News
...decry level of misery, poverty and hopelessness across the country
As Nigerian workers today join their counterparts globally to mark International Workers’ Day, commonly known as May Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has described the last year as terrible and excruciating for workers and other Nigerians in a Vanguard report.
This came as workers in the petroleum, electricity, maritime, manufacturing and other sectors, decried the present level of misery, poverty and hopelessness across the country.
They urged the incoming government to address the worsening poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inflation, high cost of living and frustration in the nation.
‘It’s been tortuous’
Speaking on the conditions of workers in the last year, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, said: “The last one year has been torturous for Nigerians, especially workers in every sector.
‘’Tertiary education has been severely fractured, the manufacturing sector has been comatose as energy supply, layoffs and high cost of doing business have characterized the sector.
‘’There was no growth due to the inability of operators to access foreign exchange to buy raw materials, spare parts and other necessities. This impacted negatively on the workers, stagnated wages and worsened unemployment and poverty in all sectors.
“Road transportation was among the worst hit because the supply of petroleum products was disrupted in most parts of the year to the extent that besides the scarcity, the prices were prohibitive and unaffordable.
“The health sector has remained in a sorry state. Government officials are comfortable driving government vehicles, they are comfortable living in government houses and among others, but uncomfortable going to government hospitals. It has been terrible.
‘’The cost of living has been criminally high, unemployment, poverty and insecurity of life and property are just beyond description. The last year was really bad.”
On expectations of the incoming government, the NLC scribe declared: “We expect the struggle for the rights and welfare of workers to be more intense because when President Muhammadu Buhari made a famous quote in the earlier part of his eight years regime to say he wondered how state governors went to beds and slept knowing that workers were being owed huge arrears of salaries, he was speaking directly to the pains and feelings of workers.
“He had also in appreciation of the torture and agony the working people and their families were going through as a result of his inability to manage the refining capacity and fuel supply in Nigeria, resisted the pressure from cosmetic economists that see everything wrong in discussing production.
‘’He had resisted their pressures to continuously increase the fuel pump price, knowing that they were urging him to set the nation on fire.
‘’However, we have a President-elect whose direct voice said the opposite, even in his campaign. His own direct voice said he was going to deal with the issue of managing the downstream sector pressure, not minding the level of protest and anger that will be borne out of it. That clearly shows you a direction of his insensitivity.
“It is not like Buhari who denied every word that was spoken to convince Nigerians to vote for him and the storyline we got was that it was never said by him, but by his supporters and party.
‘’In this case, it was a direct quote from Bola Tinubu on the direction he would pursue regarding the mainstream of the Nigerian economy, which is fuel management.
“You know that effort to refine in Nigeria cannot cause an uproar, but set up of refineries in Nigeria will cause jubilation. It will be a spontaneous scream for joy if Nigerian refining capacity is restored.
‘’What will present an outrage and force people into the streets will be an astronomical rise in the cost of petroleum products. So, we are waiting with bated breath to know what will happen.
“In fact, this might be the first time we will be wishing that a politician will not honour his campaign promise. It is an irony and cruel joke. But it might be one time in Nigeria that electorates will be praying that a politician does not honour his campaign statement.
“Whatever that comes, we are prepared to face the challenges because we have no other country but Nigeria. But for workers, there won’t be Nigeria. When our leaders rush to spend holidays in other countries, the workers are the ones that keep the country going.
“When they rush to spend time in hospital beds outside the country, Nigerian workers keep the country going. We do not have the luxury to do what they do. They spend their holidays outside the country to the detriment of our economy.
“They pursue their health status outside the country to the detriment of our economy. They pursue the education and training of their children and family members outside the country to the detriment of our economy.
“So, the workers are the ones that keep the Nigerian economy going. We are Nigerians and it is us that would continue to cry and struggle to keep our country because we do not have any other place.
“They have dual nationalities and they have homes all over the globe. We are here, it is our life and we are not going to lay back and get crushed. We are down but we are not out. He that is down needs fear no fall. We will keep crawling, struggling and pushing to get on our feet.”
Oil workers
On his part, President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum Workers, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, said: “The last one year has been traumatic and frustrating for workers in the oil and gas sector.
“The working conditions have continued to worsen and workers are going through what can be best described as modern-day slavery. The rate of casualisation, outsourcing and contract staffing of workers is very alarming.
“Every day, the job security of workers is being threatened with one form of a precarious employment policy or another. Full employment of workers is disappearing like the wind, while non-pensionable employment policies with unbearable working conditions have become the order of the day.
“It is unbelievable that workers in the sector are paid between N70,000 and N100,000 monthly. We cannot continue like this.
“We call on the incoming government to be more assertive on the welfare of Nigerian workers in the oil and gas industry. The incoming government should eradicate slavery employment policies that dehumanise Nigerians in their fatherland.
“It is also important for the incoming government to deal with the Japa syndrome by creating gainful employment opportunities for the youths and providing basic social amenities, social security, stable power supply, security of life and property, quality and affordable healthcare services, among others.”
Electricity workers
Similarly, President of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Martins Uzoegwu, said: “Nigeria more than before, has been bedeviled with a lot of challenges which would have crippled lesser breeds of people.
“We are facing serious economic, social and political challenges. These challenges added to the specific challenges (economic challenges manifesting in arbitrary sack, non-negotiation of conditions of service, stagnation of salary, lack of promotion, insecurity, unconducive working environment, casual/contract appointments, poor salaries and other conditions of service amongst others) faced by Nigerian workers make it very daunting to continue to provide excellent services.
“However, it is, indeed, worthy of recognition to appreciate all Nigerian workers. We salute the courage and doggedness of the hardworking employees in the power sector who continuously provide excellent service amid these challenges and notwithstanding the lack of adequate infrastructure to discharge their duties.
“Nigerian workers can no longer offer their labour to slave drivers whose only interest is profit maximization and capital mobility. The leadership of the congress and the union has identified and isolated this issue as a major advocacy concern and we can tell you that our strident struggle will soon translate to major legislative wins.”
Maritime workers
In the same vein, the President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said workers in the sector had continued to battle the refusal of the international oil companies, IOCs, to obey Marine Notice 106 and extant stevedoring regulations, mandating all companies and persons engaged in stevedoring work, to engage stevedoring workers and companies to carry out operations on their platforms and premises.
‘’We also have lingering issues over refusal of government to pay aged seafarers monthly pensions, in spite of court ruling, refusal to restore registered onboard ship gangway security and tally men(pooling system), absence of Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, in the shipping sub-sector .
“There are grievances also over government refusal to issue seafarers identity documents, non-dredging of Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt ports and confusion over long expired contract of terminal operators, among other issues.
“So, the last one year has been challenging to maritime workers. Generally, the issues of insecurity, unemployment, high cost of living, unstable power supply, inflation, port access roads, etc have been a major challenge,’’ he said.
Manufacturing workers
Speaking in a similar vein, the National Secretary of the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, Joseph Dada, said: “Since the last May Day, the socio-economic conditions of our members have worsened.
“We have been confronted with factory closures, casualisation, outsourcing and contract staffing have become the new employment policies. Full-time employees are retrenched in place of casuals, outsourced and contract workers with dehumanizing conditions of service.
“We have witnessed some multinational companies close full departments and laid off the entire workers in the last year. Some conducted outright retrenchments, only to recruit more casuals, outsourced and contract staff with very poor and dehumanizing working conditions.
“The problems were compounded by unfavourable government policies. We are appealing to the incoming government to address the issue of forex scarcity, multiple taxations, high cost of living, insecurity, unemployment, underemployment, deindustrialisation and unwholesome importation of goods and services.”
The manufacturing sector has recorded a 52 per cent increase in unsold finished goods in six months, a new report by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has shown, in a report by Punch.
This was despite a 32 per cent (N1.31tn) decrease in the manufacturing sector factory output in the second half of 2022, when compared with N3.99tn recorded in the preceding half of the year.
These were contained in the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s Bi-Annual Economic Review report.
The document presents summary of findings of survey of the manufacturing sector by MAN for the second half of 2022.
According to the report, the value of manufacturing production was N6.67tn in 2022 as against N7.39tn recorded in 2021.
The report said manufacturing production was severely affected in the second half of 2022 by the absence of implementation of new capital projects by the government as the general elections drew closer.
Production in the sector was also said to have been negatively affected by limited purchases by households due to the naira redesign policy, high inflationary pressure, high cost of energy, particularly diesel and gas, acute shortage of forex for importation of raw materials and machinery needs of the sector, among others.
The report partly reads, “Inventory of unsold finished products in the manufacturing sector increased to N282.56bn in the second half of 2022 up from N169.75bn recorded in the corresponding half of 2021; thus, indicating N112.81bn or 66 per cent increase over the period.
“It also increased by N85.46bn or 51 percent when compared with N187.1bn recorded in the first half of the year. Inventory of unsold goods in the sector totaled N469.66bn in 2022 as against N384.58bn recorded in 2021. The high inventory recorded in the period is attributed to low purchasing power in the economy due to the declining real income of households following the continuous increase in inflationary pressures in the country. This is worsened by the Naira Redesign policy which began in the last quarter of 2022.”
According to the report, capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector declined to 54.9 per cent from 59 per cent recorded in the corresponding half of 2021; thus, indicated 4.1 percentage points decline over the period.
Quarter-on-quarter, it declined by three percentage points when compared with 57.9 per cent recorded in the first half of the year. Manufacturing capacity utilisation averaged 56.4 percent in 2022 as against 55.9 per cent average of 2021.
The report also noted that there was an increase in local raw materials utilisation in the sector during the period due to increased difficulty in sourcing forex which compelled manufacturers to look more inward for raw materials notwithstanding the associated huge cost.
On investments into the sector, the report said manufacturing sector investment dipped to N145.59bn in the second half of 2022 down from N160.88bn recorded in the corresponding half of 2021; thus, indicating N15.29bn or 10 per cent decline over the period.
It further declined by N32.8bn or 18 per cent when compared with N178.39bn recorded in the first half of the year. Manufacturing investment totaled N323.98bn in 2022 as against N305.02bn recorded in 2021.
Investment in the period, according to MAN, was affected by the high debt profile of the government which particularly deters foreign investment, high cost of borrowing, high cost of energy, and low consumption during the period.
Also, in the second half of 2022, manufacturing employment dipped to 6741 down from 8508 and 9559 recorded in the corresponding half of 2021 and the first half of 2022 respectively.
“The decline in the number of jobs created in the sector during the period corroborates the poor operating business environment that was perverse with high energy cost, exorbitant cost of borrowing, high inflation, low sales due to limited cash,” the report read further.
Stakeholders react
Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, cited forex scarcity, rising energy costs alongside other biting challenges as the primary cause of the dip in production output and drop in the volume of sales.
Ajayi-Kadir also noted that due to the challenges confronting the sector, both local and foreign investors have lost confidence in the economy; and, as a result, have elected to withdraw investments in the sector.
He said, “Production activities were reduced because of the environment; many companies, because of the prevailing situation — forex, power and so on, had to cut down on production. Many that were running up to three to four shifts had to reduce to two or one.
“To that extent, we had a dip in capacity utilisation. At the same time, the disposable income of the average citizen is also reducing. So, we now have a combined situation where, even with the little we produce, we are not able to sell. Even for local investors, most of the investments that we talk about are actually expansions — people adding new brands to their portfolios. Others engage in more diverse operations or go into new areas. But, there is no incentive to do that.
“The returns on investments on the current ones are what the would-be investors will look at. We have continued to say that the government’s efforts in sourcing foreign direct investments are almost tantamount to illusion because there is hardly any investor that will invest in an economy just because they were invited to do so. They scan the environment, they ask manufacturers what the situation is. It is only when you see that those operating in the environment are successful that you have the encouragement to come and invest.”
In the same vein, Deputy-President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Idahosa, blamed a dramatic spike in the production costs of manufacturers in 2022 as a major factor behind the decline in manufacturing output.
According to him, the spillover effect of the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly its impact on energy prices and disruptions in supply chains placed a serious strain on manufacturing activities.
Idahosa said, “These figures capture what has been happening on the ground. The big economic picture is now coming home to reality to show the experience of various players in the industry. For the manufacturers, once the power situation continues to deteriorate rather than improve, most manufacturers spend more on self-generation. Self-generation cost has almost quadrupled, from almost N200 to N800 when the Ukraine war started.
“The same Ukraine war affected the exchange rate. The exchange rate jumped from N400 to N700. Manufacturers are paying a lot more for energy because of the increase in the price of diesel.
They also pay about double for forex because of imported inputs, whether they are raw materials, machinery, maintenance parts and even some technical services.
“So, we have these three huge increases in cost. On the market side, Nigerians are getting poorer. Inflation is reducing their buying power. They cannot buy what manufacturers are producing. A lot of manufacturers will tell you their warehouses are full because customers want to buy but they don’t have the money to buy. All these are adding up to these dramatic figures we are seeing.”
Also speaking, a public policy economist at the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Olusegun Vincent, said the inflationary pressure, which affected the economy across the board weakened purchasing power and also affected manufacturers’ ability to optimise production activities.
Vincent said, “The poor earning power of Nigerians accounted for it. Obviously, inflation has taken quite a substantial part of our disposable income.”
Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly raided some hideouts of Boko Harm insurgents in Borno state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai recovered weapons, including six anti-aircraft guns, during the operation at the Ukuba axis of the Sambisa forest, Borno state, on Saturday.
The publication said the soldiers successfully cleared the terrorists’ hideouts in Garno, Alafa, Alafa D, Garin Doctor, Njumia, Izzah, Farisu, Somalia, Ukuba, Garin Glucose, Garin Ba’aba, Bula Abu Amir, communities in Bama LGA in Borno state.
The operation was reported to have led to a heavy gun battle between the insurgents and the troops, forcing the insurgents to abandon their vehicles and other weapons.
The publication noted that the troops recovered six anti-aircraft guns, four Ak-47 rifles, several quantities of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a cache of magazines, and a Hilux vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun.
Earlier, it was reported that troops of 51 task force battalion Banki, Operation Hadin Kai, reportedly killed many Boko Haram fighters in Borno.
Two humanitarian workers who were abducted from Monguno in 2022 were said to have been rescued during the gun duel.
The troops invaded the hideouts of the terrorists in Gargash, Bama LGA of Borno state.
Officers of the Nigeria Police in Ogun State have arrested a suspected serial killer cum ritualist, Ifasoji Ayangbesan, who attempted to bribe them with a sum of one million naira.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the State SP Abimbola Oyeyemi who disclosed this at the weekend said the officers duly rejected the said bribe as the suspect who killed and dismembered the body of one Oyindamola Adeyemi in January this year was arrested on Friday.
Oyeyemi said the 35-year old Ifasoji Ayangbesan, whose other gang members had earlier been arrested was apprehended following painstaking intelligence based investigation embarked upon by detectives from Obalende divisional headquarters, which led them to his hideout at Ijade Iloti area of Ijebu Ode.
According to the PPRO, the suspect who has been indicted by the earlier arrested members of the syndicate as the person who bought the two legs of the victim, took to flight immediately he heard that he has been mentioned by his colleagues.
He noted that, since then, the DPO Obalende division, SP Murphy Salami, detailed his detectives to be on his trail with the view to arrest him and possibly recover the deceased two legs from him and prosecute him with his colleagues in crime.
He stressed that, luck ran against the suspect when he was apprehended at his Ijade Iloti hideout on Friday.
The PPRO explained that, immediately he was arrested, the suspect made an offer of one million naira bribe to the policemen, which was rejected by officers at the crime scene.
He added that, on interrogation, he confessed being part of the syndicate that killed Oyindamola Adeyemi, and that he was the person who severe the two legs of the deceased which he claimed he used for ritual purpose.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Yomi Oladimeji who commended his men for their uprightness has directed that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Departments, SCID in order to prosecute him with other members of his syndicate.
The police command in Imo says it has arrested nine suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in connection with the gruesome murder of five officers and a couple in the state.
It was widely reported that gunmen had stormed a check point and opened fire on the officers minutes after patrol vehicle had pulled up, killing five officers during the attack at Okpala community in Ngor-Okpala LGA, Imo state.
The attackers also killed a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Nwagu, owners of the restaurant where the officers were gunned down while eating.
Imo police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in a statement on Sunday, stated that the suspects were apprehended at their hideout in Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA on Thursday.
Okoye said Obali Paul, a 70-year-old man identified as a herbalist, was also arrested. The herbalist is said to be the attackers’ chief priest.
“In the course of investigation, the suspects all confessed to be members of the dreaded IPOB/ESN syndicate terrorising the good people of Imo state and had a hand in the recent killing of five police officers and two civilians at Ngor-Okpala LGA.
“They also volunteered crucial information that assisted the operatives in raiding their second hideout in Itu, Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA of Imo state which led to the arrest of another four suspected members of the proscribed separatist group.
“The suspects are famous on the command’s wanted list due to their nefarious activities.
“On sighting the operatives of the police, the notorious criminal syndicates engaged them in a fierce gun duel but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the tactical squad which forced them to surrender all their weapons.”
According to state police spokesperson, the 70-year-old man is the “chief priest of the criminal gang.”
Indofood, makers of Indomie instant noodles, has reacted to a recall of its products in Taiwan and Malaysia over an increased cancer risk.
Health officials in Malaysia and Taiwan said they had detected ethylene oxide, a compound, in Indomie’s “special chicken” flavor noodles.
Ethylene oxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilise medical devices and spices and has been associated as a cancer causing chemical.
The ministry of health in Malaysia said it had examined 36 samples of instant noodles from different brands since 2022 and found that 11 samples contained ethylene oxide.
The ministry said it had taken enforcement actions and recalled the affected products. It is unclear if other brands were implicated.
The development came hours after the department of health in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, said it detected ethylene oxide in two types of instant noodles, including the Indomie chicken flavor, following random inspections.
“The detection of ethylene oxide in the product did not comply with [standards],” the department said in a statement.
“Businesses have been ordered to immediately remove them from their shelves.”
‘OUR NOODLES ARE PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SAFETY STANDARDS’
Reacting to the allegations in a statement on Friday, Taufik Wiraatmadja, a member of the board of directors at Indofoods, defended the safety of the noodles.
Wiraatmadja said the noodles have received standard certifications and have been produced in compliance with international food safety regulations.
“Following the media reports in Taiwan on 24 April 2023 regarding the detection of ethylene oxide (“EtO”) in the Ah Lai White Curry Noodles from Malaysia and seasoning of Indomie Special Chicken Flavour, PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk (“ICBP” or the “Company”) as a subsdiary of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk wishes to provide explanation regarding Indomie, as follows,” the statement reads.
“All instant noodles produced by ICBP in Indonesia are processed in compliance with the food safety standards from the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (“BPOM RI”). Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards.
“ICBP has exported instant noodles to various countries around the world for more than 30 years. The Company continuously ensures that all of its products are in compliance with the applicable food safety regulations and guidelines in Indonesia as well as other countries where ICBP’s instant noodles are marketed.
“We would like to emphasize that in accordance with the statement released by BPOM RI, our Indomie instant noodles are safe for consumption.”
Nigeria is one of the highest consumers of the Indomie instant noodles.
The supplementary elections held in some states on Saturday were marred by violence, with four persons killed in Kano and Kebbi states, and pockets of violence and low turnout of voters recorded in other states, the Punch has reported.
Apart from the killings in the two states, the exercise in Edo, Ekiti, Adamawa, Rivers and Anambra states was characterised by voter apathy, vote-buying and late arrival of election materials.
This was just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announced the arrest of 12 persons in Kano and Katsina states for alleged involvement in vote-buying.
Three persons were feared killed when thugs invaded the Utai and Achika districts of the Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State to disrupt the election. Thugs allegedly insisted on voting, but the residents resisted them and that resulted in a clash that claimed the lives of the victims.
Sources said three houses, including that of the Chairman of the local government council, were also set ablaze.
It was gathered that the heavily armed thugs were brought to the area to disrupt the election.
Over the incident, police spokesman in the state, Haruna Kiyawa, said to reporters, “I have commenced investigation into the incident and will get back to you for confirmation as soon as I find out more information.”
He, however, had yet to get back as of the time of filing this report.
Thugs also disrupted polls in the Kwaciri, Kurna Gabas and Zangon Marikita areas of the Fagge and Ungogo local government areas of the state.
In Kebbi State, a yet-to-be-identified man was shot dead by soldiers on patrol at the Bajida Polling Unit 001, Fakai Local Government Area of the state for attempting to snatch a ballot box from officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
It was gathered that the deceased was a member of the proscribed Yansakai local volunteer vigilante group and attempted to snatch a gun from a soldier when he was shot dead.
Adamawa
Adamawa governorship and state House of Assembly supplementary elections witnessed late arrival of election materials, which affected early commencement of the polls.
There were also worries about the incidence of cybercrime tainting the polls as some suspects linked to such crimes were arrested.
Though polls opened early for voting in Yola North and Yola South, where 10 polling units and the INEC headquarters were located, the same could not be said of other polling units outside of the state capital.
Supplementary polls were held in 69 polling units spread across 47 registration areas in 21 local government areas.
One of our correspondents reported that eight persons were arrested in Bolki over suspicion that they were ICT experts who had been detailed to hack the BVAS.
The Bolki Ward had the highest number of polling units with 13 in total.
The suspects, who are in the custody of the DSS, could not properly identify themselves and claimed that they had been asked to come to the ward as replacement for the ad hoc officials who were to conduct the poll in the ward.
But the residents, whose alarm led to the arrest, argued that the suspects had infiltrated the ward under the pretext of being INEC ad hoc staff members and accused them of having sinister intentions of compromising the BVAS machines.
The suspects, who were later handed over to security agents, denied being part of any sinister plot.
They said they were in the area as INEC ad hoc workers who had been detailed for possible replacement of any ad hoc worker in the event of a shortfall or vacancy.
As of the time of going to press, results of the supplementary poll had not been announced as Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP, and Aishatu Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, of the APC waited anxiously for the announcement of who the next governor is. The APC candidate aims to become the first elected female governor in the country.
Ekiti
There was fair turnout of voters in the supplementary poll held on Saturday to determine winner of the state House of Assembly election in the Ido/Osi State Constituency 1 in Ekiti State.
Voting started around 8.30am in the three polling units where the election was held, while officers and men of the police, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were on ground to prevent repeat of the violence that marred the initial election.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Ayobami Salami, sued for peace among members of the different political parties at the polling units, urging them “to desist from activities that can disrupt the process for the second time.”
Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Lawrence Ogunsina, who said the election was free, fair and credible, added that Bimodal Voter Accreditation machines functioned properly.
Katsina
In Katsina State, election materials were allegedly snatched in some wards in the Kankara Local Government during the supplementary election for the state House of Assembly.
The election was also conducted in the Kankia and Kurfi local government areas of the state and witnessed impressive turnout of voters in the three council areas.
Security agents, including troops of the Nigerian Army, were deployed in all the communities where the election took place.
Collation officer for the Peoples Democratic Party in the Kankara Local Government Area, Nuradeen Sani, alleged that hoodlums carted away some election materials in some wards in the council.
According to him, the hoodlums swooped on polling units when voting was about to begin and carted away the items.
Sani said, “Voters were already on the line and the voting process was about to begin when the hoodlums swooped on them and snatched sensitive and non-sensitive election materials. This happened in several wards in the council.
“As far as we are concerned, no election can take place without following appropriate electoral guidelines. So, as far as we are concerned in the PDP, no election took place in the council. We have already prepared a petition on the incident for INEC.”
No INEC official in the state was ready to comment on the incident.
Spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, Gambo Isah, said he had not been informed of any arrest in connection with the supplementary election.
“I am not aware of any arrest so far in connection with the supplementary election,” he stated.
Edo
Voter apathy and intimidation characterised the supplementary elections in Edo State.
There were supplementary elections for the House of Representatives in the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency and state House of Assembly in Oredo East, Egor and Ovia South West constituencies.
Voters were allegedly threatened to leave some polling units in Benin if they were not going to vote for a particular political party, while only agents of the Peoples Democratic Party were visible in most of the polling units.
A member of the All Progressives Congress, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those who resisted the hoodlums were slapped and sent away from the polling units.
“The harassment was just too much from the hoodlums. Some people who resisted them were slapped and pushed away from the venue. I had to hurriedly leave the place for my personal safety,” he said.
Another voter, who simply gave his name as John, said, “I wanted to vote for the Labour Party, but some boys were harassing people here, but we are waiting to see what result they are going to announce.”
But Peter Igbinedion, agent of the PDP in Unit 21, Ward 12, Oredo, in Agbado Primary School said, “Are you seeing any violence or intimidation while you are here? That is the figment of the imagination of those making such allegations. INEC has done well as far as the exercise is concerned and at the end, we believe that the will of the people will prevail.”
Anambra
Late arrival of materials, vote-buying and massive deployment of thugs by leading political parties trailed the supplementary election in the Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State.
As of 12.47pm, voting had yet to commence in some polling units in parts of Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Ogbaru is the only constituency in the state where the February 25 general election was inconclusive.
At Okpoko Ward 14, Polling Unit 052, voters were seen sitting idly as of 1.05pm as they waited for officials of INEC to arrive with materials.
In other areas in Okpoko, INEC officials who arrived late without result sheets were chased away by voters.
Also, many voting centres visited by one of our correspondents witnessed the presence of thugs despite the massive deployment of security agents, including the police, naval men and soldiers.
There was serious vote-buying by the leading political parties, who also unleashed thugs in various parts of the local government.
At Manus primary school, Okpoko Ward 6, suspected thugs, said to be working for a particular candidate, swooped on journalists who were commuting in a vehicle with government number plate, suspecting them to be agents of the ruling party, All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Also, at Okpoko Ward 3, polling unit 004, St Luke’s Anglican Church, agents of the PDP and APGA were seen making payments to those who voted for their parties.
The main candidates in the election are Afam Ogene of the Labour Party, Chuchu Onyema of the PDP and Arinze Awogu of APGA.
Oyo
There was a large turnout of eligible voters in two federal constituencies of Oyo State.
Supplementary elections were conducted in two polling units in Oluyole Federal Constituency and three each in both Ibadan North East and Ibadan South East Local Government areas of the state.
One of our correspondents, who went round to monitor the exercise, observed the heavy presence of security agents comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Service, NSCDC and paramilitary agencies.
The state REC, Adeniran Tella, and his team monitored the affected polling units to ensure that the BVAS machines functioned well.
Rivers
Supplementary elections were conducted in 419 units in Port Harcourt 2 and Khana/Gokana federal constituencies of Rivers State.
One of our correspondents reported low voter turnout despite the early arrival of election materials and personnel.
PDP candidate for the Port Harcourt 2 Federal Constituency, Blessing Amadi, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
In the Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, there was voter apathy, while election materials were also allegedly hijacked.
Social Democratic Party candidate, Friday Nkee-ee, expressed disappointment with the conduct of the election, alleging that hoodlums snatched election materials in broad daylight
But the PDP candidate in the area, Dumnamene Dekor, expressed satisfaction, saying the election was peaceful, free and fair.
Sokoto
Voters in Sokoto State expressed anger over the late arrival of electoral materials for the National Assembly supplementary election.
At the JSS polling unit 017 in Shuni, the member representing the Dange/Shuni, Tureta, Bodinga Federal Constituency, Balarabe Kakale, said he was disappointed with the action of INEC.
Kakale said despite the assurance the electoral body gave Nigerians, it had not shown commitment to conduct free, fair and credible supplementary election.
President of the African Bar Association, Hannibal Uwaifo, knocked INEC over the conduct of the supplementary elections in Sokoto State.
He said INEC spent much time preparing for the polls only to produce nothing at the end of the day.
He said the institution needed to improve upon the conduct of subsequent elections in the state.
Uwaifo said his team saw a lot of ballot box snatching in the state, especially in the Kebbe Local Government Area, with some INEC officials beaten up by political thugs.
He stated, “We all thought that by now the election in the country would have been better than what we are witnessing.
“The BVAS in itself has not improved compared to what was witnessed during the last round of elections.
“It is unfortunate and if we are to rate this election, I will give INEC and security officials 40 per cent.”
Imo
Residents of the Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency of Imo State voted in the supplementary election.
While some areas witnessed low turnout of voters, there was massive turnout at Eke Amaehi polling in Eziama and Umuduruoma in Amakaohia in the Ikeduru Local Government Area as well as polling unit 003 in Ogbaku ward and Umuchimawiri in Obazu Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
Candidate of the Labour Party in the election, Uche Ogbuagu, said he was getting information of electoral violence in some polling stations.
EFCC arrests 12
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it arrested 12 persons for alleged vote-buying in Saturday’s supplementary polls in Kano and Katsina states.
The Kano Zonal Commander, EFCC, Faruk Dogondaji, said in an interview with newsmen that the suspects from the two states were arrested with N1.5m.
According to him, 10 suspects were arrested in the Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State and two in Kankiya LGA of Katsina State.
Dogondaji said the suspects were arrested while attempting to induce eligible voters with cash in some polling units.
He said that the 10 suspects were apprehended with N1,357,500 in Doguwa LGA of Kano State, while the two suspects were arrested with N242,000 in Kankia LGA of Katsina State.
“We will also be physically present in all the collation centres to prevent change of results,” he said.
Dogondaji said the presence of the personnel of the anti-graft agency in the electoral process would add credibility to the exercise.
The EFCC commander said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.
APC wins in Ekiti
Meanwhile, INEC on Saturday declared the APC candidate, Abiodun Fawekun, the winner of the Ido/Osi State Constituency 1 supplementary election.
The REC, Salami, said Fawekun polled 4,764 votes to defeat other candidates, and as such returned elected.
Salami, in a statement by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Ekiti State, Temitope Akanmu, said SDP candidate, Muyiwa Fadahunsi, polled 4,204 votes to emerge second, while Ayodele Awoniyi of the PDP secured 422 votes.
The REC lauded all stakeholders and people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of this election.
…wins in Oyo
The Returning Officer for Oluyole Federal Constituency supplementary election in Oyo State, Olaniyi Babayemi, announced Tolulope Akande-Sadipe of the APC as winner of the poll, having scored 14,891 to defeat his major challenger, Mogbonjubola Mojeed, of the PDP, who polled 13,073 votes.
Akande-Sadipe dedicated her victory to her late mother, Abiose Akande, and the entire people of her constituency.
“Today, I dedicate this victory to God Almighty, my late mother, my husband and my family, who have sacrificed a lot to allow me to do this. I dedicate this to all leaders of the APC, who have stood by me and all members of my constituency,” she stated.
Ogun speaker triumphs
INEC also declared the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, winner of the Ifo 1 Constituency election.
The returning officer, Richard Shobayo, said the Speaker polled 7,546 votes to defeat Yusuf Ogundele of the PDP, who garnered 6,596 votes .
The election for the constituency, which was held on March 18, was declared inconclusive due to over voting.
The PDP candidate polled 185 votes during the supplementary poll, while the APC garnered 167 votes.
Oluomo attributed his victory to God and the good people of Ifo, adding that it was a well fought battle.
Islamist group, Boko Haram, has killed at least eleven civilians during an attack at Buni Gari in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Security sources reported that the attack occurred between Thursday and Friday on the outskirts of Buni Gari.
The Nigerian Army 27 Task Force Brigade fighting the insurgents, stationed in the Buni Gari, recovered the corpses of the victims in a bush on Friday.
A source in the army revealed that the soldiers combed the bush on Friday after the attack which left the town in panic.
How it started
On Thursday, two residents of the Buni Gari community went into the bush to fetch firewood, they were caught by the insurgents. One of them identified as Abba Gawi, 40, was shot dead, and the terrorist group asked the other person to go home and report the incident and tell people to come and recover the corpse, a source in the military said.
“He rushed home and reported the incident in the community, the community members decided to go to the bush Friday morning to recover the corpse, believing that the terrorists might have left by then, unfortunately, they ambushed those who went to fetch the body of the slained civilian and killed some of them.
“Ten of them mostly youth were shot dead at close range after their hands were tied to their back. Other people escaped and reported the incident to the soldiers at the Buni Gari, who already were on alert following the gunshots from the attack.
“The soldiers, led by an officer identified only as Aro, a major, moved to the scene in combat gear and armour vehicles. Unfortunately, the terrorists fled the scene, and the soldiers recovered eleven corpses of the residents in the bush including that of the one initially killed on Thursday.
Police spokesperson in Yobe Dungus Abdulkareem confirmed the incident to reporters. However, he said nine people were killed by the terrorists in the incident.
The police did not provide further information about those who were reported to have been abducted by the insurgent.
Astha Rajvanshi, a Time’s reporter, has come under fire for writing the citation of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect of Nigeria, in the 2023 issue of the magazine’s 100 most influential people.
In the report, Rajvanshi described Tinubu as a “longtime political power broker”, who has had nearly two decades to prepare for the presidential election.
She said the former governor of Lagos is “aware of his inheritance” in the form of a “litany of crises in a fractured nation, including deep-rooted corruption, religious insurgencies, and shortages of cash, fuel, and power in a crumbling economy”.
But at the release of the magazine’s issue on Thursday, several Nigerians, particularly supporters of Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), known as Obidients, subjected the journalist to intense criticism.
With deluge of vitriol on her timeline, Rajvanshi resorted to locking her account on Twitter but the battering continued on her Facebook and Instagram pages.
Rajvanshi was accused of laundering the image of Tinubu, while some others called her “the promoter of a man that rendered families hopeless due to heroin trafficking”.
Below are some of the reactions on Twitter
Theodore(Dr) B.Mls, MPH, D.Epi
@DrTheodo
Poor @astharajvanshi , Nigerians have made her lock all her accounts.
Dear Astha Rajvanshi, I hope you understand why Nigerians are at rage with you and the Time Magazine.
Bola Tinubu was INDICTED for heroine trafficking and money laundering in Chicago Illinois USA which he had.
Samspace
@officialsaspace
Dear @TIME, it is reasonably understandable that this is a paid ad and promotion but in what measure is the evidence of this write up by Astha Rajvanshi based on?
Let’s be Factual. Is it his influence on drugs & narcotic pushing?
Mindset
@mindset_tweet
No amount of PR from Astha Rajvanshi will change the fact that Tinubu was indicted for dealing Drugs in the US.
Anti-Agbado!
@Oserume1
ASTHA RAJVANSHI stays in India and she is doing image laundering for Tinubu, will she vote for #TinubuTheDrugDealer to be President of India with all she knows about Tinubu??
After doing the dirty work for Tinubu, she locked her account, she does not want any backlash...
Martini®
@MartinOkonkwo
It's ideal that the professional circle of Astha Rajvanshi @astharajvanshi know that she is a promoter of a man that rendered families hopeless due to Heroin trafficking.
Putting the message out on LinkedIn will do it.
Ninety eight of the 276 students kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, are still in captivity, nine years after their abduction.
The Chibok schoolgirls were abducted from their school on April 14, 2014.
The incident sparked local and international outrage with leaders and activists putting enormous pressure on the Nigerian government to rescue the girls while offering intelligence and support.
For instance, in Nigeria, a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili; a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman and an activist, Aisha Yesufu, among others, championed a series of peaceful protests for years with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls to put pressure on the government on the plight of the girls.
Three weeks after the incident, then US First Lady Michelle Obama also joined worldwide calls for the safe return of the Nigerian schoolgirls.
In a tweet that went viral, Mrs Obama said, “Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It is time to #BringbackOurGirls.
Apart from the 25 girls who slipped from the grip of their abductors on the day of the attack, none was freed until 2016, when Amina Ali was found by vigilantes around Sambisa Forest. Then Maryam Ali Maiyanga escaped with her Boko Haram husband and their baby, Ali, followed by two others who escaped individually.
Then, the federal government facilitated the release of 21 more girls following a negotiation brokered by the International Red Cross. Another set of 82 girls were released by the insurgents in 2017.
So far, 178 of the girls have escaped but sadly, many of them suffered serious violations as they returned home traumatised, some with children sired by Boko Haram terrorists.
The administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had lived in denial of the abduction for days, a development, which pundits believed gave the terrorists an opportunity to hide the girls deep in Sambisa Forest.
Some of the freed girls were then enrolled in a foundation programme at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola under a federal government scholarship while others were sponsored by foreign donors.
For instance, in May 2022, one of the girls, Lydia Pogu bagged a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration from the Southeastern University, United States of America.
This came a year after she bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies with Minors in Political Science from the same university.
In Pogu’s speech which she presented on behalf of the graduating class of 2022, she said she never thought she would have an opportunity to go back to school after the threats issued to her by members of the Boko Haram sect.
Girls facing stigma
Chairman of the Chibok Parents Association, Yakubu Nkenki, said out of the 107 girls admitted into the programme, 84 had progressed into the university section; while 23 dropped out. He added that some of those in school got married and sought for deferment to have time for their new born babies.
While appealing to the federal government to seek the release of the remaining girls who were still in captivity, he also stressed the need to assist those who dropped out of the American University by assisting them to start some businesses to support themselves and their children.
He said while the parents appreciated the efforts made by the government, they relied on a statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari that the girls had left darkness behind and his government would make life easy for them, calling on the president to help them cater for the children they bore in captivity.
“These are grown up girls between 25 and 27 years of age, if left like that in the village, their life would be endangered,” Nkenki stated.
He expressed concern that President Buhari’s tenure will end on May 29, while some of the abducted girls still remain in the forest.
He called on the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to take up the matter with the same vigour as soon as he is sworn in to office.
Another parent, Rifkatu Solomon, said that although her daughter, Saratu, had regained freedom and is currently at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, she would not be completely relieved until all the remaining girls were freed like her daughter.
The Executive Director, Communications, AUN, Daniel Okereke, refused to give details about the girls, saying journalists should contact the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for details about the girl’s level of academic progress.
“But essentially, we first admitted 25 (those who escaped from the kidnappers) in Aug 2014 and in September 2018, the federal government sent another batch of 106 girls (from among those released). All other information you seek can be obtained from their custodians, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja,” Okereke said.
Abduction my most traumatic experience – Principal
Mrs Asabe Kwambura, who was the Principal of GSS Chibok at the time of the abduction told the Daily Trust in a telephone interview yesterday that she was yet to recover from the shock.
“The abduction of the school girls was the most traumatic moment in my life. I am still nursing the pain,” she said.
“We have been praying in the last nine years for God to touch the hearts of the abductors to see reason and release our daughters.
“I share the pain of the parents…It is very sad. My granddaughter is one of those still in the hands of the abductors. We are hopeful God has answered our prayers and they will come back home soon,” she said.
Some of the parents have died while awaiting the return of their daughters while others have developed health complications because of trauma.
All missing girls must be rescued—Amnesty Int’l
In a statement yesterday, Isa Sanusi, Acting Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said: “Parents of the 98 Chibok school girls who are still being held by Boko Haram — as well as other children abducted by gunmen — are living in anguish, knowing that their children are in the hands of ruthless individuals who subject their loved ones to chilling brutalities.”
Sanusi said all the missing girls must be returned to their families.
According to him, “It is beyond time that the Nigerian authorities took meaningful action to counter armed groups like Boko Haram and gunmen. Nigeria has an obligation to implement safeguards to protect all children, and the lack of accountability for these callous crimes is fuelling impunity. The missing Chibok school girls should be returned home to their families, and all those responsible for committing grave violations must face justice.”
Buhari won’t give up till last day in office—Presidency
Reacting to the inability of the Buhari administration to get all the abducted Chibok girls out of captivity as promised, the Presidency noted that over 100 Chibok girls kidnapped in 2014 by the terrorist Boko Haram group had been rescued.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this while reacting to enquiries from our correspondent.
The presidential spokesman, who said some of the rescued had been trained up to degree levels, added that the Buhari administration was not giving up on the return of the remaining girls till its last day in office.
Shehu said: “I hope you have not lost sight of what led to the failure of their early recovery, the fact that the sitting government at that time was arguing with Nigerians for two weeks on whether the girls had been stolen or not.
“By the time they came to terms with the unfortunate incident, the footmarks of the victims had disappeared from the sands of Sambisa Forest.
“Against these odds, the Buhari administration, in the first instance, got back 84; 83 came home because one declined to come along, choosing to remain with the terrorists. Among the rescued, we have some of them who have been trained up to degree levels.
“Thereafter, 24 more were rescued. From here, the rescue and return of the girls, in batches of one, two, three or more has continued. To its last day in office, the Buhari administration is not giving up on the return of the remaining girls.”
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President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is currently taking a rest in Europe ahead of his inauguration on May 29, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
According to Morka, Tinubu is doing well and will swing into action immediately he returns from Europe.
Morka stated, “He is probably in Europe. He’s fine. After the elections and all of the energy expended, he just decided to take a moment of rest.
“Once he returns and is inaugurated on May 29, there will be no dulling. He’ll be saddled with the responsibility of running a country as massive and complex as Nigeria. I know he’ll be back in the country very shortly.”
Morka added that Tinubu is not just resting but reaching out to heads of government and other levels of leadership of other countries that are vital to the agenda he’s bringing in his new government.
Morka added, “So, he’s not sleeping in his bed; he’s also in meetings regularly with all kinds of people who are travelling from other countries to see him preparatory to his inauguration. So, it’s a working visit.”
Tinubu’s absence has raised concerns, with his critics saying he is being treated for an undisclosed aliment.
One body has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building at 1st Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi area of Lagos.
The body was recovered following the search and recovery efforts of workers of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The building, which was under construction, collapsed on Wednesday evening, with some workers trapped under the rubble.
In a statement on Friday, Gbenga Omotoso, commissioner for information and strategy, said the excavation of the collapsed building was still ongoing.
The commissioner said the identity of the body recovered was yet to be known, adding that everyone in the building had been accounted for.
“The excavation of the site, using the architectural designs, continues. The site has been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation. Quadrants 2 and 3 have been leveled to ground zero, with the search operation completed. Quadrant 4 is ongoing,” he said.
“Twenty-five people were rescued from the site when the building went down on Wednesday. They are all doing fine.
“When a roll call was done by the site supervisors, everyone was accounted for. Nobody could ascertain whether the victim whose body was found this morning was on the site – as of the time the roll call was taken.”
Following the incident, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said no death was recorded, but workers were trapped in the building and a response team had been mobilised for search and rescue operations.
Rotimi Edu, president of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) described the incident as a case of negligence by the contractors who undertook the project.
A seven-storey building under construction on Banana Island, Lagos State, has collapsed, trapping several workers.
Emergency responders were immediately mobilised to the scene of the building collapse.
Lagos Territorial Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident in a brief update Wednesday evening.
“Report of a building under construction was just received at Banana Island. Workers trapped. We are mobilising to respond,” he said.
Giving an update on the building collapse, Deputy Director, Public Affairs Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mukaila Sanusi, said “an unapproved 7-floor building under construction collapsed.”
He said, “Few who sustained injuries are being treated. There is no fatality. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done.
“Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins was immediately on site to assess the situation and flag- off investigation.
“We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more.”
The incident is the latest in the rampant cases of building collapse in the state in recent years.
Debt Management Office has listed four Federal Government of Nigeria bonds valued at N360 billion for subscription at N1,000 per unit.
The first offer is a February 2028 FGN Bond, valued at N90 billion, at an interest rate of 13.98 per cent per annum (10-year re-opening).
The second offer is an April 2032 FGN Bond, valued at N90 billion, with an interest rate of 12.50 per cent per annum (10-year re-opening).
There is also the Jan 2042 FGN Bond valued at N90 billion, with an interest rate of 13.00 per cent per annum (20-year re-opening).
The fourth offer is the March 2042 FGN Bond, also valued at N90 billion, at an interest rate of 12.98 per cent per annum.
The auction date is April 17, and the settlement date is April 19.
“For re-openings of previously issued bonds, successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned plus any accrued interest on the instrument.
“Interest is payable semi-annually, while bullet payment is made on maturity,” the DMO said.
It said that FGN Bonds were backed by the full faith and credit of Nigeria.
“They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act.
“They qualify as government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act for tax exemption for pension funds among other investors,” it said.
According to DMO, the bonds are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange Limited and FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited.
“All FGN Bonds qualify as liquid asset for liquidity ratio calculation for banks,” it said.