The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, FEMD, has called on residents of the FCT living by riverbanks and waterways to relocate to higher grounds to avoid loss of lives and property in the advent of floods.

The acting Director-General of the department, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

This followed the confirmation by the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, on the countrys fast-rising water levels across rivers and lagoons.

Wenegieme said that NIWA particularly advised boat operators and passengers to take note of the rising tides and ensure strict adherence to safety regulations on the inland waterways and compulsory use of life jackets always.

She further warned of a likelihood of heavy rainfall that might lead to flooding through some states across the country from July 6 to July 10, 2024, and urged residents to take precaution.

The acting D-G said that the flood prediction by the National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Centre, Federal Ministry of Environment, shows that the states neighbouring the Federal Capital Territory were among the likely states to be affected. She said that the prediction specifically showed that Zaria, Jaji and Saminaka in Kaduna State; Ado in Nasarawa and Ibaji in Kogi State might experience heavy rainfall that could lead to flood within the period.

Following the flood prediction, Wenegieme said that FCT might experience river flooding from its surrounding states Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa.

She urged resident to heed to FEMD early warning and take proactive steps to avoid being caught up by the likely flood.

Wenegieme also advised motorists against driving through flooding water during rainfall.

She, therefore, urged residents to call the departments 112 emergency toll-free number in the advent of emergency.

A former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Takai Shamang, has been abducted in his hometown, Biniki, in Kaura local government area of Kaduna State.

Shamang, was also a former President General of the National Union of Electricity and Gas Workers, now National Union of Electricity Employees between 1982 and 1989.

His daughter, Mrs Grace Abbin, confirmed the incident to NAN on Sunday.

She said her 78-year-old father was abducted at his residence in Biniki, at about 8:00pm on Friday.

Shamang is the President and Founder of Gantys Aid for Widows, Orphans and Needy Foundation, popularly known as GAWON Foundation.

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has threatened to order the arrest of the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, if he fails to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, July 17. The committee is investigating a petition against the agency by Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative.

In the petition addressed to the Speaker of the House, the petitioners alleged that NIMASA failed to establish educational and skills acquisition projects in the coastal communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

They said NIMASA had made commitment in line with the recommendations at the Global Maritime Security Conference 2019 to introduce educational, entrepreneurship training, and skills acquisition programmes in the areas of fishing, clearing and forwarding, and legal bunkering, for people in the coastal communities.

They alleged that rather than living up to this commitment, the former Director General of the agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh decided to build a Maritime Skill Acquisition Centre and Twin Lecture Theatre in Kaduna State, where he hails from.

As part of its investigations, the committee summoned the current DG, Dr. Dayo Mobereola to appear in person, to explain why NIMASA failed to replicate the skills acquisition centers in the five states where it operates (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers). Chairman of the committee, Hon. Mike Etaba, said If the DG fail to appear, the Committee will direct the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and bring him before the committee.

He said the committee is exercising its investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), adding that governance is a continuum, and whatever Dr. Jamoh omitted to do for the coastal communities during his tenure can be done by Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who is now the Director-General of NIMASA

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has extended the registration deadline for all Point of Sale Operators (POS) by an extra sixty days to make room for those who couldnt register because of technical issues.

The reports had it that the commission had previously set a registration deadline of July 7, 2024. Nonetheless, in a message posted by the commissions management on its X handle yesterday, it announced that the registration deadline had been extended by two months. The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify Fintech Operators, also known as Point of Sales (POS) Operators, that the initial deadline of 7th July 2024 given for the registration of sole Agents, Super Agents and Agents has been extended for a period of sixty days beginning from 7th July 2024 to the 5th September 2024. This is to give sufficient time to Operators, particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to so register and continue with their businesses, the commissions statement reads.

The commission has confirmed that Operators who do not register by the extended deadline may face the consequences of losing their businesses and being prosecuted for assisting criminal activities.

Meanwhile, the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, disclosed on Wednesday, May 8, that the Nigerian government has instructed Point of Sale (POS) providers, to register with the commission.

He said criminals increasingly use POS machines to extort money from their victims.

According to Magaji, the registration is to enable the government to track kidnappers, criminals, and one-chance operators, causing pain for Nigerians at the moment.

The Registrar-General (RG) announced this during the official launch of the Fintech registration agents and merchants in Abuja.

He stated that the commission is currently training its staff to operate 24/7 to meet the high demand of the people.

Magaji said: This training is to equip the trainers to work round the clock, not just office hours, which means they can work from home since they have all the facilities they need. The registration for POS operators is still ongoing, it will close by the 7th of July 2024. No matter what business you operate in Nigeria today, you are under the law of Nigeria to ensure your business is registered with the CAC.

We assume that in that 60 days, all POS operators must have registered their businesses. This must be done in the interest of their interest; again if a business or an individual has been using a POS machine without registration, just know that from the day you acquired that POS, you are being charged N200, and every day counts, so the day you come for registration your payment for the machine will be backdated to the day you started using it. In most banks presently, there are POS machines which are not registered and not attracting any charges, even though they are in the bank, they should be registered and charges met like any other POS on the street. After the deadline of 60 days without registration, they will be termed as criminals.

Administrative work in universities and inter-university centres will be disrupted on July 18 as the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have decided to stage a one-day protest over their four months withheld salaries.

The Joint Action Committee of both unions have already directed their state chapters to meet on Monday (today) in preparation for a one-day protest tomorrow (Tuesday).

This decision, according to the unions, followed the alleged failure to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha over their four months of withheld salaries. In a joint statement by the General Secretary of NASU and National President of SSANU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said: The National body of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, 4th July 2024 to appraise and take a position on the current situation in respect of the withheld (4) four months salaries and other grievances of our members in University and Inter-University Centres.

Similarly, the National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC). Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of the JAC of the two unions.

It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa. The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment to the issues raised.

In view of this disappointment and failure of Government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of Industrial actions which include the following; all branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024 to sensitise members on the insensitivity of Government to our plights. A one-day protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and that the Press/ media is adequately mobilised.

A national protest which will hold in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence.

In a bid to further strengthen the economy, President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated his Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), drawn from different sectors of society and the economy.

After inaugurating the council, President Tinubu presented the outcomes of his review of the accelerated stabilization and advancement plan, which seeks to inject a total of N2 trillion into the economy in the next six months.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who led selected members of the council to brief journalists after the briefing, gave a breakdown of the areas to benefit from the emergency funding including Health, Agriculture, Energy/Power and other areas.

“The president has just inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council and that is a body that is made up of the President’s Economic Management Team, the Legislature, represented by the leaders of the National Assembly; the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as very importantly, the sub-nationals, represented by the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, and, of course, the elite of the private sector.

“They were presented with the outcomes of Mr. President’s review of the accelerated stabilization and advancement plan and that was an emergency plan to cover the next six months, which Mr. President had directed that a combination of his own Economic Management Team and the sub nationals, the governor’s level, and the private sector put together for his consideration.

“The song of that very important exercise is that a N2 trillion package involving N350 billion funding for Health and Social Welfare; N500 billion funding for Agriculture and Food Security; N500 billion for the Energy and Power sector and general business support of about N650 billion.

“In addition to a range of policy measures and tax measures, there is a range of executive orders which Mr. President has signed and which are being gazetted to ease the cost of doing business at this particular time”, he said.

President Tinubu announced the constitution of the Council, which he personally chairs, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, of March 27, 2024.

Other members of the PECC are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Vice-Chairman; President of the Nigerian Senate; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security; Aviation and Aerospace Development and Budget and Economic Planning.

Others include Ministers of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Industry, Trade and Investment; Labour and Employment; Marine and Blue Economy; Power; State, Petroleum Resources; State, Gas; Ministers of Transportation and Works.

The PECC, which also comprises 13 key members of the organized private sector, joining for a period not exceeding one year, subject to the President’s directive include Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Ms. Amina Maina, Mr Begun Ajayi-Kadir, Mrs Funke Okpeke and Dr. Doyin Salami.

Other PECC members from the private sector are Mr Patrick Okigbo, Mr. Kola Adesina, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Mr. Chidi Ajaere, Mr. Abdulkadir Aliu and Mr. Rasheed Sarumi.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have lambasted the National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima over his recent comments on the continuous incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Shettima had in an interview granted recently, ruled out a political solution to Kanu’s case, stating that the court and not the Nigerian Government should be allowed to decide the fate of the secessionist.

Shettima also faulted the Biafra agitation, which, according to him, had been taken over by criminal elements.

Reacting, MASSOB, in a statement issued on Thursday by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, described Shettima as a “parasite in the political, economic and social life of the Nigerian state”.

The group accused Shettima of being a “diehard enemy of the southern region’s interest in Nigeria”.

The statement reads, “Yerima Shettima’s assertion against Ndigbo and Biafra, in general, is an expression of frustration and irrelevance on the people of Arewa and Fulanis whose grip of political powers in Nigeria has been fractured by their religious brother who is implementing an agenda different from theirs.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can never be cowed by the Arewa mentality of promoting the Fulani expansion in Nigeria.

“We are Biafrans, we don’t believe in the Nigerian state. Still, we shall never allow our pathological haters to frustrate or kill our existence in Nigeria. The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is long overdue.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has dissociated itself from any planned protests or struggles against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement by its President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, NANS condemned attempts by those it called faceless groups to manipulate students for their purposes.

“We strongly condemn the attempt to use students by these shadowy groups to intimidate the EFCC and distract it from its vital mission of ridding the country of corruption,” Emonefe said.

“Nigerian students and NANS stand in full support of the EFCC and its mandate to combat economic and financial crimes.”

NANS expressed concern about reports of students being targeted and recruited to undermine the EFCC’s efforts, which are crucial for defending the country’s image, prestige, and economic well-being.

The body urged students to remain vigilant and not allow themselves to be used as pawns by corrupt elements seeking to derail the progress being made by the EFCC.

“We recognise the significant impact of the Commission’s work in restoring Nigeria’s integrity and ensuring a secure future for all citizens,” Emonefe said.

“We are ready to play our part in supporting the Commission and ensuring that Nigeria’s reputation is restored and preserved on the global stage.”

NANS called on parents, guardians, and educational institutions to be aware of these manipulative tactics and to guide their wards appropriately.

The group reaffirmed its unwavering support for the EFCC and its efforts to eradicate corruption and cybercrime.

“Together, we can build a Nigeria that we are proud of, a Nigeria where integrity and justice are the cornerstones of our society,” Emonefe said.

The Senate has scored the executive low in the implementation of the capital component of the 2024 budget, saying there is a need for the government to get Ministries, Department and Agencies of the Federal Government to implement the budget.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in funding the capital components of the three national budgets which are running concurrently in the country.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola, gave the task when the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, appeared before the panel over the budget performances.

Adeola lamented the poor funding of the capital components of the budgets and urged the Coordinating Minister for the Economy to improve on it.

Adeola said, “It is the capital component of the budgets that will showcase this government largely in terms of performances.

“The capital components tend to showcase various projects that will be executed by this government and people can say, oh, the government is doing this, it’s doing that. That is why we are emphasising the performance of the 2024 capital component of the project.”

Adeola added, “The N1.84bn achieved so far out of a N9tn capital expenditure component is nothing to write home about.

“I would want you to please look towards this direction. And I want you to do more engagement with the ministries and departments and agencies of the government.”

Adeola urged the minister to engage more with the MDAs because most of them were not aware of the current arrangement regarding funding of capital projects.

He said, “I tell you for free, some agencies will tell you that they have not been given any money for capital when we are fully aware that the process of payment of capital has changed.

“That shows a lot of engagement has to go on from time to time to bring it to their notice that you are no longer in charge of payment to contractors.

“I want you to please do a kind of continuous engagement. It will help so that everybody can come to terms that the system has changed.”

He added, “Everything about the method of payment, and method of business has changed. I would say that. Coming back to the NNPCL, we make it known that we have been assured of two million barrels.

“Long before now, we have been on 1.2 million barrels over this period. So that shows that we now have a capacity of two million barrels. Why is it now the NNPCL is assuring us of two million barrels?”

The Senate panel chairman also hinted at plans by the red chamber to organise a public hearing on the NNPC where stakeholders in the oil and gas sector would be invited including the Finance Minister.

He said, “We will soon bring everyone in that industry, the NNPC, the upstream and downstream to the table because there are a lot of reports that we have concerning that which the Senate in no distant future will invite everybody.

“The minister of finance too might be invited to let us know what is happening in our oil and gas sector.

“They have promised to deliver on our refineries for the last couple of months, billions of dollars have been expended and nothing to show for it.

“The local producers have not been encouraged, the local refineries have not been encouraged. No progress has been made in this direction. So all this and more is what we look into in the future.”

Adeola nevertheless commended the minister for achieving 100 per cent funding of the 2023 supplementary budgets.

The Senate, yesterday passed for third reading, the bill seeking the establishment of the North Central Development Commission.

The bill was sponsored by the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, and other senators from the North Central region.

The bill, which passed first and second readings on October 5, 2023, and February 21, 2024 respectively was first sponsored in the 9th Senate by Moro where it passed first and second readings but could not get presidential assent before the expiration of the 9th Senate.

The passage of the bill followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties submitted during plenary.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary congratulated Moro and all those who contributed to the success of the bill.

He expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu would assent to the bill for the overall development of North Central Nigeria, which comprises Kogi, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and Organised Private Sector, have faulted the latest hike in the electricity tariff payable by customers in the Band A Category.

Following the depreciation of the naira against the United States dollar, and inflation, among other factors, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission again raised the tariff payable by Band A customers.

Some distribution companies including Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, among others, announced an upward review of their tariffs for Band A from N206.80 per kilowatt-hour to N209.50/kWh.

Though the increase appears marginal, organised labour, private sector operators and consumers kicked against it.

They wondered why the power sector regulator would approve a tariff hike despite calls for the reversal of the previous tariff hike.

In a statement, the acting General Manager of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Francis Agoha, said the review was duly approved by NERC as captured in the multi-year tariff supplementary order.

Agoha said the adjustment was necessitated by several key economic indices, including fluctuations in the exchange rate, the current inflation rate, available generation capacity, and the cost of gas.

“These factors have significantly impacted operational costs, and the new tariff will mitigate these financial pressures while continuing to deliver high-quality electricity services,” Agoha disclosed.

He said the adjustment affects only our Band A customers, adding that “the tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remain unchanged.”

The IBEDC boss acknowledged that the rise in tariffs could be a concern for customers, however, he said the increase was necessary.

“We understand that any change in tariffs can be a concern for our customers, and we assure you that this adjustment is necessary to maintain and improve the quality of our services. Our goal is to ensure that you receive the best possible value for your money,” he stated.

The tariff hike is coming amid complaints from customers, including manufacturers as well as public and private institutions that their monthly electricity bills are becoming grossly unaffordable.

Also, Kaduna Disco, in a statement titled, ‘Upward Review of Tariff for Band A Feeders’, disclosed that the new tariff became effective on July 1.

In 2023 alone Nigerians spent a total of N16.5 trillion to buy diesel, petrol and generators to get electricity, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday.

It also announced that the formal power sector, including electricity generation, transmission, and distribution companies, made a total revenue of N1tn last year amid the over N16tn spent by power consumers in the informal sector.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who announced this at the ongoing 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas conference in Abuja, however, noted that electricity consumers on Band A category now get up to 24 hours supply of power.

He said, “If you know how much our people spend buying diesel, petrol, generators, and servicing them in a year; the last study we had in 2023, a total of N16.5tn was spent on this in self (power) generation. Even a number of the industries are off the grid. They now have their captive power between their environments with gas-powered generators.

“So spendings in this sector out of the grid is close to N20tn. And let me blow your mind, the revenue for the entire industry, the grid, I mean the formal power sector was just N1tn for 2023 that goes to the generation companies, transmission company and the distribution companies. Just N1tn formal revenue. But the informal spendings on generators, diesel, petrol, was close to N20tn.

“Even if it is just a quarter of that is put in the official power sector, we are talking about incremental revenue of N5tn that will bring the sector’s revenue to N6tn, sincerely we are going to have something close to uninterrupted 24/7 power supply in Nigeria,” Adelabu stated.

The minister said the government was currently working hard to earn the trust of power consumers, stressing that it would be better to spend on electricity provided by the national grid because it is cheaper than spending on diesel or petrol-powered generators.

“That is what we are working on to ensure that that trust is back, that confidence is back. And all the manufacturing companies that are doing self-generation can cut it off and reconnect to the national grid because it is the cheapest source.

“As at the last study, Band A customers are enjoying uninterrupted supply and pay N206. For the companies that have their captive power using gas, they pay about N290/kwh.

“For those that are using petrol generators, it is about N450 per kilowatt-hour. And for those using diesel to power their generators, it is upward of N900. So it is still the cheapest, most efficient and the least cost for our productive activities,” the minister stated.

Meanwhile, Adelabu told delegates at the conference that the power sector in Nigeria consumes the largest share of the country’s domestic gas supply.

“I am here to advocate for increased investment in Nigeria’s gas development to unlock the full potential of our power sector and achieve the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan. The domestic gas-power market accounts for 60 per cent (approx. 700mmscf daily) of the total domestic gas supply. This gas quantity currently sustains Nigeria’s four gigawatts average grid generation capacity.

“In line with the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan vision 30:30, which seeks to achieve 30GW by the year 2030, our energy mix is projected to be 70 per cent (or 21GW) thermal source (most likely gas considering the country’s gas potential) and 30 per cent (or 9GW) renewable source.

“The power sector would require over five times what the industry currently utilises from the domestic gas market to achieve our 70 per cent thermal energy target with gas-powered generation. Additional investments would be needed to increase the country’s gas production to achieve this level of gas supply to the power sector without compromising the export obligations,” Adelabu stated.

To this end, the minister called on the investors at the conference to strongly consider investments in the further development of gas production in the country, especially Nigeria’s abundant unexploited non-associated gas reserves.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for the prioritisation of local content and promotion of made-in-Nigeria products, citing that Executive Order 003 which makes the patronage of locally manufactured products mandatory is still in effect.

Shettima also says the Federal Government has partnered with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to devise an actionable roadmap and policy framework that would refurbish the nation’s manufacturing sector.

He affirmed that the roadmap and policy framework would be speedily implemented to effect the needed changes that will revamp the sector.

The VP, who declaring open the three-day National Manufacturing Policy Summit at the State House Banquet Hall regretted that the sector had endured a series of setbacks over the past decades.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I implore us all to leverage this summit to develop an actionable roadmap and policy framework, ready for immediate implementation, to create the changes we want in the manufacturing sector.

“I assure you that we shall always maintain an open-door policy to accommodate your needs and expectations,” Shettima stated.

The VP further stressed the need to support local firms.

He said, “Let us be reminded that we cannot achieve significant progress in our drive for industrialisation unless we deliberately promote the production of capital goods.

“We must be focused on expanding our production base, prioritizing local content, and promoting made-in-Nigeria products.”

“I want to assure you that Executive Order No 003 – Support for Local Content in Public Procurement by the Federal Government, which mandates the patronage of locally manufactured products is still in effect.

“The relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are mandated to fully comply with the order,” he declared.

Shettima observed that Nigeria has no better option than to support its indigenous firms to produce locally and increase their capabilities., especially as Africa has long languished at the bottom of the global value chain, with its share of global manufacturing at less than two percent.

The summit, according to him, offers the opportunity to re-evaluate the challenges confronting the sector and proffer solutions that would resolve them.

He noted that a competitive manufacturing sector would reduce the inequities in the nation’s economy as well as overdependence on imports.

“Our proposal to minimise the economic imbalances in the nation is based on strengthening the production base of our economy, particularly in manufacturing.

“Most of our setbacks as a nation, as each of you knows, are due to over-dependence on imports for even our basic necessities.

“That is why we need you to address the various challenges facing the sector and ensure we have a competitive manufacturing sector,” he added.

VP Shettima expressed satisfaction with what he saw during a tour of the exhibition, saying he is convinced more than ever of Nigeria’s industrial capabilities, creativity, and innovation.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mrs Tosin Olagunju be remanded in Suleja prison in Niger State for obtaining N12,400,000.00 from job seekers under false pretence, with the promise that she has the capacity to secure them employment.

Olagunju, who was arraigned on a four-count charge, for scamming job seekers money, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to her.

After the defendant took her plea, the prosecuting lawyer, Princewill Eke, applied for a date for the commencement of trial.

The Defense lawyer, M. A. Oloniruka, however, informed the court that he earlier filed a bail application shortly before the court commenced sitting.

The application was, however, not in the court’s file and was on this note, not ripe for hearing.

Oloniruka, being informed of the situation of his application, sought to apply orally for his client’s bail.

Justice Nyako rejected the defence lawyer’s request to be allowed to apply orally for bail, noting that the court is a court of record hence all applications must be formal and in writing.

Nyako proceeded to order that Olagunju be remanded in prison pending the hearing of her bail application scheduled for October 9.

“This matter is adjourned till October 9 for trial. The defendant should be remanded in Suleja correctional centre,” she said.

Olagunju said to reside in Karu Site, Abuja, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/183/2024, filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police, was accused of the following:

Count one of the charges read, “Sometime between 2010 to 2023, You Tosin Comfort Olagunji, obtained by false pretence and with intent to defraud Nigerians, including Billi Haruna Bwala, the sum of N12,400,000.00 in the pretence that you have the capacity of securing them employment with the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps and thereby defrauding them of N12, 400,000.00 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1)© of the Advance Free Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”

Count two reads, “That you Olagunju Comfort (f) of Karu Site, Abuja, sometime between your 2020 to 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire with others to commit an office to wit: criminal conspiracy thereby commits an offence punishable under Section 97(1) of the Panel Code Act, 2004.”

In count three, she was alleged to have, between the years 2020 and 2023, “been in any manner entrusted with services of securing employment with Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for Nigerians and dishonestly convert the sum of N12, 400,000.00 to your own use in violation of the direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged and thereby commit an offence contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Act 2004.”

Count four reads, “That you Olagunju Comfort (f) of Karu Site, Abuja sometime between the year 2010 and 2023 fraudulently and dishonestly induced some Nigerians to part with the sum of N12,400,000.00 am thereby cheating them of the said sum and causing damage to them and thereby commit an offence contrary to section 320 and punishable under section 322 of the Penal Code Act 2004.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned against the continued rejection of old series and lower denominations of the United States of American dollars by its regulated entities in Nigeria.

The bank threatened to sanction lenders that rejected the currencies.

This was contained in a circular dated June 27, signed by the acting director of the currency operations department, Solaja Olayemi, which was recently released on the website of the apex bank.

The circular directed at Deposit Money Banks, Bureau De Change operators and the general public cautioned against the continued rejection of the old series and lower denomination of the American greenback.

CBN said the fresh circular followed the outcome of its consumer market intelligence, which revealed the continued rejection of old/lower denominations of dollar bills by banks and other authorised forex dealers.

“Kindly be reminded that the Central Bank of Nigeria circular referenced COD/DIR/INT/CIR/001/002 and dated 9th April 2021, which explicitly frowned at this selective acceptance of deposit, is still in force and must be adhered to and complied with by all relevant parties.

“For the avoidance of doubt and further guidance on the circular, the content is hereby reissued as follows for strict compliance: All DMBs /authorized forex dealers should henceforth accept both old series and lower denominations of United States Dollars that are legal tender for deposit from their customers. The CBN will not hesitate to sanction any DMB or authorised forex dealers who refuse to accept old series/lower denominations of US Dollar bills from their customers,” the circular partly read.

The circular also warned authorised forex dealers against defacing/stamping US Dollar banknotes as such notes always fail authentication tests during processing/sorting.

CBN first issued the warning in a circular signed by then director of the currency operations department, Ahmed Umar, on April 9, 2021.

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorm and rains from Wednesday to Friday across the country.

NiMet`s weather outlook released on Tuesday in Abuja predicted  morning thunderstorms on Wednesday over parts of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba and Adamawa states.

“While afternoon/evening thunderstorms are expected over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue and Niger states in the North Central in the morning.

“ Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue states,” it said.

According to NiMet, morning rains are expected over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Ogun, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in the southern region.

It anticipated high prospects of continuous rains for Lagos which might lead to flooding.

The agency forecast thunderstorms with rains over the entire region during the afternoon and evening hours.

NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms over parts of Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states on Thursday with thunderstorms over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states later in the day.

“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi and Niger states in the North Central in the morning.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue states.

“Morning thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Lagos, Delta, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in southern region.

“ Rains are expected over the entire region during the afternoon and evening hours, “ it said.

NiMer predicted morning thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states on Friday while thunderstorms are expected over the entire region later in the day.

It anticipated partly cloudy atmosphere in the morning over the North Central region with thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and Kogi states later in the day.

“Morning rains are expected over parts of Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in southern region.

“ In the afternoon/evening hours, rains are expected over the entire region during the afternoon/evening hours,” it said.

NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.

It further urged the public to take note and take safety precaution in places where continuous rains were expected, flood incidences might occur.

It advised Airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecast from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

The Senate has raised the alarm that substandard Premium Motor Spirit or petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil or diesel have flooded the Nigerian market.

Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, in a matter of urgent national importance, observed that on June 16, 2024, a report revealed that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo for further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria.

According to him, the quality of the said diesel was below the Nigerian standard in terms of flash and Sulphur levels.

Ekpeyong disclosed that; even though the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently revised the standards of diesel importation into Nigeria in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has been incapable of enforcing compliance with the standards.

The Senate then set up an ad-hoc committee, to launch an investigation into the continued importation of hazardous petroleum products, and dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria.

Ekpeyong stressed that the NMDPRA has continued to issue import licences for diesel and jet, despite sufficient local production capacity.

The lawmakers expressed anger over what they described as sabotage and a clear failure of the objectives of the PIA.

The Upper Chamber asserted that those found culpable in the illicit act must face the wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has corroborated views by other lawmakers, that the issues raised within the PIA should be reviewed, not as an act of witch-hunting anyone, but to set the records straight.

The Adhoc committee to investigate the allegation, chaired by the Senate leader, has been given three weeks to report back to the house.

Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah who sponsored the Bill for the creation of Etiti State as the additional state to bring the South East geo-political zone at par with other zones, has given more insight on the proposal.

The Labour Party lawmaker who spoke exclusively with newsmen in Umuahia, said that each of the existing five states in the zone would benefit from the proposed state unlike any other proposal that would be for the benefit of a particular state.

He also added that the proposal for Etiti state, already enjoys the support of the majority of the House of Representatives members from South East.

Rep Ogah further argued that since the creation of additional state for the South East “is all about equality”, it therefore, makes sense that every state in the zone benefits from it.

” However you look at it, Etiti State makes more sense because each state in the South East will donate at least two Local Government Areas to it. Isuikwuato and Umunneochi will come from Abia; Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs from Imo; Orumba North and Orumba South from Anambra; Ivo and Ohozara LGAs from Ebonyi; and Oji River, Awgu and Aninri from Enugu State. It cuts across all the existing five states so that no state is shortchanged”.

The lawmaker, appealed to Ndigbo home and abroad, to jettison their personal gains and unite for the actualisation of Etiti State, which he said, ” is in the interest of the entire South East”.

In a separate interview, elder statesman and second Republic Minister for Education, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, said there was need to revert to the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference of Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Professor Madubuike who was among the delegation that presented Ohanaeze position before the  ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Constitutional conference of 2005, and  a delegate at Jonathan’s 2014 confab, said that both confabs had already agreed on a consensus parity state for South East.

Speaking in favour of Etiti State, the two time Minister, and former Finance Commissioner in the Old Imo State,  advised that regional interest and equity be put above other considerations.

” Definitely there is a crying need for an additional state for the South East. We have already dealt with that in both 2005 Obasanjo confab and Jonathan’s confab in 2014.

” For them to do anything meaningful, they should go to confab report. They should find out what has already been agreed.”

Opposing the proposed Orlu State, he said:” Orlu State wasn’t among the ones that we proposed. This one is a bastardisation of what we proposed. We said we should have Equity/Etiti State.

” So, what they need to do is to go back to both Obasanjo and Jonathan’s confabs and see what has been proposed, where we talked about a parity state or Equity State or Etiti State with capital around Okigwe -Lokpa axis that will include Awgu and Oji River from Enugu State; Aninri and Ivo from Ebonyi State; Umunneochi and Isuikwuato in Abia State; Okigwe and Mbano from Imo State; plus Umunze in Anambra State.”

Another elder statesman and former Chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, also threw his weight behind the proposed Etiti State, saying “it is more encompassing and more reasonable”.

” As a geo-political zone, the more reasonable proposal is Etiti State. That’s more encompassing that any other one because it represents every state in the zone.”

He, however, noted that the proposed Anioma State makes sense but should be created as the seventh state for the South South.

” I also support the call for the creation of Anioma State because it’s long overdue. It should be created to either make the seventh state in the South South because South South is a major contributor to the economy of Nigeria. I also don’t mind if we want to include them as a state in the South East but that should be the seventh state. But it doesn’t substitute for Etiti State.”

Meanwhile, a former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has advised that the South East should not miss the current opportunity to get a parity state to address decades of marginalisation.

He, however, made case for the creation of Aba State, arguing that Aba is one of the oldest Provinces in the country that has not metamorphosed into a state.

” For me it’s Aba because Aba remains one of the oldest Provinces that has not become a state.

” However, we should not in our agitation, lose this opportunity. We should come together as a people and come up with one proposal so that this opportunity doesn’t elude us.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu was not part of his discussion with the South East governors in Enugu State, on Tuesday.

The former President and Chief Emeka Anyaoku met with the governors on their own invitation to discuss regional development issues, and the purported plan release of Kanu by the federal government was not part of it.

A release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Wednesday, stated that the regional development issues include that of security and infrastructure.

Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda.

“The meeting with them was at my invitation and Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins.

“The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence,” Obasanjo was quoted as having said.