionally poor.”
According to Falana, these decisions blatantly contravene Section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, which outlines the appropriate remuneration and allowances for members of the National Assembly.
Citing recent court judgements which have ruled against such excessive allowances, he said, “In Monday Ubani & Anor. v Attorney-General of the federation & Ors (Suit No FHC/LA/CS/690/ 2018), the learned trial Judge, Professor Chuka Obiozor had cause to interpret the above provision of the Constitution when he held that, ‘The national assembly service commission has no power whatsoever to fix and determine or allocate the remuneration, allowances, salaries, emoluments or monetary values to the members of the national assembly’. His Lordship observed that given many years of extreme poverty in the country, and the inability of several state governments to pay salaries of workers and pensions, the refusal or failure of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to review and cut the salaries and allowances of members of the national assembly is a gross violation of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the commission’s own Act.”
He called on the leadership and members of the National Assembly to reverse the controversial allowances and also stop the purchase of luxury vehicles.
[Punch]
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 18th March 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr says he withdraw the petition filed against Governor Peter Mbah on personal reasons.
Mr. Nweke Jr., who was a Minister in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration while speaking with newsmen said “i decided to withdraw the petition against Dr. Mbah for personal reasons.
It was reported that Mr Nweke withdrew his petition against the winner of the election and governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nweke, who came third in the governorship election with 17,983 votes as against Mbah’s 160,895 votes, announced the withdrawal of the petition at the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Sunday, through an oral application by his counsel, R.A.C.E Achara.
Achara said it became imperative to withdraw the petition filed on 11th April 2023 in order to reduce the workload of the tribunal.
The tribunal consequently granted the wish and dismissed the petition accordingly.
[DailyIndependent]
The Senate has said that it is not ready to join issues with some misguided and mischief makers on the recently appropriated 70bn for the National Assembly was a gift from the Executive arm of government.
The Senate also said that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act was part of the constitutional duties of the Senate to accommodate funding for the Federal Government's Palliative for the Nigerian public among other National demands.
The reaction of the Senate to the alleged padding of the Supplementary Budget as reported in some sections of the media was contained a statement issued by the Chairman,, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
According to the statement, "after the passage of the Supplementary Budget to accommodate funding for Federal Government' Palliative for the Nigerian public, among other urgent national demands, the socio-political space has been inundated with spurious, inaccurate and irreverent misinterpretations.
"Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate. We would therefore, not wish to join issues with the mischief and misrepresentation that a portion of the just passed Amendment Act that appropriated 70b Naira was a 'gift' to the Legislators," the statement noted.
Senator Adaramodu stressed that "a visit to the Suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yawning and the need for exigent attention. Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.
"The so much debated allocation will not be paid to any Legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly Bureaucracy. It's pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the Legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environment need a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.
" Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by Legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the Legislators.
"The alleged padding of the palliatve Budget by the National Assembly only exists in the minds of those who are all out to discredit the 10th Assembly. There is nothing like padding as being alleged in some misinformed media outfits.
"We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the National Assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria.The National Assembly is the soul of democracy and the 10th Senate shall join hands with other arms of government and our forward looking Nigerians to sing new songs of progress, development, safety and all round economic recovery and growth.
There are over 9,000 licensed filling stations across the country that are fit for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas fuel, the Federal Government has said.
It disclosed this in a communique issued by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology at the end of the stakeholders’ engagement forum on the provision of technical manpower and facility for the development and promotion of autogas as transportation fuel in Nigeria.
The conference, with the theme, ‘Autogas as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria’, showed that there was a need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Compressed Natural Gas known as autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel.
The communique stated that Nigeria gas reserves were about 209 trillion cubic feet, adding that gas production was between 8.15 – 8.35 billion standard cubic feet/day, which was more than enough for the nation.
Providing updates on the implementation status of the autogas programme, the NITT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide.
“There are 50 conversion centres currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. Auto assemblers are already producing fit-for-purpose dual-fuel vehicles in the country.
“The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive programme support and buy-in. The government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.”
It said the government was supporting the optimal availability of all autogas fuel streams, and that the adoption of autogas technology was good for Nigeria in the short and long term.
The communique stated that the forum recommended that the Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the private sector for research, development, and deployment of autogas fuel in Nigeria.
It said the Federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sectors for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal.
Wole Olanipekun, counsel to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, has asked the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss the petition of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP).
Olanipekun in his final written address against the petition of Obi and LP, described the arguments and testimonies of their witnesses as “frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay”.
On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu secured a total of 8,794,726 votes.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of LP was next with 6,101,533 votes.
On March 20, Obi and LP filed a petition before the court, seeking nullification of the poll on grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Olanipekun in his final written address dated July 14 asked the tribunal to bar Obi from contesting in another election if the court voids the February 25 poll.
He said Obi’s name was not in the Labour Party membership register when he contested the election, noting that Obi was still part of the PDP.
“Obi is constitutionally barred from participating in any election, in the very unlikely event that the election of 25th February 2023 is voided, as the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be Tinubu and the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of States (19 States), to the 1st petitioner’s 16 States, and also coming second by plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioner’s 6,101,533 votes,” Olanipekun said.
In his conclusion, Olanipekun said the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented glaringly shows it is a crass abuse of the court process.
“Based on the arguments and submissions contained in this address, we urge this Honourable court to dismiss this petition as totally lacking in merit, substance and bona fide,” he said.
“It has been glaringly shown and demonstrated by the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented by the petitioners, including the evidence of PW12, that the petition itself is not only frivolous but also amounts to a crass abuse of the process of the court.”
The educational pursuit of a Nigerian undergraduate of a Cyprus university may have abruptly ended after illicit drug was found in his luggage.
The 19-year-old Benjamin Daberechi who hails from Enugu State had in his luggage 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine which he deceitfully
concealed in a crayfish embellished nylon.
The teenage suspect was intercepted on July 12, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
A statement by the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi noted that Daberechi was enroute to Europe before he was intercepted during an outward clearance of passengers.
In another development, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on July 11, also intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis.
The package was concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicle parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.
Babafemi noted that based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 percent examination of the container which had arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14.
“A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts,” the agency said in the statement.
Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialised in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State.
The arrest followed an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.
While commending the officers and men of the agency, the Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa charged them to remain vigilant and execute their job thoroughly.
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The Course 35 Intakes, Nigerian Defence Academy comprising about 216 officers of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Airforce and a current Senator, on Saturday imotalized a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna, as well as the 21st Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Both were honoured at a grand reception in Abuja to mark the flying out/retirement of Amao from service following appointment of new service chiefs and CDS by President Bola Tinubu recently.
This is just as President of the Course, Air Commodore Festus Golit (Rtd) disclosed that under Air Marshal Amao and his fellow service chiefs, “certain issues like inter- service rivalry which hiltherto hampered harmonious operational collaboration and effectiveness were resolved in synergy became a thing of the past”
He added that “Resultantly, NAF Pilots engaged in fighting Counter-Terrorism operations and other security challenges, attended to ground forces at the press of a button..
While late Lt. General Atrahiru, represented by his wife, Mrs Fatty Attahiru recieved a post humus portrait from the 35 Regular Course Foundation, Amao was honoured with a similar portrait for taking the NAF to a new level and changing the tide in the war against terrorism and insurgency.
Speaking at the occasion, Air Marshal Amao thanked his course mates for their consistent support even while he was in office prosecuting the war against the myriads of security challenges plaguing the country.
Recalling that many of their course mates including late Lt. Gen Atrahiru and late Major Gen. Uzamere paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Amao commended the course mates come standing firm in looking out for each other and on their welbeing.
“On behalf of my family and friends, I want to appreciate each and everyone of you, course mates for your support, prayers and standing with me during the tough times of the challenges we confronted in tackling challenges of insecurity.
He apologized to all those he could not pick their calls or reply their text messages owning to exigencies of duties and other assignments noting that he did his best to make them proud in every assignment he was given.
In his remarks, President of 35 Regular Course foundation, Air Cdre Emmanuel Festus Golit, President 35 RC Foundation, said the immediate past Chief of the Air Staff, who is also the Patron of 35 RC Foundation was the last man standing of the course in the Service of our Fatherland in the Military.
“With Joy and gladness in our hearts, we wish to highlight that Air Marshal IO Amao, who once served as Air Component Commander, Operation Lafia Dole, was also AOC Tactical Air Command. He was also Chief of Training and Operations NAF Headquarters and Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre. These exposures and experience garnered in these appointments among others, no doubt contributed immensely to his outstanding performance as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff.
“Upon his assumption of office, the Operational, Logistics, Administrative and other key specialize areas of the Nigerian Air Force, witnessed improved consolidation of the previous visions of his predecessors.
Echoing the many successes recorded by Air Marshal Amao, some of which were the purchase and induction of new Aircraft types, Drones and other equipment for the Nigerian Air Force by the Federal Government, Golit said “The NAF under the focused and highly professional leadership of Air Marshal IO Amao witnessed renewed vigour from NAF personnel.
“Additionally, certain issues like inter- service rivalry which hiltherto hampered harmonious operational collaboration and effectiveness were resolved in synergy became a thing of the past. Resultantly, NAF Pilots engaged in fighting Counter-Terrorism operations and other security challenges attended to ground forces at the press of a button..
“Equally, there was improved mission focused intelligence gathering during his stewardship of the NAF, which many said helped in no small measure in targeting enclaves and strongholds of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements located in various parts of the country. One of his last operation as CAS was the attack on terrorists who were gathering somewhere at the Mambila area. Those were the kind of strikes recorded regularly by the NAF during his tenure as CAS.
“In terms of infrastructural development, he improved significantly on what his predecessors, earlier did, laying emphasis on Barrack renovations and establishment of Units to meet NAF operational gaps.
“It is therefore heartwarming to report that most NAF Personnel who spoke about Air Marshal Amao’s leadership of the NAF praised his welfare oriented and compassionate pedigree. This essential attribute boosted the morale of all NAF personnel. A similar report is shared by many NAF veterans across board whose medical bills and welfare issues were attended to with utmost compassion and empathy.
“Accordingly, we the members of 35 RC Foundation and our spouses are very pleased to celebrate Air Marshal IO Amao (Rtd) for a highly successful tour of duty in the Nigerian Air Force spanning 40 years and as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff.
Dignitaries at the occasion include Retired AVM, Senator Bali representing Plstesu South Senatorial Zone, Lt. Gen Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), former Chief of Army Staff, Major General JS Malu (Rtd) who is Chairman, Board of Trustees.
[Vanguard]
- SERAP calls for the cancellation of the plan to spend N40 billion on luxury cars for members and N70 billion as “palliatives” for new members of the National Assembly.
- SERAP criticizes the increase in the National Assembly budget, arguing that it violates fiduciary duties and neglects the welfare of over 137 million poor Nigerians affected by the removal of fuel subsidies.
- SERAP threatens legal action if the requested measures are not taken within seven days, stating that the proposed spending is a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas “to drop the scandalous plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials, and N70 billion as ‘palliatives’ for new members.”
The advocacy group has urged the National Assembly leaders to repeal the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to reduce the budget for the National Assembly by N110 billion, reflect the current economic realities in the country, and address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on the over 137 million poor Nigerians.
SERAP also urged them to “request President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, to redirect the N110 billion to address the situation of the over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, for the approval of the National Assembly.”
This disclosure is contained in a letter dated July 15, 2023, and signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, where he noted that this travesty and apparent conflicts of interest and self-dealing by members of the National Assembly must stop.
According to reports;
- “While N70 billion ‘support allowance’ is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians.
- N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.”
SEARP to sue NASS within 7 days if.
SERAP said it was a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase their budget and to use the budget as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers.
The letter from SERAP partly reads,
- “It is a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for members of the National Assembly to unjustifiably increase their budget at a time when over 137 million poor Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy.
- “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of this letter’s receipt and/or publication. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.
- “Rather than exercising their constitutional and oversight functions to pursue the public interest by considering bills to improve the conditions of the over 137 million poor Nigerians who are facing the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, the lawmakers seem to be looking after themselves.
- “According to reports, no fewer than 107 units of the 2023 model of the Toyota Landcruiser and 358 units of the 2023 model of Toyota Prado would be bought for the use of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives respectively.
- “The planned purchase is different from the official bulletproof vehicles expected to be purchased for the four presiding officers of the National Assembly.”
N110 billion different from already provided N281 billion
It said;
- “The proposed spending of N110 billion by members of the National Assembly is apparently on top of the N281 billion already provided for the lawmakers in the 2023 National Assembly budget. The proposed spending is also different from the N30.17 billion budgeted for the ‘inauguration expenses’ for new members.
- “SERAP is concerned that the budget for the National Assembly may further be increased as members are reportedly demanding an upward review of their salaries and allowances purportedly to offset the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
- “Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
- “Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National Assembly has the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.
- “Section 18 of the Constitution of Nigeria provides among others that: ‘Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
- Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end, Government shall provide (a) free, compulsory, and universal primary education.
- “The proposed spending of N110 billion by members of the National Assembly is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.
- “Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry.
- “Cutting the N110 billion from the budget of the National Assembly would be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money.
- “Under international law, states are required to progressively implement socio-economic rights including the right to quality education commensurate with the level of resources available.
- Gross misallocation of resources to the detriment of the enjoyment of the right to quality education can constitute a human rights violation.”
[Nairametrics]
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergence over the sit-at-home order in the Southeast.
Ohanaeze said declaring a state of emergency would send a strong signal to the Southeast governors, who would now be compelled to find a lasting solution to the order.
DAILY POST recalls that a Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, had severally declared sit-at-homes in the Southeast.
The order by Ekpa had aggravated the crisis in the Southeast, a situation that had led to an attempt to cripple the economic activities of the region.
Reacting, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the body would not allow Ekpa to destroy the economic activities of the Southeast.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Isiguzoro said: “A desperate moment needs desperate action. We want to warn again that Ohanaeze will not fold its arms and allow miscreants to destroy economic activities in the Southeast.
“If possible, where this sit-at-home is happening should be declared a state of emergency. This is what Tinubu would do that will make the Southeast governors sit up and find a lasting solution to the problem.
“Ekpa has declared a second Biafra War, which Igbos are not ready to fight. Igbos are supporting Tinubu and would assist in ensuring that this rebellion is squashed.
“Ekpa’s action is an attempt to divide Igbos, and we wonder why Peter Obi and the rest are not talking. We hope this is not a conspiracy against the president.”
[DailyPost]
The Ogun State Government has joined its counterparts across the world to commemorate the International Day of Cooperatives, applauding the immense contributions of Cooperative Societies to the socio-economic development and prosperity of the State.
The Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the theme of this year’s celebration “Cooperative: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development” spoke to the need for all hands to be on deck to fast track the process of reversing the negative effects of fuel subsidy removal on the economy and people’s livelihoods.
The governor stated this at Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, while addressing members of the Cooperative societies in commemorating of their International Day of Cooperative.
He said, “In recognition of the active roles played by Cooperative Societies in our economy, particularly in the area of promoting brotherhood, good neighbourliness, economic freedom and self-realisation, our government has facilitated series of programmes aimed at encouraging more people to imbibe the spirit of cooperation and be active participants in both formal and informal sectors of our economy”.
Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo stated that to ease the pains of fuel subsidy removal, the present administration would soon roll out a series of measures to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and palliative to cushion the effect.
He enjoined individuals and societies in the State to embrace best practices in the management of their affairs and deepen collaboration with the State government to take full advantage of opportunities to be provided in the critical sectors, including agriculture.
In his address, the President, Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED), Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye said that the State's Cooperative societies provided credits facilities for more than twenty six percent (26%) of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State.
He said that International Cooperative Day was aimed at strengthening and improving the cordial relationship between cooperative and other key players in the country, noting that this year's event celebrated branch by branch to create awareness at local base, in oder to send signal to the local administrator for postive contribution.
He said "Cooperative are businesses owned and run by people who share a common goal, and have a global impact and a human touch, they support sustainable development by giving people the opportunity to access financial services and earn a decent income".
In his goodwill message, the President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Head of Cooperative Movement in Nigeria, High Chief Tajudeen Adeola said that this day was to appreciate and celebrate the achievement of Cooperatives in Nigeria, saying that it was imperative to advocate for more funds for the cooperators in the country.
He implore the state government to disburse funds for the cooperatives in the state, so as to make them more active in the comity of Cooperative society in the country.
"Ogun state Cooperative society is second in Nigeria after Lagos, especially in terms of contributions, disbursement and active participation, we are imploring the state government to disburse more funds for the Cooperative societies in Ogun, so as to remain active and encourage more contributors and societies to be involved", Ayeola said.
Also, South-West Cooperative Leader, President Odua Cooperative Conglomerate, Elder Felix Ajibode, appreciated the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his moral and financial support towards the Cooperative society in the state.
He noted that the State's Cooperative societies was always known for the good and best in term of contributions, noting that they should sustain the temple for the growth and development of the entire cooperative societies in the country.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative, Alhaji Kolawole Ogunlana, noted that the Cooperative society contributed immensly, meaningfully to the growth and development of the socio-economic of the country.
He said that the state government would continue to contribute its quota to the growth and development of the Cooperative in order to remain active, noting that Cooperative was engine room to both micro and medium-scale enterprises of any society.