Bad fuel: FG Vows to investigate

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it would carry out a major investigation into the adulteration of fuel in Nigeria

Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum, said the investigation would reveal the cause of the unsafe quantity of methanol in petrol imported into the country.

Sylva spoke while addressing State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

The minister disclosed that those responsible for importing adulterated fuel would be revealed during the investigation.

“There will be a major investigation to unravel everything. We need to get to the bottom of it before we can come back to tell you what will happen to the culprits,” the Minister said.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government would put into consideration Nigerians whose cars were damaged after using the adulterated fuel.

“We know that some people’s vehicles must have been damaged, that is also going to be taken into consideration in dealing with the situation,” Sylvia said.

Strike: ASUU accuses FG of deceit

The Federal Government, on Monday, explained why it had not paid the University Revitalisation Fund and met other demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, who stated this in an interview said the government was working hard to ensure the release of the revitalisation fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

But ASUU, in its reaction, dismissed the minister’s explanation, saying the government was being dishonest in its justification of the delay in paying the revitalisation fund.

In 2020, a nine-month strike by ASUU, which commenced in March and was called off in December, paralysed public universities in the country.

The lecturers had gone on strike following their disagreement with the government over the funding of the universities and ineffectiveness and discrepancies around the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, among others.

ASUU, however, developed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution to replace the IPPIS and had several meetings with officials of the ministries of finance, education, labour and employment, and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation before the UTAS was approved, but it has yet to be implemented.

On August 2, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the government had paid the revitalisation fund as contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with the lecturers.

He, however, said the money was in the custody of the CBN pending the conclusion of the audit

Recall that another strike was looming in the nation’s universities as ASUU threatened a showdown following the government’s alleged failure to implement the agreements reached with the university teachers.

The report quoted ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, as lamenting the government’s failure to fulfil its promises to the union.

While claiming that government officials had stopped taking the calls of the ASUU members, Osodeke also said the union had given the government till Tuesday (today) to meet its demands.

But Nwajiuba, stated in an interview that the government was working hard to secure the release of the money from the CBN and appealed to ASUU to be patient.

Nwajiuba said the process of meeting ASUU’s demands was in progress.

He, therefore, urged the union to reach out to the government.

You Must Ban BBNaija, Students Tell FG

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, has asked the Federal Government to ban the ongoing reality show, BBNaija.

This is just as the student organization asked the federal government to put a stop to “illicit shows” on television.

It stated this in a statement by its Amir (President) Mallam Miftahudeen Thanni, on Thursday, to commemorate the 1443AH Islamic new year and International Youths Day.

He expressed concern over the hosting of the BBNaija show at a location in Lagos, a situation he described as “unfavourable for youths’ development in the state”.

This, Thanni said, “will be the best gift to mark international youth day.”

According to Thanni, the reality show has emerged as one of the most dangerous distractions confronting youths in the country.

He warned that the show would weaken the morality of youths, adding that banning it would send a strong signal to youths that the government promotes modesty.

The Muslim students’ leader wondered why the government “pretended” not to know the danger of the “nude, irritating and soul-damaging” programme while some of its officials disturb, harass, intimidate female Muslims who use the hijab.

He said, “The show negates everything about morality. It is evil and a danger that could damage the strong moral foundation that many Nigerian societies are known for. It is the worst distraction for Nigerian youths.

“This immorality extends beyond just nude dressing to encouraging youths to sell their bodies to get fame and make money. We express our total rejection of the programme and call on the government to ban it.

“This indirect porn programme is also giving teenagers a bad orientation that making it in life must come with a price of exposing their bodies, thereby causing high cases of rape in the society.”

Miftahudeen called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to live up to their expectations by scrapping the programme on moral grounds.

“Relevant broadcast authorities should pay attention to the damaging nature of this programme. It is ruining the lives of youths. If Nigeria is serious about fighting crimes, we cannot afford to leave this kind of programme unscrapped,” he added.

Thanni also called on the government to intensify efforts to end insecurity in the country.

While congratulating Muslims over the New Year, Thanni commended governors who declared public holidays for Hijrah.

He, however, berated the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for not declaring a work-free day.

FG announces new rates for toll gates across Nigeria

The federal government has approved the Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy and Regulations.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave the approval at the weekly meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

The endorsement signals the reintroduction of toll gates on federal roads across Nigeria.

In 2019, the Buhari administration announced plans to bring back toll collection  scrapped by the Obasanjo government in 2004.

Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola gave a breakdown of the rates while briefing reporters.

Fashola revealed that bicycles, pedal cycles, tricycles, motorcycles, and other two or three-wheeled transport are exempted.

Others to benefit from the exemption are diplomatic vehicles, military and paramilitary vehicles.

Vehicles expected to pay have been classified into five categories.

First: cars, second: SUVs, third: private buses, fourth: commercial buses, fifth: luxury buses and trucks.

Cars will pay N200; SUVs and Jeeps N300; private buses N300; commercial buses N150; luxury buses and trucks N500.

Fashola recalled that a Willingness-To-Pay Survey was carried out before the pricing framework.

He said toll payment will not start now, adding that the government presented the policy to help people, states, local governments, road managers and investors have an idea of the initiative.

The toll collection will commence once the roads are motorable and will affect only federal dual carriage roads.

BREAKING: FG to lift Twitter ban soon -Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has hinted that the over two months’ ban on the social networking site, Twitter, in Nigeria will be lifted soon.

This is as it said that it has reached an agreement with Twitter in most areas of misunderstanding.

Recall that on June 5, 2021, the FG had officially banned Twitter’s indefinitely, thereby restricting it from operating in Nigeria after the social media platform deleted tweets made by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), warning the Indigenous People of Biafra that they “will be treated in the language they understand”.

The FG had interpreted the deletion of Buhari’s tweets as discourteous and hinged upon “a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world violent consequences”.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lal Mohammed, while fielding questions from the press at the State House after Wednesday’s FEC meeting updated Nigerians on the issue saying that progress has been made in resolving the stalemate following series of meetings.

Mohammed explained details of the conditions given to Twitter, saying that most of them have been accepted.

He said the areas still pending such as Twitter setting up an office and having a Twitter staff of management cadre that will serve as the country representative, are still being discussed.

The Minister also disclosed that on the issue of a Nigeria-based office, even though Twitter has agreed to the condition, it is, however, maintaining that the earliest it can establish that is 2022.

He expressed confidence that everything will be ironed out with Twitter within “matter days or weeks”, noting the anxiety that has been shown by Nigerians.

He said FG’s committee negotiating with Twitter will meet on the agreement soon to make recommendations.

FG begins cash transfer to 200,000 Nigerians

The Federal Government is set to commence cash payment to 200,000 Nigerians.

The beneficiaries are urban poor senior citizens that do not have access to regular income and are impacted by COVID-19.

Iorwa Apera, Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Programme, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management official said identified citizens were authenticated by their respective communities.

Apera noted that 4 percent of 35 million poor and vulnerable persons in the national register in 36 states and the FCT were elderly persons.

Two million individuals, categorised as senior citizens, were aggregated by location, education, age, status, disability and sex.

’20m Youths’ To Get FG, UNICEF Expanded Education Empowerment

An initiative between the Buhari administration and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), offering expanded education, training and employment, targeting 20 million Nigerians from ages of 10-24 years, between now and 2030 will positively impact the country’s future job growth enabling programmes, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo disclosed this Monday in a pre-recorded message delivered at the official launch of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) programme in Nigeria, a global multi-sector partnership that was initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners.

The programme has impacted more than 100 million young people globally through innovations and programmes in more than 40 countries across six continents.

In line with its job creation agenda, the Federal Government has over the past few months engaged multilateral agencies and the private sector in creating special opportunities for young Nigerians.

Besides, the opportunities created through the ongoing Economic Sustainability Plan, only last month, the administration in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP and other private sector partners announced a 20,000 yearly graduate job fellowship called the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, NJFP aimed at equipping young Nigerians with skills and experience required for the workplace.

Speaking on the GenU programme, the Vice President said “This program is important because it promises to provide 20 million Nigerians with digital skills, link them to entrepreneurial and other job opportunities and assist them in realizing their full potential.

“Over the next couple of years, we will provide digital learning, employment, entrepreneurship and engagement for and with 20 million young Nigerians. This process is not only significant for our socio-economic development as a nation in the coming years but also provides a learning asset for developing future job growth enabling programmes.”

According to him, “Nigeria has one of the world’s largest young populations. And it bears repeating that our country’s youth are the nation’s present and indeed its future. The cost of failing to invest in them is quite simply, unimaginable.

“So, we are excited to be a part of the ambitious goal of reaching young Nigerians with this opportunity. The work is massive, and we know we cannot achieve this objective without strong partnerships. And so, the Presidency, the relevant Ministries and State Governments will be collaborating with Generation Unlimited Nigeria, the private sector, the international community and our young people themselves to make this a reality.”

The Vice President noted that “GenU Nigeria will have three key components; Digital Skills Development, The Workforce Readiness Programme and Youth Engagement. Youth Employment and especially the empowerment of female entrepreneurs is a major aspect of GenU Nigeria.”

Prof. Osinbajo commended private sector partners such as Airtel, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Jobberman Nigeria, amongst others for their innovative work with young entrepreneurs throughout the country and for their commitment to GenU Nigeria.

FG warns Nigerians of more floods

The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to brace up for more floods in 2021.

Clement Nze, Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), spoke on Friday at a webinar organised by the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers.

The increased flooding is due to climate change, population growth, urbanisation, economic development and poor drainage systems, Nze said.

The official noted that changes in climate precipitation, river change flow regime and rise in sea level could worsen the situation.

“More states in the country have started experiencing floods, this agrees with the flood scenarios presented in the 2021 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO),” he said.

He mentioned Lagos, Taraba, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo and Delta as states that have recorded heavy rain and strong winds in 2021.

The DG explained that the case of Lagos is aggravated by the rising sea level from Arctic ice melting in the last decade.

NAN quoted Nze as saying the current flooding is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but the world over.

In July, Germany and Belgium experienced intense rainstorms swelling streams that have washed away houses and vehicles, triggering massive landslides.

The NIHSA chief said the agency was improving overflow forecasting and management through the AFO.

Nze added that the public is being engaged through sensitisation workshops, updated hydrological databases and improved hydrological modelling systems.

He called for enforcement and review of environmental laws as well as those of housing, land use, urban and regional planning to forestall submerging.

Nigerian prison congested – FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Interior, has sought the cooperation of state governments in dealing with the challenges of prison congestion.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, made the call while commissioning the Osun State Command office complex of the Nigerian Correctional Service, in Osogbo on Friday.

As part of recommendation from the Federal Government, the state governors were charged to summon the will to do the needful on death row convicts to curtail the overpopulation in custodial facilities.

“There are presently 3,008 condemned criminals waiting for their date with the executioners in our meagre custodial facilities.” Aregbesola asserted.

The minister disclosed that the entire national custodial facilities have maximum capacity for 57,278 inmates, but the current count, a total population of 68,747 inmates, made up of 67,422 males and 1,325 females inmates are housed across the country which is above the capacity by 18 per cent.

“But I must add that the congestion is an urban phenomenon limited to big cities like Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and others. There are facilities in non-urban areas that are underpopulated.

“It is in the urban areas that most of the crimes are committed and relevant courts are located, leading to the overstretching of the custodial facilities located in such cities.” Aregbesola noted.

Giving the clear status of inmates in the correctional centres across the country, Aregbsola noted that 50,992 inmates, representing 74 per cent of the total population of inmates in are awaiting trial, while only 17,755 inmates which is mere 26 per cent are actual convicts.

“The challenges of safe and effective custody at the custodial centres come therefore from the awaiting trial inmates, given their numerical strength.

The Minister, However, asked for the cooperation of state governments in addressing custodial centre congestion challenge saying, the overwhelming majority of offenders are state offenders being tried by their respective State Governments.

“The State Governments can therefore do three things. The first is to accelerate the wheel of justice. The second way the states can share in the burden of decongesting custodial facilities is to join in building holding centres.

“The third way is for State Governors to summon the will to do the needful on death row convicts. There are presently 3,008 condemned criminals waiting for their date with the executioners in our meagre custodial facilities.” he concluded.

UK to FG: Explain circumstances of Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest

Sequel to the alleged abduction of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and his alleged rendition to Nigeria and continued detention by the Department of State Service, DSS, the United Kingdom (UK) has asked Nigeria to explain where and how the  separatist leader who holds British citizenship was arrested.

This came as the kinsmen of the re-arrested leader of  IPOB  have claimed that President Muhamnadu Buhari’s lopsided appointments in favour of his Fulani and Northern kinsmen is fuelling the renewed agitation for self determination in parts of the country.

Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi  Ejiofor had alleged that his client was detained and maltreated in Kenya before being sent back to Nigeria, Reuters has reported.

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who has been agitating for secession of Biafra was on the run outside Nigeria for four  years following attack on his country home at Afra-Ukwu, in Abia State  by security forces until he was brought to court in Abuja on June 29 and told he would face trial.

“We are seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu,” said Tariq Ahmad, a junior minister at Britain’s Foreign Office.”

The Nigerian authorities have refused to say where Kanu was arrested, while Kenya’s ambassador to Nigeria has denied his country was involved. 

But responding to a question about Kanu’s case from a lawmaker, Ahmad said Britain had requested consular access to Kanu and stood ready to provide consular assistance.

A spokesman for Nigeria’s Department of State Service, the security agency that is holding Kanu, could not immediately be reached for comment yesterday, a public holiday in Nigeria.

Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, alleged he was abducted by Kenya’s special police force and held for eight days before being handed over to Nigerian authorities.

Your nepotism fuelling agitation for self determination

President General of Isiama Afaraukwu Development Union, Umuahia North Council of Abia State, Chief Obioma Ebeogu; and his Vice, Chief  Benjamin Ohaeri, made the claims in an interview with our Correspondent.

Chief Obioma who spoke on the heels of Kanu’s alleged “abduction from Kenya and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria”, insisted that their son commited no crime but was only complaining of the marginalisation of his people.

He argued that if President Buhari had given a sense of belonging to other tribes particularly Ndigbo in his political appointments, many people would not bother to seek independence from Nigeria.

Obioma argued that the glaring disparity in distribution of political offices and other appointments by the Buhari-led administation is the reason the agitation for self autonomy by different sections of the country is on the increase.

The PG urged President Buhari to rather consider the issues raised by Kanu and other self  autonomy proponents instead of clamping them into detention.

Kanu’s kinsmen who raised concern over his health condition appealed to the federal government to grant him access to his personal physicians.

They said that “agitation for self determination is never a crime,” and told the federal government “to stop treating Kanu as a common criminal.”

Likening Kanu to Martin Luther King Jr who vigorously fought for the emancipation of the Blacks in America, the IPOB’s leader’s kinsmen urged Buhari to stop seeing him as a terrorist but a heroic freedom fighter seeking the good of his people.

“Our son is like Martin Luther fighting for the liberation of his people. The federal government should release him and engage him with a view to addressing the the issues he is raising”.

They further demanded that Kanu’s family should be granted unfettered access to him.

The kinsmen also urged the President to prevail on the Department of State Services, DSS, to allow Kanu sign the request for consular services and diplomatic assistance by the United Kingdom. They said preventing the IPOB leader from signing such request as alleged by his lawyer constituted to a huge infringement on his fundamental rights.