Nigerian gospel singer, Tope Alabi, has expressed displeasure over the rivalry among her colleagues in the music industry.

Naija News reports that the ‘Angeli Mi’ cooner while speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on Sunday, at the ‘Celebrating Jesus 7.0’ concert, lamented over what she described as fake love among gospel singers.

Tope Alabi expressed frustration over the jealousy and bitter rivalries among both the A-list and upcoming singers in the gospel music industry.

While emphasizing the need for support and unity between the already established and emerging artists, Alabi reminded her colleagues to prioritize their legacy and accountability before God over fame and success.

She said, “God will hold us accountable for these things. Let us stop it. It is high time we know that we are working for the kingdom and not for ourselves or fame. The bigger ones separated themselves from the up and coming. And yet the bigger ones still fight themselves again, what do you want those coming up to do?

“The emerging ones are already against each other. These children coming up are already backstabbing and emulating us because we started it. They are enemies to each other and smile with one another, they are faking it. This is getting out of hand and God will ask us.”

The Nigeria Police, on Monday, arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court, Police Inspector Joseph Ozonwanji, formerly of the Anti-Cultism Police Squad, Enugu, for the murder of an Igbo ogene musician, Okezie Mba, popularly known as Igbo-Jah, at the weekend.

His arraignment followed his orderly room trial and approval of his dismissal and arraignment by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13, AIG Godwin Aghaulor.

The police prosecution was led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Enugu State Police Command, SP Justice Attah and Emmanuel Ajogwu.

The charge marked CME/614/2024, reads, “That you Ozonwanji Joseph ‘m’ on 25th day of October 2024 at about 2010hrs at anti-Cultism Police Squad, Goshen Estate Enugu in the Enugu North Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Okezie Chikezie Nwamba ‘m’ by firing him with an AK47 Riffle, which caused his death and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2024.”

Thereafter, the Chief Administrative Magistrate, Enugu East Magistrate Court 1, Ngozi Edeani ordered for the case file to be transferred to the Attorney-General of the State, and for the suspect to be remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre.

Briefing newsmen after the arraignment, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said the accused’s arraignment for murder was in keeping with the promise and determination of the Enugu State Government and the police to ensure that justice was done in the matter.

“It is important to inform our people that the Chief Magistrate has listened to the charge brought against the dismissed police officer and has asked that the case file be transmitted to the Attorney General of Enugu State to proceed from there and advise accordingly for the next line of action.

“This is one trial we want to see happen. We are talking about a human life. Police men generally have that responsibility to protect lives, but if, for whatsoever reason, any police officer misuses his firearm, the liability is on the person. That’s is exactly what has happened today. You could see the Enugu State Government and the police command in the state have done everything possible to ensure that justice prevails in this case,’ Ndukwe stated.

Speaking on the matter, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said his office would expect the file and act expeditiously.

“This is a matter His Excellency is very much determined to see to the very end to ensure that justice is done to everyone involved. I also have his instruction to personally prosecute this matter as the Attorney General. This underscores the import he places on it. And I will do exactly that. We will prosecute diligently and expeditiously,” he assured.

Meanwhile, Governor Peter Mbah has announced the award of scholarship up to university level to the three children of the deceased musician, while also taking charge of the health of his sick wife.

This was announced by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, during a visit to the home of the deceased by herself, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, and the Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Hon. Ibenaku Onoh, on Monday.

“The Governor, in his magnanimity has awarded scholarships to the children to university level. Secondly, the state is going to take care of the welfare of Mrs Igbo-Jah going forward.

This is a calamity to everybody, who loves Enugu State and who is an indigene of Enugu State. The Enugu state government is on top of the matter and they are going to make sure that justice prevails in this matter.

“With me here are the children of the late Igbo-Jah, and the governor has promised them that he is not only going to take care of them from now till university, but also promised to take care of their welfare,” she stated.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a lawmaker for assaulting a driver in the nation’s capital.

Police spokesperson for the Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed that Alex Mascot Ikwechegh “is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning”.

In a statement on Monday, the Command said the Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya reported the matter to the Command.

In a now-viral video, the House of Representatives member was seen slapping the Bolt driver.

Ikwechegh represents Aba North & South Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

A furious Ikwechegh was captured in the video in casual wear as he lounged in his compound somewhere in the FCT on Sunday evening.

Going by the conversation recorded in the viral video, the lawmaker had ordered some snails from a vendor who engaged the services of the e-hailing App driver to deliver the goods.

A heated disagreement ensued when the Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, arrived at the lawmaker’s residence and asked to be paid.

A furious Ikwechegh was heard speaking with the vendor on the phone. “How can this stupid idiot come to me and tell me that I am supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up a snail I am buying from you? I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen.” the lawmaker blurted to the speaker on the other side.

After the phone conversation with the snail vendor, Ikwechegh faced Abuwatseya and said, “You will not get a penny from me with this level of disrespect. You will suffer, I will deal with you.”

The APGA lawmaker fulfilled his threat and thudded two slaps on the cheeks of the driver who maintained his composure in the face of the assault.

To capture that he had been slapped, the Bolt driver asked, “Are you slapping me, sir?”

“I just did, slap me back. How dare you?” the lawmaker angrily retorted.

“Do you slap me thrice sir?”

“Twice, you will soon receive the third one.”

When alerted that the episode was recorded, the lawmaker told the driver: “My name is Honourable Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, I am a member of the House of Reps, tell them. Call the Inspector General of Police, let him come.”

Global rights group Amnesty International has expressed concern over the escalation of mob violence which, it said, emboldens impunity in Nigeria.

In a new report, the rights group said at least 555 victims of mob violence were recorded in Nigeria in the last decade

Amnesty International said the upsurge in blasphemy killings was fueled by alleged incitement of clerics.

“The failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives has led to a growing escalation of mob violence over the last decade, as people increasingly take law into their hands and carry out so-called ‘jungle justice’,” said Amnesty International Nigeria in the new report.

The group said enforcement failures exacerbated the wave of mob violence in Nigeria as victims accused of theft, blasphemy, shoplifting and witchcraft are beaten, tortured and killed with impunity and suspected perpetrators almost always get away with it.

“Between January 2012 to August 2023, Amnesty International recorded at least 555 victims of mob violence, from 363 documented incidents across Nigeria.

“Over the period of this investigation at least 57 people were killed by violent mobs; 32 were burnt alive, 2 persons were buried alive, while 23 people were tortured to death. Many cases of mob killings in remote areas go unreported.

“The menace of mob violence is perhaps one of the biggest threats to the right to life in Nigeria. The fact that these killings have been happening for a long time, with few cases investigated and prosecuted, highlights the authorities’ shocking failure to uphold and fulfil their obligation to protect people from harm and violence,” said Director Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.

“The failure of law enforcement agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to prevent mob violence, investigate allegations of torture and killings, and bring suspected perpetrators to justice, is empowering mobs to kill. The problem is compounded by weak and corrupt legal institutions and systems.”

Amnesty International’s research detailed cases of victims of mob violence that include at least 13 women, six children, and two persons with actual or perceived mental health illnesses and/or psycho-social or intellectual disabilities.

Cases of mob violence were documented in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: South-South (82), South-East (43), South-West (98), North-Central (42), North-West (100), and North-East (26).

“The Nigerian authorities must urgently address the escalating cases of mob violence including by upholding and protecting the rights of everyone in the country to life and freedom from torture.

“Government must ensure prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, transparent and effective investigation of cases of mob violence and bring those suspected to be responsible to justice in fair trials. Authorities should also take appropriate and effective measures to prevent cases of mob violence across the country and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims. The police must be adequately equipped to prevent and respond to mob violence.” said Sanusi.

The northern region is marking its eighth consecutive day without electricity.

The outage was triggered last Monday after the tripping off of the 330kV circuit transmission line between Benue and Enugu.

The transmission line between Shiroro and Kaduna was also affected, affecting Kano, Gombe, Kebbi, Jos, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Kwara, Nasarawa and Yobe.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has acknowledged the ongoing outage, assuring residents that they are taking “every possible measure” to restore power to the Northern region.

According to the company, the 330kV DC Ugwaji-Apir double circuit tripped due to a fault.

The latest fault in the 330kV DC transmission line occurred just days after Nigeria experienced three national grid collapses within a single week.

TCN Working To Restore Power In Northern Nigeria – Spokesman

The TCN on Sunday said it is doing everything possible to restore power in Northern Nigeria.

The company attributed delays in restoration to infrastructure challenges worsened by vandalism and insecurity.

TCN in a statement by its spokesman, Ndidi Mbah, said it is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to repair the vandalised Shiroro-Kaduna line that led to a reduction of bulk electricity to Kaduna, Kano and other major cities in the north.

Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, said the company is confident that the bulk power supply will be restored as quickly as possible.

“TCN would like to state categorically that it is working diligently to restore bulk power supply as quickly as possible despite prevailing security challenges,” the statement read.

“The Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which supplies power to Northern Nigeria, was vandalized by insurgents & in response, TCN has partnered with the National Security Adviser’s office to secure the area, enabling her engineers to work safely on the restoration.”

According to the statement, TCN Executive Director (Independent System Operator), Engr. (Mrs) Nafisatu Ali noted that deploying engineers without security support is not feasible, given the risks in the region.

She dispelled any suggestion that restoration would be indefinite, stressing that TCN’s focus remains on ensuring an even supply of electricity nationwide and that security arrangements were underway.

“The current outage affecting Northern states for several days now is a result of vandalism of the Shiroro-Mando transmission line, a critical infrastructure that supplies electricity to the region. Prevailing insecurity in the area has delayed the immediate repair necessary to restore supply.

“However, as a temporary measure, TCN had rerouted bulk power supply through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line, which recently snapped. TCN has been collaborating closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to work with our engineers to access the vandalism site to enable them to effect necessary repairs. This is vital to ensure the safety of lives during the repairs,” the statement concluded.

The Tinubu-led presidency has lambasted former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after he said that the president came into office without a plan.

They accused Obasanjo of chickening out in the face of opposition when he should have activated some economic policies needed to save Nigeria during his tenure.

The presidency also submitted that some of the bold reforms Obasanjo lacked the courage to implement are what President Bola Tinubu has set in motion for the good of the country.

The presidency also chided Obasanjo, asking him to stop seeing himself as the only saviour of Nigeria.

The statement by Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, comes as a direct response to an interview by Obasanjo in which the former Nigerian leader, in an interview with News Central Television, made a veiled reference in which he accused Tinubu of coming to power without any plan.

However, Ajayi, in his statement, defended the policies of the Tinubu government, saying Tinubu is displaying the courage to do what Obasanjo failed to do twenty years ago.

“A video of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview with News Central Television has been trending on social media platforms for the past week. In the interview, the former President, in a veiled reference to the current administration, said Nigeria has a President who came into office without a plan. Yet, the same ‘planless’ president is implementing a bold economic reform programme that Obasanjo initiated and abandoned mid-way.

“This intervention is essentially about a tale of two leaders and how they both handled fuel subsidy removal, a very touchy issue every president of Nigeria has avoided since 1973 because of its disruptive nature and potential to precipitate a pushback that may lead to civil unrest. This serious matter in itself can make a difference between a bold and courageous leader from one that is pretentious and hesitant.

“It is a fact of history that one of the things former President Obasanjo set out to do, among other reforms his administration embarked upon, was complete deregulation of the downstream oil industry. But hard as he tried, he failed to actualise it. Obasanjo faced so much opposition from organised labour and civil society groups that he abandoned a good policy that would have led to massive economic gains for the country. All he could muster the courage to do was to raise the pump price four times during his two-term tenure.

“Twenty years after Obasanjo failed to implement complete downstream deregulation, President Bola Tinubu had the courage of his conviction to implement the policy, redirect the economy, and ensure efficiency in the management of public finance.

“Despite his foibles and messianic complex, former President Obasanjo is no doubt a remarkable leader. His administration opened the economy and implemented essential reforms that his immediate successor should have continued with. What most critics find offensive about the former president is how he sees himself as the only saviour God created for Nigeria. As far as he is concerned, no other leader before and after him has been good enough. For context and clarity, it is essential to recall the former president’s position on deregulating the downstream oil sector when he was in charge.

“In a national broadcast on October 8, 2003, President Obasanjo expressed his frustration and anger at the Nigeria Labour Congress for its opposition to the deregulation of the downstream sector to the point of accusing labour leaders of sedition thus:

“As you are aware, my government has embarked on fundamental reforms designed to depart from the waste and unproductive exercises of the past and leave lasting legacies for the prosperity and improved welfare and well-being of all Nigerians. Since 1999, we have gradually but steadily embarked on the programme of liberalisation and deregulation of the Nigerian economy to promote efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. Most Nigerians and certainly all organised key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, have endorsed the deregulation programme of government.

“It is a fitting symbol of our administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and in an effort to cushion the effects of deregulation that the government provided 80 buses to the NLC in 2002. The transliner buses were delivered to the Congress for management without government interference. It is noteworthy that every step taken to deregulate the downstream oil sector has been dogged by, sometimes, irresponsible opposition by the Labour Congress. The result has been that we took too little steps to achieve no meaningful and satisfactory progress. We have tolerated all of these in the interest of promoting popular dialogue and informed dissent.

“Let me inform Nigerians that when government first came up with the deregulation programme, it was endorsed by the NLC and other stakeholders. In fact, the NLC had requested that we call it a “liberalisation” programme. It was thus more a matter of label than of substance. If we had been successful in implementing the deregulation or liberalisation of the downstream oil sector as earlier agreed by all stakeholders, including labour, we would not have been worrying about the periodic and unsatisfactory price-fixing which has led no where except to frustration. The failure to fully deregulate or liberalise has also cost Nigerians billions of naira which are currently wasted on millions of man-hours in queues at the petrol stations.

“The tens of billions of naira currently being lost in money that could have been used to increase capital spending in the universities, fund agriculture, repair and rehabilitate our roads, invest in education and health, improve security with extra police for security of lives and property.

“Realising that the investment of well over $400 million (excluding pipelines and depots) in the last six years mostly on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) and repairs had not improved the performance of the refineries significantly, government had decided that it was unwise to put additional money into the repair of the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries before privatising them.

“What most Nigerians must know is that the contracts for the Turn Around Maintenance for the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries were awarded with 50% of the cost paid upfront before the advent of this administration in 1999. Allow me to add that two of the three refinery locations in the country today, were built by my administration as military head of state. This means that if for no other reason, I should be interested in keeping them working. Already, 18 private firms have been licensed to build refineries but they have been reluctant to go into the industry because of Government’s price control in the sector.

“If only 30% of these firms had been able to establish and operate private refineries, thousands of jobs would have been created and Nigeria would have been in a position to even export refined oil products. All these benefits and more have been denied to Nigerians by the stop-go approach to the deregulation or liberalisation programme, and only a few Nigerians are benefiting from the prevailing government-controlled system. In fact, the NLC’s approach has been counter-productive, and inflicted more pains on Nigerian workers. Each time there is a small increase of three naira or more, transporters have used the opportunity to jerk up transportation cost thereby making the ordinary worker poorer.

“A once-and-for-all total deregulation would have meant a once-and-for-all increase in transport cost and the pump price for petroleum products. Without a doubt, a once-and-for-all total deregulation would have resolved the problem of availability and thus bring down prices for those outside Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and their environs who have always paid much more than the official posted price. Pump prices arising from the present total deregulation would, in reality, amount to a reduction in prices of majority of Nigerians,” the statement read.

In further rejecting the call that the President came into office unprepared, the statement said Obasanjo saw a looming calamity but failed to address it, but now Tinubu has chosen to address the challenge head-on and focus on the bigger picture.

“Interestingly, excerpts from the 2003 national broadcast by President Obasanjo present a contrast between the former leader and President Tinubu. They also showcase two leadership visions. One leader saw the need to fight for the country’s long-term sustainability but chickened out because he lacked the courage to upset the status quo. Two decades later, another leader saw the damage the failure to make the right economic decision had caused the country. He decided to correct it to avert a looming calamity. While former President Obasanjo left the most challenging task of his presidency undone, President Tinubu tackled head-on what has become an existential threat to our collective well-being from his first day in office. He has remained focused on the bigger picture.

“President Tinubu recognises the burden of leadership and responsibility he bears on behalf of Nigerians. In discharging this burden, he knew from day one that he would have to make the right but unpopular decisions that would ultimately serve the best interest of the country and her people,” Ajayi argued.

He explained further that contrary to Obasanjo’s submission, President Tinubu came into office with the Renewed Hope Agenda and has been implementing it since May 2023.

“It is certainly not correct to say this president came to the office without a plan. President Tinubu came into the office with a clear plan titled “Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria.” It was a well-thought-out programme, with which he canvassed for votes across the country and was elected by our people.

“In the past 17 months, he has remained faithful to the document as he implements the distilled eight-point agenda.

“At the heart of President Tinubu’s economic revitalisation is gas development and expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure to enable Nigeria to compete with Russia in the European markets. In fairness to him, former President Obasanjo himself recently lamented he did not pay adequate attention to gas during his term of office.

“Expanding the pool of available talents and human capital through granting of loans to young Nigerians who are the future of the country to enable them acquire tertiary or vocational education is part of the plans that propelled Tinubu into office. Consumer credit initiative that will promote local production and further stimulate the economy is also high on Tinubu’s action plan. To the President’s credit, these two important policy initiatives among several others are being implemented through NELFUND and Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp).

“If there is one President of Nigeria that came prepared and well armed with a clear cut plan to reposition the country across sectors for better outcomes, that President, undoubtedly, is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement concluded.

The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s energy transition drive from petroleum products to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

At a recent event, the billionaire businessman said the company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.

“In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency. This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President,” Dangote said.

He noted that the company’s early adoption of CNG has made it the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria, emphasising that the initiative is a boost to President Tinubu’s quest towards enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.

“We are now using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the Federal Government, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are committed to a cleaner and greener future,” Dangote said.

Similarly, President Tinubu emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector. He stated that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.

“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” he stated.

On its part, the Dangote Cement said its over $280m investment not only solidifies its leadership in the CNG sector but also reflects its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy.

Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, said the investment is aimed at acquiring 100% CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.

Pathak stated, “By mid-2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel.”

Pathak said that the company’s CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels.

He added that the CNG station at Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, exemplifies this commitment, with a second station currently under development in Ibese to further support fleet operations.