Day: January 31, 2023

Petrol price now N550 in most cities as scarcity bites harder

Aminu Imam

…POS racketeering at Abuja fuel stations emerges The blame-game over the 5-month fuel scarcity at the weekend, continued yesterday, with motorists and other users of the product paying between N240 and N550 per litre in major cities across the country. According to reports, in Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Kwara  Abia, Anambra and Benue States, some independent marketers boldly displayed unofficial prices on their pumps, while others left the old official price of N167 per litre, but verbally announced higher prices to willing buyers. It was observed that in some of the…

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2023: EU Election Observer Mission to deploy 100 observers

Aminu Imam

…Says it won’t interfere with process The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) is set to deploy about 100 observers for the coming general elections in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the EU-EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, said the observers would be deployed to all of Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, on election day. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled 25 February for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 11 March for the Governorship and States Houses of…

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Public Anger: “Nigerians owe Tinubu gratitude over Abeokuta outburst” — Arewa Group 

Aminu Imam

A Northern group, under the aegis of ‘Arewa4Asiwaju’, has said the outburst of the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the naira swap saved Nigeria from plunging into crisis.  In what it tagged: the ‘Abeokuta declaration’, the group believes it forced the Federal Government to extend the deadline to 10th February.  The ‘Arewa4Asiwaju’ while attributing the sudden 10 days extension of the Naira swap to what it called Tinubu’s sagacity and courage, said “It was this courage and purposeful leadership shown by the Asíwájú…

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Nigeria risks losing foreign assets to reckless borrowing – CSOs warn

Aminu Imam

Some Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) have raised concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile describing it as a ‘debt trap’ already worsening the country’s crisis-ridden economy and costing the nation its foreign assets. The CSOs consisting of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, (CISLAC) and Christian Aid in partnership with Transparency International, TI), noted that Nigeria is presently in a debt crisis with a fiscal deficit well above the statutory threshold of 3 percent, an increasingly unsustainable debt profile and a rising debt servicing that has been worsened by rising interest…

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Nigeria records 244 cases of Lassa fever, 37 deaths – NCDC

Aminu Imam

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) registered 244 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in 16 states and the FCT as of Jan. 22. The Centre’s Director-General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, told newsmen yesterday, in Abuja, that the centre also recorded 37 deaths, a case-fatality rate of 15.1 percent. The Lassa fever infections were recorded in Ondo State (90); Edo (89); Bauchi (13); Taraba (10); Benue (9); Ebonyi (9); Nasarawa (7), and Plateau, (5). Others are Kogi (4); Anambra (2); Delta (1); Oyo (1); Adamawa (1); Enugu (1); Imo…

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2023: Why Nigeria must tackle fuel scarcity before poll — W’African Democracy group

Aminu Imam

The West African Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), has explained why the government of Nigeria must address the lingering fuel scarcity before the commencement of the general elections . The group stated that petroleum scarcity might lead to a low turnout of voters as most of them would find it difficult to go to their polling units. It equally urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to clarify the constitutional requirements for a candidate to be declared winner in the presidential poll. The organisation, a coalition of 30 civil society and…

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2023: “Even if you betray me, I won’t get angry” – Tinubu tells Edo electorate

Aminu Imam

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that he doesn’t angry when betrayed, expressing that his response to betrayal is to ignore it and work hard. According to an issued statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu stated this during a town hall meeting in Edo State. He said, “We must rescue Edo State. I am ready to work with you. Take lanterns; go from house to house. “Don’t get angry; anger does not solve problems. Disappointment is an energiser for me. You disappoint me,…

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Court dismisses suit seeking to sack Buhari, cancel 2023 elections

Aminu Imam

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, in Abuja, has dismissed a suit against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. A former presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Ambrose Owuru, filed the suit against the President. In his judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the suit was an abuse of court process, was statute-barred, and was an affront to the supremacy of the Supreme Court The judge also held that the suit was baseless, frivolous, irritating and vexatious. Recall that Owuru…

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“We’re steadily winning war against crude oil theft, militancy in Niger-Delta” – Army Commander

Aminu Imam

Commander of 16 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 2, ‘Operation Delta Safe’ (OPDS), says the military is winning the fight against militancy and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. Yakasai spoke on Sunday at the end of the 2022 West African social activities (WASA) held at camp Tukur Buratai barracks, Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state. The crude oil theft has been a source of concern to the government, with huge revenue diverted to the pockets of the perpetrators. Recall that in October 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)…

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2023: FG backs US visa ban on Nigerians undermining democracy – Lai Moh’d

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has said it was in support of the recent visa ban by the United States government on some Nigerians who undermined the nation’s democracy. Recall that the United States government announced visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the country’s democracy, a ban it said was not targeted at the Nigerian people or the government, but at specific individuals. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made the announcement last week in a statement but failed to mention the names of the affected people. Speaking at the 20th…

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