The internet is divided, Africa and Ireland celebrate, and James Brown is in absolute shambles at the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The queen passed on September 8th, 2022, at 96 in Balmoral, making her the longest reigning monarch in British history. While some are mourning her death, others celebrating the end of an era and discussing the Charles vs Diana vs Camilla saga.
As you remember her on the Queen on the streets, here’s a reminder about the 2023 elections in your country.
In today’s edition:
INEC announces campaign start date
Politics vs Religion
ISWAP attacked Boko Haram
ASUU Strike: FG reviews ‘No-work No-pay’ policy
Road to 2023
INEC declared 28th September 2022. as the official campaign kick-off date for the general elections.
The commission will begin releasing the final list of candidates on the 20th September. By the 4th of October, the final list of candidates for state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly) will be published. (See the election timetable and schedule of activities).
Senate against religion-based tickets
The Senate is seeking an amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act to prevent same-faith ticket (Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian) presidential and vice presidential candidates after the 2023 general election.
The house of reps is also working on a bill to imprison/fine anyone who causes people to vote based on religion, community, tribe, language or territorial region in the 2023 general elections. The punishment is a twenty-year jail term and a fine of N40 million.
Similarly, according to the bill, any candidate who distils information that undermines the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or unity of the Federation and promotes feelings of hate during campaigns will be jailed for 20 years.
Religion vs Politics
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) remained opposed to APC's Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket on Monday
It also said it had not reached an agreement with the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu
There was a report on Monday that Tinubu met with the leadership of CAN over the controversy that arose from the party’s choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 general elections - The Punch
Tinubu selected a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate, angered the country's Christian population.
Constitutional lawyer Jiti Ogunye previously condemned a Christian cleric who threatened his congregation with hell if they fail to vote in “the favour of the Church.”
Ogunye noted that the cleric’s comment violated the Electoral Act, 2022 and was, thus, “a criminal offence.”
Security
Abuja-Kaduna hostage negotiator under suspicion for ownership of ‘incriminating materials’
Department of State Services (DSS) says that ‘incriminating materials’ were recovered in the house of Tukur Mamu, Abuja-Kaduna train hostage negotiator.
The DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said:
“During the (search) processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered. Other items include large amounts in different currencies and financial transaction instruments. While further investigations continue, Mamu will, sure, have a day in court.”
Although Mamu willingly volunteered for the task of terrorist negotiator, he soon resigned based on alleged threats to his safety. He then became a medium of communication between the terrorists and the government as well as victims and their families
Mamu was previously arrested in Egypt and returned back to the country on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022.
He confirmed his arrest, saying: “I am on my way to Madina Saudi Arabia when they stopped me at Cairo Airport under the Nigerian Government order. Nothing was found in my possession. So I am sure the DSS officials are waiting for me at the Kano Airport, I don’t have anything to hide, and like I said, I am not afraid of them (DSS). I swear to God I am not afraid of them. I just want the world to know of what is happening.”
ISWAP attacks Boko Haram Terrorists Fleeing Military Bombardments In Borno
ISWAP terrorists attacked a group of Boko Haram terrorists and their families when they came to seek refuge in one of ISWAP’s hideouts in Cina village, a place renamed by the terrorists in Bama LGA, Borno - Leadership
Those attacked were among the Boko Haram members that escaped raids of their camps in Gazuwa, Sheruri and Mantari villages by the Air Task Force Operation Hadin Kai. Over 200 insurgents were killed during the raid.
Bandits vow to kill abducted DPO, kidnap ransom deliverer
Bandits who abducted a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaduna State two weeks ago have vowed to kill their victim if his family does not increase the ransom from the N7 million they managed to raise. The bandits also kidnapped the person who was delivering the money - Vanguard
The police officer was abducted along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway on his way to assume duty at his new post. The officer has now spent 2 months in captivity.
Troops arrest Boko Haram logistics supplier, eliminate over 250 terrorists and rescue three Chibok girls
Nigerian troops do it all as they have arrested a suspected foreign logistic supplier and arms dealer to the terrorists, Mallam Abatcha Bukar, as well as eliminated over 252 terrorists fighters in different air and ground operations in the last one week
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, said troops rescued three more abducted Chibok girls, namely Jinkai Yama, Falmata Lawal and Asabe Ali, in the process.
++ Due to the increasing insecurity and vandalism, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, said work on the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern rail line has been suspended - Guardian NG
Governance
NERC reveal plans to purchase an unspecified amount of computers for N2 billion in 2023
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission says it will spend N5bn on technology investments between now and 2025
The Chairman of NERC, Mr Sanusi Garba, said this is so the commission can “have credible information about the quality of service”. “Without technology, we can not know that a feeder in an area is out for 48 hours and people are in darkness,” he added.
Garba says the commission will invest in technology for data aggregation. He says the budget is for hardware and software, and everything they need comes down to spending N2.5bn in 2023 and N1bn in 2025.
“We want to see what is happening in all the feeders directly from the commission and not relying on licensees, so investing N5bn on technology today is nothing,” he said.
FG declares League Management Company as illegal
The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared the League Management Company (LMC), operator of the Nigeria Professional League (NPL), illegal.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ismaila Abubakar, said the drastic action became necessary because the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) fraudulently floated the LMC to evade pre-existing debts owed by the organisation NFF replaced, Nigeria Premier League Limited.
Abubakar also reminded that a “competent court of jurisdiction has declared [the LMC] an illegal body”
Thus the FG advised the NFF to promptly withdraw the licence given to the LMC and, in the meantime, set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC)
The LMC has been administering the Nigeria Professional League for almost a decade.
Education
End in sight for ASUU strike as FG reviews ‘No-work No-pay’ policy
The FG has set up a committee to review their policy to withhold salaries for the time ASUU has been on strike. The committee is to consider the union’s insistence that members must be fully paid for the strike period before they return to work.
The committee is a result of a meeting the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, had with pro-chancellors, chairmen of Councils and Vice Chancellors of universities
The meeting was part of an effort to resolve the strike and discuss lecturers’ salaries.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) called on the FG to end ASUU’s strike.
NANS’s factional President, Umar Faruk Lawal, lamented the negative effects of the strike on students and threatened to occupy the Ministry of Education if the FG failed to fix the issue.
They also tasked the FG with setting up visitation panels to address the academics and welfare of the students.
Economy & Finance
Nigeria lost an average of 437,000 barrels of oil daily
Between January and July, Africa’s biggest oil producer lost about 437,000 barrels of oil a day to criminals who tap pipelines in the Niger Delta region - Premium Times
The stolen oil is worth more than $10 billion (N4.3 trillion). This financial loss is more than 50% of Nigeria’s external reserves.
It is also more than double Nigeria’s total revenue between January and April. Nigeria’s total revenue could not service its debt, and the country had to borrow for everything.
Bank levy to AMCON should be increased
The Director General of the Budget office of Nigeria, Ben Akabueze suggested that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) should increase the amount of statutory contribution made by banks to cover their exposure to toxic assets - Nairametrics
He said this when asked about his opinion on the state of AMCON, which reports suggest has only recovered N1.6 trillion through the EFCC between 2017 and July 5, 2021, out of over N5 trillion in toxic assets.
FG to sanction Airlines offering tickets in foreign currency
The FG vowed to sanction foreign airlines selling tickets to Nigerians in dollars, stressing that the practice violates the country’s laws.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Sirika said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officials have already been directed to protect the interest of Nigerians
According to the minister, some airlines were refusing Naira and charging fares in dollars, while others blocked local travel agencies from accessing their websites.
Fraud
Human Rights agency sues FG for alleged airport fraud
Samuel Agweh (SAN), on behalf of the Centre for Transparency and Defence of Human Rights, is asking the Federal High Court to compel the FG to disqualify from TAV Airport Holding Company and GMR Airport Limited over alleged dishonesty and misrepresentation.
The two companies are participating in the Lagos airport concession bid process. The date for the case hearing is yet to be fixed
According to Guardian NG, the plaintiff averred that Tav Airport Holding Company and GMR Airport Ltd., which submitted separate bids and were shortlisted for the next phase of the concession, are owned by same company, Airport De Paris (ADP).
According to the applicant, the status of the two companies is contrary to the Request For Qualification (RFQ) guidelines set out by the Ministry of Aviation, which stipulate that companies owned by same entity cannot submit separate bids for the concession.
The NGO said the actions of the two companies amounted to dishonesty, lack of integrity and deliberate attempt to deceive the contracting authority into handing over the nation’s gateway to “persons of questionable character, who lack integrity and repute.”
NNPC ready to submit itself for forensic audit
Last week, the customs director questioned NNPC’s subsidy budget numbers and this week, NNPC Limited offered to submit itself to a forensic audit of fuel supply and subsidy management, insisting daily fuel supply is 68 million
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by Malam Garba Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC
According to Guardian NG, the House of Reps has also started a probe into subsidy payments approved by the FG, coming as Nigeria expects to spend over N6 trillion on fuel subsidy next year.
Health
Nigeria, others at risk of meningitis outbreak
Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Togo are at heightened risk of a meningitis type A epidemic, a disease which has nearly been eliminated on the continent
The COVID-19 pandemic is delaying meningitis vaccination campaigns for more than 50 million children in the region
Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, disclosed this, during a virtual press briefing on September 8th.
He said the pandemic severely disrupted meningitis prevention and control services:
“Based on reports from countries, WHO found that meningitis control activities were reduced by 50 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019, with a slight improvement in 2021.
Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Togo delayed campaigns with the MenAfriVac vaccine aimed at protecting a total of 50 million children under 12 years of age against meningitis type A.” - The Guardian
WHO has launched a roadmap aimed at stopping bacterial meningitis outbreaks by 2030, urging countries to implement it rapidly before the start of the meningitis season in January 2023
Other news
The EFCC says it has initiated processes to appeal the acquittal of a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang - Nairametrics
A member of the Nigerian women’s 4x100m team competing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has tested positive for drugs, now the team is losing their relay gold - The Guardian
The Tribunal dismisses suit against Multichoice’s tariff hike. The claimants sued the consumer protection commission along with MultiChoice over the subscription fee hike - Premium Times
Google announced that 60 African startups were selected for the second cohort of its Google for Startups Black Founders Fund - Tech Cabal
Nigerian Hip Hop star Panshak Henry Zamani (Ice Prince) was arrested in Lagos for abducting, assaulting and threatening a police officer - The Guardian
Abductors of the principal of Madonna Community Secondary school in Oruk Anam LGA, Akwa Ibom are demanding N50 million ransom - The Nation
About 10 homes were destroyed after a tanker with 45,000 litres of petrol burst into flames in Ifo, Ogun State - News Wire NGR
Benue leaders vow resistance against proposed Miyetti Allah vigilante group - Vanguard
Gunmen kill three police officers in the South-east. Police have confirmed the incident - Premium Times
The FG has secured an arrest database for record of arrests by security agencies to facilitate the quick filing of charges and prosecution of offenders on federal offences - Guardian NG
Nigeria earns N1.19 trillion from VAT in six months (19% of revenue) - Guardian NG
Zamfara distributes N50m to vulnerable citizens - Guardian NG
A group known as Action Peace Plan in Igala Land (APPI) has raised the alarm over plans to rig 2023 general elections via manipulation and violence in Kogi State - ThisDay