🗞️ The Misogyny is always around the corner
Sexual harassment in the Senate; Lawlessness everywhere; No school during Ramadan; We might lose telco connection soon because of the police
Hello! This week’s theme is self love! If you’re struggling with self love, have a Rose Sangria - it worked for me. If you’re not much into the alcohol of it all, orange juice also does it for me.
In this edition:
Sexual harassment in the Senate
Lawlessness everywhere
No school during Ramadan
We might lose telco connection soon because of the police
Politics
The Misogyny is always around the corner
Last week we reported an incident between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan where Akpabio changed the seating chart at the Senate and dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan when she refused to move.
In response to her allegations, one of Akpabio’s aides, Mfon Patrick, wrote an article on Facebook, and now it’s a legal battle.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a #100.3 billion defamation lawsuit on February 25 against Akpabio and Mfon Patrick.
According to Victor Giwa, the post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate, Natasha’s Birthright?” included a statement suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was only about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.” The misogyny is loud in this one.
However, the senate has since openly backed the Senate President as the legal battle continues.
The recent incident at the Senate is unsurprising. It mirrors the bigger societal disregard for women's rights. Nigeria (much like the rest of the world) hates women.
Turns out Akpabio is, according to Akpoti-Uduaghan, targeting his female colleague because she rebuffed his sexual advances. Surprise Surprise.
Enter: Ekaette Akpabio
On Friday, Ekaette Akpabio–Wife of the Senate President has threatened to sue Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over sexual harassment allegation.
According to her, Akpabio, her husband, has always been a disciplined and respectful man who has done nothing but consistently championed women's participation in governance.
Mrs Akpabio dismissed the allegation and maintained that she would not hesitate to seek legal redress to protect her husband’s integrity.
But there is a track record
The consultant for the Senate President on Media, Kenny Okulogbo, said that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is just angry because they took her out as the chairman of the senate committee on local content, but Ex-managing director in NDDC Joy Nunieh has also accused Akpabio of harassment.
On 13 july, 2020, Mrs Joy Nunieh said on Arise TV that Godswill Akpabio, who was the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs at the time, sexually harassed her.
Mrs Joy Nunieh said the incident happened at his house in Abuja. She said she slapped him and left the building.
Obasa: King of Lagos
The ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, lawmaker representing the Agege constituency, has stated that he has resumed his position.
Obasa said he was never impeached or removed from the assembly, he said to reporters on Thursday that “Obasa is Speaker”
Some Lawmakers in the council are not happy with the decision and have rejected Obasa as the speaker and insisted that Mojisola Meranda, who represents Apapa constituency, should be speaker instead.
On January 13, Obasa was voted out as the speaker for alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
Security
Return of Terrorist Kingpin
Bello Turji's return to Sokoto state has sent fear across the state as people fear for their lives.
In January 2025, the military said they killed Aminu Kanawa, the second in command to Turji and some of his associates, including Turji's son.
Turji remained in hiding until recently, when Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly who represents Sabon Birni Local Government, told reporters that he is back and has turned to terrorizing the villages in Sokoto to get the locals to pay taxes and levy a sum of #25 million.
The military asked the villagers not to pay the levy and promised to keep them protected.
The Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Emeka Onumajuru assured the villagers that soon Turji will be eliminated and his activities will come to an end.
Kidnapping epidemic
Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the national president of the Afenifere youth council is being held captive and his captors are demanding #100 million.
In a social media video that went viral, he pleaded with the public and the federal government to help him.
His abductors threatened to kill him after 48 hours if the family fails to bring the complete #100 million in cash
According to reports, he is said to have sustained a gunshot injury during his abduction.
The Nigerian police force has not commented on the case.
Bringing a Gun to Church
Gunmen stormed a church in Asagba Ogwashi, Delta State, killed the pastor and kidnapped worshippers.
The incident happened during a friday vigil at Elyon Paradise Ministry Church. They shot the pastor and abducted 6 church members.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command–SP Bright Edafe said a rescue team is in the bush tracking the gunmen.
Vigilante Killed a Student
A 400-level student, Sa'id Abdulkadir of the Federal University of Dustinma (FUDMA), Katsina state was killed by vigilantes on Sunday night.
Reports say Abdulkadir was on a bike that was stopped by the vigilante group. The bikeman refused to stop.
The vigilante then fired several shots at the bike. They killed Abdulkadir and injured the bike rider.
Students have since flooded the street to protest Abdulkadir’s death. There is no news on if the vigilantes involved have been arrested or investigated.
Money up, money down
Non Oil-Growth
Nigeria’s push for non-oil growth seems to be paying off as it bumped the GDP by 3.84% in Q4 of 2024 from 3.46% recorded in Q3 2024.
The promise made by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to release the rebased gross domestic product (GDP) could not be kept, it resorted to the old template for the data released.
Analysts said the failure to release the rebased GDP figure will further spread misinformation as the importance of rebased figures is to provide a factual picture of the economy.
They also added that the figures released may not correctly account for the changes in some sectors like technology and services.
FG when you ask if national debt no dey stress them:
Nigeria's debt to the World Bank is about to reach $9.2 billion — FG is eyeing 6 new loans worth $2.23 billion in 2025 to “support economic and structural reforms”.
According to borrowing patterns, in 2023, the World Bank approved a $2.7 billion loan for renewable energy, women’s empowerment, education, and power sector projects for Nigeria; this includes a $500 million loan for women's programme scale-up project.
Also in 2024, the FG shared $4.32 billion across projects.
Then in 2025, there are 6 new loans worth $2.23 billion targeting digital infrastructure, healthcare, education, nutrition, and community resilience
The World Bank's latest financial statements show Nigeria's debt to the International Development Association (IDA) reduced by $300 million in the last quarter of 2024, from $17.1 billion to $16.8 billion in September and December respectively. However, it is still higher than the $16.5 billion recorded in June 2024.
Nothing less than 10 loan projects have been approved by the World Bank under this present administration.
Meanwhile, the 2025 national budget is ready for spending
All federal agencies rn:
Tinubu signed the 2025 budget of N54.99 Trillion into law
The bill was passed on February 13, 2025 by the National Assembly after an increase from the initial #49.7 trillion proposals.
The 2025 Appropriation Act represents a 99.96% increase from the 2024 Budget of N27.5 trillion.
Oil ups and downs
Dangote Refinery
Dangote has reduced the cost of its diesel to N1,020 per litre, down from N1,075 per litre at the gantry price.
In January 2024, when the Dangote Petroleum refinery started working, its initial fuel price for marketers and offtakers was N1700 but was changed three times to N1000 then N950. The present price is 850 per litre.
Marketers are pushed to adjust retail price as well, from N1,000+ to N925 per litre. Fingers crossed.
Streets are saying diesel supply is suffering
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has warned that the ongoing diesel supply crisis, caused by a strike by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, threatens to shut down telecom operations nationwide.
The President of ATCON, Mr Tony Emoekpere, said the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, and they are close to shutting down.
If they go bust, millions of mobile and internet users across the country.
This strike is to protest the never-ending harassment the tanker drivers always face from the police officers in Lagos state.
School’s out for Ramadan
Bauchi announces five-week school closure for Ramadan.
The Bauchi State government has announced that schools in the state will close for one month so students and staff can better observe Ramadan.
Mr Jalaludeen Maina, said the holiday had already been incorporated in the calendar long before now.
He explained that students attending schools across the state will stay home March 1 to April 5, till Ramadan is over.
Other news
FG mourns death of Nigerian footballer in Uganda, orders probe - Punch
The Federal Government has revealed that N15bn out of the N18bn meant for the first phase of compensation to owners of demolished properties along Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Highway has been disbursed. -Punch
EFCC arraigns ex-Abia governor Theodore Orji, son over N47bn fraud -Punch
Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government demanding the immediate disbandment of two committees for alleged extortion and harassment of truck operators. -Vanguard.
Speaking of telco, Teleco operators have said that the strike embarked upon, yesterday, by members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has started affecting telephony operations, especially within Lagos and Ogun states. - Guardian.ng.
Multichoice has increased its price again. The price increase ranges from 8.3% to 50.8% across all subscription tiers - Vanguard
Nigeria is set to implement a $200 million African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim) fund to support tourism and the creative economy starting June 1. According to the minister of Arts, culture, tourism and creative economy, Hannatu Musawa, the ministry is working to get local and international investments worth $2 billion to create jobs and expand the creative economy - The Nation
This edition was written by Rosemary, and edited by Muhammed & Adetomiwa.
That New News is an independent self-funded project by me (Adetomiwa). Thank you for reading, sharing and donating. I love you like I birthed you 😘