The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the price of kerosene has sharply risen, further burdening Nigerian households already struggling with rising living costs.

According to the NBS’s latest Price Watch report, the cost of both kerosene per litre and per gallon has increased both month-on-month and year-on-year, with the North Central region reporting the highest average retail prices.

Notably, residents in Abuja, Kaduna, and Akwa Ibom are paying some of the highest prices for the fuel.

The report shows that the average retail price of Household Kerosene (HHK) in October 2024 reached ₦1,957.44 per litre, marking a 3.07% increase from ₦1,957.44 in September 2024.

Year-on-year, the price has surged by 54.81% from ₦1,303.16 in October 2023.

The average retail price per gallon of kerosene also saw an uptick, rising by 1.94% to ₦6,949.75 in October 2024, compared to ₦6,818.11 in September 2024. This represents a 51.68% increase from ₦4,581.89 in October 2023.

State-wise, the report highlights that Abuja recorded the highest average price per litre in October 2024, at ₦2,875.00, followed by Akwa Ibom at ₦2,518.89, and Kaduna at ₦2,500.79.

Conversely, Borno had the lowest price at ₦1,500.30, with Bayelsa and Adamawa following closely at ₦1,500.67 and ₦1,679.19, respectively.

Zonal price analyses reveal that the North Central region saw the highest average price per litre at ₦2,242.67, with the North-West following at ₦2,168.28. Meanwhile, the South-East recorded the lowest price at ₦1,772.94.

In terms of gallon pricing, Katsina had the highest average retail price at ₦8,900.50, followed by Jigawa at ₦8,500.00 and Kebbi at ₦8,300.

Conversely, Adamawa recorded the lowest price per gallon at ₦5,300.44, with Nassarawa and Niger at ₦5,325.41 and ₦5,381.88, respectively.

The report also points out that the North-West region saw the highest average retail price per gallon, at ₦8,070.54, while the North-Central region had the lowest at ₦6,176.20.

This rise in kerosene prices comes amid ongoing fluctuations in the price of petrol, which currently stands at ₦1,120 per litre.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared its support for northerners vying for the presidency and other key positions in the 2027 general elections, citing the need to rescue the region and the country from the adverse effects of current socio-economic policies.

During its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna State, the forum expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating economic situation in the North under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF criticized the Federal Government’s approach to leadership selection, accusing it of elevating individuals without the requisite competence or experience to positions of power.

The forum further emphasized its readiness to support Northern politicians committed to rescuing the region and the nation.

The statement reads, “Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government; such that people have started to ask what the purpose of government is!

“That those whose responsibility that it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable. The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.

“Members expressed displeasure at the current and continuing improvisation of the proverbial common men and women in the country due to the economic policies of the current administration.

“The Meeting noted in particular that Arewa people remain at great disadvantage, being already relatively worse off economically, compared to other parts of Nigeria. Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now.

“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring challenging economic conditions, the policies of current Federal Government has continued to make matters much worse, with little indications of needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people. Succinctly stated, economic reforms while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people that they are meant to serve; the people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits.”

A total of ₦1.411 trillion, representing the October 2024 Federation Accounts Revenue, has been shared between the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils (LGAs).

In a statement released by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on Wednesday, it was revealed that the funds were allocated during the November 2024 meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Bauchi State, chaired by the Accountant General, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein.

The meeting followed the 2024 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED), hosted by the Bauchi State Government.

The total distributable revenue of ₦1.411 trillion included ₦206.319 billion in distributable statutory revenue, ₦622.312 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), ₦17.111 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and ₦566.000 billion from Exchange Difference revenue.

According to a communiqué issued by FAAC, the gross revenue for October 2024 stood at ₦2.668 trillion, with deductions for collection costs amounting to ₦97.517 billion and transfers, interventions, and refunds totaling ₦1.159 trillion.

The communiqué also highlighted that the gross statutory revenue for October 2024 amounted to ₦1.336 trillion, which represents an increase of ₦293.009 billion from the ₦1.043 trillion recorded in September 2024.

For VAT, ₦668.291 billion was available in October 2024, marking an increase of ₦84.616 billion from the previous month’s ₦583.675 billion.

Of the ₦1.411 trillion distributable revenue, the Federal Government received ₦433.021 billion, while State Governments were allocated ₦490.696 billion.

Local Government Councils received ₦355.621 billion, and ₦132.404 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was distributed to benefiting states as derivation revenue.

From the ₦206.319 billion in statutory revenue, the Federal Government received ₦77.562 billion, the States got ₦39.341 billion, and the LGAs received ₦30.330 billion. Additionally, ₦59.086 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared among benefiting states.

The ₦622.312 billion VAT revenue was divided with the Federal Government receiving ₦93.347 billion, States getting ₦311.156 billion, and Local Government Councils receiving ₦217.809 billion.

From the ₦17.111 billion EMTL, the Federal Government received ₦2.567 billion, States received ₦8.555 billion, and LGAs were allocated ₦5.989 billion.

Regarding the ₦566.000 billion in Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received ₦259.545 billion, States received ₦131.644 billion, and Local Government Councils received ₦101.493 billion. Derivation revenue for benefiting states amounted to ₦73.318 billion (13% of mineral revenue).

In October 2024, key revenue sources such as Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, VAT, Import Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), and Companies Income Tax (CIT) saw significant increases, while EMTL and CET Levies experienced notable decreases.

A court in the British Virgin Islands has authorized Chinese investors, Zhongshan, to seize £20 million ($25 million) from Nigeria’s foreign-denominated assets due to a failed Ogun trade zone agreement dating back to the early 2000s, during the tenure of then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

On November 8, Justice Paul Webster of the British Virgin Islands High Court ruled that Nigeria could not claim immunity from the enforcement of an arbitral award in favor of Zhongshan.

The decision was based on the bilateral investment treaty between China and Nigeria, which included a clause stipulating that both nations must enforce arbitration awards.

According to Peoples Gazette, the judge interpreted this clause as Nigeria’s written consent to enforcement under the treaty, thus enabling Zhongshan to pursue judgment debt collection.

Justice Webster cited Section 13(3) of the State Immunity Act 1978, mandating the British Virgin Islands to permit Zhongshan to recover the debt from Nigeria’s assets in the UK.

This judgment is part of a growing list of legal setbacks Nigeria has faced internationally. Courts in France, Belgium, Canada, the United States, and other jurisdictions have also dismissed Nigeria’s sovereign immunity arguments, consistently ruling in favor of Zhongshan.

Zhongshan’s legal team, led by King’s Counsel Timothy Otty and Lauren Peaty of Withers British Virgin Islands, claimed the Ogun trade zone deal was unilaterally terminated by Amosun’s administration.

They alleged that their representatives were detained and tortured under the former governor’s orders, prompting them to seek justice in foreign courts.

In a bid to enforce a $70 million arbitral award, Zhongshan targeted Nigeria’s dollar-denominated crude earnings held in JP Morgan accounts in the United States.

While U.S. courts rejected Nigeria’s sovereign immunity claims, the matter is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, following Nigeria’s November 7 filing for a writ of certiorari. Until the Supreme Court makes a decision, Zhongshan’s access to these funds remains delayed.

Meanwhile, the Chinese investors have begun seizing Nigeria’s overseas assets, including two guest houses in Liverpool and aircraft in France and Canada, to recover the debt.

Mr. Amosun, who signed the controversial contract, has faced public criticism for his role in the debacle.

In August, he admitted to failing to verify Zhongshan’s claims before entering the agreement, describing their assertions as false.

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of the Governing Councils of all state-owned tertiary institutions, including Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

In the same vein, the governor has also approved the disengagement of the management staff of Edo Specialist Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City, with immediate effect.

Both approvals were conveyed in a government special announcement dated November 20, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua.

The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of the governing councils of all state-owned tertiary Institutions in Edo State with immediate effect.

“Accordingly, all affected members of the governing councils of all State-owned tertiary Institutions are to hand over all government properties in their possession to their respective heads of the institutions.

“It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that Governor Okpebholo has approved the disengagement of the management Staff of Edo Specialist Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City, with immediate effect.

“In view of the above, the management staff of the aforementioned hospitals are to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior officer in their various Institutions.”

he federal government has ordered the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, over “grave breaches of the laws governing the university.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the order in a statement to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja by Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Folasade Boriowo.

Mr Alausa said the dissolution was sequel to the council’s disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.

The minister noted, “The decision comes after it was found that the Chairman of the Governing Council unilaterally appointed a vice-chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community, causing tension and disharmony. Urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilising the institution.’’

The minister also announced the removal of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Bernard Odoh, illegally appointed by the dissolved council of the institution.

“In accordance with the university’s founding act, an acting vice chancellor will be appointed, and a new governing council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law. All these changes are with immediate effect. The step aligns with the federal government’s commitment to good governance, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in the nation’s educational institutions,” he said.

In a related development, Mr Alausa also announced the re-assignment of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the Governing Councils of the Federal Universities Oye-Ekiti and Lokoja to enhance national cohesion and improve the governance of the institutions.

He stated, “Following an approval by President Bola Tinubu, the swapping involves Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba being reassigned as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, while Kayode Ojo will assume the same role at the Federal University, Lokoja. This change comes after it was noted that the current Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Kayode Ojo, is an indigene of Ekiti State.

“As part of the ministry’s commitment to promoting national integration and ensuring impartial oversight, it is the standard practice for pro-chancellors to be appointed from outside the state of the university. This ensures unbiased governance and supports the core values of diversity and national unity.’’

Mr Alausa emphasised that the reassignment was a step towards strengthening the leadership structure of Nigeria’s federal universities, ensuring that they operate under fair and inclusive governance.

He said the changes were with immediate effect, adding that they would positively impact the effective administration and development of the universities, ultimately benefiting the Nigerian people. 

(NAN)

A recent study reports indicates that sitting for more than 10.6 hours a day raises the risk of heart disease, even among individuals who meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week.

In the study, published on Friday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers found that sitting for a long period is linked with “future adverse cardiovascular outcomes, with particularly prominent effects on heart failure and cardiovascular mortality”.

A team of researchers in the Mass General Brigham health care system analysed activity-tracker data from 89,530 UK Biobank participants, examining sedentary behaviour’s impact on atrial fibrillation, heart attacks, heart failure, and cardiovascular death.

Participants wore a triaxial accelerometer on their wrists for over seven days to track movement. After a median 8-year follow-up, analysis revealed that risks for atrial fibrillation and heart attack steadily increased over time.

About 5% of study participants developed atrial fibrillation, 2.1% developed heart failure, 2% had a heart attack, and a little less than 1% died from cardiovascular-related causes.

“Our findings really emphasize the importance of avoiding excess sitting… whether or not you’re physically active,” said Ezim Ajufo, the first study author and a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“We would really recommend that as many people as possible avoid sitting more than 10.6 hours a day. That’s not a hard and fast threshold, but we think it’s a reasonable first step for guidelines and public health intervention.”

However, Ajufo said the research has some limitations. “The study is also observational, which means that while it can make associations, it can’t prove that sitting was the cause of the heart disease,” said the first study author.

The researchers recommended standing or walking for a few minutes every 30 to 60 minutes or transitioning between tasks with short walks.

“Exercise is critical, but avoiding excessive sitting appears separately important,” said Patrick Ellinor, the co-senior author, cardiologist and co-director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Our hope is that this work can empower patients and providers by offering another way to leverage movement behaviors to improve cardiovascular health.”

Also speaking, Shaan Khurshid, another co-senior author and an electrophysiologist and faculty member in the Telemachus And Irene Demoulas Family Foundation Center for Cardiac Arrythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital, said: “our data supports the idea that it is always better to sit less and move more to reduce heart disease risk, and that avoiding excessive sitting is especially important for lowering risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death”.

Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioural medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, revealed that more research is needed to determine the specific risks and guidelines for what constitutes too much sitting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to Ondo State Governor-elect, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Adelami Olayide, marking the formal conclusion of the electoral process.

The certificates were handed over on Wednesday in Abuja by the Supervisory National Commissioner for Ondo State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, four days after INEC declared Aiyedatiwa the winner of the governorship election held last Saturday.

Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged victorious with 366,781 votes, decisively defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who garnered 117,845 votes.

The APC candidate secured victory in all 18 local government areas of the state, reinforcing the party’s dominance in Ondo.

However, the election results have been rejected by the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who alleged irregularities in the process. The opposition party has vowed to challenge the results in court, claiming its mandate was stolen.

Ajayi, a former Deputy Governor, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC of engaging in widespread electoral malpractice to manipulate the election outcome.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Ayo Fadaka, Ajayi alleged that his investigation into the election process uncovered “contents of criminality prosecuted by both APC and the INEC.”

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a lawsuit against former Senator Andy Uba, who represented Anambra South, and two other individuals, over allegations of fraud involving ₦400 million.

The charge, filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court in Abuja, includes two counts and names Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as the second and third defendants.

The charge was filed by Abdulrashid Sidi on October 10, 2024, in the Legal/Prosecution Section of the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

In the first count, Uba, Crystal, Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (currently at large) are accused of conspiring in 2022 to commit the fraud.

They allegedly misrepresented to George Uboh that they had a method to ensure the appointment of any individual who could afford ₦400 million as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The charge states: “A presentation which you know is not true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.”

The second count accuses the defendants and Fatima of further conspiring in 2022, with the intention to defraud and deceive George Uboh, by falsely presenting that they could secure the NDDC MD position for anyone willing to pay the ₦400 million.

They are accused of obtaining the funds and converting them for personal use, in violation of Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act.

“A presentation which you know is not true. You obtained the money and converted it into your own personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,” the count reads in part.

Uboh, in a petition dated April 5, 2023, addressed to the IGP, presented documentary and voice recordings as evidence, describing the proof as overwhelming and irrefutable.

Six witnesses are expected to testify against the defendants. The case was adjourned until February 18, 2025, following a request from M.L. Anthony, representing the IGP, who informed the court that the defendants had been evading service of court documents despite being granted administrative bail.

The delay in the arraignment was also attributed to a fundamental rights enforcement order obtained by the defendants, which had prevented their appearance in court until the order was lifted.

Justice Ekwo set the new date for the defendants to enter their plea.