Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, says Nigerians have to make sacrifices for the country to achieve the needed growth. 

Bagudu spoke on Monday when he appeared before the house of representatives committee on appropriations to defend President Bola Tinubu’s request to increase the 2024 budget by N6.2 trillion.

The minister said countries that have achieved significant growth have made sacrifices over the years.

Bagudu asked Nigerians not to compare the country with nations that have attained notable development if they are not willing to make similar sacrifices.

“We have to recognise that countries that achieved development took choices that maybe we should have taken. That is my point,” the minister said.

“We have a leader (Tinubu) who is not even saying, Let us blame this or blame that. We are not where we want to be.

“How do we mobilise all together? Our children need to appreciate this fact. It is not a pleasant conversation when any father calls the children and says, Look, I am not as rich as you think I am. Let’s face it.

“But that conversation will build a better family than a situation where children feel self-entitled—they just blame the father, not knowing that even though he is the authority figure, he has his own limitations. So, even in a country, it is no different.

“The simple truth is that we have to make sacrifices in order for our country to achieve the growth that it requires.

“Those countries whom we are teaching our children that they have achieved this and that; we should stop comparing ourselves to where they (the countries) are today. But what choices did they make in the past to bring them to where they are?”

Providing a breakdown of the N6.3 trillion, Bagudu said the N3.2 trillion proposed for infrastructure projects will cover several road and rail projects.

The minister said the funds will form counterpart funding for rail projects that have been stalled over the years, including the one linking Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, traversing the Rivers  Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and terminating in Borno state.

He said N522 billion will also be utilised for agricultural projects such as water, irrigation, and dams.

Bagudu said the proposed N3.2 trillion “renewed hope infrastructural fund” is “intended to provide equity contributions or counterpart contributions of the federal government projects designated as priority projects as well as critical projects that needed more appropriation so that they would not suffer neglect”.

The minister added that the N3 trillion is intended to meet recurrent expenditures, including the new national minimum wage approved by Tinubu.

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, has alleged some personnel of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.

Dangote spoke at the house of representatives on Monday.

An oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil (a used motor oil that has been treated to remove dirt, fuel, and water) with additives to create finished lubricant products.

The billionaire said the areas of the blending plants are known.

“Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta,” the chairman said.

“We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”

Addressing the drop in diesel prices, the billionaire said the diesel produced locally at 650 parts per million (ppm) and 700 ppm is of better quality than imported fuel.

Dangote said many vehicle issues can be traced back to the “substandard” imported fuel.

He urged the leadership of the house of representatives to set up an independent committee to verify the quality of petrol available at filling stations.

“I want you to set up a committee that will come with every representative headed by your chosen honourable member to come and lead in taking samples from filling stations because I must tell you today that all the test certificates that people are busy floating around, where are the labs? Even if they have the labs, I can tell you they are fake certificates,” he said.

“The real one that you now know that they are right is to take from the filling station and also come and take from our production line. Now, you will be able to tell Nigerians that this is it.”

On Monday, the house of representatives joint committee on petroleum resources (downstream and midstream) launched a probe into claims that local refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, produce inferior products.

The committee is also investigating the allegations that the international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria are frustrating the survival of the Dangote refinery.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Dangote refinery have been embroiled in a dispute that began recently.

On July 18, Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA had said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.

The oil regulator also accused Dangote of monopoly, claims which have been denied by the billionaire.

On Monday, Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state petroleum resources (oil), intervened in the ‘ongoing issues’ after having a meeting with Aliko Dangote, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote Group and Farouk Ahmed, CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mele Kyari, group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited were also at the meeting.

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says the forthcoming governorship election in the state must be free and fair to avoid a crisis in the country. 

In a statement issued on Monday, Chris Nehikhare, Edo commissioner for communication and orientation, said Obaseki spoke on Sunday at a political meeting in the state.

The governorship election in Edo state is slated for September 21.

Nehikhare said the governor’s comment has been misinterpreted by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that Obaseki is calling for violence.

“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to the negative spin that the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is fruitlessly attempting to put to the comments made by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, at a stakeholders meeting on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Benin City, the Edo State capital,” the statement reads.

“For the records, we want to restate the comments of the governor on that occasion, which are that ‘If a free and fair election is not allowed to hold sway in Edo State on September 21, 2024, it will trigger a major crisis in Nigeria’.

“Recall that on Thursday, July 18, 2024, ahead of the rally to inaugurate the APC National Campaign Council in Benin City, which was held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, the party assembled a large number of people believed to be thugs, most of them bearing firearms, around the precincts of the Benin Airport on Airport Road, Benin City, to cause mayhem in the state, resulting in the unfortunate death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh, attached to MOPOL 45 Abuja, and the wanton destruction of properties and injuries to several citizens who were going about their lawful businesses.

“The mob then moved around the city, attacking other institutions, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Secretariat, inflicting violence and terror on the lawyers in their secretariat, with one of the lawyers, Mr. Israel Idahosa, being severely injured and his property destroyed.

“They also intimidated and harassed private citizens who were putting on any material that had the insignia of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, within the Benin metropolis.

“As they say, the morning shows the day, and the APC has clearly shown their plan for the September 21 governorship election in the state, which is to cause mayhem, make the state ungovernable, and take advantage of the chaos to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election.

“We, however, want to advise the APC to, for once, read the mood of the nation and understand that with the current hardship, unattainable cost of living, and pervasive hunger in the country, a slightly irresponsible behavior by the political class can ignite a crisis that will have a domino effect and cause a conflagration across the nation.

“This note of caution is even more appropriate with the ominous threat of a nationwide protest with the potential to degenerate into a widespread breakdown of law and order.

“While we urge all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses without fear, we call on the Nigerian Police to do its job and apprehend the hoodlums, most of whom have been positively identified and captured in videos, carrying firearms at the location of the crisis.”

The commissioner said the state government, through “robust security video surveillance, is ready to supply these videos taken in real-time to help the police in their investigation”.

Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state petroleum resources (oil), has held a meeting with Aliko Dangote, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote Group and Farouk Ahmed, CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to ‘resolve ongoing issues’.

Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mele Kyari, group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited were also at the meeting.

The meeting was held on Monday according to a statement by Nneamaka Okafor, special adviser on media and communication to the minister.

Okafor said stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the minister for his prompt intervention in facilitating the important dialogue.

“The meeting focused on finding a sustainable and lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote Refinery, with all parties demonstrating a commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving,” she said.

According to the statement, the meeting marks a significant step towards resolving the challenges and underscores the minister’s dedication to fostering a conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

In a separate statement, Lokpobiri emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which he said is essential for the country’s economic growth and energy security.

On June 4, Dangote said some international oil companies (IOCs) are struggling to supply crude to his refinery.

However, on July 15, Komolafe described the claim as “erroneous”, adding that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provisions that guide willing buyer-willing seller transactions.

A few days later, the management of Dangote Industries Limited, the parent company of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, said the IOCs were frustrating its request to purchase crude feedstock for the refinery.

On July 18, the CEO of NMDPRA said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to imported ones.

As the feud lingered, Dangote, on July 22, said he was willing to sell his oil refinery to NNPC.

Kamala Harris, the United States vice president, has raised more than $81 million, a day after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race. 

The amount is believed to be the largest 24-hour fundraising in the history of the US presidential campaign.

Former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican Party candidate, raised more than $50 million in 24 hours after his felony conviction in the New York hush money trial.

Biden gathered $38 million in four days after his “unimpressive” debate performance against Trump.

Harris’ new total features donations from hundreds of thousands of first-time donors, the campaign said.

The donations breathe hope into a deflated Democratic Party facing a shaky road to re-election after weeks of trying to get Biden to give up the ticket.

The 81-year-old had insisted he would remain in the race despite growing concerns about his capacity to run the race.

However, the president took Americans by surprise on Sunday when he announced his withdrawal in the interest of the party and the country.

Biden threw his weight behind Harris and urged citizens to put their confidence in her.

The vice-president promised to win and earn nominations from her fellow Democrats.

Although Harris has not been announced as the party’s official candidate, polls have shown she is most favoured to get the Democrat’s ticket.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has advised the federal government not to acquire Dangote’s refinery.

Olisa Agbakoba said this in reaction to a report that the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, plans to sell off its $20 billion refinery.

On Monday, in a statement, Agbakoba said the federal government should focus on reviving the government-owned refineries.

Agbakoba said Professor Itsey Sagay‘s argument that the federal government can take over Dangote’s refinery was not the best option.

The former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) said, “The proposal for the Federal Government to acquire Dangote’s refinery raises significant considerations. It is disturbing that the government would seek to take over a privately constructed facility after years of neglecting its own refineries.

“While Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) contends that such action is permissible under the Constitution and suggests fair compensation for the owner, I believe that we can find a constructive solution to the issue surrounding the Dangote Refinery.”

He said if the federal government revives the government-owned refineries, it will contribute to creating a more robust infrastructure that will serve the needs of Nigerians.

“Instead of considering the takeover of Aliko Dangote’s refinery, the government should prioritize the long-overdue repairs and upgrades of its own refineries. By doing so, the government can contribute to creating a more robust and self-sufficient infrastructure that serves the needs of the Nigerian people,” he said.

He advised the federal government to take alternative step if Aliko Dangote has held the government ransom through his refinery. He said the only way of rendering Dangote irrelevant would be to fix government refineries.

“But why take over what a private individual built? Why can’t the Federal government fix its refineries all these years? Why allow an efficient business man hold you to ransom when there is a very simple alternative.

“The simple alternative for us all is this – let Nigeria work. Let there be light. Let there be food. Let there be water. Let there be jobs. Let there be money, schools, health care, roads etc. This is how to render Dangote irrelevant and not as suggested by taking over another man’s sweat even if the sweat is to cheat us. Let the Federal government do its own refineries and bluff Dangote,” Agbakoba added on his X handle.

Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn, two men from Norway, have broken the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon.

In a recent blog post, GWR said Blikra Vea and Bryn “earned a place in history” after playing chess for 61 hours, 03 minutes, and 34 seconds.

The British reference book added that the feat was achieved in Stavanger, Norway, on June 4, 2024.

“In a stunning display of endurance and mental fortitude, and after playing a total of 383 five-minute blitz games, the record was officially confirmed at 10 p.m. local time in Stavanger, Norway,” it said.

The GWR, however, remained silent on Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, who completed a 60-hour chess marathon in New York without losing a single game.

On April 17, Onakoya embarked on his record-breaking attempt and even played chess with Shawn Martinez, also a chess master. During the attempt, he launched a fundraiser to empower illiterate children across Africa through the feat.

On April 20, the Nigerian surpassed the 56-hour mark; the previous record set by two other Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad on November 11, 2018.

GWR is typically expected to vet an attempt before confirming that a new record has been set on any task.

While Blikra Vea and Bryn’s record of 61 hours may be ahead of Onakoya’s 60 hours, the British reference book appeared to have taken no notice of the Nigerian’s attempt.

How long does it take?

The length of time for the application process and then the evidence review for the attempt itself depends on the type of application selected.

The GWR reviews documentation in 12 weeks and tells applicants whether their attempt has been accepted or rejected — that is for standard record attempts. When there are many applications, the waiting time may be longer, at least 16 weeks.

It however remains unclear why the Norwegians, whose attempt was concluded on June 4, were responded to while the GWR has yet to reveal if they accepted or rejected that of Onakoya (April 20).

Senator Ali Ndume wants President Tinubu to address the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship using dialogue.

Ndume gave the advice on Monday ahead of the planned protest billed for August 1 across the country.

According to the lawmaker, talking with the organisers who are mostly youths would help in dousing the tension and avert the planned demonstrations.

“I think the President should talk to Nigerians, talk to the youths,” the lawmaker who represents Borno South said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. 

‘A Listening Ear’ 

His comment aligns with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s charge for President Tinubu to dialogue with the leaders of the planned demonstration.

In a statement on Monday, the labour union said Tinubu should invite the leaders of the planned protest and listen to their grievances.

“As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leadership of the protest movement for discussions on their grievances,” the NLC president Joe Ajaero said.

According to the NLC leader, with inflation reaching a new high of 34.19  per cent coupled with the hike in food and electricity tariffs among others, there is a need for Tinubu to address Nigerians.

“It is, therefore, condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent. Even if it is so, it is still within the confines of citizens’ rights to protest on political grounds. Just that the current unease in the country does not need political motivation to spark and splurge,” Ajaero said.

“All that the hurting citizens demand from their government is a listening ear and an empathetic heart. Maybe, that is what the organisers of the protest are looking for given their continued notices on different social media platforms.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has raised alarm over the persistent economic sabotage that has undermined investor confidence in the petroleum sector, declaring that the Senate must identify and hold those accountable for the criminal acts.

Akpabio made the declaration on Monday during the inauguration of the Senate ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged sabotage in the sector.

At the inauguration, the Senate President stated that it is not merely an investigation but a rescue mission for the nation’s future. He said that it is a matter of national security and sovereignty and, if left unchecked, could cripple the economy for generations to come.

Senator Akpabio therefore charged members of the committee to collaborate with relevant agencies, industry experts, and stakeholders to uncover the root causes of the economic saboteurs, leaving no stone unturned.