Hi!
In this edition:
Tinubu has N500 billion to address subsidy crisis
Taraba governor offers free education
Drs threaten strike
CBN new policy allows Nigerians receive naira.
Chijioke Iloanya’s Sister #EndSARS protest
Ada, the sister of Chijioke Iloanya, is protesting alone at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Ada is demanding justice for her brother, who went missing in 2012 and is believed to be a victim of the SARS in Anambra.
She has been fighting for justice for 11 years and has taken various actions, including writing petitions and participating in the #EndSARS panel.
Ada wants accountability for James Nwafor, the officer who allegedly admitted to killing her brother, and hopes that the government will release the panel's recommendations and findings.
Attention all travellers
The Republic of Seychelles has banned Nigerian passport holders from applying for short-term visas or visiting the country for holidays.
Nigeria and Seychelles are supposed to have an agreement that allows Nigerians into the country without a visa for 30 days. 6 months ago, both countries signed an agreement for direct flights.
The Seychelles authorities did not provide a reason, but they say we can contact them with questions. Read more here
The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced that the country is increasing the price of visa applications.
The fees for visa applications and the Immigration Health Surcharge will both go up significantly. The surcharge, paid as part of some visa applications, will increase to £1,035, and the cost of work, visit, study, and other visas will rise by at least 15-20%.
Rishi Sunak said that the increase is to help cover the costs of recent pay raises for public sector workers.
INEC, elections tribunal and chaos
The Labour Party in Nigeria is demanding the removal and prosecution of Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) - Premium Times.
The party's Director General, Akin Osuntokun, called for a forensic financial investigation into the expenditures and donations INEC received before, during, and after the February 25 elections.
The Labour Party alleges that INEC received funds from the national budget and international donor agencies.
LP also supports the reports from international and domestic observers, including the European Union, which alleged the election results were manipulated.
The Labour Party also wants Yakubu and other top officials of INEC to be held accountable for their alleged involvement in the irregularities.
Governance
Appointments and dissolvents
Niger
The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, has ordered all government commissions, boards, and parastatals, in the state to be dissolved
The governor has also gotten rid of all political appointees who were appointed before he officially took office on May 29, 2023.
This action follows the recent dissolving of all federal government boards and parastatals, which has been seen as a positive move to improve the system.
Zamfara
The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has made a decision to reduce the number of ministries in the state government from 28 to 16. He believes that this restructuring will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service, allowing for better service delivery to the people of Zamfara.
Abia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State inaugurated 16 Commissioners, including the first female Health (Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo) and Agriculture (Prof. Monica Ironkwe) Commissioners.
Tinubu’s
Tax reform committee
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has set up a committee to improve the country's fiscal policy and taxation system. - Premium Times
The committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele from PwC, will include experts from both the private and public sectors.
The goal is to reform tax laws, design better fiscal policies, coordinate taxes, and improve revenue administration.
Nigeria currently faces challenges such as multiple tax and revenue collection agencies, complex tax systems, tax evasion, and inefficient use of tax revenue. The committee aims to enhance revenue collection, promote transparency, boost citizens' tax morale, and create a better business environment.
ECOWAS
President Bola Tinubu has been elected ( 👀) as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Petrol subsidy
A governor governing
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State in Nigeria has announced that primary and secondary education in Taraba will be free starting from the next academic session.
This decision is made to help alleviate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, which has led to increased costs for essential goods and services, including education.
The governor had previously reduced university school fees by 50% to ease the financial burden on students.
He emphasised that it is the government's responsibility to cover education expenses and that students should not be charged any fees.
This move is in line with the governor's commitment to prioritise quality education and address the challenges students and parents have been facing since the petrol prices were hiked two months ago.
Meanwhile, in the FG, The House of Representatives has requested that the government stop increasing secondary and tertiary school fees in federal government-owned universities.
The decision came after a motion was introduced by Aliyu Madaki, who highlighted that some universities had raised fees by over 200% and accommodation fees by 100%.
Doctors threaten strike
Doctors in the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have threatened to scatter everywhere if the FG does not make their demands a priority - Guardian ng.
At the time, they demanded a minimum of a 200% increase, but they now believe that 550% is more reflective of the new reality due to the removal of fuel subsidy, which has led to higher living costs.
The doctors also demanded:
immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund as specified in the budget,
payment of outstanding allowances like hazard allowances and wage adjustments, and
to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in hospitals across the country, they want guidelines for replacing clinical staff to be implemented.
Despite a five-day warning strike and a conciliatory meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment 7 weeks ago, the resolutions and agreements reached have not been implemented.
The doctors warned that if their demands are not met by July 19, 2023 (Wednesday), things are going to get rough.
This is all happening while Nigeria is quietly battling diphtheria, a deadly bacterial infection.
Tinubu’s distribution plan
The House of Representatives in Nigeria has approved President Bola Tinubu's request for N500 billion to provide support to people to lessen the impact of removing the petroleum subsidy. - Premium Times
The House amended the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act to make this possible.
The budget, originally introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 for capital projects affected by floods, has been extended until December 31.
Part of the budget will be used to distribute N8,000 to 12 million poor households for six months to help them manage the current situation (N8000!).
According to Governor Abba Yusuf, this is the distribution of the support: Lagos State is receiving 47%, making it the highest beneficiary and the South-South Zone, receiving 17%, while other regions received significantly lower percentages.
Governor Yusuf says the distribution is skewered
Insurgence
Multiple attacks in Plateau
Gunmen attacked and killed 9 Sabon Gari community in Mangu and 8 people in Farin Lamba community in Vwang District of Jos South Local Government on two separate attacks over the weekend.
These attacks are part of an ongoing terrorist streak in Plateau. In the last two months, terrorists have killed over 200 people in the state.
For security purposes, the governor imposed a temporary curfew that has now been relaxed, and the military has relocated its base to Mangu - where the majority of the occurred
The residents of Mangu however are not confident in the military’s ability because previous attacks have occurred without any intervention or arrests.
Military action
The Nigerian military says they’ve successfully prevented a group of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists from entering Nigerian territory from Cameroon.
During the operation, the military reportedly killed 5 terrorists and captured 10, They also found various weapons and supplies.
In recent weeks, 967 terrorists have reportedly surrendered to the military at different locations.
The captured terrorists surrendered individuals, and their families have been profiled and documented for further action, while the recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Fraud, crime, suspect
PCACC vs Abdullahi Ganduje
The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has invited Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, for questioning regarding video clips that allegedly show him receiving bribes.
The video, published in 2018, shows Ganduje receiving bundles of dollars from contractors.
At the time, the publisher, Daily Nigerian, claimed that the former governor requested a $5 million bribe from the contractors.
The PCACC stated that Ganduje is expected to appear before the commission next week to provide an opportunity for him to defend himself.
In June, Ganduje claimed that the video was fake and asked a high court in Kano to stop the EFCC from investigating the bribery video.
The authenticity of the video showing Ganduje receiving kickbacks from a contractor has been confirmed by the commission.
Oil crimes
In Delta State, a vessel carrying 150,000 tonnes of stolen crude oil was intercepted by the security forces of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. They set the vessel on fire using a military helicopter.
The vessel, owned by an unnamed Nigerian registered company, was on its way to Cameroon with the stolen oil.
The oil was taken from an offshore location in Ondo State without proper documentation.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has been uncovering similar illegal activities. In the past, there was controversy when another vessel used for oil theft was destroyed by security agents. Some people thought it should have been preserved for investigation and prosecution.
A team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), led by Zakariya Buduwara, went to inspect the impounded vessel.
The captain, who identified himself as Odubiyi Samson, told journalists that the vessel was hired by a group, but didn’t know the commodity they were conveying was stolen crude oil.
Funds
Naira to the world 🥲
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made a new policy that allows Nigerians living abroad to receive money in naira.
Previously, they could only receive payments in dollars or eNaira.
The exchange rate used for the naira payout will be based on the investors and exporters (I&E) window rate.
The CBN hopes that increasing diaspora remittances will help with Nigeria's foreign exchange unification policy.
Don’t look at the exchange rate though (we’re at N800+/$1)
Infrastructure
The governments of Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States in Nigeria are taking steps to prevent flooding and protect lives and property.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had warned about heavy rains and flooding in these states in 2023.
The governments have started projects like channelization, drain construction, and clearing of waterways to reduce flooding.
They have also demolished structures in flood-prone areas. The Ekiti State government is using radio announcements and programs to inform people living in flood-prone communities to relocate. The Chairman of Ikole Local Government Area has also initiated drain clearing to prevent flooding.
However, in Jigawa, victims of last year’s flooding disaster are accusing members of the state's Flood Resettlement Committee of neglecting their promises to provide them with shelter, food, and water.
The committee raised 1.7 billion Naira during the launch of a flood appeal fund, but the victims claim they have not received any assistance.
The victims say they have reached out to the committee and the State's Relief Management Agency for help, but their pleas have been ignored.
Apart from a few organizations and individuals, including UNICEF and the late Emir of Dutse, no one has provided substantial aid to the victims.
The victims are appealing to the state and federal governments, philanthropists, and NGOs to help them.
More disasters
Over N3 billion worth of goods were destroyed on Saturday night by fire in Aba, Abia state. Okechukwu Williams, president of the leather product manufacturers association in Abia, said the huge losses suffered would have been lessened if a fire station were within quick reach. - The cable
Properties and goods worth several millions of naira were destroyed following a heavy downpour that lasted several hours in Makurdi at the weekend. The worst hit area was Wurukum, the part of Makurdi where the bridge across the river Benue is sited - guardian ng
A group of 20 people in a rented bus all died in a crash in Lagos. The accident happened when the bus driver tried to pass a truck and lost control. - Leadership
Emefiele
An Abuja High Court has declared the arrest and detention of the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the DSS as illegal. The court ruled that it violated a previous judgment and ordered the immediate release of Emefiele while restraining the DSS from interfering with his personal liberty — Channels
Africa is a country
Tunisia
In response to teachers protesting their salaries and demanding higher pay, the government in Tunisia has suspended salary payments for 17,000 teachers and fired 350 school principals – Reuters
This decision could affect about 30% of the country's primary school teachers. The government claims that it cannot meet the teachers' demands due to financial constraints.
Senegal
An aid group reported that three boats carrying around 300 people from Senegal had gone missing.
So far, Spanish authorities rescued 86 people from a boat near the Canary Islands, believed to be from Senegal. The rescued individuals, 80 men and 6 women, are believed to be from sub-Saharan origin.
The Atlantic migration route is dangerous, with nearly 800 deaths or disappearances so far in 2023.
Other news
FERMA says plans are underway to fill up potholes and intervene in the repair of failed roads nationwide as the rainy season sets in - Guardian ng
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that only 53% of the available (electricity) capacity is utilized in the country - Guardian ng
ICPC has refuted claims that it has files implicating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or his close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states of the federation, in its custody - Channels
NNPCL, Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and other oil companies operating in the country flared about $3.9 billion worth of gas in the last 4 years, despite growing environmental concerns and revenue leakages in the nation’s petroleum industry - Guardian ng
EFCC has charged Sa'adu Maiwada, the Deputy Accountant General of Katsina diverting N261 Million from the funds of the Katsina State Government. The money was allegedly laundered through Integrated Gas Services Limited, where Maiwada is a director. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is scheduled for October 19, 2023 - EFCC.
Thieves have stolen the lighting system for one of the runways at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. – BBC
The House of Representatives in Nigeria is concerned about unfair charges and deductions by commercial banks, which go against the law. They have assigned a committee to investigate this issue and report back within a month - Guardian NG