Hi! It’s been a minute.
Since I last wrote, a lot has happened. Here are some highlights.
Tinubu:
shared some more of his plans for the subsidy palliatives
Tibubu released his ministerial nominee list, Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai was on there, but the Senate was debating his eligibility, so he declined his position and recommended someone else.
Appointed House of Reps committee chairmen
New human trafficking stats dropped (20,000 + Nigerians stranded in Mali)
A doctor, Dr Vwaere Diaso, died trapped in an elevator at the Lagos Island General Hospital, Odan for more than 40 minutes— an elevator that doctors at the hospital had been begging the Lagos state government to fix for over three years.
Tinubu considered sending the Nigerian military to Niger to “handle” the coup. The Senate said no
Meanwhile, Nigeria suffers more terrorist attacks
This episode is sponsored by a hot water bottle, muscle relaxers and painkillers. It’s about 2,500 words (approx. 9 min read)
In this edition
New ministers list (all you need to know)
Insecurity
Niger Republic coup: what’s it to you?
Petrol price hike???
Emefiele in more trouble
More, more more.
Let’s get into it
COVID, still
The UK has found a new version of COVID-19 variant. It was discovered in someone who didn't travel recently, which means it might be spreading within the UK.
This variant has a lot of changes in its genes, and it's different from the older variants.
It has also been spotted in Israel, Denmark, and the US.
The UK is keeping an eye on it to know more. Remember, viruses change over time, but not all changes are a big deal.
Tinubu’s growing crew
Tinubu will swear in his new list of ministers on Monday - here’s the full list
Among them is a new ministerial position - Marine & Blue Economy, to be led by Bunmi Tunji.
WTH is the Blue Economy? It's essentially the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, encompassing sectors like fisheries, tourism, energy, and shipping.
What is the importance/benefit of the blue economy? It helps us be more intentional. It balances economic growth, environmental conservation, and social well-being, addressing global challenges while promoting sustainable development.
Why the hell do we need a government department dedicated to it? I don’t know why Nigeria has created one, but generally, it helps to centralise planning, regulations, and policies for fostering economic development through responsible ocean development, sustainability, collaboration, and effective resource management.
Check out this article to learn more about the blue economy in Nigeria
Also on the list is former Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu for Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
Bagudu involved in helping Abacha steal and launder billions of dollars from Nigeria. He managed money laundering operations for Abacha and had offshore companies involved in this.
Bagudu has helped Nigeria recover some of the loot (because he knows where it is because he stole it)
The UK's National Crime Agency and other authorities recovered millions linked to Bagudu.
But Bagudu was heavily involved in helping Tinubu become president so i guess bffs gotta have each other’s back, even at the expense of the nation. Wouldn’t you do the same for your guys (best to not be friends with launderers imo, except if you’re a stealer yourself)
General reception to most of Tinubu’s picks is “boo. Their career history does not match this position”, but people have pointed out that like 8 of the 45 ministers do have the experience (I did NOT research all of them yet but when I do I will let you know. This isn’t a paid gig.)
Insecurity, still
Missing children in Ogoni
In Ogoni, Rivers State, there's a lot of worry because more than nine children have gone missing recently.
This problem started about three weeks ago, and in that time, more than nine children have been reported as missing. Some children disappeared in a place called Bera, and others went missing in Nweola and Mogho, which are all part of the same area.
The president of a group called MOSOP said they're working with local leaders to try to stop it.
26 Security forces murdered
A group of gunmen ambushed the security forces in Niger state, killing at least 26 members and injuring eight.
While attempting to rescue the wounded, a helicopter crashed in the same area, but it's unclear if anyone survived.
These attacks happened in a region where the military is fighting criminal groups.
Niger Republic, the country & the coup
What happened? Here’s a quick explanation
Last month, the military in Niger took over government and put their own leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, in charge.
Niger is important for a few reasons: it's a big country, it had been stable politically compared to its neighbors, and it's been helpful in fighting groups that promote violence in the area. Also, it has valuable resources like uranium. However, the people in Niger have struggled with poor living conditions.
The coup happened because the region where Niger is located, called the Sahel, has problems like violence from groups linked to terrorism and the effects of climate change. The soldiers who took over said they did it because they believed the government wasn't handling these issues well. Some people support the coup, thinking a strong military could fix these problems, but it's not clear if that will work
Other countries like France and the US are against the coup and want the old government to come back. Russia is also involved, with some people supporting the coup waving Russian flags. These concerned that the new leaders might make friends with Russia instead of the Western countries that used to be allies.
Uranium and The pipeline
Niger produces uranium, which is a material needed for nuclear power, and it sends most of it to France, the country that previously had colonial ownership of Niger.
France and other European countries rely on nuclear power, and if they can't get enough uranium, it could lead to problems with energy supply.
France’s cut of their uranium, is, according to the coup and its supporters, part of the problem. They say France and other Western (esp. European) countries have caused instability and poverty in Niger and they’re over it.
They’ve formed an alliance with Russia. According to the military, the Russian government’s deal seems more collaborative and less oppressive.
The coup has disrupted much of Frances’ plans for the country, including an Africa-to-Europe gas pipeline that aimed to cut out the middle man (and potentially mess with jobs and livelihoods in these African countries).
Russia, as you may know, is a great enemy of the West, so any alliance with them will conflict with the West’s plans.
The West is not having it, and African countries that really want the pipeline to go on are also pretty stressed by Niger’s current situation as it threatens the project
What's ECOWAS saying?
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a group of West African countries, held meetings to talk about a coup.
In a recent meeting, they said they might use their military to help and gave a date, August 6, for the military to fix the issue and release Bazoum. But when that date passed, they didn't use military force.
Two countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, which were suspended by ECOWAS before for having coups, support the leaders of the coup in Niger.
This is the ninth time in three years that there has been a takeover of power by the military in the Sahel region.
Nigerians in Niger
Nigerians living in Niger Republic are asking the Nigerian government for help to evacuate them due to a potential attack on the country.
Some are already experiencing hostility from the locals. People are worried about the impact of the situation on their lives, businesses, and studies. They are urging ECOWAS and the Nigerian government to find a peaceful solution before things get worse.
Petrol and all its problems
Petrol price hike???
If you like me, you’ve noticed that some petrol stations have quietly stopped selling fuel in the past week, it’s not because they’re on holiday– they might not have any (or enough), or they’re hoarding it in anticipation of a price hike.
Oil marketers are saying that if the value of the dollar compared to the local currency stays high, the price of petrol might go up in the next few weeks.
They think it could cost somewhere between N680 and N720/liter (currently approx. N570)
They also mentioned that because it's hard to get enough foreign money to buy petrol from other countries, some people who wanted to bring in petrol are stopping their plans. This warning came after the value of the local currency went over N900/$
They explained that when the value of the local currency goes down compared to the dollar, the price of petrol goes up because petrol is bought with dollars.
Dangote Refinery which was supposed to the running this year is still saying “unlikely to start 50% production this year” 😭
But NNPCL says there is “no plan to increase the price of petrol at their stations, so we should just buy from them.
Speaking of petrol, the latest on subsidy support
The government has decided that each state must buy 100,000 bags of rice and beans to help people cope with the removal of fuel subsidies.
The government gave money to each state to do this.
States near Niger Republic, where many people are coming from, will get more help.
Oyo State Government: PSA don’t fill that form
The government of Oyo State notified people to ignore a fake online message claiming that residents can get N10,000 from them by filling out a form.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi, said the government is working on food and healthcare help for many families.
They will also support farmers.
He said the messages are most likely to get people’s personal information and the government is not behind it.
Emefiele 🤝fraud
The CBN is undergoing a major investigation which has been expanded to look into financial matters.
The investigation has led to the questioning of CBN's consultants, and there are concerns that the financial statements may have violated the CBN Act which says the President and the National Assembly must have copies of the released financial statements (they don’t)
The investigation covers areas like the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Limited and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc. The goal is to unveil financial fraud.
Financial statements have been released by the CBN, but questions have arisen about their accuracy.
E.g., the CBN's operating expenses significantly increased under Emefiele's leadership. The investigation is also shedding light on the CBN and its relationships with external organisations.
In light of the investigations, suspended CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who has been in custody since June 10th, has been arraigned in court on fresh charges
He was charged alongside a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment Limited.
The government says Emefiele illicitly awarded Ms Yaro and her company contracts worth N99.9m for the supply of cars
If proven guilty, they could face a jail sentence. The trial has been set for the 23rd of August.
Money
Data shows that the Nigerian government has accumulated a significant deficit of N44.062 trillion from 1999 to 2023.
Various administrations contributed to this, with borrowing going into both domestic and foreign debts.
While deficit spending can stimulate the economy, experts argue that recent borrowing hasn't been used effectively, impacting revenue and economic growth.
The country's debt has risen sharply, affecting the ability to invest and defend the currency.
To improve the situation, experts suggest harmonizing taxes, centralizing revenue collection, and implementing cost-saving measures.
Meanwhile, more loans
The NNPC Limited recently signed an agreement with AfreximBank, a bank based in Egypt, for a loan of $3 billion.
This loan is meant to help the NNPC support the Nigerian government's efforts to stabilize the value of their money (exchange rate) and manage their finances better.
The country earned less money from selling crude oil in July due to producing less oil than expected. This loan will supposedly provide some immediate funds to help with these financial challenges.
Crime
The University of Calabar dean suspended
The University of Calabar suspended Cyril Ndifon, who was the dean of the law faculty because he was accused of sexually harassing students. The suspension happened after a protest by female students and an investigation into the accusations. He has to give back university things, stop working as dean, and can't go to the campus unless the investigators ask him to. His suspension started on August 17, 2023.
Orphanage sealed for selling children.
An orphanage in Anambra, called Arrow of God Community Children’s Home, was closed down by the government because they were accused selling children.
About 20 children (between 1-17 years old) were found, including a newborn baby while the founder and the employees had fled and are currently at large.
While denying any involvement The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo said the founder of the orphanage home, Rev D.C Ogo, was invited to her office in Awka for an explanation, but she did not honour the invitation.
Two Nigerian men extradited to the United States
Two Nigerian men, Samuel Ogoshi (age 22) and Samson Ogoshi (age 20) have been brought to the United States from Nigeria to face charges of running a sexual extortion ring. - The US Justice Depatment
They were involved in a scheme where they coerced and blackmailed many young men and teenage boys in Michigan and across the United States into performing sexual acts or sharing explicit photos.
They also caused the death of a 17-year-old boy named Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan.
The accused used fake social media accounts pretending to be young women to trick their victims. They manipulated victims into sending explicit images, and then they threatened to expose these images unless the victims paid them money. Their blackmail in an attempt to extort Jordan caused him to end his life.
The charges against the accused include various forms of exploitation, conspiracy, and stalking, carrying penalties like long prison terms and fines.
The FBI and Nigerian authorities collaborated to arrest and extradite the accused.
Naira Marley is NDLEA’s anti-drug ambassador
Afrobeats singer Naira Marley visited the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) headquarters in Abuja.
Naira (who doesn’t do drugs, according to him- he only smokes weed) met with the NDLEA CEO, Buba Marwa, to support the campaign against drug abuse.
Naira Marley encouraged his fans and young people to avoid drugs and substance abuse for their well-being. He said drugs can lead to crime and harm you.
Naira Marley became famous but also faced legal issues related to fraud in the past. He now wants to help stop drug abuse and its negative effects.
Other news
Rebecca, a girl kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, returned home after 9 years. Nigeria's First Lady promised medical care and education. She praised those who helped rescue her and plans to help more girls go back to school. - Punch
Nursing graduate Boluwatife was tragically killed after a night out in Ibadan, just days after her induction. Her body was found lifeless the next morning, and her organ was missing. - Vanguard
Starting September 2023, Nigerians will pay N107,500 for IELTS exams, up from N80,000-90,000. - guardian ng
Despite the plea from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for non-state-owned bus drivers to reduce transport fares by 25 per cent and state-owned buses to reduce it by 50 per cent, a monitoring tour by a team from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on Thursday revealed only partial compliance across all routes to the Governor’s directive - Tribune
NEC received delivery of technology tools to enhance the results management process, accuracy, and the commission’s operational effectiveness- Guardian ng
Alhaji Manman Alakai, commissioner, representing Nasarawa in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), on Tuesday, denied receiving the money to secure employment for in job seekers - Tribune
Terrorists have abducted 25 persons, including women and children, and injured others during different operations in four local councils of Katsina State - Guardian
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding the recent appointments of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) for Government House Pool and Oranmiyan New Town- Guardian ng
Warri-Itakpe train derails, NRC suspends operations - Punch