🗞️ The "oil producer" now imports oil
Hi! It’s hard out here for a Nigerian
In this edition
What’s happened since the Presidential tribunal?
Nigeria takes on the food crisis
Gender-based violence
Fatal work hazards
Nigeria is importing oil
This episode is 2,500 words (about 9-minute read)
Latest on presidential tribunal - aftermath
At the start of the month, the presidential tribunal court declared Tinubu the winner of the case against Bola Tinubu/APC vs Abubakar Atiku/PDP and Peter Obi/LP.
Quick recap: Tinubu, Obi and Atiku ran for president. According to the “results” Tinubu won. Both Obi and Atiku they both believed that the votes had been manipulated against them, so they challenged it in court. This led to a tribunal that ultimately decided Tinubu won.
Now, Atiku and Obi have challenged the tribunal’s verdict at the Supreme Court
Atiku says the court made big mistakes and didn't consider the real issues in his complaint.
Obi is also determined to prove that Tinubu’s win is as a result of election malpractice
Atiku working all the angles
In addition to the Supreme Court case, Atiku Abubakar filed a petition in the United States District Court in Illinois asking them to allow him access to Tinubu's academic records from Chicago State University.
The court approved Atiku’s request, asking the university to provide all relevant and non-privileged documents to Atiku Abubakar within two days.
Following this order, Tinubu’s camp sent a request asking the US court to delay the delivery deadline for the documents and for whatever reason, they agreed.
Tinubu’s guys asked the court to delay until at least Monday the 25th so their lawyers could argue why not to release the documents. The court agreed to halt it but has extended the argument deadline to the 28th. At this time, Atiku’s camp does not know if the initial approval will be revoked.
Background: The dispute revolves around Atiku's claim that the documents proving Tinubu's graduation in 1979 from Chicago State University are fake, which he believes could nullify Tinubu's election victory. The university has confirmed Tinubu's attendance and graduation but has indicated that it cannot authenticate the diploma certificate in question as it is considered a ceremonial document.
At the U.S. hearing, Chicago State University expressed its willingness to provide the requested documents once legal issues are resolved.
Kano
The Kano State Tribunal has overturned the victory of NNPP candidate Kabir Yusuf in the Kano governorship election. They've given the win to Dr. Nasir Gawuna, the APC candidate in the March 18 election.
The tribunal's decision came because Yusuf's vote count seemed suspicious - there were more votes than eligible voters.
So, they decided to investigate and found that this issue actually helped Yusuf.
After a closer look, they discovered that 165,663 votes in favour of Yusuf lacked proper signatures or stamps, so they removed them from his total.
With those votes out of the picture, Gawuna ended up with more votes, making him the new winner.
Security
Food crisis
In Nigeria, terrorist attacks and climate issues (lack of rain, unpredictable weather changes, flooding), have led to food shortages. Between January and June, more than 128 farmers were killed and 37 kidnapped.
The country declared a state of emergency on food insecurity and is working to resolve it:
Nigeria 🤝Cuba
Nigeria and Cuba have signed an agreement to work together on food security and agriculture. They work together in areas like improving crop quality, agricultural technology, and reducing food waste.
Nigeria is also interested in collaborating with Cuba in poultry, livestock, and fisheries.
Cuba's Minister of Agriculture expressed excitement about this partnership and said they would use their expertise to help Nigeria with its food and agriculture goals.
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
According to the country director of the International IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue, the organisation has helped 70,000 farmers in Benue state improve their farming to make more food. With IFAD's support, farmers in Benue grow more cassava and rice - Guardian NG
Wike’s busy in Abuja
Demolitions
Wike has been actively working to correct the Abuja master plan. A few weeks ago, the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, promised to get rid of all unapproved stores and street sellers in Abuja and he seems to be going through with it.
Last week, Wike ordered his team to take down The Kilishi market in Abuja. - Punch
Before the demolition, the government had a meeting with the market traders and shop owners to discuss the issues around the market.
They said that the market was too crowded, and dirty, and had illegal constructions, which made it difficult for people to move around and could be dangerous in case of a fire.
So, the government decided to remove these problems and make the area safer and cleaner.
Land repossession
Wike has also revoked the certificate of occupancy for 165 plots of land in Abuja due to the failure of their owners to develop them. Like they weren't using it so he collected it without warning.
Among the affected landowners are prominent individuals like Peter Obi and several former government officials and corporate entities.
The revocation is based on Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, which cites non-development as the reason for the action.
Crime and Insecurity
Assault
A leader from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, named Olumide Awolumate, beat up the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Olubunmi Osadahun, during an argument about giving out relief supplies in Arigidi Akoko.
In a video, Awolumate is seen hitting the commissioner with a chair, and she got hurt and had to go to the hospital.
Awolumate says that it was actually the commissioner and her son who attacked him in his house. So we decided to attack her. Typical
The government has suspended Awolumate, but there’s no news about an arrest.
Kidnappings in Enugu
Kidnappers abducted 14 people who were travelling by bus along Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, a now-known destination for kidnappings.
According to reports, the criminals took everyone on the bus except two women who hid underneath it.
Some believe that criminals are from a neighbouring state and are working with local criminals to commit these crimes.
The police have been trying to catch these criminals. Recently, police killed 28 suspects and seized their weapons.
There are supposed to be security checkpoints, but they seem to not be doing much. Some are questioning if the security agencies are doing enough to stop these kidnappings.
The police however say they haven't received any official reports about this specific incident yet.
Cults attack Ogun
In Sagamu, Ogun, two rival groups called Eiye and Aiye in a fight that has been on for about a week has now led to the deaths of around 20 men, including some high school students.
People in Sagamu are living in fear because they are worried about being caught in the crossfire of this battle. The fighting has been happening in different parts of the town, and innocent people have been hurt or killed.
Security agencies are working to stop this problem, and so far, they have arrested 8 people connected to the case
On September 21, the DSS arrested a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Damilare Mohammed and six other people in Abeokuta.
They were suspected of being involved in a clash between rival cult groups.
Damilare Mohammed allegedly gave some of the suspected cult members a place to hide when the government came looking for them — literally in his official. bold.
Weapons, including guns, were reportedly found in their possession.
Note: Damilare Mohammed, who is *checks note* in the Ogun State House of Reps, has previously been arrested by the DSS for his involvement in a violent protest in Sagamu earlier this year.
‘Doctors’ removing organs
Plateau
In Plateau, the Police Command has arrested three people in connection to the case of organ harvesting in the state
They arrested two people who were supposedly doctors, and one person, Noah Kekere, who was pretending to be one.
The fake doctor was arrested earlier for taking a woman's kidney during surgery. The real doctors were arrested because they helped with the surgery.
This all started after a man accused Kekere of taking his wife's kidney when she went for surgery in 2018.
Lagos
A boy named Adebola Akin-Bright had a part of his intestine missing after two surgeries performed by a man who was posing as a surgeon. - Punch
The doctor, Abayomi Baiyewu, said he “relied on his experience as a regular doctor” to perform two surgeries on a child.
According to reports, he didn't even check the boy properly before the first surgery, Adebola was complaining of the same problem after the first one, so Baiyewu did another.
After the surgeries, Adebola had more problems. The “doctor” wanted to do a third surgery, but instead, Adebola was taken to another hospital. That’s when they found out part of his intestine was missing. Adebola died days later.
The doctor didn't keep the removed part for tests.
Now, lawmakers are calling for stricter rules for doctors and hospitals.
Justice For Austa
In July 2023, Benjamin Best, killed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Augusta Osedion
Augusta’s mother couldn’t reach her for days, so she called the police who forced Benjamin’s locked apartment open and found her dead and her genitals removed.
The police said they’d investigate, but months later, they didn’t have anything on it.
Benjamin is now on the run. He confessed to the crime on social media but hasn't turned himself in. Augusta's mother is asking for justice, and there is a call from concerned Nigerians for Benjamin's arrest.
Even though the police now know, or at least have a lead to, who killed Augusta, they still seem to be dragging their feet.
No visible action has been taken to apprehend Benjamin.
Mohbad
As we reported last week, the police have officially taken over the Mohbad case. They’ve performed an autopsy as promised but results have not yet been released.
People in Nigeria and across the world have held candlelight possessions to pay their respects and continue to pressure the police to take the case seriously.
Humanitarian crisis
Fatal working conditions
In August, a faulty elevator claimed the life of Dr. Vware Diaso at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.
Last week Sunday, Dr. Umoh Michael of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) passed away after a gruelling 72-hour shift, collapsing in church.
Following his death, LUTH house doctors went on a 48-hour strike to mourn and demand better schedules, highlighting overwork, bullying, and poor conditions.
No safety equipment
On the 23rd of September, there was a fire at the Mega Plastic factory in Ilupeju, Lagos.
It started in the engineer's office and got worse because the engineer wasn't there.
Despite the majority of their work posing a fire hazard, the factory did not have any fire safety materials, so they had to wait for the fire department to arrive before anything could be done.
Thankfully no one died, but workers were left with varying degrees of injury.
Terrorism
In Zamfara three communities had to pay N3 million to a terrorist leader named Dan Bokolo to avoid being attacked by his group.
The terrorist demanded it as reparations after information members of the community provided to the security forces about the whereabouts of his brother, Abdullahi, led to his arrest.
The communities' leaders reached out to Dan Bokolo to make peace, and after negotiations, he agreed to accept N3 million as a fine from the communities for allegedly “betraying” his brother.
This payment was made against the governor's stance — he refused to negotiate with terrorists.
These “protection payments” have become common in Zamfara. There are areas where residents pay a monthly fee to avoid attacks.
Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye
Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye, a Nigerian student who was flying from Lagos to London on Egypt Air. Sadly, she fell ill during the flight and passed away in a hospital after landing in Cairo, Egypt - Daily Trust
Remilekun’s family says the airline did not inform them of her death. Her sister had to take a flight to Cairo when she couldn’t reach Remilekun hours after she was meant to arrive in London.
Still, airline officials are being vague about her cause of death.
The airline stated that Remilekun reported feeling unwell upon arrival in Cairo, and after a medical check, she was hospitalized before she passed away.
Money and economy
Crude oil prices went up to $94, causing concerns about higher gasoline prices in Nigeria. However, marketers say there's been no official word on this, and the government might have enough fuel to last until December. The current prices don't fully match the market conditions, so… petrol is probably being subsidised - Guardian ng
Dangote Refinery is finally refining
However, they are temporarily importing crude oil due to Nigeria’s low oil production and the sale commitments the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has made to other entities.
But, Dangote Refinery plans to transition to NNPCL's crude supply in November and aims to produce 370,000 barrels of crude daily, producing diesel and jet fuel by October 2023.
Nonetheless, challenges persist in Nigeria's oil sector, including limited investments, crude oil theft, and fluctuating production levels.
These issues may lead to continued reliance on oil imports to run the refineries.
NNPC retiring staff early
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced on their social media that they have asked staff with 15 months until retirement to retire early. They say they are doing this to make their company better and more effective. They want to bring in new talent and give opportunities to more Nigerians. They have also appointed new leaders in different areas of their company – Vanguard
Ghana
In recent days, Ghana has witnessed a series of protests against the rising cost of living and economic hardships. The latest is the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest in Accra, Ghana's capital, which has garnered significant attention.
It lasted from September 21 to September 23 and aimed to bring about political change and economic reform.
The demonstrators demanded better living conditions. They were triggered by public discontent over the increasing cost of living for ordinary citizens.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as "Ghana deserves better" and "We are tired of being voting machines" to express their frustrations.
One of the frustrations is distrust in the President’s readiness to fulfil his promises
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, promised to build 111 new hospitals, but there are concerns about whether this will happen.
In the past, a functional hospital was destroyed with the promise of a new one, but it hasn't been built yet.
The police presence was notable, and there were reports of arrests during the demonstrations.
These protests are part of the broader "Fix the Country" movement that emerged in 2021. The movement seeks to address various socio-economic issues and advocate for positive change in Ghana.
Other news
Minister Alkali is happy with progress on the $2 billion Kano/Niger rail project, aiming for completion by 2025 - Guardian
The beef between the Edo State governor and his deputy. Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, apologized to Governor Godwin Obaseki for their feud, asking for forgiveness to work together - Premium Time
The Federal Government is planning two “superhighways” across the country (Abuja-Lagos, Port Harcourt-Lagos) through a Public Private Partnership scheme- Guardian
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) revealed that it has suspended about four unlicensed aviation fuel marketers from the airports - Guardian ng
Retirees of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have demanded proper payment of their terminal benefits- Guardian Ng
Tinubu’s Principal has appointed a new private Secretary: Hakeem Muri Okunola - The Cable
The government has partially re-opened the old Murtala Muhammed terminal for ease of travel - Leadership