🗞️ New rice going around
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This edition was written by Muhammed Bello. That News News is an independent self-funded project by me (Adetomiwa). Thank you for reading, sharing and donating. I love you like I birthed you 😘
In this edition:
New billings
Petrol prices going up
Can your CNG-run car explode?
Floods everywhere
This edition is 1,800 words (approx 6 min read)
Government x money
New rice going around
In big 2024, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State is still giving away rice for relief. The governor has started distributing 21,924 bags of rice as part of the Federal Government’s food security programme.
According to the governor, this programme would cover 6,652 polling units, with a focus on vulnerable women and youth groups.
He stated that this is to make things easier for the people in light of the current economic downturn.
The state government has awarded a contract for N30 billion to develop the agriculture sector.
This year, Katsina State has seen a dramatic reduction in insecurity compared to last year.
Minimum wage is serious business
The government of Bauchi state has set up a committee with 11 members to speed up the execution of the new national minimum wage of N70,000 across the state. There are people on the committee from the state government, the Trade Union Congress, and the Nigeria Labour Congress - Daily Post
Meanwhile, the Director General of the NYSC said that corps members have not yet started receiving their new allowance of N77,000 because NYSC can’t afford it - FG has not released money yet.
Earlier this year, the FG said corps members deserve a shift from their 33,000 monthly allowance to a new N77,000, effective from July 2024.
Even in September, corps members still received N33,000
The NYSC DG had to clear the air. According to him, not only corps members are yet to get their new allowance but the NYSC staff too.
It was the worst of times - new billings
The FG has announced an increase in the price of number plates and driver's licenses, effective from the 1st of November. - Business Day
This decision is so that the government can offset the rising costs of production and services in the transportation sector.
From November 1, Nigerians will be expected to pay ₦30,000 for a standard private vehicle number plate and that of a commercial vehicle. At the moment, plate numbers cost between ₦12,000 and ₦20,000.
The cost of getting a driver's license has not changed much, remaining at ₦30,000 for a standard private vehicle number plate and a standard commercial vehicle number plate.
To obtain a five-year and three-year driver's license for a motorcycle or tricycle will now cost you N11,000 and N7,000 respectively.
FG determined to get that money
The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which challenged the recent electricity tariff hike.
MAN had the increment of power tariff as a slap to economic growth.
This led to the lawsuit challenging this increment at the Federal High Court.
MAN also said due process was not followed before the tariff review
The power sector during its usual supplementary multi-year tariff order of April 3, 2024, found the increase in tariff for band A to N225/kWh necessary after considering the macroeconomic environment. It was later reduced to N206/kWh.
The court said that MAN's case did not show a good reason to sue because it had not yet used the conflict resolution process.
Petrol woes
The Nigerian government said petroleum product marketers can now buy petrol directly from refineries in the country. This will give marketers an open ground to negotiate commercial terms with refineries directly.
Major oil marketers can also now buy petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery.
Prior to this, NNPC was the only authorized company to buy petrol from Dangote. However, they are now pulling out.
According to reports, the government will no longer bear the cost of keeping petrol prices low. Instead, the market will dictate prices.
Now that marketers will buy petrol from Dangote's refinery in Naira, might there be hope for a decrease in prices? Nope
Some oil marketers have said there is a possibility of price increases since the government is no longer subsidizing petrol.
Petrol prices have gone up again
NNPCL now charges between N998 and N1,030 per litre for petrol. This is the second price increase by the company in six weeks.
This sent parts of the country into panic mode as long queues were observed at NNPCL outlets.
Other privately owned filling stations quickly followed in the same footsteps by also hiking their pump price to N1,050 per litre in many parts of Lagos.
This increase could be partly due to an increase in landing costs, according to people in the petroleum industry.
According to local reports, the genocide currently happening in the Middle East has disrupted the trade and sales of crude oil globally
Iran is one of the world's biggest producers of oil and they have been retaliating against Isreal’s attacks in the region
On Tuesday, Axios reported that Israeli officials said they might target iron's oil production facilities in response to Iran's missile launch.
But don’t worry, the FG is on it! According to reports, the government has commenced selling petrol to Dangote and other refineries in Naira.
This decision is expected to stabilize pump prices as it marks a significant shift in the nation's crude oil trading, which dollar-denominated transactions have traditionally dominated.
The transition to local currency transactions is expected to enhance the stability of the Naira, foster economic growth, and potentially reduce the prices of petroleum products within the country.
Speaking of petrol wahala, can your CNG-run car explode?
In the quest for cheaper alternatives to petroleum, the government introduced Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
People are rightfully worried about what risks have been hidden. One that keeps coming up is the risk that converting your car to a CNG tank might cause an explosion. So, I asked GPT if this is a possibility, here’s what it says:
Like any fuel source, CNG does carry some risks if not handled properly. Here's a balanced perspective on the safety of CNG in vehicles:
Safety features: CNG vehicles are designed with multiple safety features to prevent explosions. These include:
Strong, puncture-resistant fuel tanks
Automatic shut-off valves
Gas detectors to identify leaks
Explosion risk: While it's technically possible for a CNG tank to explode, it's extremely rare. CNG tanks are designed to withstand significant impact and heat.
Comparison to gasoline: CNG is considered safer than gasoline in many respects:
It's lighter than air, so it dissipates quickly if leaked
It has a higher ignition temperature than gasoline
CNG requires a very specific air-to-fuel ratio to combust
Regulations: CNG vehicles must meet strict safety standards and undergo regular inspections.
Potential hazards: The main risks associated with CNG vehicles include
Gas leaks (which can be detected by smell)
Improper installation or maintenance
Damage to the fuel system in severe accidents
While the risk of explosion exists, it's important to note that with proper maintenance and handling, CNG vehicles are considered safe for everyday use. The likelihood of an explosion is not significantly higher than with conventional petrol vehicles.
If you have specific concerns about CNG safety, it's best to consult with automotive safety experts or CNG vehicle manufacturers for the most up-to-date information.
It’s legal, it’s illegal
Tigran Gambaryan is still in prison
Due to the absence of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, Tigran Gambaryan, the jailed executive of Binance Holdings Limited, new bail plea has not yet been decided.
On September 4, Ekele Iheanacho, the EFCC's Counsel, objected to Mark Mordi's bail request on Gambaryan's behalf.
The Binance executive is receiving the “best medical care”, Iheanacho told the court.
In response, Mordi said Gambaryan couldn't manage his health issue in Nigeria and had asked for a bail on liberal terms. Gambaryan has been in prison for over 220 days
Gambaryan and Binance are charged with tax evasion and money laundering, though the tax charges have been dropped.
During his time in prison Gambaryan has developed malaria, pneumonia and tonsillitis and suffers from complications tied to a herniated disc in his back, which left him in need of a wheelchair – though in a video from his last court appearance, Gambaryan did not have a wheelchair, and instead had to struggle on a single crutch.
At the court sitting later in the week, the bail was rejected. According to the presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, the application constituted an abuse of court process. The judge asked the NCoS to take him to any standard hospital in Abuja for a period of three days to receive adequate treatment.
Meanwhile if a senator faints during their trial, that’s the end of the trial for like 8 months. Nawa.
+ The Federal Court is also still holding 5 people who participated in the End Bad Governance protests in Kuje prison. This week, they reduced the bail from 10 to N5million each
State Governments hate EFCC
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for October 22 to consider a lawsuit filed by 16 states against the EFCC.
The Kogi state government and 15 other governments have filed a lawsuit contesting the validity of the legislation that established the EFCC.
A seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has been formed, with a hearing scheduled for October 22.
The following states have joined the suit: Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross River, and Niger.
All 16 states claimed that the founding of the commission violated constitutional rules, which required a majority of the states' Houses of Assembly to approve before passing the EFCC Act.
Note that Kogi State is the pioneer of this case. The EFCC is currently trying to prosecute former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello for alleged corruption.
In response, Kogi State has established its own anti-graft agency and wants the Federal Government to recognize its agency over the EFCC.
Local Elections
APC candidates won in local government elections in Benue state.
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission chairman, Richard Tombowua, on Sunday, declared that the APC candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship positions won in the local government elections held on Saturday.
According to him, APC garnered all 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship positions in the state.
Out of 8 political parties that submitted the list, only 5 participated.
In Rivers, Uzodinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance (AA) was declared winner of the Chairmanship position held on October 5 in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the swearing-in of new LGA chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday at least five people died, and four LGA secretariats set ablaze in the State.
Health
Oyo state Government screen people for diabetes. The state government as part of the ‘Project 10 million: Know Your Numbers, Control Your Numbers’, an initiative set up to detect and control hypertension and diabetes in the state.
The Health Commissioner, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the initiative is a nationwide exercise for Nigerians across the 36 states, including the FCT.
The screening is set for this month and it will run for 7 days, targeting 10 million people.
Dr. Oluwaserimi urged the public to make themselves available and take advantage.
Other news
The Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Sulaimon Jelili indefinitely over alleged non-compliance and unyielding attitude to the legislature - Lagos House of Assembly
A soldier has murdered a Police Inspector in Lagos after he was stopped in the Ojo area of Lagos - The Cable
After public criticism, NDLEA, on Thursday, dropped its initial rule that married women would be required to provide a letter of approval from their husbands to obtain a visa clearance certificate - Punch
The Lagos State Government has announced that it won't comply with a recent court order stopping the VIO from arresting or fining motorists - Punch
As part of its fiscal reforms, the federal government has declared that 63 items will not be subject to the VAT. Some of the exempted items are electric vehicles, CNG/LPG dual fuel vehicles, storage tanks of various sizes, steel, pressure gauges, gas boilers, gas air conditioners- Punch
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