HOW ASO ROCK SPENT N244M ON TYRES IN ONE DAY
HOW ASO ROCK SPENT N244M ON TYRES IN ONE DAY Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of government, has spent a whopping sum of N244,654,350 for the purchase and supply of tyres in a single day, according to findings by Daily Trust. Investigation and data gathered from govspend, a portal documenting the Presidential Villa expenditure, showed that the State House made payments for the supply of an unspecified quantity of bulletproof tyres and Westlake tyres, the week that the President Bola Tinubu government marked its first year in office. Tinubu took over from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, 2023. Documents showed that the sums of N200,583,390, N38,070,000, and N6,000,960, were respectively paid for these items, on May 21, 2024. The documents revealed that two separate payments were made for the purchase and supply of tyres (no specified quantity) for bulletproof vehicles and another five armoured bulletproof tyres to Obi-Wealth Enterprises Nigeria Limited (RC-640684) for the sums of N200,583,390 and N38,070,000. A quick search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website revealed that the company is inactive. Hommy & Fay Investments Limited, active on the CAC portal, handled the other part of the supply of an unspecified number of Westlake tyres (315/80R22) for N6,000,960. Attempts to get reactions from the presidency over the tyre expenditure did not yield result as several calls made to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not go through. The message sent to him had not been replied as of the time of filing this report. Twenty-four hours after the tyre payments were made, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, apologised to Nigerians over the nationwide hardship. Speaking during the ministerial sectoral update, he said the policies of the Tinubu-led government were on track despite the currency crisis and inflation which has frustrated economic growth. “So what’s the answer to all of these? It’s to restore macroeconomic stability that will ensure that investors, both domestic and international put their face in our economy once again. And we are all doing this without a blame game. And I apologize for the pain that they may occasion, but they are necessary… Is our strategy, right? Absolutely. We believe our strategy is right, but it requires occasional calibration. Put good money to use,” he had said. Nigeria’s inflation has risen to a 28-year high, worsening the cost of living—a stance largely attributed to President Tinubu’s policies. However, critics have accused the Tinubu administration of “frivolous spending” despite numerous pleas to the citizens over the current hardship. There was a backlash the last time the president asked Nigerians to make sacrifice for the progress of the nation. Tinubu had, while addressing journalists after observing the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, stressed the need for the people to follow the path of sacrifice to make the nation great. The comment had elicited reactions from Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others. An economist and lecturer at Saadatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso, Kano, who is also the Director, Fiscal Discipline and Development Advocacy Centre (FIDAC), Dr. Abdulsalam Kani, said the government had failed to fulfil its part of the bargain, especially promises made to Nigerians. “The government has removed fuel subsidy and increased electricity tariff, plunging many into difficulty. Nigerians were promised that Port Harcourt refinery will begin production in December last year, and that has not happened. Despite these and the failure of the administration to fulfil promises, they are making plans to buy new aircraft for the president and vice president,” he said.He said the government had equally failed to address rising inflation which is above 33 per cent at the moment.
NIGERIAN GOVT SPENT N473M TO SPONSOR TINUBU’S WIFE TRIP TO UK, MOZAMBIQUE, ETHIOPIA
NIGERIAN GOVT SPENT N473M TO SPONSOR TINUBU’S WIFE TRIP TO UK, MOZAMBIQUE, ETHIOPIA The Nigerian government spent the sum of N473 million to sponsor the trips of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to three countries; United Kingdom, Mozambique and Ethiopia, data from public payments portal Govspend.ng has shown. The Nigerian government spent the sum of ₦126.295 million to sponsor the trip of the First Lady to London, UK. The amount was equivalent of $83,967.00 in March 2024, meaning the money was exchanged at the rate of N1,504/dollar. Another sum of N144.571 million was spent to sponsor her trip to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The trip was made on February 9, 2024. The dollar equivalent of the amount was $96,118. Another sum of N202.386 million was spent to sponsor the First Lady’s trip to Mozambique in March 2024. The dollar equivalent of the money stood at $126,834.00. All of these expenditures were recorded on the same day, March 15, 2024 on the Govspend website. The expenditures come amid concerns on the need to ensure proper management of the country’s scarce resources. The Nigerian government has continually lamented inadequate revenue. The organised labour recently demanded an increase in the minimum wage, a development that has continued to trigger disagreements, with the government saying it is unable to pay due to paucity of funds. SaharaReporters recently raised flags on the inability of the country to release budget performance reports under the Tinubu-led administration, a violation of the law and one that denies citizens access to information on what the government is spending money on and how it is spent on a quarterly basis.The government also plans to borrow N6.6 trillion to manage budget shortfalls, yet prudence in budget management remains a keen concern.
LABOUR LEADERS DISRUPT LP MEETING WITH PETER OBI IN ATTENDANCE
LABOUR LEADERS DISRUPT LP MEETING WITH PETER OBI IN ATTENDANCE The leadership crisis within the Labour Party escalated yesterday as the Labour Party National Transition Committee (LPNTC) demanded the immediate resignation of Chairman Julius Abure, disrupting a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate in attendance. The labour leaders, who forcefully entered the venue of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja convened by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, insisted that Abure’s tenure, along with those other executive members, would expire by the end of this month. Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, chairman of the Labour Party National Transition Committee (LPNTC), expressed the committee’s determination to forge ahead. “The issue at hand is the expiration of Abure’s tenure and that of the National Working Committee by the end of this month. We cannot afford a leadership vacuum. We have attempted to resolve this issue peacefully. If we can find a resolution without resorting to conflict, that would be ideal. “Today’s events suggest that we must either find our way forward or make our way forward. Rest assured, we will not tolerate lawlessness. If anyone attempts to undermine our efforts, we are more than capable of responding,” Omar said. According to him, the committee had been granted the mandate by stakeholders to organise a new and all-inclusive national convention. Meanwhile, Peter Obi addressed the labour leaders outside the party secretariat, emphasising his intention to reconcile all aggrieved party members. Obi urged the party leadership to continue their efforts to bring together all dissenting party members and supporters. “I will ensure that every discord within the party is addressed promptly. Leaders of the party must come together and determine the future of our organisation,” Obi said. He stressed the importance of the recent reconciliation between the party and estranged former leaders, led by former Deputy National Chairman (South) Lamidi Apapa, stating that it would greatly benefit the party. “The reconciliation we witnessed today is critical for the growth of our party. Everyone must reconcile with each other,” Obi said, adding that “reconciliation is a priority for me. “It is something I do every day, even within my own family. When we have disagreements with our loved ones, we reconcile. Today, during the meeting, I emphasised that I have come to initiate the process of reconciling our party.“The individuals present here are members of our family whom we must reconcile with. We will sit down together and decide the future of our party. I am ready for a reconciliation meeting whenever you choose.” After the crisis, the embattled Labour Party national chairman, Julius Abure, commended Obi for trying to make peace among the warring parties in the party. In a statement released by Labour Party national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure expressed satisfaction with Obi’s leadership role in revitalising the party and steering it towards becoming a formidable entity capable of bringing about the desired new Nigeria. Abure said, “The Labour Party appreciates your reconciliation efforts, and we will provide our full support. We are not the aggressors here. “We have always sought peace because we cannot approach future elections with divided loyalty. We have made it clear that we are focused on the 2027 elections, which is why we are the only party to have nominated our candidate. “We know where we are heading and refuse to be distracted. We will undoubtedly reach our destination of creating a better nation for Nigerians.” Meanwhile, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national transition committee have called on Julius Abure to resign from his position as national chairman of the party. The NLC, together with some party members, gathered at the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday to demand the his immediate…
FEC APPROVES VARIATION COSTS FOR THREE ROAD PROJECTS
FEC APPROVES VARIATION COSTS FOR THREE ROAD PROJECTS The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of N42.4 billion for the variation of costs on three major road projects in the country. The council, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, also reviewed the status of ongoing road rehabilitation and construction projects across the country. The first project approved is the construction of the Umulungbe-Umuoka road in Enugu State, which will see an additional N2.6 billion added to the initial budget of N6.245 billion, bringing the total cost to N8.85 billion. The second project is the repair of the Igamu bridge in Lagos State, which has seen its cost reviewed from N1.16 billion to N2.229 billion. The third project is the dualization of the Calabar-Itu road in Cross River State, which will now be constructed with a revised budget of N118.412 billion, up from the initial estimate of N79.649 billion. In addition to these approvals, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that the ministry has completed 80% of the emergency repairs of roads and bridges across the country, with N300 billion already released by the Ministry of Finance. The minister also revealed that the Abuja-Kano road has been divided into three sections, with two contractors – Dangote and BUA – mobilized to site, while Julius Berger will be working on another section. The ministry plans to publish details of the projects and their completion levels by next week.The approvals and updates on these projects are expected to boost economic activities in the affected states and provide relief to commuters who have been affected by the poor state of these roads.
BREAKING: EL RUFAI DRAGS KADUNA ASSEMBLY TO COURT OVER N432B PROBE
BREAKING: EL-RUFAI DRAGS KADUNA ASSEMBLY TO COURT OVER N432B PROBE The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a lawsuit against the Kaduna State House of Assembly over the N432 billion investigation findings. El-Rufai’s son, Bello, disclosed that his father filed the suit against the defamation of his character by the state assembly. Posting on X, Bello wrote: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai filed a lawsuit against the Kaduna State House of Assembly today for Defamation of his Character, amongst other spurious, unfounded allegations levelled against his person. “I advise they start compiling legal fees to defend their lies in court.” Recall that El-Rufai’s administration was indicted to the tune of N423 billion. On March 30th, 2024, Governor Uba Sani revealed during a town hall meeting that the state faced a substantial debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities inherited from the previous administration. Sani had said the debt burden led to over 70% of the state’s allocation being used to service the inherited debt.Following this, the Kaduna State House of Assembly formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate the state’s financial transactions from May 29th, 2015 to May 29, 2023.
OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ENUGU SQUARE UP AS ENSIEC RELEASES TIME TABLE FOR LG ELECTION
OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ENUGU SQUARE UP AS ENSIEC RELEASES TIMETABLE FOR LG ELECTION Political anxiety and fireworks now envelope Enugu State following the release of the schedule for local government Election by the Enugu State Independent National Electoral Commission (ENSIEC). The State Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) announced guidelines for the forthcoming Local Government Council elections scheduled to take place on October 5, 2024. In a public notice signed by the ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Chimdubem Ngwu, the commission outlined the guidelines for political parties and candidates participating in the elections. According to the guidelines, “political parties are to obtain nomination forms (ENSIEC 7 and ENSIEC 7A) for Chairmanship and Councillorship elections respectively from August 16 to 23, 2024. Completed forms must be returned on or before August 30, 2024.” ENSIEC further stated that to qualify for the elections, candidates must meet certain qualifications, including;Being a citizen of Nigeria. The candidate must also be at least 30 years old for Chairmanship and 25 years old for Councillorship ENSIEC further stated that candidate must also have a minimum educational qualification of School Certificate (WASC) or its equivalent. On the disqualification of candidates, ENSIEC further said that such candidates may be disqualified if they have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country or have been adjudged to be of unsound mind. Again candidates will be disqualified if they are under a sentence of death or imprisonment or have been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty. Finally, if they are undischarged bankrupts or are members of secret societies, they will be disqualified. ENSIEC went further to announce that “the election will be conducted by open secret ballot system. Voting will take place on October 5, 2024, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.” The election umpire however, said that “political parties and candidates are advised to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful and lawful manner. Campaigns shall start on September 14, 2024, and end by 6:00 pm on October 4, 2024,” while adding that political parties must submit the list of nominated candidates to ENSIEC by August 30, 2024. “Candidates must be sponsored by a registered political party. Candidates must be ordinarily resident in the ward or Local Government Area they seek to represent.” Finally ENSIEC stated that”Candidates must produce evidence of tax clearance for a period of three years immediately preceding the year of the election even as it warned that “any political party or candidate that fails to comply with these guidelines may be disqualified from participating in the election.” However, since the release of the local council election timetable in the state, political atmosphere has once again been charged with many candidates from different political trying to convince voters on why they should vote for them. From time immemorial, local council elections especially in the South East zone have become a mere formality. Governors are usually accused of literally handpicking candidates whom they think will be under their whims and caprices. These council chairmen so selected are always at the beck and call of these governors, with no meaningful infrastructural development in their respective local government, after two or four years of their tenures as the case may be. Opposition parties that field candidates for the election usually have themselves defeated or rather alloted some compensatory votes, thereby looking like a political novice in an election they might probably have won. Nevertheless, some opposition political parties have also rekindled their desire and readiness to muscle political power with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the coming election in the state. In a chat, the Labour Party in the state stated that the party had been following the trend of events with regards the election timetable. The state Publicity Secretary Barr. Onuora Odo further explained that…
PROTESTS BREAK OUT IN NSUKKA AFTER POLICE SHOOT, KILL FUN SEEKER
PROTESTS BREAK OUT IN NSUKKA AFTER POLICE SHOOT, KILL FUN SEEKER An unidentified policeman assigned to the Nsukka Urban Police Division allegedly fatally shot a man known as Amuche along Echara Road in Enugu State’s Nsukka Local Government Area on Sunday night. Reports indicate that a group of plainclothes policemen were relaxing at a local center when trouble began. An altercation ensued after one officer reportedly touched a woman, suspected to be a sex worker, during a dance outside a bar. The woman accused the officer of misconduct, leading to a heated argument involving the center’s manager. The situation escalated into a physical altercation, prompting additional officers to intervene. In an attempt to disperse the ensuing crowd, one officer discharged an AK-47, accidentally hitting Amuche, who was playing snooker nearby. The incident triggered protests in the area, with local youths carrying Amuche’s body to the Nsukka Police Division in demand for justice.Efforts to reach Enugu State Police Command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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- June 26, 2024
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HOW I MET CHIOMA – DAVIDO
HOW I MET CHIOMA – DAVIDO Davido Adeleke, the Nigerian pop star, has clarified the origins of his relationship with his newly wedded wife, Chioma. In a short video posted on X while preparing for their wedding, the pop star was seen hugging his close friend Lati. During their conversation, Davido said, “You know it was Lati who introduced me to my wife,” surprising everyone in the room. Towards the end of the video, they enthusiastically cheered for Lati. Earlier this year, in an interview with YouTuber Tayo Aina, Davido revealed how he met Chioma. He said, “I was in school for a year before I blew up. That was when I met my wife. I remember the day I saw her—I can never forget it. I was in a Prado, and I looked back and saw this girl walking with her bag. It was Chioma. I called her, but she didn’t answer me at the time. Later on, she came to Lagos, and we connected. I was like, yeah, I got you.” Lateef Biola, better known as Lati, has been with Davido since the pop star was ten years old. He is in charge of A&R (artists and repertoire) for Davido’s record label, DMW, and also runs his own company. He is the director of Latino General Merchants Nigeria Limited, an oil and gas company in Lagos. In 2002, he graduated from the Department of Mass Communication at Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State.Davido and Chioma later officially got married at an impressive ceremony held in Lagos on Tuesday, attended by who-is-who in the country, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lagos Governor, Sanwo-olu, Abia Governor, Alex Otti, among others.
KANO GOVERNOR RESCUES BAYERO’S FAMILY FROM EVICTION IN LAGOS
KANO GOVERNOR RESCUES BAYERO’S FAMILY FROM EVICTION IN LAGOS The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has rescued Zainab Jummai Ado Bayero, daughter of the former emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, as well as her mother and brother from being evicted from their Lagos apartment. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson of the Kano State governor. According to the statement, Governor Yusuf has assisted Ms Bayero, her brother and her mother with the rent. Bature said he arrived Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday, June 25, to meet Sunel Kumar, general manager of the apartment where the Ado Bayero family had lived. Bature disclosed that the governor’s intervention followed an appeal in the newspapers by Princess Zainab Bayero on behalf of her mother and brother who were allegedly neglected by the royal family after the death of late Ado Bayero. Zainab, her brother and her mother have reportedly been facing difficult times since the demise of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. The statement noted the princess, her mother and brother appreciated the representative of Kano governor for the kind gesture. “You came at the right time, we were about to be forcefully evicted from the facility for our inability to pay the rent, they said today is final, we must move out by 3:00 pm and you came just fifteen minutes to the time, they have already mobilised youths to remove us out of the apartment, Alhamdulillah for your arrival,” Zainab reportedly stated. On his own part, Bature stated that the governor’s humanitarian intervention was due to the fact that many citizens of Kano feel that the matter did not portray the royal family and Kano in good light. “They are not only members of the Royal Family, they are our Muslim sisters and brother currently in need,” Bature said.
NYSC ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF BATCH B, STREAM 1 ORIENTATION CAMP
NYSC ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF BATCH B, STREAM 1 ORIENTATION CAMP The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has said that all is now set for the commencement of the Orientation Course programme for 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream One set of Corps Members. A statement signed by Eddy Megwa, NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, said that all prospective Corps Members are to access their call-up letters on their dashboards on Tuesday. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Prospective Corps Members are to report to their various Orientation camps between Wednesday, 26th and Monday, 1st July, 2024 while the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to hold on Tuesday 2nd July, 2024,” the statement said. “In addition to the above, the Director General, Brigadier General YB Ahmed advised all the Prospective Corps Members to be security conscious as they travel to their Orientation Camps. He also appealed to all parents and guardians to ensure that their wards do not travel at night.“The Director General wishes all the Prospective Corps Members and other camp officials journey mercy to the Orientation Camps.”