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.

Governors from the South East under the umbrella of the South East Governors’ Forum met in Enugu Tuesday with a resolve to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to plead for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

They also plan to discuss other pressing issues that will be of interest to the region and the country with President Tinubu.

The decisions of the Governors were contained in a Communique read to the media by the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum cum the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, after their meeting at the Lion Building Government House Enugu, in Enugu State.

Governor Uzodimma was flanked by his brother colleagues – Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Prof Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi State) and the host Governor, Dr Peter Mbah (Enugu State).

The Chairman of the Forum said during their visit to the President they will discuss the issue of insecurity in the region and the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The Communique added: “The Forum deliberated on the reviewed report of the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on the 28th September, 2023 and agreed to implement the aspects of the report pertaining to security and economic integration and affirmed its desire to put actionable plans on the key issues agreed.

“The Forum also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

“The Forum commiserated with Government and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, South East, Nigeria and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu’s family on the demise of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The Forum received the delegation of the Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON and His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, Obi of Onitsha, who came on a solidarity visit to the Forum.”

Consequent upon the demise of former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Onu, the Forum announced the setting up of a nine man burial Committee to be Chaired by the former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim.

Southeast governors and some stakeholders in the zone currently in a closed-door meeting in Enugu State.

The closed-door meeting is holding at the Enugu State Government House with focus on issues confronting the region.

The meeting has in attendance all the five Southeast governors, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and some other influential traditional rulers in the zone.

The meeting is coming amids the insecurity challenge in the Southeast, due to the activities of gunmen, as well as calls for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

About 50 members of the House of Representatives had jointly written President Bola Tinubu to drop all the charges against Kanu for the interest of peace and unity in the country.

The 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State, has tasked members of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Aba Branch, to help report any soldier involved in the extortion of motorists and residents of Aba.

Brigade Commander,14 Brigade, Ohafia, Brigadier General O.O. Diya who stated this at Ohafia while receiving the members of the NBA Aba Branch who called on him at his office,in Ohafia, stated that the Army doesn’t condone corruption and indiscipline and would punish any soldier found to have engaged in such activities.

Brigadier Diya assured that any soldier involved in corruption wont go scot- free.

He commended NBA Aba Branch for finding time to visit and commiserate with the Army on the loss of her soldiers in Aba.

The Army chief told the NBA that security is everyone’s business and urged the branch to continue to partner with the Army in getting rid of criminals in Abia State especially Aba. He said; “Report any soldier involved in the extortion  by getting the names of the soldiers involved and their location.

“Your members can get video and pictorial evidence of the extortion where the same is possible. “Security is everyone’s business. I urge NBA Aba Branch to continue to partner with the Army in getting rid of criminals in Abia State, especially in Aba.”

He promised that the Army would honour any invitation extended to it by the branch.

Earlier, Chairman of NBA Aba, Charles Onuchukwu, said the branch commiserates with the Army and families of soldiers who lost their lives in the recent security challenges in Aba. The Chairman also lamented the maltreatment of residents and motorists by soldiers, especially during the recent security challenges at the checkpoints.

Onuchukwu urged the Brigade Commander to advise soldiers at various checkpoints in Aba to devote their time to security matters and stop using civilians to extort money from motorists and residents in the city.

He assured that the NBA Aba Branch is ready to partner with the military in addressing security challenges in Aba.

The divide and rule method allegedly deployed by the Federal Government in the payment of withheld salaries owed university workers in 2022 may have further polarised the tertiary system, as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has threatened to resume its strike from July 4th, 2024.

The leadership of SSANU is particularly angry that four months salaries which were withheld by the government when its members joined the sister union, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on strike, was yet to be paid.

The non-payment of the salaries and other contemporary challenges plaguing the tertiary education sector featured prominently at the 48th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in University of Benin, Edo State last weekend.

Recall that a fortnight ago, the Joint Action Committee, JAC, comprising SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, had issued a two week ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay its members the four months withheld salaries.

Out of the four university based unions that embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022, the Federal Government paid ASUU, neglecting the other three unions.

The development is leading SSANU to issue fresh notice of strike when the ultimatum elapses on Thursday, July 4th.

The communique stated that JAC of SSANU and NASU is expected to meet on the aforementioned date to review the government’s response to the ultimatum and take a common position on withdrawing their services.

SSANU in the communique signed by its President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, accuses the government of exhibiting insensitivity and deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system by adopting the divide and rule policy.

The communique read, “NEC in session once again expresses utmost dismay at the unprecedented level of Government’s insensitivity and deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system by adopting the divide and rule policy to set unions on a collision course through preferential treatment of one union over others.

“Recall SSANU and other unions were compelled by government to embark on strike in 2022 over the refusal to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement willingly signed by all parties.

“At the end of the strike, the then (Muhammadu) Buhari government further signed an elaborate agreement among which was the non victimization clause. However, government made a selective payment of the withheld salaries.

“While we do not begrudge the payment made to our colleagues, we expected same gesture to be extended to SSANU and NASU that legally complied with all procedures before embarking on the Industrial action.

“Despite all promises and media hypes by the Ministers of Education and Labour, including the House of Representatives to pay these arrears, Government has continued to dribble SSANU, even after the mutual agreement to suspend the one week warning strike in March this year.

“NEC in session deliberated on the matter and unanimously approved a long drawn comprehensive industrial action after concurrence with the Joint Action Committee meeting of SSANU and NASU scheduled for Thursday 4th July, 2024, if Government fails to pay the four months salary arrears.”

On the government’s approved wage award of N35,000 to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal which has been stopped, the association said that the “gross inability of the wage award to heal the excruciating financial wounds is further compounded by its stoppage in Federal Universities with three months arrears already pending.

“Many states are yet to effect payment of the wage award to our members in state universities thereby increasing their economic woes.”

SSANU equally called on the Federal Government to immediately resume the payment of the wage award alongside the accrued three months arrears without further delay.

It also urged state governments that are yet to commence payment of the wage award to commence payment with the arrears accruing therefrom.

Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence has tackled Senator Ireti Kingibe representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for criticising the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s infrastructural development projects in Abuja.

The group in a statement by its national chairman, Hon. Haruna Bature said that Wike inherited a poor state of infrastructure, security, healthcare, human and vehicular traffic, sanitation, healthcare, and welfare of public sector workers in Abuja, saying that he has in one year corrected the wrongs.

While asking the Senator to focus her on responsibilities as the elected representative of the people of FCT in the National Assembly, the Arewa group urged the Minister not to pay attention to narrow and skewed criticism, but to continue with the good works of implementing and promoting the Programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the statement, “The attention of the Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence has been drawn to a media interview on Arise TV granted by Sen. Ireti Kingibe condemning and casting negative aspersions on the infrastructural development efforts in the FCT by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Chief Barr. E.N. Wike, CON, GSSRS. “We wish to remind Sen. Ireti Kingibe of the decadence in the state of affairs in infrastructure, security, health care, human and vehicular traffic, sanitation and healthcare, welfare of Public Sector Workers, etc upon assumption of office of the Hon. Minister of FCT, Chief Barr. E.N.Wike, CON, GSSRS.

“The story today is different except in the opinion of Sen. Ireti Kingibe because these challenges in the FCT either have been addressed or are being addressed by the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Office of the Hon. Minister of the FCT, Chief Barr. Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike of which Sen. Ireti Kingibe is a major beneficiary as the Senator representing the FCT, Abuja.

“Development is a gradual process and we trust that the Economic Reforms, Fiscal and Monetary Policies, and Human Capital and Welfare Programmes of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda will soon put hope and smiles on the faces of Nigerians and especially residents of the FCT. “The Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence therefore wishes to urge, the Hon. Minister of FCT, Chief Barr. E.N. Wike did not pay any attention to the narrow and skewed criticism of Sen. Ireti Kingibe but rather focused and continued with the good works of implementing and promoting the Programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“By and large, Arewa youth for peaceful Co-Existence are saying goodbye to an incompetent senator representing FCT comes 2027 because her performance profile is nothing to write home about, thank you all,” Arewa youths said.

Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said the Biafra agitator ought to have been released by the Supreme Court ruling of December 15, 2023.

Ejimakor said the Supreme Court had ruled that Kanu was on bail and in custody of the law when his home was illegally invaded by military officers.

Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court had granted Kanu bail in 2017. Shortly after the bail, the IPOB leader eloped to Europe after military personnel invaded his residence in the Afaraukwu area of Abia State.

He was however rearrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in 2021.

Since his repatriation, Kanu had remained in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, as the Nigerian government refused to release him despite orders by the Appeal Court. However, Ejimakor said Kanu left Nigeria after the military invasion to preserve his life.

Posting on X, Ejimakor wrote: “It’s not wrong for anybody to say that MAZI NNAMDI KANU ought to be freed on the basis of the 15th December 2023 judgment of the Supreme Court because, despite remitting the case for trial, the Court also held that Kanu “was on bail and therefore in custody of the law when his home was illegally invaded by heavily armed military officers of the appellant causing him to flee from his home and the country to secure his life. In the face of such an attack, it was responsible for him to flee to secure his life and physical well being.

“That is what any normal and reasonable human being would do in that circumstance to preserve his life and physical well-being. It is glaring that the consequences of that attack were intended or foreseeable. This is not arguable. The appellant’s officials knew that their invasion of the respondent’s home caused him to tun away to secure his life and physical well-being.”

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it is ready to join forces with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to come up with an actionable roadmap and policy framework that would revamp the nation’s manufacturing sector.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, gave the assurance, saying if presented, the roadmap and policy framework would be speedily implemented to effect the needed changes that will revamp the sector.

The VP, who disclosed this while declaring open a three-day National Manufacturing Policy Summit at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, regretted that the sector, which has a crucial role to play in building a nation driven by production and abundance, had endured a series of setbacks over the past decades.

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

“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 (MDAs) are mandated to fully comply with the order,” he declared. Shettima observed that as a country in Africa, “a continent that has languished at the bottom of the global value chain, with its share of global manufacturing at less than two percent,” Nigeria has no better option than to support its indigenous firms to produce locally and increase their capabilities.

The summit, according to him, offers the opportunity to re-evaluate the challenges confronting the sector and proffer solutions that would resolve them, even as he noted that a competitive manufacturing sector would reduce the inequities in the nation’s economy as well as over-dependence on imports.

A former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court, seeking a legal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani and requesting that she stop using his last name.

He is asking the court to order the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to revert to her maiden name, Agama.

This was contained in Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage (declaration that a marital union has ended).

The ex-Chief of Naval Staff argues that Diezani’s ongoing use of his name despite their marriage being legally over is damaging to his reputation and could lead to unintended consequences, including mistaken liability, particularly given the corruption allegations against her.

Madueke is a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states. He married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.

The petitioner, Madueke, noted that Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage, seeking to end their union formally.

He said he did not oppose the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of the marriage, yet Diezani persists in using his surname, despite the formal termination of their marital union.

He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, judgment was delivered in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021 by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

“The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law.

“Even though the marriage has been dissolved and is now legally finalised, the respondent continues to use the petitioner’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) as her own without any justification or consent from the petitioner.

“It is now more than two-years that the respondent continues to use the name of the petitioner to his embarrassment.”

Madueke revealed that he directed his legal representatives to serve Diezani a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name, Agama.

However, despite this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond and continues to use his name.

The petition further read, “The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved.

“The respondent is undergoing criminal trials in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The charge in Nigeria is Suit No. FUC/ABI/CR/208/2010.

“The respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both.

“The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the spouse of the petitioner is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression and tarnishing the reputation, integrity, and public image of the petitioner.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between the parties though same has since legally ended.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and family names poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to the petitioner.

“The petitioner seeks the intervention of this Honourable Court to prevent the respondent from further using his first name and surname, thereby safeguarding his image, personality, and reputation.”

Madueke sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.

He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further asserting, by words or conduct, the existence of marriage between them.

He is seeking a court order that compels Diezani to revert to her maiden name and to publicly announce in a national newspaper, both in Nigeria and the UK, that she has ceased using his surname.

Diezani has held several significant positions in the Nigerian government, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Minister of Petroleum Resources.

She was also the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, elected in November 2014.

Diezani was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of embezzling $2.5bn from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Corruption allegations have led to her arrest and legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the fundamental human rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government.

Kanu sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Service for ₦1bn in damages for alleged rights violations.

The IPOB leader claimed that the DSS and its director general violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him while he was being detained in preparation for his defence in his criminal

While delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers, and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.

Justice Omotosho held that the claims that Kanu was denied unhindered access to his lawyers by the operatives of the DSS, and that the officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers in the preparation for his defence, could not be established.

The  IPOB leader, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), DSS, and its DG as 1st to 4th respondents, respectively.

In the originating summons,  he prayed for eight reliefs.

He sought “a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents pertaining to facilitating the preparation of his defence, which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to denial of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice.”

He also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of preventing his counsel from taking notes on the details of counsel’s professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention was unlawful.

He further sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of eavesdropping on his confidential consultations/conversations with his lawyers amounted to a denial of his right, among others.

Kanu, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining and prohibiting the respondents from their act of forcible seizure, and photocopying of confidential legal documents brought to him at the detention facility by his lawyers.

He also sought an order mandating the respondents to jointly and severally pay the sum of ₦1bn as damages for the mental, emotional, psychological, and other damages he suffered as a result of the breach of his rights, among others.

But in a counter affidavit, the DSS denied allegations levelled against it.

In the application deposed to by Yamuje Benye, a legal department staffer, he said 11 paragraphs in Kanu’s affidavit were untrue.

He stated that Kanu was in safe and secured custody of the DSS, and that he was not detained in solitary confinement.

According to Benye, Kanu was allowed access to his family members and team of lawyers on his visiting days, without any hindrance whatsoever.

He argued that the IPOB leader was permitted to interact and consult with his lawyers on his visiting days without any interference.

He said at no time did any DSS personnel seize or confiscate documents brought to Kanu by his lawyers or any other person.

He added that their personnel never denied Kanu’s lawyers the professional liberty to perform their lawful duty of discussing, consulting, and interacting with his lawyers.

The applicant has consistently requested that various prayer books and religious materials be brought to him as part of his fundamental human right,” he said.

Benye added that Justice Binta Nyako, who is presiding over Kanu’s criminal trial, has always maintained that visits to him should always be under supervision, as it is the best practice all over the world.

According to him, mister Kanu, along with his counsel, was permitted to consult and interact on visiting days in one of the best interview facilities of the DSS to ensure maximum comfort of the applicant and his visitor(s).

The official, who denied allegations that the personnel usually record their interaction during visits, said “there is no basis for eavesdropping and recording of their conversations.”

He said, in line with the Service Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) of the State Security Service, all visitors to her facility are subjected to normal routine security checks, and items in their possession are scanned.

According to him, this is to avoid unauthorised materials making their way into the facility.

Worried about the spate of insecurity in the Southeast, Issac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, has proposed a solution to the lingering crisis in the region.

In a video posted on X formerly Twitter on Monday, July 1, 2024, Fayose urged President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He further suggested that for peace to reign in the Southeast, President Tinubu could award contracts to Kanu the same way former President Goodluck Jonathan did to former militant leader, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo better known as Tompolo.

“If President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan can give a contract to Tompolo to have peace in the Niger Delta… why can’t we do the same in the South East?” he queried.

He said Kanu’s release could reduce the security crises in the region by half.

“If we are spending so much money on security in the Southeast, the money will be reduced by 50% releasing Kanu,” Fayose advised.

He said, “If I be president Tinubu, after the election when I noticed that the Southeast people didn’t vote for me, I would have released Kanu to counter them, adding that “releasing Kanu can make some of them say oh this man has a good intention.”

Recall that the IPOB leader was arrested during the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

He concluded that releasing Kanu could be a ploy to “restore peace in the Southeast.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has set up a disciplinary panel to investigate two operatives accused of assaulting a woman during a raid in a hotel in Lagos on Thursday.

Its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, who said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja added that the errant officers were to appear before the panel on Monday.

Oyewale said that the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, set up the disciplinary team to look into the case of the two errant officers of the commission who allegedly assaulted a female staff of the Regional Hotel, Ojo, Lagos.