šļø Spoiler: it's all a sham
Hi! This edition was powered through with a lot of help from Father John Mistyās āFear Funā. Great muuusic.
In this edition:
Tinubuās university education- a sham?
Worst currency in Africa: ā¦
Lassa Fever - itās spreading
This edition is 1,440 words (approx. 5 minutes read)
Lassa Fever is spreadingĀ
Lassa fever has caused 181 deaths in 28 states in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.Ā
There were 7,352 suspected cases, out of which 1,068 were confirmed.Ā
Most of the confirmed cases (75%) came from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, while the rest (25%) were from 25 other states.
The number of suspected cases has increased compared to the same time last year.
Tinubu university update
Last week, the U.S. appeals court granted Atiku Abubakar's request for President Bola Tinubu's academic records from Chicago State University (CSU), despite Tinubu's lawyers initially raising concerns about privacy. - Premium Times
This development is crucial because Atiku is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to disqualify Tinubu from the presidency.Ā
Atiku's motive for obtaining these records was to provide evidence that Tinubu had used a forged certificate.
The backdrop to this legal battle is the impending Supreme Court case, which could overturn the presidential tribunal's ruling that validated Tinubu's election ā if the Supreme Court decides Tinubu shouldn't be president for whatever reason, heāll be disqualified.Ā
The release of these documents has stirred up controversy, particularly regarding Tinubu's education history and whether he might have used someone else's academic achievements to gain admission to the university.Ā
While the university's registrar said that Tinubu had attended the institution and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1979, they eventually admitted that the INEC document and the 1979 diploma couldn't be the same due to a discrepancy in the timeline related to a staff member's arrival at the university.
Nigeriaās Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold the election results or order a fresh vote. This election is significant because of new electoral laws aimed at making the process more transparent through technology.
EconomyĀ
Worst money in AfricaĀ
The World Bank says that the currencies of Nigeria (naira) and Angola (kwanza) have lost the most value in Africa in 2023, dropping by nearly 40%.Ā
The naira was weakened because the Central Bank of Nigeria removed trading restrictions, while the kwanza declined because Angola's central bank stopped defending it due to low oil prices and high debt payments.Ā
Other African currencies, like South Sudan's and Burundi's, also saw significant losses.Ā
The World Bank advised Nigeria and Ethiopia to stop printing more money and cautioned against untargeted subsidies and foreign exchange controls, which can contribute to inflation.
Nigeriaās New AgendaĀ
After the failed āvision 2020ā, Nigeria has a new agenda: to reduce the poverty rate to 0.6% by 2050.Ā
To put it into perspective, the current poverty rate is about 40%, inflation is through the roof and Nigeria presently has the worst currency on the whole continent.Ā
This plan is part of a bigger agenda called the Nigeria Agenda 2050, which has goals like increasing the average income of citizens to N33,000
The government believes that by doing this, they can improve the lives of their citizens and make the country more prosperous.
Forget the continuously growing cost of living, forget the employment rate, ignore the frustrating cost of doing business. Just add more money to salaries.
Then thereās the fraudĀ
The ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) is investigating four senior officials from the Department of Farm Inputs Support Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. - LeadershipĀ
They are being investigated for allegedly taking hundreds of millions of naira for themselves instead of using it for monitoring and sensitisation programs.
The officials being investigated include a director, a deputy director, and the head of the accounting unit.
Speaking of fraudā¦Diezani Alison-Madueke: it's not going wellĀ
A former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is facing charges in a London court. She is accused of receiving bribes in the form of money, luxury items, private jet flights, and the use of expensive properties in the UK in exchange for giving out oil contracts when she was the oil minister from 2010 to 2015. - Reuters
She has been living in London since her arrest in 2015 and was charged in August with six bribery offences.Ā
Alison-Madueke's lawyer says she will plead not guilty.Ā
Despite the charges in the UK, the EFCC wants her to face trial in Nigeria too. They have tried to extradite her from the UK for years. They believe she left the country to escape the charges.Ā
However, Alison-Madueke: has denied fleeing Nigeria over corruption charges, saying she went to the UK for health reasons.Ā
The EFCC has filed multiple charges against her in Nigeria, including money laundering allegations.Ā
Diezani's next court appearance in the UK is scheduled for October 30th.
Government promises moneyĀ
President Bola Tinubu has approved a temporary wage increase of N35,000 for federal government workers, lasting six months. This move aims to dissuade the labour congress from continuing their protest/strike, which is in response to the removal of petrol subsidies.
In addition to the wage increase, the government has pledged to provide natural gas buses, offer financial support to small businesses, grant tax exemptions on diesel for six months, and extend financial aid to 15 million households over three months. To implement these measures, a new committee has been established.
However, states across are divided on whether to adopt the FGās decision.Ā
Each state is currently evaluating its financial situation and engaging in discussions with labour unions to determine the most suitable course of action.Ā
Some states, like Kwara and Cross River, were already providing an additional N10,000 monthly to their workers before the Federal Government's announcement, and they intend to continue doing so.
Ultimately, the Federal Government's decision does not automatically apply to state workers, and each state will make its decision based on its available resources and circumstances.
InsecurityĀ
The Joint Task Force South East, in a mission called 'Operation UDO KA II,' conducted a raid on four camps believed to be for IPOB and their armed allies, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State. ā This DayĀ
During the raid, they found improvised explosive devices on the way to these camps.
The task force says they discovered āmany dead bodiesā, and a suspected stolen petroleum tanker, among other things.Ā
The Joint Task Force said they killed two members of IPOB/ESN and arrested fourĀ
Dual Disasters in Nigeria: Water Accident and Explosive Tragedy
A boat in Nigeria carrying 50 people tipped over and sank in the Niger River in northwest Nigeria.Ā
Powerful water currents led to a tragic accident, resulting in the unfortunate disappearance of at least 40 passengers who are now presumed lost. Only ten people were rescued from the treacherous waters.Ā
Sadly, such incidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season, when boats tend to be overloaded, poorly maintained, or safety regulations are disregarded.
In another heartbreaking event in Delta State, Nigeria, an explosion occurred at Koko junction along the road between Warri and Benin during the early morning hours of Sunday, the 1st of October. This tragedy claimed the lives of at least 20 people.
Among the casualties were also bystanders who had come to collect spilled fuel from the ill-fated petrol truck, despite warnings from concerned drivers and security personnel who had rushed to the scene.
In Rivers State, an explosion in an illegal oil refining site on Sunday night killed 30Ā people. The fire started from a nearby oil-making area and spread quickly.
Legislators cornerĀ
SenateĀ
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve three new people to become ministers.Ā
The nominees are Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State, and Mr. Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.Ā
In August 2023, the Senate already approved 45 ministerial nominees, but three of them were rejected. One of those rejected was Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State because there were security concerns raised against him.
During the screening, two people collapsed and one died.
The deceased, Tribune correspondent Tijani Adeyemi, suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away while covering the proceedings.
He was rushed to the National Assemblyās clinic but unfortunately died on the wayĀ
Another person, ministerial nominee Balarabe Lawal, also collapsed but was revived and later diagnosed with fatigue.
Ondo State AssemblyĀ
The Ondo State House of Assembly is trying to remove the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, from his job. ā PunchĀ
Last week, the Federal High Court court in Abuja dismissed the motion to impeach Aiyedatiwa, but the state assembly is still quite keen on it.Ā
The House of Assembly complained to the National Judicial Council, saying the judge, Justice Emeka Nwiteās, decision was wrong.
Other news
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, is about to cut somebody over the mistreatment and neglect of some state athletes who went out to compete in an out-of-state sports event in Enugu. Even though they were treated and kitted badly by the Ekiti State Sports Council, they won some gamesĀ - Punch
Federal Government has released the sum of N2.06 billion for the procurement of a brand new Linear Acceleration Machine for the treatment of the disease at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State āā- Guardian NgĀ
The Lagos State Government announced on Tuesday that it has sealed the Alamutu market at Idioro in Mushin due to its poor sanitary conditions.Ā - Guardian NgĀ
The Lagos State Police Command has declared Owodunni Ibrahim, aka Primeboy, wanted over the death of Afrobeats musician Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known as Mohbad - LeadershipĀ
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, announced that the government will pay N771 million to compensate owners of 130 buildings and structures that need to be demolished for a road expansion project in Umuahia, the state capital. The compensation amounts for each structure have not been revealed, but there are reports that they could range from N2 million to N50 million each - Guardian Ng
Ogun government seeks partnership with US to develop critical sectors- Premium Times