Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote opened a 3-million-tonne fertilizer plant at a cost of $2.5 billion on Tuesday to target African and foreign markets even as the war in Ukraine has driven up prices for natural gas, a key ingredient for making urea.

Dangote said exports from the plant will go to Brazil, which relies heavily on Russia for imports of fertilizer. Shipments will also go to the United States, India and Mexico, he said at the launch.

Fertilizer prices have been rising at a time when planting usually picks up around the world, especially after Russia, the world's biggest exporter of fertilizer, invaded Ukraine last month. The war has also disrupted shipping.

The plant, commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari and located at the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos State, is designed to produce 3 million tonnes of urea per year and supply all the major markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many in Nigeria hope the Dangote plant will help alleviate chronically low crop yields in Africa's most populous country, partly due to insufficient access to fertilizer.

Agriculture accounts for 20% of Nigeria's gross domestic product, with crop production contribution the highest with the farming subsector.

However, low fertilizer production and the high cost of importing fertilisers has reined in seed production. Fertilizer consumption in Nigeria ranks below its African peers.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria consumed around 20 kg of fertiliser per hectare of arable land in 2018, compared with 73 kg in South Africa and 393 kg in China.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has barred the use of its foreign exchange for fertiliser imports as part of a raft of controls aimed at boosting domestic production.

Other producers in Nigeria include Notore, which has the capacity to produce 500,000 metric tonnes per annum of urea, and Singapore-owned Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd, which plans to double its annual output of urea fertilizer to 2.8 million tonnes.

The total debts owed by state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration rose to N6.43tn at the end of 2021.

While sub-national domestic debt stock was N4.46tn, the sub-national external debt stock was N1.97tn in 2021.

Lagos, Ogun and Rivers became the three most indebted states, according to the latest data from Debt Management Office.

The N4.46tn domestic debt represents 11.27 per cent of the country’s domestic debt stock of N23.70tn as of December 2021, up from N20.21tn in the previous year.

Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo emerged as the top five debtors, with a combined domestic debt stock of about N1.56tn.

The five states account for 34.98 per cent of the total domestic debt owed by sub-national governments in the country as of December 31, 2021.

Lagos owed N658.96bn, Ogun N232.62bn, Rivers N225.51bn, Akwa Ibom N214.61bn, and Imo N205.19bn as of Q4 2021.

However, according to the DMO, the domestic debt stock figures for Rivers State were as at September 30, 2021. This also applies to Benue, Enugu, and Kano.

Other states with high domestic debts include Cross River, with a debt of N159.82bn; Delta, N154.61bn; Bayelsa, N154.61bn; Plateau, N150.5bn; Oyo, N142.56bn; and Osun, N134.70bn.

Others are Benue, with a domestic debt stock of N128.35bn; Kano, N111.9bn; Zamfara, N99.94bn; Adamawa, N99.55bn Bauchi, N97.51bn; Borno, N95.63bn; Abia, N95.21bn; Kwara, N93.37bn; and Taraba, N93.18bn.

The states with the least domestic debt stocks include Jigawa, with a debt of N31.36bn; Ebonyi, N42.16bn; FCT, N50.65bn; Kebbi, N52.33bn; Nasarawa, N54.1bn; Anambra, N55.72bn; and Kaduna, N61.71bn; Enugu, N69.17bn; and Gombe, N69.13bn.

Others are Kogi, N70.66bn; Sokoto, N71.29bn; Edo, N78.9bn; Niger, N83.4bn; and Yobe, N82.46bn.

In foreign debt, Lagos leads with $1.33bn; followed by Kaduna $595.12m; Cross River $279.71m and Edo State $276.3m.

Lauretta Fagbohun, Ogun

A wife and mother of five has been arrested by officers of the Ogun State Police Command for pouring petrol on her 10 year old daughter and setting her ablaze.

This was disclosed in a Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi who explained that the suspect, Aisha Tijani was arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Moroof Ayinde. 

The said Ayinde reported that the suspect who lives in the same house with him poured petrol on her little daughter and set her ablaze. 

He stated further that, the woman got annoyed because the little girl took a phone she seized from one of her children from where she kept it and gave it back to the child from whom the phone was seized.

According to the press statement, the DPO Mowe division, CSP Folashade Tanaruno was said to have quickly moved to the scene with police detectives and got the suspect arrested.

 The victim, who had been badly burnt was rushed to the nearest hospital from where she was referred to Olabisi Onabanjo teaching hospital for proper medical attention.

On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have been separated from the father of the children, explained to the police that she didn't know what came over her when she was carrying out the wicked act.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the state criminal investigation and intelligence department, SCID for further investigation.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has not so far, spoken or indicated any loud, clear actions or signals that can be conclusively deciphered as an aspiration or scheming to contest the 2023 governorship election in Kebbi  state. 

Yet, the expectations,  craving, fear and apprehension about his candidacy, have been thick in the air and all over the place in Kebbi state. It is prevalent and pervading in the rumor mills, open and hushed discussions on the streets in Birnin Kebbi and  other urban centres in the state. The topic is also dominant among the low and high political circles. Naturally,  there are among these groups, those who are happy and excited as well as,  those who are gripped with fear, discomfort and hate in their hearts. 

“If dreams were horses”, the old adage goes, “beggars will ride.” Among those who have jitters and sleepless nights over the prospects of Abubakar Malami throwing his hat into the ring in the contest for the most coveted office in Kebbi state in 2023, are the political upstarts and dreamers who are hoping that, by chance or fortunes, the pendulum might swing their way.

Such apparent wishful thinking should not however, be dismissed as baseless. This is because so far, all those currently aspiring to take over from governor Abubakar Atiku  Bagudu are considered by pundits as no more than mere political neophytes and jesters and therefore, it can be anybody’s game. With a big masquerade like Abubakar Malami to contend with, the dreamers will know better than to continue in self delusion. 

There are other groups to who the Minister of Justice is a nightmare. They consist of the men with the long knives, members of the clan of the cabals, the jaded, spent war horses and political carpetbaggers who are refusing to accept that their time is long over.  Among these set of political gladiators, plans are variously  being hatched night and day, to checkmate Malami, by hook or crook, should he dare  to take up the gauntlet for the contest.

 To the self-styled political establishment, the godfathers and imperial lords of the manor, Malami is a spoiler out to disrupt the well accustomed old game of their exclusive charge of the political barometer of the state, and the sharing and cornering amongst them, the political spoils in the manner of victorious warriors sharing the spoils of war.

Regarding the 2023 elections for example, they have already shared out to their members, those of them that will become the governor and deputy, those that will be going to the Federal and State Houses of Assembly and those to be given sundry “lucrative” key appointments. Under the arrangement, members of the enclave are angling for the victory of a particular presidential aspirant from the Southwest to pave way for the emergence of one of them as Senate President. 

In spite of their present state of  vegetation,  the self acclaimed “shakers and movers of Kebbi politics”, are still possessed of an amazing tenacity, and portent political scheming. Though  now feeble and denuded of their yesteryear political muscles, they still wallow in the false garbs of the invincible. Under this delusion, they have been long in their devices and machinations to bring down the soaring political kite of the Minister. 

The throwing of darts of venom began when they were running helter skelter in desperate efforts to scuttle his going onboard the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari way back in 2015. They woefully failed in that project, as Malami went on to be given the covetous portfolio of Attorney General, Minister of Justice.

Not a people to easily give up, they thereafter, went into league with persons of similar interests in other parts of the country  to engage in strident media campaign of calumny and vendetta with all sorts of odious and spurious allegations aimed at rubbishing his integrity or, sow the seeds of discord and distrust between him and his principal, the President. 

The latest In the traducers’ arsenal in the vain scheming to block his path of progress particularly to the Kebbi Government House was the use of their presence and influence in the National Assembly to insert the patently unconstitutional Clause 84(12) in the new Electoral Act.  Talk of the child of destiny or, a classical case of the proverbial “cat with nine lives”, a competent court of law has dismissed the clause as ultra vires, null and void. 

With that verdict, not a few people in the state have heaved a sigh of relief and jubilating that, the coast  is now cleared of any visible impediments if, indeed, Abubakar Malami SAN, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of the Federation is decided on taking  a shot at yet another plumb job of governor of Kebbi state.

Considered in all facets of deponent, the situation of Kebbi state is a sad commentary. With its endowments of abundant human and agricultural resources, vast and assorted but largely untapped mineral deposits the state which should ideally  be one of the most economically and socially vibrant states in the federation is being rated on the index of development by the United Nations and national statistics as among the most backward in the country. 

The simple, rational and empirical explanation for the unflattering and pathetic scenario of Kebbi is simply that, the land and the people have been held down and tied to the strangulating stakes of poverty, illiteracy and insecurity by the calamity of the chain of cruel, garrulous, insensitive and retrogressive,  self-seeking political elite that have been exchanging the baton of leadership between them, in the last twenty three years of democratic rule in the country. 

Kebbi state is in dire and critical need for a paradigm shift. There are pressing and urgent requirements for rejuvenation  and refocusing to usher in much needed social and economic progress and development.

The long suffering masses of Kabawa are yearning and poised to seize the next opportunity to elect their leaders to  go for those  that have demonstrated empathy and understanding of their aspirations and those with the track records of integrity, altruism, capacity and honest commitment in service. 

Consisting in the main, of the beleaguered downtrodden masses and a number of the progressive segments, there is currently,  a groundswell of goodwill for Abubakar Malami in all parts of the state because  many perceive him as one of the potential game changers in the political leadership.

The huge confidence in Malami’s capabilities derive from the assessment of his superlative performance as a Minister in the Buhari Cabinet, the unprecedented number of Kebbi indigenes he assisted in securing federal appointments in the past seven years and, the spectacular records of his NGO, Khadimiyya in uplifting the condition of women, youth and the poor in general at the grassroots. 

The detractors of Malami are very much aware of the immensity of his political assets and thus the reason why they are scared stiff of his challenge in the political turf. But, precisely, that appears inevitable in the countdown to 2023. 

The Question now for the Minister’s camp to answer: Will Malami Run?

*Maishanu, a former Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources in Sokoto State, writes from Abuja.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday announced its decision to keep benchmark rates unchanged, its governor said, a day earlier than scheduled to avoid falling into limbo because several monetary policy committee (MPC) members are retiring on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report. 

Three rate setters voted to raise rates by 25 basis points and one for a 50 basis point hike. Six others voted to hold rates, marking the 10th decision to hold rates steady since the bank cut them in September 2020.

Governor Godwin Emefiele said the decision was to boost its fragile economy and counter potential headwinds from the Ukraine war but that members felt the need to signal a tightening stance to curb inflation.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month has added to volatility in financial markets, sending commodity prices higher and affecting logistics, potentially derailing the economic recovery from Covid-19 in Nigeria and elsewhere.

A CBN official said "six members of the MPC are retiring tomorrow, they did not want to be caught in the web of illegality."

A standoff in 2018 between Nigeria's presidency and parliament over confirmation of new members of the CBN’s MPC threatened the bank's independence after the bank could not form a quorum for meetings.

Nigeria faces double-digit inflation and low revenues which has hampered its ability to stimulate the economy.

The economy recorded its fastest growth in seven years in 2021 despite a slight slowdown in the fourth quarter due to oil production problems, but growth is still fragile.

CBN wants to boost growth and curb inflation at the same time but faces limited policy options.

"With real rates negative for some time... a forceful monetary policy response to the threat of higher inflation will remain difficult," said Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered.

Fully vaccinated travellers coming into Nigeria will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR Covid-19 test.

This is according to the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee, Boss Mustapha.

Mustapha made the comment on Monday during a briefing of the PSC announcing a revision of International Travel Protocols.

However, passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated are still expected to take a Covid-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, or do a Day 2 and day 7 test on arrival.

Such passengers, he said, will be expected to pay for their PCR tests through the Federal Government’s travel platform, while fully vaccinated passengers will not be charged for rapid antigen tests at the airport.

Lauretta Fagbohun, Ogun

The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a 10-man Committee towards reviving the Yewa International Market, which was a subject of dispute between Owode-Yewa and Ajilete communities in Yewa South Local Government Area of the State.

It would be recalled that on February 10, 2022, the government held a meeting with relevant stakeholders on the resolution of the crisis and resuscitation of the market where the stakeholders through a communique called for the setting-up of a committee to resuscitate the market.

Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe who spoke during the inauguration ceremony at the Ministry's Conference Hall in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, appreciated the members for accepting to serve in the Committee, calling on them to come up with useful suggestions that would help the condition of the market.

Longe charged the Committee to liaise with the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Owode-Yewa, Oba (Revd.) Matthew Akindele and the Alale of Ajilete, Oba Kazeem Balogun, as well as other stakeholders on what could be done to reactivate the facility.

She assured that the present administration was determined to implement recommendations that would help the market, noting that based on the resolution of stakeholders the market would now be known as Yewa International Market Ajilete/Owode-Yewa.

The Commissioner urged them to identify ways of attracting more traders to the market to help optimise its potential, saying “the government cannot allow a market with 750 lock-up shops, 480 open stalls, 16 cold rooms, one police post, one fire station, 40 suites for car dealers, 520 car lots and one custom post with capacity to attract 20,000 sellers and buyers on a daily basis to be under-utilised".

" In this Ministry, we are willing and open to co-operating with the Committee to make sure that we achieve the resuscitation of the market. You are to give us timelines on what can be done to help the market and we hope we can invite the Governor to come and inaugurate the revitalised market", the Commissioner said.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola lauded Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Olugbenle for spearheading the move to revive the market, calling on members of the Committee to work hard towards actualising their objectives.

In her response, Chairman of the Committee and Iyaloja-General of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs.) Yemisi Abass appreciated the government for the opportunity given to the Committee members to contribute to the revival and growth of the market, assuring that members would deliver in record time.

Other members of the Committee include, the Secretary who is also the Director of Commerce in the Ministry, Mr. Lere Ariyibi-Opaleye, Hon. Sanusi Idowu, Hon. Adebayo Ajasa, and Mr. Shamsideen Akinwunmi among others.

The Hoteliers’ Association Of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has called on Governor Seyi Makinde led administration to rescue the industry from prevalent multiple taxations and outrageous bills in the state.

The association’s President, Ayodele Ogundele, made the appeal in Ibadan, while briefing journalists on Monday.

According to Mr Ogundele, paying multiple taxes and outrageous bills to the state government had worsened their situation.

He said that after managing to survive the challenges of COVID-19, the sector had experienced massive inflation and a shortage of staff.

Mr Ogundele expressed dissatisfaction that the industry had experienced a serious downturn due to the global economic situation, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the latest increase in fuel, diesel, and total lack of electricity supply in the country had also affected their businesses, and they are now on the verge of total collapse.

“We once asked the Oyo state government to harmonise our bills, we negotiated with them, they gave us bill in January, February, every year and latest by July we paid.

“But, in a bid to raise revenues, with the setting up of Local Council Development Area (LCDA), we now pay taxes to the state government, local government, and also to the LCDA.

“Also, since the last administration, we had been paying for generator emissions even for generators that we are not using; making generating electricity an expensive part of our business.

“All hoteliers are currently running at below 50 per cent of our capacity because of the cost of electricity generation.

“We are no longer generating enough money to pay and take care of our staff and many of them are leaving even when we need them most, because we can no longer pay their salaries.

“We really need the help of the government at this critical time, before our businesses collapse’’, he said.

Mr Ogundele said the tourism and hospitality industry was one of the largest employers of labour in the country and should not be allowed to collapse because the sector could not pay its staff and even make profit.

“The hospitality industry contributes a lot, especially in the area of job creation; our industry is not the type government should watch to suffer at all, because it would affect all sectors, including the food sector.

“Tourism depends a lot on infrastructural development such as health, security, road construction and others, so that government at all levels should strive to provide an enabling environment for tourism to thrive in the country’’, he said.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sacked 20 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.  

The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that the lawmakers, having abandoned the political party that sponsored them to power, ought to vacate their seats.

The judgement followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021, which was filed by the PDP.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in the judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

Justice Taiwo ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.

According to him, we cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two House of, Representatives members and 18 Cross River House of Assembly were affected by the judgement.

A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, struck out the motion filed by sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, seeking for a stay of execution of the March 8 judgment.

Justice Inyang Ekwo struck out the motion after Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, SAN, counsel for Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, prayed the court for the withdrawal of the motion, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, did not oppose the application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion for stay of execution was marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/920/21, between PDP Vs. INEC and three others. Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on March 8, in a judgment, ordered Umahi; his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, following their defection from the PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC).

The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them, among others.

NAN, however, reported that on March 10, Governor Umahi and others had sought an order of the FHC Abuja, staying the execution of its judgment directing them to vacate their offices over their defection to another political party.

In a motion on notice filed by Ume, the applicants also prayed the court to stay the execution of its order directing INEC to receive another names in their place or hold a governorship election in accordance with Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal dated and filed on March 9 by the appellants, among others.

NAN reports that Ume also sought a withdrawal of the stay of execution motion filed on behalf of the lawmakers marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1041 between PDP Vs. INEC and 20 others.

At the resumed hearing, Ume informed the court of his intention to withdraw the two motions for stay of execution dated March 9 on the grounds that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal on the matter.

Counsel for the PDP, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, did not oppose the application.

In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo struck out the matter.

NAN reports that Ume had, on Wednesday, approached the court to withdraw the stay of execution motion filed on Umahi’s behalf due to a mistake in the application.