Five years ago, on October 11, when Nigeria celebrated its 59th anniversary, I wrote a piece titled “The Call for a National War on Poverty,” which was published in Thisday newspaper and several other traditional and online news platforms.

The motivation for writing the article stemmed from the excessive focus on fighting corruption, which had created a hostile environment for foreign investors. This focus led to economic recessions between 2015-2023, with Nigeria plunging into recession twice in those eight years.

Today, nearly five years after that article, Nigeria and its citizens continue to grapple with corruption and poverty. Instead of moving from poverty to prosperity, the standard of living has worsened, leading to the #EndBadGovernance protests by angry and hungry Nigerians, which regrettably resulted in significant unrest and destruction.

The four days of protests before President Bola Tinubu’s national address wreaked havoc on the nation so much so that our beleaguered country and its struggling economy suffered further damage, with about 13 lives lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed. The situation was so dire that the presumed convener of the protest, popular lawyer Olu Adegberuwa, reportedly expressed regret: “I appeal to the protesters to withdraw from their various protest grounds and suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government.”

In recognition of the severe poverty ravaging Nigeria five years ago, I wrote an article titled “The Call for a National War on Poverty.” Originally published on October 11, 2019, I am republishing and updating it with a new title: “Protests: Issues Around the Issues” which is focused on the question of whether President Tinubu’s reform policies are against or promoting poverty?”

The question raised in this article’s title about whether the current administration is fighting poverty is crucial because unlike his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, who focused his leadership solely on fighting corruption for eight years, President Bola Tinubu’s administration, just over one year old, has concentrated on implementing massive reforms that have the potentials to alleviate poverty. Ostensibly, these reforms are aimed at overturning decades-old policies that have kept Nigerians shackled and in poverty. But they taking a bit longer to manifest their positive expectations which is why some Nigerians are anxious and aggrieved.

Key among these policies are the removal of subsidies on petrol, the naira, and electricity. These have been replaced with new socio-economic paradigms, which, although they hold promise for long-term improvement, have initially caused significant hardships for many Nigerians.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo offers a unique perspective on the removal of petrol subsidies and boosting local production of this crucial commodity. He remarked, “If those who are selling or supplying refined products for Nigeria feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunity, they will also make every effort to get him (Dangote) frustrated.” He added, “Those problems, as far as the government refineries are concerned, have never gone. They have even increased. So if you have a problem like that and that problem is not removed, then you aren’t going anywhere.”

Five years ago, I called for a paradigm shift in our development strategy from merely fighting corruption to combating poverty and reforming policies that hinder development. This call was ignored by the previous administration, which continued its anti-corruption efforts without investing enough effort in combating poverty. The efforts devoted to solely tackling corruption ultimately proved ineffective, as reflected in Nigeria’s stagnant corruption perception index, while the fight against graft damaged the economy and the country’s image. As a result, the economy and the lives of Nigerians deteriorated, leaving the current administration with the task of alleviating the masses’ frustration after their painful experiences under the former regime.

Given this background, President Bola Tinubu, who promised change, was expected to quickly deliver the benefits of democracy. However, the delayed realization of promised economic reforms, which have had a severe impact on the general populace, has made the Renewed Hope Agenda seem like an illusion. That is why many Nigerians have been anxiously waiting for a drastic improvement in their conditions and becoming impatient as respite is not manifesting in their expected timeline.

Unfortunately, this expectation persists despite being unrealistic. The reality is that it is wishful thinking to believe that Nigeria’s current economic problems, caused by poor policies over the past four to five decades that were supposed to be ad-hoc but became entrenched and permanent, would disappear instantly. When President Tinubu finally addressed the nation on the fourth day of the protests, which had turned riotous, he outlined the steps taken to help Nigeria escape poverty:

“In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilizing funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambiance.”

He then highlighted that under his administration, the federal government has advanced about N574 billion to government at sub-nationall levels to ameliorate hardships at the grassroots level and Nigeria has reduced the proportion of revenue used to service debt from 98% to 68% and paid off $5 billion in foreign debt. Additionally, he announced an investment of N45.6 billion for the procurement and installation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits in mass transit vehicles to counter the increased costs following the removal of petrol subsidies. Additionally, Mr. President stated that the government also allocated N200 billion to a newly formed program to drive consumer credit at single-digit interest rates to boost production and purchasing credit for the masses, just as it has provided N50 billion for the newly launched NELFUND, driving the currently functional student loan program. Other initiatives include setting aside $620 million for the empowerment of Nigerian youth through digital and creative enterprises.

Despite these measures, some protesters and leaders from the main opposition parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), were not appeased. They argued that the broadcast, despite its calls for calm and dialogue, was self-serving. Fortunately, the nationwide tension has subsided, and peace has returned to most parts of the country. This may be because the genuine intentions of the protesters were overshadowed by those with a regime-change agenda, as evidenced by minors waving Russian flags during the protests. The use of minors to display these flags is likely a tactic to avoid prosecution, as the 1999 constitution as underaged individuals cannot be charged for criminal actions.

During the four days of unrest, three global events paralleled the protests in Nigeria.

The first event is the ongoing civil disobedience in the United Kingdom, fueled by misinformation spread via social media, similar to how social media was used during Nigeria’s 2020 #EndSARS protests and is now driving the #EndBadGovernance protests. This disobedience was sparked by the tragic stabbing of three children in Southport by a 17-year-old, Axel Rudakubana, who was wrongly identified by far-right activists as an immigrant.

Although UK authorities classify this as an anti-immigration crisis, I argue it is xenophobia targeting not just blacks but Muslims and non-Caucasian foreigners. This attitude mirrors the xenophobic violence in South Africa, where locals attacked the businesses and homes of successful black immigrants. It is also similar to the events that happened in Nigeria in the mid-1980s when Ghanaians were expelled in an anti-immigration crisis dubbed “Ghana-Must-Go.” A few years ago, Ghana retaliated by antagonizing Nigerians doing business and living there, accusing them of dominating commerce .

These scenarios illustrate that global poverty crises are triggering protests against authorities for either implementing poverty-inducing policies or being lax with immigration policies that allow immigrants, legal or otherwise, to take local jobs.

Just as Nigerians are marching against hunger, Britons are rioting under the guise of anti-immigration sentiments against Muslims, Arabs, and non-Caucasians, whom they believe are taking their jobs and corrupting their culture. This intolerance is both sad and disappointing.

Surprisingly, Britons may not even accept legal immigrants, despite these skilled workers filling gaps left by the UK’s exit from the European Union. This situation highlights global crises of various kinds, with world leaders still struggling to find solutions. This is evident as former U.S. President Donald Trump, now a candidate of the Democratic Party, and his supporters—comprising about 30% of voters, similar to the Republican’s 30%, (with 40% as independents in swing states which both parties are struggling to win over to their respective sides) —also expressing displeasure over illegal immigrants, whom they accuse of taking American jobs.

Given these dynamics, Trump is likely to win the November 5 election due to his stance on immigration, much like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally Party, which gained 143 seats in the French parliament by pushing an anti-immigration agenda. Consequently, with significant seats in the French parliament, President Emmanuel Macron must form a coalition government after the ongoing Olympics in Paris.

These events underscore a growing global intolerance towards foreign nationals and frustration with leaders’ policies on socioeconomic issues and immigration across the world.

Ultimately, citizens are expressing their dissatisfaction through protests and at the ballot box, as seen in the recent violence in the UK and France, following elections that enabled far-right gains. This expression of discontent is a hallmark of democracy, which guarantees freedom of speech, so protests against government Nigeria is not an exception. But forceful regime change which has been established as the sinister motive of some of the protesters in Nigeria is condemnable and thankfully and commendably  Nigerian security agencies gathered enough intelligence to figure it out and nipped it in the bud.

Another significant moment for me is Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s condemnation of the Nigerian police’s brutal response to protests, resulting in numerous deaths, a figure disputed between 13 by some accounts and 7 by the Nigerian police. Unimpressed with the police conduct, Prof. Soyinka stated:

“Live bullets as a state response to civic protest – that becomes the core issue. Even tear gas remains questionable in most circumstances, certainly an abuse in situations of clearly peaceful protest.

“Hunger marches constitute a universal S.O.S., not peculiar to the Nigerian nation. They belong indeed in a class of their own, never mind the collateral claims emblazoned on posters.

“They serve as summons to governance that a breaking point has been reached and thus, a testing ground for governance awareness of public desperation.

“The tragic response to the ongoing hunger marches in parts of the nation, and for which notice was served, constitutes a retrogression that takes the nation even further back than the deadly culmination of the watershed #ENDSARS protests.

“It evokes pre-independence – that is, colonial – acts of disdain, a passage that induced the late stage pioneer Hubert Ogunde’s folk opera BREAD AND BULLETS, earning that nationalist serial persecution and proscription by the colonial government.”

Compared to the British police’s reliance on technology and surveillance cameras to manage riots, the Nigerian police’s lack of such infrastructure has led to accusations of unprofessional conduct. However, the security agencies argue that their harsh response was due to a hidden agenda among protesters, aiming for regime change through subterfuge, which they were duty-bound to prevent as earlier stated.

In fact,  it was rather disconcerting and surprising that the suspicion of a regime change became evident when protesters were seen waving Russian flags. This act confirmed intelligence reports, leading the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to announce that the military was on standby in case the police were overwhelmed. This position was echoed by the Chief of Defense Staff, Army General Chris Musa, in a subsequent press conference.

Considering Russia’s involvement in neighboring Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina-Faso where regime changes supported by the Wagner Group—a Russian-backed mercenary organization—have replaced French colonial influence, the concerns of Nigerian security agencies about potential plans to forcefully remove the Nigerian president were valid and commendable.

Hence, possibly as a preemptive measure, military force was used in some cases to repel suspected regime change agents who had infiltrated genuine protesters. This might have unfortunately resulted in the tragic deaths of Nigerians, estimated by Amnesty International to be up to 13, though the Nigerian police as earlier stated claim the number is 7. Although the death of even one Nigerian arising from engaging in street protests is unacceptable, the conduct of the Nigerian police, especially the commissioners in Edo, Rivers, and Lagos states, is commendable as they worked hard to gain the trust and confidence of the protesters, making the protests in these locations less destructive.

Another key point for me is the CNN documentary titled “1968: The Year That Changed America,” which highlighted significant events in the US, including the civil rights movement and riots in Washington, DC, revealing the brutality of security agencies at that time. The documentary struck me with the similarity to how present-day Nigerian police had treated protesters, particularly during the #EndSARS riots in 2020, though having learned their lessons they have been less harsh in the current protests. The takeaway from the documentary is that Nigeria’s current practice of democracy is reminiscent of the US in 1968, over half a century ago.

Finally, as the dust from the imbroglio or temporary madness that engulfed our country resulting in an orgy of bloodletting settle, it is hoped that both the administration and the masses have learned lessons from the catastrophic fallouts.

Hopefully, going forward, Nigeria and Nigerians will not be prosecuting just a war on corruption which it has been doing without significant success even before Nigeria secured her independence in 1960 from British colonialists, as one has cataloged in this piece,  but also a more serious war against poverty which is the enemy of the multiple ethnic groups/ nationalities that make up this great nation and who speak over 250 tongues and have reason in unison to declare collectively that they are hungry . As a stanza in our national anthem enjoins us “…though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand”. We should all do well to imbibe the wording in the national anthem which are critical ethos that we should operatoonalize of citizens of our great nation, Nigeria.

In light of the foregoing, our subsidiary fights should be against religious bigotry and zealotry as well as against ethnic jingoism which crept into the agenda of the protesters in the nasty incident in certain parts of our country, particularly Lagos state revealed.

Commendably Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu distanced the state government from the xenophobic outburst by the leftists.

As the President Tinubu has done in his broadcast and Lagos state governor has demonstrated, we must rise against politics of excluding any members of particularly ethnic sections of our country from living in any part or in the leadership of our country.

In this Final Tribute to my Mum (Ama as I called her), I can “confess” that I knew the end was near for my Mum since December 2023 and I told same immediately to my two sisters and to my wife. Of course, we all hoped that I was wrong, but my head and heart told me that I was right.

My Mum was always very strong spiritually and she lived her life in accordance with the written word in the Bible. It was the physical frailty and her total acceptance of it that made me realise that the inevitable call was near.

I decided therefore that I would visit my Mum in Port Harcourt every month going forward without fail – and so I saw her in January, in February and in March 2024. Each visit was like a last Supper. Indeed, the very last “Supper” we had together was on Friday, 08 March 2024, when I came visiting. In early April, I went to London and intended to come back home to visit her in mid-April.

My phone failed to ring at 9am on Wednesday, 10 April 2024 and so I guessed my Mum had passed on. I waited until it rang just after 10am and it was my Mum’s Doctor on the line telling me what I “knew” already – that my Mum had passed on. My Mum was so reliable that I knew instinctively that, if she was not on the telephone at 9am, as promised, then it meant she had answered the call from her Maker. She was not one for tardiness or lateness.

Since my Mum passed on, the only emotion that I have entertained has been one of immense gratitude to God for granting Mum’s 3 great wishes. These were:

1) Never having to bury a Child, Grandchild or Great Grandchild;

2) Lived to see her youngest Grandchild become an adult.

3) Never really being hospitalised – not even in her final month, week or day;

One of my fondest memories of Mum include the year 1965 when she decided to give me a “crash course” in maturity because she had adjudged that I could go off to King’s College Lagos as a boarder in January 1966 at the tender age of 10 years and 6 months and succeed, notwithstanding the fact that I would probably be the youngest boy in the entire Secondary School.

The foundation for almost everything that I know today about Core Values, Integrity, the Dangers surrounding Cutting Corners and/or trying to be too clever by a half, Loyalty, the rationale for following Due Process etc was laid by my Mum. It was all bedded down by an anxious mother who had a burning desire to protect her only son who was deemed too young (by many) to be allowed to leave Port Harcourt for a Boarding House in “far away” Lagos.

Mum taught me several great lessons of life from a tender age. Some of my favourites were that:

1) Parenting never really stops, where there is genuine love and a shared vision;

2) Contentment is largely a choice. Mum coveted nothing and coveted no one’s position or status;

3) It is possible to love both your immediate family and wider family unconditionally;

4) It is possible to live without fear of any man or woman on earth – and so, those who really knew Mum understood that it was only her God and Maker that she feared. I still hear her voice booming in my ears from our 5-minute one-on-one telephone prayers which took place at the same time of the morning every day over the course of the last three decades. One of her favourite quotes was from the Book of Isaiah: “FEAR NOT: for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by my name: thou art mine…”

5) Another favourite quote was from the Book of Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. Mum believed there was a time to be born; and a time to die; a time to plant; and a time to harvest etc. Her Biography confirms that she knew when it was time to move on to something new or to the next phase of her life.

When she turned 90 in 2014, Mum declared that the time for her to travel outside Rivers State was over and so she would no longer travel long distances. Yes, no more medical check-ups in London or even Lagos. Mum would not change her mind to consider even stepping into a Private Jet to convey her to Lagos. Mum had great conviction and so I knew it was futile trying to argue with her on such matters.

Before Dad passed on in 2016, Mum had instructed me to take over several family responsibilities from him. Unknown to many in the wider family, my Mum was more concerned about me supporting them financially than in asking for herself. She cautioned those living with her day-to-day not to tell me about any needs that they thought she had.  She feared I would then “waste” resources seeking to meet those “frivolous” needs of hers, instead of channeling the very same resources towards what I could do for the wider family, community or the nation.

Mum did not want to end up in hospital and I am glad that she got her wish. My last phone call with her was at 9am on 9th April. She answered the call from her Maker, from her Port Harcourt home, at 10 am on 10th April 2024 – exactly 6 months short of 10th October, 2024, which would have been her 100th birthday.

I dare not weep today or on any other day because Mum won’t like it. She brought me up (her only son) to be strong and stand like a man at all times and to be afraid of no one. Mum always wanted me to behave like a leader – an Influencer that would set the right example so that others can derive strength from my actions – and so I will continue to smile and give God the glory for the awesome life that my Mum lived.

Goodbye Ama – Until we meet again.

•Atedo N A Peterside CON, Arusibidabo of Opobo Kingdom

Following the recent cases of fake certifications uncovered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), examination boards in Kenya and Uganda are now reaching out to the country to verify the credentials of Nigerians applying for admission to tertiary institutions in their countries.

JAMB made this known in a document: ‘Registrar’s Report on 2023 ADMISSION & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,’ document on Wednesday, Channels TV reports.

According to the document, JAMB stressed the need to protect Nigeria’s tertiary institutions from international disrepute, adding that it would not falsify the records of any students.

“Uganda and Kenya examination boards are now writing to JAMB to confirm records presented by candidates for admission of candidates. JAMB would not falsify record,” the Nigerian examination body stated.

The Federal Government recently suspended the verification of degree certificates from Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo and some other countries over allegations of certificate racketeering.

This followed an investigation by a Daily Nigeria reporter, Umar Audu on how he obtained a degree within six weeks in the Benin Republic.

After his report, the Federal Government set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to probe the activities of certificate racketeers.

LEADERSHIP consequently reported that JAMB threatened to sanction higher institutions that fail to submit lists of students admitted immediately after matriculation.

According to JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the initiative is one of the recommendations made by a committee set up by the Federal Government to combat fake degree racketeering in the country.

According to a ‘Clarification On Disclosure Of Admitted Candidates Outside Caps (2017-DATE)’ by JAMB obtained, institutions are to “regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies.”

The list is expected to be submitted through the dedicated channel of JAMB.

“The Board has observed a large number of candidates thronging its offices to resolve issues related to the disclosure of candidates admitted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) from 2017 to date. While we appreciate the enthusiasm, we must correct the misconception that the focus is on candidates’ actions. The true emphasis lies with the institutions, which must disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS before the August 31st, 2024 deadline.

“This directive requires immediate attention and compliance. We urge institutions to carefully review our initial letter and ensure full compliance, as failure to disclose will result in severe consequences. Candidates are also reminded not to accept admissions outside CAPS.

“The Board reiterated that candidates not disclosed by institutions would not be entertained. The Board will not tolerate any condonement of undisclosed admissions moving forward.”

In a similar development, a memo addressed to the JAMB on July 15, 2024, the education ministry said, “You may recall that following the publication of allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, especially in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and other countries, the ministry constituted an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations to find lasting solutions.

“The committee has submitted its report and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations for implementation.

“In that regard, I hereby convey the request of the honourable minister for the implementation of the following recommendations of the committee:

“Enforce the mandatory requirement for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to exclusively conduct their admissions processes through the Central Admissions Processing System under the auspices of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board; mandate all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies through the dedicated channel of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

“You are kindly requested to implement the above recommendations and furnish the ministry with implementation updates.”

[Leadership]

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last year’s election, Peter Obi, has asked the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to come clean on the details of the newly acquired presidential jet and those of the old ones being sold off.

He made the call on Tuesday night on his X handle.

Daily Trust reports that President Tinubu, on Monday, embarked on a working visit to France aboard a newly acquired Airbus A330 business jet, amidst controversies surrounding its purchase.

The model, typically used as a twin-aisle passenger aircraft, was purchased last month at a cost of $100m and has now been registered to the Nigerian Air Force.

The modified jet is one of the three presidential aircraft recently seized by a French court in favour of a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, over a dispute with the Ogun State Government.

However, on Friday, August 16, Zhongshan said that it had decided to release one of the three aircraft as a gesture of goodwill, especially due to a scheduled meeting between President Tinubu and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

Obi said that despite all the denials and back and forth over the newly acquired presidential aircraft, the jet was now here, thanks to the French court that helped Nigerians get the information.

“Now that the Jet is here, can Nigerian taxpayers whose money was used to purchase it need to be privy to how much it cost and how old the aircraft is and how long its been in operation.

“In addition, Nigerians also deserve to know about how the old jets being disposed, how many of them, how old they are, and why they are being sold. Transparency and Accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership,” Obi said.

He said that the federal government would lose nothing but respect, if it failed to provide adequate information about its leadership to the people whose money was being deployed and whose mandate the President was holding.

“A presidential jet is a major symbol of national sovereignty and state power. How much it costs to transport the president, is a major issue of public accountability. I hope that Nigerians will not be denied the right of full disclosure on the new presidential jet,” Obi added.

[DailyTrust]

There is widespread anger following the unveiling of the new Airbus A330 presidential jet purchased by President Bola Tinubu’s government.

DAILY POST recalls that the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga had on Monday night, released the pictures of the presidential jet via his verified X handle.

According to him, the new jet replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) which was acquired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure.

Tinubu’s aide claimed that the new jet saved Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars annually.

Countering the claim that the jet was acquired without approval by the National Assembly, Onanuga said “the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses”.

Our correspondent, however, reports that the claim does not align with earlier reports from the Nigerian Senate.

DAILY POST recalls that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio on June 27, declared that the upper chamber did not receive any request for the purchase of new aircraft for the president.

Nigerians had perceived the move by the presidency to get a new jet, but the Senate President vehemently debunked the report, saying there was nothing like that in their table.

Akpabio, who spoke after a closed-door meeting, said, “I have never had that correspondence to approve the purchase of a plane. We care about the President, we care about Nigerians.

“We will approve things that will benefit the people. There is nothing before us”.

Similarly the Senate leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) said, “There is no such request, if the request comes, not only the Senate will debate it, we are 469 here. So this is the handiwork of the fifth columnist and propagandists.”

DAILY POST reports that there was no parliamentary debate prior to the arrival of the exotic presidential jet.

Although the presidency deliberately omitted the price of the jet, it was gathered that the Nigerian government spent over $100 million (N159 billion) to acquire the Airbus A330.

This is coming amid the ravaging economic downturn that has relatively made feeding difficult for millions of citizens.

Recall that Nigerians had earlier in the month staged a 10-day nationwide protest over hunger.

The untoward hardship was birthed by some unfavorable policies of the President Tinubu-led administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy which was announced on May 29, 2023.

Concerned citizens who reacted to the procurement of the new jet, accused the government of neglecting the plight of the citizens.

No argument can justify this latest profligacy – Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili on Wednesday said President Bola Tinubu has no argument to justify the purchase of the Airbus A330

Ezekwesili said no argument from Tinubu will persuade Nigerians into justifying what she termed “latest profligacy.”

Posting on X, Ezekwesili wrote: “No argument justifies the purchase of a 14 year old Airbus plane by the @NGRPresident @officialABAT for his indulgence.

“No argument that can persuade reasonable people justifies this latest profligacy.

“Continue with your obscene indulgence until the Day your hungry citizens can no longer bear to sleep on their empty stomachs.

Tinubu acting like Sani Abacha pro max – Adeyanju

Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju on Wednesday while reacting to the purchase of the new Presidential jet, an Escalade bulletproof vehicle, and a Yacht accused President Tinubu of acting like former Military Head of State, Sani Abacha pro max within one year of assuming power.

Posting on his Facebook page, Adeyanju wrote: “Critics don’t make good leaders. If in doubt, just look at Tinubu. The guy is acting like a Sani Abacha pro max just under one year. A hypocrite that can’t take what he gives.

“Just got back to Abuja from Lagos and saw Tinubu’s outrageously huge presidential jet.”

Tinubu bought private jet, bulletproof car in one year but Nigerians suffering – Sowore

A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, on his part, knocked Tinubu’s government for procuring a Presidential jet and a bullet proof vehicle within one year in office despite the failure to tackle the economic crisis bedeviling Nigerians.

Sowore said Nigerian leaders were only concerned about meeting their personal desires and not what the citizens were going through.

The activist cum politician, who was one of the key organizers of the just concluded EndBadGovernance protests, disclosed this in a series of posts on his X page.

According to Sowore: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said one year isn’t enough for Nigerians to enjoy a better country but look at what he bought for himself in just one year.

“Yacht, jet, Bulletproof Escalade, mansion for VP #RevolutionNow.

“Day of fun at the expense of suffering Nigerians, @officialABAT jumbo luxury Presidential Jet arrives Nice, France. #France #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #FearlessInOctober #RevolutionNow

“The only thing that makes these thieving rulers in Nigeria happy is when they fulfil their personal desires; they don’t care about the people.

“It is the time for the people to bond and take them head-on. #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria 2.0.”

They don’t care about us – LP chieftain, Okon Fredrick

Similarly, a chieftain of the Labour Party, Mr Okon Fredrick said the move by the government to purchase an exotic jet amid the hardship in the country showed that the government officials did not care about the citizens.

In a chat with DAILY POST, Okon said, “leadership is by example. Tinubu had consistently appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his government, yet he is not patient enough to continue using the old jet.

“Like the singer Micheal Jackson once said, ‘they don’t really care about us’, we are on our own. Nothing about us matters to them

“This is obviously the wrong time to be buying a presidential jet with such a huge amount of money. We just finished a round of protest trying to tell the government that we are dying of hunger.

“Just a few days after the protest was halted, the executive is flying a new jet of over N100 billion.

“The citizens are watching and one day, like Charly Boy usually says, their mumu go do.”

[DailyPost]

Price of petrol is being moderated by the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to guarantee stability, the oil giant has said.

The NNPCL said it has been making PMS available for retail distribution at about half of the landing cost under an agreement with the government to safeguard Nigerians from the global fluctuation in oil prices.

Its Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya explained that the company has been offsetting the shortfall in landing price and sale price through a reconciliation arrangement between the government and the company.

He said the company had not paid any money to any marketer in the name of petrol subsidy in the last eight to nine years.

While the official pump price of petrol is about N600 per litre, average landing cost is about N1,200.

Ajiya said the company covered about N7.8 trillion in “shortfall” in the first seven months of this year, making a distinction between the current arrangement and the inglorious past of “subsidy scam”, known for payments to third parties for sometimes frivolous claims on supply.

“I think there is one fact that I need to make very clear that in the last eight or nine years, that this company, even as a corporation as it were, has not paid anybody a dime or one naira as subsidy.

“No one has been paid a kobo by NNPC in the name of subsidy. No marketer has received money from us by way of subsidy,” Ajiya said at a news conference.

He said the government directs NNPCL to sell the petrol it imports, at a price that is half of the landing price.

He said the reconciliation of the shortfall has been between the federation and NNPCL.

According to him, at times the Federal Government pays the money and it could as well net off for it.

“What has been happening is that we have been importing PMS, landing at a certain price, and government is telling us to sell it at half price. So, that gap between that landed price and half price is what we call shortfall or we call it subsidy.

“And the deal is between the federation and ourselves to reconcile. Sometimes they give us money, sometimes we do net off. So, there is no money exchanging hands to any marketer or to anybody in the name of subsidy,” Ajiya said.

President Bola Tinubu on inauguration day May 29, last year, announced that fuel subsidy is gone. Prior to the removal, Nigeria was spending more than N400 billion on subsidy monthly with national consumption volume of over 60 million litres per day.

The figure was on the upward swing due to smuggling of the product which is of the highest grade in West and Central Africa to neighbouring countries.

Upon the phasing out of the payment, which was also in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that fully deregulated the product price, the national consumption officially reduced to 50 million litres per day.

Prior to this, NNPCL had been enmeshed in what was known as “subsidy scam” under which huge payments were found to have been made to third parties as subsidy to bridge landing and sale prices. Several claims of product supply were found to be untrue.

Many oil chiefs were arraigned by the government over allegations of bogus subsidy claims.

Ajiya spoke at the presentation of the audited report and accounts of NNPCL for the 2023 business year in Abuja.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mosimi Depot, yesterday attributed the current fuel scarcity in Ogun State and other Southwest states to the inability of NNPCL to make petroleum products available to its members three months after they had paid for the product.

IPMAN appealed to the Federal Government, as well as other critical stakeholders in the industry to prevail on NNPCL management to arrest the current situation, which has compounded the economic challenges residents, motorists and commuters are facing in the region.

Chairman, IPMAN, Mosimi Depot Otunba Femi Adelaja, who made this known while speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said his members had since June made deposit payment of N75.142 billion to NNPCL for supplies through the Lagos Private Depot Owners (PDO) but NNPCL is yet to make the product available to its members.

Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPCL, Dapo Segun , said it was not uncommon for the company to be in an open credit agreement with PMS suppliers, as it is a global practice in the industry.

He said that establishing an open credit agreement with suppliers spoke volume of the credibility which the national oil company had built over a period of time.

“Concerning the outstanding to the suppliers, it is not in that magnitude that has been put out, it is actually lower than the N6.8 billion.

“What matters really is the relationship between us and our suppliers to ensure that we keep faith in making these payments to our suppliers which we have done overtime.

“You would understand that it is not a static figure and I wouldn’t want to be quoting any figure, when we make payments it goes down, when they supply products it goes up.

“It is a dynamic way, but the most important thing is to ensure that we continue to make PMS available across the country,” Segun said.

[TheNation]

The Katsina State Police Command has initiated a manhunt to apprehend the killers of a member of the Nigerian Hunters Association, Aliyu Yahaya, who was murdered in the Jibia local government area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the ongoing investigation to the PUNCH on Wednesday morning, stating, “Efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators as the investigation proceeds.”

On August 13, suspected terrorists attacked Yahaya’s residence in Magamar-Jibia, within the Mazanya district of Jibia LGA. They shot him, set his body ablaze and abducted his wife, son and three neighbours.

A family member, Salisu Yahaya, recounted the harrowing incident, saying, “Around 2:00 a.m. on August 13, 2024, armed terrorists scaled the wall of Aliyu’s home, shot him dead, and set his body ablaze inside his room. Despite being fatally wounded, he tried to protect his family from being kidnapped, but the assailants overpowered him and whisked away his family.” 

A colleague of the deceased, Basiru Muhammad, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Yahaya as a patriotic young man who died while serving his community.

Muhammad also called for urgent security measures to prevent such tragedies in the area and across the state.

A neighbour, Amadu Bello, whose two wives and mother-in-law were also abducted, pleaded with authorities to prioritise the rescue of his family members.

“I urge the government to take immediate action to safeguard residents from terrorist activities. The lack of adequate security personnel has contributed to the frequency of such attacks in our communities,” he lamented.

Adding his voice, a traditional titleholder in the area, Aminu Dan Mugyanbo, stressed the importance of decisive action from the state governor, Dikko Radda, to address the security challenges plaguing Magamar-Jibia and other parts of the Jibia Local Government Area.

“As we grapple with the devastating impact of this and many other attacks on our community, we will continue to support the efforts of local vigilante groups in protecting lives,” he stated.

[Punch]

The British government on Wednesday announced new measures to crack down on high numbers of asylum seekers arriving illegally on small boats from France.

It said 100 “new specialist intelligence and investigation officers” would be recruited to the National Crime Agency (NCA) to help dismantle smuggling gangs that run the dangerous crossings.

The interior ministry added that the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers for five years. 

The Labour government, which won an election last month, intends to increase detention capacity at removal centres and sanction employers who hire people with no right to work in the UK, the Home Office said.

“We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced,” interior minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement.

Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in the July 4 election, in which Labour won a thumping majority.

Within days of taking power, Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped a controversial scheme to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, which had been a flagship policy of the last Conservative government.

Starmer has instead pledged to dismantle the people-smuggling gangs who organise the crossings and are paid thousands of euros by each migrant.

The Home Office is recruiting a so-called Border Security Commander who will work with European countries against the people-smuggling gangs.

Starmer has also pledged with French President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen “cooperation” in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers. 

More than 200 people crossed the Channel in three boats on Monday, taking the provisional total for the year so far to 19,294, according to Home Office figures.

This is a 10 percent increase on the number recorded last year, which was 17,620, but down on the 21,344 crossings recorded in the same period of 2022.

The Home Office said the NCA is pursuing about 70 investigations against criminal networks involved in people trafficking.

It said the government would issue financial penalty notices, business closure orders and bring possible prosecutions against anyone employing illegal workers.

The department also said it was adding 290 beds to two removal centres and redeploying staff to try to remove failed asylum seekers at the highest rate since 2018. The ministry did not give figures on the numbers involved.

[Vanguard]

A Chinese investment group is moving to sell two residential properties seized from Nigeria on global marketplace eBay in an effort to recover up to $70 million in arbitration awards.

Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd took possession of the two properties in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in June 2024, after Nigeria failed to settle a 2021 arbitration ruling.

The properties, located at 15 Aigburth Hall Road and Beech Lodge, 49 Calderstones Road, were targeted following a December 2021 British court order that permitted Zhongshang to seize Nigerian assets in the UK to recoup the $70 million debt, which remains unpaid as of August 2024, with interest accumulating at two per cent per month.

Court records indicate that Zhongshang was awarded $55.7 million, plus $9.4 million in interest, and £2.86 million in legal costs, as part of a dispute stemming from a 2001 trade agreement between Nigeria and China. The conflict arose when Ogun State revoked Zhongshang’s rights to a free trade zone in 2016, a move the company argued violated the treaty.

In 2018, Zhongshang initiated arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in the UK, accusing Nigerian federal agencies, including the police and immigration authorities, of acting on behalf of Ogun State without due process. The firm also alleged that two of its executives were expelled from Nigeria in 2016, with one reportedly detained and tortured by local police.

This latest development adds to Nigeria’s legal challenges abroad, coming only months after the country narrowly avoided a disastrous $11 billion arbitration ruling in favor of Process & Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID). That ruling was overturned after evidence of bribery and corruption surfaced. However, the Zhongshang case presents a tougher challenge, with courts across Europe, including the UK, Belgium, and France, granting enforcement orders that allow the seizure of Nigerian assets. Efforts to protect Nigeria through sovereign immunity have so far failed, even in the United States.

A consultant working with Zhongshang revealed that the firm is preparing to list the seized Liverpool properties for sale on platforms like eBay, with an estimated value of $2.2 million.

“They’ve decided to sell them through online channels like eBay, as that might attract buyers more quickly,” the consultant told Peoples Gazette.

Although the properties are owned by Nigeria, they were not classified as diplomatic or consular assets, making them vulnerable to seizure.

It’s unclear when the Nigerian government acquired the properties, but court filings indicate that they had been rented out to private tenants unconnected to Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in the UK.

In a June 2024 ruling, Master Lisa Sullivan of the UK High Court, King’s Bench Division, ruled in favor of Zhongshang’s claim, stating, “The properties are currently leased to residential tenants with no ties to Nigeria’s mission, making them eligible for seizure under commercial purposes outlined in section 13(4) of the State Immunity Act.”

Zhongshang has assured that the sales process will be transparent, with the proceeds being made public in light of strong Nigerian interest in the case. “Zhongshang is committed to keeping the Nigerian people informed about the recovery process,” the consultant added.

[NaijaNews]