The World Bank has decried the continued spending by the government on petrol subsidy, which it said is on track to gobble up N2.9tn this year.

Its Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, who spoke on Monday at a panel session during the 27th National Economic Summit, said the country could channel the money being spent on subsidy to primary healthcare, basic education and rural roads.

“This year, Nigeria is on track to spend N2.9tn on PMS subsidy, which is more than it spends on health,” he said.

Also speaking at the session, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the Federal Government had made provision for petrol subsidy till the end of June next year.

“In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidy for the first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving foreign exchange and potentially earning more from the oil and gas industry,” she said.

The World Bank director, who likened Nigeria to a malnourished individual needing urgent treatment, said some critical decisions need to be made now for the country to realise its potential.

He said, “I think the urgency of doing something now is because the time is going in terms of retaining the hope of young Nigerians in the future and potential of Nigeria. The kinds of things that could be done right away – the petrol subsidy; yes, I hear that six months from now, perhaps with the PIA(Petroleum Industry Act) coming into effect, this will go away.

“But the fact is can Nigeria even afford to wait for those six months? And there is a choice: N3tn to PMS subsidy which is depriving states of much-needed revenues to invest in basic services.”

Chairman, Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Doyin Salami, said he had argued for a long time that subsidy really needed to go.

He said, “With the PIA essentially it makes illegal petrol subsidy and yes, there is a period where NNPC and the new regulatory agencies must calibrate themselves, but at the end of this period – and I think it is about six months, which explains why the minister has said for the first half of the year, there is provision.

“My view will be if we could get it done sooner than that, it will be excellent. It releases money. The key point is simply this: we are now, any which way, at the tail end of that conversation, except if we choose not to obey the law. My sense is we will obey the law and subsidy will be gone.”

Punch

A group of northern elders have commenced legal process for the secession of Southeast from the Nigerian federation.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, the plaintiffs led by Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam are praying the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to compel the National Assembly to hasten the exit of the Southeast before the conclusion of ongoing constitutional amendment.

They averred in their supporting affidavit that their action was informed by the need to stem the tide of violence and destruction allegedly occasioned by the agitation for secession championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB.)

They claim they did not want a repeat of the 1967-1970 civil war that cost the nation millions of lives and property worth billions of naira.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.

However, lawyers from the Southeast have applied to the  court to join them as defendants in a suit. 

They are led by Chuks Muoma with other members as Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Obi Emuka.

The lawyers are asking for order of the court to allow them join in the suit as representatives of the people of the Southeast.

In their application for joinder filed by Victor Onweremadu, the applicants claimed that the case by northern elders seeking the exit of the South East from Nigeria has the capability to shape the life of the generation of the Igbo.

The motion on notice for the joinder request was brought pursuant to Order 9 rule 5 and order 26 rule 2 of the Federal High Court civil procedure rule 2019.

The lawyers claimed that they had an interest to protect in the suit, hence, their request to be made defendants in the case.

In a 12-paragraph affidavit in support of their application, the lawyers noted that the northern elders in their suit did not think it necessary to join the people of the Southeast or their representatives to enable the court hear from them.

The affidavit deposed to by one Ekenna Felix Jonathan read in part: “That this suit is so crucial and a sensitive matter which concerns the indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria and has the capability to shape the life of the future generation of the people of the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association represented by the applicants are an indigenous association of lawyers from the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association and its objective is to represent the interest of the Igbo people which said people are indigenous in the Southeast of Nigeria. Thus, the association is interested and is a necessary party to be joined. That it will serve the interest of justice if the honourable court grants the application and join the applicants as defendants in the suit and that the plaintiffs will not be prejudiced if the application is granted.”

In the main suit, the northern elders prayed the court for the following reliefs: A declaration that, by the combined effect of the provisions of Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Articles 1, 2, and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the 4th defendant (the National Assembly) is empowered to set in motion a framework for a referendum to allow the Southeastern region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decide on their bid for self-determination. An order directing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to provide a framework that will pave way for the self-determination of the Southeastern states so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to further amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be further amended at any time after the question of self-determination must have been resolved by Nigerians.”

Inyang Eden Ekwo, the judge, has fixed November 1 for hearing of the suit.

Sun

 

Armed men on motorbikes killed at least 18 people at a mosque in Niger state, two residents told Reuters on Monday.

The attackers arrived in the Maza-Kuka community of Mashegu local government area at roughly 5 a.m., the residents said.

"They came and went straight to the mosque and shot at worshippers without sparing anyone," resident Abdulganiyu Hassan told Reuters.

Hassan said they abducted more than 10 others. Bello Ayuba, another resident and witness, said at least 20 were wounded.

A Niger state police spokesman did not immediately respond to calls or messages seeking comment.

Armed bandits operating for cash have kidnapped or killed hundreds across Northwest Nigeria this year, but Niger state and local government officials also recently said that Islamist militant group Boko Haram had taken over multiple communities in the state, offering villagers money and incorporating them in their ranks to fight the government.

Reuters

In 2017, Aisha Yerima shocked her family when she willingly returned to Boko Haram captivity after she had been freed by the military.

Four years on and the 30-year-old has now escaped and returned to her parents' home in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

She was kidnapped by Boko Haram at the age of 21 from a town Southeast of Maiduguri and went on to marry one of the group's commanders, whom she said won her heart with romance and gifts.

He had gone off to battle when the military attacked their camp in the Sambisa Forest, rescuing Aisha and dozens of other wives.

The women were all put through a one-year de-radicalisation programme, but barely four months afterwards, Aisha decided that life with Boko Haram was better.

"It was hard for me to make a living," she told me. "Things were tough and I had to depend on my parents."

She also found it difficult to feed her two-year-old, rescued along with her, the son from her marriage to the commander.

"I phoned my husband and he was very happy to hear from me," said Aisha.

"He told me when next he would be coming to Maiduguri to purchase some fuel and gas, and we agreed that I would join him," she said.

On the agreed day, she left her parents' home with her little son, telling no-one and taking just a few possessions.

 

Gunfire celebrations

She met her husband at a secluded location and he gave her some money to shop for new clothes. She re-joined him at around 19:30 at a separate location where he was waiting with about 20 militants in a bus.

"They were all heavily armed with guns," she said.

They then began the long drive towards the Sambisa Forest, abandoned the bus at a remote garage from where it was to be picked up by a man from whom the militants had hired it, and continued the rest of the journey on foot.

"When we arrived at our camp in the forest, there was celebration. Everybody was happy to see me back and they were firing guns in the air," she said.

Aisha immediately resumed life as a commander's wife - treated with respect, with other captives assigned to her as slaves, and more than enough for herself and her son to eat.

Shortly after returning, she was glad to discover herself pregnant, but the child died at birth.

When she was two months pregnant with another child, her husband was killed in battle.

The militants believed that her unborn child was entitled to a portion of its father's wealth and so waited until the baby was delivered before dividing the inheritance.

"They wanted to see if it was a boy or girl because a boy is entitled to double the portion of a girl," Aisha explained.

Her baby turned out to be a boy, but tragedy struck again. He died at birth. Aisha was devastated.

 

Forced to remarry

Her share of the inheritance allowed her to continue to live well - though this made others jealous.

"They started asking why I should be enjoying and living on my own. I didn't want to marry anyone else but they forced me to."

Her new husband was equally wealthy, a businessman responsible for supplying goods to Boko Haram, which entailed regular trips to Maiduguri. When she got pregnant with his child, Aisha was terrified of losing yet another baby in the forest.

"I begged him that we should move to Maiduguri, but he refused," she said.

Her desire to leave became more urgent when the military intensified attacks, with regular bombings that forced the militants and their families to be constantly on the move.

In addition, bitter infighting had led to Boko Haram splintering, with the two factions increasingly attacking each other. Afraid for her life and that of her unborn child, Aisha decided to escape.

At 03:00 one morning in August, she set off into the forest with her son and with two other wives who desired a different life.

But they were all captured along the way by Boko Haram, and returned to their camp. To keep her from attempting to run off again, Aisha's husband and the militants seized her six-year-old and took him away to an unknown location.

"While they were dragging my son away, he was holding on to me and screaming: 'Mama, please, don't leave me here! Please, don't leave me here!'" Aisha said.

For several days, she begged the militants to return him and tried searching for him. It eventually dawned on her that her efforts would be fruitless. She decided to escape without him when another chance came.

 

Escape and kindness

For a price, a militant who knew a clandestine route through the forest was willing to assist her and more than a dozen other women who wished to flee.

Aisha gave him all the money she had. A week later he led them away from the militants' base, past remote towns and left them at a point where they were able to continue on their own to a military post.

"The soldiers were very kind," Aisha said.

"They praised me for being bold enough to escape and contributed money to put me in a vehicle to take me home to my parents. They didn't think there was any need to escort me."

When they got to Maiduguri, she had to ask the driver to stop so she could call her mother and ask for directions as the city had changed so much in her absence: "There were new flyover bridges and tarred roads everywhere."

The entire family was waiting when the oldest of eight siblings walked through the front gate. They rushed towards Aisha and hugged her.

Everyone had been kind and supportive since she returned, Aisha told me, with some neighbours contributing money for her upkeep. But the baby she gave birth to in early October has died.

So far, Aisha has not heard from the husband she abandoned in the forest. She learnt from some women who escaped more recently that he was apprehended by an opposing faction of Boko Haram, with his fate unknown.

Determined to create a new life for herself, Aisha hopes to raise funds to begin trading in perfume and incense.

"I pray to Allah to rescue my son, but I will never go back to Boko Haram," she said.

BBC

At least three people are reported to have died and some 80 have been hurt after soldiers fired on crowds opposing a military takeover in Sudan.

Protestors took to the streets after the armed forces dissolved civilian rule, arrested political leaders and called a state of emergency on Monday.

Troops are reported to have been going house to house in the capital Khartoum arresting local protest organisers.

The coup has been condemned around the world, and the US halted $700m in aid.

The leader of the coup, Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, blamed political infighting for the military action.

Civilian leaders and their military counterparts have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown two years ago.

As night fell on Monday, large numbers of protesters were on the streets of Khartoum - and other cities - demanding the return of civilian rule.

One wounded protestor told reporters he was shot in the leg by the army outside the military headquarters, while another man described the military firing first stun grenades, then live ammunition.

"Two people died, I saw them with my own eyes," said Al-Tayeb Mohamed Ahmed. Sudan's doctors' union and the information ministry also wrote on Facebook that the fatal shootings had happened outside the military compound.

Pictures from a hospital in the city showed people with bloodied clothing and various injuries.

Our correspondent says that despite the violence, the protests show few signs of easing.

Demonstrators have blocked roads with piles of bricks and burning tyres. Many women are also taking part, shouting "no to military rule".

The city's airport is closed and international flights are suspended. The internet and most phone lines are also down.

Central Bank staff have reportedly gone on strike and across the country, doctors are said to be refusing to work in military run hospitals except in emergencies.

World leaders have reacted with alarm at news of the military takeover.

The US has joined the UK, EU, UN and African Union, of which Sudan is a member, in demanding the release of political leaders who are now under house arrest in unknown locations.

Among them are Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife, along with members of his cabinet and other civilian leaders.

Our correspondent said a special security unit of the military went to the prime minister's home early on Monday morning, and tried to persuade Hamdok to agree to the coup, but he refused.

Sudan has been in a fractious power sharing agreement between civilian and military leaders since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019.

The agreement is designed to steer Sudan towards democracy, but it has been a tumultuous ride with a number of previous coup attempts, the last being just over a month ago.

Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, who was head of the power sharing agreement, but is now leading the latest coup, has said the take over was needed to "rectify the revolution's course" because of political infighting.

He said Sudan was still committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023, but protesters have not accepted his reasoning.

 

BBC

 

Journalists on Monday stormed the police headquarters in Abuja to protest over the continued disappearance of their colleague Tordue Salem, a journalist with Vanguard Newspapers.

The journalists dressed in black marched from the Ministry of Women Affairs to force headquarters wielding placards with inscriptions; Enough Is Enough; FreeTordeNow, Journalism Is Not a Crime, Free The Press, Stop Attacking Journalists.

Mr. Salem, who is a native of Tiv, Benue State, covers the House of Representatives.

He was last seen on October 13, 2021.

The NUJ chapter in Abuja had earlier raised an alarm over his sudden disappearance.

They asked the police and DSS to help unravel the mystery surrounding Mr. Salem’s whereabouts.

“For all us journalists in Abuja, we have been on edge these past few days over the mysterious disappearance of our colleague and friend, Mr. Tordue Salem,” the petition, signed by the union’s Chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche and Secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, said.

It expressed displeasure at the way and manner police have been handling the matter adding that there is need for police to give information on the whereabouts of the missing colleague since it was formally reported at the National Assembly police station.

It also condemned the harsh environment where the safety of  journalists can no longer be guaranteed  despite their constitutional role and responsibility of upholding the fundamental objectives of the constitution.

“It is worrying that an adult will simply vanish into thin air without a trace. This is unacceptable and we urge the police and DSS to rise up to the occasion and provide answers to this troubling situation”.

However,  during Monday’s protest at the police headquarters in Abuja, the Police PRO addressed the crowd, saying efforts are ongoing to locate Mr. Salem, and assured that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba is interested in the case and would see it to the end.    

The petition submitted by the NUJ reads ; “The IGP, Sir, as you are aware, a colleague of ours and a journalist of note, Mr. Tordue Henry Salem of the Vanguard Newspapers went missing on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 right in front of the Total Filing Station less than a 100 meters from the Force Headquarters.”

“48 hours after fellow colleagues who cover the House of Representatives realized he had DISAPPEARED, a report was immediately incidented at the House of Reps Police Division. This was followed by a petition to both your office and that of the Director General of the Department of State Security by his employers- Vanguard Media Ltd. This is outside calls by the leadership of the NUJ to senior officers of the Police.

“It is regrettable to note that 12 days after Mr. Tordue Henry Salem DISAPPEARED, nothing much has happened to indicate whether he is alive or dead; whether he is captive of the State, a non-state or an alien.

“The IGP, it is relevant that we remind you that the State owes every Nigerian, particularly a journalist, protection and assurance of safety. Nigeria has continued to fare badly on the Press Freedom Index for six successive years and it will be most unfortunate if the DISAPPEARNCE of Mr. Tordue Henry Salem adds to the poor rating. In 2020, a report of Reporters Without Borders shows that Nigeria went five spots down the Press Freedom Index from 115 to 120 out of 180 countries, with the telling remark that Nigeria remains “one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.”

“Also, a June 2021 report of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Media Foundation for West Africa revealed that the media industry recorded seven unresolved killings, 300 violations, affecting about 500 journalists, media workers, and media houses in Nigeria.”

“What all these underscore is that the prevailing environment is unsafe, suffocating and dangerous not just for journalists and other media workers but for the sustenance of democracy itself.”

“It is in this wise that we are here to demand that Mr. Tordue Henry Salem not only be found, but that adequate protection be offered journalists going forward. That the culture of harassment, intimidation, brutalization and disappearances ends. Our demand is reinforced by the fact that as we approach 2023, a General Elections year in Nigeria, the political and economic elites become more desperate to hang on to power and because they will not want to be held accountable to the Nigerian people, the media becomes their major target. This culture of impunity should and must be arrested by the Nigeria Police as the primary security agencies as well as other sister agencies.”

“Regarding Mr. Tordue Henry Salem, we demand that the case be transferred to a Special Unit of the IGP. While we appreciate the efforts of the FCT Command, the magnitude of the disappearance demands for a highly tactical, focused and coordinated Unit under the Office of the IGP.”

“We further demand confidential briefing with his family, leadership of the Union and his employers to calm frayed nerves, while we assure of our cooperation in the investigation.”

“Let us reiterate that for every journalist that is harassed, assaulted, disappears and murdered, the constitutional guarantee as contained in Chapter 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as Amended is threatened, democracy is weakened and good governance is impossible. The IGP it is for these reasons and more, that your office urgently needs to provide answer, which is locating and reuniting Mr. Tordue Henry Salem with his family”

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday October 25, 2021, depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the investment conference organized by the Future Investment Initiative Institute.

This was disclosed in a press release from the office of the  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu obtained by the Nigeriannewstrack. 

According to the statement, the President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, Captains of industry and energy experts to discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe.

The three-day event, with the theme, INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY, which will host global executives and asset managers, will deliberate on progress and prosperity with energy; true final frontiers in investments; science in action; and impact of climate change on communities among others.

The statement reads that "Buhari will perform the lesser Hajj in Medina & Makka before returning to the country on Friday".

The President will be accompanied on the trip by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for  Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Director General of National  Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, Managing Director of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Some participants from the private sector include: Mohammed Indimi, Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi , Wale Tinubu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe and Leo Stan Ekeh.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has vowed that all inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State, on Friday night will be recaptured.

The Minister gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the facility Sunday morning.

In a copy of the speech delivered during the visitation, the minister claimed that attacks on prisons in the country were premeditated and meant to ridicule the government.

He lamented that jailbreaks and attacks on prisons worsened after the #EndSARS protest in the country.

He said, “External attacks on custodial facilities were a rarity hitherto. What was common, and for which our system had been well primed, was an internal breach. But beginning with the spontaneous #EndSARS protests of last year which dovetailed into massive riots, there have been consistent attacks on our facilities in Owerri, Benin, Kabba, and now Oyo.

“This is not just some random happenings. These are premeditated, planned and coordinated attacks meant to make Nigeria unsafe and ridicule the government.

“I’m assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government will pursue not just those who attacked our facility, but those who have escaped lawful custody.

“The attack was unconscionable, I commend officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service and other members of sister security agencies who provided perimeter security for our facility for fighting gallantly and holding the fort before the attackers were able to gain access to the awaiting trial section of the facility, however, those who escaped are already being pursued. Some have been rearrested, many more will still be captured,” the Minister stated.

Giving more details about those who escaped, Aregbesola noted that 446 out of 907 escapees have been recaptured, whilst 69 never left the facility.

“As at the last count, 446 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 392 still at large. We want to assure Nigerians that the service have an updated database of the escapees which includes their biometrics. We are sharing the database with all security agencies in the country including Interpol, so those who escape our recapture efforts can be nabbed.

“To those on the run, be assured you have nowhere to hide. You can run, but you can’t hide. We’ll fish you out! We are publishing details of those who escaped in the mass media so the public can assist in that effort,” the Minister reiterated.

Also speaking during the inspection, Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, noted that so far, the service has successfully prevented internal jailbreaks in all her facilities.

“The NCoS have so far prevented internal jailbreaks in the country. What we have reoccurring in recent times are external attacks on our facilities. We have been retraining our officers not just on securing those in lawful custody but prevent external attacks.

“We are collaborating with other security agencies in the country to make such attacks near impossible and where they do occur, the attackers will live to regret it,” the CG stated.

On the instruction given by the Minister of Interior to immediately begin remediation work on the facility, CG Nababa noted that work has begun already.

“As you can see, workers are already on site fixing damaged doors, broken windows and mounting walls. Before the end of today, work would have been completed on it,” Nababa stated.

Punch

Anambra State has approved Saturdays as school days in place of Monday following the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafara (IPOB).

A statement by Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, confirmed that all headmasters had been directed to notify teachers, pupils as well as parents about the new development.

“Quality Assurance supervision and every other supervision, henceforth, will hold on Saturdays. Every permission for absence from classes on Saturdays must be addressed to the executive chairman, ASUBBEB through the E S following due process. Saturday classes will commence on October 30,” he said.

Adinuba said the state government approved Saturday classes because it wanted the children to learn well.

According to him, the state government was passionate about the learning of the children and never wanted them to miss anything.

He said the state government approved the Saturday classes so that the children will not lag behind.

The Sun

 

 

Gunmen abducted three worshippers at a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Obada Oko area of Ewekoro Local Government area, Ogun State, during a church service on Sunday.

A resident near the church, who identified the victims as Ifeoluwa Alani-Bello, Adebare Oduntan, and Mary Oliyide, said the kidnappers have contacted the families demanding a ransom of N6 million.

“The incident took place at the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, Ona-Ara, Oju-Irin in Obada Oko in the early hours of today (Sunday) after a night vigil held in the said church,” said the resident who preferred not to say his name for security reasons.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command’s anti-kidnapping unit has been dispatched to the area to partner with the Obada Oko Division of the police to rescue the victims.

Oyeyemi reiterated police warnings to churches, last month, to stop organising prayer sessions at night, especially at forest areas, to avoid being kidnap victims.

“We have told our people to stop praying or holding vigils in the bush or isolated places like that place,” the police spokesperson said.

“But, if at all they must hold such programmes in such places, they should let us know so that police patrols vans can be extended to those places.

“As we speak, the state command anti-kidnapping unit has been dispatched to the area to partner with the Obada Oko Division of the police to ensure the victims are rescued.”

 

PT