🗞️ Questionable behaviour
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This newsletter was written amid no electricity, irritating heat, a very stupid argument and terrible internet. I need a nap.
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In this edition:
The army is allegedly purposely killing civilians
FG released names of terrorist finances
The FG is creating a loan scheme for MSMEs
Student loan bill back up woohooo
FG has put a lock on travel for government officials
This edition is 2,300 words. 8 mins read
Insecurity
Army killing civilians
We reported last week that on March 14, 2024, 16 Nigerian Army personnel including a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers were killed in an ambush while on a peace mission to the Okuama community in Delta State.
The killings stemmed from a long-standing land dispute between the neighbouring Okuama and Okoloba communities that had recently escalated into violence
President Bola Tinubu and the Senate have now ordered the military to apprehend and bring to justice those responsible for the killings. The military conducted operations, arresting several suspects including three prime suspects
Following the incident, people raised concerns about potential reprisal attacks by soldiers, with reports of villages being burned and civilians targeted Bomadi.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) believes that the military did retaliate. The council accused the military of invading Igbomotoru 2 in Bomo-Ibe Clan of Bayelsa State in the early hours of Sunday 17th March 2024. They say the military personnel killed 40 people.
The President of IYC, Dr Alaye Theophilus, in a statement issued Wednesday, emphasised that the killing of the military personnel did not happen in an Ijaw land and has nothing to do with the Ijaw nation.
A rep from the council said what they had experienced over time “is that when an individual does something bad to military men operating in the region, reprisal from the military is always against the entire community”.
Attack on market in Niger
On Thursday, terrorists attacked a popular market in the Madaka community, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
An unspecified number of traders and customers were feared killed in the attack.
The bandits stormed the market around 3 pm and came just two days after bandits killed the district head and four others in another community called Pangu Gari in the same area.
The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security confirmed the market attack, saying the government was working with security agencies to end such attacks on farming communities.
Terrorists remain present in more than 9 local government areas in Niger State.
Kidnapped Kaduna Students returned
The 287 students who were kidnapped from their school in Kuriga town, Kaduna state on March 7 have been released after over two weeks in captivity.
At least 100 of the kidnapped children were 12 years old or younger.
The release was announced by the Kaduna state governor, who thanked President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the children were freed unharmed, without providing details.
No group has claimed responsibility, but locals blame terrorist groups operating in northwestern Nigeria known for mass kidnappings and killings.
The Kaduna governor credited Nigerian security forces and officials like the National Security Adviser for securing the children's release after negotiations.
UN says global water crisis threatens world peace
The UN warns that increasing water scarcity is fueling more conflicts and contributing to instability around the world in its new World Water Development Report 2024.
2.2 billion people globally lack access to clean water, while 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. This shows a significant gap in achieving UN goals for universal access by 2030.
Conflicts over water resources are intensifying globally, requiring enhanced international cooperation and transboundary agreements to maintain stability and peace.
Water scarcity exacerbates food insecurity, health risks, social inequalities, migration and displacement - further straining resources and tensions.
Only around 20% of countries sharing transboundary rivers/lakes have cooperative agreements to manage shared water resources equitably.
However, some progress is seen with agreements like the Sava River Basin framework and the revitalization of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
The FG has released the names of terrorist financiers
The Nigerian government has released the names of 21 individuals and entities allegedly involved in financing terrorism in the country.
Notable among the individuals listed is Tukur Mamu. According to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Mamu participated in financing terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over $200,000 to support ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Additionally, one of the individuals is suspected of being involved in the attacks on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The list:
Individuals:
1. Tukur Mamu
2. Yusuf Ghazali
3. Muhammad Sani
4. Abubakar Muhammad
5. Sallamudeen Hassan
6. Adamu Ishak
7. Hassana-Oyiza Isah
8. Abdulkareem Musa
9. Umar Abdullahi
Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators:
1. West and East Africa General Trading Company Limited
2. Settings Bureau De Change Limited
3. G. Side General Enterprises
4. Desert Exchange Ventures Limited
5. Eagle Square General Trading Company Limited
6. Alfa Exchange BDC
Now what?
Questionable behaviour
Lagos cracking
Uber is facing a regulatory crackdown in Lagos over failure to comply with data sharing requirements, resulting in driver vehicle impoundments, highlighting the company's regulatory challenges in its major Nigerian markets. This comes after Uber also faced issues securing operating licences in Abuja recently.
The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has reportedly started impounding vehicles belonging to drivers operating on the Uber app.
This is due to Uber's refusal to integrate its API and provide access to its database of drivers and riders to the state government, which is required by Lagos taxi-hailing regulations.
Vehicles from Moove, which provides vehicle financing to Uber drivers, are being specifically targeted as they are easily identifiable.
Drivers report tactics like officials luring them by ordering rides only to impound their vehicles and deflate tyres upon arrival.
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria has advised its members to stop using the Uber app until the issue is resolved.
Uber appears to violate Section 4.1(x) of the Lagos taxi-hailing regulations by not providing the required database access.
Drivers are bearing the brunt, with over a dozen having vehicles impounded already, despite not being Uber employees.
Lagos State also has its own ride-hailing app - connection? I don't know
Malaria money
On Wednesday the 20th, the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Health, Muhammed Ali Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, to appear before it. This is regarding allegations of misusing $300 million in funds meant to combat malaria since 2021 - Premium Times
Specifically, the committee is investigating claims that the Ministry of Health excluded indigenous manufacturers from participating in procurement contracts for insecticidal nets, which are critical for malaria control efforts.
However, the ministry allegedly contracted the UN Office for Project Services at over $3 million cost, sidelining local manufacturers. The committee also received a petition from a law firm alleging discrimination against indigenous manufacturers in the procurement process.
In 2018, the Nigerian government announced plans to secure $300 million in new financing from the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and African Development Bank to eradicate malaria in the country. However, concerns have been raised over the utilisation of these funds.
The committee chair, Hon. Amobi Ogah, highlighted that the $300 million included $100 million from the Islamic Bank and $200 million from the World Bank secured in 2021.
Economy
31 states owe CBN N340bn bailout funds
A document obtained from the Apex Bank has revealed that 31 states owe the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, a total of ₦339.9 billion in bailout funds.
This money was provided between 2015 and 2023 to help states pay worker salaries. The outstanding debt includes N339.97bn unpaid principal repayment and an additional N1.31bn in loan default as of September 2023.
In 2023, many of these states also received increased allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in at least 7 years.
Money - FAAC
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared a total of N1.152 trillion in February 2024 revenues to the Federal Government, States and Local Governments.
This comprised N101.3 billion statutory distributable revenue, N428.8 billion distributable VAT revenue, N15.2 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue, and N607.4 billion Exchange Difference revenue.
The Federal Government received N352.4 billion.
State Governments received N367 billion.
Local Government Councils received N267.2 billion.
N166.2 billion was allocated to States with natural resources as 13% of mineral revenue.
Revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax, Import Duty, Excise Duty, VAT and CET Levies increased significantly in February.
Money - FTC budget
The Senate has approved the 2024 Statutory Budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amounting to N1.282 trillion. This represents an increase of N135 billion from the N1.147 trillion initially proposed by the Ministry of FCT.
The approval followed the review of a joint report by the Senate and House Committees on FCT. The approved budget breakdown:
Personnel Cost: N140.9 billion (10% of total)
Overhead Cost: N373 billion (29.1% of total)
Capital Expenditure: N768.3 billion (60% of total)
Recurrent expenditure (personnel and overhead) makes up 40% of the total budget.
More on budgets
President Tinubu dismissed accusations that the 2024 budget was padded or embellished, saying those making such claims do not "understand the arithmetic" behind the budget numbers. - Channels
This was in response to Senator Abdul Ningi's claim that over N3.7 billion in the budget could not be traced to any project, leading to his suspension from the Senate. (Ningi is suspended for 3 months for “spreading misinformation”)
Tinubu, best in maths, stated he knows the arithmetic of the budget numbers he initially presented to the National Assembly and what came back after their review.
The FG is still running after Binance
Earlier this month the Nigerian authorities arrested Binance executives visiting Nigeria and demanded $10,000 in reparations. This caused Binance to close shop in the country. Now, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance to provide comprehensive data/information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its cryptocurrency exchange platform to the EFCC.
The interim order was granted after the EFCC's lawyer asked the court to let the agency investigate alleged money laundering and terrorism financing activities on Binance.
An EFCC agent said that intel received by a special investigation team indicated "nefarious activities" like money laundering and terror financing occurring on Binance.
They said surveillance also uncovered users allegedly causing market distortions and manipulating forex rates against the Naira through trading activities on Binance.
The EFCC stated the requested data is crucial for accomplishing its investigations in the public interest.
It revealed that the total trading volume from Nigeria on Binance in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 billion based on information provided by Binance.
Gotta call the president if you want to travel
President Tinubu has banned ministers, heads of agencies, and other government officials from embarking on publicly funded foreign trips all willy-nilly - Punch
The ban will last for an initial period of 3 months, taking effect from April 1, 2024.
The move is aimed at reducing the rising cost of travel expenses of the cabinet.
It comes after Tinubu earlier ordered a reduction in delegation sizes for his own local and foreign trips to cut costs after public backlash about the Nigerian government funding over 400 trips to COP28 in Dubai in 2023
During this 3-month ban period, any intended public-funded foreign trip by government officials must get explicit presidential approval at least 2 weeks prior and will only be granted for trips deemed "absolutely necessary”.
For civilians, Tinubu says please buy made-in-Nigeria products to help the economy
To improve access to locally-made products, President Bola Tinubu announced a comprehensive economic package to boost productivity in Nigeria.
Through this package, the federal government plans to allocate N75 billion to support 75 enterprises with significant potential for economic growth to enhance their productivity.
Each selected enterprise will have access to N1 billion in credit at an interest rate of 9% per annum. The repayment period for long-term loans will be a maximum of 60 months while working capital loans will have a repayment period of 12 months.
The initiative hopes to improve the quality and quantity of produced goods by providing financial support to manufacturing enterprises.
Another funding bucket will be a conditional grant of N50,000 for 1 million micro and nano businesses. The goal is financial inclusion and integrating beneficiaries into the formal banking system.
Student loan bill update
The Senate has passed the Student Loans Access to Higher Education Bill. The passage followed a report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), presented by the Chairman representing Katsina South, Sen. Mohammed Muntari.
This is as the bill, last week, passed a second reading.
President Bola Tinubu had last week, written to the Senate and the House of Representatives, seeking the repeal of the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill and to enact a new one.
The new act will enhance the implementation of the Higher Education Student Loan Scheme by addressing challenges related to the management structure of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELF), applicant eligibility requirements, loan purpose, funding sources and disbursement and repayment procedures.
Earlier this month, a day before the bill student loan portal was supposed to launch, the FG announced that they were pausing the scheme for a few weeks to tie up some loose ends in the bill. This was the second time they shifted the launch since it was announced in August 2023.
There has been no report on when the scheme might relaunch
Another palliative stampede kills 2 students
Two Nasarawa State University students reportedly died today in a stampede during the distribution of palliatives. 23 other students are receiving medical attention after the incident at the convocation arena. The tragedy was a result of overcrowding as the crowd overpowered security - Punch
Other News
Unilever has announced plans to cut around 7,500 jobs globally as part of an overhaul - Reuters
Human Development Index report for 2023/24 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has revealed that human capital development has been on a constant decline since 2019 - Guardian.ng
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has issued a scam alert of scammers posing as personnel of the agency to defraud unsuspecting individuals with claims of arrests of loved ones with drugs and demanding millions of naira as bail money. - Punch
The National Identity Management Commission has launched a self-service solution that allows Nigerians to register for the National Identification Number from the comfort of their house through a smartphone - Punch
The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU) joined their counterparts in a seven-day nationwide warning strike - Vanguard
Follow Otti’s step, scrap ex-govs, deputies’ pensions, Obasanjo tells governors - Punch
Navy destroys illegal refinery in Ondo - Punch
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