Dons EzeWE STAND WITH DANGOTE, NORTHERN ELDERS TELL FG TO STOP ATTACKING HIM
WE STAND WITH DANGOTE – NORTHERN ELDERS TELL FG TO STOP ATTACKING HIM The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has warned government officials and other Nigerians against attacking the Dangote Refinery and its Chairman, Aliko Dangote, to desist from such actions. The northern elders issued the warning in a statement signed by Convener Professor Ango Abdullahi. The forum condemned the attempts to demarket the refinery, which NEF said is capable of saving the country from continued importation of refined petroleum products. The statement said, “The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is watching with sustained interest the unfolding drama being orchestrated by some powerful vested interests to frustrate the good example set by the nation’s leading investor and foremost African entrepreneur, Alh. Aliko Dangote, who has defied all formidable odds to build a privately-owned world-class, ultramodern petroleum refinery in Nigeria. “Dangote refinery, which is reputed to be the biggest single-train refinery in the world, is a technological marvel that showcases the most advanced innovation in the trade field and is also a symbol of our national pride. “This remarkable business feat, which ordinarily should instantly earn him national encomiums and accolades, has paradoxically ignited the malicious fury of enemies of our dear country, who are strategically located in the oil and gas sector of the economy. “Nigeria became the object of global ridicule, as we are the only OPEC member nation without refining capability and heavily dependent on mass importation of oil and other derivatives,” the statement said The forum noted that Nigerians, who bear the brunt of escalating fuel prices and shortages, will no longer allow a few individuals to hold the economy hostage. They commended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobri, for his timely action to address the situation.The forum stated its determination to stand with Aliko Dangote in defense of the refinery.
TINUBU SIGNS MINIMUM WAGE BILL NEXT WEEK
TINUBU SIGNS MINIMUM WAGE BILL NEXT WEEK President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the Minimum Wage Bill into law next week, following its passage by the National Assembly. The bill was finalized on Wednesday and transmitted to the President on Thursday, after its swift passage by both chambers during Tuesday’s plenary. According to multiple sources within the National Assembly, the President is expected to give expeditious assent to the bill. The Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, confirmed the development, stating, “The bill will be transmitted today (Thursday).” The National Minimum Wage Act 2019 (Amendment Bill) was approved separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, following a unanimous vote after a clause-by-clause consideration. The bill aims to increase the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, replacing the expired minimum wage that was effective until April 18, 2024. The President had transmitted an executive bill to the National Assembly, requesting prompt consideration to reflect the new minimum wage and reduce the periodic review period from five years to three years. This followed an agreement reached with labour leaders on the new minimum wage benchmark. The Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage had submitted separate figures, with the government team and organised private sector proposing N62,000, while Organised Labour demanded N250,000.The President held meetings with stakeholders to harmonise the figures before transmitting the executive bill to the National Assembly.
4,200 POLICEMEN DEPLOYED IN ABUJA AHEAD OF HUNGER PROTEST
4,200 POLICEMEN DEPLOYED IN ABUJA AHEAD OF HUNGER PROTEST Ahead of the proposed nationwide protest, the Federal Capital Territory police command has deployed a total of 4,200 policemen across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital. The command also announced the deployment of explosive ordinance device experts at various strategic locations. The command in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the deployment was to ensure public safety, protection of protesters and to prevent the protests from being hijacked by non-state actors. She added that there would be raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, and stop and search operations among others in collaboration with sister security agencies. She said, “The FCT Police Command, in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, has proactively deployed material and human resources across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital. “The proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protecting protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordnance device experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and synergy with sister security agencies.” Adeh noted that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, warned that the destruction of public and private properties would not be tolerated during the protest. She said, “The Commissioner of Police FCT, while acknowledging the right of residents to protest, advises that it should be peaceful. “The CP vows to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives.”Adeh urged residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines to report suspicious activities.The nationwide protest is scheduled to be held from August 1 to 10, 2024.The protest is over the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
YOUTH MOBILISES KANO RESIDENTS FOR #ENDBADGOVERNANCEINNIGERIA PROTEST AT POPULAR MARKET IN KANO
YOUTH MOBILISES KANO RESIDENTS FOR #ENDBADGOVERNANCEINNIGERIA PROTEST AT POPULAR MARKET The mobilisation of Nigerians for the forthcoming nationwide protest, dubbed ‘EndBadGovernance’ has continued to reach more people in the grassroots in Kano State. In a video, a concerned youth was seen using a sound amplifier to enlighten people and traders inside the popular Gaya market in Kano State on the need for them to massively join the planned nationwide protest. He told Kano residents that it is the best opportunity for them to stand against agelong bad governance in Nigeria, urging them not to be intimidated by what the ruling class may have said about the protest. He said, “This is your opportunity. It is remaining four days until the day of protest; come out and protest. Men and women, children and adults, boys and girls come out and protest. This is your opportunity. “Where are the people they kidnapped or killed their relatives? This is your opportunity to protest. Come out and protest in order to remove bad governance. Come out and protest.” Thousands of Nigerians have begun mobilising for a nationwide public protest, dubbed ‘EndBadGovernance’, to demand change. The protest is aimed to express displeasure over the hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Also, organisers of the planned nationwide protest had written to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, seeking that Eagle Square be made available for the peaceful demonstration between August 1 and 10, 2024. In a letter signed by Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement (TIB) in Abuja, the protesters demanded unrestricted access to the venue 24/7 throughout the protest, and possibly even after it concludes.Meanwhile, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters had claimed that some miscreants were plotting to attack religious houses, shops and business centres during the planned nationwide protests.
TINUBU REBUKES PROTEST SPONSORS, SAYS THEY DON’T LOVE NIGERIA
TINUBU REBUKES PROTEST SPONSORS, SAYS THEY DON’T LOVE NIGERIA In a strong rebuke of planned nationwide protests, President Bola Tinubu has accused the organizers of harboring ill intent towards the country. Speaking to a delegation of Islamic leaders on Thursday, Tinubu claimed the sponsors of the demonstrations do not truly love Nigeria and instead have their sights set beyond the country’s borders. According to reports from Channels TV, the President went on to allege that these protest backers are holding virtual meetings across the world, suggesting their loyalties may lie elsewhere. Tinubu’s comments come as Nigeria braces for a wave of nationwide protests over the state of the economy. The President sought to frame the planned demonstrations as driven by “politics of hate, and anger” rather than legitimate grievances. He cautioned such protests could “degenerate into violence and set the country backward.” In an attempt to get ahead of accusations of cronyism, Tinubu also used the meeting to forcefully rebut claims that he has a “cabal” or external sponsors.He maintained that his victorious presidential campaign was self-funded, stating: “The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune.”
SUDDEN SURGE IN NIGERIA’S PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM MALTA
SUDDEN SURGE IN NIGERIA’S PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM MALTA Nigeria’s petroleum importation from Malta surged significantly to $2.8 billion in 2023. Nigeria is one of Africa’s biggest oil-producing nations — but it lacks local refining capacity. Speaking at an event in May, Vice-President Kashim Shettima had said over $25 billion is expended on the importation of refined petroleum products yearly. The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is the sole importer of petroleum products in the country. According to data from Trademap, a database on international trade statistics, between 2017 and 2022, there were no imports of the commodity from Malta — an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea. However, the value of imported petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals was $13.32 million in 2016. This represents a 20,921 percent increase compared to the amount ($2.8 billion) recorded in 2023, according to TheCable Index analysis. Further checks showed that the importation of petroleum products from Malta gulped $47.5 million in 2013. The amount increased to $59.98 million and $117.01 million in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Similar import figures were also shared on social media by StatiSense, a data company. On July 22, Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, said some personnel of the NNPC Limited, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta. “Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta,” the billionaire had said. “We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.” In response to Dangote’s allegation, Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the NNPC, said he does not own a blending plant in Malta.An oil blending plant is a facility which has no refining capability but is either capable of producing finished motor gasoline through mechanical blending or blends oxygenates with motor gasoline.
AGF WARNS LOCAL GOVT CHAIRMEN: TAMPER WITH FAAC ALLOCATIONS AND GO TO JAIL
AGF WARNS LG CHAIRMEN, TAMPER WITH LOCAL FAAC ALLOCATIONS AND GO TO JAIL Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has vowed to prosecute local government chairmen and councillors who tamper with FAAC allocations meant for their jurisdictions. Fagbemi emphasizes the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on local government autonomy, aiming to ensure funds allocated to local governments are directly received and utilized by them, not state governments. He highlights the absence of immunity for local government officials and warns of jail term for those found misappropriating funds, urging them to prioritize local development and governance. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has vowed to ensure the conviction and imprisonment of any serving local government chairmen or councillors tampering with the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to the LGs. He disclosed this on Thursday at the 17th-anniversary annual lecture event of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja, attended by Nairametrics. His latest reaction comes a few days after he instituted an LG autonomy suit at the Supreme Court and defeated the state governors’ legal team who unanimously opposed it at the apex court. Why FG Opted for Supreme Court Instead of NASS Fagbemi narrated to the audience that for over two decades, governance in most of the 774 local governments, the third tier and closest level of government to the grassroots, has been almost crippled, and all efforts by previous administrations to solve this problem had been frustrated. He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being conscious of the linkage of governance with security and human rights, took the bold decision to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the issue of LG autonomy. He stated that the singular judgment of the apex court would not only improve governance at the local government level but would also significantly enhance security and access to human rights. He explained that prior to the Supreme Court judgment, it was expected that authorities at the state level would allow the local government to function as described by the 1999 Constitution, but that failed to happen. He said the option of going to the Supreme Court was due to the roadblocks associated with the Constitution amendment in the National Assembly. He said, “The money meant for the local government was not given to the local government, and if we had gone via amendment of the Constitution, whoever that Speaker was, who attempted to allow an amendment of the Constitution to give serious autonomy to the local government if he survived that term, he is not coming back. That one is sure. “We now thought, this money is still coming from the federation, and in a way, the money is meant for the local government; the federation now says, states be our agents, hold this money for onward transmission to the local government. “There are two issues: the states were the agents of the federation; when the money got to the states, they became trustees of the local government so either way, they are to do their utmost to ensure that the funds were not tampered with. “But what do we have? If you go to some local government today, some have grown with weeds. “At that stage, we felt it is no longer possible to persuade the states to follow the Constitution except there is an order.” Jail threat for serving LG Chairmen Fagbemi continued that while credit must be given to the Supreme Court for providing a resounding judgment in favour of local government funds immediately going directly to the local government, there are still some issues. He observed that local government chairmen may want to divert the funds amid state pressure. But…
AUGUST 1 PROTEST: MANY POLITICIANS HAVE BOOKED THEIR FLIGHTS TO LEAVE NIGERIA – ACTIVIST
AUGUST 1 PROTEST: MANY POLITICIANS HAVE BOOKED THEIR FLIGHTS TO LEAVE NIGERIA – ACTIVIST Popular Nigerian activist, Comrade Israel Joe, has alleged that many politicians have made plans to leave the country ahead of the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1. He stated that the leaders are the cause of the problems in Nigeria but would be taught a lesson by the hungry masses. According to him, there would be anger in the nation until hunger is addressed. “All the politicians in Nigeria are scared of protest. National Assembly have taken a break. Majority of the politicians have booked their flight out of the country all before 1st of August,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. “The leaders are the cause of the problems they are running away from. A lot of youth leaders have come out to denounce and distanced themselves from the protest but they can’t even get close to the venue of any protest ground. “The hungry Nigerians would teach them a lesson. They can only be in their houses observing from afar because make who get mind come stop the anger in the youths.”Until hunger is addressed, anger is inevitable in Nigeria. The leaders are not aware that Nigerians have gotten to the biblical point of “If I perish I perish”
DON’T DETAIN ANY SUSPECT BEYOND 24 HOURS – AGF CAUTIONS SECURITY AGENCIES
DON’T DETAIN ANY SUSPECT BEYOND 24 HOURS – AGF CAUTIONS SECURITY AGENCIES The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has cautioned security agencies in the country against detaining suspects beyond the time allowed by law. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, specifically admonished security agents to always abide by the provisions of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution in relation to the rights of suspects in their custody. Section 35(3) provides that an arrested person has the constitutional right to be informed within 24 hours, in a language he understands, of the facts and grounds for his arrest and detention. Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the yearly lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Fagbemi threatened to severely sanction any security agents found detaining suspects longer than the constitutionally permitted period. His lecture revolved around ‘Governance, Security, and Human Rights’, which he claimed to be momentous as it addressed some of the most pressing issues facing the country today. AGF said that law enforcement agents must do due diligence before arresting anyone, adding that situations where people are languishing in detention cells beyond the time allowed under the Constitution or by order of the courts will no longer be tolerated. Fagbemi warned that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to those found guilty of unlawful detention. According to him, the government of President Bola Tinubu will not condone any reprehensible action, and as the Chief Law Officer of the country, he will ensure no one tramples on the rights of another person. The justice minister said, “I wish to remind our law enforcement agents that they must respect the laws of the land and not keep people in detention beyond a reasonable time as stipulated in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. “Law enforcement agents must do due diligence before arresting anyone. Situations where people are languishing in detention cells beyond the time allowed under the constitution or by order of the courts will no longer be tolerated, and appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to those found guilty of contravening the laws of the land. Fagbemi said, “the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not condone any reprehensible action, and as the chief law officer of this country, I will ensure no one tramples on the rights of another person. “The collaboration of HURIWA in this endeavour cannot be overstated. Your tireless advocacy and public education are vital to the advancement of human rights in Nigeria. “As we commemorate this 17th lecture series, let us renew our commitment to working together for a Nigeria where good governance, security, and human rights coexist harmoniously. “Let us strive to create a society where every Nigerian can live free from fear and oppression, where their rights are respected, and where justice prevails, Fagbemi said.” Ahead of the planned nationwide demonstration over economic hardship in the country, the military has warned organisers of the protest against any form of violence.The police had also warned against violent protests in August.
LEAKED MEMO: IGP EGBETOKUN DIRECTS PERSONNEL TO WORK WITH MILITARY, OTHERS TO PREVENT ANY PROTEST
LEAKED MEMO: IGP, EGBETOKUN, DIRECTS PERSONNEL TO WORK WITH MILITARY, OTHERS TO PREVENT ANY PROTEST The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has directed that no form of protest must be allowed between August 1 and 10, 2024. This comes amid plans by Nigerians to hold nationwide #EndBadGovernnaceInNigeria protests during the period. The Nigerian government through the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has insisted that citizens have the right to protest but that it must be peaceful, as violent protests would be frowned upon. This position is contrary to a memo from police commissioners to state criminal investigation departments and other police units, stating that no form of protest should be in states. The leaked memo noted that the directive came from the Inspector General of Police through the Department of Operations in Abuja. It said that information received “reveals that some unidentified groups are mobilising for mass protest nationwide from 1st to 10th August 2024, find attached handbill for details of their movement, “The INGENPOL (inspector general of police) directs that you be proactive X mobilise well kitted and equipped personnel yours X synergies with other sister agencies and the military X take over all strategic points in your AOR (Areas of Responsibility) x deploy undercover for intelligence gathering x disperse unlawful gathering x be in heart-to-heart conversation with community stakeholders x no form of protest must be allowed during the period.”